Evan Silberstein

Greek Sculpture- Laocoon and his Sons

         Recently, our class has been looking at Greek plays and I thought it would be interesting to look at some of the sculptures during the time. One of the sculptures I found were Laocoon and his Sons, built by Athenodoros and Polydorus. The statue depicts the Trojan priest Laocoon (also a priest of Apollo) and his sons, Antiphantes and Thymbraeus, fighting sea serpents. The story of Laocoon begins with him disgracing Apollo by having intercourse with his wife. Apollo then sends down two sea serpents to crush Laocoon and his to twin sons. The story of Laocoon and his Sons is known in the western art world as "the prototypical icon of human agony". 

" 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things' ... What's the hype about?" By Liz Ukstins

During one of our weekly book chats, Mrs. Kopp began describing a book entitled I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. Immediately, hands shot into the air calling "dibs" on the next copy. Countless students wanted a copy of this book, including myself. But what's the hype about? Why is this book so appealing? What is it about and what makes it special?

I'm Thinking of Ending Things bounces between a fading love story and excerpts from a conversation over a suicide. A man and his girlfriend go on a road trip to a farm after being together for a short period of time. The girlfriend becomes paranoid and starts to question the position she was in. She wonders, "Is there any escape?" "Am I going to die?" The development of this story left me (and other readers) with chills and an inexplicable eerie feeling. Reid took such a unique take on the saying, "I'm thinking of ending things", which is was what appealed to me. The book was so interesting and scary. I had numerous questions about the end. Other readers say that the twist at the end was so unexpected that this book required a second read in order to full understand it.  In order to preserve the masterpiece that this novel is, I cannot say much about it, but what I can say is this:

Read it.

 

Collected Opinions (Other than my own) from http://afterthingsend.com/

 

School in London

School in London vs School in Sparta by Hannah Transier


Having the opportunity to experience school in two different countries is something I have been really lucky to be able to do. As expected, there are many differences between the school I went to in London (ACS Cobham International School) and Sparta High School, but there are also many similarities.

=Similarities

What's similar about school in these places is what is actually being taught. Despite being on totally different continents, we are all learning the same material. When I was visiting London and went to my old school for a day, in almost all of the classes, I recognized what they were learning because it was similar to what we were doing in class in Sparta.


=Differences

One difference is the actual periods/schedule. In Sparta, we have 8 classes a day that are each 42 minutes long, with 4 minutes in between. The order of our classes change based on whether it is a day 1, 2, 3, or 4. But at ACS, they have 6 periods a day, that are each 1 hour long, with 5-15 minutes in between. They have specific schedules for every day of the week, and majority of students have at least one study hall every day (usually even more than one).

Another difference is gym class. At Sparta High School, we have gym every day of the week, with fitness days on Tuesday and Thursday, and our activity for that unit (soccer, basketball, Frisbee, tennis, football, volleyball, etc.) on the other days. But at ACS it's very different.They have gym class only twice a week. One day they do something in their pool (such as water polo or swim laps), and the other day is their activity for the unit (which could be rugby, dance. gymnastics, ping pong, soccer, etc).

Another difference is the transportation to and from school. In Sparta it is most common to either take the bus to school or eventually drive yourself when you get your license. But it's pretty much the opposite in London. Majority of students are driven to school by their parents, and even if they have their license, they usually do not drive themselves to school. Few students take the bus to school because they don't use the usual yellow school buses, they use small coach buses,so you're required to pay extra to take it.

And lastly, a major difference is the students. Since ACS is an international school, there are students from all over the world attending. For example, my two closest friends were from Texas and Holland. And most people will only be there for a few years at most before moving to a new place, which was very obvious when I went back to visit and only knew about 6 people in the grade. But in Sparta, majority of the students have lived in Sparta most of their lives and have grown up together.

So overall, school in London and in Sparta are very different, but I am glad I was lucky to experience them both.

Thanksgiving Thoughts by Mrs. Kopp

To my wonderful students and their families,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, 

The Kopp Family

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire, 

If you did, what would there be to look forward to? 

Be thankful when you don’t know something 

For it gives you the opportunity to learn. 

Be thankful for the difficult times. 

During those times you grow. 

Be thankful for your limitations 

Because they give you opportunities for improvement. 

Be thankful for each new challenge

 Because it will build your strength and character. 

Be thankful for your mistakes 

They will teach you valuable lessons. 

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary 

Because it means you’ve made a difference. 
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.

 A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

A Rainbow of Hope By Mrs. Kopp

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  This year has gone by so quickly that it's hard to believe that the holiday season is about to start again.  During this time of year we all should take a minute to consider all that we have to be thankful for.  I know that my own list is pretty long, but here are few items that make my heart swell:

- I have a loving husband and two amazing children

The Kopp Family
This is in Central Park, NYC

-I get to wake up each day and come to work at a place that makes me so happy.
-I have the most wonderful students this school year (yes, you guys)
-I'm thankful for my weekly kickboxing and spin classes that allow me to decompress
-I'm thankful for books (obviously)
and my list could go on and on and on - I feel very blessed in this life. 

However, this year my family has something very special to be thankful for.  Last week, on November 18th, my new nephew Zachary Joseph was born.  His birth is more than just another baby to love.  He is our rainbow of hope. 

