O'Rourke Observer Spring Edition 2020-2021 5 New Ways to Stay Healthy in the Spring By: Ava G. Spring is a new season full of opportunities! As the snow slowly disappears, green grass appears! A new chance arises to get outside and get moving! Here are a few ways to stay healthy this spring.
1. As the weather gets warmer you can take a bike ride around your neighborhood or your house. Regular cycling has many benefits like increased cardiovascular fitness, increased flexibility and muscle strength, joint mobility improvement, stress level decline, posture and coordination improvement, strengthened bones, body fat level decline, disease management or prevention, and finally anxiety and depression reduction. 2. Go for a run. You can run around your house or your neighborhood. There are many health benefits to regular running (or jogging!) Some are improved muscle and bone strength, increased cardiovascular fitness, and it helps to preserve a healthy weight. 3. Go for a hike. Hiking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and have a great workout at the same time! Hiking can reduce your risk of heart disease, enhance your blood sugar levels and your blood pressure, and it can boost your mood. Here are some great day hikes near Saratoga! You can hike Hadley Mountain, Spruce Mountain, the John Boyd Thacher State Park, Prospect Mountain, Buck Mountain, Shelving Rock Falls & Summit, Cat Mountain, Sleeping Beauty, Thomas Mountain, and Crane Mountain. I have hiked Cat Mountain before, and I loved it! When you reach the summit it has a great view of the ENTIRE Lake George. You can even see many mountains in the distance. 4. You can go for a walk. You can walk your dog or you can take a walk around your neighborhood. Walking can increase your pulmonary and cardiovascular health. It can diminish the risk of heart disease and stroke, it can enhance the management of conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes. Stronger bones and improved balance are takeaways from walking as well. To get many of these health benefits, try to walk briskly for 30 minutes most days of the week. 5. Just going outside is a great way to stay healthy in the spring! It doesn’t have to be fancy, by just being outside you can improve your mood and your focus. Being outdoors lowers your blood pressure and reduces stress. It also helps us heal quicker and supports graceful aging!
These are some of the many ways you can stay healthy and active during the spring! Credits for the previous article: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/cycling-health-benefits https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/running-and-jogging-health-benefits https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hiking-body-mind https://www.saratoga.com/things-to-do/hiking-and-nature-trails/day-hikes/ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/walking-for-good-health https://www.sharp.com/health-news/5-ways-being-outdoors-can-make-you-healthier-and-happier. cfm What it is Like To Do Online Drama Club
Drama club online can be a little challenging because you have to put in a lot of work to do it. One of the things that makes online drama club more difficult is that you have to remember what time to go on the meet and which days you have to attend those meetings. For me, I put the essential meeting dates and times into my calendar, and I make sure that I have nothing going on that day so that I do not plan something. If there is a conflict, then I choose to cancel other meetings so that I can attend drama club. It is also hard when you live with the Assistant Director of drama club but it is also good because she can help me remember to put things in my calendar. So if you want do drama club, be prepared to spend long hours on your computer and stay organized. While this year has experienced challenges and changes, some things still remain the same- being a part of a school theater production takes time and a commitment to putting in your best effort.
By:Madeline4 F. Words of Wisdom
Everything has beauty, You miss 100% of the but not everyone sees it. shots you don't take -Confucius -Wayne Gretzky
I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples. -Mother Teresa By Ronny B.
This year's Super Bowl was almost like a holiday among many. The experience was incredible, no matter which team you were rooting for. In the end the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs with the end score being 9-31. Regardless of the score, each team played good football. The win gave the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback, Tom Brady, his 7th Super Bowl ring. Giving him the record for the most Super Bowl wins. Meanwhile, the Chiefs (going for back to back Super Bowl wins) played tough but eventually were out maneuvered. A big factor of this was Tyreek Hill, the wide receiver for the Chiefs, being double teamed – putting him out of the picture for touchdown passes. The Chiefs still had some weapons including Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. However, the Buccaneers played good defense and were able to contain these All Stars. Half the game went by like a flash and many fans all around the world tuned in, expecting to see the next entertaining halftime show. Surprisingly, the halftime show was not bad. With music by the Weekend and a choreographed dance along with it, fans at home and in the stands were energized. The Weekend spent over 7 million dollars of his own money to make sure the show went smoothly and that safety protocol for COVID was implemented. After the halftime show ,the field became a frustration breeding zone. Many players had a few words with each other and the game turned downhill quickly. Mathieu ( Chiefs linebacker ) and Tom Brady going at it with each other, the game turned more into trash talking than football. But that changed as Tom Brady started hitting his targets in the in zone. The game ended with the Buccaneers receiving the Lombardi trophy and Tom Brady was named MVP due to his spectacular performance. Writer’s Block Zoe’s Writing Tips For Fictional Stories
Writer's block always sucks for beginner, intermediate and even professional writers. Knowing some helpful tips to get you through the block can keep your writing flow going.
