The Voice of Veritas
Eighth Grade Journalism
Volume 2, Issue 1
Quarter One - October 2020
Celebrating Your Birthday During a Pandemic by Olivia Nicholas
Inevitably, your birthday will or has fallen sometime during the pandemic and just because it can’t be big and the way you want it, doesn’t mean it can’t be special. Continuing to celebrate special moments in our lives, such as birthdays, just might be the thing that brings us joy and some normalcy. Spending birthdays and milestones away from your loved one can be saddening, but there are always good and creative ways to celebrate from afar.
Normally, people would go out to their favorite restaurant
or attend an event that they love, but this year looks a little different. One of the most popular ways people have been celebrating birthdays are drive bys and zoom calls, but boy do I have some creative ideas for you. For those who like to take the horse by the reins, you can become royalty for a day. You know, boss your family around, skip chores for the day, eat ice cream all day, unless you’re the youngest child and already do that.
For the little ones, let’s be honest, even just letting them play in the rain is like going to disneyworld for them, but another great idea would be is “chatting with a character”, which is like zooming with friends and family, except, you can hire a service to let you zoom with your favorite character. You could have a scavenger hunt for presents; I know I would enjoy that! Have fun, be creative, and be safe!
How to Respectfully Disagree by Mikayla Villafuerte
There are many scenarios where we find ourselves talking with someone we don’t see eye to eye with. During these conversations, instead of getting into a heated argument and losing our patience, here are a few tips that can help you keep the disagreement respectful. • Do your best to respect the opinion of others • Let them share their point of view and try not to jump in with your opinion • Respect is a two way street and must be implicated on both sides • Do your best to not attack the person personally and keep a level headed mindset • Discussing opinions and views shouldn’t turn into an argument that pinpoints the personal negatives of people’s lives • Always keep an open mind • Don’t be so stubborn that you aren’t willing to hear what others feel or think • How would you feel if no one listened to your opinions and views on life? • You don’t have to agree with the person to get along with them • Not everyone needs to feel the same way about things as you do • It is normal and expected to have different opinions • We are all unique and should respect each other’s differences Romans 14:1 - As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
My personal favorite idea is meeting up at a huge park with some friends or going on a bike ride with family.
The New Normal: How to Overcome Feelings of Sadness or Anxiety by Mirabelle Streger
In case you didn’t know, we’re in the middle of a pandemic. This can cause plans to change, which can sometimes affect our emotions. At least on one occasion this quarantine, we have gone through some mixed emotions. The Washington Post states, “Three months into the coronavirus pandemic, the country is on the verge of another health crisis, with daily doses of death, isolation and fear generating widespread psychological trauma.” This is sad news, considering how our world is struggling with mental health issues already. My hope is that this article gives you some ideas on how to deal with sadness during
this unprecedented time. Some reassuring things to do are: • Do something to give back to your loved ones • Write a list of things your grateful for and reflect on it when your feel down. • Talk to your family and friends
by Matthew Mejia
Myth: Wearing a cloth mask is ineffective.
(and read your
Williams, Alive by Hillsong, and Reckless Love by Cory Asbury.
Try not to compare yourself to others (YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL) Listen to music that makes you happy Surprisingly, quarantine actually helped me find out more about my true self and the person I want to be, as well as just giving me overall confidence and positivity. Here are a few quotes that I use to cheer me up:
43:2, Psalm 16:8, Romans 15:13. A few good Christian jams that make me happy are: Good Morning by Mandisa, Old Church Choir by Zach I hope these help and don’t forget if you are ever going through anything, talk to your parents or any of the teachers here. They are here to help you and they love you. Stay safe!!!
I also have a few Bible verses to share. 1 Peter 5:7, Isaiah
Coronavirus Myths Myth: If I am wearing a mask, I don’t need to practice physical distancing. False, face coverings or masks are only one step to limiting the spread of the novel coronavirus. Physical distancing creates a distance for droplets to fall instead of landing on another person’s mucous membranes.
• PRAY!! Bible!!)
False, on September 16, 2020, the director of the CDC, Dr. Redfield emphasized that, “Face masks are the most powerful public health tool we have.” Cloth masks have been proven to prevent the wearer from spreading their possibly infected droplets elsewhere. Myth: Young people don’t get sick from coronavirus. False, many children have fallen ill from the coronavirus
and they are able to spread the coronavirus to others. That is why it is important for everyone to wear masks and socially distance. Myth: If you don’t have symptoms, you don’t have coronavirus. False, there are many positive diagnoses of coronavirus that were otherwise undetected because of asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread. Myth: Wearing a mask will cause me to breathe in too
much carbon dioxide. False, carbon dioxide is not able to build up in a mask. Carbon dioxide will easily pass through the front of a mask due to its size of .33 nanometers. Myth: Wearing a mask will weaken a person’s immune system.
