When Are Schools Going to Reopen? -Date: December 5, 2020-
This news was given to us by a fellow teacher in hopes of keeping it honest and practical in talks of going back to school in 2021. The following information is not to discourage anyone but to motivate you to keep you and your family safe during the holidays. The district says we will go back to school under these circumstances. There will be less than 700 cases in LA COUNTY for 14 days straight. If there are any spikes the count will restart.
-By: Maimuna Chowdhury, Onima Khan-
An idea of where we are right now in terms of cases; we are currently averaging around 8,000 cases and rising.
You can find more data about COVID cases in LA Country here http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ media/coronavirus/data/index.ht m. If we go back we will go back in a hybrid situation (where we rotate or switch off the days we attend school because of how densely populated Bravo is).
The likelihood of us going back to school this school year is unlikely. The reality is August of 2021 or if an effective vaccination is published. It is important to know this school year counts. You can fail. Also, LAUSD is offering free covid testing to know more information on that‌ https://achieve.lausd.net/ covidtestingappt
Questions and Possible Answers about the Hybrid Model!! -Date: December 5, 2020-
“What is a Model???? “
Hybrid
A hybrid model for school would mean that half of the class would stay at home and half would be doing remote learning. Then they would switch from time to time.
“Will there be school buses available?”
Although this isn’t absolute, but it’s the LAUSD’s duty to provide transportation for the students who are in need of it and who fit the requirements. This will be an issue though for the hybrid model, because one school bus can carry up to about 14 students due to COVID and therefore there would be about 70-80 school buses required. The remaining question is, where will the school district get all that money.
-By: Maimuna Chowdhury, Onima Khan-
“What if I can’t come to school due to circumstances, will you be forced to go to school?” There is a possibility that school might not even happen next semester, because the cases needs to be very low in order for schools to actually open. But, there was a survey send to parents that let them choose if they would consider remote learning or hybrid learning. From the evidence and common sense, we can predict that individuals will have the choice to go to school or not due to many circumstances.
“Why would LAUSD even consider reopening schools?” There are various answers to this question, but based on the survey given to the parents they might consider reopening due to the circumstances and learning environments for certain students. Many students can have a hard time learning at home, so this could be one of the reason why LAUSD is considering to reopen schools,
“What if I have more questions?” Here is a website that has possible guidelines and plans of school reopening: https://www.lacoe.edu/Home/ School-Reopening Other than this you can always contact your counselor on schoology.
COVID-19 UPDATE By: Fariha Anwar In the United States, more than 15 million cases of individuals with COVID-19 are suffering. The question is whether the virus will continue to emerge or start decreasing.In December so far, there are up to 27,000 cases in California alone. There is news displaying that there are potential cures coming out but what has America done to support themselves so far?
Image provided by MPR News displaying the cases of COVID-19 from April to present time.
While there is future hope of vaccines being made, the United States continues to push through this deadly disease. In Los Angeles, California, the mayor issued a lockdown. After midnight, no one is allowed to roam freely outside nor go to any stores unless there are strict circumstances. Hospital beds are being filled up. In Tomballs, Texas, Dr. Carlos Araujo-Preza, a physician who dedicated this year to treating COVID-19 patients, died from the same virus on November 30th. There are other doctors and nurses that are also being affected by the virus, causing a shortage of healthcare workers. The state governments keep pushing the people of the United
States to stay home or wear masks in order to protect other people when going outside. Many people, however, continue to protest for their rights to not wear a mask and believe that they cannot be forced to.
Dr. Carlos Araujo-Preza, the physician who passed away on November 30th, wearing PPE. For more information about COVID-19 cases go to https://www.google.com/search?q =covid+19&source=lmns&bih=6 17&biw=1366&rlz=1CAEOEW_ enUS928US928&hl=en&sa=X&v ed=2ahUKEwiZ4diHvL_tAhUK m54KHUTZCxYQ_AUoAHoEC AEQAA&safe=active&ssui=on .
Bravo’s Virtual Winter Concert By: Brandon Martinez On December 14, 2020, Bravo hosted its first virtual concert! It was posted on the Schoology page, but you can also view it on the Bravo school website. With school closures and having resorted to online learning, it is no doubt a challenge to try to prepare for such a grand event. Every year, Bravo would have a Winter Concert during the month of December for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy for the holidays. However, that is not possible as of now due to resorting to online learning. A music class is meant to be in person, and be able to play together in a live setting, so playing at home has presented various challenges.
