The Paw Print
Novi Middle School's Student Newspaper
Volume 22 Issue 7 / March 16, 2022
NMS IN THE NEWS
WNMS: News and entertainment for over a decade
By: Nihar Joshi & Svetlana Ilinich
WNMS is a school broadcasting program run by Novi Middle School students and staff. For over ten years, WNMS has provided the students of NMS with entertainment and information. Through the years, the editing and overall quality of the broadcasting system has improved greatly. WNMS has a youtube channel, where their broadcasts are saved permanently. The videos available to watch go back to the episodes of 2019. Usually, there is a broadcast every school day excluding Monday. During fourth hour, teachers will play WNMS. WNMS includes segments such as students’ birthdays, fun facts, sports updates, weather reports, school events, and much more. Students also get the opportunity to make extra segments when they interview other students and staff, either about their opinions on a topic or if they’re curious about an ongoing event.
Sometimes, WNMS decides to host games and other interactive activities. Earlier in the year, WNMS held a “Jeopardy!” contest. They took two students from the eighth grade and two students from the seventh grade and had them answer questions for points, just like in the famous game show. This interactive activity provided entertainment, along with education. Many students enjoyed this special feature, and look forward to more in the future. Check the discussions section in the WNMS Schoology Group page to make yourself eligible for any upcoming events.
Media technology, or the WNMS “crew," is an 18-week elective available only for eighth grade students. The class begins with a training session to teach the students how to use the equipment and how the broadcasts are made. During class, some students are able to film the broadcast, and the others are working on projects for the class. Students who take this class are presented with a variety of jobs such as an anchor; who are the people sitting at the desk, and other on-screen jobs, like a weatherperson. These roles are the ones that actually present the information. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, there are jobs that include sound control, the “switcher”, and the director.
Students are currently working on a Silent Film in WNMS. According to Mr. Miller, the teacher of Media Technology and the head of WNMS, “The purpose of this project is to get the students to demonstrate they can tell a video story with only their camera shots. I will post these videos on the WNMS Schoology Group page once they have finished to see if the student body can identify what the topic of each silent film is.” After they finish their Silent Films, students will begin working on News Packages, which will most likely include March Madness, the new music wing, debated topics, and spring break plans. Make sure to keep checking the WNMS Schoology Group page!
Many seventh grade students are looking forward to taking Media Technology next school year. Mr. Miller hopes for some new ideas. There has always been a template for WNMS, however, students are able to add to and design the show how they would like. For example, there wasn’t originally a weather report, but a student brought it up and now it is included in their broadcasts. Students are encouraged to brainstorm new segments and more for the episodes.
Over the years, WNMS has become important in Novi Middle School. Media technology class gives students a lot of freedom to be creative, and make something they enjoy and think others would too.
Therapy dog Bosa provides comfort to students, staff
By: Sienna Yates & Ananya Gupte
A few months ago, we welcomed a new dog to our Novi Middle School family. Some have seen him either roaming the halls or visiting a classroom. Here are some insider facts about Bosa and what to do or not do when you see him.
Bosa is a two-year-old silver labrador with a wonderful personality. According to Mrs. Buck, middle school teacher and his owner, she has had Bosa since February 28, 2020, right before covid. Along with Bosa, Mrs. Buck also owns Bosa’s little brother Griffin, who instead of a silver labrador, is a red labrador at the age of 1. Mrs. Buck also claims that “While Bosa is calm and easy-going, Griffin is more on the jumpy side!”
The goal for Bosa was always for him to be a therapy dog, but not just for the students. Teachers also spend time with Bosa some days. Additionally, Bosa helps Ms. Buck if panic attacks occur. If this happens, then Bosa would know what to do. Bosa became a therapy dog almost a year ago, specifically on May 1st. Mrs. Buck informs us “ We did three months of extensive training. We had classes two or three times a week, and we practiced every day, and we still do.”
Although Bosa may be a fun, playful puppy at home, Bosa still has a job to do and we can't get in the way of it! It is always a good idea to ask before you approach a therapy dog so you know he is not in the middle of their job. Ms. Buck tells us, “Try to approach him slowly and steadily.”
His favorite spots to be scratched are on his back and under his chin. However, Bosa doesn't like when people scratch him over his head where he can’t see.
If you are interested in seeing many adorable pictures of Novi’s very own therapy dogs, go to Twitter: NCSDTherapyDogs.
PSAT shows strengths and areas of potential growth
By: Lorelai Raudszus
April is approaching, and with that comes the dreaded 8th-grade PSAT. Students currently have many questions and concerns circulating as preparations for the Class of 2026’s first introduction to the SAT nears.
What is the PSAT?
PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT and is practice for the SAT exam. Students may only take this test once a year, except for the option of taking it twice in 10th grade. Everyone is required to take the PSAT in 8th, 9th, and 10th grade. In addition to that, it is most common to take the test in both 10th and 11th grade.
The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long. It tests students' skills in Math and English (reading and writing). The highest score possible on the PSAT is 1520, which differs from the SAT.
Purpose of PSAT
Students take the PSAT in 8th grade to practice for when they are required to take the PSAT in 10th grade. The PSAT in 10th grade is significant because it qualifies students for scholarships, doubling as practice for the SAT which is used for college admittance. The SAT is taken in 11th grade.
Results and why it matters
The PSAT is scored by the companies that run the tests. Students receive a scaled score. In regards to both the PSAT and SAT, colleges have specific score ranges they use for admittance and scholarships.
Students may take the SAT for a second time in their junior year outside of the school day for a fee to try to improve their scores.
How students can prepare
There are various ways to prepare for the SAT. However, the creator of the SAT, College Board, recommends the following (free) actions:
Starting early: “Choose an SAT date far enough in advance that you have time to prepare... 2–3 months. Starting early gets you to gauge how much you need to study each week and helps you prevent cramming.” (What is the Best Way to Prepare for the SAT? College Board Blog)
Studying for free with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy®
Taking at least one full-length practice test (which 8th-grade students will accomplish this April)
Paying attention in high school classes
Knowing what to expect on test day
Final details
Standardized tests make up only a portion of a student's portfolio. Included also are grades, attendance, extracurricular participation, letters of recommendation, and participation in outside organizations, which are all factors considered in college admittance.
NMS Assistant Principal Mrs. Dinkelmann notes, “These [PSAT’s] are practice tests for looking at your year to year academic growth. Results help you identify areas of strength and then potential growth. These tests also think about your pacing when taking standardized testing, which is a skill that is important moving forward.”
Passing time music encourages some, distracts others
By: Aamani Cherukuri
Recently, there was a new change in the passing time warning bells at NMS. The school is using passing time music, songs put in by request from students, instead of the regular bell. Lots of students find this new change refreshing, while others do not. A google form released to students reveals 7th and 8th graders opinions vary on this new development.
Many students enjoy the creativity of the passing time music, as it makes the “boring school day” more lively. For instance, one student states that the passing time music is “more fun to listen to than rather having to hear the bell every time.”
Other students claim the music is distracting. For example, one student illustrates, “It is very annoying to hear music, and it would be very normal for students to hear a bell, instead of hearing music, and some words can be switched to be friendly and can remind children to focus on school and go faster to class and could improve on them being faster to go to class.”
Another student with a similar viewpoint argues that the bell is better because, “It helps me focus, instead of having distracting and sometimes annoying music. The bell also wakes me up from when I fall asleep in class.”
On the other hand, students like the passing time music because they get to choose what songs they want to listen to, as the songs vary each week. Sonam Mishra, a 7th grader, explains that the music provides more warning to those running late to class as it slowly fades out, rather than the abrupt bell. This makes students' trips to lockers more efficient.
Overall, using the help of a survey, about 80% of the students enjoy passing time music, and 20% prefer the regular bell.
Annual Battle of the Books showdown planned for March
By: Aditya Ambarisha
Battle of the Books is an exciting program organized by Mrs. Wesner and the Media Center staff. The competition will occur the week of March 20th, the exact date varying depending on the ELA class.
In Battle of the Books, each 7th grade ELA class gets a carefully curated selection of books to read. The books will be distributed amongst everyone in a BoB (Battle of the Books) team evenly. Each team member will receive a primary book and a secondary book. It’s important to read the books carefully because the entire competition consists of comprehension questions that can only be answered if you read the book thoroughly.
How to find information about BoB & March is Reading Month:
Log in to Schoology
Home ⇒ Courses ⇒ NMS Library Media Center
NMS Library Media Center ⇒ Past Weekly Updates for Students
Past Weekly Updates for Students ⇒ Week 24
Interview with NMS Media Specialist Mrs. Wesner:
1. What is Battle of the Books, or BOB -respond as if one has no idea what this actually is?
The Battle of the Books is a reading incentive program for 7th grade students. The Battle of the Books encourages students to explore different genres of literature and is one way we celebrate March is Reading Month at Novi Middle School.
2. How long have you been doing it?
I’ve been conducting the BOB since I transitioned from history teacher to library media specialist. I guess it has been about 14 years.
3. How is it different from previous years?
In the past, we’ve always played a Jeopardy game as teams and winning teams had a pizza party to celebrate success. This year, we are having digital breakouts and I’m giving away gift cards to the book fair, Amazon and Target.
