Kids Standard April's issue

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Motivate. Activate. Celebrate.

F E AT U R E

Index:

Life In Motion

Feature..................................................2 People..............................................5, 15 Fiction............................................. 6-13 Narrative..............................................8 Book Review........................................9 Fiction.................................................12 Opinion.........................................14, 19 Poetry..................................................16 Mother of the Year............................18 Vision Board......................................20 Parent’s Corner..................................22 Financial Literacy..............................23 Volunteer opportunity is available for students and adults.

Contact us info@kidsstandard.com Let us know if your school wants to partner with us.

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Dear readers,

H

eraclitus, a Greek philosopher of Ephesus (modern Kuşadası, Turkey), who lived around 500 BCE, created a distinctive philosophical theory promoting the idea that things are constantly changing. “The only constant in life is change” is his well-known quote.

Motion of any kind also implies change. The moment we physically move, we change the position of our body, which, in turn, affects everything else in us. In physics, motion is the phenomenon in which an object changes its position over time. In life, motion can refer to changes in our viewpoints, attitudes, and values over the course of our living.

Our emotion is also related to our movement. Some theories of emotion argue that the origins of emotions stem from bodily responses.

This implies that if we deliberately control our motor behavior, we could regulate our emotions and affect our feelings.

One way or the other, our lives are constantly evolving. In this issue of

Arina Bokas

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

Kids Standard, Life in Motion, our writers reflect on how their own lives are affected by motion.

Happy reading!

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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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Summer Writing Contest How the Pandemics Will Change Education in US Submission Deadline: August 24, 2020 All K-12 grade students are invited to write a reflective essay that outlines their ideas in respect to the question: How will the COVID-19 pandemics change education in US? Best entries will be published in Kids’ Standard’s September-November 2020 issue.

Three students will be selected as recipients of a $50 cash prize, awarded to one student in each of the following divisions (based on a student’s grade level as of Fall of 2020.)

Elementary Division: Kindergarten – 5th grade Middle School Division: 6th grade-8th grade High School Division: 9th grade-12th grade To be considered, entries must not exceed 500 words for the Elementary division and 750 words for the Middle School and High School Divisions. All entries must include a student’s name, school to be attended in the Fall, and grade level. Entries have to be emailed as an attachment to Arina Bokas at arina@kidsstandard.org before or on August 24, 2018. Use the word “Contest” in your email subject line.

The winners will be posted on Kids’ Standard web site, and their families will be notified by September 1, 2020.

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PEOPLE

Misty Copeland By: Ava Mickens, 2nd grade, Gretchko Elementary, West Bloomfield

T

he benefits of being active are being healthy, having a sound mind, heart and stomach, and getting a body moving. Being active also helps with weight loss.

Dancing is what gets me up and moving. I love dancing to my favorite song. I take ballet, jazz, tap, and hiphop. Dancing is my favorite physical APRIL 2020

activity because I like to move my body.

It makes me feel good because it makes me happy, makes me strong, and also makes me proud.

Misty Copeland is a famous dancer, whose life revolves around motion.

When Misty was seven years old, she saw a movie about a gymnast and wanted to be like her. Her school didn’t have gymnastics, but they had a drill team, for which she auditioned. Misty made the team and became the Captain. Misty’s coach had studied ballet and could see that Misty had a natural talent for it.

Misty developed a love for ballet, and she was 13 years old, when she started

classes. Misty couldn’t get enough of dance and spent all her spare time dancing. She became so good at age 15 that she studied at the San Francisco Ballet School and American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive on a full scholarship.

She would later join the American Ballet Theater as a member of the corps de ballet.

Misty would later be promoted to principal dancer, making her the first African American woman to ever be promoted to that position in the company’s 75 year history. Misty Copeland is a true inspiration whose life revolves around motion.

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FICTION

Living By: Andrea Luther, 10th grade, Clarkston High School

I

didn’t realize that it would change me. I didn’t understand the weight of my own faults. Looking back I’m not proud, but I don’t regret it either. When I finally broke away from my long toxic relationship, I was reborn. Not right away, but eventually. At first, I was sad, depressed, lonely and thought I’d made a huge mistake. It’s easy to fall into their trap. I would know because I did, and it consumed me.

