Issue 6 - Summer Unity

Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan, Anna Tsekos, Thera Castellon Fernandez, Jiya Parekh

Madison Capali, Young Duan, Makkiyah Khan

Kate Snyder, Makkiyah Khan, Addison Capali

Christopher Zeng, Sanjay Mekapati, Krishav Ramineni

Kyle Hu, Makkiyah Khan, Madison Capali, Ray Lee, June Kim

Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan, Martin Wang, Nashwan Nimit

Celina Abu Nasr, Ashwin Mohan, Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan, Addison Capali

Ashwin Mohan

Sanjay Mekapati, Ray Lee

Kate Snyder, Anna Tsekos, Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan

Nashwan Nimit, Sanaya Kim El-Mallawany

Makkiyah Khan, Sasha Collins, Mohammed Khouqeer

Sasha Collins, Nashwan Nimit

Kyle Hu

The Roberts Community: Always making time to gather

BY MRINALINI LEVIN-SRINIVASAN

Since we wrapped up the last issue of Good News Review, four months ago, our Roberts community has been busy celebrating, learning, building, and cherishing the treasures that we have had as a part of our trove for a really long time.

As journalists at Good News REview, we take our responsibility seriously to tell the story of our one-of-a-kind community.

Enjoy the retelling of our second half of this year worth remembering!

BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM

Performed the last week of February by Dinky Drums for the second consecutive year, they shared groovy music with everyone. We were told an interesting history of African-American music, struggle, and triumph all through song!

VISIT FROM AN ASTRONAUT

Our kindergarteners, first and second graders had an encounter with a real-life Flight Director for the NASA Apollo missions, Gerry Griffin, who had been on the International Space Station! Shai from Mrs. Nguyen’s class said, “It was a really fun time for me and my friends! We got to learn all about Pluto and the planets!” It was a great opportunity for them to learn and grow.

2024 ANNUAL AUCTION/GALA

Hosted on March 2, this Auction/Gala’s theme was Cirque du Roberts. Parents of Roberts students dressed up and danced the night away at Rice University's Cohen House while raising lots of money to renovate our library for all the Roberts REaders who are leaders.

FUN RUN

For this year’s Fun Run on April 5, we raised money to keep our playground cool and support our amazing school. Students expressed their support for our school by enthusiastically running around the track, stopping every so often for water or snacks. In this heat, it was no easy task. Go Roberts students!

ANNUAL CARNIVAL

For many days, families waited in anticipation of the Carnival on Saturday, April 27. There were lots of rides and activities and even a booth for the REview! All day, joyful shouts and happy squeals could be heard coming from the park. Carnival was really a chance to celebrate this

HATS OFF TO OUR 5 TH GRADE RE VIEWERS

CELINA

MARTIN

YOUNG

ROBERTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HOUSTON, TEXAS VOLUME III, ISSUE 2 JUNE 2024

Inspired. Inquisitive. Reporting on our world from the Roberts Elementary view.

Awe-Inspired Unity

Well, here we are again - the end of a school year and the beginning of a blissful summer!

Time seems to have picked us up and dropped us off at the last day of school.

As Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun, we understand how small we are as travelers in time rather than drivers of time.

This spring, there was no more striking reminder of our smallness on Earth as it travels around the sun, without any orders from us, than the celestial moment that the Earth, moon, and sun aligned.

On April 8, my mother, four-year-old, and I were lying on the top of the hill at Hermann Park waiting for a glimpse of the eclipse. Weather reports said we would not witness the phenomenon because of a cloudy forecast. But, at just the right moment, the clouds cleared, and we saw the moon eclipse the sun. I glanced over at my mother and saw tears roll down her cheek and onto the ground.

We were experiencing what experts call the phenomenon or science of awe. This awe is the reason eclipse chasers throw their budgets to the wind for a few-minutes-long experience. (Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan will share more about the eclipse in this issue.)

Dr. Summer Allen of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center describes this awe as “self-transcendent.” These experiences she says, “shift our attention away from ourselves, make us feel like we are part of something greater than ourselves, and make us more generous toward others.”

Now that’s what I call a transformative event! Moments of awe affirm our smallness, help us feel more similar than different, and unite us beyond the division of what we believe cannot be overcome. Witnessing immense suffering can also cause this feeling. Remember the pandemic? Remember Hurricane Harvey?

So, after the year we have had globally and the quaking undercurrents of division we feel here in the United States, we decided summer unity would be the theme for our sixth issue. Good News REview wishes a transcendent summer for all of our community.

Because when we collectively take note of those things that are either so small they captivate us or so enormous we stand in awe, we also transcend and experience the phenomenon of unity.

We share a moment in the same space, quieted, moved to be noble and selfless.

The moment we are in awe, we are in unity.

We dedicated our pages to awe-inspired unity - the willingness to see differences but not estimate how insurmountable they are, the haven of humanity that we have a hard time making our home.

Our new section, Sounding Board, inspired by our very own Ashwin Mohan, creates a space that unites the voices of our commu-

COMMUNITY EVENTS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

year.

COACH A RETIREMENT AND HIS LAST MUSTANG RALLY

Sadly, Coach A has decided to retire after 10 years at Roberts. May 24 was the day of his last Mustang Rally, a bittersweet event for his students and most likely for him, too. He has been a role model for so many of Roberts’ members of the running club, and we will miss him greatly.

IB EXHIBITION

nity. Now more than ever, we came together as a newsroom and decided if we are unable to hear one another when we speak, perhaps we can hear one another when we read one another’s words.

Issue six is just another reflection of how inimitable our Roberts community is with stories about the two sides of anger, the history-making impact that the National Women’s Soccer League had on women’s sports, the difference between dolphins and porpoises, and shedding light on Ramadan and the cryptocurrency trend. We hope this issue, marking our third year, inspires awe that holds us together all summer long!

NOW TO MY FIFTH GRADERS. MY FABULOUS FIFTH GRADERS! This year was the first time Journey was not in the newsroom that she dreamed up. Her dream created space for you. And I’m so thankful it did.

Spending a year with each of you was more than I could have ever dreamed of.

The genie lamps I gave you metaphorically represent how writing can take you anywhere you wish or take you places you couldn’t have dreamed of going, but places you need to be in. When I won my first writing award in 1993, the Spring semester of sixth grade, I couldn’t have imagined 31 years later, I would be sitting in a circle with you swaying and snapping, playing Man in the Mirror. This newsroom is where my love for writing brought me and I could not be happier and more inspired! I hope that this year, and for those who were with me for two years, that the time in the newsroom dancing, laughing, smiling, learning, writing, thinking, snacking, meditating, playing the piano, pretending you were a standup comedian, all the letters you memorized - FBF, GBB, and the seven sensational REview Cs, and being the total authentic, talented, wonderful you was all you could have dreamed of and more! Find something to be in awe of and write about it this summer!

Remember, once in the REview, always in the REview.

Of course, I will miss you until I see you again! One. Two. REview.

FRAN-VICTORIA STEPHENS, EDITOR Email us at schoolnewspaper@robertspto.org

Sanaya Kim El-Mallawany • Technology Makkiyah Khan, Sasha Collins, Mohammed

School Houston, TX; schoolnewspaper@repto.org • Designer Katrina T Lallier/TK INK, Inc.

Our fifth graders work tirelessly in small groups to identify, research, and determine solutions for how we overcome all sorts of problems our generations must face. On May 15, with hallways filled and Exhibition groups scattered throughout the entire building, we shared our findings about everything from the inaccessibility of school before kindergarten to cyberbullying and ongoing climate change with our parents and community members who stopped by to hear us.

MS. JENKINS'S LAST ART SHOW (FOR SECOND AND FOURTH GRADERS) PART 1 AND PART 2

Our beloved art teacher, Mrs. Jenkins has also decided to leave this year and will teach in China next year. Her last annual art show for second and fourth graders straddled two weeks (May 16 and May 24) due to a storm that cut off Roberts’s power during the first art show. Parents got to see their children’s last artwork completed with Mrs. Jenkins’s help and have fun at the show. Roberts is sad that Mrs. Jenkins is leaving, but we hope she finds happiness in her new adventure. She will be missed tremendously.

DROP EVERYTHING AND READ DAY CELEBRATION

International DEAR Day is April 12, but we celebrated the Book REview Finalists on May 30 with Sprinkles cupcakes and giving out prizes from yummy Van Leeuwen (ice cream), Common Bond, and Local Foods to the stellar book reviewers. Congrats to the DEAR Day finalists for their stellar book REviews!

TONYA ELLIS AUTHOR VISIT –DEAR DAY FESTIVITY

Tonya Duncan Ellis, who authored the 13-book Sophie Washington series, visited on June 3 to share her new children’s picture book, They Built Me for Freedom. They Built Me for Freedom is the story of Emancipation Park in Houston and the origins of Juneteenth. Living in Houston, this is a very important thing to know about its history.

Community Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan, Anna Tsekos, Thera Castellon Fernandez, Jiya Parekh • Education Madison Capali, Young Duan, Makkiyah Khan • Elementary Thoughts Kate Snyder, Makkiyah Khan, Addison Capali • Entertainment Christopher Zeng, Sanjay Mekapati, Krishav Ramineni • Food Kyle Hu, Makkiyah Khan, Madison Capali, Ray Lee, June Kim • Health Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan, Martin Wang, Nashwan Nimit • Lifestyle Celina Abu Nasr, Ashwin Mohan, Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan, Addison Capali • REdiculously Funny Pages Sanjay Mekapati, Ray Lee • Science Kate Snyder, Anna Tsekos, Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan • Sounding Board Ashwin Mohan • Sports Nashwan Nimit,

Khouqeer • Travel CSasha Collins, Nashwan Nimit • Weather Kyle Hu • Publisher Roberts Elementary

The Good News REview Staff! //GNR

A behind-the-scenes report on ... The Good News REview

BY ANNA TSEKOS

A new issue of the Roberts newspaper has finally come out! As you hold it, you can see articles about field trips, soccer, middle schools, and more. Fourth- and fifth-grade students wrote all of these articles. But what did they have to do before you could read their stories?

