Book Comparison: 

The Hunger Games vs. The Giver

People who prefer The Hunger Games book: in Newspaper Club: 7

People who prefer The Giver book: 4

More popular book: The Hunger Games

People who prefer The Hunger Games movie: 7

People who prefer The Giver movie: 1

More popular movie: The Hunger Games

So you want to work with art? 

There are plenty of jobs out there that involve art! Read more to find out...

1. Storyboard artist - Storyboard artists draw the layout for each frame in 2D animation. Storyboard artists are required to be skilled in composition and drawing various things. They often work for 2D animated tv shows, animated music videos, etc

2. Concept artists - Concept artists create concept art. Think of concept art as art intended to create visual concepts that will be  used to create the final product. Concept artists will draw concept art for character designs, settings, weapons, and other ideas that do not have a concrete concept in visual form yet. Concept artists often work for video games and animated television. 

3. Character designers - Character designers create the character designs of characters. Character designs are the visual appearance of characters. Character designs are often used to differentiate the characters from each other and also convey personalities or other knowledge about the characters that is supposed to get across to the viewers. Character designers are required to have concrete knowledge on color theory, shape language, and other aspects. Character designers sometimes work with concept artists if the concept artists are told to create concepts for the designs. Other times character designers are required to design the character designs with no concept art. This is when the character designers create the concept art for the character designs. Character designers often work for video games and animated television.

4. Art directors - Art directors are the leaders in the project of the production of the visuals. They direct the employees under them. Art directors will need knowledge on sometimes all the aspects of the creation of visuals for their media. Art directors are required to have great communication skills. They may use them to get everyone on the same page at times. 

5. Colorist - Colorists help the graphic novel artist or the illustrator with coloring the book. Some graphic artists and illustrators will hire or work with colorists who help color. Colorists are often hired to save time. Art students fresh out of college hunting for a studio job may turn to jobs like being a colorist to pay the bills in the meantime. 

6. Graphic designers - Graphic designers create the designs for products. Graphic design itself is filled with many jobs. Graphic designers can be thought of as a group of jobs all requiring graphic design. One job involving graphic design is the niche logo designer. Logo designers design logos for companies. Graphic designers- especially those who do freelance work often work for many graphic design jobs.

Halloween history!

By Jesse L.

Halloween has just come to an end, but knowing the history behind it will make you cooler. So let’s get straight into it: Halloween’s history dates back to the year 609. It was never called Halloween or anything similar to that. It was originally known as All Saints Day and All Souls Day, a day to honor the saints and souls. But, the day before All Saints Day is known as All Hallow’s Eve. People would dress up as ghosts and monsters to welcome souls. This tradition was brought to the United States during the immigration era of the 1900s. Eventually, it became known as Halloween. Now, people go from house to house for candy, which is trick or treating. The goblin and ghost costumes they wore are now costumes like skeletons, witches, princesses, superheroes, etc. In fact, the Jack-o-lanterns we make from pumpkins were once used to scare souls away. They weren’t even pumpkins! They were turnips, a vegetable that tastes worse than pumpkins. Pretty cool, huh? Happy (very late) Halloween!

Chicken or the egg? 

By Olivia and Sofia 

One of the biggest unanswered questions is, what came first... the chicken or the egg? Well, today is your lucky day because you will find out. Whoever said the chicken came first…..is wrong. According to Google, “The egg came first. Eggs were around way before chickens even existed.” Another reason is that since eggs are less complex than chickens (they are not fully developed) they can be manipulated more easily to fit the characteristics of a “chicken”. So if you chose the egg, congratulations you are right! 

