The Yellow Pages BASIS Independent Fremont Upper School
October/2021
Credit: The Sacramento Bee
WILDFIRES (US AND CANADA)
There are multiple major fires in and around California. The largest so far is the Dixie Fire, which has charred over 950,000 acres and is burning in five counties. The fire started on July 13, 2021, and its cause is still unknown. So far, over 1,300 structures have been destroyed by the fire, and one firefighter has died in the process of containing the fire. The Dixie Fire is burning very close to the burn scar of the 2018 CampFire. The most impacted areas are near Canyon Dam, along state Highways 36 and 89. The town of Susanville is dangerously close to the fire, but firefighters are gaining the upper hand, having achieved 94% containment. [Credit: CAL FIRE] The Caldor Fire has been burning south of South Lake Tahoe, carving a path of destruction along many popular skiing destinations, such as Sierraat-Tahoe. The fire started on August 14, 2021, and its cause is still unknown. More than 220,000 acres have been burned. A little over a thousand structures have been destroyed. The most impacted areas are near the Highway 89 junction, along 1
Highway 50 and Highway 88. The entire community of Grizzly Flats has been leveled by the fire, with almost all of the structures already destroyed. The communities of Pollock Pines and South Lake Tahoe are also dangerously close to the fire, with evacuation warnings in effect for both areas. However, firefighters are making progress on containing the fire, achieving 76% containment as of 9/22/21. [Credit: Inciweb.nwcg.gov] Some other fires have also caused significant damage in the month of September, including the River Complex Fire, which is burning in the Siskiyou and Trinity counties. The River Complex Fire consists of 22 individual fires that have burned around 200,000 acres, and these fires were caused by lightning. As of 9/23/21, the fires are 55% contained. In addition to that, the Tamarack Fire, 84% contained, has been burning close to the Caldor Fire. Also, the Monument Fire has burned 220,000 acres and is 59% contained. Both the Monument Fire and Tamarack Fire have destroyed 75 structures in total. [Credit: CAL FIRE, inciweb.nwcg.gov]
Contents:
Warriors will have their season opener against the Lakers on October 19th. Go, Warriors!
Student Poll Results
Page 1: Weather Report Page 2: Sports and Poll Results Page 3: The Monthly Advice Column Page 4: Monthly Restaurant Review Page 5: Comic Strip and Food Trucks Page 6: Back2School CrossWord Page 7: Art Contest!
Golden State Warriors
Basketball season is starting next month, and the Golden State Warriors are back and ready for the season! The Warriors played pretty well last season, despite the fact that Klay Thompson was out for the season due to his torn right Achilles’ tendon. The Warriors are hoping to go back to the playoffs and win another championship. After two years of not playing basketball, Klay Thompson is coming back this December. His last game was Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. Now that Klay Thompson is back, the Warriors have a high chance of going to the playoffs. The Warriors added Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, and Andre Iguodala in free agency. They also drafted Moses Josiah Moody and Jonathan Kuminga in the NBA draft. One of the Warriors’ key players, Andrew Wiggins, refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine, claiming it was for religious purposes; however, the NBA still did not let him play. He may miss a few games because of his refusal to take the vaccine. The 2
More Student Poll Results
that if they don’t reciprocate, you can nip your feelings before they further develop. However, if you come off too bold, he/she/they will wonder if you’re being too strong. Don’t make it a big deal. If you go about it the mature way and don’t make a drama out of it, you’ll either carry on as you were as friends, or get a date out of it! Best of Luck, V² Dear V²,
Thoughts on in-person learning
I feel like I don’t belong in my friend group-- Or, I think they’re signaling me. So far, they’ve been excluding me during lunch conversations and group assignments. -Asking for a Friend Dear Asking,
The Monthly Advice
Dear Nervous,
Column
A confession will make you feel lighter; The more you endure and keep things to yourself, the more you’ll think about it. You should do so as graciously as you can, but don’t try to predict the future. You are boosting a very positive energy to someone and in return, emptying your feelings with expecting nothing. Doing it as soon as possible means
Dear V², I’ve been interested in someone for a while now, but I am feeling really nervous. How do I confess my feelings? What happens if they don’t like me back? I want to ask them out! Please help. -Nervous with a Crush
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If you are feeling like you are being excluded from everything, maybe you could try talking to them. Many people don't realize it when they’re doing something bad or hurtful towards someone. I recommend trying to tell your friend group how you feel through proper communication; If it wasn’t intentional, they might start considering their own actions more. However, if you really feel like they’re purposely pushing you away, that’s a major hint that maybe-- They’re just not the right friends for you. Try exploring new environments and
different people. You never know! They might listen to you more than your current friends. Hope this helps, V²
Good luck studying, V²
Restaurant Review
Dear V²,
舌尖湖南 The Authentic Hunan 6004 Stevenson Blvd
I’ve been dealing with procrastination ever since school started. I’m trying my best, but homework hasn’t stopped piling up. Every night, I barely finish it on time. What should I do? -Time Management
Recently, I went to a popular local restaurant called 舌尖湖 南 or The Authentic Hunan! The Authentic Hunan is around ten minutes away from BASIS Independent Upper Campus.
