Eye of the Tiger SFA Newspaper - By the Students, For the Students
In this Issue
Letter from the Editor
Current Events
Dear Readers,
Coronavirus - What Our Teachers Had to Say
Welcome to Eye of the Tiger -- the first issue of a brand new Saint Francis Academy Newspaper! We created Eye of the Tiger to bring some community knowledge and stories for the students. In this issue, you will find current events, interviews, sports, creative features, puzzles, and some jokes that are sure to make you laugh.
Mass, Events, and Celebrations Continue...Online Interviews Where are They Now? An Interview with Former SFA Student, Jack Durso Student Spotlight: Sofia De Rose, 8th Grade SFA Back in the Day: An Interview with Ms. Farinola Knitting Club: An Interview with Ms. Edwards
You may ask, who created all of this? It was created entirely by Saint Francis Academy Students (grades 5-8) who signed up to be on the SFA newspaper team. Every piece of content was collectively worked on and reviewed by the team.There were writers to write the stories, editors to approve the stories, photographers to add photos to the stories, designers to create the format of the stories, and finally we had project managers that made sure everything ran smoothly. They all felt both the creative desire and dedicated stamina to bring you this newspaper. And remarkably, all of this was done during quarantine. In total, 40 students helped make this dream a reality, all of it by the students.
Sports SFA Basketball Teams Show Strong Finish This Year SFA Track Team: An Interview with Coach Hans Parrado Creative Corner Catholic Schools Week: Overall Art Contest Winners Creature Feature: Learn About the Guinea Pig! Crossword Puzzles
So, as you flip through these pages, I and the entire newspaper team hope you enjoy our creation. After all, this paper has been created for the students, by the students.
Coloring Pages Summer – Here We Come!
Nick Facchini Editor in Chief
Summer (Poem) 10 Things to Do During Summer if We are Still Social Distancing
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Current Events
Coronavirus: What Our Teachers Had to Say
States, such as SARS. When it began to spread beyond the borders of China, I became very concerned and read much about it. At that time, we began to take extra precautions in school. Now that it is a pandemic, killing so many, we must all abide by the strictures in our communities and take this most seriously.
By Henry Kuhn Coronavirus started as a small “flu-like” sickness in China at the end of 2019. In early 2020, the virus began to spread globally and the number of cases went up rapidly. Every form of government kept an eye on the virus and tried their best to stop the spread of it. Coronavirus has affected the United States in a big way and has led to shutting down all public areas, including schools.
Q: Was it difficult to adjust to working from home? Why? Ms. Farinola: Yes, in the beginning, it was difficult to adjust working from home. I am so used to my schedule at school. I had to find a plan that not only worked for myself but also worked for my classes. Distance learning required me to spend more time planning out my lessons. I have to constantly stay on my computer and check and respond to my email, monitor Google Classroom, and research materials and websites I want to use for my lessons. After the first week of distance learning and lots of trial and error, I think I have managed to "teach" this new way.
Our lives have changed because everyone must do everything inside our homes. And because we must stay inside, it can be quite boring at times. To pass the time, kids have been completing their schoolwork, reading books, playing video games, watching TV, etc. These are things in a student’s schedule, but I wanted to know about a teacher’s schedule and how coronavirus has affected them. To answer these questions, I interviewed Ms. Farinola (7th grade homeroom teacher), Ms. I, and Ms. Savage. This is what they had to say.
Ms. I: The greatest challenge about working from home is not being able to assist students in a classroom setting. I enjoy helping others so having to communicate through Google Classroom or Gmail delays that whole process of providing immediate assistance.
Q: How do you see the coronavirus, do you see it as a threat? Ms. Farinola: Throughout my life, I have witnessed worldwide tragedies and traumas. However, I feel that the coronavirus is the worst threat I have seen affect society. The number of people affected by the virus and those that have died because of it is heartbreaking. Since the outbreak of this pandemic, life has taken on a new mode of survival. People love to be social and now we must practice social distancing and keep six feet apart. Whenever this pandemic ends, everyone will have to adjust to a new normal. Not knowing what this new normal will even look like makes me feel anxious.
