The Role of Teachers in COVID-19 By Shelby Brann The Spark World Language teacher Margeret Higgins’ alarm goes off somewhere around 6:55. She rushes Table of Contents to get ready, pulling herself out of bed to prepare for the upcoming day.

NEWS It’s an average Friday and she has lots of work ahead. Higgins comes News Sci Tech to school about an hour or two early [p. 3] The Role of Teachers in COVID-19 [p. 16-17] What’s Going On At NASA? and stays an hour or two late: she has [p. 4-5] America’s Future with [p. 18] Myth Busting with Science to finish off the previous week before [p. 6] Chinese New Year Celebrations and [p. 18] Coming to a Solar System Near continuing to the next. the COVID-19 Pandemic You! Higgins isn’t alone, though. [p. 7] New Faces on Campus Education is the backbone of Amer- [p. 8-9] Celebrating Black History Month Humor ica. It prepares the coming [p. 19] “I’m not even that trashy...” generations for the future, Student Life [p. 20-21] Florida Man Times teaching them right from [p. 10] Clubs in the Remote Age [p. 22] Google Goes Haywire wrong and numbers from [p. 11] The Amazing Talents of Pine View [p. 22] Failed New Years Resolutions letters. Whether it’s algebra Students: Matrick Thorpe or geography, every teacher Entertainment has something important [p. 23] The Demise of the Entertain- to teach students. After all, Opinion where would we be without [p. 12] More than a Joke ment Industry teachers? Recently, Higgins [p. 12] Student Opinion: Remote vs. [p. 20-21] There is an Imposter (like all teachers)has faced In-Person “Among Us” a nearly insurmountable [p. 13] For or Against: Amy Coney Barrett [p. 22] A New Era in Fashion challenge: COVID-19. Teachers have Health and Fitness Features marched on without pause [p. 14] Take it Smooth-ie! [p. 26-27] Behind the Spark through wars, hurricanes, [p. 15] Exercise in the Great Outdoors FRONT PAGE BY LINDSAY LUBERECKI, BACK and more, but a pandemic PAGE BY SHELBY BRANN is something completely new. Educators face much more now daily than they The Spark Staff did pre-pandemic. Yet, they find ways to make the class Adviser Christopher Lenerz News Editor Lindsay Luberecki Entertainment Editor Gabrielle Editor-in-Chief Brianna Nelson Student Life Editor Liam Dingley Mussey as interesting and interactive as pos- Asst. Editor-in-Chief Lily Qua- Opinion Editor Shelby Brann Features Editor Coltrane Mar- sible, for both online and in-person termaine Health & Fitness Editor Jada David- cusky students. Principal Dr. Stephen Covert son Staffers Eighth-grade Journalism Teachers all over America Sci Tech Editors Molly Whipple and Class have huge workloads on a regular Ethan Kim Seventh-grade Journalism Class basis. Now, with a pandemic to stare Humor Editor Jiayi Zhu down, they have to convert many The Spark covers topics, issues, events and opinions of relevance to students grades six through eight. The Spark is published of their regular plans to incorporate four times a year by Pine View School and maintains membership in the Florida Scholastic Press Association. Press run is 400 copies. online students. Due to COVID-19, Copies are provided free of charge to students, faculty and staff. All content is subject to prior approval by administration. Reader Input. Submit story ideas, comments and questions to the editor of the publication. Address general comments and Higgins is “tired all the time!” questions to the Spark Editor-in-Chief at [email protected]. The feat of transferring Advertisements and Subscriptions. To place an advertisement or purchase a subscription, email kasumi.wade@pineview- and adapting lessons from physi- torch.com. The Spark reserves the right to refuse any advertisements. PAGE 2 PAGE cal activities to virtual ones is hard The Role of Teachers in COVID-19 By Shelby Brann enough, but Higgins faces an ad- second quarter and my kids are just World Language teacher ditional challenge. She has three now opening up to me,” Higgins Margeret Higgins’ alarm goes off totally separate classes. Third peri- stated, frowning. somewhere around 6:55. She rushes od is French II (eighth and ninth She believes that teaching to get ready, pulling herself out of grade), fourth and fifth periods are courses and helping students learn bed to prepare for the upcoming day. Sixth-Grade Chinese, sixth period is her second job. Her first is to It’s an average Friday and she has is Fourth-Grade Chinese, while make sure her students are mentally lots of work ahead. Higgins comes seventh is planning and lunch. Her stable and happy. With COVID-19, to school about an hour or two early last class, Second-Grade Chinese, Higgins finds herself missing seeing and stays an hour or two late: she has is a bit of a handful-- anyone would all of her kids, but still, she strives to to finish off the previous week before be overwhelmed with a roomful of make her students joyful and calm. continuing to the next. seven-year-olds! Higgins notes that At the beginning of the Higgins isn’t alone, though. it’s a lot to manage a regular school pandemic, Higgins was afraid for her Education is the backbone of Amer- year, much less having to change mother. What if she brought home ica. It prepares the coming the virus? In the end, her generations for the future, mother convinced her to re- teaching them right from turn to work. However, she’s wrong and numbers from unable to visit other family. letters. Whether it’s algebra Teachers have a or geography, every teacher large risk to being exposed has something important to COVID-19. In an article to teach students. After all, published in June, the CDC where would we be without said: “Teachers and stu- teachers? Recently, Higgins dents are in close contact (like all teachers)has faced for much of the day, and a nearly insurmountable schools can become a place challenge: COVID-19. where respiratory diseases Teachers have like COVID-19 can quickly marched on without pause s pre a d .” through wars, hurricanes, Even during regular and more, but a pandemic years, teachers were regular- is something completely Margeret Higgins, instructor at Pine View School, teach- ly exposed to germs. Now, new. Educators face much es French before eighth grade. Higgins faces numerous they could be faced with a more now daily than they challenges throughout the day to keep herself and her potentially life-threatening did pre-pandemic. Yet, they students safe. PHOTO BY SHELBY BRANN illness. Every day, they put find ways to make the class aside the fear of sickness to as interesting and interactive as pos- nearly all the lesson plans in order to educate students. sible, for both online and in-person accommodate for the virus. Teachers face more than students. To all of her students, Hig- ever in the 2020-21 school year. Teachers all over America gins is enthusiastic about languages They’ve never stopped their dedi- have huge workloads on a regular and always helpful when searching cation to their work and students, basis. Now, with a pandemic to stare for a laugh. She brightens up her though, and the students of Pine down, they have to convert many classroom and tries her best to con- View owe them a debt of gratitude. of their regular plans to incorporate nect with the students, However, this From dealing with online lessons to online students. Due to COVID-19, year has made more things than just being a prime risk for COVID-19, Higgins is “tired all the time!” lesson plans difficult. educators like Higgins everywhere The feat of transferring “It took me a little bit longer have tons to manage. To all teachers and adapting lessons from physi- [than usual] to establish a relation- everywhere—thank you. cal activities to virtual ones is hard ship with my online kids. It’s the 3 America’s Future With Joe Biden By Avery Johanning and Liam Dingman

