New teaching style coming to MSJH - Mahomet

From junior high to middle school
New teaching style coming to MSJH
By Kaylyn Stone
Academic changes are in store for Mahomet-Seymour Junior High students when
they return to classes in the fall. The MS
School Board has approved converting the
junior high to a school with more middle
school requirements and aspects.
Most don’t know the difference between a junior high and a middle school
or even think there is one. But there is. A
junior high focuses on traditional teaching
methods with teaching subject matter only,
as opposed to a middle school that aims for
the characteristics of addressing the students’ needs and skills more intentionally
and directly.
“It really revolves around the teaming and connecting between students and
teachers,” said Miss Landrus, the MSJH
principal.
The school will have two teams per
“It really revolves around the
teaming and connecting between
students and teachers.”
- Miss Landrus
grade level next year. The Orange team will
be made up of approximately 150 students,
and the Blue team will have 80. Teachers
will only educate students on their team or
group.
“There will also be one (common) prep
(planning) period for teachers to discuss issues, grade papers or converse about a child
who is having trouble or failing and who
may need additional help,” Miss Landrus
said.
Another change will be that instead of
nine weeks classes, the school year will be
divided into three 12-week class sessions.
CAP shows off green thumbs
Members of the MSJH Community Action Program (CAP)
helped plant trees in downtown Mahomet earlier this month.
The group also conducted a canned food scavenger hunt
for Mahomet Helping Hands. Pictured (from left) are: Alex
Muzinic, Daryiah Caldwell, Marissa Alford, Alesse Nichols,
Kaylie Travis, Alese Hutchison, Erin Engstrom, Sammie Anderson, Connor Muzinic and Makayla Muzinic.
Students will have some choices in their 12week classes, depending on grade level. Additionally there will be no more study halls,
and class periods will be lengthened from
38 to 40 minutes, with passing periods being cut to three minutes.
“There’s more individualized attention
and personal connections from students
to staff,” said Mrs. Iverson, an eighth grade
Language Arts teacher. “We are meeting
frequently to address the transition to make
the change go more smoothly, but there
shouldn’t be a problem.”
Most middle school programs allow
growth in skills outside the basic sixth
through eighth grade math, science, English or history. More failing students will
get the help they need and may even end
up enjoying school. More information can
be found at the Mahomet-Seymour Schools
website.
Summer bringing many
building changes to MSJH
By Anna Christensen
While many MSJH students will be lounging around and taking
vacations, Mr. Rogers and the custodial staff will be hard at work
this summer. Although there will be no new lockers and no large
scale painting going on, there will be a lot of other changes happening to the junior high over the summer months.
Mr. Rogers said, “It’s going to be a busy summer- a very busy
summer.”
For one, there will be a lot of rearranging. Next year all sixth
graders will be in one hallway, as will the seventh and eighth graders, so some students will be changing lockers. Some teachers will
also be changing classrooms to accommodate the middle school
concept next fall. Classrooms for each grade will be grouped near
the lockers for that grade.
Another change that many students will probably be excited
about is that the classrooms in the “inner core” area of the building
will receive air conditioning. In fact, the air conditioning has already
(continued on page 3)
Principal’s Corner
Hey Bulldogs!!!
I want to thank you for a great year at MSJH. You have worked hard
to be respectful, responsible and safe. As you enjoy your summer,
take time to read a great book, be outside and have fun participating
in the activities that you love to be a part of.
As we look ahead to the 2014-15 school year, I would like to wish our 8th graders well as
they move to MSHS. I know that each of you will be successful at the high school and will
thrive in the activities that you enjoy the most.
For the 6th and 7th graders—be ready to go on August 20th. You will be a part of the new
and exciting schedule with teaming!!! I know that the faculty and staff are ready and enthusiastic about the new things that we will be doing next year.
If you happen to be around during the summer, don’t hesitate to stop by the office and say,
“Hi!!!”
Have a great summer!!!
Miss Landrus
In My Opinion
Friends are the most valuable of all
Everyone knows kids change their mind all the time. They change their interests, their
style and their image to match the trend. A big part in children’s sudden change in interest has to do with their friends, and what they like to do. Kids follow each other a lot and
peer pressure has something to do with that, too. From silly bracelets to loom bands,
there are many trends. Eventually kids will move on, and it’s amazing how short these
trends last. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter,Tumblr and Instagram also play a
huge role in introducing kids to new trend setting products. However, there are those
trends that will never change, like hanging with your friends. So, next time you go buy
some new product, think of your friends first, because there’s a possibility that they could
have passed that trend and moved on to the next “big” thing.
