Author: Anna ('20)
*Please Note: This article was last updated on February 4th, as many of you are aware the pandemic is an evolving situation, where information was rapidly changing. This means that some of the information in this blog post may be incorrect at the time you are reading it, but that does not mean it is not a valid article (which is why we are keeping it up). Enjoy the article. Preface: This is an ongoing outbreak, meaning that some of the values, information, and circumstances may change. This piece was written on Jan 30 (and as such all of the numbers, information, & data are based on the information available at that time). But it still felt important to write as well-educated a piece as possible. TLDR: the CDC says, “the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time.” By the numbers: (Updated: Feb 4) → 20,630 confirmed cases → First detected early December 2019 (~2 months) → 20471 of those cases located solely in China → 425 deaths → 632 recoveries → 2788 severe cases thought to be currently present in China → 7th coronavirus known to infect humans → 11 infections in the US → 24 countries with infected → 1 death internationally (within the Philippines) → Over 57 million people and 15 cities were placed on full or partial lockdown (mainly, if not all within China) → Thought to have ~2% death rate (SARS roughly had a 9.6%) Context 2019 Winter Flu Season: → ~15 million people have gotten the Flu (in US) → 8,200 US deaths → World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the flu kills up to 650,000 people per year worldwide → Fatality rate .095% By the science: → Coronaviruses: a group of positive-sense single-stranded RNA, enveloped viruses. Most commonly seen to cause disease in mammals and birds, it’s linked to respiratory infections that range from mild to lethal. They are believed to cause a significant percentage of all common colds but are more infamously known for causing pneumonia and bronchitis (either directly - viral pneumonia/bronchitis, or secondary - bacterial pneumonia/bronchitis). → The Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) informally known as the Wuhan coronavirus, is the current virus spreading throughout China and other countries in the world. It is known as “novel” because it has yet to be named, only having originated in early December (although this timeline is still just a hypothesis). This is the 7th known coronavirus to infect people, thought to act similar to previous outbreaks, viruses, and consequent diseases, like Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). It is important to note that this virus is thought to be infectious during the incubation stage (before you have classic symptoms) and is a suggestion for why it spread so fast, but this is still unsubstantiated. As well it has been confirmed that human-to-human transmission can occur. The WHO has created the interim term "2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease" to describe the disease caused by the virus until it can be further designated. It's still not clear how deadly the 2019-nCoV will be, but fatality rates are currently lower than both MERS and SARS. Although, experts say that this will change as the outbreak continues. → The Outbreak: First detected in Wuhan (city), China, in mid-December 2019, has spread to all provinces in China and to other countries, including Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, France, and the United States. As stated in the numbers, as of Jan 30, there have been 8,235 confirmed cases of infection with 231 deaths, of which 8,124 cases were within China. As of Jan 30, the WHO has officially designated this to be a global health emergency. → Transmission: The human-to-human transmission is thought to occur similarly to SARS, MERS, and a variety of pathogens, through the “respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.” The CDC says that the transmission of SARS and MERS has generally occurred between close contact, and the only case of human to human transmission of 2019-nCoV in the US was between a married couple. The estimated basic reproduction number is between 1.4 and 5, with the majority of results below 3.8, meaning that infection of the virus typically leads to between 1.4 and 3.8 new cases. They also stress that various pathogens have different levels of infectivity/contagiousness and that “while the CDC considers this a very serious public health threat… the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time.” → Symptoms: “CDC believes at this time that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS viruses.” Typical symptoms include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Upper respiratory symptoms (sneezing, runny nose or sore throat) are less frequently noted. → Treatment: Since there is no specific treatment for the virus itself, the majority of treatment is on alleviating symptoms and preventing severe infections (ie. pneumonia). Multiple studies and testing are being done to establish the efficacy of existing pneumonia treatments and anti-virals, like protease inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. Various organizations and institutions have announced work on a vaccine, but it is important to note that a vaccine is not a cure, simply a preventative measure. → Origin: It is currently suspected that (live) animal-food markets may have been the origin of this virus (as was similarly thought for SARS) but this is still hotly debated. Such markets are though to be good incubators for new pathogens and viruses. Information from the CDC, described “[the] 2019-nCoV [as] a betacoronavirus, like MERS and SARs, all of which have their origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.” Prevention: As always it is still important to be alert & sanitary. The CDC gave the following tips on the best way to prevent the spread of most viruses/diseases:
(Update: Jan 31) Please note within the US: Foreign Nationals that have visited China within the last 14 days are being prevented from entering the United States. While US residents, citizens, and family (who have visited China within the 14) are allowed in but “Measures [sic.] to detect this virus… are being implemented.” This is widely seen to be unprecedented, and is being heavily debated in Sources: → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novel_coronavirus_(2019-nCoV) → https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html → https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/ 20200130-sitrep-10-ncov.pdf → https://weather.com/health/cold-flu/news/2020-01-28-flu-more-deadly-than-coronavirus → https://www.statnews.com/2020/01/24/coronavirus-infections-no- symptoms-lancet-studies/ → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_Wuhan_coronavirus_outbreak → https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/health/what-is-coronavirus-explained/index.html → https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html → https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/ 20200204-sitrep-15-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=88fe8ad6_2 → https://www.hsacoalition.org/issue-analysis/new-2019-ncov-infections-lowers-the -mortality-rate-to-2-using-official-chinese-figures/ → https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/world/asia/coronavirus-china.html → https://roguerocket.com/2020/02/03/countries-impose-travel-restrictions-coronavirus/
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Click through these photos of fellow students & their healthy resolutions for the new year! Author: Will '20
It’s Thursday night. You have four solids this term and unfortunately left all four classes of homework for tonight. You get home and decide to immediately begin working. You’re going to start your work when you get home, and by staying focused, you’ll finish before it gets too late. You decide to quickly grab a snack and take a break. Before you know it, it’s 8 pm and you haven’t even begun your work. So, how do you avoid this situation? And, more generally, how do you efficiently—and realistically—get all your work finished in a timely manner?
