2021 and how our lives have changed

We know how COVID -19 changed our lives entirely.  We all had high hopes for 2021 to be different, but it has not, and we are all feeling a little down about it.

Despite everything, we must feel grateful because we can spend more time with our family members than ever before. I know virtual school sometimes might make you feel desperate, and that you can't wait to go out of your house, but you have to be a little more patient. 

This last Christmas was celebration felt very different. The same happened with New Year and other celebrations, such as Thanksgiving. These festivities were a real challenge, mostly because we were unable to gather with most friends and family. We all need to be patient, and we have to follow the safety measures proposed by the Health Department because if people start being careless, we will stay locked down forever!

2021 will be similar to last year, but if you only focus on the negative side, you will be desperate and start acting recklessly. COVID patient numbers have risen because of these people who are breaking the security rules. Remember to always choose what is right for you and those around you. Actions have consequences. Whether you do what is right or you act incorrectly, it is always YOUR CHOICE.

Written by Carlos Graveley Carlo

5th Grader

How to Manage Stress in Virtual School

What is stress?

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. But don't be scared! Stress is there to warn us and help us respond quickly to dangerous situations, but it's also what helps us face our daily challenges.

Everybody goes through it, your teachers, your parents, even you go through stress, and most times, you don’t even notice it. For example, stress urges us to study for a test, the energy to run through a whole marathon, or the courage to give a speech in front of a crowd. Well managed, stress can be a great ally.

However, there can be times when stress becomes excessive and uncontrollable or does not let you function properly in front of situations. Stress can be a problem if not managed correctly. It can make you feel too scared, or block you from doing things you actually want to do. If you feel that you have excessive levels of stress, it is maybe time to speak to your parents about visiting a specialist.

Virtual stress 

These days we are all going through a lot of stress. For example, you might feel overwhelmed since you have many things to do, like completing long assignments that you have until Friday to finish. This virtual reality doesn't help at all with stress. Sometimes, we don't want to show it, but we all feel like this once in a while.

It's okay to be stressed and feel overwhelmed. We just need to know how to manage and cope with it. You should always remember to calm down, take a moment and monitor your thoughts by asking yourself questions like "How am I feeling today?" "Am I happy?" and keep yourself motivated by using positive self-talk, for example, tell yourself "If I do everything I need to do today, will I'll be satisfied and happy."

If virtual classes are causing you a headache, make sure you always check your schedule, make a list of to-do's or whatever helps you revise your assignments, and make any change you believe will make you happy and successful. 

Tips to help you cope with stress

Some tips to help you release daily stress are:

1. Find something that makes you happy (for example play soccer, read, write, or paint)

2. Play with your pets, since it’s scientifically proven that pets relieve stress and anxiety.

3. Meditate; I know it might sound boring or obvious, but mediating does help you a lot. it makes you forget about everything wrong and makes you feel zen.

4. Organize your routines and schedules, your spaces, and your work. Like my favorite influencer says “Clean space, clean mind."

5. Exercise; it takes your mind off what you're stressing about. 

Written by Maria Alejandra Ramírez

6th Grader

"How to keep a happy diet" - Interview to Dr. Dennys Ramirez Galán

Dr. Dennys Ramirez Galán

Nutritionist

We know many of you want to start dieting after indulging during the Christmas Break. (If you read my last article, you know what I mean). Today we will interview Dr. Dennys Ramirez Galán, and she will talk about how to enjoy a diet. So, let's start this interesting interview.

What is the first thing you need to do to start a successful and enjoyable diet?

"I think the first step to having a successful diet is to make the decision in a conscious way and be aware of the reasons why you are doing it. What I mean is that before starting a diet, you need to be sure you are doing this for yourself, not because someone told you to do it. You also need to have all the food and tools to start this new way of feeding. Go to the supermarket, prepare all the meals ahead of time, and if you need to eat out of your house, keep the food you need to eat nearby."

What amount of each type of food should be on a healthy plate?

"50% of the food on the ideal plate should be vegetables because they are carbohydrates, but with a low sugar index and a low-calorie count and have fibers. 25% of the food should be proteins like meat, fish, or eggs. The last 25% should be carbohydrates like rice, beans, or pasta."

What do you think of the stereotype  "A Diet is eating food that is vegetable base"?

