The 2020-21 School Year is coming to an end after the unprecedented year in which Overlook started two weeks later than usual, spent most of the year in a hybrid model, then recently switched to full in person. Who knows what next school year will look like, but for now all everyone is thinking about is summer vacation! The Wingspan was happy to have created monthly issues throughout the pandemic and provide some level of normalcy. Late August is a long way away so in the meantime SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER! Have a happy and safe vacation from all of us at the Wingspan.

By Wingspan Staff

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

By Josh LeGrand

Summer is approaching at last! This is the time when school winds down and people start planning their trips to exotic locations. With vaccines for COVID-19 now available and coronavirus cases slowing down, we might actually be able to go on vacations again at last! If you’re having trouble deciding where to travel this summer, have no fear! This article is going to be about the five most visited cities of 2019, places to check out, restaurants, and more. Let’s begin!

*I chose 2019 because it was before the pandemic hit worldwide.

**Source for 2019 visitors: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/most-visited-cities-euromonitor-2019/index.html

Let’s start with number 5: London, England! London is the capital city of England, an island off the coast of Europe. It received approximately 19,599,900 arrivals in 2019. It rains a lot in London, and with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, summer is the time to visit this city. If you’re a person who likes history, then stop by at the British Museum! It has several exhibits and galleries, including the Egyptian sculpture gallery which includes the Rosetta Stone. If you’d like to do some sightseeing while you’re in London, take a walk around Buckingham Palace. On certain dates in winter and spring, you can even get a tour of the inside! If you’re hungry, there are many places to eat in London. Maybe you’d like to stop by at Fisher’s for some fish n’ chips, or maybe if you’re craving Italian food, visit Circolo Popolare. After your meal, you can stroll around Hyde Park and take a tour of Kensington Gardens. Overall, London is an amazing place to visit. Maybe you could stop by this summer!

After number 5 comes number 4: Singapore! Singapore is an island country in the south of Asia, just off the coast of Malaysia. In 2019, it received approximately 19,760,800 tourist arrivals. This country has temperatures in the 70s, 80s, and 90s all year round, making a warm place to spend your winter holidays! If you ever decide to visit Singapore, here are some places to visit. If you are an animal lover, then go visit the Singapore Zoo. It’s made up of several different zones, like Australasia and RepTopia, along with a variety of different animals, like white tigers, orangutans, fossas, and leopards. Feeling hungry? If you are, then there are several places to go to get a bite. If you're craving a burger, then I’d recommend visiting BurgerLabo for a really good one. How about barbecue? Burnt Ends is the place to go. Once you're done eating, you can do some sightseeing. Maybe you could take a ride on the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest giant Ferris wheel, or you could visit Sentosa Island, which has beaches and an Underwater World aquarium where you can swim with dolphins. Overall, Singapore is a great place to spend your summer vacation, and it deserves its spot at number 4.

It’s time for number 3: Macau! Macau is a former Portuguese colony off the coast of China that was transferred back to China from Portugal in 1999. It received approximately 20,637,100 arrivals in 2019. It’s very warm in Macau, with average temperatures in the 70s and 80s. There is the possibility of typhoons from July to September, so the best time to travel is October through December, when it’s warmer and dryer. One of the main attractions in Macau is Studio City Macau! This amazing resort offers several different amazing entertainment options, including a water park, the LEGEND HEROES PARK, a “thrilling Tech-based Entertainment Park that combines cutting-edge virtual technology with the physical world for an unparalleled immersive experience”, and the Golden Reel, the world's highest figure-8 Ferris wheel. Are you looking for a place to eat after your trip to Studio City? Look no further, for there are many restaurants that you can (and should) definitely eat at. For some Chinese food, stop by Crystal Jade! If you’re traveling with family, then you should go to Urban Kitchen, which won TripAdvisor's Best of the Best Award in 2020. To sum up this section, I believe you should stop by Macau, because it’ll definitely be worth it in the end!

