October Newsletter

IGDVS Newsletter
Oct 19, 2021
8 min read

Updated: Nov 21, 2021

Dear Families,

Fall is in the air! Instilling Goodness Elementary is excited to have our first family event gathering by cohort. Please see email that was sent out earlier. We want to connect families safely so we hope you can join us.

As the weather gets cooler, please label all jackets, sweaters, and coats with your child's name. Also, make it a habit every Friday to teach your child to clean out the school work or papers in your child's backpack so your child can stay organized. Thanks!

Sincerely Yours,

IGDVS Newsletter

Not-so-obvious Effects of the Pandemic:

Deaf and partially deaf people have been particularly affected, especially if they rely on reading lips
Cognitive decline even in people who weren't infected with COVID-19
Students are not meeting behavioral/social expectations due to being online for more than a year
Supply chain shortages
Memory and stress problems in adults

Virtue of the Month: Filial Piety

By Katherine Wang

Filial piety means taking care of your parents, being good to them, and having respect for them. Here are some quotes from the Standards for Students (弟子規) that express what to do:

父母呼，應勿緩。父母命，行勿懶。父母教，須敬聼。父母責，須我承。

When your parents call you, don't be slow to answer. When your parents ask you to do something, don't be lazy. When your parents teach you, you should listen respectfully. When your parents reprimand you, you should accept it.

Since the virtue of the month is filial piety, try to be filial toward your parents and elders this month!

High School Book Recs:

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews

By Heidi Blythe

“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.”

This is a story of the fall of Troy. Or rather, a part of it. More specifically, this is the tale of Achilles and Patroclus. Of their undying love for each other. Of the lives they sacrifice on the altar of that love. Of desperate men and petty gods. Of a proud and greedy nation engaged in a prolonged, bloody war that lasted a decade.

Madeline Miller casts the story as a romance between Achilles and Patroclus. While staying true to Greek legends and the works of Homer, Miller creatively and convincingly fills in the blanks and backstories of the characters in a way that casts a new light on the human side of the Trojan War.

An alternative interpretation of the Iliad, The Song of Achilles retells the story of Greece's greatest hero from the point of view of his best friend Patroclus. His retelling cuts through the legend of the hero and shows us the mortal side of the demigod, vibrant and mortal.

Inspirational Quote

"Students must have initiative; they should not be mere imitators. They must learn to think and act for themselves - and be free." – Cesar Chavez, an American labor leader and civil rights activist

Fun Fact

Under its frigid, dusty surface, Mars is humming.

Crossword

By Kaitlin Harness

Here's a fun little October crossword!

https://crosswordlabs.com/view/its-october-2

Photography: Rule of Thirds

By Rachel Blythe

What is the Rule of Thirds? How to use/break it?

The rule of thirds is in every aspect of art or design. From photography composition to fashion design tips, rule of thirds is used as a basic guideline so that the work is well-composed and pleasing to the eye.

Rule of Thirds in fashion

Rule of Thirds in paintings, but can be applied to photography as well.

In photography, the concept of the Rule of Thirds is to place your subject on the left or right third of an image, so that it occupies only ⅓ of the space. However, how you break the rule of thirds is to either fill the whole frame with the subject or with the subject in the middle.

A famous street photographer, Bruce Gulden, has an in your face style of shooting and has no code and no care at all for composition as he sees the rule of third as something that limits his possibilities.

Photographs by Bruce Gulden

Style → Files:

By Katie Finnegan

Halloween is just around the corner and you might need some costume inspo, well your girl katie poo has got your back! below are 5 different easy to do costumes that will get you exited for trick or treating! i tried to do costumes that allow you to use what you already have! don't forget to check out my google form here :>

1. Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's

2. Black Swan & White Swan

3. 70's Girlboss

4. XOXO Gossip Girl

5. Charlies Angels

Vegan Recipes: Homemade Almond Butter

INGREDIENTS

16 ounces (3 cups) raw almonds

¼ teaspoon salt

Optional: ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional: 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the almonds across a large, rimmed baking sheet and toast the almonds for 10 minutes, stirring halfway.
Let the almonds cool until they’re just warm (not hot), about 10 minutes.
Transfer the almonds to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until creamy, pausing to scrape down the sides as necessary.
Once the almond butter is very smooth and creamy, you can blend in any add-ins you would like (cinnamon, maple syrup, etc.)
Blend until the add-ins are evenly dispersed.
Let the almond butter cool to room temperature, then transfer the mixture to a mason jar and screw on the lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

By Cookie and Kate https://cookieandkate.com/homemade-almond-butter-recipe/

10 Ways to be More Eco-Friendly

By Tessa Jahnke

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Conserve water and electricity
Plant more trees
Protect water sources
Less driving, more walking
CFL bulbs
Buy food products grown locally
Recycle products
Don't litter
Educate yourself and others about environmental issues

Meet the Team!

Rita Yee

Hello Everyone! I currently teach 2nd - 4th graders at Instilling Goodness Elementary. I taught kindergarten for 11 years in Texas before making the big move to teach at IGE. I am so excited about the direction of the newsletter. I love collaborating with these amazing girls!

Katherine Wang

Hi, I’m Katherine and I am a sophomore at DVGS. In my free time, I like reading, watching movies, and hanging out with my friends. I hope everyone enjoys reading our newsletters!