Ms. Savage: It was very difficult to adjust to working from home. I like to go out each day and I love to be surrounded by people, particularly the children. Also, I don’t enjoy sitting at a computer all day. It is very lonely and I’m used to walking about 3-5 miles in school each day. Climbing stairs is great exercise. Q: What do you do when you have free time? Ms. Farinola: Whenever I have free time, I am usually reading a new book. I love escaping into an author’s world. My favorite genres are mysteries and psychological thrillers. I also am a fan of Netflix. I love to binge watch. If I have a free weekend, I usually try to catch up on my favorite shows. During the week I don’t watch TV except for Jeopardy. My family is also super competitive, so lately we have been playing intense games of Uno and dominoes.
Ms. I: I do see it as a threat, especially to those who are older and/or have pre-existing health conditions. I hope we can find a vaccine and be able to flatten the curve ASAP. Ms. Savage: When I first learned about the coronavirus I was concerned, but at that time it was mainly in China. There have been other viruses that originated in China, but did not threaten the United
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Current Events
Ms. I: I enjoy laying in my hammock or chasing my dog around the yard. It is important to exercise daily and get Vitamin D.
Ms. Savage: Well, I do like to do work in my pajamas, that’s probably my favorite aspect of working from home. My least favorite aspect is not being with my favorite people, our students. I miss them very much. As you can see, the coronavirus is a threat to all of us and life is very different now because most things have closed.
Ms. Savage: As of now, I have very little free time. Each day I try to answer all my emails, communicate with the teachers, parents, and students. It is very time consuming. I do like to cook and am trying new recipes. I plan on working in my garden soon. Everyone knows I love to read but I actually have not found much time for it lately. Maybe over the Easter vacation.
Mass, Events and Celebrations Continue….Online By Gabriela Maldonado Although the coronavirus crisis has caused us to isolate, many organizations have been holding online events and we have found that we can still celebrate important events virtually.
Q: Do you prefer to work in school or at home? Why? Ms. Farinola: I prefer working in school. I do not have the luxuries of being in my classroom at home. I miss writing on a board and interacting with my classes. Teaching via a computer does not compare to teaching in a classroom.
In times such as these, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries are important. Personally, my birthday took place in late March and I had a virtual birthday party with my family and friends. People still wished me a happy birthday and read me their cards. Although I could not physically spend the day with my birthday party guests, I still had a lot of fun.
Ms. I: Nothing can replace being in the classroom and instructing students in person. I prefer working in school because that’s what I signed up for as an educator.
Another important part of our life is our religion. Because we have had to self isolate, we have not been able to gather to receive the body of Christ. However, every Sunday we can attend virtual mass. The Vatican has held multiple programs and so have many churches in our area. Nothing can keep us away from God, not even COVID-19.
Ms. Savage: Definitely I prefer to work in school! I love to see everyone and to speak with them, to go into the chapel each day and to see you at your extra-curricular activities. When I leave school at 5:30 the work day is ended, when you work at home the end of the day is obscured. Q: What is your favorite and least favorite thing about school being closed?
Parades, concerts, and performances have shifted online. Disney has been hosting magical online parades. The Metropolitan Opera has unlocked recordings of operas for the public to enjoy. Even museums are offering free virtual tours of their exhibits -- the British Museum in London, the Museum of Natural History in New York City, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. -you name it! Although the world is going through a terrible time that we will never forget, we are finding ways to continue our lives using technology and even keep ourselves entertained.
Ms. Farinola: One of the only things that I like about school being closed is that some days I can stay in my pajamas. My least favorite thing about school being closed is I miss all my students. I miss our conversations and the way they would make me laugh, especially Grade 7. Not being able to see them on a daily basis makes me quite sad. Ms. I: My favorite thing about school being closed is not having to commute 40 minutes to and from work. I feel more energized in the morning and ready to take on the day. My least favorite thing is not being able to take my students outside for recess and see their smiling faces!