[Brackets] Work on a Different Story Take a Break Brackets are a wonderful tool to use Having a different story to work on is always Just stepping away and doing something when you know what you want to great, because it can get you out of a certain else for a bit can help a ton. Try listening happen… but not in detail. Just a mindset. Just a quick switch and after a few to music, drawing, maybe even watch some simple [they escape] could be minutes or so go back to your original work. TV then come back after a little while. I perfect to help you continue moving Returning to a problem with fresh eyes is always a can say from my own experience that the plot along. This also works great great way to get through it. these activities can even help get new for names! ideas, so give it a try!
7 Did you know? Halley's Comet won't orbit past Earth again until 2061. Also a full NASA space suit costs $12,000,000.
8 Decider By: Carter S
Whilst I put my pen upon the page I am creating a new age
Discovering things no one has ever seen In this world I am the queen Is she smart, or not so bright? Is he rude or quite polite? Magic runs amok Is their sidekick the same or more Whoops, I got stuck astute? And I ponder how many flowers in the garden I have that control For I am the one For I am the one Who decides Who decides Should I use “thou” or simply “you”? Does he have one head or two? As my pencil slows For I am the one The ideas stop their flow Who decides And I sit in my awful writers block For I am sadly Do they find a creature in that cave? The one Or some vikings on a rampage? Does the opening seem creepy, or bright? Who decides Is the story an adventure, or simply a Misadventure? For I am the one Who decides
9 Learn About A Few New Places ( Interactive) Russia
Paris, France Japan New york, Texas, USA USA
Egypt, Africa
Peru Sydney, Botswana, Africa Australia
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The New Strain of The Covid-19 Virus Pandemic
By Ronny B. ( 8th Grade )
IMPORTANT- A new strain of covid-19 has been discovered! B.1.1.7 was first found in the United Kingdom but has made an appearance in various states in the U.S. Many ask if this strain is more contagious. Unfortunately the answer is yes. It spreads more easily and more quickly than other strains.
Watch out!- The new strain has been detected in our very own Saratoga Springs! New York reported their first case on 1/4/21 which featured a man associated with a jewelry store. The virus has also appeared in 33 other countries and 4 other states.
11 The New Strain of The Covid-19 Virus Pandemic(continued)
Why is it so contagious?- The new variant has several mutations that help it attach to human cells. It is able to bind and transmit to cells better. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) does not believe this new strain is more lethal however. Some people have reported going blind after testing positive for the new strain. It is a rare case, less than 10% get it, but it can happen!
How to fight it- It can get overwhelming with all these new forms of a deadly virus on the loose. But as Covid cases increase, we need to make sure we are taking the proper precautions. Wear a new mask every day, stay six feet away, and don't have a gathering with more than 10 people. The CDC also reports that they believe the new Covid-19 vaccine would be effective on B.1.1.7.