Kaitlin Harness

Hello, I’m Kaitlin, a senior at DVGS. I enjoy watching Marvel movies, singing musical theatre songs, and reading at ungodly hours. I have a passion for films, smail mail, Alice Walker, late night shows, sea salt chocolate, candy corn, the moped from Mario Kart, and the smell of old books. Also knives. One of my favorite pastimes is doing crosswords, and making them for the newsletter ;)

Rachel Blythe

Greetings! I am Rachel Blythe, currently a senior at DVGS. I am in love with soaking my feet in hot water during the winter time, stargazing at night, and singing in the shower. One of my favorite movie is Us and I am a faithful fan to ABBA. I am a self-taught photographer and video producer and I have contributed to designing multiple clubs’ websites. #milkbeforecereal

Tessa Jahnke

Hello! I'm Tessa and a sophomore at DVGS. I hope everyone enjoys the newsletter articles!

Katie Finnegan

Hi I'm Katie :> I write the environmental article for cool beans, I'm a sophomore at DVGS and enjoy drawing and dance.

Heidi Blythe

Possessing a gentle personality, I have always loved reading and am excited to share my love of books with everybody through the newsletter. I spend my pastimes sipping Oolong tea, dancing to 90s music, and debating with other people about who is taller (trust me, I am always the taller one).

Veronica Tee

Veronica is a junior at Developing Virtue Secondary School this year. She writes about the senior spotlight section weekly and believes that it may help others through reading it.

Cherry Ngo

Live, laugh, love --- words of wisdom from your favorite 10th grader, Cherry Ngo

The Orbit

By Cherry Ngo & Kaitlin Harness

It's Libra Season!

Every year, approximately around this time, the sun journeys through the seventh sign of the zodiac, Libra. The air cardinal sign promises to bring balance, harmony, and justice in all aspects of work and relationships (as in with your little friends, of course). Despite the sign you were born under, you would feel more inclined to relax during this season no matter how stressed out you are. In addition, you're likely to be drawn to working with others one-on-one, interested in hearing both sides of any debate, and driven to get centered (basically mean drama my guy).

Libra Stereotypes:

DISCLAIMER: some of this might be true but don’t take it personally please.

Indecisive
Nosy - always in need of company
Dislike conflict → As an air sign Libras are very idealistic. When it comes to dealing with conflicts, they can create complex justifications and be blind to others’ feelings when it doesn’t fit the picture they want to see.
Wishy-washy
Snobby
Passive aggressive since they try to avoid being mean at all cost
Hates injustice, mopes around if they think somebody is treating them unfairly
Overthinks way too much
Tyrannical → Libras have the symbol of a scale, representing justice. As a cardinal sign they can be bossy since they think they know what’s right and wrong.

Origins of Astrology

est. about 2000 BCE, in diff. places

used in religious contexts, also in regards to seasons

Western astro . -> horoscopes, natal (birth) charts, est. in Mesopotamia

Natal astro. = observing the influences of certain planets and zodiacs at the time of a person’s birth; covers different areas regarding character and approach to life. Besides the common Sun sign interpretation, planets, the house system, and aspects (harmonious or disharmonious relationships between placements) are also taken into account to form a more understanding of a person.

Dates

♈️Aries March 21- April 19

♉️Taurus April 20 - May 20

♊️Gemini May 21 - June 21

♋️Cancer June 22 - July 22

♌️Leo July 23 - August 22

♍️Virgo August 23 - Sept. 22

♎️Libra Sept. 23 - Oct. 22

♏️Scorpio Oct. 23 - Nov. 22

♐️Sagittarius Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

♑️Capricorn Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

♒️Aquarius Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

♓️Pisces Feb. 19 - March 20

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: YEEKIT CHAN

What was your inspiration for coming to this school?

I come from a religious family, and our proximity to the monastery has only intensified that trait. Apart from enhancing my connection to my family and community, attending school here provides me with a relative sense of security. In 2009, I lived on campus for a few months while I attended kindergarten at IGDVS. During that time, I met many people who made the experience a memorable one. Though I left soon after, I returned at the beginning of my 4th grade year and have ridden out the ups and downs of my high school life here ever since.

What is your favorite subject and why?

I’m taking AP Computer Science A this year, and it’s been a really great experience so far. I get to learn a whole new language and help others do the same, all while challenging myself and applying my previous expertise. In our most recent group project, we get to design our own app, a solution for a global issue of our choice. We’ve just started designing interfaces for our prototype; it’s been an exciting process so far and I’m looking forward to contributing whatever I can. (Shoutout to Dr. Yu!)

What is your favorite school lunch?

When I first got here in 4th grade, I particularly enjoyed the sweet and sour soup, tofu with Vegetarian Tuna Sauce, and the curried potatoes because they reminded me of home. I also had the superpower of finishing my food in 10 minutes flat. Now, I don’t have a favorite (I like them all), and I’m notoriously slow at eating.

What is something you hope will continue even after you leave?

I’m pretty bad at letting go, so there are plenty of things. I’ve invested a lot of my time and effort into our Badminton Club and Computer Science Project, so I hope that legacy will be carried on by my underclassmen. Another of my personal goals is to stay in touch with my classmates and friends, and I hope to maintain the relationships that I’ve picked up along the way.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I’ll have made it through my senior year, and hopefully college too. I’ll be a motivated and successful working individual with a place to call my own.

What is your advice for the students currently studying in the school or future students?

College isn’t the end goal.
Take care of yourself, because we’re running a marathon, not a race.
Do things your future self will be proud of, because the only person worth competing with is yourself.
Oh and by the way, don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything <3

Upcoming Dates:

October 23 (Sat): In-person Honoring Elders Day (for Elderly Nuns ONLY)
October 25 (Mon): Teachers Work Day / Half Day / Midterm Grades Due
October 28 (Thurs): Grades 2-6 Family Event
October 31 (Sun): Halloween
November 4 (Thurs): K-1 Family Event/Performance