Volume 4 Issue 3 / February 2025
editor'snote
Happy Valentine’s Day and happy February! This is the magical time of year after the winter holidays and the New Year. After the dry spell of January, the holidays pick back up and the final semester of the year is in full swing Not only that, but Valentine’s Day is upon us as well A time of love and cherishing all those you hold close and dear, including beloved pets! As you will see, this edition of the GVA Star is a little pet-heavy, but with good reason. The love of a pet is universal, something everyone can relate to.
Speaking of which, everyone can also relate to their love of journalism and the Journalism Club! Whether it’s as a full-fledged member of the Club or as a contributing writer, we will always love to see new faces!
GVAStar
editorial board
Staff:
Launii G.
Elijah L
Sponsors: Journey C.
Emily Divis
Linda Prior
Susan O’Brien
Cindy Nickelson
about the cover
This cover is obviously all about love, but also friendship! I like to think all the mini hearts stretching from the big glass one represents all the people who have touched us, and all the people we have touched
Enzo G.
photo by Monstera from Pexels
By: Enzo P
DOGGiE FUN
Pepe time
By Enzo P
Hello and happy Valentine's Day if you ' re like me, you ' re probably cuddling with your dog, and dogs are cute, but do you know what is cuter? A puppy! They are so tiny, and their yawns I just can't even.
But having a puppy is hard work, you know. What if they go to the restroom on your bed or get sick? But it is all worth it. But stuff can happen, and they will always be there for you.
Table of Contents
Page 7 Sleepy/LICK
Page 8 Floppy/Safety
Page 9 Woofy Bye
Sleepy
Puppies are sleepy heads, yes, I said it. They need a lot of sleep so they can play with you. Jumping, Playing, and barking that is a lot of stuff, so just let them sleep you can play with them later.
LICK
My dog LOVES licking stuff: your face, your head, you name it, he licks it it is absurd that he licks when he is scared, happy, and sad Does your dog lick stuff as much as our dog?
Ever had a dog that has floppy ears as you can see --> my dog has floppy ears, and it is so cute and very floppy, wiggly ears.
Floppy Safety
Sometimes blanket is the safe place and that is true for dogs, and cats and that is just cute.
Woofy bye
Good bye and i hope you have a woofy time.
https://scratch.mit.edu/users/Enzo707345678/
SPACE BOUND For Love
Made with Love
Delicious valentine’s day treats for you and your loved ones
Within the following pages you will see a few recipes that are easy to make and made with love for all.
Valentine Brownies
Ingredients needed Directions
Butter: Gives the brownies a melt-in-your mouth texture. I recommend using unsalted butter.
Sugar: Sweetens the brownies
Eggs: Should be room temperature before being added to the batter
Vanilla extract: Adds lots of flavor Pure vanilla extract is best
All-purpose flour: Make sure to spoon and level the flower so you don’t end up with cakey brownies
Cocoa powder: Needs to be sifted to remove any lumps.
Salt: Enhances the chocolate flavor and balances out the sweetness from the sugar.
Chocolate chips: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but any kind will work.
M&M’s: I used red and pink M&M’s, but you can use any color you have on hand
Whisktogetherthemeltedbutterandsugar (thisgivesthebrowniesthatcracklytop everyoneloves!).Then,stirintheeggsand vanilla.
Gentlystirinthedryingredients,justuntil everythingiscombined.Foldinthechocolate chipsbeforeturningthebatterintoafoil-lined 8×8-inchbakingpan.TopwithM&M’sbefore baking.
You’llknowthebrowniesaredonewhenthe edgesstarttopullawayfromthepanandthe centerlookscooked.
Heart shaped sugar cookies
Details Ingredients
Prep Time30minutes mins
Cook Time12minutes mins
Additional Time1hour hr
Total Time1hour hr 42minutes mins
CourseDessert
CuisineAmerican Servings16
Calories365 kcal
Directions
Preheattheovento375°F
Mixthedough
Creamthesugarandshorteninginamixeruntilwellblended.
Addeggs,continuetomixuntilmixtureislightandfluffy.