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Interviews
Where are They Now? An Interview with Former SFA Student, Jack Durso By Marie Gabriel I am always curious about students who graduate from SFA. I’d like to know things like: where they went to school, how SFA prepared them for what they are experiencing now, and how they view SFA now that they are gone. So, I decided to interview Jack Durso, a former SFA student who is 17 and currently a junior at Xavier High School. Here is what he had to say.
Jack Durso in 7th grade
Q: What was your favorite SFA memory and why?
Q: Has SFA made an impact on your life? How?
One of my favorite memories from SFA is a lesson that Mr. Biffot taught me. It was a simple lesson but it constantly pushes me forward each day. Mr. Biffot used a pen to describe life and how our work ethic dictates our future success. Imagine the entire length of the pen is our life span, in this case, we will say 100 years. Now imagine the pen being cut into four sections each accounting for 25 years. Mr. Biffot explained that if we are to put everything in and work to our full potential for two sections (50 years), we will be able to retire and enjoy our second two sections. However, if we slack off and neglect to work to our potential in the first section (25 years), we will have to work for the next three sections (75 years) in order to live our life. It is a simple concept, but reminds me daily how important it is to always try my best. Whether it be schoolwork or an after school activity, we must always push ourselves to our full potential. This was one of many memories I had with Mr. Biffot that taught me the importance of hard work and persistence. And one of the many memories I had at SFA that shaped me to be who I am today.
SFA has made a very significant, lifelong impact on who I am today. This impact developed not only from the teachers at SFA, but from my classmates as well. There are countless lessons I’ve learned at SFA, all of which help me on a daily basis to stay on the right track. I believe one of the most impactful people that guided me through SFA was Ms. Savage. She kept me, along with my other classmates in check, focusing us on our future ahead. Some of my favorite memories are from the discussions where Ms. Savage would interrupt our class, not only since we missed a little bit of class time, but since these talks kept us motivated. This spark of motivation was what kept us going, and I know I can always look back on these discussions for guidance. I have learned that in life we come across times of darkness, but we must reflect on our memories to shed light into our hearts. SFA is a place I can reflect on that shed’s light into my life, allowing me to become my true self. SFA not only taught me many lessons, but also fostered my faith life as well.The first Friday masses along with mass participation, taught me the importance of having God in my life. I can confidently say that liturgy in the chapel is one of the most beautiful masses I have ever attended. We are ingrained with faith so that when we leave SFA, we can develop our own relationships with God, becoming true servants to God’s calling. This is most likely the greatest impact SFA has had on my life -- my faith life. This has stayed true to me since the day I left Saint Francis Academy, and I believe my roots of faith from this school will help me become a great leader in my life.
Q: What school do you go to now? How has SFA made that possible? After graduating from SFA, I made the decision to continue my academic career at Xavier High School. This was made possible by SFA’s guidance and rigorous academic lesson
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Interviews
and singing "...I want to be a part of first grade, first grade..."
plan. SFA helped me achieve the grades I needed in order to go to Xavier. Thus far, Xavier has been a great experience for both me and my classmate Nick, who also attended SFA. Similar to SFA, Xavier has given me many opportunities to better myself as a person and to grow in my relationship with God. SFA has given me the skillsets I need to finish my education career, and to pursue a career path. I have no doubt that the impressions made by the SFA faculty will stick with me for the rest of my life. SFA fostered me into being a respectful young man, giving me the foundation needed to live out the rest of my life.
Q:What is one thing you will never forget at SFA? In second grade, a few classmates and I made fun of another one of our classmates at a birthday party. When Ms. Savage called us outside to talk to her and apologize, I ended up being the first one in line. I told her everything I had said and apologized, promising to never do it again. Ms. Savage accepted the apology, and the only punishment she gave me was writing a short apology note to his parents. So, the one thing I learned at SFA and will never forget is that honesty is always the best policy.