The Good News REview is a team effort.

It all started in 2021 during the pandemic.

Journey Stephens, a Roberts’s third grader, at the time, and now in sixth grade, and her mom were reading Mya in the Middle by Crystal Allen. The newspaper’s parent volunteer and editor, Ms. Fran-Victoria Stephens, a proud University of Missouri School of Journalism graduate, said the main character, Mya, inspired her daughter. Journey suggested that they start a school newspaper at Roberts after they read about the school newspaper Mya started.

Ms. Stephens managed to convince the PTO (with the help of a PowerPoint presentation) to make the Good News REview a thing. And the rest is history.

I've learned how to organize an article and how to be open about other's opinions.

While it may have sounded simple and fun, publishing the newspaper is a complicated procedure. After the students apply and are chosen, Ms. Stephens teaches them the basics of journalism. They learn how to write and what is necessary. Seven words are drilled into journalists’ heads - the Review’s seven Cs: coherent, concise, clear, creative, compassionate, compelling, and comprehensive.

Soon after, students choose their beats. A beat is a general topic. Examples are Science, Community, and Weather, among others. After getting their beat assignments, the journalists get their story ideas approved by Ms. Stephens.

Then, the students write and submit their

Putting the puzzle together

BY THERA CASTELLON FERNANDEZ

Soon, the fifth-grade halls will be filled again with voices saying,

“Bye, see you later!”

Then, awkward silence will take its place.

My newspaper teacher, Ms. Stephens, says “I’ll miss you until I see you!”

But that is the problem. Are we going to talk to each other, or even see each other? Well, a lot of it depends on where we are going to school next year.

I have informally collected data from most fifth graders about where we, as a class, are going to school next year. I have categorized the data from the information my fellow peers provided.

Many people, like me, have an endless black hole, in their minds, of confusion and fear about their soon-to-be middle school experience.

So, they search to see if they will have any companions to share this adventure with.

Well, I surveyed to find out where people are going next year.

This data collection revealed that 91% of the students at Roberts Elementary applied to HISD middle schools.

Among those school applications, Lanier Middle School was the most requested by far with 71% of the students.

In second place came Pin Oak Middle School with 33% and following closely behind, came Pershing Middle School with 30% of our fifth graders’ applications. The fourth place was for T.H. Rogers Middle School with 21%. And fi-

SCHOOL CHOICE

This data collection revealed that 91% of the students at Roberts Elementary applied to HISD middle schools.

nally, Meyerland and Rice Middle School tied for fifth place with 3%.

I compared our choices at Roberts Elementary School to the data that General Academic collected.

General Academic is a private tutoring and education consulting company in Houston that produces annual rankings and lists of schools in HISD. The company published its results for the 2023-2024 academic year.

3,742 students sent 11,258 applications throughout HISD. The company’s findings show that the four most sought-after public middle schools matched the survey results I collected. However, the order in the number of applications each middle school received was slightly different.

For the City of Houston, the first choice was Pin Oak M.S. (34%), and Lanier M.S. closely followed behind (33%). In third place T. Rogers (22%), and then Pershing M.S. came in fourth place (16%).

outlines. Ms. Stephens checks over them. After outlining, the students begin their first drafts. They send in the articles and meet with Ms. Stephens during ZOOM office hours. Soon they write their second, and final, draft.

Ms. Stephens edits articles to ensure clarity, grammar, and more, then sends the stories to the paper’s layout designer. After that, it is sent to be printed and then distributed.

Student journalists also have their opinions on the paper. When asked why they joined, Jiya Parekh and Addison Capali said they loved writing. Sanaya El-Mallawany, on the other hand, said that she “really liked the newspaper from last year.”

Common favorite parts were writing and writing exercises that happened in our newsroom.

I asked the journalists what they learned. Jiya said, “I learned a lot of writing skills and how to write in flow, research, and interview.”

Addison responded, “I’ve learned how to organize an article and how to be open about other’s opinions.”

Sanaya stated, “I learned how to write a proper article.”

Editor, Ms. Stephens, shared her thoughts about having a Roberts’s school newspaper, “We are a school community of inquisitive minds, and in my opinion, journalism is the perfect avenue for exploring and recording our endless curiosity.” She said her goal for the newspaper is “that every student that contributes to its success and every person who reads a story has an inspired experience – an experience they have never encountered before.”

The Good News REview is the product of many weeks of work. Fortunately, all of these hours of writing paid off.

What do you think about our school community’s newspaper?

Roberts-Area Hospitals, Please Stop Wasting Labels!

BY JIYA PAREKH

Hospitals waste labels when they print more labels than they need. This label wastage harms and contaminates our planet. Most of the labels end up in already over-full landfills and oceans, threatening our biodiversity.

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Hospitals use labels to identify a patient’s name and the date on test results. Most outpatients (patients not admitted to the hospital) have roughly 10-12 tests per visit. So, they require about 10-12 labels per visit.

The problem is that many hospitals print excessive labels.

Hospitals use laser printers that only print on standard-sized paper - 8.5 in. x 11 in. - resulting in wastage. The amount of waste created over the years is largely underestimated.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 138 million hospital visits across America every day. So, American hospitals print at least 138 million labels each day. More than half of that amount of paper is wasted, ending up in landfills and oceans, harming the environment.

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

A thermal printer is key to reducing paper was-

tage. Thermal label printers print only the necessary number of labels therefore eliminating waste. In fact, a thermal printer is too small to print standard-sized pages!

“Thermal printers print more quietly and usually faster… They are also smaller, lighter, and consume less power…” states an article on thermal printers on Wikipedia.org.

Almost half of the hospitals across America have switched to this printing method. By simply using this eco-friendly printer, hospitals can reduce a significant amount of waste that dirties our land and oceans.

A thermal printer uses heat to print on special, smaller paper rather than ink. So, some thermal printers may be unable to print in color without new printing technology.

Thermal printers are better for the environment. Hopefully, more hospitals will use thermal printers to reduce label wastage and help take care of our beautiful planet.

EDUCATION

The other book debate Get educated: The United States economy 101

Textbooks and their importance

BY MADISON CAPALI

Textbooks are helpful for many reasons and are also very important. But can they stand the test of time?

Textbooks are important, according to research, because textbooks provide students with information and encourage thinking skills.

However, not everyone is a fan of textbooks. Albert Bandura, former Stanford University social science professor, well-known for his social learning theory said, “The content of most textbooks is perishable, but the tools of self-directedness serve one well over time.”

Jerry Falwell, conservative activist and founder of Liberty University in Virginia, did not believe that textbooks were valuable either. He believed that schools used textbooks to support political agendas. He said, “Textbooks are Soviet propaganda.”

Although people have different opinions about whether or not students should use textbooks, elementary schools still use textbooks, like Science Fusion, Go Math, and Eureka. This trend will likely change in the next few years. According to an article on Britannica ProCon.org researchers are studying the pros and cons of using tablets or textbooks in levels K-12th.

Some examples of the advantages of using textbooks instead of technology are below.

The information in textbooks is reliable because the information does not change.

Textbooks do not rely on electricity. So, textbooks do not die, stop working, or get a virus.

A disadvantage is that textbooks can some times be outdated and not include up-to-date information.

Similarly, an advantage of using technology is that informa tion can be updated quickly instead of having to go throu gh a republishing process to issue a new volume of a textbook.

Some disad vantages are that scammers, who can give you viruses and false information, tend to use technolo gy to carry out their scams. Because there are so many threats when students use technology, students would have to be closely

monitored to make sure they are using the technology appropriately.

Textbooks have always played an important role in learning and despite changes in technology, they have continued to be a useful resource.

Let’s see what happens over the next year!

How do you remember more of what you learn?

Summertime practice can be a difference maker

BY YOUNG DUAN

Have you ever forgotten what you learned while taking a test? That can be bad. So, here are some of the reasons why you forget what you learn and some tips and tricks on how to remember what you learn.

According to an article, “The Forgetting Curve,” by John Wittman, a California State University Stanislaus researcher who focuses on issues related to assessment and student participation, “a day or two after attending class or reading a chapter or article, students will have forgotten approximately 75% of what was learned. Surprisingly, most of that forgetting happens within the first hour.”

When plotted out on a graph, the amount of information forgotten and the amount of time elapsed forms a curve that slopes down to the bottom on the information forgotten scale. In other words, the more time that passes the higher the potential to forget learned information.

This slope is most likely to happen after a long summer break, too.

According to Roberts Elementary fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Vuong, “a majority of students forget what they learned in their previous school year. Students do remember what they learned, but more in the sense that they remember doing it. They don’t usually remember how to do it.”

After a long summer break, a student would be lucky to know how to do any steps of any subject they learned in their previous year.

So, here are some tips to remember more of what you learn.

According to learningcenter.unfac.org, an instructional service that provides academic support for University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill students, you can use repetition, such as flashcards, like the make-your-own-flashcard websites. Self-testing, like creating a little pop quiz for yourself, also helps lodge information in your memory.

Another strategy to remember more of what

you learn is to sleep. Sleeping is the time that your brain creates memories.

Exercising can also literally improve your memory! Studies show that exercising, like lifting weights and cardio, can help create neurons in areas of your brain that relate to memory.

Mr. Vuong shared a piece of advice for students having trouble remembering what they have learned. He said, “It is always a good idea to practice what you have learned. It does not have to be every day, but at least once a week.”

The experience of forgetting things you have learned is not good, but if you follow these tips, it might help your struggles.

The

basics continued

BY MAKKIYAH KHAN

We all need to know about money. And in the last Good News REview issue, I shared the five economic factors that affect how much money families and organizations have and how much they can spend (called purchasing power).

Countries use their GDP, the gross domestic product, to measure how well their economy is operating.

The gross domestic product is the value of all the goods and services we produce in America. According to the International Monetary Fund, GDP is the health of the economy.

