I n k w e ll ECHOES
Letters From the editors
Hi everyone!
Thank you for picking up this issue of Inkwell. This is our second issue of the ‘23-24 school year. We have worked so incredibly hard all year on preparing articles and putting together these fabulous issues. As a senior, it has been extremely difficult to balance everything such as IA’s, sports, Inkwell, and homework etc. So, I would like to give the biggest thank you to all of our staff writers, my co-editor Lucy, and Ms. Archer for putting in so much effort and making this issue possible. I hope you all enjoy :)
Amelia Herrmann Scholbe, Editor
Hey Inkwell readers, Hopefully you enjoy this issue, it’s been a painstaking yet enjoyable process to put it together. As the new design editor for Inkwell it was an undertaking to learn the program, however as I figured it out, I started to enjoy trying new things with the design elements. However I had to make sure everyone’s lovely articles made it into the issue so I ended up not focusing as much on the design as I had previously hoped too. Needless to say, now that I know the program my goal is to start to create cohesive and well designed publications for Inkwell. I want to give a special thank you to Ms. Archer, the teacher for inkwell, for being so supportive through this process. And on behalf of myself and all of Inkwell, we hope you enjoy this publication!
Ireland Jean, Design editor
INKWELL STAFF
STAFF WRITERS:
GREEN TIES:
Meher Bahia
Ireland Jean
Sarah Wang
RED TIES
Eisha Ahmad, Peyton Matthews
MINH NGUYEN
T.T. NGUYEN
YELLOW TIES
Ellis Giller
Lucy Hall
Jeremiah Harshman-ConnorLucas Jung
BLUE TIES:
Flora Hu
Bel Jimenez
Amelia Herrmann Scholbe
TEACHER LEAD:
Ms. Archer
EDITORS: Lucy Hall, Amelia Hermann Scholbe
DESIGN EDITOR
Ireland Jean
Letter From The Editor
Hey!! I’m super excited to be sharing this issue with you all. Towards the end of last year, inkwell decided that we wanted our next issue to revolve around reflecting on the past year (2023 of course;). This issue is compiled of some of our favorite memories and moments from last year, Annie Wright related and beyond.
As an editor, my favorite part of getting to look back at all of the work compiled in this issue was reading about how differently everyone in our community experienced the year. I think that this issue beautifully captures that and I hope you all will enjoy it!
Lucy Hall, Editor
Exploring a place with wings
immErEsEd in turqoisE watErs
sciEnce tEam
film rEview
sustainblE fashion
rEdtiE trip photos and rEview
exchangE program
building a dual dynasty
varsity music
sustainbility highlight
Dorm
lip
Exploring A Place With Wings
the
BY: Flora Hu
In the Shadows of
Himalayas
Over Winter Break, I was able to travel to Dali City, located in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, connecting to Southeast Asia. The reason I chose Dali as the destination for this trip is Dali’s famous and charming landscape as well as its cultural diversity. There are 26 ethnic groups living in Yunnan Province for centuries, and Dali city is the center of Bai ethnicity, who have developed a language, decorative art, and history distinct from the majority in China. Yunnan province’s geography, characterized by towering mountains, expensive lakes, and numerous valleys, made it difficult to communicate between two places which led to the diversity of ethnic groups and biomes. Dali is one typical example, which is located on the shore of Erhai lake and situated against Mountain Cangshan.
Because Mt. Cangshan, consisting of 19 peaks, has an average height of 3500 meters elevation, I could see Mt. Cangshan and its snowcap everywhere as I traveled and drove through the city. My destination was Xizhou Ancient Town located at the northwestern end of Erhai lake, while the Dali Airport is at the southeastern end of Erhai lake. Therefore, I would have to drive about 50 kilometers, crossing through the south end and the west side of Erhai lake. The scenery along the way was beautiful, and I could drive past and see most of the important sites in Dali City. The south end of Erhai Lake is where the new urban district is: high-rise residential buildings, over 30 floors, crowded like a cluster of tall rectangular boxes standing together, and the dense restaurants, shopping malls, and entertainment make the south end a place of leisure for locals. Driving north along the Erhai lake, Dali University is located at the end of Mt. Cangshan. Dali University is famous for its cherry blossoms every March, and, because the campus is built on hills, students can overlook the Erhai lake and villages on the shore everyday. Dali Ancient Town is only 13 minutes driving away(north) from Dali University, which was the capital city of Bai sovereignty from 8th to 13th century. Dali Ancient Town is maintained in a layout of traditional city with old-styled houses, but, due to its fame as former capital city and increasing number of visitors, Dali Ancient Town has been over-commercialized and touristic. I would not recommend Dali Ancient Town to those who prefer to seek original beauty of minority cultures and nature, because of its homogeneous products with other cities and unreasonably high prices.
Obsessing with ancient towns and local cultures, Xizhou Ancient Town [where I stayed over Winter Break] is the optimum alternative choice. Xizhou Town is famous for its well-preserved Bai architecture and culture, about 100 old architectures continue to function today. The reason why Xizhou Ancient Town has become the center of Bai art since the 20th century was the Xizhou Business Gang, consisting of 24 major families who transported and sold products (e.g. Black Tea and Silk) and metals to Southeast Asia or Shanghai city as well as Hongkong. These families made millions and billions of money in the first half of the 20th century and actively participated in investing public benefit.The Xizhou businessmen used their wealth to invest in public welfare but also to beautify the city with a focus on internationalism by integrating Bai architecture with Art deco styles.
Dali City and Map of China, picture from theworldofchinese.com
Dali Map, Picture by Institute for Planets
The Bai Nationality (in Unmarried Female Traditional Costume), picture by Pinterest (Jennifer Willians)
Mt. Cangshan from a Far Distance, picture by Flora Hu
From Dali Airport to Xizhou Town, picture from Google Map
Mt. Cangshan from Dali Ancient Town, picture by Flora Hu.
Linden Center Exterior (yellow architecture), picture by Flora Hu.
At the viewing platform, picture by Flora Hu.
Obsessing with ancient towns and local cultures, Xizhou Yang Pingxiang’s mansion, finished in 1948, is the perfect example of the integration of Bai architecture and foreign art. Entering Yang’s mansion, you will immediately see the first entrance gate, a Shanghai Shikumen Gate, which is a stone gate comprising an arch and geometric sculptural reliefs. Yang Pingxiang, the former owner of this mansion, was a businessman who worked in and traveled to many places, including Shanghai city. He liked the style of Shanghai Stone Gate, influenced by the Art Deco style, and brought it back to his hometown Xizhou Town. The Shanghai Shikumen Gate in Yang’s mansion is a foreign cultural product that not only symbolizes Yang’s expansive business but also highlights his eagerness to embrace diverse cultures.
Exploring further into the mansion, we discover traditional Bai layout, consisting of Bai Sandi Shui Gate Toweris its second entrance gate with two courtyards on the other side. One side of the courtyard has a marble screen wall (to protect from wind and nature, while also reflecting natural light into the building). The Bai Sandi Shui Gate, considered a national treasure, makes Yang’s mansion a special cultural relic under National Protection. The name of the Gate can be originally translated as “three drops of water”, reflecting its structure of two floors of cornices, where raindrops must take three steps to the ground crossing each cornice as they fall. The Bai people believe the consecutive falling raindrops symbolize continuous income and abundant wealth. Additionally, the position of a phoenix sculpture, taller than the dragon sculpture, underneath the first cornice represents the Bai people’s respect for women (symbolized by the phoenix) and appreciation of women’s effort to manage the home while men
In 2006, an American family, Brian and Jainee Linden, traveled to Dali and wanted to make Yang’s mansion their international communication center, but this was difficult. Since 2001, Yang’s mansion has been defined as government property only. The government rejected any personal investment or modification, so the Lindon family had to try to convince the government to allow them temporary permission to use the mansion for their communication center, while also working to restore it to its former glory. It is now a commercial, but well preserved hotel, open to everyone but still considered government owned in order to ensure its preservation as a cultural and historical landmark.When the hotel opened in 2008, the Linden family restored a former Dali tradition from the 1900s- an annual Christmas dinner celebration. This tradition, shortly existing in Xizhou Town in the 1940s, was initiated by The First American Volunteer group in 1941. This group was known as the Flying Tigers, who helped China fight against the Axis Powers throughout the Himalayas. The Linden family’s restoration of this Christmas practice is a way to honor the history of international friendship in this region while adding a joyful holiday atmosphere to the neighborhood.
