THE INTERLAKE INQUIRER
The Official Student Newspaper of Interlake High School
Perspectives:
The 1st Semester of Online School
Shyam Arumugam
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the spring of 2020, it brought along a new era of isolation and uncertainty. All lives were impacted by the pandemic in some shape or form, including educators and parents, who scrambled to find the most effective ways to help students during such a depressing and stressful time.
As a result of the combined effort of school administrators and parents over the following summer, some order has been restored. For example, teachers can use syllabi that have been designed for effective in-person and fully online classes. They are also providing focused academic support to students identified as needing more help in small groups or individually during asynchronous time. Even with such systems in place, there are many problems that students face, such as a loss in the family or tensions in the household, which have become magnified in such isolated times. To learn more about the experiences of various students, we interviewed three students from different BSD schools.
T.W. is a freshman here at Interlake. He enjoys regularly attending his swim practices, which he sees as important for both physical and mental health. He says “it's much easier to focus on school if you burn all your energy.” He feels that he has a much smaller circle of friends to interact with, as less time is available nowadays. It's come to the point in which he interacts more with teachers than other students because it has become common for others to have their videos and mics turned off in class. His main peer interactions occur in breakout groups during class activities. He feels online school has some benefits, such as lighter schedules and more time to sleep, but a lack of socialization and largely negative news has made students less motivated, and thus less productive.
A.D. is a sophomore at the International School. He exercises by going on walks and running on his treadmill. He has faith that hybrid format will begin soon and wants to be ready for tryouts for sports teams. In terms of friends, he interacts with them a couple of times per week but is beginning to socialize more. He feels less connected with his peers and teachers because he finds it harder to connect over a computer screen than in person. He thinks that online learning is not helpful, as the amount of time spent on learning isn’t worth the amount of knowledge received. This causes him to feel less productive, as there is nothing that is truly useful for him to do.
A.P is a freshman at Sammamish. He also goes on walk most days since he thinks that one’s body can be hurt by sitting in a chair for the whole day. He maintains most of his close friendships through DM’s, but hasn’t found an opportunity to create new ones. He doesn’t feel connected to teachers and peers, except for in the meeting chat, but he interacts to an extent in breakout groups. It’s easier for him to type something rather than turn on the mic and camera. He thinks that he has learned some new things from online learning, but they don't seem to be impactful for him.
Regardless of grade or school, it is clear that students see remote learning as less effective than in-person learning. All three of these students are less engaged in class and lack motivation to work. They also feel separated from other students and teachers, and don’t have the time to form new relationships.
There is a very real reason for these experiences: students’ reliance on peer pressure. In the modern day and age, many students find motivation in peer pressure rather than a pure desire to learn. Many parents compare children to other highly achieving peers, in order to encourage hard work and perseverance. Over time, they learn to measure their knowledge and self-worth against that of their peers. When we entered quarantine, this system crashed. Students could no longer could interact freely with other students and compare academic achievements and relationships. Reaching out to teachers is also difficult. Without regular classroom interactions, teachers may not know as much about individual students and their help may be ineffective.
To improve online school, teachers and curriculum developers should focus on rebuilding the educational system in a way that fosters close relationships. This could mean having classroom discussions, group projects, and team-building activities that make each class feel like a tight-knit community. Through this method, teachers can get to know their students better, and students can strengthen their relationships to each other, therefore re-engaging the students and motivating them to learn.
Pandemic Practices:
How Student Athletes Have
Adapted During the Pandemic
Phoebe Nash
Since March, student athletes have experienced numerous setbacks, changes, and cancellations to their sports due to the ongoing pandemic. Only weeks after tryouts, spring sports were postponed and later canceled under Governor Jay Inslee’s stay at home order. Now in the new school year, sports teams must adjust to new restrictions as their seasonal tryouts approach.
In early October, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) released new guidelines for high school sports teams. These guidelines established that “masks [are] required for athletes/participants at all times,” physical distancing must be maintained when possible, and teams must keep a roster of participants at every practice to maintain contact tracing. WIAA also established additional plans for practice if there was a large spread of COVID-19 in a community. If the cases are above 75 per 100,000 people, the rules are as follows: practices and training can resume if played amongst groups of 6 people maximum, and these practices must be played in separate parts of the field/court and separated by a buffer zone.