So, why would you care about economics? Well, elementary school students are the future of this nation.

And according to KXAN Austin, an NBC affiliate television station, and Anthony Carnevale, Director of Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce, 62% of the jobs in Texas will require education above a high school diploma by 2034, the year our Roberts second graders graduate from high school. So, you should stay in school longer.

That way, you are also contributing to our GDP and economy because education gives you better chances of getting a job, which gives you more money you can spend.

You will need that job because according to NUMBEO Cost of Living, the 1 lb. of fresh white bread that costs $2.85 in 2024 is projected to cost $3.60 in 2034.

Housing prices will go up, too.

Over the next ten years, everything is going up. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, our current GDP is $27.94 trillion. And as reported by Business Insider, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that with more immigration to America, our GDP will increase by $7 trillion by 2034

So, buckle up, it is going to be a fast ride up in the ten-year outlook for the United States economy.

BY MAKKIYAH KHAN

Imagine a world where every child feels safe, accepted, and free to be themselves. Unfortunately, that is not the reality of many young kids who face the harsh reality of bullying.

According to the article, “Dealing with Bullying,” on kidshealth.org, bullying is when someone is mean to you or is picking on you.

Someone might bully a fellow student if they believe that fellow student does not “fit in.”

Some things bullies might bully their peers for include:

• Race/Religion

• Ethnicity

• Social Status

• Appearance

• Behavior

There are different types of bullying, such as physical, verbal, psychological, and cyberbullying. Physical bullying is when someone hits you or hurts you. Verbal bullying is when someone teases you, taunts you, or calls you mean

Getting bullied? Restricted reading

Banned books from a student’s point of view.

BY KATE SNYDER

We all love books, whether it's Dog Man, Harry Potter, or Junie B. Jones. There's no denying that. So, how do you feel when they get taken away from you?

People have challenged, or tried to ban, books all over the world, in schools, public libraries, and bookstores. Why are they trying to take away our books?

Well, people often choose to ban books about uncomfortable topics, such as war, gender identity, and many other topics deemed as “troubling,” or “inappropriate.”

But does this make sense?

ELEMENTARY THOUGHTS

names. Psychological bullying is when someone talks behind your back or gossips about you to make you feel bad about yourself. Cyberbullying is when someone bullies you on the internet saying mean things about you.

The effects of bullying could be feeling anxious, scared, or nervous, wanting to hurt oneself, having problems with schoolwork, having a bad mood, small/big appetite, and low energy.

Bullies come in all ways. Some bullies might appear friendly but end up doing hurtful things behind your back and being a fake friend. Some could be outgoing and aggressive that might make fun of you or hurt you. Other bullies might be sneaky and quiet. They could make rumors behind your back and try to manipulate you as an unknown person.

Most bullies are similar. They might be insecure, selfish, like to be in control of others, or they could simply care less about others’ emotions.

Now, you might be wondering what you can do if you get bullied.

Actions you can take include:

Well, some parts of this argument might make sense. For example, you wouldn't want to put a kindergartener in a room full of horror stories of blood and death. They would probably have nightmares.

On the other hand, it seems silly to ban something completely harmless, like “The Giving Tree,” which a Colorado library once banned in 1988.

According to a friend and librarian, Diana Farnsworth, fear is the most common reason people challenge books.

Fear of an idea.

It could be fear of a different religion, the human body, or any other ideas that are different from the person trying to ban the book.

People also challenge books about events in the past, such as war, or any other things they

Why are field trips important?

BY: ADDISON CAPALI

Many schools have field trips, but some field trips are being canceled because of testing. Field trips that were being planned during the

• Telling an adult

• Ignoring the bully

• Standing up for yourself

• Refraining from hitting back

• Talking to the bully

• Talking about it to anyone else who can help you

• Being confident

• Finding real friends

• Standing up for others if you see others getting bullied

wish did not happen.

If you are a bully and have bullied someone, tell a trusted adult, and talk to them about why you became a bully and ask them for advice. Another thing you could do is think about how the bullied person feels. How would you feel if you were that person?

Let’s work together to create a world where bullying is not tolerated. By promoting kindness, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by bullying. Remember to always be an upstander who stands up for others and yourself!

I asked Diana for a message to young readers, and this was her reply: “Keep asking questions, read anything you want, and if someone tells you not to read it, definitely check it out. If you don't like it, you can stop reading it.”

Here are some banned books you probably have read, or at least heard of and why they were banned.

• And Tango Makes Three – Banned for including two male penguins who adopt an egg and start a family together.

• Alice in Wonderland – Banned for making queens seem crazy.

• The Lorax – Banned for discouraging deforestation and persuading chil-

same month of STAAR testing were canceled, but do these cancellations have a big impact on students?

Field trips are a major part of school and reward students for their hard work. When field trips are canceled. It has negative effects on students.

Field trips are a very memorable experience in school. Most students are able to remember their favorite field trip.

When schools cancel field trips, students don’t get memorable experiences. I interviewed 2 adults who finished school over 20 years ago, and they

dren to stop cutting down trees.

• Harry Potter - Yup that’s right! Harry Potter was insulting to some religions for including witches and magic.

Most people agree that these books are fine for kids to read. So, how can we stop people from trying to ban books? Well, first, as author Edward Bulwer-Lytton said in 1839, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” You can write letters and raise awareness.

Second, you can protest, and third, you can support public libraries and other reading resources that fight for our freedom to read.

If we can come together to fight against unfairness, we just might get to choose for ourselves what we read.

still remember their favorite field trip.

Adult #1 said “My favorite field trip was a simple trip to the park.” This shows that even the simplest field trips are memorable. Adult #2 said “ My favorite field trip was to the Alamo in San Antonio.” Even after all those years they still remember their field trips.

Overall field trips expand the learning experience at school. Field trips can improve a students work ethic and give them memorable experiences. What is your favorite field trip?

ENTERTAINMENT

Things to do when summer boredom comes

BY CHRISTOPHER ZENG

You excitedly leap out of bed. You inhale your breakfast. The 3-day camping trip is finally here! As you get into the car, the clouds in the sky darken and suddenly, rain pours out. Your day is ruined. Now, you are stuck inside without anything to do.

The feeling of boredom comes and goes. Whether it is being stuck indoors without anything to do or being sick, the feeling of boredom will always be there.

According to an article that explored boredom as an emotion and its impact published by National Institute of Health (NIH), “Boredom can disrupt motivation, reduce pleasure, and interfere with goal-directed behavior, which can contribute to the development of depressive symptoms.”

The same NIH research study showed boredom can cause anxiety, making people worry and fret often. These emotions can seriously and negatively impact our daily lives. The researchers found, “Boredom can also increase impulsivity, leading individuals to engage in risky or sensation-seeking activities…”.

Entertainment, on the other hand, is good for the body. “Engaging in enjoyable activities triggers the brain’s reward system, making us feel good and reinforcing the desire for more entertainment,” says Medium.com’s journalist,

Ranam, in a story about the psychology of entertainment. “As we continue to seek out and create new forms of entertainment, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.”

So, here are some activities to amuse and get to know yourself better.

HAVE A MOVIE MARATHON

Nothing beats snuggling inside a fluffy, warm blanket and watching movies. A movie marathon is the perfect way to fix boredom and relax. Movies can help us release stress, causing a more positive mindset. Movies are a fun way to bond with friends and family.

TRY NEW RECIPES

Trying new recipes helps us to be more mindful of what we eat. When you cook for yourself (and maybe some friends), you are more aware of what is in the food. (For good recipes, check out the food section of this newspaper.) If you are alone or with family, cooking can be a fun bonding experience.

PLAY CHESS

Regular practice of chess can keep your brain alert. “Studies have shown that chess players tend to have better memory, attention span, and overall brain function than those who do not play,” reports a YMCA study on chess. Chess also

Three up-and-coming toys

BY SANJAY MEKAPATI

Everyone has time to have a little bit of fun, here are some new toys that could be the source of the joy

3D PEN

$80*

The 3Doodler Flow 3D Printing Pen is a great way to spend time and exercise creativity. Need a desk topper, well you can make your own. Simply put in the filaments, click, and make! It is also a great way for children to express their creativity; they can make what they feel. Feeling sad, make a dark colored cube or sphere. Feeling overjoyed, then make a bright colored butterfly. You can express your feelings, let them out.

SPIDER WEB SHOOTER

$40*

You want to be a superhero, maybe even Spider-

man, but your parents don’t want you to make a mess? The OVERFUN Web Launcher is a perfect solution. The web the launcher makes can cling to things or knock things over, and it has an automatic retractor, which brings the string back. With an authentic look and feel, a toy you hold in the palm of your hand that really does make you feel like a superhero.

LASER TAG SET

$30*

You and your sibling or siblings want to do something in the yard, but you do not have sports equipment? The Laser Tag Set is for you, with easy controls and machine-like sounds it hooks you in like a fish. The laser tag guns are light and have several different modes with their own interactive noises. Say goodbye to boredom.

*Prices are from amazon.com

helps players think differently and creatively, helping in multiple avenues of life.

Given these points, gloomy days can instantly

DEAR DAY BEST PICTURE BOOK REVIEW

be a fun time with family. Being entertained can relieve stress and help build a positive mindset. With these ideas, you can change a boring day into an engaging and fun day.

'Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf' by Mark Teague

BY KRISHAV RAMINENI

This book was about three little pigs, who all went out and made three different houses.

The first pig quickly built a small, weak house out of straw. The second pig quickly built a weak house out of sticks, and the third pig took her time and did a good job of building a strong house out of bricks.

Then, a bad wolf knocked on the doors and tried to eat the pigs.

The pigs would not let the wolf inside their houses, and the wolf got so mad that he blew down the straw and stick houses.

tead of taking a shortcut and being lazy. I think the author wrote this book because he likes wolves and pigs and to teach kids to work hard.