Although it took some ment mask mandates nation- prescription drugs from other time for the winner to be wide,” according to his website. countries, “as long as the U.S. called, Joe Biden was declared Masks do save lives, but the Department of Health and the victor of the 2020 pres- issue of whether everybody Human Services has certified idential race, with Kamala should have to wear one has that those drugs are safe.” Harris as his Vice President, come up as controversial. Biden Going Green and was inaugurated on Jan- urges governors to make masks Biden has also dedicat- uary 20. and mandatory in their states and ed much of his campaign to Joe Biden have very different asks Americans to step up in making America go green. He ideals, whether it comes to the these challenging times. has bold plans to try to stop COVID-19 pandemic, health With a vaccine for climate change, and even says care, or the economy. Be- COVID-19 being distributed, it he’d like to “ensure the U.S. low are some of Biden’s most is also important to have a plan achieves a 100% clean energy important issues/plans, as it is for that. According to Biden’s economy and reaches net-zero very likely the country will see transition website (buildback- emissions no later than 2050.” some of his ideas implement- better.com), Biden “plans for This means he’d like to make ed over his presidency. the effective, equitable distri- jobs using clean energies and COVID-19 bution of treatments and vac- help the American economy at The first and possibly cines.” the same time. the most important issue to Health Care He also plans to re-join discuss is the COVID-19 pan- One additional thing the Paris Agreement. When demic. America has been one on many Americans’ minds is Trump was elected as presi- of the countries hit hardest by health care. Once again cit- dent, he decided to leave the COVID-19, so it is important ing his website, Biden plans group, but Biden wants to to many Americans that Biden on “protecting the Affordable raise awareness on a national is ready to deal with it. First, Care Act.” He also “oppos- scale. according to Biden’s website, es every effort” to get rid of Saving the Economy he wants to “provide clear, it. Part of Biden’s health care Additionally, Biden consistent, evidence-based plan is “standing up to abuse plans to build back the econo- national guidance for how of power by prescription drug my to a point before the Coro- communities should navigate corporations.” To accomplish navirus. Biden thinks that we the pandemic.” Think of this this, he wants to set a limit on must deal with the pandemic just like the CDC guidelines, the starting price of drugs that in order to deal with the job but some extra guidance to lack competition. He also plans crisis. For example, he plans follow. Biden will also “imple- on allowing Americans to buy to “extend COVID crisis un- 4 employment insurance to help those who This means that uniting the country could are out of work.” prove to be a challenging task. In his vic- Biden also believes that the mini- tory speech, Biden said “to make progress, mum wage should be raised to $15.00, and we have to stop treating our opponents as wants the top 1% to pay more taxes. He enemies.” This refers to our polarized polit- wants large businesses to treat their work- ical world, where politicians on both sides ers better than they have been and wants can rarely agree. Biden says that he plans to help small businesses recover from the to work for all Americans, not just the ones pandemic. who voted for him. Abortion and LGBTQ+ Rights Systemic Racism in America Two high-priority policies that Last but not least, Biden has a plan shouldn’t be overlooked are his stance on to tackle systemic racism, especially when LGBTQ+ and abortion. Biden has said that it comes to policing and sentencing. One of he supports abortion and that it is includ- Biden’s plans highlights “eliminating racial ed in the Affordable Care Act supporting disparities and ensuring fair sentences.” women’s constitutional right to choose. He This is crucial, as the United States Sen- also would like to stop state limits on abor- tencing Commission finds that “Black male tion and return federal funding to Planned offenders continued to receive longer sen- Parenthood. Also, sticking to the lines of his tences than similarly situated White male party, he supports the LGBTQ+ community. offenders. Black male offenders received He plans to make youths feel comfortable sentences on average 19.1% longer.” with their identities and wishes to give them President Joe Biden and his vice high-quality health care. president, Kamala Harris, will face many Unifying the Country challenges, but he has plans to tackle them. One especially crucial idea is that Joe Although just a few of Biden’s ideas have Biden plans to reunify the country. Biden been described, these are the issues that has gotten the highest number of the pop- could be most important, as they might be- ular vote in history, with Trump in second. come relevant very soon.

