MOT Times - January 2020

MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO January 2020 Issue TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIME MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MOT TIMES MO

MOT TIMES

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents.....................................................3 Letter From the Editor............................................4 MOT Theatre Update..............................................6 BPA Update...............................................................9 Teacher Spotlight...................................................10 Debate Article.........................................................12 Early College Course Article................................14 Advice Column......................................................16 Fifteen (A Poem)...................................................19 Economics Fair Ad................................................20 Prom Expo Ad.......................................................22

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Letter From the Editor Dear MOT Charter High School Students, Families and Faculty.

Welcome to the newest edition of the MOT Times. This year marked a change in the newspapers team, as many of the key members of the Newspaper Team graduated within the class of 2019. Because of this, the newspaper had a slow start this year, however the hardwork of new and previous members has allowed for this publication.

This year we hope to add advertisements for different MOT events. This publication includes advetrtisements for this years Economics Product Fair as well as the 2020 Prom and Graduation Expo. If you would like to advertise for a school event or club contact me at at dannamoralesnegron@motcharter.com with the subject tittle “Newspaper Advertisment - ‘Event/Club.’”

This publication also includes an advice column, the first one that we have added to the MOT Times.

Questions were submitted through a Google Form earlier in the school year. If you would like to submit a question to the advice column, make sure that you look out for these forms being shared through Schoology.

If you would like to be part of Newspaper or write an article, feel free to talk to me about it. The club is always looking for new ideas, journalists, and photographers.

Danna Morales-Negron Editor in Chief

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Café Murder Review and Upcoming Productions By: Natalie Schmidt

Ah, October...a month of chills, thrills, and ghouls galore. Some celebrate the season with costume parties, while others venture from door to door in search of candy. MOT Charter, on the other hand, celebrated with a murder mystery.

Café Murder is an audience interactive dinner theater experience. The story follows Rosemary, an irritating hypochondriac who decides to celebrate her birthday at the titular, ominously named restaurant. She is joined by her sisters, Valerie, Volleny, Marjorie, and Melanie, all of whom are not particularly thrilled to be in attendance. Shortly into the play, Rosemary is murdered under mysterious circumstances. However, the vexing valetudinarian made many enemies throughout her lifetime, and everyone is a suspect --- even the waiting staff.

As I sat at my designated table, enjoying pasta and meatballs, I couldn’t help but notice just how much chemistry the cast members had with one another. This, paired with the realistic atmosphere and frequent audience engagement, made the play all the more believable and fun.

In January, the MOT Theatre Company will be taking an even darker turn in its presentation of No Exit. “The most I can give away is that it’s about three people in purgatory who don’t know how they ended up there. As the play progresses, the characters expose more about themselves and come to terms with who they are,” says Sara Mallon, a cast member. A cryptic description, but intriguing nonetheless. Sara, who will be portraying “an androgynous figure coming to terms with his life”, remarks that she and her cast have great chemistry and really suit their respective roles. In short, No Exit is a production you wouldn’t want to miss.

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BPA Update By: Natasha Lafferty

BPA or Business Professionals of America is an organization that focuses on leadership and entrepreneurship. MOT is one of many schools in the state that has a BPA chapter. BPA is student-run and with a focus on getting ready for the competition that happens in February every year. The competition is a state-wide meet-up where school chapters compete in different events such as prepared speeches, interviewing skills, creating business plans, and many more. Those that win their competition get to go to the national level and compete against the next level of students across the nation. The national competition is in a different state every year, previous national competitions have been in Florida, California, and Washington D.C. The club’s main goal is to help people expand their connections and help them prepare to enter the business world.

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Teacher Spotlight By: Dante Johnson

Ciao Mustangs! Welcome to this year’s first Teacher Spotlight! In case you didn’t know, “ciao” means “hello” in Italian, which may be a hint as to who our teacher is for this Spotlight. If you were thinking Ms. Torres, then you’re an absolute madlad, congrats! Since she’s MOT’s only Italian teacher, I decided that it would be fun to ask her about her life and why she chose to come to MOT. So, let’s begin!

Q: Where did you grow up?

T: I was born in Sellersville, Pa and lived in the countryside until I was 7 when my family moved to Marlton, NJ. Q: What was it like growing up in your culture?