For weeks after, I was a mess. Ashamed of something I couldn’t control. The empty feeling in my heart and stomach made it hard for me to do anything. So I stayed in. When friends called, I hung up, and when my family stopped by, I pretended I wasn’t home. I thought about everything at once, yet nothing at all. Ultimately though, I blamed myself for staying silent and letting it go on for way too long. The pushing, the shoving, and the yelling spun in my mind like a merry-go-round. Around and around, memory after memory were circulating through my body until they each got their stab at the heart.

One morning I woke up from another bad dream. Startled and angry about the last three months of robbed sleep, I decided I’d had enough. I got up and put on some running clothes. When I stepped outside, the fresh crisp air cut through my lungs exposing them to the purity of the outside world. My legs started moving, taking me in the direction of my soon-to-be-found healing.

Looking up, I realized it was getting brighter out, and a normal jog quickly turned into a race against time. Zooming up the trail, I made it to the top just before the first crack of light brushed the trees. Exhausted, I sat on a nearby rock and rested for a moment. I sat there for longer than intended, as I was suddenly very aware. Watching the great fiery ball of light lift itself out of the depths of the Earth, I was renewed. I started thinking

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of how many times one had betrayed, hurt, and broken down this Earth? Yet, the sun still rises every day and gives us all a second chance to do better, get better, and be better.

Applying this idea to my life, I realized I was wrong. I deserved so much more than just sitting around every day wishing I could change stuff I knew I couldn’t. The past is in the past, and it was time to move on just as the sun does every day. It doesn’t take a day off, it doesn’t just give up. So why should I? After that day, I was never the same.

I looked at things through a new lens and was able to see myself becoming the person I’d dreamed of. I woke up early every morning, jogged up the path, and watched the sunrise from the ledge, proving to myself that I deserved a fresh start. As this new routine became more and more a part of me, my past self seemed silly. It was tough, but I eventually came around to forgiving myself, as I knew you couldn’t grow until you learned and you couldn’t learn until you lived. And that’s what I was doing.

Living.

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FICTION

Varsity By: Stephanie Enright, 10th grade, Clarkston High School

I

’m not doing the 400 meter. Nope, it’s not happening. I thought to myself, sitting with my red blanket draped over my freezing legs.

“Hey! Why aren’t you guys getting ready for the 400?” Coach Franz yelled over to us.

Crap. Begrudgingly, I pulled myself to my feet and traipsed over to the starting line for said race.

Where are all the East girls? I mused, hoping my words would cause more of them to appear. My eyes traveled over to the grand total of three East girls, none of them Varsity, compared to the 15 or so Arcadia girls. Oh no, this isn’t going to be good.

“Alright ladies! I’m gonna need all my best runners to come up here; varsity first. Arcadia, y’all will be in lanes one, three, five, and seven. East, you’re in two, four, six, and eight,” a large voice

APRIL 2020

boomed from my right. As those words filled the air, my heart sank. Oh god, I thought to myself yet again.

“Where are all my East runners?

C’mon girls, we’ve gotta fill these lanes!” he spoke again, but none of us moved, worried expressions appearing on our faces.

“You! Let’s go!”

Who? I thought at first; then soon realized that his finger was pointing at me, directing me towards lane four.

“They really made me run in the first heat? This should be fun,” I spoke nervously to the blonde girl next to me, glancing at my only other teammate in lane two. My nerves were going bonkers.

“Oh man, good luck! You’ll do great!”

She replied, optimism present in her tone.

After getting ourselves warmed up and taking off our non-racing clothes, the time was finally here. Into my starting position I went, one leg perpendicular and the other even with the ground in my starting block, my heart pumping viciously.

“Ready!” Here it comes.

“Set!” I can do this.

“GO!” The gun went off, and there I was, sprinting, arms pumping, legs hitting the track intensely. “I can’t do this,” the pessimistic side of me whispered, but I shook it off, keeping my speed. That kind of negativity won’t help me win, now will it?

The positive side retorted, You've got this!. I repeated that to myself like my life depended on it; it kept me going so I could see this godforsaken race through.

Soon, I was in the home stretch: the final 100 meters. With my muscles burning, wanting to stop, I pushed through, for that was all I could do.

Suddenly, power surged through my veins. My saving grace! My feet got quicker, knees higher, and my arms swung with a new-found attitude. I picked myself up past fifth, then fourth, and finally third as I crossed the finish line. I got 3rd place!

My head throbbed to high heaven, and my stomach lurched as I walked back to my long-awaited blanket. But even with all of that, I did it. I earned varsity points, and I am now on my way to my varsity letter.