Living in an antique mansion was an amazing experience, I was able to open my window and immediately see a beautiful courtyard with stunning plants every morning. Interacting with the Linden family and their team added an unforgettable experience to this trip. During my stay, Mr. Linden often guided guests to tour this beautiful Yang’s mansion and explained the symbolisms of decorative sculptures of the architecture while introducing the concept of the Linden Center. He told us how “the foundation of Linden center is to create a sustainable economic system and development for Xizhou Town.” Linden and their team protected and restored old mansions back to their former glory, after being abandoned since the 1950s, and then converted them to hotels and educational centers to attract more tourists and increase job opportunities for Xizhou locals.
This concept of “commercializing while protecting the culture” is precious, in contrast to popular business strategy in Xizhou town, where investment companies deconstructed many old buildings and over-commercialized Xizhou town by replacing local handicraft merchants with trendy modern shops. Many guests are attracted to support the Linden team, furthering a better and sustainable development of Xizhou Town. The completely sold-out Christmas Dinner proves it: I was able to sit next to people from Canada, The U.S., South Korea, and connect with college students from Dali University. Regardless of people’s aims to attend this Christmas Dinner, whether to study English, to contact foreigners, or to explore Bai culture, everyone showed respect and inclusiveness to diverse cultures, celebrating Christmas together, singing Christmas songs and exchanging gifts.
Christmas marks the end of 2023, and Christmas Dinner at Linden center helped me finish my 2023 full of joy.
The Screen Wall in the Second Courtyard, picture by Flora Hu.
The Gate with Three Layers of Dropping Cornices and Brackets, picture by Linden Center.
Most Exterior Gate (Shanghai Shikumen), picture by Linden Center
immersEd in turquoisE waters
By: LUCY HALL
I was alone on the smallest airplane I’ve ever seen flying turbulently through international airways and over international seas. Each bump felt as if we could plummet thousands of feet into the sea. Slowly as we ascended, I realized I was missing out on the beauty of this foreign country due to my stress over an inconsequential plane ride.
In August of 2023, I had the opportunity to go to Belize on a short Marine Conservation volunteer trip. On my first day In Belize it was safe to say I was a bit squeamish. As I was assured into my taxi ride, the butterflies yet again returned to my stomach, but the second I saw the luminous aqua color of the ocean at the hotel at which I was to stay, all was well.
On the morning of August 15th, I arrived at the water dock titled “Hokey Pokey dock” at 8 o’clock, as directed. I was met with many lost looking faces leading me to the comforting realization that I was not the only traveler who had ventured this journey alone. I was quickly ushered into a small group of around 10 girls from various countries and cities all around the world. It wasn’t long into our conversation before we all expressed our collective concern about who our roommates would be. The second I felt a community being formed, the pit in my stomach began to lessen, until it eventually leveled out; what first seemed like nervous spikes as tall as eventually flattened into a smooth level plateau.
Tom Owns Caye, the island, felt like it appeared out of nowhere. The land itself totaled one and half acres, little did I know that this tiny speck of land in the middle of the Caribbean sea would soon feel impossible to leave.
On the first day of the program, we were all instructed on spear usage, as the goal of this program was to hunt and eradicate as much of the lionfish species as possible as they are a highly invasive species in the Caribbean. Quickly, I learned that my aim would be poor as it took me two shots to even get the spear in the vicinity of a trial coconut. Each day consisted of three separate scuba dives; the range of depth ranging between 30 and 130 feet. On my first dive we ended up going 80 feet down to the reef. For 45 minutes I was surrounded by incredible beauty. While the full color of the underwater nirvana(1) was muted due to the depth, the underwater world felt incredibly vibrant and alive. I remember feeling like there was an endless amount of things to see, touch, and experience. I was drawn to a small coral reef hub that had a handful of tiny jellyfish and sea spiders surrounding it. My scuba instructor stayed nearby and at one point got one of the sea spiders in his hand, letting the small creature crawl around his fingers.
A look into the Conservation of Ocean life in belize
QR Code for Reef CI Internships
He spotted my slightly nervous glances above my head at the sea of jellyfish roughly the size of my pinky finger. Quickly- although still in that underwater almost slow-motion manner- he grabbed his scuba friendly notepad and scribbled something down, flipped it over for me to read “the little ones don’t sting.” The simplicity of these words may not convey the beauty and wonder that they influenced in me. Inexplicably, these five words felt almost magical. It was as if the threat of the sea was slightly lessened by this quick message that freed me to fully engage the beauty of the glorious ocean wonderland I was immersed in.
During one of the first days there, upon returning from one of my dive training sessions, I was met with a groups that looked pulverized A friend I made in the previous day recounted the story of how the boat trip out that morning was met with extremely rough conditions, causing the boat to rock dramatically, leading to nearly the entire boat having to hurl over the stern.
My first spear attempt underwater was both exhilarating and short lived. On my first attempt, I just missed the fish, but on my second, I got it through the belly. Coming out of the program, one of the main questions I got was “Did you feel uncomfortable killing the fish right in front of you like that?” The thought that it may be hard to kill something so beautiful with my own two hands was a bit overwhelming at first. However, I think this was anticipated by the program as many of the presentations we received before the hunts showed the statistics of the overpopulation of the species and the aquatic impacts. This bigger picture was incredibly helpful particularly when learning to filet the fish. Fileting a lionfish is quite intricate and requires a very precise order and precisely angled cuts. In case you were curious, at REEF CI another main focus is to utilize nearly every part of the hunted fish. The beautiful almost tiger-like print of its skin is turned into jewelry, and the small amounts of meat are eventually harvested and eaten by the conservationists in order to not waste the hunted meat.
Between each dive, there was an incredible meal filled out by discussions of wild animals sighted in the previous underwater venture along with stories about hometowns I’ve never heard of. Slowly each person that I had first designated with a nickname based on my first impression of them became fully rounded out individuals with insane life and travel stories. Throughout each meal one could always hear a murmur of a foreign language in which new stories were told. Between dives, there would also be various presentations on relevant aquatic and environmental information. We learned about the mass amount of garbage that infiltrates the Caribbean sea. There’s a severe lack of garbage regulation in both Honduras and Guatemala which leads to countless beaches becoming riddled with trash. Our group went on a few beach clean ups, but it was disheartening to see that each night the ocean replaced each piece of garbage we picked up with new ones.
We ventured to an island much smaller than the one we had been staying It seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, yet, the beach was filled with countless pieces of trash. It was strange to see a place of such beauty and of such serene nature be packed with garbage. Even through the overload of trash, one of the most brilliant parts of staying on the island was the incredibly low light pollution. When I looked up there were more stars than I believed existed littering the sky. When looking east, I remember seeing a bright almost hub of light which at the time I assumed was the sun. I later found out that this was caused by lights from Honduras. The ocean was so uninhabited that the roughly 200 miles between the two countries was easily overcome by light.
Every night throughout my time on the island there was a sign up for what they called “turtle watch” in which everyone took turns surveying the island with a flashlight looking for the turtle that was scheduled to beach and lay her eggs. My friend and I decided to sign up for the 12-1am shift. The job entailed keeping watch of the perimeter of the whole island with small flashlights and to wake the group if the turtle was sighted. About 30 minutes into the shift I realized it wasn’t as glamorous of a job as it sounded when advertised by the Reef CI leaders. Throughout our two hours searching the perimeter of the island, the only creatures we were met with were the crabs that flooded every inch of the dock.
