Virgil’s Aeneid: How the Behavior of the Gods Reflects Human Qualities
by Lucas David Human desire to project themselves onto the divine is highlighted by how the most honorable roles in society are often connected to godlike qualities. Virgil’s Aeneid, written as a Roman epic for Emperor Augustus, subtly explores politics while highlighting these divine ideals. The gods are more powerful than humans, yet their behavior…
The Beginning of The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
by Ava Amara Salado The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is taking Bay Area locals and tourists alike on a journey back to the heart of Victorian London. For just five weekends every holiday season, they graciously bring back the sights, sounds, and even scents of that beautiful period to history. Imagine this, you stroll down…
A Collection of Art & Poetry for Winter
Poetry by Johnathan David The Fire As the thunder roared and the wind howled,We see the light in the distance.And as the fire raged and burned,Comes the instance,Where temper is unleashed, and thoughts are telled.But the assistance is come,Yet the cries are yelled,And the mental resistance is held. Where the Wind Walks Come, we must…
How an Opera Comes Together – Part 2
by Aleena Haimor Stage Directing: Soon after the actors and actresses first came together, staging rehearsals began. That was where they started setting the stage and working on choreography. A wonderful stage director, Omer Ben Seadia, and amazing choreographer, Gina Cerimele-Mechley, worked together at staging, setting out props and objects to really make the story…
Amari And The Despicable Wonders – a book review
by guest author Johnathan David Amari And The Despicable Wonders, by B.B. Alston was a fun read. It had an interesting plot, intriguing twists, and there was well done balance between the highs and lows. For example, there are times in the book laden with suspense. But, there are also points that are straightforward and…
Animation Tips – Part 2
by Lucas David If you’ve ever made an animation yourself, or have watched a decent amount of animation yourself, you will have noticed that some animations look more lifelike than others, especially in different art styles. In this essay, I will be breaking down one of the components of an animation that makes such a…
Book Review – Erin Bowman’s Dustborn
by Meru S. Far across the desolate sands lies the Verdant, rumored to be a lush land filled with what the Wastes’ deserts lack. And the only map to this idyll is branded onto the backs of Delta and her friend Asher, who has been missing for years. Delta must keep her back concealed, as…
Pompeii’s Sister City
by Elaina David I have always been fascinated by the ancient city of Pompeii and the horrible disaster that so well preserved its past. For those who are unaware of what Pompeii is and was, I will take a moment to explain. Pompeii was a Roman city that was famously destroyed in 79 AD by…
The Song of Our Hearts: Why Does Music Make Us Feel?
by Harper Smith Music has existed in human culture since very nearly the dawn of time. The earliest known instrument was a 60,000 year old bone flute, made from a bear femur and discovered in the caves of Slovenia in 1995. Percussion (music produced by striking something to create sound, better defined by modern instruments…
Animation Tips – Part 1.
by Lucas David Animation is like lying to your eyes. Every second, your brain processes a certain number of images and strings them together into a perceived movement. When you make an animation, you create a series of flat images resembling a 3 dimensional object and flash them in front of someone so fast that…
How an Opera Comes Together – Part 1.
by Aleena Haimor Recently, my father was invited to Indiana University (IU) Jacobs School of Music at Bloomington, Indiana, to conduct a production of Maurice Ravel’s opera, L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (The Child and the Spells). My dad went to IU from 2008-2009, where he completed his master’s degree in conducting. Now, he works as…
America’s Shining Girls – Part 2.
