St. Pius X Catholic School Community,     I am happy to introduce you to the Autumn Edition of the Pirates Point! This year, I am thrilled to be working as the Editor of the Pirates Point together with Co-Editors Naana-Aba B. and Isabella R. My staff also includes Layout Editors Javier H. and Grace A., and Quarterly Book Reviewer Kimber G. We are excited to welcome our new teachers Ms. Woodall, and Ms. Brea. This issue features Jessica’s Jolly Advice, Angelian’s Hispanic Recipes, and The Virtual Learning Program. Take a look at How to Make a Pom Pom, Halloween During Quarantine, Moving to a New School, Fun Facts, and so much more! Enjoy! -Editor Sabrina B. 

 Sabrina B. 

  Isabella R. Naana-Aba B. Grace A. Javier H. 

The Bright Ms. Brea  By Isabella R. and Grace A.  

   Ms. Brea is the new Spanish teacher for all grades. She attended Tidewater Community College until she earned a scholarship to the University of Virginia. Her inspiration to become a teacher was to assist those in need. This led her to become a special education teacher, so she could help students with disabilities. If she were to describe herself with three words she would use “honest, reliable, and a nature lover”. Ms. Brea’s hobbies include photography, horticulture, and traveling, both nationally and internationally. She taught for 22 years and described her favorite thing about teaching as “seeing the lightbulb going off in a student's head. That moment of understanding is priceless and very inspiring to me.” If Ms. Brea was not teaching, she would be in the field of horticulture because she loves plants and nature.     Before Ms. Brea came to St. Pius X Catholic School, she was a special education teacher. Her favorite part about the school is the students. She stated, “It is an honor and a pleasure to be surrounded by such a great group of students.”. Her transition to the school has gone well, and everyone has made her feel welcome and at home. She said that she enjoys teaching students both in-person and virtually. It keeps her on her toes and allows her to learn new things and develop other ways to teach. If she were to fix one world problem, it would be finding a cure for Covid 19. She declared that she wants to “prevent future suffering caused by the virus, and eradicate it once and for all.” By the end of this school year, Ms. Brea wants her students to master all of the Spanish objectives and tasks that they will study and practice throughout their time with her.

The Warm-Hearted Mrs. Woodall

By Kimber G. and Angelica F.

Mrs. Woodall has always 

wanted to be a teacher. As an 

elementary schooler, in the summer, 

she lined up her stuffed animals and 

dolls and read and gave spelling tests 

to them. She has been teaching on and 

off for 30 years and also spent time 

writing curriculum for businesses. 

Mrs. Woodall was inspired by all of 

her English teachers along the way. 

When she went to college, she had an 

amazing literature professor who 

taught her to love poetry.  

Some of Mrs. Woodall’s 

favorite hobbies include reading, 

writing, and watching movies. She also 

likes to cook. Before Mrs. Woodall 

became a teacher, she wanted to be a 

cruise director. There was a show on 

TV that she watched when she was 

very young called The Loveboat that 

featured the life of a cruise director. 

Mrs. Woodall’s hidden talent is that 

she can play the piano well. Her most 

recent favorite novel is called A 

Little Paris Bookshop. She went to 

Howard Payne University, a  

small Baptist college in Texas, where 

she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree 

in English literature and teaching 

credentials in English, Reading, 

Speech, and Journalism. Later, she 

attended the University of North 

Texas and worked on an M.A. in 

Creative Writing. If she wasn’t a 

Language Arts teacher, she would like 

to be a linguist and travel the world 

learning and transcribing tribal 

languages.  

Mrs. Woodall’s favorite part 

about teaching English is sharing what 

she is passionate about as well as 

learning what her students are 

passionate about. What a great 

addition Mrs. Woodall is to St. Pius X 

Catholic School! 

The Election Extraordinaire  By Tristan E., Jakob H., and Sebastian R.

On the day of the general election, voters support the candidate they endorse

through voting. The popular vote is not the deciding factor in whether or not a candidate wins; the popular vote helps a state’s Electoral College representatives choose

who to vote for. In December, the Electoral College, a group of electors who are elected by state legislatures, cast their votes. In total, there are 538 members, each with one vote.

For a candidate to be elected, they must have more than half of the members’ votes

(270). After all the representatives’ electoral votes are in, they are counted to determine the winning candidate. Once a candidate is selected, they and their Vice President are inaugurated the following January.