Addthevanillaandgratedpeel,andmixthoroughly Combinethedryingredientsinaseparatebowl
1 ⅓ cup shortening 1 ½ cup sugar
2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp grated orange peel
4 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 8 tsp milk
4 tbs strawberry or raspberry jelly
1 ounce white sugar sprinkles
Gradually,addthedryingredientstothecreamedmixture,alternatingwiththeteaspoonsof milk.
Dividethemixtureintohalforquarters.Chillthedoughforonehour. Rollandcutcookies
Beginrollingoutdoughtoabout1/8-inchthickness,leavingtheremainingdoughchilleduntil ready
Cutheartshapesinthedough.createasmallerheartcutoutonhalfofthecookies.Thiswillbe the"window"forthejellyfilling.
Onthelargeheartshapes,spreadathinlayerofjelly,leavingabouta1/8-inchborderfromthe edge
Sprinklealightcoatingofwhitesugarsprinkleson
Placethecookiesontoagreasedcookiesheetornon-stickplan. Bakethecookiesfor8-12minutesuntiltheyturnslightlygolden Placethemonacoolingrack,and"sandwich"theplainheartandjellyheartSprinklewith moregranulatedsugarsprinkles,ifdesired
https://www.firstdayofhome.com/valentine-sugar-cookies/#recipe
a day for hearts a day for hearts by: Ember b by: Ember b
On this sweet day, the world turns red, With roses and love in words unsaid. A time for hearts to brightly shine, To celebrate love, both yours and mine. The air is soft, the mood is light, Candles flicker in the gentle night. Hand in hand, dreams intertwine, In the warmth of this Valentine. Through every smile, every glance, We waltz together in love's dance. No gift, no card, could ever convey The depth of love we feel today. So here's to us, to moments shared,
Word Search winter
It’s a pawsitively delightful treat!
Some Things You Will Need
½ cup blackberries
2 sliced bananas, frozen
½ cup natural creamy peanut butter*
½ cup plain unsweetened yogurt*
Popsicle sticks or dog bone-shaped treats
Homemade Peanut Butter Blackberry dog popsicle
There
is no better way to cool off your tongue then with a popsicle, but if you can have one so can your fur baby!
Directions
Step One
Using a food processor, puree blackberries until smooth. Remove from food processor bowl and set aside; rinse bowl. Add the three remaining ingredients. Cover and process, adding water as needed, until a soft-serve ice cream texture is reached.
Step Two
Layer the blackberry mixture and peanut butter mixture in popsicle molds or small disposable paper cups, swirling as desired. Insert popsicle sticks or bone-shaped treats and freeze at least 4 hours or until frozen solid.
Step Three
Popsicles can be stored, tightly covered, in freezer for up to 1 month.
Homemade Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog
Treat
does your doggo absolutely go nuts for peanut butter? Then this treat is the satisfaction for their tummy!
Directions
StepOne
Things You Will Need
cup honey
cup olive oil
egg
cup nonfat dry milk powder
cup fine graham cracker crumbs (7 squares)
Inaverylargebowl,beatpeanutbutter,honey,oil,andeggwithan electricmixeronlowtomediumspeeduntilcombined.Adddrymilk powder,crackercrumbs,oats,wheatgerm,cinnamon,andbaking powder;beatuntilcombined.
StepTwo
Addflourand1/4cupwatertobeatenmixture;beatonlowspeed, stoppingtoscrapebowlasnecessary(mixturewillbecrumbly).Addas muchoftheremainingwaterasneeded,1/4cupatatime,beatinguntil thedoughclingstogether.(Doughshouldbemoistbutnotsticky.)
StepThree
Removedoughfrombowl.Turndoughoutontoawell-flouredsurface. Kneaddoughgently8to10strokesuntilnearlysmooth.Dividedough into4equalportions,thenrolleachportionouttoa6x6-inchsquarethat isabout3/8-inchthick.Placesquaresonwaxpaper-linedtrayandchill1 hour.
StepFour
Preheatovento300°F.Forsmallerdogs,cuteachdoughsquareinto1/2inchpieces.Forlargerdogs,cuteachsquareinto3/4-inchpieces.Place piecesonparchment-linedbakingsheets.Bakefor20–22minutesor untiledgesarefirmandbottomsarebrowned.Coolpansonwireracks. Forextra-crispytreats,letthemstand,uncovered,onracksovernight beforepackaging.
