Final-ly over!

        “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work learning from failure,” said General Colin Powell. A final exam is a test given to students at the end of semester to see what they have learned. In order to prepare for this, students have to review all of the content they have learned. These tests are a way for teachers to know if they have prepared students well. At Escuela Bella Vista, students began their finals on December 3-10. “This caused a lot of stress for many students since they are big exams that require a lot of preparation”, said an eighth grade student, Daniela Haack. There were many students absent during these days so they finished their exams on January. Luckily, for students, the exams are over! This means: New Year, New Slate, Goodbye Finals!

Lights…Camera…Action!

        “Movies will make you famous; television will make you rich; but theater will make you good”, said Terrence Mann. The theater is a way to express all of your feelings through different actions and roles. Many people all over the world like to show their emotions by acting them. Being part of the theater, is something to be proud of. It takes a lot of courage to go to a stage and perform for a public. At Escuela Bella Vista, there are many talented people, including people who like to perform in front of a large crowd.

        Ms. Riddle and Mr. Thompson are organizing the Spring Play. According to an email sent by Ms. Riddle, “The Spring Play will begin taking shape early in the New Year. With so much talent at EBV we are putting out the call.... We are looking for all Actors and Actresses to get ready for Auditions!” Auditions will be held on January 12 and January 14 from 3:10-4:30 PM in Mr. Thompson’s Classroom (Room #19). So, what are you waiting for drama queens and kings of EBV: this is your moment to shine!

Eye of the Tiger

“It’s not about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward”

This breathtaking sports drama is truly something. Many might think this is just another Rocky film, but believe when I say Creed stands for itself. The plot rotates along the series of events that take place in a young protagonist Adonis Johnson’s life. Not only was he unaware of his legacy but of the fighter that was truly within him. He was always attracted to boxing, the ring was his second home. He did everything by himself, but with some coaching from Rocky Balboa, he finally got his shot at the title. Not only does the movie’s plot grasp your attention but the camera work makes you feel like you were there every punch of the way. Does young Adonis really have the heart of a champion, or is he just another Tommy “The Machine” Gun?

With a tremendous cast including the award winning Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson, Creed is truly made into a remarkable film. Creed: Approved.

Way More Than Sci-Fi

Pretty much everyone in the world knows about George Lucas but I believe the G in George is for Genius!

A few years ago in a studio close, close from home, a couple of production companies introduced to our world the Star Wars franchise. 1977 was a great year for Sci-Fi all around the world for it started a revolution; the Star Wars revolution. It has been over 40 years now and the saga continues to be a household name. From toys to collectors items; Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca and more have captivated the minds of people of all ages. In 2011, the franchise was worth a whopping $29,800,000,000 including merchandise, movies and more. Nobody really knows how an idea can be worth so much, but current multi-billionaire George Lucas most definitely did something special for he left a mark in mankind that will last forever. Take care, and may the force be with you.

According to http://www.statisticbrain.com, in 2011 eleven these were the statistics:

Movies	Revenue
Star Wars : Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace	$924,317,558
Star Wars : Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones	$649,398,328
Star Wars : Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith	$848,754,768
Star Wars : Episode 4 – A New Hope	$775,398,007
Star Wars : Episode 5 – Empire Strikes Back	$538,375,067
Star Wars : Episode 6 – Return of the Jedi	$475,106,177
Star Wars : Episode 7 – The Force Awakens	$1,576,608,684
Star Wars : The Clone Wars	$68,282,844
Total Box Office Revenue	$5,849,000,000
VHS / DVD / Digital Sales
Digital Sales	$943,000,000
DVD Sales	$2,900,000,000
DVD Rentals	$875,000,000
VHS Sales	$873,000,0000
Toys	Units Sold
Kenner (1978-1985) 90 Figures / 300 Million Sold	3,850,000,000
Hasbro (1995-2011) 15 Collections	5,537,000,000
Other Collectables	2,720,000,000
Books
358 Published Titles / 76 Different Authors	$1,820,000,000
Video Games
138 Games Released	$3,400.000,000
Other Revenue Sources
Licensing	$825,000,000
Television / 4 Seasons of Clone Wars	$4,500,000
Merchandise	$975,000,000

Related Star Wars Statistics	Data
George Lucas' Net Worth	$3.6 Billion
Random House sales from the first book release of Star Wars	$200 Million
Revenue last year from games and toys	$1.5 Billion
Amount Disney paid to acquire Star Wars from George Lucas	$4 Billion