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The Current Anti-Lockdown Protests - Date: December 8, 2020-
On November 30, 2020 crowds of anti-lockdown protestors gathered outside of the Los Angeles County health director’s home in order to fight the new three-week coronavirus restrictions. Around 50 Californians participated in this event. The action of protesters included American flags waved and wearing President Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ clothes. Protestors also held signs saying, “Stop Killing Small Businesses,” “Covid is a Con-job,’ and ‘Stop the Fear Propaganda.’ Their chantings were of opening L.A.
-By: Kayla Obregon-
Protestors also criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti.
What was the new 3-week coronavirus restriction? The three-week order was ordered to stay home “as much as possible” and to wear a mask when they go outside as the coronavirus cases surge. These restrictions banned people from gathering with people who aren’t in their households, whether publicly or privately, but church services and protests are excluded.
The order, which runs through December 20, was issued by Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom also had implemented a statewide curfew that essentially barred residents from 10pm to 5am. This curfew requires people to stay home unless they are responding to an emergency, shopping for groceries, picking up takeout or walking their dogs. Essentially many people followed the restrictions, while others felt to have conflict with the restrictions.
Holiday Season Attractions: Social Distanced And Safe Date: Decembre 9, 2020
Image from Night of Lights at Orange County.
As the end of the year is approaching the christmas holiday season has just started. There are many ways to celebrate this winter that are safe and socially distanced. Here are some options to have fun safely. Night of Lights OC The OC Fair and Event Center features a mile long route with light shows and tunnels set to music. There is also a special appearance of Santa Claus throughout the attraction. This event is being hosted starting December 10th through January 10, 2021. Face masks are required and social
By Jazmin Gonzalez distancing restrictions are followed. Dodgers Holiday Festival The Los Angeles Dodgers are hosting a drive-thru Holiday Festival. This attraction is complete with a light show, LED video displays, fake snow, and interactive displays honoring the Dodger’s World Championship and holidays. The tickets must be purchased online in advance and all guests must stay in their vehicle at all times. Face coverings are required at all times as well. This attraction is lasting from Novembre 27 to December 24 2020.
and many photo opportunities. All this will be enjoyed from the comfort of your car. Masks are required and the guests will be guided by attendees throughout the duration of the show. This attraction lasts from Decembre 9 to December 13, 2020. RoofTop Cinema Club Rooftop Cinema club have returned and have created a drive in movie theater at the Santa Monica Airport. This drive in offers a series of locally set films and festive favorites such as The Nightmare Before Christmas. It is lasting all month long and ending December 30th.
Maccabees- A Hanukkah Drive Thru This attraction is a live re-enactment of the Hanukkah story that includes special effects, keepsakes, Image from an event by Rooftop Cinema Club.
Making Movies During a Pandemic By: Ashley Calixto As movies are starting to be filmed again after a long break due to COVID, new measures were put on set locations, creating distant film environments that are now “COVID friendly.” Just as the movie, “Jurassic World: Dominion,” wrapped on it’s London set in Pinewood Studios, it was said how each staff and cast member was to change their mask or face covering every five hours gone into filming.
Picture From: Variety
Masks, social distancing, regular temperature checks, are all one part of these new measures brought by COVID, making a huge financial raise and time consuming sets for these projects to be completed safely. In distant film locations, sets were divided into different “zones” to distance each crew member. As staff and cast members arrive to set locations, they are each given wristbands that tell each member where they are supposed to be for that certain filming day. To avoid crowding around the monitors, iPads are distributed to everyone so they each have access to what is shown on the monitor.
An executive producer on the Universal Studios film team, Alexandra Derbyshire, stated how the most difficult part of these guidelines involves keeping social distance within each crew member. With needing to collaborate with other crew members, it's a difficult task to communicate within a two meters distance. Each cast and staff member are required to get tested on a regular basis as well as get temperature checks rigorously. Although some projects aren't lucky enough to be able to be filmed due to their financial budgets and status, some are being shot quickly and in “wrap speeds,” such as a new upcoming movie “Rift.” Some film locations have also been put on hold due to someone contacting the virus, putting the whole crew into a mandatory quarantine, such as Olivia’s Wilde’s new thriller “Don’t Worry Darling.” The world of filmmaking has definitely become a challenge due to COVID but with each person on these sets following the safety guidelines, these projects could be completed in a “COVID free” manner.