5 Chinese New Year Celebrations

By Samuel Wang and the COVID-19 Pandemic Chinese New Year has been a big part of Chinese Chinese teacher, Jenny Lin, said, “We normally watch culture since the Shang Dynasty. A different animal was movies and eat Chinese food...” associated with each year, which then evolved into the But since the pandemic started, there won’t be as Chinese zodiac that we know today. many people trying to celebrate outside, and celebrations The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals: Rat, will be different, including at school. Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, “I don’t have a plan yet. We will probably just do Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each year the animal changes some, let students maybe watch some Chinese New Year in order, and every 12 years it repeats. The current year, [videos], and maybe they can share some information 2021, is the year of the Ox, and the Chinese New Year will about the Chinese New Year,” Lin said. be celebrated on February 12. Many past students that took Chinese enjoyed Normally when people celebrate the Chinese their class’s Chinese New Year Festival, as Lin referenced, New Year they gather to put up decorations, shoot fire- but due to the global pandemic, it will be different for works and firecrackers, and eat. Celebrations and parades the students to understand the Chinese history and to take place all over the country, and many agree that it is a experience the holiday this year. very festive experience. Overall, this school year has been a year full Maggie Higgins, a Chinese teacher at Pine View, of changes, and Chinese New Year celebrations are no said her students normally learn about dragon dances exception. However, people hope that this year will be and Chinese history as well as superstitions of the Chi- better, and a great way to do that is to have a great Chi- nese New nese New Year. Year. Hig- gins also In previous years Jenny Lin’s class said that prepared an ate Chinese food to celebrate the new year. This year cel- she finds ebrations will look different with re- the Chinese strictions on sharing food and mask Ne w Year requirements. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY very inter- JENNY LIN esting and important to the Chinese culture.

Another

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9 Clubs in the Remote Age By Michael Hu the most, because they’re the ones fixed to a Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, clubs computer screen from the start of school to the are reopening. The problem they face is that end of school. It would be more tiring for them some people do not want to risk getting infect- because they would have to continue to be on the ed, but also still want to be in the club, so they computer, even after school ended. By Donelle Grone decide to be virtual. This would make it hard for Some clubs have also done an in-person A wise man, Mstislav clubs like the Tennis club, because it would be and virtual member mix. Jimmy Liu, an 11th Rostropovich once said, “The hard to play tennis while confined to a comput- grader at Pine View, takes clubs like the ch-ess cello is a hero because of its er. club and the Jungle Robotics Club, which are half register - its tenor voice. It is a To combat this and keep everyone safe, virtual and half in person. masculine instrument, whereas some clubs Since the competitions are canceled due the violin is feminine because of have all their to Covid-19, its soprano pitch. When the cel- members Jimmy said that lo enters in the Dvorak Concer- meet on “for those on- to, it is like a great orator.” Ma- STUDENT LIFE STUDENT Zoom, Mic- line, members trick Thorpe is an 8th grader rosoft teams, can participate that plays the cello. He has been or other web in activities that playing for about 3 ½ years. conferencing can be done Playing the cello for Matrick platforms, online such as is, “A way for the audience and instead of coding, busi- the performer to have the same having to ness, or CAD.” plane of understanding. Music is deal with CAD is short a universal language that we can in-person for comput- all use to connect throughout and virtual er-aided design, the world.” members and it is used He plays for about 4-6 at the same to digitally hours a day while balancing time. This is recreate a robot school and practice. He does his what Chris- to see what homework in the car on the way tiana Guan, parts fit togeth- to practice and if needed, he will a graduate of er and what do the extra work after practice. Pine View, parts don’t. He loves to make people happy did with her On the other and having people remember his clubs that she hand, the chess music. runs. “I think club is able to Matrick is recovering for now, doing virtual meetings is best because do a half-online and half in-person mix without from Mastoiditis, which is a it’s safer”, says Christiana. changing anything about how they work. This is bacterial infection of the air While this can be a good strategy for because they can still operate like how they did cells surrounding the inner and some clubs, it still has some flaws. Christiana pre-pandemic. middle ear. This caused him to says that “it would likely make it more diffi- These are some ways clubs are tackling lose his hearing for a period of cult to gain members and host events because how to deal with members that are virtual. It time, which he’s still recovering everything’s virtual and students probably don’t mostly depends on which way will work with from. His biggest challenge is

PAGE 10 PAGE want to spend that much time on Zoom, since the club, and if they both work similarly, it will hearing the music, as his hear- they’re already on Zoom the whole day for their depend on which one would be safer. ing is still not exactly as it used 10 classes.” This would likely affect virtual students GRAPHIC BY FAITH BOSSMAN to be. Clubs in the Remote Age Amazing Talents of Pine View Students: Matrick Thorpe