12 Spring Time Ideas
By: Kailyn D. It is time for spring, and there are more and more sunny days ahead of us. There are many things you can do if you are bored on a sunny spring day. You can plant a garden, but not everyone has a gardening spot. So, you can start a seed in a pot and you can choose a flower of your choice. Gardening is not the only thing to do on a sunny day. You can also draw or paint outside. I love painting outside because nature gives you inspiration for what to draw. If you are looking for something colorful, you can take a bubble container and put food dye in it and you will have colorful bubbles! When we think of spring, we automatically think of flowers blooming and sun shining but there are still some of those rainy dreary days when we can not have fun outside. Just because we can’t do fun things outside does not mean we can't do fun things inside. You can turn on music and draw. Drawing is not the only option– you can do science experiments such as tornado in a bottle, walking marker man in water, and layered colored water. All of those things I listed might sound really confusing, but here are some links to help you learn more about them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21b_mIGmJ5w Tornado in a bottle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5AZbOL_WDM Walking man on water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H78Xd3ToxP4 Layered water 13 Purpose In my life, I am many things By: Anonymous Some say I'm weird, while others think I’m great For most, I can please people I see I'm smarter than I seem
When I am by myself, I am many things When I play soccer I am many things I look back at myself, And wonder why I'm here Some call me Mad Dog, And While I play, some make me bleed What is the purpose of me? Making me visible for all to see While I run and try my best When everyone judges me, Who will I be? Some people think I should give it a rest
For who I am, I like many things When I craft, I am many things I have dreams I like to paint and draw, And sew things To do ballet, To live in japan It's one of my favorite things to do Maybe be a chef, a singer, or a poet Some think its cool, while others think not, But I gave it thought
I am anonymous, clearly When I am sleeping, I’m many things It might be hard for you to know me When I can't go to sleep, I think I am shy, but also kind, I try to blend in, but be seen About my life and people that surround me So don’t be hiding behind a mask when you can know the real me. About my future and what I might want to be
When I am me, I am many things When I am around friends, I am many things When all the examples show, you can't judge to know... I feel like I can be myself, Like I can dance and sing I am a girl, pretty and smart, And I like to do art I can't do this around others, who will judge me, without knowing me I like to be called Madi, And you can't judge just by looking at me I can only sing when I'm in chorus, I can only dance when I'm alone
While Im shy, I'm also bold
14 Purpose Continued...
This goes to show who really knows me. It is a small, but big world. And I don't blame you for not knowing me. You might know me, you might know me soon, you might never know me. I could have talked to you today, or yesterday, or a year ago. But how far will I go? Here are clues to see if you know me if you really need help. Just remember to be yourself.
I want to live in Japan, and I am learning Japanese I also want to live in Paris, France ( Is that almost every girl's dream?) I want to be a ballerina / dancer, be a singer, a poet, a lawyer, And a Doctor too I may only be able to be one of these things, or maybe none Dark chocolate is my favorite chocolate and I hate white chocolate I love the colors white, gold, emerald green and blush pink I am very good at arts and crafts along with painting
I am so many things, yet nobody knows it So all I have to do is show it...
15 Top Ten Candies In America By: Kailyn D.
1. Reese’s peanut butter cups 2. Snickers 3. M&M’s 4. Hershey bars 5. Milky ways 6. Skittles 7. Starburst 8. Tootsie pops 9. Sour patch kids 10. Whoppers
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Interview Time!! By: Gianna A.
I interviewed one teacher that is new to the O’Rourke Middle School and one teacher that volunteered to teach fully virtual. These teachers are.. Drum Roll Please… Mrs. Mastrella and Ms. Trapini!!
17 Gianna: What is the biggest difference between teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade PACE, and 6th grade math and literature? Mrs. Mastrella: PACE was more “steam” activities, and 6th grade is actual subjects (math and lit.). PACE also had more projects, and longer units. Also, in PACE I got to teach with another teacher, but in 6th grade I work with the other teachers on lessons and other things, but I teach alone. Both jobs are really fun, and all of the kids are awesome. Gianna: How do you like teaching 6th graders? Mrs. Mastrella: I love teaching 6th graders, and I love the age that I am teaching. I can talk to the kids like they are adults and be silly without getting judged. I can still relate to what the kids are talking about because I have 2 kids this age. I also like the curriculum that the kids are learning. Gianna: Have you ever taught any other grades in other schools (not including PACE)? Mrs. Mastrella: I taught kindergarten and 1st grade at Tecler elementary in Amsterdam for a total of 3 years. 2 in kindergarten, and 1 year in first grade. Gianna: How is it teaching is the same building as you daughter? Mrs. Mastrella: I love being in the same building as her, and running in to her in the halls. I also love being able to see her friends because I don’t see them a lot any more. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Other Comments “I love working at the middle school. It will be amazing to teach and interact with the kids in “non-Covid” times.”