There was one night that I spent roughly three hours at an outdoor dining table with 5 almost strangers. The one Belizean teen entertained us for hours with his various life stories vastly different from our own. The small talk with the small group turned into a bigger discussion of humanity as a whole and its main question was whether or not humanity in itself was deeply bad? There were two main lines of thought, the two guys of the group were quick to respond in agreement to this question. Each had shared enough struggle in their lives to justify this position. However, the Brit of the group, named Florence, was quick to jump in with her take. “I think we are all just animals, and we have forgotten how to be animals.”
This immediately resonated with me, because I realized both groups were getting to the same point in different ways. The first group had learned from experience that humans can be cruel and animal-like in ways of brutality and reverting back to harmful instinct and intent. Whereas, the second person was offering the perspective of how we have lost the simplicity of our place in the world. We are all animals and we have forgotten what it is like to be a simply giving and receiving part of mother nature herself. Yet, hours after these memorable conversations, the group would retreat back into the ocean to experience the beauty of the Caribbean that far exceeded our humanity realization in importance and depth.
SCIENCE TEAM
Interviews by Lucy Hall
This Spring, the Annie Wright Rocket team will compete in the American Rocketry Challenge, a competition for all Middle and High Schoolers around the United States. This is the third year the science team has participated in this competition, in each year, Annie Wright has made it in top 100 in this competition. This competition allows our school to gain not only national, but global, recognition and accolades!
What most drew you to the Science Team (s)Elective?
“First of all, we are not in the Science Team. We are THE rocket team. We began as a maker selective but under the Junha Yoo’s idea, we transformed to rocket (s)Elective.” - Jerry Shang (Yellow Tie)
Do you mind quickly describing what the rocket contest is and what drew your (s)Elective to it?
“We have to design our own rocket that goes a certain height and fly for a certain period all with an egg inside of it. The American Rocketry Competition is the largest in the US so as a rocket team we are naturally dragged into participating in it.” - Xavier Petrosky (Red Tie)
Does collaboration play a big role in your preparation for this contest? In what ways? Has that been at all challenging?
“Collaboration plays a crucial role in our rocket design and building process. From testing the rocket on CFD to gluing the laser-cutted fins onto the tail, we always work as a team.” - Xavier Petrosky (Red Tie)
For anyone interested in pursuing rocketry and other science experiments, what advice do you have to give?
“Join the selective and donate PLEASE! We will teach you a lot!”Junha Yoo (Blue Tie).
What most inspires you about science as a whole and what motivates you to further study it?
“We are inspired by the people that came before us and discovered our world. We are motivated to continue this initiative by innovating everyday” - Xavier Petrosky (Red Tie)
Who are some role models in the physics or engineering world you have? Why do you feel inspired by them?
“Adrian Newey is our engineering role model. He is the pioneer of Formula One aerodynamics and we long to follow his footsteps as an aerodynamics engineer.” - Xavier Petrosky (Red Tie) and Junha Yoo (Blue Tie)
Financial problems, glue expansion, materials, staying on the timeline, reaching the specified height and time limit have been significant limitations for the rocket that will be launched during the competition is still currently being worked on; the group has all the materials and is in the process of finalizing their design.
The rocket itself can be launched multiple times and need trial runs before the design is finalized. Lots of time and research is currently going into the the engineering of the rocket in order to maximize its launching potential.
2023 film rewind
A glance back at the most noteable films each month in 2023
By Minh Nguyen and T.T. Nguyen
Jan: M3GAN
Unlike Chucky or Annabelle, M3GAN is not a host containing the soul of some evil entity, it represents itself. Both M3GAN’s body and brain are made of organic materials, but its power comes from nothingness processed by AI. Using only the internet, with unverified lines of code, M3GAN upgrades itself with the information it collects. From there, M3GAN thinking was formed based on probability functions and by analyzing human habits and moods. In other words, it becomes more dangerous as “intelligence” develops, in addition to absorbing bad habits and bad habits of people, all of which make M3GAN more difficult to deal with. Especially when the processor of the new generation “toy” is also capable of “assimilating” smart home devices, what is more worrying is that M3GAN will be ready to manipulate human psychology - that is, its owner. Because there is no appearance of ghosts, jumpscare in M3GAN is also minimized. The film circuit maintains fear with a tense atmosphere through the gradual “evolution” of M3GAN. From there, the shadow of concern about the dangers of AI appears clearly. If one day they “betray” and turn people into tools or slaves, where will the world go?
Rating: A.I. Chucky / psychological horror
Feb: Ant Man & the Wasp Quantum Mania
The opening movie for Marvel Phase 5, being made under the Star Wars lens, allows audiences to relive their memory. That was the original goal of Marvel making this, giving Phase 5 a fresh start while still somewhat familiar to the audience as they introduce a new villain and all the “science” they’re using in the future. But its story was heavily criticized for being written terribly with all the classic jokes and humor from the previous ant-man movie being taken away and replaced with those that are barely relatable or funny. Although Marvel’s lifevest was their CGI for this movie, it was just a tremendous overuse of CGI, being more than 80% of the time all the scenes were CGI not to mention that those are bad CGI as well.
Rating: Star Wars / 5th grade story
May: Guardian of The Galaxy 3
A big comeback from Marvel with the masterpiece called Guardian of the Galaxy Volume 3, with the storyline now focusing on Rocket’s past as well as revenge on another purple villain. Also bringing back the both hilarious and most synergized combat of the Guardians. The film retained the original humor from its ascendants. The film doesn’t bring the feeling of repetition but more of a finishing touch on the backgrounds of the guardians. A must watch.
Ratings: I love you guys
/ I am Groot
March: 65
A film which feels like Jurassic World. This was supposedly going to be the new Jurassic World with a simple plot but an immersive world with nature filled with dinosaurs. The simple plot is a main character (starred by Keanu Reeves) and his “princess”(the girl) and a goal (getting out of the planet). The action was what’s worth the attention with the trailer teasing the battle between the famous movie star Keanu Reeves and dinosaurs in a futuristic theme. Which did not stand up to its expectations, the visuals were amazing and the flow of the movie was easy to follow and appropriate for an action movie.
Rating: John Wick/Jurassic World
April: Super Mario Bros’
The 1st long-awaited animation for the year, coming from the famous video game Super Mario of Nintendo, starring Chris Pratt, Anna Taylor-Joy and Jack Black voices, the movie is expected to be an absolute banger and destroy all the previous depictions of movies adapted from video games from before. And so it did. The animations and character style have respected the original characters and have successfully protected the spirits of the game. The plots and references are phenomenal, it can be easily stated that the film has satisfied both the general audiences and the Mario fans. A must-watch for 2023.
Rating: Bowser / Peaches
June: Asteroid City
A Wes Anderson delicacy, set in the scene of a 1950s summer camp. Filled with humour and his unique color palette, as always. Phoenix McKell, a newbie to the film, steals the show as Alice, a strong-willed and creative youngster sent to the camp during her parents’ divorce. Through Alice’s wide-eyed curiosity and her experience as a new youngster, the audience is allowed to explore this miniature retro environment. We get to know a group of endearing misfits, including Scarlett Johansson’s witty portrayal of the sarcastic Vivian and Tony Revolori’s charming portrayal of the adventure-seeking Bobby. Their heartwarming and amusing exchanges with Alice highlight the transient bonds and educational opportunities that children enjoy during summer camp. A neat pick to sit back and relax with your family.
Ratings: Wes Anderson / summer camp
July: Oppenheimer
Another blockbuster from Christopher Nolan, the one that was expected to use an actual nuclear explosion in a film about the creator of nuclear weapons, J. Robert Oppenheimer. Although there was no nuclear bomb used in the film, it is still a remarkable cinematic representation of the life of Oppenheimer, showing the conflicts in his life as he progresses to make the atomic bomb and the aftermath that he may have caused. Credits again to Christopher Nolan for creating such a masterpiece with almost perfect tension building, leading up to the most “explosive” climax and a fitting philosophical end. Featuring Albert Einstein (Tom Conti), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) as Oppenheimer’s political rival Lewis Strauss and the most blinding explosion ever.
