The Bear Den
Highland Lakes School ** Spread Kindness, Not Germs!
It’s Summer Time! By Peyton P.
Summer is coming up fast people, so get out your bathing suits and your beach towels and head to the pool! When you're in the pool with friends or family do you ever find yourself looking for a pool game or activity to do? Well, I have some ideas for you! My family and I play games and are in the pool all summer! The first game you could play is called the mirror game. This game is suitable for all ages. How do you play? Okay, so what you're going to do is get into two's and stand opposite each other. One of you does action and your partner has to try and copy it, just like you are looking in a mirror that's where the name comes into play. You can try swimming side to side, dipping underwater, and lots more. Swap over after a couple of minutes and keep taking turns. For the second game, I like to call it “float floating” The point of this game is to see who can last the longest on a pool float or a tube, The third and final game is to practice a synchronized swimming routine. I was in synchronized swimming and I loved it. You can make fun and pretty routines in your pool and perform them for your parents or friends. Here's a trick, DON'T TOUCH THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL! Have fun trying all of your new games and activities with your family!
Sports Seasons are Changing in the 2022-2023 School Year! By Addison B.
As many of you may know, next school year the sports seasons are changing. Softball and Baseball will be in the Fall, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Spirit-Line will be in the Winter, and Basketball and Track will be in the Spring. The schedules basically rotated around. It will be nice to have Softball and Baseball in the Fall due to the cooler weather! It may be a little hard to run Cross Country if you don’t like running in cold weather but I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’m not sure how Spirit-Line will work without the basketball season but I’m sure it will be figured out soon. Make sure you write this information on your calendar if you’re playing sports next year!
Summer Dangers by London L.
Since Summer comes out to be very hot, there are some dangers of this heat. First, heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, are common Summer health issues. Next is dehydration. If you don't stay hydrated in the Summer heat, you might develop a case of dehydration. Then there are swimming accidents, people drown every summer, so keep your eye on younger people. Next is sun burns, a few sun burns will increase your risk of skin cancer. So remember to put sunscreen on! Then the last thing I'm going to share is food poisoning, remember that hot weather can affect the food you eat. Stay safe, and have a good summer!
Last Days of School! by: Rebeka P.
The last few days of school are different for everyone. Some people may be excited to end school while others are sad to leave their classmates. Some classes have been full of free time while others have been more stressful. 8th graders had their dance on Friday, and they are graduating middle school very soon. Many people have been at this school since kindergarten, now we are going off to high school. Some kids will be separated while others will stay together. Of course, I don’t know what every class is doing since I’m limited to only knowing a lot about the classes that I have. So, I will be talking about the last few days of school from my point of view…and anyone that shares these classes with me! Let’s start with classes. My first period, which is Yearbook and News class, has been very lean. We haven’t been doing much. With yearbooks done and passed out, we are finishing the last “Bear Den” news story, and other than that, we are doing the morning announcements. Spanish class is more productive though. 1-2 students had to do tests this week. A reading test on Tuesday, A listening test on Wednesday and the final written essay on Thursday. Good thing it isn’t very stressful though, just more annoying that we have to do 3 tests in the last full week of school. My math class is a bit more stressful though. Mrs. Smith has to teach something that takes a while to learn in just a couple of days. We had to take a lot of notes and study for our last test which was Friday. Then, Mrs. Mills' classes had a project. We had to make a house/living area on a different planet! My fifth hour, Mrs. Verlie was more like a normal school day. Still reading our book and doing organizers really. Then, in sixth hour, Mrs. Lewis also gave a project. It was a social issues project. All my classes are nice and even though I am looking forward to summer, I will miss my classmates and teachers.
Best Star Wars Movies Ranked by Bill L.
In this story I will be ranking all 11 of the Star Wars movies but don't get mad, this is only my opinion.
