Panther Print
"What kind of person do you want to be today?"
1st Edition of the 2020-2021 BAMS Panther Print, Volume 14, Issue 1
Teams, Teams, ItsLearning - How to be Successful in Online School
By: Ellie Starbuck
#1: Where to sit?
While everyone has the same location for learning, home, where you sit is important. First, be comfortable, but not too comfortable. Sit in a chair that you are ok with sitting in all day, but don’t sit where you feel like you can fall asleep. If possible, have a desk or table to put your stuff. In addition, try and work in the same spot each day, so all of your materials are in one place. If you like to work in silence, stay far away from the rest of your family and outside noise. If you like a bit of background noise, then work in a place closer to other people.
#2: Stay out of the bed
I would have written this in the paragraph before, but there is too much information on this topic to not have its own section. A common choice is to stay in the bed when working or learning from home, but there is lots of evidence that shows that doing schoolwork in your bed decreases productivity and limits focus. According to The American College of Healthcare Sciences, your bed subconsciously tempts you to fall asleep, which will obviously decrease to amount of work you can get done. In addition, standing and sitting up increases the amount of blood flow to the brain, thus promoting its activity. Plus, working all day in your bed will also harm your sleep. The brain is really good at jumping to conclusions, and after a few days it will automatically associate the bed with doing homework, which makes trying to go to sleep harder.
#3: Use your resources
While you might not be able to go to the library and use all the things that you would use in school, there are plenty of things you can do to work around it. For example, you can’t go to the school library now, but you can still check out books. Every Harford County Public School student has a SORA account, which is accessible at soraapp.com and you can sign in with your school email and password. It is available for download in IOS and Google Play. You can even sync your Amazon account and send it to a Kindle. In addition, there are many other websites you can use that help. Holt McDougal Online gives you access to all the textbooks for your grade level that the school has purchased. Discovery Education is full of thousands of informational videos. The HCPS Virtual Calming Room has many resources that will help you calm down. All these websites are available on the start.hcps.org homepage and the Apps and Tools section of itsLearning.
#4: PARTICIPATE
This is an extremely important thing for virtual learning. Without students participating, the students are not getting the full experience of learning. Even though it is optional, turn on your camera. It should not feel forced however, but you should. It shows the teacher that you are attentive and ready to learn. It also will help when you do not understand things, your teacher has a much higher chance of picking up on that you are confused when they can see your face. In addition, I challenge you to participate at least once during the school day. Whether it is typing in the chat (class appropriate) or raising your hand and answering a question, you would participate in real school, so participate in internet school.
#5: Stay on Track
Even though this is not a normal school year, it still is stressful and overwhelming for most students. After an asynchronous third and fourth quarter last school year and a long summer indoors, all of a sudden having expectations like this feel scary. But don’t be worried, because there are many strategies for staying on track. For starters, having a schedule for all your classes is important. Since school starts at 8:00 a.m., being awake between 6:30 and 7:30 is ideal. Making sure that you have enough sleep to complete school is also very important. The average middle schooler needs between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of sleep per night. So, while that 12:00 a.m. bedtime might seem awesome, it is not doing anything good for your productivity. Outside of sleep, staying on track during school means not doing anything outside of it. Try not to play video games or watch TV during school hours, especially not during class. If it helps, set alarms on your phone to remind you when to sign into classes. Try and use a planner or calendar, whether digital or written, to keep track of important events. Flex Friday is different because the time is yours. There are no meetings, but you still need to complete your work. Having something written down as to what assignments you have completed or the ones you need to complete can make a difference in how much you achieve on Fridays. Also, CHECK EVERY ITSLEARNING PAGE and HAC. Even if it’s a make-up day, CHECK THEM BOTH.
#6: And Most Important: Stay Positive
It is hard to live through this pandemic. You can’t go to school, see your friends, play sports, or go out in public without wearing a mask or putting people in danger. I’m sure you have become more grateful for when you were able to do those things. I know I am. This is good. Studies show that people who are happier, the more gratitude they show. Don’t think you’re there yet? Don’t feel bad, being a human is hard. Just look at what you do have. You are still alive. You can learn online. More and more people are getting the COVID vaccine, and you following safety precautions is protecting many lives. I promise, if you stay positive and thankful, you can ride this wave much better.
Bibliography
*Academy, Khan. “Seven Tips for Setting up a Productive Learning Space at Home (Article).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 2020, www.khanacademy.org/khan-for-educators/resources/parents-mentors-1/khan-academy-accounts/a/seven-tips-for-setting-up-a-productive-learning-space-at-home.
*Becker, Stephanie. “8 Tips for Middle and High Schoolers to Get Started in Online School.” connectionsacademy.com, Connections Education LLC., 2020, www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/8-top-tips-for-student-success-in-online-school.
*Kurzgesagt-In a Nutshell. “An Antidote to Dissatisfaction – YouTube.” www.youtube.com 8 Dec. 2019 www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPPPFqsECz0&t=39s. Accessed 26 Jan. 2021.
*Robben, Brian. “Never Do Homework in Bed: 3 Reasons Why.” Info.Achs.Edu, American College of Healthcare Sciences, 1 Oct. 2016, info.achs.edu/blog/never-do-homework-in-bed-3-reasons-why#:%7E:text=Working%20in%20your%20bed%20is,actually%20rob%20you%20of%20rest.
Congrats on Being So Tired That You Had to Retire: Mr. Eaton Edition
By: Emma Ingram and Mia Castellano
Q: What will you do with your free time during your retirement?
A: “Spend more time with family, spend more time with my granddaughter, Hollis, and sleep in. Take a break and spend more time with my family are the biggest things.”
Q: What is the funniest thing you’ve heard about yourself from someone else?
A: “He’s mean. His jokes are not funny. He’s crazy.”
Q: What was your favorite part about teaching at Bel Air Middle School?
A: “Seeing students get excited when they can do a skill that they never thought they would be able to do. Helping students with their skill development and helping them grow throughout the year.”
Q: What will you miss the most about teaching?
A: “The students! Big events, and the rest of the Physical Education teachers.”
Q: Why did you make the decision to retire from teaching?
A: “Number one, I have to spend more time with my dad in West Virginia. And it’s just the right time.”
Q: What was your favorite physical education unit over the years?
A: “Archery and fencing”
Q: What was your favorite event held at Bel Air Middle School?
A: “The1993 Hoops for Heart event when we raised almost 40,000 dollars and a bunch of professional athletes got to come in.”
