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January 2019
October 2018

The Conspiracy

Rockvale Ravens' News from Students

2018-2019

Edition 3 January 2019

1/25/2019

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Articles this month:


*What is PKU? by Abigail McDowell

*History of Music by Ashlee Clayburn

*Choir Concert by Kelly Bianco

*Bullying by Kelly Bianco

*Valentine's Origins by Isabella Smythe

​*Chinese New Years by Isabella Smythe


What is PKU?
​by Abigail McDowell

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​PKU stands for Phenylketonuria. It is diagnosed when you are born, and you get heel prick they take to do blood tests. They do some tests, and soon enough you will know if you have PKU or not (or something else of course).
 
The Basics
So, what is PKU? Well, first let’s go into detail about how it is diagnosed. First, they take the blood test in the heel when you are born, then they analyze it for the presence of the enzyme needed to break down phenylalanine (also known as “Phe”) (phe is an amino acid in protein). Then if they do not detect it, you have PKU. There are two types of PKU, classic, and moderate. When you have PKU, you must get your blood taken for tests to see if you are getting enough or too much protein, because when you have PKU you are extremely limited on protein (when I mean extremely, I mean extremely! Some people only get 390 MILLIGRAMS of protein A DAY!). This means no grains, dairy, or meat, dairy/grains are VERY limited, so these are a rare treat for people with PKU. The diet is basically fruits and vegetables and lots of starch because most of the food they eat is specially made with mostly potato starch. One major brand is called Cambrooke Foods.
Pros and Cons
Some struggles for those with PKU:
  • Parties, any kind. You can’t have any of the food! No cake for you!
  • Making more than one meal for dinner. (Sorry, PKU Moms.)
  • Halloween. You can not have any of the candy they give out! It’s all chocolate!
  • It’s so tempting to want to try things you can’t!
  • It’s hard to explain.
 
Some pros for those with PKU:
 
  • There is a whole community out there, waiting to become friends with you!
  • There are so many camps out there to do during the summer. For example, Emery Metabolic Camp.
  • When you are with your PKU friends, you can be very open and share everything!
  • Trying PKU recipes is very fun!


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History of Music
​By Ashlee Clayburn

When music first began in the 1000s, it was first made by Eduard-Leon Scott de Martin Ville. He was a French printer and bookseller who also invented the phonautographed, which was the earliest recording sound device. A large leading figure in composing music was for John Adams. His name was Jacopo Peri! He had written the very first opera in the late 16th Century in Italy! Music has been around for 55,000 years now and has been carried on through Homo sapiens to now. Another fun fact is, the first song written was called “Hurrian hymn NO.6.” This was considered the world's earliest melody but the oldest musical composition to have gone through the first century. The man who had written our simple tune of solfege on was from a man named Guido D’Arezzo. The music you hear today is nothing compared to the old days Beethoven and/or Mozart in the 1760’s. Mozart began his work at age six, while the music artist you hear of today are starting in their teen years!


Choir Concert
​by Kelly Bianco

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​6th Grade Program
  • “Jubilate Deo” by Michael Preatorious                      
  • “Lullaby Noel” by Mary Donnelly
  • “Let There Be Song” by Dave and Jean Perry
  • “Winter Magic” by Dave and Jean Perry
The Sixth graders were amazing on all 4 songs. Personally, my favorite was “Winter Magic,” but that is just me.
 
7th Grade Program
  • “La, Loo, La, Low” by Sandra Howard
  • “Kusimama” by Jim Papoulis
  • “I Believe” by Mark Miller (a Jewish poem in song)
  • “African Noel” by Victor Johnson
The Seventh graders sang “Kusimama” and “I Believe” at an event earlier this year. Personally, my favorite was “I Believe” because it was a poem that was found in a basement where Jews were kept during World War II.
 
8th Grade Program
  • “Jinglin' Bells” by Mary Donnelly and George Strid
  • “Ticket to the Kingdom” by Donald Moore
  • “Carol of the Bells” by M. Leontovich and P. Wilhousky
  • “Silent Night” by Greg Gilpin
These songs were amazing once you heard them. “Carol of the Bells” is a tradition here at Rockvale. 8th graders always sing this for the Winter Concert. “Silent Night” was in three different languages—well, if you count sign language as a language; it was sung in German, English, and American Sign Language (ASL). My favorite was “Silent Night” because it was three different languages, which made it so much fun to learn.
 