- Olivia Iliff
Advice
from the
Dog House
Questions for Bulldog Pen Advice, should
be dropped off in the box in the library. We
reserve the right to edit all letters.
Dear Bulldog Pen Advice:
I feel that if I don’t play sports I’m not cool.
What do you think?
~Sports
Dear Sports,
Although it’s true that a lot of kids at our
school play sports, there are a lot of other
options. This does not mean that you aren’t
cool if you don’t participate in track or
volleyball etc. Also you have to remember
that there are a lot of people who do other
activities, such as drama, art club, Bulldog
Pen, chorus and band. This doesn’t make
them uncool either. It just means that they
like doing different things. Also, you are not
alone. There are a lot of other people in the
school who don’t do sports either.
~BDA
Dear Bulldog Pen Advice:
I feel that students at the junior high judge
each other. I want to help, but I don’t know
how.
~Feeling Judged
Dear Feeling Judged,
First of all, congrats on wanting to help!
You can help by not judging others, even if
you aren’t saying anything. Just by how you
treat people you can help a ton! You can
also stand up for others who feel they are
being judged. Another thing you can do is
set a good example for others by not gossiping about others. Good Luck!!
~BDA
The Bulldog Pen is published bimonthly by
Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School
201 W. State Street, Mahomet, IL 61853
Opinions expressed within are those of the writer and do
not necessarily reflect those of The Bulldog Pen staff or the
MSJH administration.
Advisors
Mrs. Bridget Broihahn & Mrs. Julie Herman
2
Sixth grader Fox catapults to top honors
By Brooke Sellers and Ethan Harsha
Jason Fox, a sixth grader, won a contest for building the best catapult at the University of Illinois Engineering Open House earlier
this spring.
Fox got interested in engineering when his brother, Ryan, entered the contest the three previous years. Later on, his mother got
him a trebuchet (catapult on wheels).
Since his brother had the experience, Ryan and his father assisted the first time contestant. But, Jason did most of the work.
It took him about two days to go through his four different ideas,
settle on an final option and build the final copy. Jason built his
catapult out of wood and rubber bands. His secret was to use pegs
instead of glue and nails.
Jason’s final product can launch an object 100-feet-11-inches.
He used a Play-Dough ball at the open house and a clay ball at the
interview. Jason placed second in distance and first overall out of
more than 50 contestants, all ranging from sixth to eighth grade.
Jason Fox shows off his winning catapult. (Photo by Ethan Harsha)
Changes coming all Orange Gym will have its floor refinished
(continued from page 1)
mer to paint their classrooms themselves.
over the district
By Izzy Farm
MSJH is not the only place changes will
be happening over the summer months.
Superintendent Rick Johnston says that
changes will be happening in the entire
district this summer.
Air conditioning will be added to
Sangamon. It has already been added to
11 classrooms in the junior high, including the library. Another change in the
junior high will be replacing both the
top and bottom bleachers in the Orange
Gym. The high school football field will
also be getting a new press box.
Incoming preschool and kindergarten students will be starting school this
fall in a brand new building. The new
school is located across the street from
the Mahomet Public Library.
In order to come up with a name
for the new school that the public would
enjoy, the school board held a contest,
inviting Mahomet residents to suggest
names. The name that won the contest
was Middletown Prairie Elementary.
“In 2010, the school board knew
that Middletown has passed its useful
life, so they bought 77 acres of land and
now call it East Campus,” Mr. Johnston
said.
When the current Middletown
school is knocked down, there will be a
memorial park constructed on the site,
in remembrance of the Middletown heritage of Mahomet.
been installed and has already been used in
many of the rooms.
Another change that may be made is
that the orange gym hallway may be painted.
Also, teachers can choose from a selection of colors to paint their rooms if they
like, but will have to come in over the sum-
The Orange Gym will be receiving new
bleachers and will have its floor refinished
and repainted.
So, even though there will be no swimming pools or bungee cords being added
to MSJH, there will definitely be a lot of
changes being made to the building this
summer.
Final days of school to
be filled with exciting
events for all students
By Paige Bundy
The last week of school should be exciting
this year with lots of activities going on.
The eighth graders get out early, after
eighth hour, on June 4 prior to their 5 p.m.
recognition ceremony that evening. They
will also have their final junior high dance
that evening from 7-8:30 p.m.
