Catholic Schools Week is the celebration of all Catholic schools. According to the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), we have Catholic Schools Week to celebrate the excellence and impact of Catholic schools. Many Catholic schools do things to help out their community and show their appreciation for their founders. Some examples of things that schools do during catholic schools week are:
Community service
Mass
Sending letters to the church
Donating objects
Having food drives
Having fundraising events
Volunteer during different events
During the week of Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, our school celebrated Catholic Schools Week by holding a pep rally, making mercy bags, doing a buddy rosary activity, and writing letters to the sisters. An article from Hallow states, “Catholic Schools Week is an annual initiative led by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) to celebrate the excellence and impact of Catholic schools. Each year, Catholic schools observe the celebration through various activities, emphasizing the importance of Catholic education.”
“We wrote letters to the SNJM sisters asking them questions about their Catholicism and some of them responded, which was fun,” says Abby N.
Many people suspected that because the original Avatar was 2 hours and 42 minutes long, the sequel would be just as long and possibly longer. Something nobody expected was that it would be as long as it turned out to be. According to Statista, the average length of movies in 2021 was 2 hours and 10 minutes. The first Avatar is already 32 minutes past the average in 2021, and the first Avatar was released on December 18, 2009, according to the Avatar franchise on Wikipedia.
Fans and Reports:
In “Avatar: The Way of Water,” many fans complained that the movie was too long. The new avatar movie is three hours long, and some clips are excessive. The Independent media from the UK reported that there was a rumor going around social media that “Avatar: The Way of Water” was longer than the original Avatar movie. People agreed on one thing about the film; it was way too long.
What could have been cut:
There was a whole middle section of the movie that could have been cut. The beginning, middle, and end of the movie were each around 1 hour and 4 minutes long. It is crazy to think that one section of Avatar was that long because that is half the length of regular movies. As stated by one viewer, “The middle section of the movie lasted too long. I actually got bored.” Usually, movies leave you craving for more or wishing for the character to come back in some shape, way, or form. But in Avatar, the audience seemed to have gotten too much of these characters in one sitting.
Advice for the Avatar franchise:
In the future, the Avatar franchise should keep a few key points in mind, during the filming and production of future Avatar movies (such as 3, 4, and 5).
Keep the viewers hooked and wanting more. Don’t go overboard with the storyline.
Generally that the longer the movie is, the more boring it gets.
People do not have time for a three-hour-long movie in their lives.
Keep the rising action at a modest pace so viewers don’t end up bored at the end and do not want to watch future movies.
Many people don’t believe zodiac signs are true or accurate. According to Gigi from 8th grade, “I think they are somewhat true but you shouldn’t rely on them completely. I hate those people who say, ‘We can’t be friends because you’re an Aries or something like that.’”
The 12 Zodiac Signs
Aries: Aries is a fire sign and the ruling planet is Mars. Birthdays go from March 21 to April 19. They are passionate, motivated, and confident. They can be aggressive and frustrated easily. The most compatible signs for Aries are Leo, Libra, and Sagittarius. One Aries actor is Emma Watson.
Taurus: Taurus is an Earth element that rules the planet Venus. They are stubborn and sensual but down to earth. Birthdays go from April 20 to May 21. They are compatible with Scorpio, Virgo, and Capricorn. Queen Elizabeth was a Taurus.
Gemini: Gemini is an Air element and rules the planet Mercury. They are known for being two-faced and playfully social. Birthdays go from May 21 to June 21. They are most compatible with Aquarius and Libra. Marylin Monroe was a Gemini.
Cancer: Cancer is a water sign and rules the Moon. Birthdays go from June 21 to July 22. Cancers are clingy to their close friends and relationships. They also are very grounded people and loyal. They are compatible with Pisces and Scorpio. Princess Diana was a Cancer.
Leo: Leo is a fire sign that rules the planet Sun. Birthdays go from July 23 to August 22. They are confident, dramatic, and big-hearted. They are compatible with Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Jennifer Lopez is a Leo.
Virgo: Virgo is an Earth sign and rules the planet Mercury. Birthdays go from August 22 to September 22. Virgos are humble and practical but also anxious. They are compatible with Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus, and Cancer. Michael Jackson was a Virgo.
Libra: Libra is an Air sign and they rule the planet Venus. Birthdays go from September 22 to October 22. They are charming and beautiful, and they like to make peace with others. They are compatible with Gemini, Aquarius, and other Libras. Kim Kardashian is a Libra.