by Harper Smith (Find part one here!) Mollie’s death was a tragedy, but unfortunately, it did not gain media coverage. For all they knew, it was one girl, who suffered tragically and died horrifically, but with no one to blame. Her story could very well have gone unknown–if it was not for the girls at…
Interview with Bake My Day Mimo
by Aleena Haimor Mirvat “Mimo” Hachem-Osseili, AKA Bake My Day Mimo, is an incredible Lebanese-American home baker with a huge follower count on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. She is very talented and well known for decorating beautiful, elaborate cakes. Mimo makes cakes that span all different styles. I had the privilege and…
Gold That Has Lasted – The Early Life and Poetry of Robert Frost
by Meru S. In the land where grass grows gold And gold itself does flourish; In a city not yet shaken by Earth herself; In the year of a thousand, Eight centuries, Seventy, And four; As the month of winds and rains And of tender blossoms of fire, Wandered away, unnoticed, with Only five days…
America’s Shining Girls: The Dark History of our Industry’s “Wonder Element”
by Harper Smith The year is 1898. Two scientists find themselves in the midst of making history–they have discovered a new element. Marie and Pierre Curie, in their study of radioactivity, found traces of something they had never seen before in a sample of uraninite ore. They named this element “radium,” and spent the next…
California’s Special Species – Part 1
by Sabine B. Why is California so diverse? One reason is the abundance of different biomes and environments. The wide beaches and rocky cliffs of the coast regions border groves of redwood trees, oak woodlands merge into stands of fir and pine that give way to alpine meadows, and sage flats sprawl into sandy deserts.…
“Spring” – A Shakespearean Sonnet
by Meru S. When snowdrops burst forth from the sodden ground And grass grows soft and green to soothe sore feet, Then songbirds let their lilting tunes float ’round And blossoms bloom with fragrance oh, so sweet. Then warm zephyrs bring hues of bright sapphire To paint the somber skies aglow and clear, And streams…
Concorde: A Pinnacle of Air Travel
By Hudson Ebach The Concorde was a supersonic jet airliner, manufactured by Aérospatiale, British Aircraft Corporation, Sud Aviation, and British Aerospace. It was made in 1976 and was retired in 2003. About The Concorde. The Concorde went speeds up to Mach 2 (over 1500 MPH), making it the fastest airliner to have ever been built.…
An Opinion of BeamNG.Drive – A Website turned into a Game
by Hudson Ebach BeamNG.Drive is the best driving game I have ever played in my 7 years of playing games. It is my go-to car game for many different reasons that I will talk about here. I first found out about BeamNG.Drive when I was just 4 years old and came across a YouTuber playing…
The Hidden Meanings of Howl’s Moving Castle
by Lydia I. Martinov Howl’s Moving Castle is a book by Diana Wynn Jones, which was turned into an animated movie by Studio Ghibli. It has many philosophical sub-themes, and hidden meanings. It is not your average kids movie. When you first watch this masterpiece, you will probably find it unusual, strange, or even insane.…
As We Walk Through the Woods – A Poem
As we walk through the woods,we try with all our mightto make memory of this beautiful night.For we stand under the stars of the sky.We talk til day has come,and sun has risen.As we walk through the woods,I can’t help but grieve.For it is a time of sorrow,a time of loss,a time of death,a time…
Mark Watney’s Journey Through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
by Lucas David The book, The Martian, by Andy Weir, is packed with many kinds of science, but psychology is one of the less explored sciences of the book. However, though the author does not emphasize psychological processing as a theme, it is clear that he did put time into thinking of the psychological aspects of…
An Interview With Author Millie Florence
by Meru S. Millie Florence is the author of three middle-grade novels including Honey Butter, which she wrote and self-published at the age of thirteen. Honey Butter is a simple yet vividly descriptive tale of joy and sorrow, lightheartedness and contemplation, anger and love. The storyline follows Jamie Johnson, a young girl with a passion…
Za’atar Bread – An award-winning short story
