Make America Magical Again by Juleanna Green

About a month ago, I witnessed a truly magical event- the Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Festival. his is an annual festival held by the Chestnut Hill College on a street in Philadelphia. It has been going on for a few years, but this was the first year they shut down the whole street, and, coincidentally, the first year I attended.

The first thing I noticed when it began- the people. Everyone had some sort of Harry Potter paraphernalia. This included me and my possy; me, in Ravenclaw robes, wand in hand, Ravenclaw sweat pants, and a Harry Potter t-shirt on; my best friend, Samantha, in a Hogwarts varsity jacket (which is mine); my two sisters (their names Catherine and Rebecca) in Gryffindor robes; Catherine’s friend, Alex, and Rebecca’s friend Lorayne, I don’t remember what they were wearing (I think it was some sort of robes as well); and my mom, I also don’t know what she was wearing. Everywhere I looked, there were young kids dressed as owls (that one was great!), golden snitches (also adorable!), and little Harry Potters (there were even a few Dobbys!); elaborate costumes were around every corner, and not all of them were workers (there were people there only to be dressed as characters, through the college).There was a fantastic Professor Sprout (she even had a little mandrake sitting in a flower pot!), Hagrid, a few Bellatrixes, and even a Newt Scamander (this was my personal favorite, even though I only saw him from a distance). Towards the very end, two attendees walking together were dressed as Rita Skeeter and Gilderoy Lockhart, arguably two of the best costumes from the whole day.

Among the various activities throughout the day, there was a bird show! They had a few different owls, which they showed around to the awe-filled crowd. My mom was especially happy, as she loves owls. Like a lot. And everywhere you looked, there was advertising for a certain campaign, the slogan "Make America Magical Again" plastered on every wall- Harry Potter for President. This was campaigned throughout the whole day, with pins and posters at different locations. And while Harry Potter may not be from America, and could therefore never be president, I do think sometimes Americans need just a little more magic to brighten up their lives.

“It’s always fun to go to something like this,” my mom began, “where everyone has the same interest and are passionate about it…. And you can kind of be like one with the crowd.” It reminded me of the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child; everyone was so excited, wanted to be there so badly, and was just as much as a Harry Potter fangirl as I was. My mom continued, saying, “Even though you don’t know everybody, you feel like you kind of have a little bond with them, because you’re all just a little crazy, over the same thing.” I have a very strong suspicion that “crazy” was directed at me.

“I liked that everyone there was, like, a nerd like me,” included my sister Catherine. “They were all dressed up and there were so many cool cosplayers.”

“My favorite part,” added Alex, “was watching the Quidditch games, because that was very intense. I don’t even know who won, but it was fun to watch.” And they’re right. A huge part of the day was Quidditch- a short bus ride (although the ride back was long because of traffic) away from the main street were three or four fields, each painted for Quidditch matches. Unfortunately, there were no flying brooms (that would have been great, though). Instead, each player had a pole-like stick that they had between their legs as they ran. From what I watched, I gathered these to be some of the rules:

1. The ball (called a Quaffle) can be used to score from either the front or the back of the goal posts (three tall rings the Quaffle was thrown through, like in real Quidditch).
2. If a player gets hit by a bludger (thrown by players on the opposite team), they must remove the stick from between their legs, run to their team’s end of the court, and tap one of their own goal posts before being allowed to re-enter the game.
3. Once the snitch was “released,” (it was actually just a guy dressed in all gold, running around with a “tail”), the first team to grab the tail “caught the snitch.” There was some other rule about this as well, because one team got the “tail” but it didn’t count- I don’t know why

There were a dozen teams or more (probably more), and oftentimes the team players had names from the books on their shirts, last-name style (names such as “Potter,” “Krum,” and things like that).

It truly was a magical day. And that’s what Harry Potter is to me- magic. I read the entire series between my third and fourth grade years, and instantly fell in love. I waited (and still am waiting) for my Hogwarts acceptance letter. I know what house I would be in (Ravenclaw, the best house), what my wand would be, my patronus (an eagle) and what house I would belong to in the North American wizarding school (it’s called Ilvermorny, and I am a proud Pukwudgie)- all this information courtesy of Pottermore, J.K. Rowling’s official site for all things Harry Potter. Butterbeer is a regularly-made drink in my house, and my brain is filled with (somewhat) useless knowledge and headcanons about the Harry Potter universe. Ultimately, Harry Potter has shaped my life- I grew up with these characters. They taught me to embrace who I am, and to stand up to those things I am afraid of. But, most importantly, they taught me about love, hope, and that the future can always be brighter, no matter what may be happening now.

Make Some Memories by Eve Curras

     This past Friday, my family and I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime.  It was on a warm and sunny morning that we entered that happiest place on Earth, residing in Orlando, Florida.  And no, it was not Disney World.  We entered a fantastic place of magic and discovery, home to nerds alike, Harry Potter World!

I first began reading the Harry Potter Series when I was seven years old.  I have no shame in saying that Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley were my first friends.  Even from a young age, I greatly admired Harry's bravery, Hermione's wit, and Ron's absurd humor.  For me, going to Harry Potter World was like visiting my long, lost home and friends.  

