H. B. Thompson Herald

H. B. Thompson Herald
A publication of Harry B. Thompson Middle School
Volume , 4 No. 1
2013-2014 Fall/Winter
Spirit Week
1
HBT’s Annual Spirit Week
Clash of Classes
1
by Diya Jolie Mohan
Ryan’s Story
2
HBT’s Talent Show
3
There were many varied activities in Spirit Week. The games ranged from sports to History Jeopardy. There
was an activity for every interest. All of the students had a chance to be competitive, have fun, and work together showing their spirit.
Comic Book Artist
3
Geography Bee
3
8th Grade Trip to D.C.
4
Yoga
5
Effects of Stress
5
Spotlight: Mrs. Faust
5
Cross Country
6
One last activity was the Scavenger Hunt. The hunt was school-themed with questions like “What was Harry
Thompson’s middle name?” Participants were able to learn about H.B.T.
The Whistle
6
These are just a few activities of Spirit Week. Everyone enjoyed themselves participating in the exciting and
artistic events with their friends and look forward to next year’s Spirit Week.
Jokes
7
Book Review
7
Poem: “Like a Star”
7
HBT Pictures
8
A favorite activity was the Balloon Pop. It took place at the opening ceremony. People who did the Balloon
Pop probably wanted to have fun and do something unusual. Running to the balloon was said to be the best
part of the event. Everyone was cheering and excitement was racing through the participant’s body. There was
a huge feeling of relief when the balloon was popped. However, when the participant was running towards the
target, trying to go as fast as possible, there was a lot of excitement.
The Spirit Week activity Display Case was an interesting event. In this event, the students in the group were
artistic and creative. Participants had to make everything from scratch. The best part was on the last day when
all of the steps were finished and everyone was wondering how the whole thing started out as a big, empty
black box. Everybody saw the transformation from the very first day.
Another event was called “Crazy Hat.” People thought that the best thing about this activity was that you
could put almost anything on the hat as long as it was stable, and it could actually be worn. In this activity,
people had the chance to be artistic, creative, funny, and think outside of the box.
Clash of the Classes:
Students v.s. Teachers;
THE PRESSURE’S ON!
by Sophie Breslow
This year, we introduced a fun and exciting new event at HBT called the Clash of the
Classes. Clash of the Classes is a competition in which 6th, 7th, and 8th graders compete against the faculty. This event took place on Thursday, December 5, 2013.
Some events the students and faculty participated in included the sneaker hunt, the
hula tangle, the football scooter relay, and much more. Participants in the sneaker
hunt had to take off their shoes and put them on at the other end of the gym. Once
shoes were off, each team had to then run across the room, put their sneakers back on,
and run back to tag the next person in line. Competitors in the hula tangle formed a
circle and passed their bodies through a hula hoop so that the hoop would go around
the circle three times. In the football scooter relay, participants suited up in football
gear and rolled on a scooter backwards to the opposite end of the gym and back.
Everyone who competed and spectated had a sensational time, especially the victorious sixth graders. Sixth graders edged out the competition because of the spirit points
they earned. As a reward, sixth graders enjoyed a night without homework.
Ryan’s Story Assembly
by HBT Staff
As students at HBT we have been taught in many of our classes the harms of bullying in and out of school, but bullying and how it can affect someone became very real in a heart wrenching assembly the sixth and seventh graders participated in on December 19, 2013. The presentation was given
by John Halligan who spoke about his son, Ryan, who committed suicide on October 7, 2003 after years of being bullied at school and finally on
AOL instant messenger.
Mr. Halligan introduced the audience to his son by sharing some of Ryan’s history. He spoke about how Ryan was a loving child with a terrific sense
of humor. But Ryan had difficulties with speech and motor skills and received special education services up until fourth grade. Once he reached
middle school, Ryan realized he was not as strong academically as other students and this really bothered him. Being a loving father, Mr. Halligan
tried to explain to Ryan that there are other types of intelligences and Ryan would one day find something he was good at.
Mr. Halligan told his story with such emotion which ranged from love for his son to anger to the grief he felt because of the loss of his son. He did
explain that Ryan was dealing with depression that went undiagnosed; and that due to all the bullying, it built up to a point where Ryan couldn’t
handle it anymore. He wishes he had gone to the principal the first time so that maybe this would not have happened. Because of this tragedy, Mr.
Halligan has spent his time spreading the word about how bullying can affect a child. He worked to spear head a law in Vermont that holds schools
more accountable when bullying happens. He also has worked closely with I-Safe America to raise awareness about cyber bullying and the severe emotional impact it can have on a young person. He has dedicated his life to spreading his story to as many schools as he can. When asked if
he would ever do his presentation at Ryan’s middle school, he told the audience no because there were still family members of the bully and other
involved students there, and it wouldn’t be comfortable. He did say that maybe that would be the very last school he would ever visit when he was
finished spreading his message.