18 Gianna: How long have you been teaching at Burnt Hills? Ms. Trapini: I have been teaching at Burnt Hills for 21 years. Gianna: Has anything like this ever happened to you before? Ms. Trapini: Never in my wildest dreams. Gianna: What is the biggest difference between teaching in person and virtually. Ms. Trapini: I like to be able to hand out papers and other materials, and interact with the kids. Also, I like to walk around the classroom and work with kids either in small groups or one on one. I do not get to do a lot of these things through the computer. Gianna: How do you like teaching virtually (what’s your favorite part)? Ms. Trapini: I like to be able to still teach kids instead of not teaching at all. I would rather be in the classroom. My favorite part is not having to drive in the snow. Another one of my favorite parts is the students that I am teaching. I really love the group of kids that I am working with, and even though I am not with them in person, I am really attached to them. Gianna: How is the scheduling different from the normal schedule? Ms. Trapini: I have to change a lot of my lesson plans. It doesn’t take as much time to give instruction, but since I am explaining it, and not demonstrating it, it sometimes takes longer. Gianna: Do you like teaching virtually or in person better? Ms. Trapini: I like teaching in person better because I get to interact with the kids. I will be happy when this over and I get to go back to teaching in person. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Other Comments “I have worked all over. I’ve taught people from kindergarten ages, all the way to adults, but I’m happiest right here in 6th grade at O’Rourke Middle School. 6th graders are the best. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I love this one thing that Ms. Trapini said. It could be a famous quote once COVID-19 is gone. 19 “Usually things like this happen in movies, not in realty.” What It’s Like to Be a “Quarenteam” Two perspectives on how COVID-19 has impacted the lives of athletes By: Sophia C.
What has changed for you in sports since COVID? Jenna: We have to wear masks inside, and all the time, and it makes it really hard to breathe.
What are the upsides to sports now during COVID? Jenna: The fact that there are sports during covid, I think, is really amazing.
What are the downsides to sports now during COVID? Jenna: We have to wear a mask all the time, and there are less games and practice time.
So, you said that there would be less practice, do you think you are going to practice on your own time? Jenna: Yes
How is that going to work? Jenna: Well, I am a pitcher so I have to practice on my own time, even when practices are normal. I have an area in my basement set aside for practicing my pitching.
How do you practice pitching in the basement? Jenna: I go on my knees and practice my motions.
How are you personally affected by the decrease in time for sports? Jenna: I get mad when I can’t play sports because I love it. So I incorporate it into my practice time, and do that much better.
How do practices work, with the social distancing rules? Jenna: We split into two groups, and one group does batting, and one group does fielding.
Is that how practice would have normally worked when there were no rules about distancing around people? Jenna: No, we normally do hitting and fielding together as a group.
How are you and your teammates, as a team, affected by the new rules? Jenna: We are kind of falling apart emotionally. As a team we really prioritize bonding time, not being able to hang out, outside of softball, kind of messes with the trust that we have between each other, but we've been communicating through technology, so it’s getting better.
Do you have faith that things will become normal again for sports? Jenna: Yes, I have faith, and I really hope that they do, but jumping on the reality train, it’s going to take a while for things to be really back to normal again. What has changed for you in sports since COVID? Lily: Not much has changed besides having to social distance and wear masks. It's been tough to play a sport, especially softball because communication is key to playing the game so we’re still getting used to the new rules.
What are the upsides to sports now during COVID? Lily: I can’t really think of any to be honest. It’s not absolutely horrible, but nothing’s really been made better through covid.
What are the downsides to sports now during COVID? Lily: We have less time to practice, and less games, we can’t communicate as well and can’t see people, and I don’t really like wearing a mask because it makes it hard to talk and see.
You said that there would be less practice time, and games. Do you think you are going to take some of your own time to get better at home?? Lily: Yes, I wouldn’t practice as much as usual, but I still practice a little every now and then.
How do you practice at home? Do you have a separate area for practicing? Lily: I normally practice at home on my own, and what I do is, In the garage, there’s a mat, and I do drills for catching and things like that. We also have a batting cage in the backyard, So I use that a lot too.
How are you personally affected by covid? Lily: I’m not getting as much time outside, and I don’t get many opportunities to do things. I don’t really get to see my friends and I’m by myself in my bedroom most of the time.
How do practices work, with the social distancing rules? Lily: During practice we have to social distance, and wear masks. We also have to use hand sanitizer all the time.
How are you and your teammates, as a team, affected by the new rules? Lily: I think it’s not too bad, not much has changed. We just weren’t able to see each other for a while.
Do you think not being able to be around each other is going to change as a team? Lily: I don’t think so, I think that we can still play to the best of our ability even without as much contact.
Do you have faith that things will become normal again for sports? Lily: I think it’ll take a while, but it will. 21 Very Crafty Comics
O’ Snap: A comic by Sam, Madi, Caroline, Violet, & Ava
22 More Crafty Comics
MORE O’ Snap Stick Figure Life: By Caleb W.