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N A R R AT I V E

Bobbing for Air By: Mekhi Croft, 6th grade, Avondale Middle School, Auburn Hills

M

y bare feet were burning on the light brick floor; the temperature was over 96 degrees!

Although I was scorching hot, I continued running to obtain the closest most comfortable seat to the pool. The only thing I could hear at that precise moment was all of the children screaming and the pitter-patter of my own feet against the sizzling floor.

A couple of hours ago, my grandmother, her boyfriend Wil,l and I decided that we should go to a public pool to cool off.

On the way there, my grandma thought that we should get ice cream to cool off just a bit, but in my eyes, ice cream helped a lot to take my mind off the heat and ice me down just enough.

Arriving at the pool I was so enthusiastic and jumpy that I dropped my ice cream as we pulled up at the gate to go inside, while Will parked the car. We strolled our way inside. I found a perfect spot under a tree with four chairs, which was just the perfect amount that we needed: one for my grandma, Will, and me, and the extra chair to put our things on. It had a picnic table and grill and was close to the pool.

“I’m surprised nobody’s taken it yet,” my grandma exclaimed with a puzzled tone in her voice.

“The owners of the spot just left, I think.” I said surprisingly. Wel looked towards the gate and saw a family of four walk away with their things.

We went to this pool about once a week, and we swam our hearts out.

Well, at least my grandma and Will did.

I didn’t have the slightest idea of how to swim and was afraid to go underwater.

I liked to hang out in the shallow end trying my hardest to submerge my arms in and out of the water to hold myself up, but no matter how many times my grandma assisted me, I was unable to do

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so. I felt as if the water had been pulling me down by my ankle and wasn’t letting me go every time I attempted.

“We’ll be right back. Will you be alright?” Will and Grandma questioned.

They left and while I was trying to swim again, I started to slowly drift away into the blue dirty water on the other side of the pool. The farther I went towards the deeper end the more I realized how much I was sinking towards the filthy bottom floor. I could taste the disgusting water filled with gallons upon gallons of chlorine. The water started to grab my ankle again and wouldn’t let go.

“HELP, HELP!” I screamed over and over again, but nobody could hear my screeches over the dozens of people around me.

As I sank towards the bottom, I held my breath as long as I could before feeling it. I felt my feet hit the floor. I tried to hold my eyes open to see what was going on, but I wasn’t able to do it. My eyes were burning, my lungs were pounding for air, and my arms were flailing for

help under the water.

I’m going to die… just thinking about this made me want to cry my heart out, not being able to do everything I wanted to in life. And then… right when I thought I was over, I felt something grab me by the arm, I was pulled up and took a large breath of air. I felt relieved as I looked around seeing my grandma in the shallow end of the pool.

I immediately thanked the guy as he took me back to my grandma. As soon as I got back, I screamed at my grandma to let her know that I almost drowned. As salty tears were coming down my face, we headed back towards our things and I wrapped myself in a towel like a bat wrapping itself in its own wings to sleep in a dark cave in the cold nighttime. We left soon after that.

As traumatic as it was, this event led me to want to learn how to swim, and after I learned, I wanted to swim all the time! I found swimming to be exciting and a cool way to have fun with your friends in the water without being scared of drowning all the time.

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BOOK REVIEW

Out of my Mind by Sharon M Draper By: Jessica Lavoie, 6th grade, Avondale Middle School, Auburn Hills

I

said was very hurtful and Melody did feel upset, she did not let that get to her and make her feel like she wasn't good enough. If anything, that made her even more tenacious, because she wanted to show them what she can do.

Lastly, the best example of when Melody shows she is determined is when Penny got hurt. Melody was in the car with her mom driving out the driveway. Melody saw that Penny was injured and started kicking and screaming to try and inform her mother about Penny. This scene depicts persistence because Melody's mom was telling her stop and was getting angry because she was making a lot of ruckus, but she continued to try and notify her mom that Penny was hurt.

I think that everyone should be as indefatigable as Melody. It is such an important quality and character strength to have. If nobody had determination, then everyone would just give up in life and never get anything done.

n the book Out of my Mind by Sharon M Draper, an 11 year old girl named Melody has a disability. She cannot walk or talk, and she can only move slightly. But although her body is limited, her brain is definitely not. Not many people understand how intelligent she really is.

She gets a machine to help her communicate, and she tries her best to show everyone what she can do, but there are challenges along the way.

