Gift Ideas for significant others

It is that time of the year when pure joy can be felt through the air. Christmas trees are decorated and you finally have an excuse to watch that Christmas movie or listen to your favorite Christmas songs.

This time of year is also well known as the excuse to be spoiled rotten by your family members with love and gifts. I know that not all families celebrate this time of the year the same way, but almost everyone enjoys it with the same joy almost all families do. If you're like me, you’ve finally gotten to the age where you earn money and know the secrets behind this memorable holiday. 

And knowing these secrets includes a terrible fate. Gift giving. Most of us are used to receiving gifts for Christmas. That new Xbox, those new sneakers, etc. But now we don’t receive those splendid gifts. We get simple things like socks or books which I’m happy with on my part. But aside from that, we have to give gifts to our parents, siblings and any other family member or friend. You would think this is not such a horrible thing, and truly it’s not because you get to see the beautiful smile of those people when they get their gifts. The only issue is how we get that smile.

It sounds simple on paper. Get them this big extraordinary gift and you are off on the joy and smiles road. But there is only one problem with that. We are kids. How do we even get that money to buy these fabulous gifts? Because frankly on my part I’m pretty much broke. But over the years I’ve managed to get my loved ones the gifts they deserve even with my little amount of money. And I’m here to show you how to find that perfect gift.

To find this perfect gift you have to follow these steps to the letter:

1. What is that person like: In my judgment, you must really care about this person if you are willing to read this article and take your time on getting them a nice present for Christmas. So what are they like? When you answer this question think of the following things:

1. Do they like big or small things?

2. Are they more of a materialistic person?

3. Do they enjoy quality time?

4. What are their hobbies?

5. Do they like minimalism?

6. Is there something they’ve talked about wanting for a long time?

2. What is your budget?: You are probably not going to only give one person a gift this year, so you will have to distribute the money among all your significant others.

1. Example:

1. Mom = 500 pesos

2. Boyfriend = 350 pesos

3. Dad = 500

4. Brother = 400

3. How are you going to proceed?: What is your plan of action? You know all about that person and you know how much money you have to spare. The next step is to use this information. People tend to love to get handmade gifts. They love the idea that you loved them enough to put work into a gift for them. So you could make the box you are going to wrap their present in or a little message for them to read before getting their gift. Here are some ideas I found off TikTok and Pinterest for these gifts.

1. Strawberry wrapper for jewelry

2. Paper  Flower bouquet

3. A candy sleigh

4. Heart Puzzle

5. Cute Origami Gift Bag

4. Their gift: By this point, you should have surely gotten your significant other their Christmas gift and if you haven’t there is a bonus list of material basic gift ideas for them. But if you are like me this year you would have gone for a more sentimental gift. These are some ideas of how to tell them how much you care for your loved ones (And yes these are all handmade):

1. Cards for the year

2. Cute note jar. Things you can add:

1. Reasons why I love you

2. Moments to remind them of you

3. Pictures

4. Their favorite song lyrics

3. Reasons why I love you flipbook

4. A meaningful picture together framed

5. Spongebob secret box gift

6. A quality time coupon book (Just write different activities you should do together and make them coupons)

BONUS GIFT IDEAS:

• Jewelry (Necklace, rings, bracelets, etc.)

• Candies (Just get them all their favorite candies)

• A lego of their favorite tv show

• Stuffed animals

• A portable charger

• A tote bag 

• A moon lamp

• Hair accessories

• A pillow blanket, socks convo

• A book they have been looking forward to

• An Amazon gift card

• A scratch poster

• A fill-in journal

• Fidget toys and a cool board game

What would you get for your significant other? Share it in the comments below! We read you!

Maria Alejandra Ramirez

8th Grade

Ten Facts About Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a celebration to thank and honor all who died and who have fought for America. A Veteran by definition is an ex-member of the armed forces. This year, Veterans Day was celebrated on November 11, but have you ever thought about why is it celebrated? 

Veterans Day is celebrated to honor American veterans for their patriotism, love of their country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice themselves for America.

10 facts about Veterans Day

1. Veterans Day did not always have that name. Before it was called Armistice Day.

2. Americans were not the only people to celebrate on November 11. Other Countries like the U.K., Canada, Australia, and France celebrated it as 'Remembrance Day'  or 'Armistice Day.'

3. Germany also celebrates Veterans day two Sundays before the Sunday of Advent.

4. The red poppy is a symbol, serves a purpose, and inspired many poems.  Poppys are a symbol of sacrifice worn by Americans since World War I to honor those who served and died for our country in all wars. It reminds Americans of the sacrifices made by our veterans while protecting our freedoms.