23 The Nazi Holocaust By: Madilyn D.
The word “Holocaust,” from the Greek words “holos” (whole) and “kaustos” (burned), was historically used to describe a sacrificial offering burned on an altar. The Holocaust refers to the mass murder of millions of European Jews (as well as millions of others, including Romani people, the intellectually disabled, dissidents and homosexuals) by the German Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945. The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Nazi, Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered about six million Jews across German-occupied Europe, around two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population. Hitler was the leader of the Nazi regime and was born in Austria in 1889. During the First World War (1914-1918), Hitler was a soldier in the German army. But before that, his mother, Klara Hitler, was very ill. The doctor that was taking care of his mother was Jewish and his name was Eduard Bloch. After Eduard Bloch was unable to heal Hitler’s mother, Hitler had hatred toward Jews. Klara Hitler died on December 21, 1907 and was buried in Leonding near Linz. Since the loss of his mother, he hated anyone who was Jewish. Hitler was obsessed with the idea of the superiority of the “pure” German race, which he called “Aryan,” and with the need for “Lebensraum,” or living space for that race to expand. In the decade after he was released from prison, Hitler took advantage of the weakness of his rivals to enhance his party’s status and rise from obscurity to power. On January 30, 1933, he was named Chancellor of Germany. After President Paul von Hindenburg’s death in 1934, Hitler anointed himself as “Fuhrer,” becoming Germany’s supreme ruler.
Continuing on the next slide.. Like the network of concentration camps that followed, becoming the killing grounds of the Holocaust, Dachau was under the control of Heinrich Himmler, head of the elite Nazi guard, the Schutzstaffel (SS), and later chief of the German police. By July 1933, German concentration camps (Konzentrationslager in German, or KZ) held some 27,000 people in “protective custody.” Millions of people were imprisoned, mistreated, and murdered in the various types of Nazi camps. Under SS management, the Germans and their collaborators murdered more than three million Jews in the killing centers alone. Only a small fraction of those imprisoned in Nazi camps survived. Under the Nuremberg Laws, Jews became routine targets for stigmatization and persecution. This culminated in Kristallnacht, or the “night of broken glass” in November 1938, when German synagogues were burned and windows in Jewish shops were smashed; some 100 Jews were killed and thousands more arrested. From 1933 to 1939, hundreds of thousands of Jews who were able to leave Germany did, while those who remained lived in a constant state of uncertainty and fear. When the Germans lost the war, liberation day came. Or did it? Liberation means; freed from imprisonment, slavery, or enemy occupation. When liberation day came, it wasn't for everyone. As the Allies advanced across Europe at the end of the Second World War, they came across concentration camps filled with sick and starving prisoners. The first major camp to be liberated was Majdanek near Lublin, Poland in July 1944.Czech Republic. Czechoslovakia was formed after the First World War. The country was one of the first to fall prey to Nazi Germany and one of the last to be liberated during the war. After the Holocaust, it was hard for many people. People didn't have homes. Most had no surviving relatives, and some children had to be put in orphanages. A lot of people were depressed after the war too. And the people who had came back from hiding, had no money. Some of those people are still alive today.
Resources Used:https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-holocaust and the 25 book, Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival Our Modified Basketball Season By: Caroline M. This year’s modified basketball season was very different than years past, for obvious reasons. We were not allowed to play against other schools or travel for our games. But we were allowed to play games amongst our team, so our one big team split up into four teams to play each other. There were sixteen girls on the whole team, so we had four teams of four girls. It was actually very fun. One team, known as “The Twisty Terminators,” was made up of Cora Robbins, Melissa Williams, Lily Morse, and Halie Tomlinson. The team “THE Paw Patrol” (not just any Paw Patrol, THE Paw Patrol, it’s a very long story that involves Paw Patrol gummies) was Addisyn Knapik, Arriyana Derby, Vivian Despres and Sara Robbins. The team “The Circles” was yours truly, Layla Sharp, Teagan Keane, and Cassandra Vaughan. And last but not least, the team known as “The Pancakes” was Alyssa North, Alana Yahoudy, Lily Mastrella, and Bob (Emily) Martin. THE Paw Patrol ended up winning the “championship” we had, as we did a Round Robin (where each team plays each other team once). Then we had the playoffs and a championship. THE Paw Patrol beat the Twisty Terminators the last game we had. This year’s basketball season was unlike any other, but we still had a lot of fun playing against each other and seeing each other all the time.
26 The greatest glory in living lies not never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” -Nelson Mandela
27 The people who made this happen…. Sam W. Madilyn Caroline M. Ava G. Kailyn D. Ronny B. Violet S. .
Madeline F Gianna A. Carter S.
Thank you to slides carnival for the template!
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