StepFive
Storeatroomtemperatureinairtightcontainersupto2weeksorlabel andfreezeforupto3months.
cup quick-cooking rolled oats
Things you will need
4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup regular rolled oats
½ cup unsweetened dried cranberries, finely chopped*
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
¼ cup molasses
¼ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
½ cup water, as needed
½ cup carob and/or yogurt coating chips, melted
Step One
Preheat oven to 350°F Coat two cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray; set aside
Step Two
In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, cranberries, baking powder, and cinnamon In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, molasses, and coconut oil Add egg mixture to flour and stir to combine, adding water, a little at a time, until a firm dough forms
Step Three
On a well-floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thick Using a dog bone cookie cutter, cut dough into shapes, re-rolling scraps as needed Using a fork, poke 4 holes in the center of each cookie
Place shapes on prepared pans, spacing 1 inch apart
Step Four
Bake treats for 30 minutes Turn off oven and let cookies cool inside for at least 1 hour (this will help make them crisp). Lightly drizzle cookies with melted carob and/or yogurt chips and let stand about 15 minutes or until set.
WatermelonMintDog PopsicleRecipe
watermelonisalwaysgoodevenin
thewinter,fall,orbestofall summerandyourdogmightwantin onthefun!
Things you will need
2 cups cubed, seedless watermelon or cantaloupe
⅔ cup plain yogurt* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
Step One
In a food processor or blender combine watermelon, yogurt, and mint. Cover and process or blend until smooth.
Step Two
Place silicone treat molds or ice cube trays on a baking pan. Fill molds with melon mixture and freeze at least 4 hours or until firm. Let treats stand a few minutes before serving.
And They Call It Puppy Love
Does your pet(s) got a lot to say?
Well I know mine does and I know he wants me to talk about him!
My dog is a three year old Shepadoodle named Oso. I should give you the background story to when we first got him. It was about 10:00 at night when my sister came home with a puppy in hand. we were so excited we couldn’t sleep so we just got the cage ready for him. Me and my family were originally going to name him Bruno but my dad had different ideas and said Oso will go well as a name for him. Over the years he started to grow white fur inn is black fur.
He is cheerful and caring to anyone and everyone he meets. His love for bubbles is hilarious, he will try and eat the bubbles but they pop before he can get to them. He also loves to sniff things like my hands and, my mom’s plants (even though they sometimes get dug up). On a hot summer day he is down for belly rubs, a game of football and or Soccer, popsicles, and a nap with his favorite teddy bear, maybe even a bath :)
On a cold winter day he will lick your snowman and eat the snow off the ground while running! Sometimes when we give him treats he will be as gentle as if he was taking care of a baby. While his favorite fruit is mandarin oranges, his dislike for watermelon is something I will always question. If you give him a piece of watermelon and he will look at you as if you committed a crime.
He has many facial expressions, for example you give him belly rubs he smiles, or if you leave him alone he will look at you with pleading eyes. He also loves to entertain himself when we aren’t home with singing and talking, maybe he can start a comedy show. These are some of the many reasons we love and cherish him
Student of the month
Thesestudentshave earnedthistitlethis monthbecausethey werehardworking,and ontrackinschool. That’swhyitiscalled thestudentofthe month!
Highschool
Elementary middleschool
Adult
Winter WordSearch
s b m o d n n r a w s n
n l N e a l x k c m n o
w n y p p u a t w o
b k ı e a s a r n t f t
a e n a r n n k ı e l h o a g w r v m t r ı o f
l t k r t o u e h n a c
Find the hidden winter words. f j a
l a e y w y a s k D
r l ı r c e r a r f e p
k e e r i o y h i a s o
s s ı ı a l f a c c n e
g hat snowball
e e u r e f a n f m t s snow fıreplace mıttens snowman ıcıcles January skıs blanket
earmuffs snowflake
InterestPique
By Journey C. & Elijah L.