Ratings: honestly a 10 / 18.6 kilotons of power
August: Barbie
An unforgettable captivating experience. Barbie 2023, tour de force that charmed and bewitched me from the get go. Every minute of this movie was marvelous and in my opinion it’s worth a 10 out 10 rating, this movie is an absolute masterpiece that I highly recommend for everyone to watch. Right from the beginning, you are being teleported into a world full of wonders and imagination. The aesthetically pleasing landscape and predominantly pink put into this is an unforgettable and remarkable visual experience, not only that the different variety of costumes and set design put into the individual characters’ outfits and background setting is truly outstanding. The story is a full on adventure and, much like other Barbie this one is a full on adventure, magical and filled with unexpected twists and turns that can appeal to audiences of all ages. The music crew really out did themself with all the catchy tunes, and its uplifting melodies beautifully compliments the story. The soundtrack aptly compliments themes and actions throughout the film and highlights memorable moments for the audiences. In summary, Barbie 2023 can be considered PEAK FICTION, a movie that rightfully deserves the title “masterpiece” due to its innovative concepts, creative world building and spin on classic tropes. I highly recommend everyone to give it a go and watch it.
Rating: Ryan Gosling / Existential
Todisco, E. (2023, July 24). “Oppenheimer” teaser: Cillian Murphy is the “man who moved the Earth.” Hollywood Life.
Wallpaper Barbie movie, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, 4K, movies #24890. Wallpaper Barbie Movie, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, 4K, Movies #24890.(n.d.)
Callen, S. (2023, June 30). “asteroid city” is full of whimsy and wonder. Medium.
Sept: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Another beautiful piece from Wes Anderson, following Asteroid City. A fever dream, transferred from the novel of the same name, the film uses a palette of mild colors that bring a childlike nostalgia. The unique visual from Wes Anderson persists throughout the story, giving the vibes of a musical at the theater but enhanced with the magic of camera angles and CGI. The magnificent picture along with the outstanding performance from Benedict Cumberbatch and the voice of Ralph Fiennes brings the story of Roald Dahl to life. A relaxing piece to bring it back from all the blockbusters.
Rating: Doctor Strange actually a doctor / Enlightenment
Dec: Wonka
Oct: Five Night At Freddy’s
One more adaptation of video games represented on the big screen. The film has transferred the eerie atmosphere of the horror game Five Night At Freddy’s to life and has done a decent job at putting together a functional story, something that is still not clearly explained in the game franchise. It has pleased both the general viewer and the fans of the video game. The drawback is the film is more of an action rather than a horror film, as the animatronics are not that creepy and some of the most gruesome parts of the film were even off the screen. And what was shown as the bloodiest in the last scene is not even that scary. It’s generally a fun pick to watch but don’t expect too much horror...
Ratings: Rating: Chunky Freddy in a taxi / Bal-
A musical prequel to the famous Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, telling the story of Willy Wonka himself and his journey to start the Chocolate Factory. As a prequel, Wonka performs wonderfully, conveying all the magic of the previous film while adding the exciting factor of a musical. It enhanced the story with powerful and energetic tunes. The film also teaches many useful lessons that can be applied to our lives, for example, remember to read the footnote of everything that you sign before you sign it. It also reveals how the rich can become corrupt and only look out for their success and fame. It is the perfect piece to end 2023.
Rating: Don’t daydream / Flying chocolate
Nov: Hunger Game
One The prequel to the previous movie, Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has done its part to deliver a satisfying experience. The story includes 3 acts, following a non-linear route in the first 2 acts, giving the audience pieces of information one by one to eventually lead up to the perfect ending of the actual Hunger Games. But then it crushes the happiness and hopes of the audience in the last act with the fate of the victors of the Hunger Games and how their life gets to the turning point where trust crumbles and lies come out on top. Just like the name of the film: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, giving it a tragic but fulfilling end to the film. A great prequel in general.
Ratings: Royal Academy boy / Lower Class Singer Idol Girl
sustainable fashion
BY: ELLIS GILLER
Reflecting on clothing consumption in 2023 and moving forward into 2024
As we all know, online shopping and the ability to buy something with one simple, single click has made buying clothes easier than ever. Listen, as we all have probably experienced, buying clothes feels good; there’s a reason it’s sometimes called retail therapy. In fact, according to the Cleveland Health Clinic, there’s a psychological and therapeutic benefit to shopping, as well as a literal chemical reaction that occurs when you press buy. When we make a purchase, our brain releases endorphins and dopamine; so, chemically, there is an incentive and reward to buying something. It feels good.
As we move further into the new year, it’s important to consider the impact our individual shopping decisions have on the planet even if it feels good at the moment. The business model of fast fashion, at this point, is fairly well known. The Oxford Dictionary defines fast fashion as “inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.” As online shopping has become easier, the trend of fast fashion and materialistic consumption has increased. According to The Roundup, the global fashion industry in 2023 is currently valued at more than $1.5 trillion. Today, the average person in the United States buys 6 percent more clothing than four years ago and discards each item after wearing it 50 percent fewer times. The world produces 92 million tons of textile waste every year, “the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes ending up in landfill sites every second,” says the BBC. The U.S. is the second greatest contributor to textile waste, surpassed only by China. A final statistic: Less than 15 percent of clothes are recycled. While we start off the new year, it’s time to reflect on the fashion industry and focus on ways we can all shift our habits and make more sustainable and ethical decisions when buying our clothes.
Despite efforts in 2023 to shift to a more environmentally conscious place in the clothing industry, fast fashion grew from $106.42 billion in 2022 to $122.98 billion this year, according to the Business Research Company. However, There have been some improvements. Concepts that gained momentum in 2023 included the related ideas of circular economy and upcycling. The former relates to ways of making new products out of old, used products so that the waste stream of one product becomes the feed source for another; the latter goes a step further, where the materials of the old product are remade into a new, more valuable product. Together, these two approaches help to keep materials in use for as long as possible, reducing waste.
Some prominent companies have instigated a used clothing option into their marketing and websites as a way of reducing waste and recycling materials. A prime example is the company Patagonia. It uses mainly recycled materials in its products to begin with, as well as prioritizing fair labor with its, “supply-chain environmental responsibility program.” This program requires that each manufacturer contributing to Patagonia clothing meet a high standard for its labor and sustainability practices. Patagonia also has embraced the idea of incorporating a used clothing option into their brand, through a program called “Worn Wear.” The program collects and resells used Patagonia clothing to reduce the flow of clothing that ends up in landfills. Customers have the option of trading in used Patagonia gear (which the Worn Wear program even fixes up for resale) and receiving credit to buy new clothes in return. This model creates a fairly seamless sustainable clothing circle. Even less sustainably oriented companies have put in place the same kind of program as “Worn Wear.” Levi’s “Second-Hand” and Lululemon’s “ Like New” are two such examples. When shopping for clothes, purchasing from one of these programs is an effective way to live more sustainably. You’ll feel good in the moment, and you’ll feel good later on when thinking about the better choice that you made.
Shopping with the planet in mind also means researching the source of fabrics and understanding the work conditions involved in making clothing. There’s been a greater emphasis in 2023 on ethical and transparent supply chains. Some companies have put up web pages describing where their fabrics are made and what the working conditions are like. Clothing made from organic materials often uses less energy and water, and buying clothing made from natural fibers literally means that the fibers don’t contain any plastic which translates to when they can no longer be used, they will be able to biodegrade.
