Wapiti Weekly April 17, 2020 - Faculty of the Week - The Winchendon School
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Wapiti Weekly
April 17, 2020
Faculty of the Week
By: Kylee McCumber
This week Wapiti Weekly would like to highlight our College Counseling Department. The College Counseling team includes Mr. Lambert, Mrs.
Chretien, and Mrs. Harrington. This team works with each and every student throughout their time at the Winchendon School to prepare them for college.
While your involvement with the College Counseling Department becomes more prominent in your junior and senior years, Mrs. Harrington commented,
“As we have moved towards becoming a "younger" school with many more students starting as freshmen, every year is memorable. I get so much pleasure
from watching the kids throughout their four years mature and take that final step of graduation and moving on to college!” The College Counselors are an
amazing resource to help you through the college process, especially if you do not know where to begin, they will also be a support system for you in that
process. Mr. Lambert highlighted his love for helping students by stating, “Helping students take ownership of their college process, watching them grow
and mature from junior to senior year, and supporting each student however I can.” When asked to speak to her experience working in College Counseling,
Mrs. Chretien states, “I really enjoy working with students because it’s always changing. Of course, being part of someone finding their dream school and
gaining acceptance is pretty awesome, but it is equally satisfying helping students uncover a school or program they didn’t know about.” Our College
Counselors are an amazing resource that a lot of schools do not have for their students. The entire College Counseling team truly goes above and beyond to
help make sure that students are going to attend the right college or university in the fall after graduation. Thank you so much for all of your hard work!
Alumni of the Week
By: Emma Landry
Graduating in the year 2016, Max MacKenzie has been pursuing an impressive career in acting since his time at The Winchendon School. Max was born
in Chicago, Illinois but lived in Newton, Massachusetts for much of his life before coming to Winchendon in his sophomore year of high school. While at
Winchendon, MacKenzie’16 participated in the school’s seasonal musical and play, advancing Winchendon’s theatre program and fostering a dedication to
excellence among his peers.
Shortly after graduating, Max landed the role of Jesse Peterson in the film Just Say Goodbye. Just Say Goodbye is an independent feature film written by
Layla O’Shea that follows the story of a teenage boy -- Jesse Peterson -- who confesses to his best friend that he plans to commit suicide. The film was
released in May of 2017 and saw instant success, securing a premiere at the Regency Theater, Valley Plaza 6 in North Hollywood, followed by a week-long
screening in Los Angeles. MacKenzie’s performance played an instrumental role in the film’s success, as he personified an inspiring and heartening
character struggling with a pervasive issue in today’s society. The film opened the door for the young people to have conversations about an all-too-real that
many face, a crucial step in destigmatizing mental health issues.
Max can also be seen as Markus Roth on the series Hunters, which premiered in February of 2020. Hunters is a drama series about Nazi hunters that
learn of Nazi officials residing in New York City in 1977 and affirm to take down the newly forming Fourth Reich. Both Just Say Goodbye and Hunters can
be streamed on Amazon Prime. In addition to pursuing a career in acting, Max is currently enrolled in Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York and
will be graduating in their class of 2020.
Winch News
By: Emma Landry and Jonathan Roman
For the Jewish students at Winchendon, last Wednesday and Thursday were the nights of Passover. The holiday of Passover retells the story of Exodus
that tells the story of the Jewish people being liberated from Egypt. During the celebration, there is a two-night meal called a seder usually celebrated at a
temple or at home with family. This special meal re-tells that same story throughout the duration of the seder. In the center of many of these seders is a large
plate with various foods that symbolizes many aspects of the Exodus story. One of the most significant foods is matzah which is unleavened bread. Matzah
is significant because it represents how the Jewish people left Egypt so quickly that they did not have time to raise their bread and instead unleavened their
bread to save time. Passover is a holiday that reminds the Jewish people of their past of once being slaves in Egypt and how since their freedom to help free
people who are being oppressed today.