11. The Last Jedi Episode 8. This movie was pretty bad, there were some parts that were OK and the ending was pretty good. Overall 5/10
10. Rogue One. This movie was not that bad but some parts in this movie were not that great either and I don't really remember a lot. Although, the hallway scene with Darth Vader was amazing. Overall 6/10
9. The Rise of Skywalker Episode 9. This movie was OK, this movie had really good parts in it but the movie was so random. Overall 6.5/10
8. Solo. This movie was not bad at all and the way that he found Choowie was pretty funny, it's crazy how he started out on the dark side and then turned over. Overall 7/10
7. The Force Awakens Episode 7. This movie was pretty good and I love how Finn was a stormtrooper that turned to the light side. I do wish he would become the Jedi and not Rey because it would be a cool story, but Finn and Poe have an awesome friendship. Overall 7.5/10
6. The Phantom Menace Episode 1. This was a pretty good movie, they introduced C-3PO and R2-D2 and Luke and Leia's mom (named Padme Amidala) and dad (named Anakin Skywalker) but Anakin is only 8-10 years old right now. The pod racing and the end battle between Qui Gon, Kenobi and Maul was so cool but RIP Qui Gon. Overall 7.5/10
5. A New Hope Episode 4. This movie was good and how they added Luke was really good; I like how C-3P0 and R2 were "rescued" by Luke and Uncle Ben and I like how Obi-Wan saved Luke and the droids from sand people. When they are at the Death Star was also really cool but when Darth Vader and Kenobi fought, it was sad RIP Kenobi. Overall 7.5/10
4. Empire Strikes Back Episode 5. This movie was not bad at all, the ways that Luke was learning how to be a Jedi from one of the greatest Jedi in the series, Yoda, but he dies too, and learning to be a pilot for the resistance is so cool especially since he doesn't have Kenobi anymore. And then Luke fights Darth Vader and Darth Vader reveals that he is Luke's father. Overall 8/10
3. Return of the Jedi Episode 6. This movie was awesome, Luke became a Jedi, and he faced Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. He won but Darth Vader died. They were also with the Endor teddy bears aka Ewoks. The end was so beautiful where Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Anakin a.k.a. Darth Vader as force ghosts. Overall 9/10
2. Attack of the Clones Episode 2. This movie was amazing, there was so much action in it and Anakin is older and Kenobi was training Anakin into becoming a Jedi, they find people trying to kill Padme so they go out on an adventure around the galaxy to find whose plan was trying to kill Padme. Anakin, Padme, and Kenobi were caught and were about to be executed but they got saved by hundreds of Jedi. Overall 9.5/10
1. Revenge of the Sith Episode 3. This is one of my all-time favorite movies, this movie was so beautiful and it showed how Anakin turned to the dark side because he had a dream that Padme died while giving birth to Luke and Leia. Palpatine was hiding in the alliance as a politician and was trying to turn Anakin into the dark side and he was successful. Kenobi was on another planet fighting a sith lord and he won but as he was leaving, Palpatine made the clones shoot at every Jedi in the galaxy, and while that was happening, Anakin went to the younglings (kids training to be Jedi) and he killed all of them. The end was really sad because Kenobi had to fight Anakin in order to save the Alliance from the dark side. Kenobi won but Anakin was still alive so Palpatine came to the rescue and gave him the suit that he has in the rest of the movies (Episodes 4,5 and 6). Overall 100/10
The Post Pandemic Problem
Hurricane Harbor is open! by Peyton P
Everyone's favorite season is coming up fast so put away your snow pants and skis and take your pool noodles and bathing suits and get ready to enjoy some summertime fun! I have even more good for you summer-loving people, Hurricane Harbor is opening soon! If you are not familiar with Hurricane Harbor, this incredible water park has recently moved into Arizona about a year or two ago. I have been so excited for Hurricane Harbor to open back up this year. If you like to go on, fast, and exciting water slides and so do your friends This is a great place for you. I spend my whole summer at the water park with my best friends and sometimes when you are waiting in line for a water slide you can make new friends. If you like to eat, Hurricane Harbor offers amazing food and has many delicious sponsors such as Dip and Dots, Jo Jo’s Family Restaurant, and many more. I hope you enjoy your amazing time at Hurricane Harbor and enjoy The Food!
What Could You Do For Charity By Karina K.
Charity is one thing that people can do to help out their community, there are two types of charity, Non-Profit and public-funded. Some things you can do as a charity is helping out the homeless such as families, students, and animals. Another kind of charity you can do is helping out schools that are falling apart and needing assistance for their students and staff. There are people who are in need of assistance and would like help with housing, cleaning, and money because these people don't have homes that are in good shape and need help with hygiene. If you ever get a chance this summer or have any free time to help out a local charity and you could possibly change someone's life.