by Aleena Haimor I miss peace. And I’ll never stop saying that, no matter what anyone says. I miss laying in the sun on the weekends when we went to Beirut to cool off in theMediterranean sea. I miss eating chicken shawarma at the restaurant next to the beach, eating and laughing. I miss my…
A Night at The San Ramon Symphonic Band
by Meru S. The evening was cold and windy—so unusual for a late Californian May—as we drove to the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center. A blanket of gray clouds obscured the sky. For just a few moments, a barely visible drizzle sprinkled our car’s windshield. When we pulled into the Dougherty Valley High School parking…
The Wonders of Nature – A Collection of Haiku for Spring
by Meru S. Green grass-covered hills, Trees decorated with buds, Gently welcome Spring A light splattering Of drops against the window Are left unnoticed Gliding flawlessly Over valley and mountain, The sound of soft wings Joyfully sprouting, Unaware of April’s blues Rejoice in Spring’s tears Tortured by the wind Lost amongst the high branches Hangs…
Lise Meitner and her Scientific Discoveries
by Olive Pea “Life need not be easy, provided only that it is not empty” stated Lise Meitner. Despite being at a disadvantage in many ways, Lise Meitner earned the impressive title “Mother of the Atomic Bomb”. She was a determined physicist who made many discoveries such as the radioactive element protactinium, and nuclear fission.…
Crochet 2: Simple Stitches
by Lydia I. Matinov Welcome to the second part of my Crochet series! Previously, I wrote about starting out, and what is needed to begin. I also wrote about how to crochet a braid (chain). This time, I am going to teach you how to make some simple stitches, and practice them. Before we begin,…
Book Recommendation: Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
by Meru S. Destinies merge in Pam Muñoz Ryan’s lyrically written novel, Echo. And it all begins with a harmonica. One fateful day, while playing a game of hide-and-seek with his friends, a young boy by the name of Otto loses his way in a forest where he is hiding. With him, he has only…
Facts about Asia!
by Aleena Haimor Asia is one of the world’s seven continents, and it’s also the largest. It has an area of 44,579,000 km², and it would take ages to see it all! However, Asia shares the landmass of Eurasia with Europe, as well as Afro-Asia with both Europe and Africa. Nevertheless, Asia has a population…
Book Recommendation: Nura and the Immortal Palace
by Layal Hilal Nura and the Immortal Palace is a capturing and stunning book by M.T. Khan. It was published in 2022 and is a detailed well-written novel about hope, danger, and greed. It follows a twelve-year-old girl named Nura who has to mine mica, which are minerals that can be dangerous and even fatal.…
Book Recommendation: A Rover’s Story
by Meru S. A Rover’s Story is a ruminative and hopeful tale by author Jasmine Warga. Published in 2022, this simple but well-written book is narrated by a Mars rover known as Resilience. Though he is a machine, Resilience (Res for short) gradually begins to understand and even feel human emotions as he observes the…
Poetry Challenge! – February
by Olive Pea POETRY CHALLENGE! The Lighthouse hopes everyone had a wonderful winter break! I don’t know about you, but I’m still getting back into the groove of things. New year, new articles, school (for those who took winter break), and… NEW POETRY!! Surprise! It’s poetry challenge time, people! In this February poetry challenge, you…
Crochet: The Beginning
by Lydia I. Martinov Homeschool stressing you out? Perhaps you have a math assignment due or you are bummed about receiving a bad grade. Whether you are a student or a teacher, chances are, at times you are probably finding yourself feeling down. If that is so, then a relaxing way to defeat these stressful…
Percy Jackson Book #5 – The Last Olympian: Book Review
by Emery Pugh Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The evil Titan lord Kronos intends to tear down Olympus “brick by brick” and destroy Western Civilization with it. Typhon is wreaking havoc on the country as he marches towards the virtually undefended Mount Olympus. The gods being occupied with Typhon, there is only one thing that stands in Kronos’…
“The First Selfie”
by Lucas David Nestled in the heart of the city of San Francisco, the Legion of Honor museum is structured almost like an art project in and of itself. Spreading before a fountain and an abstract metal statue is a lush field, bordered by a curtain of trees and greenery. On the other side of…
Fall Art Challenge!