In 2011, my brother, Joe, and his wife, Jill, had their second child, a beautiful baby boy named Joey.  When they were expecting him they found out that he had a very serious heart condition, but they wanted to give him the best chance at life that they could.  Joey was born and then four days later went on to have his first open heart surgery.  After that surgery the doctors were positive, they felt they had fixed his heart issue and that he would live a long and normal life.  We were all thrilled. 

 Unfortunately, as he grew other issues came up.  He went on to have two more open heart surgeries and many, many other procedures.  He spent months at a time in the hospital, but through it all he was a happy little guy.  He would try to keep up with his older sister and big cousins and it was easy for us to forget that he was sick.  Then, in April of 2013, our world fell apart when Joey suddenly passed away.  Our family was left carrying a grief that was and still is so heavy, we often wondered how we'd ever function again.  Joey was only 22 months old when he died and we will spend the rest of our lives wondering who he would have grown up to be.  The pain of losing a child is one that no person should ever have to suffer and I often wondered how my brother and sister-in-law could face each new day without their son.  

My nephew, Joseph Anthony - at about 1 year old 

Joey showing off his scars - happy as always!

So, our family had a decision to make. We could stay in bed and let grief consume us or we could celebrate the wonderful boy that we were given. We took the the more difficult path. We decided to choose joy.  We chose joy for Joey. We started Joey's Warriors, which is a non-profit organization and we work to help other families whose children have CHD (congenital heart defect). Over the last three and a half years we have raised thousands of dollars for CHD awareness, we put a memorial bench at a local playground in Joey's honor, we provide toys for kids in the PICU at the hospital, we donate holiday gifts for two families who have CHD children, and more!  We will always miss Joey and wish he was still with us, but we remember him and honor him through our charity work. 

The doctors determined that Joey's condition was genetic, so my brother and sister-in-law had resigned themselves to the fact that they would not have any more children.  My niece Kylie (Joey's older sister) was healthy and they took comfort in that.  

Then, this past June they told us they were unexpectedly expecting a child and they were very scared.  We were all nervous because we knew that it was possible that this child could also have a heart condition and that thought alone was a lot to bear.  

Babies that are born after a loss are referred to as Rainbow Babies; babies who bring hope after the storm.  Last week, my nephew, Zachary Joseph, came into this world with a full head of hair and a perfectly perfect heart!  We believe that Joey sent him down to all of us to bring us some joy.  He is a miracle baby and our whole family is extra thankful this year for this Rainbow of Hope.  

Zachary Joseph - Our Rainbow of Hope

This was his going home outfit! 

Me with Zachary on the day he was born!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

How to avoid Procrastination

By Caitlin Scarpa

Procrastination: the act of avoiding or postponing a specific task is something that everyone is guilty of.  Most of the time procrastination is a result of a boring project or just plain laziness, but why do most people find it so hard to stop procrastinating?   A survey showed that about 85-90% of students have admitted to having a problem with procrastinating.  Most of the time the real reason to why people procrastinate is boiled down the “I’ll do it tomorrow” excuse.   This is most common when there is an extensive date placed on the project; many people will avoid doing it, thinking they have plenty of time until they realize they left the entire thing for the last second.  People who develop this habit usually have a very hard time breaking it.  And, ironically, many people who have a problem with procrastinating actually put-off trying to find ways to stop procrastinating.  In order to break the habit of procrastination, it needs to be replaced with good time management techniques.

One way to avoid procrastination is to make a list with specific due dates. If there is a big project, or multiple small ones it is best to plan out your time in an organised manner.  For example, if a book has to be read by a certain date, then the best way to organise it would be to divide the number of pages in the book by the amount of days you have to read it.  This will give you the number of pages you should read per day to avoid the last minute scramble.  The list would be made in order to map out what sections of the book need to be read for that day.  This will make the amount of work seem less threatening when it is broken down into smaller parts.  

Another way to break the habit would be to let others know of your project due date.  If you have friends and family pressuring you to get a project done it will most likely motivate you to do it on time. This is because many people cannot be trusted to tell themselves to work, so they need others to do that for them.   This should also eliminate some of the distractions.  If your friends know of your dead line they will be less likely to distract you from your work if they know you’re busy.

Probably one of the best ways to break the procrastination habit is the punishment and reward system.  This system should correspond with the list making system in order to work properly.  The way that it works it that you give yourself a specific amount of work for a set amount of time, and if you complete it within that time, you can reward yourself with something, such as a movie, or a snack.  But, if you don’t complete the task you have to punish yourself, by maybe canceling any plans for that night, or missing a TV program until you have all of your work done for that day.  This works well for many people because it gives them something to look forward to if they finish all of their work.

The last way to avoid procrastinating is to eliminate all distractions.  Most people just think that this means their electronic distractions, like their phones or computers, but distractions can come from anywhere.  The best way to avoid distractions would be to get out of your house.  The best place to go to focus on a project would be the library.  There, you don’t have the normal distractions of your house, like pets, food, or random chores that you suddenly remember you “need” to do.  With all of these distractions gone, it should be easier to focus and to get the work done on time.

The habit of procrastinating can only be broken if you are willing to put in a little bit of extra effort.  But that little bit of effort will go a long way by alleviating the stress of the amount of work that...you....have………….ehhh... I’ll finish this later....

Work cited

"Procrastination Statistics." Mytimemanagement.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2016.