     We embarked on this wonderful journey just one day after the day of gratitude, Thanksgiving.  I thought I should share this story simply because spending the day with my family taught me to truly value that life is about experiences and making memories.  On Black Friday, while other households were in the malls, buying mere possessions that are only temporary, I was having one of the best day's of life, making memories I will surely never forget.  (Jeez... Harry Potter World should have me write their adverts or something...). 

     The most memorable experience I'll take from my trip to Harry Potter World would be my trip to Olivander's, the wand shop.  Everyone who's read Harry Potter knows that when Harry first goes to Olivander's, he tries 3 wands.  The first two wands he touches are reckless and destructive, but it is the final and third wand, made from that of a Pheonix's feather, that is ultimately chosen.  This wand is also connected to that of Lord Voldemort's, foreshadowing what is to come.  

     When I first entered Olivander's, I had no idea what to expect.  Only thirty people were allowed in the small, dark room, lined head to toe with hundreds of different wands.  There was only one source of light, a dull glow emitting from a small lantern on top of what could only be Mr. Olivander's desk.  Suddenly, Mr. Olivander appeared on the staircase.  His accent, although horribly fake, was remarkable.  He looked down at the people standing before him, welcoming us and telling that there were two in this very room who were to be chosen.  Suddenly, he points to my brother, Ben, standing behind me.  "You!"  He yells in a loud, bellowing voice.  "And you,"  he lowers his finger to me, narrowing his eyes.  "Come closer."  We walked to his desk, grins plastered on our faces.  He asked us our names and if we knew each other.  After stating we were related, he asked who was the youngest.  Unfortunately, that's me.  It is a cross I had to bare.  "Well, Eve, how about we let you go first for a change?"  I was completely fine with this idea.  After scouring the shelves, he finally selected a small, black box.  Gently taking the wand from the box, he handed it to me.  "Now, Eve.  I want you to point at that wall over there, and when you do so, give your wand a flick and say "wingardium leviosa."  I felt as though my entire life had been leading up to this moment.  I'd peaked.  As I said the words and flicked the wand, the contents of the shelf flew in every direction and landed in an ugly mess on the floor.

     "Perhaps not,"  muttered Mr. Olivander, taking the wand from me.    He then gave my brother a different wand, this one I noticed was much more to my liking, and told him to ring the bell on the opposite side of the room, using his wand, just once.  No spell was necessary.  As Ben did so, the bell rang an alarming amount of times.  "No!"  Olivander yelled, frustrated.  "This just isn't right."  Suddenly he stopped.  "Hm, I wonder."  He narrowed his eyes, looking between my brother and I.  He then took the wands and gave the one I had to Ben, and his to me.  Suddenly, triumphant music began to play and a blast of wind hit Ben and I.  I am not exaggerating when I say we looked just as Harry did when he first touched his true wand in the picture below.

     Ben and I were ecstatic, as were our parents.  Of course we bought the wands, after all, they were chosen for us.  Or as said in the books, "Harry, the wizard does not choose the wand.  It is the wand that chooses the wizard."  I urge all those reading this post to realize that possessions and "things" are only temporary.  There is so much in the world to explore and discover.  So, get off the computer, or whatever device you are reading this on, and go outside.  Who knows, maybe you'll discover something magical.

Thanksgiving thoughts by Mrs. Kopp

To my wonderful students and their families,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, 

The Kopp Family

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire, 

If you did, what would there be to look forward to? 

Be thankful when you don’t know something 

For it gives you the opportunity to learn. 

Be thankful for the difficult times. 

During those times you grow. 

Be thankful for your limitations 

Because they give you opportunities for improvement. 

Be thankful for each new challenge

 Because it will build your strength and character. 

Be thankful for your mistakes 

They will teach you valuable lessons. 

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary 

Because it means you’ve made a difference. 
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.

 A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

A Rainbow of Hope By Mrs. Kopp

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  This year has gone by so quickly that it's hard to believe that the holiday season is about to start again.  During this time of year we all should take a minute to consider all that we have to be thankful for.  I know that my own list is pretty long, but here are few items that make my heart swell:

- I have a loving husband and two amazing children

The Kopp Family
This is in Central Park, NYC

-I get to wake up each day and come to work at a place that makes me so happy.
-I have the most wonderful students this school year (yes, you guys)
-I'm thankful for my weekly kickboxing and spin classes that allow me to decompress
-I'm thankful for books (obviously)
and my list could go on and on and on - I feel very blessed in this life. 

However, this year my family has something very special to be thankful for.  Last week, on November 18th, my new nephew Zachary Joseph was born.  His birth is more than just another baby to love.  He is our rainbow of hope. 

In 2011, my brother, Joe, and his wife, Jill, had their second child, a beautiful baby boy named Joey.  When they were expecting him they found out that he had a very serious heart condition, but they wanted to give him the best chance at life that they could.  Joey was born and then four days later went on to have his first open heart surgery.  After that surgery the doctors were positive, they felt they had fixed his heart issue and that he would live a long and normal life.  We were all thrilled. 

