The Newfield Wolverine Newfield High SchooL’s Official Newspaper Special Issue Edition
A Message From Mr. Graviano By: Veronica Hall
Community In Times Of Coronavirus
(Sept-Nov 2020)
In this Issue: ↳COVID-19 Updates ↳Editor’s Note: What You
Need To Know This Holiday Season in positions of power to ensure everyone’s safety. Thankfully, Newfield High School finds that leadership ↳National Elections 2020: through Principal Graviano. As we go into the second Our Insider Look quarter of the school year, there are still many questions ↳GO & Class Elections about the way the months ahead of us will pan out, especially with the upcoming flu season. And while our ↳Upcoming Events school administration cannot have all of the answers right ↳Newfield’s September now, Graviano still has some wisdom to offer our Student of the Month: Peter community. He states the following: Marjowski “When it comes to the struggles we’re all dealing with ↳Dr. Wolverine given the pandemic, it’s important to remember that we’re ↳A Student’s Voice & Thank all in this together. We have to be here for each other. If students are struggling, whether hybrid or virtual, they You Teachers need to communicate! Speak to a parent, speak to a teacher ↳Music Department Insiders … come to me! We will take steps together to maximize & Fall Cabaret an opportunity to learn. It’s not perfect, but it’s all we can do … work together and support each other.” ↳School & Professional While that might seem a bit clichѐ to some, it is easy to forget we still have whatever support system we Sports have gathered through our respective years at Newfield, even in a virtual school setting. ↳Art Corner: The New Normal & Introducing Alex Marshall, Amidst the chaos of virtual learning and a grading period finishing, there is another big event that prompts Graviano’s statement to be currently necessary. As of November 9th, seniors in both high schools in the Our New Comic Strip Artist district have been permitted to go back to school four days a week, given they have not already switched ↳Literature & Creative back to the full-virtual model. To all that may have been concerned about this seemingly unprompted Writing Corner change, particularly given Newfield’s number of cases in comparison to the rest of the school district, Principal Graviano ensures that there are enough seniors who have switched to the virtual model that the ↳Life Hacks decision could be made safely with appropriate 6-foot distancing, and it’s likely this four-day-a-week ↳Quarantine Fashion & announcement caused an even sharper drop in seniors attending school via the hybrid model, though he adds Lifestyle that some classes have had to be moved to make it happen. If the merging of groups one and two is what makes this decision a concern, Graviano also confirms that the handful of cases we have seen in the past few ↳Weird Science: The Halo weeks are not linked to each other, and they all came from outside of the school. Effect, Expecting A Vaccine, Fast Lane It is still unknown what coronavirus-related policy changes could come following this, assuming it goes ↳Meet Our Staff & Join Us! according to plan. No matter what, Principal Graviano assures that all decisions being made regarding
In times like these, it is important to have good people
keeping Newfield open long-term, during what scientists predict could be another wave, are being made with much deliberation and according to the state’s COVID-19 guidelines. In the end, the school’s top priority is keeping students, staff, and their families safe.
NEWFIELD NEWS GET IT WHILE IT’S HOT, NEWFIELD!
Keeping Track of Newfield COVID-19 Cases According to the MCCSD.net Website Date
Impact on School
9/15 9/21 9/25 10/14 10/28 11/4 11/4 11/5 11/6 11/9 11/12 11/13 11/16 11/17 11/19
Two cases One case One case One case, no impact One case, no impact One case, no impact Once case, no impact One case, no impact One case, no impact One case, no impact One case, no impact One case, no impact One case, no impact One case One case
*Last updated 11/20; Newfield has seen a total of sixteen coronavirus cases in the last two and a half months.
What You Need To Know This Holiday Season By: Dora John Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, has urged Americans to “think twice” about travelling or having indoor gatherings for the holidays. In recent guidelines, the CDC has encouraged the American public to avoid hosting large gatherings this holiday season. Those who are immunocompromised, elderly, or those that have been exposed to the virus recently should not attend gatherings at all. If you still decide to host a gathering this year, your event must adhere to the number of attendees that have been outlined in NYS law. Gatherings statewide are limited to no more than ten people. Regardless, when hosting you must also consider exposure during travel, your community’s infection rates, location of your gathering, and the duration. A slight slip-up in any of these factors will create a life-threatening situation to both you and your loved ones. Of course, guidelines suggest that the safest method to celebrate this year is virtually. Without the release of a vaccine, the only preventative measures we have to this virus is safely wearing masks and maintaining at least six feet of distance with others. Even with the retainment of a 98% survival rate, there is still a 2% death rate. That is still about 6.6 million individuals dead in the United States alone. 254,000 Americans have already died. Let us take a moment to remember those that will be absent at our tables this holiday season. With the rising number of cases, it is imperative that you take the precautions necessary to protect yourselves and those around you. Let’s make sure that we are able to return to school after holiday break. Follow the facts. Wear a mask. Social distance. Stay home as much as you can until this is over.
National Elections 2020: Biden Secures The Presidency By: Muhammad Chaudhary Day 1 - Tuesday, November 3rd 2020 -- This year is an election year and the candidates are current President Donald J. Trump and Former Vice President Joe Biden. In this election coverage I want to say before I start that I will not be giving my opinion on the elections, and will simply be telling you the facts and theories of this election. First, I have to address this issue: The President of The United States is determined every four years and one person can only be elected for two terms or eight years. The way the US determines is different from other countries. Most countries just elect the person with the popular vote but in the US that is not true. Yes, there is a popular vote -- but it doesn’t mean whoever secures it is going to win the election. An example is in the 2016 Elections. Hillary Clinton had more popular votes but she lost due to a lack of electoral college votes. Electoral college votes are a specific amount of votes a state is given. The highest votes of any state
today is Texas with thirty-eight Electoral Votes. However, not all states have thirty-eight or thirty, each state has different electoral college votes. Astate is given the amount of electoral college votes based on how many Senators they have along with how many representatives in its U.S. Congressional Delegation. There are two votes for its senators in the U.S. Senate along with a number of votes equal to the number of its congressional districts. On Election Day, all states are given an amount of electoral votes. The major population of a state is the majority and if the majority wins, then those are the electoral votes given to that candidate who won there. Right now Former Vice-President Joe Biden is in the lead, with 209 Electoral Votes, and Trump with 118 Electoral Votes. For the Presidency, either candidate needs 270 to win. Day 2 - Wednesday, November 4th 2020 at 12:21 AM -- Biden leads with 223 and Donald Trump has 136 electoral votes. 270 needed to win the election, this has been the most important election in US history, because 161 million people voted this year. 139 million people voted in the 2016 election. To be honest in 2016, the most shocking thing was that Trump won. Hillary did win the popular vote but Trump winning was shocking because in 2000 the Simpsons had predicted that Donald Trump would be the president in 2016. At the end of the Day 2, Nov 4 2020, Biden was in lead with 264 electoral votes and trump had 214 electoral votes. Biden only needs 6 more votes to book the Presidency, while Trump needs 56 votes.
Day 3 - Thursday, November 5th 2020 -- Nothing has changed. Biden is ahead with 264 and Trump has 214 votes, Biden really only needs Nevada to win. Statistics have begun to show that the mail-in ballots were starting to be counted, and they are expected to favor Biden. Most of Trump’s supporters voted on election day in-person because he told his supporters to try to vote in-person to prevent fraud. Day 4 - Friday, November 6th 2020 -- Nothing changed, still Biden is still at 264 and Trump is at 214. Day 5 - Saturday, November 7th 2020 -- Big jump. Pennsylvania turned blue and gave Biden 284 votes. He has been declared the winner by the Associated Press. Trump was still at 214. Although there are still votes being counted in Georgia and Nevada, both are most likely going to turn blue. No matter who you like more, you should be aware of this moment because this is the first time in US history that there is a female vice-president and a vice president of Asian descent. This is a small step for women but a big leap for womankind. Nevada and Georgia turned blue but this was more big for Georgia since the last time Georgia turned blue was 1992. Twenty-four years later it leaned Democratic, but Trump wanted a recount by hand. That is currently taking place, while I am writing this. By Nov 11, Biden leads in Georgia with more 14,000 votes than he had last time. This was Election 2020. We asked our audience to describe their reaction to the First Presidential Debate. These are some of the anonymous responses we received: “The moderator did nothing, but then again you should stay away from a dumpster fire.” “I’m worried about what’s going to happen. Our world is so crazy right now.” We asked about President Trump’s refusal to participate in a virtual debate, following his diagnosis with COVID-19. Here is what we heard: “I find it petty and ridiculous that the President refused to participate in a town hall style debate format with Joe Biden and I’m disappointed. Not surprised though, it’s a shame that the American government seems more like a reality TV show than an actual democracy.”