Asian American & Pacific islander heritage month (may)

By Vivienne

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, or AAPI Heritage Month, is a time in which we celebrate the Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. AAPI Heritage Month is from May 1 to May 31. The term Asian/Pacific is a rather broad term, and encompasses the whole Asian continent as well as the Pacific Islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, and Fiji), and Polynesia (New Zealand, Rotuma, Hawaiian Islands, Samoa, Midway Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga, American Samoa, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, and Easter Island). Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month started off in 1977 when Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced a resolution that proclaimed the first ten days of May Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. During the next decade, presidents passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week until 1992 when Congress passed Public Law 102-450. This designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. The month of May was chosen as AAPI Heritage Month in order to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States, which was on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which was on May 10, 1869, since the majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. Through this month, we are able to celebrate the diversity of our culture, and the many achievements and contributions that the AAPI community has made for our nation. (source 1 / source 2) 

arab american heritage month (april) 

By Symone

Arab American Heritage Month is nationally recognized in April every year. It celebrates Arab-speaking Americans and Arab Americans' contributions to the United States. The origins of Arab American Heritage Month go back to the 1990s when it was observed mostly in schools around the country because of the presence of people of Middle Eastern descent in the United States. Arab Americans that are of Middle Eastern origin first came to America in the 1800s. There was an influx of Arab immigrants from Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, and Palestine during the 1940s and 1960s. Now, over 4 million Arab Americans live in the United States today, holding occupations in the entertainment business, politics and military.

The history of greek mythology 

By Symone

The earliest Greek myths were part of an oral tradition that started in the Bronze Age (approx. 3300 BCE - 1200 BCE) and these myths slowly incorporated themselves into the written literature of the ancient Mediterranean world. A Greek poet, Homer’s, epics from the 8th century BCE, The Odyssey and The Iliad, tell the tale of the Trojan War as a human and as well as a divine one. However, they don’t introduce the gods and goddesses who are the main characters in the stories since the listeners and readers of these stories would have been familiar with them already. Around the year 700 BCE, Theogony, by the poet Hesiod, told the first written origin story of Greek mythology. Theogony tells a story of the universe’s transfer from Chaos, or nothingness, into life, and it features an intricate family tree of gods, goddesses, and elements who grew from Chaos and descended from Ouranos (Sky), Tartaros (Underworld), Pontos (Sea), and Gaia (Earth). Greek artists and writers later used and expanded upon these sources in their own ways as well as work. For example, mythological incidents and characters make an appearance in the 5th-century plays of Euripides, Aeschylus, and Sophocles. They also appeared in the lyrical poems of Pindar. Also, some writers such as the 1st-century BCE Roman historian Gaius Julius Hyginus and 2nd-century BCE Greek mythographer Apollodorus of Athens put together ancient legends and myths for audiences. 

international night

By Vivienne

On January 26, from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M., Northvale Public School held International Day in the gym. There, 15 tables were set up to represent 15 different countries to share their different foods and cultures. These 15 countries were Albania, Armenia, Chile, China, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Moldova, Pakistan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey. The gym was covered in colorful balloons and flags of countries from all over the world. The tables served all kinds of delicious foods like bulgogi from South Korea and baked ziti from Italy. There were also many exciting performances like the fashion show, where people dressed up in their culture’s traditional clothing and educated spectators about the cultural significance, and the thrilling taekwondo performance from Master J Taekwondo Academy. Although the night was a very festive and enjoyable time, sadly International Day had to come to an end. However, after all the fun-packed activities and fascinating new knowledge learned about countries around the world, we will all hope to see another International Day in the future.

Endangered Animals 

By Nver

Halloween

      On October 31, people celebrate the holiday of Halloween, where people dress themselves in fun costumes and knock from door-to-door getting candy. Something many people may not know is the origin of Halloween. Halloween dates back to over 2,000 years ago, making it older than Christianity itself. This holiday started as a Pre-Christian Celtic festival called Samhain, which means “summer's end”. The people believed that around the first of November, the veil between the living world and the spirit world grew thinnest, so they celebrated this festival to recognize the last day of fall harvest and spirits crossing over. People in places like Ireland, the UK, and Northern France tried to ward off ghosts by lighting sacrificial bonfires and wearing costumes in an act to trick the spirits.

