Reopening Plans Get Mixed Reviews - Paul Revere Charter ...
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Paul Revere Charter Middle School
and Magnet Center Friday, April 23, 2021 Volume 65, Issue 4
Reopening Plans Get Mixed Reviews
Getting students back
into the classroom is
not as easy as LAUSD
had initially hoped.
By NICO TROEDSSON
After over a year of Zoom
learning, many students have
been anxiously waiting for the
safe reopening of schools. Dis-
tance learning has been a strug-
gle for many students who have
faced a variety of challenges
from the technological kind, to
difficulties staying focused as
well as emotional impacts due
to feelings of isolation. Gov-
ernor Gavin Newsom’s Safe
Schools for All Plan wanted to
see students back in classrooms
by March and offered $2 billion
for districts to remove obstacles
they thought were standing in
their way of on-campus learning.
But LAUSD and UTLA consid-
ered the risk to be too much as
long as Los Angeles continued
to be in the purple tier.
Now that the city is officially
below that, the district is final-
ly welcoming students back to
school. But many feel that the
reopening plans fall short.
Seventh-grader Kamran Yashouafar (with black sign) protests for the reopening of schools. Photo: Zoe Bolour (continued on page 2)
Mr. Slavin makes points during Ronin Sherertz works out to cope Nurah Abokar’s coffee means a Jordan Detwiler marches into the
Spring Spirit Week. Pages 12-15 with the pandemic stress. Page 26 latté to her every morning. Page 28 waves for a day of surfing. Page 30
April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 2
The District and Union Negotiate Newsom’s school reopening plan that offered see the Watts protest?”
$2 billion to help K-12 schools reopen in In support of the union’s position, a
Throughout the pandemic, LAUSD Su- group affiliated with UTLA called Reclaim
March, saying that it was “propagating struc-
perintendent Austin Beutner clearly stated Our Schools L.A. analyzed seven months of
tural racism,” and claiming “that money will
that “the best place for most students to learn columns, editorials and news articles, saying
only go to white and wealthier schools that
is in a classroom at school.” However, cam- the L.A. Times was biased in its coverage of
don’t have the transmission rates that low-in-
puses continued to stay closed. school reopening and that it focused on voic-
come black and brown communities do.”
By the end of the year, the district had es from wealthier communities.
This was after she accused wealthy white
taken extreme measures to ensure a safe re- Times spokeswoman Hillary Manning
and Middle Eastern parents of “driving the
turn to campus by putting in place “the high- defended the newspaper, saying that the pa-
push behind a rushed return” in a Facebook
est standards of COVID safety of any school per was dedicated to including “a range of di-
post. Many families who supported the teach-
district in the nation,” according to Super- verse and representative voices in our cover-
er’s union in the teacher’s strike, now began
intendent Beutner. He also revealed that the age” that include students, parents, teachers,
to question it, wondering why they were
district “upgraded air filters with the equiva- administrators, along with union leadership
pitting communities against each other. The
lent of an N-95 mask and reprogrammed the and education organizations.
confusion only increased when UTLA repre-
systems to circulate air 24 hours a day. Cus- While the CDC, state health officials, and
sentatives reportedly began reaching out to
todial staff is doubled to make sure schools scientists all made official statements saying
people who had been interviewed by the L.A.
are cleaned and disinfected top to bottom. that it would be safe to reopen schools if cer-
Times who had foreign-sounding last names
And classrooms have been reconfigured to tain procedures are in place, the district and
to see if they were of Middle Eastern origin.
keep all at school safely apart. Staff have the union continued to insist on a more cau-
Seventh-grader Kamran Yashouafar had
been trained and schools have been provided tious approach.
this to say about UTLA’s comments regard-
with adequate supplies of PPE.” A Town Crier poll (see page 19) revealed
ing Middle Eastern families pushing an agen-
On top of the physical changes to LAUSD that the vast majority of polled students favor
da to reopen schools: “It’s so sad that they
campuses, the district also announced plans this more cautious approach, at least when it
have made this about race. I think UTLA
for a Hybrid reopening for families interest- comes to the question of whether or not to
tried to divide all of us by playing the race
ed in sending their kids back to school. Still require only three feet of social distancing
card. But it only brought us closer. Did you
months passed without the plan going into
effect because the district and UTLA, the
teacher’s union, were still in the process of
finalizing an agreement.
On Feb 20, UTLA held a car caravan in
downtown L.A. to protest against reopening
schools prematurely. Protesters demanded
access to COVID-19 vaccines for all school
staff, smaller class sizes for social distanc-
ing, and proper sanitation and PPE before
going back to campus. They also wanted all
LAUSD zip codes to move out of the purple
tier before resuming in-person classes.
In response, Governor Gavin Newsom
set aside 10% of all of the first-round vaccine
doses to prioritize teachers, educators and
childcare workers. Around 75,000 doses a
week of the vaccine became available to edu-
cators beginning Mar. 1. Teachers, substitute
teachers, bus drivers, food service workers,
custodial service workers and administrators
could sign up to receive the Pfizer or Moder-
na vaccine.
Seventh-grade English teacher Mr.
Schwartz, who was recently vaccinated, ex-
pressed his amazement over how quickly
he was able to get one, saying: “I got my
vaccine at the Forum in Inglewood. It was
incredibly well-organized. I kept thinking
about articles I read when the pandemic start-
ed, about how the quickest vaccine ever cre-
ated was the mumps vaccine, and that took
four years. So, the idea that I was getting a
COVID vaccine on Feb. 27th, 2021, less than
a year since campus was closed, was amazing
to me. God bless science!”
Even though educators have officially
been prioritized for the vaccine, UTLA Presi- Seventh-grade English teacher Mr. Schwartz gets the COVID-19 vaccine at the Forum in
dent Cecily Myart-Cruz continued to criticize Inglewood in preparation for the reopening of the Paul Revere campus. Photo: Schwartz Family
April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 3
dents, and to reopen schools fully.
Seventh-grader Kamran Yashouafar
said, “My mom has been a big advocate in
helping to raise money to fund the lawsuit
against LAUSD to make sure 600,000 stu-
dents get the adequate and proper public ed-
ucation they deserve. The point is to place
pressure on the district so that we have res-
olution and meaningful in person options
before fall.”
