Feb 2019

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Taking a

Stand Motivate. Activate. Celebrate.

F E AT U R E

Index:

Taking A Stand

Feature..................................................2 Editorial Calendar...............................3 Fiction...................................................4 Poetry....................................................6 Book review.........................................8 Environment........................................9 Character............................................12 People..................................................14 Education...........................................16 People We Admire............................20 Educators............................................21 Parent’s Corner..................................23

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Dear Readers,

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aking a stand for what is right is often regarded as one of the most valuable traits of a human being. As parents and educators, we strive to aspire our children to stand up for their beliefs and stay true to themselves. Yet, for most people, taking a stand doesn’t come easily.

When we have to make a decision, our options, more often than not, are rather clear: our "heart" has a way of helping us distinguish right from wrong. So why do we, in fact, intentionally keep ourselves from doing the right thing?

While there are many examples of exceptional people standing up for what they believe in rights movements, or politics, or important causes, in many quarters of society, people prefer to silence their opinions in an attempt to be liked by everyone or to avoid confrontation.

Let’s think about this. Last time when you felt something conflicted with your views and beliefs, did you take the easy route to blend with everyone else or did you stand your ground and make the right choice?

Arina Bokas

Kids’ Standard Editor & Author of Building Powerful Learning Environments: From Schools to Communities

If you chose the latter, you know how liberating this feels. When you stand up for your values and beliefs, you are your own person. You are in charge of your actions and choices.

You get to decide how you wish to live. You win, even if you are standing alone, because it is your own choice and not anyone else’s.

There is nothing more important in life than knowing who you are. Our February issue Taking a Stand features stories by young people, who have chosen to share their voices. Let’s read!

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Disclaimer: All editorial and advertising material submitted to Kids Standard becomes the property of Kids Standard to be reproduced as seen fit. It will not be returned unless by prior arrangement. Submitted material includes advertising artwork and editorial content (including but not limited to: articles and images, art work and creative writing). All the designs remain the copyright of Kids Standard. Kids Standard welcomes comments and suggestions, as well as information about errors that call for corrections. Kids Standard is committed to presenting information fairly and accurately.

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Ø Author, college writing instructor, editor Ø Frequent contributor to national publications and instructional blogs – ASCD, International Literacy Association, NCTE, Harvard University’s Good Project and Out of Eden.

For more information or scheduling: arinabokas@aol.com

Phone: 248-330-2408

E DFIETAT O RUI R AE L CALENDAR 2018-2019 Editorial Calendar

Motivate. Activate. Celebrate March 2019

Embracing Wellness The term “wellness” is very popular nowadays. However, it has become so broad that it often lacks meaning.

American Heart Association recommends that, for health purposes, people accumulate 10,000 steps or more a day (about five miles of walking.) Few people do, however. Any regular physical activity can relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and anger. What are other benefits of being active? What gets you up and moving?

April 2019

understand their city, County or State rich history, complex contemporary as well as create the vision of their successful future. Participating students will first learn how to research historical information and summarize their findings. Then, they will learn from their community and peers, through guided conversation, about their city or county, even State as it stands today. And lastly, student teams will work to envision the future—supported by all their prior work—and create an output to represent their ideas (e.g. video, models, drawings, creative writing, the actual prototype, etc.).

and emotions. Do you like art? Paint or draw a picture and write how this artwork expresses your ideas and feelings. Do you like to build and create using clay, wood, Lego, glass, or any other media? Create your piece of art and capture on paper what it represents. You can write a creative story or share with us what other creative outlet (music, filmmaking, dance, acting, writing, etc) allows you to best express yourself and why.

June 2019

How Kids’ Standard Helped Me Grow Video Contest Each Kids’ Standard club is invited to work as a team to create a video of team members’ experiences with Kids’ Standard. Students will write a script, assume various roles in video preparation, and put together a short 4-5 minute video. Creators of the best-voted video will receive cash prizes.

May 2019

This issue is dedicated to Michigan Youth Project 1st annual Project for Youth: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE. Through the 2019 academic year students from public schools will be mentored by information specialists, designers, engineers, teachers, and university students to

Creative Expressions This issue invites you to creatively express yourself. Do you like photography? Take a photo of something that catches your attention, add special effects, create collages, and share how this image captures your thoughts

Checking and Savings Accounts Word Scramble

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1.) This is a fee that you’re charged when you make a purchase using

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your debit card, but you don’t have enough funds n your account.

2.) A _______ account is where you keep your money that you don’t intend to use on a daily basis.

3.) This is something you pay as a rental “fee” for borrowing money.

4.) You do this when you take money out of your account.

5.) A ______ account is where you can spend money from using a

6.) This is connected to your checking account, allowing you to make purchases at stores or online.

7.) When you write a check and you don’t have enough money in your account, your check will _______ and you’ll pay a fee.

(Answers are on page 8)

8.) Dividends are ________ on a savings account, meaning your money

debit card.

will grow over time.

FICTION

Chaya By: Olivia Spitznas, 5th grade, Springfield Plains Elementary,

I

Clarkston

t was really dark on the night of January 6th, my eleventh birthday.

That’s the age you have to be for the big people in the black coats, shiny boots and their symbol, nazistowski, to steal you and take you to work camps. Those people were the nazis, the most hated people in Poland, if you were a jew, of course.

Every now and then, the truck would hit a pothole and I’d hit my head really hard. I was sitting in the back; it was an open space with a bucket in the corner that said “lunch”. Considering all of the people crammed into it, the truck didn’t feel very “open”.

We had been traveling for about three hours. When we got the letter that I had to go to a work camp, my family started packing right away to go in hiding. We hid in my grandpa’s attic for almost a week until the nazis searched the neighborhood. I heard a shot, and I was so scared my grandpa was hit that I let out a cry. So they found us. They took my brother first, beating him badly when he refused to go with them. Then, they took me and put me on a truck to Warsaw, the town where most ghettos and work camps were.

I awoke with light peering in through the cracks of the steal doors. I heard voices so I “went back to sleep” instantly.

The doors opened, and one man filled our “lunch” bucket with water and then yelled at us, “Eat your breakfast! Then follow Walter to the camp.”