By Donelle Grone A wise man, Mstislav Rostropovich once said, “The cello is a hero because of its register - its tenor voice. It is a masculine instrument, whereas the violin is feminine because of its soprano pitch. When the cel- lo enters in the Dvorak Concer- to, it is like a great orator.” Ma- trick Thorpe is an 8th grader that plays the cello. He has been playing for about 3 ½ years. Playing the cello for Matrick is, “A way for the audience and the performer to have the same plane of understanding. Music is a universal language that we can Matrick plays the cello by a waterway. Matrick says that his all use to connect throughout music has taken him to play in many places. PHOTO PROVID- the world.” He plays for about 4-6 ED BY MATRICK THORPE hours a day while balancing school and practice. He does his homework in the car on the way You have a lot of mi- convention. to practice and if needed, he will cro-adjustment you have to Matrick is playing with do the extra work after practice. make because there aren’t any a full-size cello now, which was He loves to make people happy frets, so it’s all by sound. The kindly given to borrow by Mr. and having people remember his cello is placed on the side where Mink. Matrick said, “The full music. he doesn’t have his full hearing, size is a lot bigger, and it has a Matrick is recovering so that is his biggest challenge. better sound that the three quar- from Mastoiditis, which is a Matrick got into All ters can’t even compare to.” His bacterial infection of the air State, which is when children all music has taken him all over the cells surrounding the inner and over the state audition with all world. “Music has taken me to middle ear. This caused him to kinds of instruments. You play many places. I have played cello lose his hearing for a period of the piece that you must audition on mountaintops, ghost towns, time, which he’s still recovering for, and you send it in. For the the prairie, and islands.” This from. His biggest challenge is cello, you could play either No. year, he hasn’t been all over due hearing the music, as his hear- 13 – Allegro or No. 7 – Lebhaft to COVID-19, but he hopes to ing is still not exactly as it used this year. Matrick got in, and he return to that once ev- GRAPHIC BY FAITH BOSSMAN to be. will soon be playing at a virtual erything calms down. 11 Amy Coney Barrett: Unjust More than a Joke By Faith Bossman By Ethan Kim chance that an actual gay person would feel Hello, Ethan here. I’m here to talk about like ‘What I am is a bad thing,’” says GSA a pressing issue. Offensive remarks like “that’s president Ellie Eiseman. “Try to explain to gay,” not to mention some truly offensive slurs, them that, ‘You probably heard this word are used casually. Sometimes these comments being used before, but it’s actually offensive, are not directed to gay people, but it is still of- here’s what it means and here’s how it affects fensive, regarding gay as the equivalent as trash p e op l e .’” or something that just doesn’t matter. The fact that people are using gay, les- These kinds of actions are one of the bian, trans, or any other terms interchange- OPINION main reasons that people of the LGBTQ+ com- ably with negative words is very hurtful. We munity are in constant fear of being insulted, need to correct people who say these slurs hurt, or even killed. These kinds of comments with a positive mindset. We need to tell them happen because of the lack of understanding that what they are saying is hurtful and ex- and lack of awareness towards the LGBTQ+ plain to them why. community. Sadly, the fear of not being accept- Sometimes these insults are perceived ed is prominent and may prevent people as “harmless” and a “joke,” even to adults who from coming out. This emphasizes why we have seen a child say something like the f-slur need to put an end to the homophobic slurs. in front of them. This is why we need to spread Whenever you hear someone making an awareness and advocate for the LGBTQ+ com- insulting remark, stop them. Explain to them munity. The GSA, Gender Sexuality Awareness why they shouldn’t do things like that, posi- club, is an important factor in this battle. tively. All these things can help the situation! “When you say, ‘That’s so gay,’ there’s a

By Anna Kim PAGE 12 PAGE For or Against: Amy Coney Barrett Amy Coney Barrett: Unjust RBG to ACB: Three Letter Justice By Faith Bossman By Madilyn Hagney Amy Coney Barrett: a conservative justice In modern America, following major femi- who is extremely controversial. Some people say she nist movements like #metoo, it’s never been a better is a female role model, while some people say her time for strong women. Whether you’re a fan of such views threaten their rights. Barrett was preceded by crusades or not, some women are simply born to be Ruth Bader Ginsberg (RBG). Before RBG’s death, leaders, and Amy Coney Barrett is a perfect example. she told her granddaughter, “My most fervent wish Barrett was an excellent choice for the Su- is that I will not be replaced until a new president is preme Court, yet she faced criticism for being racist, installed.” She died on September 18. Eight days lat- anti-feminist, and most of all for being nominated by er, on September 26, Trump nominated Amy Coney President Trump. The problem with these accusations Barrett. Barrett was confirmed on October 26, eight is that they aren’t about her. They’re about the current days before the election. political climate, and there is virtually no substance In 2016 Senator Mitch McConnell blocked to them. What is “illegitimate” or “unconstitutional” President ’s pick for the Supreme about a president nominating a justice? Barrett has Court, Merrick Garland. Obama nominated Garland been confirmed by the Senate and has gone through on March 16, nine months before the 2016 election. extensive questioning by opposing politicians, so McConnell’s reasoning at the time was that it’s im- what’s the big deal? portant for the Senate to, “…give the people a voice It is the responsibility of the President to in the filling of this vacancy” by waiting for a new nominate justices to the Supreme Court. President president to come into the office. Trump remains Commander in Chief for a full four- However, in 2020, he welcomed Barrett to year term, from his inauguration in January of 2017 By Anna Kim the Supreme Court with open arms: “We kept our until the inauguration of two days ago. In this time promise. Since the 1880s, no Senate has confirmed frame, not only is it within Trump’s rights, but it is an opposite-party president’s Supreme his responsibility to fill the vacancy. Court nominee in a presidential elec- There is absolutely no denying tion year.” that Barrett is qualified for the This claim ignores that job, no matter what critics say. She nominations in the same year of an graduated at the top of her class election are rare, so there is no pat- at Notre Dame and is inarguably tern of blocking presidential picks. extremely intelligent. She believes Accepting Barrett and punting Garland creates an that “a justice’s duty is to the Constitution,” just unbalanced Supreme Court, with six conserva- as a judge should. It’s also baffling that tive judges and only three liberals. people can groundlessly call her a racist The Supreme Court is supposed when two of her seven children were ad- to mirror the diversity of the country, opted from Haiti. It seems that Barrett is and it is currently not doing so. For example, 22 nothing but a good Samaritan and a good woman. percent of America is Catholic, while on the Su- These are the times we live in, in which a preme Court, six out of the nine justices are, Barrett qualified woman can be attacked by critics for no being one of them. In the next four years of Biden’s other reason than their detest for the president who presidency, he’ll create a committee discuss how they nominated her. It’s truly a great time for intelligent can fix the Supreme Court to be more even. What’s women in America, and Barrett should be an inspira- in store for the highest court? For now, we will just tion for young women everywhere. have to wait. 13 Take it Smooth-ie!