Anthony Aguilar, LAUSD’s Chief of
Special Education, Equity and Access, re-
sponded to the California Students United
lawsuit in a letter to the editor of the Los
Angeles Times. In the letter, Aguilar calls
the lawsuit “baseless” and “unwarranted.”
He claims that “Los Angeles Unified is one
of a very small number of school districts in
the area already offering elementary school
students five full days at school” and goes
on to stress LAUSD’s commitment to stu-
Seventh-grader Zoe Bolour was interviewed live on FOX 11’s “Good Day LA.” Photo: Fox 11 News dent safety while dismissing the lawsuits
concerns as not being in “the students’ best
rather than six in classrooms. as an excuse to extract concessions based on interests.”
Meanwhile, many UTLA members were its preferred personal and ideological poli- A third lawsuit against the district was
privately warned not to post vacation pic- cies by holding the education and future of put together by California Educators for
tures over spring break because it could hurt LAUSD’s children hostage,” the lawsuit Medical Freedom and the Health Freedom
their arguments against reopening. This was claims, suggesting that UTLA was not work- Defense Fund. They are suing LAUSD for
done in a Facebook group named UTLA ing with the students’ best interests in mind. its mandatory vaccine policy and its digital
FB GROUP–Members Only. The post read The families that filed the lawsuit argue tracking system, the Daily Pass app, which
“Friendly reminder: If you are planning any that some of the agreements between the dis- they say both violate federal law and basic
trips for Spring Break, please keep that off of trict and the teacher’s union that were made human rights.
Social Media. It is hard to argue that it is un- during the pandemic violate the state’s guar- “By choosing to mandate experimen-
safe for in-person instruction, if parents and antee of a basic public education. tal COVID-19 vaccines, LAUSD is forcing
the public see vacation photos and interna- LAUSD was hit by a second lawsuit put employees to choose between providing for
tional travel.” together by California Students United, a their families and being the victim of human
After FOX 11 asked for a response from grassroots parent group focused on reopening experimentation. Forced vaccination is not
UTLA about the online warning, the union schools. The goal of the lawsuit is to force only unethical, it violates the tenets funda-
issued the following statement: “We have a LAUSD to remove its six foot distancing pol- mental to a free society and must stop,” the
diverse membership and they are able to post icy, eliminate weekly COVID tests for stu- Health Freedom Defense Fund argues.
their views on personal Facebook pages and
in this Facebook group. However UTLA does
not monitor nor is responsible for the con-
tent. We do not want to discourage a robust
dialogue for members in the public square of
opinion.”
In a poll of UTLA members, 91% voted
against returning to district classrooms until
there was an agreement about the safest way
to do so.
Frustrations Lead to Lawsuits
Disappointed at the lack of in-person
learning, a group of four families filed a
lawsuit against the district and the teach-
er’s union. The lawsuit claims that LAUSD
failed in its responsibility to act in the best
interest of students because it allowed the
teachers union to decide when schools
should reopen despite the CDC’s go-ahead.
It accuses UTLA of using students as a “bar-
gaining chip” by delaying its members’ re-
turn to campus. Students at Palisades Charter High School organized a drive-by protest to advocate for their
“UTLA used the tragedy of COVID-19 high school to reopen its campus for in-person competitive sports games. Photo: Nico Troedsson
April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 4
Many parents and students from a variety of backgrounds joined together to advocate for the reopening of LAUSD campuses. Photos: Nico Troedsson
They also have an issue with LAUSD’s up with more excuses to keep our schools son classes. Signs written in Spanish were
Daily Pass app which is “designed to coor- closed,” the flier for the protest read. held up by Hispanic protesters who felt that
dinate health checks, COVID tests and vac- Seventh-grader Zoe Bolour was inter- UTLA, who claimed to speak for black and
cinations for a safe reopening of schools.” viewed live on FOX 11’s “Good Day LA.” brown communities, wasn’t actually repre-
LAUSD is the first school district to require She said, “They asked me what it was like senting their desire to reopen schools.
every student and staff member to have a during online school and why I am protest- Seventh-grader Kamran Yashouafar at-
Daily Pass in order to access campuses to ing. I replied by saying that it has been very tended the protest that was held at the Federal
participate in public education. hard to stay motivated to get onto my online Building. “We were protesting to address the
The Daily Pass app was developed by classes and study for tests, and I’m here today inadequacies of distance learning and what
Microsoft. It creates a QR code for each stu- to help not only myself get back to school, LAUSD and UTLA have delivered to us kids
dent and staff member, giving them permis- but younger kids as well because I feel like it this last year,” he explained. “We have had
sion to enter an LAUSD campus for one day was harder for them than me.” significantly less hours of instruction and no
as long as they have a negative test result for On the subject of Zoom in a Classroom, real reasoning as to why we can’t start in class
COVID, show no symptoms, and have a tem- she said, “I am excited to return to campus for instruction when science clearly showed the
perature under 100 degrees. The app shares a little bit of normalcy in these crazy times. rate of COVID spread in kids was very low
anonymous information with public health I think it will be fun to see how different our to nothing. Most schools around us and in
officials as well as people at Stanford Uni- learning experience is from regular school to the entire nation have been open for many
versity, UCLA, The Johns Hopkins Universi- Hybrid learning.” months now with no real spread of COVID.
ty, Anthem Blue Cross, Healthnet and Cedars That same week, students at Palisades What makes us any different?”
Sinai, which is a privacy concern and a viola- Charter High School organized a drive-by Protests were also held in Pan Pacific
tion of rights according to the lawsuit. protest. The goal of the protest was to de- Park and Watts.
mand the reopening of the campus for sports
Protests Call for Reopening and athletics teams. Students were dressed in The Plan for On-Campus Learning
their school’s sports jerseys and held signs
Throughout the pandemic, the Director with messages like “Let Us Play” and “Bring After a year of distance learning, LAUSD
of the CDC repeatedly stated that “schools Back Sports” as they drove by the Palisades and UTLA have finally come to a compro-
should be the last places closed and the campus, honking their horns. mise. 89% of UTLA members have approved
first places opened,” and many agreed. But There have also been many general pro- the negotiated agreement for a safe return to
even though the CDC supported reopening tests against UTLA, LAUSD, and remote school. For students, the result of the agree-
schools, LAUSD kept its campuses closed. learning. One of these protests was held out- ment means Hybrid learning.