I will for sure recommend my friends to read this book. I felt happy after reading this book because, at the end of the story, they made new friends and had a party. I always like it when people make new friends and celebrate together.

He could not blow down the third house because the third pig worked hard to make it strong, and it was made out of bricks.

The lesson is to not damage other houses or homes. Another lesson of the book is if someone is alone, always invite them like the third pig invited the other two pigs to her house, and she also invited the wolf inside of her house even though the wolf was being mean to her and her siblings. Another lesson is to work hard to do a good job ins-

I made a connection with the first little pig in the book because he is one of three siblings like me, he has a cool scooter to ride like I do, he loves chips, and he likes to relax and have fun. The first little pig also has a very smart and responsible older sister like I do. He also has an older brother like I do, and his older brother is kind and smart and hard-working like my brother is.

The bad part about the book is that the wolf blew down two of the pigs’ houses, but the good part is that they all got to live together and became friends in the third pig’s house which was made of brick.

Try playing chess this summer!.

Cookie lovers unite!

It is time to settle the age-old battle of Hydrox vs. Oreo. These two iconic cookies have been intriguing taste buds for years, but which one truly takes the cake? From their flavors and textures to their dunkability and the nostalgic factor, we will delve into all the delicious details. Get ready to pick your side and join the cookie crusade! Let's find out if Hydrox or Oreo will reign supreme in the hearts of cookie enthusiasts everywhere.

First of all, Hydrox was made first in 1908

cookies comes into play because Hydrox are more chocolatey and crunchier while Oreos are crumblier and slightly sweeter. The icing is also different since Hydrox has smoother but less sweet icing, while Oreos have thicker and sweeter icing.

After diving deep into the world of cookies, it’s time to reach a verdict on Hydrox vs. Oreo. Both cookies are good in their own ways. If you like crunchy and healthier cookie options, you should opt for Hydrox. If you have a sweet tooth and like crumblier cookies, Oreos would be a better pick for you.

FOOD

Lunch Sheroes

BY MADISON CAPALI

What would we do without our lunch heroes?

In this article, I will share an interview I had with our three lunch ladies about their favorite meals to prepare for Roberts’s students daily.

Ms. Sharon said, “I like to make spaghetti because it’s one of my favorite dishes.”

Ms. J said, “Mashed potatoes, spaghetti, and hot dogs because that’s what y’all like to eat.”

Finally, Ms. Prado said, “Cheese hamburgers because the kids enjoy eating it.”

What’s your favorite school or home lunch?

And do not forget to always say please and thank you to all of our wonderful lunch sheroes.

STRAWBERRY LEMONADE RECIPE

BY RAY LEE

Strawberry Lemonade is a strawberry variation of lemonade that is cool and refreshing in the summer. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds strawberries

• 1 cup lemon juice

• 2 cups sugar

• 7 cups water

• loads of love!

Get a small saucepan and add 3 cups water and 2 cups sugar. Mix with heat until the sugar has dissolved.Get a blender or mixer and add the following. Your simple syrup, 2 pounds strawberry, (half cut) and BLEND.

Pour your blended strawberries into a pitcher with ice if wanted, with 4 cups of water and 1 cup of lemon juice. Give it a good mix and pour into a cup.

Serve and enjoy!

EASIEST, HEALTHIEST FRUIT SLUSHIE EVER RECIPE

BY KYLE HU

INGREDIENTS

• Fruit of your choice (HINT: Strawberries do well in this recipe.)

• Ice - only the best ice will do for this recipe

• Lots of love!

Add fruit and ice to blender.

Blend well.

Serve in cups!

MIYEOKGUK RECIPE

BY JUNE KIM

A delicious recipe for everyone.

MiyeokGuk (mee - yuk- gook ) ( 미역국) is a traditional Korean food that moms eat after they have children to help them recover. According to truekimchi.com, “Miyeok (seaweed) is a great source of calcium, iodine, fiber, omega, acids, vitamin B 1 & B3, while low in calories."

Also, it is served at birthday parties to honor mothers. This soup is an amazing meal to serve, and it is important to families across the world.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 - 1 oz of seaweed

• 10 oz beef

• 5 tbs Soy sauce

• 2 tbs Sesame oil

Soak the seaweed in cold water for 30 minutes. Rinse and drain seaweed then squeeze out excess water. Put the seaweed into a large pot.

Add small amount of water and add the 10 ounces of beef for stew. Cook until the beef is tender.

Add more water if too salty. If not salty enough, then add salt, add 5 tbsp of soy sauce, 2 tbsp sesame oil.

Cook again for about 1 hour, and if necessary, add more water.

HEALTH

Climate change effects on our health

And why you should care (a whole lot)

BY NASHWAN NIMIT

You might have thought about the huge global problem on our hands - climate change, but have you thought about what health problems it might cause?

Human activities such as transportation, energy production, and the manufacturing industry cause climate change.

These actions release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which heats the earth.

This increase in temperature leads to many climate-related health issues. How does this happen?

Buckle-up. I am going to share with you how climate change will change our physical and mental well-being!

Well, warmer temperatures mean more humidity. Humidity is the level of moisture in the air, and that moisture leads to increased clouds, which creates an atmosphere primed for disastrous storms. Storms that cause devastation might mean the loss of shelter or a loved one, which can also cause mental health issues.

Hot weather also leads to an increase in parasites like mosquitos, fleas, and ticks. This makes pest-related diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile Virus have a larger range, longer season, and more transmitters.

Warmer days are linked to ground-level ozone. Ozone can worsen asthma and cause many more respiratory diseases. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 17.92% of Americans currently live in counties with low air quality largely due to ground-level ozone.

Changing temperatures can also lead to changes in water quality. Many harmful microorganisms will increase in our water. Our crops that need good-quality water will also be harmed.

Mercury levels in seafood could increase due to the rising ocean temperatures, and according to the State of the Planet report by Columbia University, an increase in carbon dioxide levels decreases the amount of protein and minerals in crops, such as rice, wheat, and potatoes.

These populations are most vulnerable to climate-related health issues.

• Children

• Older Adults

• Communities of color and lower-income communities

• Outdoor workers

• Disabled people

Now that you know more about climate change, how can you help stop it? You can:

• Walk or bike

• Eat more vegetables

• Consider your travel

• Be less wasteful

• Reuse, repair & recycle

• Change your home's source of energy

• Switch to an electric vehicle

Climate change is our biggest challenge. It will lead to the destruction of ecosystems that humans need to live healthy lives. However, as stated by climate activist Greta Thunberg, “No one is too small to make a difference.”

ANTI-social media

BY MRINALINI LEVIN-SRINIVASAN

Do you know anybody on social media? Or maybe you are on it? Though used by many people, social media can be more harmful than helpful as two Columbia University professors of psychology, Dr. Claude Mullins and Dr. Deborah Glasofer, reported in a 2021 article.

Social media is a way of connecting online. People chat with friends, or post photos and videos. In 1997, a platform called Six Degrees was made, which was the beginning of social media. Soon, LinkedIn was started in 2003, followed by Facebook in 2004. Twitter was founded in 2006, then Instagram in 2010, and in 2011, Snapchat was launched.

The most popular site, however, for young people is TikTok, and it was founded in 2017.

Currently, Facebook has the most users worldwide with three million active users each month. WhatsApp and Instagram are tied with two million active users each month, and TikTok and Snapchat follow close behind with around one million active users each month.

Some of them, like Twitter, are mostly used for learning the current news and information about what's happening in the world.

Others, such as Snapchat and Whatsapp, are about talking and seeing your friends and family.

In 2024, according to Statista, a company that collects global data and business intelligen-

ce on over 80,000 topics, 62.6% of the global population uses social media. It can be really helpful to connect people globally.

But it can also be very damaging.

Social media has the same addictive quality that an addictive substance has as reported by the Addiction Center. This feeling means people can easily become obsessed with it. They spend more time online, and less time having real-world interactions. This trend especially affects teenagers and young adults who spend more time on devices than is necessary.

Another bad part of social media is that it can make people feel jealous or just generally upset. According to the Child Mind Institute, “Impossible standards can be set not just by celebrities and models but by classmates and

friends curating and filtering their pictures. There is evidence that this can negatively impact self-esteem.”

Social media involves posting pictures online, which can make people feel jealous or like they need to have or do the same things as those they see online.

“Social media makes some kids think they don’t have enough, or that they need something that others have,” said fifth-grader Ashley Church.

Even though social media can help many people, it is important to spend time away from devices and with your family and real friends in person instead.

How has this article changed your outlook on social media?

Do screens make your vision worse?

BY MARTIN WANG

Before we answer the question, “Do screens make your vision worse?”, we need to know what a screen is.

A screen is a liquid crystal display (LCD) with seven layers - the liquid crystal layer, polarizing filter, color filter, dielectric layer, base film layer, protective layer, and conductive layer.

The liquid crystal layer controls light to create images.

The polarizing filter is made by coating a transparent substrate, such as plastic or glass, with a thin film of a crystalline substance or polymer. This filter helps the display modify the brightness of every pixel and control the mix of red, green, and blue in an image.

The color filter layer comprises a glass substrate and a color resist that changes the color palette on the screen to make things colorful, making images and colors easier to see.

The dielectric layer provides an insulating layer between the conductive layers and the layers next to it.

The base film layer is plastic that helps with the images, sounds, and other information in the system.

The protective layer is also plastic that protects the components from the environment, like gases that can damage the internals.

Finally, the conductive layer is made of a

thin sheet of copper and controls the electricity in the screen.

DO SCREENS AFFECT YOUR VISION?

Indeed, screens cause temporary eye discomfort. According to Cedars Sinai Health Library, this eye pain from screens is Computer Vision Syndrome. Allaboutvision.com also refers to an illness called asthenopia, which is “eye strain or fatigue caused by extended focus on near tasks” that causes blurred vision, dry eyes, tearing, watery eyes, headaches, double vision, eye irritation, and even neck and back pain.