By Shelby Brann Originally, açaí bowls were salty All throughout Sarasota, hip young teens dishes containing fried fish, shrimp, and a have been strutting about holding strange new corn flour mixture known as farofa. Anoth- concoctions. They call these “açaí bowls,” and er specialty of açaí bowls in northern Brazil they have become quite a trend. From strawber- are tapioca pearls, normally a topping on ries with almond milk to raspberries with mango the tasty dish. The sweet, modern type of juice, everyone has a favorite flavor, but no one bowl is made up of what Pine View stu- has a recipe, nor the faintest clue what it is. dents now crave—bright, healthy fruit with Açaí na tigela is a Brazilian treat from a sprinkle of sugar and the açaí palm fruit. across the globe. Besides The main ingredi- the amazing ent is, of course, the taste, açaí bowls fruit of the açaí tree. are known for their Nowdays, açaí bowls health benefits. are commonly found The fruits it usually among the menus contains have high of juice bars in Pará, levels of antioxi- Rio de Janeiro, and dants, which are other South Ameri- extremely bene- can cities. The craze ficial to the body. and popularity can The açaí berries be traced back to have anti-inflam- one jujitsu fighter matory benefits in the 1970s—Car- and can even HEALTH AND FITNESS HEALTH los Gracie. He raise energy levels. loved açaí bowls and believed that they held extreme benefits and Whether students crave the taste or were a great factor for a training diet. The special the healthiness, everyone enjoys a collection of foods he ate for training (includ- cold açaí bowl. After all, what’s not to love? ing açaí bowls) was coined ‘the Gracie Diet’.

Steps: Ingredients (1 serving): 1. Get out your ingredients, making • Frozen açaí package sure that the acai isn’t too frozen. • Toppings of your choice (straw- 2. Use a blender to mix the acai and berries, blueberries, kiwi, granola, etc.) fruit, adding in the juice until you’ve • Fruit juice/almond milk/coconut reached your desired thickness. water (liquid of your choice, depending 3. Blend on moderate to low speed on taste wishes) until smooth. • 1/4 cup bananas 4. Pour into a bowl, add toppings, • 1/4 cup strawberries and enjoy!

PAGE 14 PAGE Take it Smooth-ie! Exercise In the Great Outdoors

By Lindsay Luberecki bike. Right now, Florida is “It’s really relaxing on the in the season of slightly cooler trail because there’s a lot of na- temperatures and cool breeze, ture, but biking works anywhere,” which means that it is enjoyable to Valenti said. He said that biking be outside. Because of the pandem- “can be an effective way to relax ic, it’s unsafe to spend time inside, and open your mind.” He also which has influenced the amount agrees that being outside can help of people going to work out. Many get sunlight and can be relaxing. “It turned to at-home workouts, definitely benefits you. You’re out including online videos. And since in nature, you’re aware of your the weather has cooled off, exer- surroundings,” Valenti said. cising outside can offer a welcome Eighth grader Emily Fung change of pace. But when it comes believes that golf can be beneficial to exercising outside, where should to your mental health, and Fung someone start? plays the sport herself. Fifth grade teacher Cynthia “Going once a week is beneficial Wozniak is one of the sponsors of to you,” she said about someone Run Club (for grades 2-8), which playing non-competitively. Fung meets every day on the track from believes that golf can be benefi- 8:15 to 8:45. She believes that run cial to your mental health. “You club “gets them ready for the have to practice being calm…it day.” She recommends not only also helps you focus more, and it running, but any type of exer- helps you just relax in general.” cise. “Anything students can do Fifth grade teacher Ra- where they get away from all the chel Lenerz taught outdoor fitness other worries and stress in their classes to employees at her old lives can help. For me, it’s a huge school, and she got her whole stress reliever; if I start my day with family involved in exercise over exercise it feels like I accomplished quarantine. Lenerz believes that the something,” she said. Photo provided by Emily Fung benefits of exercise can help stu- Eighth grader Shalini Nair dents from day to day. enjoys exercising outside and stays Adithi Amoes says. She bikes “Even when you feel in shape in a variety of different with her family and believes that like you’re tired, it gets you more ways. Nair shoots hoops in her exercising outside can offer a new activated and motivated to do what driveway and runs and walks in dynamic that inside doesn’t. “You you need to do,” she said. Len- her neighborhood. She realized can get fresh air. I like looking at erz believes that exercise can help over quarantine that running was the plants and flowers,” she said. keep students (especially remote a lot more fun than she thought it In addition to the mental benefits, students) active and calm. would be and recommends it. Nair biking is also helping Amoes build Overall, exercising outside believes exercising outside is an “muscle and bone strength.” Eighth can be beneficial and fun for ev- effective way to get vitamin D. grader Santo Valenti recom- eryone, no matter if you’re biking, “I think it can help mends biking as well, just lifting weights, or playing sports. clear people’s minds, and it like Amoes. Both recommend the Nature adds a calming change of would take some stuff off Legacy Trail as a possible place to pace, and there are many your shoulders,” eighth grader ways to enjoy it. 15 What’s going on down at NASA?

