Monday, October 31, 2011

Ghosts and Goblins Come a Haunting.. It's Halloween!

Hey Everyone! Today is a very special day in America, its Halloween! Halloween is a holiday that dates way back in time, originally serving as the day before All Saints Day as a last time for ghosts and monsters to haunt the Earth before the Saints came. Now, it is an excuse for people of all ages to dress up in their favorite costume like a ghost or monster. They walk around house to house saying, "Trick or Treat!" and get lots of candy! Halloween is a fun time for everyone, as there are costumes parties, games, and lots and lots of candy. People carve pumpkins into their favorite faces of designs and bob for apples. Its like a fall celebration. However, most schools don't have Halloween or the day after off from school, so you can't stay out too late! Its another fun holiday in the United States that brings people together and is fun for all ages. 

Do you celebrate Halloween where you live? What would you dress up as? Let me know in the comments! 


Saturday, October 29, 2011

Red Ribbon Week

Hey Everyone! This week at our school was Red Ribbon Week! This is one week during our school where we focus on the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol and try to promote healthy lives within the high school. The whole school is decorated with red ribbons, streamers, and posters to promote RRW. We have speakers come to talk to us about their experiences and hopefully change our minds for the better. There is even a banner in our school's main common area that everyone can sign to promise to be drug free. Drugs and alcohol are huge killers in the United States and in the entire world. Many students die from overusing these drugs or alcohol each year. One of the worst forms of death that is rapidly occurring in the United States is dying from a car crash with a drunk driver. This is horrible because there is nothing you could have done to prevent it, and our school is trying to make this death number drop. We have a simulation at our school called Every Fifteen Minutes, which stands for every fifteen minutes someone dies from a car crash related to drunk driving. Throughout the entire day, a grim reaper walks around our school and takes someone every fifteen minutes to be a ghost killed from a car accident for the whole day. Then during lunch, we have a whole simulation on an actual car crash from what happens to what are the consequences. We know that drug and alcohol use will never completely end in high schools, but hopefully these demonstrations will help keep innocent drivers alive. Overall, this week is a fun way to bring our school together and become healthy and happy!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Coming home, hawk style!

Hey Everyone! This week is very busy at our school, because it is Homecoming week! Homecoming is a big football game where all the alumni are motivated to come back to school and cheer on their old team. The week leading up to the big game, we have a big spirit week. Every single day has different dress up themes and pep rallies. All the students get really into it, and there is even competitions between grades. The day after the Homecoming football game, there is the first formal dance of the year, Homecoming. Everyone gets dressed up in fancy dresses and suits and dances the night away! There is even a Homecoming King and Queen voted by the school. Homecoming is a great way to bring spirit and unity to the school in a fun way!

Here is a video from last year's Homecoming game and spirit week. Check it out! I am one of the interviewers in the football game segment. 

What would your favorite part of Homecoming be? The football game, the dance, or the spirit week? Let me know in the comments!


Monday, October 17, 2011

Sports: All Day Every Day

Hey Everyone! This school year has been extremely busy for me, from school work to extracurriculars. One of the activities that keeps me, and a lot of other American high schoolers, busy is sports! Joining a sports team is a great way to stay physically fit, while feeling a sense of community within the school. You become great friends with the other students on the team because you spend so much time together! My tennis team has games around three times a week, and practice every day. It's a lot of work, but it is worth it when you team wins! Each sports team plays a certain amount of games, then the overall winners goes on to a larger tournament called CIF, or California Interscholastic Federation. This is a big accomplishment that every team works towards. There are also different levels of each team. There can be teams ranging from Freshman, Sophomore, Frosh-Soph, Junior Varsity, and Varsity which is the top level. I am on the Varsity tennis team at my school, so I have to work extra hard! The atmosphere of high school sports are incredible, and is worth all the hard work. Another fun aspect of sports is the team mascot! Ours is the Hawks.

All sports are important at my school. Here is a video my school's video production team made about all our great sports teams. Check it out! And as always, Go Hawks!

What sport would you like to play for on a high school team? Let me know in the comments!


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Club Rush

Every year at most American high schools, there is one week dedicated to signing up for clubs, or club rush! During this week, each club sets up a table at snack in the center of the school and students come to look at and sign up for new and exciting clubs. Clubs vary from French Club to Young Politicians of America Club. I am involved with many clubs at my school, from Spanish Honors Society to International Club. Clubs are a great way to get involved with the student body while doing something you love. Many of the clubs go to charities, so joining a club can be have social benefits while helping the community. Here is a video from Club Rush this year at my school!

Do you have clubs at your school? If you could join any club, what would it be? Let me know in the comments!


Friday, October 7, 2011

Lights, Camera, Action

Hey everyone! Since I live in California right near Hollywood, video production is a big part of many of the high schools. I am involved with LHZ at my school, which is our school's news and comedy network, where we make movies and segments about the news, music, and some just for fun. Two recent clips we have made are very entertaining and I think you will enjoy them! The first is a remake of the music video to the song Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO. The second is our intro this year, based off the theme of super heros! Please enjoy and let me know what you think! I am in the background of each movie, so keep an eye out for me!

What do you think about the videos? Are you interested in movie making? Let me know in the comments!


Saturday, October 1, 2011

Age of Excellence

On Saturday night, I went to my friend's Sweet Sixteen party! Her party was very fun, and the theme was Hollywood, so there were movie posters hung everywhere, along with a Hollywood backdrop to take photos on, and special balloons everywhere. It was very fun, as all Sweet Sixteen parties are. The age when most American teens have the biggest party is when they turn sixteen. It is almost like a coming of age party! Turning sixteen is a also big deal in the United States because that's when you can get your drivers license. I will be turning sixteen and getting my drivers license very soon! I am very nervous, because you have to take a rigorous driving test before you can get your license. So wish me luck! 

In the United States, turning different ages means different things. At sixteen you can get your drivers license, at eighteen you become a legal adult, but it is not until twenty one that you can drink any alcohol legally, even beer and wine. Becoming older is very fun, but with more age comes more responsibility. 
What is your favorite age and why? Let me know in the comments!