Reduced blinking frequency and screen brightness while staring at screens affect most people’s vision. Specifically, 12.4% to 32.2% of children under 18 years old and up to 57%

of students under 30 years old experience eye strain from screen use.

WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF EYE WORSENING FROM SCREENS?

When you stare at a screen, your eye lens contracts without an opportunity to relax leading to eye fatigue causing soreness, blurry vision, headaches or migraines. The front of your eye, the tear film, dries out and makes it hard to wear contact lenses. Too much exposure to a screen’s blue light in the evening can disrupt your sleep cycle. And staring at a screen can also cause nearsightedness or myopia.

So, screens impact people's eyes in many different ways.

To make sure your eyes don’t worsen due to screens, you could try adopting the 20-20-20 rule recommended by the American Association of Ophthalmology, which involves breaking focus every 20 minutes, focusing on something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds, and blinking 20 times. You could also take breaks from screens, blink more, adjust the lighting, and adjust your monitor 20-28 inches away from you. So, this summer when you are bored and want to have a little screen time, remember to protect your eyes with the 20-20-20 method.

The dangers of electric, self-driving and hybrid cars

Tweens, teens, and skincare routines

Why are tweens and teens so interested in skincare

BY ADDISON CAPALI

Skincare has become very popular among teens and tweens, but the question is why. I interviewed three students around Roberts about their opinions on skincare.

The first question I asked was: Do you have a skincare routine? Student #1, fifth grader, replied “No.” Student #2, fifth grader, replied “Yes,” and Student #3, fourth grader, replied “Yes.”

I asked Students #2 and #3. Why do you enjoy skincare? Student #2, fifth grader answered, “I enjoy skincare because it helps me feel organized.” Student #3, fourth grader, answered, “I enjoy skincare because I see it as a form of relaxation.”

The third question I asked was: Why do you think skincare is so popular? Student #1 and Student #3 replied “I feel that skincare is popular because of social media.” Student #2 replied, “I think that skincare is popular because it is entertaining.”

Skincare has become so popular among teens and tweens that skincare brands have started to add age recommendations to their products.

Writing this article taught me that people have different opinions on skincare, and some people have the same. What is your opinion? Share it with us this summer!

BY ASHWIN MOHAN

Electric and hybrid cars have been more present on the streets than ever. But how do we know if they are safe or not?

WHAT ARE ELECTRIC AND HYBRID CARS?

According to the Department of Energy, an electric car, or electric vehicle (EV), is “a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion (forward movement). EVs can be powered by a battery, a collector system, or by converting fuel to electricity.  A hybrid car uses both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor for propulsion, but the only fuel you'll put in is gasoline.” That basically means that a hybrid car can take gasoline and electric power to run while electric cars only use electric-powered motors.

TESLA’S QUESTION OF SAFETY

1.8 million Tesla cars are on the road as of 2023, according to data from Cox Automotive Market Insights. By the end of 2023, Tesla had also claimed 55% of the electric vehicle market, as reported by International Energy Agency, easily making Tesla the most popular electric car brand. But how do we know if they are safe and if you should be driving them?

According to Michelle Lambright Black of LendingTree, Tesla drivers are the most accident-prone (from an analysis of 30 car brands.) It was found that Tesla drivers are involved in more accidents – 23.54 per 1000 drivers – than drivers of any other brand.

When things go red

The bad, the ugly, and the good found in anger

BY MRINALINI LEVIN-SRINIVASAN

Have you ever felt like you were going to explode? Wanted to scream and let all your emotions out?

Sometimes life can be hard. You can’t agree with your friend, or you don’t get something you want. Maybe you had a disagreement with someone over politics or wanted to fix something you can’t fix, like climate change. When that happens, you can get angry.

Anger is when the adrenal glands send hormones through your body that make you want to resolve conflicts through physical action, as I learned from Brainly, a knowledge-sharing community. You might want to scream and kick (when you are young) or hit and yell. You can even hurt other people in a fit of rage. When you are especially upset, kicking, punching, and using hurtful words happens.

Then comes the process of calming down. Different people calm their anger in different ways.

Fifth grader, Makkiyah Khan says, “I like to think of my friends to calm down.”

Another good way to control your temper is through breathing. Taking deep breaths sends a message to your body to calm down. When you are angry, breathing can be faster. Slowing down your breathing can relax your nervous sys-

tem and tell your brain to think for a moment, according to the Better Health Channel.

While it can be negative, anger is still an important emotion. Anger can also be a good thing. It can help people take action and stand up for their rights. It can motivate people to do what needs to be done.

According to an article by National Public Radio’s Nell Greenfieldboyce, “...Martin Luther King Jr. realized that non-violent resistance offered a way to channel anger into positive forms of protest.”

History would not have been the same had he not felt angry and wanted to change things. He used his anger peacefully, and it changed the world.

What do you do to stay calm? And what was one occasion when you wanted to be angry?

Tesla also has a feature that lets the driver activate a self-driving mode, which can let the driver relax and let the car drive. This feature may sound good, but it has been proven to cause accidents.

According to newswriter James Farell of Forbes, “Teslas have received poor ratings for its driver monitoring features, its attention reminders, and its lane centering assist function, which mostly causes all the accidents.”

HYBRID CARS

Hybrid cars are becoming even more popular just like electric cars, but do they have the same dangers as electric cars? Rebecca McIlwain, a former environmental organizer and a clean energy company employee, talks with many environmental activists.

“After working with my job for many years, I realized that hybrid cars are much safer and better than electric cars. With the modern inventions of electric cars, there are less electric car pumps throughout the world. If you run out of battery with your electric car, then you are stuck there. But with hybrid, you have a backup plan because it runs on gas and electric energy,” shared McIlwain.

QUESTION AND WONDER ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THESE CARS.

Considering the dangers and risks of electric, self-driving, and hybrid cars, do you think we should continue producing and driving these types of vehicles?  How do they compare with the dangers of traditional gasoline vehicles for drivers and the care we must give to our environment?

Ramadan of 2024

BY CELINA ABU NASR

Do you know what Ramadan is? Ramadan is a holy month in Islam where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day during the holy month.

To share more with the Roberts community about Ramadan, I interviewed Maria Ibrahim, a Lebanese Muslim, and Naya Elalee, a half Lebanese, and half Palestinian Muslim, about Ramadan.

How do you feel during Ramadan?

Peaceful, tired, hungry, religious, blessed, and grateful.

How do you celebrate Ramadan?

Fasting, praying, feasting with family, decorating, and giving back.

Where can you celebrate Ramadan?

Anywhere, friends or family house, or the mosque.

Who can celebrate Ramadan?

People who believe in Ramadan and who can fast all day, or Muslims.

What is Ramadan?

Name of an actual month on the Arabic calendar and is a holy month in Islam.

I hope that by sharing this interview with you, you learned a little bit more than you knew before about Ramadan, a very special part of the Muslim faith!

An electric car charging station.

//Adobe Stock

Pixar's "Turning Red.". //wallpapers.com

SOUNDING BOARD

Maintaining unity through tough times

BY ASHWIN MOHAN

There are many problems with humanity and the Earth happening right now separating families, friends, and humans in general. A question arises from all these things happening: How do we stay together in a time of separation?

Historical events have led to people being on different sides of issues, often struggling to understand the viewpoint of the other side.

Current examples are the Russian and Ukrainian war and the Israeli and Palestinian war. Both these wars have different sides and sometimes people have trouble viewing the other side. Even with all these problems, we cannot let them separate us from the people we love and like – our community.

Opinions and sides should not separate you from your family and friends.

There are lots of wars going on in the world today. But some wars are more important to the United States than others. How does that affect people? Oftentimes people’s opinions are based on which side their country is supporting, but to really have an opinion that you stand for, you have to dig a little deeper to find your true opinion.

In the newsroom, this question of how to maintain unity in a time of separation has truly helped everybody understand how to deal with community hardships.

I believe that in the newsroom everybody has learned something from this conversation, and I think you will, too.

We asked students from our community, inclu-

Opinions and sides should not separate you from your family and friends.

ding some who are current Roberts students and some who are former RE students, about how we can maintain unity. The answers are interesting and worthy of more conversation. During this summer of unity, let us know if you use any of the methods from the Sounding Board and what your response is!

Even though it is difficult to stay together during times of separation, we must remain as one. We can do this by talking things out in order to resolve any problems – Ava Afshar, 8th grade, Pin Oak, former Roberts student During times of separation, it can be difficult to be aware of people’s differences. Sometimes I try to hear everyone’s opinions and feelings to have a solution that works for everyone.

– Eleni Diehl, 7th grade Pin Oak, former Good News REview staff writer

Even during times of separation, it is important to stay focused on the main goal ahead and work together. – Evelyn Wang, 7th grade Pin Oak, former Roberts students

In times of separation, it’s important to be aware of everyone’s situations, but everyone should strive to stay as one community.

- Leila Patel, 7th grade, Trafton Academy

WORK HARD, LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES, HAVE FUN!

A thank you letter for Roberts

BY COACH A

I was hired to teach Physical Education at Roberts in 2014.

In my interview, they asked since I was in the Olympics, would I understand different ethnic groups. I thought of my friends around the world. And it was a resounding yes!

The students in Roberts are the most amazing students that I have taught. They never stop keeping me in awe.

I am retiring because it is my time to spend time with my wife. I am almost 70, and I am starting to ache from standing up all the time.

I plan to exercise and eat right. I also plan to do weightlifting and stretching so I do not ache anymore. I want to continue doing triathlons and racing safely.

This is what I believe PE to be about - encouraging student-athletes to exercise for life and teaching them about what foods will keep them healthy.

We tend to do what is fun. We tend not to do the not-so-fun things we know are right.

It is about finding lifelong activities that promote healthy bodies through exercise. We have three areas to work in – 1) aerobic, 2) anaerobic, and 3) power, strength, and speed.

The last two are better done when you get older. So, developing the aerobic system for me is most important. I will have fun!