4. What will it go like now, what can students expect?
Students will be with their battle groups trying to solve 13 digital clues/puzzles. It is a race against the clock to see if they can “breakout.”
5. How should one prepare, are you able to discuss what they should be looking for and studying in their books, what questions and games will come up?
Students should just read their books. If they read their books, they will be fine. They are not going to be asked minute details. Questions and puzzles are either comprehension questions or application puzzles. It should be a lot of fun.
How to prepare:
Discuss. Discussing ideas, characters and themes about a book with another person will help you gain a better understanding of that book.
Quiz yourself. Search the title of your book up on the internet. You can try a variety of quizzes, read summaries of your books and communicate with other readers.
Re-read. Re-reading your book can help you resolve some questions and issues you may have had with reading your book the first time. It can also fill in gaps you may have had when you read a book for the first time.
These strategies and tips will definitely help with the Battle of the Books. Have fun!
Food waste becoming a concern at schools
By: Jyotsna Swaminathan
Anyone can observe the constant food waste within the NMS cafeteria. This includes food being played with as well as the mandatory fruits being thrown in the trash.
All students are aware that when purchasing lunch (which is currently free), a fruit and/or vegetable must be included in the meal. Some students choose to ignore the healthy food brought to the table, and throw it away. This is normal within NMS and goes unquestioned or challenged; because it’s simpler that way. But according to the website called Food Service Director, about 530,000 tons of food is wasted yearly at schools.
This is unacceptable. There are many people within the world who are forced to go hungry, and cannot benefit from these kind privileges and choices. Not all people have the luxury to be picky.
BEYOND THE BLUE ROOF
Starbucks workers organize to change wages and benefits
By: Samuel Xie
Unions are when people organize and join together to get better wages and benefits. If workers are not satisfied with their conditions, everyone walks out to protest, or refuse to work, which is called a strike. As a result, the company has to give better conditions or find a lot of new workers. According to CNN, "Only 1.2% of workers in the [food] sector are union members, tying it for the lowest share of union membership of any sector tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics."
Starbucks has a history of breaking down unions. For example, in 1985, the first 120 people unionized with the UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers) and secured a contract, bringing much-needed off-time and work benefits to the fast-food chain. After breaking that contract in just a year, Starbucks has since fought multiple unionization efforts successfully through firing workers that tried to unionize, violating labor laws in the process. However, the recent damage dealt by the pandemic has weakened the economy so much that workers now have leverage over companies due to mass unemployment.
In late 2020, the Starbucks store in New York was unionized. This was the first of 9,000 stores within the US. Even though the store did this only for basic wages and to fix issues with the company, Starbucks management immediately took action, renewing their union-crushing ways. Executives went to engage with employees, which results in reducing support for unions. This move however was futile. The union resisted as Starbucks demanded a revote, while the company intentionally adding excessive staff to increase voter count, and even eventually resorting to intimidation. Regardless, the employees came through, and now, over 70 more Starbucks stores are unionized.
Workers can finally get the fair wages, healthcare, and working conditions they deserve. This rising movement has already had an impact on the labor market.
Sources: CNN News, Wsj.com, Vox
Will the United Kingdom's Boris Johnson be forced out?
By: Silas Hunter
Boris Johnson is the prime minister of the United Kingdom. He has been in power ever since his predecessor, Theresa May, resigned in 2019. Johnson, like May, is from the conservative party. Both have had to deal with considerably large scandals, however, Johnson’s biggest misconduct ever could lead to his downfall.
So, what exactly happened? Well, like most things that have gone wrong in the past few years, it’s because of COVID. When the coronavirus reached the UK, Johnson had multiple laws passed in an attempt to keep people in their homes and slow and stop the spread of the virus. British civilians were forced to stay home, they couldn’t see their families, and they couldn’t attend public gatherings. These laws weren’t just for civilians though, they were for everyone. Politicians and members of parliament included.
The Prime Minister, however, decided to not follow his own rules. One night in December of 2020, the PM hosted a Christmas party at 10 Downing Street, at the house all British Prime Ministers live in during their tenure. Multiple members of parliament, or MPs, were there too. They were breaking multiple rules.
Once the news of the party broke, which was most likely thanks to someone at the party, it only went downhill from there. Multiple people from the Labour Party, the main opposition party to Johnson, accused him of breaking the rules and told him he should resign. Of course, Johnson didn’t buy it. It was only the opposition, so of course, they’d try to get their political enemy out of office. When criticized or asked about the party, Johnson would always say that he was “...repeatedly assured that no rules were broken, and all guidelines followed.”