All-State By Sachi A.
What’s All-State?
For those of you who don’t know, All-State is a gathering of musicians all across Arizona selected by an audition. Those who are selected practice all day at a certain area and then perform! It’s a great way to meet new people and see old friends.
Why Audition?
All-State might sound terrifying to some because of the audition part. Others feel that it isn’t worth the struggle.
The opportunity is worth so much more. All-State makes you better at playing your instrument or singing, so even if you don’t get in, you’ll be more skilled than if you were to not audition.
If you’re scared, it’s really not as bad as it seems! The people listening to your recording don’t even know who you are, and even if your recording doesn’t meet their standards, they won’t think you’re silly, because you tried!
Always remember your musical skills don’t define your worth as a person. You aren’t a useless person if people don’t like your singing or playing.
If you’re in choir, orchestra, or band, you should participate in All-State next year. It will motivate you to become a better musician
Subway Surfers by Camden J.
Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Other Works By Siya A.
Ovid was a Roman author and poet and he wrote many myths or mythological inspired stories. This seems mundane because it is just some Roman myths, Ovid is our only source for many stories.
He also talks more about his own life and beliefs. This lets us better understand domestic religion in Rome. Not just the large grand state-sponsored festivals other authors describe. A great example of this is a text named The Ibis he curses an enemy he claims is attacking him during his exile. He calls the gods to aid him and in the last half goes into detail about how he wants his enemy to be punished, wanting them to be left hungry and in poverty. Citing mythological examples of punishments the gods used against Tantalus and others. The subject of this gruesome curse is left unnamed only referred to by the pseudonym “ibis”. Magic, curses, and spells all were part of Roman religion but most aren’t preserved so this is quite an important text.
Keeping with his work on mythological subjects His most famous work the Metamorphoses details stories about transformations and change. The first book details the creation of the world as the first myth. It describes how different gods made the world and how humans were made in their image. The next myth has this same theme this time following the creation with a golden age ruled over by Saturn. The golden age was perfect where even a common man could easily get luxuries. The age of silver followed then iron and bronze. These ages progressively got closer to what the Romans considered modern. The next stories are all quite familiar like Apollo and Daphne, Orpheus and Eurydice, Niobe, Pelops, and the rest. All these myths were most likely written from memory which shows what stories were The more interesting parts are at the end of the last book.
This section breaks from the theme of myths to be much more contemporary. Two stories, one about Pythagoras and the other about Julius Caesar. Pythagoras makes a speech that mirrors the metamorphosis in how it deals with change from the creation of the world to the Roman Empire. Showing that even a mystical figure such as Pythagoras supports his thoughts. Ovid claims in the next book that four people have been granted immortality by the gods namely, Hercules, Aeneas (the hero in Virgil’s epic poem), the Aeneid, Romulus founder of Rome, and Julius Caesar. In the last lines, Ovid states this famous quote “I have finished a work that Jupiter’s wrath or fire or sword or the corruption of time cannot destroy” which really goes against the theme of change throughout the rest of the text. It does make a point that the writing will stay the same and the author through the work will gain immortality.
National Slasa Month By Jake M.
This month is National Salsa Month, to celebrate, I will be telling everyone about the history of salsa as well as a recipe for salsa. Salsa is traced back to the time of the Aztecs, Incas, and the Mayans. They would create their version of salsa by mixing tomatoes, chiles, and squash seeds. The creation of modern salsa came from the 1500 when the Spaniards conquered mexico. The dish became popular and was named “Salsa” in 1571 by Alonso de Molina. Even though salsa may have not had an interesting history it is still a very tasty dish so here is a quick and simple recipe: Gather Ripe tomatoes, Red onion, Garlic cloves, Jalapeños, Cilantro, Fresh lime juice, Ground cumin, Sugar, Salt, Canned tomatoes, and Diced green chilies. First add the veggies to a blender or food processor and puree it. Next add the canned tomatoes and the chilies and puree again. Finally add the cumin and the salt and enjoy.
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The Post Pandemic Problem Answer
Bear Den Editor(s)
Rebeka P. (8th grade)