We’re almost at number one, but first I have to tell you all about number two: Bangkok, Thailand! Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand, a country in the south of Asia. It is also the biggest city in Thailand. It received approximately 25,847,800 arrivals in 2019. With temperatures ranging from the 70s to the 90s, It’s a very warm place to spend your vacation! If you like exploring the deeps or are interested in the many creatures of the ocean, then you should start your trip at Sea Life Bangkok! This aquarium is home to many different kinds of ocean life, including rays, sea turtles, and even a few sharks! It is also home to the only large-tooth saw fish in Thailand. If you’re leaving Sea Life Bangkok but still want to see some more animals, then stop by at Safari Land, an amazing animal experience that offers many different shows and events. After you’ve seen all the animals that Bangkok has to offer, you have to be hungry, right? I thought so! I’ve picked some restaurants that you could visit for lunch! If you’re craving some seafood, then why not visit Flavors for some great seafood! Or maybe you want some Indian food? Amritsr is the perfect place to go! After lunch, you might want to go do some sightseeing. You could start at Wat Phra Chetuphon, one of the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok, which has Thailand’s largest Buddha, the Reclining Buddha.

A place that you should definitely visit is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, a 35 acre market that boasts many handmade Thai items, such as products, clothes, accessories, art, souvenirs, and several more! Bangkok is a thriving city full of many different places to visit. Maybe you’ll even stop by this summer!

Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The number one most visited place in 2019 is… Hong Kong, with 26,716,800 arrivals! Hong Kong is a Chinese city that has some history behind it. In 1842, at the end of the first Opium War, the Qing Empire ceded Hong Kong to the British. In 1898, China gave Britain a 99 year lease of Hong Kong. Hong Kong was traded back to China in 1997, and has remained a Chinese city ever since. With temperatures in the high 70s and 80s with typhoons possible in September, Hong Kong is a warm place to visit! Perhaps the most iconic place to visit in Hong Kong is Hong Kong Disneyland. Hong Kong Disneyland is pretty much like every other Disney theme park, but it’s Disneyland we’re talking about here. Who wouldn’t want to go there? If you’re into history, then visit the Hong Kong Museum of History which has many different exhibits, such as “The Hong Kong Story”, which goes through 400 million years of Hong Kong’s history and culture. If you want to eat something, then stop by at one of these restaurants! Corner 18 is a restaurant that serves food from all over the world and is a great restaurant to visit. If you want seafood, then stop by Akita Hamayaki. How about Latin food? Visit Chullschick! If you’re done eating and you want to do some sightseeing, then here are a few locations for you to visit. One place you could go to is Lantau Island, Hong Kong’s biggest island and home of the Tian Tan Big Buddha, the world’s largest outdoor sitting Buddha, or you could ride on the Star Ferry, one of Hong Kong’s most iconic attractions. That’s all for Hong Kong! This city and its many different attractions and places to visit all deserve their spots at number one.

Now that we’ve gone through the top five most visited cities of 2019, I thought I’d make a list of some of the runner ups, so here it is!

6. Paris, France/19,087,900 arrivals

7. Dubai, United Arab Emirates/16,328,300 arrivals

8. Delhi, India/15,196,500 arrivals

9. Istanbul, Turkey/14,715,900 arrivals

10. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia/14,072,400 arrivals

11. New York City, USA/14,010,000 arrivals

12. Antalya, Turkey/13,332,100 arrivals

13. Mumbai, India/12,442,400 arrivals

14. Shenzhen, China/12,324,100 arrivals

15. Phuket, Thailand/10,965,200 arrivals

16. Tokyo, Japan/10,443,100 arrivals

17. Rome, Italy/10,317,000 arrivals

18. Mecca, Saudi Arabia/9,833,000 arrivals

19. Taipei, Taiwan/9,981,700 arrivals

20. Pattaya, Thailand/9,951,900 arrivals

That’s all for this article! I hope now you have some ideas of where to travel this summer or at least dream about from your yard. No matter what you do or where you go, have a great vacation!

By Stella Deschenes

Who’s ready for summer? I know I am. We all have had a long school year and we all should be proud. We had a lot of changes this year. So let’s have fun this summer. We deserve it. So here are some fun ideas to make this summer the best one yet while still being safe.