 Unfortunately, as he grew other issues came up.  He went on to have two more open heart surgeries and many, many other procedures.  He spent months at a time in the hospital, but through it all he was a happy little guy.  He would try to keep up with his older sister and big cousins and it was easy for us to forget that he was sick.  Then, in April of 2013, our world fell apart when Joey suddenly passed away.  Our family was left carrying a grief that was and still is so heavy, we often wondered how we'd ever function again.  Joey was only 22 months old when he died and we will spend the rest of our lives wondering who he would have grown up to be.  The pain of losing a child is one that no person should ever have to suffer and I often wondered how my brother and sister-in-law could face each new day without their son.  

My nephew, Joseph Anthony - at about 1 year old 

Joey showing off his scars - happy as always!

So, our family had a decision to make. We could stay in bed and let grief consume us or we could celebrate the wonderful boy that we were given. We took the the more difficult path. We decided to choose joy.  We chose joy for Joey. We started Joey's Warriors, which is a non-profit organization and we work to help other families whose children have CHD (congenital heart defect). Over the last three and a half years we have raised thousands of dollars for CHD awareness, we put a memorial bench at a local playground in Joey's honor, we provide toys for kids in the PICU at the hospital, we donate holiday gifts for two families who have CHD children, and more!  We will always miss Joey and wish he was still with us, but we remember him and honor him through our charity work. 

The doctors determined that Joey's condition was genetic, so my brother and sister-in-law had resigned themselves to the fact that they would not have any more children.  My niece Kylie (Joey's older sister) was healthy and they took comfort in that.  

Then, this past June they told us they were unexpectedly expecting a child and they were very scared.  We were all nervous because we knew that it was possible that this child could also have a heart condition and that thought alone was a lot to bear.  

Babies that are born after a loss are referred to as Rainbow Babies; babies who bring hope after the storm.  Last week, my nephew, Zachary Joseph, came into this world with a full head of hair and a perfectly perfect heart!  We believe that Joey sent him down to all of us to bring us some joy.  He is a miracle baby and our whole family is extra thankful this year for this Rainbow of Hope.  

Zachary Joseph - Our Rainbow of Hope

This was his going home outfit! 

Me with Zachary on the day he was born!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Psychological Effects of Reading

-By Derek Campbell

Reading is a basic human activity taught to us at an extremely young age. It can teach us basic morales, lesser known historical facts, how to control the world, etc. It doesn't matter if thou wisheth to quoth a quote from the  tale of "The Raven", nor does it matter to perhaps embark on the perilous and dubious adventure of "Pat the Bunny", all literature has meaning. Most of us can see this point plain and simple. However, there lies a much larger effect on your cognitive ability than what meets the eye. Not only does all literature have meaning, but all types of literature have specific physiological and psychological effects as well. It's time someone ought to tell you what's going on up there when you read:

Positive Effects:
Reading for the most part is good for you (that's a no-brainer), but what you haven't realized is actually how good it is for you:

Well, for starters, it's an incredible stress reliever. A 2009 University of Sussex conducted an experiment and concluded that the reading for a half an hour was more effective than listening to music, drinking tea, or walking. The studied showed that a person's stress level reduced by 68% (compared to 61% for music, 54% for tea, and 42% from going on a walk, data collected from theargus.co.uk).

Also, there is a debated theory regarding reading's role in the evolutionary process. Dr. Maryanne Wolfe wrote a book Proust and the Squid, to which she explains her theory that the invention of reading prompted the human mind to think differently, taking in information in a way that increased the average human intelligence. Although the theory has been unconfirmed, the scientific community has taken it into thought. I find it pretty funny to think of this theory in these terms: "Pat the Bunny is a human invention to perfect the evolution of the human cerebrum".

What if I told you secretly and almost unconsciously made an involuntary movement and/or reaction just from something like a metaphor. This isn't The Number 23, and you are not Jim Carrey, this is real (and personally a little spooky too). A recent study has yielded these results:                                
              
                   "In an interesting recent study conducted by Simon Lacey of Emory University and his colleagues they chose sentences that contained tactile metaphors—such as “She had a rough day”—and paired them with sentences with the same meaning but without the metaphors, such as “She had a bad day.” Participants lay in an fMRI scanner and listened to the various sentences. The researchers found that the brain regions that were activated when the participants heard sentences with texture metaphors were the same brain regions that are activated when people sense texture through touch" (huffing post)

Although it isn't mind control (at least not yet), science has shown us that what we read triggers something internal, even if when we don't consciously feel the effects. Nevertheless, this sounds utterly amazing, as well as terrifying as this could be the secret to brain-washing or hypnosis (the power of words is a force to be reckoned with)


Negative Effects:
You may be wondering, "What's so bad about reading?", and to be perfectly honest, not much. However, I believe nothing is without a second face, and behind the printed pages, there is a darker agenda:

One word, propaganda. When authors and poets write, they usually do so to push a certain message, morale, or even specific agenda. An author can write nearly anything and hide it in a satirical or allegorical form, almost forcing a person to subconsciously agree with the author. Just look at pieces such as The Crucible (Red Scare), Animal Farm (Anti-Communist Ideas), and all political cartoons. Hell, look at all the Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton memes circling the internet, subconsciously creating bias opinions about of the two. Why is this a big deal? It's all about truly knowing what you're fighting for. The German citizens in the 1930's wanted a stronger Germany after WW1, do you really think all wanted to sign up for the mass genocide of jews as well, or do you think they were coerced by propaganda-like media (such as novels)?

