MILKENATOR June 2020 / Issue 2 / Vol 1
THE RESILIENCE ISSUE
MIDDLE SCHOOL MOTIVATED
MILKENATOR
In This Issue Middle School Life
Arts & Entertainment
A Year of Resilience
pages 3-18
pages 19-33
pages 34-41
Faculty Spotlights
Psychology of the
Kobe Bryant Tribute
MS Fashion
Thriller
A Dog's Perspective
B'nai Mitzvot Trends
Dark to Dank Memes
on COVID
The Milken Mart
Review
Humanities 8-4
X-Project Highlights
2020 Binge Guide
Class Poem
Recipes Tried & True
Puzzles
Milkenator Editor-in-Chief Milkenator Arts & Entertainment Editor Milkenator Arts, Entertainment, Sports Writers Milkenator Student Life Writers
Jaden Schwarz David McNamara Mason Hill, Sean Pourmorady, Gavin Shutzer, Noah Heffron Tevelle Bitton, Alexander Kohanim, Sophia Barnes **Piece will appear in an upcoming edition.
Milkenator Opinion-Editorials Writer
Emma Behrman
Milkenator Photo & Art Contributors
Josh Gabbay, Josh Kadouri, Jasmine Abaian, Photography XProject
Special thanks to Jaden Schwartz for making sure this magazine didn't quit!
MIDDLE SCHOOL FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS My favorite thing about working with middle schoolers is watching how much change happens from Open House as 6th graders to Siyyum as 8th graders.
Ms.Miller
My favorite thing is how much energy and excitement students bring to the classroom! They are always full of zest and eager to learn new things.
Mr. SilbertÂ
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT WORKING WITH MIDDLE
Mr. Mahoney
SCHOOLERS?
Middle schoolers are at a place in their development that makes it a very exciting age. There is a ton to explore and discover in middle school. I also like the sense of humor that students tend to develop in middle school.
Getting to work with a variety of awesome kids who have their own unique personalities, talents, interests, and quirks! I think middle schoolers are in such a fun and important developmental and transitional phase of life, where they bring both the lovable connection to parents and teachers from their youth, as well as the independence-seeking, desire to be treated like a young adult, mindset into being a teenager.
Coach Steenport
My favorite thing about working with middle schoolers is that they are as goofy as me!
Coach Hodgkinson
A LOOK AT MIDDL E SCHOOL FASHIO N by Tevelle
Hoodies. Sweatpants. Over priced sneakers. This is the unofficial
Bitton
“uniform” that the students at Milken Community Schools have made for themselves. But what encourages us to wear what we wear? How does the dress code affect the way we present ourselves? Why do we follow trends? What do we like about fashion? I talked to different members of the middle school community to gather their thoughts.
Several
middle
schoolers
expressed the benefits of having a uniform.
for
7th
Before coming to Milken grade,
Sophia
Barnes
was
enrolled at an independent school where uniforms were required. “I like having uniforms, but occasional free dress
is
fine,”
says
Barnes.
While
being “uniformless” has not affected or changed her personal style in any way, she now cares way more about what she wears to school. According to Barnes, “It’s harder to pick what I’m wearing now because it’s free dress like every single day. Before, I could just pick out a hoodie and my uniform.” Though Barnes is fine with our current dress code, it gets on her nerves every so often. She states, “It’s
pants and got dress coded for it, even though they were only like up here,” pointing to her shin. Jessica Bazel, an 8th grade student, has attended
Campbell Hall for the past two years.
Prior to Campbell Hall, she attended Valley Beth Shalom, a private school which, unlike her current school, does not require students to wear uniforms. According to Bazel, having a
uniform is much
easier than free dress. She states, “It's so nice. So currently
we
can
wear
the
plaid
skirt,
navy
sweatpants with no logos, khaki pants or shorts,
annoying that we can’t wear ripped
leggings under the skirt, and white or navy school
stuff. Like once I wore ripped sweat-
logo shirts.”
A LOOK AT MIDDL E SCHOOL FASHIO N Other
middle
schoolers
expressed
frustrations with the dress code.
their
Zoe Duckorsky,
Middle
school
majority
of
teachers
enforcing
do
the
the dress
an 8th grade Milken student, found that coming
code. Students lovingly refer to this as
from uniforms at Stephen S Wise, she had to adapt
"dress coding." Administrators point to
to the new dress code. “Like when we had uniforms,
the
style didn’t matter because we all wore the same
represents
thing,” Duckorsky explains, “Now, it’s more of a
values.
concern because you want to keep up with the
environment
fashion, and if I get dress coded, then like half of
learning. While teachers appreciate a
those clothes I can’t wear.” According to her, she
neat standard of dress, some find the
has been dress coded more than five times just this
current
dress
year.
enforce,
in
Duckorsky’s
dress
code
violations
have
need
to
dress
our
in
a
shared
Teachers
code part,
that
community
just
conducive
way
want to
an
focused
challenging because
of
to its
included everything from shorts and leggings to
ambiguity. Some female teachers have
tank tops and t-shirts, which she says were mostly
debated whether it is sexist, and some
from Brandy Mellvile.
male teachers find discomfort in dress
Farrah Eshaghian, another Milken eighth grader, tells
Milkenator
that
she
feels
as
though
the
coding
female
teachers
are
strict
students. about
the
Some code
current school dress code is sexist and unclear.
while others seem blind to obvious
“Girls
infractions.
get
dress
coded
way
more
than
boys,”
Maybe it's time to take another
Eshagian points out, “and I feel as though there shouldn’t be a dress code at all.” Girls aren't the only members of the Milken student body claiming to see the dress code as unfairly applied. boy.
Evan Simon is an eighth grade
When it comes to dress code, Simon tells us,
“Guys don’t get dress coded as much as they should and girls get dress coded more than they should.”
look
at
the
dress
code
and
work
together to create something fairer and easier to follow
THE REAL WORLD Eighth grader Evan Simon is a member of the Fashion Forward XProject. When asked about his own style, Simon explains,“I’ve seen designers and industries which inspire the way I dress. In order to be like them, I thought this would be a good opportunity to express myself.” In the Fashion Forward X project, Simon and his group are creating a line of street wear. All the proceeds from his business will be going to St.