“I’d rather starve,”a boy by the name of Avi said. That’s hard to say when you only get fed once a day in the camps.

I followed the man, Walter, to a place called Belzec, extermination camp. We soon found out that these weren’t only work camps; they’re death camps.

I was led to my cabin, where there was a couple of dozens of beds lined up against each wall. There was a dirty rug

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on the ground covering the rough floor.

One man looked at me, then at another nazi.

“Work.” He muttered.

I was later told that meant I was still healthy enough to help them; the sick ones were exterminated.

I walked out to the courtyard and saw my best friend, Jezebel and a few other people in a line, leading into a square room. Jezebel looked ill, as did all of the other kids in line with her. I saw one kid being pushed through the door yelling and kicking; I got scared and stepped back. Jaz looked at me, and as we just stared at each other, she mouthed the word - “Help”.

I was scared; I didn’t know what was going to happen to her, so without thinking I stood on a picnic table and threw one of the porcelain plates on the cement. One of the guards ran over to me and picked me up. I kicked him in the stomach, pretty hard, and ran over to Jaz. I grabbed her hand and dragged her to the front entrance.

“WEZ JA!” one of the soldiers yelled, pressing the button to close the gate. I ran as fast as I could. The gap in the gate

got smaller and smaller, but we slipped through just in time! We kept running and running until we couldn’t see them anymore.

“What was this line for?” I asked Jaz. “I’m pretty sure it was to be “exterminated,” she said out of breath. “I’m sick though; I can’t go.”

When I got nervous, I used to reach for my necklace, the Star of David, to help me think and calm down. I reached for it but it was gone!

“JAZ! My necklace! It’s gone!” I panicked.

“If we go back, they’ll kill us!”

“Then just wait here! I’ll be right back.”

I think she was saying something, but I was already half way back. I stayed behind trees to make sure that if they were looking for me, they wouldn’t see me. My necklace was right in front of the Germans’ office. The Germans were the ones really in charge; they were slightly nicer than the Poles though. I snuck through the gate and grabbed my necklace.

Jezebel was under a rock, when I got back. She was laying on her side, looking sick.

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FICTION “Hi,” she said weakly. “ Guess what?!” I said excitedly ascI held out the bottle of medicine I stole from the office. She smiled.

Jezebel started feeling a lot better.

We had walked for a really long time, when we entered a place called The Twisted Tavern. We went in and saw many people eating. We didn’t have any money, but the owner gave us some food anyway. All of a sudden, we saw nazis coming towards the tavern. Jaz and I slowly slid under the table.

“We are looking for a girl with the

Star of David. After escaping, she CAME BACK FOR IT! Like a GLUPEK!!” A nazi slammed his hand down on a table in the front of the room. I looked at Jaz, and she mouthed, “Chaya, NO!” “Glupek?” I said loudly, standing on the table.

“There she is!” Another nazi yelled, pointing at me.

“I am no GLUPEK for going back for my necklace!”

They charged toward me.

“You! You are the glupek!” I yelled.

“I went back for it because you don't

deserve it! When all of us are freed, you won’t get to think about us; you will only get to think about how horrible you are. How hated you are! How you DON'T get to see something so good, because you are so evil!”

The soldiers stopped. One of them even laughed. I scowled.

“Why are you, jews, so obsessed with your religion?” The tallest one smirked.

“Because our religion is something that is OURS, and it's what we believe in!

And we will not let you take that away from us!”

Recess By: Mackenzie Harrison, 3rd grade, Springfield Plains Elementary, Clarkston

“Recess!” yelled Sara.

Sara ran really fast out the doors and up onto the playset, where she first went fast down the slide.

“Let’s go and play on the monkey bars!” she said to Norah. Norah agreed. Both girls loved the monkey bars because they tried every recess to get across.

This was the first time Sara was able to make it all the way across and so was Norah! They were very happy that they both finished the whole round of the monkey bars. That was their first time!

Then, Olivia came out to recess near the playset and started tapping Sara again and again because she wanted to ask Sara a question. It was really bothering Sara. Olivia tapped her really hard on purpose and knocked her on the ground.

“Hey that hurt!” said Sara, rubbing her knee.

“Stop bragging about finishing the monkey bars!” Olivia said.

“We weren’t bragging; we were just very excited,” Sara replied.

FEBRUARY 2019

Then Norah walked up to Olivia and said, “Hey, that’s my friend. You can’t be mean to my friend. Look at her knee!”

Olivia saw the bruise on Sara’s knee, and she started to feel bad. Seeing the bruise on Sara’s knee made her realize that she needed to use her words instead of her arms. Standing up for her friend, Norah made Olivia rethink

her behavior.

Olivia walked to the recess aid and asked for a bag of ice to help heal Sara’s knee, and Sara gladly forgave her. Sara was thankful that Olivia went to get ice for her. Olivia was not a mean girl anymore. She was a nice girl. They then became good friends.

The three girls learned that they should be kind and caring to others.

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POETRY

Society’s Mentality By: Madeline Felter,

That’s why some think suicide is the only solution to their sadness.

12th grade, Clarkston High School

Why don’t you take your time to look at the amount of suicide around the world?

People accusing the innocent as a killer,

Just take the time to look at the world’s mental health.

Yet in reality, all they do is tremble in corners as they fear their own thoughts.

Take a look inside to see how little control they have left of their fate.

All they want is a break from life, even if it means suicide.

They can’t control how they feel, how they think, or sometimes even how they act.

Even if there are several more struggling with the same issues, they feel alone in their battles.

What you see might make you tremble with fear, But don’t run, they don’t want to fight these battles alone anymore.

Maybe then we can show the world that they aren’t killers.

Maybe then we can show them that suicide isn’t the right way to escape.

Maybe then we can show that their mental state isn’t something to be ashamed of.

Maybe then our society will learn to accept them and not tremble at the thought of them.

Let us wrap them in a blanket of acceptance so they no longer tremble, Let us show them that control over their thoughts is possible.

All they wish for is freedom from their mental cages.

They shouldn’t have to be alone anymore,

Their mental state is something our society should accept, not shun.

Let them know that suicide isn’t the answer.

Wouldn’t you hate it if you were all alone in your darkest times?