Q: What unit have you seen students improve in the most?
A: “It would have to be juggling!”
Q: Which grade level have you enjoyed teaching the most? Why?
A: “My 8th graders are my favorite. 8th grade is the most enjoyable because they know the rules and protocols so we can dive into the unit and go further then we usually could. 8th grade is just the most enjoyable because we already have the relationship built.”
Q: Have you enjoyed online learning, or would you rather be in school? Why or why not?
A: “I would much rather be in school. I don’t really know my 6th and 7th grade. They don’t turn their cameras on, so I don’t know what they look like. We have come so far though in four months for virtual learning, and it is slowly getting easier. I just really want to see my students in person.”
How are In-Person and Virtual Learning Different?
By: Josie Gottschalk
Attending school virtually has been a different experience for everyone this year. COVID-19 has caused a change in how Harford County Public School students are learning. There has been a lot of change for many people, good and bad. When given a survey, there were many students who liked in-person learning as well as several students who preferred virtual. So, which is truly the better solution?
In the response to this survey, 14 of the 29 people who like in-person learning better explained how one of the major things that makes them want to be in the school again is seeing their friends. In one specific response, the person said, “Virtual learning has caused me to be more depressed. Sitting at home all day with nothing to do, nowhere to go. In person learning I can see my friends and make friends.” Being in-person gives the opportunity to socialize, which many people want and need. Some people also had the argument that while virtual, there can be many distractions. It can be hard to focus, which can cause grades to drop. Going along with this, BAMS students described how during in-person learning their teachers and classmates would often help them focus, and they don’t feel the same for virtual learning. It has been proven that just being in a classroom can cause an increase in retention for students. “Live interaction and face-to-face activities with teachers keep kids stimulated, so they are more willing to listen and pay attention, which increases retention. Students also can ask questions if they don’t understand and receive immediate feedback.” (Dr. Emma Raizman; inside.akronchildrens.org) In the survey responses, several kids missed things as little as getting ready in the morning to getting on the bus. A student said in their response, “It's hard being stuck at home all the time, it's hard. It has affected my life in many ways, I can't have fun waking up and getting ready and then get on the bus, I miss that a lot.” This shows that being virtual makes students miss things you usually wouldn’t consider important. In-person learning has become something that students crave now more than ever.
On the flip side, 33% of students who were surveyed prefer to stay virtual. These students explained how they have anxiety and/or a lot of stress from school or COVID-19. When asked how their mental health was affected by quarantine, they gave responses such as, “I have less stress at home than I do at school, and I think this is just because I'm comfortable at home.” or “I have anxiety, and I get nervous about what other people think of me. Being at home is much less stressful for me because I don't get as nervous about what other people think about me.” This was confirmed on asuprepdigital.org, in an article about if kids with social anxiety can benefit from virtual learning. In this article, the writer says, “for students who get anxious being in a crowd, online school eliminates having to sit in a classroom full of people, making it easier for them to concentrate on their schoolwork.” If a student has more focus it will result in them learning better and getting better grades, something that is always good in the success of a child. Aside from this, some students prefer virtual learning for the simple reason that it gives them more independence and freedom then they have in the school building. There were four students that explained how getting to take breaks from class gives the opportunity to calm down if they are stressed and relax in between classes. They can use the time to be more productive and successful, a luxury they don’t get while in the school. Being virtual at BAMS also means that you don’t get homework in many of your classes. No homework can give a child better mental health then having homework can. Child psychologist Kenneth Barish stated in an article, “These children are not lazy. Your child may be anxious, frustrated, discouraged, distracted, or angry—but this is not laziness.” Considering that doing school online means no homework for BAMS students, and no homework can result in better mental health, virtual learning may be correlated with better mental health.
So, which do you prefer? Comparing the benefits of virtual learning to the benefits of in-person learning, would you rather stay virtual or go back to school? It’s all about which is easier for you, and which promotes productivity in yourself. Whichever that is, is the better option.
New Teacher Alert: Mrs. Jourdan!
By: Emma Ingram
Mrs. Jourdan is a 6th grade math teacher but is technically not a new teacher. Because of COVID, we were not able to give her the warm welcome we usually do for new teachers at BAMS. Also, because of COVID most of her students did not have the chance to get to know who their teacher actually was. The Newsletter Club was able to interview Mrs. Jourdan to help her students and the school to get to know her better. So, presenting the awesome Mrs. Jourdan and her first debut with the Newsletter Club!
Q: How many years have you been teaching? Have you taught at any other schools beside Bel Air Middle, if so where?
A: “14 years. I taught at Forest Lakes Elementary and William S. James Elementary.”
Q: What subject do you teach and why did you choose to teach it?
A: “I teach math. At William S. James we departmentalized, which meant the teachers divided the subjects up instead of teaching every subject, and unfortunately, I was chosen to teach math. At first I hated teaching math, but then I learned to love it.”
Q: What is your favorite part about Bel Air Middle School so far?
A: “It’s weird because a lot of my experience has been online, and I’ve really only been in “real school” for half a year. But I love the community. Even though it’s a big school, everyone is so open, friendly, and helpful. It’s the staff that’s really great.”
Q: What made you want to become a teacher?
A: “My mom has always worked in a school building. She was a nurse's aide for a while and then became a teacher at HCDC, and my dad did a lot of the children’s ministry stuff at most of the churches we went to. So, I think seeing the way my parents worked with kids really inspired me. And my favorite teacher, Mrs. Dunaway, who was an art teacher, made me want to become an art major. So, in college I was dual majoring between an elementary education and art, but eventually I had to choose, and I chose an elementary school teacher, but I still greatly love art. In the end, it was my parents and having that great teacher who influenced me to go on this career path.”
Q: How do you feel about online learning in general? What are your feelings on teaching during COVID-19? Do you have any kids, if so, what have been the positives and negatives for their learning?
A: “We’re doing the best we can with what we were given. It’s definitely not for everybody. It’s weird because at this point in the year there’s probably 2/3 of my students who I don’t know what they look or sound like which is heartbreaking from a teacher’s standpoint. Mainly because in a usual school year we already would have the relationships built with the students, and we would know what their strengths and weaknesses are especially when it comes to math. My kids are Eden who’s in kindergarten and Jeremiah who’s in 3rd grade. Eden has no idea what she’s missing because she’s in kindergarten, so this is like her normal. But she loves seeing her classmates online because all of her classmates interact with each other. But they are both disorganized. Jeremiah is struggling. He’s never really had trouble with academics until we went virtual. He is struggling to stay focused and get all his assignments turned in on time. He is definitely struggling more than Eden is. He just misses his friends and since he’s young he can’t really contact them through phones and social media."