NOIHSAF
Jude’s Children Hospital.
DRAWROF
MS FASHION MEETS
Farrah Eshaghian is a Milken eighth grade student. When she was little, her aunts were in the fashion business designing dresses. “Over summer, I would always go to their stores and boutiques,” she explains, “I would help them design a dress and dress up.” Currently in the Fashion X-Project, Eshaghian and her group are hydrodipping Vans. All the proceeds will be going to a suicide prevention charity. “On the bottom of the shoe, we will be writing insperational quotes and we are using suicide prevention colors.”
Lidia Turner is one of the many
Turner has even expressed her art
beloved Hebrew and Israel
through designing the furniture in
Education teachers at Milken
her own home. Turner continues to
Community Schools. She also runs
pursue her passion for fashion today
the Fashion Forward X-Project along
by teaching students how to create
with Michelle Hansen. Born in
their own brands and collaborate
Uruguay, Turner already had an ever
with others. Speaking of the
growing love for fashion and design.
project, Ms. Turner beamed, “The
Her parents owned a clothing store
students here are very interested in
and often took her to fashion shows
exploring the different components
where she would immerse herself in
of the fashion industry and are
design and trends. At a young age,
eager to adopt changes that are
she wanted to attend fashion
taking place in the
school and eventually graduated
industry today.�
with a masters degree in architecture.
FASHION FOR
WAR
D
B'NAI MIT ZVOT T RENDS By Alexander Kohanim
Let’s face it, we middle schoolers love a great celebration, good food, fun music, and of course, our family and friends. B’nai mitzvot parties blend all of those things we love into the perfect mix. Once we get past the hard work of learning our Torah portions and the stomach-turning moment of chanting them on the bima, we can finally relax and enjoy our success with the perfect party.
No matter how big or small the party you want to throw is, all that matters is how you throw your party. Everyone's party is unique in its own way. And it doesn't just matter how much money you spend or how extravagant it is, what matters most is if people are having fun.
Personally, I love knowing all the small details to having a great party either on a budget or with no budget at all. So I spent some time talking to students and party planners and exploring some of the 2019-2020 trends for b’nai mitzvot. I looked specifically at trends in Food, Entrance, Music, Swag, Location, and Decor. Hopefully these can give you great inspirations for our own parties as well!
and sliders are popular for the cocktail reception, especially among middle schoolers. But for the formal “sit-down” banquet, parents prefer a three-course meal with salad and steak or chicken. In my experience, I have enjoyed sushi the most, and I know for a lot of my friends, sushi is a big deal. After all, our parents
picky eaters!
ECNARTNE
aren’t the only ones who can be
DOOF
Faster finger foods like sushi, pizza,
“It's not always about how the food tastes, but what the food looks like,” notes 7th grader Emma Behrman.
In the Jewish community, bar and bat mitzvahs are a big deal, especially for us kids. The grand entrance brings out the new bar or bat mitzvah to start the party with everyone dancing, so it sets the tone for the rest of the event. A great start to a party is a great entrance!
Music is the main aspect of a party. The
a fun, social way. At bar and bat mitzvahs, the most popular kinds of music include club, rap, Israeli, and Persian. Each type of music appeals to different groups of people. For example, club style and Israeli music kids and adults love while rap and hip hop mainly
CISUM
music engages all the kids and adults in
appeals to kids and Persian music mostly the adults enjoy. Having the right DJ who can read the crowd and mix the right tunes is crucial for a great time.
“If the music is good, the party is good!” says 7th grader, Sophia Barnes.
t-shirts, glow sticks, hats, and headbands. Usually they bring out all the swag for the kids closer to the end of the night. This is something that you can have a lot of fun with purchasing and wearing, from customizing hoodies to creating a personalized logo, to buying all the
GAWS
Kids love all the swag: hoodies,
“It doesn't matter how much you have but what you have,” explains party planner Ariel.
EUNEV
light up accessories.
Your venue is very important: the space, how you use it, and what you are gonna do with it. Specifically I had my bar mitzvah on my tennis court. You will see an aerial view of the whole party here. Everyone has their own taste in where they would want their party to be whether that’s at their own home, in a film studio, at a hotel, at a temple, or at a camp. The location can impact the
Decor is the thing that ties together the
whole feel of the party and you should
whole entire party. How you decorate
definitely match your theme to your
your party should work with your theme:
location.
down, or cocktail club style. There are so many ways you can make your party memorable and unify the space. You can go simple with cut flowers, clean linens, and gentle lighting, or over the top with exotic flowers, vibrant colors, and laser lights! And there's an entire spectrum of options in between. Just figure out what suits your style.
ROCED
if it's a day party, night party, black tie sit
“Decorations don't just come from stores they come for your imagination”
by Jaden Schwartz & Alexander Kohanim It’s 11:28 AM and your stomach is
To fully understand the Milken Mart,
rumbling. The snack you downed
it’s important to look into all
between B and C Blocks is long gone
perspectives of it. This includes
and the clock is ticking away slower
students, teachers supervisors, parent
than ever. The bell rings and you head
volunteers, and, of course, the Milken
to your locker only to realize you forgot
Mart management. We’ll offer a
your lunch box in the car!...You’ve finished lunch but you’re just not satisfied and Mom didn’t pack dessert...You’re craving sushi but Dad packed a sandwich instead...In all of these scenarios, there’s one place that comes through for Milken students, ensuring they won’t be distracted by
glimpse of the Milken Mart through four different lenses, starting with that of the manager, Ms. Leigh Orloff, who took time from her busy day to give us some background on the Mart itself and some insight into how the Mart operates.
hunger...The Milken Mart.
