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TVE Promotion & Graduation Ceremony 2024
Category: News
Kids Against Hunger – Let’s eradicate childhood hunger
A non-profit humanitarian group called Kids Against Hunger works to feed underprivileged children and families locally and globally by providing them with wholesome meals. The group wants the meals to give recipient families a reliable nutritional foundation so they may transition from hunger or food insecurity to self-sufficiency.
The organization’s strategy for attaining its objective of ending world hunger entails having volunteers package highly nutrient-dense, vitamin-fortified meals at various locations in the United States and Canada. These meals are then distributed to starving children and their families in 70 countries by means of partnerships with international humanitarian organizations.
In order to fulfill the never-ending demand for food, Kids Against Hunger’s objective demands a large food packing capacity. This approach builds connections with organizations, schools, communities, and several faith-based groups of vast denominations while empowering individuals to understand they can contribute to the global effort to end famine. Additionally, by using this expansion model, the group is able to increase volunteerism and food packing capacity over time. Millions of meals have been given to children and their families in many, many countries since the founding of Kids Against Hunger. Hundreds and thousands of volunteers’ labor have been harnessed for good.
Recently, a group of TVE kids and families got the opportunity to go to the Pleasanton location and pack meals. It was a great learning experience for everybody. We started by sanitizing our hands and then entered the large warehouse where we got into groups of 10. We only worked for about an hour and a half and surprisingly packed 6,264 individual meals. It was so successful because of the organization accomplished by the assembly line. It was extremely impressive and motivating, we were all so very proud of the work we had done. This is a testament to the work of the foundation. Kids from five years old to grandparents can come together and work as a community to do something for the greater good, it felt so great to make a difference and share this experience with friends in our homeschool group. This could be you! At the bottom of the page there is more information on how you can set up an event for your own friend group or family.
According to predictions from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, in 2021, one in nine people on the planet—roughly 821 million people—would be hungry, and one in three will be suffering from malnutrition.
A child dies from starvation and associated causes every ten seconds, or around 16,000 each day.
In the US, 16.2 million children under the age of 18 reside in homes where they do not regularly have access to the sufficient amounts of nutrient-rich food needed for a healthy existence.
Richard Proudfit traveled to Honduras in 1974 as a volunteer after the nation was devastated by a hurricane. He was deeply impacted by the famine he witnessed among the children in that nation and consciously chose to dedicate his life and financial resources to addressing the massive issue of world hunger.
Making use of his experience in production and distribution, Mr. Proudfit asked his business partners for assistance. Leading food experts were consulted in order to create a very nutritious meal that is rich in protein and enhanced with vitamins and minerals. When this meal is cooked with water, it can adequately feed hungry children in need. His unceasing efforts to cultivate relationships have yielded a global network of organizations capable of effectively distributing food even under the most challenging circumstances.
With the Kids Against Hunger network, Richard Proudfit’s legacy of eradicating world hunger continues to this day.
The volunteers that package the food for a large number of children, in addition to the physical food packing process, makes them happy and deeply involved with a sense of pride and responsibility. This is a perfect group activity for schools or children’s groups of any kind, to teach the younger generation in the United States about the global food crisis is very important not only for the now, but for the future as well.
Because they are a volunteer-driven organization, there are many ways to help. One way is to simply make a monetary contribution, and the other is to volunteer your time or resources. Some of their needs are great, some are much smaller or easier to fulfill, but every single one of them is needed for them to continue their fight against world hunger.
To meet the demands of current conditions (1 billion in our world are severely malnourished) they are looking to build a team of committed volunteers who can go out and harness as many resources as possible. If you are interested in any one of these positions, would like to volunteer at an event, or would like to host an event, please contact the Event Manager, Sherri Leal of the local Pleasanton location at (925) 400-7201 or email her at sherri@KAHBayArea.org.
There are also many other locations, click here to enquire and find which best suits you!
It is up to us to end the crisis. What will you do for the future?