Luke Romano

The True Villain of Oedipus

Today in class, I posed in interesting question that sparked a very interesting conversation. "Who was the true villain in Oedipus the King"? Now, the obvious answer would be Oedipus, I mean, he killed his dad then took his mom from his father. There can't much worse than that, really. My idea that it was fate, but how can fate be considered as a "bad guy" when it isn't even human? So as my last option I resorted to the gods, the people who have the power to change what will happen, but choose not. So, I chose to think that the gods were the villain, the ones who made everything in the world happen and chose to make Oedipus kill his dad and marry and bed with his mother. All sounding pretty malevolent. So today in class, I came up with an answer, a true answer, something I actually put some thought into. I don't think there was any true villain in Oedipus the King. Yes, people did nasty things. But it was nothing that they could control. A probable refute to that statement would be, "But can't the gods control everything and even fate?" This got me thinking even more and gave me the idea of what fate really is. And I came to this conclusion. I believe that fate is out of the hands of everyone, even the gods. No one escapes fate. The gods and Tiresias were able to see fate, but they were not able to change it. No one has that power, and no one will ever deserve to have such a power. So the gods are like people that see our world through a TV and we are the rerun of an episode that they have already seen. They know what happens and they cant change it because it is predestined for the characters. Oedipus is meant to get discarded, he is meant to be saved, he is meant to kill his own father, and he is meant to bed with his mom. And he couldn't have saved it. Even if Oedipus wasn't discarded, just like Final Destination, fate will find it's way. So when a villain needs to be chosen there can be no one to blame for the unfortunate circumstances that fate put them in. It was going to always be that way no matter what. Just like Romeo explained it they are, "Fortune's fools". 

The Benefits of Reading by Rachel Raffino

How Reading Benefits the Mind and Body

In Mrs. Kopp’s 10th grade honors English class, a year long assignment was given to us on the first day of school. This assignment was to simply read. Now many of us huffed and puffed, and pushed it to the back of our minds, and the bottom of our busy teen schedules. But what my classmates aren’t aware of, is that this assignment isn’t meant to torture us (believe it or not). After conducting research on the benefits of reading, the data I found was intriguing, and may encourage you to pick up a book more often.

A recent study from Rush University showed that adults who read regularly are two and a half times less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Reading is proven to actually exercise your brain like working out does, and it keeps your mind young. In addition, according to a Scholastic report, researchers believe that we learn five to fifteen percent of the words we read in everyday life. Another interesting study from York University shows that reading about the real or fictional lives of characters, allows us to understand other peoples situations better.

A webpage called Dosomething.org provided many interesting facts. One stated, "2/3 of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. Over 70% of America’s inmates cannot read above a 4th grade level." The next fact fascinated me, due to the fact that Mrs. Kopp told me that kids are most likely in honors English because they had once loved to read. She said that students had lost the time to sit down and read, and that this assignment was to encourage us to read more often. On Dosomething.org, they stated, "53% of 4th graders admitted to reading recreationally “almost every day,” while only 20% of 8th graders could say the same." This proves that the older people get, the less they read, as Mrs. Kopp concluded. And the final, and most upsetting fact to think about says, "1 in 4 children in America grow up without learning how to read."

As the famous Dr. Seuss once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” This quote, though it is from a children's story, does apply to real life. Linked here is a video made by PBS, explaining how reading to young children can help them do better in school, and help them develop social and literary skills early on.

Based on the research done, I concluded that reading does not just provide us with entertainment, but it fills our brains with knowledge and benefits us in our school work and everyday lives.

Pablo Escobar by George Mysh

A mugshot of Pablo Escobar himself

A show I've watched Recently called Narco's depicts the columbian drug lords or the medallion cartel in the 1980's while running under the main drug lord, Pablo Escobar. This man was very smart, clever, deceiving, fearless, and most of all a true villain. Although he attempted to help the people Columbia the congress would not accept a man like Pablo after seeing this picture to the left. After removing Escobar from the congress, he was upset and angry causing him to act more violent and further continue his cocaine buisness. He began making billions of dollars and started to pay most of the columbian soldiers and officers. The problem was that he began causing major attacks in public to kill political figures and other enemies. These events led up to the Columbian government and DEA targeting Escobar and his cartel. Pablo's main cartel men began being captured or getting killed causing more and more deaths between the government and cartel. Escobar's family was very important to him and he made sure to keep them safe at all times. After negotiations, betrayals, bloodshed on both sides Pablo Escobar was finally killed in 1993 which was the end of the medallion Cartel.

Giving Thanks by Syera Plitt

What does Thanksgiving mean? 

What do you think when you here that word? 

Do you think of big turkeys and ten different pies, 

Or the families gathering all together?

I feel in today's society Thanksgiving has become materialistic,

Like we have forgotten what giving thanks is. 

Most people just look forward to Black Friday shopping 

And the great deals of Cyber Monday.

Thanksgiving to me is very different, 

I have a my own great tradition.

And don't get me wrong I love my grandmas's food 

And regret stuffing my face every year.

But I will let you in on a little secret,

My own family doesn't even know.

My Thanksgiving tradition I take very seriously, 

And I have done it every single year.

What I like to do on Thanksgiving is very simple.

I keep to myself for at least thirty minutes.

My family always thinks I disappear,

But I actually just have my own little sermon.  

I remind myself what to be thankful for, 

I say what I appreciate. 

I tell myself to give thanks to my family, 

And remember the sacrifices they always make on my behalf. 

I set goals for myself; 

Almost like how people make resolutions for the New Year;

To act more appreciative towards the people who love me 

And to be less selfish and vain. 

Then I go downstairs and join the family, 

Who assume I've been taking selfies the whole time,

And I just let them believe what they want to,

And my secret still stays alive.