That spurred a series of protests. side the Federal Building on Feb. 27. Parents Beginning Apr. 12, LAUSD began re-
Zoom blackouts began on Feb. 22 as part and students criticized the district and the opening 61 elementary schools and 11 pre-
of protests to reopen schools. Students who union for refusing to reopen schools — even schools. All other elementary schools and
participated in the protest turned their Zoom after the CDC said that it would be safe to preschools reopened the following week.
cameras off, refusing to participate in dis- do so. Protesters held signs that spoke out Middle and high schools will open during the
tance learning. “Enough is enough! We can against Zoom instruction and the number last week of April. Each school will have its
no longer sit by and wait for UTLA to come of days students have been without in-per- own staggered reopening schedule, starting
April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 5
with younger grades until all students at ev- to school with your child. We’ll make sure keep students and staff safe,” she explains.
ery school are back in their classrooms. you’re vaccinated. You trust us. It’s going to “It wouldn’t be worth my time to get to
Students who choose to go back to school be safe. We’ve proven we can run and ad- school by like 8:30 am, or whatever earlier
will follow a Hybrid program. That means minister vaccination programs because we’re time, to wear a tight mask all day, be at least
elementary school students will go back to doing it for school staff. So let us do it to help six feet away from everyone else, and only
school half-time with roughly three hours families, as well.” have thirty minutes a day of live ‘advisory
of in-person instruction a day, every day of connecting games.’”
the week. The rest of the time, they will be at Revere Reacts to Reopening Plans Arik Kraft, also an eighth-grader, be-
home Zooming. Middle and high school stu- lieves that the Zoom in a Room plan could
dents who do decide to return will be orga- While some families are reluctant to be too distracting. “I’m not going back to
nized in their homeroom classes, with class participate in the Hybrid program for safety school because it would be more distracting
sizes reduced. The smaller classes will meet reasons, others are less concerned with the than Zooming from home. At school, peo-
every other day. Students will be expected to health risks and are extremely dissatisfied ple would be talking, taking tests, and doing
stay in their own homeroom and log into all with what the district is offering, especially P.E. all in the same room. The teacher
of their other classes via Zoom. LAUSD will for middle and high school students. Many couldn’t even do anything about the noise
be offering noise-canceling headphones to are confused as to why students cannot be because they have to teach their own classes.
help students concentrate. back on campus full-time. They also wonder It’s literally babysitting.”
The only problem now is that around whether it makes sense to return to campus Seventh-grader Aria Kamei-Oser doesn’t
70% of district students have chosen not only to have students Zoom from their desks, see a point to return to campus so late in the
to go back. One reason for this may have and whether changing routines so close to the year when she feels there is still a health risk.
something to do with the messages sent by end of the school year is worth it. The Zoom- “I chose to continue online learning because
LAUSD and the teacher’s union for over a at-school format is a huge letdown for many. the semester is almost over and I see no point
year, insisting that a return to campus would Eighth grader Jaron Paris decided to in continuing our classes through Zoom in
be unsafe. The district is now struggling to
Do you favor the
spread the opposite message to get students
back in the classroom. Through more than 40
virtual town halls with faith leaders, principal
meetings at every school, and The Return to
Campus Family Guide, the district is hoping
“Zoom in a Room”
to convince families to trust the plan.
“This is an urgent challenge for all of us to
reopening plan?
address, not just those who work in schools,”
L.A. Schools Superintendent Austin Beutner
said in his weekly update. “The best learning
for most students happens in a school class-
room and some children may face a lifetime
of consequence if they’re not back in a school
classroom sometime soon.” He talked about Based on a poll conducted the week of Apr. 12, 2021 of
the high level of safety on LAUSD campuses 163 Patriots from all three grades. Graphics: Google Forms.
as well as the dangers of learning loss.
Beutner went on to explain: “In order
to ensure that all families have the informa- continue with remote learning because of our advisory for just a few hours. I would
tion they need to make an informed decision the extra hassle Hybrid learning brings to rather stay at home for the rest of the semes-
about whether or not their child will return to the table for what he considers little benefit. ter and work safely,” she says.
in-person learning at this time, we will con- Jaron explains, “The main reason I decided Interviewed by KCRW, eighth-grad-
tinue with outreach efforts, including good not to go back to school with these new rules er Kate Raymond explained her frustration
old-fashioned knocking on doors. Last week, is because I see no point to do it. I am doing about LAUSD’s reopening plan, saying: “I
I visited with families in South Los Angeles Zooms from home, so I don’t see a reason want to be in person, but how my school is
to let them know our schools are safe and to add the extra commute just to do more doing it, we’re going to be Zooming in our
that teachers and school staff are excited to Zooms in a bigger room with more kids. I classrooms. That is like so stupid. I’d rather
have students back at schools for a full day also dislike the idea of multiple kids talking just do that from my house. It’s a waste of
of learning.” In addition, the district put out in the classroom, and teachers not hearing my time, and I don’t want to go back for that.
the Return to Campus Family Guide for stu- me. The extra drive, and everything else just Zooming from school, it’s like the stupidest
dents to become more familiar with what the isn’t worth it for me. If they ask me to do thing ever, and I’d rather just not even go to
reopening will look like. SBAC testing in person, then I will do that. school if it’s like that.”
To help address safety issues and to make But I won’t go back to school if these are the For other students like Madeleine Wolfe,
vaccines available to LAUSD families, the rules.” there are pros and cons. She says, “I think it’s
district will also be opening 25 school-based Eighth-grader Amanda Wexler also feels great that school is reopening but I personally
vaccination centers. Superintendent Beut- that the Hybrid plan sounds inconvenient for won’t be returning because I think it would
ner believes that with this program, families little reward. “I don’t think that going back to be safer to take the classes from home. Also,
“will feel more comfortable having their chil- school in LAUSD’s ‘Hybrid’ style is worth I think the fact that we will still be on Zoom
dren come back to school.” He appealed to it because I would just be Zooming inside a just with other people with different sched-
families who are worried about the virus by room with like six other kids, not being able ules around us would make it a bit more com-
saying, “If you’d like to be vaccinated, come to socialize due to the COVID restrictions to plex. But it’s great for people like my brother
April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 6
[a sixth-grader at Paul Revere] who would fi- new challenge, saying, “My reaction to the dents virtually.”