Picture From: The Guardian
Picture From: Sonomo State Star
Picture From: Variety
Women in Filmmaking December 7, 2020
On December 1, 2020 Councilman Mitch O’Farrell declared that it would be a day reserved for honoring women in the filmmaking industry. The councilman together with Turner Classic Movies collaborated in order to make this happen for the women who have made many contributions to the movie industry. This important event comes from the percentage of women working in writing and directing being at an all time high.
by: Victoria Oviedo
The first woman to become a director in the movie industry was Alice Guy-Blachè. Not a common feature in the late 1800s, Blachè made way for the future generations of women in movie directing. From then on there have been multiple women who have continued adding on to her legacy of making sure that women earn a place right alongside men. In today’s times we now recognizable movies such as Little Women and Lady Bird that are directed by women. Coincidentally both of these films were filmed by the same director, Greta Gerwig.
How The Weeknd Was Snubbed from this Year’s Grammy Nominations Date: December 5, 2020
Biography
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, who goes by The Weeknd, is a Canadian singer-songwriter born in Toronto, Canada. In 2011, he broke into the music scene with his self-released mixtape House of Balloons. He is one of the music industry’s leading alternative R&B performers. In 2011, he helped Drake produce his album Take Care and landed himself a deal with Universal’s Republic Records. Under Republic Records, he went to make his label XO. In 2012, he re-released his earlier work into Trilogy that became a platinum-selling record. Despite
By: Ann Thomas, Karen Aguilar
this, he hid from the public and refused to do interviews, building a sense of mystique. In 2013, he went to release Kissland and continued to collaborate with other artists. In 2015, he continued his rise to fame with No.1 with his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness.In late November of 2016, he released his third album Starboy and took home Best Urban Contemporary Album for the 2018 Grammys. In March 2018, he released My Dear Melancholy, an EP.
of his most-streamed tracks, has been on the Billboard chart 100 for 53 weeks and currently holds the 11th position. The album itself is stylistically different from his previous work. There are influences of new wave and dream pop and no doubt R&B. The artwork and music videos also have a psychedelic feel inspired by movies like Joker, Casino, and Uncut Gems, in which he made a cameo. After Hours The Weeknd takes us into a cinematic journey of a red-jacketed, busted nose character going through a terrible night in Las Vegas. The character is looking for an escape from heartbreak and pain in the wrong ways. The album consists of 14 regular tracks, three bonus ones, and has a running time of 1 hour After Hours: and 5 minutes. This is the first In March this year, he album where you see a released his fourth studio album reclusive person like him let After Hours. Blinding lights, one his guard down. In an
Cont. interview with Variety magazine, he states, “You could hear the vulnerability in the music before,” he agrees, “but there was such a shield, such an f-you to the world, and now I’m very comfortable with letting the world know that I can be that way.” This album holds to the journey The Weeknd took (battles with long term substance abuse, a brief period of homelessness) to where he is now. After Hours is a testimony of someone trying to face their demons after running away from them; eventually, they are on the road to becoming a better person after many detours.
Grammy Nominations One would assume that after breaking records, The Weeknd would have received nominations for Album of the Year for After Hours and Song of the Year for Blinding Lights and probably other categories as well. However, after the nominees were announced on November
24, fans were disappointed. The Weekend was not nominated for any category which caused shock and uproar from the singer’s fan base, his fellow artists, and the artist himself. Twitter and other social media platforms became filled with individuals presenting the artists’ records as proof that he deserved the nomination and others claiming that the Grammys were corrupt. Reactions After the nominees were revealed, The Weeknd made a post commenting on the nominations. The artist stated, “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.” His post encouraged his supporters and fellow celebrities to point out the corrupt process that the Grammys has used to choose its nominees and how the artist deserved this year’s nominations more than anyone else. The well-known artist, Halsey, voiced her opinion on her social media account saying, “The Grammys are an elusive process. It can often be about behind the scenes private performances, knowing the right people, campaigning through the grapevine, with the right handshake and “bribes” that can be ambiguous enough to pass as “not bribes” Other artists like Drake and Elton John have
publicly supported the artist’s claims and agreed that The Weeknd deserved the nominations for Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
What is next? The Grammys made a statement explaining that they understand the artist’s disappointment. However, they did not make it clear if they will be changing their nominations to include The Weeknd in any of the categories. It can be assumed that if they are not changed, then there will another outcry of fury and support for the celebrity.
https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2020-09-21-atlant ic-hurricane-season-2020-records
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/why-the-2020-a tlantic-hurricane-season-has-spun-out-of-control/
Atlantic Hurricane Season is a period between June through November when hurricanes form in the Atlantic Ocean, and areas that are also affected were the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The season ended on the 30th of November and was determined that this year was the most active with 30 named storms, 12 of which made landfall in the U.S. The 12 landfalls surpassed the 9 landfalling hurricane record set in 1916 and also has been the record-breaker for estimated damages. So far the estimated damages across the Atlantic Basin are $37 billion. The biggest legacy this season left behind was the trend of tropical storms quickly developing into strong hurricanes. Scientists have discovered that climate change is a contributor to this increased intensification of storms. Could this foreshadow our most likely future if we keep ignoring the signs of climate change?