For Christian students at Winchendon, this past weekend also marked a special holiday in their faith. Easter weekend traditions began on April 9th,
which is remembered by Christians as The Last Supper. For Christians, the Thursday before Easter marks the day that Jesus ate his last feast with the 12
Apostles. The event is portrayed through one of the world’s most famous paintings done by Leonardo Da Vinci. On April 10th, Good Friday occurred,
which is a fundamental part of the Christian faith as it is a remembrance of the day that Jesus Christ was crucified and died. It is a solemn day for Christians,
some of whom fast, pray, and meditate each year on this day. Following Good Friday, Easter was celebrated on Sunday, April 12th. Easter is a joyous day
for Christians because it is a commemoration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Many Christians start the day by attending a sunrise mass and carry out
celebrations throughout the day. For members of the Winchendon community observing Passover and Easter this weekend, the long weekend that students
and faculty were given was especially valuable to allow those who practice a religion to celebrate an important time in their faith.
Navy Lives or Saving Face?
By:Bradley Bigelow
COVID-19 has been tough on the individual American alone; adapting to staying home, getting food, and even touching a public door handle
has been a challenge for many. However, a dynamic everyone fails to see in times of crisis is our national security. The US military, commonly
regarded as a superpower in many regions, is also affected by Coronavirus. This makes protecting the nation difficult, as the country must aid
sick personnel as well as staying vigilant in case there are threats to our homeland. In one such case, a moral conflict appears in a peculiar yet
testing way.
Recently, a US Aircraft carrier operating in international waters was struck by the virus. With the tight living spaces that naval vessels have,
the virus began to spread rapidly. Fearing that this situation would get exponentially worse, Capt. Brett Crozier, the commander of the carrier at
the time, sent an email directly to Naval leadership. The letter voiced his concerns for the well-being of his crew, which consisted of both Sailors
and Marines. This letter was sent over a “non-secure unclassified email” to a broad array of people,” according to Thomas Modly, the acting
navy secretary. The email was leaked to the press and consequently sounded an alarm that a US Carrier was combat ineffective. In total, 93 of the
crew were tested positive for COVID-19, and 1,000 more were required to disembark and quarantine in Guam. More are expected to disembark
the carrier leaving behind a small crew to run the ship. Capt. Crozier was relieved of his post on April 2nd, although he is still serving in the
Navy under the rank of Captain. Since then, Capt. Crozier himself has tested positive for the virus. One crew member, a sailor, has died from the
virus; their name will not be released to the press until the family is notified. There are multiple other events that transpired in light of this event
including the Secretary of the Navy being cut loose over comments regarding the captain.
So why is it controversial? Capt. Crozier, no doubt, had good intentions for his crew and the US as a whole. That is undeniable. However, in
doing so, Crozier raised a public alarm that a ship that is crucial to the ability of the US to respond to an overseas incident with power was not
only rendered powerless but ultimately combat ineffective (this term refers to a unit of the military that for whatever reason cannot perform its
duties in combat). In this incident, two questions are brought up: Is Capt. Crozier, a hero? Another subliminal message to account for: Is there
something the Navy cannot tell us? Yet this calls a moral dilemma that has forever plagued war back into question: Do orders come above
preventable harm to the men?
There are a multitude of practical reasons that Capt. Crozier should be relieved from his post, and possibly even his command. Crozier alerted
the world that the convoy he was a part of was inherently unable to operate. As one may predict, this can cause problems in the areas the convoy
was running in (the Pacific ocean, near Guam). Also, Capt. Crozier was clearly out of line for the Navy’s standard procedure of classified
communication, using an unclassified email with little regard to how public the information in it could become (sources state that the letter was
also strongly worded, although that is not of importance). Such alarm is a threat to national and global security, which is counteracting the
Navy’s global mission of peace. As acting secretary Modly stated, it also “unnecessarily raised the alarm of the families of our sailors and
marines.” Military families already face the stress that their loved one could be in harm’s way, which this situation presumably worsened for
them. While it is easy to look at what Capt. Crozier did wrong; it would be unjust to ignore what he did right.