Additionally, taking a more sustainable approach to your clothing involves thrifting or shopping at used clothing stores. Thrifting has become very popular. Unfortunately, as it’s become popular, thrifting has also become more expensive; “vintage clothes” are sometimes even more expensive than they were when bought brand new. It’s still possible, however, to find deals when buying used clothing. It can be helpful to ask yourself: Do you really need new clothes? Could you shop instead for second-hand clothes? And could you contribute to such stores by selling or donating your used clothes? Don’t throw clothes that you no longer use into the trash. Start creating that sustainable circle. Often thrift stores will give you credit (and some will give you cash) if you donate your old clothes. If you don’t have any good thrift stores in your area, there are online thrifting options as well. Popular ones include, but aren’t limited to,
A common mindset is “Once I buy that new item, my wardrobe will be complete”. This approach can create a vicious cycle that doesn’t really stop. Look into companies’ missions and implementation practices before hitting click. Learn whether companies are sourcing their energy in a renewable way and using efficient lighting and appliances. Are they optimizing water usage? Are they reducing package waste? These are all helpful questions to ask yourself when navigating a company’s offering while being aware of your environmental impact. The process called slow fashion encourages consumers to shift away from fast fashion and embrace a more mindful approach to shopping.
Slow fashion, as the name suggests, is the opposite of fast fashion. In other words, quality over quantity.. Maybe you buy one more expensive, sustainably and ethically produced shirt, rather than five cheaper, unethical, unsustainable shirts. Much of the time, that higher-quality shirt will last much longer than the more quickly made shirts as well as being better for the environment.
Before you click that button, it can be helpful to visualize and go through the steps of what’s behind a piece of clothing and what has gone into making it. Think about the fabric which goes into the item. Where is the fabric from and who made the fabric and the clothing? Think about the shipping to the warehouse …. the robots packaging the item up … the item being put in a truck and the truck perhaps going to a plane and a boat … and eventually, the item ending up at your doorstep. Visualizing the process can help you make a more conscious and purposeful choice. Even if you do end up clicking buy, at least you will have thought about it
Clothing made from organic materials often uses less energy and water, and buying clothing made from natural fibers literally means that the fibers don’t contain any plastic which translates to when they can no longer be used, they will be able to biodegrade. Work conditions can be dangerous and unjust for workers in the textile and clothing industry. The fast fashion industry employs about 75 million factory workers across the world, according to George Washington University. Of those 75 million workers, approximately less than 2 percent make a living wage. This means that more than 98 percent of those workers are living below the poverty line. The textile industry also exploits child labor. Many of these factory workers breathe in chemicals that have been proven to cause cancer. Educating yourself about the working conditions behind fast fashion companies can be eye-opening and perhaps lead you to make a different choice about your clothing purchase.
As we move into 2024, or any new year, it’s normal to examine bad habits that we’ve developed or patterns that we’ve fallen into. Obviously, it’s essential and important to have clothing, and it’s nice to treat yourself at times. Making conscientious choices, however, is an important step to take; for ourselves and for the planet. Being educated about each of our impacts on the landfill is important information that can impact our habits. Clothing is one area we can examine our habits in. Learning more about companies and brands, exploring new ones, and perhaps thinking about buying second-hand are small actions that add up. So, next time you’re about to press “buy,” ask yourself: is this worth it? Do I need this item? Could I find it second-hand? Clothing is a crucial aspect of self-expression and buying clothes can still make us feel good; just make a decision to buy an item of clothing consciously and purposefully.
TO BUY FROM:
RED TIE TRIP RATINGS
interview and writings by Eisha ahmaD
This November, Red Ties were able to travel around the world for the first time since the Pandemic. Some were traveling through vibrant jungles, other’s admired the elusive Northern Lights, while another group were able to wander into the ancient wonders in Greece. Throughout each adventure and exploration they had a chance to learn and experience a new culture, habitat and exotic cuisines.
The Red Ties had the opportunity to pick between three offered locations: Iceland, Belize, and Greece. The week before Thanksgiving break, while the rest of the tie colors were still at school, the Red Ties were out exploring ancient ruins, ice caves, and cruising through different islands.
We wanted to know what they liked best, so we sent out a form to all Red Ties for feedback on their experiences. The overall ratings that came back were incredibly positive.
what was your favoritE part about your chosen trip?
Iceland: Hot spring and seeing the Northern Lights
Belize: Snorkeling, visiting the school, and staying on the island
Greece: Sunrise in Delphi
what was your lEast favoritE part of the trip?
Iceland:The main complaint was that the weather was extremely cold and windy and the long bus rides.
Belize: A lot of people came back home with many bug bites! Ouch!
Greece: Many people in Greece developed a strong dislike for the cheese pies and long bus rides. what was the bEst thing you expEriencEd about the culture and climate?
Iceland:The live lava, ice caves, and really cold.
Belize: Warm climate, and people were generally very nice and welcoming.
Greece: Generally warm and humid climate, and learning Greek dances on the boat.
what nEw fooDs did you eat on your trip?
Iceland: Mashed fish and lava cake
Belize: Tamales
Greece: Gyros, baklava, bougatsa, choriatiki, and cheese pies
sunrise in Delphi
Northern Lights Annie Bai mashed fish and potatoes.
what was the most fascinating thing you lEarnEd about the country you wEnt to?
Iceland:The country contains a lot of active volcanoes that could erupt any time, as well as having one of the freshest, cleanest water to drink in the world. It is also illegal to import animals to and from the country because they want to preserve the local habitat and avoid the negative impact of invasive species.
Belize: There are many languages that are locally spoken including English, Spanish, Kriol and Belizean Creole which showed the historical importance of the country and where these different languages stemmed from. These languages reflect the culture and promote diversity within Belize since they’re from different societies and places which evolved over time and shows the changes of each culture in Belize.
Greece: People learned some of the translations of English words to Greek and where they are rooted from, as well as lots of history of the sites they learned in Olympia.They visited the location where the first Olympic games took place, the ancient city of Delphi, and the Acropolis of Athens.
The Streets of Greece- Eisha Ahmad
what wErE the bEst sights you vieweD and why?
Caving in Iceland -Annie Bai
Iceland:Many people enjoyed the views of the northern lights, the many waterfalls and the scenery viewed while hiking up glaciers. Furthermore, The Perlan Museum too due to its pretty cafe with a beautiful view and an amazing planetarium. All the waterfall hikes were also a highlight for many students because they were in incredible and powerful sight to behold. Another Icelandic favorite was the Flúoir; many students expressed it was a great experience to look at the ice that goes through the stream.
Belize: Some of the favorite sights were the Mayan temples which piqued interest due to the incredible and ancient history behind them. Visiting a school in Belize was also a fond memory for many Red Ties because people were able to connect with the local kids. The students also got to view some beautiful coral reefs and explore underwater wonders in the Caribbean Sea.
Greece: The Delphi sunrise was a view popular to many due to the color of the clouds and sky creating a majestic sight. The view of Poros and many islands from the boat were another memorable site because the whole city was in view as well as the Corinth Canal because the view of the channel was described as extremely large and deep.
Dock in Belize, Reagan Grace
what is the most mEmorable momEnt you expEriencEd?
Iceland:Viewing the northern lights and waterfalls
Belize: Exploring and being cramped on the small yet fascinating island with beaches.
Greece: Visiting Olympia and seeing the historical sights, petting all the stray cats, and viewing the unforgettable sunrises.
-Photo by Eisha Ahmad
-Photo by Annie Bai
-Photo by Reagan Grace
BELIZE
EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Interviews by Peyton Matthews
MEXICO
“My favorite part of my time in Mexico was probably the food or all of the great experiences and adventures that my host family took me on. I had a lot of fun but probably the most challenging part was the first week or so when I was just getting settled in and I didn’t really know anyone, and the last few days when I was super close to coming home.”
- Comment and photo by Ayden Bailey USB class of ‘26
“I really enjoyed my exchange to Mexico because it allowed me to become immersed in the language, it helped my speaking abilities so much. In the beginning it was a little difficult when I couldn’t understand some of the things my host family was saying to me because of vocabulary issues but after being there for a while I understood everything so much better! The food there was also so amazing!”