As months passed, it became clearer that the statements about the party that were coming out of the PM’s mouth were false. After trying to hide it, many MPs from the Conservative Party (again, Johnson’s party) came forward, to tell the truth about the party. Despite this, the PM has still refused to admit to breaking rules at the party. Not at least while hard-line conservatives have his back. Multiple times, people from many parties have asked Johnson to resign. He has refused every time.
Although, what would happen if Johnson left the position of PM? And how could he? First of all, the how. There are three ways that a PM can leave that position. He/She could resign willingly, the PM’s party can hold a vote of no confidence (basically to kick them out of the roles as their party’s leader and therefore the role of Prime Minister), or the entire House of Commons (kind of the British version of the House of Representatives in the US) could hold a vote of no confidence against the PM.
That’s the how. Now, what would happen? Well, that depends on the how. In a simplified version; If the PM resigns, then elections are held for the House of Commons and the next PM. That is also what happens if the House of Commons holds a vote of no confidence. If the PM’s party holds a vote of no confidence, then the party votes on who their new leader is and therefore the new PM.
Though all of these are a possibility for Johnson, he’s made it clear that he doesn’t want to resign. And a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons seems a bit far off. All things considered, the most likely thing to happen is that the Conservative Party holds a vote of no confidence in Johnson. Although, no one ever knows when this could happen, as a certain number of people have to send in letters of no confidence to a committee for a no-confidence vote to occur. The number of letters is always unknown, and we only know when the threshold has been reached. So, Johnson might be able to survive for another year.
Sources: TLDR News UK, BBC.com
Hope and healing guide this year's Women's History Month
By: Amreen Zaman
How it started:
Women’s history month hasn’t always been a large widespread event celebrating all the previously ignored or forgotten inventions and innovations of women of the past. It started as a small local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. Originally only a week long, it was meant to honor the contributions that women have made in society. It quickly spread, gaining national acknowledgment. Thanks to President Jimmy Carter, March 8th marks the start of what was once known as Women's Week. Later on, Congress passed the request for March to become Women’s History Month. In 1995 Women’s History Week officially became Women’s History Month.
This year's theme:
During Women’s History Month there is a new theme that is centered around. This year's theme is Providing Healing Promoting Hope. It’s meant to represent the women that work on the frontlines during the Covid pandemic, as well as women of the past who became a symbol of healing and hope throughout time.
Women Heroes:
To honor this year's theme, it’s only right to represent some of the women who helped shape history. To start with, Mother Teresa was originally a nun and a school teacher. She saw what children in poverty had to deal with and decided that she would start a school for children that lived in poverty. Her cause attracted the attention of many bringing in financial support and volunteers. Throughout her life, she continued to help others in need. She later won a Nobel Peace prize as well as many other awards for the work that she has done to help others.
Susan B. Anthony was a symbol of hope throughout time raising awareness about unjust causes. She was born a Quaker and was raised learning how to read and write. As she grew older, she went on to teach at an all-girls school, it was shortly after this time that she became friends with abolitionists. She was denied the right to speak at a temperance meeting, and this led her to become the president of the Woman’s New York State Temperance Society. Needless to say, she was an inspiration to a lot of people and fought for what was right.
Women have gone through a lot throughout history and this month is to be celebrated in honor of the ones here today and the ones who have fought for our rights.
Sources: Women's History Month, National Women’s History Alliance, Mother Teresa – Biographical - NobelPrize.org, Susan B. Anthony
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Array of factors to consider when buying a phone
By: Debakshi Mondal
A lot of children and teenagers are receiving access to new technologies in our modern world, phones, to be specific. As a result, the controversy over which phone type is superior has erupted. The two most popular and fiercely debated are Apple (iOS) and Android. In this article, some of the most important factors to consider and things to keep in mind when selecting a phone will be included.
Cost And Resale Value
The biggest factor people consider when buying anything on the market is price. So, how does this affect the choice between iPhones and Androids? To begin with, the iPhone and Android have drastically different prices. Most people know that the majority of Androids are considerably more affordable than iPhones. In fact, the iPhone SE, which is Apple’s most affordable model, starts at $399. Although both types have options well over $1,000, the average price of an Android is lower. This makes the Android more accessible to a broader range of people. After purchase, though, it’s a different story. Meaning that the resale value of iOS is higher. According to lifewire.com, a used iPhone X (64GB) had a resale value of $161 and an iPhone 8 (128GB) had a value of $118. On the other hand, a Samsung Galaxy S9 (64GB) had a value of only $95, and a Google Pixel 3 XL (128GB) had an even lower value of $89. This can cause problems if someone wants to do a trade-in or sell your current phone to get money for a new one. So the winner here is whether an affordable phone is more important or an upgrade for a new one is?