Capt. Crozier may have seriously breached naval protocol, but he is hailed as a hero amongst both the crew of the ship and many stateside.
Crozier saved hundreds of lives by this alarm. For the sake of argument, in a situation where Capt. Crozier didn’t raise the signal to the Navy
high command, the ship would have had to remain at sea until the crew had been severely crippled due to the virus. The death toll would have
been significant, and the ship would be in worse condition. Crozier was motivated to alert high command by the health and well being of his
subordinates: those are the sailors and marines that look to him as their commander. Those who were sick were already combat ineffective and
were in immediate need of treatment. Crozier was looking out for the ship’s long term effectiveness, as well as his sailors, which is arguably
more important than immediate naval protocol.
Additionally, there is a chance that Crozier followed protocol, but the issue was deprioritized by the Naval High Command. “My guess is that he
tried it the proper way” comments an anonymous former US military officer. “A guy at that level of command knows the procedure… I would
speculate that he tried to address it properly through his chain of command.” With this speculation, and the reasoning that it fits the situation, it is
safe to theorize that Naval High Command did not pay it’s due attention to a properly communicated message from the Captain. The situation
was likely deprioritized, prompting Crozier to take a more aggressive measure of communication, reasoning that the immediate safety of his crew
was at risk. We can only theorize that this is likely what happened. The Navy cannot confirm or deny that because the message was classified.
This all roots back to the forever question: Do orders come above preventable harm to the men? A ship’s captain is trusted to make the right
decisions for the ship and its crew; the same is true for Lieutenants with platoons, and squadron leaders with flights. The captain has a duty to
follow orders and maintain national security, as that is what is in the job description. However, the captain also has a duty to his men, to ensure
that their wellbeing is in order so that such tasks as combat can be performed. This duty is oftentimes forgotten by leaders who throw their
subordinates into dangerous situations without taking into account what it could do to them. Capt. Crozier was caught between the two
contradicting duties when he received word that the virus had reached his ship. He knew that if he didn’t act, his crew would be in peril. It was
his actions that let the ship dock, and the well being of the men be maintained. Capt. Crozier did his duty to his men by ensuring their welfare. So
to answer that question: in this instance, it orders did not come over the wellbeing of the men. As for whether he is a hero is up to speculation. To
many military families, and those of the crew, he is undoubtedly a hero and incredibly well respected. To other high ranking naval officers, he
may be considered reckless and a liability. However, to his crew, he is one of the finest Naval officers to ever embark on a ship.
What to Do Before Bed? What to Zoom?
By: Sarah Irenshtain By: Ephraim Boamah
It's late in the evening. You're still working on that last assignment Are you bored at home? If so, explore the array of engaging activities
you have for your hardest class, you pull out your phone for just a that will bring you closer to your friends and family as we all embrace
few more minutes and all of the sudden you realize that it's way past social distancing. Fun and exciting activities such as karaoke and
a reasonable hour to go to bed. It seems like an endless cycle of trivia can all be done via.
losing track of time, waking up late, and losing precious hours of Set up a meeting with your friends, family, or loved ones and share
productivity during your morning. What if there was a better way? your screen to play trivia by using TriviaMaker.Com. You can also
What if you could plan your time, and avoid the reckless chaos of a indulge in a Pictionary -style game via zoom, or you can grab your
poor nightly routine. hairbrush and sing along with your friends on zoom karaoke.