We all have traditions in our families I'm sure, 

Like how my family each makes a hearty dish,

Or how we all gather in a circle and say one thing we appreciate

And thank God for blessing us everyday.

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not,

If you live for the family, the food, or the Friday after,

Just do me a favor this year...

And give thanks for everything you have and remember who you are.

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!!  

A Sonnet. (Ryden Mederos)

The following poem is a sonnet I wrote in 9th grade. I remember taking great pride in this piece at the time, as it had been my first attempt at a Shakespearian sonnet, yet I never ended up posting it anywhere or sharing it to anyone (of course, besides with Mrs Brennan). We were given a prompt simply about love, and as the single 14 year old I was, I didn't seem to connect personally to the idea of love. To the feeling of love. Rather, I viewed it, and possibly still do, as a concept. Love is not reserved to romantic affairs, of course, but that was the focal point of my writing. I attempted to explain the common perception of love versus the non-stereotypical point of view. But, alas, this proved difficult. I don't believe even the greatest writer could summarize love in a perfect manner through a brief work of poetry, but that does not matter. A part of me believes that to be representative of an extremely prevalent portion of love- it is not easy to understand or express always. Through action rather than words, love is best expressed. Even then, people wonder what actions show love and affection towards others. Should you be reserved and private, or open and proud? Regardless of the difference of opinion, I found this poem to be one I still find to be true to how I feel, and decided to share it here. Enjoy!

-Ryden.

Romance is a rather cliche matter.

There is simply never enough to say.

Not enough to give; we resort to attar.

Many cannot display passion today.

Crude paradigms often cause horrid regrets.

Upfront approaches are apace; forward.

Passion is bound to roses and secrets.

Soft kisses and boats travelling shoreward.

Romance is a rather confined matter.

There is simply too much we cannot say.

Too much to give, too much chitter chatter.

Many won’t dare display passion today.

Love is not just what we are told it is.

Love is just what we choose to make of it.

The Foxhole Court Book Review by Claire Riley

I'm reading a book called the Foxhole Court, by Nora Sakavic. I haven't finished it, but I have a great idea on who this book may appeal to, and I would like to share a little summary. It all revolves around a sport called Exy; an aggressive game that's a mash up between the idea of lacrosse, but the aggressiveness of ice hockey on a soccer-sized field. The main character, Neil Josten, is an incoming college student and the son of a murderous crime lord, also known as "The Butcher." Because of this, he's constantly on the run and never feels safe around others. But things become much more difficult when he is given an offer he can't turn down: the chance to play Exy for the Palmetto State University Foxes. The Foxes are a huge college team in South Carolina, constantly in the news and being broadcast. This is a hovering threat for Neil, who must be ready to run at any point. The PSU's Foxes and their coach, Coach Wymack, have been known to draft rejects and troubled teammates and get the bad reputation of being an unskilled team compared to their rivals. The first few kids he meets are Andrew and Aaron, twins who plan to challenge the newbie on the team and come off strong and aggressive. I find this to be humorous because they are both only 5 feet tall. They have a cousin, Nicky, who also plays on the team. He has taken the honor of showing Neil around and getting him accustomed. Another teammate, Kevin Day, is an older player who is just now coming to play for the Foxes. He used to play for the Ravens, the best known Exy team out there. His mother had helped create the game, so you can see why he might be a key player and someone worth a lot. Because he broke his wrist, he became a coach for a while, and has now strangely joined the Foxes. From what I have read so far, Neil has an interesting and threatening backstory with Kevin, though Kevin himself doesn't seem to remember of anything. It seems to be about their parents, and who knows what crazy things could have happened with Neil's dad being a killer and his mother dead. Things are getting heated and tense, and I guess you'll have to read the book to find out what happens next!

This is really turning out to be an interesting book, and I would like to see where it leads. Are you someone who is intrigued with sports? How about a made up one? Exy combines some of the most well known sports into one, sure to fulfill a craving for an action packed game. It's tough and mean, but also demonstrates the sportsmanship and friends that are built on along the way. Now I am no sports fanatic, but something great about The Foxhole Court is that it unravels the sexist ideas of intense sports such as Exy. The book tells how a young woman named Danielle Wilds is chosen to be the first female captain in Class I Exy. With only 3 females drafted on the team, this is a big deal. Danielle is treated cruelly, and sexist fans call out the Foxes loses as if it is her fault. Even after all of this, she continued to play and began to rack up wins. Because of this small but grand detail, this book may grab the attention of feminists and really any women who believes in the idea of sports shouldn't be judged by your gender. So although I may not be the biggest sports fan, this book still caught my eye by how Sakavic slips things like that in, changing my aspects on the given ideas.

This book is only the first of a series, and I recommend it to anyone who might be curious. The other books you can find are titled The Raven King, and The King's Men. I plan on finishing the series and I hope to see some other readers picking it up too. Happy reading!

Oedipus The King and the Oedipus Complex
by Cynthia Loh

                                                 
Oedipus The King by Sophocles is definitely one of the most disturbing and frightening plays I have ever read. Despite it's creepiness and unsettling plot, this was my favorite play I have read for school.