Q: If you weren’t a teacher what would your dream job be?
A: “I’d work in a bakery and sell cupcakes!”
Q: If money was no object what would you have in your classroom? Why?
A: “Endless supply of whiteboard markers and pencils. Little things that you think about after the fact like an endless supply of classroom materials.”
Q: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you in the classroom?
A: “I have so many different stories, but at William S. James there are doors to go outside from the classroom like an exit. But the doors were too small for the frames. Critters would come in like all the time. One time a mouse crawled under the door from outside and my kids were telling me, but I didn’t believe them. I then heard a scream and after that I saw it. I turned over the recycling bin to catch the mouse so I could call the custodian, but my students and I ran out of the classroom before I could tell if I caught it. To this day I'm not sure if I got it or not.”
Q: Do you prefer to be a leader or a follower in life? Why?
A: “I mean, a follower because I do not like to be in front of people at all. I’d rather be a part of the parade rather than leading the parade. I’m just not meant for that.”
Q: Think about your favorite and least favorite teachers. Share an experience on why they were either your favorite or least favorite.
A: “Mrs. Dunaway is my favorite, and the reason she is my favorite is because she was always interested in what we were doing, and she always wanted to know where our thinking came from. My math teacher in 6th grade was my least favorite because she never helped anybody with their work, and she never answered any questions. She literally taught math from her desk in the back of the room! So, my classmates and I helped teach each other.”
The BCPS Cyber-Attack
By: Parker Sweeney
This school year has seen many school systems turn to virtual learning as a safe way for kids to get their education. During this time, the security of both students and staff's devices is more important than ever. On the morning of November 25, 2020 Ryuk ransomware was found on Baltimore County Public School computers. Classes were cancelled for the day and both students and staff were told to keep their computers off. At this point you may have some questions. What is Ryuk ransomware? How did it get on the computers? How will BCPS recover?
To start, Ryuk is a form of ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware (software used to attack computers) that encrypts a computers files so the owner of the computer cannot use them. To get your files decrypted you must pay a ransom most likely in bitcoin and in return you get the decryption key to get your files back. Ryuk ransomware is a type of ransomware that gets dropped into a computer by a different kind of malware already on the machine. The malware that is already on the computer will drop the Ryuk ransomware onto the computer and delete itself. This makes it extremely hard to trace Ryuk ransomware and find how it entered a system. It is likely but not confirmed that the existing malware could have been in the BCPS computers for a long time. All that Ryuk ransomware needs is one computer to be infected. The ransomware can then spread to other networks and computers that are connected to that computer and even attack backup servers. It was found that mostly the Windows based laptops were attacked. BCPS staff were mostly affected by this. No data theft was reported but it is still possible since the attack is quite recent.
On December 2, 2020, students returned to virtual learning as Chromebooks were cleared as unaffected. Though the students have returned, BCPS is nowhere near normal. BCPS staff lost countless files and the Baltimore county is working with multiple agencies to fix the damage. You really can’t say an attack such as this was completely unexpected. Not long before the attack a state audit found significant risk of a cyber-attack on the schools' network. This raises a bigger question on the safety of school's networks (many of which have sensitive personal information). The best thing you can do to stay safe is follow basic internet safety rules such as not clicking on suspicious links and not opening unknown emails. We hope this is a onetime event, but it is best to stay cautious of these cyber-attacks.
Sources:
“Fall 2019 Threat of the Quarter: Ryuk Ransomware.” CIS, Center for Internet Security, www.cisecurity.org/white-papers/fall-2019-threat-of-the-quarter-ryuk-ransomware/.
Ng, Greg, and Tim Tooten. “County Takes Emergency Measures amid BCPS Ransomware; No Data Theft Reported.” WBAL, WBAL, 7 Dec. 2020, www.wbaltv.com/article/baltimore-county-supports-bcps-amid-ransomware-cyberattack/34890620.
Paybarah, Azi. “Ransomware Attack Closes Baltimore County Public Schools.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 Nov. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/11/29/us/baltimore-schools-cyberattack.html.
(and the official BCPS twitter, website, and BCPS board members twitters)
I, The Worst of All
By: Pragnya Shri Sharma Jagarlapudi
In 1690 a woman was slowly stripped of her titles and honor. Forced to give up her library, faced with the possibility of being kicked out of her convent. Unwilling to leave, she reluctantly renewed her vows. In her last act against the then Archbishop of Mexico, she wrote in her own blood: I, the worst of all. Who was this girl, and how did she leave her mark?
Originally named Juana Ramirez de Asbaje, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz is known as The New World (the Americas) first female author. She was born in about 1650 (there is no confirmed date of birth) in San Miguel Nepantla, Tepetlixpa (now renamed Nepantla de Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz in her honor).
Mexico was still a Spanish colony at the time they had a rigid social structure. Despite her grandfather being from Spain, putting her towards the top of the social structure, she was born out of wedlock. This placed her and her family at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Her father was in the military and left her, her mother, and her sisters at a young age. Her mom, despite the misogyny of her time, was able to manage three estates and raise Juana and her sisters.
She was a very ambitious and intelligent kid, studying for hours in her father's library. She was so intelligent that her mother sent her to go live with her relatives in Mexico City. It was there that she eventually attracted the attention of the viceroy (someone who rules a country or province who represents their sovereign king) who so impressed with her intellect that he made her a lady in waiting. He even went so far as to test her in front of 40 of Mexico’s noted scholars. She was only sixteen when this happened. However, many people would describe Juana as having no problem answering their questions. She effortlessly answered everything from mathematics questions to philosophical inquiries.
All this garnered her quite a bit of attention, and she hated all of it. She got thousands of proposals from suitors and remained uninterested. She wanted to remain “respectable”, which required marriage at the time, and to be able to stay unmarried. So, she became a nun because that was the only way for a girl to remain unmarried. She joined the Convent of San Geronimo where she remained for the rest of her life. She considered a treasure, writing plays, and music that both infuriated and entertained. But this wouldn’t last.