Creating a schedule is a crucial step in a beneficial nighttime Houseparty, which is available on IOS, Android, Chromebook, and
routine, making decisions about what deserves your time and how Mac, allows you to play games while face-timing. Games such as
much of it. Maybe you need fifteen minutes for your skincare heads up, quick draw, and finish the song lyrics are all available for
routine, twenty for some meditation, and another ten to drink your you to explore and relieve some stress in this current climate.
tea. Setting aside time beforehand allows you to stay on top of However, if you are looking for a more relaxed environment, join
everything you would like to get done before you begin snoozing. Ms. Claude on her zoom meditations or Mrs. Harrington or Ms. Loy’s
Another tip to keep in mind when getting ready for bed is that you yoga workouts. We all must try as much as we can to connect with
should refrain from being on your phone for an hour before going to others responsibly. If all the above does not sound like something that
sleep. Studies have shown that avoiding technology before sleep can you would like to do, I encourage you to take a step outside to enjoy
lead to a better night's rest. the fresh air of Spring and listen to the birds singing.
Getting a headstart on the list of things you have to do in the
morning is always a good idea. You can do this by prepping your
outfits before going to bed. Deciding what you want to wear the
following day removes some stress from your morning routine and
helps you go to sleep with more ease.
What to Read? What to Watch?
By: Sarah Irenshtain By: Kylee McCumber
Quarantining ourselves has allocated us lots of spare time. As COVID-19 and quarantine continue, I wanted to share with you
Thereare many ways this time can be spent. You may have been all some amazing shows to watch on Netflix, if you have not seen them
flipping between tv show channels or have seen the next episode already. One of my all-time favorites that I have been watching and
button on Netflix so many times that you feel like you're withering eagerly awaiting the new seasons as they are released is Money Heist,
from your boredom. Here's another idea: try picking up a book! also known as Casa de Papel. Money Heist was originally recorded in
Many might not consider themselves the type to read for enjoyment, Spanish and shown in Spain; however, the reviews were horrendous,
or find it hard enough to pick up a book for their school work that resulting in it getting taken off the air. Once Netflix picked up the
they almost abhor starting one at all. However, everyone can enjoy show, it became a household name. Money Heist focuses on a group of
reading if they find the right book! Now is such a great time to individuals who are highly talented in illegal activities. One man, the
productively better yourself and expand your knowledge through Professor, unities the team to pull off amazing heists, such as the Royal
reading. It's the absolute best way to broaden your vocabulary. Mint of Spain. The storyline includes personal stories between
During this time, it may be best to find books that interest you based characters, love affairs, and a lot of action!
on themes you would like to explore, such as motivation, focus, and Another show that recently released their third season is Ozark.
ambition. Currently, I'm reading a book titled "Mindset: The New Ozark follows a family from Chicago, Illinois to Ozark Lake, Missouri.
Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck. This book has helped me The father, Marty Byrde, is a money launderer and is responsible for
change my perspective on how to deal with setbacks, triumphs and washing money for the Navarro Cartel, based in Mexico. However,
failures. Another book that is topping the charts currently is "Little once the family arrives in the Ozarks, they are faced with competition
fires everywhere" by Celeste Ng. against a family that owns a heroine farm. Throughout the storyline, the
Another idea of what to keep up with is the news. There are Byrde family faces challenges they never thought they would encounter
plenty of articles to make sure you are in the know of what's going from losing loved ones, unlikely friendships, fighting off the federal
on in the world. Another option is finding a podcast like "The Daily" agents, and much more. This is a show that will keep you on the edge
by The New York Times, to hear about worldly events. of your seat the entire time.
I encourage you all to try and allocate time in your day to find Both of these shows are easy to binge watch as they grab your
literature that you love and dive into it! attention from the first episode. I can assure you that by watching
Money Heist and Ozark, your time in quarantine will be much more
enjoyable!