- Serena Brewster USG class of ‘26
My favorite part was the food and going to the beach. I think the most challenging part was dealing with people, nobody thought I spoke Spanish and treated me as a dumb American and that was really annoying.-Aliya Kunz USG class of ‘26
FRANCE
“My absolute favorite memory of being in France was going into town everyday during lunch with my friends and getting a fresh baguette. We would just sit in the town center and eat it with butter and delicious cheese! Some of the classes I took while I was there were difficult for me to understand. Trying to understand Spanish in a French accent is harder than you could ever imagine!” - Clementine Soustelle USG class of ‘26
“While I was in France I loved being surrounded by such an interesting culture everyday. Everything there is uniquely French, that’s just something you don’t get to experience in the US. The architecture and all the people were very interesting, plus the food was delicious. The language barrier was difficult but it was also a great learning opportunity that will definitely help me with my French!”Rowan Goral USG class of ‘26
“I think my favorite part of being in France was the people. All the kids at school were so kind and interested in learning about the United states. You could tell they were really trying to speak some English to you, and they loved it when you could speak French! Overall the experience was so fun and I met so many people. I plan to stay connected with my host family and hopefully travel back there in the future. It was pretty difficult in the beginning to get adjusted to a whole new culture and language but when I left I felt more confident in my French skills and knowledge of their beautiful culture.”- Comment and photo by Peyton Matthews USG class of ‘26 “One of my favorite parts of the exchange was all the smaller day-to-day differences that come with living in a different country. For example, the food I ate, like tartiflette, French cheeses, and crêpes, which were a regional specialty. One of the most challenging parts of the exchange was the language barrier—though I’ve been learning French for 3-4 years, the way you learn French is pretty different then how French people speak in real life, which is a lot faster and with lots of slang that’s hard to understand.”-Xuan-Xanh Henry-Pham USG class of ‘26
develping a dual dynasty
By: Jeremiah Harshman-Connor and Peyton Matthews
Annie Wright basketball is State bound! Both the boys and girls basketball teams have had a lot of success this 2023-24 season. This history of success started with the girls program many years ago; they currently hold five league championship titles and an impressive 4th place state tournament trophy for their 2020 season. They have started a strong culture of winning for Annie Wright’s sports programs. The boys basketball program is relatively new with just six seasons under their belts. This includes two league championship titles and three appearances at State, as well as going undefeated in league play this year.
Each of these programs have extremely qualified coaches that have made a name for themselves locally and internationally. They have taken their knowledge and experience and brought it back to where they first fell in love with the game. Both of these coaches have deep roots here in Tacoma. Coach Alex, the head coach of our girls program, graduated from Lincoln High School before she played at Georgia Tech and was later a first round draft pick in the WNBA. The head coach of the boys program, Coach Dom, graduated from Curtis High School and went on to play for TCC and Central University before taking his skill overseas.
When we asked Coach Dom what he thought made the Annie Wright program special, he first responded with, “Coach Dom!” After his humble response he elaborated and we ended up with the answer of, “The players and the coaching staff are what make us special. We are all focused on one goal and we strive to achieve it. On and off the court.” A player on the team, Jeremiah Harshman said “When I think about the boys basketball program, as a player, I know that being on the same page is critical, especially with how hard we push ourselves in practice”. During a few interviews with different players at the beginning of the season a common theme was their mental game; pushing through when things get hard and staying consistent for their team. These players put a huge amount of time and effort into this sport, it’s important that all of them are on the same page. This drive is essential to any team that has ambitions to take home the state title, and that’s what we aim to do.
When we interviewed Coach Alex, she answered the question of what makes her program special with a response of, “What makes us special is that we are very unique, from top to bottom, guard to post. We are talented, athletic, versatile and we work hard on both ends of the floor. We play together and make it very hard for our opponents to win.” This is very apparent in the way they play, as they have gone almost undefeated in the league only losing to one team this season. Coach Alex believes in success off the court as well, she says, “A goal I have for my athletes is to excel in the classroom as well as on the court. Put in the work all around.” Being able to achieve this takes an extreme amount of dedication from the athletes. It is amazing what these young men and women can achieve. When we think of the athletes in this program a few words that come to mind are determined, tough, poised, consistent, and winners.
Wish our Gators luck as they head to the State Tournament and get closer to bringing home a trophy!
USB team
USG team
VARSITY MUSIC
By: Meher Bahia
2024 is the second year of Varsity Music, a program started by our amazing director of music Annie Green. It is for music lovers & makers to collaborate in small ensembles to explore and create new kinds of music. This includes original compositions and/or arrangements, with unique performance and recording opportunities!
The following are interviews from two anonymous members of this year’s Varsity Musicians!
Why did you join Varsity Music?
- “Music is something I love and could never live without. I’ve been participating in bands and playing/singing music for years already and I wanted to know more about the music programs at Annie Wright, so I decided to join.”
- “I joined Varsity Arts because I had always had some longing to pursue music and this program gives me that opportunity“
What do you want to accomplish in Varsity Music?
- “To be honest, all I’m aiming for is to have time surrounded by music, instruments and other musicians. However, if I have to set a goal, it’ll be learning the basics about another instrument such as piano besides the one I can play”.
- “Just to face my fears and make music.”
What inspired you to perform your piece of music?
- “My mom loves music and she sings all the time. I think that she passed that passion on to me as she always says music will be your best friend both on a bright or a gloomy day. So, I love music and I perform it hoping that everybody does too.”
- “I wanted to face my stage fright and perform with some fellow students.”
Describe your music performance/piece in a few words and what area or genre of music do you practice.
- “I describe the piece as soft and slow and they practice mostly pop music.”
- “My song is by beabadobee and it’s called ‘’glue song.’’ I loved the sweet melody and interesting lyrics. Singing is my area of music.”
Anything else you would like to add?
“If you love to have time zoning out and focus just on music, check this program out!”
Thank you to the musicians who took time out of their schedules to talk to us. We are very grateful for your help. Inkwell would also like to give a shout out to our amazing Director of Arts Annie Green for her help in the production of this article.
These interviews are just a taste of what Varsity Music was like this year. The showcase the musicians performed on February 22 was an incredible display of the talent and skill of these musicians.
The Varsity Music Program will be launching again next year so if you are interested,
sustainbility highlight
Ireland Jean
Clean Energy Transformation Act (enacted in 2013, major progress this year) The main targets of this act include:
◊ A 100% clean energy policy that will hopefully in result Washington using 100% clean electricity by 2045, making Washington one of the most ambitious states in the nation in terms of clean energy goals
◊ A clean building policy that was enacted in Seattle first: this causes all large buildings to be non-reliant on fossil fuels for energy as well as smaller suburban areas becoming less reliant on fossil fuels. This policy raises the bar for the nation as well as just the state.
◊ A cap-and-invest program (puts a statewide ‘cap’ on total greenhouse gas emissions, new this year). This helps fund new environmentally friendly public transport and it will also manage community reinvestment that helps businesses and families transition away from fossil fuel usage
◊ Promoting and rapidly increasing the use of electric vehicles throughout the state
◊ Launch of a state Clean Energy Fund (the deployment, demonstration, and development of clean technology) and the Clean Energy Institute at the University of Washington that helps test and research Cleantech
This bill has been a major step in the right direction for Washington’s sustainability. Since it was enacted in 2013 for the first time Washington has been able to make major progress in its success. It is extremely important for more places to follow in Washington’s footsteps and enact similar laws. If every state in the United States were to start making progress like Washington, it would significantly decrease the United States’ Annual emissions.
Main points of progress from 2023:
◊ Governor Inslee signed more specific legislation to support the numerous implemented clean energy policies the bill aims to improve: siting and permitting of clean energy facilities (HB 1216) and transmission planning (SB 5165)
◊ Legislation passed the governor’s request for a new Climate Corps and further support for volunteer opportunities and workforce training in climate and clean energy-related jobs
◊ The governor signed a bill to incorporate climate change and resiliency goals into the Growth Management Act. This is to improve the ability of local communities to respond to climate change
◊ At the 2023 Paris Air Show, Governor Inslee announced new and expanding efforts related to sustainable fuel companies in Washington. Washington also enacted new goals to increase the sustainable aviation fuels sector because aerospace industries are some of the hardest to decarbonize
◊ Washington’s new cap-and-invest program is resulting in more than $2 billion of reinvestment being put back into communities over the next two years. This is to support the transition away from fossil fuels and help overburdened communities deal with the negative impacts caused by extreme temperatures and warming climate. Examples include:
◊ programs to make it easier for low-income people to purchase heat pumps or weatherize their homes,
◊ Build more EV charging stations, and
◊ Help farm workers or construction workers who have to work in high outdoor temperaures
◊ Legislature approved nearly $800 million of funding for salmon recovery, this included $425 million for salmon habitat efforts.