“I think people are wrong. A diet is not eating food with just a vegetable base. Like I said before, you can make a diet by eating the right amount of each food type, that is why we include proteins and carbohydrates. In my opinion, a diet is a process in which the person reduces the number of calories that consumes each day to lose weight.”

What is the most important thing you need to consider before starting a diet?

“Before starting a diet, you need to set a goal and know what you want to do with this diet.  If you want to get fit or just lose a little weight, take into account what is your ideal weight according to your height."
 

How do you take the pressure and anxiety off when saying “I'm starting on a diet”?

“It’s a very interesting question, and I think there are many tips that can help you to not feel that pressure. First, do not stop eating your 5 meals of the day. That way you will not feel hungry. Second, hydrate yourself. Third, make your dishes appetizing. Pick a variety of vegetables and make creative dishes, like zucchini turned into noodles (that looks like spaghetti) with feta cheese! That is a low carb cheese. Last, a very important thing to know is that you are not obligated to eat things you don't like or don't feel good about. To manage moments of anxiety, eating gum is a very good option.”

Do you think this interview will be useful to many people? 

“As a nutritionist, I think this interview will be useful to many people because the most important thing about starting a diet is to talk to a nutrition specialist that knows the characteristics of that person: if it's a woman or men, height and body mass.”
 
Do you want to say some words to motivate people who are starting on a diet?
 
“Like Hippocrates, the father of medicine said, 'Let food be your medicine, and let medicine be your food.' Just do it!"

Written by Paula Garcia

6th Grader

 

Hopes And Goals For The New Year

When the new year comes, we all set some goals but we know it’s hard to keep up with them and we don’t always complete them. Today I am going to give you tips to follow up on your dreams and goals for the new year.

There are four steps to follow our goals which are the TSLA; Think, Set, Learn, Accomplish.

1- T (Think)

When we want to achieve a goal, the first thing we need to do is to think. What old habits do I need to stop? What do I need to do? These are questions you should ask yourself. They will help you focus on what you REALLY want to change so you don’t make changes you don't really need. For example, think of the goal "I need to lose 7 pounds". Instead of going ahead and writing down "My goal is to lose seven pounds", you need to think, "Do I really need to lose weight, or am I just pressuring myself to look perfect when I already am?" See? it’s easier to accomplish goals when you know they are necessary and you can do them without struggling. 

2- S (Set)

Step number two is to set your goals, something we are all familiar with. To set your goals you need to write them down and plan ways to work them well. When someone talks about setting goals you probably think about the basic chart we all did in school as kids, but it's not always like that. You can simply write your goals on a tiny piece of paper. See? Not that big of a deal at all.

Goals should be exciting, but difficult because they help you grow as a person. The most common goals are academic and personal goals. Academic goals are goals that have to do with learning, not necessarily school-related, but they can affect your performance in school. You can set goals for being a better listener, or chatting less in class. The only thing that is important is that it benefits you.

Personal goals are more important and help you grow internally like doing more activities you love or having a better appearance (for girls with a poor self-esteem).

In the end, you just have to plan your goals and write them all down. Writing them really starts motivating you to get them.

3- L (Learn)

Then you need to learn how to keep up with your goal all year. We are all different so, there are lots of ways to do it. I’m going to tell you three of the most effective ones:

1- Scheduling: some people like to organize and schedule everything so if you are that type of person, it will be easy for you to organize the habit you are changing as your goal. Do you want to exercise? Set your alarm at the same time every day... And stick to it!

2- Restricting yourself: it is not the most positive strategy, but you can stop yourself from doing stuff by stopping behaviors and habits that are not good for you. For example, if you want to be nicer, you can stop buying toys and saying things that bother other people.

3- Go with the flow: when you go with the flow, you don’t pressure yourself to complete your goals. Think that you don’t have to pressure yourself to make your goal perfect right away, you have 364 more chances to get it just right. Be kind to yourself, and allow yourself to fail from time to time. Perfection is not the goal.

4- A (Accomplish)

I think it’s pretty clear that the last step is to go and accomplish your goals. Be persistent and never ever stop, no matter if a thousand things get in your way. Have faith in yourself and push them as far as you can. You will reach them.

“Winners are not people who never fail but people who never quit.”