Scorpio: Scorpio is a water sign and rules the planet Venus. Birthdays go from October 23 to November 21. They are emotional and can be harsh at times. They are compatible with Cancer, Pisces, Capricorn, Virgo, and Taurus. Leonrdo DiCaprio is a Scorpio.
Sagittarius: Sagittarius (Sag) is a fire sign and they rule the planet Jupiter. Birthdays go from November 21 to December 21. They are optimistic, funny, and intellectual. They usually get along with Aries and Leo but can be compatible with Aquarius. Taylor Swift is a Sagittarius.
Capricorn: Capricorns are an earth sign and they rule the planet Saturn. Birthdays go from December 22 to January 19. They are faithful, trustworthy, and loyal. They also can be controlling and can be toxic in relationships. They are compatible with Virgo and Taurus. Elvis Presley was a Capricorn.
Aquarius (The best sign according to the author): Aquarius is an air sign and rules the planet Uranus. Birthdays go from January 19 to February 18. They are innovative, progressive, and shamelessly revolutionary. They can also be stubborn at times. They are mostly compatible with Libra and Gemini. Harry Styles is an Aquarius.
Pisces: Pisces is a water sign and they rule the planet Neptune. Birthdays go from February 19 to March 20. They are sensitive and emotionally aware. They also can be overly emotional and fall in love easily. Albert Einstein was a Pisces.
As you may know, the World Cup is currently happening in Qatar. But, there is some dispute about the World Cup being hosted in Qatar. This is because of bribing, worker abuse, and many more problems.
Bribing Problems
There are rumors that Qatar bribed Michel Platini for the World Cup to be hosted in Qatar. According to an NPR article, Platini and Qatar deny this, but there is an investigation showing a $2,000,000 payment between the two. Apparently, Platini also got arrested for this action. Even the FIFA president agreed that it was suspicious that Qatar won. He thinks they bribed for the place as well.
Worker Abuse
Qatar is basically in the middle of the desert. They have very hot summers, and an arid, mild climate. In 2010, when Qatar was chosen to hold the 2022 World Cup. Thousands of foreign workers have died building many stadiums to hold the matches. During the summers, workers had to work in heat that could be 110 degrees Fahrenheit and above. Although their wages were high, about $100+ per hour, it was very hard, demanding work.
Geographical Problems
Qatar is also a very small country. According to The World Factbook, it is 11,586 sq km (4473.38 sq mi) and is a bit smaller than Connecticut. Even the state of Florida has more land and a larger population than Qatar. Although Qatar is one of the richest countries, it is also one of the smallest. They also have many environmental issues as well.
Here are some people’s opinions:
The World Cup should not be hosted in Qatar because it will overpopulate the country. The country of Qatar is too small for big things like the World Cup to be hosted in. Qatar definitely bribed its way into the World Cup because normally, things like that are hosted in bigger countries such as Tokyo. Qatar was barely prepared for the World Cup.”
Jenna B.
The World Cup should not be hosted in Qatar because it has a lot of suspicious activity. Other than that, I don’t care for the World Cup that much.”
Zoey G.
It was a shady process getting the World Cup to Qatar with bribing and stuff. There are also lots of human rights problems with the workers and construction. Overall, I love the World Cup.”
I am guessing you have a test that you need to study for. I’m also guessing that you have not prepared for it one bit. So, I will give you some easy ways to study and memorize.
Write down your notes by hand
Though it may be easier to type your notes, according to Deep Patel of Entrepreneur, it is more effective to actually write them by hand. Writing notes down by hand helps your brain retain information better through muscle memory. This muscle memory will help keep the information in your brain for longer which will help you remember the information on the test.
Mnemonic devices
These are patterns of letters or sounds that help you remember large amounts of information. One that you’ve probably heard of is the “ABCs”. Other examples of mnemonics are “PEMDAS” and “Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup”. Mnemonics help to simplify and compress info to make it easier for you to remember. These especially help memorize, or help, long or hard materials.
Brain Breaks
Sometimes in class or when studying you can kind of “zone out” or get distracted. This usually happens when feeling overwhelmed or confused. So, brain breaks can give our brain a break and sort of re-focusing it. Whether it’s a minute or ten, it can help you to re-focus your brain.
I hope these tips will help you ace your next test. I also wish you luck on your assessments!