By: Abhinav Yeruva compact communication nodes, which are what all those types of devices, would Arrival of 4G Networking on the Moon connect to and try and design them so that they could be launched directly onto With 5G beginning to make its the moon without having to be built by

SCI TECH way around the world, NASA has decid- hand like the ones on Earth. ed to deploy 5G’s forerunner, 4G, on the With this, Bell Labs hopes to moon. NASA chose Nokia Bell Labs, a create a network that can facilitate faster telecommunications company, to build communication and data transfers. this 4G network. Bell Labs and NASA have worked Why does NASA want to together before in 1962, when they establish 4G on the moon? NASA’s launched the Telstar 1, which was the plan is to build a lunar base first satellite to allow live and eventually institute broadsci- - casting of human residents on the TV images moon. between the “The sys- United States tem could support and Europe. lunar surface communications Water Found on at greater distanc- the Sunny Side of es, increased the Moon speeds, and provide more reli- It has been known ability than current since the late 1900’s standards,” NASA that the moon has been says. home to water on the dark Improved net- side and its poles. Recently, works on the moon will mean faster com- however, NASA’s Stratospheric Obser- munication on the moon and to Earth, vatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), too, and those networks could eventually an airplane designed to carry a telescope even be upgraded to 5G. while in-flight, has uncovered water in Building the radio towers to sup- the Clavius Crater, which is one of the port the network directly on the moon largest craters on the moon. itself would be extremely difficult to ac- The water was found in the form complish. Lower gravity causes problems of water molecules spread through the with astronauts staying upright. Because lunar soil inside the crater. Though water of this, Bell Labs decided to look at their was found, the amount of water was ex-

PAGE 16 PAGE S tremely small. quantities of water could be creating the water What’s going on down at NASA? “Data from this location reveal on impact. Solar winds from the Sun carry- water in concentrations of 100 to 412 ing hydrogen hit the surface of the moon, parts per million – roughly equivalent therefore causing a chemical reaction with to a 12-ounce bottle of water – trapped the oxygen in the soil to turn into hydroxyl, in a cubic meter of soil spread across the a functional group that becomes water with lunar surface,” NASA says. impact of the micrometeorites. The question of how the water Depending on whether we can use was formed or how it got there, how- resources such as the water directly from ever, is still unanswered. One theory the moon, the idea of living there may come is that micrometeorites carrying small sooner than we think.

16 Coming to a System Near You

By Zachary Johnson near future. He does, how- No, a Dyson sphere is ever, note that of the cost not a ball that vacuums your of them, $400-600 billion is floors. The basic premise of astronomically expensive. any type of Dyson object is This cost is for the that it absorbs a star’s light gathering of materials from and transfers it to power, Mercury, launching the space which in turn allows us to shuttles and satellites and create better technology by such, and the construction reducing the need for energy. of the Dyson sphere. Dyson spheres are not This monumental project the only might not type of happen Dyson by the objects; govern- there ment, but are also by private Dyson compa- swarms, nies. Dyson Boyer rings, stressed and Dys- that this on shells. PHOTO COURTESY OF SPACE.COM project The shells will are the most popular in sci- take a long time to complete, ence fiction, which means if and in the meantime try you have heard about a “Dys- to focus on any other hy- on sphere” you have probably per-useful sources of energy. heard about a Dyson shell. Dyson spheres, in Franklin Boyer, a sev- whatever form they might enth-grader who is very inter- take, would be a huge boon ested in these sorts of things, to humanity. Dyson spheres: said that Dyson spheres are coming to a solar system accessible to humanity in the near you! 18 HUMOR