Not to mention the fact that similarities can be drawn between intense fictitious reading and drug use. That may sound extreme, but if you examine both, they seem closer related than what you previously thought. Why some (if not most) alcoholics or hard-core drug users is to escape reality and escape the harsh and punishing world around them. People can also do this with works of fiction. Although one clearly has much more severe consequences, it is the urge to escape reality that relates the two. It's one thing to read and enjoy a story, its another to close off your own life for one of dead trees. We should not turn a blind-eye to what is important in life. We wouldn't want to turn into Annie Wilkes now would we (Misery, Stephen King)?

The Oedipus Complex by Chloe Caldi.

The Oedipus Complex

In class we are currently reading Oedipus the King, which is the story of a man who unknowingly kills his father, then marries and procreates with his mother. Oedipus himself is the namesake of the psychological complex that occurs in young boys, usually between the ages of 3-6. These children feel as though they are in competition with their fathers for their mother's attention. They have distaste, anger, or sometimes even aggressive feelings towards their same sex parent. This dislike for father figures is coupled with a sexual desire to be with their mothers. They may even wish for a future with their mothers, wanting to get rid of their fathers, and go on to marry their moms. The same can be said for young girls and their fathers, which is often referred to as the Electra Complex. This is a phase for most children; this taboo desire only lasts through early childhood in most cases. However, some children carry it throughout their lives. This may cause problems in adult relationships, which can be referred to as "mommy issues" or "daddy issues".

Sources:

"Oedipus Complex." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2016.

Carlie Wilson The Worst Trip Ever  

About three years ago I was sent on a camping trip my school liked to call “classroom without walls” or, CWW. I was super excited because not only did we get to miss a week of school, we got to go to Camp Chameleon, the most awesome, exciting, unbelievable, fascinating trip ever...or so I thought.

We packed up our heavy and overly-packed luggage into the back of our hot and muggy bus. We were all set. The bus ride consisted of loud games of truth or dare, obnoxious seat kickers, and one poor chaperone trying to get control of the bus. After about four dreadful hours we finally reached the campsite. Camp counselors greeted us with a long winded camp song as we awkwardly stared at each other and scratched our sweaty heads. I looked around the premises of the campsite in disappointment. It was then that I realized that it was going to be a long four days at camp.

“All right, get in your groups of three, we are going to start setting up our tents,” said Adiela our counselor.

It was the first time since we left our school that I actually felt a feeling of enjoyment because I guess our camp counselors didn't know that we had assigned tent buddies. This meant I could be buddies with my best friend Isabella. Just as Isabella and I hugged in excitement and headed for the tents one of my classmates yelled out,

“Hey, Ms. Adiela, our teachers gave us assigned tent buddies. They said we aren’t allowed to pick.”

Oh no. Did she really just say that? What was she thinking? After annoyed glances were shared, we all decided to pretend like we had no idea what she was talking about.

“I don’t remember the teachers saying that,” said one student.

“Even if they did assign us buddies, I can’t remember who my partner is anyways,” said another.

“Well i’m sure Neha isn’t lying,” said Ms. Adiela. “Everyone get into your assigned groups of three”.

Noooooooo, I thought to myself, it’s too late...the damage has been done. Our dreams of staying up late chatting and eating snacks that my mom secretly packed me were over. After our displeasing start, we finally began setting up. Neha, Martina and I were partnered up. When we were finished the tent, I stood back and looked in disbelief. Are three people seriously supposed to fit in there? The hot and dusty tent was so small that it looked as if a family of mice lived inside.

Dinner that night left us scarred and hungry. The counselors insisted that we make our own dinner. What they didn’t know was that the thought of remotely making food on our own had never crossed any of our minds. Not to mention, giving 100 6th graders a tiny burnt out fire pit and raw potatoes was not a good idea. We put the potatoes in a pot of water and waited impatiently for a an hour as the water barley boiled. After much deliberation we decided our hunger was enough to eat the uncooked potatoes. I gagged at my first bite and politely set it down in the corner. I was not about to finish that potato even though I was famished.

When dinner was over we filed back to our tents tired, hungry, and gloomy eyed. Neha had food in her bag, only it was hazelnut wafers. Aww man! I'm allergic to nuts, I thought. I looked at the wafers then I looked at Neha. Martina peacefully munched in the corner of the tent. I was so desperate for food so I reached my hand out.

“Yes please,” I said timidly.

I prayed over it twice. The first one was thanking God for a piece of food. The second one was asking God not to give me an allergic reaction. I took a bite and two minutes later I could feel my stomach clench and my skin itched like crazy.

“Are you okay Carlie?”

“Yeah I’ll just take my medicine,” I said.

Thankfully the medicine worked and I was sound asleep 20 minutes later. The next morning we lined up for breakfast. I looked down the line and saw yogurt, cereal, cheesy eggs, and chocolate milk. All of which would be good...if I wasn't allergic to dairy. Oh drats. I took my plate and reluctantly scooped some gross dry cereal and forced it into my mouth. At least everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals....