Never regard study as a duty, but as an enviable opportunity to learn.”
At the end of 6th grade, students get to choose between two different languages that they have to commit to for the next two years of 7th and 8th grade. The options are either Latin or Spanish. For Latin, your teacher would be Mrs. Hahn, and for your teacher, in Spanish, you could either get Señora Fernandez or Señora Peate. All of the teachers are great. You should weigh your options carefully while choosing between Latin and Spanish because there are pros and cons to each language.
Activities in Latin:
An induction ceremony
A trip to a convention for Latin
GoNoodle exercises
Image Credit: Zoey G.
A Look at Latin Life:
On Nov. 3, 2022, the Latin club inducted some new members from the 7th grade. During the induction ceremony, 8th graders performed the actions to induct the 7th graders into the club. Some of the roles performed by the 8th graders were: High priest, Latin Spirits 1, 2, 3, and 4, and an 8th grader who passed out the new members’ Latin Club membership cards. At the end of the ceremony, they had some mini water bottles and chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, M & M cookies, and muffins. As Gigi L. said in the Latin induction ceremony, “Only cool kids take Latin.”
In Latin, you have a fast-paced class, where Mrs.Hahn talks to you about different things, and you have to pay attention when she says something because it’s usually on the test.
Activities in Spanish:
Quizlets
Kahoots
Brilla
Pelota
Conjuguemos
Spelling words/sentences in Spanish
Work in Spanish:
In Spanish, depending on which teacher you have, you do different activities but cover the same topics. For example, in Señora Fernandez’s class, they play Flashcards, but in Señora Peate’s class, they don’t. In Señora Peate’s class, they play Pelota which is a game in which you play with a ball and you answer questions. We also play another game with a ball called Brilla where you spell out words and sentences in Spanish. Both Brilla and Pelota are played only in Señora Peate’s class. Both Spanish classes play Conjuguemos which is an online game that people use to study Spanish.
Amelie S. stated that, “Personally, I like Spanish better since I have been taking it since I was in like 1st grade.”
Similarities of Spanish and Latin:
Both are fun in different ways.
They both have games/brain breaks.
Differences between Spanish and Latin:
The styles of teaching are different.
They have different types of activities during class.
In 2022-2023, more people in 7th grade chose Spanish as their World Language than Latin, but that could always change next year.
Okay, let’s just admit Halloween is hands-down one of the BEST holidays there is. I mean free candy, getting to dress up, getting scared? What more could you ask for? But getting dressed up is probably the best part, so let’s see if these costumes are Halloween-worthy!
Cat Costume
Photo Credit: Getty Images
You probably don’t care too much about Halloween, or you just made a last-minute costume because Halloween snuck up on you. Either way, this costume is pretty basic, but it still looks cute, so who cares? 6/10
Donut Costume
Photo Credit: Walmart
I mean you are what you eat. #Respect. But, I do think that this costume is used way too often, especially for its price of $40! No ma’am. There isn’t even a way that you can incorporate a donut costume in real life, so it’s a no for me. 5/10
Superhero Costume
Photo Credit: Target
The superhero costume is a pretty basic, standard costume that you see kids, adults, and teens wear every year. You have a childlike fantasy of saving the world and a desire to fight evil and be the main character in life even if you aren’t. 7/10
Stranger Things Costume
Photo Credit: Amazon
A “Stranger Things” costume is most likely going to be the most popular costume this year because everyone was obsessed with it this summer. It’s a look for sure. A great one? I don’t think so. The 80s fashion never really made sense to me. But some people can make it work! 6.5/10
Chain Reaction is one of the fun events that AHN hosts! Chain Reaction happens almost every late September, and everyone who’s at Academy, kindergarten through high school, can come to this fun event! High schoolers at Academy organize fun activities like bubbles, one-legged races, and soccer. There are kickball games that middle schoolers can play or watch.
For food options, the Dads Club grills hot dogs and burgers and sells other items like chips, sodas, Capri Suns, and candy. There are a lot of appetizing sweets like ice pops, doughnuts, cookies, and mini bundt cakes. This past Chain Reaction they even had a Kona Ice truck visit!
The Mothers Association raffles off baskets. These baskets are either donated or put together by the moms. Another thing that really is exciting is the pie-in-the-face that happens at the end of the Chain Reaction. Chosen teachers and some other staff members are chosen to get “pied.” Kids pay for tickets to get drawn to throw a pie in someone’s face.