Governor J. Inslee signing for more bills for renewable energy
QR code leading to more info on the bill
Before and after the fires at Lahnia’s old Courthouse, behind which the Banyan tree stood for over 150 years
Right after (right) and current (left) condition of the 150 year old Banyan tree
While the Clean Energy Transformation act has been enacted since 2013, there has been significant progress as of this year. This shows that there continues to be major improvements and progress to the act even ten years later. This level of commitment is what will allow Washington to reach its 100% renewable energy goal. If you are interested in learning more about this bill and helping Washington reach 100% renewable energy, scan the QR code to the left.
Major climate-related disasters from 2023:
The following outlined disasters or weather events are just a few examples of the devastating events that occurred in 2023. There are countless disasters occurring because of climate change year round that don’t get media attention that are just as devastating as the events that do get media attention. However the following is a brief summary of two examples of these disasters, and an outline on one of the weather events that is heightened by climate change.
Floods in California:
California experienced severe flooding from an influx in severity and frequency of the Pacific Storm system. After heavy rainfall around January 22nd, major flooding ensued, for most of California it wouldn’t cease until mid March. These floods lead to severe disasters in places like Santa Barbara, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme. While these storms and floods were happening there was major casualty and loss of infrastructure. However, within the next few months of the year, California experienced a super bloom of areas where seeds had been dormant for years. Not only this but many of the major rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in California were replenished.
Wildfires on Maui:
In early August 2023 Maui, Hawaii experienced extreme wildfires across a majority of the island. The overall death toll reached 100 confirmed deaths making this the most deadly wildfire the country has seen in the last 100 years. There were 2,207 buildings destroyed with an overarching estimated recovery cost of $5.5 billion. The main causes of this disaster were dry conditions and high winds. Despite this tragedy, many inspiring stories come out of this crisis One of which centers around a 150-year-old Banyan tree that was severely burned in the forest. This tree has been a part of Maui’s history so when it got burned residents feared that it would not recover, however, three months after the first it began showing signs of life and new leaves are growing, because of this it has become a symbol of hope for the residents of Maui and all those affected from the fires.
El Niño:
In 2023 we experienced what is known as an El Niño year, the full name of this is El Niño de Navidad because this weather pattern tends to peak around December. Essentially El Niño is when trade wind weakens leading to warm water being pushed back east towards the west coast of America. These warm waters significantly affect our weather and make it much more mild. The warm water pushes the Pacific jet stream south of its average position. This change results in the northern U.S. and Canada being dryer and warmer than usual. However the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast experience wetter weather with increased flooding. While this weather event has been recorded since the early 1600s by South American fishermen, the effects of this weather event have worsened climate change. The warming climate has resulted in more frequent and extreme El Niño years.For more detail on this, you can go to: oceanservice.noaa.gov
Average temperatures across the USA:
While researching these temperatures I discovered that generally, the temperatures of every month of 2023 were higher than the year before and overall 2023 was the hottest year on record. The significantly increasing and growing carbon emissions and all the greenhouse gasses that are already in our atmosphere are causing these warming temperatures.
January: 35.13 (5.1 above average)
February: 36.52 (2.7 above average)
March:40.7 (0.8 below average)
April: 51.4 (0.3 above average)
May: 62.4 (2.2 above average)
June: 69.0 (0.5 above average)
July: 75.7 (2.1 above average)
August: 74.4 (2.3 above average)
September: 67.8 (2.9 above average)
October: 56.1 (2.0 above average)
November: 57.6 (33.53 above average)
December: 34.3 (0.5 higher than previous record)
SCOURCES:
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/national/202310
https://www.statista.com/statistics/513628/monthly-average-temperature-in-the-us-fahrenheit/
PHOTO SCOURCES:
https://www.businessinsider.com/giant-old-banyan-tree-maui-fires-damage-survive-2023-8 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/14/opinion/maui-fire-lahaina-banyan-tree.html
Year of the Dragon
By: Ellis Giller
The dragon is a combination of different animals, some of which are part of the zodiac. For example, dragons have the eyes of the rabbit, the horns of the deer, the mouth of the ox or bull, etc. The dragon is an important symbol of Chinese people. In fact, the Chinese say everyone is of the descent of the dragon and we’re all made from the dragon’s blood. Every zodiac sign is important but as Mandarin Teacher Bo Cheng said in an Inkwell interview, “The dragon is different from other animals because it’s an imaginary animal.” The Year of the Dragon is thought to bring opportunity, success and good luck to everyone.
As of February 10, we have officially moved from the Year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon. In Chinese culture, there are 12 zodiac signs, and the dragon is the 5th animal in the sequence. Each zodiac sign is associated with certain characteristics. Last year was the Year of the Rabbit where people are believed to be quiet and thoughtful. Those born in the current Year of the Dragon are believed to have power and strength.
What’s your Chinese zodiac? Consider the year of your birth and the lunar year date to find
If you were born before February 9 in 2005 you are the zodiac of the Monkey
If you were born after February 9 in 2005 you are the zodiac of the Rooster
If you were born after January 29 in 2006 you are the zodiac of the Dog
If you were born after February 18 in 2007 you are the zodiac of the Pig
If you were born after February 7 in 2008 you are the zodiac of the Rat
If you were born after January 26 in 2009 you are the zodiac of the Ox
If you were born after February 14 in 2010 you are the year of the Tiger
SCOURCES:
Giller, E., & Cheng, B. (2024, February 20). Interview Lunar New Year. personal. Lunar New Year. MDIS Blog. (2023, June 26). https://www.mdis.edu.sg/blog/lunar-new-year/ https://www.mdis.edu.sg/blog/lunar-new-year/ Happy Chinese New Year. (23 C.E., March 20). istockphoto.com. https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/happy-chinese-new-year-2024-dragon-zodiac-sign-gm1474271234-504185495
DORM HIGHLIGHTS
By: Lucas Jung
For those unfamiliar with dorm life, the actual dorm might appear to merely be a place to eat and sleep within the school. Furthermore, being away from family, home, and cherished memories can raise many concerns about what it’s like to live in a dorm. However, this article will reveal the many benefits of living in the dorm with fascinating insights into a few of the many activities and benefits of dorm life.
greetings
Within the dorm, “Greeting” describes a meeting in the Great Hall held for new dormers to interact with and learn more about each other. Not only does it allow them to sit around the fireplace together and share interesting stories, but a couple of exciting activities are provided to ensure more familiarity with their fellows and the dorm environment. One of the cool activities preferred by many dormers is gathering together to create more delicious cracker sandwiches. Crackers, marshmallows, chocolates, and other sweets are provided, and they can make more delicious marshmallows and chocolates by putting them slightly into the fireplace through the metal sticks. Even though this might seem simple, it presents valuable meaningful moments and memories.
Dorm Olympics
The Dorm Olympics is another exciting event with a variety of activities. Two or three members in each dorm group are assigned and compete in certain activities against counterparts from other dorm groups.
The higher the place you earn, the more points your dorm group will receive. The final score and placement of dorm groups will be determined based on the sum of scores earned from each member’s performance. The winner will receive a huge reward. For instance, in 2023, the winner (Cetus) had the great opportunity to indulge in various styles of Hot Pot.
Math Competition
Exciting news for those interested in math!
Dorm Olympics runs a math competition, consisting of two sections, one for mental calculation and the other for addressing challenging problems. Participants face 100 multiplication problems and earn points based on accuracy and completion time.