Luckily, that day at camp wasn’t so bad after all (expect for the part when our counselor left us in the mountains and my group of five got lost for two hours). We departed from our grounds at 9:00 and broke up into groups. My group went to the hot pools first. The hot pools were open areas of warm warm water in the mountains surrounded by bg beautiful rocks. The sun beat down on the glistening water as we lay peacefully in the natural pools of water. Our next stop the day was to the cliff. We trudged through cold water and slimy algae but we finally made it. At first I did not want to jump off the 20ft cliff into the deep dark mysterious water, but when everybody else lined up I decided it was worth a shot. I was so nervous and it didn’t help that the guy who went before me belly flopped into the water and busted his lip. I walked barefooted up to the top of the cliff.

“Don’t look down!”, said Adeila.

I took a deep breath and the counselor counted down for me to jump.

“4,3,2,1”.

I held my breath and plunged into the brisk water. I came up smiling. I was glad I conquered  my fears. Our day presumed with rock climbing and other other outdoor activities. That night we had to make pasta for dinner. Again we ate our unfinished meals in disgust. Just as we were finishing we heard a loud yell from the group next to us.

“Owww, the fire burnt me!”, said Lara.

We all nosaly looked over to find a nasty red burn on Lara’s leg. She limped away with the help of other classmates to the shabby infirmary room. It began to rain by the time we threw away our unfinished dinner. Drenched and itchy we went back to our tents once again. I shared my snacks at were forgotten at the bottom of my bag. Having a little bit to eat we were able to sleep a little bit more comfortably than the night before.

“Matina do you hear that?”, I asked.

“Nope I don’t hear a thing”, she replied.

“Alright, let’s go back to bed”.

That morning we woke to alarmed faces. The counselors wouldn’t allow us to leave our tents and our teachers were nowhere to be seen. Something suspicious was happening. I saw Lara pass by from our tent. She got to sleep in the teacher’s superior lodging since she got burnt the night before.

“Psst. Lara. Come here”, I said. She moved wearily towards me. “What’s going on?”

“I heard that there are gorillas on the loose and they attacked a group of people who were grilling out on the campgrounds next to ours.”

“Oohhh, that’s so crazy,” I said.

I zipped up the orange tent and we waited in agony while the heat suffocated us until the coast was clear. It was our last day at camp and I was super duper happy. We were supposed to leave that night but our plans were altered at the last minute.

“I’m sorry guys, we are going to have to leave camp earlier than planned,” said Mrs. Couilliard, my language arts teacher. Yesssssssss! Yessssssssss! Yesssssssss!, I thought.

“Unfortunately, last night someone was robbed and shot on the campgrounds next to ours,” she continued.

My eagerness to leave turned into sudden sadness. An innocent couple had been shot the night before. Suddenly, prattle broke out between us. Everyone was ganging up on Lara for spreading a false rumor about gorillas. After we settled down we were sent to pack up our bags and we sang a closing camp song and loaded the bus. What a trip, I thought.

My trip to Camp Chameleon was quite eventful and unforgettable. To this day I still reflect on it and sometimes laugh. Even though it was a miserable trip, I was able to try new things and and I challenged myself to handle situations I had never experienced before.

Why Learning about Greek Mythology is Important by Emma Bova

Whether you're learning, or just going about every day life, Greek culture always seems to pop up everywhere we look. A lot of our English culture is based upon the ways of the ancient Greeks and Greek mythology, and some people may ask "why? They're just some silly myths." Greek myths are epic tales about Gods and Goddesses. They are meant to reveal a lesson, moral, or even warning in the end. They often reflect on humanity in the form of a parable. Rarely do they have a happy ending, and they are not exactly written for entertainment. They are written for a higher more important purpose, and are used to pass down lessons without being boring.

          Greeks myths were often told to people to help them realize what is right versus what is wrong. They are meant to help people control or influence their decisions. They are meant to serve as a warning and to inspire the reader not to make the same mistake as of the character in the myth. They may not be the most realistic, but they still portray a message and reflect on human life; then and now. The irony is, people often still choose the wrong thing to do and have to learn their lesson the hard way.

         By learning Greek mythology, one is not only learning about the culture of another country, but they can also apply this information and compare and contrast it to the cultural ideas of their own country. After all, a lot of our language and culture is based off of the Greeks. For example, government, art, many worldly languages, and ways of every day life. From a behavioral standpoint, it is interesting because even thought these myths were written thousands and thousands of years ago, by writers like Sophocles and Euripides, they still are an accurate representation of how humans act in the present day, and they captured humanity very well to the point where an abundance of stories are still relevant today.

The Importance of Masks in Ancient Greek Theatre- Sarah West

Over the past few weeks, our english class has begun to study greek theatre and read a greek drama, Oedipus the King. During this unit, our class discussed the importance of the theatre to ancient greek society, and the elements involved in a performance. The one element I feel is the most recognizable are the masks that were used to depict emotion.

Unfortunately, these masks were often made of organic materials, such as wood or cork, so there is no physical evidence that survives to this day of this ancient greek tradition. However, what we do know about these lost historical artifacts comes from 5th century artwork. The masks were helmet-like, covering the whole head and often included wigs made form human or animal hair. They were used for a variety of reasons, to effectively show emotion and establish a character, to allow the same actor to play multiple characters without confusing the audience, to represent dramatic changes in character throughout a performance, to unify the chorus if it was necessary to show that the whole chorus was meant to portray one multi-voiced character or a specific group of people, and some historians even believe that the opening for the mouth may have even helped to amplify the actors' voices, to more easily be heard throughout the large theater. 