5. There is a reason the holiday 'Veterans Day' doesn’t have an Apostrophe. It is to dismiss the idea of possession and to show Veterans Day isn’t owned.

6. In the world there are more veteran women than you may think. Veteran women make up 10% of the veteran population and are celebrated on June 12 in the United States.

7. The holiday commemoration has changed to an observed date. It had been changed from November 11 to the first Monday of October.

8. To commemorate Veterans Day, there is a monument of silence during the act at 3:11 pm officially presided over by the  President of USA states.

9. The last living veteran of WWI died in 2012. She was a British woman that had served on the WRAF called Florence Green,

10. WW1 didn’t finish on 11/11/18. it ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on France on June 28,1919. However, Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 as a commemoration of the beginning of the end of WW1.

Now you know some facts about Veterans Day. I think that besides celebrating and building monuments to honor those who fought in wars, people should study more history. Learning about the lives of all those veterans and what they did years ago will keep their memory alive. The memory of all those heroes whose bravery should be remembered.

Carlos Graveley Carlo

7th Grader

Why should Afghan girls receive formal education?

According to NBC News, “nearly 3.7 million children don’t have access to formal education, and of that measure, 60 percent are girls denied access to education”. Most of those girls are banned from conventional education and find themselves restrained to house chores, surrounded by discrimination and forced to comply with child marriage.

For girls, and women in particular, education can be a source of empowerment. Traditional education for women in a region of the world that has oppressed females for decades serves as a voice and a platform to advocate their rights. It is critical to a developing country; it improves health, produces higher wages and economic growth, but more importantly it provides a space where girls get to experience their freedom.   

Social isolation is not necessarily bad; in fact, most people look for solitude at least occasionally. Being alone can be relaxing and calming. However, when we refer to young women and teenagers who, psychologically, require interaction, that mentality changes. Living an isolated lifestyle for a prolonged period of time can have a severe impact on both physical and mental health. Lonely people have higher blood pressure, are more vulnerable to infection, and are also more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, high levels of anxiety, and even hallucinations. Most families worry about sending their daughters to school in the midst of shootouts on the streets, bombings, and kidnappings — not to mention targeted attacks against girls’ education. On top of that, they have to endure constant discrimination rooted in the complex perception of gender roles in their community. There have been many cases in Afghanistan wherein the females have been physically tortured. Beating them severely, cutting them brutally, burning them alive or throwing acid on them have been witnessed by many throughout the country apart from forcing them to marry at a very early age, selling and buying them for the purpose of prostitution or forced marriages. As a young woman, I could not imagine being banned from performing an effortless action, such as walking down the streets or going to school. Something that you don’t think about, but is a life or death situation for them. 

On the other hand, girls who study at home do receive education on chores like cooking, cleaning and taking care of their children. Also, girls who are educated at home don’t have to stand the tormentous discrimination from the Taliban or the segregation they may encounter if they do go to school. Nevertheless, society expects you to go to school followed by college, get a job and settle down. Formal education helps you become a useful member of society and gives you a greater chance to contribute to your community. It opens a whole world of opportunities for the students so that they may have an equal shot at well-paying jobs. 

It is necessary that the Afghan government and law enforcement agencies take serious notice of the discrimination and violence against women. However, at the same time, it is necessary to address the root causes of the problem. It is essential to bring about changes in the way women are perceived within our society. The government is responsible for providing its citizens with access to all of their human rights. Instead of teaching girls how to be a wife, a mom, or how to clean they should be teaching them how to survive. How to survive the reality they are being faced with. How to paint an environment where they no longer are victims, but heroes of their everlasting battle for equality. We as a community should take action to the awareness of accessible institutional education for anyone who desires equity. Social norms, poverty, persistent violence, and conflict are all factors that continue to keep Afghan girls out of school. It is our job as a society to set an example for Afghan girls in the elaboration of a system that is inclusive. A system that can contribute to all girls who will become leaders in the future, one that helps rebuild communities and contributes positively to society.