Soon one of her private writings was published by a vengeful member of the church without her permission. It was a criticism of the bishop of Puebla called Foolish Men. He had told Juana to focus less on academics and more on church life. She responded by saying that if God had given women intellect, he probably meant for them to use it. Once it got to the then Archbishop of Mexico, she had to defend herself. She spoke on the rights of women to be taken seriously when she famously said, "One can perfectly well philosophize while cooking supper,". She meant that just because women can carry out these traditionally feminine tasks (cooking, cleaning, sewing) does not mean they don’t possess the ability to have unique or interesting thoughts.
She was stripped of her titles, books, money, and was forced out of the church. Once she left the church, she dedicated her life to volunteer work. She wrote many poems like Foolish Men and used whatever money she had to help her sisters and protect them from those who tried to take advantage of them.
Many women throughout history have come to defend the rights of minorities, many of them POCs (people of color), and many of these POCs we don’t learn about in history. People like Martha P. Johnson, Ida B. Wells, and the entire womanist movement. She died how she lived, taking care of those around her. She caught her sister’s illness while tending to her. Juana’s contributions were never and will never be forgotten.
Hey Jose, It’s the Quarantine Survey!
By: Kaitlyn Carlsen
I conducted a survey of things kids have done during quarantine. Results were taken from grades 6, 7, and 8. Here are the results!
One question asked was tv shows watched. Here are 3 of the most popular answers:
Grey’s Anatomy
Outer Banks
Stranger Things
Another question asked was about activities students did during quarantine, there was a huge variety of responses but here are the top three:
Going outside
Reading
Painting
Board and Brush Review
By: Emma Rose and Madeleine Tabor
Overview of Board and Brush
Board and Brush is a DIY hands on workshop. At Board and Brush, you can build, hammer, sand, stain, and paint your own project. Projects range from large and small wood boards, door hangers, tic tac toe game boards, storage boxes, door mats, and more. Everything is hands on at Board and Brush. The prices range from $35 to $68. Once you pick your workshop date and time, you can pick which sign you want to make, who you want to sit with, and add personalization to your sign. Board and Brush has many workshop options; when you book a workshop make sure you check the age limit and how many seats are booked and remaining. Board and Brush is open and ready for you to get your DIY on!
Interview Questions - Mrs. Allison (The Owner)
Q: How has the pandemic changed your business?
A: “We opened on March first, 2020, and we were only open for two weeks at the start. But right now, we are only at half capacity. We do eighteen seats, but we also do private parties.”
Q: Why do people love coming here?
A: “It’s a place for people to go to and be creative, even if they're not creative; it’s still a lot of fun. They call it art therapy.”
Q: Why did you want to open Board and Brush?
A: “I thought it would be a cool idea. I walked into the location in Newark, and I thought to myself it would be a good idea to be a part of the franchise.”
Q: What is your favorite part about working at/owning Board and Brush?
A: “My favorite part is making the signs and teaching the classes.”
Q: How long have you been running this business?
A: “Since March first. I actually bought the franchise on October 24th of 2019.”
Q: How do you as a business owner promote customers to come to Board and Brush?
A: “We are on Instagram and Facebook and Google reviews. We also have coupons.”
Interview Questions - (Employee)
Q: What is your favorite part about working at Board and Brush?
A: “I like to paint and help people.”
Q: How long have you been working at Board and Brush?
A: “About a year. Training started around the beginning of February.”
Q. What makes working at Board and Brush fun?
A: “I like to see the customers and helping them makes me happy, it’s fun to make their experience more memorable.”
Q: What does a normal workday look like at Board and Brush?
A: “You come in about an hour early. You prep and then once people come in you help them and then when the workshop is done you help clean up. Prepping is setting up and getting ready for the workshops where cleaning up is the opposite of that.”
Q: How has the pandemic changed your work schedule?
A: “We now have to wipe down every paint bottle and table after someone uses it. We also have to clean the paintbrushes.”
Board and Brush Website: https://boardandbrush.com/foresthill/
Stress Relievers!
By: Amelia Mason
Anxiety and Stress are hard things to deal with, especially when you're not at school in person! Don't feel alone! I have stress and anxiety about school, lots of kids, and teachers (yes even teachers) have these issues! So, what are some ways to calm yourself down during school, or about anything else in life!
Breathing Exercises!
It helps to ground yourselves for these exercises. So, lay down and get comfortable! A tip that I use is to place your hands on your chest and stomach, and feel your stomach expand and deflate.
4-7-8 Breathing Pattern
Inhale through nose for 4 seconds- Hold your breath for 7 seconds- Exhale deeply through your mouth for 8 seconds- Repeat as needed!
Box Breathing
Breathe in 4 seconds- Hold breath for 4 seconds- Breathe out for 4 seconds- Hold for 4 seconds- Repeat as many times to calm you down!
7-11
Inhale as deep as you can for 7 seconds- Exhale (let out little air at a time) for 11 seconds- Repeat!
Self-Care!
Take a break when you need. Sometimes it helps to step away from the computer or away from your room. A change in scenery can calm you down.
Take time to take care of yourself, stay comfortable! Play soccer, or any sport! Go on walks, runs, bike rides. Draw, do arts and crafts, sing. Anything that you enjoy. Do what’s best for you and don’t be influenced by negative sources.
Aromatherapy, Music, and Lighting!
Certain smells are known to calm the mind. If you have an essential oil diffuser, that can be super helpful!
Scents to calm the mind- Lavender, Chamomile, Jasmine, Rose, Spearmint, etc.
Scents to energize- Orange, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Lemons, etc.
The right music can help you focus, such as jazz, or lo-fi beats. Music without words or minimal words can help you focus during classes. Music can also help you calm down and breathe. Make sure to stay in a well-lit room while in online classes. Staring at a bright screen in the dark can strain your eyesight and give you headaches. But if you make sure to turn on some lights or open your blinds, it can help with this issue!
Talk, Talk, Talk!
Talking to friends or family about your issues is so helpful! Talking releases your emotions! You can express how angry or sad you are feeling with words. It's good to release these feelings, not keep them bottled up inside.
Make sure to do what’s best for you and stay away from negative influences. Surround yourself with good friends and people. Be the best version of yourself. Remember to stay positive it will get better! We’ll get through this rough patch!
Better Late Than Never... Welcome to BAMS Mrs. Jester!
By: Daniella Fingado
Mrs. Jester was new to Bel Air Middle School last school year. Unfortunately, due to the closure of school last Spring, the Newsletter Club was never able to create a 2nd edition of the Panther Print to include an article about Mrs. Jester. So, we are SO happy to get the opportunity to include this article in the 1st edition this school year.... better late than never.