Ancient greek masks were both artistic and beautiful, but also were crucial for the audience's understanding of the drama. Without the largely exaggerated features on the mask it would not be easy for the audience to be able to see the differences in emotion, characters, and characteristics of each character such as gender and social class in the large open air theaters. These masks were a unique and essential element to drama in ancient Greece.


Citation: "Costume & Masks". Greek Theatre. N.p., 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.

Fall Mornings by Grace Sander

Fall Mornings

The most horrid sound in the world is the buzz of an alarm clock. It is the universal signal that one must face the new day, no excuses. I just wish there was a strip of sunlight to crack through my shades. So I begin to remove my cloak of blankets, trying to make it as quick as ripping off a bandaid. As I trudge to my bathroom I make the same silent promise to myself to go to bed earlier and not coax myself into a Netflix marathon again. The door handle feels cool to my fingers sending a shiver down my spine. I look at myself in the mirror while my eyes adjust to the cruel light. On top I’m wearing a t-shirt that must have been free from a goodie bag and a pair of faded gray sweatpants that remain a permanent staple on my bedroom floor, hang right below my waist. It is not cold enough yet to break out my heavy-duty flannel pajama sets but I’d wake up shaking if I was wearing just an oversized shirt and shorts. My outfit is representative of the autumn weather itself, the perfect inbetween of Summer and Winter. While brushing my teeth I contemplate wearing my sleepwear to school. I shake my head in disapproval and spit into the sink leaving a blue/green blob. By now I am more awake but still craving the warmth and protection my bed provides. Although I set out an outfit the night before to make my life easier, I rip my drawers apart and begin to try on several combinations but end up choosing the original ensemble. It is an army green turtleneck paired with (tasteful) ripped jeans. My feet are hidden in my Fall staple, rust colored riding boots. I put on my usual makeup, just enough to make my eyes pop and conceal my blemishes and I stomp downstairs. The boots make an annoying click sound and I hope it doesn’t bother my peers while walking in the hall all day. I think about making some pumpkin coffee to put me in the fall mood, but I look at the time and realize that I don’t have time to indulge myself in such festive beverages. I rummage through the coat hooks to find my jacket covered by those of my family and I walk out the door. I look to the ground to watch my feet step on the leaves and wait for the crunching sound. By the time look up again I see the sun peeking in between the red and orange leaved trees.

How the Greek Amphitheaters Really Amplify Sounds By: Alyssa Stouch

Last week our class learned about the importance of ancient Greek theater. Many aspects of Greek life and society were displayed through the performing arts such as, psychology, sociology, mythology, and more. The theater was a place for men, women, and children of all classes to come together and be entertained. It was found that one theater could hold up to 14,000 people. So how is it that the Greeks were able to amplify their voices for 14,000 people to hear? Some theories claim the masks used during performances worked as megaphones to carry voices. However according to researcher Nico Declercq, the secret lies within the seats. The multiple rows of benches do not appear to be anything peculiar, but it is the simple corrugations on the surface of each seat which carried the sound waves throughout the theater. Plus, the slope of the bleacher-like theater allowed for the sounds to climb more effectively. It amazes me to think of the complex math and sciences the Greeks demonstrated in their everyday lives. The complexity of the theaters should not go unappreciated I enjoyed further researching this topic to discover things as amazing as amplifying volume because it is not something you would imagine as an issue.

Bravery and Strength: Then and Now

Bravery and Strength: Then and Now

Recently, our class has been learning about many Greek mythologies and heroes. After reading these epics I have noticed a major difference between the Warriors of that time, and the people of the 21st century.

Greek warriors often showed their strength and bravery through violent fighting between one another. Battles that would often lead to the death of one fighter, were used to prove one's glory. Today bravery and strength are not always related to the physical aspect of one's abilities. Bravery is celebrated when one stands up for what they believe in and stands firm even in the face of other's opinions. Strength is admired when sacrificing for others, or surviving through the death of someone close to you. People are not labeled with these honorable characteristics by tearing someone down, but by building them up. Encouraging people to be their best, while taking care of themselves at the same time. 

In the Iliad, Hector and Achilles fought to the death in an attempt to avenge a friend’s death. The Greeks, although mournful of the loss of Hector, looked up to Achilles for his glory. He won the battle and was now seen as an even greater warrior. Today, had two men decided to fight to the death, the winner would be seen as a murder and punished for his crime. In modern times, bravery and strength is as much about inner strength as  it is about physical strength, a person having mental toughness is as highly regarded as one having physical toughness. Our world is full of many modern day heroes today, doing their best to make the world a better and safer place. People's interpretation of being brave and strong has drastically changed since the time of the Greek mythologies, and I believe our world has become better for it.