This Day in Sports History
By: Max Caouette
On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black player of the 20th century to sign an MLB contract. Noticing Jackie’s incredible
.349 batting average and .985 fielding percentage, Branch Rickey, the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers at the time, bought out his contract
from the Montreal Royals. Understanding how difficult it would be to make this move permanent, he made Robinson swear to not fight back
towards those who used racial slurs. Robinson would go on to encounter many strenuous situations with different personnel of the MLB
whether that be opponents, teammates, or the fans of the sport. He and his family received threats on countless occasions, but this did not stop
Jackie. In his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was named Rookie of the Year as he led the National League in stolen bases and
batted a solid average of .297 with 12 home runs. After helping the Dodgers win the World Series in 1955, he would later retire earning an
astonishing career statline. He had a .311 batting average, 137 HRs, 1,518 hits, 734 RBIs, 194 stolen bases, and a .409 on-base percentage over
a decade of playing for the Dodgers. Later on, in 1962, Jackie Robinson was the first African American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of
Fame. Ten years later, the Dodgers hung jersey number 42 in the stadium, commemorating Jackie for all that he had done for the sport during
his career. His success in the MLB provided an opportunity for other African American players to join professional sports in the future.
New York Rangers’ K’Andre Miller is the Subject of Racial Slurs
By: Emma Landry
K’Andre Miller is twenty years old and originates from St.Paul, Minnesota. After a successful college hockey career at the University of
Wisconsin, Miller was drafted by the New York Rangers as 22nd overall in the 2018 NHL draft. The NHL has suspended all operations since
March 12th due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Teams have still been interacting with the hockey community and their fans through
remote operations, such as social media and Zoom meetings.
The New York Rangers hosted a Zoom conference call featuring K’Andre Miller this past week, in which Miller was able to introduce himself
to fans through a question-and-answer style session. During the Zoom conference, an anonymous hacker repeatedly posted racial slurs on the
forum that were aimed at Miller. The Rangers promptly disabled the session.
Following the incident, the NHL released an official statement saying, “No one deserves to be subjected to such ugly treatment and it will not
be tolerated in our League. We join with the Rangers in condemning this disgusting behavior.” Many in the hockey community -- such as
U.S.A. Hockey and Miller’s future teammates Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome, and Tony DeAngelo -- have taken to social media in support of
Miller and to state their intolerance for bigotry and racism in the NHL.
Wimbledon Cancelled and Sports Giving Back
By: Julia Brennan
Sports took yet another hit this week from the coronavirus after the iconic Wimbledon tournament was canceled for the first time since
World War II. The competition was set to begin on June 29th and run through July 12th. Some of the biggest names in tennis, including Serena
Williams and Roger Federer, have publicly expressed their disappointment. Pat Cash, a former Wimbledon champion, remarked, “For me, it’s
just a big kick in the gut because it’s a tournament I love and a tournament so many others love.” While discussions were surrounding the
plausible postponement of the tournament, which the French Open has already done, it was decided that it was best to cancel the tournament
altogether. Originally it had been hoped to push the competition into late July or early August, but the uncertainty of the advancement of
COVID-19 and issues with different weather patterns were the driving factors in the decision. It is our hope that the Wimbledon tournament
will make a much needed triumphant return in 2021.
In other news, while sports have taken a brief hiatus, many companies in the sports industry have not. Some companies have taken it upon
themselves to stop the production of their sporting goods and instead focus their efforts on creating products to help battle the coronavirus.
Engineers who typically work for Formula One racing teams have banded together to help produce CPAP machines, machines that help people
breathe, for hospitals in need of supplies. The companies Bauer, select branches of New Balance, and Fanatics have been working on
manufacturing all kinds of facemasks for those who work in the medical field. Just when it may seem like the sports world cannot give back
enough to the community, they have managed to surprise us once again.Central Massachusetts Prepares for a Severe Wave of COVID-19 Case
By: Emma Landry
As the fight against the global pandemic continues, Massachusetts anticipates itself dawning on the most severe wave of COVID-19 cases
yet. As of April 4th, close to 12,000 Massachusetts residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 216 have died as a result of the virus.