Their mental state is no joke,

Don’t leave them in the cold of the darkness to tremble,

If not treated properly, they could make a killer blow.

Let them know that their mental state is not their own fault.

Wouldn’t you feel miserable if people kept telling you that you should commit suicide?

They don’t wish to be alone anymore, but it doesn’t help when no one will listen.

Their hands tremble as they try to speak up, But they can’t control feeling like someone or something is holding them back.

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Look in to see before they become their own killer.

alone in their fight for their mind.

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Leaving them to stir and rage creates a killer,

Wouldn’t you hate it if you were innocent, but were still framed as a killer?

But invite them in and they may learn how to control it.

Don’t let the innocent become killers.

To control their own mind is something they crave for.

Allow them to know that they aren’t

Don’t let them think that their only escape is suicide.

Don’t let over half of our society feel so alone in our big, cold world.

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POETRY

The Present and Future By: Julia English, 12th grade, Clarkston High School

What does the future hold for me?

A college degree, a job, a house?

Or even the little things like a pet and traveling?

Looking out for what is next keeps me going; whether it is an important test, tryout or game.

Forgetting to live in the moment and appreciate all that I have including family and friends, is most frightening.

It is so easy to get caught up

Contrary, I also believe that you have to prepare

in what is to come, that we forget to look

yourself for what is to come. You have to have

out for ourselves at the current moment.

an idea or a motive for your next step.

It is so important to open your eyes and pay attention to

When trying out for a dance team,

When looking towards your future, you have to be careful in the present.

There should be a balance between now and later.

It is important to take time once and awhile to figure out what is most significant to you. This will help

your well-being and take care of

You have to go to the studio for tiring, long hours and practice.

yourself now, as opposed to later on.

Without this, you wouldn’t have had

refocus on the most crucial matter, considering life is a learning

Do what makes you content in the moment.

the stamina to perform at your best ability.

experience and each change happens for a reason.

To Whom It May Concern

This horn was carried through the jungle, thrown in a crate with all other horns and tusks

But people fight tooth and nail for them

By: Kaden Gretka,

Only to satisfy the wants of the rich and powerful

This horn was fought over with guns and knives

11th grade, Clarkston High School

This horn that hangs on your wall was once a strong beast roaming the wild Flourishing in the amazon, living with its own kind This horn was cut off the lifeless body of an innocent animal

FEBRUARY 2019

This horn is the reason for death, the reason for extinction The hoarders of horns hord them to the point of no more When a horn is taken the life leaves with it This horn is nothing but nail

In the jungle and in the streets Poachers don’t care where they meet This horn they chop, saw, and hack away They think they’re here to stay Not if I have something to say.

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BOOK REVIEW

No Pretty Pictures: A Child Of War, Anita Lobel By: Kaitlin Parks, 7th grade, Sashabaw Middle School, Clarkston

N

o Pretty Pictures is a story of a Jewish refugee girl during World War II. Anita was just turning five when the Nazis burst through the door of her house. The story starts with Anita, (Hanusia), growing up in the city Kraków, Poland, with her brother.

Everything was fine; she was happy living with her brother, mom, dad and nanny (Niania), until the Nazis invaded Kraków.

It was so troubling for the family that they decided that Anita’s brother would be safer as a girl. They dressed him in dresses, and he grew his hair out until it was around shoulder length.

The family was eventually forced to move, after the Nazis had stripped them of all of their belongings. They took all of

their silverware, rugs, and jewelry. They also took Anita’s dad, Tatuś. During this devastating time, Niania took Anita and her brother to a new home in a town called Łapanów. The Nazis came after them more and more and, finally, separated the children from Niania. Now without the help of a trusted adult, they were forced to keep moving and to keep surviving.

Anita Lobel uses imagery to help the readers understand her true emotions throughout the book. For example, “The day was hot. Through the stinking contents of the chamber pot drying on my skin, I could smell the fresh bread in Niania’s bundle. I was hungry. Only a few drops of

the chamber pot shower seemed to have dripped on Niania. The food was safe.

We came to a grove of trees and some shade. There was a brook and clear clean water. Alone, we washed ourselves. Niania rinsed our clothes and laid everything out to dry in the sun. She checked the bundle of linen. It was clean.”

Anita Lobel skillfully portrays the life of someone who was constantly on the run, who couldn’t trust anyone. That’s what her definition of a refugee is. Any war is horrible to so many people, that’s why Anita has no pretty pictures from that time; all it brings back is scarring memories.

By writing this book, Anita takes a stand against the war and mistreating people by other people.

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ENVIRONMENT

Nuclear Power By: Gabe Shaw, 5th grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

O

n August 6, 1945, a U.S. B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on Japan during World War II. The damage was devastating, and those who lived in the area and didn’t die from the blast, soon died because of the radioactive energy. Afterward, the Cold War (1947 - 1991) began, with the U.S. and the Soviet Union threatening to declare nuclear war on each other. During this time, countries around the world found out that nuclear energy could also be used as a source of more than political power.

Nuclear power is created when an atom is split. This gives off energy, which then can be transferred to our homes. However, nuclear power can be expensive, and it can cause lots of damage if a plant malfunctions. Additionally, the radioactive “nuclear waste” is buried

FEBRUARY 2019

underground, where it can harm anybody who finds it. Despite the negatives, nuclear power should be used because it is better than fossil fuels, it can run at all times, and it can help stop global warming.

First of all, nuclear power is better than fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are the burning of dead matter, such as oil and coal. These things aren’t reproducible, so we will run out of them because there aren’t many fossils or coal left on our planet. Also, using fossil fuel energy can pollute, while nuclear energy doesn't.

Second, nuclear energy can run at all times in any kind of weather. Solar power can only operate when the sun is shining, and wind power operates when the wind is blowing. Nuclear power can operate at all times.

Lastly, using nuclear energy can help stop global warming. January and February of 2019 had some of the coldest days on record. That happened

because of global warming. As it says in its name, global warming is the process of our Earth heating up. Global warming is caused by burning dead matter to be used as fossil fuels. The more fossils are burned the warmer the Earth gets. And the hotter the Earth gets the more icebergs start to melt.