Erin Lyden

Archetypes in Psychology by Carly Piniaha

     An archetype is a symbol known universally. All humans have symbols they associate with feelings; light symbolizes safety while darkness symbolizes danger. Archetypes can also be used for the human psyche. Psychologist Carl Gustav Jung proposed each human psyche was composed of three parts; the ego, the personal unconscious, and the collective unconscious. The ego represents a conscious state of mind and the personal unconscious represents all memories, suppressed or not. Collective conscious, he theorized, was the human species collective memories and experiences that was a part of everyone psyches. Jung believed within the collective unconscious existed archetypes. All the people in the world display several main behavioral archetypes, though one is more dominant than others. Jung identified four major archetypes; the self, the shadow, the anima (or animus), and the persona.


The Self
Often described as the god of the archetypes, the self is seen as the connector of all other parts of the psyche. All other elements are subordinate to the self. This archetype acts as the moderator between feelings and impulses. The self holds the balance between the shadow and the persona, the good and the bad within a person. While other archetypes are hidden the self is projected in ones outer personality.

The Shadow    The shadow embodies the chaos and wildness in a person's character. Because of this chaos the shadow tends to pull someone to not obey the rules. Inner fears and thoughts are held within the shadow and are often suppressed by the individual. Just as the name implies the shadow is always looming over a person projecting chaos on their decisions.

The Anima or Animus

The anima is ones true self that not most see. While women have an anima, men have an animus which is more or less the same thing. Jung believed men had one dominant animus while women were more complex and had more parts to theirs. Men's animus were believed to be contributed by the women in their family. Women's on the other hand could come from multiple variables in the person's life. The Anima is believed to be the archetype that connects a soul to the collective unconscious.

The Persona

     The persona is how a human represents themselves to the world. deriving from the Latin term, persona literally means "mask". The persona's main purpose is to protect the anima. This archetype hold more than just one mask but rather dozens depending on the surrounding people.

Introduction to Greek Architecture by Jillian Parks

Introduction to Greek Architecture

By: Jillian Parks

As the class continues to learn and study Ancient Greece through The Iliad and The Odyssey, it is important that students learn the thorough history of the unique culture, values and structure of the Greeks. One of the aspects Greece is most known for is its famous architecture, which later influenced Roman architecture and architects in profound ways. Greek architecture refers to the architecture of the Greek-speaking peoples who inhabited the Greek mainland and the Peloponnese, the islands of the Aegean Sea, the Greek colonies in Ionia (coastal Asia Minor), and Magna Graecia (Greek colonies in Italy and Sicily). Greek architecture stretches from c. 900 B.C.E. to the first century C.E. (with the earliest extant stone architecture dating to the seventh century B.C.E.) A brief overview of basic buildings demonstrates the range and diversity of Greek architecture. 

Temple:

The most recognizably “Greek” structure is the temple. The earliest shrines were built to honor divinities and were made from materials such as a wood and mud brick—materials that typically don't survive very long. The basic form of the temple merges as early as the tenth century B.C.E. as a simple, rectangular room with projecting walls that created a shallow porch. This basic form remained unchanged in its concept for centuries. In the eighth century B.C.E. Greek architecture begins to make the move from ephemeral materials (wood, mud brick, thatch) to permanent materials (stone). During the Archaic period the tenets of the Doric order of architecture in the Greek mainland became firmly established, leading to a wave of monumental temple building during the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.E. Greek city-states invested substantial resources in temple building—as they competed with each other not just in strategic and economic terms, but also in their architecture. For example, Athens devoted a great amount of resources to the construction of the acropolis in the 5th century B.C.E.—in part so that Athenians could be confident that the temples built to honor their gods surpassed anything that their rival states could offer.

 

Greek temples are often categorized in terms of their ground plan and the way in which the columns are arranged. A pro style temple is a temple that has columns only at the front, while an amphiprostyle temple has columns at the front and the rear. Temples with a peripteral arrangement have a single line of columns arranged all around the exterior of the temple building. Dipteral temples simply have a double row of columns surrounding the building. One of the more unusual plans is the tholos, a temple with a circular ground plan; famous examples are attested at the sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi and the sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidauros.

Stoa:

Stoa is a Greek architectural term that describes a covered walkway or colonnade that was usually designed for public use. Early examples, often employing the Doric order, were usually composed of a single level, although later examples (Hellenistic and Roman) came to be two-story freestanding structures. These later examples allowed interior space for shops or other rooms and often incorporated the Ionic order for interior colonnades. 

Greek city planners came to prefer the stoa as a device for framing the agora (public market place) of a city or town. Many cities, particularly Athens and Corinth, came to have elaborate and famous stoas. In Athens the famous Stoa Poikile (“Painted Stoa”), c. fifth century B.C.E., housed paintings of famous Greek military exploits including the battle of Marathon, while the Stoa Basileios (“Royal Stoa”), c. fifth century B.C.E., was the seat of a chief civic official.

Theater:

The Greek theater was a large, open-air structure used for dramatic performance. Theaters often took advantage of hillsides and naturally sloping terrain and, in general, utilized the panoramic landscape as the backdrop to the stage itself. The Greek theater is composed of the seating area (theatron), a circular space for the chorus to perform (orchestra), and the stage. The Greek theater inspired the Roman version of the theater directly, although the Romans introduced some modifications to the concept of theater architecture. In many cases the Romans converted pre-existing Greek theaters to conform to their own architectural ideals, as is evident in the Theater of Dionysos on the slopes of the Athenian Acropolis. Since theatrical performances were often linked to sacred festivals, it is not uncommon to find theaters associated directly with sanctuaries.