False, wearing a face mask does filter some infectious droplets from entering your system. However, it will not prevent microbes from entering your body. Remember that before you post or share anything, check whether the information you are sharing is credible and factual. If you are unsure whether something is true, it is better not to post it.
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LIFESTYLE Gluten: How to Eat it Right The Voice of Veritas
by James Finch
Grains, or gluten, have been part of the human diet for thousands of years. They have always been the same… until recently. With the use of pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), modern day flour is cheaply produced stripping it of vital nutrients. In fact, scientists recently found a connection between modern day wheat and chronic diseases. New ‘technology’ like synthetic soil and mutant seeds soaked with chemicals have made wheat less and less of a nutrious healthy option. After hearing things like this about wheat, many people do one of two things: completely cut gluten from their diet, or completely ignore the present problem and keep on eating. I want to tell you that there is a third and better option.
Most of us wouldn’t, or couldn’t, just stop eating gluten, but we still want to make healthier choices. This ‘better option’ is something many of us would be capable enough to do. Here it is: Avoiding side effects of gluten is not about not eating gluten, it is about not eating the bad parts of gluten. It’s about still eating the good, beneficial gluten without the cheap, unhealthy, and synthetic gluten. This is different from person to person. You may be able to tolerate eating gluten with every meal while others may only eat gluten once every day. We all have a different tolerance of gluten. You may have noticed that you feel bad after eating. You most likely dismissed it to things like not drinking enough water, over eating, or the common phrase, “It must have been something I ate.” The next day you go back to that same food again. Some of these side effects are: • bloating • abdominal pain • headaches • skin problems • feeling tired
Book Recommendations
by Eden Droog
5th: Out of my Mind (Sharon M. Draper) This book is about a girl named Melody, who has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy has caused her to be incapable of walking and talking. The book follows her at school where she is smarter than the adults who are trying to figure out what is wrong with her and also smarter than the kids in her class who think she is academically disabled. Book Level: 4.3 Points: 8.0 Genre: Fiction
Why I recommend this book: I personally like to read books that are about the character overcoming some type of
challenge in their lives, this is definitely one of those books. If you like a story where the main character defeats an internal and external struggle, this is the book for you.
If you have noticed this before, try doing this: Try to pinpoint which part of the meal may have made you feel weird. Over the next week, eat how you normally would except without the food that you decided on. If you feel better that week you may want to consider not going back to that food. If you don’t notice a difference, or you still feel bad during your test week, try doing the same test with a different food. Common foods people try to eliminate. Here is a tasty gluten free recipe (Mrs. Finch’s Recipe) for the fall season:
Coconut - Gingersnap Sweet Potato Pie Roasted sweet potatoes transform into a wonderfully sweet pie with subtle coconut flavor. The gingersnap crust is easy to make and adds an intense punch of flavor to each bite! Serves 12
For the Filling 2 pounds of sweet potatoes (about 2 large) ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Book Level: 5.8 Points: 9.0 Genre: Nonfiction Why I recommend this book: If you are interested in science and mechanical things, this is a great book that covers those topics. If you want to be an engineer, follow William as he studies and builds a windmill in his backyard.
¾ cup canned coconut milk ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¾ cup light brown sugar ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt 3 large eggs
For the Crust 1 ¼ cups ground gingersnap cookies (about 25 cookies) → Gluten free ⅓ cup shredded unsweetened coconut 4 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions: Preheat the oven to 400o F. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork and place on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1 hour or until very tender. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° F.
Add coconut milk, brown sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt and process until evenly combined. Pour sweet potato filling into the crust and bake for about 50 minutes or until just set in the center of the pie. Let cool to room temperature on a wire rack. Serve or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. References: Main - https://grainstorm.com/ pages/modern-wheat Other - https://www.healthline. com/nutrition/signs-you-aregluten-intolerant#TOC_TITLE_ HDR_2
faith during times when she is tested.
hoping to be accepted into battleschool but feels like he is not strong or large enough to. The mysterious Halt, a senior Ranger, decides to take Will under his wing and teach him the ways of a Ranger. Will is reluctant to become a Ranger’s apprentice but soon learns to love it and wants to learn more.
Book Level: 6.4 Points: 13.0 Genre: Nonfiction, WWII Why I recommend this book: I am really into reading nonfiction books, especially about World War II. Oftentimes we see a story through the eyes of a Jew, but in this particular one, we get to see it a little differently.