But what does this mean for Interlake athletes? Obviously, our sports look a lot different than they used to. Team buses to games in crowded gyms are a distant past and far-off hope for the future, and even having fans at games is in question. While some sports are able to resume practice safely outdoors, it is difficult to maintain the same level of training for sports that require indoor courts and contact.
To understand what the experience of student athletes during the pandemic, I spoke with sophomore Priyal Shah, a member of the Interlake girls’ varsity basketball team. She reflected that while outdoor practices and social distancing have definitely changed how they practice, the biggest adjustment had been practicing “with masks on, and since basketball is such a high endurance sport, it gets really tiring and the masks get super sweaty.” Despite difficulties adjusting, the basketball team along with other Interlake teams have adhered to WIAA mandates to keep their teams safe and healthy and prevent the spread of the virus.
Priyal also noted that she has seen a shift in the intensity of team training, especially compared to the busy practice schedule she would usually experience over the winter. She stated that “overall, compared to the school season, practice has decreased significantly from 6 days a week to 2 days a week with the team.” She is looking to find other ways to stay active, including individual training and practices.
Just like many other members of the Interlake community, Priyal misses the packed gyms during quad nights. “Those were a blast,” she recalled. “I still remember my first quad night and the stands were actually packed for once. The feeling of it; the band playing, and the crowd cheering, that was amazing.” These fond memories of crowded games keep Priyal and many other student athletes motivated despite challenges.
Despite uncertainty, student athletes here at Interlake have overcome challenges to work towards their goals and inspire us all with their motivation. It’s important to remember that these protocols will be beneficial in the end: if done properly, we would be able to watch our fellow Saints dominate on the court and on the field much sooner.
The Increase in Coronavirus Cases:
How Tighter Restrictions
Are Impacting Our Community
Gauri Gupta
“Some things will never change.”
This quote by Bruce Hornsby, American singer-songwriter, accurately depicts how most of us feel about the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning around December of 2019, the pandemic continues to be a huge aspect of lives, worldwide. Coming to the end of 2020, many questions about the virus remain unanswered. Unfortunately, the virus is infecting more and more people. COVID-19 cases are rapidly rising across the U.S. with the average number of cases being well over 100,000 per day—an alarmingly high number.
As people were becoming more neglectful of national health guidelines, Governor Inslee was prompted to issue tighter restrictions, including a ban on indoor social gatherings, indoor service at restaurants and bars, and closures of businesses such as gyms. The new restrictions limits retailers, such as grocery and convenience stores, as well as nail salons, to 25% of occupancy. Bowling alleys, museums, movie theaters, and aquariums are all required to be closed. Taken together, these rules represent some of the tightest constraints placed on everyday activities in Washington since Inslee issued his original emergency stay-at-home order in March, when the pandemic exploded across the state.
While these tighter restrictions may help to control the COVID-19 outbreak in Washington, businesses remain worried about the steep economic drop-off in Washington and elsewhere as cases surge, and states impose restrictions on commerce and social activities. Public-facing sectors such as retail and foodservice have experienced a disproportionate share of the layoffs and losses related to COVID-19. Restaurants, many of which are still operating at only a fraction of their pre-pandemic revenue and staff, now face new restrictions even as cold weather makes jury-rigged outdoor dining operations more difficult.
Other than economic consequences, these new restrictions have many social impacts as well. Increased social distancing, self-isolation, and travel restrictions have led to a decrease in interaction with others. Especially with the holidays coming up, a time of year associated with celebrations, spending extra time with family and friends, and overall festiveness, COVID-19 and the resulting restrictions have dramatically altered the way people will celebrate this year. This is extremely upsetting for those who expected to celebrate and spend time with their friends and families.
