The Monte Vista Roar
February Edition
Table of Contents
- A True Friend (Contribution of the Month)
- Kindness Month and The Great Kindness Challenge
- Book Recommendation of the Month
- Moments of Monte Vista
- Black History of the Pure
- Black History Month
- Review of Argylle
- The Origin and Importance of Leap Year
- Meme of the Month
- Fact of the Month
- Macy's Closing in Simi Valley: What will it mean for the future of shopping?
- Art by Sadie Cantrell
- Winter Youth Olympics
- Groundhog Day; A Blend of Folklore and Weather Predictions
- Presidents Day
- Apple Vision Pro
- INFO Corner
A True Friend by Jasmine Ray Allen (Contribution of the Month)
In my opinion, a true friend will be there for you always. Even if they are struggling with something too. They will always be willing to help out and try their best to comfort you. A true friend will defend you even when you aren't there. They definitely wouldn't gossip about you either. A true friend would never make you do something that you don't want to do, and they will make sure that you are comfortable. A true friend will be there to help you up when you are in a dark place. True friends will not start a fight over a small disagreement. A true friend will check in on you showing that they actually care about you and how you're doing. A true friend will still feel like your best friend even if you don't hang out with them for weeks or months you guys will still have the same bond. A true friend would never purposely make you feel embarrassed, like saying stuff in front of other people JUST to make you feel embarrassed so that they seem cool and everyone likes them. A true friend will stick up for you no matter what. With true friends, you should feel safe with them and feel like you could tell them anything without being afraid of them judging. True friends are sometimes really hard to find but once you find them you will just automatically know they are a true friend and you won't even have to doubt anything.
Thank you Jasmine for your contribution to the Monte Vista Roar.
Kindness Month and The Great Kindness Challenge by Diana Lucie
Monte Vista students of all ages and grade levels participated in The Great Kindness Challenge in honor of Kindness Month. Students had the choice to make random acts of kindness, and could complete tasks off the checklist emailed home on the Monte Vista Press. If you were caught being kind on campus, you got a paper heart, and had the choice to keep it, or pass it on. Students in STEAM, a program for grades K-5, made mini posters about kindness, and hung them up around campus. The Great Kindness Challenge encourages students to always be kind, and not just for the challenge, but to always continue that way. Kindness always holds a special place in my heart, because it is what brings everyone together at the end of the day. You don’t have to spend money on kindness because it’s free, so sprinkle it everywhere as Louis Pistole says so. Smiling at people, holding the door open, or helping someone get an item off the shelf at the store are some of the easiest things you can do to be kind to others. Now, you may just think I am talking about ways to be kind to others, but what about yourself? Turning in your work on-time/early, exercising, or eating a healthy snack are just a few small ways you can be kind to yourself. If you have the time to do so, volunteer. You help your community and those around you so much by volunteering, and you also learn a lot of valuable lessons yourself. The skills that students developed during The Great Kindness Challenge will not only help them in school, but also their community and personal lives. Promote kindness everywhere, you can do it, and just remember, the smallest act of kindness you make, can flip somebody's day entirely. Start small talk with people if you notice they are not too talkative, you may just notice that all they needed was someone to say hello to them. Kindness is a ripple effect, do it to someone, and they will do it to others too. Don’t expect anything in return for being kind, do it, just for yourself, and the thought of it. People never forget one's act of kindness, no matter how small it is. Remember, Kindness Month is a month to honor acts of kindness, but, kindness should be practiced every day. You don’t need a month labeled Kindness Month to be kind, always be kind. I can never picture a world without kindness, and I hope, by reading this article and participating in The Great Kindness Challenge, you too, will feel the same way as I do.
Book Recommendation of the Month by Sadie Cantrell
Books are one of my favorite ways to interact with and immersive myself in a different world. Norse mythology in particular has been my personal focus as of lately!
Tales of giants and Loki’s tricks all fuel my imagination on many different levels. I suggest for those who want to learn more about Norse mythology to start with Neil Gaiman’s Norse mythology book. It gives great and interesting stories from Norse mythology all the while explaining it in a way that’s easy to intake.
For children, I’d suggest Norse mythology for kids, tales of gods, creatures, and quests by Mathias Nordvig!
It gives an interesting In look on the creatures and child friendly tales of Norse gods.
