April-May 2024 Issue 16
April-May 2024 Issue 16
Embedded Files
Dance Auditions
Melissa Gomes
In February, it was announced that opportunities would soon be available for those interested in taking dance as their physical education credit for the 24–25 school year. The Dance course is designed to last for a year and is based on the five strands outlined by the California State Framework for the Performing Arts. These strands encompass artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context, aesthetic valuing, and connections/relationships/applications.
The course aims to develop critical thinking skills through a standards-based learning process. Additionally, it focuses on the Physical Education Standards of California State, with a particular emphasis on flexibility, loco-motor development, and physical fitness components. The students will learn a variety of dance genres and become familiar with the vocabulary, techniques, and history of dance. They will develop their coordination skills while enhancing their creativity through dance expression.
The Beverly Vista Middle School dance course is a year-long program offering three learning levels. Dance 2 suits students with some dance experience and builds upon the knowledge gained in Dance 1. Auditions are required for this level. In Dance 2, students will learn jazz, ballet, lyrical, and modern dance styles. The course can be repeated for several semesters and has a mandatory end-of-year performance.
Dance 3, on the other hand, is a year-long program that also requires an audition and is recommended for students with advanced dance experience. This level expands upon the techniques and knowledge acquired in Dance 2. Students will learn multiple dance genres, delve deeper into dance terminology, technique, and history, and study Human Anatomy and Physiology for proper dance technique. Performance quality and opportunities will also be a focus in this course. Dance 3 includes jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and modern dance styles. The course can be repeated for multiple semesters and requires an end-of-year performance.
The dance auditions were held a few days ago this month, specifically for the students already taking the dance courses. However, auditions occurred yesterday, Wednesday, at the dance studio in building B (110) from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for those currently taking PE for Physical Education credit. If you missed the audition, do not worry! Ms. George said, "There will be a second chance soon when the fifth graders audition."
6th-Grade Soccer Team News
By Skylar Kelser
Beverly Middle School's 6th-grade soccer team played against Lennox Middle School. Although both schools were excellent, BVMS won by 4, and Lennox got the first goal right when the game started; just because they scored first does not mean that BVMS scored right after by Leena Mejia, a perfect goal straight through.
Lennox's goal almost went in, but our good defense stopped us from getting close to the penalty line. Kimberly Oyamo got through the defense, speeding and scoring a fantastic goal; the score is now 2 to 1, and we were all so proud. However, Lennox had a goal the team did not want to win, so Suri Dardashti got a hold of the ball and made a clean pass straight into the goal. BVMS made a comeback at 4 to 2 now; the team needed to keep it like that. Lennox made it through the goal, but they were offside, and the game ended. BVMS won; it was a great first game!
Creative Writing Elective
By Melissa Gomes
Have you ever considered taking a creative writing class? This class is perfect if you love writing and want to explore creativity. It is an elective full of freedom to express yourself uniquely. It is a place where creativity, inspiration, and exploration of literature come together.
The class provides a safe space to express yourself and experiment with different writing styles without fear of judgment. One of the best things about creative writing classes is that they are full of fun activities. You can play writing games, participate in writing prompts, and share your work with others.
The class encourages you to take risks and explore new ideas. You will be amazed at how much your writing improves when you let yourself be creative and try new things. You will learn to express your emotions, thoughts, and ideas through writing and build your self-confidence as a writer.
Aladdin School Musical
By Andrew Azizollahi
The school musical at BVMS was an exciting and entertaining experience. Mr. Pinto directed the musical, and Mrs. Taylor was the assistant director. The story of Aladdin is old, but it is still one of the best. The story behind Aladdin (the Disney version) is about a guy named Aladdin who finds a Magic Lamp that gives him wishes. He uses his wishes to try to win over a princess and uses the last wish out of pure kindness to let the Genie be free.
The acting by the students in the musical was phenomenal. Some of the best were Genie, played by Cora Azevedo, Aladdin, Elise Gallup, and Gabe, for part two of the show. The other actors I liked were the Guards, Enzo Z and Sogol. All the actors were terrific, and I may have missed some other great actors. The main thing I loved about the actors was how they added many funny parts to the script. This made it more interesting.
Next, all the costumes, props, music, and lights made it cool. They gave it a vibe that made you want to stay and watch the show. I enjoyed how the music started and stopped and how the background changed out of nowhere. Overall, I loved the effort put into the show.
Finally, I loved the show's beautiful singing. The solos and the many people singing did an amazing job. The musical theater teacher taught them very well. Some outstanding soloists, such as Mrs. Taylor (enter the soloist's names here, please), did an excellent job singing.
To wrap this up, Aladdin was an excellent show. I loved all the work, effort, and time people put into the performances. I hope the musical theater program continues its performances again next year. Lastly, thanks to the PTA for putting in so much work to make the show possible and spending time selling the candy and tickets.
Wellness Wednesdays
By Mazu Rakhsha
Wellness Wednesdays are hosted weekly during advisory, allowing students to engage in a relaxing activity during the school week. Through activities like designing essential oil rollers or stress balls, the advisory sessions encourage students to prioritize their Wellness and ease of mind. If you are interested, this is all you need to know about Wellness Wednesdays:
How do I sign up? Whenever an activity is being hosted, all students receive an email invitation requesting they sign up. Often, the influx of interested students exceeds the event's capacity, so it is best to be on the lookout for these invitations and, after noticing one, reply as quickly as possible to be guaranteed a spot.
Why should I join? The activities at Wellness Wednesday are intended to be enjoyable and serve as an excellent way to spend free time during advisory if a student needs to complete homework or assignments. Moreover, it is an opportunity to socialize and engage with friends in a peaceful environment outside of class.
