Category: Uncategorized

The Lost Art Of Snail Mail

by Olivia Cobbs

During this time of disconnection and uncertainty, it is very comforting to get a letter from a friend or family member. Texts, FaceTiming, and calls can be great ways to keep in touch with people but a letter is something that can be felt and seen. During quarantine, snail mail is a fun and creative way to keep in touch with anyone. Snail mail is different from a normal letter because it can include details including stickers, wax seals, paints, and so much more. It is totally allowed by mail services as long as the handwriting is legible and there are not too many decorations.

How To MAke Snail Mail:

  1. Get out a normal blank envelope and let’s start jazzing it up!
  1. Find any decorations that you can put on the envelope: Dried Flowers, Stickers, Stamps, PAint, Etc
  1. Start with paint or markers and make a simple design to start with.

  1. Add the return address at the top left and the receiver’s address in the middle. Make it fancy and do some cursive or font calligraphy!
  1. Start adding decorations! Go crazy and have fun with it! I added dried flower stickers, a stamp, a wax seal, and some thread.

  1. Voila! You are done! Time to write that letter and send it off in the mail. Have fun and get creative!
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Whetstone Wrestling Team Takes The Trophy Home 10th Year In a Row

Whetstone Wrestling Team Retains the Golden Trophy 10th Year In a Row after big Comeback by Jordan Brofford

by Evelyn Smith

The Whetstone Wrestling team has a yearly dual with Centennial called the “Golden Grappler.” The Braves have taken this trophy home for nine years, and this year, for the tenth time in a row, they did it again.

While the victory was the tenth, having two Whetstone alumni as the coaches certainly was. Coach Lindsey, Chris and Mac all wrestled in high school for the Braves. These alumni have taken over the square from coach Jones, another Whetstone alum, who is now the wrestling coach at St. Francis DeSales.

This match is different than most. Centennial is Whetstone’s biggest rival and, if the Braves would have lost, team captains Aidan and Paul would have to walk across the mats and hand the trophy over to the Stars. 

The Golden Grappler trophy remains in Whetstone’s possession after a win vs. Centennial

The match started, Ramona lost to Centennial’s 106 weight class. The Braves were losing by 6 points. The winning heavyweight match started. 

Forfeits on both sides evened the score.

In the last match, Jordan Brofford, Centennial’s 285 heavyweight wrestler, took the mat. Jordan fought hard. Down three points, he knew something had to change.

He was nearly pinned twice in the second period. The third period started, Jordan was down by 6 points. In order for Jordan to win he needed multiple takedowns or back points. Thirty seconds left in the final quarter and Jordan was almost pinned, a certain loss. In the last moment, Jordan pulled off a reversal and gained two points narrowing the lead to one point. With 15 seconds left on the clock Jordan ran a half and pinned his opponent.

“This is the closest meet I’ve seen in a long time,” says Mac. “It would’ve been depressing to walk over the mat and hand the trophy over to Centennial. It’s nice to now have this streak for ten years.” 

The team’s human pyramid after the winning match. 

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Reflections on the Pandemic by a Somali American Teen

By Sumaya Ali

I have been thinking a lot about the world and all the good and bad that’s happening.

I look around and I see all the things we could achieve if we were able to work together and also the damage we do when we don’t work together.

I never truly realized how unfair the world could be until this virus. There are so many bad things I see now but there are also a lot of good things. It is Ramadan, I am going to graduate, I just got my driver’s license: these things make me happy, even if they are not the way I ever thought they would be.

On the other hand there are protests and there is social injustice.

There are protests going about how we should open up stores, shops and jobs. Which I understand but those people protesting do not see all the people dying.

What I am trying to focus on is how white protesters bring guns and hit the police and harass people. And the cops are not fighting back but instead they are giving them masks and water bottles.

At the same time black kids and black people in general are getting beat up for going outside of their house. And black people are getting shot for jogging and people assumed that he was robbing houses and shot him right on the street. The people who murdered him didn’t even get arrested for over two months.

It’s really hard for me to think about good things when all I see is injustice happening all around me. But I think it’s still important to think about all the good things.

Something good that I can think about is the fact that we get to graduate even though it’s going to be online. I am still happy that I will be able to graduate.

Another thing that I am really happy about is Ramadan. It’s not like how it used to be where we would go hang out with family and family and have bonfires and party’s at night. or go to fast food restaurants at 4 in the morning.

It’s different but I am still thankful that I get to spend it with my family at the safety of my house.

I am also very happy to have finished driving school even though I want the test to be an official driver. I am still happy.

There are a lot of things that I am thankful about but things really do need to change in a big and good way.

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What It’s Like Being in Quarantine for an 18 year old High School Senior

By Hodon Yassin

I’m eighteen years old and it’s my senior year. I attend Whetstone High School. I’m also attending Columbus State for university. My hobbies include art, drawing, animation, etc.

Sadly, because of COVID-19, I couldn’t do as much of that as I would like.

COVID-19 stands for “Coronavirus Disease-2019”. It may have started in a supermarket in Wuhan, China. It has expanded to touch nearly every corner of the globe. Only one continent, Antarctica, is immune so far. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have been sickened and thousands of others have died. How many people

The World Health Organization has declared the virus a global health emergency and rated COVID-19’s global risk of spread and impact as “very high,” the most serious designation the organization gives. There are a total of 21,131 people in the US who have the disease and over 1,271 have died. As for the entire world, there are a total 3.94M people who have it and over 275K deaths. However, many have recovered from the illness. There are a total of 182K in the US and 1.32M in the world who survived.

Covid-19 is mainly caused by physical contact, such as high-fives, hugs, etc. But it is also an airborne virus that you can breath if someone close to you has coughed, or even flushed a toilet. Because of COVID-19 becoming even more intense, many schools closed down. My school was one of them. The absence was going to last through weeks, but because it got even worse than before, it was extended to the entire school year. In order to avoid many students getting the virus, they cancelled prom, the school play, etc.

The past three weeks had been alright. I mainly just drew my artwork, watched TV, spent time with my family, etc. The only times we exit the house is to run errands, such as grocery shopping. Still, my teachers give me and my classmates online work. I always worked hard on each assignment doing the best I could.

I even had my 18th birthday during quarantine. Turning eighteen means I was finally going to be an adult. I mainly just watch a movie, each tons of junk food, call my friends, etc. My grandmother even called me to sing “Happy Birthday”. It was an alright birthday.

I really hope they find a cure for this disease. Even if I can’t go outside, I grew closer with my family while in quarantine. I get to learn more about my cultural roots and talk to my loved ones online using Zoom. I also became even more calmer than before because of drawing and talking about my emotions with my family. It even warms my heart to hear that many people have defeated COVID-19 and thank doctors for their help. In conclusion, I hope they find a cure.

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