All Choirs were awesome and wonderful!

Bully
​by Kelly Bianco

​Bullying is when someone is being harassed by being verbally and/or physically abused.
 
Three Types of Bullying
  1. Cyber Bullying occurs when someone is bullied online.
  2. Physical Bullying occurs when someone is bullied physically.
  3. Verbal Bullying occurs when some is bullied verbally.
 
What do to if you are being bullied, or if you are seeing someone being bullied
  • Tell someone that it is happening
  • Don't join in on it
  • Ignore them
 
Interview
Question: Why do you think people bully others?
Answers:
  • Mrs. Cleghorne: It depends on the person.
  • Mr. Adair: There are a lot different reasons on why people bully.
  • Ms. Paris: Self-esteem.
  • Mrs. Guthrie: Lack of self confidence. 
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The Origins of Valentine's
​by Isabella Smythe

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There are many different legends for the true origin story of Valentine's Day. Some say it was named after a man named Valentine, who was executed by the emperor, and others say it was named after a man named St. Valentine who helped wed illegal couples. So, due to the lack of the real origin story behind Valentine's Day, we'll be looking at the most well-known and reasonable legends.

            The first legend is about a priest named Valentine who spoke out against Emperor Claudius II, who forbid marriage for young men because he realized unmarried men made better soldiers than the married ones. Valentine knew this wasn't just, and continued to wed young couples secretly. His actions were later revealed, and the emperor had him executed.

            There are several stories that tell about Valentine being killed for trying to break Christians out of Roman prisons. The Christians were tortured because of their religion, which was looked down upon at the time. According to a common legend, a prisoner named Valentine sent the first valentine to a young girl which he had fallen in love with, who was most likely the jailer's daughter, and they had fallen in love upon the girl visiting Valentine in the jail. In the letter Valentine sent to the girl before his death, he wrote, "From your Valentine," an expression that people still use in letters and on cards.

            Another story is how two men in the 3rd century, both named Valentine, were executed. Both of the men were executed on February 14th, but of different years. The Catholic Church acclaimed their famed martyrdom by celebrating St. Valentine's Day.

            You're probably wondering what a bunch of dead men have to do with love and hearts. During the Middle Ages, many French and English people believed birds' mating seasons began on February 14th, which led people to believe Valentine's Day should relate to love and romance.

            The reason the holiday is known as St. Valentine's Day is because there are dozens of Valentines throughout history that are related to love or February 14th or marriage, and the Valentine we celebrate had to be distinguished from all the other ones.


All About Chinese New Years

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Chinese New Year is the biggest and the longest festival of the year in China, celebrating the beginning of a bright New Year. The festivities last 15 days, and the last day is known as Lantern Festival, marking the end of the New Year celebration.
           
            Unlike our New Years in United States, the dates of the New Years change every year, but it always at least occurs in January or February. A whole one-sixth of the world's population celebrates the festival, and the Chinese aren't the only ones who commemorate. People from Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and Korea celebrate Chinese New Year, even though they aren't Chinese. It just goes to show that anybody can celebrate a holiday!

            The most important part of any Chinese New Year is the meal. Families and friends gather together for a huge dinner with traditional foods like dumplings, spring rolls, rice, fish, niangao, fruit, noodles, turnip cakes, and many others. Families will make offerings to their ancestors and/or gods, hoping good luck and fortune will be brought upon them. After the big feast, families will sit down together and watch the annual New Year's Gala. Households everywhere will set off tons of fireworks and firecrackers, which is the only time of the year you can set off fireworks in some places. After the new year begins, there are colorful parades with actors and dancers and costumed people, festival games, and lion and dragon dances.