Moments of Monte Vista
Moments of Monte Vista are captured by our journalists. If there is something you see on campus, and you think it is a Moment of Monte Vista, take a picture, and email it to Allison Taverner (allison.taverner@simivalleyusd.org) and Diana Lucie (d.lucie220571@simivalleyusd.org)
Kindness hearts around school
This month, we participated in The Great Kindness Challenge, and students who did random acts of kindness received a heart, and they could choose to keep it, or pass it on.
In STEAM, we choose kind
In STEAM, we choose kind. Students made mini posters about kindness, and this one definitely said it right, it does matter, so choose kind.
Posters around school
Leadership made posters promoting kindness and hung them up all around campus. Always be kind, you have the choice to do it.
Black History of the Pure by Nicole Alvarez
Black History of the Pure
Two hands on the torch.
One is wrinkly,
The other is smooth.
Both perked up to toast
To a new spark.
Child of innocence,
Allow me to tell you
A tale of life.
Long, long ago,
When the hue blue was Prussian,
When the chains dangled
On their necks and ankles
Like an elephant on a rope,
Human rights
Were deemed a crime,
So to their act of living.
When we smirked and toasted
With scarlet wine of tainted grapes,
A curve of the mouth they knew not.
Many raised their spears
Of green stems and blue Roses
Parked on the soil.
Efforts were not in vain!
When the calendar chooses two after one,
The torch raises in the toast
Of the sparks
Made by scars.
These now conspicuous scars
Are known in all households,
Big or small.
We now raise the torches!
We raise them in a toast
Of the impasses
And their unwavering resolve
To never surrender!
We raise the torches
In a feast of their achievements,
And the young who shall speak of them!
We raise the torches
In the cheers of new rights
And the ones to come.
We raise the torches in hopes that
The Martin may fly freely
And become King.
In hopes that this history
not be held in Maya.
In hopes that the enslaved are uncaged
And nevermore see the dusk
crawling up the scarlet sky.
May these torches be passed down
To your children
And their children,
Forever remembered
Black History Month by Ella Carasquillo
Many know that February is Black History Month, but not many know why it is important to acknowledge and celebrate it. Black History Month was created to honor and bring attention to the many contributions that African Americans made to the United States. This month celebrates figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Sojourner Truth, an African American activist who fought for women’s rights and the end of slavery. Of course there are many more we should celebrate that aren’t usually recognized because of the passage of time. Black History Month encourages us to show our gratitude.
First started by the historian Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month began as only a week-long celebration. Years later in 1976, Gerald Ford, who was the president of America, officially turned that week into the whole month of February. February was chosen specifically because it contains the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Douglass, the very first black U.S. marshal, took part in leading the abolitionist movement as a former enslaved man. He also advocated for women’s right to vote. Former president Abraham Lincoln expanded rights for African Americans and signed the Emancipation Act, abolishing slavery in Washington, D.C. causing other states to follow suit.
Each year, Black History Month has a theme to focus attention on. In 2023 it was “Black Resistance” which was meant to show how African Americans have battled oppression even in recent years. This year, 2024, the theme is “African Americans and the Arts” which calls attention to the influence that African Americans have given in art, music, writing, and other forms of creative expression. Looking anywhere you will see influence from black culture that we should truly acknowledge.
This Black History Month, let's all make sure to remember how our country wouldn’t be where it is without the help of African American people. Even now, we still have trouble with being respectful and equal. People are still fighting to this day to be treated as they should be. Black History Month is a yearly reminder that we should always be celebrating and uplifting black voices, not just in February.
Sources Consulted:
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
Review of Argylle by B Skinner
On February 2nd, 2024, Argylle was released in the United States. The movie is a spy action comedy directed by Matthew Vaugh. The movie was released to various reviews from audiences. One example is Metacritic, which got a 3.7 audience rating while getting a 72 audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I was intrigued by the reviews and decided to watch it myself, I was left with mixed feelings.
The opening sequence of this film was great and felt like you were going into a genuinely exciting film and it did carry for the first third of the film. It was funny and the plot felt like it was heading in an interesting way. I enjoyed the adorable cat who plays a central role in the film. The problem is they don't know what to do with him, and unfortunately, that's a common theme in the plot.
I said I enjoyed the first third of this film, but after that point, it was clear the writers didn't know where to go with the plot. It’s not the actual plot that’s the main problem, but instead, the fact that they keep trying to push it for a longer and longer runtime which just leaves the viewer tired by the end. If you're not going to be hyper-focused on the plot then good thing for you cause the action scenes are amazingly choreographed and quite entertaining.