T: My family was an average middle class family in the USA. My mother was a stay at home mom, while my father worked outside the home. During the day while we were not in school, we enjoyed riding our bikes around the neighborhood and walking trails, picking wild blueberries, or making movies with our family’s video camera. My friend and I also wrote a newspaper for our neighborhood. I played soccer, softball, and basketball, then exclusively rode horses competitively.

Q: What were some fun family traditions?

T: I remember enjoying Torrone candies and roasting chestnuts during the holiday season, which are both Italian traditions.

Q: What is the coolest Italian fact that you know?

T: Italian immigrants not only migrated to the USA in the early 1900s, but also to places like Mexico and Guatemala where large colonies still remain. They still even practice their language and traditions after all these years. Some migrated as early as the 1800s.

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Q: Did you always want to become a teacher?

T: When I was a child, my best friend and I would play school. As I grew up I found myself working with children, teaching horseback riding lessons in middle school, and teaching in early childhood education in high school and college. My father taught within his industry and my mother was a great homeschool teacher, so I think it was always a calling in some capacity.

Q: Why did you choose to teach Italian?

T: This is my predominant ethnic heritage, as my mother’s grandparents are from Calabria. The language was discouraged due to discrimination, so I never learned it in the home. Learning the language and my heritage helped me feel more connected to my roots.

Q: Why is it important to learn other languages?

T: There are many reasons to learn another language. I strongly feel that it is imperative to learn other languages and cultures to help unite people of different backgrounds. We are truly so alike, yet we think we are different. Some may even feel superior or be fearful of other cultures when in reality we are all the same and seek the same in life for ourselves and our families.

Q: What are your hopes for your Italian class?

T: My main hope is for the students to realize this about other cultures and people from other countries. I want them to have international experiences and create bonds across cultures.

Q: And finally, do you have any words of wisdom for us?

T: Be the change you want to see, as cliche as it may be. We need more love and acceptance in the world, look for positives and similarities with one another, and put others before ourselves. Go to another country and explore, immerse yourself in the culture and help them to solve a problem. Do this in your own communities as well. And always use your brains to think critically- do not take others words as truth no matter who they are. Ask questions and seek answers.

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Is Not Helpful:

One of the most common components of learning in America is homework. Here at MOT, we get hours of it per night, but this extra work truly helpful? The answer is no, or at least not in the way we get it here at MOT. Homework can be useful when it is given to expand or clarify subjects learned about in class, however, it is common for homework given to be busy work or work that is never gone over or explained, leaving students more confused and frustrated. When teachers assign homework that they will not go over it is harming students by leading them to only work on completion instead of accuracy. This leads to the students not practicing the material that they should be practicing either for tests, quizzes or just normal classwork. Even though homework in smaller increments may be helpful, two tofive hours of homework a night only leads to stressing students out and making them more focused on completion then understanding the material given. If students were given half of the homework given now, and it was reviewed on in-class, they would have a better understanding of the topics and lower levels of stress and procrastination. While getting an education is important, hobbies and socialization are also imperative to most teenagers’ lives, and this is only taken away by excess homework. Work is also an important factor when considering the benefits of homework. Many students have to work whether it is due to familial obligations or college savings. The large workload only seems to serve as a detriment to students who are putting effort into lives outside of education.When people become stressed and exhausted they begin to perform worse, which means that even if the homework they received was helpful, they are so tired and rushed that they have no time to remember the information that may have benefited them otherwise. This effect from the excessive work leads to students performing worse on tests and quizzes and leads to large impacts on grades that otherwise may not have occurred.

Debate Is Hom Help

By: Natasha Anony

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Is Helpful:

Many students today hate and complain about homework. They always have something negative to say about it. Even though I think homework is helpful, I agree that their complaints are valid. Homework in highschool in general can get up to the point where it isn’t even relevant or necessary. Homework is meant to help prepare you and help build major concepts and develop through provoking questions and ideas. All of this need to be geared with whatever subject you’re taking. This will not only build understanding

and practice, but it will also build mental stamina. Now, we can all agree that homework

today is not like that. There are assignments stacked up on assignments and even when

you follow the homework through it does not prepare you well enough for any

tests. Everyone is more worried about completing the assignment then

gaining any benefit. We need homework that is challenging, yet

reasonable with a realistic timeline. Piling work upon work is

not going to reall benefit the student. There needs to be

a healthy balance that will benefit the student’s mental health, and will actually bring positivity and enlightenment to the classroom.