Q: What do you find challenging or difficult about online learning?
A: "It’s hard to get to know my students like I normally do, virtual learning makes things less personal. I don’t see my student’s faces, and I miss not seeing my students behind a screen."
Q: How do you try to get students more involved in online lessons?
A: "I’ve tried extra credit... I’ve tried being goofy with the class... but it doesn’t seem to work. The main thing I try to do is create breakout groups with people’s friends, classes seem to like to play Quizlet and Kahoot, too."
Q: What would you say we could to do improve remote learning?
A: "Maybe we could implement something that increases class participation. Like a requirement for how long students should turn their camera on, or a certain amount of questions for students to answer."
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: "I enjoy to binge-watch TV shows and cook. I’ve been cooking with my Instant-Pot a lot lately, and I’ve really gotten into digital books through the Sora library app."
Q: What’s one thing that gets on your nerves the most?
A: "The blank screen in front of me. I feel like I’m a DJ whenever I’m teaching classes."
Q: If you could travel somewhere right now, where would it be?
A: "I would go to Montana. I watched the show Yellowstone with my daughter, and it’s a great story."
Q: What’s one good memory you’ve made during quarantine?
A: "We couldn’t get together with my family on Easter like we usually do, so I made an Easter Egg Hunt Padlet. They had to search around and post pictures of where they found the eggs to get their Easter baskets."
Q: If you could go back in time and meet someone, who would it be?
A: "Princess Diana. Queen Elizabeth has 4 children and Charles is the oldest, he married Diana but they got a divorce. I thought she was so gorgeous, but I was very sad when she died in a car crash."
Q: If you weren’t a teacher, what would you rather work as?
A: "I would want to be a diva millionaire! Or a nurse if I had to choose."
Q: What do you think your best quality is?
A: "I am a very compassionate person."
Q: You used to teach in a high school, so what are some of your favorite things about BAMS?
A: "I love being a part of the BAMS family. The classes are bigger, but the staff and students are all so supportive of each other. The students at BAMS are much more polite in a way."
45 Amazing After-Quarantine Adventure
By: Lia Lucas, Olivia Nerad, and Grace Pennington
Everyone has spent a tremendous amount of time at their homes during quarantine, so we decided to compile a list of possible vacation spots for you and your family to visit once quarantine is over! For each of the 15 states on the East Coast, there are suggestions for:
- A place geared toward kids
- A historical site or museum
- A sightseeing or tourist attraction
Ski in Maine
Fort Western
The Portland Museum of Art
Monkey Trunks (amusement park)
Mt. Washington and The Cog Railway
The Flume Gorge, in Franconia Notch State Park
Kayaking on the Charles River
Walk the Freedom Trail
Fenway Park
The Biomes Marine Biology Center
The Marble House
Colt State Park
Mark Twaine House
Brown Stone Exploration and Discovery Park
Elizabeth Park Conservancy
Ice Cream Museum
New York Library (second largest library in USA)
Central Park
Silver Ball Museum Arcade
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Speedwell Waterfall, Morristown
Funland
Air Mobility Command Museum
Cape May Point State Park
Hershey Park
Liberty Bell
Duquesne Incline
The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Assateague Island
Virginia Beach & Boardwalk
The Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC
The Mount Vernon Estate
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
The Biltmore Estate
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
LuLu's Beach Arcade and Ropes Course
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
The Center for Birds of Prey
The Pirates’ House
Tybee Island’s Lighthouse (oldest lighthouse in Georgia)
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Disney Springs
Dry Tortugas National Park
Kennedy Space Center
We hope that you take some time to visit some of these interesting places all along the East Coast!
Fenway Park, Massachusetts
Cape May, New Jersey
The Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
BAMS Favorite Disney Character!
By: Kimberly Mallon
At the end of the 2nd quarter, I sent out a survey to some students in each grade and some staff members. Here are all the responses from students and staff.
6th Grade Responses:
Favorite Sensational Six Disney Character: Tie with Pluto and Donald Duck
Favorite Toy Story Character: Slinky Dog
Favorite Disney Princess: Mulan
Favorite Animated Disney Character: Tie with Winnie the Pooh and Mr. Potato Head
Favorite Star Wars Character (The Mandalorian counts): Baby Yoda
7th Grade Responses:
Favorite Sensational Six Disney Character: Pluto
Favorite Toy Story Character: Tie with Slinky Dog and Rex
Favorite Disney Princess: Rapunzel
Favorite Animated Disney Character: Tigger
Favorite Star Wars Character (The Mandalorian counts): Baby Yoda
8th Grade Responses:
Favorite Sensational Six Disney Character: Donald Duck
Favorite Toy Story Character: Slinky Dog
Favorite Disney Princess: Tie with Tiana and Mulan
Favorite Animated Disney Character: Simba
Favorite Star Wars Character (The Mandalorian counts): The Mandalorian
Staff Responses:
Favorite Sensational Six Disney Character: Mickey and Minnie Mouse both tied
Favorite Toy Story Character: Buzz lightyear
Favorite Disney Princess: Belle and Cinderella tied
Favorite Animated Disney Character: Baloo, Beast, and The Seven Dwarfs tied
Favorite Star Wars Character (The Mandalorian counts): Luke Skywalker
Overall:
Favorite Sensational Six Disney Character: Donald Duck
Favorite Toy Story Character: Slinky Dog
Favorite Disney Princess: Mulan
Favorite Animated Disney Character: Tie with Stitch, Mulan, Simba, Pinocchio, and Rapunzel
Favorite Star Wars Character (The Mandalorian counts): Baby Yoda
Image Source: http://www.4ye.co.uk/2014/11/good-ol-days-special-the-ten-disney-characters-i-am-thankful-for/
Effects of Social Media on Middle Schoolers
By: Shaye Nowosielski
No middle school aged kids had a cell phone back then. Cell phones were only used for emergencies. Now almost every middle schooler has a cell phone and uses social media. Even though social media can be good sometimes, and it can also have some not so good effects. Some people don’t really realize how much time they spend on it in a day. Have you ever thought about the effects social media has?