7th: The Hiding Place (Corrie Ten Boom) This is a story of two sisters whose father owns a watch shop during World War II. They are both sent to a concentration camp for hiding Jews in a secret room in the wall. The story is about her relationship with God and her
To finish making the filling, peel roasted potatoes and transfer flesh to the bowl of a food processor. Discard the skins. Process until potatoes are pureed.
Meanwhile to make the crust, stir together gingersnaps, coconut and butter in a medium bowl until moistened and well combined. Press mixture into and up the side of a 9-inch pie dish. Bake for
6th: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Kamkwamba, William) A teen from Malawi named William visits the library in his village every day. He learns about electricity and power from the books he reads. As he gains knowledge, he begins to collect scraps and says he will build a windmill that will generate electricity. His village thinks that he is crazy. We see the struggles he faces but also his constant persistence and faith throughout the whole process.
about 15 minutes or until golden. Let cool slightly.
8th: The Ruins of Gorlan (John Flanagan) Will has been an orphan since a baby, finally the day has arrived and he will be chosen by a mentor to become an apprentice. Will is really
Book Level: 7.0 Points: 12.0 Genre: Fiction/ Fantasy Why I recommend this book: This is a book my friend recommended to me and that I want to recommend to you. I love to read fantasy books, things that are not real are very fascinating. So if you like that too, this is a great book to read. Even though this is not in the real world, there are things that are similar like the countries each represent a different part of the real world and the characters can relate to real people. Happy reading!
ACTIVITIES The Voice of Veritas
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WRITING PROMPT
Attention Veritas Writers!
to be motivated to write a marvelous story!
There are many diverse pieces of literature out there with various characters, plots, and themes. I am sure that those authors were inspired by the world around them when they first got the ideas for their books. Now it’s time for you
There will be a prompt below for you guys to write off of, but let me establish the rules first. The story must not be longer than one page, and the font must be Times New Roman and size 12 point font
to be eligable for publication. The story must have a title and your name as the writer. Other than these few guidelines, you are free to take the prompt and just roll with it!
The prompt is this: You are
a mad scientist that has invented a new candy that will dramatically change the world. How did you invent the specific candy? What inspired you? What makes this candy so special that the whole world will change? Once you have completed the story and are interested in having it published in the next Veritas Newspaper Edition,
please email me a copy at 21villafuerte@gmail.com. Our editing team will choose the top two to be published in the next edition! I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with! Have fun writing, and remember, no ideas are bad ideas! Your fellow writer, Mikayla Villafuerte
3 Math Problems by Jonathan Jacoby If the cost of a bat and a baseball combined is $2.10 and the bat costs $2.00 more than the ball, how much is the ball? 3+2÷1/3 +(-7^0) = x find out x then use it to solve this problem x + 1 ÷ 2 (1000) 1+4=5 2 + 5 = 12 3 + 6 = 21 8 + 11 = ?
Sudoku
The rules of the game are simple: each of the blocked sections has to contain all the numbers 1-4, 1-6, or 1-9 within its squares. Each number can only appear once in a row, column, or box.
3 2 4
4 5
3 2
6
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6 1
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3 1
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5 6
2
1
7 6
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2 4
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7 8
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6 6
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WORD PUZZLE
Words That Are Now Part of Our Everyday Lives
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Complete the crossword puzzle
4 6
5
ACROSS: 3. You must be ___________ distanced!
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4. You must wear a _______ to school 7. What do you do when you want people to stay away? 8. Hears a cough, “you have ________!” 8
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DOWN: 1. What do you do when you’re next to someone? Put some ________ between you. 2. How many feet do you need to be distanced? 5. How many seconds long should you wash your hands? 6. One __________ at a time 8. Did you hear the news from the ______. 9. Get ______________!
The Voice of Veritas
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June Reid Roberson - 5 Cadence Leatherwood - 11 Joceli Olmos - 12 Sarah Delgado - 23 Chase Harris - 26 Henry Kearney - 26 Mirabelle Streger - 28 Tayla Gordon - 30 Evan Carvalho - 30
Happy Birthday to...
July Eden Droog - 6 Elizabeth Holloway - 12 Jeremy Thomas - 18 Gabrielle Collins - 23 Nathan DeVries - 23
August Payton Beers - 6 Daniel Breitenwischer - 6 Dane Breitenwischer - 6 Alexandra Lloyd - 8 Sofia Cardenas - 13 Maya Zakhem - 15 Morgan Lanier - 31
September Avery Ro - 2
October David Tsang - 6 Pierre Bekhit - 9 Zion Beason - 14 Kate Mejia - 21
Meet Your Newspaper Staff
Eden Droog
James Finch
Jonathan Jacoby
Matthew Mejia
Mirabelle Streger
Mikayla Villafuerte
Mrs. Erin Marshall
Mr. Zachary Villafuerte
Olivia Nicholas