nally get to learn on campus and would have ‘Zoom in the Room’ plan is...... bring it on! Eighth-grade English teacher Ms. Moreno
in-person school with his teacher.” We’ve had to tackle one challenge after an- is opposed to the Hybrid format and worries
Similarly, Parsa Imankhan, an eighth- other throughout this pandemic. So we are whether it will allow for the quality of edu-
grade Patriot who will be participating in the ready for the next challenge. Attitude is ev- cation her students deserve. “My concern is
Hybrid program, sees its positives and nega- erything.” He goes on to explain, “The new solely linked to my students’ socio-emotion-
tives. “One of the pros al and mental health
has to be the fact that well-being. If 17-20
simply put, we will be students ‘zooming’ at
back on campus,” he their desks, in their re-
says. “While a small spective classes, while
step, I think this is a in a classroom with a
step in the right direc- teacher teaching his/
tion towards getting her classes on Zoom
school to feel normal for four hours without
again. Of course one a break sounds sane,
of the cons has to be then perhaps a trip to
the fact that students the moon is in store
will not be in the same for me in the very near
room as the teacher future. Imagine this
giving instruction, but scenario: a student
that aspect of the return playing his/her trom-
to campus seems rath- bone or trumpet in
er insignificant com- band, next to a student
pared to the sheer fact doing jumping jacks
that school will have and push-ups in P.E.,
some sense of normal next to a student tak-
again. I decided to re- ing his/her math quiz
turn to campus solely as I teach my English
because of the fact that class via Zoom. No
since life has changed doubt, it makes for a
so much in this past great babysitting al-
year, an opportunity to ternative, but, in my
go to school again in view, leaves much to
whatever form it takes be desired in terms of
is something I feel is what an ‘education’
Frustrated LAUSD students hope for a complete return to campus. Photo: Nico Troedsson
worth trying despite ought to represent,”
all of the negatives surrounding the return to challenge for us will be setting expectations Ms. Moreno says. The school has assured
campus.” for the students working out at school. It’ll parents that P.E. and music students will be
Eighth-grader Casey Scaduto agrees that be awkward and distracting and we’ll have given “alternative assignments” that will not
“Hybrid school is a step in the right direction. to find a way around that. Of course we have disrupt classes.
It will kickstart the process and allow stu- concerns about monitoring our advisory stu-
dents to return to school for a regular sched- dents while teaching, but we will figure it out. Zoom in a Room at Paul Revere
ule in the near future. One downside to the And luckily the P.E. department has a lot of
plan is that it will ultimately still be virtual experience with classroom management.” The latest numbers show that about 40%
and on Zoom, and many students will have Seventh-grade history teacher Mr. of Revere’s students have chosen the Hybrid
different classes and conflicting sounds in the Schepps has some concerns about the new schedule, and 60% will remain completely
classroom. However, I think that it is benefi- plan. “I am first disappointed because of the online. The number of returning sixth-grad-
cial for students to see each other again and timing of the school reopening. It is only for ers is more than double the number of return-
to rebuild their social and emotional skills.” six weeks and I would have preferred the ing eighth-graders.
Chris Andres, another eighth-grader at district waited and opened in August when Revere will officially open its campus for
Revere, is reluctantly returning to campus. our population is healthier.” He also worries Hybrid learning on Monday, Apr. 26, which
“When I first heard of the plan, my initial about how students will transition to the Hy- will actually be a pupil free day. Students will
reaction was that it sounded dumb and that brid format, saying, “I feel compassion for continue with at home, virtual learning on
it would have many more cons then pros. the students who are returning. They will be that day. On Tuesday the 27th, sixth graders
For example, you would have a higher risk required to sit all day at a desk while many in cohort H will be able to return to campus.
of getting sick for doing the same thing we of their friends will continue to stay at home. On Wednesday the 28th, sixth graders in co-
have done for the past year. But on the other They will be isolated in a cohort and facing hort L will return to the classroom. Thursday
hand, you’re also getting out of the house and many challenges. I am concerned about their the 29th will welcome back the sixth-grade
would have very minimal contact with peers. emotional well-being.” Mr. Schepps is also cohort H in addition to the seventh and eighth
The only reason I’m going is because my par- concerned about how well he will be able grade cohorts H. Friday the 30th will wel-
ents think that I should at least try it. But if it to communicate with his online students in come back the sixth grade cohort L as well as
were up to me I would choose to stay home.” this setup, saying, “Teaching on Zoom while the seventh and eighth grade cohorts L. No
Teacher reactions also vary. P.E. teach- wearing a mask will be a major obstacle in information has been provided yet on how
er Mr. Lafolette is excited to take on this connecting and communicating with my stu- students will be placed into cohorts.
April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 7
Hybrid students will be on campus 2-3 ent start time so on days that a student learns things will work out. He described visit-
times a week, with alternating Fridays for from home, they will be dealing with a differ- ing an elementary school classroom with
each cohort. The day will begin at 8:30 am - ent new schedule. students back for in-person instruction.
9:30 am with a transition period and morning On campus, students will only be able to “When I saw the sheer joy in their eyes, I
check in at the main gate, which will be the enter at the main gate and will be required knew it will all be okay,” Mr. Iannucci said.
only entrance to campus. Students will be ex- to wear masks at all times other than lunch. “I’m psyched in fact.”
pected to show their Daily Pass every morn- Teachers and staff will also be masked. One-
ing where they are also expected to answer a way directional signs will indicate which Will Schools Be Fully Open This Fall?
series of health-related questions to be able to way students can walk to get to their class-
enter. No information has been provided on rooms while limiting face-to-face interaction No one knows for sure. Now that the dis-
how secure health information is on the Daily for safety. There will be no water fountains trict and the union have finally come to an
Pass app, how information will be stored, or available for use. Bathroom stalls will be agreement, UTLA President Myart-Cruz has
how it will be used. spaced apart. On lunch breaks, designated taken issue with new CDC guidelines stating
Once students have checked in, they will eating areas have been marked with spray that research shows it’s safe to space desks
head to their advisory class where they will paint, indicating where students will not be three feet apart. She called the guidelines
“Zoom in a Room” from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm, allowed to sit. “rash,” based on a “flawed study,” and “an
with a break for lunch. The schedule will be Anyone who wants to participate in the erosion of safety standards.” She also talked
similar to what students have been follow- Hybrid program will need to have a negative about reviewing the Hybrid program to make
ing throughout the year, with three periods COVID test within seven days of reopening. improvements to it for the fall semester. That
plus advisory each day. Students will have Students can schedule their free COVID test suggests that LAUSD students may not be in
10-minute breaks between periods during through the LAUSD website. COVID tests their classroom full-time next year either.