GO & Class Election Results By: Veronica Hall The elections for Newfield’s G.O. and class officers of the 2020-2021 school year took place on Thursday, November 5th, 2020. Students in both the hybrid and virtual models were given an opportunity to vote during their social studies classes. This was done through online forms to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus. As a precaution against fraudulent voting, students could only vote once on the form and were only able to vote using their school email addresses. The elected officers were announced on Monday, November 9th and are as follows:. General Organization (GO) President: Kaitlyn Learner Vice President: Fatima Akbar Secretary: Hailey Fajardo Treasurer: Savannah Bond Historian: Aiden Murphy
Class of 2023 (Sophomore Class) President: Rose Fernandez Vice President: Zarif Rezwan Secretary: Nicholas Rodriguez Treasurer: Jaclyn Vanturini Historian: Angelina McCance
Class of 2021 (Senior Class) President: Peter Marjowski Vice President: Soad Hossain Secretary: Leanna Stone Treasurer: Angelica Cuarteros
Class of 2024 (Freshman Class) President: Weronika Karpio Vice President: Alexis Viola Secretary: Ashleigh Murray
Class of 2022 (Junior Class) President: Dora John Vice President: Mehreen Chowdhury Secretary: Abu Kalam Treasurer: Adam Murphy Historian: Catlyn Knauer
G.O. advisors this year are Mrs. Mangine and Ms. Montana. Ms. Montana will be doing her first year as G.O. advisor this year; she was previously an advisor to the Class of 2021. Mrs. Mangine notes that there are appointed positions other candidates can apply for if they did not win the election, and those applications will be considered by a committee to decide who, if anyone, will earn those positions. Congratulations to all elected officers, and we can’t wait to see what you do this school year!
UPCOMING EVENTS May be Subject to cancellation AS PER CURRENT COVID-19 Restrictions
November Events: NHS Class of 2021 Senior Pictures (November 23), Virtual PTA/PTSA Council (November 24), Half Day (November 25), Thanksgiving Recess (November 26-27)
December Events: Board of Education Meeting (CHS, December 2nd), NYSSMA All-State Conference (Virtual, December 3rd-6th), SAT Exam (CHS, December 5th), Virtual PTSA (NHS, December 7th), ACT Exam (NHS, December 12th), NHS Winter Concert Part I (December 15th), NHS Winter Concert Part II (December 17th), Holiday Craft Fair (December 19th & December 20th), NHS Winter Concert Part III (December 22nd), Winter Recess (December 24th-January 1st)
January Events: PTSA (NHS, January 4th), LIFSA Secondary (January 8th-January 10th), Board of Education Meeting (CHS, December 13th), Thespian Improv Night (January 15th), MLK Day (No School, January 18th), PTA/PTSA Council (NHS, December 26th), Regents Exams (January 26th to January 29th - may be cancelled), End of Second Quarter (January 29th)
ASK DR. WOLVERINE If you have a question for Dr. Wolverine, please email to nhswolverine@gmail.com, you may choose to remain anonymous! How do I stay on-task during virtual learning days? It is recommended that you silence your phone and try to stay away from distractions. Wear a headset or headphones so you can block any external noise from your home. Keep your camera on so that your teacher can see you. Dress for success everyday and wake up fifteen minutes before the start of class so you can tidy yourself and be fresh for the day in front of you. Pay attention in class and start your homework as soon as possible when classes end. Try to limit your screen time by remaining focused. What should I do if I do not understand a topic in class? Email your instructor. They are there to help you. Ask them to clarify what confuses you. Some teachers will hold extra-help sessions on Wednesdays on your request. Success is possible if you keep trying. You can also bring the topic up during class and ask them to explain it again. What will AP Exams be like this year? Online or in-person? As of now, CollegeBoard expects APs to return to in-school testing. Last year, there were many issues with submitting assessments online and an outpour of outrage from students and parents over the at-home testing. We expect to have a vaccine distributed by the start of Spring, so we can be hopeful that AP Exams will be administered at school. Do masks work? Yes, they do work. Coupled with social distancing, masks are the best thing you can do to protect yourself from COVID-19 at this time. Surgical masks are especially effective since the holes between their fabrics are small enough to prevent pathogens from entering the mouth area or nose area. We have all seen videos of water being able to permeate the mask. This has nothing to do with its effectiveness. Masks are a simple barrier to prevent respiratory droplets. There should not be an argument on whether to wear them or not. Studies have proven that they massively reduce the spray of droplets when worn properly over both the nose and mouth.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Students that truly shine!
Newfield’s September Student of the Month: Peter Marjowski By: Mr. Graviano It is with pleasure that I introduce to you the student of the month for October, Mr. Peter Marjowski. Peter maintaining an unweighted GPA of 95.2083 and a weighted GPA of 98.875. By the end of his high school career, he will have taken 10 college and AP level classes giving him the potential to graduate with more th 30 college credits. In addition to his academics, Peter keeps himself busy as an active member of the foreig language club, debate club, acting as a teen book reviewer for the Middle Country Public Library, serving the president of the National Honor Society and vice president of the newspaper club. In addition, he is the senior class president. Peter is adored by his teachers. Mr. Latham said, “He’s one of my favorite students to walk in each of his da in the building. He’s excited to learn for the sake of knowledge. He has a natural insight into the world that infectious in the classroom.” Ms. McCallum expressed that, “Peter will be a professor’s delight in college. H confident in his abilities and he exemplifies a growth mindset. His determination is palpable and his willing to work hard in the process is admirable. He is wise beyond his years.” In speaking to Peter, he explained he’s been inspired by his cousin Annette, who happens to be a Newfield grad along with a lot more they have in common. She was a history major who graduated from Stony Broo and went on to medical school and is now a doctor. Peter’s plan post-graduation is also to attend SUNY Stony Brook next fall. Hofstra and Sacred Heart are considerable options as well. He plans on majoring in History with a minor in criminal justice. Following undergrad, Peter’s plan is law school and is looking to go the route of criminal law or civil litigation. I aske why, to which his reply was quite simple, “I like to argue.” Peter, in speaking to you the other day and given what your teachers have to say about you, it’s clear to bring a level of maturity and intellect that isn’t see most high school seniors. I look forward to hearing about the great things you’ll do through your life’s journey. Thank you for representing Newfield in t manner that you have!
Loss of a Legend: Eddie Van Halen By: Peter Marjowski On October 6th the world lost a legend when rock icon, Eddie Van Halen, lost his long battle with cancer. Arguably the best guitarist who ever walked the earth, Van Halen was a rock icon and a pop culture legend. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from-everyone from the tribes of Papua New Guinea to the Tibetian Highlands has heard the name Eddie Van Halen. Eddie Van Halen was one of the founding members of the band Van Halen. With such classic songs as “Jump,” “Ain't Talkin’ bout Love,” and “Panama” Van Halen went down in history as one of the most influential bands ever. A large part of their legacy was due to Eddie Van Halen’s innovation. Eddie is referred to as “the Bruce Lee of music.” This is because he practically invented a new style of playing guitar called two-hand-tapping which is best showcased in the solo “ Eruption.” Tapping is when you use both your right hand and left hand on the neck of the guitar to play. Eddie had influence when creating his own tapping identity. His main influence was Steve Hackett, the lead guitarist of Genesis. Eddie also credited Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin with his influence with tapping. During his life Van Halen and his brother, Alex, faced racism during their lives as their father was a Dutch and his mother was Indonesian. Van Halen did not succumb to racism as he learned to play piano at a young age and eventually mastered the guitar. He was in bands for most of his life. He started his first band called the Broken Combs in elementary school. He started the famous band Van Halen with his brother in 1972.