There are two types of student athletes, those who are competitive and those who are not. I want to encourage all to exercise for life. Time is very valuable. Try to find a half-hour a day to exercise. The benefits will help you physically.

I want to thank all the students, parents, teachers, and administrators who have made my stay at Roberts the best experience that anyone could dream of! You make teaching and coaching FUN!

Through cultural events and public events – Nashwan Nimit, 5th grade

Communication Tech Events – Vihaan, 5th grade

Remember each other and the things we did for each other! – Amelie Thanoon, 4th grade

We can use tech to stay in touch.

– Catherine, 6th grade Awty, former Good News REview staff writer

We need to hug more and call each other so we don’t feel apart! – Haven Stephens, 2nd grade

We communicate and make sure that everyone is seen and heard. – Anna Tsekos, 5th grade

We find a common ground and build peace through that.

– Thera Castellon Fenandez, 5th grade

We stay together in love. - Ashley, 5th grade

We stay to grow and be better.

– Journey Stephens, 6th grade Lanier, former Good News REview staff writer

Compromise! – Calvin, 2nd grade

Communicate or wait for others to come around. – June Kim, 5th grade

Through tough times of division, a way to stay united is to work together and communicate.

– Maryam Elkady, 8th grade Lanier, former Roberts student

Stick together. Communication is key!

– Collette, 8th grade, Lanier

Be kind to one another. – Eleanor, 2nd grade

Don’t argue with one another – Mahikaa, 2nd grade

We can find people who relate.

- Madison Capali, 4th grade

We stay together during times of division by empathizing with everyone and anyone. When you put yourself in the minds of others you understand the world and can be more caring.

– Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan, 5th grade

We can have unity in times of separation when we stay in touch and share experiences. – Sasha Collins, 5th grade

We can maintain unity by understanding others' opinions. – Sanjay Mekapati

BY SANJAY MEKAPUTI

THAT ONE KID STARR STEREOTYPLES WATERPARK STEREOTYPES

BY RAY LEE

WHOA! SOMEONE’S EATEN THE SUN! SCIENCE

Fossil hunting for all ages

BY KATE SNYDER

Fossils are cool! And they’re not just for the paleontologists. Kids can have fun fossil hunting, too!

You most likely already know that fossils are the remains of prehistoric creatures, but you have probably wondered: Where do they come from?

When you think, “fossils,” you might think of huge Tyrannosaurus skeletons, but fossils can come from all sorts of things, including marine reptiles, such as mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, mammals, such as camels and mastodons, a relative of the wooly mammoth, and cephalopods (squids) like ammonites and baculites.

You can also find things called arrowheads. Ancient people made these by sharpening

rocks into points on other rocks. They then tied these onto the ends of spears and arrows that they used to hunt animals.

So, now you know what you might find, but where do you find them?

Well, you can find fossils all over Texas, but some places include North Sulfur River - a river near Dallas, Lake Texoma - a lake between Texas and Oklahoma, and Post Oak Creek - also near Dallas.

So, you've heard enough from me for now.

Here are a few quick questions I had the chance to ask a fossil hunter, Lewis Smith.

Q: What is your favorite place to hunt?

A: I like to hunt in the North Sulfur River.

BY MRINALINI LEVIN-SRINIVASAN

On April 8th, you may have stood outside Roberts wearing the special glasses that our school provided. You probably know that you were watching the solar eclipse. But do you know what a solar eclipse is?

A solar eclipse happens when the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the sun. Since the moon is closer to the Earth than the sun is, they look the same size from our perspective. This happens about every 1.5 years, but according to The Eclipse Travel Guide, a singular place only experiences totality once every 345 years. By utilizing a pattern called the Saros Series, scientists can predict when the next solar eclipse will be.

The Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, was the first in history to accurately predict the eclipse in 150 C.E. 1874 years later, people are still interested in the eclipse. Professor Patricia Reiff at Rice Univer sity has viewed 18 solar eclipses, and she is plan

ning to see more. She says, “It (the solar eclipse) is not just beautiful, it is really captivating.”

She travels all around the world just for this unique experience.

Recently there was great excitement, especially in our area. We were about to be in the path of a solar eclipse!

Beginning at 11:07 am Central Time in Houston on April 8th, the solar eclipse darkened skies everywhere. People wore special glasses to safely gaze at the sun. I was standing in an open field in Dallas, watching along with my family.

The sun was slowly covered, and all at once, it looked like night. Totality lasted only 3 minutes and 51 seconds, but it felt like an eternity. When it was over, I had finally seen the total eclipse.

I was spellbound by what I saw in Dallas, whilst staring starry-eyed at the sky. The sight of “someone eating the sun” was one of the grea-

Q: What fossils do you like to find?

A: I'm mainly an arrowhead guy, but I also enjoy fossils.

Q: What is the coolest fossil you've ever found?

A: I took my seventh-grade class to the river, and we found a perfect mosasaur skull.

Q: What is one tip you have for a beginner?

A: Keep your eyes on the ground and flip that rock. tion. Have fun!

Dolphins vs. porpoises: What's the difference?

BY ANNA TSEKOS

Imagine. You are on a boat, traveling along the coast of California. All of a sudden, you see two similar-looking creatures in the water. Somebody shouts, “Look! A dolphin and a porpoise, swimming together! How rare!” Dolphin? Porpoise? Are those not the same thing? Dolphins and porpoises are both marine mammals in the group cetaceans (meaning whale or sea monster), along with whales. They are both at the top of their respective food chains and use echolocation. Both communicate using a complex language of clicks, squeaks, buzzes, and whistles, a very iconic sound heard in many movies. They are also both extremely intelligent. However, while they may look and seem similar, they are two incredibly different marine creatures. According to the National Oceanic and At-

mospheric Administration (NOAA), dolphins are more common than porpoises, with thirty-two species and five closely related river dolphin species compared to the porpoises’ six species. They also have more elongated snouts and curved dorsal fins, in comparison to porpoises’ rounded faces and triangular dorsal. Porpoises also have spade-shaped teeth, while dolphins’

teeth are more cone-shaped. Furthermore, dolphin bodies are often sleeker than those of porpoises, which are far bulkier.

Each animal has a different way of living. While dolphins are mainly found in warmer, tropical waters, porpoises prefer cooler, temperate waters. Dolphins often prefer shallower waters near the coast, while porpoises are mostly

found in deeper waters farther from the shore. Dolphins also are more social and live in large groups or pods. Meanwhile, porpoises are more solitary and live in smaller groups. Dolphins also tend to be more curious than porpoises. (All information from American Oceans, an organization “dedicated to educating the public about marine species, ecosystems, and the dangers our oceans face.)

Dolphins and porpoises are not the only mammals in the sea. According to NOAA, they join whales in the group of cetaceans. However, there are also groups of pinnipeds, which include seals, sea lions, and walruses; sirenians, which consist of manatees and dugongs; and marine fissipeds - polar bears and sea otters. While these two species of marine mammals are different in many ways, they are both important to their ecosystems.

Eclipse over Houston on April 8, 2024

//Adobe Stock

A dolphin, left; a porpoise, right.

SPORTS

BY SANAYA KIM EL-MALLAWANY

What is the history of women’s soccer?

HISTORY-MAKING MOMENT OF WOMEN’S SOCCER

Women’s Soccer The History and The Houston Dash

Medal four times -1996, 2004, 2008, and 2012.

Despite winning a world championship eight times, the women were paid less than the U.S. men’s team, who have not yet won a championship.

According to the Athletic Business 2009 article, “Women’s Soccer Takes Grassroots Approach to Growth,” professional women’s soccer leagues in the U.S.A. were originally formed in the 1990s.

Momentum grew after the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) won the 1999 FIFA World Cup.

The Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) was formed with eight teams but unfortunately only lasted for three seasons due to financial difficulties.

The next league, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) formed in 2008, but also only lasted three seasons.

The first season of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) was in 2013, and fortunately, it has continued to grow steadily in the last decade. The NWSL is one of the top women’s soccer leagues in the world and has 14 teams from cities across the United States.

Many excellent soccer players in the NWSL are also members of the USWNT. The USWNT won the World Cup four times in 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019. The USWNT also won the Olympic Gold

In February 2022, after a long fight for equal pay, the USWNT players finally got paid the same amount of money as the men.

THE HOUSTON DASH

Do you know that some of the world’s best soccer players play right here in Houston week in and week out?

The Houston Dash is Houston’s women’s professional soccer team. They play at the Shell Energy stadium downtown and joined the NWSL in 2014.

For this article, I was lucky enough to interview Michelle Alozie, a star player for the Houston Dash.

Ms. Alozie was 4 years old when she started playing soccer. The first professional team she joined was the Houston Dash in 2020 as a forward/striker. She also plays on the Nigerian National Team as a right-side defender.

If you’ve ever seen Ms. Alozie play, you will notice she wears two different colored cleats every game. Her favorite player ever, Italian soccer player Mario Balotelli, wore two different color cleats. She thought it was cool and did it,

too. She wore two different color shoes in track as a younger athlete and continues it today on the soccer field.

I asked her what it was like to play in the World Cup in 2023.

“It was such a shock for me to play there because I’ve watched it my whole entire life. It seemed like a dream, and it was super fun. I felt super blessed to have the opportunity to play.”

This summer, she will play in Paris for Nigeria in the Olympics. Ms. Alozie said she is looking forward to playing in the Olympics as well as staying at the Olympic Village, where all athletes from all sports and countries come together.

Ms. Alozie is not only a soccer player, but she is also a research technician at Texas Children’s Hospital. She researches medications to help fight childhood cancer.

In an interview with Forbes Magazine, she said that she always wanted to work in the medical field and plans to attend medical school after her soccer career.

For kids who have multiple dreams she advises, “to never give up on them, put a lot of hard work and time management into them, and you should have a passion and a fun time doing it.”

In the past few years, women’s soccer has become more popular than ever. Ms. Alozie is really excited about the growth of soccer in the U.S., too.