This is a segment where we talk and review things, which could be anything, ranging from video games and shows to music and books, and even pop culture. In this edition, we are going to discuss something that everyone can do, whether it’s cold, you’re feeling under the weather, or you’re just in the mood.
The great uniter, video games As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I love video games of almost all types, from new to old, RPGs to shooters, I’m a fan. But there is one game in particular I’m loving a ton right now: Fortnite
Fortnite is a unique kind of Battle Royale type game for a myriad of reasons, but one of my favorites is the enormity they offer by way of customization Just recently they added arguably the most famous vocaloid artist, Hatsune Miku, into the game! They take from all corners of cultures, particularly the different pop cultures, and find some way to implement them They also have different game types and modes; most recently added by Epic Games is Ballistic, a round-based style of game. They have their most popular game type, the Battle Royale, in Build mode and Zero-Build mode
Fortnite
If you play on any kind of console, particularly Xbox from my personal experience/knowledge, playing ZeroBuild is much better than trying to play Build with PC players, who will almost always beat you because of their unfair advantages However, in build you harvest materials such as wood, metal, and stone/brick by opening chests or cutting certain objects down with your harvesting tool (better known as your pickaxe, though it may not technically be one).
Another game mode by Epic that I find myself playing all the time are their two Festival modes: Festival Main Stage and Festival Battle Stage. In both Festival modes, you play jam tracks which can either be real songs by Brittany Spears, Snoop Dogg, Blue Oyster Cult, Rage Against The Machine (RATM), and many more! You can buy wraps and skins for your instruments and jam with or against others
Call of Duty is a military first-person shooter video game series and media franchise published by Activision, starting in 2003. There are a total of 21 games in this series and is verified by the Guinness World Records as the bestselling first-person shooter game series. Call of Duty brought new advances to the first-person shooter genre, winning numerous game of the year awards in 2003 and 2004 following its 2003 debut
TheESRBRatingForthe
With the franchise starting in 2003 they have as of October of 2023 sold over 500 million copies and in 2022 they had reached 30 billion dollars in revenue from the games. Moder Warfare 3 is the fastest selling game of all time. Modern Warfare 3 also made more than hollywood during its launch. Gamers play almost 2000 years of Call of Duty a day! The Call of Duty games have been played for a large total of 25 billion hours. With a staggering 18 billion multiplayer matches being played I think that it shows how loved this game series is. Call of Duty’s daily players could fill 80 of the worlds largest sports fields. Players have respawned 1.9 quadrillion times. 100 million people have played Call of Duty, if that isn’t impressive then i honestly don’t know what is. Call of Duty also has a mobile version that you can download and play on your phone too, that way if you dont have a console you can still join the fun of the COD world.
Call of Duty is (in my opinion) the best game series to ever be made. they have many different styles of games and the fact that they have games that follow the world wars is exceptionally exciting. In the Black Ops saga you can do campaigns or you can play against bots in multiplayer. when playing multiplayer you can choose different weapons and you have a wide variety of different attatchments that you can put on your weapons Black Ops 2 is my personal favorite and with all the different attachments that you can add to your gun to help it to perform better are insane There are scopes, different types of artillery (FMJ, armor peircing, etc ), different maggazine clips, grips, and you even have a wide variety of different paints that you can choose to change the color of your weapons And Call of Duty has something that most games dont, Zombies! There are different options for the game that you want to play but if you like survival games then COD Zombies is definitely something for you.