(Boiling) Winter Break

On Winter Break, some students went on vacation and some students stayed. None of the students went someplace where it actually looked like winter as they all went to hot places or stayed here in Maracaibo. Some students had tons of fun and others spent the days counting to see their friends. 8th graders were asked to tell where they went on vacation and how much fun they had. These were the results:

Destination	Percentage of students
Maracaibo	36%
Miami	34%
Aruba	12%
Orlando	5%
Outside of Maracaibo in Venezuela	10%
Other	3%

When the students of the 8th grade were asked how much fun they had, the ones who traveled outside of Venezuela were the ones who said had more fun. Estefania Perez visited Miami and she said: “I had so much fun because I went out with my family and did many cool things!” Meanwhile, Daniela Haack who stayed here in Maracaibo said: “I spent it with my family but it was nothing special.” We hope everyone had a great vacation no matter what!

“Pass, shoot, kick, defend!”

“Pass, shoot, kick, defend!” As 2016 arrives, middle school starts to get ready for the Girls Soccer Vanas and the Boys Basketball Vanas. The Vanas for middle school is here in Maracaibo and the Oilers are getting ready to win. The soccer practices started on January 6 and the basketball practices started on January 11. The girls soccer team is coached by Mrs. Brougham and Ms. Ingram and the boys basketball team is coached by Oswaldo Torregroza and Edgar Montaño. Ms. Metz sent an email with the schedules and stating that if you can’t commit to practices, don’t take the spot of someone who can commit and wants to commit to the practices. Good luck to the middle schoolers and we hope you win! Go Oilers!

EBVista News presents: Mr.Thompson, a life behind the scenes.

If you go to Escuela Bella Vista, you’ve definitely seen/heard about the school play. However, you probably have no idea what it’s about or who director really is. Mr.Thompson and Ms.Riddle are both in charge of running the Spring Play. In this article, we are going to share with you some things you probably didn’t know about Mr.Thompson. He found out his love for drama when he was just in the seventh grade, his friend was auditioning for a play and asked him to come along. The idea of school plays made him picture a very dull, and boring visual. Well, I guess we could say that his perspective changed pretty quickly after that experience. Mr.Thompson has taken a deep interest for the art of acting ever since. He also revealed that he has taught drama before in other schools, in different parts of the world. Isn't that awesome or what? In this interview, Mr.Thompson mentioned that “Acting is a super important skill since it helps understand your other emotions and other people’s emotions.” Acting truly is a valuable skill that can be taught in a fun way, and it helps you gain a different level of confidence that will make you a much happier person. If you think you have what it takes to act and have fun, then bring that enthusiasm to the stage! Lights, Camera, Action!

Spoons in The Cafeteria?

Have you ever had a spoonful of chicken? Doesn’t make sense does it? The cafeteria doesn’t provide forks and knives to students who bring packed lunches from home and are in need of one. We asked a few students what they think of this situation and they told us how they were very upset. “I think this is a very stressful situation for students whose parents are constantly forgetting to pack them their utensils” stated a fellow seventh grader Juan Perez. The only utensil they are available to provide is spoons. However, since spoons aren’t used a lot in eating main dishes it is very weird. Normally, spoons are used for desserts or soup. So, students, teachers, and staff remember to bring your utensils from home!

Sloth-WiFi, AGAIN!

FINALLY!!! WE HAVE WIFI!!! But a reaalllly slow WiFi, like sloth kind of slow. So slow that the Google search you made for LOL in 6th grade is barely loading while you are in PROM. How slow is that???!!! Students are thirsty for internet and hungry for 2 min feed, but the WiFi DOES NOT WORK! The slow WiFi the school provides is slowly killing kids inside them. NO ONE WANTS a SLOTH as WiFi! Eventually the student power force will awaken and rebel against the WiFi or the sloth Darth Vader. Do not be surprised. No, no. If Sloth-WiFi does not transform into Flash soon, the powerful student jedi will unite and will win the battle. Just remember EBVista News told you…

Another Galaxy, Another War: Star Wars; The Force Awakens

After thirty years, same actors such as Harrison Ford (Han Solo), and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) come back to the awaited episode seven of Star Wars. After defeating Darth Vader there is another one that follows him: an evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Trying to defeat him, Finn (John Boyega) will encounter himself with Rey (Daisy Ridley) and his droid BB-8, already a trio. Chewbacca and Han Solo will join them inside the lost Millennium ship. Fighting the dark side and avoiding the destroyal of the whole galaxy seems easy don’t you think? Well, they certainly do not believe that. During the movie they are not only trying to achieve a second defeat, but they are fighting for the map that will guide them to the master of the jedi, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the son of the dead Darth Vader. While watching this movie you will feel the force every minute. May the force be with you! Like if you were the last yedi!!!! Maybe you are a jedi! Imagine yourself as the next Luke Skywalker but as cool as Chewbacca, that would be like a ball of awesomeness, just as the new movie! Throughout the film, you get to feel every kind of emotion, especially, if you are a galactic fan.