I think Argylle is a movie that belongs right in the middle for reviews. If you just want to watch a funny spy movie, then it will work, but in such a genre full of amazing films it's hard for it to stand out. It’s meant to be an almost parody of the James Bond franchise but it left me wondering why I should watch this over those. Overall, this movie gets a 5/10 from me, not bad, not good, just OK.
Sources Consulted:
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/argylle
The Origin and Importance of Leap Year by Adriaan Rijkschroeff
Have you ever thought about why we have a day, on our calendar every four years? This additional day, known as February 29th or leap day occurs in what we call a leap year. The history behind leap years is fascinating as it helps keep our calendar in sync with the Earths orbit around the Sun.
The idea of leap years can be traced back to Rome during Julius Caesars time. The Roman calendar like calendars was based on cycles. However this system caused a misalignment between the calendar year and the year—the time it takes for Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun.
To address this issue Julius Caesar and his astronomer Sosigenes introduced a calendar in 45 BCE. This revised calendar included a leap year every four years to adjust for Earths revolution time. During each leap year an extra day was added at the end of February making it a total of 366 days of the 365.
While the Julian calendar was an improvement it wasn't perfectly synchronized with the length of a year leading to seasonal shifts over time. By the end of the century it was ten days, off schedule.
In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII introduced a revised calendar system that included improvements, to the leap year concept. The updated calendar maintained the practice of having a leap year every four years and incorporated rules to better align with the year. These rules stipulated;
1. Years divisible by 4 are considered leap years except for...
2. Years divisible by 100 are not designated as leap years unless...
3. Years divisible by 400 continue to be recognized as leap years.
These adjustments significantly reduced errors to than one day every 3,000 years making the Gregorian calendar more precise compared to versions.
Leap years play a role in maintaining the accuracy of our calendar system. Without the addition of a day every four years our calendars would gradually lose synchronization with the changing seasons.
The potential misalignment mentioned could have repercussions on practices, tasks scheduling and various cultural and religious observances tied to times of the year.
Furthermore, leap years carry significance in fields such as astronomy, navigation and economics. Accurate timekeeping is essential, for organizing events predicting movements and coordinating activities effectively.
In essence, the history of leap years reflects humanity's endeavor to measure time precisely and harmonize with the cycles of our planet.
Leap years, with their day are not a quirky aspect of the calendar but rather a testament, to our capacity to align human endeavors with the natural cycles of the cosmos.
Meme of the Month
We know it's supposed to be "Meme of the Month", but February just has too many good memes to pick from, so we'll give you a few, and you can decide, which one is your favorite meme. In the next edition, we'll let you know which meme is the winner!
Which meme is your favorite?
Fact of the Month
Macy's closing in Simi Valley: What will it mean for the future of shopping?
By Diana Lucie
As you may or may have not heard, Macy’s will be closing its doors at the Simi Valley Town Center, along with many other locations nationwide. A few years back, Macy’s Men's Department merged with the Women's and Home Department on the other side of the Town Center, closing the separate location, but now, they will be closing for good. Macy’s is a major department store chain that acquired Robinsons May, and now is the sister company to the higher-end department store, Bloomingdales.
After COVID-19, many stores lost business due to online shopping chains, and because of that very reason, filed for bankruptcy. With inflation not coming to an end anytime soon, and people being in financial hardship, online shopping chains such as Amazon, Target Online, and Walmart Online offer better prices that are very reasonable compared to physical stores, taking business from major retailers. I am not in any way trying to say that online shopping is a bad thing, because it has its pros, but it most definitely has its cons just like anything else. Some argue that online shopping is not convenient for trying on clothing sizes, or shoes, because you don’t know how it will fit. Others think that it is convenient because you can purchase whatever you’d like at your fingertips from the comfort of your home. Something to consider is that package theft, or “porch pirates” have been on the rise higher than ever now, so making online purchases, and having them delivered to your doorstep, is slightly riskier than usual. Making returns from online shopping causes you an extra trip to the store or post office. However, physical shopping is time-consuming for many people, and they argue that they do not have the time to go to the store, try an item on, and then wait in line to buy it. People who prefer shopping in stores say you can try on the item(s), then choose not to purchase them based on the way they fit.