But this doesn’t mean that the sixth
and seventh graders aren’t going to have
a great last day on June 5. On the last day
there will be game rooms, outdoor games,
the watermelon eating contest, and time to
sign year books. There will be 15 minutes
for locker clean out.
“The most important thing is to have
fun, but the school rules still have to be followed (being respectful, responsible, and
safe),” Miss Landrus, MSJH principal, said.
Teachers will end the school year with
an institute day on Friday, June 6
Mr. Lanter gets a haircut from eighth
grader Kaylee Becker. Becker won the
honor by donating the most money to
the St. Baldrick's Foundation which
coincided with Winter Spirit Week.
The money raised benefited childhood
cancer research. (Photo by Olivia Iliff)
3
Veteran staff members heading off to retirement
Mrs. Jackson
Mrs. Jackson has been a special education
teacher for the sixth graders at MSJH for 12
years. She has taught fourth through eighth
grades in three other districts for an overall
total of 30 years in education.
In her retirement she plans to sleep in
when she can and stay up late. Mrs. Jackson
also hopes to indulge her quilting hobby.
“I am opening a quilting studio in the
mountains of North Carolina,” she said. Mrs. Jackson plans to spend a lot more
time with her nine grandchildren and rock
babies at the hospital nursery. She stated it
feels fabulous to be retiring
Mrs. Jackson’s three fondest memories
involve when kids did what most people
thought was impossible for them to do.
“They accomplished it,” she said.
- Kameron Hacker
Mr. Risley
Four years ago Mr. Risley made a life changing decision, announcing he would retire
effective at the end of the 2013-2014 school
year.
Risley started teaching during the 19801981 school year and has spent his entire
career at Mahomet-Seymour after student
teaching at MSHS his senior year of college.
He has done many things over the years. He
has taught history and coached many sports
at both the junior high and high school.
According to Risley, there are a lot of
memories. “This year, going down memory
lane, has been both sad and sweet,” he said.
“It’s helped me truly appreciate all that I
have had.”
Mr. Risley plans to spend time with his
Mrs. Jackson would like to open a quilting
studio in her retirement. (Photo by Allison
Kalmer)
family: his wife Angie, a hairdresser who
he calls his Barbie Doll; his son Grant, a
teacher in the Saint Joseph school district;
his son’s wife, Jackie, who teaches Spanish
at Mahomet-Seymour High School; their
son, Levi, who is eight months old; and his
other son, Garrett, an Illinois State University student who is majoring in teaching
special education.
However, Mr. Risley said he will miss
his junior high family. “I’ve come to rely on
them,” he said. “They’ve done great.”
He wants students to choose to be happy, no matter what they face in life. “Number one, everyday make it your personal
goal to help someone in need,” he said.
Mr. Risley added that time goes faster
than kids realize. “Even though it seems
like you’ll be in school for a long time, make
the most of it,” he said.
- Faziah Rauther
Mrs. Zientek agreed, “She loves happy
things,” she said. “She loves sunflowers.
She cares about our world; our environment. Remember she was the head of the
Green Committee here in the building.”
Mrs. Zientek said they would often
compared what she called, “bird notes.”
“We would talk about when the first
hummingbirds would arrive and other
birds we liked to watch,” she said.
In her retirement, Mrs. Martin is planning to spend a lot of time with her grandchildren.
“I know she cannot wait to be with her
grandkids,” Mrs. Jackson, a fellow retiree
said, adding that she will also keep busy
with her many activities and husband’s
thriving business.
Mrs. Jackson also said that Mrs. Martin is lucky person. “She won our big grand
prize quilt over the holidays,” Mrs. Jackson
said of the creation that the United Methodist Women’s group that she belongs to
made for a fund raiser. “She’s an avid gardener. She has given out plants to many of
us over the years.”
Over in one of the sixth grade history
rooms, Mr. Risley shared that Mrs. Martin
has given out much more in her 22 total
teaching years - 15 here at MSJH - than can
ever be measured.
“Mrs. Martin has faithfully been here at
MSJH for many years and has been a tireless advocate for children,” he said. “Many
students have benefitted from her teachings. She will be greatly missed and never,
ever replaced. We can only hope that Mrs.
Martin will remember us fondly, as we will,
most certainly remember her.”