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/11/us/2020-atlantic-hurricaneseason-fast-facts/index.html
Festive Dishes for the Upcoming holidays! -Date: December, 2020
-By: Carlos Villalba, Brandon Martinez
Ponche ●
●
Consists of apples, pears, oranges, and other fruits that deliver it a juicy yet warm flavor. Usually adding some cinnamon, garlic cloves, pineapple, and other minor spices helps deliver a tasty flavor.
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Pozole Consists of mainly chicken and hominy. Paprika, onion, garlic, parsley, avocado, and lettuce is also added to suit one’s preference. Incredibly delicious with a tostada!
Tamales ●
Consists of dough, stuffed with either cheese, chicken, beans, and other delights, wrapped around in a corn husk or leaf.
Cranberry Almond Cookies Cookies have always been a holiday treat, so what better way than to bake them! This simple recipe bakes 18 Cookies.
Ingredients: ● ¼ Cup of brown sugar ● ½ Cup of sugar ● ½ Cup of melted coconut oil ● ½ cup rolled oats ● ½ teaspoon baking soda ● ½ teaspoon baking powder ● ½ cup sliced almonds ● ¾ cup dried cranberries, or use fresh cranberries ● 1 teaspoon almond extract ● 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ● 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed ● 6 tablespoons water
Instructions: 1. 2.
3.
4.
5.
6. 7.
Preheat oven to 350 deg. F (180 deg C) Mix the grounded flax seeds with the water, and let sit for 10 minutes minimum. This will become the Flax Eggs. Get a large bowl and whisk the melted coconut oil, sugar, brown sugar, flax eggs, and almond extract. Whisk well. Sift the flour, baking powder, and baking soda onto the large bowl, and stir until it’s fully combined. Carefully fold in the oats, almonds, and cranberries until put properly. Schoop the cookie bake onto the baking sheet, with even spacing. Bake for around 20-25 minutes until lightly crispy, and enjoy!
Vegan Pasta By: Gabriela Acosta
Ingredients: Pasta ● 1 tbsp olive oil ● 4 cloves garlic, minced ● 1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms ● 1 ½ cups chopped asparagus ● Sea salt and black pepper ● 10 ounces gluten-free penne Sauce ● 2 tbsp olive oil ● 6 cloves garlic, minced ● 8 ounces vegan cream cheese ● ¾ cup dairy free milk ● ¼ cup vegan parmesan cheese ● 1 tbsp yeast ● 1-2 tbsp lemon juice ● ¼ red pepper flake
Minimalistbaker.com
Suggestions: -
One can add mushrooms or cauliflower.
Vegan Cinnamon Rolls By: Gabriela Acosta
Minimalistbaker.com
Ingredients: ● ¾ cup dairy-free milk ● 2 tbsp organic cane sugar ● 1 tbsp vegan butter ● 1 packet of active dry yeast ● 2 cups gluten-free flour blend ● ¾ almond flour ● 2 tbsp cane sugar ● 2 ½ tsp baking powder ● ½ tsp sea salt ● 4 tbsp cold vegan butter ● 3 tbsp melted vegan butter ● ⅔ cup organic brown sugar ● 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees & butter your pan. 2. Heat dairy-free milk in microwave or stovetop. 3. Add vegan butter and sugar to the milk. Add yeast; set aside (uncovered) for 10 minutes. 4. Whisk together gluten free flour blend, almond flour, cane sugar, baking powder, and sea salt. Add cold vegan butter. Texture should resemble wet sand. 5. Add almond milk-yeast mixture at a time to dry ingredients. 6. Ready your cutting board and dust it with gluten free flour. 7. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a large, thin rectangle. 8. Brush on vegan butter. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon; evenly distribute. Tightly roll the dough lengthwise into a cylinder. 9. Cut even rolls, then carefully transfer into pan. 10. Cover with plastic wrap and towel and let rise for 30 minutes. 11. Remove towel and plastic wrap and place your pan in the oven and let bake for 30-45 minutes until golden brown. 12. Let rolls cool at least 20 minutes and add whatever frosting you desire.