'La La Land' - A Film Review by Pat McGurrin

For those who don't know, La La Land is a recently released musical directed by Damien Chazelle, featuring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. The film has won over 80 awards since its release, and has been nominated for over 130 more.

I personally don't like musicals at all, but yet it is easy to say that La La Land was the most captivating film I have ever seen. It seems as though most musical's music really corny, (not that La La Land's wasn't), but each song seemed less 'typical' than most musical's scores.

The Music

- Sebastian:

• In La La Land, Ryan Gosling's character (Sebastian), is passionate about jazz and is a skilled pianist. Composer for La La Land Justin Hurwitz, seamlessly reflected Sebastian though the score, with each song having a jazzy vibe through the piano. Towards the beginning of the movie, it is revealed that Sebastian is struggling to show is skills, so it makes sense that the piano in the score would be very upfront, like he would have wanted it.

- Mia: 

• Emma Stone's character (Mia) is equally reflected throughout the score. Mia is conveyed to be vibrant and playful, but at the same time she's very nervous on the inside. Each number is performed by large orchestras, but the instrument that stands out  the most in La La Land (next to the piano) is the flute. Specifically, the song 'Someone in the Crowd',  discusses Mia's lack of confidence-but it also includes a solo from Mia and then a flute solo. That flute solo then builds up to and grand close to the song. 'Someone int the Crowd' even has the same counter melody as the opening number, 'Another Day of Sun' (A piano and flute filled piece), which was played just before the first time Mia and Sebastian met.

Filming

La La Land was also so captivating due to its use of 'CinemaScope', which offers a wide angle picture just like IMAX. Unlike IMAX though, CinemaScope was used in the 50's and 60's so the picture is a bit grainy. While it may just seem logical to just use newer, IMAX instead, director Damien Chazelle likely wanted the film to look like musical's of that time.

Chazelle also decided to be ambitious with his filming, as most of the scene were just long tracking shots, done one take. This was especially impressive during the musical numbers, since it felt as though the action was just unfolding.

Theme

(This section contains spoilers). Mia and Sebastian's relationship can be traced down to to themes, which both of them learn in the end. Both Mia and Sebastian had big dreams, but they realized in the end, that pursuing their dreams come at the cost of each other. They also learned that no matter what, they should stick to their roots, and that good things will come with patience. Their relationship never did succeed, and amidst their success they knew that they never could have truly succeeded alone.

Watch It!

You don't have to be into these types (I'm not) to love La La Land. It's for anyone who loves jazz, or any music. I do recommend seeing it in theaters though (I've seen it twice), since the CinemaScope experience is really breathtaking. I'd say that La La Land is my favorite movie ever, and I cannot wait to see more movies by Chazelle.

Blog post 12/22 Dylan Mazzella
Pros and cons of school uniforms
Pros:
The issue of bullying seems to be exaggerated in television series and movies, with large kids seemingly attending school solely for the purpose of harassing kids smaller than them and taking their lunch money. Most times, when people feel that a situation is a bullying situation, it is their friends who are putting them down, and something that makes this happen is the types of clothes kids wear. The easiest solution to this issue is taking the diversity in clothing selection out of schools. Another positive effect of school uniforms is a perceived sense of unity and identity. The unity is achieved through the sameness that is present with a school of students who dress the same, and the identity is achieved because it gives some type of consistency to a student who otherwise may not have it. He or she can look forward to wearing the same thing daily, which is something that one can rely on to be the same. From a school perspective, which of course is also important, it gives a positive image for the school.

Cons:
    This issue could be seen as a bad idea because of the freedom of expression that is taken away from students. Though it provides with some type of artificial identity, students could be seen as stripped clean from identity, and put into a cookie cutter community. Students can see this move by school boards as an attempt to keep students from making themselves unique which could negatively affect learning experiences of students. From the very important perspective of the school board, it is a budgetel nuisance to provide shirts and ties for each student, and if the school were to require students to purchase their own school uniform, it would lead to anger in families in the particular town in which the uniforms are being introduced.