Van Halen was also the creator of the Frankenstrat. This is an iconic design on his guitar that became synonymous with him. This guitar was his attempt to combine the tremolo bar functionality and physical attributes of a Fender Stratocaster with the sound of a Gibson guitar. This guitar style and design is arguably the most famous in the world, as soon as you see a Frankenstrat you know it is Eddie's guitar or at least modeled after it. The band Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. The band has received a myriad of awards throughout the years. Some of these awards include winning the 1992 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance, the American Music Award for Favorite Hard Rock Album in 1992 and winning four MTV Video Music Awards, one in 1984 and three in 1992. They have also been nominated dozens of times for various Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and MTV VMAs. Eddie Van Halen will always be remembered as a legend and a rock icon. He was an inspiration to hundreds of millions of people around the world during his career. He was a truly gifted musician and the world will never see another Eddie Van Halen. He will never be forgotten and will live on in the hearts and minds of all who loved his music. The world of music really lost an amazing musician on October 6th. He is survived by his son, Wolfgang, who is the bass guitar player in the band.
A STUDENT’S VOICE From Newfield’s students
Hybrid Learning (From A Student’s Perspective) By: Sarah Parvez Perhaps because of my extroverted personality; hybrid was my only choice. Hybrid is a model of school that enforces both online and in-person learning. Two days a week I go to school and for the other three, I’m home. Since everything got cut short on March 13, 2020, students had been yearning for that sense of normality that associates itself with school- not online. Hybrid is a compromise to that desire. It caters to the students' wants of going to school, while also abiding by the recommended guidelines of this pandemic. My personal experience with the hybrid model is one of liberation. The feeling of finally having a larger sense of normality being fulfilled was foreign. Rightfully so; no matter how long I have been going to school, this year is like no other. Hybrid is far less stressful than being in the school for one-hundred eighty days out of the year, giving an opportunity to kids to do their best, without having it be mentally straining. I find that, even though I’m in harder classes in comparison to last year, this year seems easier because of the schooling model. I believe that with the hybrid model, students (myself included) will excel in their studies. Currently, my grades are quite satisfactory. I have the hybrid model to thank for that. When your intelligence has been suppressed for long enough, you crave a challenge. And that is what happened, I craved a challenge. Algebra is one of the easier maths, in my opinion. My experience with algebra in the past is confusing, as I am not the greatest at it but I enjoy it greatly. I had a test for algebra two a few days ago. This material was confusing. Inverse functions, cubed grouping, factoring and overall tough material. It had occurred to me that the test was due at 11:59 PM that day, not any earlier than that. I had an immense amount of time to prepare. So I did just that. I went downstairs to my kitchen table, propped my Chromebook up, grabbed snacks, my notebook, notes and a pencil. Oh, did I study. From 3 PM to 8 PM, I was staring at the screen just trying to absorb the information in front of me. Dozing in and out. I later understood the material very well, I could practically teach it at that point. Not well, but I could teach it. The time came, I had to take my test. I aced it. The extra time I had definitely increased my success. Before this pandemic hit, after school, I would go to Target with my father and we would get coffee from Starbucks. We would usually just walk around and chat. When I think about “normal” school days, these pop up in this head of mine- almost immediately. This was my normal. Of course, with the semi-recent
to current circumstances, my ability to do this again was restricted. This past Thursday, I went to Target after school. That feeling was almost .. euphoric. There it is; Starbucks. The sickening stench of roasted coffee beans- my favorite smell. Have I mentioned that caffeine does not have any affect on me? Then again, I’m sure the coffee I get isn’t exactly the most concentrated. Anywho, I got a Pumpkin Cream cold-brew with sugar-free vanilla. The first sip I took, I was overwhelmed with sweetness. I immediately realized it wasn’t mixed and I was drinking sweet pumpkin foam. I mixed the drink and took another sip- If I’m honest, I prefer the overwhelming sweetness. But, that’s the sweet-tooth talking. My father and I were walking around Target, looking for nothing specific; but just admiring the moment, as we had been craving it for seven to eight months. This is my normal, and I have school to thank for this tradition. Every year before the school year starts, I, like many of my peers, go back-to-school shopping. Back-to-school shopping (for me) includes, school supplies, clothes, snacks and (a newly introduced item) disinfecting wipes. I went to Old Navy to buy clothes a few days before school started with my father. As soon as I walked in I just stood in the doorway. It was my first time in over eight months being in Old Navy. Everything was the same, I noticed. “Oh, wow. This is...yeah”, I said to myself. It was like nothing had ever happened, but a global pandemic happened. I observed this couple and their child wearing face masks, I observed this elderly woman wearing her maskeveryone was wearing their masks. That made me happy but it also overwhelmed me. If the girl I was last year could see this. I eventually had to get out of the way, which did not take much convincing considering my glance towards the baggy jeans section. I saw this pair of light wash, baggy jeans.Very easy on my weak eyes. My first reaction was to check the price ta- ten dollars. Ten dollar, beautiful jeans. As I picked it up I was confused, and pleasantly surprised. My surprise arose from how nice the material was, for ten dollars too! The texture was soft, almost elastic material but it still remained rough enough to portray a denim feel. “What am I doing?”, I thought to myself. I was clothes shopping, something I never thought I would get to do again. “Finally, some sort of normal”, I thought to myself. This was prior to me being mildly disappointed about my coffee at Starbucks. Life is starting to get back into normality and the amount of joy and confusion it brings me is liberating.
ART & MUSIC DEPARTMENTS Insider reports & Adjusting to Coronavirus
The Fall Cabaret By: Samantha Gibbs Ms. Meicher and Mr. Austin are directing a Cabaret. A cabaret is a show of students' music and acting talents. Since they can not put on a show this fall, they are doing this instead. The theme is hope and empowerment. There will be thirty-five students participating. It will be presented virtually on a Youtube channel. There is not a specific date in place yet. Since they could not sell tickets last year for the musical, they will most likely be asking for donations. I am very excited to hear everyone and see what Ms. Meicher and Mr. Austin can do with the current circumstances. You can email me with any questions (sgibbs528@mccsd.net) or Mr. Austin (taustin@mccsd.net).
Inside Newfield’s Music Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic By: Veronica Hall When Newfield’s Coronavirus prevention regulations first came out, one of the most uncertain and confusing of these was arguably that of the Music Department. All we were told was that wind instruments and choir students would be twelve feet apart. So what exactly goes on in practice? What goes on now, and in years to come, when these classrooms aren’t full of students who are eager to make music? In these classes, the general routine seems to be as follows, with more specifics depending on which music course you look further into. These classes take place in rooms other than the music classrooms in order to accommodate social distancing rules. Virtual students log onto a meet for the first portion of the period to go over plans for the day and the online assignments, which largely seem to be recordings of virtual students performing. Then virtual students sign off and this begins a rehearsal for the in-person students with appropriate distancing measures. The bands, which are performing outdoors at the time of this being written, will begin indoor rehearsals with masks tailored to each instrument as of November first. On top of the less consistent rehearsals, music lessons are less frequent as well. All of this has an impact on the way the music itself is being taught. Students are no longer preparing for a concert in December, nor are they rehearsing five days a week, making the learning process slower and less consistent. This is obviously going to have some effects on the music department going forward, and while it’s impossible to gauge what those are when we are still in the middle of dealing with the pandemic itself, Newfield’s music teachers have some predictions. Without the concert season, they’d imagine it ends up harder for students to recognize their accomplishments and have them acknowledged.