Student Spotlight: Sofia DeRose, 8th Grade By Kelly Vaughan
Q: What has changed in SFA from your first year to now?
I wanted to interview Sofia DeRose because she is an excellent role model. This is Sofia’s last year at SFA and she has done many things during her time at SFA from winning the Geography Bee three times in a row to competing in forensics tournaments.
Since my first year at SFA, a lot has changed. We've gotten a lot of great new teachers, and lost some very good ones as well. We've definitely incorporated a lot of technology into our daily lives. The thing that has probably changed the most was having the sisters around school. Sister Dora, Sister Mary Antonita, and Sister Una would come into our classrooms all the time when I was in kindergarten and first grade. Since then, Sister Dora and Sister Mary Antonita have passed away, and Sister Una is at the convent in Tenafly.
Q: What grade did you start school at SFA? I started school at SFA in kindergarten. Q: What is your favorite subject and why? My favorite subject is history. Learning about the past and comparing it to modern day events is incredible! Q: What does it feel like to be in your last year at SFA? It feels amazing to be in my last year of SFA, but it's also surreal. I remember looking up to eighth graders in kindergarten and seeing how big and mature they were. It's hard to believe kindergarteners probably see me like that now. Q: What are some good memories you have from school? One of my fondest memories from school was my kindergarten graduation. I remember standing up on stage with my classmates, some of whom are still in my class,
Sofia De Rose at the Geography Bee 5
Interviews
Q: What was the best thing that happened to you during your time at SFA? Getting the chance to go to the state geography bee was definitely the best thing that's happened to me at SFA. It was one of the toughest competitions I had ever been to, but SFA prepared me well, and it was a lot of fun. Q: What high school are you going to and why? Next September, I'll be going to the Convent of the Sacred Heart. It's a small, catholic school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The community there was extremely welcoming, and it felt like my home away from home. I was looking for a high school that would challenge me and push me, and CHS's academics are so rigorous that I'd have no choice. Thanks to a great scholarship and amazing preparation from SFA and the rest of my family, I'll be going to one of the top high schools in New York City next year.
SFA Back in the Day: An Interview with Ms. Farinola By Michaëlla Tadros Have you ever wondered what St. Francis Academy was like years ago? Now, you don’t have to! This interview with the current math teacher Ms. Kady Farinola (graduating class of 2005) shows what SFA was like when she was a student. Q: Were there any classes that SFA offers now that were not offered when you were a student (or vice versa)? The classes were pretty much the same when I attended SFA as a student. Our French classes did not start until either 4th or 5th grade though. We also did not have Kinderdance, but I do not think that would be considered a class.
Ms. Farinola in 2nd grade Q: Which teachers were at SFA then that are still here today? There were only seven teachers that were at SFA while I attended school that are still here today: Ms. Coffey, Ms. Hogan, Mrs. G., Ms. Savage, Ms. Cassidy, Mr. Biffot, and Mr. C. I, unfortunately, did not get to experience having the wonderful Ms. Coffey as my first grade teacher, because she began teaching at SFA when I was in second grade. Ms. Hogan was my second grade teacher. Mrs. G. was my seventh grade teacher. Ms. Savage was my eighth grade teacher. At the time, Sr. Dora was the principal. Ms. Cassidy was my math and science teacher. Mr. Biffot was my French teacher. Mr. C. was my music teacher. Q: How was SFA different then from now? There are some differences from SFA between then and now. Our fall/spring uniform was the same, but our winter uniform for the girls was slightly different. We did have a similar yellow blouse, but we had to either wear the school sweater, sweater vest, or this brown vest that had the SFA logo on it. We were not allowed to just wear the blouse on its own.
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Interviews
We did not have a track team, because basketball and cheerleading were the two big sports at SFA when I was there. The students and parents were always at the Friday night games, and the gym would be packed with people! Though SFA always had the largest crowds at the games, there was always room on the bleachers for Sr. Dora and Sr. Mary Antonita. The two of them would never miss a game!