Lastly, be kind to yourself. Going to bed too late becomes a vicious cycle in which work takes longer and longer. Make sure you are conscious of your mental wellness, and be aware of the fact that your health is more important than any grade in any class. Are you someone who needs a break from the stresses of being in high school? Well, here are three HIPE approved ways to get what Jenn calls: "a natural high."
1. Download the NikeRun app (it's free on the app store) and go on some mid-week runs. The app lets you listen to running inspired podcasts, enables you to track your miles and times, and helps you stay motivated by setting weekly reminders for you to run. In a matter of weeks, you'll not only have a better headspace but physically feel better as well! 2. Bake! With the holidays fast approaching, making dessert is always a great way to stay festive. There's also no better reward than fresh cookies after completing your work. If you want to be inspired, here are two websites you can check out: https://www.marthastewart.com/312772/banana-bread https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/halloween-party-cutout-cookies/ 3. Spend your afternoon outside. Even if you have a lot of work to complete before the next day, it might be beneficial for you to try working in a park or your backyard. It's important to find solutions to make you happy and fulfilled throughout the week; that way, you will not only produce better work but feel more satisfied and relaxed in the process. Author: Yotam T ‘21
If you’re anything like me, after a long day of school and sports, you’ll go home and tell yourself you don’t have the energy to do homework. You’ll turn on your laptop and play some online videogame, binge that Netflix show with a name you cannot remember, or watch your favorite Youtuber’s newest vlog. Instead, try a nap and see how it treats you. Naps are sacred and undervalued, and once you figure out your ideal amount of nap time, you will find yourself waking up with more energy, being less tired, and most importantly having the determination to finish all of your homework. Waking up from a nap is like a reset button on your day. It allows you to keep yourself in check, making sure you are getting what you need to get done within the small fragments of your day that are divided by your nap time. You will come to a point where you realize that napping is like the break between double periods that your mind needs so it can reorganize itself. So take a nap, see how it feels. It may be new and scary the first time, but it will grow on you to the extent where at 2:50, when school gets out, taking a nap will be the thing you look forward to doing most when you get home Author: Jack K, '20
For many students, including myself, Urban can often feel like a full-time job that can be hard to walk away from. Even after school ends, Urban continues to bring new challenges home with you, such as essays, projects and studying, which can make it seem impracticable to find time for yourself. However, I have learned that this does not always have to be the case. After two years of attending Urban, I finally learned that while there will be times when it is best to go home and work, mentally, working around the clock day in and day out will never be sustainable for 12 weeks. As my advisor told me, "It is impossible to sprint a marathon, which is why you must pace yourself by taking time for yourself throughout the trimester." Taking time for yourself can be many things. For some, it's running, for others, it's going to the gym, and for me, it's biking. Being able to channel your energy in another way outside of Urban is a healthy way in which you can find a balance between your school and personal life, which, for many, can be hard to implement into their lives at first try. I know my frosh and sophomore self would think something this sounds crazy, asking, "why would you want to waste time on yourself when you can finish up your work?" However, my argument now is, there will always be more work, but there won't always be more time, which is why rewarding yourself during the week is a good way for you to continue to have stamina throughout the trimester (marathon), while also taking advantage of your limited time in High School. Urban is and always will be a challenging environment that demands a lot of U, but Urban also wants U to be U, which is why letting yourself take a moment to tap into your passion is the best way to be a happy, confident, and prepared throughout your short time as a student at The Urban School. Authors: Anna K '20 Ella M '20 The return to school in the fall can be stressful so we have put together some fun fall-themed activities!