Chorus teacher Ms. Meichner gives the dire prediction that enrollment into music programs could see a drop thanks to the difficult adjustment to a hybrid model. Mr. Martinez and Mr. Austin of the Orchestra and Band programs respectively imagine that it will be more of a challenge to get students back on track to perform at a typical level for a typical year. It’s easy to see how this impact could be much more long-lasting as younger students who are currently learning their instruments on a somewhat more basic level will come into Newfield’s music program in years to come with less of a grasp on these concepts at first, leaving them behind typical high school music standards as everything takes longer to learn. In the face of all of this, these music teachers have a surprisingly positive outlook for what their students can get out of music while everything around us has changed completely. They all give different versions of the same sentiment; the sentiment that as a team we can get through all of our darkest days, and that music is a vital way to come together to tackle those hardships, hopefully giving all of Newfield’s music students a renewed sense of appreciation for their art, and the school as a whole a greater appreciation for the art they consume day-to-day. Even if not everyone at school is taking a music course, the dedication these teachers have to the art they teach is something that we can all learn from, especially at a time when nothing is for certain. At the end of the day, this outlook means there’s a spark of hope that music programs will live on with only a speed bump in the road as students are inspired by the hope that music brings them.
Congrats to NYSSMA All-State Musicians - Maggie Lashier (Soprano Sax & Alternate Alto Sax) and Isabel Rodriguez (Flute) and their music teachers. Congrats to Logan Mazer - Newfield Senior Logan Mazer was chosen to perform on the Contrabass Clarinet in this year’s Virtual NAfME (National Association for Music Education) All-National Music Festival!
Pictured Above: Coronavirus has reduced the Music Department’s income with cancellation of its musicale. Please donate as you can to continue supporting our outstanding music department.
Pictured: Chamber Orchestra returns to practice safely with social distancing and masks (Photo Credit: MCCSD Facebook Page)
SPORTS SCHOOL & Professional leagues
Keeping Up To Date With Professional Sports Coverage By: Anthony Otis
Lakers Tie Celtics for Most NBA Championships On Sunday October 11th, the Los Angeles Lakers were tied with the Boston Celtics for most NBA championships with 17 as the Lakers have defeated the Miami Heat, who went to their first NBA finals since 2014. The Lakers lost Game Three with the score 115-104 and Game Five with the score 111-108 and won Game One with the score 116-98, Game Two with the score 124-114, Game Four with the score 102-96 and Game Six with the score 106-93. Lakers forward LeBron James scored an average score of 29.8 pts to win the 2020 finals MVP. As they went 4-5 in the round robin, the Lakers not only won top seed in the Western conference, they also won their first NBA championship since 2010.
NFL Announces Schedule Changes On Sunday, October 11th, the NFL made multiple schedule changes due to COVID-19 positive tests on different teams like the Titans, Patriots and the Chiefs. The games that had to be affected are -- the Steelers-Titans has been moved from Week Four to Week Seven; Broncos-Patriots game from Week Five has moved to Week Six; Chiefs-Bills game has been moved from Thursday, October 15th to Monday October 19th at 5 pm. NY Jets-Chargers game has been moved from Week Six to Week Eleven, NY Jets-Dolphins has been moved from Week Ten to Week Six, Jaguars-Chargers has been moved from Week Eight to Week Seven, Chargers-Broncos has been moved from Weke Eleven to Week 8, Chargers-Dolphins has been moved from Week Seven to Week Ten, and Steelers-Ravens has been moved from Week Seven to Week Eight.
Can Tua Tagovailoa Push Dolphins Into Playoffs? With three starts into his first NFL season, Tua Tagovailoa has a 3-0 record in his first NFL games against the Jets, Rams, and Cardinals in addition to the Dolphins’ four game win streak after starting 1-3. Tagovailoa has a combined 65.4% average completion with 350 yards, 3 TD’s and no interceptions yet in his first three games. Left only to contend with the Bills, Steelers, Ravens, Chiefs, Raiders and Titans, the Dolphins can earn the sixth or seventh seed in the playoffs if Tagovailoa can keep playing the way he has been in his three games. As the Dolphins look ahead in their schedule, five of their eight remaining games are teams with losing records. If Tagovailoa plays the way he has been, the Dolphins can certainly earn a playoff spot.
Will Steelers Have Their First Undefeated Season Ever? Already with their first ever 8-0 start, the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for the first postseason spot and looking for their first division win since 2016. As the Steelers look ahead in their schedule, most of the remaining games are teams with losing records. According to ESPN, they say that the Steelers will have a 71.7% chance to win the division and 99.7% chance of making the playoffs. They also said that the Steelers have a 66.08% chance of having a 16-0 season.
Multiple teams had to change their bye weeks like the NY Jets has been moved from Week Eleven to Week Ten, Broncos bye has been moved from Week Eight to Week Five, Patriots bye has been moved from Week Six to Week Five, Chargers bye has been moved from Week Ten to Week Six, Jaguars bye has been moved from Week Seven to Week Eight, Dolphins bye has been moved from Week Eleven to Week Seven, Ravens bye has moved from Week Eight to Week Seven, Titans bye has moved from Week Seven to Week Four, and Steelers bye has moved from Week Four to Week Four.
Jets Eyeing Trevor Lawrence for First Pick As the only winless teams in the NFL, the New York Jets are looking to get the first overall pick in the 2021 draft -- looking to use that pick to get Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. Meanwhile, Jets current quarterback Sam Darnold, who missed the past 2 games due to a shoulder injury, says that he is only concerned about the Jets' first win this season and he is hoping that happens when the Jets face the Bills on Sunday, October 25th at Metlife Stadium. Sam Darnold has also said that he does not want the Jets to get Trevor Lawrence in the draft because he is afraid of getting replaced by him.
Dodgers Win First World Series Since 1988 On Tuesday, October 27th, 2020, the Los Angeles defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series since 1988. The Los Angeles Dodgers lost Game Two with the score 6-4 and Game Four with the score 8-7. They won Game One with the score 8-3, Game Three with the score 6-2, Game Five with the score 4-2, and Game Six with the score 3-1. Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager combined eight for twenty with 2 HR’s and 5 RBI’s to win the 2020 World Series MVP. Dodgers pitcher Walker Buelher had a Game Three start with six innings pitched and ten strikeouts. The Los Angeles Dodgers will start the 2021 season as defending champions.
Lightning Win First Stanley Cup Since 2004 On Monday September 28th, the Tampa Bay Lightning won their first Stanley Cup since 2004 by defeating the Dallas Stars. The Lightning lost Game One with the score 4-1 and Game Five with the score 3-2. They won Game Two with the score 3-2, Game Three with the score 5-2, Game Four with the score 5-4 and Game Six with the score 2-0. Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has won the 2020 Stanley Cup MVP with twelve goals in the postseason, round robin included. The Lightning will start the 2020-2021 season as defending champions.
NHL to Release 32nd Team to League Starting next NHL season, the National Hockey League will release its 32nd team into the league. This team will be named the Seattle Kraken. The Seattle Kraken will be going to the Pacific Division with the Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, and Calgary Flames. With Kraken joining the Pacific division, the Arizona Coyotes will move to the Central division in order to balance the two western conference divisions. If the Coyotes didn't move, then the Pacific division would have nine teams and the Central would have seven. The Seattle Kraken could be the expansion team to win the Stanley Cup in their first year in the NHL if their expansion draft goes well.