Yes, social media can be good in multiple different ways. Social media can help you pursue your interests. If you or a friend of yours moves, you can use social media to get their number or just contact them on the platform. Talking to people can really help you if you are feeling down or have something happy to say to them. Another positive effect is that you could learn something new from others on social media. If someone posted something educational and you see it, you could learn something about it. Kindness is another positive effect of social media. Spreading kindness is kind of like when the sun comes out after a rainstorm because when it's raining it is very sad and gloomy outside, but when the sun comes it brightens the day up. With kindness it is the same thing when you spread it you could make someone's day just by saying something positive. The sadness is the rain, and the positive saying is the sun, and when the sun comes the rain goes away. Social media can make you learn something, brighten someone’s day, or make you able to talk to someone.
Even though there are many good things about social media it also can be bad for you. Most teens can get addicted to it and be on it all the time which is not good. Spending hours on end on social media is not good for your mental health, and it can really hurt your eyes. Teens waste time on social media and end up having poor grades. A report by the IZA Institute of Labour and Economics suggests that spending only an hour on social media can make a teen miserable. It could be due to the influence of social comparison, cyber bullying, and the lack of seeing people in person. Another way social media can affect middle schoolers in a bad way is that posting selfies can lead to the increase of narcissism which is the “excessive interest in oneself or admiration and one’s physical appearance.” Some teen's moods depend on how appreciated their photos on social media are. Another downside is cyberbullying. It can happen while teens are on social media. It is easy to bully on social media then in public places. Social media can be bad, so be careful.
As you can see social media can be good and bad. Just because social media can be good you do not want to be on it all the time. You should limit yourself to maybe 30 minutes to an hour a day. This will help you have a healthier mindset and be more focused on more important things like school. Teens nowadays are more focused on social media than school and life without their phone. During quarantine it was hard to get out and do things in your back yard or just get off electronics because there wasn’t too much to do. Social media has positive effects, but it also has its negative effects. Be mindful of what you are doing and how much time you are on social media.
Resources:
Mandalorian Season 2
By: Ivo Louvado and Zacharia Lipscomb
Season 1 Blur
The Mandalorian is in a bounty hunters guild. After being given the high reward bounty from an imperial executive he goes through the galaxy to find an unusual being. When he retrieves this being, he must give it to the imperials for his reward for a large amount of beskar which he uses to forge a new set of armor. On his journey to turn in the child he sees it do things that are unexplainable. He turns in the child and receives his reward to make a full set of beskar armor. Mando realizes that if he leaves the child/Grogu with the imperials they will do terrible things to him. He then goes back for the child and is betrayed by his bounty guild. After he tries to lay low on various planets, he is then tasked to help defeat the imperials that have invaded the planet Nebaro. He finds that his Mandalorian creed is killed, and he is tasked to take the child to someone of his kind, the Jedi.
Season 2 Summary
We are going to be summarizing all 8 episodes from season 2 then we are going to give the final verdict:
The Mandalorian is found on a planet with a very well-known crime lord. Mando wants to try and find another Mandalorian so he can track down a jedi to return Grogu to. He finds out that there is a Mandalorian on Tatooine. He goes to Tatooine and meets his old friend Peli Motto. Then he travels to Mos Pelog’s, to find the other Mandalorian. Mando Encounters the Mandalorian and discovers that Cob Vanth, (The other Mandalorian) is not even a Mandalorian at all. Mando demands that Cob gives him the armor that he was wearing. Cob says that if Mando helps him kill the krayt dragon he will give him the armor. They then team up with Tuskan raiders to kill the krayt dragon. The Tuskan raiders demand the pearl inside the dragon as well as the food. They kill it with many casualties and Mando gets the armor and goes on his way back to Peli Motto. In the distance, a dark figure watches as Mando leaves with the armor. The figure turns around and reveals the scared face of Boba Fett.
As Mando gets back to his ship, Peli Motto tells of someone who knows where a creed of Mandalorians is located. He must escort a “frog lady” to her home planet so that she can fertilize her last batch of eggs. On the way there, he gets stopped by the New Republic and it ends in a pursuit. He gets trapped in an ice cave with no way of getting out. In attempt of the “frog lady” getting her eggs in hot water, she finds a pond in the cave. A few minutes later, spiders start hatching out of eggs with huge, big spiders and then one enormous one. Mando combats the spiders, and the spiders destroy his ship, the razor crest even more. He is saved by the new Republic soldiers who were chasing him, and they let him go because he saved a few of their soldiers a while back. He then “fixes” the ship and continues the journey to deliver the “frog lady” safely to her husband on the planet of Mon Cala.
The Crest arrives on Mon Cala. Mando delivers the frog lady to her husband. He sets off to try and find more Mandalorians. Mando is greeted by a man who tells him that they can take him to other Mandalorians, by boat. Mando boards the ship and sets off. Suddenly, everyone on board attacks Mando trying to kill him and the child, for beskar and money. Then out of nowhere the Mandalorian Bo-Katan lands on the ship with her soldiers, and saves Mando and the child. Mando does not believe that Bo-katan is a Mandalorian since she removed her helmet. Bo explains to Mando that his creed is called the Children of The Watch, a creed that separated from the main Mandalorian creed. Bo tells Mando that she can lead him to a jedi if he helps them with their mission, Mando agrees. They explain to Mando that their goal is to try and steal an imperial transport ship. The four infiltrate the ship and make their way to the control room. All together the four fight off the guards and takes the ship. Mando, with shock finds out that Moth Gideon, is alive. Bo tells Mando that he needs to go to Corvus. There, he will find Ahsoka Tano, a Jedi Knight.
Mando is in his ship, the Razor Crest, which is barely holding together. He realizes that he and the child will never be able to travel all the way to Corvus in the ships current condition. Mando decides to go back to Nebaro to get some help from his old friends. The Crest uneasily lands on the grounds of Nebaro. Waiting for him are Cara Dune and Greef Carga. Cara and Greef welcome Mando and the child back. Greef orders his workers to repair the Razor Crest. They then take Mando on a tour to show him how the town has changed since he has last been. Cara shows Mando the brand-new schoolhouse. Greef tells Mando to leave the child in the schoolhouse, because he needs Mando to help them on a dangerous mission. Greef and Cara ask Mando to help them destroy an old imperial bunker, Mando agrees. The three enlist the help of the quirky Mythrol (a character from season 1). The four make their way to the bunker. They sneak into the base and find the main reactor. The Mythrol sets the reactor to explode. The four then find a very spooky lab where they find a recording revealing that the infamous Moth Gideon is alive. Mando, in a panic, uses his jetpack to go back to the child. It is revealed that the child was being drained of blood for some sort of experiment. Greef, Cara and the Mythrol steal an imperial transport speeder to escape. They try to speed up, but they cannot escape the imperial tie fighters swooping in to attack. They are cornered but then a brand-new repaired Razor Crest dives in and destroys the fighters. Mando bids a farewell to his friends and heads for Corvus.