Hardware
Hardware of a phone is a factor that people look over with phone names like “iPhone 13 Pro Max” and “Galaxy S22 Ultra”. But hardware is a huge deal when buying a phone, because well, it is the physical elements of the phone. Hardware is another big thing that is different between iOS and Android because Apple is the only company that makes iOS devices. However, Android devices are made by many companies like Samsung, LG, HTC, and many more. This has an advantage, because it allows Android phones to have a multitude of features and options. This is a plus for people who like many choices for their phones. However, this can also cause problems in quality. Since Apple is the only company that makes iOS devices, the quality is stable. But since Androids are made by many companies, the quality varies a lot. This means that it is now possible to get a phone with great hardware and quality. Because of this, many like the simple and stable quality of iOS devices from Apple. Again, there is no clear winner here. Android has more features and choices, so if that is what is preferred, that is the best choice. If having a phone with a stable quality is more important, then Apple is the best option.
Battery And Maintenance
A battery is an important component of a phone; it powers the phone. To begin with, think about the iPhone. Apple’s first iPhones started out frequently needing a charge. However, they gradually progressed from needing a charge more frequently to needing one less frequently. But, when compared to Android, the wide variety of companies and choices have many options that have "ultra-high capacity batteries" according to lifewire.com. Another thing that relates to phone batteries is replacing the batteries or other parts. This again points in Android’s favor. With the elegance and simplicity of Apple, you can’t customize or improve the iPhone's battery or storage easily. In fact, changing the internal storage of an iphone isn’t an option. Even if a battery was available, a trained specialist would be needed. On the other hand, many Android companies allow users to upgrade their battery or storage. According to nytimes.com, "Many Android phones have a microSD card slot that lets you expand the amount of internal storage available," This explains why Android has the upper hand when it comes to battery life and storage customization. In the end, the phone with the better battery life, and easier maintenance is Android.
Security
Security and privacy are momentous considerations when it comes to buying a phone, especially for kids and teenagers. But they are both overshadowed by other features. When we look at which phone has the better security and privacy, the clear winner is iOS (Apple). According to lifewire.com, “In one study, 97% of all malware, viruses, worms, etc., were for Android. In that study, 0% attacked the iPhone,”. Lifewire.com also states, “Even the head of Google's Android team admits that ‘We cannot guarantee that Android is designed to be safe... If I had a company dedicated to malware, I should also be addressing my attacks on Android.’ “ This completely seals the deal that Apple has better security. In Android’s defense, the iPhone still isn’t completely immune to security attacks and malware, just significantly more secure. In summary, if you want a phone that you don’t have to worry about security, then Apple is the distinct option.
An online survey conducted on the WNMS Schoology group page shows us that about 14% (7/49) of the people who responded preferred Android and about 86% (42/49) preferred Apple as of March 13th, 2022. This shows that Apple is more popular at NMS compared to Android. But surveys aside, it is important to pick a phone that works best for you. Both platforms have things to offer, so now it comes down to what is more important to you. For example, if you need a phone with a longer battery life, then buying an Android would be better. If you want a phone with better security, then get yourself an iPhone. Whichever you choose, make sure you are happy with your phone and that it fits your needs.
Sources:
Can there really be another round of Covid?
By: Srijan Agarwal
Everyone is celebrating right now over the fact that COVID is almost over and the U.S, reports less than 50 thousand cases per day, compared to when it used to receive over 800 thousand cases every day. And China, where the pandemic originated, was receiving only about 100 cases daily. But, turns out, it is wrong. China has reported an unexpected surge in its daily COVID cases which was truly unexpected. Will the virus spread again just like in March 2020? Will this be another lockdown? Will air travel be suspended again?
China received a total of 1,436 cases recently, on March 14th, 2022. This number might not seem shocking at all, since the world has experienced worse, but it is for China. A few days before, it received only 555 cases. That’s double the number! Moreover, China ordered the people of major manufacturing hubs, Shenzhen and Changchun, as well as the northeastern province of Jilin, into a lockdown for a week. These cities all together hold populations of 51 million people. This happened after 86 new domestic cases were reported Sunday. That might seem a low amount, but China has taken a good step that will prevent the disease from spreading more than ever.
Scientists appear to be calling this variant,“Deltacron.” As the name suggests, it is a mixture of both the Delta and Omicron variants. There are many inferences about the harmful side-effects of this variant. The Delta strand had many side effects and those who were infected were very sick. The Omicron variant is very contagious and can easily be spread around the population. People who had the Omicron variant showed minimal symptoms or weren’t sick at all. The Deltacron variant is proving to be dangerous and alarming.