Knitting Club: An Interview with Ms. Edwards
We did not have any special classes, but the whole school did participate in D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) time. When Sr. Dora would come over the loudspeaker and say that it was D.E.A.R. time, we would all take out the books we were reading, including the teacher. We would read anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
Ms. Edwards, who runs the knitting club, has been such a great inspiration and has made the knitting club a wonderful experience for me. Not only do we knit so many different projects all throughout the year, but we get to do this with the company of our friends. All the little details that Ms. Edwards incorporates into the knitting club, such as holiday parties, make the entirety of the club so much more special. That is why I thought it would be great to feature Ms. Edwards and her perspective on knitting and the knitting club. Ms. Edwards has shared her knowledge below, and I know we can all learn something from this.
By Izabella Bermúdez Did you know there is a knitting club at SFA? There is, and it’s available for SFA students in grades five through eight.
Our morning prayer routine was also different. Sr. Dora would come over the loudspeaker in the morning to make daily announcements. Every day a student was chosen to lead the school in morning prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The students would be so excited (and nervous) to get the opportunity to speak into the loudspeaker for the whole school to hear. I remember being so nervous that I almost messed up saying the Our Father! When the student would return to their classroom, the whole class would clap and congratulate them on how well they did.
Thank you for all you do Ms. Edwards, you are greatly appreciated at SFA!
Q: And finally, is there a funny story you would be willing to share about SFA? I definitely have a funny story, but I cannot remember exactly what grade this happened in. Mr. Biffot was teaching us French and sat on the edge of a student’s desk, but the desk broke and he fell on the floor. We were all laughing uncontrollably. That was probably the funniest thing that happened when I was a student there. Teachers do have their embarrassing moments. I can speak first hand on that since I fell down an entire flight of stairs in front of my students my second year teaching here.
Ms. Edward's knitting club putting their creations on display
Why was the math book sad? Because it had too many problems!
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Interviews
Q: What expectations did you have when you first started knitting?
Q: What made you want to begin knitting? I started knitting about 15 years ago. At the time I was working at Pace University with two other co-workers and two of us were moving onto other jobs. As a way of forcing us to make time in our busy schedules we decided to take a knitting class. It was something we all wanted to learn and figured it would be fun. It wasn't quite super trendy to be a knitter just yet but we like to think we were part of the trend setting, in our own geeky way. We went to our six week class and met up on weekends to help each other figure out what we were doing. After the class ended we moved onto meeting up once a week for knitting at a coffee shop in the city. Now we are close friends and can't think of a life without the other.
I don't know if I had any expectations before I started other than for everyone to enjoy coming to knitting and learning the basics. Like I said, I wasn't sure anyone would join. Once students signed up and were coming back I thought, "this is awesome!" and I wanted to make sure everyone knew how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, and read a pattern. And maybe find a love for knitting like me. Q: Do you believe you achieved those expectations? I think everyone enjoys coming to knitting even when it's frustrating. And I know the members of the knitting club have learned the basics because they are able to help our new members and have made things. Each year we start a new project and some years we finish it but most times we don't. But more importantly, students from all different grade levels are forming friendships, learning a new skill, and making memories that hopefully strengthen their ties to SFA and each other.
Q: How has being able to knit impacted your life? I guess knitting has given me a way to relax and decompress either by myself and/or with my friends. It has introduced me to many new people over the years and different events. I have attended different wool festivals, yarn crawls in the city, and knitting meet-ups. The people I've met have shown me new techniques, types of yarns, and ways to give back. I have made blankets for babies and children who are hospitalized, lap-blankets for chemo patients, and scarves for the homeless. Most of all it gave me a way to reconnect with my grandmother when she moved back north.
Photographers at Home
Q: What has your experience been with the knitting club? I have had a great experience with the knitting club. Each year it is a little different mainly because we are growing. The club started with only a few girls, and honestly, I wasn't sure if anyone would sign up. And if they didn't, I wasn't sure they would stay. Now the knitting club has a room full of girls and many have been a part of the club since it started.