Veterans Day

      On November 11, Veterans Day is celebrated. Veterans Day is a day for honoring military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Although Veterans Day and Memorial Day tend to get mixed up, they aren’t the same. While Veterans Day honors all military veterans, including the ones that are still with us, Memorial Day honors soldiers who have died in service. Originally, Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, and it was created to honor fallen soldiers of World War I. In 1926, Congress adopted a resolution that requested annual proclamations on November 11, which would make Armistice Day a legal holiday. In 1945, World War II veteran Raymond Weeks had the idea to make Armistice Day a day to celebrate all veterans rather than just the ones who died in World War I. So, on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor all American veterans of all wars, which is the Veterans Day that we know today.

Kwanzaa

      From December 26 to January 1, Kwanzaa is celebrated. Kwanzaa is an African-American celebration that uses rituals to welcome the first harvests to the home. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. A professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University named Dr. Maulana Karenga created the holiday in 1966. On each of the seven days of the holiday, the family gathers and a child lights one candle on the Kinara (candleholder), then one of the seven principles is discussed. These seven principles are called the Nguzo Saba (seven principles in Swahili). They are values of African culture and help to build and reinforce community among African-Americans. The seven principles are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). 

Sources: Cornell , Thinkinsights, Wikipedia (image). 

Spread Kindness!

By Evelynne

Study tips! 

By Santiago 

2020-2021

December 31, 2019 - Contraction

As a novel coronavirus was recognized, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in China noticed a strange pattern in recent pneumonia cases. These cases were all derived from one source, one which is still coming under speculation in terms of its specific origin. 

January 21, 2020 - The First Case Reaches the United States

After returning from Wuhan on January 15, a resident from Washington state had contracted Sars-Covid 19. The United States would later come to trace back the dates in which this person came into contact with other civilians. They were the first identified American to have contracted the virus. 

February 2, 2020 - International Air Travel is Suspended.

With tensions rising high, several countries such as Australia, Germany, and Italy began to restrict air travel from their own and other countries. This goes without mentioning that airports across the globe began to adapt to undergoing health screenings as passengers would arrive, as well as enforcing strong two week quarantine policies.

February 3 — The United States Recognizes the Pandemic as a Public Health Emergency

3 days after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the Pandemic was characterized as a Global Health Emergency, the Trump Administration took the same approach. They announced that the United States was at the verge of a public health emergency, that the coronavirus outbreak was and would continue to affect the nation as a whole. By then, there were 9,800 confirmed cases and over 200 deaths worldwide.

March 11, 2020 - Concerns Rise, the Beginning of a National Pandemic.

The WHO deemed that the COVID-19 outbreak be identified as a national, worldwide pandemic. Both the levels in which the virus would spread and its alarming impact on civilians amounted to the declaration.

March 18, 2020 - Cooperation

The WHO and its partners introduce the Solidarity Trial, a global clinical trial that seeked to amalgamate the data from countries around the world to hopefully formulate effect remedies and treatments  for COVID-19.

December 11, 2020 — The Vaccines Have Arrived

Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use, with the Moderna Vaccine coming not long after. On December 18, 2020, the world had two available vaccines for emergency purposes.

Today - A Promising Future

With the Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines being available to the public as of a few months prior, and the availability of a Pfizer vaccine to children above the age of 12 also being an option for families, several have been able to protect both themselves and others from this Pandemic. Clinical trials of new vaccines for ages 12 and under have also been in progress for quite some time. But with all of this emphasis on the general progress with this global pandemic, one must also be sure to emphasize the significance of the general public’s contribution. 

At the end of the day, however, these dates might not be remembered, nor acknowledged much other than by the fact that they were. Not only that, but many will continue to assume that only a singular group of individuals helped us progress through this journey. That is nothing short of a misconception, for it was our families, healthcare and social workers, friends and strangers who helped us overcome this pandemic, a pandemic that has come to show the best and worst in every individual.

