Community Support: The Eaton Fire

by Tegan, 7th grade

The fire crept across the landscape like a living thing, its orange tendrils licking the sky. It devoured everything in its path– the trees, the earth, even the harsh and gushing air seemed to burn with fury. With each violent and malicious gust of wind, just one minuscule spark of fire could cause acres to burn. A powerful wildfire erupted in Eaton Canyon, Altadena, on January 7, quickly spreading across 14,021 acres and threatening homes and life in the Los Angeles region. Authorities reported 17 deaths.

The blaze, fueled by dry conditions and gusty winds, continues to create danger for residents and first responders alike. As of January 16, 4,356 single-family homes, 77 multi-family buildings, and 123 commercial buildings were destroyed in Eaton. While the devastation in Pacific Palisades is rightly drawing attention, we must focus on that the crisis in Eaton is just as urgent.

The citizens of this community – many of whom live in less stable and affluent neighborhoods– are facing overwhelming destruction. Residents in these areas consist of middle-class workers, accustomed to seeking comfort in their homes every day after mental or physical labor. Only now, the said home doesn’t exist. These victims have lost everything, and are now facing the looming possibility of developers capitalizing on this tragedy. It’s easy to become absorbed in high-profile tragedies, but every corner of Los Angeles deserves aid. Donations of clothing, non-perishable food, and hygiene items are urgently needed, along with much-appreciated financial support.

Valentine’s Day: Quick DIY Valentine’s Gifts

by Alicia, 7th grade

Valentine’s Day is a great time to show loved ones how much they care without the pressure of finding the perfect gift. DIY gifts offer a meaningful and budget-friendly way to express love. Here are some quick ideas:

1. Handwritten Letter or Card: A simple note can be incredibly special. Express your thoughts and memories, and decorate the envelope for added charm.
2. Photo Album or Scrapbook: Compile photos and mementos like ticket stubs in a cute album. A digital version can also work if time is short.
3. Jar of Love Notes: Fill a mason jar with small notes of appreciation or quotes. Decorate the jar creatively for a personal touch.
4. Homemade Treats: Bake heart-shaped cookies or no-bake treats like chocolate-dipped strawberries. A coupon for a homemade meal can sweeten the gesture.
5. Custom Playlist: Curate songs that are meaningful to your relationship and pair them with a framed photo. These DIY gifts are quick, easy, and sure to make your loved one feel special on Valentine’s Day!

National Observance: World Read Aloud Day February 5th

by Mateo, 11th grade

The art of storytelling is one with a fascinating history and a profound impact on society as we know it. It is an art that has been practiced since the earliest points of modern human life, from the elaborate cave painters 36,000 years ago to the millions of parents today who read to their little ones as they lull them into a restful night of sleep.

Storytelling comes in numerous forms, and reading happens to be one of the most popular ones right now. However, despite the mundanity of reading aloud to one another, many people are unaware of the benefits one can receive from reading or listening to a story. World Read Aloud Day, celebrated annually on the 5th of February, aims to spread the word of these benefits to the masses by encouraging the public to share the gift of knowledge through reading.

World Read Aloud Day was started in 2010 by the nonprofit organization LitWorld. Founded just three years prior by award-winning author Pam Allyn, LitWorld seeks to harness the power of reading to develop the minds of young children and empower them to become bright thinkers, and one of the many ways the organization works toward this goal is through World Read Aloud Day. On this Day, people in over 170 different countries participate in a worldwide movement for the improvement of global literacy and the establishment of stronger and smarter communities.

LitWorld believes that they can build a better future by uniting people through the power of literacy, and reading aloud to each other is one of the most effective ways to do so.  What exactly makes reading aloud so beneficial for both kids and adults? Various studies support the idea that reading aloud possesses crucial educational use; it builds vocabulary, improves fluency and fluidity of speech and creates more meaningful discussions with teachers and peers alike.

In addition, it makes people more confident speakers and cuts down the stress that comes with having to speak in front of crowds. Reading aloud is especially impactful to young children whose brains are still developing, as it helps them develop skills in self-expression and emotional control while also fueling their drive for knowledge and creativity.

All in all, reading aloud to one another provides great benefits in various areas of life to people in various stages of life, helping elevate communities through the written word. World Read Aloud Day offers people across the globe multiple opportunities to gain the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in today’s world. By reading aloud to family and friends or sharing the various benefits of reading aloud to those close to you so that they can be persuaded to do so, you too can join the millions of readers, writers and celebrities supporting the cause.

Telling stories through speech has always been paramount to the course of humanity, and World Read Aloud Day continues the spread of this ancient pastime by using it to foster the growth of prosperous communities filled with creative minds and collaborative people.