Fortnite
Has emotes in an "icon" series, meaning they are from realworld musicians and are generally popular songs Has a build mode Has CreatorMade Islands, similar to how roblox works Has Jam tracks and Festival modes, allowing for musical/music -oriented gameplay you can split your screen up to four ways for multiplayer there are zombie options games based off of world wars you can add NPC bots and select what skill level they play on
bothgameshaveanoptionto customizeyourarsenal youcanchoosebetweena varietyof“paintjobs”foryour weaponstomorepersonalize them
Bothgameshaveskinsforyour characters
Bothgameshavea"battle"or "season"pass,fulloflevelsyou cangainthroughXPor experiencepoints,andinreturn youcangetitemsfor customization
Gaming Club Challenge 1
To the left, one of the gaming club members recreates the Twin Towers, also known as the World Trade Center Complex. There were 7 levels under the Twin Towers which held a subway station, shopping stores, and services. There were a staggering total of 43,600 windows in both of these majestic buildings. 87 tons of food was delivered on a daily basis to the World Trade Center Complex, and there had been a surprising 17 babies born within these buildings
Twin Towers
by Shania W
Totherightyouwillseethata skilledyoungcrafterbuiltamodel of(whatIhope)istherebuilt ParthenoninNashville.thedetailis magnificent.TheParthenonwas builtinthe5thcenturyBCin thanksgivingfortheHellenic victoryoverPersianEmpire invadersduringtheGreco-Persian Wars.Thisexquisitebuildingwas thefirsteverbuildingtobebuilt entirelyoutofmarble.
Big Ben by Finnian O
Ontherightyouwillseea magnificentmodelofBigBen. BigBenisamarvelofVictorian engineeringandthetower housingBenwasformally knownasSt.Stephen’sTower until2012,whenitwas renamedElizabethToweron theoccasionofElizabethII’s DiamondJubilee.BigBenisa symbolofdemocracyanda centralpartofwhatmakes BritonsfeelBritish.Thetower standsatastaggering316feet tall,andtheclimbfrom groundleveltothebelfryis 334steps.Itsbaseissquare, measuring40feetoneach sideandthedialsoftheclock are22.5feetindiameter.
Directly to the left you will see an amazingly recreated Lady Liberty. Her full name is Liberty Enlightening the World. The robed female figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. The 25 windows in the crown of the Statue of Liberty were designed to represent gemstones, with each window symbolizing one of the 25 natural minerals found on the earth. Standing proud, exposed to the elements, the statue has to withstand around 600 lightning bolts every year and, in high winds, the torch can sway about 5 inches side-to-side!
Statue of Liberty by
Brennan H
FoodReview! FoodReview!
By Journey C.
I admit it— I’m a foodie! I try my best to lead a healthy lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t indulge in some over-the-top goodness from time to time. This new piece can range from anything from a food or beverage product to a restaurant or fast-food joint serving up some heaven. I’ve decided to do a piece on two restaurants in the state capital, Topeka! I don’t personally eat meat, either, but my dad will happily be the voice of the meats! Please enjoy!
So, I am a pizza addict! I cannot get enough of pizza. I may get a little tired of it here and there, but give me a maximum of an hour and I’m back on the pizza scene This was the main reasoning behind my choice of review today, plus watching some Barstool OneBite Pizza Reviews. LaRocca’s Pizza is under the microscope! I ordered a large thin-crust cheese pizza, but this in’t
the only time I’ve eaten there. On my fifteenth birthday, my dad and I went there and I got a regular cheese and jalepeno pizza. It was phenomenal! They used fresh jalapenos, not pickled like I expected It was a welcomed surprise The pizza in these photos is from my most recent visit, though. as you can see,
there was scant any crust. none, If i’m to be honest. with how they did their thin-crust pizza though, it was the right call I usually give my extra crust, regular crust or thin, to my dog, but this time the she got none My hands didn’t get greasy from the lack of crust, which is something that deters me from going to pizza places if the slices are dripping with unnecessary grease that runs down my hands you can see the crisped cheese at the end, which was delicious. The crust was thin and crisp, and the only downside to that was the fact that I had my braces worked on a day or two before, so my teeth were a bit sore and sensitive to that It was on my end though, so don’t take that as a complaint! I’m just giving my reason for possibly having a singular downer on this pie I’m a pizza-holic, so I only find pizzas I love a bit less! I must give this a run-donot-walk for LaRocca’s
Now this place is a bit of a detour from Italy and delicious pizzas. This is Pal’s Indian Cuisine! As you could guess, it’s an Indian restaurant. Unfortunately with most of the foods I get from places, it doesn’t tend to last long enough for photos, but I was able to snag this one of Pal’s gobi manchurian! If you read any of last year’s publications, you might know that my favorite food in the whole world (so far!), when done right, is in fact gobi manchurian. There is another indian place I eat at regularly, at least once a month for nearly all holidays and some birthdays, where I always get it, so it was time to compare. I’ll try to put it into the best words I can!