Arctic animals, like the polar bears, start to die off, and cold air masses sweep across continents such as North America, causing some temperatures to drop down to -50F. If people start replacing fossil fuels with nuclear energy, the icebergs will slowly stop melting, so fewer people and animals will die. This is because nuclear plants use water as their gas stage (steam) to produce nuclear energy, so while it gives heat radiation as well, it doesn't give off as much as fossil fuels do.

In conclusion, nuclear power is better than fossil fuels, operates in all weather conditions, and can help stop global warming. So encourage people around you to start using nuclear energy over other forms of power.

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Annual Pontiac Youth Project

Annual Pontiac Youth Project

www.pontiacyouthsproject.org

www.pontiacyouthsproject.org

INSPIRE

Pontiac

INSPIRE

Michigan Pontiac Michigan

ENGAGE

ENVIRONMENT

RECYCLING

ENGAGE

PROJECTS PROJECTS

ASPIRE

ASPIRE

Join us in inspiring and engaging youth to aspire them to

design their future!

Join us in inspiring and engaging youth to aspire them to design their future!

Join us at the Crofoot on Wednesday, Mar 13th at 5:30

Join us at the Crofoot on Wednesday, Feb 13th at 5:30 Empowering critical thinking, Empoweringyouth youthto touse use21st 21stcentury centuryskills skills(creativity, (creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, learning, writing, collaboration,and andcommunication) communication)ininreading, reading,researching, researching, learning, writing, and their communities. and presenting presentingto toimpact impacttheir theirown ownlives livesand andlives livesofof their communities.

Mission: Mission:

Pontiac Pontiac Public PublicSchools SchoolsStudents StudentsPresent: Present: PAST PAST

PRESENT PRESENT

FUTURE FUTURE

By: Reiss Kain Griffiths, 5th grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

P

eople around the world should take recycling seriously. Recycling can help reuse resources, it is better for the environment, and it makes our lives cleaner.

First, it reuses resources after we use them so we don’t run out of all of the resources. Recycling happens when people put their old plastic bottles or cereal boxes in separate containers; special trucks pick them up, crushers crush them, and then they are being re-shaped, washed, and mold into a new water bottle or cereal box.

Next, the environment will not last with non-degradable garbage because animals will eat it, choke and die. It will stop plants from growing. If the trees die, we will have no air so we will die also. Recycling makes our life cleaner, so there is no trash in our house or blocking our view so we can enjoy nature.

Taking a Stand Against Hunting

PRESENTERS PRESENTERS

By: Amy Surow

R

In the process, students will form lasting relationships with their mentors/

In the process, students will form lasting relationships with their mentors/influencers, influencers, acting as their role models, and develop interests that they want to acting as their role models, and develop interests that they want to pursue in the pursue Students in the future.

Students will meetbuild localrelationships, officials, build relationships, and future. will meet local officials, and make a positive make a positive difference in their communities. difference in their communities.

“Youth are the future, they can rise to the occasions if they are shown!” Maggie Razdar

“Youth are our future; they can rise to any challenge if they are shown how!”

- Maggie Razdar

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3rd grade, Deerfield Elementary, Auburn Hills

ecently, we have been hearing many stories about people killing exotic animals for fun or to take their fur to make money. Even in our state of Michigan, people hunt animals. But I think of animals differently; animals don’t exist for us. They all are living creatures.

Apart from fur and fun, people kill animals for food.

Hunting is illegal, but people still do it. A lot of animals are hunted. People’s favorites are deer, buffalo, tigers, wolves, squirrels, and birds. More than 100 million animals are killed every year by hunters! Even some sea creatures are killed. Animals have a sense of fear, which means that they can sense when people are near and try to scamper away. They feel danger.

Make sure to keep animals safe! My friends and I started Helping Save Tigers Club to take a stand against hunting. www.KidsStandard.org

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Kids’ Standard’s Camp “Writing through Learning & Learning through Writing” Using critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication will builds confidence.

Camp Locations: (Birmingham, Bloomfield, Clarkston Lake Orion, Auburn Hills/ Avondale, West Bloomfield and Pontiac)

One session: 5 days Space limited Two sessions: 10 days Early Bird sign up

SIGN UP BY MARCH 31, YOU WILL RECEIVE $50. DISCOUNT Whether it is telling your own story or doing scientific investigation, it takes much more than just sitting behind a computer. It takes slowing down, thinking, noticing, questioning, and exploring. We will get up and go!

This five or 10 days camp will provide participants with an opportunity to embark on a first-hand investigation of their hometown. During the first two days, children will do preliminary research and, guided by thinking maps, explore the downtown, record observations, conduct interviews, and collect information for their stories. Days 3-4 will be dedicated to collaboration and writing. On Friday, all families will be invited to attend the last hour of the camp to walk through a gallery of stories and find out more about each story by talking to the writers. Students who attend the camp for 2 weeks, will practice art and will work on public speaking related to the project they worked on. At the end of the 2 weeks, we will ask the friends and families to come in and see the work the students have done.

All stories will be presented to places featured in these stories and published in Kids’ Standard’s Camp electronic issue, shared with families and participants. The best stories will appear in Kids’ Standard’s September issue.

Young journalists will need to bring their own lunch and snack. Bottled water, a notebook, pen, and small backpack will be provided.

For more information, contact Maggie@kidsstandard.org or call 248-410-3976

C H A R AC T E R

Choices and Tradeoffs By: Adam Walsh, 9th grade, Clarkston Junior High School,

L

Clarkston

ife is full of choices. These choices in some way shape or form compulsory to how a person lives.

Chances are abundant, but there is a more specific form of a choice, which can be easier to understand. This form of a choice is called a tradeoff.

Tradeoffs are more specific choices, which are usually much more significant than the many other arbitrary choices, since something major is usually lost or gained. Many times, these tradeoffs are the pivotal points in people’s lives and even decide the fate of their lives for the future. If you give up the wrong aspect of your life, it will start the spiral of destruction, which will rampage through the other decisions in your life, messing up the entire system. On the other hand, making a correct tradeoff might turn your life around, giving you peace and prosperity for the rest of your existence.