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The House Just Got Fuller

Full House is back coming back! Only now it’s Fuller House?

   Get prepared for the new Full House sequel Fuller House coming 2016! According to John Stamos who plays Jesse Katsopolis on the show. Netflix is going to release a 13-episode sequel of the 1987 show Full House. According to Eonline Fuller House is a new multi-camera comedy from Warner Horizon Television, Miller-Boyett Productions and Jeff Franklin Productions. John Stamos actually admitted on the Jimmy Kimmel show that the cast had been working on this project for many years. The only let down we have from this show is that not all the original cast will be participating in this revival. That’s right! Sadly, the Olsen twins are not going to be participating in this revival.  To learn more about the new show watch the promo, which is already on Youtube and it reveals that show comes out on February 26^th.

Internet Re-Updater

Are you using Internet explorer? If so you better be prepared for some changes...

            Microsoft is no longer supporting internet explorer 8, 9, and 10. It will still be usable, but it has potential risks. There will no longer be security updates, making your computer vulnerable to viruses. If you do want to use internet explorer, without the threat that your computer is vulnerable to viruses, you have to update to internet explorer 11. So be sure to update if you want your computer safe.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Break

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip was  a complete waste of time, it had extremely low standards which it did not achieve. The movie did have its pros: the song were up to date with the A Hot Topic, and the chipmunk cuteness level is still over nine thousands. But there are way too many mistakes. The story was too predictable to the point that you knew how it was obviously going to end. There is one plot twist which we won't tell in this spoiler free review. The acting by some members was OK like Jason Lee and Laura Marano but other members of the cast were awful. Some scenes where stupid thanks to the acrobatic skills the chipmunk are displaying... it's ridiculous. The greatest fall for the movie was its main character: it's different but it's the same: a maniac that wants to put the chipmunk in a cage so why do they even bother. How about instead of giving us the same stupid thing over and over again gives us something new that isn't a hairless maniac with no life. I've had enough, the only thing I can give to this movie out of pity is a 5 out of 10: it's below average. you can go watch it but there are better things than this movie out there.

The Man Of Gold

The Oscars, a joy to watch with anyone either family, friend, neighbors, stranger. I bet even your dog would like to watch this.The nominees for the 88th Academy Awards were announced on January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. and among them there were some of the best actors and actresses of the year who clearly deserve a golden man in a base.  Among those are Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Winslet. But kids don't care about the actors they just care of the effects. This year's movies are just exiting having some of the best movies like Mad Max, The Big Short, Martian and Star Wars the Force Awakens. All the movies coming out plus Neil Patrick Harris announcing that he would not host the Oscars for a second time: this seems to be a Ceremony to remember.

Unknown History

“Spiderwick” is amazing movie made in 2008 but is still remembered and admired by all its viewers and it keeps attracting more to watch it. This movie has a mysterious and fictitious story that includes a mother, two twin brothers (Jared and Simon Grace), along with their sister Mallory. They find themselves pulled in a big chain of problems like strange disappearances and accidents that happen frequently because of opening a simple book the was hidden from the whole world found in their new house that has an unknown history and keeps wonderful but powerful secrets that open a whole new fabulous side of the world. However they all have to face terrifying creatures to survive because knowing all its secrets came with humongous consequences. Spiderwick is an awesome movie made for all ages and all types of people; so because of every aspect of the movie, I would give it a 4.7 out of 5 stars because I totally recommend it.

Innocence or Information

A debate bursted about the revision of Sex Ed in Omaha Public Schools

   Omaha Public schools have made an attempt to change they way they teach sex education for the first time in thirty years but the debate turned out to be deeper than they expected. In these schools students learn about issues such as sexual orientation, gender identity and contraception. The two biggest opinions that divided this debate were the facts that teenagers should have all the facts so they can make a wise decision when it comes to intercourse. Other people such as a catholic grandmother Kathryn Russel said “But the curriculum you have, the standards you have, gives too much information”. She then argued that too much information rapped children of their innocence. This debate recurred for about 3 hours back on forth where students, parents and teachers gave their opinion about the subject. So what do you think should Sex Education be regulated or should children have the right to all the information they need?