Irony in the Shipman's Tale: By Nick Matkiwsky

In Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury tales, one story stands out as the most ironic story of the bunch. The Shipman's Tale is a perfect blend of situational and dramatic irony and it drives the plot of the story. In the tale, a rich merchant lives in a giant mansion which is always filled with party guests. He had a beautiful wife and she loved to accessorize herself with luxurious clothing. The wife felt neglected because her husband began to refuse her wants and kept his money to himself. In order to get what she desired, the wife decided to ask one of the merchant's best friends for a loan. The situational irony comes into play when the best friend of the merchant, a monk, loans the money from the merchant and gives it to the wife. The merchant treated the monk like his brother, yet he went behind his back in order to try to charm his wife. This scenario is also displays dramatic irony because the audience is aware of the situation and knows that the monk is going to give the money to the wife without the merchant knowing. With dramatic irony the reader is intended to know more information than the characters in the story. In this case we the readers know that the monk went against his friends wishes in order to woo the merchant's wife and give her what she desires. Chaucer's use of irony strengthens his stories and make them more entertaining to read. Using irony also can emphasize any points the author wants to express, like in the Shipman's Tale when the story demonstrates how the wife felt neglected and how the merchant refused to acknowledge her.

Bullet Journaling By Mrs. Kopp

Each year, in December, I start to think about my goals for the upcoming year.  I used to write long lists of resolutions, but was then perpetually disappointed when I wasn't able to fulfill all of them (who has time to run for 100 days in a row?).  Then, for a while, each member of my family would choose one word that we hoped would represent the new year (I'd make little wood signs with each word because I love to paint and use my Cricut machine). 

As I think of 2017, I realize that there is one area of my life that I want to focus on and that is my life as a writer.  Before I was married and had children, I used to write all the time.  I would fill journals with thoughts, poetry, and drawings, but then suddenly- I just stopped.  Despite the fact that I still collect journals (and bookmarks) because I LOVE THEM, I wasn't writing.  

So, in 2017, I want to write every single day.  But, I know that I won't have time for that and it makes me sad.  Then I heard about something called Bullet Journaling.

Bullet Journaling is supposed to be a way to quickly organize plans, activities and thoughts.  I loved this idea and I'm ready to go. 

First, I purchased a fun planner that had enough room for me to bullet journal on each day of the year.

I purchased this at Michael's craft store (another favorite of mine- I wish I could live there) for only $11.99 (70%off)

Then, I got some pens that make me happy (I know, I know it's weird).  Now I can write a few sentences a day or more, if I have the urge and time.  I already added some poems leading up to the January calendar. I am so excited about this and I encourage each of you to find a way to achieve one goal in 2017. 

Happy New Year! 

What The Holiday Season Means To Me by Jessica Longstreth

With winter break fast approaching for this school year, I though it appropriate to discuss what this time of year means to me. I hope that some of you readers can relate to what I feel during this season.

The holiday season, Christmas in particular, has been greatly commercialized. Just think about the heaps of presents and the great amount of money that is poured into Christmas each and every year. According to the findings of the American Research Association, in 2015, holiday retail sales raked up 600 billion dollars. However, when I think about Christmas and the holiday season, my main focus is not on the presents, or getting the most expensive gift for my family and friends -- these are just material things. Sure, I still get small gifts for my family and friends, and it's always nice to receive a gift from my loved ones. But my point is that the gifts are not the sole highlight of my winter break.

True holiday season in my family starts as early as Thanksgiving. What do I mean by true holiday season?  Well, I mean that theses are the times when I get to spend time with family members. Whether I see them often or rarely, this is the time of year when we all get to see each other once again. This aspect of the holiday season is perhaps my favorite. It's taking the time to have fun with my family and closest friends during this time that fills me with the most joy. Also, it doesn't hurt that holiday break is just a nice relief from the stresses of the normal school week. It allows me to take some time for myself and watch my favorite Christmas movie, Elf, or curl up on the couch with some hot chocolate. Speaking of delicious hot chocolate, I can't forget the other great part about the holiday season -- lots and lots of food!

So now I ask you, the reader, what does this holiday season mean to you? Look past the elaborate gifts. What brings you joy this holiday season?