Hail Murray in Glendale On Sunday November 15th, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray passed a forty-three yard game-winning touchdown with two seconds left to former Texan DeAndre Hopkins - giving the Cardinals a 32-30 win over the Buffalo Bills. In the third quarter, the Cardinals were trailing the Bills 23-9. The Bills then gave up two touchdowns and two field goals including the game winning forty-three yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins who had four Bills defensive players on him. In addition to the game winning touchdown, DeAndre Hopkins had seven receptions with one hundred and twenty-seven yards and one receiving touchdown. After giving up a Stefon Diggs twenty-one yard touchdown with thirty-four seconds left, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray waited five seconds to throw the game winning pass with three Bills defensive players on him and was about to get sacked. With a three-way-tie in the NFC west, the Cardinals have a chance to earn their first division title since 2015 as they face the Seattle Seahawks on November 19th.
Four Quarterbacks in First Round of NFL Mock Draft With the first mock draft set from Josh Edwards from CBS sports, he is saying that a total of four quarterbacks are going to be drafted in the first round including Clemson superstar quarterback Trevor Lawrence. With the Jets, Jaguars and Dolphins with two first round picks, they can make a big difference for their teams if these picks can be correct for the 2021 NFL draft. ● New York Jets- Trevor Lawrence QB ● Jacksonville Jaguars- Justin Fields QB ● Cincinnati Bengals- Penei Sewell OL ● New York Giants- Kwity Payne DL ● Washington Football Team- Zach Wilson QB ● Los Angeles Chargers- Ja’Marr Chase WR ● Miami Dolphins(via Houston Texans)- Micah Parsons LB ● Denver Broncos- Patrick Surtain II CB ● Dallas Cowboys- Kyle Pitts TE ● Carolina Panthers- Wyatt Davis OL ● Detroit Lions- Dylan Moses LB ● Atlanta Falcons- Gregory Rousseau EDGE ● New England Patriots- Trey Lance QB ● Minnesota Vikings- Trey Smith OL ● San Francisco 49ers- Caleb Farley CB ● Miami Dolphins- Christian Barmore DL ● Cleveland Browns- Jayson Oweh EDGE ● Chicago Bears- Joseph Ossai LB ● Las Vegas Raiders- Marvin Wilson DL ● Philadelphia Eagles- Jaylen Waddle WR ● Indianapolis Colts- Hamilcar Rashed Jr. EDGE ● Arizona Cardinals- Derion Kenderick CB ● Tennessee Titans- Quincy Roche EDGE ● Jacksonville Jaguars(via Los Angeles Rams) Tylan Wallace WR ● Buffalo Bills- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LB ● New York Jets(via Seattle Seahawks) Devonta Smith WR ● Green Bay Packers- Chazz Surratt LB ● Baltimore Ravens- Rashawn Slater OL ● Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Christian Darrisaw OL ● Pittsburgh Steelers- Pat Freiermuth TE ● New Orleans Saints- Jaycee Horn LB ● Kansas City Chiefs- Creed Humphrey OL
ART CORNER FROm The Desks Of Our Talent Artists
Artwork Bring Us Hope Left: “Rainbow” by Leah Landron Right: Mountains and Sunset by Erin M. Looney
“The New Normal” By: Leah Landron
Introducing Our New Comic Strip Artist: Alex Marshall Here is his first piece below!
LITERATURE & CREATIVE WRITING Short Stories, Poems, & More
“Cracked” Poem By: Leah Landron I don’t know how I got here, But I’m stuck staring at a broken mirror. The reflection is false, and I know that’s the truth, But I keep inventing new ways to ignore the proof. I try to look at myself, but the cracks are in the way, So I believe all the lies that the voices say. Trying to fix the mirror still hasn’t helped, So instead I put it back on the shelf. But I've seen it, And I hear it like they're spilling secrets. By seeming true they echo in my head, I start obsessing about what they've said. I tell myself that they're not real, But now the hurt is all that I feel. I can't do anything, but I can't give in, Because I don't think I'll ever be forgiven. I have to live my life the same, With these feelings I can’t bear to name.
All students are required to submit health verification tickets before entering the school building. Photo Credit: Geffrey Alpers via Muhammad Chaudhary
“Work first,” has been ingrained in my brain, But ignoring the pain doesn’t make it wane, Because I notice it over and over Like a merry-go-round, never getting closer. And each time the fear builds more and more Until I’m curled up in a ball on the floor.
One-way signs are posted throughout the school to prevent face-to-face traffic in the hallways. Students are only permitted to walk on one side of the hallway while maintaining social distancing. Photo Credit: Geffrey Alpers via Muhammad Chaudhary
Thank The Elder Lady It was a brisk Wednesday morning when Aaron took his daily stroll along the hillside. The grass was painted a shade of chartreuse and the oaks trees looked elegantly frail in the distance. The sky appeared dusted as clouds billowed, covering the gleaming sun. Aaron himself dressed in a beige trench coat and trousers made of stiff corduroy. His head was still embedded with hair although now it was salt and peppered. A tartan scarf covered half his face from the strong breeze pushing against him so strong it made his sapphire eyes tear up. At this time, Helena would walk along by his side however, the argument from earlier made her second guess her daily ritual. Alone, he walked against the wind and the bleak day. Of course, days in West Burton were not always like this. In all of the 42 years Aaron Hallaway lived here he could only recall eight weather inconveniences that prevented him from leaving his spacious cottage. In all of Yorkshire, deciding to live here was a clever decision after all. As the gale intensified, so did Aaron’s steps upon the hill. He could feel his joints stiffen with each step. Age consumed him as a lion would its prey however and yet, Aaron remained handsome for sixty-seven years. His face was imprinted with wrinkles and his hands were permanently red from hard labor and planting endless crops for the farm. Aaron never complained about his farm and how demanding the task was. After all, he thought, “It’s for the greater good. If nobody will do it, then I will gladly do so.” He began his journey back to his cottage when his eyes fell upon a crow resting on a branch of a birch tree. Its feathers were black and glossy like obsidian and its beak was a dull knife. The crow cocked his head up towards the sky then looked at Aaron. He too looked into the crow’s eyes as if it was turning him to stone. Then in a split second, the crow flew away. Aaron shook his head and moved onward. He wanted to arrive back just in time so that he could apologize to Helena about the breakfast incident. Then without warning, he drew in a sharp breath. His reddened palm clutched his heart and he fell onto the field. “A-ACK-ACK”, he exclaimed, trying to shout. “Hele-Helena, p-please … H-help.” Aaron’s body shook and his eyes grew larger and more frightened. He knew this was the end of him and understood that there would be no more walks on the hillside, farming or being with Helena. Suddenly, his body stopped shaking and he was perfectly still. The pain of his chest terminated and peace began. The sun finally appeared through the dense clouds. “AHH,” Aaron yelled as he woke up from his dream, but something felt strange and uneasy. He shifted to sit up and he saw himself in an open field. Nothing but fresh grass and flowers of all shapes, styles and stains ahead of him. There were no mountains, no rivers and most certainly no hillsides in the distance. “Am I lost? Where the heck am I?” “Aaron…”. A voice called from behind him. He turned around and in front of him stood an elderly lady, much older than he was. Her hair was white snow and her eyes were tawny and piercing. She was dressed in a white cloak and in her wrinkled hand was a cane made of oak. “Aaron Walter Hallaway…” she spoke in a soft voice. “Son of Adam and Ophelia.” He thought he was in a trance or if he was in a coma. This seemed unreal in his mind. “Gr-grandma?” He mumbled. “Child, why would you assume that?” “Hey, I’m a grown man-” “Silence Aaron. Allow me to speak.” “Before you say another word I need you to tell me...what the bloody he-” “SILENCE. SUCH WORDS SHALL NOT BE SPOKEN IN MY PRESENCE!.” She screamed. Instantly Aaron stopped with his attitude and realized. He made it to paradise. “I’m in Heaven, aren't I?” “If that’s what you believe, of course. I'm here to offer you a request. Or in this case, a present.” “What type of request or present?” “Since you have passed, I'm here to offer you the chance to relive one day of your life back on Earth. However, if you accept my offer, I get to decide which day you relive. There is no guarantee that the day you return will be what you hoped for. But from what I see, you wanted to speak to a very special someone. Of course, I can make that happen. After all, this is what you call Heaven, isn't it Aaron?” Aaron thought this was too suspicious. Here he was in Heaven being granted the gift of a lifetime, or rather the afterlife. He closed his eyes and saw Helena walking towards him. His Helena, the love of his life. He knew he shouldn’t take such a vast risk from a stranger. His mind said “No.”