which they can stretch and use the restroom, will need to be taken weekly after that. There However, there is hope on the horizon.
if they want to do so. will be staff on campus to administer tests to Other school districts in the area, includ-
Even though the CDC has said that sitting students once campus learning begins. ing Beverly Hills Unified and Santa Moni-
three feet apart is safe for students, students If a student becomes ill at school, they ca-Malibu Unified, have made the decision to
at Paul Revere will be seated six feet apart, will be given a medical grade face mask and fully reopen schools this year. Additionally,
Zooming simultaneously. That means one will be taken to an isolation area on cam- roughly 30% of adults have had at least one
student might be asking his teacher a ques- pus (different from the nurse’s station) to be dose of the COVID vaccine so far. And now
tion, another might be leading a class dis- picked up. Parents will be expected to notify with LAUSD’s plan to make vaccines more
cussion, while a third is taking a math test. the school of their child’s COVID test result accessible to its community at 25 schools
The advisory teacher, who is the only teacher as soon as possible. If a person with a con- across the city, the risk of the virus is bound
students will be seeing live, will be trying to firmed positive COVID test has been on cam- to go down.
teach their own classes while all this is going pus, all individuals who were exposed to the Additionally, Governor Newsom just an-
on. LAUSD will be providing noise-cancel- sick person will be notified. nounced that California aims to fully reopen
ing headphones to try to reduce the chaos of Families can switch between Hybrid and all businesses by June 15. While that is un-
the classroom. distance learning every two weeks by con- fortunately four days after the school year
Friday’s schedule is a little different with tacting the school. ends on June 11, it provides some hope that
classes ending at 2:00 p.m. rather than 2:30 At a webinar for parents on Monday, the state will be back to normal and schools
p.m., and the remote schedule has a differ- Revere’s principal expressed optimism that could reopen in the fall.
Revere gets ready to welcome back students with safety signs at the main entrance and cafeteria and freshly sanitized desks. Photos: Nico Troedsson
April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 8
From left, Marty McFly (AKA Sammy Paul and
Mr. Koretz) and “Doc” Brown Emma Almawy join
(AKA Mr. Iannucci) go the cast of “The
“Back to the Future.” Breakfast Club.”
The Auction Is, Like, Totally Wrapped Up
The annual school fundraiser ner from Red Fish Kitchen, which also serves
kosher options and meals for kids. Another
goes virtual to raise money option that families could choose from was
to support school initiatives. a happy hour Zoom package where parents
were provided with an assortment of differ-
BY TAMARA GEAR ent beverages and bar utensils which parents
used to mix and create their own drinks.
The show must go on, even during a Other packages included a wine and cheese
global pandemic. In that spirit, PRIDE par- tasting experience with a sommelier and a
ents working on this year’s auction turned to cheesemonger. During the VIP dinner while
Zoom to put on a show like no other. families were enjoying their packages, magi-
On Feb. 20, Revere parent volunteers cian and mentalist Rmax Goodwin from the
hosted their first ever virtual auction which Magic Castle in Hollywood put on a virtual
so far has raised $72,636 for improving the magic show.
grounds and facilities and ongoing enrich- Co-chairs Jamee Natella (left) and Paula Lewis. At 7:30 the main auction began and a tote
ment programs for academic and social ini- board updated the totals rolling in live. Over
tiatives. 500 people registered and nearly 800 people
The event had an eighties theme, which connected for the event. More than a dozen
gave participants some “totally awesome” parents, plus staff from Blueyed Pictures,
opportunities to show off their retro attire. also worked on the staging and logistics.
At 6:30 the night began with a pre auc- In a thank you letter to attendees, Jamee
tion virtual VIP dinner where families who Natella wrote, “This was a groundbreaking
purchased VIP packages could log onto event that built upon our strong communi-
Zoom and enjoy the food and drinks deliv- ty spirit and proved that PRMS is resilient
ered earlier to their houses. and determined as ever to lead in public
The VIP packages included a sushi din- Anna Berlin channels Vanna White for the raffle. education.”
Ms. Roman helps the magician Rmax Goodwin with one of his tricks. The crew from Blueyed Pictures pose for a shot from their virtual studio.
April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 9
Eighth-grader
Ella Johnson
practices her
flute in Dr.
Tautkus’s advisory
homeroom.
Advisory Activities
Teachers share their tactics to help keep students engaged during their daily virtual homerooms.
By GRANT COELEN the most unique things about her advisory is eighth-grade English teacher started his ad-
looking at photos of cats! Students have re- visory by sharing a Google Doc of different
During COVID, teachers have found sponded positively to this light-hearted way Marge Simpson images and asking students
many ways to keep their kids engaged in their of teaching. which one they were feeling like, and to pro-
advisories. While some homerooms present a Just like Ms. Wright, eighth-grade teach- vide a reason why they felt this way. He chats
chance to finish homework, others are spent er Ms. Moreno uses advisory as a check-in with the class, and also shows them CNN10.
playing games and fun activities. Teachers to see how students are feeling. Regarding Mr. Slavin is not the only teacher that
troubleshoot technical difficulties, and give what she hopes comes from her advisory, she shows his students the quick recap of cur-
students a chance to connect. The possibil- says, “I hope students feel advisory is a place rent events. CNN10 is a popular advisory
ities are endless! Every teacher is teaching where they can come and share and ask ques- topic, especially among the history teachers.
their advisory students in their own unique tions about anything that is on their mind.” Sixth grade teacher, Mr. Alpert, and seventh
way. On Mondays, Ms. Moreno shares her screen grade teacher, Mr. Schepps, like to add the
This online learning experience has been and helps students find important information news to their teaching tactics. After watch-
a challenge for many Patriots. Some teach- on the Paul Revere website. She also uses ing these ten-minute tidbits of news, students
ers have acknowledged this and have taken Nearpod to guide students through social and are asked to discuss and interpret the con-
emotional topics. tent. Mr. Hamanishi gives his seventh-grade
Ms. Stewart also has a special way of
teaching advisory. She goes over things
students need to do in order to stay safe
and healthy during this pandemic, such as
breathing exercises and practicing good sleep
habits. Ms. Stewart also talks with her home-
room about her own personal life and gives
students the opportunity to do the same. In
one particular advisory zoom session, she
encouraged students to come up with a mot-
to or life statement that is “BIGGER THAN
LIFE.” Although Ms. Stewart is a math
teacher, she has found unique methods to
Ms. Johnston gives her students a Kahoot. entertain her advisory students, in a way that Ms. Asahina shows her students a Jamboard.