Dear Time Management, Procrastination is a problem for everyone! No one should dedicate their entire day towards homework and studying, even if homework is overloaded. First and foremost, identifying the possible distractions around you is vital. From personal experience, environmental objects around me never had much impact in terms of distraction-- Digital distractions were the problem! Limiting digital downtime (YouTube, Instagram, Discord, etc.) has helped me gain more concentration while working. Another tip I’ve been getting into is maintaining a scheduled routine. Keeping up with an adjusted routine helps prioritize your tasks and helps organize your mind so you are less likely to stray away from what you are working on right now. Let’s talk breaks. Standing up to stretch, taking a walk or even just taking a break from the screen helps clear one’s mind.
The environment of the restaurant is both relaxing and cozy and is great for a weekend night out. The ceiling is adorned with beautiful, spherical, white-lavender lights, making for picturesque family photos and a lively, wholesome mood. Next to the restaurant is a karaoke house, where you can jam out before or after your dining experience! The Authentic Hunan, as their name suggests, offers a diverse spectrum of traditional Hunan dishes. They offer a large variety of dishes, spicy and mild, sweet and savory, and many more! Appetizers at The Authentic Hunan include Hunan flavored jelly (湘味凉粉)and seaweed salad (凉拌海带丝).The flavored jelly is slippery and smooth on the outside and slightly spicy on the inside. Using chopsticks to eat the jelly is always a great challenge to partake in. Seaweed salad, which displays a perfect combination of spicy and tangy flavors with a sprinkle of roasted 4
sesame seeds, makes a delicious dish. The Authentic Hunan’s entrees include spicy duck casserole(香 辣砂锅鸭), griddle chicken gizzards(干锅鸡胗), and griddle shredded cabbage(干锅手 撕包菜). The spicy duck casserole is well marinated and evenly mixed with the peppery sauce inside, making each bite extremely flavorful. Griddle chicken gizzards, a salty, aromatic dish, is rather spicy by itself, but the dish pairs well with a side of rice. Griddle shredded cabbage is also a great dish with rice due to its piquant and spicy nature. To keep the food warm while the customers eat, the restaurant serves the dish in an intriguing vessel, with a wok at the top and a solid alcohol container underneath. The waiters light the solid alcohol underneath the pan, and the fire serves to both keep the dish warm as well as to entertain you as you wait for your next dish. Overall, I would give this restaurant 5 out of 5 stars. The Authentic Hunan is a great dining place to satisfy your cravings, to fill your stomach, and to hang out with your family members. Here are some pictures of the food from the restaurant: Credits: Louis Lu (Yao Lu)
Friday Food Trucks at Fremont Library
Hey, Yellow Jackets! Are you looking for a place to have some Friday fun? Every Friday, down at Fremont Library, the city has a mini food truck and music festival called Food Truck Fridays. I experienced it with my friends firsthand, and I’m here to tell you all about it! The local festival has a large variety of food trucks and music to keep the whole family entertained. It’s fun and familyfriendly! A DJ plays many of the latest hits while a plethora of individuals dance to the beat. Each week, there’s always different music playing, so you’ll never run out of dancing material. Beware that if you go with your parents, they might try to pull out some embarrassing dance moves! The festival also sports a weekly raffle that you can participate in to win new prizes every time. Now, let’s talk about the food. Food trucks line the side of the street, offering an assortment of different cuisines, such as Hawaiian Barbeque, Asain, and Mexican cuisines. The last time I went, my friends and I ordered Hawaiian Barbeque. Hawaiian Barbeque is a dish that consists of pork, chicken, green onions, white pepper, and garlic. The seasoned meat and
vegetables create a perfect combination of spicy and sweet flavors. The large selection of cuisines allows everyone to eat whatever their stomach desires. On the opposite side of the street, there are a lot of picnic tables, so don’t worry about bringing your own chairs! Friday Food Trucks is a great event to partake in with your friends and/or family. It starts at 5 p.m. and is open all the way to 9 p.m., which is nice and flexible for busy schedules. I go to the festival almost every week now, and it’s definitely worth the time. Your friend, Bella
Here is a Comic made by Kylah Kao!
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Celebrating Back2School, try this Amazing Crossword Puzzle!