Melody goes through so much throughout this book; it's kind of like a roller coaster. But even though she goes through a lot of rough times, she always Claire and Molly tease and ridicule her. pushes through, which illustrates the “Hey Claire!’ Molly said, twisting her quality of determination. arms above her head and bending her To begin, one example of where body so it looks crooked. Look at me!

Melody is determined is when she startI'm a retard!’ She laughed so hard, she ed her inclusion classes with all other snorted snot.” Even though what they fifth graders. She got made fun of a lot, even by teachers. When Mr. Dimming was saying rude and mean things to Melody and not believing in her, she tuned him Visit flipspotgym.com for more info out. “I turned the volume "Bring in this ad to save up on my machine very $10.00 off first month's loud. I am here to take tuition for new students." the test. Mr. Dimming blinks. ‘Melody, I don't want your feelings to get injured. The test is very hard.’ ‘I am very smart.

I just don't want you to be hurt, Melody.’ He sounds sincere. Sort of. ‘I am tough, I type.” These words were very hurtful, but she didn't let Mr. Dimming stop her from showing everyone what she can do.

Next, the main character, Melody, shows that she is determined when

APRIL 2020

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FICTION

Masterpiece By: Brooke Lattner, 10th grade, Clarkston High School

H

alls flooded with trickling light illuminated the walls. Floating dust particles drifted in the air like settling confetti after a concert, and I was center stage. I had wandered away from my classmates. The silence awakened my ears as I extended my hand over the velvet rope to trace the gold frame of a nearby portrait. I longed to create something beautiful, but seemingly everything that I touched crumbled to dust.

“Vivian Leroy, what on earth are you doing?” my teacher scolded.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Thomas,” I nervously replied, suddenly startled by the shattered silence that had hypnotized me.

I’ve never forgotten that day. For weeks following the field trip I attempted to create something of my own.

Something truly spectacular. Something beautiful. With the budding trees came the blossoming of summer. My house was littered with coloring pages, but all of the colors overflowed outside the lines. My crayons were smashed from vigorous scribbling, laying in pieces near a windowsill where the colors melted and mixed. My friend Junie came over and we tried to make macaroni necklaces, but my fingers quickly became stuck together and lathered with glue.

My macaroni necklace tumbled off the table as it slipped out of my hands, littering the floor with tiny landmines. Tears streamed down my face, and I tasted the warm salt burning my chapped lips.

It was hopeless. I grew in envy as I watched my friends’ refrigerators become engulfed in drawings and coloring pages, proud parents beaming at the growing collage that became a spectacle.

I had accepted that my hands weren’t made to create, but to destroy. Months lingered on, and summer leaves wrinkled with age.

“Vivian, I got you something!” my mother called.

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“Coming,” I shouted as I ran downstairs.

She handed me a small birdhouse. I could smell the wafting pine scent from the fresh cut wood.

“This caught my eye at the store, and I thought it would be a nice gift for our winged friends!” she beamed.

With gleaming eyes, she handed me a paintbrush and sent me into the backyard. “I’ll only destroy it,” I thought. Nevertheless, I decided to attempt decorating the vacant residency. A million colors tempted my eyes while I covered the house’s bare

complexion. Streaks of paint stained my clothes as I emerged from the warzone I had created. My knees ached, and my neck felt heavy from hours of deep concentration.

The final product. I had glued leftover pieces of macaroni on the roof and the glue glistened in the dying summer sun. I stepped back, and the last sigh of summer dried the splattered paint as it dripped onto the stained and sullen grass scorched from summer. Mixed paint created a sickly grey color, and pieces of macaroni slid off the roof. It was beautiful!

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FICTION

The Boat By: Justin Rosenberg, 10th grade, Clarkston High School

I

was stirred from my sleep by a loud creaking noise followed by a crash and an explosion. I fell from my bunk as the ship jolted to the side.

Stumbling out of the doorway, I grabbed the handrails, making my way to the top deck. As I reached the door, it was swinging all around, with rain and salt water pouring in through the doorway, slapping me across the face as I struggled to the doorway.

I screamed, calling out for others on the ship, but no one was about. I searched around, trying to see if there was an extra lifeboat waiting for me, but I didn’t see anything. The rest of the crew must have already left. I pulled a life jacket over my head, buckling it with one hand so I could use my other to hold the handrail. I had to get off the boat, or my life would be very short from that point on.