What types of activities are offered? While the activities at Wellness Wednesday vary, students are expected to engage in something crafty and creative that promotes their long-term mental well-being. Examples include the session where students developed an essential oil roller unique to their tastes, encouraging them to mix many oils and create their ideal scent. However, if an activity seems unappealing for one week, students can choose which sessions they want to attend. You can just sign up if you feel particularly excited about the week's event.
Overall, Wellness Wednesdays are among the most rewarding self-care opportunities available at the school. They provide students with a peaceful, undisturbed time to interact with their peers and be creative, as well as encourage the fostering of regular self-care habits. Most importantly, the wellness activities provided are fun, and during a week that seems longer than it is, they can act as perfect de-stressing times for students. If you have not attended, consider checking out an upcoming Wellness Wednesday event–it may turn out even better than expected.
What To Expect As A Sixth Grader
By Andrew Azizollahi
BMVS is such a fantastic school, and I started last year. I am now a 7th grader ready for a new year, and this is excellent advice for incoming 6th graders. This is a guide to Beverly Vista Middle School, filled with everything from the fantastic school lunch to how to study correctly.
If you are a 6th grader, you have already picked your electives in school and are probably excited. Unless you want to, I don’t recommend picking electives that have work that you may find tricky (which I have asked friends to see if they are), such as coding, band, orchestra, Hebrew, Spanish, and French. (You can take most languages in the summer.)
Next, all the clubs are exciting, such as mock trials, newspapers, literary magazines, care clubs, improv, chess, games clubs, and more, which you can find at https://bvms.bhusd.org/. Unlike electives, clubs are not mandatory; however, if you want something fun to do to fill some time, I would join one.
Finally, studying habits and honors are the most important. School is less severe in 6th grade, but you should still put your best into it. There are many important tips for studying. I will talk about staying within the last couple of days to study for a test or quiz. When your teacher explains something, you should listen and take notes. I promise this will help you immensely in the long run. Honors classes aren’t significant, so don’t worry if you don’t get into any, but I recommend taking all the honors classes you get into (there are four honors classes) unless you feel like it will be too stressful for you. If you want to know more about honors and have questions, I would ask a family member or friend.
BVMS is a beautiful school filled with exciting electives, clubs, and fun activities. Have a great one, and don’t forget to try your best.
How To Stay Organized And On Top Of Schoolwork
By Bann Jabari
Staying organized is one thing, but getting good grades is a lot to handle. With so many assignments, projects, and tests to manage, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. However, using good organizational strategies makes it possible to stay on top of schoolwork and do well in your classes.
To do this, use a planner or digital calendar to track when your assignments are due, when tests are happening, and when projects need to be finished. Break significant assignments into smaller parts and give each part a deadline. This will help you avoid rushing at the last minute and stay on top of your work. Also, could you make a schedule for when to study and do your assignments and try to do it at the same time every day to get into a good habit?
Taking notes during class helps you get better grades. Why? Because every day after school, you can take some time to review the notes. Now, plain notes are boring occasionally, so I recommend making your notes however you want. Add doodles and organize them with colorful sticky notes. It doesn't matter if you can see the notes and you like the layout; it is perfect. This will help with your grades.
Another thing that will help is organizing your backpack. This seems more like an optional thing, but it is crucial. You can always find your homework, papers, and pencils when you organize your backpack. For example, if you can’t find your homework in your backpack, that might affect your grade.
To sum it up, organizing your school stuff, making a study schedule, and keeping good notes can help you do well in school. It might seem like a lot, but if you break it down and do a little bit daily, it can make a big difference.
Los Angeles County of Education (LACOE)
Winners of Anti-Vaping Contest
Saanvi Jha (8th Grade) Winner
Backstory Submission for Juniper
Juniper Pshzing
Juniper Pshzing, also known as Junie, was born on an alien planet. Although the original name is unknown, it is often called “The Wastelands.” Due to the high concentration of nicotine in the atmosphere, it was nearly unlivable. Inhabitants of the planet were required to wear gas masks at all times to avoid premature death. Junie believed this was normal, and she just had to bear this. Still, growing up, she heard tales of far-away planets with thriving ecosystems and crisp air. Junie had a strong faith in these fairytales.
Her peers and family discouraged her, telling her to stop chasing fantasies and plant her feet into the real world. Still, Juniper did not let their words get to her head. Juniper held one thing close to her heart: her roller skates. If she were to escape her planet, her transportation would be roller skating. She would slip into her boots daily, attempting to break through her atmosphere and enter the outside universe.
She broke one of her horns through these attempts, but this did not stop her. This could not stop her. This was a matter of life and death. Every day, her planet’s stability was degrading, the toxic gasses were slipping through their masks, and more of her community was crumbling. If Juniper were to die, she would instead it happen for what she is fighting for.
One faithful day, Juniper launched herself at such a speed that she’d managed to break through. Junie had never seen such a bright spectacle of colors and lights. She was overwhelmed and ecstatic. Roaming the newfound planets and making new connections with their inhabitants, Juniper made some troubling discoveries.
The youth of these planets were on their way to replicating the outcome of Junie’s home. They were unaware of the harm their flavored air and tobacco were causing to themselves and their environment. Junie made it her life mission to traverse these unique planets and teach them the harm of indulging in nicotine-based products.
Liana Carrel (7th Grade) Winner
Backstory Submission for Globey
Globey lives in Los Angeles County. Globey is happy, likes to have fun, and is optimistic about the future. Globey represents a cleaner, healthier, tobacco-free earth.
BVMS BARKER
STAFF WRITERS
Ashton Amirianfar
Andrew Azizollahi
Kyla Bijari
Mimi Bitton
Jordana Danielpour
Sofia Gagunashvili
Melisa Gomes
Bann Jabari
Skylar Kesler
Mazu Rakhsha
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