Health: Air/Jet Hand Dryers Spread Germs

by Declan, 9th grade

Many of us have dried our hands in air dryers in restrooms, becoming fascinated with the convenience that technology has presented. However, these sleek and handy devices spread germs and other particles in the bathroom onto your freshly cleaned hands.

Researchers from the University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University reported a study with suspicions of the claim that hand dryers spread bacteria. Exposing Petri dishes to the bathroom air, scientists compared the bacterial growth of the dishes in a set period to Petri dishes exposed to bathroom air and hot hand dryers. The Petri dishes that only had exposure to bathroom air grew one colony of bacteria.

In contrast, the petri dishes exposed to bathroom air and the hot air from the air dryer for 30 seconds grew up to 254 colonies of bacteria. Scientists discovered with further experiments like filtering the hand dryer that most of the bacteria came from the air in the bathroom.

Another study in 2015 found that paper towels are more sanitary than both jet and air hand dryers. Through experiments, the scientists found that not only does it absorb water it dries hands faster but also dislodges bacteria to leave hands cleaner.

Trending: TikTok, Your Time is Up!

by Erin, 9th grade

As I am writing this, Congress has agreed to ban TikTok on Jan 19. The bill for TikTok to be banned was passed by a majority of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and President Joe Biden. However, TikTokers claim this ban violates the First Amendment, which grants freedom of speech.

Back in 2020, then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban TikTok as “this data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information — potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail and conduct corporate espionage,” the executive order reads.

The order, however, never went into action. Currently, Trump is against the ban because he wants more time to review it, so he is proposing a 90-day pause to give American companies more time to buy the app.

I was, and still kind of am, an experienced “doom-scroller” on TikTok. Just as I am about to fall asleep, all my pent-up guilt for procrastinating rushes in! I would get so overwhelmed by how much work I had to do and how I had just wasted hours of potential productivity on TikTok.

So as soon as the clock struck midnight on Jan 1, I felt it was time for a new beginning, despite me still coughing and sniffling from a cold. I planned my resolutions and set a to-do list. I am proud to say that I am still strong with my streak of deleting Instagram and I try my best to check off all the other boxes on my list.

Instead of thinking the TikTok ban is a bad thing, take it as an opportunity for you to start or focus on your resolutions! It may not be the first minute of a new year, but it is always better to start now than never. Of course, there are times when I feel an itchy urge to download TikTok again to post and see what everyone is doing, but I remember that’s not that important. I will make this year different than last year!

Legal Insights: Korematsu v. United States & Hirabayashi v. United States

by Kathryn, 8th grade

The cases of Korematsu v. United States and Hirabayashi v. United States are among the most debated Supreme Court decisions in U.S. history. Both cases involved the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. In hindsight, it’s clear that these decisions violated the rights of innocent Americans, but at the time in 1942, was the Supreme Court justified in its rulings based on the information available?

Before 1942, the relationship between the U.S. and Japan was tense, especially after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which caused significant U.S. casualties. President Roosevelt allowed military leaders to restrict movements in certain areas, fearing a possible Japanese invasion. General John DeWitt enforced a curfew and issued Civilian Exclusion Order No. 34, which forcibly removed about 112,000 Japanese Americans from the Pacific Coast, many of whom were citizens. They had just six days to leave their homes and could take very little.

Gordon Hirabayashi defied the curfew, believing it violated his rights, while Fred Korematsu ignored the exclusion order to stay with his girlfriend and pretended to be of different descent. Both appealed their convictions to the Supreme Court, which upheld the rulings, stating that military decisions should be viewed in the context of wartime fear.

The Court cited concerns about potential sabotage and espionage, suggesting that dangers justified the actions taken against Japanese Americans. The Court noted that race-based classifications were illegal but justified the military’s actions as a matter of wartime security. While Hirabayashi and Korematsu were loyal Americans, the Court believed it was impractical to hold individual hearings.

In Hirabayashi’s case, all justices supported the military’s decisions. However, in Korematsu’s case, three justices dissented, arguing that the actions were racially motivated and unconstitutional. The article argues that, despite the wartime context, the dissenting opinions were valid. That significant evidence against the military’s actions emerged decades later, highlighting the flaws in the original decisions.

Years later, Korematsu’s daughter learned about her father’s case and sought justice, leading new lawyers to uncover classified evidence that could help overturn the convictions. References: Korematsu v. U.S. 323 U.S. 214 (1944) Korematsu v. U.S. 584 F.Supp 1406 (1984) Hirabayashi v. U.S. 320 U.S. 81 (1943) High Court Case Summaries