- Bulldog Pen Staff
Mrs. Martin
Mr. Risley has spent his entire career teaching and coaching in the Mahomet-Seymour
School District. (Photo by Dani Meesey
4
There she is standing in the hallway, every
day when the students arrive at MahometSeymour Junior High School. Mrs. Martin always has a smile and a kind word to
all the students who pass her in the hallway. This year, however, she will retire from
MSJH, leaving only the memories of her
smiles and her yellow smiley faces, that are
all over the walls, doors, tables and desks in
room 129, where she and Mrs. Scott teach
together.
“Mrs. Martin has been a wonderful asset to our special education program. We
will miss the smiley faces in her room and
her actual smiling face in the junior high,”
Ms. Landrus, MSJH principal said.
An environmentalist, Mrs. Martin will have
more time to enjoy her gardening in her retirement. (Photo by Allison Kalmer)
Boys track teams sending 12 individuals to state
(continued from page 6)
Coach Bails said. “We saw several PRs from both the seventh
and eighth graders.”
Davy Pogue said, “Track
is both enjoyable and fun. I
also really like and respect the
coaches very much.”
The eighth grade boys had
three sectional champion/in-
dividual state qualifiers: Riley
Fortune in the 1600 (5:06.37),
Callen Whitehouse in the pole
vault (10’9”) and Brooks Coetzee in the shot put (45’, 11.25”)
and the discus (162’, 7”). Coetzee also finished third in the
110 hurdles (16.64) to qualify
for state in that event.
“We are very proud of all
of our athletes and excited that
so many of them had some of
their best performances on this
day,” Coach Bails said. “We are
sending several boys to the state
meet this weekend and can’t
wait to see how they perform.
To qualify for state, an individual or relay had to finish first or
make the qualifying standard.”
Louis hoping to repeat as 800 champion
Maddie Louis did something no
other MSJH girl had ever done
when she won the 800 state
title as a sixth grader. (Photo by
Olivia Illif)
utes, 28.9 seconds.
“I like long distance and
sprinting, and the 800 is a combination of both,” Louis said.
Louis not only runs the
800, she also runs the 4 X 200,
and the 4 X 400 meter relays.
Some may wonder why she
chose track.
“It’s fun because you get to
compete against your PR (personal record),” she said.
There are others who support Louis, such as her coach,
Mrs. Jessup, and two of her
friends, Rachel and Abby Kyle,
both who are also on the seventh grade girls track team.
“We’re very happy to have
her back again. She’s looking
strong so far, and she is a great
leader for our seventh- grade
team,” Mrs. Jessup explained.
Rachel Kyle said, “She’s the
best person that can run the
800.”
Major League
Baseball Teams
Braves
Cubs
Orioles
Sox
Brewers
Phillies
Rockies
Tigers
Yankees
Cardinals
Mets
Pirates
Royals
Twins
Daunte Roberts
Sawyer Daebelliehn
Bryson Keeble
Mathias Powell
Kiel Ledin
Adam VonHolten
Kaelan Davis
Cory Haberman
Cole Barnhart
Brooks Coetzee
Riley Fortune
Callan Whitehouse
Bulldog
Briefs
• Sixth grade teacher’s aide
Mrs. Broihahn published her
first book this winter. Mrs.
Broihahn teamed up with former Little League coach Chuck
Schwartz to write It’s Your
Team: A 27-year story of Little
League coaching. The book can
be purchased at local book
stores and on Amazon.
• The following girls were
selected as cheerleaders for
the 2014-2015 school year:
Alissa Lane, Annie Taber, Breanna Bushman, Callan Lener,
Carly Raver, Claire Burns,
Destiny Pryor, Grace Davis,
Grace Hyde, Jenny Rebollo,
Kelsie Mitchem, Mallory Crawford, Maya McGrath, Miranda
Shobe, Paige Cramer, Parker
Denby, Payton Quinley, Payton Turk, Sera Lane and Taylor
Huls.
• The 2014-15 school year
will begin Wednesday, Aug. 20,
with a full day of school for all
students. Teachers will have institute days on Aug. 18 and 19.
By Cassidy Brock
By Savannah Bennett
State champion Maddie Louis
is back for her second season of
track.
As a sixth grader last
spring in 2013, Louis went to
state in the 800 meters in Peoria
and came back to MahometSeymour Junior High with a
first place gold medal. She is the
first female MSJH track athlete
to win an individual state title
as a sixth grader.
“My favorite running event
would be the 800 meters,” Louis
says.