Yoira Gonzalez

12th Grade

Guest Blogger

 

¨Getting to know me"

I’ve been to Puerto Plata

Also to San Juan

I got lost with my brother

Then went back to our home

I have read a lot of books

One, The Love Hypothesis

Two and three

Damian and Night 

One cat and a dog

Wait for me

At my front door

I fell in love with the wrong person

But in the right time

I couldn’t handle the pressure 

Well, just wanted it to rhyme

Once I got badly sick 

But CoronaVirus I did trick

Even Though I liked my mom threatening  me

Like a kid  with a skinned knee

The green sight from my bedroom

Wakes me up

With the fine smell of a cold brew

The great sight of the sea

Blue, black, and sometimes gray

Just to calm down and think

I appreciate it every day 

I love the sun 

Mixed with the flowers

Dark red painting the sky 

I like the view

Would like to be up and high.

By Emely Shanthal Bonilla

Guest Blogger

Thank You Elementary

Dear Elementary,

After all of these years of hanging around your halls and playing in your patio, it is finally time for us to leave you and move on to a new chapter in our lives. The 5th graders will now be taking our throne and become the new rulers of our kingdom,  as we enter a new one, one in which we’ll stop ruling and become commoners until we earn our place in the new building. 

The only thing to say right now is how grateful we are for all the love and support you’ve given us throughout the years.  You have given us so much, you’ve cared, shaped us and prepared us for what is coming in this new adventure.  Today we want to let you know we do understand how important you have been in our journey, you’ve taught us many crucial lessons about life that we’ll surely use in the future.

Everything and everyone we’ve encountered in this amazing place has made a significant mark in our lives… Teachers:  We may not say it often but thank you for all the extra efforts you made to help us grow,  and the challenges you encouraged us to face through all these years to help us become who we are today. Thank you for being our friends, authority figures and guides. We will always be grateful for your knowledge, support, and kindness. 

We want to especially thank Mrs. Rocio Rojas, and Mrs. Yahaira Sanchez not only for all of the special attention, and love and for all of the amazing things they have shown us but also because over the years they’ve gained our trust. We are confident that even if we are in a different building,  we can still come to them if we ever need something or need to speak to someone about personal issues.

Graduation is not necessary for us to look back on everything we’ve achieved, and all we’ve been through in elementary school. We’ve learned, enjoyed ourselves, shared with each other, and have experienced wonderful things in this building, and none of us is ready to leave. We want to stay and relive all of these memories we’ve had,  but even if we’re not ready, it is our time to move on. Adapting will be a bit hard, but with all you’ve taught us, we’ll be able to accomplish it as the big family we are.

Finally, the only thing to say is;

Thank You Elementary!

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.

-Dr.Seuss

Maria Alejandra Vasquez

6th Grader

Welcome to Middle School!

 Dear 6th Graders:

Congratulations! You’ve finally passed through Elementary and you're now beginning a new journey. You’ve gone from being the seniors of your building to the babies of the other. Don’t be scared. As intimidating as it sounds being a 7th grader, is incredibly fun. But let me give you some ground rules for this new school year coming ahead of you.

First of all, remember how I said you are going to be the babies of this building. Well,  get ready to be treated like them. For almost everyone in this building, you are just harmless little kids. Don’t worry is not like there are gonna be high schoolers in every corner, ready to beat you up. I just mean that you’re not going to be treated seriously. So a piece of advice would be to build some confidence. With confidence comes respect from your peers. 

The second, thing you should know is, that you need to loosen up. Yeah, there is a lot of school stress in this building, but there is also a lot of fun. But, don’t get confused, it’s not like you going to be living in a typical high school film, like straight out of a high school musical film. God, I wish that was true. But there are a whole lot of other things that are gonna be out of a dream. You get to participate in the high school Pep Rally, which is an event that happens every year at the end of the spirit week in which. You can join different clubs and school activities like, Model of United Nations, National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, etc. And let's not forget to participate in the school’s intramurals which are soccer and volleyball competitions between grades 7th - 12th.  

And my last and third advice would be for you to start worrying more about school. I’m not trying to pressure you or anything but just remember that mainly everything you do from now on, would be taken into consideration for you to go to a good college. The programs you join. The things you do at school would be necessary for deciding what you want to do with your life. 

So get ready for a year of pressure in which you are going to be expected to act like an adult and then be treated like a kid.  Oh and get ready to run from Brenda, when she caught you trying to watch the soccer matches through the window. Good luck!  And if you have any questions or just need an older friend to make you look cool among your peers, I am more than available. Just go to the 7th grade and next year's 8th-grade classroom, I’ll be more than happy to help. Well, welcome to Middle School!