“For young girls and boys to know that the-

Players to Watch

• Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns

• Trinity Rodman, Washington Spirit

• Uchenna Kanu, Racing Louisville

• Michelle Alozie, Houston Dash

• Diana Ordonez, Houston Dash

• Jane Campbell, Houston Dash

• Jayden Shaw, San Diego Wave

• María Sánchez, San Diego Wave

• Naomi Girma, San Diego Wave

• Mallory Swanson, Chicago Red Stars

• Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current

• Ashley Sanchez, North Carolina Courage

• Bia Zaneratto, Kansas City Current

• Claire Emslie, Angel City

re is professional women’s soccer in the U.S. is amazing,” said Ms. Alozie.

For the first time, all NWSL games are televised on Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, Paramount+, and CBS, and you can catch all the highlights and games on the free NWSL+ channel on Roku. Will this inspire you to watch the Houston Dash and learn more about the NWSL?

2023-24 UEFA Champions League recap

BY NASHWAN NIMIT

Thrilling players battling for success. Young superstars rising to glory. One team will rise above them all to victory. But who will triumph on June 1* in London in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League? Borussia Dortmund, or Real Madrid?

The Champions League is the highest level of European competition for club teams. Understanding the tournament requires an understanding of how it works.

32 teams are split into eight groups of four teams. Each team plays twice against every other team for points - for a win: 3 points, for a tie: 1 point, and for a loss: nothing. The two teams with the most points advance to the knockout stage. Teams either win or get eliminated based on the total score over two games until only two teams remain, and they will play in the finals. However, you must be wondering which matches stood out.

One standout match was Copenhagen vs Manchester United. United has faced a lack of trophies in recent years but is still a formidable

In the quarterfinals, both Manchester City vs. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona failed to disappoint. Paris, at home, fell 2-3 to Barcelona but managed a stunning 4-1 comeback in Barcelona.

Real tied at home, 3-3. While in Manchester, Real took it to a penalty shootout after a 1-1 tie and beat City on penalties, 4-3.

Now Real Madrid’s final challenge is to defeat Dortmund in the finals. Some players who have starred throughout the tournament are Mbappe, Kane, Bellingham, and Mats Hummels.

So, who do you think will win? Dortmund or Real Madrid?

The Champions League is one of the greatest soccer competitions in all of soccer history. Each edition of it promises to be even more exciting than the last.

So, who do you think will triumph at Wembley? Real or Dortmund?

*Update: This story was originally written on May 23. Real Madrid won with a score of 0-2!!

opponent. United scored twice, but Copenhagen responded by making it 2-2.

The emblems of the football clubs participating in the UEFA Champions League final Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

TECHNOLOGY

Catching cryptocurrency

BY MAKKIYAH KHAN

Cash…Cash, where’s my wallet? Aghhh! I left it at home! Wait, do you guys accept cryptocurrency? AHH! Phew, just a dream! Wait, you don’t know what cryptocurrency is?

According to the resource center at Kaspersky, a company offering cybersecurity services, cryptocurrency is a form of digital money you can’t hold in your hand. A digital wallet keeps cryptocurrency safe.

Cryptocurrency works because it runs on a public ledger called a blockchain. The blockchain records all the currency holders’ purchases. A process, called mining, is used to create units of cryptocurrency which involves a computer creating complicated math problems to generate digital coins.

As an elementary schooler, why would you need to know what cryptocurrency is? Some people believe that it is the money of the future. So, learning the basic concepts of it might help you with your finances once you are older.

To buy cryptocurrency, you have to be 18 or

older.

There are many different cryptocurrencies. There’s Bitcoin, DogeCoin, LiteCoin, etc.

There are three simple steps, according to nerdwallet.com, to buy cryptocurrency when you get older.

1. Pick a cryptocurrency, for example, Bitcoin.

2. Decide where to buy it. An exchange would be the easiest way.

3. Store your cryptocurrency using private keys.

If you lose your private keys, you lose your cryptocurrency, which is why cryptocurrency can be risky.

Price volatility, the way prices fluctuate frequently, also makes crypto a riskier investment.

Another risky part of owning crypto is the regulatory uncertainty. The United States government has had difficulty setting rules about how investors should access or buy and sell crypto.

Of course, there are also benefits such as accessibility, lower fees, and faster time to transfer

Popular gaming for the modern age

BY SASHA COLLINS

Everybody has almost certainly come in contact with a gaming console sometime in their life. Even if not, you surely have heard about an Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo. Gaming consoles are very entertaining for people of all ages. If you would like to get one, there are many to consider.

WHAT ARE GAMING CONSOLES?

A gaming console is a complex piece of technology that allows you to play video games for the enjoyment of the experience. They are made with compact computing power that can do so many things that are well beyond human entertainment from the olden days.

MOST POPULAR GAMING CONSOLES

There the three big companies that rule the gaming console industry. Sony manufactures the PlayStation. Microsoft makes the Xbox. Nintendo is known for its Switch.

I interviewed two employees at our local neighborhood GameStop store, Harvie and Rosendo, to get their opinions about the most popular gaming consoles.

Harvie said that the most popular gaming console is the Nintendo Switch because it has

many familiar and exclusive characters, such as Mario and his friends.

“It's cheaper. You can play on the go, and it uses cartridges instead of discs. So, the games are harder to break than the other consoles," he explained.

Rosendo said his favorite game for the Switch was The Legend of Zelda Breath of The Wild. He said, "It is an exclusive, and there is just so much you can do in that game!"

WHICH CONSOLE IS BEST FOR YOU?

Nintendo. Japanese brand, Nintendo, sells three consoles right now: the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch Lite, and the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Nintendo Switch is the original gaming console. It is the most common pick, and kids love it. It is a basic console with two Joy-Con controllers that are retractable and meant for multiplayer use. They attach to an iPad-like screen. It can be used for handheld play or connected to a TV with an HDMI 4 cord and a port. The Switch series is more kid-friendly than other consoles and has many exclusive games.

The Switch OLED is similar except it has a better-quality screen and lasts longer. However, the Switch Lite is smaller than a

money.

So, why do the prices go up and down so frequently?

According to Coin Rivet, a digital platform to buy, sell, transfer, or store crypto, prices fluctuate because of three factors: liquidity, media and reputation, and arbitrage.

Liquidity is the availability of assets to a person or company investor.

The media could also affect price volatility because it could bring positive or negative attention to the market.

Arbitrage is when there are many purchases of an asset to earn money from an imbalance in price.

Cryptocurrency could vastly improve payment systems in the future if implemented correctly.

But again, it’s important to be aware of the potential for price volatility, security threats, and regulatory challenges. By understanding both the risks and benefits, you can make informed decisions about your involvement in the world of cryptocurrency.

Stay curious and keep exploring the fascinating world of digital currency!

The Apple Vision Pro: First-Ever Spatial Computing

BY RAY LEE

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to type, watch, and play games while computer tabs are floating in the air? Have you ever thought about seeing pictures right in front of you with Virtual Reality?

Well, Apple's new creation, the Apple Vision Pro can do all that and more, and I can help you learn more about the new product.

At a price of $3499.00, some people say it is too pricey, but other people think differently. They believe it is incredibly valuable. For example, Kyle Krueger stated, “It seems so real… Not like a video game, it feels like you can reach and touch the stuff.”

Another tech vlogger and content creator, MKBHD said, “Throughout Apple’s creations this is a major change in Apple’s future.”

It is certainly unusual that Apple made a

What is the impact of AI on teachers in the future?

BY MOHAMMED KHOUQEER

November 2022, the launch of ChatGPT was when people began to realize the power of AI. We now could have coherent conversations with an all-knowing entity, which is scary because kids my age and older, are now using ChatGPT and other AI chatbots for homework, essays, projects, etc.

How are we to think on our own? What will be the impact of AI on the future of our education system? But my main question is: Will AI replace the need for teachers? As a curious writer, I conducted multiple interviews around Roberts Elementary looking for answers asking the two following questions 1: How do you think AI will impact our education? 2: Do you think AI will take over teachers’ jobs? Here are some of our teachers’ and students’ insights.

MS. NELSON, LIBRARIAN

1: I think there might be a hybrid option, but I think most families might want human teachers.

2: I hope not because teachers wear different hats.

MR. MARTINEZ, FOURTH GRADE

1: I think schools will remain mostly the same, but AI will make leveled lesson plans for individual student needs.

2: I think robots will take over some of the planning, but humans will still do the teaching for at least the next 50 years. After that, who knows?

MS. LARA, FOURTH GRADE

1: I think schools will be similar because AI, although a great development, can’t cover all the bases a teacher can. For example, we don’t only teach basic subjects, but we also act as counselors, deal with behavior, and provide personal engagement.

2: I don’t think so because AI is in the early stages of development.

MS. OWENS, FOURTH GRADE

2: Well, I think we learned a lot from COVID. Students will not effectively learn by watching on screens. Teaching is a very special profession. It is like an art, and AI doesn’t have those capabilities. A kid needs to feel connected.

THOMAS, FOURTH-GRADE STUDENT

1: Yes, I think you will be taught online.  2: Yes, in like 2250.

CHRISTIAN, FOURTH-GRADE STUDENT

1: You will be taught by robots.  2: Maybe. 50/50 chance.

After collecting all the data from my interviews, teachers agree that AI will not replace their jobs in the future. On the other hand, the students came up with simple answers that lean more toward AI playing a major role in education in the near future. In my opinion, AI will not take over teachers’ jobs because all of the teachers responded with evidence based on their experiences that teaching is not just a task, but it is an art - reaching and connecting to kids that only humans can achieve.

The New York boroughs TRAVEL

BY SASHA COLLINS

You've probably heard of Manhattan or Brooklyn, but do you know what those places actually are? Well, these are just two of the five New York City boroughs.

The five New York City boroughs are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

THE BOROUGHS

A borough is like a large neighborhood that is a major subdivision of the city.