Throughout the course of stores closing, workers have been laid off with little to short notice leaving them up in the air with not enough time to find another job, causing them to miss payments and bills. Macy’s is just one of the major store chains that has begun closing its doors, but Bed Bath & Beyond, JCPenney, Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens, GAP, GameStop, Party City, American Eagle, Best Buy, Foot Locker, and Forever 21 are just another few to name. DD’s Discounts, the sister store to Ross Dress for Less, has also departed from Simi Valley, closing its doors on January 10th at 1313 E Los Angeles Ave, leaving the retail shopping space empty. Rite-Aid in the same shopping center of DD’s Discounts closed as well.
Many people believe that Simi Valley doesn’t have many shopping spots or things to do, and in all fairness, they are not wrong as most residents of the area agree with that statement. However, 10-15 years ago, people would not be saying these things, because the Simi Valley Town Center used to have many stores, good eateries, and activities such as a train ride for children. Down the road, many of the eateries and stores closed their doors, and the Town Center saw a major loss in visitors coming to the area, with some even calling the shopping mall a “ghost town.”
Now, this may leave you wondering, with all of these stores closing, and not many things to do, what could this mean for the future of Simi Valley, the economy, and shopping? Although many places have closed in Simi Valley, there are new additions to the city as well. Dunkin’ Donuts opened its doors to Simi Valley, inside CBC Credit Union on 1377 E Los Angeles Ave. Ace Hardware will be opening its doors in the place of Cost Plus World Market on 2910 Tapo Canyon St in 2024, and IHOP has already opened in the place of CoCo’s on 698 E Los Angeles Ave. Amazon Fresh, Amazon’s high-tech grocery store, is rumored to open in the spot of Bed Bath & Beyond, although nothing is verified, and we do not know when nor have an estimated opening date.
Although Macy’s closing its doors may be upsetting to some, let’s think of it as a new year, and new additions to replace the old. With all of the new amazing things making its way into Simi Valley, who knows what will replace Macy’s at the Simi Valley Town Center in the future.
Sources consulted:
https://patch.com/california/across-ca/these-ca-retailers-closing-locations-2024
Art by Sadie Cantrell
Winter Youth Olympics by Rivka Pressman
Many of us are well aware of the Olympics, but did you know there is a youth Olympics? The Youth Olympic Games, an elite competitive sporting event for people ages 15-18, just held their 2024 winter games in Gangwon, South Korea. Taking place from January 19th through February 1st, well over 1,000 athletes attended from 78 National Olympic Committees (NOCs). One of the main goals in hosting this event is “to let the youth celebrate peaceful coexistence and unity through sport to create a better future together. The aim is to drive positive change and social unity in the region, impacting society in the areas of sport, culture and education”. Throughout the event, athletes from diverse backgrounds came together to compete, learn, and form lasting friendships, embodying the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect.
These talented young athletes competed in an array of winter sports, from the elegance and beauty of figure skating, to the thrilling, fast pace of ice hockey; they offered it all. However, in order to participate in the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, all athletes must have competed in at least three rigorous races in either the Continental Cup, Youth A World Cup, Junior World Cup or General Class World Cup during the pre-Olympic and Youth Olympic seasons. Meaning only the best of the best earned the privilege to represent their countries in this event, going to prove how much dedication and hard work these young athletes put in to experience this amazing opportunity, even if some athletes did not earn a medal. Moreover, it is important to also recognize the medalists. Of course, no Olympic event would be complete without celebrating the champions – the medalists who etched their names in history with their remarkable performances. In the top ten we have Italy who took first place, followed by Germany, than South Korea, than France, than China, than the United States, than Austria, than Sweden, then the United Kingdom, and finally Japan.
Sources Consulted:
https://olympics.com/ioc/gangwon-2024
https://olympics.com/gangwon-2024/en/results/all-sports/medalists.htm
Groundhog Day; A Blend of Folklore and Weather Predictions by Ian Grove
On February 2nd, Groundhog Day captures the attention of people globally with its mix of folklore and meteorology. Stemming from traditions linked to Candlemas Day this ritual has transformed into a spectacle with Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania emerging as its focal point, in the United States.
Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog forecaster emerges from his burrow at Gobblers Knob to make a weather prediction. Despite doubts regarding its accuracy Groundhog Day endures as a cherished custom that signifies the passage of time and the cyclical patterns of seasons.
Apart from its importance, Groundhog Day has sparked adaptations in mainstream culture notably through the 1993 movie featuring Bill Murray. Moreover, various areas across North America now boast their groundhog forecasters.
