Happy Hanukkah!

As we kicked off the introduction to our new unit on Judaism, it seemed fitting to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah that was taking place last week through Sunday. Hanukkah, חֲנֻכָּה, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish Holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew Calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December. It is sometimes called the miracle of Hanukkah because the menorah was to be lit for eight days but there appeared to be only enough oil for one night, however, the menorah stayed lit for the entire eight nights. 

We observed this holiday by lighting five candles (because Friday marked the 5th night) on the menorah. Our class ate potato latkes, cheese and blueberry blintzes, and tried gelt. All the while listening to traditional Hebrew song. Enjoy the photos from below. 

East Asian Celebration!

As our unit on East Asian religions came to a close, we had the opportunity to engage in a variety of Asian activities. The hosting group brought in Chinese calendars, and Korean language translations (which helped us uncover some of those mysterious words in the hit song "Gangnam style").  Then they led us in making Chinese lanterns and acquainted us with Chinese New Years traditions. Afterward, the class had the opportunity to take on the challenge of making an origami crane. All the while, the students got to munch on fortune cookies, Japanese candy, and sip on green tea. The celebration was not complete without Korean tunes...Bravo to Maria, Karen, Radek, Nick, and Roberto!

World Religion Rituals

Considering we analyze variety of religion's rituals, we've create dour own class ritual. Upon completing a a study of a particular religion, a group of students simulates a religious ceremony. To date, we have engaged in a Voodoo ritual (after completing our unit on traditional African religions), a Hindu wedding ceremony, and a Buddhism meditation. All of the ceremonies included food, music, props, and an intractive simulation. Check out the photos!

 

"Mr. Global Studies"

Allow me to introduce Adrian Medina, "Mr Global Studies." This responsible tenth grader is the quintessential Global Studies student. He is a well-rounded young man who is not only a basketball and volleyball player, but also shines academically. Adrian is outspoken and firm in his political ideologies, he is a prominent voice during class discussions and debates. Furthermore, he is a diligent student and a natural leader. In fact, Adrian was one of the founders of his classes' country name "Mellowmania". He was also elected as his classes' president. All in all, he is an insightful resource about the Global Studies program. He has readily represented the program at Varela's Magnet Fair and Cirriculum Expo. Kudos to Adrian!  

World Religions: Guest Speaker!

As my World Religions class wrapped up our unit on Hinduism, we were visited by a speaker who lived in an Ashram in Varanasi, India for two months. This visitor was none other than my sister, Kelsey Rodriguez. Kelsey is an international traveler- she's been to Kenya, Brazil, Ecuador, Cuba, and India, to name a few...She attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts and studied Psychology. While in college, she lived in a multi-faith dorm setting where she had the opportunity to reside with a variety of people who practiced all sorts of religions.

Kelsey shared with us her stories of travels along the Ganges River, her experience with wandering cows and electricity-free living. She described her vegetarian diet, bumpy rig-shaw rides and encounters with the locals. Furthermore, she showed us pictures of a traditional wedding that she attended and described the meditative practices that she engaged in. If any students have enduring comments or questions please comment below. I hope you enjoyed hearing a first-hand account of her time in India!

Homecoming Week Recap

Varela's got spirit, yes we do, we've got spirit, how about you?! This past week has provided an endless array of opportunities to showcase our Viper pride. Club Chaos, Viper Vamp, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Banner Decorating, the Homecoming game and dance, were just a few of the events going on in Viper country. I had the privilege of sitting on two judging panels this week where I was thoroughly entertained. I was serenaded by members of the clubs as they performed the Alma Matter to the tunes of their choosing. Viper Vamp made me laugh, clap, and cringe as I watched the anti-Sunset-themed skits performed by various clubs. I saw many of my students dance, sing, act, and cross-dress in efforts to entertain the crowd (and bash our rival), and that, they did. I was very impressed to see a generous turnout at the Homecoming game, where we were victorious! Furthermore, I got to see many of my students all glammed up the Hyatt Regency Downtown, as they danced the night away with their friends. All in all, it was a successful week, chalk-full of spirit, fun, and countless activities. I'd like to give a special shout-out to the Global Studies students who took part in Viper Vamp, Club Chaos, and played against Sunset.

Shout-outs: Bravo to all cast members!
Ronald Torres, Ryan Bauta, Samantha Amandor, Celeste Montenegro, Kaitlyn Reyes, Maria Diaz, Sebastian Quintero, Samuel Grossman, Didier Arias, Steven Santos, Christine Seda, Juanasofia Chirino

Football players: Ronald Ferrer, Eric Blanco, Pedro Sainz, and Roberto Matos

What was your favorite activity? How did you show your spirit this past week?

Florida Boycotts Columbus Day: Hero or Villain?

It's not surprising that a state with the legacy of Spanish colonization would be critical of the controversial, Christopher Columbus. Why is he controversial you ask? First off, he never reached the current-day U.S. territory. Secondly, he did not "discover" a single thing, he explored and put claims on inhabited lands. He was convinced that he'd reached Asia, and took this inaccurate belief to the grave. He treated the inhabitants brutally, so much so, that the Spanish monarchs responible for the Crusades (Ferdinand and Isabella) even disapproved. Here's the real kicker, Columbus Day was only deemed a national holiday in 1937 when President Roosevelt wanted to win over the Italian vote and therefore picked an Italian to glorify. Many states have decided to forgo this celebration, and some have even declared it Native American Day to remember those who perished because of Columbus. Do you support Florida's boycott of this holiday? Watch the following clip for the full story. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/id=7424664n&tag=showDoorFlexGridRight;SunMoImageStack