Kidz Korner at Day of Music

by Tegan, 7th grade

Located in the heart of Fullerton, Kidz Korner is a community-driven organization that fosters a child’s love for music. This past June 21 marked the 10th anniversary of the Day of Music.

The event intertwined families, volunteers and rising local musicians in a pleasant celebration. As a volunteer, I had the opportunity to participate in the festival – first by face-painting young children and then by assisting a group of drummers. Like the phrase “One in Music” sprawled across the shirt of one man I came across, Kidz Korner truly unified everyone through the universal language of music.

Kidz Korner’s mission is to provide children with an accessible way to explore music, and the Day of Music perfectly embodied this very purpose. The celebration offered a range of activities and performances that harmonized children, like the vocal strings on a harp or the keys on a piano.

One of the highlights of my day was volunteering at the face painting station, where I worked alongside two other talented volunteers. With brushes and vibrant paints, I drew on children’s faces, arms, and legs. From blue dragons and pink robots to cute cat whiskers and the Lakers logo, I painted creative designs on eager kids who sat somewhat surprisingly still.

One baby had fidgeted a bit too much for me to execute clean cat whiskers, so I opted to play Learning with Ms. Rachel on my phone. He responded perfectly– becoming calm and intently watching.

Following the face painting, I joined the drum circle– a dynamic area that brought people together in rhythm. A circle of red buckets and drumsticks were assembled, with participants excitingly sitting around them. The group was led by a drummer who started the beat with passion and precision. Children, teenagers, and adults alike picked up the sounds and created a collective, echoing beat.

So, Fullerton, be sure to join the next annual Kidz Korner Day of Music event!

Legal Insights

by Kathryn, 8th grade

Miranda v. Arizona

Today it’s standard practice for people in police custody to be told of their right to remain silent. But this wasn’t always the case. Until June 13, 1966, when the United States Supreme Court decided Miranda v. Arizona. This case established one of the most well known legal protections in American criminal procedure.

The case involved Ernesto Miranda who was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona for committing a crime. During police questioning he was not told that he had the right to remain silent or the right to an attorney. After hours of questioning he confessed, and that confession was the main evidence used against him at trial and he was convicted.
The legal issue before the Supreme Court was whether using a confession obtained without advising a suspect of their rights, such as the confession taken from Ernesto Miranda, violated the 5th and 6th amendments of the Constitution. The 5th amendment protects against self incrimination and the 6th amendment guarantees the right to counsel in criminal prosecutions.

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that confessions given during police custody cannot be used in court unless the suspect was first told of their constitutional rights. Those rights are the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney and the warning that anything said may be used in court. The court held that without this warning suspects could be coerced into confessing without knowing their legal rights. As a result of this decision, law enforcement agencies across the country were required to start issuing what became known as the “Miranda Warning”. This must be done before any custodial interrogation so that everyone is treated fairly under the law regardless of their knowledge of the legal system.

The case was argued on February 28th, 1966 and the decision was handed down just over three months later. While the facts of the case involved one person the impact was felt nationwide.

The decision ensured that constitutional rights are protected during one of the most critical moments in the legal process when a person is taken into custody and questioned by the government.

Global Forgiveness Day by Mateo, 11th grade

Global Forgiveness Day

by Mateo, 11th grade

Forgiving someone who has wronged you in the past is one of the most difficult things to do, especially if their actions deeply affected you or your loved ones. After all, it may seem that you are condoning the other’s behavior by forgiving them.

As such, it can be hard to believe that anything positive can arise out of forgiveness for one’s past actions. However, as it stands, 62% of U.S. adults claim they would benefit from increased forgiveness in their lives, according to a Johns Hopkins Medicine article.

Their beliefs are by no means misguided; in fact, numerous physical and psychological benefits are commonly associated with the act. Global Forgiveness Day, celebrated annually on July 7, aims to encourage those burdened by feelings of anger and grief to release their grudges and forgive those who have caused them harm.

The Christian Embassy of Christ’s Ambassadors (CECA) founded Global Forgiveness Day in 1994. It initially began in Canada, but over the years, the event has expanded worldwide.

The people at CECA realized that their peers often held far too much agony in their hearts from past experiences, agony that could all be resolved simply by expressing a bit of forgiveness. The organization began promoting compassion and kindness through Global Forgiveness Day, aiming to enhance the overall well-being of communities worldwide.

Forgiveness has several benefits for you. First, it helps improve your mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and stress. It can also lower the risk of serious health issues like heart disease in the future.

Another important benefit is that it encourages empathy. When you forgive someone, you often try to understand their perspective, which helps you better appreciate their situation.

Global Forgiveness Day teaches us that forgiveness is a sign of strength and can lead to better mental health and well-being. With ongoing issues like wars and violence, it’s important to change how we react to others’ actions.