Written By: Paige Bryant, Lily Robertson, & Emily Ziegler
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Written By: Ava Glassen, Carly Yasko, and Amanda Wertheimer
The Best Ways to Not Stress Out During Finals
With the school year coming to an end and summer nearing closer, it is easy to lose focus on tests, homework, and other things school-related. But before the fun of summer can begin, everyone first has to get through finals and AP testing. As the countdown until the end of school begins and finals quickly approaching, it can be natural to stress out and lose patience. Especially at this time of year, it's important to stay focused and calm throughout the last couple of weeks. Here are a few tips to help you to keep pushing through the end of the school year:
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Make sure to get enough sleep leading up to and during finals week. Although you might feel like you need to stay up late and cram in studying and homework, getting a decent amount of sleep will ultimately help you the most.
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Study in advance, so that you do not have to stay up late. By beginning to study in the weeks leading up to finals, it leaves less on your plate during finals week. With less to do during that week, you will be left a lot calmer and less stressed out. It will also make it easier to get enough sleep before your tests because you will have less to do.
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Plan out your after school activities- between sports, clubs or anything else that you are involved in, you can easily “over-book” yourself. Make sure that you are giving yourself enough time to get your homework done before you plan anything else.
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Stay organized and on top of any work and studying you have by using a planner. By using a planner you have your whole schedule laid out before you, so that you can plan out when you will study and do any extra homework you may have.
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Study strategically: start studying things that you know will definitely be on the test. It is important that you start with things that are on the test for sure, in case you run out of time and cannot finish studying.
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Get some exercise if you are ever feeling too stressed out. Go on a walk or run just to get your mind off of the idea of all of the tests. Overthinking your tests will not help or change the results at all.
Ultimately, the most important thing to do during finals week is to stay calm, relaxed, and confident. Maintaining a positive mindset will keep yourself, focused a ready to go. Just know that doing your best on finals will send you into summer feeling on top of it and accomplished. Do not let your workload get to you, take a deep breathe, and just realize that summer is just around the corner, so leave all your hard work on the table because you have nothing to lose.
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By: Lily Robertson and Elizabeth Peters We all know how much work a regular class at Newport Harbor requires but the enhanced AP and IB classes are even tougher. To survive these classes you must work extra hard and make sure you do all of your work. Amanda Neimic suggests “To keep a good grade, you should always be on your homework and know your material because we usually have tests every other week, since the class moves really fast. It helps me to study by watching crash course videos and studying on flash cards. Also, to keep a good grade, it's really hard to miss a day in class because you miss so much and have to try and catch up.” In other words falling behind in class is not an option. When taking an AP or IB class think about why you are taking it, do you actually like the subject?Megan Michael tells “AP classes are a lot more work than people think. The best thing to do is to pay close attention to the details of lectures, especially if it's a history class. Don't depend on the grade bump to save you, you should strive for the best score and think of the grade bump as a bonus. If you're truly interested in the subject and see yourself perusing something later in life that uses that subject, then you should take it. Don't do it just to pile on the APs for college because getting a good grade is a challenge but worth it if you try your best.” Sometimes AP or IB Classes can help you learn to deal with a heavy workload and it is important to have good study habits. Jillian Russel says “being in IB and AP classes can be very challenging at times when it comes to maintaining the work load. I think what has helped me the most is staying organized and using apps like Quizlet to help me study.” When taking these classes it is important to remember that you need to be able to stay awake in the class. “My advice would be don't compromise your sleeping to study, it won't help,” remarks Jessica Woodruff. However if AP and IB classes are really what you want to take it is worth it in the end. “My advice for anyone taking an AP class, no matter what subject, is to be prepared for a heavy amount of homework and harder tests than normal classes. But, in the end, all your hard work is worth it because you have a better understanding of the subject than you did before!” Helen Coyne states. As long as you try your best and do all work necessary, the AP and IB classes will be manageable. We hope the advice provided will help you either decided whether or not to take the advanced classes or help you with getting a great grade. Good luck to you all!
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Once a year, a group of students from each grade join together to compete in a series of events during an assembly. ASB worked hard the past couple weeks to put the props and games in order for this assembly. Paige Warmington, a junior on ASB, said that “ASB did a good job managing [everything] in the short amount of time we had to prepare” and the best part of the rally was “definitely the class involvement because it gets everyone hyped about going to Harbor.” All of the competitors enter the competition hoping to bring glory to their grade. The participants competed in a total of three main events: the hungry hippos game, apple tea game, and the trash can game.
To compete in the hungry hippos game, each team is given a skateboard, bucket, and large trash bin. One participant pushes the other, who is laying on the skateboard, and they have to capture as many small balloons as possible using their bucket. The seniors brought home the win in this game. In the apple tea game, two participants, each from different grades, are attached together by a bungee rope and they face opposite directions. One participant is attempting to grab an apple off of a baseball-batting tee using only their mouth, while the other participant is running in the opposite direction. In the girl’s round, the juniors won but in the boy’s round, the seniors won leaving the score to be 2-1 with the seniors in the lead.