A Short Story By: Mena Rabie
His heart burst; “Yes, I accept.” Not knowing the consequences of his decision. “Very well Aaron. Before I offer this notable opportunity, there are a set of rules you must abide by. First, you only have one day on Earth until sundown, no more, no less. Second, you must not tell anyone you have been resurrected. Lastly, after the day is complete you will return to your mortal state, so I intend you make the most wonderful of memories.” “I will. When do I get to go back?” “Now. Close your eyes and hold my hand.” He obeyed her command and shut his eyes once more. The thought of the cottage, the farm, West Burton and Helena filled his head. His veins pulsated and adrenaline rushed through his body. He was ready to return and reached out for the Elder Lady’s hand. Aaron waited until a flash appeared. He woke up and breathed in deeply, catching the scent of fresh lavender and cinnamon. The sound of big band jazz played from a record player in the other room. Aaron looked down and noticed he was in his bed, then he took a glance at his hands. They were plump and veinless, his eyes trailed up his arms and didn’t see any sunspots or dark marks. He has his muscles back, just as they were when he was young. “Young...no, it couldn’t be.” Aaron rolled over to his right side and felt the warmth from the bed. Not realizing it, he ran to the mirror and saw himself. Indeed, Aaron was young and muscular again, possibly the same build when he was twenty-five. His hair was the color of the night sky and his eyes appeared more misty blue than he remembered. Not a wrinkle in sight nor signs of aging. All of a sudden the door shattered open. Standing in the door frame was a stunning young lady Her honey blonde hair was long and curled into two victory rolls. She had eyes of the sweetest chocolate and lips painted a fiery red. She wore a yellow dress with lace trimming at the bottom, Aaron’s favorite. “Well Mr. Hallaway, you do know I don’t have all day. Don’t you?” Helena blurted with a snappy attitude. How could he forget about that stubborn personality he loves so dearly. “Helena … I-” “Are we going for a walk today or not?” Her American accent became more prominent. He stood up and walked over to hug her tightly. He held her as if it was an eternity. “Is something wrong with you Aaron? Do you wanna rest a bit more or-” “N-no. I’m just so glad to see you. You know how much I love you.” He meant that more than anything. Helena was his life of course. He wished he could thank the Elder Lady now. “Yeah, yeah I love you too.” She giggled. “Come on, let's go.” The both of them walked along the hillside and discussed all types of things from when they were children and even if they would have children, which Aaron knew the answer too. “Oh, I just hope we have a little girl someday. The dresses I’ll make for her and how she’ll have your eyes.” “Well...I don’t know…” Suddenly becoming dejected, not wanting to tell Helena of her future. “What about pets? Like a cocker spaniel or even a terrier?” “What’s with the sudden change in mood. Do you not want children? I thought we were on the same page, Aaron?’ “I am Helena, I just want you to understand that life isn’t one tremendous checklist. You must live life as it goes, like when the sea makes waves. That’s what makes it worthwhile. Of course, they’re going to be hardships we’ll have to face together. But we must do so together. You have to promise me you’ll do that.” Aaron pleaded. They looked at each other and for a while, there was a long pause. The warm breeze brought the sweet smells of spring. Aaron glimpsed over her shoulder and saw the sun beginning to set. It was almost time to leave. “Promise me, Helena.” He urged. “I promise.” He knew there wasn’t any time left as the sun almost collapsed on the horizon. He sealed a kiss with Helena. That was the last he remembered before he returned to that empty field with the Elder Lady. Nine Years Later … Helena walked along the hillside of West Burton in solitude. Aaron’s memory remains precious in her mind. The life she lived would have never been possible without him. She inhaled the scent of autumn as the leaves of oak danced until they fell on the ground. The sky was cerulean but the sun was nowhere to be found. Over her curled blonde-silvery hair flew a butterfly. Its wings were colored white and crimson. Helena opened her pink palm and the butterfly rested in it. She admired its strength and beauty and it fluttered away rapidly towards Heaven. The sun finally crept out to say hello and so did her soul.
A Monologue of Deep Despair By: Sadaf Mansib There have been times in my life when I truly looked at a mirror to see and understand what I have become. The self I have in my mind and the self I see acted out in every occasion - from family quality time, to the persona taken for school work-related essays, to online chat sessions - truly fascinates me. I can, and may be doing so right now, talk about what I feel and see all day long ... but that wouldn’t make much of a story, for every one of us has opinions within us that they wish didn’t exist, or wished were some other way expressed or handled. That being said, what I am writing about now, late at night, and almost right before the due date for this article to be submitted, is a memoir of a certain occasion when I was in third grade, halfway across the world, in the older side of the capital of Bangladesh called “Old” Dhaka. Straight up, I was a very passionate kid about the matters of heart. It didn't matter to me as long as everyone was happy within my proximity. It was seldom my own selfish way of keeping things “mellow”, but perhaps sometimes I truly wanted happiness for others. In a mix of all that I became a young and hopeless romantic. At third-grade age, there are other things that preoccupy my mind such as collecting stickers, shouting at others at the sorry excuse of playing sports, hunting down new toys to ask my parents to buy, and such. But in the midst of all that, I tried to find another source of happiness and it very nearly, to be honest actually did, destroy the rest of my remainder of sources of happiness. There was a girl next door (the name shall not matter but I’ll refer to her as “E” if needed). Obviously, this isn’t a story where someone dies or gets mixed up in the wrong crowd. No, it was simply me doing something very rude to my whole state of being at the time. The story unfolds when I tried to - don’t recall passionately or not confess my feelings for her. It wasn’t as much so of the romance I would consider I understand now; it was more so of an admiration of her (she carried herself around quite well -if what my memory tells me is correct). Even so, the crowded town with its cramped up apartments had made the words “love”, “feelings”, “like” very much the same in all age groups. So the clash occurred. Her older brother, seemingly my worst enemy due to the “harmless” bullying he does, naturally confronted me (publicly, too, in front of the “gang” at the expense of his sister’s privacy, as well as mine too but I wasn’t in any position to be picky about the other minuscule injustices done to me besides the major one confronting me at the moment). I was hesitant about saying what I had said before, but I said it again in front of others this time. No, that’s a lie. I was, and perhaps still am, very heavily reliant on “beating around the bush”. In doing so, I quickly understood that a beating was due upon me if I didn’t retract my words or somehow get out of this jam by manipulating how it can be said, or influenced. I put the blame on my closest friend at the time, a very religious and modest, but immensely hot-tempered boy of my age. I said that it was he who had shown interest in her, not me. I simply “tested the ground”, like a trial of sorts because I had no stake if she indeed were not “available”.