Of course, many tradeoffs are not this significant, but you never truly know until the opportunity has passed, and the decision has been made. This story may not seem like such a big deal, but one decision leads to many others, and may define the outcome for much more than just me alone.

I was very excited, since I had my second tennis tournament of the year.

I had been lagging behind my peers in tournaments. It started at 6:15pm, so I had some time to go to a robotics meeting (RUSH), even though it was a short notice. I had been playing tennis for four years and was on the varsity team for that season. Tennis was the one activity, which connected me to other people, and my first friends were from the year 12

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of tennis that I had played. RUSH was also important to me though. Over the course of the summer and school year, my love for RUSH had grown a lot. The person who planned the meeting, and ultimately ran the entirety of RUSH, was a teacher named Mrs. Hughes.

Mrs. Hughes was a woman who had a relatively average height, curly gray hair which reached her neck, piercing blue eyes, and a wiser demeanor. She had just had a surgery on her shoulder so we were surprised when she called a mandatory meeting. When I saw the email, my stomach started constricting with an almost nauseous feeling, accompanied by the vertigo. I knew that an unexpected mandatory meeting was never a good thing.

My nervousness was lifted a bit when I started talking to some of my closest friends in RUSH, Parker and Izzy.

“I think that we were just called here to have a recap with the whole team, since our last meeting got canceled,” Parker said trying to cheer me up.

Something still felt wrong. Something still unnerved me.

“Do you think that Mrs. Hughes has a problem with us?” I asked in an even less confident tone as I gestured to my other classmates. “Weren’t the captains talking about the participation of RUSH?” The longer these thoughts were in my head the more adrenaline entered my blood, which caused my heart to pump harder and harder. When Mrs. Hughes came in, I could instantly see that she was unhappy. It could have been the slight difference in her facial features, or the different look she gave all of her students, inspecting each and every one of them. That one look made chills shiver down my spine, which spread to the rest of my body. It was as if she infected all of us with a single glare.

I shifted around in my seat. The more nervous I got, the more my hands started to sweat. There was not a whisper from students and mentors alike. My mind started racing even further with the unknown possibilities. When Mrs. Hughes started to talk, the answer to my worries became blatantly apparent.

“You are probably all wondering why

this meeting was scheduled,” she said in a tense voice. “Over the last couple of weeks, I have been hearing from parents, mentors, and the captains, that many students have been uncooperative. This came in the form of either not showing up, complaining about being here, or leaving on a short term notice.”

When I heard this, my mind became incompetent, while my body went into hyperactivity mode. My heart started beating faster, and my body started to sweat more. All I could think of was guilt. I was about whom she was talking. I might not have skipped and complained, but I had always tried to leave because of tennis.

When I thought of tennis, my mind went into an even greater depression.

What was I going to do about my tournament!? My opponent had traveled from Traverse City to play me, and I did not want his trip to be for nothing. The tennis tournament now seemed miniscule compared to the grander scale of things though: if I left, I would look like the very person Mrs. Hughes had just mentioned. A slacker. A lier. A betrayer.

Mrs. Hughes kept talking about some other events, but nothing was more important than those two sentences.

Every word in these sentences was like a sledgehammer to my brain, slowly lowering the confidence and faith in myself.

After the meeting, the world around me looked so different. The ground looked rougher, the light duller, and life felt unacceptable. I paced, even tried to talk to myself. The one thing I did more than anything else was thinking.

I thought with my eyes focused on one spot on the wall. A white, barren, brick patterned wall with all of its irregularities and mistakes, represented my life.

Many parts were smooth and clean, but sometimes there were rough spots. Walls can be fixed. Because of this, it was easier to make my decision, knowing that maybe I could fix my life. After a long period of consideration, I made up my mind: I chose to stick with RUSH, since I knew that RUSH would be more useful for my future.

Through this experience with the collision of two worlds, I learned that human

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C H A R AC T E R beings have limits on the amount of activities they could carry on for extended periods of time. And though many things can be important in people's lives,

we all have to lose something of value to gain more valuable assets. Life is always full of choices. These choices in some way shape or form compulsory to how

a person lives. Luckily, there is no species better at making choices and fixing mistakes than the human race.

Being Brave By: Isabella Botezan, 6th grade, Avondale Middle School, Auburn Hills

M

y stomach dropped. My eyes quickly read the caption of the post. I stood still in silence, as a tear streamed down my face. I wiped it away.

“Mom!” I shouted.

As she walked into my room, I showed her my phone. She stood there in silence, speechless as she read the words.

“Just try your best to ignore her, ” mom suggested.

“Okay,” I shrugged. But was ignoring her the best thing I could do?

The next day at school, I walked in and saw a huddle. I sat down and I couldn't help but watch. It’s normal to think someone is talking about you, especially when you are upset. As I walked by, I heard a girl say my name.

I looked behind me, and all I could hear and see was girls whispering. I felt isolated and miserable. The bell rang, and I got up and slowly walked to class.

The day was very difficult. Every time I saw her, I would freeze up like cement and start shaking. Relax Isabella, relax. For the entire day, all I could think about was my friends standing there and listening to the gossip. Were they even my real friends!?

I felt betrayed and baffled.

As I walked in the hallway, I felt like a lot more people were watching me. I absolutely hate it when people

FEBRUARY 2019

talk about me. I felt worried that all those people believed things about me that weren't true. I started to feel very angry. I can't let someone just walk over me like that. So, I started thinking. I sat in class for a while and, finally, the lightbulb in my head lit up! I had no choice; I had to be brave and stand up for myself.

After class, I made my way to her locker and came face to face with her.

I could tell she was mortified. She couldn't even look me in the eye.

“Hey, I’m not here to attack you; I just want to say something.” I announced. “I don’t appreciate you posting about me or talking about me,” I expressed in a nice calm way. “I would like you to stop,” I stated, still keeping my eyes right on her face.

To my surprise, she said nothing.

She took a glance at me and walked away.

As I made my way to my locker, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was so proud of myself! I walked to my sixth hour dignified.

When I came home, I checked her account. She deleted the video! And I smiled proudly. I stood up for myself in a nice way, but I was still firm.

I have learned an important lesson from this experience. If something is bothering you, you don't have to create drama or become overconfident and fight someone. It is simple: you just have to stay polite and let the person know. From now on, I will always stand up for myself!