THE MILKEN MART
Finding vendors is challenging due to
the Milken Mart when her oldest
delivery time constraints, vehicle sizes, and
daughter entered Milken Middle
purchasing minimums. Lunch items are
School in 2011 and became a full-
ordered and delivered from Kosher
time Milken Mart employee in
restaurants with delivery fees. All of these
2014. She describes the evolution
factors affect prices of items sold. We try to
of the mart: “We have had so
keep the cost as low as we can for our
many amazing changes over the
students, but we still need to cover all of
years. The MiddleMart actually
our costs.”
NEKLIM
Ms. Orloff started volunteering at
began as a cart inside of the
Community Room, then a shed
In the 2019-2020 school year the
was built on the current site.
MilkenMart had a day for students to taste
Finally 2 years ago, they rebuilt
the food options at the MilkenMart and
the MiddleMart to its current
give their feedback to the management. In
state.”
response to the students, the Mart management added some new food options as well as some more sugar
While students tend to gravitate towards
conscious items.
extremely salty or sugary snacks, Ms. Orloff has made many changes to expand the food
As for the challenges of the
options since her arrival. The Middle Mart has
lines, Ms. Orloff suggests that
seen “a tremendous transformation of the foods to much healthier food options,
lines at lunchtime will be
TRAM
including gluten free options.”
by pre-ordering lunch the
shorter and faster. This will
Sometimes students question the prices and value of items at the MilkenMart. Ms. Orloff explains, “Since we are a small, independent, non-profit business, we cannot secure deeply discounted bulk pricing. We also can’t buy in bulk due to storage restraints. Our produce has to be pre-packaged individually in accordance with the Health Department. Kashrut also limits the foods we can carry.
also create less chaos for the parent volunteers and teachers to deal with. Overall, Ms. Orloff appreciates the constructive feedback of the students and seeks to provide a menu that balances appeal, value, and health for her student customers.
We spoke to both 7th and 8th graders
We spoke to Ms. Hansen and Ms.
to get their opinions on the Mart.
Zakai, teachers who supervise the
Students like the variety and the access
Milken Mart on lunch duty, and to
to food during the day. Alex Binafard,
Ms. Lerner and Ms. Simms, parents
Class of 2024, finds it’s especially “good
who volunteer there weekly.
if you want a snack or don’t have lunch...Personally I think the food is way
What are some of the benefits of
better than my old school but the food
working at the MilkenMart or
can be pretty expensive.” Emma
supervising students there?
Berhman, Class of 2025, says it’s worth it and describes the Middle Mart as delicious chaos: “the lines can get long, but the food is SO good….if you are not there on time, all the food can be gone. But most important is getting your card to be filled. If you are at a negative they will NOT give you any food.”
Teachers enjoy spending time with their students outside of the classroom. Ms. Hansen likes the fact that “in a new context, they can see me as a different person, and I can see more of who they are--who their friends are, how they spend their time, how they interact with each other, what they eat.” Teachers get to see
Students cite sushi, ramen, and ice
more of what makes their students
cream sandwiches as some of the most
unique and the commonalities they
popular choices. The spicy tuna crispy
share with their students. Ms. Lerner
rice, or Japanese pizza, is probably the
and Ms. Simms note that they enjoy
most ordered sushi item; it’s pretty
being able to interact with the Milken
popular even among the teachers!
middle school students. They like
Students also note that the “lines can
being able to help the students and
get a little crazy. Kids take advantage
check in with their children during
whenever there are no teachers on duty
lunchtime at the middle school. It is
and usually would cut each other.” So
also nice for the parent volunteers to
some students appreciate the sense of
interact with the teachers and to
order that teachers and parent
observe the students casually
volunteers try to provide.
interacting with their teachers.
What are the challenges that
What have you observed about students’
you face monitoring students at
behavior towards each other during lunch?
the MilkenMart? “There is a little bit of everything. Friendship,
Ms. Hansen notes that sometimes
tension, humor,” Ms. Zakai summarizes.
it’s hard to give up your lunch
Students are human and their moods change so
break and it’s never good to see
they can be everything from self-centered to
students who KNOW better
sympathetic. “There are some [older students]
behave rudely to other students or
who feel they are the ‘top dogs’ and should get
to Milken (by leaving trash and
the front of the line, the last sushi, others to
mess everywhere. Ms. Zakai points
buy them food,” notes Mrs. Hansen. On the
out that sometimes students
other hand, she beams,” There are a LOT of
forget or lose their MilkenMart
students who are willing to step up and help
cards. Also students who are last
out by cleaning up the mess left by others or
in line have fewer options, so they
buying lunch for someone without a lunch.”
rush out of class to get to the line
Overall, teachers agree that students need the
first and sometimes push each
time outside and the break from academics.
other out of line. Ms. Simms
The parent volunteers notice that the students
explains that it can be difficult to
enjoy the time outside and often will buy
find the time to volunteer.
Milken Mart snacks for their friends.
How do you manage the crowds in the
What have you observed about
amphitheater and at the MilkenMart during
students’ behavior towards
lunch?
MilkenMart volunteers and teachers during lunch?
Parent volunteers agree that they do not do much to manage the crowds at the MilkenMart
Ms. Zakai sees that students are
besides occasionally asking students to get in a
“mostly respectful, polite, grateful
line. Teachers tend to stand among the students
[but] not always.” Ms. Hansen
as they line up. Ms. Hansen believes that this
adds, “they sometimes have to be
kind of adult presence is necessary since “having
reminded..but they respond well
an adult around usually helps middle schoolers
to reminders.” Ms. Lerner notes
pause” and give second thought to their actions. Teachers provide that external reminder to “be a bit more polite,...stop running and walk,...pay slightly more attention to messes they make.”
that students who often forget their IDs may sometimes be unaware of how they are holding up the lines.
What have you noticed about the
Are there any clean-up issues that
food options students are given at
you have observed during lunch in the
the Milken Mart?
amphitheater?
While there is good variety, some
Ms. Hansen voices what a lot of the
teachers would like to see more
teachers feel, that “students can do a lot
healthy options like more salads,
to step up with cleaning up leftover
sandwiches, and fruit. The parent
food and trash in the amphitheater after
volunteers note that occasionally the
lunch.” The space can be left
pre-ordered food is not wrapped
embarrassingly messy and it is
properly and may spill.
disrespectful to our maintenance staff. We know our students are capable of
Are there any patterns or things
caring for their community.
you have observed relating to students’ dietary choices when they
What do you miss most about working
have no parents to guide their
at the MilkenMart now that we have
decisions?
transitioned to virtual learning?