The final game, the trash can game, involved people from each grade in a circle around a large trash bin holding onto each other by a rope. The object of the game was to pull people using the ropes so that they hit the trash bin. If you hit the trash bin or fell over, you are out of the game. The junior boys dominated against all other grades and the so did the junior girls during this game. The two wins from the juniors during this game put them ahead, 3-2. The junior class won the grade wars 2017! The winning class from these competitions then competed in a relay race against the staff team. To complete the relay race, participants had to first complete a bottle flipping challenge, where they had to flip and land a water bottle, cone, and trash can. After flipping all of these items, the participants then had to run and knock down boxes while in an inflatable hamster ball. The final step of the relay race was to throw and make “baskets” into multiple cans. Whoever completed the relay first wins. This was a very exciting rally because it was one of the first times the juniors have ever beat the seniors in Grade Wars!
Written By: Ava Glassen & Carly Yasko
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Many different families and religions and cultures have different and similar cultures that they celebrate during the holidays. One holiday is Christmas. From Christmas songs on be radio, to stockings on the fireplace, Christmas is a holiday that brings family together.
Another holiday is hanukkah. This holiday celebrates eight days and nights of light in the Jewish culture. Each night children get one present to open and light another candle on the Menorah. This year Hanukkah started on Christmas Eve and ended on New Year’s Day.
There are so many different traditions celebrated by so many different religions it is impossible to name them all. Many students at Newport Harbor have their own activities that have become a routine this time of the year. Mathew A. shares that, “A tradition is that I go over to my cousins house and I usually travel to New York or Arizona.” Not only do people celebrate traditions for their religion around the holidays, families also have their own personal family traditions to uphold. Another student, Sammi Nowak says that, “My favorite holiday tradition is on Christmas Eve when my whole family gets together at my grandparents house and we have our traditional dinner and make creme brûlée, it's a great time to spend with my extended family and I love it!” Similarly Elizabeth Miner says, “On Christmas Eve I go to my aunt’s house and we open presents at midnight and I also make cookies with both my grandma's on Christmas.” There are a variety of ways to celebrate, Kiersten Comp shares how her family does, “On Christmas Eve I go to my aunt’s house and have a Swedish celebration. We all get pajamas and then on Christmas Day my family wakes up, open presents, and watch Christmas Vacation.”
Everyone has different traditions. Whether they travel up to Big Bear or open presents with family, or just relax around the house during our two week vacation, everyone enjoys the break. That is until they remember the homework they have been procrastinating. Despite the mild damper homework puts on vacations, here at the Beacon we hope everyone enjoyed the break just as much as we did.
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Written By: Amanda Wertheimer, Carly Yasko, & Ava Glassen
The day of eating way too much, watching football, and most importantly giving thanks, is just around the corner so we asked people around campus what their plans are for Thanksgiving, what traditions they have, and their favorite food. “For break I am staying here and chilling out. We do not have any specific Thanksgiving traditions because family is not a huge fan of the holiday that much, but I enjoy the turkey most.” -Jack Woodworth (senior) “For Thanksgiving I am going to my daughter’s house and our family is gathering there. A tradition of ours is to have a Ham and a Turkey because [my wife] Sarah prefers it, and like most people we always eat too much and the sleep too much. My favorite food is mashed potatoes with gravy and the best triple chocolate cake made by my daughter-in-law’s mother. It is just the best” -Mr. J. Robinson (teacher) “I’m going to be eating a lot of food on Thanksgiving, and probably playing a lot of tennis, and just staying in town. Usually I cook the pumpkin pie… and we play kickball with another family on Thanksgiving or the day after, and it’s really fun. [My favorite food is] pumpkin pie or the stuffing.” -Riley DeCinces (freshman)
“I’m going to be spending time with my family who are flying in from Omaha, Nebraska. One of our traditions on Thanksgiving is after we eat our Thanksgiving feast, we all play poker at the table and we compete against each other to win the prize, which is probably money, and it’s super fun and we all get really into it. My favorite food on Thanksgiving would probably be my Grandma’s cranberries because they’re amazing.” -Ayla Spitz (sophomore)
“For Thanksgiving break, I think I’m planning to stay home and local… with my family because it’s also my birthday during the same week as well! [Some traditions I have are] always [eating] Thanksgiving dinner early [in the evening] and every now and then, I get to pick dessert because my birthday is [very soon after Thanksgiving]. [My favorite food is] definitely the turkey and I like the pie at the end too.” -Justin Boals (freshman)
“[My plans for Thanksgiving break include] staying home and spending time with family. We always make cream corn, irish stuffing and scalloped potatoes. Also, we always go around the table and say what we are thankful for. [My favorite Thanksgiving food is] scalloped potatoes! But I do not like the turkey.”
-Annie O'connor (junior)
Overall, there are many different ways that Newport Harbor families spend their Thanksgiving, from traveling places as a family to just relaxing at home. But no matter how Thanksgiving is spent, it is mainly about being thankful for the people you are surrounded with as well as the delicious feast awaiting you that night.