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PEOPLE

Malala By: Mathea Marcale, 5th grade, Springfield Plains Elementary, Clarkston

M

alala is a girl that has changed lives of thousands of girls. Malala was born on July 12, 1997 in Pakistan. Malala’s father was a teacher and ran a girls’ school in their village, Swat Valley.

She loved school. But everything changed when the Taliban, an extremist islamic group, took control of the town. The extremists banned many

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things, including education for girls.

Malala did not agree with that, and she thought that something needed to change.

Malala became an advocate for girls’ education when she was still a child. The Taliban sent a death note to Malala, but that did not stop Malala from doing her best in her school and she never gave up on her dream. She went to Edgbaston High School for Girls. Since Malala was a advocate for girls’ education, the Taliban targeted Malala, and a gunman shot her in the

head. Thankfully, Malala survived that shooting and started a fund for female education. In 2014, she won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Malala stood for what she believed and she succeeded. Her story inspired a lot of people, and she continues to do amazing things. Malala didn't listen to what people said; she just went with her plan and she succeeded. Malala taught me an important lesson to never give up. She inspired me more and more as I was writing this piece.

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PEOPLE

Superheroes By: Kiyan Shushtari, 3rd grade, Springfield Plains Elementary, Clarkston

T

here are many different types of superheroes. You might think of superheroes in movies, like Batman or Mr. Incredible. But superheroes are not always the movie characters.

Not all superheroes have cool cars, fly, beat people up, have capes and lasers, or huge muscles. Instead, they show their powers through standing up, being brave, having dignity, being patient, and so much more. Sometimes, they are just behind the scenes doing small things that make big differences, like helping others, supporting others, and being good friends.

People can be superheroes by helping others. In my life, my grandma and my mom help me the most. My grandma teaches me how to speak Persian, which is my family’s native language. I think this is pretty cool to have a second language, and it helps me to be a better learner and more well-rounded. I also

FEBRUARY 2019

help my grandma by helping her read English, because she doesn’t understand it very well on her own. I think this makes me a hero to her just like she is a hero to me, and it makes me happy to know I can help out. My mom is also a hero to me, because she puts me and my brother before herself every single day. She helps us with our homework, makes us food, and cares for us.

I think this makes her a hero, because if I didn’t have her, my life would be much different. These are some reasons why I think my grandma and my mom are heroes.

Heroes can also be people in your life who support you. My parents are my biggest advocates because they always want the best for me. They always encourage me to be the best I can be at school by making me practice reading and writing and rewarding me when I do something good. I think this makes them heroes to me, because they always have it in them to make sure I am doing the best that I can and they make me feel proud when I do

something good. It is important to support the people around you, because that is the best way to help them succeed.

It can make you really happy to support someone, and your actions can be reflected by others, which can help you, too. This is why being supportive makes someone a hero.

Finally, a hero is a good friend. I have a lot of good friends in my life. They are heroes to me because we always have fun when we play and spend time together. It is also cool that we always have our own ideas and get to share them with each other, even though they are different. This is a good thing to have, because it teaches you how to appreciate being unique. Having good friends, who are respectful and good listeners, also teaches you how to have respect for others and be a good listener. This makes you a better person. So, a hero can be a good friend, too.

As you can see, being helpful, supportive, and a good friend can make someone a superhero. You don’t have to be the type of the super hero that is in the movies that acts cool. You just have to be a good person because being a good person is the best gift you can have. Think about the superheroes in your life, and how you can take a stand for someone else.

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E D U C AT I O N

Quantitative Human Nature By: Jack Gibbs, 12th grade, Clarkston High School, Clarkston

W

e, as a society, have progressively begun to value a style of single minded thinking that produces tangible results. We try and put numerical labels on abstract concepts that are simply unquantifiable.

People do this because it is less risky to be wrong when they have a solid statistical basis. There are many examples of this phenomenon, but none of them is as evident as the flaws that exist in our system of education.

When Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, a National Champion, was drafted, he came nine spots below Mitchell Trubisky. Watson led Clemson to a national championship over a perennial National Champion, the Alabama Crimson Tide. The team was stacked up and down with NFL prospects; some of the biggest, fastest guys in the NFL today played for that Alabama team.

Yet, Trubisky, with mediocre stats and few accomplishments, was drafted before Watson. Trubisky went 8-5 at the University of North Carolina and was drafted higher than Watson solely because his NFL combine athleticism (tangible) results were better than Watson’s.

What the scouts did not take into consideration that day at the NFL draft were the intangibles. They overvalued the quantifiable statistics and devalued such things as competitiveness and work ethic.

Another example of this phenomenon is captured by author Steven Levitt in Think Like a Freak, where he describes a soccer player taking a penalty kick.

Statistically, soccer players score the most when they kick the ball straight at the goalie; this is because the goalie never expects this and dives right or left. However, this is the spot in the net where soccer players kick the ball the least. While this seems to make no sense, we have to consider their mindset. If the goalie doesn’t move, kicking it straight at

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him seems like a boneheaded move that would surely cost the team a game. This fear of being wrong is the reason that we overvalue tangible stats and undervalue the more important things, simply because they cannot be quantified. This fear is caused by a societal pressure that we place on people for being wrong in the ultra-competitive world that we live in. A world where being right is valued over true understanding.

Likewise, in a study, scientists had chimpanzees throw darts at boards that represented randomly picked stocks.

They had a variety of stock brokers choose stocks that they believed were going to do well and measured the growth of these stocks for five years after. What they found was that the differences in growth between the stocks picked by the chimpanzees and the stocks picked by the stock brokers were minimal. In some cases, the chimpanzees with darts actually picked stocks that made more money than those chosen by the professionals.

The truth is that the professional stock brokers were unable to say a phrase that

humans try to avoid - “I don’t know.”

It is in human nature to place too much emphasis on what we do know and not enough on what we don’t know, and that is why we struggle to predict the future. Often, what we don’t know heavily outweighs what we do know, and I find that to be one the greatest fallacies in the nature of human thinking. This may seem relatively unimportant, however in the long run, when we are able to think more efficiently, we enable ourselves to progress.