Worcester County has the 5th most confirmed cases of COVID-19 in all of Massachusetts, reporting that the county has tested 825 positive
individuals, numbers that officials are expecting to increase in the coming days. To prepare for the influx of cases that health officials have
warned each state of, the Landry Arena located in Fitchburg is being used as a temporary mortuary. Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale stated
that the city’s goal is to be ready to respond to rising death rates due to COVID-19 and to ensure that health workers and mortuary services
are not overwhelmed in the event that Central Massachusetts finds itself in this position. The bodies that will be kept at Landry Arena will
remain there until it is safe for the workers and greater community for them to be moved to crematories or cemeteries for a proper and
respectful burial.
Additionally, the DCU Center in Worcester is being converted into a 250-bed field hospital to treat less serious cases of COVID-19. The
city is implementing the field hospital in order to prevent patients with less-threatening symptoms from overwhelming the area’s hospitals,
while still isolating affected individuals from the community and allowing them to receive treatment. The operations taking place at the DCU
Center are preparing it to be the first field hospital in Massachusetts. Government and health officials in Central Massachusetts are pleased by
the area’s progress in preparing for the surge in deaths that have been warned of in a timely manner.
Coronavirus in Massachusetts Detention Facilities
By: Julia Brennen
The coronavirus has continued its rapid spread, taking over even our Massachusetts’ correctional facilities. As of Thursday, there were
reportedly 34 known cases of the coronavirus throughout the state’s prisons. There have been three fatalities so far in the system, all of them
inmates. To slow the spread as quickly as possible, quite drastic measures have been taken by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. All of the
prisons have been in lockdown since Saturday, which constitutes the inmates remaining in their living spaces for the foreseeable future. Perhaps
the most salient and controversial change has been that certain prisoners will be set free in order to prevent the spread of the virus. These specific
few will be put on trial to see if they are eligible to be released. This is to not only protect the other inmates, but the lives of the correctional
officers, the medical staff, and all of their respective families. Matthew Segal of the ACLU stated, “We urge every branch of the Massachusetts
government to do what it can to save the lives of the people inside Massachusetts detention facilities, and in doing so, keep all of us safer.”
Massachusetts Plans to Launching Tracing Initiation
By: Yamuna Turco
Late last week, Charlie Baker, governor of Massachusetts, announced his plan to launch COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC),
a tracing system that will hopefully reduce the spread of COVID-19. In a collaborative partnership with Partners in Health, a globally-operating
nonprofit in the state, Massachusetts officials will work to trace positive cases of the virus to prevent others from being exposed. Specifically, a
person working in the Public Health Department would compile a list of all the people and places that anyone confirmed to have COVID-19
came in contact with while being infected and shortly prior to infection. By contacting these “close contacts” and letting them know they have
been exposed to the virus and need to self-quarantine before getting tested, the end goal is to limit the spread of the virus. Governor Baker says
the main challenge will be to get a large enough public health staff to increase the current number of tracing staff. The plan would require 1,000
“contact tracers”. These people would monitor infected individuals in the goal that the state will begin to see a flattening in the curve of the
virus. The main concern is that, although there are many measures in place to provide health centers, between 5%-80% of people with COVID-
19 are either asymptomatic or have very mild to mild symptoms; therefore they are unknowingly spreading the virus. As many can not separate
and self-quarantine if they live with other people, the state has social services offering support, whether through an isolation facility or extra
food for food support. The measures in place are there to ensure the safety and health of citizens with COVID-19, and those without.FDA response to COVID19
By: Hayden Flick
Vice President Mike Pence announced on Tuesday, April, 14, that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing a coronavirus test to
be possibly approved in the future. This test will be able to tell if someone has had the coronavirus before and if they are immune to it. Pence
said, "We expect the FDA to approve a new antibody test in a matter of days.” He further stated, "if approved, [we] could literally create more
than 20 million new tests a month ... that’ll be a test that will tell you whether you have had the coronavirus in the past and whether you might in
fact be immune to it going forward." Another test that has been proposed by Andrew Brooks, a professor at Rutgers University describes his test
as, "You simply have to spit into a tube...with some spit in a tube you cap that tube and a preservation agent preserves the nucleic acid from the
virus, allowing us to safely transport it to the lab. And off you go to testing.” He also said, "It doesn't require a health care professional to collect
... and [it] also preserves all that personal protective equipment that we need to take care of patients in the hospital." The MLB has also
announced that 27 teams are going to be volunteering to test the coronavirus antibody tests along with another 10,000 employees and volunteers
of those teams. Their goal is to utilize a substantial amount of test subjects that in hopes will uncover possible treatments that are safe to be used
on the general public.
