2 January 19, 2018 Paul Revere Charter Middle School Opinion Marie Kim, Revere’s Red Ribbon Week speaker, listens to Evagelos Christofides’s opinion during the seventh grade anti-drug assembly on Oct. 25. Photo: Zion Irvine In a world that can sometime seem health, relationships, plans for their future out with stories that just should not be told. unaware of its problem with drugs, the and sometimes even their lives. Teens need Instead, they can help their teens plan how to national event Red Ribbon Week is like a to hear the cold, hard facts about drugs so handle certain situations. For instance, what much-needed light in the darkness encour- they don’t get misled by friends who say if kids end up in a place where others are do- aging kids to reach their full potential by things like, “It’s natural, so it’s healthy.” It’s ing drugs, and they want to leave? Or what if avoiding alcohol and drugs. With a door- unlikely those friends drink rotten milk or a friend has been drinking beer or smoking decorating contest, a lollipop-guessing stuff poison ivy in their socks while touting pot and offers them a ride home? These are game, and the promise of parties, Red the benefits of everything natural. important conversations to have. Ribbon Week proves hard to ignore here at Even though some kids eventually will Paul Revere. However, it’s just one week, a Red Ribbon Week is over, but experiment, the ones who choose to say no finite period of time, and the message that should understand they’re not alone. Celebri- must be amplified is likely to fade away we still need to keep talking ties who never drink include Jennifer Lopez, like a forgotten song. Unfortunately, if last about the dangers of drugs. Tyra Banks and Natalie Portman. And some year’s U.S. trends continue, over 22 per- have learned the hard way and now steer far cent of eighth graders will report they’ve Revere teachers should help kids away from drugs and alcohol like Denzel used alcohol according to the National In- separate what’s fact from fiction with more Washington and Robert Downey Jr.. And stitute on Drug Abuse. Worse, that number lessons and movies about the subject. But First Lady Melania Trump recently encour- jumps to over 61 percent by twelfth grade. the school should reach out to parents as aged a group of Michigan middle scholars Among the reasons teens abuse well. After all, the Red Ribbon website states saying, “Don’t try to copy somebody. No substances are they hope to fit in socially, children of parents who routinely talk to drugs. No cigarettes.” they believe they’re indestructible, or they their teens about drugs are 42 percent less Most importantly, teens must make just plain old want to rebel. But regard- likely to get involved with substance abuse good choices they’re proud of. Patriots can less of the reason, kids need to understand than those who don’t. However, only one in remember the wise words of Mr. Iannucci: when they take that first sip, puff or pill, four teens say their parents bring up the sub- “Always do what’s right; it’s better than what they’re really doing is risking their ject! It helps if parents don’t freak their kids doing what’s wrong!” —Griffin Riel The Town Crier asked Patriots what they think Revere could do to improve drug awareness. Below are some of their responses: “I feel that some extra aware- “Revere can improve drug “This year, the annual assembly “In my opinion, what works ness is needed. Perhaps we awareness with fun activities didn’t really capture the main better than slogans or bracelets could get a doctor to come and events. Maybe we could idea about not doing drugs. I is science. Teaching kids about speak all about drugs and the have homeroom teachers put on think showing the kids pictures the permanent damage that effects of drugs. I think if more a drug awareness movie and/or of what happens to them after drugs can cause to an adoles- students hear about the effects have an assembly that explains they do drugs would more than cent brain tends to scare kids. of drugs, they would be pres- what can happen with drugs.” likely make them not want to do No one wants to make them- sured not to use drugs.” —Makenzie Armbrust, them.” selves stupid on purpose.” —Sophie Miller, 6th Grade 7th Grade —Logan Downer, 8th Grade —Mr. Schwartz, 7th English January 19, 2018 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Charter Middle School 3 TALKING HEADS Are we doing enough to prepare for the “big one”? With earthquakes and other life-destroying natural disasters forecast for our future, can