We should seek a world in which problem solving is a dominant skill, and the first step to take is to reform education. My classmates, the cinder block walls, and the same old result-driven process make up the modern day factory that propels our society forward.

This factory is often disguised by its misleading title - High School. This title is misleading because the modern day school incentivizes everything but learning. Where learning was once at the forefront, now exists a learn-test-forget process, which makes students feel that the grades are more important than the progress. We have created a school environment, in which students have a different alter ego for each class. These alter egos work harder in more challenging classes and tend to ease off in less rigorous courses. It’s important that we place less emphasis on grades or being right and more emphasis on understanding through changing the incentivization for students. Just like the current competitive nature of society, schools cultivate our generation to be right - not necessarily smart. Not only is this not pushing us in the right direction but it’s also leading us down a slippery slope, where these fallacies in human thinking are becoming more common.

If our world begins to value important things and not just the quantifiable concepts and ideas, we will truly be able to cultivate the great minds. While changing the way seven billion people think appears to be an incredible undertaking, we will never get anywhere as a society if we don’t start somewhere.

Be a part of that start by embracing the unquantifiable!

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E D U C AT I O N

Stand on Homework

By: Ben Mowat, 3rd grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

N

ot giving students homework is good for many reasons.

First, not having homework is good because it won’t take away from activities. Children have to try other things. Many kids are involved in sports, music, or dance after school.

Second, it’s good to have no homework because many students already have to read at night and do math assignments, so there is not much time left to spend on additional homework.

Lastly, no homework is good because we can relax. To work better, brain needs time to rest.

It’s great to have no homework because of all of these reasons!

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PEOPLE WE ADMIRE

COACH GARRETT By: Sasha Bokas, 9th grade, Clarkston Junior High School

(Member of Clarkston Varsity Competitive Cheerleading Team)

O

ften, it is in the darkest times that we learn the most valuable lessons - the types of lessons that stick with us eternally and show us what is truly important in life. These lessons shape us as human beings. For me, the tragic accident, which left many people in our community breathless, became one of those moments.

I met Coach Garrett Frezza of G.O.B. Gymnastics, when I was on a middle school competitive cheerleading team.

From the second he walked in our school, I felt that he was there to make a difference: for me. There was something about him that inspired trust, and this trust soon turned into admiration and devotion. These feelings, as I’ve come to realize, were shared by hundreds, even thousands, of others, whose memories of Coach Garrett are nearly identical to those of mine. Why did people admire Coach Garrett?

His limitless kindness comes to mind first. Every person, who entered the gym, would be greeted by Coach Garrett

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and his huge smile. The gym felt like a family, and Coach Garrett was its beating heart. Every child was important to him, as well as his or her siblings, parents, and grandparents. He cared for entire families. There was room and something to do for everyone, as Coach Garrett wanted to make everyone feel like they belonged. On the very first day that Coach Garrett would meet his athletes, he would effortlessly and unexplainably develop a special bond with them. It was natural and important to him to create personal connections with everyone: from the youngest to

the oldest. People mattered to Coach Garrett, and he treated them with patience and kindness.

Hand-to-hand with kindness traveled his generosity. Having a family-owned business comes with the need to generate income. Coach Garrett would have probably preferred to skip this part.

Money was never his priority. He gave more than he received. Having gone to G.O.B. and worked with Coach Garrett for days on end, I cannot recall how many free “open gyms” and additional practice sessions he gifted me just because I needed some extra time to work on my skills. I had never experienced anything like this before, and I doubt I ever will.

As important as they are, it were not Coach Garrett’s charisma and generosity that reached deeply in the hearts of people around him. From my perspective, his most admirable and impactful trait was his desire to take a stand for all of his students by believing in them, oftentimes more than they believed in themselves. He was coaching his athletes in much more than gymnastics or tumbling; he was walking them through doubts, supporting them as they were making important decisions, talking over their frustrations and disappointments. He personalized all things in order to fit each child’s needs and worked with everyone individually, striving for growth and confidence.

He was an advocate that each athlete needs. He took a direct stand for every child in his gym and would not accept anything less than the best all of his athletes could be.

Rarely, if lucky enough, we come across a person in our lifetime, who limitlessly brightens the lives of all who meet him. For me and hundreds of gymnasts and cheerleaders in the area, this person was Coach Garrett. Our lives changed drastically the night of February 26th, 2019, when a senseless accident took him at the age of 36. While we can no longer see him with our eyes, we can still connect with him in our hearts. Coach Garrett has left his legacy in every one of us. He will forever be a person we admire.

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E D U C AT O R S

How to take a stand to change the world!

By: Dr. Tara Belentini ( School of Social Justice of Columbia

O

University)

ne of my favorite things to do is dream up all the ways I could make a difference in the world.

Of course, there are countless ways to do it, and it’s easy to just get lost in my thoughts if I let myself; I could spend days just sitting and thinking if I wanted to – probably even weeks.

The real trick, I think, is finding something that can change the world and actually feels doable – something that doesn’t require you to do the impossible to actually succeed.

That’s why, lately, I’ve been really fascinated with the idea of simply taking a stand. It’s such a simple act, but it’s probably the most powerful thing a person can do to really effect change.

Of course, it’s not that easy. You have to get over the fear or criticism and ridicule in order to take a stand. That takes work, but it’s within reach. I’ve never met anyone that, with a little work, couldn’t take a step towards saying or doing something they really believe in.

Taking a stand is the first step but, ultimately, taking a stand for something is what’s required.

FEBRUARY 2019

It’s easy to have contempt for something you don’t like. Maybe you even get worked up enough to do something about it. But when you’re done, what do you have? If you’re successful, you’ve destroyed something that you thought was ugly or unjust from the world. That’s useful, but even more important is standing for something that will create a lasting change.

In fact, I think that standing for something is really the only way to be truly effective in the long run. Standing against means working to destroy, while standing for means working to create.

It’s a complete paradigm shift, but it’s necessary to really create the world that we want to live in.

Think about it. If you’re disgusted by rape, then it makes sense to stand up against it and the people who do it. You

feel passionately about it, so you speak out to tell the world that it isn’t okay.

But what’s the result? The world already knows that, and yet it still happens.