In the dark and misty planet of Corvus, a jedi named Asoka Tano is fighting the magistrate’s guards, she speaks to the magistrate and demands that she hands over information she has been seeking. This jedi is the jedi Bo-Katan sent Mando to, Mando came upon the magistrate's fortress and saw people living in fear and submission. He speaks to the magistrate and she gives him a bounty, for the jedi. His reward would be a pike made of pure beskar. He finds the jedi and has a small duel with her until she sees the child, and she realizes why he is there. She explains to him where he comes from, and talks about the training he must undergo, and that she cannot give it to him. She sees the bond between the two and has seen what it is done to a jedi before (Anakin Skywalker). They made a deal where Mando would help Asoka raid the magistrate's fortress and in return she would train Grogu (the child). After the magistrate's fortress is raided and the people are freed, Asoka, despite the deal, says she will not train Grogu. But she tells him to go to the seeing stone on Typhon and gives him the Beskar spear. Typhon is where Grogu will choose his path and follow his destiny, where a jedi will be notified of his presence and will come to train him.
Mando is about to land on Typhon, breaking the silence, he explains to Grogu that he cannot train him, Grogu makes an annoyed sigh and then they land. Mando cannot land on top of the mountain so he uses his jetpack to fly to the top where the pillar is. Mando checks if there is some way to activate the stone. Then he is interrupted by a red and green firespray-31 better known as Slave 1 piloted by the barbarian Boba Fett who Mando has never heard of. Mando turns around to find Grogu meditating, a force barrier surrounds him. He leaves the child and runs down the mountain to see who has shown up. As Mando walks down, a barrage of blaster shots fire at him. He hears a deep ominous voice. “I’ve been tracking you Mandalorian.” Boba lowers his hood and gazes at Mando. Mando asks Boba if he is a jedi. He responds by saying “I’m a simple man trying to make my way through the galaxy, like my father before me.” He explains that he wants his armor back. Mando does not give in. Boba then explains that if he does not, then his companion will kill the child. Mando realizes that Boba’s companion is none other than Fennic Shand. Mando and Boba put their weapons down and try to make a deal. As they were negotiating, an imperial transport lands down next to the Razor Crest. A platoon of stormtroopers run out of the ship and fire at Mando, Boba and Fennic. Mando runs up to the top of the mountain. He tries to grab Grogu out of the force field, but he is knocked unconscious leaving the child defenseless. Boba grabs his blaster and fires at the stormtroopers. The troops try to surround Boba and Fennic. Fennic runs up the ridge taking out any trooper trying to stop her. Boba’s rifle is shot out of his hand. He then grabs his Gaffi (Tuskan Raider Staff) stick and starts demolishing the stormtroopers. Boba then walks into the Razor Crest and retrieves what is rightfully his. Mando wakes up to see the child still in the forefield, irritated Mando goes down the mountain to protect the kid from any troopers. Fennic is outnumbered by troopers, to survive she dives behind a boulder for cover. At that moment, Mando fires his wrist rockets evening the playing field for him and Fennic. They then look up to see another transport coming in, Troopers jump out and start attacking. When it looks like all hope is lost, a bomb falls from the sky revealing Boba Fett wearing his armor once again. Boba defeats many troopers causing them to retreat to their ships. As they try to escape Boba uses his missile to destroy the transport. Then a red beam is shoot from the sky and hits the Razor Crest turning it to ash with nothing left but the beskar spear. Moff Gideon smiles as the Crest burns. He orders for the dark troopers to be activated. The heavily armored black droids shoot down and grab the child, as they blast off with him, Boba takes his ship and tries to shoot them down. The dark troopers escape and Boba lands. Boba tells Mando that they will help him in his mission to rescue the child.
Mando asks the help from his ally Cara dune on Nebaro. If Mando is to successfully retrieve Grogu, he’s going to need all the help he can get. Cara agrees to help Mando infiltrate an imperial facility where coordinates for Moff Gideon’s cruiser can be retrieved. Cara is asked to break out Mayfield, a criminal from season 1, as he knows where that facility is and how to penetrate it. They breakout Mayfield from prison and they force him to help them, as a reward he gets “...the view...”. He tells to go to Morag where the imperial facility is located. This facility is mainly a mining base that mines highly explosive materials used for missiles and whatnot. The plan they made was for Mando and Mayfield to hijack one of the material transports and drive into the base without any problems. Cara and Fennic will act as snipers as part of their escape plan, and Boba will navigate the ship so that Mando and Mayfield can escape the facility once they have the coordinates. Mando and Mayfield hijack one of the transports and put on the armor, which is fine by Mando because he still has a helmet on. They go through one of the terminals no problem. The problem arises when transports ahead of them are being blown up, by caravans of native bandits. As the bandits try to get onto their transport and try to blow it up, Mando has no other choice but to go up to the roof and fight. Conveniently, Mando’s imperial pistol only emits a few shots before running out of ammunition, so he must fight with his melee skills. As he fights them off, more hovering caravans arrive eager to blow up the imperial transport. As Mando starts to get too exhausted and overwhelmed to fight any more, imperial tie fighters and troopers come in and eliminate any remaining bandits. Mando and Mayfield are greeted by plenty of imperials cheering them on and congratulating them. Mando and Mayfield locate the terminal and Mayfield must stay back because there is a general he served with in the terminal room who may decide to imprison him. Mando goes to the terminal and puts in digits and numbers needed to access the terminal. The terminal then asks him to remove his helmet for identification. An alarm will trigger if he does not remove his helmet in a matter of time. And he has no choice, against the laws of The Children of The Watch, he removes the helmet. The general comes to speak with Mando and asks him identification numbers, Mayfield has no choice but to come in and save Mando with a ruse that Mando is deaf, and he gives the general his fake identification number. The general asks to have a drink with them, and they must abide to his request. Mayfield and the general start having a heated discussion when they start talking about an operation where many imperials were killed by their own, the conversation ends with a bullet in the Generals’ head and all the imperials in the complex after Mayfield and Mando. This is where the escape portion of their plan comes into play. As Mando and Mayfield climb the building to the roof, Cara and Fennic destroy the anti-air cannons and Boba’s ship comes swooping in with Cara and Fennic shooting imperials chasing Mando and Mayfield. As the two men make it to the roof, they both jump onto Boba’s ship and fly away. Mando and Cara end up making an elaborate ruse where Mayfield died during the mission, whereas they are letting him go, for being honest, trustworthy, brave, and having awareness that what he has done in the past was a grave mistake. With the coordinates of Moff Gideons cruiser, the team gets’ ready for the finale.