As Groundhog Day continues to captivate audiences its legacy lives on as a tribute to tradition community spirit and the enduring bond between humanity and nature. Whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not is irrelevant; what matters is that the essence of Groundhog Day perseveres, by warming hearts on the winter days.
Presidents Day by Logan Buenaventura
Ahhh, let’s go down memory lane and remember the time we all had that dream of becoming president. Come on we’ve all had that one dream of being in charge of everyone, I know you have at least once growing up, but once you become a president and eventually retire, what happens now? Do people just forget about you ever being a president? Well luckily for all our 46 presidents, the short answer is no. If you haven’t been living under a rock for 145 years, we celebrate this holiday called Presidents Day.
This holiday is solely dedicated to remembering all our past presidents. This miraculous holiday only shows up on the third Monday in February, but why February? Don’t you think it's kind of random? Well not only was George Washington our first president, born on February 22nd, but also Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is on the 19th so in the 19th century, dozens of people celebrated both presidents' birthdays, eventually naming it President's Day, and luckily for everyone attending school, they normally get the day off. Since there generally isn’t school on that day, it causes what most schools call a long weekend. They call it that because the holiday is on a Monday so that's three days off of school (www.history.com/topics/holidays/presidents-day). Whew, definitely a well-deserved break, and to all my fellow high schoolers out there I salute you.
This holiday, just like Independence Day, is traditionally viewed as a time of patriotic celebration and remembrance, meaning that it was created to honor our past achievements as a country. This includes how George Washington led us through the Revolutionary War, or Abraham Lincoln’s service in the Civil War. Both are monumental moments in history and what's great about Presidents Day. It is a way to remember and honor the sacrifices our outstanding presidents made. I personally love Presidents Day, and not because I get a day off of school, but because I think it's cool to reminisce about how these men shaped our beautiful country, and without them, we probably wouldn't be where we are today.
Apple Vision Pro by Salomon Munguia
Apple Vision Pro is Apple's new, virtual reality headset, and there is so much to it that you should know about. Watch the video below to learn more about it.
INFO Corner:
It's scholarship season!
It’s scholarship season, and Mrs. Liz, our school counselor, has put together a scholarship newsletter, informing seniors about scholarship opportunities. As you apply for scholarships, please, be sure to check out the newsletter below, as she is constantly updating it with vital information. Thank you Mrs. Liz for taking the time to find scholarship opportunities for our seniors. The first week of February is counseling week, so let’s all take another moment to thank our wonderful school counselor, Mrs. Liz Pecora. She is so dedicated to helping every student individually, to find their way through high school and into college. The link to Mrs. Liz’s scholarship newsletter is as follows:https://www.smore.com/r8qfh
Yearbooks are on sale!
Did you know that Monte Vista’s third annual yearbook is on sale now? You can order yours by visiting schoolannual.com. They are only available for pre-order until April 1st, so get yours now, before they sell out. Have any questions? Email shauna.messinger@simivalleyusd.org. It's been a fun ride at Monte Vista, so make your memories count by cherishing them in the #1 top-selling book of the year, The Monte Vista Yearbook!
The challenge is on!
The American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge is starting on February 22nd. Students in grades K-6 have the opportunity to fundraise for a good cause, and to get active and moving! Sign up today, and pick a daily health challenge. You can pick up your pledge packet from your teacher, or the office. Let’s all be heart-healthy together. On March 22nd, everyone will come together to celebrate their accomplishments with a Field Day. Register by clicking here. Become a heart hero today!
Check out our social media pages:
This newsletter was brought to you by the following people:
Mrs. Allison Taverner (Senior Editor and Supervisor)
Diana Lucie (Editor in Chief, Journalist)
Nicole Alvarez (Journalist)
Sadie Cantrell (Artist, Journalist)
Salomon Munguia (Video Editor, Content Creator for YouTube)
B Skinner (Journalist)
Rivka Pressman (Journalist)
Ella Carrasquillo (Journalist)
Adriaan Rijkschroeff (Journalist)
Ian Grove (Journalist)
Logan Buenaventura (Journalist)
Special thanks to:
Jasmine Ray Allen for "A True Friend" contribution
Any Questions or Feedback?
Contact allison.taverner@simivalleyusd.org or d.lucie220571@simivalleyusd.org for more information and to join our talented team!