First off, you could go have a picnic. You could with your friends or families. Find a nice shady spot and sit down and enjoy nature. Second, you could gather up all your loved ones and do a play! I’d suggest you plan ahead though. Third, get a hose or sprinkler and put it in your backyard and have some fun on a nice sunny day. Fourth, try some new recipes, especially some frozen ones to cool you down. Fifth, maybe try painting. It's really relaxing and can be done at any time. Sixth, have an outdoor movie night, get some blankets and a laptop and enjoy. Seventh, go to a nearby park and just have fun explore some nature and let loose.

As this year's Wingspan comes to close I want to thank every continuous reader for sticking through this year. I really appreciate it. I really do try to put my best into each piece of writing and you guys reading keeps me writing. And a huge thank you to Mr. Duncan for all the amazing work he has done this year thank you very much. As always, thank you for reading.

By Wingspan Staff

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBTQ+ Pride Month) is celebrated annually in June.

Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ+ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

Federal and local policies and practices are increasingly acknowledging and focusing on LGBTQ+ youth and numerous national advocacy and other organizations are also giving greater attention to LGBTQ+ youth in their work. Encouraging greater acceptance and support for all youth, including those who are or are perceived to be LGBTQ+, will make communities, schools, and other settings safer, better places for all youth.

By Olivia Fuller

As we all come into the new month, there are a lot of things going on, like new events and holidays. Some months have small holidays, like May and Labor Day. Labor Day was created on September 5, 1882, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. May also has holidays all around the globe, this one proves it. Cinco De Mayo is a holiday celebrated by the Mexicans and is a sacred holiday to them. Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. May 17, 1875, The first Kentucky Derby horse race took place at Churchill Downs in Louisville.It is also known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" because of its approximate duration. It is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes, and then the Belmont Stakes. So that proves my conspiracy! Horseback riding is a sport!! Yay!! In June we have LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Flag Day, Juneteenth, and of course, the last day of school!

By Karl Sargent

Chapter XI

I should check the lower decks, Thomas thought to himself. He was still on the boat, trapped in the ocean. He trudged to the wooden stairway, leading to the lower decks. The door was flapping in the strong winds, so he held it open and walked down the stairs, clutching his phasepistol. He needed to find a Time-Jumper, to escape the sea. He saw at the other end of the room there was a door, so he walked through in hopes of finding something. He went through the door, and found a soldier. The soldier immediately raised her gun, but Thomas shot first. She disappeared, into dust. Luckily, she had a Time-Jumper, so Thomas quickly grabbed it. He entered the position of the Resistance base, in Austria, deep in the Alps. A doorway appeared in front of him, and he stepped in.

In the Resistance base, Thomas wanted to see General Bates. He walked down the long hallway. He knocked on the door to Bates’s office, and heard a voice shout, ”Come in!”

Thomas opened the door, to find Bates and 4 other generals standing around his desk, all looking at a map of Europe. Several coins lined the map, in Eastern Europe. “Hello,” Thomas said. They all looked at him.

“Hello, Thomas. There’s been an Anti-Eonian uprising in Hungary, and we're trying to capitalize on that,” Bates said.

“I see. The Hammer, or Inge, is dead.”

“That’s great news! I do have another assignment for you, though.”

“Okay,” Thomas sighed. Bates handed him a manila folder.

“Wait!” Bates said, stopping Thomas as he was on his way out. He threw Thomas a camera, which Thomas almost dropped but caught. “If you see anything out of the ordinary, take a picture of it.”

“Yes sir.” Thomas exited the room, and headed to the mess hall to sit down and read the details of his new assignment.

When Thomas sat down, he opened the folder. On the inside, it said that he needed to go to the Netherlands, Belgium, and Western Germany, but it did not give a specific time. He needed to explore the region, check in every 2 hours, and see what kind of control the Eonians had on it. But he needed to be careful, because it also said that eight spies had gone missing in the area. Thomas was informed on his mission, and he was ready to depart. He got the Time-Jumper out from his pocket, set it for the Netherlands. A doorway opened, and he passed through.