Overcoming the Pandemic: Our Journey: Source 1  Source 2 

Benefits

• For one, one learns to connect with others. Being able to do such a thing is one of the main aspects of what makes us human, and it allows one to attain new knowledge of the world around them. In fact, being able to connect can help bring people together, establish lifelong friendships, and cultivate a much wider mindset.

• Secondly, if one looks at the academic benefits, learning a new language can broaden one’s opportunities in the workplace. Today, having a second language is seen as a “competitive advantage”, being one of the top eight skills any working person can have. Moreover, learning a new language can also enhance creativity and memory. Studies have shown that through the retention of vocabulary, one is teaching the brain how to recall information through repetition.  As mentioned before, though, it also improves your cognitive skills and allows one to see things from a different perspective.

• Finally, another benefit that one earns is gaining perspective. When one learns a second language, they can open their mind to a new culture and new way of being. There’s no doubt that with every language comes something different, something that perhaps one has never been exposed to before, but, of course, this can be a positive thing, for it opens one’s eyes to new things.

How to Learn a New Language: 

Now, if you wish to learn a new language, there are several ways you can go about it. Firstly, you can set goals for yourself, so that you can begin to organize your time and be realistic about what you can accomplish. Then, begin to find ways in which you can immerse yourself into that language. Whether it be an online resource, a video course, or simply a how-to book, there are several manners in which you can achieve fluency. Eventually, through that persistence, chances are you will be able to retain the language quicker. And, one day, that goal might just become reality.

Article by Belen 

(Source: leadwithlanguages.org)

Myth: The Pilgrims were the first ones to hold a Thanksgiving feast. 

Fact:Texans have insisted that the first Thanksgiving, in actuality, had occurred at a town near El Paso, Texas, in 1598. The Pilgrim’s feast followed this event twenty-three years after the Texans’ celebration. History News Network, a website run by the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences from George Washington University provides the following information: Allegedly, the Texans had created their version of Thanksgiving to commemorate the return of Spanish explorer Juan de Onate. This was done on the banks of the Rio Grande, and de Onate supposedly formed a “big Thanksgiving festival after leading hundreds of settlers on a grueling 350-mile long trek across the Mexican desert.”

Myth: There is no evidence that shows that Native Americans were ever welcomed. 

Fact: Many believe that the Pilgrims delivered an invitation out to the Native Americans, who were, indeed, assisting them in their intentions to reap their harvest. However, the fact is that no one knows how the Pilgrims and natives met together for the big Thanksgiving feast. Katie Sheehan,  a spokeswoman for Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum in Plymouth, even stated, “The English-written record does not mention an invitation, and Wampanoag oral tradition does not seem to reach back to this event.”

Myth: The Pilgrims and Native Americans ate turkey at this celebration. 

Fact: It seems like the celebration would have been filled with dishes containing turkey since the bird is such a common staple on most dining tables. However, it is actually unknown whether the Pilgrims and their guests truly dined on turkey or not. Lots of common dishes associated with Thanksgiving were actually unattainable for the pilgrims. For example, historians have discovered that they did not have access to apples, corn on the cob, cranberries, and potatoes. On the other hand, historians are certain that the attendees of the feast ate deer, which is not generally associated with today’s modern Thanksgiving. The way we celebrate Thanksgiving today is heavily based off of how the Victorians prepared their meals for Thanksgiving. For example, they cooked both turkey and dishes containing cranberries, which we know that the Pilgrims and Native Americans did not have access to.

Myth: Thanksgiving was started as a way to express gratitude for family. 

Fact: If this assertion was true, then it is highly unlikely that the Native Americans and the Pilgrims would have eaten together. This is simply because the two groups of people are certainly not related to each other. Therefore, they are not family. The real reason that the celebration occurred was a way to celebrate that year’s successful harvest.