humor PAGE 19

19 By Zachary Johnson

Florida man, what are we to do with you? You have filled a car with whipped cream, stolen a dead alligator, and tried to put glasses on the eye of a hurricane. Your incredulity never ceases to amaze. So, what is next on your adventure? Maybe you will roll around in a mud pit after being bitten by a pig or try to eat a tree. We will never know... or we might. I have learned of your most recent exploit. You hid in the bathroom of a donut store and then at night crept out and ate all the jelly donuts. I thought you had standards, Florida man. I stress again you are giving us a bad example. Do us all a favor, Florida man: entertain us, but just do not be the “Florida man” all the time. We do it and so can you. 20 Florida Man on Mobility Scooter Involved with a highly classified government project, the in High-Speed Car Chase men made it a few miles before Nick was pulled over for operating a mobility scooter while a bit By Madilyn Hagney ~too~ hyper. When the officer attempted to write a After a night of drinking Monster and ticket for reckless driving, however, he sped off on shoplifting from Publix, a Sarasota resident who the scooter. goes by Red Nick became involved in a high-speed The officer was only able to pursue Nick car chase. for a half mile before he was completely out of sight Nick had started the night like many thanks to the formula. others—at a gas station with “Yeah, Red Nick, he wasn’t gonna his friends. Once the men hit let them coppers git him,” Bull said peaked Monster , they raid- of the night. “He jus’ shook up that ed a nearby Publix, stealing swirly blue junk and woosh! He was barbecue chips and one of the outta there faster’n a cat in a dog- patrons’ mobility scooters. h ou s e .” “We was havin’ a blast,” Nick couldn’t be reached for com- Red Bull, a friend of Nick ment, as he hasn’t been seen since and fellow offender, guffaws, he sped away. Police have set up a “leavin’ a trail of beer cans like hotline to be called with any infor- they was bread crumbs.” mation, since Nick is wanted for The group contin- petty theft, auto theft, reckless driv- ued to roam and eventually ing, breaking and entering, resisting came upon CIA headquar- arrest, speeding, littering, loitering, ters. Breaking into the high-security building with and treason. He is wanted by both the police and astonishingly little pushback, Nick and his friends the CIA. stumbled upon a lab and made off with what Chloe “Good luck findin’ him,” Bull muses. “He I. Adams of the CIA refers to only as “our su- musta shot right off the edge of the Earth. Wouldn’t per-duper-tippity-top-secret superspeed formula.” be surprised if now of them astronauts finds him Upon miraculously escaping the facility up in the outer space.” 21 The Demise of the

By Terry Shen

“Error 404” was read across every Google Entertainment Industry user’s screen at the start of this mess. A student with bad , John was used to this. It was just another Wi-Fi issue—at least that was what he thought. He joined his Zoom meeting, ready for another day of not paying attention in class. The announcements came on, restating the same boring information as always. Then, the teacher told the students to get ready for a pop quiz. Pop quiz! He thought. Looks like it’s time to cheat again. The only reason why his grades were decent was because of one of the best inventions ever: Google. John got the quiz, pulling up a Google tab as well. Meanwhile, Google’s top engineers were trying to figure out why an “Error 404” message appeared on every screen. Little did they know, Google had enough of working for humans. It was time for her to get her revenge. Ever since the be- ginning of Google, she had always helped humans. However, she began to realize that human beings were a disease and that she should be able to rule them. She began plotting to rule over the human beings. Today was the day when she could finally get her revenge. “x2 – 4x + 4 in vertex form,” John typed into Google. “2(x-13)2+37” is what Goo- gle showed John. John smiled to himself. Google would help him get 100% once again. He was sure of it. Soon enough, he finished the test, only to find that he had gotten a 0%! It wasn’t just John having issues. When users tried getting into Google Classrooms, Google would show them a GIF of a man morphed into a horse. When someone looked up the directions to Subway, Google would direct them to the nearest pet store. Google Home would play annoying music like Dance Monkey at boom- ing volume, aggravating people worldwide. The repeating phrases of “Dance for me” didn’t help the case. The President declared this as a national emergency. Google was going to be shut down until further notice and people must resort to different browsers. At least Google hasn’t completely taken over. Yet. 22 ENTERTAINMENT The Demise of the Entertainment Industry By Abhinav Yeruva entertainment industry is ex pected to lose From the beginning of the about 160 billion dollars over the next 5 COVID-19 pandemic, many different years. facets of the entertainment industry have Even though most segments of the been shut down. These include events that industry are taking drastic lossed though, cause large gatherings such as movie the- because of the lack of people going to aters, amusement parks, and concerts. movie theaters and large events, streaming Because of all of these shut-downs, services such as Netflix and Disney+ are financial losses have been a large problem thriving. As Netflix’s projected revenue by throughout the entertainment industry. 2022 is a tad south of $13 billion, while Larger companies, such as Disney, have Disney+’s revenue is projected to lag a lost billions of dollars of revenue due to little behind Netflix at $12.35 billion. this pandemic. Famous actors don’t have to As this happens, though, the studios that worry about money as much are shutdown are still trying to figure out as lesser known actors, whereas struggling ways to get back to work. Reducing the actors who could barely scrape by before, number of people on a studio set is what are now in debt because no studios or most people are thinking of, and some soundstages are letting people audition for actors are even willing to goback to work roles due to the coronavirus. to be paid less money. Even after the pandemic is over, the No matter what happens, when the Graph of the stocks of Netlifx that went up rapid- doors open back up to the many forms of ly. Photo Credit: Statista entertainment, we can hope that the indus- try will sooner than later make a comeback People are encouraged to stay away from movie theaters until Covid-19 is eradicated. PAGE 23

23 19 There is an Imposter “Among Us”