Let’s face it students like desserts
All teachers and parent volunteers agree
(who doesn’t) and will often choose
that they miss THE STUDENTS! Ms. Zakai
the less healthy option when they
says it best: “I miss the informal and
have no parental guidance. Ms.
casual interaction with the kiddos!”
Hansen points out that many “students LOVE junk food. There are plenty of kids who eat ice cream sandwiches and chips for lunch. I’m pretty sure their parents would NOT approve of that use of lunch money.” The parent volunteers agree that students do buy lots of junk food, however Ms. Lerner points out that this is a great opportunity for students to be independent and make balanced food options.
Even though we didn’t get to showcase our final
X-Project Highlights explore concepts that they may have never put much thought into. Students are free to research any sub-category of science and pick a topic within that sub-category that they want to learn more about. For my project, I planned to replant and redesign the circle garden in the middle school driveway. I planted many plants such as paprika peppers, golden beets, and purple nebula carrots, hoping that my efforts make a change to the Milken campus and bring
and had fun while exploring our interests and discovering our passions. Here students share some of their goals, processes, and achievements from the year. This is just a representation of some projects.
HCRAESER ECNEICS
Science Research X-Project helps students
projects, Milken Middle School students worked hard
YHPARGOTOHP
joy from my hard work. - Hayden Levy
innovating sports franchises. Students explore the image of different teams, logo design, and community outreach opportunities. My project was to develop a new Major League Baseball team, the Austin Bats. - Micah Green
different projects in each unit that bring photographs into the real world and have a real-world impact. We have used our photos to make Shrinky Dinks, to make pin-on buttons, and to attach to stairs at Milken in large-scale size for maximum visual impact. - Josh Gabbay
SSENISUB STROPS
In Sports Business, we are working on
In our Photography X-Project, we do
The Bridge Design X-Project focuses on making a
about different materials, designs, and purposes for making a bridge. We explore how bridges can help communities in the real world and the design flaws that can be challenging. Then we get to decide if we want to use popsicle sticks or 3mm wood with a laser cutter to build our own
NGISED EGDIRB
bridge that can hold the most weight. We learn
bridges. The fun part is testing how much weight our bridges can hold! - Eli Farshi
Cooking Up Change explores how the food industry
EGNAHC PU GNIKOOC
works, and how to bring an innovative food product from concept to market. Our group’s name is Carabeet because we make candy out of something healthy...beets into something sweet...candy! Carabeet is made for kids and even adults with a major sweet tooth. Carabeet is made with beets (such a surprise), pomegranate juice, sugar, water, and a unique ingredient every time. We create something good for your cravings and health! X project has been an amazing experience that has taught us about how important our health is. - Noa Sweet
have created our own innovative and stylish apparel companies while still focusing on the environment and global equity. Three of my classmates and I formed our own company named Koalife where we tie-dye clothing and stay ecofriendly by donating 50% of our proceeds to the Australian Red Cross. - Megan Kalpari
DRAWROF NOIHSAF
In the Fashion Forward X-Project my peers and I
In the Coding and Robotics X-Project we work in
SCITOBOR & GNIDOC
groups to create ideas of hardware and software that can make the world a better place. My group is making a smart trash can. It's supposed to weigh how much trash is in it and based on that, change the color of the LED lights on the side. We just used a trash can from campus, ordered the weight sensors, and laser cut the wood pieces at the Guerin FabLab. I mostly help wire everything and leave the decorating to someone with a better sense of style. - Naomi Love
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
MIDDLE SCHOOL FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS (2) I would run an animal rescue.
(1) Students are always surprised to find out I am Jewish as well!
(1) Ha, probably the Dungeons and Dragons I just mentioned.
(2) Computer engineer/programmer
(1) WHAT DO YOU DO THAT STUDENTS WOULD CONSIDER
(1) Riding my bicycle to work when the weather is good. I'm also exceptionally flexible.
(1) If I were to sing WELL.
UNUSUAL OR UNEXPECTED OF YOU?
(2) WHAT JOB WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE IF YOU WERE NOT A
(2) Physical Therapist
TEACHER?
(2) Engineer or musician
(1) Playing Fifa on my Xbox. Being a basketball coach, you might think I would prefer to play NBA 2K, but Fifa is my game!
(2) Standup comedians are extremely impressive to me and I like to make people laugh, so some kind of standup comedy, voiceover, comedy acting, who knows, even game or talk-show host - all that sounds fun!
SCARY GOOD WHY WE WATCH HORROR
by David McNamara
Why do we love to get scared? It seems ridiculous
Just some… Uh…formalities.
because the only reason we
What’s your name?
got scared in prehistoric
What's your age?
times was to protect our
So, uh… Yeah. Let’s start. I know you teach
own skin from certain
science… is there anything in the brain that would
death. Nowadays, that fear
make people exhilarated by scares?
is almost a relic of the past in many first world countries, replaced by the incredible comfort and security of our modern life. According to Malcolm Turvey, Director of Film and Media at Tufts, “What’s special about consuming horror is you can feel certain strong feelings without suffering the consequences, which allows you to enjoy the sensation.” In this case, horror becomes
Ok.
Alex Miller. I’m 32 years old.
Yeah. Definitely … There is a lot of evidence that stress, in our lives, builds up a stress hormone called cortisol. [When you’re scared] it triggers something called your fight or flight response, which is the release of cortisol and, typically, the release of adrenaline. In our lives, our fight or flight response is being triggered to things that we shouldn’t be afraid of. In the sense that, they’re not going to literally kill us. Like, our fight or flight response evolved to protect us from mortal danger, but nowadays it gets triggered all the time, by our teacher catching us on our computers or being late for work. These aren’t things that are going to kill us but they are things
a replication of those old,
that build up cortisol. And we don't often have
primal fears without the
productive ways of releasing it. And for some, fear
threat of real danger. On
(and humor) can alleviate those “background
this exact subject, I’ve
stressors”. Some people prefer mindfulness, some
interviewed Ms. Miller, a
people prefer… exercise. And some people don’t
horror fan and science
know how to cope with these feelings at all. But
extraordinaire, about why
for a good majority of people, they’re like, “You
we love to be terrified.
know what? I like triggering these feelings.”