The 800 meter is two complete runs around the track. It is
considered to be a very difficult
race, requiring great power and
stamina. Her best time as of
press time for the 800 is 2 min-
Boys State Qualifiers
• If you did not purchase a
2013-14 yearbook, the MSJH
office will have 25 extra copies
to sell on a first-come, firstserve basis, beginning Wednesday, May 28. The price is $15.
5
Sports
Bulldog track teams headed to state finals
By Savannah Bennett and
Payton Ade
The finish line is in sight for
the MSJH boys and girls track
team who head to the Illinois
Elementary School Association
state track and field championships this weekend in East Peoria after qualifying several individuals at last week’s sectional
meet.
Girls
The seventh grade girls track
team won their sectional team
trophy last weekend and will
send five individuals and three
relay teams to the state finals. “We went to Unity Saturday to participate in the IESA
Class AA Sectional,” Coach
Jessup said. “There were 14
schools in attendance. We had
a wild weather day. There was
hail during the girls 400m run.
Many of our girls had their personal best performances.”
Four Bulldogs won individual sectional titles, led by
returning state 800m champion Maddie Lewis, who ran a
2:33.4. Other sectional champions were Rachel Kyle in the
hurdles (17.76), Emily Bohn in
the high jump (4’7”) and Abby
Kyle in the pole vault. Kyle set a
school record of 9-feet in taking
the pole vault title.
Teammate Anna Nielsen
also qualified for state in the
pole vault with a jump of 8’1”,
which was good for second
place. Julia McNaught placed
third in the discus with a toss of
77’4” to qualify.
The qualifying relay teams
included the 4X100 (Rachel
Kyle, Claire Burns, Anslie Waldrep and Lakeida Nichols) who
finished second with a time of
55.91. Earlier this season the
Girls State Qualifiers
Madison Louis
Abby Kyle
Rachel Kyle
Claire Burns
Anslie Waldrep
Lakeida Nichols
Aris Hogan
Zoe Doehring
Anna Nielsen
Grace Mies
Emily Bohn
Julie McNaught
Mariah Wozencraft
Jenna Straub
Sydney LaCour
Lexie Dorsey
Madi Scott
Kameryn Brotherton
The seventh grade girls 4X100 relay team of Anslie Waldrep, Claire
Burns, Rachel Kyle and Lakeida Nichols broke a 12-year-old school
record in the event this season. (Photo submitted)
relay team broke a 12-year-old
school record in the event when
they ran 55.02.
The other state qualifying
relays also finished second at
the sectional: Aris Hogan, Zoe
Doering, Nielsen and Louis
ran the 4X200 in 1:57.26, and
Grace Mies, Abby Kyle, Nielsen
and Louis ran a 4:33.39 in the
4X400.
The eighth grade girls took
second as a team in the sectional and have three individuals and a relay team headed to
state.
The Bulldogs state qualifiers include sectional champion Mariah Wozencraft who
jumped 4’3” in the high jump.
Other qualifiers are Kameryn
Brotherton in the discus (80’8”)
and the 4X400 relay team of
Wozencraft, Jenna Straub, Sydney LaCour and Lexie Dorsey
(4:37.47).
Boys
Evan Burge and state qualifier Callan Whitehouse warm up for track
practice. (Photo by Cassidy Brock)
6
Both the seventh and eighth
grade boys track teams emerged
from the sectional track meet as
team champions. Between the
two teams, the Bulldogs won
seven events and will send nine
individuals and two relays to
the state finals.
Included among the individual state qualifiers are seventh grade sectional champions
Bryson Keeble and Adam VonHolten. Keeble won the 1600
(5:05.72) and also qualified in
the 800 with a second-place finish (2:24.84). VonHolten was
the 400 champion with a time of
57.65. The 4X400 relay team of
Kaelan Davis, Kiel Ledin, Cory
Haberman and VonHolten also
finished first and qualified for
state with a time of 4:05.67.
Other seventh grade individual state qualifiers are Mathias Powell, second in the 1600
(5:05.86) and third in the 800
(2:24.87), Davis third in the 400
(59.22) and second in the high
jump, (4’10”) and Cole Barnhart who took third in the shot
put (32’6.25”). The third-place
4X200 relay team of Daunte
Roberts, Sawyer Daebelliehn,
Ledin and VonHolten also ran
a state qualifying time (4:05.67).
“The boys showed great
improvement over the season,”
(continued on page 5)