The countries which have cases of Deltacron include the U.S., U.K., France, Netherlands, and Denmark. The U.S., moreover, currently identifies two cases of the new strain, both in California. Obviously, the U.S. won’t take a big step as issuing a nation-wide lockdown because of such minimal danger. But, it should take precautions inside the State of California and specifically in urban areas to ensure that the new variant does not spread to other states. Although a shocking spike of the daily cases reported in the U.S. has not been seen, it is important for Americans to stay on alert and take action if necessary.
Cyber security vital for today's technology
By: Sanvi Rao
Have you ever felt someone on the internet was stalking you? Do you have weird links sent to you often? Do you randomly just see a picture or video on the internet that you feel is inappropriate? Unfortunately, these are some of the struggles or problems when it comes to sorting out the internet.
Ensuring one's safety on the internet is predominant when it comes to today’s world. If you think you need help in controlling yourself on your devices, here are some tips for you to better organize yourself on social media:
#1) Install antivirus/anti-malware protection:
Doing this can protect you from all sorts of viruses that can enter your computer. Make sure to install these programs from a trusted/reliable source and make sure that your program attends to its purpose.
#2) Practice good password management:
We all tend to set the same passwords for almost all the sites we use. It is important to set different passwords and change them every once in a while to completely ensure your safety. Using password managers can help with organizing your passwords.
#3) Use mobile devices safely:
Set passwords or locks! Never leave your devices unprotected in front of unknown people without passwords. If you do not set passwords/locks, any person can get access to any sort of sensitive data on your phones and who knows what they can do with all that information so it is better to avoid such possible occurrences.
Install Apps from trusted sources like Appstore or Google Play. Installing apps from sources you don't know or trust can be really harmful, if you install something off of a risky website, that can potentially insert a virus into your phones, causing everything you do to be monitored which is something that you do not want to happen.
Avoid clicking on links from unknown sources or suspicious emails. Clicking on unknown links can lead you to untrustworthy websites and can also ask for your personal information or once again can insert a virus into your device. These sites can also often host malware that will automatically install and someone can break into your computer without your knowledge.
In conclusion, one’s safety on the internet is essential for you to have a good online experience as well as being aware of viruses, apps and potential scams.
Source: Security.berkeley.edu
To mask or not to mask?
By: Sydney Hartke
On February 28, 2022, students throughout Novi were able to see their friends’ faces again. This is because Novi dropped its mask mandate. Still, even with a decline in Covid cases, some people are arguing that it should still be required to wear masks.
Aya Elzayatie, a student at NMS, says that we should put the mask mandate back in place, “It can save lives,” she says. “It also can keep people from getting sick.``
Thanks to a steep decline in Covid cases, the mask mandate has been lifted. Governor Gretchen Whitmer says, "While Michigan hasn't had statewide mask policies since last June, this updated guidance will underscore that we are getting back to normal. Let's keep working together to build on our momentum so we can keep our kids learning in person.”
“As we see our critical measures of vaccinations, hospital admissions, and cases moving in a direction that tell us the COVID-19 impact on our community is greatly improving, the time is right to remove the mask order for daycares and educational institutions,” says Health Division Medical Director Dr. Russell Faust.
Meanwhile, Michigan withdrew its mask mandate in all indoor spaces. This includes schools and other public spaces. However, does this mean students don’t have to wear masks ever again? It’s still strongly recommended by the Michigan Department of Health to wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces or if you aren’t vaccinated. Some businesses are still requiring masks, even with the new recommendations.
Now the only question is, will the Covid cases keep declining, or will the mask mandate be reinstated?
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Horror movies: How to get a good night's sleep afterward
By: Niveditha Vijay
Horror movies are great fun to watch with friends and family. However, it's not very fun getting over them; remember curling up in a warm blanket and thinking about that scary horror movie all night? Well, I've been there, done that, and it's NOT fun. So next time you watch a horror movie, keep these tips in mind to ensure a good night’s sleep:
1. It's not real: It helps to think that whatever happens in that horror movie is not real. So the next time you’re thinking about the movie or wake up in the middle of the night, remind yourself that it's not real and that you are safe.
2. Distract Yourself: Thinking about happy things like your friends and family, or a funny movie really helps. And throughout the day, having a busy schedule keeps your mind from wandering away. So whenever your mind is wandering, just busy yourself with a book or something else.
3. Imagine: Your imagination is the key to getting over your fear. So the next time you think about that ghost, imagine your hero beating it or changing the way the story goes to make it less scary.
4. Spending time with others: If you are too afraid to sleep by yourself, invite friends or a family member to a sleepover with you. If that’s not enough, play games or even just talking helps. Sleeping with the nightlight on also helps.
5. They are also human: After watching the movie, it is helpful to look up the cast. It helps see that they are all human. All of the actors were just, well, acting. It basically tells our brain that whatever you saw isn’t real.