MISS MILLER ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SCARE This is only a small snippet of the interview. Want to hear the whole thing? Scan this QR code to see the full picture.
Why do we love to get scared? Well, from the interview, for some people at least, horror is a release. A release from the stress and speed of modern life, and the buildup of cortisol from everyday experiences. On the surface, horror is nothing but dumb fun. However, at the end of the day, horror is just another escape.
Crossword Puzzle Key
FROM DARK TO DANK A JOURNEY INTO A MEMER'S MIND
by Sean Pourmorady
A very smart and talented person once said
Quite a bit of media from Vox to Fox have
that memes are the link to the soul and what
taken advantage of this misunderstanding
keeps all of humanity unified. This was said
and tried to spark controversy around
by me... 5 seconds ago. (Insert Vsauce music
memes, which is like propaganda because
here.) Humor is a huge part of memes and is
it is one-sided. Some articles
one of the reasons they are so popular. They
misrepresented memes as ridiculous
connect to internet funny bois, also known as
things that millennials like, showed mainly
“memers,” in a way that I feel hasn’t been explained well enough to the general public. So in this article, I decided to discuss memes, why non-memers are confused about them, and why they are so intriguing.
Memes often poke fun at a subject which is either relatable (ex. shower thoughts) or controversial (ex. Hong Kong protesters). They are a mode of communication that unites people in a lighthearted way. People who aren’t memers might not readily understand this because they only look at the broad picture and take it literally, which
edgier along with older memes, and said they were dangerous. This created even more misunderstanding, which further separated non-memers from memers.
BUT, there is still hope to properly introduce non-memers to memes. While interviewing my dad, I showed him a few memes and asked him which one he liked best. I then told him a few more and asked him which he thought was popular. He got this right and thought the memes were funny. This shows that people can still
could change the meaning of a meme
learn to like memes, they just need to dip
entirely. Satire is satire, guys!
their toes in it.
GOOD MEMES AND WHY THEY'RE GOOD There are quite a few good memes that aren't exactly trendy. What I mean by this is you can pull a good meme out of anything. You can probably get an image of cereal and make it funny. In fact...
Yeah, that’s real. So are Bob Ross energy drinks and Bob Ross mints. Search them up, I dare you. I triple dog dare you. Anyways, back to my point. What makes these memes so funny? My answer to this question depends. Memes depend on satire of a situation or character, which of course, is related to comedy. It always comes back to comedy. What this satire becomes depends on the situation. It could be emphasizing something useless or something useful. It can associate something you like or something that is well known to something random.
It’s pretty useful to know what you want to make fun of when making a meme. This is a really good skill, so try to work on it as much as you can.
2020 BI NG E G U IDE by Mason Hill
The world of TV is vast and boundless. There are so many shows to
watch, but what shows should you watch? The shows I watch are not necessarily typical, but I also enjoy watching some shows that other students in Milken Middle School watch. Also, I’ll be including a show that’s popular amongst Milken students, and I happen to be a huge fan of it. Read about shows you love, and discover new ones in this 2020 binge guide..
BROOKLYN
NINE-NINE
A show that is very unappreciated in the Milken community, but in my opinion is the best show EVER, is Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Brooklyn NineNine is a comedy on NBC about the goofy, spirited cop, Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), who has to adjust to a new, more formal, work style under the new command of Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher) and his all-work-and-no-play ideals. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is so good because it’s a great mix of humor and heart. There are very comedic episodes, like one where a criminal vandalizes police cars by drawing lewd images on them (S1 E2). But also some more serious episodes, like one where one detective is on-scene of an active shooter situation (S5 E20). This is an amazing show and I highly suggest watching it. You can watch it on Hulu; it takes about a 65-hour watch (There are 6 seasons!).
The second show I think you
ESCAPE THE NIGHT
should watch is Escape the Night. Now, I know what you’re thinking, Escape the
2020 BINGE GUIDE
Night is a show with YouTubers, made by YouTube, it can’t be very good. Yeah, that’s what I thought at first too! But when I got into it I realized that it’s really a great show! If you like horror, reality, or competition shows, you’ll like Escape the Night.
In the YouTube series, Joey Graceffa brings his friends on a mission to save people, but it always ends up being a suicide mission where all but two of Joey’s friends die.
The casting of Escape the Night is phenomenal, bringing on famous faces like Rosanna Pansino, Colleen Ballinger, MatPat, Glozell Green, and even Liza Koshy! The way the contestants get along (friendly or unfriendly) is really entertaining! You can binge the series with YouTube Premium.
2020 BINGE GUIDE
STRANGER THINGS
There’s one show that I think many students in the Milken Middle School watch. When I ask people about their favorite shows, I often hear this answer- Stranger Things. This show is also one of my favorites. This horror-mystery show follows four nerdy boys playing Dungeons and Dragons in the basement. Everything is normal until Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) mysteriously goes missing in the forest.
When Will disappears, everybody looks for him. His mom enlists the police, and the rest of the boys find a mysterious girl that could lead them to the finding of their friend. This show’s interesting storyline leaves no room for dull moments. Everything is interesting and edge-of-your-seat intense! The show has 3 seasons and can only be watched on Netflix.
WHY I LOVE BAKING
APPLE CAKE
Warm dough clinging to your
Ingredients:
hands, the tempting aromas
2 eggs
coming from the oven and
1 cup sugar
filling up the entire house,
1 teaspoon vanilla
listening to music over the
½ cup oil
clanging of kitchen equipment,
3 tablespoons orange juice
keeping my family members
1 ½ cups flour
from eating the newly
2 teaspoons baking powder
emerging food before it is
¼ teaspoon salt
ready, flour coating every
1 peeled green apple (with core
surface of the kitchen. Each
removed), thinly sliced
recipe has joyful memories
Cinnamon
attached, and I’ve shared a few
sprinkle generously over both
of my favorite recipes here.
sides of apple slices)
and
sugar
Powdered sugar
RECIPES by Jaden
Schwartz
(to
SEPICER
Directions:
Then beat until smooth. Spoon
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
half of batter into a lightly
Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsuis).
greased 9� circle baking pan.