APRIL 2020

Pulling myself forward, I saw the ship’s bridge, cut in half, swing off the ship with a deafening creak like fingernails on a chalkboard, followed by a crash. The bridge of the ship slid into the ocean. The sea spat water up on my face, and I spit out the salty spray.

Suddenly, a large crack appeared in the center of the main deck, it then split in half, water filling the void. The ship was going down fast. I had to build a raft or I wouldn’t survive.

I clenched the handrail until my knuckles turned white and dragged myself across the deck, in search of something to make a raft. Most things wouldn’t float, that’s why we had lifeboats, but all of those were gone. The only possibility I saw was the extra life jackets.

I made my way across to the compartment where the jackets were kept, and pushed it open. Grabbing a few from the box, I hastily tied them together with a rope that was also in the compartment.

Suddenly, I felt a large rumbling noise and a creak. I was thrown from the compartment, the attempt to make a raft torn from my hands. I collapsed in defeat. I now thought that I could never escape

from the certainty of a violent, watery grave.

As I began sliding across the deck, I grasped for anything to stop my descent. The boat was nearly entirely covered in water, and I tried to climb as far away from the thrashing sea as possible. Holding on to a rope for dear life, I pushed upwards with my legs in an attempt to reach a higher part of the ship. The ship jolted, turned slightly, and slipped lower into the water, dipping my legs up to my torso in salty foam.

Just then, I saw a large searchlight appear out of the storm. It shone down on me as the ship was nearly gone, and a rope ladder dropped down to catch me. A man was holding onto the ladder, extending an arm down to me.

He pulled me out of the water into the helicopter, laying me down and checking my vital functions. He handed me a bottle of water. I was only left to wonder what had happened to the rest of the crew. If I ever boarded a ship again, I would make sure to stick with others so I wouldn’t be left alone on a sinking ship.

I fell asleep.

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OPINION

COVID-19 IN YEAR 2020 By: Naylie Martineze, 6th grade, Pontiac Middle School, Pontiac

I

am a middle school student, living in a small city in Oakland County, Michigan, called Pontiac, where, we heard, many people have been affected by COVID-19.

As we all know of Covid-1,

there is a testing site available for Covid-19, which is drive through testing.

Many organizations are also offering free food for the community.

But one of the thing we are having trouble with is getting the mail because most of the mailmen have fear of catching Coronavirus.

General Motors is helping hospitals by making breathing equipment. Many smaller companies are also switching their work to make masks and face shields. Many other states in the US are shipping masks and gloves and different types of essentials.

COVID-19 By: Ambriell Montgomery,

6th grade, Pontiac Middle School, Pontiac

C

oronavirus (COVID -9) is an illness caused by a virus that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that has spread throughout the world. COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild(or no symptoms) to severe illness.

You can become infected with coronavirus by coming into close contact (about two arm lengths) with a person who has COVID-19.

COVID is primarily spread from person to person. You can become infected from respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. People may also be able to get it by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it. Right now we are in quarantine so we have a better chance of not getting COVID-19.

If you have to go outside, stay 6 feet away from people and wear a mask. So we can stop the spread. You need to say home if you are sick; only go out if it’s for medical purposes; separate yourself from people and pets. Avoid public transportation, ride sharing, or taxis.

There is no specific treatment for COVID- 19, but you can seek medical care to help relieve your symptoms If you need medical attention, call ahead. Everyone can get COVID- 19, but older adults and younger kids are at more risk for getting COVID. It’s because their immune system is weak.

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Living Thorough Covid-19 By: Rosalynda Parilla, 5th grade, Herrington Elementary, Pontiac

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hat I know about COVID19 is that it has killed a lot of people and continues to make people very sick.

You get Covid-19 from germs in the air. It is a deadly disease. I hope that my family does not get this virus. This virus has made me really scared, and I don’t want anyone I know or love to get this.

The world is a very different place. I wonder if it will ever be the same. I will be so happy when we don’t have to live in fear of Covid-19. www.KidsStandard.org

PEOPLE

Effects of COVID-19 By: Astrid Carcamo, 5th grade, Herrington Elementary School, Pontiac

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ovid-19 is affecting my family by not letting different family members get together and have fun.

Also, another thing I hate about Covid-19 is that my Hispanic parents make me clean all the time. However, we do have fun at our house. I do miss going out and going to school and feeling safe.