The Vincent Family in the kitchen What do computers eat for a snack? Microchips!
One of the best parts of the knitting club for me is getting to know the students more and teaching them a skill they will alway have and can teach to others.
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Sports
SFA Basketball Teams Show Strong Finish This Year
The Girl’s Team: The girl’s basketball team also won the championship last year and were determined to defend their title. They achieved an almost perfect season, having only one loss. I believe they would have won the championship again, but unfortunately it was cancelled the first week of playoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
By Martin Martinetti The coronavirus outbreak has unfortunately cancelled all sports, but that gives us an opportunity to review each SFA basketball team and their accomplishments in the 2019-2020 season.
Girl’s Team Lydia Baraskai, Izabella, Bermudez, Aleah Bisrat, Maryann Burt, Alessandra Castaneda, Alyssa Cueto, Angelina Diamond, Maureen Healy, Giulia Meier, and Sofia Vacca
The A-Team: The A team includes grades 7-8 (with one sixth grader as an exception). They were the defending champions after winning last year. They faced tough opponents, but managed to make it to the play-offs. They won the first round, but were defeated in the second round by Mother Seton School. It was a heartbreaking loss for the team, but there’s always next year! A Team Joseph Burt, Michael Guasconi, Jack Halligan, Aiden Hernandez, Victor Nicolaev, Gabriel Pena, and Julian Rodriguez The B-Team: The B-Team allows grades 4-6 to play basketball in our school. They are the students of SFA who will one day join our A-Team. Many members of the B-Team are siblings of those on the A-team or Girl’s team, and they are able to learn from their experienced brothers and sisters. It also allows the younger children at SFA to gain experience while supporting their school and having fun.
Girl’s basketball team in post winning game huddle
B Team Benjamin Bajardi, Alberto Bermudez, James Farrell, Ryan Halligan, Shawn Hartelius, Yianni Kalarakis, Ethan Cueto, Edison Li, Vincent Li, Shaurya Madiraju, Ethan O’Dell, Drew O’Grady, Adam Perez, Gabriel Ursic, Ryan Verdugo, and James Wiley
What is the hottest part of the room? The corner because it is always 90 degrees!
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Sports
Q: How do you try to inspire your team?
SFA Track Team: An Interview with Coach Hans Parrado
I inspire everyone to have goals but at the same time I want them to have team goals. They get to see how they improve yearly and their teammates are proud of them.
By Lucas Hernández The SFA track team has been alive for almost 12 years with the same wonderful coach giving out the same wonderful inspiration. Coach Hans Parrado, a parent of two SFA alumni, has brought runners to races all over the country to compete and represent SFA.
Photographers at Home
Q: Why do you coach? I think it’s important that kids live a healthy and active life starting at an early age. In today’s day where there is so much distraction like school and work, we should always set time aside to keep our bodies healthy. Q: What's the most rewarding part of coaching? The most rewarding part is when you can see the kids you coached continue their love for running in high school and college. I often go to watch my former runners that I have known since they were young compete in large races. I coached both of my kids Brandon and Tyler Parrado.
Ryan Rodriguez building legos
Q: Why do you think your runners enjoy running? I think they like setting goals and accomplishing them but at the same time being on a team and getting to do so with their friends. Although running is not 100% a team sport, your teammates really affect you and your performance. Q: How many marathons have you run and although you no longer run them, why do you continue them? I have run 14 marathons. It was always a goal of mine to train for the olympic trials. I took part in the olympic trials for the marathon but missed the minimum time by a minute!
Anna and Joey Cecala cooking
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Creative Corner
Q: Would you describe yourself as an artsy person?
Catholic Schools Week Art Contest Interview
I would describe myself as an artsy person because my parents, my brother, my aunts and uncles, my friends and teachers, and my grandparents love my art.