the time during advisory to focus on their is completely opposite from the subject she advisory students quiz games focusing on
students’ mental health. Ms. Wright, a sixth is used to teaching. Similarly, seventh grade current events for points. Recently, his class
grade teacher, does art therapy, giving her math teacher Mrs. Palcan says, “Advisory reviewed NewsELA articles about Beyoncé
students a mental break from the normal nit this year was a way to socialize and share and Chadwick Boseman in honor of Black
and grit of a school routine. “Art/drawing/ stories, weekend events, happenings, accom- History Month.
coloring can relax people. This has been a plishments, and your everyday life.” Many advisory teachers use this 30 min-
somewhat anxious time in a lot of lives and Students who Zoom into Mr. Slavin’s ad- ute period to let students do homework. Mr.
sometimes simple quiet activities are a nice visory can instantly tell that they’re going to Agcaoili lets his class work on their home-
change of pace,” Ms. Wright shared. One of have a blast. On Feb. 23, for example, this work to minimize their stress later. Students
April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 10
in Mr. Agcaoili’s advisory also enjoy a good per effective, as they are a great opportunity
laugh when listening to some of his jokes, for students to get to know one another since
and are appreciative of how hard Mr. Agcao- they haven’t been able to speak in-person
ili works to help his students manage their since pre-COVID.
classwork. Sixth grader, Ilsy Calero says, “I Revere’s Animal Science elective instruc-
really appreciate his time and dedication.” tor, Ms. Robertson, checks multiple boxes
Ms. Daley also encourages her students to when it comes to advisory priorities. In ad-
do homework, as well as projects she has as- dition to getting homework and class assign-
signed during her advisory. She also uses in- ments done, she has discussion questions that
teractive websites, like Nearpod to mix it up. she assigns in Schoology about students’ fa-
Ms. Asahina, a seventh-grade science vorite movies, artists, or shows. Ms. Robert-
Ms. Wright adresses
her students.
feelings regarding remote classes into writing
and art, using a platform called Storyboard.
In February, the students in Ms. Barbieri’s
advisory class were assigned to create a com-
ic strip dealing with how they felt about dis-
tance learning using Storyboard.
Mr. Cook is always dishing out some-
thing new to do each week in his advisory.
Almost every day, Mr. Cook does an activ-
ity called “High Point, Low Point,” where
everyone in his advisory, besides the ones
who choose to pass, share their high and low
points of the day. One of the most unique
things about Mr. Cook’s advisory is that he
uses a website called “Window Swap.” Here,
Ms. Barbieri and her class view a screenshare of the website “Storyboard That” during advisory. one can see videos of what is happening out-
side of different people’s windows from all
teacher, uses a discussion sheet during ad- son added, “The Animal Science homeroom over the world. You might see a rainy day in
visory. She puts questions on the sheet and is using their time together to build a sense Russia, or a sunset in Sweden! Mr. Cook also
has students type in their answers. Once of teamwork and help students be success- hosts fun games such as “Guess the Baby”,
everyone answers the question, Ms. Asahi- ful in their academic classes. I ‘live Zoom’ using baby photos of students in the class. “I
na creates breakout rooms where everyone from the farm, and they get to see and learn enjoy how we are able to open up in this class
interacts and talks about how they chose to about our school animals.” Not only do Ms. and that you never know what fun things Mr.
answer the questions. Robertson’s students get to see the animals at Cook has planned for us”, says sixth grader,
Sixth-grade teacher Ms. Takashima also Revere’s farm, but once in a while, they even Finn Coelen.
puts her advisory students in breakout rooms get to share their own pets on camera! Magnet teacher Ms. Yang has her own
where they play all sorts of games. Using Ms. Barbieri’s advisory had a different distinctive way of teaching her advisory.
Zoom’s breakout rooms has proven to be su- approach to advisory. The class churned their Every Tuesday, she invites Paul Revere’s
Mr. Honda shows his students BrainPOP about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ms. Daley includes a history lesson during advisory.April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 11
Mr. Schepps shows his students CNN-10. Avery shows off her PillowPet during advisory. Mr. Slavin checks in on students using images.
librarian, Ms. Gualano, to teach coding and this advisory take trips to other classrooms because it gives us more time to plan events
game design to her advisory students. One or school events so they can capture what’s for the students of Revere. We transition
Tuesday, Ms. Gualano taught about identify- going on, and use it in The Town Crier. right from Period 5 into our advisory time so
ing core mechanics of many popular games, Mr. Bilek, Paul Revere’s leadership teach- we have plenty of time to meet,” Mr. Bilek
like Pac-Man. Following her lesson, students er, and sixth-grade math and science teacher, shared. Student Council president Hailey
went into breakout rooms to discuss some uses advisory as a continuation of leadership. Sugarman added, “We work on final details
core mechanics of their own favorite games. “Leadership appreciates the virtual advisory for upcoming events or projects, have group
Seventh-grade English, Year- discussions about ideas for fu-
book, and Journalism teacher Mr. ture events, or talk about how we
Wechsler runs his advisory as an can help students and their men-
extension of his journalism class. tal health during these arduous
During this time, Mr. Wechsler’s times. Other times, we may talk
advisory students pitch ideas for about our own concerns regard-
the upcoming issue, discuss their ing distance learning this year.”
articles, and brainstorm. Students Even during the pandemic,
even get the time to work on teachers are doing a great job
their stories during advisory. Mr. with their advisories, and have
Wechsler also feels strongly about found ways to check on students.
the importance of breakout rooms In spite of the tricky situation in
when needing to produce a news- which COVID has us trapped,
paper. “I want my student editors teachers and students are mak-
to be able to meet with their writ- ing the best of the virtual classes,
ers in break-out rooms to iron out and each with a unique method
some of the details in upcoming to make homeroom still fun,
issues,” he added. Students in Mr. Bilek uses his advisory as an extension of his leadership class. even from home.