Secondly, I miss my freedom. I like being able to go out to places like the mall, friends’ houses, and I miss going to family reunions. My freedom is gone, and I have cleaned everything I

Coping with Covid-19 By: Madeline Gavin, 2nd grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

APRIL 2020

touch to be extra careful about everything. Thirdly, I am sad about Covid-19. I can’t believe something bad like this virus would ever hit us.

I knew something bad was going to happen, but I didn’t know it would be this bad. Covid-19 did ruin some plans we had, such as going to Kalahari, Easter,

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ovid-19 is very scary, and being stuck at home without my friends is terrible. However, there have been some good things as well, like learning to ride my bike, having more screen time, and spending more time playing with toys.

First, I have always wanted to learn how to ride my bike, but I couldn’t balance.

birthdays, and I am really sad about that being cancelled.

However, Covid-19 has brought my family closer together. My brother, who was rarely home, is now home with us. I will be so happy when all of this is over and things get back to normal; whenever that may be.

That changed when I wasn’t at school because I had more time to practice. Bike riding is a good exercise. When your legs hurt that means that you are working really hard. It is also fun, and I get a lot of fresh air. I can’t wait to ride together with my friends.

Second, I’m usually not allowed to go on my iPad or iPhone very much. But now my mom lets me use it as long as I keep up with my reading, math, music, art, and all other school work first. My favorite games are Aqua Park and the Ball Drop. I also like calling my grandma and my grandma’s friends. I FaceTime my friends, too.

Finally, before Covid-19 forced me to stay home, I went to gymnastics, basketball, and other after-school clubs. But now I have more time to play with my family. We play Skip-Bo, Uno, Pit, and a lot of other games and puzzles. My sister gets sad when she doesn’t win, but I try to make her feel better by making her laugh.

In conclusion, I wish Covid-19 was over and everyone was safe. But there were some good things like learning how to ride my bike, getting more screen time, and having family fun. I plan to keep on learning new games and trying new things. I hope you found something fun to do during this difficult time.

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POETRY

A WORKER’S VALUE By: Zane Shields, 12th grade, Clarkston High School

Someone can do your job better than you I don’t believe, that Your work has value It’s a dumb way of thinking Because people do less work for more pay Someone will talk you down And at the end of the day There are always higher ups And they’ll etch it into your skull, that They are in power The way the world works makes the odds stacked against you, and because

of that Things will never work in your favor And they’ll try to sell it to you, that Your work has value

How wrong they are All work is dispensable It’s ridiculous that people think The work you do is important

Fish Watching By: Lydia Siko, 12th grade, Clarkston High School

Ariel was wrong.

Under the sea is way better.

The orange and white pups Soar along their own stream.

With the whiskers of cats, And the grace of swans, I could marvel at them For hours.

At my eyeline, chubby koi swim, Dipping their fins into the air, Gliding close to the surface.

Their scales glimmer as liquid sun slides across.

Poking into the breeze, They open their mouths To say hello.

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FOOD

By Gavin Conradt, 11th grade, Clarkston High School

Pizza Chicken Burgers & Fries Just like life, food can be good or bad With some in between Toppings and seasonings are a metaphor for our stories They make us who we are or who we don’t want to be

Food comes from all walks of life Just like people Often where we come from dictates our actions Or it will dictate a taste Food can speak louder than words Some may say it’s a means of communication Sliders Sushi Slurpees A mean of communication that everyone can understand Food

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MOTHER OF THE YEAR

Mother of the Year!

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very year we have an essay contest for mother of the year. A student to write about why their mother deserves to win the prize for being a strong role model and mentor promoting positivity at home and work. A mother that makes their children priority and their mission is aligned with Kids Standard. The prize is for mini makeover,

mani-pedi and trip to hair salon plus a $100 gift card for mom. Meet Marla, Shalom’s mom. Shalom wrote an amazing essay about her mom. She told the story of why her mom is the person who should win.

Marla’s family lives in Pontiac.

Although Marla faces with daily challenges, but that does not stop her to be the

strength behind her family to get them to work hard. Marla is behind her five children’s success academically. Marla’s firstborn Shalom who is a 4.0 student, has been working hard with Kids Standard and many other organizations she managed to get accepted to many colleges.

We wish Shalom the best on her next Endeavor.

Call for Nominations:

Motivate. Activate. Celebrate

Kids’ Standard 2020 Mother of the Year!

