This year, Parks Junior High has introduced a new class, Advisory, which takes place every Wednesday. During this class, students are to participate in Second Step, a series of lessons that teach problem-solving techniques and social skills. However, this period has become extremely controversial to students. Although some students seem to like it, numerous feel that Advisory is “a waste of time.”...

 Although having two lunch periods may seem like an adequate solution to the issues regarding capacity and safety, was it the best arrangement for Parks students? Instead of benefiting our school, this situation indeed worsens it. First of all, two lunch periods divide the student body. Splitting our school into halves makes it more difficult to collaborate and engage with each other is an added...

After junior high, high school is the next level of education that catapults you into college or a career. However, how well would you do in these institutions if you cannot get passing grades in your junior high classes? In my opinion, kids with failing grades should not move up to high school.  If a junior high student has a low GPA, how well will he or she do in high school and life? If these...

*This article contains spoilers.* The Marvel Cinematic Universe or MCU, a once untouchable cinematic giant, has been releasing one disappointing movie after another with inconsistent character personalities, shallow plots that lack direction, and bad CGI. Sadly, "The Marvels" is no exception to this downward trend. Released on Nov. 10, 2023, "The Marvels" is about Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel who...

Gymnastics is a physical sport that requires balance, strength, flexibility, and agility. People may not know this but gymnastics is the hardest sport because gymnasts around the world are expected to take hardcore training and suffer from stress and injuries to achieve their goal and reach for the Olympics. Training First, gymnasts must train until the very second they feel too weak or in pain....

Many Kpop fans wonder, who are the 4th gen(generation) leaders? Many 4th gen groups are nominated to be leaders, but who exactly is fit to be the winner? One of the top groups is Stray Kids. With their self-produced songs and talented skills, a lot of fans consider them as 4th gen leaders. Stray Kids are self-made, meaning ever since their debut in 2018, they have been producing their songs without...

During the pandemic of 2020, online education and distance learning was the main way students went to school. To attend class virtually, students would learn on different platforms such as Zoom. On Zoom, teachers would provide lessons and lectures and students would communicate through the live chat. In addition, the teacher could have students join in on class discussions by unmuting themselves or...

A rising problem in the United States has become the Shelter Dog Crisis. A dog shelter, also known as a pound, is a place where stray, lost, abandoned, or surrendered dogs are housed. There are many different types of shelter animals, but the majority are dogs. The fact that there are neglected dogs in a shelter is heartbreaking alone, but what makes the issue worse is that most of these dogs end up...

Malice Mizer is one of the best visual kei bands to exist. Active from 1992-2001, Malice Mizer was a Japanese visual kei band known for their strong French and classical influences, later moving away from deliberate French romanticism and incorporating Gothic aspects. However, they experienced many difficulties such as the disappearance of members throughout their active years.  Despite these challenges,...

Scarlett Johansson is well known for her role as Black Widow in the Avengers movies. However, she has a much bigger story than just her career.  Johansson was born on Nov. 22, 1984, in Manhattan, New York, and is one of five siblings, four of whom have careers in the film industry. Her acting career took off in 1994 but waves for her performance in the 2003 film, "Lost in Translation." In 2010,...

Over the course of 50 years, Charles Monroe “Sparky” Schulz published a total of 17, 897 comic strips of "Peanuts," featuring his two best-known characters, Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Today, he is considered one of the most impactful cartoonists in history. Born on Nov. 26, 1922, to parents Carl and Dena Schulz, the cartoonist grew up as an only child in St. Paul, Minnesota. Schulz was a boy...

Ranye Dakota Prescott, better known as Dak Prescott, was born on July 29, 1993, to Peggy and Nathaniel Prescott. Raised with three other siblings, Jace, Tad, and Elliot, Prescott grew up in a trailer park in Louisiana; with his dad in and out of prison, his mom raised the boys all by herself. When Prescott got older, he attended Haughton High School in Louisiana, which is where his passion for football...

 Olivia Isabel Rodrigo was born in California on Feb. 20, 2003, making her a Pisces Sun with a Libra Moon, a “Spicy Pisces” as she likes to call herself. When she was born, her grandfather did her astrology charts and predicted that she would be a performing artist and extremely emotional. She said that those words could not describe her any more accurately. Rodrigo attended Lisa J. Mails Elementary...