by Olive Pea The Lighthouse has an art challenge for you! Even though Halloween has just passed, the fall spirit is still here! The leaves in the trees are still painted with fall colors, and the invisible wind sweeps away those that have fallen. The moon shines brighter than ever, only to be blocked by…
The Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off
by Lucas David The Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off is a competition hosted in Half Moon Bay on Indigenous People’s Day. Competitors travel from all around to have their pumpkins weighed for a chance at first place, where the pumpkin is purchased at nine dollars per pound. The record-setting pumpkin receives an additional 30k, and immortalization as…
Get Ready for the Harvest Dance! – 2023
by Ava Salado Hello TVE Community! I think it is safe to say the fall has officially…fallen. Isn’t it wonderful? Leaves of all shades of orange line the streets and the tidemark smell of autumn is finally out. So you know what that means? TVE’s Harvest Dance is here! Join us for our annual Family…
Navarathri — The Festival of Nine Nights
by Meru S. The Hindu festival of Navarathri begins on the new moon during mid-September to mid-October. In the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, nava means nine and rathri means night, so Navarathri translates to Nine Nights. It is also called Dussara, or Ten Days, in Hindi. During these nine nights, three legendary goddesses of…
What is El Día de los Muertos?
by Ava Salado What is the Day of the Dead? We have probably all heard of it once or twice, especially around Halloween. Well, it’s actually a traditionally Mexican holiday where families welcome back the spirits of their deceased relatives for a short reunion. The festivities can include food, drinks, partying and celebration, singing, dancing,…
The Legion of Honor
by Lydia I. Martinov Do you love art? Well be sure to visit the Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco, CA. It is filled with stunning pieces of art that are sure to catch your eye. Artists in need of inspiration can treat themselves, and their families, to a field trip at the Legion…
The History of Halloween
by Aleena Haimor Boo! It’s that time of year again: Halloween! Halloween is one of my favorite days of the year. It’s a lot of fun to dress up, eat candy and have fun with your friends. This year, I’ll be dressing up as Sophie Foster from Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger.…
May The 4th Be With You!
by Aleena Haimor May the 4th be with you! Today, May 4th, is the official, annual Star Wars day! Star Wars is a popular movie series, and, personally, one of my favorites. There are three movie trilogies: The original, the prequel and the sequel. Here are synopses of the three trilogies: 1. The Original Trilogy…
Springtime Art Challenge – Results! –
by Olive Pea We are already halfway through spring! There are so many colorful flowers in bloom. In fact, there are so many flowers in bloom that this spring was officially announced to be a Super Bloom, the first Super Bloom since 2019. So many flowers! It is starting to feel a little bit like…
5 Terrific Travel Activities
by Lydia I. Martinov It’s finally time for Summer vacation! It’s that time of year when most families go on a fun vacation. Whether it is by car, boat, train or plane. Getting to the destination takes a while, especially when there’s nothing to do. I would know, because I have traveled many times. Once,…
Ramadan and Eid-Ul-Fitr
by Aleena Haimor Before you read this, here is a glossary of Arabic words: It’s time for Ramadan! This is the holiest month for Muslims because it is a time to reflect and be conscious of our actions through fasting, prayer, charity, and remembrance of Allah (Arabic for God). My family does so many things…
Springtime Art Challenge!
by Olive Pea Spring is right around the corner! The days are getting longer, and the sun is shining brighter. The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, and everything is becoming more vibrant and alive! One of the most exciting parts of spring is watching the flowers bloom. They come in such a variety…
Book Review of The Martian
by Guest Author Lucas D. The story follows Mark Watney, a member of NASA’s team sent to explore Mars. After a martian sandstorm leaves him stranded and injured, he is cut off from human communication and left to face the overwhelming challenges of surviving Mars. So ultimately, this book chronicles the story of Mark versus…
Poetry for You and Me
by Olive Pea First off, Happy New Year everyone! Our Staff hopes all of you had a wonderful holiday season. Now that a new year has started we should all look back to see how far we have come and give ourselves a high-five for all we have accomplished! Don’t just look back, look to…
Poetry Submission Competition!