Article: mework pful?

Lafferty and ymous

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Everything There is to Know About Early College Classes By: Rain Dehel

General information Early college classes count for half the marking period. This means that you will take two classes; one during marking periods one and two, and another during marking periods three and four. These classes will count as taking college classes and as credit at MOT. All online classes take place on an online platform similar to Schoology but is run by the college. These classes provide real college credits towards your future college graduation and cost way less than credits will when you actually get into college.

An important note is that the early college classes begin before MOT gets back from summer vacation. You are required to stay on top of your work for the week or so before you get back to school.

To take or not to take...

Deciding whether or not you want to take early college classes can be a difficult decision. The thought of college can be intimidating at first. I am not going to tell you not to worry, though. Too many people haven’t been taking early college classes seriously. Though there is not a physical professor in the room, it is still a real college class. You are expected to keep up with the course, complete all of your work on time, and participate in class discussions. If you aren’t going to take it seriously, early college is not for you. On the other hand, going from an MOT class to a college class is not zero to one hundred. If you put in the effort like any other course, you will be just fine.

Before choosing classes It is important to note that you cannot take early college classes through Wilmington University and be dual enrolled through Wilmington Universi ty at the same time. A lot of Senior classes are college level and provide the opportunity to be dual enrolled.

You might as well get the credit for the work you are already doing instead of paying thousands of dollars for credits later. Long story short, if you are going to take early college classes, take them through West Virginia University so you can also take dual enrollment through WilmU for your other classes at the same time!

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Do not choose a class purely because a friend is taking it or because it just seems cool at first glance. Ensure that you are willing to participate and learn about the subject. Choose something that you have a genuine interest in or may want to pursue in college. This is your chance to take a class that you have never taken before.

During classes During the semester, make sure to keep on top of your work. Early college is not a free period. Just like any other class, you are expected to work during the designated time period. Do not procrastinate and save the work for home. You will regret it later, and it could ruin your grade.

After classes The first semester class ends around the time of MOT’s winter break. Typically, winter break is longer for colleges than for high schools, because they offer winter semesters for full-time students to catch up on credits or retake classes. This means that the second semester class will likely begin the monday following the student return to MOT. At the end of each semester, you will have to inform the front desk of your grades so you can get credit for taking a class and receive the credits at MOT. At the end of the year, you will need to get your final transcript for both your WVU and WilmU courses to send to your college. This applies to both dual enrollment and early college courses.

Universi ty at the same time. A lot of Senior classes are college level and provide the opportunity to be dual enrolled.

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Advice Column By: Yashasvi Ponnaganti

“How do I come out to my family? I think my mom would be okay with it, but my dad is really strict and traditional and religious.”

- Jane Doe Dear ‘Jane’, I’ve been there. Firstly, it’s very important to remember that you’re not obligated in ANY way to actually tell them. Even though they’re family, don’t feel pressured to if you don’t want to, especially if you are in an unsafe position, meaning if you are in danger of being kicked out or put in harm. If you do want to, then that’s perfectly fine as well! So here’s how I did it with my sister: We got ice cream together, which gave me time to think about how I wanted to say it. Once I actually told her, I gave her time to react. I’m lucky that she was agreeable, since some people aren’t. Remember that they’ll probably need time to think about it. It might not seem like a big deal to be LGBTQ+ to us, but it’s not really considered “normal”, whatever that actually is. I hope this helped to at least give you an idea or to calm your nerves. Good luck!

- Yashu _______________________________________________________________________________________ “This rumor started and it reached my mom, now she doesn’t trust me when I tell her it is fake and she refuses to believe me. She claims it is my fault and it is making her “sick.” The rumor is not even that bad and it is a lie, she won’t listen to me. She always thinks I’m lying with everything, even if there is proof it is fake.

All she does it yell now, I don’t know what to do.”

- Rumours Dear ‘Rumours’, Mom problems: plenty of people have them. I know it can be hard to get parents to listen and understand that we know things too. Sure, our parents have already been through life, so yes they know more than us.