(Basically my spark notes version of Oedipus the King)
Oedipus is the king of a land who is faced with a plague and the only way to end the disease is to banish or kill the man who murdered the former king. Oedipus calls for the blind oracle Teiresias to figure out who the killer is to make an end to plague in his land. Refusing to answer Oedipus' question of who the killer is, claiming how it will only cause Oedipus grief and pain, Oedipus becomes enraged. Initiating an argument with Teiresias, Oedipus learns from the blind oracle that he is the slayer of the former king. After lots of insults and assumptions, Teiresias leaves Oedipus believing that Teiresias lied to him and that the oracle is working with Creon, Oedipus' brother-in-law, in order to take the throne. However, this is false. In a conversation with Jocasta, it is made known to the readers that in the past, Oedipus learns that he is fated to kill his father and sleep with his mother. After hearing of his horrible destiny, Oedipus runs away from Corinth, his home country, and ends up in Thebes. He does admit when he arrived he was attacked by a group of people and killed them all but he is doubtful that it was the former king. After a series of meetings and interrogations, Oedipus finds out that he is adopted and that the people who raised him are not his birth parents. Oedipus was given away when he was a baby and was given to a herdsman who was instructed to kill him. The herdsman then continues to say that he received the baby from Jocasta. Oedipus learns that Jocasta and her former husband who was the former king is his parents. Jocasta overhears the conversation and kills herself. When Oedipus finds her body he gauges out his eyeballs with his bare hands. He says goodbye to the four children he created with his own mother and banishes himself away to live in solitude.

This book proposes the Oedipus Complex, also known as the Electra Complex, which state that a child unconsciously has sexual desires toward their parent of the opposite sex. As ridiculous as this sounds, many psychologists believe this to be true. After searching the web, I have found forums where people with this complex can post about their situations. Once I finished laughing my head off, I noticed that so many more people actually have and admit to having the Oedipus complex. Although the psychologists call for very young children to go through this, many people in a range of ages has this complex. I found people from their teens all the way to people in their sixties having the Oedipus Complex. There are many different scenarios and feelings each person has. One teenage girl ranted about how much she hated her mother because she loved her father. Another person in their forties talked about how she recently in an affair with her godfather who is about 20 years older than her and married. Many talked about how they gained romantic feelings for an absentee parent or when their parents were divorced. However, they all were very grossly disturbing.

How to Read and Understand Anglo Saxon Litrature

HOW TO:

Read and Understand Anglo Saxon Literature

By Julia Loewen

Lo! The æroworld was fullwer of earth-treaders whom spræc a forwened englisc. Did you get that? Didn't think so. That's because you just read an ancient form of English known as Anglo Saxon. This strange language may slightly resemble the English you know and use today, but many of the words like, "spræc" or "fullwer" probably don't ring any bells. The Anglo Saxon language was spoken in Northern Europe around the years of 550 to 1066 CE, and some of the earliest stories known to mankind originated during this time. To prevent you from missing out on these legendary stories, you must follow the simple steps below so you can read, understand, and enjoy Anglo Saxon Literature! 

1. Understand the background of the story

It's easy to pick up any modern-day book and easily read and understand it without any troubles. When reading Anglo Saxon literature, it's different. With all the strange words, phrases, and names, a reader that is unfamiliar with the plot might as well read a book in Chinese. It is important to do some research on the literature prior to reading it so it makes sense what is going on in the story and why. A good place to find this information is Spark Notes, because they provide easy-to-read summaries and translations of Anglo Saxon literature that will help paint the picture of the events in the ancient stories. TIP: Don't think that reading a translation or summary of an Anglo Saxon piece will be the same as reading the actual piece, because it won't! The information on Spark Notes should only be used as a guideline.

2. Become familiar with the characters

Beowulf, Achilles, Grendel, and Oedipus are just a bunch of letters put together if you aren't familiar with their role in the story. That is why it is important to research a character list on Spark Notes or a similar website. This list will give the reader a short description of the character without spoiling the whole story.

3. Know the meaning of kennings/epithets

One of the most prominent aspects of Anglo Saxon literature are the kennings and epithets. A kenning is a descriptive phrase formed from two nouns. An epithet is an adjective that expresses a quality or

characteristic of a person or thing with an adjective and a noun. Kenning and Epithets are ubiquitous in Anglo Saxon literature and for a better understanding of the language, it is necessary to know what is being symbolized or described. 

QUIZ: Is "earth-treader" a kenning or epithet, and what does it mean? 

ANSWER: "Earth-treader" is a kenning because "earth" and "treader" are both nouns representing something else. "Earth-treader" represents one who walks the earth, so a human. If an epithet were to describe a human in a similar way, it would be something like "adventurous creatures". 
4. Have a dictionary nearby
The English Language sounded slightly different only 50 years ago, so imagine how much the language has evolved over the last 2000 years! The English language from 550-1066 CE is extremely different that the language spoken today, even with translations to make it simpler. It is not expected of readers to know off the top of their head the meaning of "æroworld" or "forwened", but with useful websites and dictionaries, the words can be understood. The website 
OldEnglishTranslater.co has the meanings of many Old Enlish words that have a similar definetion to modern-day English. Some of the words in Anglo Saxon literature can also be found in a dictionary.

Conclusion:
Now that you have acquired all of the tips and tricks of reading Anglo Saxon literature, see if you can translate the first sentence of this post. Remember to use the information in this post to understand what the sentence may be about, find kennings or epithets, and use the Old English Translator. Comment below what you come up with!

      

Ranger's Apprentice Book 1 Review- Abraham LaBelle

Ranger's Apprentice: Book 1 The Ruins of Gorlan, by John Flanagan, caught my eye because of its fantasy genre. In addition, I have played many fantasy-themed online games, and in those games I often chose to play as a ranger-themed character. So, seeing the title "Ranger's Apprentice" added a greater appeal to me.