The Christmas Song Book Tag | by Kristine Le

In light of the holiday season, I thought, “Why not be festive and try a holiday themed book tag?” So as a gift, here's my attempt at ‘The Christmas Song’ book tag.

Question 1:  “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch”: Name a villainous character you couldn’t help but love.

This is a hard one. For the most part, I’m the type of reader that as soon as a villain is introduced, I hate them. I hate them. I hate them and will be waiting for the protagonist do the right thing and kindly rip out their eyeballs. But, if I had to choose, it would be Sebastian from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. From the second he was introduced into the series, I loathed him because he would not stop ruining everything. It was as if every time he blinked something would go wrong. Nonetheless, I just could not see past his peculiar personality. He was just so lively and dark at the same time that it was impossible for me not to love him.

Question 2: “All I Want for Christmas is You”: Which book to you most hope to see under your Christmas tree?

The obvious answer for this question would be A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas because it is the first book in one of my all time favorite series and I have yet to own it but, a book I wish to see under the tree that I haven’t read would be either Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare or The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I’m in desperate need of Tale from the Shadowhunter Academy because I have been waiting for its release all year and it would just be the perfect book to start off the new year. The Song of Achilles is another “want” because recently my best friend read it and has not been able to stop talking about it. I’m curious to see if it lives up to the hype.

Question 3: “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”: Name a character that overcomes major obstacles and learns to believe in themselves.

I’m not sure if this is a perfect answer but the first character that came to mind when I saw this question was Ari from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz. Throughout the entire course of the novel, Ari is struggling with different problems--mainly internal--and is just so lost and hopeless that nothing will ever change. Yet, as the story progresses Ari learns more about himself as person and is able to overcome all the issues that plagued him in the beginning. His story was so raw and beautiful, I think everyone would be able to walk away with something after reading it.

Question 4: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”: a) Which character do you think would be on the top of the naughty list?

b) Which character do you think would be at the top of the nice list?

A character on the naughty list would hands down be Tamlin from A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas. Never have I ever read a character who was so downright selfish and narcissistic. His heart was in the right place but, oh god, I just could not read scenes that included him without wanting to throw the book across the room.

Moving on to a less frustrating topic, a character on the nice list would definitely be Rhysand from A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas. To put it vaguely, the things that Rhys does in this book are just incredible. His character is so down to earth and so selfless that it genuinely hurts my soul to read about him giving up everything, even himself, to protect the ones he cares about. If Rhys is not fit for the nice list then I don’t see how anybody else is.

Question 5:  “Frosty the Snowman”: Which book just melts your heart.

If I could, I would try and use A Court of Mist and Fury to answer all of these questions because I just loved that book to death, but that wouldn't make for a much interesting blog post. So, a book that melts my heart would have to be A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. This story-- I don’t even know how to even begin to explain this story. Roughly, it focuses on a boy named Connor and how, with a help of a monster, is able to come to terms with what is happening in his life currently. It may sound like a typical cliche but it is so, so much more. The book is both incredibly deep and meaningful and is just one of those stories that I think everybody would benefit from reading. It will definitely melt any reader's heart--if they have one.

Question 6: “Feliz Navidad”: Choose a book that takes place in a country other than your own.

Almost all of the books I read take place beyond this world but for a more appropriate answer, I’ll say The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North because it takes place in Russia and England.

Question 7: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”: Which holiday themed book do you use to spread the Christmas joy?

Most people would easily answer this question with Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling but, since I have not read any of the Harry Potter books my answer is Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. Ironically, this book is said to be a fanfiction of the Harry Potter books and I guess to some effect if gives off that “Christmas joy” like the actual Potter books do. To be quite honest, this is probably the only “holiday” related book I’ve ever read…

Question 8:  “Sleigh Ride”: Which fictional character would you choose to spend the holidays with (doesn’t have to be a love interest!)

Is it bad that I already had an answer to this question before ever doing this tag? Well, what can I say, I like imagining myself in real life scenarios with my favorite fictional characters. A character I would choose to spend the holidays with would 100% be Dorian from The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas. I honestly can’t think of a better person to share the holidays with because Dorian is such a warm, loving person, and justs fits right into the theme of the holiday season. Plus, I think he would give the best presents given that fact that he is a king.