Revere librarian Ms. Gualano occasionally joins Ms. Yang’s advisory to teach students the coding and design work that goes into video games.April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 12
Mr. Roig Wins
Teaching Award
By SONNY MULNICK
One of Revere’s very own teachers,
Mr. Roig, has gotten the John Hopkins
Sarah D. Barder Award, an award for
teachers who have done a tremendous job,
and was nominated by a former student
of his. He said “I was surprised because I
was 1 of 10 teachers from across the coun-
try to receive this award this year.” He
also said that “I don’t think it’s changed
the way I teach, but it validated for me
that I’m on the right track, and that it’s
meaningful to students because otherwise
I wouldn’t have gotten the award. I’m al-
A Very Special Delivery
ed, “That’s huge! So funny that they arrived
A huge trailer sent by the U.S. in a big truck... Yale is a brilliant problem
Coast Guard, carrying many solver in more ways than just hardware. His
kind heart combined with know-how is tre-
computers, arrives at Revere. mendous.”
Few people were around that Friday
By ALAN RODMAN during the current pandemic shut-down, or
Guest Correspondent ever witnessed Yale meeting that gigantic 18
wheeler from the Coast Guard, and receiv- Mr. Roig
A huge tractor-trailer, sent by the U.S. ing this surprising gift on behalf of the entire Zooms from
Coast Guard, eased into the front driveway school. his kitchen.
at Paul Revere Middle School last month to An interesting challenge came up for
meet with tech specialist Yale Stark. Mr. Stark as soon as he attempted to install
When Ms. Ana Berrellez, from the an SSD, which is a solid state drive, in place
front office, saw it, she wondered, of the removed hard drive. At first the
“What on earth is the Coast drives did not work, and, as a pa-
Guard doing here?” The tient troubleshooter, he tested
truck had traveled per- a known working drive. ways looking to be better, but receiving
haps 500 miles, bring- Then his research led to the award made me realize that I was do-
ing the school fifteen Yale’s discovery. ing it right.”
much-needed laptop “I made my in- A former student of Mr. Roig, eighth
computers, request- stall-drive a different grader Michael Williamson, says, “Mr.
ed for renovation by way,” he explained. Roig was an excellent teacher. The first
Mr. Stark. “So the program I was day of school, I remember heading out
The Dell laptops using to make it was of the classroom with a massive smile
were a much appre- not good. I figured it on my face. He told us there would be
ciated and timely out, it turns out I had little homework, fun assignments, and
gift, and were donated to re-do my windows NO tests. His classroom felt like a per-
through the kindness Yale Stark solves a 10 install flash drive: the fect break in the middle of middle school
and courteous assistance problem regarding the SSD now works.” English. Although it was not a stressful
of Lt. Officer Giovanni Ro- laptops’ SSD cards. He calmly did all the trou- class, I learned a lot more than I had ex-
man, of the U.S. Coast Guard. bleshooting on a complex prob- pected to, simply because of Mr. Roig’s
Reusing electronic devices lem, and solved it overnight. He is method of teaching. He had a more ar-
saves resources, and reduces demand for ma- mainly excited to be able to help Paul Revere tistic and creative way of teaching where
terials, while it keeps them from becoming make the greatest use of this kind donation on some projects, he wanted us to use our
waste. At the same time, many of these valu- from the Coast Guard, which he is getting own voice and our own opinion. Also, he
able donated and rehabilitated laptops will ready—just in time for the long-awaited re- had a fun theme of teaching which re-
replace out of date ones now used by many opening of Paul Revere next week. volved around a goal to make it through
of Paul Revere’s special education teachers. Before long. the very special delivery of the year, while enjoying our class
Hearing this story, one reader comment- computers will be buzzing with activity. with him.”April 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 13
On the first day of Spirit Week, Patriots showed off
their silly, crazy and hilarious outfits on Zoom. This
day’s theme represented the situation with online
learning because it is so mismatched from when
everyone learned in person. So on Monday, Mar.
22, it seemed fitting to see some of the wackiest
mismatches possible.
For seventh-grader
Jakob Heindel (right)
this meant wearing
a plaid shirt, shorts
and contrasting socks.
Eighth-grader Giada
Musumeci (top) wore
two ponytails, one
braided and the other
flowing freely. For
once, the usual rules
didn’t apply.—Michael
Williamson
Collage:
Jaden
KhalifianApril 23, 2021 Paul Revere Middle School 14
Collage:
Gabi
Traum
The second day of Spirit Week was probably the most colorful, with
students and teachers showing off their tie-dyed fashions and accessories.
Eighth-grader Benji Mokhtar (left) was jumping for joy at the chance to
show off his groovy T-shirt, while Mr. Badgett used his vivid blanket as
a backdrop for his day’s lesson. Seventh-grader Max Browning (below)
looked even cooler than usual wearing his multi-colored cap. In fact, on
Tuesday, Mar. 23, all these Patriots rocked the retro look.—Connor PetoyanApril 23, 2021
Collage:
Asa
Stratmann
Due to the popularity of the first Pet Day earlier this year, animals found
themselves returning to the spotlight. Students and teachers alike were
able to show off their furry and feathery friends, from dogs and cats to
birds and turtles and even a horse. The P.E. teachers couldn’t wait until
advisory, so they allowed their students to showcase their pets before
their normal routine began. In fact, all throughout the day, Patriots posed
for photos with their cute and cuddly critter companions.—Hunter HughesPaul Revere Middle School 16
Many students and teachers participated in a head-warming event on
the last day of Spirit Week. Mr. Slavin stuck many pencils in his hat
and wore it to class, while Camille Kassab (above left) rocked the hat-
over-headphones look. Ms. Perez wore three baseball caps, while Mr.
Liberatori borrowed his baby’s stylish cap and tried it on for size. In
Mr. Cook’s 6th grade advisory class Asher Butan (below) wore a blue
bucket hat with white dolphins for crazy hat day. It was all a wacky
way to “cap off” four days of fun and fashion.—Mattias Hernandez
Collage:
Chloe
SuhApril 23, 2021 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 17
CJSF Guides Patriots Over Zoom
Despite COVID, the
organization keeps
calm and carries on.