Republican Candidate Donald J. Trump 

President Donald John Trump was

born on June 14, 1946, in New York City.

He is the candidate for the Republican Party. His campaign promises include

supporting states’ rights and lowering

taxes. He believes in protecting the

second amendment and prioritizes law

and order. President Trump also backs

funding for police. He is also the owner

of the Trump Organization, a major real

estate company whose value is over

$3,000,000,000.

Democratic Candidate Joe R. Biden 

Former Vice President Joseph

Robinette Biden Jr. was born on

November 20, 1942. He served under the

Obama Administration from 2009-2017,

and his campaign is endorsed by former

U.S. President Barack Obama. If elected,

he promises to funnel 2 trillion dollars into clean energy and infrastructure,

which will create thousands of jobs. Joe

Biden plans to enforce extra COVID-19

precautions. He also plans to put 900

million dollars towards combating

shootings in the top 40 cities with the

most gun violence

The middle school conducted a mock election. These are the results.

Biden: 27 Trump: 12

And the winner of the Presidential Election is… Joe Biden 🎊

Moving To a New School By Charlie T.

When you are a student at a new school, you need

to be prepared for change. As a new student at St. Pius X

Catholic School, I have noticed many differences

between my old school and my new school. One of the

main differences is the number of students and the size

of the school. My old school was a public middle school that included the

sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. There were around 200 students per

grade whereas here, there are 20 to 30 students per class. Both larger and

smaller schools have pros and cons. In a larger school, you can be friends

with a variety of people. In a smaller school, you get to know everyone well.

When going to a new school, you have to adjust to a different routine. You

learn about teachers and different rules. Although there are many

challenges involved with going to a new school, it helps you learn how to

adapt to new things, which is something everyone has to do thro=ughout

their lifetime.

  

Windfall Book Review By Kimber G. 

 

In this book, Alice, Leo, and Teddy are all best friends. Alice was in love with her best friend, Teddy, but he was oblivious. For his 18th birthday, she bought him a lottery ticket that won him 32 million dollars. Both Teddy and Alice had not had the most fortunate lives, so this prize brought joy to both of them. Alice’s parents died when she was little, so she lives with her cousin, Leo, and her Aunt and Uncle. Teddy lives alone with his mom because his dad used all of their money to gamble and left them. Teddy wanted Alice to take half of the money, but she rejected his offer. She spent a lot of time thinking she shouldn’t have refused his proposal. Her Aunt and Uncle could have benefited from the money. Alice and Teddy had always talked to each other about their problems, but when Teddy won the lottery, their relationship started to go downhill. Alice wanted Teddy to do something good with the money, but he wanted to buy unnecessary items. In the end, Teddy and Alice fixed all of their problems, and Teddy was very humble with the money. 

 I enjoyed this book because it was filled with twists and turns that I did not expect. It had a very realistic high school setting in which Alice struggled with deciding on where to go to college. This story never got boring, because there was always something going on, whether it was family, friends, or relationship issues. It also mentioned using your money wisely and doing something good with it, like donating to charity or giving money to people who need it. Windfall is a wonderful book to read, and I would rate it 5 stars.  

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐    Age Rating: 12+  

 

M oe s M adnes s 

    

SCIENCE FUN    

 

 

The Endless Environment  By Javier H. 

Space is an ever-expanding environment. It is a cold, lifeless, and dismal place. In the estimated two trillion known galaxies in the universe, approximately 40 billion earth-size planets are revolving in a habitable distance away from its star. Scientists have only uncovered an approximated four percent of the entire universe. Much has yet to be discovered and studied. Uncovering the mysteries of the universe and finding ways to travel beyond our comprehension sparks many people’s interests.   

A black hole is an object so dense that it manipulates the very fabric of space and time. When a gigantic star runs out of fuel to power its nuclear fusion, a nuclear reaction between two atoms that releases a huge mass of energy, the force of gravity becomes too much for it to handle and it collapses on itself. This object condenses so much that it becomes a substance that can consume light itself.   

The white hole, a hypothetical region of space that has yet to be discovered, is the exact opposite of a black hole. This singularity in theory is thought to be The Big Bang. Like any other object, white holes have gravity. Although they may attract other substances or matter, none of those may enter its event horizon. There is one exception to that, thermal equilibrium. As stated by Stephen Hawking, one of the smartest scientists to date, thermal equilibrium, the state in which two systems are connected via a diathermic wall, connects the black hole and white hole into a single mass. (*This is thought to be where the mass absorbed from a black hole progresses.)  