Question 9: “Baby it’s Cold Outside”: Which book that you didn’t like would you sacrifice to a fire to warm yourself up in the cold?

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes. I would not even think twice about sacrificing this book because it still frustrates me that I actually wasted my time and gave this book a chance.

Question 10: “Do you hear what I hear”: Which book do you think everyone should read?

I’ve probably already answered this question somewhere throughout this tag but another book I think everyone should read is I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson. This story is simply so cute and it just gave me all the reader feels when I read it. It is also very unique because it is told using dual perspective and the two narrators are twins, speaking from two different times period of their lives. One twin tells their story from their younger years while the other one tells it from when they are slightly older and as they each tell their individual stories, it eventually connect together in the end crafting a beautiful foolproof ending.

Gray Area by Melissa La Fountain

She lived in the gray area between content and gloomy

She was stuck in a constant limbo

Utterly dissatisfied with life

But unsure of what must change

It felt as though she was not even living

Just barely existing

In a life that didn’t seem to fit anymore

She wasn’t exactly sad

She definitely was not happy

She was so confused

What did she feel?

What was the problem?

Her life had become hazy in the blink of an eye

The Story of Hanukkah and Modern Traditions by Sylvia Kloian

History
I know that not many of you  know the story of Hanukkah, so I thought that this would be a great opportunity to tell it. Around 200 B.C.E., the Jews of Judea (Israel) were ruled by Alexander the Great. Alexander was very religiously tolerant, and even though he was polytheistic, he allowed the Jews to practice in peace. After Alexander died, Antiochus III, a Syrian king, took over. He was not as kind as Judea's previous ruler. He sent soldiers into villages that used force to make the Jews worship the Greek gods. There was a family in Judea called the Maccabees. Mattathias (the head of the family) and his five sons (most famously, Judah) rebelled against the soldiers forcing Greek religion upon them, and soon enough, they had gathered enough followers to make an army. The war that then ensued was long--three years--but in the end, it was worth it. The Jews eventually won, but their sacred Temple had been destroyed in the battle. This included the holy lamp that usually burned all day and night. A new lamp was fetched, but the only oil that the Jews could find to light it was a small jar that was bound to only last them one day. Miraculously, it survived for eight. This is why there are eight nights of Hanukkah. This year, the first night happens to fall on Christmas Eve. The menorah has 9 spots for 9 candles. The middle spot is for the candle called the shamash candle. It is the only one that is lit every single night, and is used to light the other candles. On the first day, we use the shamash to light the far right candle. Every night, one more candle is lit than the night before, continuing from right to left. After the candles are lit, we say (or sing) a prayer in Hebrew: Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu, l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah. (Amein) Although Hanukkah is the most well known Jewish holiday among non-Jewish people, it is one of the least important. It does not have heavy religious implications, as does Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, it is a holiday that is meant to be a fun celebration--a Festival of Lights.

Modern Traditions
This year, the first night happens to fall on Christmas Eve. The menorah is usually lit after a dinner that consists of lots of fried foods (to represent the oil) like latkes and jelly donuts. This candle-holder of sorts has 9 spots for 9 candles. The middle spot is for the candle called the shamash candle. It is the only one that is lit every single night, and is used to light the other candles. On the first night, we use the shamash to light the far right candle. For the next seven nights, one more candle is lit than the night before, continuing from right to left. After the candles are lit, we say (or sing) a prayer in Hebrew: Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu, l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah. (Amein) Then any presents are given, usually children get one present each night. My family usually plays dreidel, a game that uses a spinning top that has four sides (Gimmel, Nun, Shin, and Hey) to win money or chocolate gelt. If anyone has any questions or is curious about anything, feel free to ask me!

Her Eyes; A Poem by Rebecca Greenberg

Below is a picture I drew in my free time, little over a year ago. I often like to take realistic things, in this example the eye, and add some sort of imaginary aspect to it, like the hands protruding out of it. I also decided to write a poem, which might give the reader some sort of explanation as to how I perceive the drawing. I hope you enjoy...