By HORUS KUP
Founded in 1967, the Cali-
fornia Junior Scholarship Feder-
ation has been around for almost
54 years, but the history of the
organization goes back even
farther than that. CJSF was first
suggested by Charles F. Sey-
mour at a convention of high
school principals in Oakland
1916, but no action was taken. Ms. Esparaza talks
By 1967, the California Junior to the seventh
Scholarship Federation had be- graders in CJSF
come a reality, opening opportu- about earning a
nities to foster high standards of degree in college.
scholarship, service and citizen-
ship in middle school grade.
Now CJSF is back this se-
mester with members meeting
every Friday on Zoom, with
eighth-graders and seventh-grad-
ers alternating each week. Paul
Revere finished accepting appli- membership for the semester. think that COVID 19 will only Feb. 5. During the non-quaran-
cations on Jan. 25 for this year’s No CJSF points shall be given impact our CJSF chapter at our tine school year, CJSF would
membership. There were 232 for Physical Education, cours- school by not allowing us to meet in person during lunch, but
applications this year. The appli- es involving clerking or office/ have our in-person lunch meet- now they are meeting on Zoom.
cation was open for seventh and teacher assisting, and courses ings in the auditorium. The col- According to Ms. Esparza, “The
eighth-grade students, in which taken on a pass/fail basis.” lege-related content is the same plans for CJSF will continue to
they would fill out a form telling Times now aren’t normal as if we were on campus but I be lunch meetings about col-
basic information on their grade. due to COVID-19 and because know that the student interac- lege-related topics and hopeful-
There is a special way in of this people and some groups tion is affected by not meeting in ly we can find creative ways for
which CJSF selects who qual- have to change as well. CJSF person.” our CJSF members to interact
ifies. According to the CJSF is no exception. Seventh-grade Students were notified of with each other. I think the most
website, “A student establishes counselor Ms. Esparza says, “I their acceptance into CJSF on important aspect of CJSF is not
membership by earning academ- missing the opportunity to share
ic points. The number of points out information about college
earned must be twice the number topics via our Zoom meetings.”
of academic subjects in which Now that CJSF is happening,
the student is enrolled, i.e., 10 members are learning more and
points must be earned by a stu- more about future colleges and
dent enrolled in 5 eligible sub- how to help prepare for then, es-
jects, 12 points for a student with pecially for those who might be
6 subjects, etc. A minimum of 4 going to the UC system in Cal-
academic subjects is required. ifornia. They are also learning
CJSF semester points are about city colleges.
calculated based on grades as Overall a majority of mem-
follows: A = 3 CJSF points, bers in CJSF have their camera
B = 1 CJSF point, with 1 ex- on. Upon adapting to the quaran-
tra point for an A or a B in an tine, they also try to keep some
AP, IB, or Honors-designated traditions. They have been hav-
course, not to exceed two such ing an online attendance system
points per semester, C or Pass = through a Google form which
0 CJSF points, D in any subject people would access from the
shall disqualify the student from Eighth-grader Michael Williamson never leaves home without his CJSF card. Paul Revere website.April 23, 2021 Paul Revere Middle School 18
Opinion
Kindness is Key
The Only R-Word You Should Be Using Is Respect
Kindness is something that should be ro-typical” people. many ways.
universal, but from what I’ve seen lately, For the ten years my brother has been The blatant disrespect for other humans
it’s not always. You don’t see the entire on this planet, I have learned more from that I’ve seen such as excluding people with
community of “neuro-typical” people being him than I have from anyone else. He has Special Needs because of their disorder,
made fun of on a daily basis just for simply taught me empathy, kindness, and compas- staring at them, and making unnecessary
existing. Lately, it’s been difficult hearing the sion and for that I am eternally grateful. He comments about their appearance is not okay.
insults directed at people with Special Needs has helped show me that there is more to a They aren’t doing that to you, so why do that
that are commonly passed off as jokes. Peo- person beyond what appears to the eye or to them?
ple with autism, Down syndrome, or other diagnosis, and that just one smile can make It is important to remember that the
disabilities are not here to be the punchline somebody’s day. With that said, it is disap- words you say leave a mark. Even if you
of your joke. When people think they don’t. A single com-
take the time to look past the pliment can make someone’s
fact that someone with Special day or even week, but an insult
Needs may look different or has the power to damage a
sound different then they do, relationship and hurt some-
they can realize there is a very one’s feelings. Regardless of
smart, kind, and compassionate whether you live with someone
person under the thick layers of with Special Needs, or know
stereotypes. someone, or have no connec-
I have seen some of the tion whatsoever with a person
greatest acts of kindness with disabilities, you can take
towards those with disabilities. the time to educate yourself.
I’ve seen my entire community If you find the time to say the
come together to help me raise “r-word” or another offensive
money and awareness for my comment that affects an entire
brother’s rare genetic syndrome community of people, you can
a few years ago. I’ve also heard take even less time googling or
stories about many people with asking a reliable source what
Special Needs breaking barriers you’re saying really means.
and doing things they were told When you use the negative
by society and by doctors they language, it reflects who you
could never do. For example, are as a person. But you can fix
Helen Keller was the first deaf that with an apology, promis-
and blind person to earn a ing to never say it again, and
bachelor’s degree and Chris Nikic, just a few educating others you hear use that language.
months ago, was the first person with Down People need to lead with It definitely has not been easy seeing and
syndrome to complete the Ironman triathlon
which is a 2.4-mile open water swim, an 112-
kindness and compassion to hearing insults that offend a community of
those like my own brother, but standing up
mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run. Famous connect with others. for him and others is what I have and will
scientist Stephen Hawking won 17 medals continue to do. In a world where everyone is
including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. unique, we can educate ourselves and each
Being in a wheelchair did not stop him from pointing that there are still people who make other. Together, we truly can make this world
making large impacts in the world of science. fun of, torment, and still use the “r-word” a kinder place. We can learn such valuable
Eighteen year old activist Greta Thunberg to insult someone’s intelligence. Kids are lessons from each other’s experiences and
who has Aspergers’ has led a world-wide en- growing up to learn that if someone looks or differences. My hope is that you learned
vironmental movement. History has proven sounds different than them, they should stay something from mine. If you see someone
that people with Special Needs are inspiring away because they’re “weird.” But that’s not with Special Needs being bullied or hurt,
and worthy of admiration when they’re able true at all. We learn best from those people don’t be a bystander, stand up for them. You
to thrive in a supportive community. We can that are different because we learn best from have the power to help someone, so use it.
look up to them as much as we do to “neu- each other, and we are all different in so —Avery ZemlakYou can also read