When I asked Interlake students their thoughts on Washington’s tighter restrictions, Samreedhi Naik, a freshman, doesn’t really mind. She says, “personally, my family and I haven’t been missing out on a lot given these restrictions, and we’ve been prioritizing our safety throughout lockdown.” Samreedhi also expressed her happiness about the government taking precautions to limit COVID-19 cases and deaths, as she believes that, “by having harsher lockdown conditions, hopefully, we can see the ease of this situation in a few months.” Nikhita Penugonda, a freshman, also agrees with Samreedhi, saying that “while the tighter restrictions might be inconvenient for lots of people, I think that they are necessary. I understand why people are upset, after all, I’m sad that I can’t visit my cousins in Portland this year. However, I also understand why these restrictions are being put into effect.” She believes that “if we don’t do anything, and continue to carry on with our daily lives, the pandemic will get more out of hand than it already has.” Nikhita believes that the best option “is to be safe, to stay at home, and minimize human contact. If we follow the restrictions and avoid meeting people, we can beat this virus. Until then, we just have to stay put and follow the guidelines so that we, and our loved ones, can be safe.”
Ruhi Kokje and Krithi Narendran also share similar views as they believe that, the “tighter restrictions in Washington are really important, and even though the holidays are coming up and many families and friends want to meet, it would be safer to not meet this year and then be able to meet next year. They understand that these restrictions may be frustrating, however, they think that “it is a sensible decision, because it is better to keep everyone safe rather than risk many more being sick and dying over the holidays. Safety is the first priority.”
The rapidly rising COVID-19 cases, as well as these new restrictions, diminishes the likelihood of returning to school given any sort of in-person model, such as a hybrid. While remote learning offers some level of substitute for in-person school, students and teachers have a strong desire to return to in-person connections. 55% of students still find the lack of social interactions troubling. They learn better with fellow students. For 45% of students, this could lead to underperforming in their academics. Not seeing other students and faculty in person can contribute to anxiety, nervousness, and worry. The abrupt change in lifestyle, not limited to online lessons, has left many students struggling with how to succeed academically.
In an effort to gain more insight into this issue, English teacher, Mrs. Boness, has some thoughts about the possibility of engaging in remote learning for the rest of the school year. Mrs. Boness, “affirms that there is no substitute for learning face to face and in-person with students” because it is “real, in the moment, and organic.” She believes that remote learning “is negatively affecting the quality of education,” and “isn’t beneficial for the social-emotional learning of students and staff.” Mrs. Boness misses “the one-to-one interaction with students” and wishes that she could “laugh, smile, and learn along with everyone in real-time.” However, Mrs. Boness understands the current pandemic the world is facing and the importance of online-school rather than in-person. Although she greatly misses spending time with her students, she understands that “the health and well-being of students and staff is the greatest priority right now” and that “although online school isn’t something most of us enjoy, we must persevere and stay safe at home so that we can all quickly be able to safely return to school again.”
2020 wasn’t anything like we expected it to be. Many may feel discouraged and frustrated with the pandemic and all of the resulting restrictions. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these problems have resulted in us becoming stronger and have taught us to be resilient and adaptable to our constantly changing surroundings. These tighter restrictions are only being imposed to help and protect us all, and it’s crucial that everyone does their part by following these rules. Tighter restrictions give us more time to appreciate what we have, so we can return to a sort of normalcy, sooner. While struggles and deficiencies have plagued 2020, they have created memorable learning experiences that will prepare us all for a memorable 2021 ahead!
Communication & Connection
During COVID-19
Sayana Isaac
It's no secret that COVID-19 has had a deep mental and emotional toll on many people in our community. Staying isolated from our loved ones and missing much of the face-to-face interaction that we are all so accustomed to have been exhausting for almost everyone. However, high school students at Interlake are utilizing technology to find ways to stay connected and engaged with friends and family.
Annie Zhao, an Interlake sophomore, gives her insight on the difficulty of being apart from her friends in this prolonged quarantine. "It's really hard not being able to see my friends in person every day, which takes the fun out of many things, like going to school or school clubs," Annie said. Despite these hardships, Annie has been finding ways to maintain her social relationships with other students. She has been "trying to call [her] friends at least once a day to do small things like playing games or working on homework together." She has also been talking to her friends through social media apps, such as TikTok, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.
These methods of communicating with friends are not the only ways to stay connected. Nora Cai, another sophomore at Interlake, interacts with her friends by "participating in school activities and clubs." She really enjoys being a part of the school debate team, since it allows her "to talk with some of [her] peers and friends outside of the usual school hours." Nora also plays Among Us, a game that you can play on your phone with any of your friends. Not only is this game really fun, but it also allows for Nora to virtually talk with her friends!
Gauri Gupta, a freshman, has other ways of staying connected. Gauri explained, "It's definitely been hard to interact with others given these unusual circumstances, but I usually facetime my friends and family, do fun Netflix parties, and sometimes I meet a few of my friends in-person (safely of course)!" Netflix parties are an innovative example of how high schoolers are staying close with friends during the quarantine. Gauri also told me that though it has been hard to not see her friends for extended periods of time, she feels as if she has grown closer with her family after spending more time with them.
In some of the other interviews I conducted, the most frequently mentioned methods of staying connected among the Interlake community are playing Among Us, calling friends, and helping friends with homework. At Interlake, it looks like we are all finding new ways to overcome the challenges of living during the time of the pandemic! In Nora's words, “we are all trying to make the best out of a not-so-good situation.”
Remote Learning &
The High School Experience
Sia Razdan
The value of homework has long been debated in the educational world—but the discussion has become even more complicated and essential now, in the era of remote learning. The consensus is that the workload has been intense, leaving little time for personal activity; however, other people have been more concerned about missing out on the ‘high school experience’ and school events.
The “high school experience” refers to the four years of school when you socialize and learn but also enjoy the benefits of being a student. The work is balanced by sports, games, clubs, school dances, and much more. A healthy balance between studying and relaxing is part of high school. Remote learning threatens to take this experience away. Online facilities can only do so much to replicate the experience and most efforts are focused around the academic aspects of high school.
The workload in remote learning has skyrocketed. Teachers tend to assign tons of homework and offer little time to complete the work. The teachers likely want to ensure that students are not lagging academically. They have the students’ best interests at heart and with low engagement and limited class time, homework may be the only way to give students the educational aspect of the “high school experience.” On the other hand, the enormous amounts of homework may actually be detrimental to students. An increased workload diminishes students’ mental health, steals away their personal time, prevents them from participating in clubs and activities, and sometimes even lowers their grades. Faced with a mountain of work, students can lose their motivation to learn. The pandemic is already taking a toll on mental health and if not handled carefully, schoolwork can compound the issue.
In a pandemic that’s already taking a toll on mental health, the workload may compound that issue. Teachers at Interlake are trying their best to provide support but students still feel overwhelmed. An anonymous survey circulated at Interlake found that 80% feel as though the workload has been intense, 90% say that their mental health has worsened as a result, and all of them feel like they’re missing out on the high school experience.
We’ve spread a lot of awareness about the importance of mental health and we’ve come far in providing resources to help people. It’s important that we not neglect this issue when it comes to online school. In this vein, we ought not ignore the impact of this workload on students. Even 10% of students saying that school is hurting their mental health is too much. It is clear that some solution must be found.
Mental health is directly connected to free time. As human beings, students need time to take care of themselves. As high schoolers, we need time for volunteering, hobbies, and other chosen activities outside of school. Some may argue that remote learning leaves students with more free time but realistically, the stress and loss of motivation that accompanies remote learning negates that. From talking to members of Latino H/E/A/T, a community service and cultural empowerment group present at Interlake, we found that less time for groups outside of school is stressful.
“There has definitely been a huge increase in workload. I have really less time to contribute to Latino H.E.A.T and I hate that” said Daniel Rendon, a sophomore at Interlake.
In a student survey conducted by Challenge Success, a nonprofit organization founded by senior lecturer at Stanford University, Denise Pope, 200,000 students were asked, “What causes you most stress in your life right now (if any)?” and the most common response was ‘homework’. Homework has always been stressful and, as we’ve mentioned before, in a unique situation as the one we are in, teachers may need to assign loads of homework to keep up. This creates a Goldilocks problem: How much is too little? How much is too much? How much is just right?
Though there is no obvious solution, it is possible for teachers to experiment and arrive at a good balance. For example, many schools have a schedule of homework. Teachers collaborate and assign homework on different days, depending on subject, ensuring that students are not flooded with assignments. Teachers should also look closely at the quality of assignment. Important factors to consider include the length of the assignment, the purpose of the assignment, the average capability of students in the class, the possibility of covering the assignment in class, and the need for the assignment. This way, the workload could be reduced, which may in turn lower the stress of students.
To conclude, there must be balance for students in high school. While academics are a crucial part of school, it is important that students have time for other pursuits. The mental health of students is already precarious in the pandemic, and schools must find a way to balance education and health. Through mental health checks, collaboration between teachers, more thoughtful assignments, and keeping the best interests of students in mind, let us find a solution to these issues. The ‘high school experience’ is different for each of us, but essential, nonetheless. Let’s make sure we have a remarkable one.
2021!
New Year,
New Me.
Peter Lee
In 2019, Americans were excited for the new decade, and ready to start off 2020 on a strong note. But contrary to expectations, 2020 was a tragic and chaotic year for everyone in the US and across the globe. Riots erupted in cities, the presidential election came to a tense, disputed end, and the pandemic spread, causing millions of casualties and forcing everyone into isolation. Quarantine has drastically altered life as we know it.
Within our school district, technology has been central to maintaining our educational system. It has allowed students to access school materials, despite their inability to attend school physically. But the abrupt shift from physical school to remote learning have created difficulties for many students. Some may lack access to necessary technology, fall behind in assignments, or be unable to concentrate. Remote schooling has caused anxiety, stress, and loneliness for many. Much of the in-person interactions that occurred in school have been replaced by online resources such as GoFormative, Nearpod, Turnitin.com, and Microsoft Teams. Extracurriculars have been delayed and without proper structures in place, students have been unable to join sports teams, clubs, volunteering, competitions and other activities.
As we wait for a successful vaccine, it is easy to let our minds dull, social skills rust, and bad habits develop. So, in 2021, what can we do to better ourselves? To answer this question, I interviewed Ms. Alvarez, a health teacher at Interlake High School. She offered four lessons that she was willing to apply in 2021.
1. Check on others, [especially] those who seem to always be there for others
2. Your health can change everything
3. Be compassionate
4. Take a break from all kinds of media
Academic success can help students reach their goals, but personal health and a strong social safety net should always come first. At the same time, students should create personal goals that can encourage them to be productive. This can be getting all A’s, starting a new club, volunteering for the community, or any variety of other achievements. Avoiding technology can also be a worthwhile goal, as students may become more reliant on the internet and less focused on their work.
To improve 2021, Ms. Alvarez also mentioned that we should “[self]-reflect. Ask someone if they are okay and be willing to listen. Ask for help.” Although quarantine has slowed down the pace of our lives, students can learn from this period of seclusion. They could find the space and motivation to pursue their passions. Students should always look forward: with a willingness to grow in this time, they can plan long-term goals, create good habits, and establish strong connections with others.
Hopefully, we will all be able to return to our normal lives soon. But in the meantime, we must stay strong and try to start out the year well, with a willingness to grow.
Joyful Festivities:
How Different Cultures Celebrate
During the Winter Holiday Season
Rohak Jain
As trees grow barren and chilly ice begins to decorate the windswept rooftops of houses, winter approaches - the upbeat season that we can’t help but celebrate. School children and parents excitedly enter the crowded streets to watch parades and their eyes light up as they come across glowing Christmas trees and illuminated stockings carefully presented atop frosted grass. As more culturally diverse families enter, they raise Yin and Yang symbols up high in the night air, play the game of dreidel on wooden benches, and dance with one another in celebration of Navratri. These are the holidays - seasonal experiences of joy, compassion, and empathy that connect people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
Likewise, the Interlake Student Body celebrates holidays in unique ways, ranging from large-scale lighted displays honoring cleanliness and hope to jovial Christmas carols bringing much-needed holiday festivity. For instance, Jewish students celebrate the famous winter tradition of Hanukkah by lighting candles on a menorah, cooking traditional foods, and participating in the exchange of gifts! Additionally, Indian students celebrate holidays like Navratri and Diwali, both of which are centralized around the battle of good versus evil. Here, light plays an ever-important role and strings together the notion of hope and the emphasis on morality embedded within Hindu culture. Finally, Chinese students fondly celebrate the Winter Solstice, a deeply rooted holiday tradition that celebrates the concepts of renewal, regeneration, and self-reflection. In this festival, Chinese people celebrate by stuffing themselves with dumplings and indulging in deep religious reflection. Similar to the optimistic nature of Diwali and Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice emphasizes the rebirth of the Sun. Cultural celebrations like these form a tightly-knit community filled with shared bonds and relationships.
Culture pervades throughout the winter season and spreads much-needed brightness through diverse ethnic communities all across the globe. By universalizing the gift-giving, joyful nature of the holidays, cultural celebrations emphasize a message of unrelenting hope in times of uncertainty.
As Interlake’s first semester comes to a close, let’s take a second to appreciate those around us and celebrate alongside them. It’s been a tough, challenging year - take a break from your daily routine and instead, enjoy yourself and cherish time with your family! Don’t let the holiday season pass by, use it to strengthen relationships, build bonds, and most importantly, share love.
How Have Holiday Traditions
Changed During the Pandemic?
Annika Choi
This year’s holiday season has finally arrived, and many families are beginning to put up their decorations. Whether or not they celebrate the holidays, most people would usually be starting to send out invitations to friends and family to have a special dinner. Many students would be able to relax and have friends over. But this year, COVID-19 has prevented us from doing so and thus families are trying to find new ways to celebrate. But how exactly have holiday traditions changed with COVID-19, especially with students?
The pandemic has impacted the holidays of many Interlake students this year. For example, one student said, “We don’t invite family over since they don’t live in this area, but we do usually invite nearby friends over for dinner. It’s kind of sad that we can’t all eat together.” Another student stated, “On normal holidays, my family and I would gather and have a big Christmas Eve dinner and then Christmas day lunch.” In normal circumstances, these two students would usually have some sort of gathering but for this winter break, they will need to rearrange their plans. One student told us that they just completely cancelled everything this year and won’t do anything to replace it: “I think that this year, we’re just not going to have any holiday gatherings like usual.” But contrarily, another student stated, “Despite the pandemic, doing online school has led me to have much stronger bonding with my close family, and I can celebrate much more freely with my family even if I’m still in school.” This means that while you may not be able to meet with your extended family and friends, not attending physically at school is an advantage if you wanted to celebrate just within your family.
On the other hand, some students have reported that the pandemic has had little to no impact on their breaks or traditions this year. One student said, “The virus hasn’t really impacted my break because I don’t have any extended family that live in Seattle – they all live in Canada, Colorado and Connecticut. I usually celebrate it with just my close family so it hasn’t changed much.” Another student said, “Even though COVID-19 doesn’t impact us directly, it ruins our family’s holiday spirits because we know that even if we wanted to invite people over, we wouldn’t be able to.” This shows how students with relatives who don’t live nearby might not be as affected because they traditionally spend their holidays with their immediate family. However, even though the students normally don’t invite any relatives over, COVID-19 definitely takes a toll on the holiday atmosphere. Additionally, people who don’t celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Hanukah are also not really as impacted. One student said, “My family and I don’t celebrate any holidays, so we don’t need to invite anyone over. It also minimizes the risk of getting corona.”
To summarize, there are some students whose holiday traditions are impacted and will be changed this year, and there are some who aren’t impacted at all for several reasons. But I think we can all agree that we aren’t feeling the holiday spirit as much and even though we may all be a little down from having to stay home all the time this year, we should also try to make the most of it. During this winter break, try to call your relatives and friends more often, and spend more time with your family!
The Holiday Dilemma
Zoya Merakov
Bells jingling a merry tune, the blissful light of the menorah, and delicious traditional food being eaten with family and friends: these are all things that people usually think of when they hear the word “holiday.” Although these are very important, there is one activity that most people don’t associate with the holiday season: exercise. It’s completely reasonable that people would rather have a Christmas movie marathon complete with festive foods rather than going on a walk. However, there are many simple beneficial exercises you can get into the holidays.
Some of the benefits of physical activity include increasing brain function, reducing risks of heart disease, lessening feelings of anxiety and depression, and of course helping you maintain a healthy weight. In a poll given to Interlake students, many students report that some reasons they enjoy exercising is because it helps keep their mood up, maintain relationships, and makes them feel like they are working towards a goal.
Even though it can be demotivating to exercise or partake in physical activity in these difficult times, there are still a plethora of engaging physical activities online. For example, try out a Christmas song dance workout that will get you sweating and put a smile on your face! Some popular videos include “Christmas Song Dance Workout with Kyra Pro!” by fitness youtuber Teagon Dixon and “15 min Christmas Workout to Classics!” by fitness youtuber Madfit. Not feeling the classic Christmas songs? Dance to Ariana Grande and decade song workouts also by MadFit. Sadly, there are no Chanukah themed dance workouts on YouTube, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be one. Become the first to upload one - think of some cool choreographed dance moves that correspond with your favorite Chanukah tunes and put it on YouTube to spread some joy to others!
In the same poll given to Interlake students, 20 students revealed that one of their favorite ways to get some exercise on the holidays was to take a family walk and see their neighbors’ Christmas decorations. If you want to take a family stroll outside your neighborhood, venture out to Bellevue Downtown and amble on Snowflake lane to enjoy the fake snow and the jolly soundtrack now through December 24 between 5-9pm. Another interesting place to go is Bellevue Park, which now has 2,200 color changing light bulbs encircling its perimeter. The gorgeous color scheme changes weekly and can be seen at 7am-11pm through January 4. Just make sure to wear a mask and keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others to stay safe!
However, physical exercise like home workouts or family strolls to the park are not the only activity you can do. More than 10 students in the poll disclosed that something as seemingly simple as cooking a holiday meal is a nice workout that leaves them tired and provides a delicious spread of food for themselves and the family. Although stirring, measuring, kneading, chopping, and mashing doesn’t seem like a traditional workout, anything that can get you moving is better than nothing! Even standing up or walking in place while watching a favorite holiday movie is great: you can get some movement in your day while doing something you love.
Overall, exercising can be fun and rewarding, make sure to check out YouTube frequently for holiday related workouts because more are getting uploaded every day. Also, try to go walking on the scenic spots mentioned above for a nice change of pace. Even bits of movement in your day can make a huge difference! No matter what you celebrate, have an amazing holiday Saints! Have fun and stay safe!
Celebrating
in Quarantine
Kristy Chow
We couldn’t celebrate winter holidays such as Christmas the way we normally would have, surrounded by family and friends. While it is true that 2020 has come and gone, there are still some winter celebrations on the way, such as Chinese New Year. Here are a few examples of how to (safely) celebrate winter holidays during the time of COVID-19:
1. Teleparty!
Finding a way to watch movies with your friend(s)? Teleparty is the best option! It is a chrome extension that allows you to watch your favorite videos with your friend(s) online. With Teleparty, you can chat with friends while watching a movie, just like you would do normally! All you need is a streaming account that allows multiple devices to watch together and two laptops for watching.
2. Send a card to your family and friends!
Have you ever written a card or a letter to your family or friends? Do you want to say anything that you have been keeping to yourself for quite a long time, and would like to tell them? Well, take this time and write an actual card or letter to them. Tell someone you appreciate them. It doesn’t have to be limited to holiday letters; it can be a regular thing for you to do with your friends!
3. Decorate your house with your family!
Yeah, I know, there won’t be anyone visiting or having a winter holiday family dinner. But hey, we can still make it festive and hype ourselves up! You can decorate your house. If you’re feeling creative, you can make some homemade decorations, too! You can always keep decorations and reuse them for the next holiday season too!
4. Bake or decorate Treats!
Who doesn’t love a delectable treat? If you love to bake, you can find some treats to make from scratch, online. If you don’t like to bake, you can buy premade goods, and enjoy those! Also, if you’re feeling competitive, you can have a decorating contest with your family.
Holidays during any time of the year are fun. However, with COVID-19, how we celebrate different holidays this year, will look different. Nevertheless, there is always a way to celebrate holidays, safely. Be sure to limit social gatherings, don’t go out unless you absolutely need to, and enjoy the time with the people you are with. Happy New Year!