The book's main character is a young boy named Will, who begins as an orphan in a ward with other children. They are at the age where they are selected by Craftmasters for their future career.

I found this aspect very similar to books like the Percy Jackson series, as all the other characters can already predict their job from their abilities, but the main character does not notice any special strength about himself. In Percy Jackson, instead of careers, the demi-gods are chosen to discover which god their parent is.

After the ceremony, Will is left unchosen, but is later tested and picked to be an apprentice by the ranger Halt. Through the book, Will learns how to become a ranger, which involves stealthily moving, as well as gathering intelligence, and mastering the bow and arrow. The book also changes the point of view, from time to time, to Will's former wardmate, Horace, who became a warrior apprentice. Horace, however, is bullied by some other warrior boys through most of the book, and it was very frustrating to read about Horace getting picked on over and over. But, later in the book, Horace and Will (with some humorous help from Halt) not only stand up to the bullies, but beat up them until are limping back home. This made me feel as satisfied as Horace, as the bullies finally got a taste of their own medicine and were punished.

This is not the main conflict, however, as the true evil figure is hidden through the majority of the book. The ending is very heroic, as Will defeats some of the villain's powerful minions, and quickly earns a reputation as a ranger's apprentice. In my opinion, the enemies in this book did not seem very important to the plot, and I don't think the stakes were high enough. But, I remembered that this was only the first book in the series so there are probably many more dangers to come.

Overall, Book 1 The Ruins of Gorlan pulled me into the world of the Ranger's Apprentice with its lovable characters and fantasy land. I also appreciate how the book isn't like every other fantasy story of a "brave knight who kills a monster and saves the damsel in distress", but instead tells a tale from a ranger's view. Also, Will is not seen as the "Chosen One" or has any magical power, which allows him to solve situations by being clever and using the knowledge he is taught.

 I hope to continue reading the other books in the Ranger's Apprentice series.

Weekly Vocabulary Assignments Beck Gozdenovich

Every week, each student is assigned to discover 10 new vocabulary words and record them in their individual logs. In each upcoming essay that is due, it is required that each student use at least 5 vocabulary words from their log in each essay. This is the crux of  developing speaking and writing skills, and here's why.

1. The more words you know and the more diverse your vocabulary, the more complex and intellectual you can structure your sentences.
2. When you can speak and write better than others, a myriad of doors open for you.
3. Employers are more willing to hire someone who can speak at a higher level than others.
4. Colleges are for sure going to accept a student with a seemingly ever-expanding knowledge of words and their meanings.

50 reasons to love the months October-December by Kate Fontes

I think it is pretty safe to say that the months October through December are definitely a few of the most popular months of the year. Sure, June through August is also pretty awesome, due to the fact that the weather is gorgeous and we have no school, but the last three months of the year offer so much. Here's 50 great reasons as to why October, November, and December are so awesome.

1. The trees begin to turn a beautiful, vibrant orange. 
2. Sweatshirt weather returns!
3. Ladies-Ugg season is among us(:
4. Early October is not too hot, nor too cold.
5. Pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING
6. Fall scented candles...who doesn't love those?
   
7. The sound of the crunch of leaves under our shoes
8. Scary movies on TV
9. It's appropriate to wear fuzzy socks
10. Sweater weather
11. The crisp smell of Fall air
12. Gorgeous sunsets
13. The enjoyment of a hot cup of coffee
14. Hot chocolate
15. Pumpkin carving
16. Football season is in full swing
17. Apple picking with family and friends
18. APPLE CIDER DONUTS (these really shouldn't just be a seasonal thing!)
19. Haunted hay rides
20. Haunted Houses
21. Halloween!!!!!!
    
22. Jumping into a leaf pile (Don't tell me this isn't a blast)
23. Late night Bonfires
24. Curling up under a warm blanket on a chilly day
25. The first snowfall
26. A sparkling, untouched sheet of snow on the ground
27. That first Honeywell phone call saying that it's a snow day
28. Getting to see your family on Thanksgiving
29. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, SHALL I CONTINUE?
30. The smell of apple pie baking in the oven
    
31. The crackle of the fireplace 
32. The way the snow sits on a bare tree
33. How good it feels to turn on the seat heaters in the car
34. It is socially acceptable to blast Christmas music 24/7
35. Decorating the Christmas tree with your family
36. Seeing the town lit up with sparkly Christmas lights
37. The excitement for Christmas morning
38. Ginger bread houses
39. The satisfying feeling of perfectly wrapping a Christmas present
40. Hanukkah 
41. You get to rock your ugliest sweater!!!
42. The feeling of love and giving
43. Christmas break!!!!
44. Christmas movie marathons
45. Receiving and sending out Christmas cards (how cute are they?)
46. Elf, A Christmas Story, Rudolph...HOW EXCITING
47. The feeling of optimism and hope as your write your New Years Resolutions (even if we only follow them for the first week of January)
48. The smell of Christmas cookies filling your kitchen 
49. Counting down the ball drop in a room filled with people you love
50. A fresh start 

Hillary Clinton Conspiracy Theories by Julia Flake

After reading my fellow classmate's last post about the upcoming presidential election, I remembered something about one of the candidates that has been recently blowing up in the press. Hillary Clinton has been hit with a plethora of different conspiracy theories in the past couple of months, mostly regarding her health. If you are unaware, a conspiracy theory is a theory that explains an event as being the result of a plot by a covert group or organization. Here are some of the theories regarding Hillary and it is up to you to believe them or not...

