The Voice of Veritas
Eighth Grade Journalism
Volume 2, Issue 1
Quarter One - October 2020
Celebrating Your Birthday During a Pandemic by Olivia Nicholas
Inevitably, your birthday will or has fallen sometime during the pandemic and just because it can’t be big and the way you want it, doesn’t mean it can’t be special. Continuing to celebrate special moments in our lives, such as birthdays, just might be the thing that brings us joy and some normalcy. Spending birthdays and milestones away from your loved one can be saddening, but there are always good and creative ways to celebrate from afar.
Normally, people would go out to their favorite restaurant
or attend an event that they love, but this year looks a little different. One of the most popular ways people have been celebrating birthdays are drive bys and zoom calls, but boy do I have some creative ideas for you. For those who like to take the horse by the reins, you can become royalty for a day. You know, boss your family around, skip chores for the day, eat ice cream all day, unless you’re the youngest child and already do that.
For the little ones, let’s be honest, even just letting them play in the rain is like going to disneyworld for them, but another great idea would be is “chatting with a character”, which is like zooming with friends and family, except, you can hire a service to let you zoom with your favorite character. You could have a scavenger hunt for presents; I know I would enjoy that! Have fun, be creative, and be safe!
How to Respectfully Disagree by Mikayla Villafuerte
There are many scenarios where we find ourselves talking with someone we don’t see eye to eye with. During these conversations, instead of getting into a heated argument and losing our patience, here are a few tips that can help you keep the disagreement respectful. • Do your best to respect the opinion of others • Let them share their point of view and try not to jump in with your opinion • Respect is a two way street and must be implicated on both sides • Do your best to not attack the person personally and keep a level headed mindset • Discussing opinions and views shouldn’t turn into an argument that pinpoints the personal negatives of people’s lives • Always keep an open mind • Don’t be so stubborn that you aren’t willing to hear what others feel or think • How would you feel if no one listened to your opinions and views on life? • You don’t have to agree with the person to get along with them • Not everyone needs to feel the same way about things as you do • It is normal and expected to have different opinions • We are all unique and should respect each other’s differences Romans 14:1 - As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
My personal favorite idea is meeting up at a huge park with some friends or going on a bike ride with family.
The New Normal: How to Overcome Feelings of Sadness or Anxiety by Mirabelle Streger
In case you didn’t know, we’re in the middle of a pandemic. This can cause plans to change, which can sometimes affect our emotions. At least on one occasion this quarantine, we have gone through some mixed emotions. The Washington Post states, “Three months into the coronavirus pandemic, the country is on the verge of another health crisis, with daily doses of death, isolation and fear generating widespread psychological trauma.” This is sad news, considering how our world is struggling with mental health issues already. My hope is that this article gives you some ideas on how to deal with sadness during
this unprecedented time. Some reassuring things to do are: • Do something to give back to your loved ones • Write a list of things your grateful for and reflect on it when your feel down. • Talk to your family and friends
by Matthew Mejia
Myth: Wearing a cloth mask is ineffective.
(and read your
Williams, Alive by Hillsong, and Reckless Love by Cory Asbury.
Try not to compare yourself to others (YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL) Listen to music that makes you happy Surprisingly, quarantine actually helped me find out more about my true self and the person I want to be, as well as just giving me overall confidence and positivity. Here are a few quotes that I use to cheer me up:
43:2, Psalm 16:8, Romans 15:13. A few good Christian jams that make me happy are: Good Morning by Mandisa, Old Church Choir by Zach I hope these help and don’t forget if you are ever going through anything, talk to your parents or any of the teachers here. They are here to help you and they love you. Stay safe!!!
I also have a few Bible verses to share. 1 Peter 5:7, Isaiah
Coronavirus Myths Myth: If I am wearing a mask, I don’t need to practice physical distancing. False, face coverings or masks are only one step to limiting the spread of the novel coronavirus. Physical distancing creates a distance for droplets to fall instead of landing on another person’s mucous membranes.
• PRAY!! Bible!!)
False, on September 16, 2020, the director of the CDC, Dr. Redfield emphasized that, “Face masks are the most powerful public health tool we have.” Cloth masks have been proven to prevent the wearer from spreading their possibly infected droplets elsewhere. Myth: Young people don’t get sick from coronavirus. False, many children have fallen ill from the coronavirus
and they are able to spread the coronavirus to others. That is why it is important for everyone to wear masks and socially distance. Myth: If you don’t have symptoms, you don’t have coronavirus. False, there are many positive diagnoses of coronavirus that were otherwise undetected because of asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread. Myth: Wearing a mask will cause me to breathe in too
much carbon dioxide. False, carbon dioxide is not able to build up in a mask. Carbon dioxide will easily pass through the front of a mask due to its size of .33 nanometers. Myth: Wearing a mask will weaken a person’s immune system.
False, wearing a face mask does filter some infectious droplets from entering your system. However, it will not prevent microbes from entering your body. Remember that before you post or share anything, check whether the information you are sharing is credible and factual. If you are unsure whether something is true, it is better not to post it.