The Universe can be an extremely confusing topic. Some of the biggest events that happen in the universe today, from black holes to wormholes, can be extremely difficult to comprehend, especially when involving all of the different theories.     

 

New School Year=New Rules! 

By Seth S. 

There have been many changes 

implemented at St. Pius X Catholic School to fight Covid-19. Before, students did not use hand sanitizer often, but now they use it constantly. Also, 

students bring their water bottles, whereas, in the past, they were able to get water from the water fountains. Students can’t have as much interaction with friends because of the 6 feet social 

distancing rule. One of the main changes is wearing a mask. Everyone must wear masks, and although most people don’t like them, it is necessary to keep everyone safe. Now, the technology lab and library are closed. In addition, students aren't able to play sports in the gym like basketball, tag, flag football, and 

other activities. Despite these changes and misfortunes, there is still some light at the end of the tunnel. Friends can see each other again, and school is a cleaner environment. School is not the same, but everyone is doing their best to accept the changes and be 

positive.  

 

How to Make a Pom Pom  By Renee P. 

Materials:  ● Yarn ● Scissors  

● Fork (optional) 

 1. Grab your yarn and wrap it around a fork or your fingers. Wrap the yarn as many 

times as you want. The more times you wrap it around, the bigger it will be.   

 2. Pull the yarn off the fork, or your fingers, making sure to keep it intact. 

 3. Tie a knot around the middle of the yarn with another piece of the yarn. 

4. After you tie the other piece of yarn around the main yarn, it will make a type of bow. Using scissors, cut the loops.   

5. Shake the Pom Pom by the string to fluff it. If you would like it to be fluffier, continue with your scissors to cut around the yarn. Trim the yarn until it forms into a ball, and you are happy with the product.  

 6. Now you have a Pom Pom! 

Jessica’s Jolly Advice By Jessica C. 

Everyone has problems. I'm here to give you advice on yours.  

Dear JJA, Since we can’t play basketball this season, what can I do to keep my 

basketball skills on point and be active? -Miss Jiraiya  Dear Miss Jiraiya, 

You can practice at home and in your backyard. If you don’t have a backyard, then you can go to a park or gym. If possible, you could play with your teammates and friends so that you all can work on your skills. 

-JJA Dear JJA, 

I have a problem in school. It’s so overwhelming. We have 4 hours worth of homework every night. Certain classes are very hard and we have up to five quizzes/tests per week! -Miss No One    Dear Miss No One, 

What I find best to do is stay organized. If you are not organized, school will become very overwhelmed and stressed. Also, make sure to use your planner, it is very important to stay on top of your work. If there is too much work, you can always talk to your teachers about it. 

-JJA   Dear JJA, 

How do you deal with stress? I have to keep those A's. Also, how do you study for a big test? -Stressed  Dear Stressed, 

It is easiest for me to make a Quizlet. Also, take breaks in between studying. That helps your brain retain the information on the morning of a big test. If possible, it is great to study with another student so that you can both know the information. If the teacher gives you a study guide, make sure to use it. It contains the topics and can help you know the key concepts that are on the test.

-JJA 

Halloween During Quarantine By Sara L. and Angelian J. 

 ● In Los Angeles, it was banned to 

trick-or-treat door-to-door or car-to-car.  ● In other places, there were precautions 

including social distancing and wearing a mask. 

● In Salem, Massachusetts, the Salem Haunted Happenings canceled many events such as walking tours, psychic fairs, shopping, and popular attractions like parades, and road races. 

 

 Halloween Activities 

Trick-or-treating was a high-risk activity, so the health department recommended 

these safer alternatives.   

● Halloween scavenger hunt ● Virtual costume contest ● Pumpkin carving contest  ● Outdoor costume party using 

masks and social distancing ● Outdoor Halloween movie night with local family and 

friends 

 

Fun Facts  By Shael A. 

Have you ever wondered how many times you have 

walked around the world? Well, get your answer and much 

more with these random fun facts!  

 

● Did you know the oldest “your mom” joke was discovered on a 3,500-year-old Babylonian tablet? It was discovered 

in Iraq in 1976 but was later lost. 

● Cherophobia is an irrational fear of fun or happiness.  ● Did you know that if a kangaroo’s tail is lifted off the ground it can’t 

hop? Kangaroos use their tails for balance while hopping, if their tail is elevated, the kangaroos would have no balance and fall over. 