House:

Greek houses of the Archaic and Classical periods were relatively simple in design. Houses usually were centered on a courtyard that would have been the scene for various ritual activities; the courtyard also provided natural light for the often small houses. The ground floor rooms would have included kitchen and storage rooms, perhaps an animal pen and a latrine; the chief room was the andron—site of the male-dominated drinking party. The quarters for women and children could be located on the second level (if present) and were, in any case, segregated from the mens’ area.

Although there came to be many other important structures of the Greeks, these were some of the main ones that later helped to influence the structure of many other famous buildings. 

Greek Mythology Poem
By: Sara Nigro

Tales with a clever message to teach all the readers
stories with heroes and gods who prevail
proving their worth, strength, and demeanor
the man on the journey will never fail

For this is how these stories are told
for the young generation as well as the old
someone will always be victorious in the end
such a courageous powerful message they send

Unbelievable sovereignty shown through speed, strength, and flight
the mortals rarely beat the gods and goddesses try as they might
so although the stories end is what the readers are anticipating
the battles are still incredible, along with exhilarating

The Outsiders

This weekend, our school had put on the show The Outsiders as our fall drama. Playing the character of "Ponyboy," I had been able to put a lot of dedication into it, and the fall drama overall meant a lot to me. I want to discuss how it meant to be onstage, the aftermath, and what it might mean in the future. As silly as it seems, the community that is developed throughout this drama and the many others I have done has built a lot of who I am today and is something I am truly proud of.

Within the many weeks of practice and rehearsal for this show, I stressed over how it might end up. I had an extreme amount of lines to remember which stressed me out enough, but on top of that there were a lot of new freshman in my cast. This made me feel awkward, because I was so used to acting alongside the same people from previous years.
Kaela Panicucci, the actress who played "Darry," was a graduating senior. "You really have to be in the moment. So whenever I'm acting, I have to try and remember all of the finer points of preforming," she said. "This year, on top of all I just mentioned, there was also that nasty intruding thought that this is my last high school drama. So there's always a lot going through my head."
There was a point where giving up felt like an option, where I was thinking that the show was going to turn out so bad, that there was no point in trying too hard. When I was set up on the stage for the first time and the bright lights faded onto me, something changed. I was hit with a bolt of energy and adrenaline, knowing that I had people in the seats who paid for this experience. Not only that, but there were people who have seen me grow since 6th grade, people who have worked with me and have watched me pursue this hobby of acting. I saw the faces of previous high school drama students, teachers who have been watching me since middle school, and my family. the cast gave it their all, along with me, and the crowds' cheers assured us it was beyond enough.We had pulled through, and created a memorable show for lots of family and friends to witness.

Then came the aftermath. Every year after the last show, the cast mates of the drama have a cast party. This year, we all went over to a member's house and I can't say I didn't have a great time. We all were overflowing with gratitude, and just plain joy. It was nice knowing we could throw all of those lines and stress out of the window! It wasn't until about 11 at night when the seniors had come up with awards for not only the underclassmen, but their fellow seniors. This is a tradition, these awards. The seniors would line up and take turns to describe the chosen person they were going to specifically reward, until every cast member won one. Many were silly. For example, Alex Schuessler got the "Most Lines Ever" award, though she only had about 5 lines near the end of the play. This was all in good fun of course, as Alex stated, "My award reminds me how in the end, I only had five [lines], but those five or six lines allowed me to be part of a production that helped me create many friendships."
 For the cast mates who had been around for a while, some very sincere awards were handed out. Nina Strowe, who played the part of "Randy Anderson," had won the "Heartfelt Award." On this she said, "...I love it because she [Kaela Panicucci] had said she named it that because she couldn't think of something heartfelt to say....I love it because even though she didn't find something specific to say, she still put a lot of effort into the award and I really appreciate that." I can agree to what Nina had said, because I also got a very heartfelt award. I was given the "Mini Me" award from Jamie Corter, who played the role of "Cherry." I had been acting with Jamie since I was in 6th grade, so this award had really meant a lot to me. She is a spectacular actress, not to mention a creative and intelligent friend. I couldn't think of a better person to follow in the footsteps of.
As for the overall idea of the awards and this ritual, I hope to continue it for years to come. I spoke again to Nina Strowe on this idea, a senior by next year. She explained how much she loved the tradition, and could not wait to carry it out next year as a senior. She said, "I think it really shows how close us drama kids are and how welcoming and fond we are of each other. Everyone gets an award and every award is full of good memories and laughs we won't soon forget."

When I got home from the party, millions of thoughts filled my head at once. So many people have told me I am going to go somewhere great; do amazing things. I just can't help but to wonder, what if I never started drama? Would I ever even continue it if these kindhearted people and friends I have made along the way weren't here? I cannot deny that these shows and experiences have already shaped who I am as a person today, and I am absolutely magnanimous. Acting with these friends who I hold close to my heart gives me the uttermost joy, and is something I can remember as the best parts of my high school career. Looking at the award hanging on my wall directly next to the one from last year, and my black and white shirt with the big words reading, "Sparta High School Presents, the Outsiders," I can say that the times I shared within the past month are indelible and have left me with memorabilia of where I first started.