By Ianna Lee This year’s Catholic Schools Week art competition focused on how each student believed they could spread kindness throughout our world with their own two hands. The top three overall winners, featured below, displayed originality, vivid use of color, balanced use of space, and created a message of importance with their own two hands. - Mrs. Giallombardo, SFA Art Teacher
Q: Do you have an artistic role model? My art teachers are my artistic role models. Q: What is your favorite type of art? My favorite type of art is drawing because I am best at it. When I sketch, it becomes blurry. When I color, I sometimes pick the wrong shade of color. When I paint or make collages, they become messy.
1st Place: Lineysha Goel, Grade 3
Q: How does art make you feel? Art makes me feel relaxed and calm. Whenever I feel sad or angry, I could go and draw.
2nd Place: Claudio Gomez, Grade 1
Q: Why did you create this piece? I created this piece because I thought that the wildfires of Australia was a different piece that not a lot of people would think of, and I thought it would be nice to help the wildfires of Australia. Q: What inspired you to make it? At school when we pray, we ask, “Does anybody have any intentions?” Many people say, “The wildfires of Australia.”
Q: Why did you create this piece?
Q: What got you into art?
I created this piece because I wanted to show a way we can help make the world a better place.
When I was a little child, I started drawing and then I liked it. As soon as I came back from school, even before I ate or took a bath, I drew a picture.
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Creative Corner
Q: What inspired you to make it?
Q: What inspired you to make it?
I love to surf and I love the ocean so I wanted to show how we should keep the ocean clean. If it is clean, we can all enjoy the ocean and the animals will have a clean habitat.
I wanted to help puppies that don’t have homes or families. Q: Do you like art? Yes.
Q: Would you describe yourself as an artsy person? guy.
Q: What is your favorite type of art?
Yes, I would say that I am an artsy kind of
Art of animals. Q: How does art make you feel?
Q: Do you have an artistic role model?
Happy.
Yes! My mom loves art. She is very creative at her job and my Tia Paula is an art teacher!
Photographers at Home
Q: What is your favorite type of art? My favorite type of art is painting. Q: How does art make you feel? Art makes me feel awesome, because I love coloring and drawing.
3rd Place: Alexander Vasil, PreK-3
Jenna Brennan drawing
Angelina Diamond working Q: Why did you create this piece? Because puppies are mommy’s favorite.
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Creative Corner
Creature Feature: Learn About the Guinea Pig! By Gabriela Maldonado I love guinea pigs very much. They are my favorite animal. I currently own one guinea pig named Zuzu. I also had a sweet and adorable guinea pig named Fluffy (that lived with Zuzu) who sadly passed away. My guinea pigs have been so amazing, and I wanted to spread the word about them and how to properly care for them. The guinea pig is a domesticated species of rodent that originated in South America. There are 13 different breeds of them. They weigh between one and three pounds, which is quite heavy for a rodent. Guinea pigs have an average lifespan of four to eight years, but some guinea pigs live to ten years of age! Today, guinea pigs are commonly kept as family pets here in the USA.
Zuzu enjoys a light lunch while hanging out on a cozy fleece
Photographers at Home
Guinea pigs should always have a companion of their own species living with them. No matter how much love you give them, it will never be the same as having a guinea pig friend. A guinea pig’s diet should consist of timothy hay, high quality timothy-based pellets, fresh vegetables, clean water, and occasionally fruit. Guinea pigs are herbivores, meaning they do not eat meat. They should live in a large cage with bedding or fleece on the bottom of it. A water bottle, food dish, and hidey should also be inside of their cage. A hidey is a place where a guinea pig can hide inside the cage. There are a lot of different types of hideys. Some people have fleece hideys, while others have wooden ones. The bare minimum square footage for a cage for a pair of guinea pigs is eight square feet, but bigger is always better. Guinea pigs should have floor time every day for at least thirty minutes. Sometimes guinea pigs “popcorn.” Popcorning is when they do crazy jumps in the air. This behavior shows that the guinea pig is excited. Guinea pigs are great pets to own!