● There are more card deck combinations than there are atoms on Earth. It's just a matter of math that determines this. If a card deck is shuffled properly, there's a high chance that it will come out in an 

arrangement that has never existed before. A deck of 52 cards has an astronomically large number of combinations. 

● Did you know that the click on a roller coasters chain lift is a special part that locks to the chain? It is utilized so that if the power 

goes out your train won’t fall back.  

● Disney World is not in Orlando. The majority of the Walt Disney World Resort is located in the city of Bay Lake. 

● The last fact is that if you were to remove all of the space from the 

atoms that make up every human on earth, the entire world population 

could fit into an apple. The overall volume of our particles would be smaller than a sugar cube.  

 

Well, now you know the interesting fun facts of the day!  

 

Virtual Learning By Sabrina B. 

  The faculty, staff, students, 

and community of St. Pius X Catholic School is working to make the new school year pleasant and safe for everyone. This year, a virtual, as well as an in-person learning program is offered to ensure the school community is comfortable. Mr. Zafra, Principal, and Mrs. Glass, Associate Principal, stated that the goal for the new year was to “make the students feel safe, provide rigorous academics, and continue the faith development of students.”   

The virtual learning program began developing last spring and continues to progress. The plan was formed by a cluster of “different voices”. Familiar online programs and websites used the previous year, have made an easier transition process for the students. Mr. Zafra noted that teachers attended virtual learning workshops during the summer, and continue to improve their curriculum on professional development days. The program is teaching everyone new concepts and keeps improving as it carries on.  

Although the plan has proved to be successful, there are still adjustments and optimizations to be made in the future. The faculty and students are learning from this new experience, and appreciate constructive criticism. The school has already tested and added many improvements to the program. Mrs. Glass mentioned a 5G network connection is expected to be 

installed soon. Everyone is “learning to become more comfortable with the online program.”  The school is prioritizing giving virtual learners an equal experience to in-person learners. Mr. Zafra has asked teachers to “over engage virtual learners”, to help them remain focused and participating. Teachers post the same materials on Google Classroom for both virtual and in-person learners to ensure all students remain on-task. Mrs. Lomogda, Physical Education Teacher, explained that teaching virtual learners allows her “ to really step out of the box and be creative.” Online students are also factored into school events and activities. Teachers, staff, and students have all worked together to stay optimistic during this challenging time.  

The addition of virtual learning has been a learning process for all. Faculty and staff, parents, and students continue to adjust and gain knowledge. The school year is off to an amazing start, and the school hopes to carry this success throughout the whole year. 

Angelian’s Hispanic Recipes 

Cheese Corn Roll (Hispanic Name: Sorullos) Ingredients: 

½ Velveeta Cheese, 4 oz 

1 Goya Enriched Fine Yellow Cornmeal, 24 oz 

½ gallon of milk 

1 cup of sugar 

4 tbsp of vanilla 

2 sticks of butter 

Instructions: 

1. Mix the milk, butter, sugar, and vanilla in one bowl.  

2. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and bring the mix to a boil.  

3. Mix the cornmeal into the milk mixture, stirring constantly until the dough 

does not stick to the pot.  

4. Let it rest for 30 minutes, or until the cornmeal mixture is soft.  

5. Take one spoon of the mixture into your hands, flatten it, in the middle, spread 

the cheese, and roll the mixture around the cheese.  

6. In a large deep skillet, heat canola oil.  

7. Cook 4-6 at a time, making sure not to crowd the pan. Cook them until they 

are a light golden brown.  

8. Drain them on a plate with a paper towel on top and serve immediately. 

Autumn 🍂  By Naana-Aba B. 

 As summer’s heat begins to wane, 

and autumn’s crisp breezes begin to reign, branches snap and leaves overlap  

our real-life earthly map  

When times turn very spooky, our spirits get kooky, 

kids yell “trick or treat” and go to houses for a sugary sweet  

 Thanksgiving is right around the corner, 

and the weather is the opposite of warmer, delicious food contains pumpkin spice 

and the air smells very nice  

As we enjoy our cool fall, the short time starts to stall, 

winter comes around and the leaves are no longer found 

 On a cold wintry night,  

the ground becomes a bright white light when the moon shines down on our wild and busy towns 

 We say goodbye to winter, 

look at a spring figure, pass summer by, 

and soon tell autumn, “Hi”  

 

In the School  

 

  

Butterfly Bliss