1. Hillary uses a body double

Clinton was widely accused of using a body double after appearing very healthy and normal on the same day that she had to leave a 9/11 memorial service due to certain health concerns. There is actually clear video evidence of Clinton losing her balance and collapsing while trying to get in her car, surrounded by all of her bodyguards. Along with that, there has been video evidence of her having what seems to be small seizures or possible strokes while speaking, which thus proves she has some type of health issue that she may be hiding. To finish her speech, people have speculated that a body double was used just a couple hours later because she looked very healthy and her figure looked a bit different when she returned.

The above pictures show pictures of Hillary and what may be her body double...
 
      2. Hillary is dying

The Washington Post made it open that Clinton has been on the road to recovery from a blood clot near her brain caused by a concussion she suffered several weeks ago in a fall at her house. Hillary also portrays the symptoms of blood clots as well which include but are not limited to speaking difficulties, seizures, loss of coordination, and mini strokes. The fact that Hillary had a coughing fit and passed out within six days of each other and the fact that she is a candidate that is 68 years old brings up talk about Hillary's health legitimately and in theory.

These are the two main conspiracy theories around the country right now. However, there are countless others that are quite ridiculous including Hillary being a murderer, a drug dealer, and even a reptile! (Yes, some people actually believe Hillary is a reptile). Although these are all complete and crazy theories, I will let you decide what to believe...

Presidential Election- by: Matt Dumbroff

With November 8th right around around the corner, the question arises- will next Tuesday be election day, or doomsday? The two candidates running for president are Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. As of now Hillary is slightly ahead in the polls, and the pressure is on as America watches to see who will be the next president of the United States. While both candidates possess major flaws, America is seemingly torn on which candidate to elect. Around 120 million Americans are expected to vote this Tuesday for the candidate of their choice. Upon asking classmate Luke Romano for his opinion on the upcoming election, he responded, "let's build that wall", referring to Donald Trump's plan to build a wall along the entire border between Mexico and the United States. This radical idea is only one of Donald Trump's seriously flawed plans, but Hillary too shows major flaws. While Hillary may seem like the obvious choice with lots of experience in government, (as compared to the "business man" Donald Trump) recently she has been struggling to maintain her lead with the investigation of her emails being brought into play once again. Trump on the other hand is struggling immensely with claims of sexual assault being made against him by numerous women. With election day right around the corner, it is up to America to choose its next president. While no one can predict the future, many people are concerned about what will happen as a result of the election. This is a dramatization of what I think could happen if Hillary wins.


                                        November 9th- Doomsday 

               Exactly 14 hours after the results were posted the White house was bombed by a group of radicals known as "TAPS" or Trump Activist Political system. 

 Now there is rioting, looting, and pandemonium in the streets. Texas has once again declared itself an independent republic. Throughout all of this our new president, Hillary has not made any public comments on the matter for fear that if she makes an appearance she will be killed. Trump supporters in the southern states have been killing anyone of any race other than Caucasian for the alleged purpose of "exterminating illegal immigrants". Fellow Americans, this is a time of unprecedented uncertainty, however I beg of you please remain calm. Lock your doors, stay inside, and remain clam until the American Armed Forces can put an end to this. We are working around the clock to find out who is behind all of this, and hopefully, hopefully it will all be over soon.  America, this is former president Barack Obama signing off. 


* a map of democratic and republican states

Sports and School// Phil Christodoulou

Phil Christodoulou
Sports and School
Do you play a sport or are involved in an after school activity? We all love sports after school because it gets our minds off of the stress from the day. But when you go home after a good intense practice, you just want to go straight to bed. Well at least that's what I want to do. During high school soccer season I tend to study for much less time than I would when soccer's over. Along with the no time I have already, I always want to hang out with my friends even though I know I have a ton of homework and things to do.  So during sports season I always notice that my grades are considerably lower than when I'm able to go home and have time to relax to myself. All of us need to find someway to balance our school and activity's schedule, but its almost impossible to do because some days you are just bound to ignore or forget that you have a bunch of work to do and try to finish it so you can get some decent sleep.

Repercussions, A Tale of Achilles and Patroclus by Sarah Dioneda

          A/N: A few nights ago, I read the novel The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and it's one of the best books I've read in 2016. However, the one scene where Achilles finds out about Patroclus' death seemed rushed, and I wasn't fond of how it was written, especially since it's the tragedy and climax of the novel--the most important part. So because of this (and also being I am obsessed with the notion that Achilles and Patroclus were more than just friends), I decided to re-write it. I call this Repercussions. 

~

          I had woken up late that morning. The dry air smothered my throat as I shifted my body in discomfort. I laid on my back, quietly, shivering under the cool sheets where he should be sleeping. 

          Patroclus. Even his name could melt me into liquid.

          However, a wave of eerie calmness settled around me just then. The lolling sound of waves licking the shoreline brought anxiety; I had not heard it in a while. They were always overrun by the screams and cheers of rowdy men. It took me less than a second to know something had gone wrong. 

          “They should be back by now,” I whispered to myself.

          I got up from my cot and walked to pour myself a glass of water, my hand bringing it up to lips. I swallowed the cool liquid and sat down at the small table, completely unaware and oblivious to my surroundings. The poignant thought of, “Where is he?” was keeping me awake. 

          Where is he where is he where is he.