Following this warm-up, they have to tackle a set of challenging problems that require careful observation and deeper investigation through their mathematical knowledge. There is nothing more interesting for people interested in math than facing these challenges.
Tug of War
Toward the end of the Dorm Olympics, all dorm groups will be asked to participate in the Tug of War. Similar to what was demonstrated in Squid Game, each of the eight dorm groups will engage in direct elimination until the final winner appears. This is the only activity throughout the Dorm Olympics where you can collaborate and share all the joy with all your dormmates!
Sumo Wrestling
One of the interesting outdoor activities that has been on my mind, and which few have the chance to experience, is Sumo Wrestling. In each match, two don giant Sumo costumes, step onto the mat, and then engage in a wrestling match. This presents a fantastic experience for many dormers to venture into a unique sport and discover the sheer enjoyment it brings.
Dorm group
Once a year, the dorm environment becomes over-charged with energy and excitement.
This is when the “Dorm Group Overnight Trip” is announced. During this special occasion, dormers are grouped into their respective dorm groups, indulging in a variety of activities planned by dorm parents and enjoying the entire night with their dorm fellows outside the school.
In the 2023 overnight trip, dorm groups had the great opportunity to experience Hallowen-based activities. Among the numerous activities that provided memorable experiences, a couple stood out as exceptionally fitting for the Halloween theme and bringing immense thrill to dormers.
Carving Pumpkins
What kind of activities come through your mind when you think of the ways to celebrate Halloween? “Trick or Treat,” “House Decoration with Pumpkins,” or “Haunted House?” Among all these exciting Halloween activities, have you found that they have pumpkins in common?
During this 2023 Spooky overnight trip, dormers had a fantastic experience carving pumpkins through their distinct artistry. It was a pleasure to see and appreciate all the decorated pumpkins through their aesthetic, humorous, and inspirational features.
This “Carving Pumpkin” activity not only brought joy to dormers through personal achievement but also provided them with an opportunity to engage in communal experiences by sharing their creative ideas, works, and any additional interests.
Hide & Seek
Hide & Seek may seem mundane and familiar to all of us, as we often played this game in our childhood. However, when it is done on Halloween night, it provides a much more eerie and fun atmosphere.
In this event, the roles of hiding and seeking follow the pattern we all know until a seeker finds a hider. Instead of fleeing, the hider takes on a new role to start chasing after seekers, whose role shifts to alert others and run back to where they started.
As opposed to the original game of Hide & Seek, where hiders are usually pursued and experience tension, seekers now bear tension while searching for hiders. Eventually, they will find themselves being chased at any moment. This twist heightens the overall intensity and thrill of the game itself, especially when engaging in this with your dorm fellows in the dark abyss of night.
Halloween version of Hide & Seek
Pumpkin Carving
Sumo Wrestling
Sumo Wrestling
LIP SYNC
Chloe Chen, Dance Team:
Lip Sync has always been one of the most important shows for the Dance team, and the Dance team has won the Lip Sync live performance for several years. However, after losing first place last year, Jenny and I have been worried about it and have been working hard to regain the title, and everyone on the Dance team has been practicing hard for it. Since before the Christmas break, each member of the Dance team has been practicing on average two to three times per week for an hour each time. As Lip Sync approached, each group began to gradually increase their practices based on their own ability. Of course, the result did not disappoint all of us. Everyone was nervous and excited during the performance and wanted to present all the hard work they had put in over the past three months. When it came time to announce the winner of the Live performance, Jenny and I were incredibly nervous and looking forward to the results. We were so happy to be on stage to better show our best selves to everyone.For me, I love to dance with my friends and keep learning new moves and different positions. Dancing is a great way to release the pressure from schoolwork and helps me to reshape my way of thinking and clear my mind.
WINNERS OF LIP SYNC, LABS:
“We are grateful for the support of the people in choosing our video this year, LABS has a strong commitment to community engagement and we wish to inspire students to step out of their comfort zone and participate in uplifting their peers, and through Lip sync we aim to inspire the students of Annie Wright Schools to step into roles of leadership through humorous acts on video or on stage performances.”- Adwaya Bage (LABS President)
photo contest winners!
BEST OF SPORTS Contest winner: Cale Carter
BEST OF THE OUTDOORS Contest Winner: Yiting Zhang
CONGRATULATIONS to our winners!! Cale, Yiting and Aiden, don’t forget to stop by Ms. Weston’s office for your Civvies Day Pass!
BEST OF FALL Contest Winner: Aiden Cai
INKWELL PLAYLISTS
BIPOC MARKET PREVEIW
point defiance crossword key
Look out for the bipoc market on May 11th at Annie Wright, more information to come!
“We do the bipoc market because due to systemic racism people who identify as bipoc, in the past and currently, face issues with selling at markets due to racism, so we do this so bipoc owned businesses can have a space to share their talent and art with our community.”
- Lauren Gillette USG class of ‘25
Across
1. Double-reed woodwind
5. What a prankster might be doing on Halloween night
10. Pop-punk group known for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Time of Your Life"
14. What you get when you pour soda too fast
15. Airline bought by American in 2015
16. Aching
17. Piece of paperwork
18. Graduated ______ cum laude
19. Goddess of the Moon
20. Makes a word when placed after "b," "d," "h," "n," or "p"
22. Dairy alternative
23. Pride
24. He blew his horn in a nursery rhyme
28. "Vogue" competitor
30. "Are we on for Saturday?"
31. They're shown throughout broadcasts
32. Goth-adjacent subculture
33. You might read one if you missed an episode of your favorite show
36. "Siddhartha" author Hermann
37. To complete this crossword, fill in the four gray squares squares with these, which symbolize the four class years at Annie Wright
39. Common freshwater fish in the Pacific Northwest
42. Escape from
43. Org. that went on strike from May-September 2023
46. Common name for a King of England
47. ______ strip, a mathematically mysterious shape that can be made by twisting a sheet of paper
49. Not odd
50. Song that begins "In the town where I was born/lived a man who sailed to sea"
53. Boxer Mohammed
54. Inverse of sec
55. Ostrich relative
56. Actor Rickman or computer scientist Turing
57. What everyone wants to do on every test
59. Part of a plant that photosynthesizes
63. It helps you catch your breath
64. Island in the Northeast
65. "Orinoco Flow" singer ("Sail away, sail away...")
66. Get angry, idiomatically
67. Official currency of Algeria, Iraq, Serbia, and Tunisia, among other countries
68. Biblical garden
Down
1. Dark, as a light
2. Spook's shout
3. Canoer's tool
4. _____ Till, a young Afircan American boy whose 1955 murder became a major flashpoint of the Civil Rights movement
5. Historically Black university in Alabama known for its Airmen
6. East Coast uni. whose mascot is the Nittany lion
7. Child's retort to "You are not!"
8. Actor Leonard who played Mr. Spock on "Star Treck"
9. Pacific Ocean color
10. Haunting English folk song whose tune is also used for the Christmas carol "What Child Is This?"
11. Gymnast Gabby
12. Actor and politician Scharzenegger and golfer Palmer, for example
13. Affirmative vote
21. Transparency
24. Fib
25. Suffix for many political ideologies
26. Uncle, in Spanish
27. Italian lawn game similar to bowling
29. Opposite direction to WNW
31. Hopefully you finish your homework earlier than this
34. Old-school Internet provider distributed on free CD-ROMs in the 90s
35. _____ bob (small weight)
37. 2022 movie about a girl
who turns into a giant red panda
38. Meter on a car that measures total distance traveled
39. Definite article
40. Get a second appraisal, as for an antique
41. Might describe a small, rural road
43. Nintendo console that followed the Gamecube
44. Firearm
45. Suffix used in the names of many enzymes
48. Creme _____, dessert made with a bowtorch
50. Penalty in soccer
51. 2014 Winter Olympics locale
52. Apply to
56. Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease (abbv.)
58. Civil rights icon Wells
60. Conclusion
61. Affirmative vote
62. Enthusiast
I n k w e ll