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 lot, I could see a trickle of audience members about to enter the theater
In the foyer, an usher offered us a program for the night’s concert. On the first page, printed in an elaborate design, was the title- San Ramon Symphonic Band Presents A Night at the Cinema. Below the title was an illustration of some popcorn, a drink, tickets, and other movie-themed objects surrounded by musical notations. Inside were the names of the Band members and a list of the music that was to be performed. Reading through them, I recognized many, including excerpts from the soundtracks of Marvel and Pixar films. On the back was a bio of the symphony’s conductor, Mr. Larry B. Colón, who has been their director for over ten years.
Once we had found ourselves seats in the center of the moderately crowded auditorium, we only had to wait for the show to begin. The sound of the instrumentalists warming up resonated throughout the hall. In about ten minutes, the lights dimmed, and the Master of Ceremonies (also a brass player for the band) stepped forward to welcome Mr. Colón onto the stage. After doing so, he proceeded to introduce their opening song- an epic and wild fanfare from the film Silverado.
For their next piece, the band launched into a joyful and familiar selection of themes and songs from Pixar movies- Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Cars, and Toy Story. Following a cheerful and lighthearted finish to the collection, they went on to narrate the tale of The Lion King through the highlights of the cherished movie’s soundtrack.
The band began the medley with the jocund music of The Circle of Life, celebrating the marvels and beauty of nature. They expressed Simba’s excitement and anticipation at realizing his destiny as king in I Just Can’t Wait to be King, and navigated the malicious twists and turns of Be Prepared. Following Scar’s and the hyenas’ vengeful refrains, came the blithe and jazzy tunes of Hakuna Matata, which merged gracefully into the flowing, romantic melody of Can You Feel the Love Tonight. They concluded the first half of their concert with the triumphant King of Pride Rock.
After a short intermission, the band transported us and our fellow audience to the interstellar travels of Peter Quill, Rocket Racoon, Gamora, Groot, Drax, and Mantis with the lively 80’s style music of The Guardians of the Galaxy. To continue the space travel theme were selections from Apollo 13.
Next up were the melodious Celtic tunes from How to Train Your Dragon, and to bring to an end the concert, the band performed a march from “1941”.
Following multiple rounds of applause and the return of the theater lights, we gathered our belongings and exited the theater. Once we were in the brightly lit lobby, we thanked the usher and stepped out into the biting air, the night’s music resounding in my mind.
Formed over thirty years ago, the San Ramon Symphonic Band is open to musicians ages fifteen and over. Past performances have been-
Song and Dance (March 2023)
Musical Playground (May 2023)
The Music of Star Wars (November 2023)
The Spirit of Mexico (March 2024)
For more information on the San Ramon Symphonic Band and upcoming fall performances, please visit-
Enchanted Forest – 2024 Teen Formal!
by Olive Pea
This year’s TVE Teen Formal took place in Rancho, San Ramon on a sunny Saturday. It started at 7:00, right at that time when sun began to set. The gentle sunlight filtered through the glass windows and onto the navy blue backdrop covered in a twinkling layer of lights that mimicked the night sky.
This year’s theme for the Teen Formal was “Enchanted Forest”. Guests were checked in at the registration table, and as soon as they walked through the entry, framed by balloons, they were instantly transported into an enchanted realm full of wonder and magic. From the ceiling hung strings of purple, green, gold, and black balloons. Dark blue curtains and strands of lights and ivy trailed down the walls. Woodland creatures, mushrooms, and butterflies could be found if you looked closely at the tables and walls. Lights danced all over the walls and ceiling as music played from the DJ booth. People had their pictures taken at the Photo Booth with a backdrop depicting a whimsical wisteria arch with hanging lanterns that faded into the distance. A wisteria tree stood in a pot next to it to add some dimensionality to the photos.
The snack tables were filled with trays stacked with cookies, chips, popcorn, crackers, salami, cheese, vibrant fruit punch and lemonade in glass dispensers. Sprinkled between the snacks were various woodland creatures, flower and plant cuttings, candelabras, and small trees with glowing flowers. Behind the snack tables rose a brown, silky backdrop with vines and dried purple flowers suspended across its length. Green up-lights added an atmospheric green glow.