Pal’s gobi was a bit more bitter, more tightlybreaded The color of the manchurian sauce was a bit darker, and I was swift to notice it was missing something bright: cilantro! Now, I’m no expert in how this dish should or is traditionally prepared, but I am going based off the first gobi I’ve tried and consistently get. For me, the cilantro is key. It adds an attractiveness to the dish visually, but taste-wise it gives the food an extra oomph I also got chana masala from Pal’s, another dish I can usually count on getting from my other restaurant It was similar in many ways, but Pal’s was missing again the greenery and flavors of those small extra ingredients There was, however, a dish I hadn’t had the opportunity to try before, and unfortunately--on my part--I can’t remember what it was I think it was either the palak kofta or the malai kofta. Whichever one, it was heavenly! It looked different to me, so I honestly was unsure, but I’m very glad I tried it I’d definitely say try it for yourself, but wait ‘till you hear about this “mysterious” other indian place I keep mentioning: it’ll be in the last issue for the grand finale!
Almosteveryonecanrelatetotheloveof theircherishedpet(s).Iamchronicling thejourneyofraisingasiamese-type kittenandthebondwewillforge. -Toavoidconfusion,wegottwokittensbut Iamonlywritingaboutone,andonlyone appearsinthephotos.
New Beginnings:
I remember when my dad went to go pick up the kitty and her brother this January in KCMO. I was at work and we were coordinating the meet-up via my phone, so I was a little distracted that day to be honest. But my coworkers knew about the excitement, and were very understanding and excited on my behalf. The workday came to a close, and my dad picked me up. I looked in the backseat and into the pet taxi and saw them sleeping together like little angels. I was shocked at how well they were handling the ordeal, and at their beauty. We chose well.
Kitten Cuddles
By Journey C.
(Top: Citi Kitty got stuck in a tote bag; Bottom: Citi Kitty being nice and cuddly with me)
Above , Left:
Kitty and Junebug laying down together after being formally introduced and some crazy playtime
These kitties are a little crazy, though! They are babies, so right now they only speak playtime, but when I watch Citi Kitty, my kitty in the photos, she is bananas! I hope she mellows out a little bit because I prefer a cuddle cat to a professional play kitty, but her top priority is to be the best mouser possible. She is displaying great hunting behaviors in her playtime already, and we couldn’t have gotten her at a better time. I’m hearing mice much more than when we had our previous incredible mouser, Mean Kitty. I’ve seen one almost run across my toes! Despite having a rat terrier, the puppers is much more interested in the new kitty than hunting the little varmints right now. Speaking of which we introduced the dog and baby kitty recently It went much better than my dad thought it would. Junebug, the terrier, was kept under close supervision though she is not an aggressive dog, just excitable and passionately loving of kitties.
Above , Top Right:
Kitty sleeping some more. She loves to purr when happy, as cats do, and especially when she’s happy while resting.
Above , Bottom Right:
Kitty caught me catching her in the middle of play time She seems rather intrigued by phones
Citi was very curious, and Junebug was likewise. The kitty walked right up and sniffed Junebug on the nose, and the dog did the same It just melted my heart! I could tell the dog was trying her absolute best not to get too hyper. After a bit the Citi Kitty was starting to stalk and “hunt” the bigger animal, running and jumping up with a shocked expression and outstretched front paws. The dog would jump back, then with her head slightly tilted she would jump a little forward and reach out to smack playfully with her front paw, a trait/behavior she’s always had since puppyhood. I’d reign it in a little, and the cycle would restart. It made me so happy to see my best friend get along with her new baby kitty sissy. It also made me smile to see the kitten be curious with little to no fear, though she would puff up and jump back if spooked by sudden movements, but she’d get right back into the swing of being a little menace again. Their personalities are so reflective of each other. I can feel the love of both!
G V A S T A R
d i s t r i c t s
d e n t s a n d t h e i r l o c a l
S t u d e n t s f o r g v a s t u
A s t u d e n t p u b l i c a t i o n b y G V A
volume 4 Issue 3
m a g a z i n e