Edwin Louis Cole

                                    

Written by Maria Alejandra Vásquez Ventura

5th A

How will Christmas change in 2020

We all know Christmas will be different in 2020 because of the difficult situation we are facing with COVID-19. Some of the things we usually did on this holiday will not be possible due to social distancing. It is essential that we follow safety protocols, but there are still ways we can enjoy some of the Holiday cheer.

One of these things many of us usually do is have a delicious dinner with our family. However, this year it will be more like a "Christmas lunch". Since curfew will make us be locked down before 9:00 PM, make plans for a Christmas brunch,  or a lunch along with family.  Dinner, in my opinion, is what we will miss the most because family and the time we share is important, but we can find ways to share with family regardless. 

The second thing we will miss this Christmas is traveling. Maybe some people don't have the economic possibility to do it, or they planned a trip and but can't go because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Although some of us may dream to go to the Eiffel Tower or Champs Elysées, it will be difficult for that dream to come true, at least this year. Try planning activities with family and close friends that can happen outdoors. Camping and the beach are great options.

The third thing some people will miss is that they would not be with their families because of the lockdown. This will especially affect kids. Children may feel different because of this new way to celebrate Christmas. This is the part where psychologists and parents can help. If your kids feel a little bit confused about changes, what you should probably explain to them is that there is a virus and that we all need to take care of each other. A great activity to do is stay home watching Christmas movies and cuddle up!

Be realistic. these are times to appreciate health, family, and all the small things that make up our great life. Everyone has bad days and if today is one of those days for you, I wish you enjoyed this article. Have a good holiday vacation! Hopefully, 2021 will be a better year. Have a Merry Christmas!

Written by Paula García

6th Grader

How to be empathetic to others

Today I’d like to share with you different ways in which you can be empathetic to others, but first I’d like to tell you what empathy is. Empathy is putting yourself in the others’ shoes, trying to understand how they feel. For example, if a friend feels sad, or anxious, you try to calm him down. Try to feel how he’s feeling, try to… understand him. 

Okay! Now that you know what empathy is, I'm going to show you simple ways in which you can be empathetic to others. So, the first thing you need to know is to NEVER laugh or ignore someone when they're crying or you see them down, because then you are definitely NOT being empathetic, and... that’s not nice.

To make it simple, I’ll make a list of other things you could do to be empathetic in this situation:

• Ask someone how they are feeling if you think there is something wrong

• Pay attention and listen to them.

• Try to do something to make them forget what they’re sad about.

• Think before you speak about what you will say to them. Your friends need your support, and words are very powerful.

I hope you liked these tips on how to be empathetic to others. I hope you also apply them in the future!

 

“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another.” 

– Alfred Adler

Written by Avril Vélez

6th Grader

Things to be thankful for during COVID-19

Gratitude is a way of thinking in life. Many people are going through difficult situations in these moments, such as losing parents, dying of cancer or getting sick from COVID-19. It is essential that we are always thankful for all the things we have, and are able to share with others. 

Today I want to be thankful for all these things and I want to share a lesson of gratitude with the school. These are 7 things that I am thankful for:

• The internet, because there are people who don’t have internet in their houses, and take class through their radios and TV. It is very difficult to understand that way. I am lucky I get to see my teachers live.

• My family, because they ARE crazy! I really like them because they are funny. I love them, they are nice too and play jokes on each other. When I am with the family, I want to stay with them. I cannot see them that much because of COVID, but I get to talk to them often. 

• My friends, because they are like my family. They support me when I need it, they are nice to me and help me get through things I never imagined I would go through.

• My school, because there are many people working together, like a machine. The whole school works as a team to face this difficult situation. 

• My teachers, because they try for students to understand lessons and that is very nice, but a difficult thing. They put the effort to teach us virtually, and they do hard work and try really, really, hard to help us understand and be better people in the future. 

• My pet, Canela, because when I feel down or sad, she tries to play with me and makes me happy.  

• My life, because I have awesome people involved in it, and they make me happy. 

Everybody needs to be thankful for something every day. You are not alone in these moments. Maybe you might be feeling sad, but you don’t need to keep it all in your heart, because then you will always be sad. You need to be positive, talk to your parents or someone who understands you. Always remember you're not alone. Nobody is alone.

Written by Samantha Aquino

4th Grader