But that doesn’t render us completely stupid. I get how frustrating it is when they act that way. I’m gonna be honest, there’s no real way to make them completely listen. My best suggestion is to try to get another adult involved. Adults listen to adults. Hope it works itself out.

- Yashu

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“I like a girl, but she only recently broke up with her girlfriend. It’s frustrating because if she was with me she wouldn’t have gotten hurt, but I also feel bad for thinking that way because I knew they were happy together. Should I make a move and try to ask her out?”

- Anonymous Dear Anonymous, I’m sorry to hear that! Here’s what I think... First, it’s completely normal to think that way. It’s just how our brains work. You shouldn’t feel bad for merely having feelings. Second, I think you should hold it off. She’ll need time to recover from the break-up, and it can kind of put salt in the wound. Be there for her when she needs you, and help her through it. Then maybe later you can try your luck.

- Yashu _______________________________________________________________________________________ “I am a very shy and socially anxious person. Because of that, I spent all of my life alone and had a really rough start coming into high school. I’ve completely distanced myself from everyone because I couldn’t trust myself with not messing everything up. I feel completely alone, even now when I have a really cool friend group. And I hate how I love being alone so much. I feel safe alone because I know I won’t be judged andI won’t have to worry about messing things up. And because of all of that, I feel like I am missing out.

Everyone else seems happy and like they’re having fun and stuff but I literally don’t know how. Like now I just wish I was normal and that I can not be so afraid. It just sucks. This is probably the last place I should’ve came to but eh, lol it’s whatever.”

- Joe Mama Dear ‘Joe’, You’ll have to trust me when I say I’ve definitely been there, and I know how bad it can get. Even I have not broken all of my introverted habits, but there’s aew things that I know can help. Here’s some reassurance: you don’t need to hate yourself for liking being alone. That’s fine, not everyone loves being around others.

As for ‘basic advice,’ don’t be afraid to take baby steps! Work on small parts of the problem at a time. I’d say to first work on trusting your friends. Talk to them. That may not come easy either, but it’ll be a start. Trust your friends that they’re there for you. Trust them that they care about you and won’t judge you. And soon, things will work themselves out. I promise.

- Yashu

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“How do I deal with the college application process? I’m scared, nervous and fnot too comfortable talking to my guidance counselors.”

- Ananni Mouse Dear ‘A nanni’, I’m only a freshman, but here’s my best shot at some help. Personally, I think you should remember that so many people have gone through it, and you can too! Don’t let your nerves take over. It only makes things worse. Since you don’t feel comfortable talking to the counselors (which is normal), I’d recommend talking to anyone you’re comfortable with. Sure, there are certain people that won’t help or give you the best advice, but I’m sure there’s someone that’ll atleast boost your confidence to confide in an adult.

- Yashu _______________________________________________________________________________________ “This is quite a simple problem but why did no one care when Mark Wahlberg created a rap group called “Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch” like what?”

- Peter Nigel S. Dear “Peter”, That’s so valid and I’m answering this to spread awareness to everyone who’s reading: Mark Wahlberg created a rap group called “Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch” and everyone should know.

- Yashu _______________________________________________________________________________________ Final Note: Hi everyone! I hope some of these answers helped you as well if you had the he same problem. I had so much fun reading your submissions and look forward to doing more in the future.

I’m sorry if your submission didn’t get answered, but don’t worry! Submissions that didn’t get answered become a top priority for the next issue. Hope you enjoyed reading!

- Yashu

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Fifteen (A Poem) By: Anonymous

I am fifteen.

Young in the eyes of those that are older, Yet old enough, wise enough, To have learned from my mistakes, To have learned to understand myself.

I am fifteen.

It took me this long to get here, It took me years of confusion, Years of anxiety and fear, But I am ‘only fifteen’.

I am fifteen.

Old enough to make decisions, To ‘do it myself ’, To ‘figure it out’.

Yet ‘too young to know how hard adult life really is’.

I am fifteen.

And they tell me to ‘be grateful’.

To enjoy what I have, while I have it, Not to ‘try too hard’ to grow up.

I am fifteen.

And when I tell them I know who I am, They tell me I’m ‘too young’.

When I tell them my dreams, They insist I leave them with my pillow.

I am fifteen.

And every second of everyday I am just waiting, Until I am not fifteen anymore.

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