6. Talking about it: After a while, it's hard to keep all the things you see bottled up inside you. Talking to someone who cares about the movie lightens the load. Think of it from their perspective: what would they think? They would think it's silly and so should you.
Sources: Q&A for How to Stop Being Scared After Watching Scary Movies
Four games you need to try!
By: Bianca Longo Hirai and Darek Wu
Video games are becoming more innovative and high-quality as the years progress, while gaining popularity daily. People across the world play video games, with favorites and least favorites. Here are four video game that you’ll want to play.
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Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (also widely known as BOTW) is an open-world, action role-playing game made by Nintendo that aired on March 3rd, 2017. The game is available to everyone but is recommended for players over the ages of 11 who understand the fundamentals of logic, reading, and comprehending tasks. The game is centered around a Hylan named Link, who had just awoken from a deep sleep, for 100 years. The player plays as Link, exploring the wastelands, learning new ways to control the character, the plan to save Hyrule's kingdom, who Ganondorf is and what he's done, and what happened 100 years before his suppression.
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Undertale
Undertale is a 2D action video game created by Toby Fox, an Indie videogame developer. It aired on September 15, 2015. Frisk (they/them) is the main protagonist and playable character of the Undertale game. Frisk falls into the Underground, a large land underneath the surface of the Earth, which carries the kingdom of Monsters. The exit from the Underground is blocked by the Barrier, which was placed by the Humans years before. Frisk tries to find a way to return to the surface, after getting trapped in the Underground. The game is rated T for Teens by ESRB. The reason for this rating is due to fantasy violence, mild gore, mild language, and the use of tobacco.
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Rain World
Rain World is an absolute masterpiece of a game. The player plays as a slugcat, an animal at the bottom of the food chain, trying to survive every single day without dying to the monsters that loom over every building. It is incredibly difficult and unfair, which results in most people who play the game dropping it within two hours. But if you stick it through, you will realize just how masterful the game is. The game also looks stunning. Every background just has a vibe that few games have replicated, and the exploration is phenomenal. On top of that, the AI of the monsters is amazing, it’s so natural and they even walk around and do stuff even if you're off-screen, which is very epic.
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OneShot
OneShot is about a cat person named Niko who needs to carry a lightbulb to a lighthouse, to power the world and save it. Simple, right? Well, not so much. It turns out that the world isn’t what you think it is and you need to do a bunch of the fourth wall breaking puzzles that will challenge your mind in ways you didn’t think of before, and that ending is perfect, simply purchase the game and play for yourself, it is worth the money.
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Sources:
Polygon.com, Breath of the Wild is coming out in 2022, Undertale Rating, Parents guide - Undertale, Wiki - undertale
March Madness: What you need to know
By: Henry Yim
It’s the dash to the big dance. 68 NCAA Basketball teams will show off their best talent, as they clash in the March Madness tournament. Gonzaga, Kansas, and Arizona open up as early favorites in the tournament, and college basketball superstars such as Johnny Davis, Oscar Tshiebwe, Keegan Murray, and Ochai Agbaji, will be on display throughout the month of March and April.
The 2022 March Madness tournament began on Tuesday, March 15th, with the first four games, and the next round starts on Thursday, March 17th, culminating with the NCAA championship game on April 4th in New Orleans. The Michigan State Spartans (No. 7 seed) will face off against Davidson (No. 10 seed) in a late Friday night game at 9:40 PM. It is expected to be a close game, and different sports analysts predict different outcomes. The Michigan Wolverines (No. 11 seed) are the underdogs in their matchup against Colorado State (No. 6 seed).
Some NMS students will be following their favorite teams like the Michigan Wolverines, and Yugesh (7th Grader) saids, “It's cool, cause you can predict the bracket, by the way GO BLUE.”
Gonzaga hopes their 7'1" center Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme (from last year’s runner-up squad) can survive possible matchups against Duke, Texas Tech (No. 3 seed), Uconn (No. 5 seed), and Memphis (No. 8 seed). The legendary head coach, Mike Kryzewski, of Duke hopes to make this his 13th final four appearance (would be a record) and his 6th NCAA Championship win before his retirement.
Kansas (No. 1 seed) probably by far has the easiest path to New Orleans as many are saying they compete against less competitive and talented teams, especially with record-setting scorers such as Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun on their side. The Arizona Wildcats, a favorite to make it all the way to the championship game, definitely have the ability to cut down the nets and Tommy Lloyd’s crew looks very dangerous. (Star player Kerr Kriisa is “temporarily” injured, and he is doubtful to return anytime soon)
This year's bracket is “crazy” to say the least as many unheard of lower-ranked teams might actually make it quite far into this tournament. The Iowa Hawkeyes (No. 5 seed) may give Kansas trouble in a sweet 16 matchup. Few know this, but Murray State (No. 7 seed) had a 30-win season, and they can possibly make it all the way to the Elite 8. South Dakota State (No. 13 seed) over Providence (No. 4 seed), Vermont (No. 13 seed) over Arkansas (No. 4 seed), and Chattanooga (No. 13 seed) over Illinois (No. 4 seed) are just a few of the possible major upsets of this year’s bracket.