Patriots do more to get ready? “I do not think we’re prepared for an earthquake. If an earthquake occurred, we go the field. The problem is that if a student by any chance gets hurt, they do not have many first aid kits on the field. We can prepare by having more medical kits, and having them be more accessible.” —Federizo Gavin , 6th Grade “I think that most people are not prepared since the ‘big one’ can occur at any time. The school could even make homeroom for packing and preparing water, and food.” —Donya Abhari, 7th Grade “I don’t think we’re doing enough to prepare for a catastrophe. Classrooms need to have much more basic supplies (food, first aid), so they can be prepared if the doorways are blocked. Overall, we need to prepare more to stay inside the rooms.”—Annie Vinetz, 8th Grade “No, I don’t think that the school is doing enough to prepare students for major earth- quakes. All we do is go under our desks. The school could have an assembly to go over the procedures, and what to do during and after an earthquake.”— Netaniel Daee, 8th Grade TOWN CRIER POLL “Considering the fact that no large quake has happened to us in a while, it might be hard to prepare for the unexpected. But in the mean Which device is most time we should continue to make sure every classroom has crucial items in case of a real valuable to you? emergency.” — Abi Wrentz, 8th Grade “I believe Revere is doing enough. Our staff does an amazing job trying to prepare our students for any major catastrophe. There is always more we could do, but that would mean interrupting more instruc- Phone Computer Tablet Television tion time for teachers, so I wouldn’t recommend it.” 81% 12% 0% 7% — Mr. Tokeshi, 6th Math and Science Poll of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders conducted “I believe that our school community is prepared, by Tala Maher and Maddie Glenn on Nov. 16, 2017 but when I took an impromptu survey of one of my classes, asking if their families had a plan (food, VOLUME 62, ISSUE 2 water, emergency supplies, etc.), the majority of the students indicated that they were not aware of any plan in their home.”—Ms. Stewart, 7th Math Published by and for the students of “I think the school could do more. Having an actual PAUL REVERE CHARTER MIDDLE practice which involves our parents would be more SCHOOL AND MAGNET CENTER authentic. Not only do our students need to be pre- 1450 Allenford Avenue pared, but so do our parents. But the recent fires have Los Angeles, California 90049 shown me that should a natural disaster strike Revere, our students would be well cared for and kept safe by Editors: Alexandra Schoettler, the Revere staff. ” —Mr. Iannucci, Revere Principal Member of the National Joey Chae and Maddie Glenn Scholastic Press Association Faculty Advisor: Mr. Wechsler Interviews and layout by Tala Maher 4 January 19, 2018 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Charter Middle School Wildfires Disrupt Revere’s fall semester comes to an end with an unexpected tempest of cinders and chaos. By JACK WILLNER Tuesday, Dec. 5 brought sudden turn of events for Revere. Students were gasping for breath as smoke from a huge blaze now known as the Creek Fire completely obliter- ated the local air quality. It broke out in the San Gabriel Mountains Monday night and forced thousands to flee their homes in Syl- mar and Lake View Terrace. Thick smoke from the fire made its way down the coast and led to unhealthy air quality as far south as Santa Monica. Revere was greatly affect- ed by the fire as students were covering their face with anything they had in hope of not breathing in smoke-filled air. During homeroom, announcements were made stating that all windows and doors must be closed during class time and stu- dents should be indoors at all times except passing period. P.E. would take place in the auditorium, for the outside air quality proved Sofia Farhangnia, a seventh grader, took this photo of the Skirball Fire from her Palisades home. physical activity to be too dangerous. Pass- Even the close proximity of the approaching flames did not stop her from coming to school. ing period was a struggle for many Revere students. The smoke had many Patriots cov- for the semester in history today and knew our carpool to pick us up for drive the long ering their face with their jackets as a way of it was important not to miss it. I decided to drive to school. The area we live in doesn’t protecting themselves from the unwelcom- suck it up and go to school even though a have smoke, so when we drove into the ing air.