"People in New York City define themselves by what borough they’re from,” said James Felder. Assistant Arts Professor James Felder, a native New Yorker and Head of Television in the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Manhattan. Felder lives there currently. It is probably the most famous, according to Felder. “When people outside the city think of the city, they’re really just thinking of Manhattan.”

Manhattan includes the tallest skyscrapers, such as One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center. It is also where Broadway is, the famous street that has

BOROUGHS

many great theater productions of well-known plays that run for many months, even years, and decades. Another big attribute of Manhattan is the home to the well-known Central Park.

With almost 1.6 million residents, it may seem awesome to live there. However, it is VERY expensive, even more than all the rest of New York, which is expensive, too. And, as Felder went on to say, “Manhattan is only one part of the much larger city.”

Brooklyn. It is very populous. Almost 2.6 mi-

llion people live here. So, Manhattan may seem big, but Brooklyn actually has the highest population out of all the five boroughs. It is home to the glamorous and old Brooklyn Bridge and has a theme park - Coney Island.

Felder commented, “When my dad was a kid growing up in Brooklyn, in the 1930s-1940s, it was a working-class neighborhood. When I thought about moving to Brooklyn in the early 2000s, because it had become hip and affluent, my dad was confused why I’d want to do that. He said, ‘I worked hard my whole life so you wouldn’t have to live in Brooklyn!’”

Queens. This borough also has more people than Manhattan, but not as many as Brooklyn with almost 2.2 million people who call it home. The main attractions are the Citi Field for the New York Mets baseball team and also Astoria Park. The USTA National Tennis Center is also in Queens.

Bronx. It is towards the northern tip of Manhattan Island, and it is located east of New Jersey. It is the fourth largest in population, with almost 1.4 million. The Bronx has attractions such as the New York Yankees Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden, and also the Bronx Zoo. Felder

shared, “Immigrant groups settle in the outer boroughs, Queens, the Bronx. If you go there, you’ll find all sorts of interesting food and stores you won’t find in Manhattan.”

Staten Island. It is located down by New Jersey in the south, and its almost 500,000 residents, is separated from the rest of the city. Staten Island is known as the "borough of parks," as it has many green spaces and lots of historic buildings. It has the well-known Staten Island Ferry that comes down from Manhattan Island, and it is completely free.

“Many people spend most of their time only in their borough. To them it’s the hippest, best, most authentic part of the city,” explained Felder. But having a family heritage in New York, he understands all five boroughs dynamically contribute to the richness of New York City.

“Over the decades, boroughs can go up or down – become more or less desirable to live in.”

In the end, all the boroughs have their own unique characteristics. That is what makes these different boroughs all special. To echo Felder’s opinions, I would advise anyone visiting New York to try to experience all five boroughs for a truly well-rounded experience.

The ultimate Northeast road trip itinerary

BY NASHWAN NIMIT

Are you looking for a good place to visit but can’t seem to find one? For a blend of cityscape and nature’s beauty? If you are looking for a place like this, here are some of the top places to visit in the Northeastern United States.

A northeast road trip would need time, so I suggest taking about a week or more for the best experience.

My four starting options would be:

• Washington, D.C.

• Philadelphia

• New York City

• Boston

Now you know where to start, what should you do?

Well, in the northeast, if you can take your time, you should check out Baltimore and Washington, D.C. In one day, make sure to go to one of the Smithsonian Museums. Whatever your interest is, you’ll find someplace interesting since the Smithsonian has 17 museums in D.C.

Other places to visit are the Lincoln Memorial,

the National Mall, The Capitol, and the White House in D.C., and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. I recommend two days in the area before heading two hours north to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, Independence National Historical Park and the Franklin Institute are must-see sights.

Also, don’t forget to have some iconic Philly foods, like cheesesteaks and pretzels.

Next, drive for another two hours to New York City. Times Square, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Empire State Building are only some of the many attractions the Big Apple has to offer.

Boston should be next on anyone’s list. The historic background is well represented on the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile walk that takes you across the city.

Last but not least, the only national park in these parts, Acadia. The Park Loop Road takes you to the main points like Thunder Hole and Otter Cove. Hiking is also a good activity in Acadia. It is summertime! So, now that you know about some places to visit, go there.

Besides, as Abraham Lincoln said, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

The Statue of Liberty overlooks the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan.

//Adobe Stock

WHY IS HOUSTON SO HOT?

BY KYLE HU

Have you ever wondered why Houston is so hot?

And why is the temperature always 100s in the summer?

Visithoustontexas.com reported that Houston experiences temperatures of 90 degrees or more about 100 days a year!

WHY IS HOUSTON SO HOT?

Houston is so hot because of the “Heat Dome.” This heat dome is a rigid high-pressure air dome that forces the air to go down, and in turn, traps heat in.

Humidity levels do not cause the heat to go up but make it “feel” hotter. A comfortable humidity level is 55%.

And Houston’s year-round average level of humidity is 59.5%. Houston’s humidity is higher than most cities in the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association even classified Houston’s climate as a humid subtropical climate.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 03

Going back to our Roberts Elementary School pals, 10% considered the option of another public school district. And 29% of Roberts’s students sought to apply to a private or charter middle school, too.

Finally, students have made their final decision with their parents to solve the middle school dilemma.

71% of the Roberts fifth graders actually chose to remain in HISD for middle school.

Out of that 71% of students, 51% are going to Lanier M.S. But surprisingly in second place is Pershing M.S. with 15% of RE students going there. Of course, Pin Oak is following behind with 7% of our fifth-grade student body. And tied for fourth place is T.H. Rogers, Hogg, Mandarin Immersion, and Rice Middle School with 3% each of the fifth graders going to an HISD school.

Four percent of the overall students, however, decided for various reasons in the end to change to another school district outside of Houston. We will miss you!

And lastly, 21% of the Roberts fifth graders decided on one of the many private schools in the Houston area.

It has been said that sometimes there is not a perfect answer. But just like my topic for this article, it is not about what others think is best, but what you feel is right for you. So, the school you are going to might just be your needle in the haystack!

humidity is higher than most U.S. cities.

Additionally, our short distance to the equator makes the heat worse. The lack of green spa-

GAMING

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

classic Switch and does not have Joy-Cons but pre-attached controllers and is much cheaper.

According to the Nintendo website, the cost of a traditional Switch is $299.99. The cost of an OLED is $349.99, and the cost of a Lite is $199.99.

Microsoft. Microsoft created the famous Xbox. The company sells two main types of consoles right now - the Series S and the Series X. The series S is the smaller version, and it is not as powerful. However, it is very flexible and still has reasonable computing power. It comes with a cord to plug into a TV to start the console. It also comes with one Xbox controller (since it does not have anything built into the console itself like a Nintendo Switch).

The Series X is more expensive, and its overall power and computation capabilities are almost double the Series S. Otherwise, the only other main difference is that it is slightly larger. These consoles are meant for those who seek a better experience and are more serious about gaming.

The cost of a Series S is $299.99, and the Series X is $499.99.

Sony. Sony is the creator of the PlayStation. Sony currently sells one type of PlayStation console, the PS5. Many Roberts Elementary fifth-grade students think the PS5 is the best console on the market. The PS5 contains one controller (similar to the Xbox). The console looks like a spaceship. It looks very modern and very powerful, trying to uniquely stand out as the greatest.

ce and the pavement and asphalt make Houston hot, too, because the pavement and asphalt ab-

This console is mostly meant for serious gamers and is quite costly at $499.99.

THE FUTURE OF CONSOLES

Gaming consoles continue to evolve. Harvie, the GameStop associate, believes in the future, "There will be more and more digital-only games. Physical media will be rare, and the consoles will all be more subscription-based.”  Like new streaming video services that took the place of DVD players, physical media may soon be outdated for gaming consoles.

GETTING GAMING CONSOLE

These machines are all entertaining and bring great experiences to gamers. You can find these consoles at any large store such as GameStop, Target, and Best Buy. Nintendo has its own stores, but there are only three in the world, which are in Osaka, Tokyo, and New York City.

If you are a serious gamer, then the Xbox or PS5 may be best for you. For everyone else, just sticking with the Nintendo Switch is likely the way to go!

sorb the heat.

IS THIS GOING TO STOP?

According to Space City Weather, the heat dome is starting to shift to the west, which should slightly reduce the temperatures.

But the heat may not be over until fall. Even then, pavement will still absorb a lot of heat.

The climate change we are continuing to experience is also not helping. Each year, we break heat records. And, at night, we do not get any relief because of the heat emanating from asphalt.

HOW YOU CAN STAY SAFE

This summer, you can stay safe by staying in air-conditioned rooms and staying hydrated. Try not to do strenuous exercise outside and stay inside from 12 PM-2 PM. When outside, make sure to wear loose-fitting clothing.

Now, when someone asks you why it is so hot, during summer break, you have the answers.

APPLE VISION PRO

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

product that already had “pro” in the name. For example, other Apple products, such as the iPhone and the iPad have evolved from the iPhone 1 to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

But still, it is very fascinating that you can control most screens with your fingertips!

Some even say that the Apple Vision Pro is better than both Meta Quest, a virtual reality instrument owned by Facebook, and Oculus, also owned by Facebook, because of how the reality is just so wild. You can see everything around you clearly, unlike the others, where if you moved around too much, it would start glitching.

Now, we need to talk about the multiple downsides.

For starters, the battery life only lasts from 2-3 hours, compared to the iPhone 15, which lasts over ten hours! Another flaw is that if you wear it for too long, at least five to six hours, your head might hurt from the strap on the headset. Also, you can see through your Apple Vision Pro, but after too long, it can get kind of blurry.

No matter how bad it can get, the Apple Vision Pro is truly fascinating and one amazing creation of Apple.

So, after reading all this, what do you think?

Will the Apple Vision Pro change our future?

Do you want to try it out this summer at your local Apple store?

Well, try it and witness the future of our Earth.

Nintendo Switch //Adobe Stock