The DJ booth was located at the back corner of the banquet room, off to the side of the dance floor. Over the black tablecloth on the booth there hung a curtain of white wisteria. In the center of the room, three large, round tables were surrounded by numerous chairs. Each table centerpiece gleamed with the light of the glowing water lilies which floated in a pool of water surrounded by mushroom-strewn moss.
On one side of the room, a table was situated with a variety of games such as Jenga, checkers, chess, Uno, and other card games. Serving as a backdrop for the table, there was a navy blue curtain with ivy weeping down in wavy strands. On the long wall backing the dance floor, a dramatic, deep blue curtain covered the entirety of the wall from floor to ceiling. Twinkling lights, bundles of flowers, and ivy trailed all the way down the curtains, adding a touch of magic to the dance floor. Disco lights cast streams of dancing color all over the walls and ceiling, and one could hear snippets of conversation and laughter over the music as you walked through the crowds of dancing people.
The whole night was filled with enchantment and dancing, music and magic. Sadly, as is the case with all parties, the night came to an end. Before the guests departed, a group photo was taken.
This event will forever remain a treasured memory to us all, and this event would not have been possible without the efforts of the hard-working TVE leaders, as well as the many honorable volunteers. We are so grateful that you put in the time and effort to make this event come to life!
Monarch Butterfly Life Cycles!
by guest author Ayah Haimor
Butterflies are amazing creatures. They do so much for the earth. Today I will be telling you about Monarch butterflies. Let’s get started!
First I will tell you about one type, or species, of butterfly. There are many different kinds of butterflies, but today I’ll tell you about the monarch butterfly. Monarch butterflies are so cool. They have cool designs and patterns on their wings.
Today, I will tell you about their life cycle. There are 4 steps. First, a monarch butterfly lays an egg on a milkweed leaf. Second, the monarch butterfly’s egg hatches into a caterpillar, which then eats the milkweed leaves of the plant that it’s on. Third, after it gets big enough, it comes out . And it’s a beautiful butterfly!
But wait, the wings on the butterfly are still wet! The moisture comes from the butterfly dries its wings in the sun. When the wings are done drying the butterfly flies away and goes to collect nectar from flowers. If you go close to a butterfly it will fly away. Fun fact you can get a monarch butterfly to come to your backyard if you plant a lot of flowers. Monarch butterflies can’t fly that high like, for example a monarch butterfly could not fly to space because the monarch butterfly’s wings would freeze and it wouldn’t be able to fly because it’s freezing up there.
I hope you enjoyed learning about butterflies! Bye!
The Resent Total Solar Eclipse
by Lucas David
Last week, I flew to Texas to see the total solar eclipse, only to find the sky obstructed by heavy clouds that blanketed most of Texas. The forecast showed the possibility of blue sky in a couple different directions, hours away from us, but we couldn’t know for sure which of them (if any) would have a clear view of the eclipse. So that morning, my family and I picked one at random, and got very lucky. Only two or three clouds thick enough to obscure the sun actually passed over it during the eclipse, and none of them during totality. As the moon covered more and more of the sun, the sky darkened as though there was a sunset on all horizons, and the dazed and confused crickets began to chirp.
Once the sun was completely obscured, we could take off our protective glasses and see the eclipse without any layers of separation. The sun was blotted from the sky, the dark cavity in its place haloed by the sun’s corona. The corona itself looked about two and a half times the diameter of the sun (864,575 miles) in length, which means that that halo was really about 2,161,439 miles of plasma flying from a ball of gas 333,000 times the size of the earth and into an endless void.
Having tasted a total eclipse once, I’ve concluded that I’ll have no choice but to go to Egypt in seven years to witness the next one, hopefully with a recording device capable of giving a detailed view of the eclipse this time.