Maureen Healy playing volleyball
What is an English teacher's favorite kind of tree? Poetry!
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Creative Corner
How is an English teacher like a judge? They both give out sentences!
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Creative Corner
Creative Corner
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Creative Corner
Why did the teacher go to the beach? To test the water!
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Creative Corner
Creative Corner 17
Creative Corner
What did Delaware? Her New Jersey!
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Creative Corner
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Summer - Here We Come!
Summer By Marie Gabriel In the days where school's over and all the children cheer, That's the time you see a glimpse of summertime appear! When an ice cold popsicle melts down your hands and face, You know that summer time awaits! The hot sun burns and the time is near, Spring is over, everyone cheers! For there are the days where all that matters is the beach and sand, And we call that summer, a season that is grand!
1) Build a pillow fort. You could do this with your family and create memories and laughs that will last forever. All you need is a couple of comfy pillows, cozy blankets, and some chairs. After you complete it, maybe you can have a sleepover in it. 2) Make delicious treats. You could also make the most delicious s’mores you’ve ever had with parent supervision. All you need to do is turn on your microwave, stove, or start a fire pit in your backyard. Even if you don’t have the ingredients to make s’mores you can easily look up many more scrumptious treats to create and eat at home. 3) Do a puzzle. Pick up a puzzle to solve, whether it be on your phone or right in front of you. These brain teasers will put you to work while you’re still having fun. It is an easy way to pass the time. 4) Stay in touch. Some ways to stay in touch are writing actual letters to your family, and maybe even learn calligraphy while you are at it. Or, you can pick up the phone and call some of your friends to catch up with them. 5) Have a dance party. What’s summer without a dance party? Turn up your music and jam to your favorite song. 6) Exercise. Workout over the summer, it is a great way to stay active and healthy.
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7) Get crafty. Learn how to knit or sew. You can create accessories to wear.
By Alessandra Castañeda
8) Garden. Gardening can also be a hobby to explore and you can do this indoors or outdoors. Planting seeds and watching them grow into pretty flowers might be your thing.
Since the beginning of the school year, we wait for what seems like a century for summer to come. We await family barbecues, outdoor adventures, and trips to the amusement park. But during these uncertain times, we aren’t sure if we can experience some of the activities that we anticipated. That’s why I wanted to give you some ideas for things you can do over the summer while staying safe and happy. I hope that you will gain a whole new perspective of what this summer could be like for you.
9) Learn a new language. There are so many apps out there that you can use to learn Spanish, Latin, or strengthen your French. 10) Read. Last but not least, read some good books that will make you laugh and smile.
Why was the computer late to work? It had a hard drive!
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More Jokes and Photography from Home
Where do you learn to make banana splits? At Sundae School!
Maureen Healy - Picture of her dog
Gabriel Rodriguez playing ball
Gabriella Fernรกndez - Picture of NYC from drone Gabriella and Alex Fernรกndez create indoor fort Where do hamburgers go to the dance? They go to the meat-ball!
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Tigers at work in this edition Head Team: Editor in Chief: Nick Facchini Head Project Managers: Aarav Patel and Julian Rodriguez Head Designer: Léna Planche-Odry Head Photographer: Katelynn Vincent
Editors:
Joseph Burt Ethan Cueto Clare Facchini Carolina Guardascione John Facchini
Designers: Project Managers: Julia Avoletta Isabella Betancourt Sofia De Rose Tina Shahani Sophia Thomas
Writers: Izabella Bermúdez Alessandra Castañeda Marie Gabriel Lucas Hernández Henry Kuhn Ianna Lee Gabriela Maldonado Martin Martinetti Michaëlla Tadros Kelly Vaughan
Ella Buoncuore Alyssa Cueto Skye Estevez Giulia Meier Gavin O’Dell
Photographers:
Jenna Brennan Anna Cecala Nicholas DeLemos Angelina Diamond Gabriella Fernández Maureen Healy Ethan O'Dell Gabriel Rodriguez Ryan Rodriguez Sofia Vacca
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