Love,

        

Maria Alejandra Ramirez

7th Grader

Sleep problems in Teenagers

 I know that you might be suffering from sleeping problems. Some teens suffered from sleeping problems around 10 to 12 years old, before turning 13. Sleeping problems in teens are very common. Many of those teens suffer from insomnia, and having difficulty sleeping. Around the hour of sleeping avoid caffeine like coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and chocolate. The estimation of insomnia in teenagers is as high as 23.8%. 

Some reasons for suffering insomnia are: 

• Schedule, school, stress, university, work. Schoolwork might be stressful for those people because too much work accumulates. 

• Caffeine, teens who drink beverages with caffeine or energetic drinks to stay energetic during the whole day, but that is why they have a hard time falling asleep. 

• Medications. 

• Devices, staying with the device or falling asleep with the device in your hand including phones, iPads, tablets or computers. 

• Spending too much time texting or chatting with friends until late night hours. 

Tips for avoiding sleep problems: 

• Most teens should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night. 

• Try a relaxing bedtime routine. 

• Take a warm bath or shower. 

• Reading. 

• Listening to music. 

• Get regular exercises, at least one hour or one hour and a half (90 minutes) before bedtime. 

• Keep the bedroom dark, cool and quiet.

In conclusion, remember to have a balanced life. But also remember to have a good sleep quality and for that sleep for 8 to 10 hours a day. Avoiding sleep problems is very important. If your sleeping issues get deeper, visit your doctor. Finally, have a quiet and relaxing environment for a good sleep. 

By: Alana Garcia 

7th Grader 

Is the Educational System focused on learning or in grades?

NotionPic/Shutterstock. Design: Ashley Britton/SheKnows.

Are we really learning or are we just trying to get good grades? When we come to school we feel pressured to get good grades, because of the impact they will have on our future, but are we learning anything in the process or are we just studying for the tests and right after forgetting?

I personally think we don’t really learn that much when we focus on just grades because grades remove the focus on learning. We are worried about succeeding, but we are not allowing ourselves the chance of failing, and therefore, we're missing out on the opportunity to create significant learning experiences that create real knowledge. To check this theory out, I created a google form asking some students their opinion on the matter and these are some of their answers:

• “I believe that everything revolves around the grades we get, and we got to the point that students don't care about learning they just want to get that A to satisfy them and their parents.”

• “I feel like I learn only to be prepared for future exams just to get good grades, but after the test is over, I forget everything. When I was online, since there weren't many exams, I only did the work to get the grade and didn't learn anything.”

• “To be honest, obviously one learns, but I only do it to pass the grade and be able to graduate, but I especially don't learn much.”

• ‘I think we just come to school for a grade. Even though we learn things,  we judge ourselves by our grades. People think that if u get an F ur a failure and dumb, but if you get an A ur intelligent and a hard worker.’

• “When I was little, I did have the curiosity of learning. As you grow up and have more responsibilities, which gives you less time to care about learning. This forces you to choose priorities, this case being, "surviving the year".”

• “Although our primary attention is getting good grades, I believe that for the most part, in the process of getting a good grade we do learn the subjects we're required to learn. It's more of a subject of what is more efficient, keeping the grading system or eliminating it more together, making the sole focus of students learning.”

• “I feel that teachers don’t encourage our learning but they only help us get a good grade and expect us to get good grades not to really learn. I feel like not only teachers but the whole school should create activities that help us learn and understand topics instead of just putting assignments and expecting us to get an A on them.”

• “I believe that we are really learning most of the time, however, instead of having the motivation of learning something new, the motivation is to get a good grade.”

79% of the students that responded to the form believed that we don't learn much. And if we are being honest at the end of the year everything is just brainwashed. Just a glimpse of what we learned and remember. This is not right. We really are supposed to learn. So I decided to survey the students to see what they think teachers should do:

• “Teachers can make sure that your learning by doing different kinds of work not only worksheets, and summaries to check comprehension, or asking questions. Hands-on projects, trivia games and real-life experiences work better for me."

• “In order to assure that we learn, teachers could use games and activities like hangman and jeopardy. We learn better when we have fun!”

• “Teachers can do games, projects and competitions in the class. When you are having fun and competing, you enjoy learning more. Which makes you much more likely to learn more.” 

In my personal opinion, I believe teachers should do some kind of practice. For example a surprise learning game. Something that doesn't give students a lot of time to practice and see what they remember and based on that, teachers could know what to teach them.

I hope that you understand the situation and try and make this school environment more about learning than getting good grades because in the end what makes a good school is how well the students learn. Not a number.

Maria Alejandra Ramirez

7th Grade