This prestigious award is given to any outstanding Mother/Grandmother/ Guardian who resides in Oakland County and works hard for her family to have a better life. We want to recognize this person with the gift of $100 and a mini-makeover (a manicure, a pedicure, and a trip to a hair salon) Criteria for the nomination: - This woman serves as a strong role model and a men-tor, promoting positivity at home or work - This woman makes her children the priority in her life - This woman’s values are aligned with Kids Standard’s mission 18

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OPINION

The Importance of Hand Washing By: Emily Valencia, 8th grade, Clarkston Junior High School

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ecently, the health of humankind has been at risk. The uprise of COVID-19 has struck terror around the globe and infected over one million people. The coronavirus is similar to a common sickness, influenza.

However, it presents a slower onset of illness, making it difficult for one to detect if he or she has been infected. Without a vaccine yet discovered, the best way to fight off this virus is to maintain good hygiene. Good hygiene habits have been directly linked to less illnesses. Building good personal hygiene habits is crucial to live a clean, healthy lifestyle.

Having poor hygiene habits can lead to many impacts on your health. For example, not washing your hands frequently with soap and water makes it easier for

bacteria and germs to transfer to different parts of your body. ABC News conducted a study on germ spread in a grade school classroom by using a harmless glow powder to symbolize germs. Their results showed that germs can spread from just two students to the entire class in one hour. By the end of the day, the glow powder spread around the entire classroom and all over the kids’ faces, clothes, and school supplies.

Bacterial diseases can be very dangerous, but they are easily preventable. There

are many diseases that are spread due to lack of simple hand-washing. Washing hands is an important action that we must continue during this crisis. Washing your hands can get rid of any traces of dirt, spores, bacteria and pesticides, whereas other methods, like hand sanitizer, may not. For example, a study conducted by WebMD Doctor Bhargava showed that a 30 second hand wash killed the flu virus, while hand sanitizer did not.

This is key because right now, our world is suffering from a virus that could have been prevented. The Coronavirus pandemic has made a significant impact on our lives and will continue to grow unless we step up and make an impact. Simply paying more attention to good hygiene can prevent COVID-19 from spreading. We must do whatever we can to help, so stay home and wash your hands!

KNOWLEDGE IS

Tutor Motion

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V I S I O N B OA R D

Virtual Vision Board

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ids Standard had a virtual vision board event for the month of May. Where we had over 100 mentors helping students with their vision board. This was our first virtual event. So, the experience for mentors and meets were totally new to everyone.

We met with the mentors and mentees on this project weekly on Zoom. The mentees (students) were challenged to make the vision of their future, demonstrating it with words and picture that inspire them for their future goal.

At the end we had judges from the community to come to evaluate. The students on first place received $100, the second place $50 and third place each received $25 gift cards.

1st place Winners

Ava Mickens, 3rd grade from West Bloomfield School Maliyah McDaniel, 8th grade from Pontiac Middle School Emily Valencia, 9th grade from Clarkston High School

3rd place winner: 2nd place winner:

Lily Levin, Senior at Pontiac ITA

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Slaom Byrd, Ambrielle Montgomery, Nayeli Martinez, Deja Rubio

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E D U C AT I O N

Decompression in a World of Being Compressed

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hether you like it or not, you move every day. Did you ever think about that? We perform hundreds of squats and bends every single day and if you are not doing it properly, your body will be taking abuse that will have ripple effects years later. One day, you’ll be in pain, seeing a healthcare professional, thinking to yourself, “how did this happen?”

Let’s rewind.

What if you corrected certain basic movements that you perform on a daily basis that strengthen you and don’t harm you? That horrible timeline we talked about in the last paragraph will disappear completely and you’ll be healthy, happy, and exploring any place you choose, pain-free. I want to make that a reality for you! Why, you ask? As a holistic physical therapist, I don’t want to see you in pain. My work is to teach you how to make movement painless in the first place without having to see me for physical therapy.

So you’re ready to take the plunge and learn the foundation of how your body is supposed to move? We finally have an owner’s manual of how the body’s movement system optimally functions. There are three principles that we should understand to make this happen.

Anchoring is the process of grounding yourself to the earth, activating the muscles responsible for stabilizing your pelvis. When this occurs, you’re able to take a deep breath and decompress your spine.

Why is decompressing your spine using a big, expansive breath important?

If your spine is in alignment, your legs, arms, feet, hands, and head fall right into place and you prevent yourself from getting injured. Decompression is really easy to do, but hard to master. It involves you taking a deep breath in through your nose, trying to expand your rib cage upward, side to side, and front to back.