Many teams certainly have the potential to make a deep run like the star-studded UCLA team (No. 4 seed), the gigantic Purdue Boilermakers (No. 3 seed), and Houston (No. 5 seed) can make it to the Sweet 16. Other possible upsets include: Indiana over St. Mary’s, San Francisco over Murray State, UAB over Houston, Sister Jean and Loyola Chicago over Ohio State to continue the big ten tournament drought. Other talented teams to watch for this month include: San Diego State and LSU.
One student explained, “I don’t follow sports, but my teachers have talked about it a lot and it’s made its rounds in society. For instance, in our Spanish class, we’re doing a March-Madness style song bracket for song of the week, where the most voted song moves on in the tournament. So even as someone who will never touch sports, I will have to admit the impact it has made on non-sport culture.”
Henry Kang (7th grader) added, “I think it is a very good month to explore various college basketball teams that would be competing in the competition and to know more about basketball.”
Now, we can only eagerly wait for the official start of the games, so let the Madness begin!
Dear Wildcat
By: Lakshmi Bijukumar and Tanisha Paul
Dear Wildcat: I’m in a dilemma. I’m currently taking a language course and I’m not doing so well in it. I’m confused about how to spell and pronounce things, which is causing me to fail. I’m in 8th grade right now and I'm worried about how I’ll get through one or two more years of a language in high school. What should I do to improve my grades and knowledge?
--Downhearted Daisy
Dear Downhearted Daisy: Languages can be tough. I know it’s difficult to learn new things. Therefore, I highly recommend that you check in with your language teacher for extra practice packets, as well as some help during your A20 time. You can also research and learn about the language you are taking through many sites like Duolingo and Fluent Forever. If you are still confused and you think it’s best to switch to a different language, you should talk to your counselors (Mrs. Condon or Mrs. Kilgore) about changing for next year. Hope this helps!
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Dear Wildcat: I am in a tricky situation. I always find myself being called on in class and not knowing how to answer the question the teacher has asked. I know that I should pay more attention in class, but I always tend to zone out, play games, or do something else, then end up in this situation. What should I do so that I can improve my focus during class?
--Scared Sunflower
Dear Scared Sunflower: Staying focused is difficult. But, there are some ways you can improve your focus. One thing you can do is reduce distractions. For example, if you have any games on your device that you use, then you can block them or simply just delete them. If you don’t want to do that, then you can just study a bit more in your own time. Doing this can help you understand the topic more. So, next time your teacher calls on you, you can have an answer.
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Dear Wildcat: I’m throwing a party and I want to invite very few people like close friends, but I’m in a predicament. I told my friends to come to the party, and word spread around quickly. Others that I know are asking to be invited, but I wasn’t comfortable inviting that many people to the party. How do I say no without hurting them.
--Worried Wildflower
Dear Worried Wildflower: My advice would be to tell the truth. Let the people that are asking to be invited know that you are not comfortable with so many people at the party. You could also tell them that you had everything already planned out with the people you currently invited. If they do start saying that you’re mean and purposely didn't invite them to the party, then I would choose to ignore them. If they really cared about you, then they would understand the situation.
Pokemon Gen 9 arrives with new starters, great graphics
By: Kris Park
Gen 9 has been announced, and with it are the new starters (the pokemon you start with). One of them is the fire pokemon, named Fuecoco, as well as the The water pokemon, named Quaxly, and the grass pokemon, named Sprigatito. More information is accessible in the pokesite. That's about it for the new games named scarlet and violet.
The first point of business is the starters. Let's first talk about the fire type, Fuecoco. Its design is cool, but it looks like Charmander and Totodile. Next is the water type, Quaxly. This pokemon looks cool but it’s a copy of Ducklett. Finally is the grass type, Spirigatto, who literally looks just like a cat. These designs make it clear that the creators are losing ideas for pokemon.
The graphics are high-quality. The buildings and the animations are 3D, they look similar to sword and shield graphics. Sadly, the characters are not the traditional anime style, but they are good.
Overall, the games are giving off lots of excitement but not much hope. But this is only the beginning, so they could make better pokemon later in the year.
Novi Middle School
Email: kenneth.fenchel@novik12.org
Website: https://ms.novi.k12.mi.us/
Location: 49000 West 11 Mile Road, Novi, MI, USA
Phone: (248)-449-1600