The Open Monthly Brought to you by Ted’s Journalism Class February and March, 2018 Edition ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Exclusive: St. Patrick’s Day Comic By: Jacob, Jaden, and Leonna Winter Olympics By: Ada, Lulu, Scout, Sam The 2018 Winter Olympics were held in South Korea,for two weeks. Norway received the most medals (39), but the United States did very well, receiving 23 medals! (9 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze). Our gold medals went to Red Gerard (snowboarding), Jamie Anderson (Snowboarding), Chloe Kim (Snowboarding), Shaun White (Snowboarding), Mikaela Shiffrin (Skiing), Kikkan Ran- dall/Jessie Diggins (cross country skiing), David Wise (skiing), Women’s Ice Hockey, and Men’s Curling. Overall our best sport was most definitely Snowboarding! All though we did get 23 medals, many United States Olympic Committee were disappointed because we missed the estimated amount medals target for Team USA, which was to obtain 37 medals. This year we failed to beat our previous number of medals, 28 in 2014. Both in 2014 and 2018 we obtained 9 gold medals. In Pyeongchang, Erin Hamlin carried the flag during the opening ceremony. This year was the first time all US time zones had live coverage rather than delayed footage. It was also the first year South Korea hosted the winter Olympics. They once hosted the sum- mer Olympics in Seoul 1988. Due to it being in Korea, along with the political climate in Ko- rea, there was, as expected, a lot of tension. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OHS Students Prepare For Spring Break Europe Trip By: Max Murphy Many Open High School students will be travel- ing to several destinations in Europe over Spring Break this year. This is the first time that an event such as this has been planned at our school and it will be taking place April 1-10. 37 Open High stu- “I am excited to see the Eiffel Tower, eat dents will be traveling to their first stop in London, new foods, and visit iconic places such as the England where they will stay for three days while overlook from Cheetah Girls in Barcelona.”, says going to different landmarks in the area as well as Junior class students Chantel Hernandez and Na- iconic spots of London such as the Buckingham talia Mangaroo. Palace and Big Ben. On the fourth day in Europe, students will take a train to Paris across the Strait of Dover in the 30 mile Channel Tunnel. In Paris, Open Stu- dents will see landmarks such as the Eiffel tower and Arc de Triomphe, for two days. The final stop of the trip will be in Barcelona, Spain where stu- dents will stay for two days before departing back to the United States for a 10 hour flight. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— you really trust and love can really boost and at Simple Ways to the same time calm your mood. Also instead of texting or calling them about the issue, you could plan an outing and be there physically Handle the with that person and have a good time just get- ting out the house. Frustrations of Life - Download a meditation app: The meditation By- Ii’Jeana James app I enjoy is called Stop, Breathe, and Think. When you first open the app it will ask you In our world there's so much stress, an- about your current mood and then according to ger, and agitation. Whether it be your everyday what your mood is, it will generate a couple me- car problems in the morning on your way to diation exercises you can do; try it out! work/school or a huge test worth a big percent- -Do a nature walk: The birds, butterflies, and age of your grade, you feel like you’re not ready brisk wind, are examples of the things you can for; There’s no real way to avoid all problems see and experience in the great outdoors. Find and stressors in your daily life. In times like a nice walk to take in a forest-like and/or pretty these it’s a great idea to take a minute to un- area. Walk through slowly and take deep wind, take a break for our mental health, and breaths. remind ourselves of the beauty and calm -Work on a hobby you enjoy: People are much around us. more happier when they are doing something I've recently sought out the help from an out- they actually want to do. So sit down and have side source to help me find more healthier and some time to yourself to work on your favorite better ways to deal with my stress. If you ever hobby. find yourself in a situation where your stress -Write your feelings down in a journal: Though levels are this may be one of the oldest clichés in the through book, it's very helpful. Writing your feelings the roof, down is a great tactic of “thinking” before you take act. Sometimes in life our emotions are our first some response to a stimuli instead of using our nog- time out gins, and most of the time this ends up making to do the matter worse. So next time write down how some ac- you're feeling, ask yourself why you're upset, tivities then create some solution. listed be- low. Everything in this list above I've done myself, so ask me about it! Though it may seem like -Take you don't have time or think it’s not going to time to help much, your mental health is important; You talk to a can't help and care to the best of your abilities friend: for the people around you, if you're not helping Talking to and caring for yourself first. someone Marcuse, Travis Taylor, Jocelyn Ryan, and various The Next Chapter others, will be attending VCU. Natalie Duke will be By: Elska Bowman attending VCU Arts with plans to major in art histo- ry. She describes her acceptance into VCU Arts as For seniors, March is the time when they start “exciting” and “can’t wait to major in art history” hearing back from the colleges they applied to and which she is very passionate about. Elena and choosing where to further their education. Some Travis, who are both in AP Studio, have plans to have yet to hear back from every college they ap- eventually transfer into VCU Arts. As for those not plied to, but many have already decided what col- attending VCU, Adriel Wilder plans on going to lege they will attend. The application process and Longwood and majoring in either history or politics, waiting to hear back from the schools is an ex- maybe even both. As Adriel puts it, she will “figure it tremely stressful time for the seniors. Many are fi- out one day”. Good luck in college seniors!! nally able to relax, or at least try to. As of right now, many of the seniors, including: Natalie Duke, Elena ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— China: Qi Xi: Chinese Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day Celebrated on July 7, this day is based off an old Chinese fairy tale about a goddess and a mortal Traditions Around falling in love. Zhi Nu, a weaving goddess, went to the mortal world and met a man named Niu Lang, he was a cow herder. The two fell in love the World and got married, but soon after this Zhi Nu’s By: Ii’jeana James mother, Queen of Heaven, found out about them and took her back to heaven. Niu Lang was Paris France: Le Ville de Amour (The heartbroken, but found out that one of the cow’s City of Love)! An example of an older tradition in he herded was actually a god, and he offered his Paris is called Loterie d’Amour; Drawing for skin to Niu Lang to make leather shoes to fly him Love. Men and women would occupy houses to Heaven. When the Niu Lang quested out for and line up with one another, then they would his love, the Queen of Heaven found out and take turn calling out who they wanted to be their used her hair pin to make a stream of stars (The Valentine. If a man wasn’t satisfied with his Milky Way), forever keeping the lover’s apart. An choice, he would leave the woman and quest for observed tradition would be Chinese woman of- another. The woman, who were left by their part- fering fruits and goods to Zhi Ni, in an effort to ner or didn't get picked, would then gather find their true love. around a bonfire and burn pictures of their unap- preciative sweethearts. Australia: In February, 1851, Australia had its first gold rush. It is said during this time Mexico: El Dia del Amor y la Amistad, the miners working became extremely rich and “The Day of Love and Friendship.” An example bought beautiful and extravagant gifts for their of a Mexican tradition that’s still carried on today loved ones. Popular gifts during that time includ- would be, a man show up at a woman's house to ed items made with fine satin and decorated with sing to her. To add more context, the man would perfumes and shells. Australians still keep the come to the woman he wants to Woo's house, tradition going of buying their loved ones nice accompanied by some musicians, commonly things, and the popularity of this holiday grows known as a Mariachi band. The man would stand every year! With about 90 percent of people of under her balcony and lovingly sing to her.