the iglobe
STUDENT
NEWSPAPER
CELEBRATING A YEAR OF IGLOBE, STUDENTS, AND NEWS AS THE 2020 SCHOOL YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE!
Online
"As I leave you for what comes next, I am telling you to be brave, always smart, and willing to risk it all."
To my friends, acquaintances, and to those that I didn't get a chance to meet, but I would have liked to---
Here at the iGlobe, we have made school connections that will last a lifetime. For years, and certainly before I was around, students from all over the world came together safely to write, draw, photograph, sing, and more. And with each of your contributions you continued that legacy of excellence. The work you all have put into the paper is inspiring and uplifting.
Personally, after six years with all of you, the iGlobe has been one of the best parts of school. I invite you who might be reading this to get involved right now and own your school experience here at K12 Private Academy. Because, graduation is coming one way or another. What will be your legacy to the people you were blessed to be a part? Will you tell yourself, you sat this one out? Or, did you risk it all and get involved?
As I leave you for what comes next, I am telling you to be brave, always smart, and willing to risk it all.
Say yes to the opportunities that right now you said 'maybe later' or 'I don't have time.' I guarantee you will find that pouring unselfishly into your community--basically, the people you see around you and those you don't--pouring into them, you will find will never be one of your regrets.
Sending you eternal love from me to you. If you ever need me, I am a few keystrokes away online. Let's make next year even better, iGlobers!
-- Kendall Haney,
Out-going iGlobe Editor-in-Chief
THANK YOU, K12 TEACHERS!
AND CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE IGLOBE TO OUR TEACHERS of the YEAR!
Always essential personnel. That is how teachers, under the leadership of Head of School Ms. Leslie Smith, perform at K12 International Academy. And while they may not face the runny noses in the classroom, they have a much more daunting task before them. How do you educate remotely some of the brightest minds in the country under the same duress that everyone else experienced due to the Covid-19 crisis, or family problems, or just from the enemy within us all? How would YOU, students and parents, do it? If you are a K12 teacher, you do it with poise and grace, every day, and with no mistakes.
Grades come due at a particular time, and there are no excuses for them. There is no such thing as 'late work' or 'can I turn it in after the permanent deadline?' Frequently, many of these teachers cannot even take time off--and choose not to--just so they can support what they feel are 'their kids.' Given a chance, K12 teachers can become friends for a lifetime.
And, the coolest part? They want to.
So thank you so much from the student body, and from the iGlobe School newspaper in particular, teachers. You have no idea how much your compassion and kindness meant. Most of the time it is because we didn't tell you as we were wrapped up in our own heads.
You forgave us, supported us, and loved us. We love you too even though sometimes we forgot to tell you!
Heroes. K12 Teachers. Enough said.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
OUR IGLOBE MODERATOR, MR. MISTRETTA!
Dear Mr. Mistretta,
What is it like to be a student in Mr. Richard Mistretta's class? Well, it is like this. When you walk in, he doesn't talk about the class necessarily. First, he has the beautiful audacity to ask what your interests are, and worse than that he remembers those interests and politely inquires how those things might be going the next time and the next time after that he sees you. Suddenly, you become the reluctant super hero in your own story to his Alfred. How much he can help you, depends on you. Do you show up to class connects? Do you turn your work in on time so he can give you proper feedback? Did you ask questions like he asked you to do if you don't understand? See, you don't have to do any of those things, but if you did, you would find that the help doesn't stop coming. This is a teacher who cares so much about his students, he doesn't know any other way than to show it as opposed to tell it.
Going to his class connects is like no other math class. It is part Robin Williams stand-up, part Beautiful Mind. It is never unproductive. You will leave having learned something because he won't let you leave until you did, and just to be sure there is a straightforward form he created forthcoming on the topic you couldn't grasp. He doesn't make video after video although certainly he has those ready too. Instead, he spends from the very early morning until very late at night answering questions as they come better than any late night pizza delivery guy ever.
You ring the Skype bell, he picks up. It is like that. See, as a staff both present and past we know it because we've done it. And, sometimes the issue was math. Sometimes the issue was our parents can't stop arguing, and we were sick of it. And after graduation, sometimes it was just checking in to make sure we were still breathing.
We could go on and on about why this man eschews the definition of 'teacher' and 'student advocate.' But, he doesn't want titles, and never asked for any. He just wanted to help people.
Well sir, you have and you did.
Thank you so much for all you've done for us here at the iGlobe. You've been here for the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and throughout it all you've been a caring mentor, a friend, and someone to depend upon when the going gets tough. The iGlobe simply couldn't exist without you and all the work you've put into it to keep it going. We owe everything here to you. Thank you so, so much for choosing us. We'll choose you every time!