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Teacher Interviews
Ms. Davis How has it been at Basis this year? I know you are new to BIF. I think every time you enter a new environment, it can present its challenges, but one of the things I love so much about our school is that there are so many people that are willing to chip in and help when it’s needed. It brings a really strong community feel, which is wonderful because if we want to do great things, we need to make sure that we can work well together. What would your vision be for this school year? Well, I’m glad you asked! One of the things I pointed out earlier in the year is that when I created the vision for this campus, I wanted it to be a combination of ideas. When I first arrived, I met with many, many constituents at our school: teachers, parents, and even students, and some of our community members, just to kind of get a sense of what’s working well, what’s not working well. What are some things you would like to see and want for our school?
that provide academic excellence, self-awareness, respect for others, and flexibility in approach.
was missing from my educational experience. I just wanted to discover a little more about who I am.”
What are your passions? My passion is helping and advocating for students and children. I was able to accomplish that, not just for children but for students in general. Prior to coming here, one of the things that I shared with our families and our community is that I was on the school board for 8 years in Berryessa. In that role, I had an opportunity to sit on decision -making bodies, which I think was really important. One of the things that made me stand apart from those I worked with is that I often went to students for their input on decisions that brought the student voice to the forefront. A lot of times what you find when you work in politics, people care about the issues surrounding their particular area, but some will use offices to bring themselves to the top. That was not what I wanted to do. Life prior to BIF
Ms. Davis attended UC Berkeley and majored in African Out of all of that feedback, I American Studies. “I felt that it was able to come up with this vision statement, and our vision was really important for me to do because that was something statement is: to develop stuthat was missing from my edudents as global leaders by engaging them in rigorous and rel- cational experience. It wasn't missing from my home, but it evant learning opportunities 7
Ms. Abdelaziz How are your experiences at Basis so far this year?
“Well, so far, it’s been so fabulous being in a classroom this year with students. I forgot how exciting and rewarding it can be to interact with my students and have discussions and that whole aspect of it. It’s taken me a while to sort of getting used to waking up in the morning, leaving my house and driving to school. You know, for the past two years I’ve been teaching in my bedroom or my dining room. But I think overall, I’m just really glad to be back with my students in a classroom.” Life before Basis
Ms. Abdelaziz graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Comparative Literature. After she graduated from UC Berkeley, she moved to Egypt, where she got married and studied Comparative Literature for her master’s degree. There, she taught kindergarten, and that was how her teaching career started. In 2014, she joined Basis Independent Silicon Valley and made her way to Basis Independent Fremont in 2020.
Ms. Holloway How are you handling seven classes? It’s stressful, especially since the three AP classes require more preparation than otherclasses. I’m falling behind on grading, and I’m under a lot of pressure. However, I understand that the school needs the help. It really is an unfortunate situation, and I’m trying my best. What pets do you have? I have one dog whose name is Touchstone. He is a mixed German Shepherd and Collie. I was actually terrified of dogs because I grew up in a household without any pets. When I was young, I was chased by a dog, and although the dog didn’t attack me, the experience traumatized me. My husband and my son wanted a dog, and I was hesitant at first. We visited a few shelters, but I didn’t like any of the dogs that I saw, until I met Touchstone. As Touchstone was led into the room, he walked over to me and gently placed his head on my lap. My heart just melted, and I started caressing him. I love him to pieces, and I’m really glad that I got over my fear of dogs. That’s the story of how we adopted Touchstone.
I also love opera. At the same time, I also love bands like Pink Floyd and Metallica. I moved here on my own after graduating high school. My family of origin still lives in Italy, and I miss them very much. However, I was able to accomplish a lot on my own, such as getting three degrees and finding jobs on my own. One of the best decisions of my life was when I changed my mind about having kids. At first, I didn’t want to have kids, but I changed my mind at the age of forty. Now, I have this wonderful seventeen year old boy whom I adore. Family members? In California, my only family members are my husband and son. My husband’s family lives in Texas, and I’m not terribly close with them. I’m very close to my family of origin, and although my mom and dad have both passed away, I do have a sister. My sister has a husband and two kids. I’m extremely attached to them, and it’s horrible that I haven’t been able to see them in two years because of COVID-19. In the United States, my husband and my son are basically my only family members that I’m close with.
Fun facts about yourself? I can speak five languages, and 8
Credits For The Newspaper: Teacher Advisors: Mr. Betcher and Ms. Abdelaziz Student Advisors: Olivia Ma and Julee Jiang Editors: Winston Gu, Christopher Chen, Julee Jiang, and Olivia Ma Graphic Designers: Winston Gu Writers: Bella Alcaine, Christopher Chen, Winston Gu, Katherine He, Julee Jiang, Kylah Kao, Aarav Kumar, Vera Lin, Ryan Liu, Yao Lu, Olivia Ma, Sachit Parekh, Vivian Sun, Caroline Wang, Amber Wong, and Ariana Li