What if, instead of taking a stand against rape, you took a stand for the equal treatment of women in society? A much more difficult task, for sure, but that’s the real culprit isn’t it?

Standing against something addresses the symptoms of a problem while standing for something is far more effective at actually fixing it. Creation beats destruction.

Standing for a cause you believe in is more difficult than standing against one because the triggers that excite you to action aren’t as obvious.

If you think there’s a world changing message inside you, here are some things you can do to make sure you take a stand

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E D U C AT O R S let them have it. Shout at the top of your lungs if you have to. Don’t let anyone think for one second that you don’t eat, sleep, and breathe your purpose.

This will change people. That’s a good thing.

for something you really believe in.

1. Take something you stand against, and turn it around.

If you hate rape, stand for equal rights for women. If you don’t believe in war, why not fight for peace instead? Want to stop the destruction of the environment for our own amusement? Stand up for land preservation and responsible use of resources.

Don’t waste your time fighting the symptoms. Use your energy to support a real solution to the underlying problem.

2. Find the most important thing you do every day and tell people about it.

Having a hard time figuring out just what to take a stand for? Look at everything you do in a day, find the most important thing, and do more of that.

Then, tell people about it. Tell everyone you know. Tell anyone that will listen.

That’s a good place to start.

I waste more time each day than I’d like to admit, but eventually I sit down and write an essay. Writing is the most important thing I can do every single day.

Don’t do anything important with your day right now? Take a stand for doing more important things. Go from there.

3. Don’t beat around the bush.

Standing for something means setting aside your fear of ridicule and saying what you really believe. Don’t allude to it. Don’t lead into it. Don’t beat around the bush.

Say it. Say it and mean it. State it as if it’s fact, even if it isn’t. If you want it to become a fact, you have to treat it like one. And don’t say you’re sorry when someone disagrees.

4. Change just one person.

There’s this happy, feel good idea that you can change the world all by yourself. It’s a lie. You can’t. But you and one other person can. You don’t have to convince the whole world to change – just one other person.

If you can change just one person, then that one person can change one other

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person. This only has to happen a few dozen times before the entire world is a whole new place. Start a movement, and let the movement do its job.

5. Take a stand every day.

This isn’t something you get to do once and then sit back and relax. Find time every single day to take a stand for something you believe in.

6. Wake up early.

Taking a stand for something and changing the world is going to take work. You get the same number of hours each day that everyone else does. Get up early and get a head start.

7. Go to bed late.

Rather than staying up to watch reruns of canceled sitcoms, stay up late to plan out how you’re going to get a head start when you wake up early tomorrow.

Be efficient where you can, but don’t let it efficiency rule your life. Focus on doing something awesome at whatever cost. Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t, but most of all, just work really, really hard. Do that enough and the world will listen.

8. Build a platform.

Spreading your message is a lot easier when you don’t have to repeat yourself.

If you want to make your message stronger, deeper, and more impactful, find a way to save it so that people can always find it while you continue to work on something new.

Write a blog. Record a podcast. Shoot a video. Better yet, do all of those things and do them all at once. Then do them again.

9. When the room is quiet, shout.

When you have a captivated audience that wants to hear what you have to say,

10. When the room is loud, whisper.

When it feels like the noise is so loud that you could never shout above it, don’t try. Instead, whisper. People always want the opposite of whatever it is the rest of the world is giving them. So give them that.

In a world of cacophonous noise, speak softly to intrigue. Once everyone’s listening, then start shouting.

11. Make a scene.

Don’t be afraid to be ridiculous. Make a scene, flail your arms, dress like a clown, get noticed. Then, deliver the goods.

12. Take your message on the road.

You can publish your blog, podcast, and youtube channel every day and reach a lot of people, but you won’t get to everyone.

If you really want to make a difference, take your message on the road. Go to the people who don’t read blogs. Go to the people who don’t even have the Internet.

If your message is important, don’t let your medium hold you down. Your blog can’t always do the job. Take it upon yourself to talk to the people that need to hear your message in the way that they can actually use it.

13. Create art.

If you have something important to stand for, then you probably feel pretty strongly about it. Make sure you always convey that.

Anyone can write a report, not everyone can write an essay. You have the ability to change people with your passion. In everything you do, be an artist.

Paint a masterpiece by telling your story in a way that people can’t ignore.

What are you going to take a stand for? How are you going to change the world today?

www.KidsStandard.org

PA R E N T ’ S C O R N E R

What does it take to stand on something?

S Maggie Razdar Publisher/Founder

FEBRUARY 2019

tanding up for yourself and others can be really challenging if you're used to letting others have their way or you're a people pleaser. Unlearning the old habits of humbleness and gaining the confidence to stand up for yourself won't happen overnight, but the journey to improvement starts with the first step.

We live in the time when taking a stand has become unpopular. We live in a world that just wants everyone to go along to get along.

Taking a stand can just be as simple as filling the gap. We can take a stand with our initiative, actions, and taking the lead to make the world a better place to live.

It takes some determination and

dedication. We must be determined to stand for what we believe in. We have to have our mind made up that we will not turn back. Determination will get us up to where we need to be, even when everything in us tells us not to go there.

Determination turns our preparation into our destination.

We must engage in the preparation, we must move with determination, but we stand against the wiles of the devil in our dedication.

How do we stand? It requires the passion to stand. A passion and the belief in the guts that will drive us to stand up.

I recommend, when you are taking a stand, make sure you are approaching it in a scientific way, that in fact strengthens your beliefs, so others can not easily persuade you to change your mind. Then you will be standing on the rock, or firm foundation.

Heros are the ones who have taken a stand and made a difference. Civil rights icon Rosa Parks challenged citizens by saying, “If I can sit down for justice, you can stand up for children." Have you wondered what she meant? In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus. At that time, racial segregation laws required African-Americans to give up their seats for white passengers.

By staying seated, Rosa actually took a stand against racial segregation. Her action sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and became an important sign of the civil rights movement.

This is exactly what it means to stand for something: it means to hold firmly to a particular opinion or belief. To stand for something means you give it your wholehearted support.

When you stand, you take action. That's why standing up is associated with believing in and supporting a cause.

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