Mix ground cinnamon with cane
Spread evenly with a rubber
sugar until it becomes a light
spatula. Place the coated apple
brown color. Generously cover the
slices, covering all of the batter.
apple slices in the cinnamon and
Cover the apples with the
sugar mixture on both sides of the
remaining half of the batter.
apple. Beat eggs, sugar, and
Generously sprinkle the top of the
vanilla (with an electric or hand
batter with powdered sugar. Put
mixer) until light and fluffy. Beat
the cake in the oven and bake for
in oil. In a measuring cup,
50 to 60 minutes or until lightly
combine all dry ingredients. Add
browned. Place the cake on an
orange juice to the liquid bowl,
oven rack to cool (see picture
slowly alternating between the
below). Enjoy!
juice and the dry ingredients.
CHALLAH Makes 6 large challahs
Please consider that in order to make the prayer over a piece of challah dough and make the challah Kosher, the full amount of flour must be used.
Ingredients for Yeast Bowl:
3 packets active dry yeast (Fleischmann’s works best) ½ cup warm water 1 teaspoon sugar Bowl for Other Ingredients:
3 cups warm water 1 cup sugar ¾ cup canola or vegetable oil 1 tablespoon salt 4 eggs 12 cups flour
RECIPES CHALLAH
Directions for Yeast Bowl:
Allow the dough to rise for at least an hour. The longer the dough rises, the lighter and fluffier it
In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and
becomes.
add 1 teaspoon of sugar. (If the water is too hot it will kill the yeast). Gently stir and let it sit for a
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180
few minutes. The yeast has activated when
degrees Celsius). Take a small piece of dough and
bubbles begin to form and rise. If the yeast does
say the Bracha (listed below). Wrap this piece of
not start to rise or bubble than the water is too
challah in tin foil and place it in the oven for
hot or too much sugar killed the yeast. If this
approximately 20 minutes, or until it is burnt. If the
happens, start the yeast process from the
blessing is not said, the challah is not Kosher and
beginning.
can not be eaten.
Directions for Dough Bowl: " לוהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצוותיו- ני א- ברוך אתה אד
In a separate big bowl, combine the water, sugar, oil,
וצוונו להפריש חלה."
and salt and mix them together lightly. Crack each egg into a little bowl and examine the yolk for any blood spots. If the yolk has blood spots, it is not a kosher egg and must be thrown away. If there are no blood spots, add the egg. When mixed, it should have a similar thickness to coconut oil and be the color of lemonade. Add the yeast mixture to the other ingredients and stir until just combined. Slowly add flour and continue mixing. When the dough has formed lightly knead the dough with your hands. Too much kneading will cause the dough to be hard and chewy. Set the bowl aside in a warm area and cover with plastic wrap or kitchen towels.
Form the dough into whatever shape you desire. Brush the challahs with beaten eggs. If you want to add a little extra flavor, try adding chocolate chips or Everything Bagel Spice. Place the challahs on a baking tray covered with parchment paper (a baking sheet). Bake in the oven for 20-40 minutes or until golden brown. The baking time will vary depending on the size of your challah. After the challahs come out of the oven, place the challahs on cooling racks for at least half an hour. Enjoy!!
מתכון לחלה חלות גדולות 6
בשביל שהחלה תהיה כשרה ושיהיה אפשר להגיד את הברכה ,צריכים לשים את כל הכמות
הנדרשת של הקמח.
מצרכים לקערת השמרים: 3חבילות שמרים יבשים ½ כוס מים פושרים 1כפית סוכר
שאר המצרכים לחלה: 3כוסות מים פושרים 1כוס סוכר ¾ כוס שמן קנולה 1כף מלח 4ביצים 12כוסות קמח
אופן הכנת השמרים: בקערה ,להמיס את השמרים במים הפושרים ולהוסיף
את הכפית סופר) .אם המים חמים מדיי, זה יהרוס את השמרים( לערבב בעדינות ולתת לשמרים לשבת לכמה דקות .השמרים מתחילים לעבוד כשרואים בועות .אם השמרים לא מתחילים לבעבע או לעלות אז המים חמים מדיי או שיש יותר מדיי סוכר .אם זה קורה ,תעשו את הכל
מהתחלה.
אופן הכנת החלה:
בקערה גדולה ,לערבב את המים ,שמן ,סוכר ומלח. להוסיף את הביצים לקערה קטנה ולבדוק שאין דם בחלמון .אם יש דם בחלמון הביצה לא כשרה וצריכים לזרוק את הביצה .להוסיף את
הביצים לשאר המרכיבים בקערה הגדולה ולערבב. התערובת צריכה להראות כמו שמן קוקוס. להוסיף את עיסת שמרים לקערה הגדולה ולערבב. לאט לאט להוסיף את הקמח ,ולערבב לעיסה אחידה .כשהעיסה הופכת לבצק להתחיל ללוש את הבצק עם הידיים .לא ללוש יותר מדיי שלא
להפוך את הבצק לקשה.