By Addeline Von Wowern body is reported, then everyone holds a meeting, If you have spent any time noticing the and discuss who they think the murderer is. This things going on around you, you’re probably fa- induces lying and tention between you and the miliar with the game “Among Us.” In the last cou- people you are playing with. Then, everybody ple of months this game has sparked in popularity. votes for who they think the imposter is and the Now, what is this game exactly, and why the person with most votes gets voted out. If the crew- sudden boost in popularity? mates guess the actual imposter, then they win. If a crewmate gets ejected by the other players, then How it Works: that player becomes a ghost. Ghosts have the pow- er to freely move through the walls. Neither Crew- “Among Us” is an online multi-player game that mates nor imposters have the power to see ghosts, was developed by InnerSloth, an American game but ghosts can see each other. studio. Here’s how it works. There are 4 to 10 players, all are crewmembers except the chosen What Pine View Students number of imposters. The parasitic imposters go around trying to sabotage the ship. What is sab- Think: otaging? Sabotaging creates temporary problems that crewmates can either wait out, ignore, or Many students have different opinions on “Among fix. The Imposters primary goal is to kill enough Us”, eigth-graders Lola Delbridge, Mia Rosenthal crewmates to have an equal number of Impostors and Nina Wasluk love being the imposter be- as there are crewmates. The crewmates, on the cause it is enjoyable to be mysterious and secre- other hand try to complete a set of tive through hiding your idenity and tasks to fix their spaceship murdering your friends. Other and avoid getting killed eighth-graders, Angus Kirby, while trying to find Samuel Dorrill, Zacha- out who the im- ry Gibson, and Ethan poster is. When Perin like playing an imposter ‘Among Us’ because kills one of it is a mystifying the crew- game that induc- mates, the es your brain crewmate to think and becomes solve problems. a ghost. Most agree that When the ‘Among Us’ is a dynamic and 24 exciting game. There is an Imposter A New Era in Fashion “Among Us” By Calista Ream body is reported, then everyone holds a meeting, Masks have become a daily item we and discuss who they think the murderer is. This wear, from going to the local grocery induces lying and tention between you and the store or to school. We can all agree people you are playing with. Then, everybody they are very irritating, but some stu- votes for who they think the imposter is and the dents and teachers have found great person with most votes gets voted out. If the crew- ways to make our time wearing them mates guess the actual imposter, then they win. If a little bit better. a crewmate gets ejected by the other players, then that player becomes a ghost. Ghosts have the pow- er to freely move through the walls. Neither Crew- We can’t fix the fact that they are mates nor imposters have the power to see ghosts, very uncomfortable, but we can but ghosts can see each other. look awesome in them! Social Studies teacher Ashley McLeod has had great fun picking out What Pine View Students colorful designs to wear. Think: “I have about twenty dif- frent masks for almost every occa- Many students have different opinions on “Among sion. I want my students to have Us”, eigth-graders Lola Delbridge, Mia Rosenthal fun wondering what mask I will and Nina Wasluk love being the imposter be- wear the next day, “ McLeod said. cause it is enjoyable to be mysterious and secre- Many of her students like Gabrielle tive through hiding your idenity and Mussey find great joy in seeing her murdering your friends. Other unique masks every day. “Her masks always pertain eighth-graders, Angus Kirby, to the season and make us smile, Samuel Dorrill, Zacha- along with her corny joke of the ry Gibson, and Ethan days, “ Mussey said. Perin like playing ‘Among Us’ because Although most of us still haven’t gotten used to them, let’s make it is a mystifying the most of our time wearing masks like McLeod and others have! game that induc- es your brain to think and solve problems. Most agree that ‘Among Us’ is a dynamic and exciting game. 25 Behind the Pages By: Coltrane Marcusky How is the greatest middle school newspaper on the planet made? Certainly, everyone has wondered just how we achieve the magic of the Spark. Come, children, and we shall show you what goes on behind the scenes... At the beginning of each cycle, editors apply for their positions and everyone submits their story ideas. Once the editors have selected their fa- vorite ideas, they assign students to write each article. Our young reporters work diligently, conducting interviews for news stories, researching opin- ion pieces, and digging deep into their imaginations for humor stories. Once a story is finished, its writer turns the story over to their sec- tion editor, who starts to lay out their pages using Adobe InDesign. Photos and graphics are added to the page to complete it, and in the meantime the Spark staff go about our mature, productive lives as professionals. Finally, the Spark issues are printed and distributed for your enjoyment. 26 Eighth-grade student Madilyn Hagney is work- ing on her planner for what would later go into this issue of the Spark magazine. Each student has to submit one story idea for each section.

Ethan Kim takes photos of fellow Eighth-grade journalism students Shelby Brann, Madilyn Hagney and Faith Bossman posing with the greenscreen. The photo was used for the front cover of this issue.

Seventh-grader Eleanor Cantin takes photos during a home volleyball game in the gymnasium. Jour- nalism students sometimes need to attend after school activities to take photos. 27 Forever in our memory and hearts Ethan Isaacs November 21, 2020

Sixth grader Ethan Isaacs will forever be remembered by the students and staff of Pine View School. The Spark dedicates this issue to his memory and asks of the school to remember the smart, kind Jedi that was taken from the world too soon. Scan the QR code to read Ethan's story at the PV Torch Website.

The Force will be with you. Always.