Things to do Outside:
Great Food To Make: Pumpkin Bread
Homemade Applesauce for this recipe, it’s extra fun to go out and pick your own apples (there’s a famous orchard in Apple Hill where you can pick them) , however if you can’t or don’t feel like it, store bought produce is fine too
Author: Avery S '20 These cookies are AMAZING and super easy to make. They are also gluten free and vegan! Here is the link to the original recipe that inspired these! Enjoy baking <3 Ingredients: For the wet ingredients: ½ cup (12 g) natural smooth almost butter ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons (150 mL) pure maple syrup 3 tablespoons (45 mL) virgin coconut oil, softened but not hot ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract For the dry ingredients: ½ cup (50g) gluten-free rolled oats ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons (50g) gluten-free oat flour ¼ cup (33g) arrowroot flour/starch ¼ cup (25g) almond flour ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon pink Himalayan salt (150g) 55% non-dairy dark chocolate (about 1 ½ bars) Directions:
Author: Oscar W '20 Being able to balance school and extracurricular activities is complicated, but keeping yourself healthy, especially around finals, is vital. Body health can range from staying injury free, all the way to getting enough sleep at night. It is also crucial to maintain mental health throughout the school year, from not being too stressed over difficult classes, to spending the social time with friends. Since I came to this school, keeping my body healthy has been a challenge. My freshman year, I came into Urban with absolutely zero time management, and I used to find myself staying up past midnight each night. I would be able to complete the school but would struggle to wake up the next morning and be present in my classes. Obviously, this method did not work out for me, but I still could not find a way to motivate myself to follow a better schedule. It took me until the end of freshman year to understand that working this way is not “healthy”. Being able to come to an understanding with myself that my work ethic was garbage and something needed to change was ultimately what made the difference. Similarly, with running, I would run 6 days a week, totaling over 50 miles a week. I used to wear shoes that provided no support, and as a result injured my knees. Despite this injury, I ran throughout track season with the same shoes and ignored the pain in my knees. Starting sophomore year, I refused to acknowledge that I was not at 100% health, refused to buy more supportive shoes, talk to a doctor, or go to physical therapy. Eventually, my injury got so bad my coach pulled me from the team and didn’t let me run at NCS. At the time I was disappointed in his decision but realized I needed external intervention to realize I wasn’t healthy. I have maintained decent mental health throughout my three years at urban, but I find the biggest areas of stress stem from my parents. I have always been able to balance stressful school work and social time. However, I often argue with my parents, so completing school work at home was quite difficult. I found ways to circumvent arguments by working in the library or at a friends house. However, all these solutions only allowed me to avoid the situation, instead of fixing it. During the times I was in an argument with my parents, my biggest resources were Riley Maddox (my advisor), and Kaern (counselor). I didn’t really feel like talking to my friends, but being able to talk to another adult about my situation was very helpful. Overall, physical and mental health are important to student life, and it is vital that you take care of yourself, whether it be recognizing you are injured, or simply talking to another person about stress in your life. AuthorsClara M ('18) and Margot B ('18) With prom just around the corner, hype about clothing, dates, ticket expenses, and after parties is filling the halls of The Urban School . HIPE is here to break it down for y’all... We separated stores that have the less expensive clothes to the more pricier ones as shown by the dollar signs. OUTFITS: $ Forever 21 Xenia Boutique Nordstrom Rack Rent the Runway Missguided Zara Express H&M $$ Free People Anthropologie Reformation Dolls Kill (if you're feeling freaky ;) ) Zara J. Crew Have fun dressing up! This is a unique opportunity to show off your fashion knowledge. Your gender identity does not define what you wear - feel free to ask Que Gillach or Ronan Weber about LGBTQ+ questions/concerns. DATES: It is important to remember that dates do not define you, your date, or your relationship with your date. Communication between dates is essential to avoid misunderstandings about expectations and relationships statuses. Do NOT worry about finding a date. Dates do not need to define your prom experience. In the past, Clara and Margot have gone with friends, with dates, and even with each other. Every experience has been a blast, and don’t be shy to reach out via email or in person about questions! Consent is ALWAYS necessary before every sexual act (and even during). Never assume that just because you went as a date with someone, a sexual act is expected. Make plans with friends you trust to avoid feeling unsafe or uncomfortable. TICKETS: Communicate with a date about paying for dates. DO NOT ASSUME that someone will pay for you. If you feel nervous about paying TALK TO CHARLOTTE!!!!!!!! No one wants money to be a limiting factor on your night. PRE/POST PARTIES: Breathalyzers are used at every school dance, and will be at prom. DO NOT GET LIT PRE-PROM. HIPE cannot emphasize this enough. While post-parties are a fun way to wrap up your night, many people enjoy grabbing milkshakes afterwards, watching a movie, and even going home to sleep right after prom (dancing can be exhausting). Post-prom parties are often exclusive to upperclassman so don't expect to be going out to a party as a freshman or even a sophomore. We hope those tips help you get through a happy, healthy and SAFE prom! <3 HIPE |
AuthorsAll blog posts are written by former or current Urban students Archives
February 2020
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