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Written By: Andie Lee
You may be wondering, what is Black Friday?
The idea of Black Friday is to go shopping and get the best deals on the items you're looking for right after Thanksgiving. Some people go with their friends and others go as a family. Not only does this day give everyone the excuse to splurge, some use is as a bonding experience like Katie Brockway, she says “it's a great tradition to always go shopping with my family on black friday.” This holiday can be used to get all of your Christmas prese
nts for a much lower price or even just an excuse to add a few more clothes to the wardrobe. Black Friday can be “really hectic but a lot of fun” says Lexy Peck, but people still endure the craziness because who doesn't want to get their Christmas presents early and cheap? Some people even get up at the crack of dawn and camp out at retail stores. Gianna Negrete says she goes shopping on Black Friday because “it's a fun and exciting shopping experience”. This event has been going on since 1932 and originated here in the United States. Black friday takes place the day after Thanksgiving. Some people make a tradition out of this American holiday and go every year hoping to get good deals. April Scott has been taking part in this holiday and shares, “I absolutely love black friday and have gone the last 3 years.” However others find it all just way too hectic and a complete mess. People usually want to be the first ones there because products and items go very quickly. If they aren't there soon enough everything of high demand is usually gone. At the end of Black Friday stores usually look like a complete mess but they have actually made a lot of money because although they lowered a lot of the prices they sell a lot of inventory!
nts for a much lower price or even just an excuse to add a few more clothes to the wardrobe. Black Friday can be “really hectic but a lot of fun” says Lexy Peck, but people still endure the craziness because who doesn't want to get their Christmas presents early and cheap? Some people even get up at the crack of dawn and camp out at retail stores. Gianna Negrete says she goes shopping on Black Friday because “it's a fun and exciting shopping experience”. This event has been going on since 1932 and originated here in the United States. Black friday takes place the day after Thanksgiving. Some people make a tradition out of this American holiday and go every year hoping to get good deals. April Scott has been taking part in this holiday and shares, “I absolutely love black friday and have gone the last 3 years.” However others find it all just way too hectic and a complete mess. People usually want to be the first ones there because products and items go very quickly. If they aren't there soon enough everything of high demand is usually gone. At the end of Black Friday stores usually look like a complete mess but they have actually made a lot of money because although they lowered a lot of the prices they sell a lot of inventory!
There is also cyber monday which, like Black Friday, is when stores have all their products on sale for really good prices , however it is all online. Cyber Monday is the monday after Thanksgiving. A lot of people have begun to really prefer Cyber Monday over Black Friday because there is not all the chaos and craziness that come with Black Friday. You can do all your shopping from the comfort of your own home.So what will you do this year on the day after Thanksgiving? Camp outside a store to be the first one in or lounge on your couch Monday morning, finding the best deals on the internet. Whatever you do, you are sure to find great deals on all your holiday shopping!
Pictures from Google Images
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Written By: Amanda Wertheimer, Ava Glassen, & Carly Yasko
This upcoming week is spirit week, and thus, each day ASB has created four different fun-filled costume days all relating to the theme of homecoming, Classical Disney movies, in order to build excitement for the upcoming event. In addition to these fun dress-up days, there will also be activities at lunch, all related to Disney, and prizes will be awarded to those who participate! Monday is twin day, in relation to tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum from Alice in Wonderland. So grab your best friend and decide on a super cute matching outfit, even if it is a white shirt and blue jeans. Also, this day is Halloween so if you are dressing up as something within a group, make sure everyone participates! The lunch activity will be two people licking icing off a translucent icing board at the same time, to model the Disney movie, Frozen. Wednesday (Tuesday we have off) is pajama day so set your alarm later, roll out of bed, eat breakfast, and come to school. This creative idea is similar to Sleeping Beauty pre- Prince Charming. During lunch, you will be able to bob for apples like in the classic Disney film, Snow White. Thursday will be western day to mimic Woody or Jessie from Toy Story. Just wear a cowboy hat, boots and jeans, and you will be set for the day. Thursday’s activity at lunch will be a water balloon toss. The final day of spirit week falls on the day of homecoming. Start off this exciting day by getting into spirit and dressing up; it will make the whole Homecoming experience even better! For this final day of spirit week, just wear Hawaiian attire, in relation to the classic Disney movie Lilo and Stitch. On Friday, be sure to participate in the final lunchtime activity: a hula-hoop contest! During the contest, participants will be dressing up in hula attire (such as grass skirts), so be ready to channel your inner hula dancer! Grab your grass skirt and coconut bra to be ready for this year’s homecoming week. It will be a great way to get ready for the big dance! This year’s homecoming is going to be one that you do not want to miss! The theme is Disney, so get ready for a magical night! Newport Harbor’s homecoming will be at the AV club in Irvine, and according to all ASB it will be “a night to remember!” This week is definitely going to be spirit filled around campus so don’t forget to buy your homecoming ticket and join in on the fun!
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