You’re turning your

APRIL 2020

lungs into a hot air balloon and expanding 360°. When you breathe out, you squeeze your stomach and maintain the length upward that you just gained. If you repeat this several times, you just grew a little bit taller by pulling your spine apart using your breath. How cool is that?

So let’s give that a try. I want you to stand with your feet shoulder width apart. To anchor yourself to the ground, I want you to pull your legs in toward each other [and squeeze your toes into the ground if you’re able].

With your palms facing you, I want you to place your thumbs under the lowest portion of your rib cage and your pinkies on the top portion of your pelvis. This is going to measure the distance between your ribs and your hips. Take a deep breath, expand upward, and feel as your fingertips get further apart. Repeat this 3 to 5 times, relax and see how you feel.

Let’s move on to a basic movement

that we typically do. Bending over is such a major activity in our lives but, most of us don’t do it right. When you bend over, your weight should transfer towards your heels as your butt moves backwards so you’re hinging. Your spine should stay straight like a runway so a plane could take off of it. Now you’re hinging from the hips and the center of your body will be moving like a door hinge as it moves through the motion. Your spine will be happy.

Integration is where this gets fun.

That’s doing decompression and hinging throughout your day on a daily basis until it becomes normal. Imagine being aware of your position every time that you bend over at the sink, to pick something up off the ground, to sit down on the toilet, etc. If you change the way that you move, it’ll change the way that you feel. You’ll be stronger, healthier, and more mentally powerful! If you want to learn how to embrace your inner superhero and take control of how your body moves, visit us at Core Physical Therapy in Clarkston. I’ll be happy to help on your journey.

Shony Reuven is a Holistic Doctor of Physical Therapy and is certified as a Foundation Training Instructor. He has raced through the professional mountain biking level and enjoys all forms of movement.

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PA R E N T ’ S C O R N E R

Everyday Life in Motion: The Art of Walking

Maggie Razdar Publisher/Founder

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he only thing that never changes is that everything always changes. Whether change is coming because you chose it - or life happened to you - you can survive it with dignity and strength.

When you stop growing, you stop living, Forget what you think you know and discover new and better ways of navigating your life. You have one life.

Live it well.

Identify what excites you, understanding your motivations and obstacles. Overcome barriers that get in your

way. And live every minute with a purpose that is in alignment with your core values.

Ever since COVID, many have started dealing with some challenges. Whether worrying about our own health or our loved ones. Many have been stressed about staying home and not being able to socialize. Human being are socials. We need affections and human touch. Yes, we had done a lot of meeting face to face with our friends and family on zoom, and we conducted business meetings and events virtually. But what about our movements. We can still move around, go for a walk or run, or even do some activities at home.

For me, one of the best experiences has been walking in the park near my house on a daily bases. That’s where my creativity, reflection, and decisions glows.

Science shows that placing one foot in front of the other leads to some remarkable mental and physical benefits.

The fresh air, the blue sky, the smell of the nature and sounds of the birds, the signs of life are so beautiful. With that being said, walking is a really good form of exercise and can help you reach your

fitness.

And there is no shortage of scientific research to back up the effectiveness of adding walking to your fitness.

While the physical benefits are notable, the mental boost that can be gleaned from adding a walk to your daily routine may be more immediate.

So, it’s not just me saying it, One Stanford University study found that walking increased creative output by an average of 60 percent. Researchers labeled this type of creativity “divergent thinking,” which they define as a thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions.

According to the study, “walking opens up the free flow of ideas, and it is a simple and robust solution to the goals of increasing creativity and increasing physical activity.”

Psychologists found that a 10-minute walk may be just as good as a 45-minute workout when it comes to relieving the symptoms of anxiety.

Which makes sense, since science shows that engaging in activities that allow our minds to wander promotes a mental state conducive to innovative ideas and “ah-ha!” moments.

But it’s not only your creativity that will benefit from the mental lift. The act of walking is also a proven mood booster.

One study found that just 12 minutes of walking resulted in an increase in joviality, vigor, attentiveness, and selfconfidence versus the same time spent sitting. Walking in nature, specifically, was found to reduce ruminating over negative experiences, which increases activity in the brain associated with negative emotions and raises the risk of depression.

Walking outdoor may not be everyone's favorite movement and activity, It definitely is one of mine!

Wish you a great Summer!

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F I N A N C I A L L I T E R AC Y