            When it comes to Chinese New Year, it's all about the luck. There is a day before Chinese New Year begins, dedicated to cleaning and sweeping, so you can clean out all the bad luck and make way for the good luck of the upcoming year. During the New Year Festival, there is no showering, sweeping or throwing away things, just so none of the good luck is cleaned away. Other taboo things during Chinese New Year include cutting hair, using knives and sharp objects, swearing, arguing, saying unlucky words (pain, death, etc.), breaking things, visiting a wife's family, asking for repayment, taking medications, and many others. To make sure they get the most luck, Chinese deck out in red: red clothing, red lanterns, red envelopes, red decorations. Red, in Chinese culture, is the symbol of wealth and prosperity. The Chinese don't want to take their chances with luck!

            For kids in China, Chinese New Year is one of the best festivals of the year. Children receive lucky money in special red envelopes from grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other close elders. Even though everybody's birthday isn't on the same day, Chinese New Year is like the national birthday for kids everywhere, because they to do more things on their own, as if they're older. Kids play festive games with friends and siblings, and light firecrackers to celebrate the new year.
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Edition 2 November 2018

10/26/2018

 
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A Few Sweet Treats to Bake
Author-Kelly Bianco


Easy Oatmeal Cream Pies

 
Prep: 20 min. + chilling
Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling
Makes:1-1/2 dozen
Ingredients
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
Makes
1-1/2 dozen
• •2 large Eggs
•1 package spice cake mix (regular size)
•1 cup quick-cooking oats
•1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
Recipe
 
• Beat butter and eggs until blended. Beat in cake mix and oats. Refrigerate, covered, 2 hours or until firm enough to roll, though dough will remain fairly soft.
• Preheat oven to 350°. On a well-floured surface, roll half of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Spread frosting on bottoms of half of the cookies; cover with remaining cookies. Freeze option: Freeze cookies in freezer containers, separating layers with waxed paper. To use, thaw before serving.
Cinnamon Cream Roll-Ups
 
Total Time;40 min
Prep: 20 min. Bake: 20 min.
Makes: 8-10 servings
 
Ingredients
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1-1/4 cups sugar, divided
• 1 loaf (1 pound) sandwich bread, crusts removed
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
Steps;
• In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, egg yolk and 1/4 cup sugar; mix well. Flatten bread slices with a rolling pin. Spread cream cheese mixture over each slice to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up diagonally from point to point.
• In a shallow bowl, combine the cinnamon and remaining sugar. Dip roll-ups in melted butter, then in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 16-19 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Chocolate Hazelnut Mug Cake
Ingredients
for 2 servings
• 1 cup chocolate hazelnut spread, divided
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
Steps
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together ¾ cup (225 g) chocolate hazelnut spread and the eggs.
• Fold in the flour.
• Evenly distribute into two mugs.
• Microwave each mug for 2 minutes.
• Cool for 5 minutes.
• Frost with remaining chocolate hazelnut spread and serve warm.
• Enjoy!

How to Bake a Sweet Potato Pie
by Abigail McDowell

Prepare
☐
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
☐  The ingredients you will need are 1 (1 pound) sweet potato, ½ cup softened butter, 1 cup white sugar, 2 eggs, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 ( 9 inch) unbaked pie crust, and mini marshmallows


Work safely

☐  Position pot/pan handles to prevent accidents
☐  wipe down working area with a cleaning wipe or damp paper towel.


Work clean
☐  Keep a kitchen towel close to wipe down
☐  put up ingredients as you go
☐  Keep trash can or another disposal nearby


Directions

☐  Boil sweet potato whole in skin for 40 to 50 minutes, or until done.
☐ run cold water over the potatoes and carefully remove the skin (warning: potatoes will be hot!)
☐  break apart sweet potato in large bowl
☐  slowly add butter and mix well with an electric mixer
☐  stir in sugar, milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla
☐  pour filling in to unbaked pie crust
☐  bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 55 to 60 min
☐  pie will puff up like a souffle, and then it will sink as it slowly cools
☐  add marshmallows
☐  put in oven for 5 min as oven is cooling
☐  let cool, cut, and enjoy!