Stocks and other equities in the United States
By: Steven Soos
Stocks and other equities in the United States have begun to rally and trade 25% higher in the last couple of days as we kick off this quarter’s
awful earnings season. This rebound from the lows of March 25th is a reaction to the federal government’s stimulus package that promises to help
recover the economy amid the Coronavirus outbreak. As relieving as this news is, there are many doubts that the market can continue this growth
while so many businesses are temporarily closed because of COVID-19. Large investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have
cautioned investors into buying stocks from companies that have directly received financial assistance from the government. Generally, companies
that receive government aid are underperformers over a year. This is because a stimulus will only be a temporary fix to some companies as we wait
to see when the economy will recover on its own. Many market analysts say that the recovery process will continue to be slow and hard for American
companies.
COVID19 Effect on ZOOs
By: Lauren Donovan
While all of us are in our homes, wild animals are roaming about in zoos or outside, and household pets are comfortable with us inside.
Though animals are the last thing we are thinking about, at the Miami Zoo, zookeepers are taking care of two adorable endangered clouded
leopard cubs and taking precautions to protect them from the coronavirus. The two cubs, one male named Serai and one female named Rajasi,
were immediately isolated upon their birth on February 11th, away from their mother. With individual animals catching the virus, especially one
case of a tiger named Nadia catching it in the Bronx Zoo, zookeepers are on high alert. They will take the necessary precautions to protect
wildlife. Since the tiger at the Bronx Zoo had caught the coronavirus from a zookeeper who tested positive, zookeepers are doing the essentials
to keep germs away from the wildlife. This includes wearing masks, gloves, and to disinfect their footwear. While maintaining the cubs’ health,
they are continuing to grow well and stay healthy. They were so healthy; in fact, the cubs have been reunited with their mother and now share
the same den. Though more animals are catching the disease, causing much alarm amongst zoos, the Miami Zoo is staying positive by looking
towards the future. Even though we are asked to stay at home, the zoo looks forward to when they open the zoo again to the public to see the
new precious cubs! Hopefully, with the population of the endangered species adding an extra two cubs, this species of leopard can continue to
develop and maybe one day be taken off of the endangered animal list!Pope Francis' Message
By:Yamuna Turco
With Easter being celebrated earlier this week by Catholics and Protestants, the Catholic Pope, Pope Francis, had an important message to
share with the world. He has urged us all to come together, metaphorically, and provide a sense of unity and solidarity for those who are
struggling. Though many are not Catholic, this is still an important message that can be reciprocated and shared by all. The importance of
compassion and trying to remove self-centeredness were critical points in the Pope’s announcement and PSA. He also praised doctors, nurses,
healthcare workers, and other people who work essential jobs for continuing to work during these trying times. Even though he is perhaps not
the leader of your religion, it is a message the world needs, and many are following. There is no doubt a great deal of racism and prejudice, but
there is also an ever-increasing sense of unity and support around the world. Hopefully, we can continue this and continue being there for each
other while staying away from each other to keep the world safer and healthier.
North Korea's Zero Cases of COVID19
By: Hayden Flick
During this pandemic, North Korea who has not yet confirmed a single case of coronavirus has launched multiple missiles towards the Sea of
Japan. The first round of cruise missiles went 93 miles off the coast. North Korea has been testing missiles, but they have been exclusively short
range, whereas these are not. This was North Korea’s first time testing cruise missiles since 2017. North Korea also was testing missiles with
fighter jets. North Korea reported that the missiles were in celebration of Jim Jong Un's grandfather Kim Il Sung’s 108th birthday. Despite this
claim, officials have speculated that the missiles were launched for other reasons. Some believe the launches were to increase nationality in the
country due to United States sanctions that were put on North Korea. The second reason that some believe to be true is that the launch was to
assert dominance over South Korea.