          It was only a few moments later that I heard the soft beating of feet against sand and dirt. The familiar sound of clanking metal grew louder and louder, but I dared not to move from my chair. They have arrived.

          I knew what would happen next: 

          He would come into my tent (for he  obviously need no permission to enter). 

          He would tell me about the men he had killed. 

          I would comfort him in soft words and kisses. 

          He would ask if I would be joining him this time while I soothed his tense muscles in my hands. 

          I would decline quietly. 

          He would leave the next morning in my armor once more. 

          I would miss the smell and taste of him, longing for him, slowly regretting it. 

          For certain, he would be here, and he’d be Patroclus again; it would be us again. Even just for a moment.

          I felt my heart beating rapidly in anticipation, but all I found was the swaying curtain door in the wind, waiting for someone to move it—for him to move it. Except, he never came. My teeth rattled with suspicion and worry while my eyes stung with confusion. 

          It was not long before I could not stand the feeling that was buried deep in my stomach. Quickly, I stood and pushed aside the tent flap. My knees were shaking in pools of emotion, but I dare not let any of these men see it.

          I skirted my eyes around the area. Soldiers were still coming in, like waves in the distance. Somewhere in the center, there were a pool of them gathering around a body, blood blossoming under the white cloth. I thought, Patroclus would tell me what happened. Of this I was certain.

          The men that had arrived all sat down lazily, beaten and bloody, their armor hanging from their bodies limply. It was pathetic. 

          “Where is he?” I asked them. Everyone knew who I was talking about. No one answered.

          “Where is he?” I repeated. Many averted their eyes. I could not breathe. My ears were ringing loudly.

          Looking up, I saw that Odysseus and Menelaus were close now, just a few footsteps away. They held the dead body I had seen before. The two of them saw me, looked down, and numbness overwhelmed me. I looked at the body. Dark locks slipped from under the blanket, a grass-stained arm laid limp on the side. The blood was rust on the cloth covering whoever that was. It is not him, I thought, it could not be.

          It was not long before they were standing next to me, their eyes downcast. They placed the body down, gently, by my feet. Knowledge rushed to my head, and I pushed the two of them away, knocking them off their feet. Kneeling before the shroud, I unveiled the cloth to reveal him, and just like that, for a single moment, the world stilled completely. The sound of birds and waves hushed in silence, holding their breath. The men were not looking at me; I was not looking at the men. 

          Patroclus. 

          How odd it was that just yesterday I traced his jaw and collarbone with my fingers, his soft skin against mine. His breath, voice, muscles, eyes, lips, I had memorized every corner, every nook, every breathing, living inch of him in the dark. 

          The world then stole the air from lungs like a burglar. I gasped and trembled in horror as I now fully understood. 

          Patroclus is dead.

          Patroclus is dead.

           No. I collapsed onto the body that lay still, pale and wounded. My tears turned into howling cries, and I ripped my hair out of scalp in such uncontrollable and fiery anguish. Patches of it fell by his face—his face that was still so beautiful. I cradled his body in my arms, trying to leech any last gasp of  breath, life out of him. 

          Someone—Odysseus, I believe, reached out for his body, trying to take him away from my grasp, urging me to rest. Rage overwhelmed me; I almost killed him, but that meant I would have to let go of Patroclus. I could not. I would not. His skin was still smooth, but it was cold as ice. I screamed even louder. Patroclus, I wailed. Patroclus, Patroclus. I could not let go of him. 

          I pressed my heart against his chest, only to meet his still one, and I cried even louder.

          It is much later when many soldiers leave in discomfort. Let them, I think wryly, they do not understand. Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Odysseus still crouched around me, however, but they did not dare to touch me, nor his body. 

          I was laying on top of him, cradling his face with my hand as I would have before. My lips shook. “Who did this?” I strained out. My voice was unrecognizable. Cracked. Broken.

          Someone replied, “Hektor.”

          I snarled. Hektor.

          I grabbed my ash spear roughly, standing.

          “No.” I swiveled around to face Odysseus. “Tomorrow we will leave. Rest,” he said. “Eat.” 

          No, I remember thinking, for that would keep me alive. 

          I turned to look at all of them, their useless lives spared. They stared back at me in pity or fear—I could not tell. 

          I growled. “He should have just let you all die.”

          It was later in the day. I took his body to our tent and gently placed him in our bed. I laid down next to him, thinking. 

          Of Patroclus. 

          Of Hektor, son of Priam.

          Even just the sound of his name, rolling off my tongue or thoughts, sent vengeance boiling and rippling through every nerve in my body. I had never tasted so much hate in one word before.

          You killed the man that I loved, I mused, as if talking to him. Know that I will beat you, torture you, kill you and dishonor your body as it deserves. There will be no mercy upon you or your pleas, and not even the gods will think or do anything of it.

          My anger mixed with my agony. The ceaseless tears rolled down my face and neck. 

          I looked down at my beautiful Patroclus. He did this to you, gods, he did this to us. He only laid still, and I wept. It was his face that made me stop thinking of anyone else. I loved him with enough passion for both of us.

          An ordinary night, he would have stared back at me, tracing the planes of my body underneath the softs pads of his fingertips, our faces pressed against each other’s underneath the sheets. It was then that I howled and cried once more, holding him in my arms. I never moved.

          Even when the sun disappeared under ocean, marking the end of the day.

          Even when it rose the next morning, marking the start of a new one.

          Life, as I saw it, was just a repercussion of my sorrow.

~

Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patroclus (1855) by Nikolai Ge