Solar Eclipse Facts!
by Layal Hilal
Have you ever seen a solar eclipse? Solar eclipses are amazing phenomena and are once-in-a-lifetime experiences…or twice-in-a-lifetime! In fact, during a time period of about four minutes, a solar eclipse will occur on April 8th, 2024. And in order to properly prepare for this eclipse, I will be sharing some facts about solar eclipses and warnings in general, and some specifically about the solar eclipse happening in April.
- There are two types of eclipses; lunar, which occur when the earth is positioned between the sun and moon and it gives the moon a reddish tint. Lunar eclipses are also known as “blood moons” and, honestly, the name definitely makes sense. The other type of eclipses are solar, which occur when the moon comes close to the earth and it completely or partially locks the sun from view for a few moments.
- Solar and lunar eclipses follow a “path of totality”, and the only way to see a total eclipse is if you are along the path of totality. This year, the path of totality in America is in Texas, Mexico, and several states in the far eastern side of the U.S. The eclipse will still be viewable from states such as California, Oregon, Colorado, and Nevada, but it will only be viewable as a partial eclipse.
- Although eclipses are beautiful and amazing, they are, like most things are, dangerous. Never look at a solar or lunar eclipse without special eclipse glasses unless the eclipse has entered the totality phase. If you do look at an eclipse that is not in totality with a naked eye, you may injure your eyes really badly. Make sure to be very careful!
- In general, eclipses are pretty rare. But for a total solar eclipse to happen for a full four minutes? It is going to be amazing and you do not want to miss it. If you can’t visit a place that is in the path of totality, make sure you still get a good view of the eclipse from wherever you will be, and don’t forget to get solar eclipse glasses. Remember to only look at an eclipse with your naked eye if it has reached totality.
- I’m pretty sure that by now, you’re wondering “What is a solar eclipse exactly and why is it so special?” Well, solar eclipses only occur when the moon’s orbit carries it close to the earth, so close that the moon actually seems to block the sun from view and it casts a shadow on a certain part of the earth.
- Usually, the shadow—from the eclipse—falls onto an ocean, and, naturally, it is extremely difficult to get out onto the ocean to see an eclipse. So when an eclipse does fall onto land, it is very special.
I hope you can see the eclipse, wherever you are, and I really hope you don’t look at the eclipse before it’s in totality! Remember, the solar eclipse is viewable all over the U.S., but only in totality from a few places. It occurs April 8th, and don’t forget to get some eclipse glasses. Have fun!
What is Dundracon?
by Lucas David
DunDraCon, (short for Dungeons and Dragons Convention), is a four-day celebration of role playing games that has come every President’s Day weekend since 1976, and is still recurring today. For the past three years, they have utilized the Santa Clara Marriott, converting hotel rooms and meeting rooms into game rooms and Live Action Role Play arenas. DunDraCon allows visitors to pre-register for games through the month of February, which I highly advise, given how greatly it raises your chances of getting into the types of games you enjoy.
One of the games includes Dungeons and Dragons, or DnD, often considered the first real Role Playing Games. It’s a collaborative storytelling game where 3 or more players each control a single character, and one person playing the Dungeon Master or DM runs the narrative. Another game often played at DunDraCon is Live Action Role Play, or LARP. LARP is much like DnD, but rather than rolling dice and moving tokens, players act out everything their character does. They use items similar to movie props as they improvise scenes, along with foam weapons to whack each other with. Last listed but not least, is the open gaming room, where you can take a board game to a table and, if you like, put up a “Players Wanted” sign as an invitation to conventioneers seeking a game.
The hotel lodging works if you wish to spend money on a hotel, though Santa Clara is just a 1 hour drive away if you’d rather drive home at the end of the day. The hotel cafe is tasty, though their menu only consists of about 2 items most young children will enjoy, those being a hamburger and pizza. The Marriott breakfast diner was excellent however, as well as the local restaurants. One of my favorites was an Indian food place called the Indian Sizzler that had delicious chicken tikka masala and samosas, despite having limited options for choosy eaters.
Despite my forewarnings at the beginning of this text, it’s relatively easy to find a game enjoyable to you even without pre-registering, so I highly recommend dropping in when DunDraCon returns next year.