Truly, congratulations! You deserve the Middle School Teacher of the Year award and more for the way you've poured your heart and soul into not just the iGlobe, but every student that's passed through your virtual doors. Thank you so much for everything. With you in the picture, the best is yet to come!
Love,
The iGlobe Writing Staff & K12 Student Alumni
CONGRATULATIONS!
2020 K12 INTL' ACADEMY GRADUATES TAKE CENTER STAGE, READY FOR WORLD!
"And congratulations to the entire K12 Class of 2020 from all of us here at the iGlobe! We wish you all the best of luck wherever you go next!"
...and special recognition to Eliot Jones, our Salutatorian! Jones will be attending Stanford University on scholarship as a student athlete after proudly representing the USA overseas on the national soccer team! Congratulations!!!
MEET THE VALEDICTORIAN, ARIANA CARDEN!
First, Ariana wishes to thank all the amazing teachers here at K12 who have gone above and beyond with their classes. Ariana says, “I would love to give a shoutout to our Student Council advisors, Ms. Matuza, Mrs. Sullivan, and Mrs. Sublett, our NHS advisors, Mrs. Gordon and Mrs. Connor, and our Mu Alpha Theta advisor, Mrs. Huskey! I have interacted with all of them not only in these organizations, but also courses they have taught. They are truly amazing teachers and advisors who I am very, very grateful for! I'd also like to give a shoutout to all of our Student Council, NHS, and Mu Alpha Theta members. I've really enjoyed working with you all throughout my years at iCad! Also, Ms. Hale and Ms. Very, who assisted me so much with my college application process and many other things during my time at K12! Also, I'd like to give a shoutout to my amazing AP English Language and Composition teacher, Mrs. Meek, who helped me understand a new approach to English. [Thank you] to Madame Murnane, who was my French teacher early in my high school career! She showed me how beautiful of a language French is and inspired a love of French language and culture that persists in me today.”
Ariana has been a student here at K12 for eight years and she has shown tremendous work ethic, intelligence, and kindness to her fellow peers and students. Ariana has enjoyed the intimate bonds she has created with other students and teachers despite the online environment. Icademy’s flexible environment has allowed Ariana to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities while still maintaining her school spirit. She says in an interview, “Attending K12 has taught me important time-management skills and independence, while cultivating my social and leadership skills through my participation in Student Council, NHS, Mu Alpha Theta, Model UN, and other organizations during my time [in highschool].” Ariana has been an extremely active student as she holds multiple leadership positions and has still managed to achieve straight A’s in all her classes. For other aspiring valedictorians, Ariana advises, “Your dreams won't come true unless you are confident in your own abilities and character,” and wishes all the incoming freshmen “Goodluck!”
By Bhagyashree Behera
Hello everyone! Congratulations to everyone who is graduating on June 26th! K12 International Academy is proud to announce this year’s Valedictorian: Ariana Carden! Ariana will be attending Carnegie Mellon University and is extremely excited about becoming a Turn Tartan.
K12 International Academy has a brand-new look and a new name!
Here is what is changing:
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Our new logo
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Our new name: K12 Private Academy
Here is what will not change at all:
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Same great K12 curriculum
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Same passionate, certified teachers
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All the clubs and activities you love
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Our strong, globally minded school community
Why the change?
You know K12 International Academy is a great choice for personalized online learning. Now, with more students looking for a quality, online education, we wanted our name and logo to more closely connect our school with K12's curriculum. We also want to make sure families know that K12 Private Academy is an inclusive choice for private school education—whether students are living in the United States or in the other countries we serve. Even though K12 International Academy is now called K12 Private Academy, our international reach and globally minded school community remain the same.
You may still see the K12 International Academy name in various places throughout the 20-21 school year. It will take some time make the complete name change but we are excited to move into a new era of partnering with parents and supporting students!
Our Best Regards,
K12 Private Academy Administration
THE IGLOBE SNAPSHOT ... PETS ... TOILET PAPER ROLLS ... AND MORE!
Covid-19 and the First Amendment: What Are US Citizens Giving Away?
Economic Danger in Paradise
By Saxon Haney
Very few people doubt that the island state of Hawaii is as close to paradise on Earth that Americans can get. Very few also doubt that Hawaii is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. With tourism nosediving due to the COVID-19 crisis, nearly one-third of the state's workers are facing an uncertain employment future.