Now, quick note here. The girl, her brother, and almost two-thirds of the “gang” who just randomly show up as they please at any given day to play some smaller than life minigames - are related by blood. If I know it correctly, I’d say there were five prominent businessmen in our area, all of them situated in the very same neighbourhood as mine and thus their offsprings and other relatives were near proximity as well. So some of the issues of one of them can quickly escalate to something else and get the whole lot of them riled up, if not handled properlysomething some of us outside that “royal” circle were careful to practise at. So he, my friend, got targeted by the majority of the riled-up do-gooder family of hers. Even to this day, I feel like even if it weren’t something as minor as that, they would’ve been prepared to do way worse than what was done. In our age and in that setting, most blood-thirsty fights occasionally ended when one’s shirt was getting too torn up to be noticeable by parents, or if any elder people came too close to the “fight corner”. The relevancy was this: physical harm or “duking it out” was much easier done than mental torment and psychological warfare. This time it was different. The disrespect was already heavy on my friend’s shoulders and the looming body of big brother (who we optly called that just because he was the eldest among us) posed lesser threat than it would usually do. My friend, and if I was at his place too, might have wished to regain his honor or maybe at least his privilege to be able to say what he wanted to say (I assumed he would just be retelling his defense and getting me in trouble rightfully for my mistake) by standing his ground long enough, to show his willpower, to show that his strength from being on the “right side” exceeds all. In that regard, we all were emotionally driven more so than we are now perhaps. It felt logical to be able to make a statement by endurance over reasoning. But big brother (I really don’t recall if we actually called him that or not to be honest) wanted to regain his authority of dictating our internal relations that didn’t include him. It was a bold ask, and maybe the benefits of that in resolving other issues did make it justified. So in the end, my friend was just slapped once. That’s it. Nothing more, or nothing less. Of course that disregarded his stance on the matter, and also dismissed his moral grounds on it. But what was more important is that it created a chain reaction of other smaller events that eventually just led to the “good” ending of this small trivial story of mine: me, the villain, being eradicated, or maybe just self-disposed of… I would continue but this monologue is already two pages long (presumably which is more than enough to justify as a “decent” piece in a school newspaper), and it's late, and I like the idea of having a part two to this, and also am certain no one would care anyways about what happened or what did not but that is all for this time either way. Maybe this will go live, and I will do part two on another quiet, cold, calm night; maybe it would not and I would understand that my trivial storytelling is not worth much after all. Until the answer arrives to that, good luck, have fun, and keep smiling! Oh yeah, one other thing: I have several stories like these which are not fascinating at all, and if you feel the same, do try to come up with your own, in a memoir or fantastical fashion. Then I wouldn’t have to drag this out I guess.
Images from the Front Lawn at Newfield show messages encouraging students to keep safe by wearing a mask and social distance. Photo Credit: Angelina Johnson via Muhammad Chaudhary.
LIFESTYLE & FASHION Life hacks, Trends, and more
Lifehacks: Fall Edition By: Peter Marjowski Have you ever wondered how to make your autumn simpler? Have you ever wanted to have hacks which will make your autumn easier? Well, look no further. Life hacks are commonly defined as “a strategy or technique adopted in order to manage one's time and daily activities in a more efficient way.” Here are some of the most useful life hacks you can find for fall. 1)
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If you want to preserve your pumpkin, just spray it with a bleach solution. You need to mix one part bleach to ten parts water. When you spray this on your pumpkin this will prevent the bacteria from ruining them. Do you want your Jack o’ Lantern or carved pumpkin to last? Simple, just apply petroleum jelly to the exposed cuts on the pumpkin. They will make it last longer. Potatoes are very popular during the fall season. Everyone loves mashed potatoes on a brisk fall day. But if you find yourself like the majority of people, you will wash your potatoes in the sink. If you are cooking a lot of potatoes that may be a long chore. But as long as you don’t use soap. You can put your potatoes in the dishwasher and run the rinse cycle to wash them. This is especially handy for those who cook a lot of potatoes. Do you love having pinecones in your house? We all do! But what you may not know is that they are packed full of insects because insects love them. But do not fear. There is a simple hack to debug your pinecones. Just bake them for 20-30 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Do you want your house to smell like a fall festival? Take a handful of cinnamon sticks, an orange rind, 2 tablespoons of whole cloves, and 3-5 bay leaves. Put this all in a pot with water and let it simmer. Do you want to clean your pumpkin super fast? Attach a whisk to a power drill and you can clean out your pumpkin faster than ever. Do you want to add some fall decor to your house without breaking the bank? Add unpopped popcorn in jars that you put your candy in. This will add some subtle fall decor without costing a lot of money. We all know that fall and colder weather means getting chapped lips. If you want to not have chapped lips, just apply an oil such as almond oil or olive oil to your lips before bed. Autumn is the beginning of sweater weather. Bobbles on sweaters can make them seem old and worn. If you want to get rid of these bobbles just take an old razor and drag it along your sweater.
Quarantine Trends By: Emily Ramirez Throughout quarantine, there have been countless quarantine trends that many people have participated in. Numerous apps grew in popularity - Animal crossing, Facetime, Zoom, Tik Tok, and Netflix are only a few examples. A large number of Netflix series were streamed throughout quarantine such as ¨Tiger King¨,¨ Ozark¨,¨ Money Heist¨,¨ All American¨, and ¨Outer Banks¨. ¨Outer Banks¨ inspired many to braid and bead their hair. Hairstyles like dying the two front strands of hair in exotic colors were also popular for a time. Countless people enjoyed wearing tie-dye, vibrant colors, half bleached jeans, and oversized t-shirts. Many Instagram trends flourished like the ¨until tomorrow¨ trend, the push-up challenge, baking bread, Dalgona coffee (also known as whipped coffee), and Instagram lives were on an uprising. There were numerous trends on Tik Tok such as the ¨Wipe it Down¨ challenge, the ¨Savage Love¨ challenge, ¨Out West¨ challenge, and ¨Go Crazy¨ challenge. People sought to get in shape while doing home workouts by popular YouTube creators like Pamela Reif, Chloe Ting, and Sydney Cummings. Artists enjoyed participating in the art museum challenge. This challenge is when artists recreate famous artworks in real life. For fun, roller skating and skateboarding made a comeback. In the end, countless things have grown in popularity throughout quarantine and many more things continue to grow in popularity.
Quote of the Quarter What change will you make in the world?
Attention! Newspaper Club is seeking to raise money to fuel a school-wide Broadcasting initiative, complete with TVs broadcasting Newfield’s news. If you are interested in being an on-scene reporter at school events and games or interested in being a newscaster, join us today to find out more!
Coping With Corona: Thank You Teachers By: Emma Raver What is a teacher’s job? To just teach us word-for-word from the textbook? No, teachers’ jobs are to teach us the things we do not know. Not only do they teach us to remember what they teach, but also to understand it and then apply it to our own lives. The appreciation of our own teachers is very important, especially today since they still show up to help us succeed in times of crisis. Whatever you see in your life had the help of a teacher. Yes! Going to school for nine hours and listening to teachers is extremely important. Without teachers, the people saving the day right now - doctors, nurses, and all other essential workers - would not be. Because they were taught by teachers too. Every subject we are taught in school is beneficial in life. Without our science teachers, we would not have people working day and night to try and find a cure and find a new way to keep people safe. Without art teachers, people wouldn’t have had a safe place to be creative. People all over the world are drawing rainbows and amazing signs to help encourage the workforce.
Without our designing teachers, people would not have had the knowledge and skills to build and design houses. Without designing teachers people would not have built amazing hospitals, that now hold people in places to keep them safe. Without are foreign language teachers, people would not have grown up with the skill to communicate and when the country finds a cure those people will help communicate with people all over the world. Without our English teachers we would not be able to have the skill to analyze what’s going on around us and be able to communicate with each other. Today, during this crisis, people are talking more to each other. All of our teachers just want us to do good, to succeed, and to help others. Our teachers choose to show up and educate us, educating us during a pandemic. I believe that they should be applauded more, especially now. Thanks to people like them, there are more people finding cures, coming up with solutions, and communicating. So thank you teachers for not giving up and helping us to shape our future.
TECHNOLOGY & WEIRD SCIENCE APPLYING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS (STEM)
How the Halo Effect Impacts Us By: Zarif Rezwan Does it seem probable when a seemingly nice person is also called smart? But those are two different traits. Two people walk into an interview: One wearing a cheetos-dust covered hoodie, another wearing a suit. Which person is more likely to be picked? Fashion sense does not measure skill, yet in this scenario it significantly influences our judgement. The theme here is the halo effect. It is part of what is called intuition. The halo effect is one of the ones that we are not even aware of. Being able to judge quickly was an essential tool for our ancestors with vicious animals around every corner. Now that we are in the 21st century, how else does it impact us? The halo effect is identified when the impression of something in one area significantly influences the opinions of other areas. In other words, the halo effect allows us to judge a book’s content by its cover. Obviously, as more information is received, the prediction can be proved wrong. But the problem lies in the fact that some impressions can last forever. The moment an object or person appears before one’s eyes, the mind fills in all the gaps with the small amount of information initially received. So that first impression really does count a whole lot. There are no second chances. That said, how can one take advantage of the halo effect? In general terms, intelligence, politeness, attractiveness, respectfulness, etc. each impacts the other. It is common doctrine that what is inside one’s heart counts the most. For this article’s purposes, that is true in the sense that an extremely skilled person will be considered nice too. It goes in the other direction too, an appealing instructor is more likely to be recognized as a voice of authority. Seeming well put may significantly affect how skilled one is perceived to be.