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 can create any type of poetry you want! It could be about nature, winter, school, a person, historical event, or an animal, just to give you a few ideas.
First off, YOUR POETRY MUST COME OUT OF YOUR OWN CREATIVE MIND. No quoting Edger Allen Poe! Second off, NO EXPLICIT LANGUAGE OR CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS. We will not accept any foul poetry submissions. Third off, WE ACCEPT ALL TYPES OF POETRY! We don’t hold grudges against haikus or anything. Please submit your fantastic poems by the 24th of February. We will be waiting!
HOW TO SUBMIT:
Once you finish your poem, you can submit it by emailing us at: thelighthousetve@gmail.com
DETAILS:
Your poems, once submitted, will be included in the next poetry article. If you submit your poem and do not want us to post it in the article, please let us know before the 26th of February.
We hope you all have fun writing your poems, and can’t wait to see what you have created!
Have Fun Haiku!
We can’t wait to see
Your wonderful poetry
We hope you have fun!
-Sincerely, The Lighthouse
Current Sustainability Problems in the Bay Area
by Ava Salado
To shed some light on what pollutants exist in the San Francisco Bay area we have to take into consideration both the air and the water. Pollution such as home chemicals, gasoline, pesticides, fertilizers, rubbish, and legacy harmful pollutants are washed into the Bay untreated or unfiltered when it rains. Rainwater is directed into gutters and storm drains by paved concrete and asphalt surfaces found on buildings, parking lots, roads, roadways, and rooftops. This storm water is then discharged into creeks and sloughs that run into the Bay itself, carrying all the pollutants it gathers along the route. Rainfall in the Bay Area causes rainwater to overflow into the bay, carrying three primary forms of pollution: runoff from cities, sewage spills, and industrial discharges. More than 1,600 industrial sites are covered with water that conveys harmful chemicals into storm drains that go into the Bay and waterways.
Trash, construction debris, automobile fluids, industrial waste, petroleum residue, coal dust, soot, fertilizer, pesticides, and other materials that accumulate in cities and industrial facilities all combine to form stormwater runoff, a toxic mixture that flows into the Bay every time it rains, typically with little to no treatment.
On the other hand, a portion of the air pollution in the Bay Area is caused by industrial sources including power plants and refineries. However, a larger portion of dangerous air pollution originates from motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, and construction equipment.
In addition, smoke from neighboring wildfires has a significant influence on the Bay Area’s air quality during the fire season. It frequently results in dangerously high particle pollution levels and air quality advisories, such as Spare the Air alerts. The Bay Area air set a record in 2020 when it issued over 50 alerts, 46 of which had to do with wildfires.
San Francisco is ranked 101st out of all major cities by IQAirs Live. According to the American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” assessment, 11 of the 25 most polluted cities in America are located in California. Out of 200 cities nationwide, the Bay Area (San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland region) was placed fourth for “Year Round Particle Pollution” and “Short-Term Particle Pollution.”) Based on a recent research by the American Lung Association, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Bakersfield are among the worst air-polluted urban regions in the country.
Overall, since the Clean Air Act was amended in 1990, the Bay Area’s air pollution has decreased dramatically over the past 30 years, despite the region’s expanding population and industry. Regulations against industrial activity and associated pollution sources are going to get stricter. The foundation of sustainability is a straightforward idea: everything we require for life depends on the natural world, either directly or indirectly, for our survival and well-being. The goal of sustainability is to establish and preserve the circumstances that allow nature and people to coexist peacefully and productively for the benefit of both the present and the future generations. This long-term objective is supported by sustainable development, which puts structures and mechanisms in place and receives backing from international, national, and local organizations. To be sustainable means to meet the demands of the present without sacrificing those of future generations and to maintain a balance between social progress, environmental preservation, and economic expansion. The ability of a civilization to grow and prosper without exhausting all of the natural resources required for future generations to thrive is known as sustainability. Although the times we live in may look bleak, there are people striving for a brighter future. Could that person be you?
The Lighthouse 