by The Lighthouse Staff Hello TVE Kids and Teens! Time for a poetry challenge! The staff of The Lighthouse (TVE’s own student-led newspaper) invites one and all to take part in our first ever poetry competition! Don’t be afraid to let your creative ideas run wild and why not show them off? We look forward…
5 Jolly Christmas Crafts
by Lydia Martinov It’s finally December! You know what that means. Christmas is coming! I’m sure you are all ecstatic for Santa to come down your chimney and put out your presents. He is sure to admire these 5 jolly Christmas crafts when he stops by. This craft is my personal favorite, and I use…
Diwali — The Festival of Lights
by Meru S. Deepavali (or Diwali) is the Hindu festival of lights. It is celebrated on the new moon that occurs between mid-October to mid-November, according to the Lunar Calendar. The word Deepavali is a combination of two Sanskrit words — Deepa, meaning lamp, and Avali, meaning rows or series. Therefore, Deepavali means rows of…
Book Recommendation: Keeper of Lost Cities – Book One
by Meru S. Keeper of the Lost Cities is an exciting fantasy series by author Shannon Messenger. Book one is suitable for ages 10+. Sophie Foster is a Telepath, and she has been keeping it a secret for years. One day while wandering in a museum in San Diego, Sophie meets a mysterious boy named…
Mount Madonna School’s Ramayana! Musical – Back on Stage this June
by Meru S. Mount Madonna School in Watsonville, California, will be performing their 43rd production of the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana, on stage this year. It will be held from June 9th to 12th at the Mexican Heritage Theater in San Jose, California. Tickets are now on sale at http://www.MountMadonnaSchool.org The Ramayana play has…
Book Recommendations: Fabled Beast Chronicles by Lari Don
by Meru S. Book One: First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts When eleven-year-old Helen Strang finds a wounded centaur named Yann in her yard, her life is changed. After treating the bite on Yann’s leg and discovering that fabled beasts are not mythical, she finds herself surrounded by many of their kind. She…
12 Amazing Movies to Watch with Your Family
By Lydia I. Martinov It is Friday evening, and your family is gathered on the couch ready to watch a movie. Nobody agrees on what to see. Mom wants a romance, Dad is looking for an action flick and your baby sibling is asking for Cocomelon. Does that sound familiar? Well, you’re in luck! Here…
Four Family Movies to Start Off Summer
by Lucie Ruggiero Summer break is just around the corner, and the perfect way to celebrate is by watching a fun family movie. Here are four movies (in no particular order) that I enjoyed watching with my family. Maybe you will like them too! 1. The Mitchells vs. the Machines This is a truly unique…
Authors Spotlight: Esperanza Rising
by Emma Ruggiero Esperanza’s life could not be more perfect. She has a loving family, a beautiful home, and all the dolls and dresses she could want. But when a terrible misfortune upends her life, Esperanza must learn to take care of herself and her mother. After escaping to California, Esperanza discovers the challenges and…
Filmmaking During the Pandemic
by Blake Killion Since the start of the Covid19 pandemic, live-action filmmaking has been drawn to a halt, with new restrictions and safety guidelines preventing many of the franchises we know and love today from being filmed. However, despite this unexpected stop in traditional production methods, many filmmakers have begun trying new mediums with which…
Authors Spotlight: The Hate U Give
by Emma Ruggiero In her debut novel, author and activist Angie Thomas brings forth a compelling look into the life of a black teenage girl named Starr, who witnesses the murder of her friend at the hands of a white police officer. Starr’s life is one filled with challenges and loss as she learns to…
Authors Spotlight: When You Trap a Tiger
by Lucie Ruggiero When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller is a lovely novel about the power of stories to connect with one’s past and the power of letting a little magic into your life. This book won the 2021 Newbery Medal and is a great middle-grade book. Keller opens a star jar of…
Five Female Composers You May Not Have Heard Of