To reiterate, the first impression really counts for a lot. This shows that one might benefit greatly from cranking up the politeness and energetic meter when presenting oneself to someone(s) for the first time. Not only in the common sense that those are desirable traits in a teammate, but also the fact that they can be conveyed at first glance and will make proving skill a whole lot easier. It is also worthy to note that dressing for success is not old-fashioned, obsolete practice after all. One impact of the halo effect concerns something every student is deeply affected by: grading. Most major standardized tests require students to be anonymous to graders. This is done to avoid the chance of grader-student transactions and partiality. It can be argued that the same principle should be applied to every test. Test questions that are free response, essays, short-answer etc. are largely graded to the individual grader’s satisfaction. That grader, the teacher, can have a better impression of one student’s skill than another. This can impact the score the student receives. One may argue that teachers are experienced professionals who are objective in their grading. But the topic of this piece would suggest that there is impact; anywhere from low to high, but some impact for sure. Furthermore, the halo effect may also impact each student’s scores on different questions. Let’s paint a scenario with Question 1 and Question 2. Answer 1 deserves a high/full score and Answer 2 deserves a low score. But the case is being made that the score for Answer 1 may subconsciously skew the grader’s judgement and make Answer 2 a medium. How much the score may be skewed is hard to determine, but there is impact. A solution would be to grade Question 1 for every student and then to grade Question 2 for every student. As mentioned above, the students are also anonymous for best results. A strenuous task for sure, but one necessary to ensure a completely merit-based system. In conclusion, the halo effect puts assumptions in our individual minds based on small bits of information even when we are not aware of them. The assumptions should be kept from affecting our judgements in an incorrect way. Ideally, one presents information that makes the assumptions in their best interest. The purpose of this article is not to shun the halo effect, as it just may save our lives in some undesired situation. The goal is to accept and take into consideration every factor at play.
Fastlane An Update On the World’s Performance Cars By: Aamir Sheikh Ford: Rising to fame is Ford’s latest breakthrough in the development of electric vehicles (EVs, for short): the “Mustang” Mach E SUV. Unlike the traditional gas-burning, staple muscle cars of America, this “Mustang” will rely solely on batteries to power seven motors that, with a base rating of 459 horsepower, will reach a reported top speed of 124 mph. Ford CEO Jim Farley claims the Mach E is the first “true” competitor to the ever so popular Tesla EV market, with the electric mustang being reported to have simpler and more convenient controls than Teslas. EV technologies are evolving every day and are revolutionizing the automobile industry, and while some refuse to accept the Mach E with the historical Mustang name, the Mach E is a considerable advancement for all electric vehicles around the world. In related news about Ford, the legendary GT350 Shelby Mustang, a renowned track beast, will no longer be in production starting this fall. The reason for this is much more uplifting, however: Ford will be reviving the Mach 1 name, a series that ended in 2004 but will be in production once again in the year 2021. The Mach 1, which is planned to be a limited production car, will feature aggressive track-styled aerodynamics, a 480 horsepower V8 engine, and two transmissions (six-speed manual in their performance package or a 10-speed automatic bundled with increased handling for maximum efficiency on the track). The devotion to track racing in the Mach 1 will continue the GT350’s legacy as Ford continues to make advancements in their performance lineups.
Subaru : Debuting on November 18th is the 2022 Subaru BRZ, a staple car of the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM, for short). The BRZ is part of a trio of what is essentially the same car branded under three different names under three different companies: the Scion FR-S and the Toyota 86 being the remaining two. With the end of Scion as a company, Toyota rebranded the car as the 86, however its production will be ceasing this fall, meaning the BRZ will be leading the platform in its second generation of development. Traditionally, this sports car is powered by a 205 horsepower, 4-cylinder Subaru FA boxer engine (meaning the pistons are arranged horizontally rather than upright/ in-line or in a “V” shape). The BRZ is noted for being a “go-to” sports car, having a virtually perfect balance between the pleasure from driving it, its reliability, and the great pricing on the car. It appears as if Subaru will be continuing the BRZ’s reputation throughout the years to come as the car adapts to changing competition and evolving technologies. Additionally in 2022 (potentially 2023), we will see the release of Subaru’s legendary performance and rally car, the WRX STI. The STI has held a reputation since its first year of production, which would be 1994, as a rally star. The car has appealed to mostly younger buyers as a higher performance sports car while still maintaining a fair level of pricing. The new STI will be running on its traditional EJ engine, which previously boasted 310 horsepower but is suspected to be making over 400 horsepower by the time of the car’s release. Fans hold high standards for this upcoming WRX, as the 2019 WRX STI was the pinnacle of Subaru’s performance line. The release of the BRZ and WRX STI are highly anticipated, with suspense building with every minute towards their official reveals.
Coronavirus Vaccine By: Julia Syska Let’s start with a definition of a vaccine. To put it simply, they are weakened or dead virus cells. They teach our immune system to recognize and fight given pathogens, viruses, etc. It takes a long time to prepare a vaccine - more than ten years in some cases. Scientists need to make a lot of studies and tests to make sure that vaccines are safe and have little to none side effects. If they don’t do it correctly, it may be dangerous for human health. The coronavirus vaccine is especially controversial because it is supposed to be made in less or around the year. Certain people in the government still try to make it available this year, even claiming it would be ready before the election day. Scientists say it is not possible and not safe to release it this year, because they need more time to ensure it’s safety and efficiency. These arguments make people unsure if they should even take the vaccine as soon as it comes out. In the polls by CNN conducted in May 2020, 66% people said they would get vaccinated at a low cost, but in October 2020 only 51% people said they would get vaccinated at a low cost. People want to make sure that the vaccine is safe to take. Unfortunately politics collided with science in the process of developing a vaccine as important as a vaccine against Covid-19.
Pfizer and Moderna have announced potentially successful vaccines. Pfizer’s vaccines may be more difficult for states to obtain and store since it requires an extremely low temperature for storage. Pfizer’s vaccine has a 95% efficiency rate which is hopeful, yet a sobering reminder that masks and social distancing will have to continue through 2021.
NEWSPAPER STAFF
2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION EXECUTIVE CABINET Advisor: President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Historian:
Mrs. Elisabeth Donahue Dora John Peter Marjowski Sadaf Mansib Zarif Rezwan Muhammad Chaudhary
FEATURED WRITERS & ARTISTS Mena Rabie (Section Editor, Literature & Creative Writing) Meaghan Riley Leah Landron Sadaf Mansib (Section Editor, School & Professional Sports) Adam Murphy Sarah Parvez Anthony Otis (Joint Section Editor, School & Professional Sports) Janelle Ragusa Peter Marjowski (Section Editor, Interviews) Emma Raver (Webmaster) Aamir Sheikh Julia Syska Dora John Emily Ramirez (Section Editor, School Headlines) Delilah Fay Zarif Rezwan (Section Editor, Weird Science) Muhammad Chaudhary Samantha Gibbs (Section Editor, Music & Drama Departments) Veronica Hall (Section Editor, Politics) Laura Nguyen Alexander Marshall
The Mission of the Middle Country Central School District is to empower and inspire all students to apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be creative problem solvers, to achieve personal success and to contribute responsibly in a diverse and dynamic world.
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