הניח את הקערה בצד ,מכוסה במגבת מטבח או ניילון
נצמד .לתת לבצק לנוח לפחות לשעה. אם אתם רוצים שהחלה תהיה רכה ואוורירית תנו
לחלה לתפוח עד שעתיים או שלוש. ח מ מ ו א ת ה ת נ ו ר ל 3 5 0מ ע ל ו ת פָ ֶר ְנ הַ ְי ט א ו 1 8 0 צלסיוס. חתכו חתיכה קטנה מהבצק ועשו הפרשת חלה. אמרו את הברכה " :ברוך אתה אד-ני א-לוהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצוותיו וצוונו להפריש חלה ".אם אתם לא אומרים את הברכה החלה לא כשרה ואסור לאכול אותה .עטפו את חתיכת החלה
בנייר כסף והכניסו לתנור ל 20 דקות. ליצור את הבצק לצורה שאתם רוצים .הברישו את החלה עם ביצה טרופה .אפשר להוסיף למעלה פצפוצי שוקולד ,שומשום או כל מה שאתם אוהבים על חלה .להניח את החלה על תבנית
אפיה מכוסה בנייר אפייה .לאפות בתנור למשך - 30 40דקות או עד שהחלה משחימה .האפייה
משתנה ,תלוי בתנור ובגודל החלה. אחרי שהחלה מוכנה ,הניחו אותה למשך חצי שעה על
תבנית קירור .תהנו !!!
O'HENRY BARS Ingredients:
1 cup chocolate chips ž cup butterscotch or caramel chips LaChoy (see the pictures below) Chopped pecans
Directions:
Pour chocolate chips into a small pot and place the pot on a stove. Turn the stove on medium heat and continuously stir the
*Turn off the stove. Add the chopped pecans
chocolate chips.**If the chocolate is not
into the pot and stir them until the mixture is
continuously stirred it will burn and stick
combined. Take small handfuls of LaChoy and
to the pot! Once the chocolate chips are
add them to the mixture, stirring the mixture
melted, add the butterscotch or caramel
after every added handful. Stop adding
chips to the pot and stir them
LaChoy when the mixture is completely
continuously until they have melted.
covering the LaChoy and there is no leftover chocolate at the bottom of the pot. The LaChoy is used as a cement to hold up the mixture and if not enough is used, the O’Henries will not come out properly. Take a baking tray and cover it with a baking sheet. Use a spoon to take a small bit of the mixture and place it on the tray. Try to mold the mixture as close to a round shape as it can get. Continue this process until there is no more mixture in the bowl. Space each ball of chocolate so that they will not overlap if they expand (somewhat like baking cookies). When there is no more mixture in the bowl, place the tray of chocolate in a refrigerator for at least an hour. After this, they are ready to eat! These must be stored in a refrigerator, however they can last for days. Enjoy!
MIDDLE SCHOOL FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS (2) After watching The Good Place and watching a bunch of interviews like she did on the Hot Ones and Ellen, I would really like to meet Kristen Bell. I just, you know, feel like she's really cool and down-to-earth and that maybe she and I would be friends? Look up her appearance on Ellen, she describes her reaction to a birthday present her husband, Dax Sheppard, got her and it was hilarious and, in my opinion, super-relatable.
(1) I'm like Hagrid, I've always wanted a dragon.
(1) IF YOU COULD HAVE AN
(1) A flying monkey!
(2) Computer engineer/programmer
IMAGINARY PET OR AN EXOTIC PET
(1) A squirrel, raccoon, sugar glider, or hedgehog
WHAT KIND OF PET WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE?
(1)I always wanted to have a dolphin when I was growing up but now I would prefer something a little more cuddly like a llama or a baby lion.
(2) IF YOU COULD MEET ANY CELEBRITY OR HISTORICAL FIGURE
Elon Musk - He's incredible and changing the world
WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO MEET?
(1)Â If they were safe to have around the house, a tiger or lion would be amazing. I think they are such regal and beautiful creatures. Might be fun to have a cool little squirrel as well that just ran around the house doing funny, squirrely things. Of course, we really don't need exotic pets when we have dogs - have to agree, a good dog is definitely a human's best friend!
WHY?
(2) Physical Therapist
(2) Joe Rogan. We share a lot of similar interests and I think he has a nice blend of being funny, absurd, thoughtful and highly intelligent.
KOBE BRYANT
Saying Farewell to a Legend
Kobe Bryant was an NBA player who made basketball not just a job or a sport, but a passion. I was sitting at my desk in my room on the morning of January 26th when my grandfather called me saying that Kobe had died. I shrugged it off, wondering what kind of joke her was up to and saying to him in disbelief, “That’s such a lie!” He said sadly, “Look it up.” A few clicks later and my world stopped. I quickly ran to the TV and turned on the news. It was playing on almost every station. They even canceled the broadcast of a college basketball game to report on the tragedy. I learned later on that he was with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna (GiGi), going to Kobe’s basketball facility. Also on the helicopter were Gianna’s basketball coach, the coach’s daughter and wife, and a few others. Kobe inspired people both on and off the court. He co-founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, which helps underprivileged families learn better leadership skills through sports. He also uses the Make-a-Wish foundation to help young kids with illnesses.
His death was honored not only in the Los Angeles basketball world but also in the sports world globally. In a match between AC Milan and PSG, Neymar honored Kobe by scoring a goal and then putting up his fingers saying, “2...4…” In the NBA multiple teams took 8 and 24-second violations to start their games. Trae Young, along with other NBA players, changed their number to 8 or 24 to honor him. During the All-Star game, each team wore the number 2 to honor GiGi and 24 to honor her dad. At the end of the game, the Most Valuable Player award was named after Kobe.
KOBE
Kobe was a five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA finals MVP, 18 time NBA All-Star, 15-time All-NBA Team selection, and 12-time All-Defensive Team. The devastation over the loss of Kobe was heard around the league. Shaq said, "My spirit just left my body…I just wish I could be able to say one thing ...one last thing to the people we lost. Because once you're gone, you're gone forever." Lebron was crying and couldn’t take the news. He said in this Instagram tweet which is excerpted here, "Man I am sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had! I literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA.” He continued to say, ”I'm heartbroken and devastated, my brother!!" 2020 took an irreplaceable father, role model, and sportsman. Kobe was a great person and will always be an inspiration to all people of all ages.