Tourism drives so much of the economic activity in Hawaii. For example, close to 15% of employees work in the food service industry. Their income has evaporated since the crisis began. And, while Hawaii has fewer than 1000 cases, experts don't foresee the tourism industry recovering until 2021.
It is expensive to live in Hawaii. The cost of goods and services in Hawaii is nearly 20% above the national average. As a result, many Hawaiians live paycheck to paycheck with little or no savings to draw from in tough times.
The stories of loss and looming disaster are heart-breaking. Many of the small businesses in the state are small gift shops or similar stores geared exclusively to tourists. Their income depends entirely on visitors. Without the steady influx of tourists coming to the island, their business has all but dried up leaving them with no income and the need to lay off all employees. Small business loan relief has helped but many fear that things will never be the same again.
2019-2020...A YEAR FOR HISTORY
by Kendall Haney, iGlobe Editor-in-Chief
With change comes growth. And sometimes pain. Everyone wants things to get better, but one cannot embrace the better without the change that comes with pain to get the growth. And, a quick look back through 2019 and 2020 demonstrates the stage was set for the events that spread its wings worldwide over unsuspecting populations. How did we miss it?
A brief look back to 2019 reveals, according to History.com, that "Protestors in Hong Kong clashed with police, fire consumed an 850 year old cathedral in Paris, and the US Soccer team won the World Cup." Clearly people should have realized something was afoot when any US soccer team wins the World Cup, talent notwithstanding.
At the end of 2019, the political noise was already ratcheted up to buzz reaching the roofs of skyscrapers. Alas, Babylon swayed. Impeachment was in the air, and falling sheets of thin ice evidence daggered into the 45th US president's thin skin. To be clear, the evidence selected for impeachment really was thin, if the masses are willing to be completely honest. (But who really wants to be honest about that when the man could have been impeached on a rather thick file, but 'they' just didn't pick the thick file for some reason?). Does anyone recall what President Donald J. Trump was impeached for...Russia? No. He was impeached for...well, he was impeached for something. Maybe it was for being a Republican? Well, some people thought so. It could also have been because he was one of those 'lying liars' that disgraced senator from Minnesota wrote and warned about a few years back. But we don't remember his name either. Just like we don't talk about the 2018 State Department document that warned about a little lab in Wuhan that seemed to like to play with big viruses and maybe not in possession of the best insurance policies against the spread of those viruses (https://www.theblaze.com/news/state-department-cables-wuhan-virology-lab).
At the end of 2019, Covid was already spreading...the masses just didn't know. People were already dying. They thought they had pneumonia, the flu, that thing that was going around town. But by February 2020, people had become aware, and one by one the schools closed, jobs were lost, a few coins got tossed by Uncle Nero to the mob as recompense for it all...
....and K12 students and their teachers coupled with administration kept working harder than ever. Never had any institution been more prepared for this kind of crisis.
Come March, 2020 evacuations by air and sea were simultaneously happening across the globe as the lucky ones found seats on planes back to loved ones. But if one wishes to be really accurate, the lucky ones weren't all that lucky. They were wealthy. And, they were just wealthy enough to buy their way home with one-way tickets on chartered flights costing into the thousands. Many were stranded in host countries that were not their home. Under quarantine laws that varied from country to country, indigenous populations had to learn to wrap their arms around the undocumented. Interestingly in the United States, government eased its visa requirements for those stranded, and then stopped issuing their citizens passports altogether. As of June 30, 2020, if you are a US citizen, you cannot get a passport except under the most dire of situations (www.state.gov).
And in June, what else happened? An innocent man was buried; death by asphyxiation as a cop knelt on the neck of a Covid positive black man with heart disease. His name was George Floyd. And at the moment of his death was born a new era of progressivism that demanded that the police state be retired in favor of a kinder, gentler nation promised so long ago by a dead ex-president looking down on a thousand points of light...and maybe crying.
And this is good news? Well, no. Not at all. But it is news that brings with it a bell tolling for change that is good. It is good that, as people graduate and look around at a world of possibility, that new laws will be written at the end of 2020 that protect all people from police brutality, no-knock warrants, and possibly even voter disenfranchisement as the expansion of mail-in ballots must occur if a free and fair election is to be held at all.
Noteworthy, but not mentioned much, is the third candidate in the 2020 presidential race. A Libertarian woman named Jo Jorgensen. Sure, she isn't getting much attention now, but that could change. After all, her name made it into this article. Will there be a woman that can bring forth a message of unity in a country so divided? Maybe. If the powers that be would let her on the debate stage.
Time will tell. It always does. Maybe this time, we might even look back if we fail to remember, and listen. What do you hear?