Book Review
By Ashlee Clayburn

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I have just begun the wonderful series of the Touch novels well over a month ago. It’s from the author Laurie Stolarz and her touch novels are so far been a favorite. Its filled with drama, action, romance, mystery, and even supernatural. Each book has well over 200 pages and each chapter is fun and more unique from the last. The book Deadly Little Games, it’s more about how the characters Camelia and Adam have been put into a sticky situation. This creating an even stronger issue of, what if Adam is faking this game from deathly crossword notes? Camelias boyfriend and she have the power of psychometry and when Ben (Camelia’s boyfriend) tells Camelia to stop helping she begins to wonder “Why would he say this?”  The entire series of the Touch novels are in the library and if you interested into checking one out, go right ahead! Each novel gets even better than the last with a new intriguing special page about the book every chapter. ​

Image provided by Isabella Smythe

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The History of Christmas
By Abigail McDowell

​The history of Christmas is not very well known, but you might be thinking “Well I know it was the day Christ was born, what else is there to know?”, and let me tell you, there is a lot to know! Like where in the world did sane, gifts, carols, cookies, reindeer, and trees all come from? We all love putting up the Christmas tree, and decorating with pretty lights, but why do we do it? That is the raging question in my mind.

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Santa Claus?
 
Does anyone know where and the world we got the idea of a big guy with a long beard, going in to peoples houses at night, leaving them presents, and then leaving on a flying sleigh driven by reindeer back to his workshop back at the North Pole? He is not make-believe, Saint Nicholas, whose name had been changed over the years to Santa Claus, was a real person, a bishop in the church in the fourth century. Many stories had been told about his generosity. In Saint Nicholas’ time, a young woman had to have a dowry (money or materialistic items which she would bring to her husband) before she could be married. It’s a custom we men. Saint Nicholas wanted to help a poor nobleman with three daughters, but he wanted to do it secretly. He gave for the joy of giving. So, three bags of gold were thrown at the nobleman’s window. However, the nobleman found out who had given the gold for his daughters’ dowries. After that, anonymous gifts of charity were often given to Saint Nicholas. This good man also spent a lot of time in prison because of his faith. The stories of Saint Nicholas came to America through the Dutch settlers in the state of New York. At first, he was dressed in his traditional Bishop’s robes. It wasn’t until the 20th century that he began dressed in the iconic red and white suit. Dr. Clement C. Moore, a professor of Greek and Biblical Studies at General Theological seminary of New York, wrote “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (more commonly known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”) in 1822. Only eight reindeer pulled Santa’s sleigh until the song “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was written.

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​Why the deccorations?
 
Christmas trees are Evergreens, which have history with Christmas, Basically Evergreens show that the circle of life continues in the depths of the cold harsh winter. In pre-Christian times, many cultures put up evergreen boughs in the winter to encourage the return of the sun gods. According to Ann Koski, former director of the Wisconsin Historical Museum and Christmas customs scholar, some Christians preferred holly with the red berries representing the blood of Christ amid eternally green leaves. Stockings are hung up because legend tells us that Saint Nicholas heard of a once-wealthy father who squandered his money and his three daughters had no dowry, so they couldn’t marry. “Nicholas knew that each night the girls washed their stockings and hung them by the fireplace to dry” Koski explained, so he came in the middle of the dark, cold night and dropped gold coins the chimney, which landed in their stockings. Lights are hung because yet again, according to an unverified legend, after Martin Luther saw stars twinkling in the sky between boughs of the evergreens on Christmas, he is said to have placed the first candles on his tree. But electric lights, Koski explains, came from Thomas Edison’s business partner Edward Johnson who had a similar vision but with electricity.

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Gift giving?
 
One of the main reasons we have the custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas, is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the wise men: Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh. Frankincense was a perfume used in Jewish worship and, as a gift, it showed that people would worship Jesus. Gold was related with kings and Christians believe that Jesus is the King of Kings. Myrrh was a perfume that was put on dead bodies to make them smell pleasant and, as a gift it showed that Jesus would suffer and die.
 
As you can see, Christmas has changed a lot over the years. Gift giving, Santa Claus, and decorating, were not always a thing. Of course the is a ton of things that were not talked about that could have been, but that would be extremely long. But either way, People can Celebrate Christmas any way they want, there are no rules that say you have to hand up lights, just do it you own way. 

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