Image Credit: AHN eNews
All the money that is collected from this event is donated to pediatric cancer research. This is in honor of Cailin Capri Canella. She was a former student at Academy who was diagnosed with cancer and passed away.
Overall, Chain Reaction is a lot of fun. It is also a great way to connect with friends, too. All the activities are extremely entertaining, and I would definitely recommend going if you want a fun time with your friends!
I love the food and the cause for Chain reaction is good. The activities at Chain Reaction like the three-legged race are fun to do with friends.” Zoey G.
I like the pie-in-the-face, and I like hanging out with my friends. I really like the cause.” Abby N.
In the mysterious world of the courtyard at AHN, the animals buzz with excitement over the crumbs of leftover food. The animals scurry around and try to steal the food from each other. The animals are dashing, running, chasing, flying, all fighting over a single chip.
Then, the squirrels hide in the bushes, waiting until the kids leave and the birds are unaware. Later, the pigeons in the courtyard trees fly gracefully down to get a pinch of food. The crows squawk loudly, fighting against many other crows. They fight for one piece of a Cheeto on the sidewalk near the benches at the four square courts.
The kids flood back from specials, and the animals scurry away sneaking one last piece of food before they go. When snack time is done, the animals fade away scampering back into hiding. The animals keep a close eye on the children as they forage for new food. The crows fly away to the Bayshore playground to take up their vantage points to spot food. The pigeons sit on the power lines, while the squirrels eat and hide their food. It’s soundless when the classes are ongoing.
There is no buzz around the courtyard, and everything is dead silent until lunch…
The Tampa Bay Lightning season recently started in a game against their playoff competitor, the New York Rangers. The Tampa Bay Lightning have been hard fighters for the past few years, making it to the playoffs and the Stanley Cup finals for multiple years. According to the Tampa Bay Lightning website, the regular season for the Tampa Bay Lightning will be 82 games in total with 41 games home and 41 games away. The regular season started on Oct. 11, 2022.
This year is the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 30th year anniversary. Over the last few years, Tampa as a whole has had the most memorable wins with its sports teams. One example of this would be the year the Lightning won the Stanley Cup, the Bucs won the Super Bowl, the Rays came close to winning the World Series, and the Rowdies won the Bronze trophy. The Tampa Bay Lightning started off Tampa’s winning streak with their Stanley Cup win.
As of Nov. 1, we are 10 games in with some good wins. According to the Tampa Bay Lightning website, we are at 6 wins and 4 loses. The Tampa Bay Lightning is third in the Eastern Conference.
Nov: Recently one of Tampa Bay Lightning’s star players, Victor Hedman, has been out of practices and games due to an upper-body injury that occurred during the game against the San Jose Sharks. He played in the game on Saturday, Nov. 5 against the Buffalo Sabres and seems like he’s back for good.
Zach Bogosian and Anthony Cirreli both had shoulder injuries and are in recovery. They haven’t played in the 2022-2023 season so far. On Nov. 21, Zach Bogosian played against the Boston Bruins at Home (Amalie Arena) back and healthy.
Mid-season report: According to the Tampa Bay Lightning website, the Tampa Bay Lightning are 3rd in their division along with 2nd place Toronto Maple Leafs and 1st place Boston Bruins. The Tampa Bay Lightning are 3rd in the Atlantic division because they have 29 wins out of 45 games and have 59 points (as of Jan. 23rd, 2023). The Captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning Steven Stamkos recently has been adding to the success of the Tampa Bay Lightning by surpassing 500 goals in under 1000 games. A couple of other key players that have helped the Tampa Bay Lightning are Brayden Point with his 27 goals scored (most on the team as of Jan. 23rd 2023) and Nikita Kucherov with his 66 points and 48 assists (most on the team as of Jan 23rd 2023). The Tampa Bay Lightning’s top 10 point scorers are; 1) Nikita Kucherov with 66 points, 2) Steven Stamkos with 54 points, 3) Brayden Point with 49 points, 4) Brandon Hagel with 39 points, 5) Alex Killorn with 33 points, 6) Mikhail Sergachev with 31 points, 7) Victor Herman with 31 points, 8) Nicholas Paul with 26 points, 9) Ross Colton with 18 points, and last but not least 10) Correy Perry with 16 points.