Thomas arrived in a large field. He looked around, and saw a paved road. The road led to a large city up ahead. The other side of the road went further into the hills, but a metal bunker stood tall out of the ground. “I should take a picture of this,” Thomas said to himself, aiming his camera. He took a photo of the ominous building. He couldn’t quite help but think that someone or something was watching him. He heard a truck coming. The truck was a military truck, but it didn’t have the regular Eonian flag. It had an orange flag, with four red lions on it. Is this land even controlled by the Eonians? Thomas asked himself. As the truck went by, He thought about trying to go inside the bunker, but he might have gone missing that way. He began the long walk to the city. On his way, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He fell to the ground, in pain. He quickly fainted, but felt himself being dragged along the ground.

Chapter XII

Thomas woke up in a metal chair. He was in a dark room. There was a podium to his right. A soldier was near the podium, and a man with a suit stood at the podium. “Thomas Reed,” he said. “You have been one of our top targets for weeks now. Let this be a good day to the Order!” Many people appeared behind him, clapping. He hadn’t noticed them. He looked behind him to see more soldiers and some officers.

What is this Order? Thomas thought to himself.

“Bring this boy to Doctor Stewardson! He will join us today, or else!” The man screamed. Two soldiers stepped up to Thomas, loosened the ropes tying him to the chair, and picked him up. Thomas was carried out of the podium room, down a metal hallway, and into another room.

He was thrown on the floor, and the two soldiers abruptly left the room. A woman, in a lab coat, stood looking at him. “I’m not going to kill you,” She said. “I’m Mary, by the way. Mary Stevenson.”

Thomas got up, and pulled the tape from his mouth. “You probably know who I am already. Thank you,” Thomas said. “Who was that man? What is this Order?”

“The Omega Order is a centuries-old group that wants to end the world. They were the ones who started the Eon Empire, and the Resistance. That man was Kurt Werder, the leader of all propaganda for the Omega Order. But I can help you. I can bring you back to your original timeline. With your family. I’ve done it before.”

“Please do that. How don’t they know?”

“You won’t be here, so they’ll assume you’ll be dead.”

“Before this happens, how big is the military of the Order? Bigger than the Resistance?”

“No. The Order could easily be defeated by the Resistance.”

“Please send them the info on this land, so they can help defeat the Eon Empire.”

“I’ll do that. I never liked the Order, I worked with the Resistance first. I only came here to help people get the lives they deserve, instead of a terrible one.”

“Thank you so much,” Thomas said, very happy.

“Just sit in that chair.” Thomas sat down, ready for his old life back. She turned on a huge machine, and put a helmet lined with wires on Thomas. She clicked a button. Thomas saw a flash of white, and then nothing.

Epilogue

It was a nice morning at the Reed family house outside of Birmingham. Birds chirped in the trees. The back door to the house opened, and out stepped Thomas Reed. Thomas breathed in the air, and walked down to sit at a table on the patio. He took a sip of his tea, relaxed, and enjoyed the calm Saturday morning.

At the Resistance base, panic struck Edward Bates. Thomas hadn't checked in for at least 10 hours. A secretary came into the room. “General! We’ve got a message from the region we sent Thomas to.” The secretary gave Bates the message.

Bates read the note. “Go bring the generals here. Now.” The secretary left the room.

When the generals entered, Bates began to tell them his plan. “Prepare an invasion of The Netherlands, Belgium, and Northwest Germany. Also, start Operation Talon.

“To assassinate Theodoro?,” One general said, smiling.

“Yes.”

Emperor Henry Theodoro sat in his throne room, in the capital city of London. The three-story room was extremely well defended. On one of the top balconies, a hooded figure stood with a phaserifle. They shot, hitting the Emperor in the chest. He screamed as he hit the floor, and the Resistance soldier backed away into the shadows as the soldiers began looking for them.

Months later, the Emperor just began to get better. He stood on his balcony in his bedroom, overlooking the city of London. One of his generals burst through the door. “Sir! The Resistance, they’ve entered the city, they’re in the palace!”

“Why have they gotten so far, General?!” Theodoro said, with much anger.

“After the assassination attempt, people didn't know if you were alive, and much of the empire fell to rebellions, and the Resistance only grew in power.”

Theodoro looked out onto his collapsing empire, knowing that he was hours from death. He knew that the Eon Empire had lost. And he knew that the Resistance had won.

ANY IDEAS FOR FUTURE ISSUES ?

Please contact bduncan@awrsd.org if you have any ideas you would like us to include in future Wingspans