by Lucie Ruggiero When you hear the word ‘composer’, probably the first thing that pops into your head are names such as Beethoven, Mozart, or Bach. You may think of a man in a powdered wig sitting at a piano, candle burning through the night, playing wildly on the keys. But composers are not all…
Authors Spotlight: Brown Girl Dreaming
by Lucie Ruggiero Both personal and universal, Brown Girl Dreaming is full of the bright happiness of childhood memories. Jacqueline Woodson’s poetic memoir is rich and layered like a buttered biscuit, melting on the tongue. Through the poetic eyes of young Jacqueline, we smell Dixie Peach Hair Grease on a Saturday night, taste Maria’s mother’s…
Some Gardening Tips
by Ava Salado All of us have a hobby, some like drawing, some like cooking, some like writing, and some like gardening. Whether it be your profession or just a leisure activity we always like a few new tips every once in a while, we all want to improve our game and, let’s face it,…
Authors Spotlight: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
by Lucie Ruggiero Editors note: This review is the first in a series that showcases the work of authors of color. A story entwined within a story, in a world where the tales of Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon may not just be myths. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is…
The Origins of the Easter Bunny
by Olivia Brazier A popular Easter tradition is that of the easter egg hunt when children collect plastic eggs filled with candy. These treats are said to be left by the Easter Bunny. The character of the Easter Bunny is mysterious and somewhat disconnected from the holiday he represents. What does a rabbit that hides…
History of the Otamatone
by Blake Killion Otamatones are strange instruments shaped like a musical eighth note invented in Japan that sound a bit like synthesizers. They are typically played with two hands, one to press the notes on its “stem” and the other two open and close the mouth on its “head.” It is advertised as being easy…
Visiting Exhibits and Galleries During COVID
by Emma Ruggiero Due to the current circumstances with COVID-19, many places like museums and zoos cannot offer their usual experiences to visitors, and, unfortunately, many exhibits and events had to be canceled. However, some places are slowly beginning to admit guests through staggered ticket entry at 25% of their normal capacity, and visitors who…
The History and Facts of Valentines Day
by Ava Salado Pink and Red flowers, pretty cards, over priced chocolates and little Cupid figurines are just some of the things that you think of when we hear the words “Valentines Day”. There is much more behind those words, Valentine’s Day has a much bigger history than you may think. So what is Valentine’s…
Things to look forward to in 2021
by Ava Salado It’s finally 2021! I’m sure that’s what we have all been saying for the last three weeks. So now that we put this speed bump of a year in the Costco parking lot of life to bed, we start on this (hopefully) less bumpy path of 2021. We come into this year…
Three Fun Recipes for Holiday Baking
by Lucie Ruggiero The holiday baking season has begun! Winter is my absolute favorite time of year. When December rolls around, it’s hard for a baking lover like myself to keep out of the kitchen long. Holiday recipes hold a warm place in my heart, so I decided to share three of my favorites with…
A Teen’s Plea That You Take TikTok Songs Seriously
By Olivia Brazier It’s easy to be dismissive of “TikTok songs.” With the strange dances that go along with them and their seemingly undeserved popularity, it’s rather enjoyable to say “Ugh, this song,” when they play on the radio. But should we really be so exasperated by them? Or are they a legitimate part of…
Over the Garden Wall: The Ultimate Fall/Winter Entertainment
By Olivia Brazier When it gets cold in October, I start anticipating all of my favorite autumn traditions. I love carving pumpkins, baking, and making Halloween costumes. My family’s most recently added tradition is to watch the Cartoon Network miniseries Over the Garden Wall. When the series came out in 2014, it was widely acclaimed,…
Watercolor Painting: History and Techniques
by Lucie Ruggiero If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” Vincent van Gogh Any person can become a watercolor artist if they wish. The only requirements are a joy in color and expressing with it, and the patience to let…
The Lighthouse 