Slave 1 flies through the depths of deep space in the middle of a chase between him and an Imperial shuttle. The shuttle is carrying a most important passenger, Dr Pershing. Boba aims carefully and fires an ion cannon straight at the shuttle. The pilot realizes that they have lost all power. The Slave 1 connects to the shuttle and Cara Dune and Mando step aboard. In a desperate panic the pilot grabs his blaster and aims it at Cara. Mando aims his at the pilot. Pershing ducks down in fear. Then Cara blasts the pilot and grabs Pershing. The three leap back into the ship. Boba jumps to hyperspace (or as he calls it, jump space.) and they set off to get help from an old friend. Mando and Boba walk into a cantina they see Bo Katan and Koska Reves. Mando asks Bo for help to find the child. She agrees only if she will get the darksaber from Moff Gideon, she then tells Mando that she wants him to reconsider helping them in their fight to take back Mandalore. Boba then speaks up saying that Mandalore is a lost cause. Angry Bo Katan and Koska stand up and tell Boba that he is not a Mandalorian. “Never said I was.” replied Boba. Then Koska attacks Boba the 2 duke it out and then Bo tells them that if they would have fought like that, they would have never lost their planet. Mando and the crew create a plan inside the imperial shuttle. Once they finish discussing their strategy Pershing speaks up and tells them that Gideon has an entire battalion of lethal Dark Troopers. Mando asks how long they need to power to power up. “2 minutes.” says Pershing. Mando says that he will lock the troopers into their holding facility and get the child out of his cell. The plan is then executed. Boba shoots and chases the imperial shuttle approaching the imperial cruiser containing Fennic, Mando, Cara-Dune, Bo-Katan and Koska. As tie-fighters get ready to leave the cruiser the team forces their way in, and the tie fighters are forced to get off the launching pad. As the shuttle lands, the team forces their way-out of the shuttle guns blazing. They make their way through the ship while Mando makes his way to where the Dark Troopers are stored. As he tries to lock the doors the Dark Troopers power up and one gets to Mando as he locks the doors. He then fights the one Dark Trooper which puts up a difficult fight. As Mando is about to be killed he takes his Beskar spear and impales the Dark trooper. While he was fighting this trooper, other dark troopers were breaking the glass and door so that they could get out. He then opens the airlock, and they are all sucked into space. He then makes his way to Grogu’s cell. The other part of the team makes their way to the cockpit and takes control of it with no real issue. As Mando opens Grogu’s cell, the child is being held at “Saber point” by Moff Gideon. Gideon tells Mando to take the child and leave. Mando slowly walks towards the kid. Then Moff Gideon ignites his saber and slices at Mando luckily his armor is too strong for him to penetrate. Mando pulls out the spear and blocks the saber. He kicks Gideon knocking him down and defeating him in trial by combat. As he takes Gideon to the cockpit with dark saber in one hand and the child in the other, Gideon, as arrogantly and smug as possible explains to Mando that the dark saber allows the person who wields it the throne of Mandalore. Mando tries to submit the dark saber to Bo-Katan, but she cannot accept as she must defeat him in trial by combat. As they are having a conversation, they receive a beeping alarm on their screen, unknow aircrafts are approaching the cruiser. The Dark Troopers land on the cruiser and make their way to the Hangar. As they are making their way to the cockpit, Gideon takes the blaster of a fallen soldier and shoots Bo-Katan, Gideon is then knocked out by Cara. As Bo-Katan gets up from the shot, they see a mysterious Jedi making their way through the battalion of Dark Troopers, he arrives at the door. Mando orders his team to open the door. And the jedi who appears, is a young extremely powerful (and beardless) Luke Skywalker. Luke explains to Mando that he will train Grogu and train him to use his powers the correct and right way. As Mando hands over Grogu to Luke, Mando takes off his helmet, and says his final goodbyes to Grogu and promises to see him again. As Mando puts Grogu down, Grogu holds on to Mando’s leg and smile. He is then taken by Luke, to be trained, and to fulfill his destiny. Mando, drenched in tears, has been changed, has reached a new personality and mindset, and becomes an overall better person, a better Mandalorian.
Post Credit Scene
Back on the desert planet of Tatooine we see Jabba’s palace and the Slave 1 land next to it. Inside Bib Fortuna the old servant of Jabba the Hutt. Then Fennic blasts all the guards. She then frees all of Fortuna’s slaves. Bib sits on the throne terrified. All he sees is the shadow of Boba Fett. Boba gazes at him even with the helmet on you know that he is very angry. Fortuna tries to talk to him, but Boba doesn’t want to hear it. He raises his EE-3 carbine rifle and blasts Fortuna to the ground. Boba then takes the throne becoming the new leader of the criminal empire.
Final Verdict
Overall, I think that the second season is a drastic upgrade from season one, the overall Mandalorian series had some good aspects to it, but the most important being Grogu (Obviously). However, something the Star Wars franchise has always lacked, is logic. There are a lot of times in this series, and in general the Star Wars franchise where something the characters decide on or do lack common sense, logic, and sometimes even contradict the laws and rules of the overall franchise. Also, something I didn’t really like in season 2 was the repetitiveness of the episodes. In many of the episodes, it is mostly going from one source to another, and the sources keep sending Mando to other sources which repeat the cycle, until the cycle ends and the finale approaches. This was shown more in season 2 in my opinion than its predecessor season 1. Season 2 offered some great action and advancement in the story. Something about this series in general, was the mystery, like why they were harvesting Grogu’s blood, or when the story takes place, which is revealed in the end of the finale. The series really touched a few points that really made viewers happy like the appearances of Bo-Katan and Asoka from clone wars. And Boba and Luke from the original trilogy, which are just some of the names from earlier series and/or films. Over-all, I would rate this series an 8.25/10. Some of the action and just Grogu as well as some of the appearances and mystery makes up for the topics the Star Wars Franchise always lacked.... season 3 will be published in December 2021 along with the book of Boba Fett. :-)