The Bunker Hill Times
May, 2020
Bunker Hill Parade
How Does the Quarantine Effect Animal Shelters? By: Lily Engelien
The coronavirus outbreak has led many people to adopt and foster shelter animals. Adopting or fostering an animal in need is a great way to help the community and give you a sense of companionship during this tough time! In California, the Riverside County animal shelter ran out of pets available to adopt! On April 14th, Pinellas County Animal Services in Florida also ran out of dogs! As one can see, during this tough time for everyone, there are still positives.
Miss Daisy - 8 month-old Doxie adopted by the Zeoli family.
Patch - 4 month-old Sheltie adopted by the DiJohn family.
Empty shelter in Florida - adoptions have soared during quarantine.
How Does the Quarantine Effect the Environment? By: Lily Engelien
Even though this time is hard for everyone, one positive is the impact of quarantine on the environment. There has been a decrease in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Air traffic also decreased by about 60%, so there has been a drop in CO2 emissions. Although air travel and car travel will pick back up again, we should enjoy the fresh air and the low pollution levels.
World Language Night By: Gina Klemowitz
On March 6th, 2020, Washington Township’s Third Biennial World Language Night took place at Bunker Hill. World Language Night is a time for students and their families to celebrate different languages and cultures from different countries and experience the diversity of all the customs from around the world. The slogan for this year’s World Language Night was, “Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.” It is stating how valuable knowledge of languages can be in one’s life. World Language Night was mainly focused on three different cultures: Spanish, French, and German. It took place in the cafeteria, the gym, and some of the classrooms. The school was decked out in decorations thanks to the world language teachers and volunteers. Students worked for weeks before this night to create posters and decorations reflecting on the three cultures. Then, some teachers and the student council worked to put up these posters, put up presentations, cover the tables in tablecloths, etc. In the end, the school exploded with color and festivity. World Language Night allowed guests to delve into the three different cultures through traditional food, music, dances, and interactive stations and presentations.
As guests entered the school, they were led to the cafeteria through the myriad French and Spanish presentations that lined the halls while being entertained by guitar-playing and singing performance in the lobby. To kick off the night, students performed the German, Puerto Rican, French, and American national anthems for the crowd. During the American National Anthem, the WTHS ROTC marched their flags across the front of the cafeteria. Then, opening remarks were made by the language teachers Kayla Berry and Clarissa Marin, who helped plan this night.
One way that culture was celebrated was through authentic German, Spanish, and French food. The German food, catered by Brauhaus Schmitz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, included German potato salad, pretzel bites, and assorted sausage. The Spanish food, catered by Salsa Fresca in Sewell, New Jersey, included Spanish rice, beans, chicken taquitos, cheese quesadillas, and chips and salsa. The French food, catered by Marla’s Catering in Williamstown, New Jersey, and Chloe’s Crème Puffs in Pitman, New Jersey, included a charcuterie board of assorted cheeses and bread, chocolate fondue with fruit, and cookies n’ cream crème puffs. The food was amazing!
Another way that culture was celebrated was through performances of traditional music and dance. Students worked extremely hard in the weeks before World Language Night and dedicated lots of their free time to organize a performance. Many students showcased their talents at World Language Night by playing cultural songs on musical instruments. There was a performance of the upbeat Spanish song “Jarabe Tapatio” on the trumpet, a German folk song on the piano, the Spanish song “La Cucaracha” on the clarinet, and “Black Magic Woman” on the guitar. Other students performed cultural dances at World Language Night. A group of students along with Señora Marin did flamenco dancing for the crowds as a part of the Spanish culture. They dressed in traditional flamenco attire, which included dresses, scarves, fans, and high-heeled shoes, just like traditional flamenco dancers. Students also performed a Mi Gente dance, which is also a part of the Spanish culture. This was a high-energy hip-hop routine. Lastly, an authentic Cancan dance was performed as a part of the French culture, thanks to Mrs. Kim White. This is a lively dance that includes a kick line. Other world-language performances included a performance of the German song “Edelweiss,” and a Spanish rap. All the performers at World Language Night did such a great job!
World Language Night also provided visitors with interactive stations that showed many of the components of French, German, and Spanish culture. Like the performances, almost all these stations were run by students who worked extremely hard in preparation for their presentations. There were crafts, trivia, and presentations. For German, there was German trivia and presentations about Spaghettieis, an ice cream dish made to look like spaghetti, the Origin of Pretzels, Christmas in Germany, and Krampus, a character who punishes misbehaving children during Christmastime. For Spanish, there was a Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) craft and flower station, a piñata-making craft, and presentations about the Spanish Country, Mexico, and Mexican Wrestling. For French, there was a French flag-making station. Some other stations included a presentation about Jordan, a country in the Middle East, world language trivia, and a presentation about the exchange student experience by the American Field Services (AFS). All these interactive presentations and crafts were outstanding and informative! The night was wrapped up with a raffle of world language gear, gift cards, and bags.
Overall, World Language Night was such a fun and informative event. I would 10/10 recommend it to everyone for future years, whether you are performing or just attending. I will be going to many World Language Nights to come. A huge thanks to all the world language teachers who planned this event, the volunteers, and all the students who worked so hard to make this night a success!
Fun Activities You Can Do While Home By: Brooke Cavanaugh
Are you bored, stuck at home?
Here are some fun activities you can do.
1) Walk around your neighborhood. A little bit of fresh air won’t harm anyone.
2) Try cooking something new.
3) do some crafts. Tie-dye a shirt or paint a canvas.
4) Re-organize your room. Clean and tidy is always the way to go.
5) Family game night. Since your quarantined with them, play some games with them.
6) Movie Night. Get a computer or Tv and your favorite snack and watch a new movie. You can even binge-watch your favorite show.
7) Do a workout or yoga. Even though we don’t have gym every day or a sports practice, workouts, and yoga can keep you energized.
8) Download apps to communicate with your friends. Some apps like Bunch, Houseparty, zoom, and Squad can help you stay connected with friends.
9) Take a virtual trip at home. At home, you can go on your computer and take a virtual trip to a museum.
10) Make up a game at home. Try making up an obstacle course either inside or outside.
11) Play a new game. Try this game https://www.boredbutton.com/random it will give you a random game to play when you're bored.
I hope everyone is doing ok. We are all in this together and we can get over this together.
Spreading Hope and Positivity Through the Arts By: Ava Iwano
Since the corona outbreak, it seems like everyone has been at least a little emotional and stressed about this new situation. However, although adjusting to self-isolation can be very challenging, our society finds a way to pull through and keep hopeful. One of the most influential ways to do so is through music and the arts. Since the isolation started, countless artists and influencers all over the world have begun to share more of their music/ art online in order to distract us from the anxiety of our everyday lives. From live concerts and Q&As on Instagram live with our favorite stars to free virtual tours of famous museums, we have more opportunities to experience the arts than ever before. These meaningful events can be found all over the internet, social media, YouTube, and even on some television networks. Additionally, besides entertaining us, many of these events are making a huge impact by raising money for those who are out of work and those who are frontline workers. Our community is using the arts to spread positivity and awareness for those who are struggling right now and are proving that together, we can get through this.