EXCERPT FROM "A DOG’S PERSPECTIVE" Dallas
Why in the world has my family decided to skip work and school to stay home all day? Hmm...I must have done something naughty. What rules have I broken since my last meal? Are they punishing me?! Peggy spends hours in the kitchen to make dinner and always gives me the most delicious roasted chicken. Mark takes me for long walks through the forest and he always knows the best spots for me to chase after birds and squirrels. So don’t get me wrong, I am happy to be spending more time with my owners...but I do like having time to myself during the day. If it were not for all of the extra walks I am
They have always been too busy to
getting, I would be getting wider and
notice so I can sneak out and in
wider from all of the extra treats. I will
whenever I please.
admit that it has been nice to get extra
I think secretly the shelter workers
treats, pats, and walks. The question
like to have me there since it helps
though is why.
the dogs there to understand how to
Maybe it is related to this sudden
interact with other dogs. The workers
human talk about a “pandemic.” I don’t
call it teaching them how “to dog.”
know exactly what it means, but it
On the other hand, it allows me to get
certainly sounds scary. If Peggy, Mark, and
caught up on the latest dog
their children weren’t home all day every
news...and gossip. Believe it or not,
day, I would go straight to the shelter to
there is such a thing as dog gossip. I
ask my buddies what they think.
don’t think it is something that cats
The humans at the shelter called Peggy
or humans could understand, both
the first time I visited, but by now they
groups are completely clueless when
know that I have a home and just like to
it comes to the ways of dogs. Dogs
stop by. Mark and Peggy think they fixed
are actually very reliable, unlike
the hole in the fence since then, but the
humans and cats, and I know my
big brown hill of soil by a part of their
friends will help me figure out why
fence is actually covering the hole.
everything is changing.
Kramer
A pandemic? What in the world is a pandemic? I am considered extremely intelligent for a dog, but some human language is beyond me. Whatever it is, it seems to be the only thing humans are talking about… at least it seems to be when my owner, an elderly lady named Elizabeth, takes me on walks. Maybe I am imagining it, but there seem to be more people walking in the park than I have ever seen before. But perhaps that is because I am working while on walks, and my only focus is to guide Elizabeth. I can’t imagine what it must be like to never see anything. There is another major change that I have noticed, a strange one in my favorite place...the supermarket. As a service dog, I have been trained to detect many issues in humans and I can sense the fear that seems to be racing through all humans. They seem to be panicking and stocking up on everyday supplies, specifically toilet paper, paper towels, and human foods. I don’t exactly understand why humans need toilet paper… I am perfectly fine without it. From the outside of the supermarket, everything seems to be perfectly normal. The red supermarket sign that lights up at night and that has always been tilted slightly downwards is still above the entrance doors and the white paint is still just barely peeling off of the left wall. However, on the inside, the supermarket is new and unfamiliar. The combined smell of fear and disinfectant seems strange for the aisles of a supermarket. The humans are all wearing colorful masks that cover their faces; scary masks that hide a human’s true intentions, and gloves that feel sticky when one of them reaches down to pet you. Even though their faces are covered by the creepy masks, I can still see into the eyes of all the human shoppers and they all seem to be eyeing each other suspiciously. ********** I walk to the doctor with Elizabeth for her to be tested for some contagious disease that humans call Coronavirus. There is a tall, female human covered almost completely in white fabric, so covered that only the skin on her face is visible… and I thought the face masks were bad enough. The woman sticks a small, somewhat pointy object up Elizabeth’s nose and then we are free to go home. I don’t think about it much afterwards, that is until we start to walk back to the hospital. The rest seems to happen in blur, but I do remember the doctor reaching out to hand Elizabeth some kind of medicine and then hesitating a moment before handing the bag to me. We are told not to leave our house, even for walks for the next month. I don’t know exactly how long that is, but I am hoping it is not too many meals away. **********
What does Dallas learn from his shelter friends? Is Elizabeth going to be okay? Will Kramer and Dallas ever meet? To find out more, scan the QR code below.
Our Loss of Innocence With this year came a current, I was no longer a boy From the winning streaks to the devastating heartbreaks The shadows following you like a detective on a mission [You have] the spirit we all lack. [You are] the reason we go on. I have my own dreams, I have my own personality. -Jonathan, Daniel, Shanee, Devon, Megan
A single tear rolls down my face, but it feels like a waterfall Because I overthink things that don’t matter Because when I want a hug, you don’t Because you made a joke when my writing was a cry for help If I was always happy, how could I feel empathy? -Aviva, Sophia, Leah, Emily, Benny
Whenever I see you, it brightens up my day. I have a want to say something more than “Hi, how are you” I am someone who hopes I can make an impact in this world. We live all together or the country falls to pieces But our togetherness will have to wait. -Lev, Benjamin, Rami, Ariel, Talen
by Mr. Kim-Seda's Humanities 8-4
MIDDLE SCHOOL FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS (1) Milken Wildcats PE and athletic gear, of course!
(2) Exercise (workouts in the gym or swimming), and chilling with friends and family (usually watching Netflix or sports).
(1) Jeans/slacks and a collar button up short sleeve shirt. Pajama pants in the winter and shorts and a Tshirt in the summer.
(1) I love streetwear, so casual and stylish. At work I keep it more casual with a polo most days. At home I like lounging in some comfy sweats.
(2) I love being outdoors, so hiking, camping, rock climbing, being in the ocean!
(1) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND
(1) Under Armour for work. I don't have a favorite brand but if I have to pick one I do like Lulu Lemon.
OR STYLE? FOR WORK? AT HOME?
(2) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN (2) Watch informative YouTube videos, bike ride, racquetball, and exploring places to eat around LA.
YOUR FREE TIME?
(1) Ooh, thanks for asking. I definitely have a preppy vibe with a bit of beach bum and a bit of professional. My favorite brands are ones I can wear at home and at work so I can feel like myself. If I'm shopping news, I prefer Madewell and J.Crew, but I buy a lot of my clothes secondhand and will wear anything that looks good and fits well.
(2) I love to play volleyball, hang out with friends and be outdoors.
(2) Probably my favorite thing to do is collect hobbies. Currently I enjoy crocheting, reading and learning how to be a Dungeon Master in the game Dungeons and Dragons. Ask again in 6 months and it will probably have changed.
WORD SEARCH
Expressions
Middle School Visual Arts
Hope Blooms