There are some pretty big video game names out there, such as “The Legend of Zelda,” “Mario,” and “Donkey Kong.” However, not everyone who plays and enjoys these games stops to wonder who’s behind all of them. The three famous franchises mentioned were all created by the very influential video game designer and producer, Shigeru Miyamoto.   Shigeru Miyamoto was born Nov. 16, 1952,...

Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, also known as Peso Pluma, is a regional Mexican artist who creates and performs music like corridos tumbados, trap, and reggaeton. Born on June 15, 1999, Pluma grew up in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, but starting eighth grade, he moved to San Antonio, Texas. There he attended Corbett Junior High School as well as Clemens High School, where he would later graduate. When he...

LeBron James is a current NBA Player who is often thought of as one of the best players in basketball history. Though his success may seem great and many aspire to be like him, his childhood was anything but glamorous. Growing up on the tough streets of Akron, Ohio, James was born to a teenage mother who was only 16; James’s father left her at birth which meant she was the only person that could...

Nelson Mandela, born on July 18, 1918, was a South African civil rights activist who dedicated his life to peace. In the village where he grew up, Mandela would often hear the elders’ stories about their people having great courage in difficult times. Due to this, Mandela dreamed of helping his people in their time of struggle; he worked hard in school, attended the University of Fort Hare, and then...

Matthew Perry, famously known for his prominent role on “F.R.I.E.N.D.S.", recently passed away on Oct. 28, 2023.  As the actor playing Chandler Bing, he brought many laughs to the table with his witty sarcasm and relatable humor.  Not only this but throughout his career, Perry contributed to several films while connecting to his audience on a humorous and emotional level. Unfortunately, Perry also...

Emma Stone is a famous actor who has played numerous roles throughout her career and has received many awards for her talents.  Stone, whose previous name was Emily Jean Stone, was born on Nov. 6th, 1988 in Scottsdale, AZ. She had shown interest in acting since the age of four and got her first role in a stage production called “Wind of the Willows” at the age of 11. She eventually switched...

Kaylene Hauen Hong was born on June 12, 2011, and from an early age, she always loved to dance and sing. Since fourth grade, she has been attending GI, a prestigious dance academy and at Parks Junior High, one of her electives is choir, which she’s been enjoying immensely.  As she got older, Hong realized that she wanted to pursue her passion and become a professional singer and dancer. Below are...

Being a junior high schooler isn’t always the easiest. Students have to overcome a long series of challenges, including past personal experiences, peer pressure, and much more. All of these challenges are made even harder when you have to transfer to a new school where you don't know anyone. One Parks student who knows exactly how this feels like is MiraElla Yeo. Yeo is a newly transferred student,...

Who is the female friend of Harry Potter in the famous series? The answer: Hermione Granger, a character Emma Watson played for many years that helped catapult her into stardom. After the Harry Potter series ended, Emma Watson continued to star in numerous movies and shows that became immensely popular. However, there is much more to this individual than just her acting abilities. So just who is Emma...

Early Life Eric Lynn Wright, famously known as Eazy-E, is an American rapper. Born on Sept. 7, 1964, in Compton, CA, Eazy-E spent his childhood years in a city riddled with robberies and ongoing gang violence. Not only did he have to grow up in a tough area, but he also had to deal with death at a young age when his cousin, Horace Butler, was murdered. In his teenage years, Eazy-E went to three...

Two-time NFL Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce is now 34 years old and thriving in the football world. Kelce has already accomplished a lot in his career and he isn’t stopping anytime soon.  Kelce was born Oct. 5th, 1989 in Westlake, Ohio to parents Donna and Ed Kelce. Kelce has an older brother named Jason Kelce who also plays in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles. On his team, Kelce carries the...

A young boy and his two friends strive to be the best in the magical world. As they find their way through the mystical wizarding lands, they must find a way to defeat the evil lord, Voldemort, and his minions. This tale is the famous Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowling, a literary celebrity. The series has received numerous awards and praise from all over the world; it has even been turned...