China Reports One Day With No Cases of COVID19
By: Anthony Agnelli
On April 7, for the first time since beginning to collect data in January, China reported no new domestic cases of the coronavirus. The
National Health Commission reported 32 confirmed cases, but all of these came from overseas. The Chinese government stated that as of April
7, 3,331 people have died from the virus in China and 81,740 were confirmed to be infected. The next day, the people of Wuhan, China were
allowed to leave Wuhan for the first time since January when the city was placed on lockdown. People in “epidemic-free” areas have been
allowed to leave their houses for two hours. However, some areas were stripped of the “epidemic-free” title, as cases of asymptomatic persons
began to rise. Reports of asymptomatic cases began at the beginning of April and China now has 1,033 infected and asymptomatic individuals in
observation. Because of this, China is anxious a second wave of cases may follow. To reduce the spread of the virus through asymptomatic
cases, the Chinese border has been closed to all foreigners, and international flights have been reduced dramatically. While this seems to be
cause for celebration, now some speculate that China may have underreported their statistics. The lack of coverage by the media may suggest
that the Chinese government may be doing so, but nothing has been confirmed. In any case, the trend of decreased cases of COVID-19 in China
is surely a source of positivity amidst this pandemic. With luck, this number will continue its downward trend.This Day in History
By: Yamuna Turco
April 17th, 1964, a plane touches down on a runway, and it has just seen the world. On this day in history, Geraldine “Jerrie” Mock became the
first woman to fly solo around the world. At 19 years old, Jerrie had dreams of becoming a pilot but put those dreams aside when she married her
husband and became a home-maker. Although, she became the first female aeronautical engineering student ever to attend and be apart of the
said program at Ohio State University. Her husband, Russell Mock, was a pilot. He would take her flying with him, and that only increased her
drive and want to fly herself. At 32 years old, she began taking flight lessons and had over 750 hours of flight time logged when she had set out
to steal the vast expanse of the globe. Before the flight, Jerrie had no actual over-water flight training and time registered, but the NAA still
approved her flight plan. Her husband was one of her most avid supporters, helping her modify her plane so it could endure overseas travel and
have more fuel per mile. Jerrie departed on March 19th, 1964, at 9:03 am. Her brakes gave her trouble from the start, but she managed to have
them fixed and continue on the long and treacherous journey. At 9:36 pm on Friday, April 17th, 1964, Jerrie landed back in the airport in
Columbus, Ohio, becoming the first woman ever to fly solo around the world.
Riddle
By: Jonathan Roman
There is a word and it contains 6 words and takes one letter away and 12 is what remains
Last Riddle
By: Sarah Irenshtain
Riddle: What is stronger then a boulder but lighter then a bird?
Answer: Gravity.
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Fun Fact
By: Sarah Irenshtain
Forcing a Smile Actually Makes You Happier.
Student Editors: Kylee McCumber, Emma Landry
Faculty Directors: Mr. Church and Ms. Reid
Project Positivity
By:Anthony Agnelli
A French company named Carbios has discovered a new enzyme that is capable of
breaking down plastic in mere hours. This enzyme can be found in composted leaves.
The company is working with big name brands such as Pepsi and L’Oreal to start
industrial production of the enzyme. They hope to have production fully operational by
2024-2025. Most polyester plastics lose their physical use when they are heated for
traditional recycling. This enzyme simply breaks down polyester plastic into smaller
particles, achieving the same goal as heating without compromising its ability to be
used in recycled products. This discovery is a huge breakthrough in a continually
growing field of study. It has the potential to be a complete game changer for plastic
waste and recycling.You can also read