Her eyes

Eyes are the window to the soul,

Everyone says

But what we often fail to see

Is the pain within that frays

Her eyes

The green amber that swirls round’

Reminds me of the sharks

That are making her drown

Her eyes

Dart back in forth trying to hold the demon in

But nothing can stop the power

Thats within

Her eyes

Consumed with evil, taken over by despair

Her world flips upside down

And she gives in without a care

Her eyes

Alone in the world holding onto this secret

She decides to cut her eyes out

To stop the demons uniqueness

Her eyes

But the demons are smart, they can't be beat

For everyone knows

Demons live in you and I, until total defeat.

Student's Favorite Things About Christmas - Josie Embleton

      Christmas is just around the corner, and many students are excited for this holiday. I would like to find out what people are the most excited about, so I am going to ask a few students what their favorite things are.  Of the students that were interviewed, one of the most common answers were waking up on Christmas morning. I believe this is an important aspect of Christmas because after the whole holiday season it's exciting when the day finally comes. This leads into the next common answer  of the Christmas season. Many students' favorite thing about Christmas is the buildup of the Christmas season. This time is filled with holiday treats, cookies, lights, Christmas trees, shopping, and many other exciting things, so it is understandably one of the most common answers to this question. Another answer that many students said is spending time with family. This is a very important aspect of Christmas and many people's favorite thing. This holiday offers a time for everyone to come together and enjoy each other's company. The last common answer is the food that comes along with Christmas. Everybody loves cookies, chocolate, pies, ham, potatoes, and so much more, and it is definitely one of the most common favorite things about this holiday! With so much to look forward to during Christmas time, these are the most common student favorites.  

Why is it good to have a pet? By Natalie Earl

Many parents do not get pets for their child(ren) for different reasons, the most common reason they deny their child(ren) pets in my opinion is because the pet is a lot of responsibility. Animals are my favorite so I would like to argue why it is in fact a good idea to get your child(ren) pets. The most important lesson I would say to teach your kids is to be responsible and having a pet will teach your child(ren) that easily. When it comes to pets you must feed them, bathe them, give them water, take them outside, and those are only the basic responsibilities to come. Pets can also comfort your child(ren) if they need a friend around, it may allow them to be more active by playing around with the pet (only if the pet is not a fish most likely). Pets tend to relieve you of stress, especially dogs they are supposed to give a sense of security for the family. It is also possible to improve the child's reading skills by reading to the pet because all they do is listen and they cannot judge. When I was younger in second grade I went through a program at school where I would read to dogs and it helped me perform better in school. Pets can be a lot of responsibility but they have many positive affects on a family and I know from personal experience that my animals bring my family closer together.

My Essay On Music by Stephanie Downes

In class, students were recently asked to write an expository essay. The essay could be defining a word, categorizing different groups, or classifying a concept. I chose to write a definition essay on music. My objective was to make the reader understand my passion and love for all types and variations of music. In my essay I wrote;

“There's one language that everyone in the world speaks fluently; music. No matter who you are, what your background is, or what you stand for, it can be expressed melodically. That begs the question: what is music? Music is powerful. It has the power to bring people together, it has the power to let us express ourselves , and it has the power to make us feel.”

Throughout the essay I explained my own definition of music. I went on to explain that it was a powerful tool that was used all over the world to send messages, bring people together, and  bring us joy and hope.

Overall, I enjoyed this assignment because it gave my classmates and I the freedom to show off not only our writing skills, but our personalities as well. It was an enjoyable experience to be able to write about something that I really care about.

Old English vs. Middle English

Old English vs. Middle English

By: Sophie Venus

Old English is also known as Anglo Saxon and is from the 400s to 1066. Middle English is from 1066 to the 1400s. There are differences between these two types of English. One of the major differences between the two is that old English has different letters. In old English there are different letters including "edh" "ash" and "wynn". There are also little endings on the ends of words to show what that word is doing in that sentence and old English does not require a specific word order. In middle English spelling has not been formalized. And middle English contained some Latin terms like substania which is substance in modern English. Another difference is that old English is close to the German language but middle English is a lot closer to the English we have now.  
example of old English:

While middle English looks like this: