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It’s Lent Season!

By: Xavier Mucher, Journalist • March 15, 2024

What is Lent? Lent is the holy Christian observance, and is 40 days, in which Christians give up something they love, like sweets, social media, and drinks.

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Seven Original Wonders Of The World

By: Stephanie Juarez, Journalist • March 14, 2024

There are many interesting places in the world, but have you wondered which ones are the most pondered?

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What We Already Know About Mars

By: Danna Juarez, Journalist • March 13, 2024

Mars is one of the closest planets to Earth, though it is just half its size. Mars is the planet that has been explored the most with the help of rovers, which are robotic vehicles that move around the surface—named after the Roman god of war thanks to its rusting iron surface making it look red.

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Natural Disasters In 2024

By: Giselle Silveira, Journalist • March 11, 2024

From severe storms to tornadoes, natural disaster statistics reveal that disasters occur more frequently and with greater intensity.

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The Northern Spicebush & Spicebush Swallowtail

By: Lirian Davidson, Journalist • March 7, 2024

The Northern Spicebush’s namesake is its signature spicy scent. It blooms in colors of white, yellow, and green. It tends to have few stems and flowers in clusters.

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The Inheritance Games Should be Your Next Read – Here’s Why

By: Clara Steffens, Journalist • March 6, 2024

This compelling book by Jennifer Lynn Barns will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

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Mean Girls – 2004 Vs. 2024

By: Vi Moore, Journalist • March 6, 2024

Mean Girls is a cult classic and grossed in $129 million worldwide. It was released in 2004, and it was turned into a Broadway musical of the same name in 2018, 12 years later. And now, in 2024, 20 years after the original was released, a new reboot movie based on the original movie and the Broadway musical has released. Like all reboots, some changes are made. These are the 4 most important changes made.

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How High Can We Build?

By: Yash Kini and Salar Nasimov • February 26, 2024

Humans have been building tall buildings for as long as we can remember, from ancient pyramids to skyscrapers. But how high can we actually build? The answer to that question is complicated, as it depends on a variety of factors, including the materials used, the design of the structure, and the technology that is at hand. However, there are a few general limits to how high we can build.

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Optimus Gen 2

By: Yash Kini, Vaibhav Saravanan • February 26, 2024

Optimus Gen 2 is the latest and improved robot in the Tesla’s Optimus project. The robot was revealed on December 13 of 2023 through a demo video.

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The Man in the Iron Lung

By: Yash Kini and Anna Statz • February 26, 2024

Paul Richard Alexander has lived in the iron lung for over seventy years. The iron lung is a medical device used to stimulate breathing when a person cannot breathe on their own.

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Gas Stoves

By: Yash Kini and Christine Nguyen • February 26, 2024

Stoves are one of the most important appliances in every household kitchen, as families use them to cook food every day. Stoves have changed over time and many families have switched from old gas stoves to electric and induction stoves.

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Intuitive Machines Lander is Tipped Over

By: Liam Eckerman, Journalist • February 26, 2024

On February 15, 2024, the Odysseus lunar lander by Intuitive Machines, launched from the Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to begin its journey to the moon.

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Meet America’s “Damsel of Death”

By: Brenna Brickley, Journalist • February 26, 2024

Aileen Wuornos was the first ever convicted American serial killer, taking a total of six to seven lives along a Floridian highway from 1989-1990. Throughout the murders and the hunt to find the killer, Aileen received the nickname "Damsel of Death." However, this "damsel" has a dark past.

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The World’s First Stealth Fighter – F-117 Nighthawk

By: Yash Kini and Andrei Daquioag • February 23, 2024

The F-117 Nighthawk, known for its black coating and geometrical shape, is the first to use a radar absorbing material (RAM) and the “faceting” technique, both of which effectively made it invisible to radar.

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Lululemon’s Popularity and Quality

By: Vi Moore, Journalist • February 23, 2024

Lululemon has recently blown up with popularity on social media. It claims to be comfy, flexible, lightweight, and sweat-resistant for workouts. But like all corporations, they have their flaws. The question we're answering today is whether Lululemon is really worth the money.

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The Controversy Behind The Hit ‘Yes, And?’

By: Clara Steffens, Journalist • February 22, 2024

Ariana Grande has received many comments on her personal life. Especially her romantic life and her appearance. How does the public affect the songs that she writes?

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Pinxterbloom Azalea

By: Lirian Davidson, Journalist • February 16, 2024

Sounds like a medicine doesn’t it? It’s actually a beautiful flower that also goes by the name Pinksterbloom Azalea or Pinxterbloom Azalea depending on who you ask.

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The Marine Corps

By: Jayden Pepper, Journalist • February 16, 2024

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations with the Navy.

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#lovemarines #joinmarines

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Everyday Life

By: Miller Stevenson, Journalist • February 15, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a concept confined to science fiction. It has become an integral part of our daily lives, subtly influencing and enhancing various aspects of our existence.

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Keffiyeh Scarf

By: Xavier Mucher, Journalist • February 14, 2024

Have you ever seen a black checkered scarf wrapped around somebody's head? Have you seen more and more people wear a wrap around there head? Are you confused?

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A Report On Super Bowl LVII

By: Miller Stevenson, Journalist • February 14, 2024

The Super Bowl of 2024 was a game for the ages, with the Kansas City Chiefs emerging victorious over the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling overtime match.

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Serial Killer Caught After 13 Years

By: Brenna Brickley, Journalist • February 14, 2024

After nearly 13 years of intense investigations, searching only to find nothing, and dead leads, officials believe that the infamous “Long Island Serial Killer” has finally been caught.

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Highest Paying Jobs in VA

By: Danna Juarez, Journalist • February 12, 2024

Everybody wants an excellent, high-paying job, but most people need to know which ones will pay a reasonable amount. If you live in Virginia, then these are the highest-paying jobs you can search for.

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The First Natural Disasters Of 2024

By: Giselle Silveira, Journalist • February 12, 2024

Three winter storms occurred in the first three weeks of 2024 (Ember, Finn, and Gerri). It brought severe weather to the U.S. mainland, including wind, hail, rain, snow, and freezing temperatures.

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Patrick Mahomes V.S. Tom Brady

By: Miller Stevenson, Journalist • February 9, 2024

Mahomes downplays comparison to Brady, but is making a run at his legacy.

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Stanley Cups

By: Adelaida Romero, Journalist • February 9, 2024

Ever wonder how the Stanley Cup has become incredibly popular around school? This article covers almost everything you need to know about how and why these cups are the newest trend!

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The Truth About What People Think Happens After Death

By: Clara Steffens, Journalist • February 9, 2024

Death is a question that has left the best and the brightest people puzzling. What really happens after you die?

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Teams In Super Bowl LVIII

By: Asa Keller, Journalist • February 7, 2024

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the USA and it is coming up. The Super Bowl will be on February 11th 2024.

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G2 Esports Wins Rocket League Championship Series 2024 Major 1 Qualifiers

By: Liam Eckerman, Journalist • February 6, 2024

Despite not being the fan favorite, G2 emerged victorious in the RLCS 2024 Major 1 Qualifiers Grand Finals, with an absolute blowout against GenG in front of a live audience of over 40,000 people.

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MLK Jr. Day 2024

By: Parker Heflin, Journalist • February 1, 2024

Martin Luther King Jr. is a figure we have all been learning about since elementary school, but what is MLK day really about? Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15th, 1929, which is why we celebrate him every year on that same day.

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Endangered Deer’s

By: Amari Bibbs, Journalist • January 23, 2024

A deer runs onto the freeway, running into cars, getting a man's attention.

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Drones

By: Tiger Deng, Journalist • January 23, 2024

Luther Jackson’s Model UN programs has been discussing the topic of the Israeli-Hamas war for the past 3 weeks.

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Advisory Timings

By: Rose McLellan, Journalist • January 22, 2024

Advisory used to be an entire period; we would have it every other day. A whole period is 90 minutes; we would have a small lesson, and then, if needed, we could go to a different class to work there.

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Lexia at LJ

By: Liam Eckerman, Journalist • January 18, 2024

Lexia is a website program designed to help kids with their English skills. This year, Lexia is required for all students at our school.

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The Most Important School Subjects

By: Emma Sarria, Journalist • January 11, 2024

No matter who the person is, everyone always needs to learn about the 4 main school subjects. English, history, science, and math. These subjects are required for every student to learn in order to go to the next grade and have a successful future.

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Predictions for 2024

By: Emma Sarria, Journalist • January 11, 2024

It's the start of a new year and many predictions have already been made about how this year might look like.

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13-Year Old Beats Tetris

By: David Judy, Journalist • January 11, 2024

A 13-year-old, Willis Gibson, made gaming history(wow) and was the first person to "beat" Tetris, the game where you try to create horizontal lines using four types of blocks.

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Reinstating Class Pets

By: Olivia Arnold, Journalist • January 11, 2024

When you were younger, you might've been lucky enough to have a beloved class pet. However, those beloved pets were left behind in elementary school. But, why don't we have any class pets for middle...

Snow Days

By: Rose McLellan, Journalist • January 9, 2024

The FCPS county had 5 snow days last year and the rest of the days of school would've been online. In this past month FCPS has decided to not have online snow days and to only to have the days completely off.

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Media Communications Elective

By: Sabrina Remy, Journalist • January 5, 2024

If you're trying to figure out what electives to take, one that students highly recommend is Media Communications.

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Hiring Qualifying Teachers

By: Raya Derdesawi, Journalist • December 15, 2023

Many people blame students' need for more knowledge on the pandemic, but that's not the only reason many students have fallen behind in the past four years.

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Public Speaking

By: Khue Vu, Journalist • December 15, 2023

Public speaking, often seen as one of the most stressful activities, is an invaluable skill that can elevate your personal and professional life.

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School Should Start Later

By: Rose McLellan, Journalist • December 15, 2023

Should school start later? Yes, for several reasons.

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Making Friends In A New Environment

By: Khue Vu, Journalist • December 14, 2023

Making friends in a new school can be both exciting and challenging at the same time. It involves navigating through unfamiliar social landscapes and making connections with unfamiliar faces.

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The Benefits Of Listening To Music

By: Khue Vu, Journalist • December 13, 2023

Have you ever gotten distracted while studying or doing your homework? Music can help you with that. Music can motivate you, lighten your mood, help you relax, and help you focus.

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America’s Favorite Chocolates

By: Raya Derdesawi, Journalist • December 13, 2023

America is a nation with diverse foods and cultures, including candies. With that being said, there are a bunch of chocolates Americans love.

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The War Is Back On

By: David Judy, Journalist • December 5, 2023

The ceasefire has ended between Hamas and Israel. And now it seems like the truce never even happened.

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The Spring Musical At LJMS

By: Emma Sarria, Journalist • December 5, 2023

We know that the fall play here at Luther Jackson (Gravestone Manor) has just been wrapped up. Lots of hard work was put into the show, and it was a success!

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Do We Need Service Hours?

By: Olivia Arnold-Godoy, Journalist • December 4, 2023

In the majority of schools, you have to have a minimum of around ten service hours, but how do those hours really benefit those in need?

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Using Our Snow Days Wisely

By: Raya Derdesawi, Journalist • December 1, 2023

Last school year, it only snowed once. It wasn't enough for a snow day. It melted away the same day it came. We used 0/5 snow days last year.

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Thanksgiving Break In FCPS

By: Raya Derdesawi, Journalist • November 30, 2023

Thanksgiving break was five days this year. A few years ago, you used to have an early release on Wednesday, and then you were off the rest of the week.

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LJMS Band Program

By: Yash Kini, Journalist • November 29, 2023

Whether you want to learn an instrument, have learned an instrument, or are proficient at your instrument, there is a place for you in the Luther Jackson Band!

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History Of The Airplane

By: Khue Vu, Journalist • November 28, 2023

The Wright Brothers are claimed to be the inventors of the first airplane in the world. Fascinated by an airplane toy and its mechanics, the brothers hoped to build a flying machine large enough to hold the both of them one day.

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Seventh Grade Hidden Oaks Field Trip

By: Shiryu Gibson, Journalist • November 16, 2023

The Hidden Oaks Nature Center is a field trip for the 7th grade to learn about science. The people who went on the field trip had five stations.

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Washington Commanders Linebacker Helps Students Learn About the Presidency

By: Yash Kini, Journalist • November 16, 2023

Washington Commanders linebacker, Jamin Davis, usually runs down opponents on a football field. On Monday, November 13th, Mr. Davis volunteered to come in on his off day to educate Mr. Holzshu’s civics students about a different type of running, running for political office.

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LJMS Choir @ Falls Church High

By: Caroline French, Journalist • November 14, 2023

Luther Jackson Chorus is singing the Star Spangled Banner at the Jaguars vs. Hawks at the Jaguars home field. Tickets are $5.00 per person. Get them now before they run out!

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How To Stay Focused While Studying

By: Emma Sarria, Journalist • November 13, 2023

Almost everyone gets distracted while studying or doing homework. If you are one of those people and need help staying focused, here are seven tips to ensure maximum productivity!

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Viewings Of San Kofa With The LJMS Drama Department

By: Khue Vu, Journalist • November 13, 2023

Ms. Stacey, from LJMS, was approached by a man in Bismark, Ghana. He was a student from FCPS and wanted to show a musical called San Kofa.

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Israeli-Gaza War

By: David Judy, Journalist • November 10, 2023

So as many of you may know, there has been a start of a massive conflict in Israel. Sadly for them and all the middle east, This is by no means new. The goal of this article is to get you up to speed with the many worrying and controversial developments that have implications for Israel, Palestine and the rest of the Middle east.

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Advice for Rising 7th Graders

By: Sabrina Remy, Journalist • October 27, 2023

If you're a 6th grader or rising 7th grader who is starting middle school soon, you're probably pretty nervous about it. So, to help you feel more prepared, these are the top 10 tips for how to succeed in middle school.

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LJMS French Language And Culture

By: Yash Kini, Journalist • October 17, 2023

Bonjour! Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? Excited to immerse in different cultures? Want a lifelike experience of daily life in France? For all these reasons, the LJMS French department is for you!

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The Controversies Surrounding Proxies

By: David Judy, Journalist • October 16, 2023

Proxies are a very common site in schools in the US and it's very easy to see why. Proxies, for those who don't know, are free sites usually without ads that mostly have free games that are imported onto the site for students to play.

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Damian Lillard Traded To Milwaukee Bucks

By: Parker Heflin, Journalist • October 13, 2023

In recent news, it has come to the attentions of NBA fans everywhere that Damian Lillard has been traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, but how will this effect their legacy? Will the Bucks be able to win another NBA final since 2021?

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FCPS Hoodie Policy

By: Santiago Rivera, Shiryu Gibson, and Juan Garcia • October 6, 2023

For the 2023-24 school year, FCPS has changed the hoodie/hat policy. What reasons back up this change? Why are hoodies associated with acts of vandalism?

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School Dress Code

By: Reema Alngash, Journalist • September 28, 2023

The FCPS dress code is all about making sure students dress in a way that is appropriate and respectful. It's important to wear clothing that doesn't distract others or cause disruptions in the learning environment.

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LJ’s New Phone Policy

By: Raya Derdesawi, Journalist • September 27, 2023

"What/Who started this policy?" We interviewed Ms. Kirk about the away for the day policy. She told us that it all started from a high school named Herndon High school. After the pandemic, the first...

Student Opinions: Staggered Dismissal

By: Nathan Shirley, Journalist • September 21, 2023

Last year, staggered dismissal became a new policy at Luther Jackson Middle School. The new policy had students dismissed by the hallway that they were in instead of the whole school being dismissed at the same time. Quite a bit of people were annoyed by this, but why?

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6 Questions Elementary School Students Ask About Middle School

By: Parker Heflin, Journalist • September 19, 2023

Elementary students have many questions for Luther Jackson Middle School. Some think it will be amazing, some think it will be the worst experience of their life, but is it really that bad? Six questions...

AI and How It Will Affect Us

By: Emma Sarria, Journalist • September 15, 2023

AI has been getting more advanced as we continue through the year. Let's talk about ways it could impact our lives. AI stands for "Artificial Intelligence" and is normally used for translating, customer...

Ukrainian Counteroffensive Breakthrough

By: David Judy, Journalist • September 15, 2023

Recently, Ukrainian generals have stated that they have made a breakthrough in the heavily entrenched Southern Russian line, a longtime stalemate ever since the beginning of the hyped-up and heavily backed counter-offensive launched by Ukraine in June. This has boosted lots of people's morale, both Ukrainian and abroad, allowing for Ukraine to potentially continue to soak in foreign aid, as shown by the 1 billion dollar aid package expected to be sent by the US by Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

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Ways To Make Money As A Teenager

By: Olivia Arnold, Journalist • September 15, 2023

Isn't it tiring of begging your parents for money? Here is a list of jobs you can do to earn quick and easy money.

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Does Homework Really Do Anything?

By: Rose McLellan, Journalist • September 14, 2023

About Homework Homework is a big part of school. Homework has been around for as long as school has. Roberto Nevilis is the man who invented homework. Almost 50% of teachers assign homework 4-5 days...

LJMS After-School Program

By: Yash Kini, Journalist • September 12, 2023

Our mission at LJ is to create an environment where students can thrive to be themselves in a safe and secu.re middle school.

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Technology Student Association at LJMS

By: Tiger Deng, TSA President • September 7, 2023

The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national, non-profit career and technical student organization (CTSO) of middle school and high school students who are engaged in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

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Fall Play Auditions

By: Sabrina Remy, Journalist • September 7, 2023

The fall play is coming up soon! You may have seen the flyers around the school, but in case you haven't, here is all the information you need to know.

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ESTEEMFest 2023! VEX Robotics

By: Anokhi Basavaraju, Samiya Azam, and Meg Lagera • May 23, 2023

When: VEX Robotics is a company specializing in teaching and competing with robotics of all levels, coming to Luther Jackson Middle School for ESTEEM Fest. It will be presented in the robot room in the...

Dang Truong – The Stories and Opinions of an Immigrant

By: Josephine Huynh, Journalist • March 30, 2023

If there were more rules or enforcement of rules that prevent students from misbehaving, it could better help immigrant and refugee students distinguish between right or wrong. When this confusion doesn’t happen, many students will be able to feel included by their peers while also contributing to the school positively rather than negatively.

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We Overpay On Things You Can’t Imagine

By: Abhi Palikala, Journalist • June 5, 2021

Most prices that seem outrageous can be identified quickly. If there's a price rise on a product you frequently buy, you'll also notice. Companies like Apple, Exxon, and others are notorious for having...

Pointe Shoes

By: Madeline Seminaro, Journalist • June 5, 2021

Ever wondered what it would be like to stand on your toes for several hours? Would it hurt? Well this article will explain all about pointe shoes.

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The Stunning Animation of Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse

By: Caitlin Arnold, Reporter • June 5, 2021

Sony's Spider-Verse is a groundbreaking film best known for its clashing and comic-like art and animation. This is a beloved story and was a new and challenging project for animators.

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Why You Should Drink Milk

By: Umar Tyler, Writer • June 5, 2021

Has anyone ever told you to drink milk? There are many different types of milk people drink. Some types of milk that are well known are regular cow milk, almond milk, and soy milk. Here are some reasons...

The Benefits Of Aloe Vera

By: Umar Tyler, Writer • June 5, 2021

Ever heard of Aloe Vera? Aloe vera is a green plant with a protective outer leaf skin that is pointy and has a gel-like substance on the inside that is used for many different purposes. Here are some benefits...

Tips To Relieve Stress

By: Umar Tyler, Writer • June 5, 2021

Is work, school, or life overall stressful for you? Stress is one of, if not the most overwhelming and energy-draining problems to face. Many people, including me, can heavily relate to how much of a toll...

The Invention That Ended The Wild West

By: Isaiah Efrem, Reporter • June 5, 2021

The ending of one of the craziest eras in American history.

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Why Do You Sneeze?

By: Alexander Nguyen, Reporter • June 5, 2021

Sneezing or Sternutation is your body’s reflexive way to get something bothersome out of your nose. Sneezing involves a complex procedure from your brain.

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What Happens If Mosquitos Go Extinct?

By: Kevin Le, Reporter • June 5, 2021

As summer starts to come, mosquitos have slowly come out with it. Have you ever thought about killing every single one of these annoying bugs?

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Fireflies And How They Are Able To Light Up

By: Taryn Heuvelman, Journalist • June 5, 2021

Fireflies are magnificent creatures that miraculously are able to light up.

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MIT Spider Web Musical Instrument

By: Oliver Singhvi, Journalist • June 5, 2021

MIT is taking the scans of spider webs, making 3D computer diagrams, and finally creating a virtual "stringed" instrument out of the model.

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NFTs And How They Work

By: Liam Ballew, Journalist • June 5, 2021

NFTs have been used more in the past few months and talked about more, but many people don't know what an NFT is. NFT stands for "Non-Fungible Token." It may sound similar to any other cryptocurrency,...

Police Detective

By: Pedro Lopez, Reporter • June 3, 2021

In this article you will learn about what police detectives do, what they need to become one and more.

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#policedetective

Electric Guitar, How It Works And How It Came To Be

By: Taryn Heuvelman, Journalist • June 1, 2021

The electric guitar is one of the most famous instruments to come out of the United States. Learn how this famous instrument works and how it came to be.

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CoViD-19 Can Discriminate

By: Valerie Lai, Journalist • May 25, 2021

CoViD-19 can be discriminatory against race and economic status.

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How Do You Deflect The Emerald Splash?

By: Robert Martirosyan, Journalist • May 20, 2021

Today, I will be looking into evidence from the series to see what it truly takes to deflect the Emerald Splash.

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Summer Drinks

By: Madeline Seminaro, Journalist • May 20, 2021

On a nice summer day, don't you want a cold, sweet drink in your hand? This article can give you some ideas on what to have when you want to be refreshed.

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Engineering Breakthrough for Pets

By: John Stevens, Journalist • May 17, 2021

Engineering has helped advancement in the medical field. We are now able to properly diagnose our pets and even give them prosthetics inexpensively.

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The Drake Equation

By: Isabel D’mello, Journalist • May 17, 2021

An answer to "Where Are They?" in the search for alien life. The Drake Equation predicts the possibility of us not being alone in the galaxy.

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FCC Presents New Suicide Prevention Hotline With A Three-Digit Number

By: Kevin Le, Reporter • May 17, 2021

During this epidemic, the need for mental health care for teens has soared, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants teens to be able to access a suicide prevention line via their preferred means of communication, namely texting.

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Pandas

By: Erick Molina-Diaz, Journalist • May 16, 2021

Pandas are one of the laziest creatures ever. They're also unintelligent. They eat bamboo even though it's not nutritious so they have to eat 26 to 84 pounds of bamboo to maintain healthy and don't die of starvation.

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Cicada Ice Cream

By: Madeline Seminaro, Journalist • May 16, 2021

You know when bugs get in your drink or food? Imagine bugs being put in your food and then you purposefully eat it? Apparently, that's what people do when they eat cicada ice cream.

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