Every person who watched the assembly was affected by this story. Both sadness and gratitude could be felt throughout the audience. In addition
everyone felt sadness for what happened to Ryan, and gratitude to Mr. Halligan for sharing this difficult and tragic story with HBT. At the end of the
presentation, the students went back to their classes, and the teachers spent time discussing with the students what they saw and heard and how bullying has affected them. One of the topics discussed in classes was how to be proactive and not a bystander when witnessing one student bullying
another. Guidance counselors also made themselves available to any student who needed to talk.
Even after the presentation, it is still sad to see that there is still bullying going on, the one thing we all need to remember especially with cyberbullying is that this was a true story about a child and that there was a face and heart on the other side of the screen.
Join HBT Herald
We are always looking
for new members!
H.B.Thompson Herald
Newspaper Staff
Diya Jolie Mohan
Sophie Breslow
Sydney Markowitz
Gianna Magrino
Billie Green
Rebecca Weisberger
Ben Borrok
Seth Marcus
Josh Richards
Tommy Pinto
Bradley Abelman
Join us in Room 218
after school on
Thursdays.
See Ms. Lowe or
Mrs.Aquila
for additonal
information
Advisors
Jennifer Lowe
Joanne Aquila
H. B. Thompson Middle School
98 Ann Drive
Syosset, N.Y. 11791
516-364-5760
James Kassebaum, Principal
Kevin Bonanno, Assistant Principal
Alan Chipetine, Assistant Principal
Christian Harrigan, Administrative Asst.
Dr. Ronald L. Friedman, Interim Superintendent
2
HBT’s Got Talent!
by Sydney Markowitz
The HBT Talent Show that occurs every December takes a great deal of
work and effort. Anyone can try out. All you have to do is come with
one of your unique and special talents. After all the auditions only a small
selection of students are chosen to take part in the show. The participants
have to rehearse for days to be well prepared for the performance. The talent show this year took place on Friday, the 20th of December.
An Inside Scoop on
The assembly was a nice treat for the students before the winter break. The
audience was very enthusiastic and loved seeing the wide variety of talents that were showcased. There were many different acts, such as singing,
playing the piano, dancing and so much more. The talent show lasted about
2 periods.
Comic Book Artist
One act that the crowd found interesting and cool was the glow dancing
act. The four student performers taped glow sticks to dark colored clothes
so when the lights were off, it appeared as though they were actually glowing stick figures. They performed a dance routine to various songs including “Gangnam Style” and the “Harlem Shake.” At the end of the dance, the
audience erupted in cheers for this performance. It truly was a very creative
idea.
by Gianna Magrino
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be in the fall drama? Well,
you’re about to find out. Here’s an inside scoop of the fall drama production.
Many things need to be done to ensure that the drama runs smoothly. A
stage manager is needed to oversee the props/lighting, understudies, all
microphones, speakers, and people to change the scenery during blackouts in-between scenes. Actors have to act quickly and change costumes
without a bathroom, and it’s vital for actors to know their lines by heart.
The audience was very impressed with the talent that was demonstrated this
year. All at HBT should be very thankful to Mr. Eckers and Mrs. Dolly and
everyone who contributed and worked hard to put on this production.
This year’s fall drama was the Comic Book Artist. The play is about a
man named Stanley (Jared Pheffer), who wants to be a comic book artist. He finds a magical pen that makes the superheroes he draws come to
life. All of a sudden, he finds himself in a battle with the evil Dr. Shock
Clock (Sydney Fells) and her Minutos (Barri Levitt, Sydney Morales,
and Alexa Horvath). During the performance, the stage crew is running
around working props, lights and making sure the play goes off without
a hitch. It’s a big job, and takes a lot of long rehearsals. Not all the actors
are in every scene so the other actors may cover other people’s lines.
All in all, it’s challenging but exciting at the same time. Imagine what
the musical, The Wizard of Oz will be like!
The Geography Bee
by Seth Marcus and Billie Green
Although the Geography Bee has ended, there was a lot of work that went into it. Starting in October, teachers begin encouraging the students to attend lunchtime workshops to gain a better understanding of what the Geography Bee will entail. Students are introduced to questions from previous
years and during Friday lunch periods the students quiz each other on the topics. Once the real deal happens the competitions takes three days. The
first two days are the preliminary rounds which lead to the qualification to the finals. Competitors need to get six out of seven questions correct or a
perfect score to make it to the finals. The first questions are easy, then as the rounds go on the questions are progressively harder.
The final rounds consist of three parts. After the first round, people who got seven out of seven right have qualified to get into the semi-finals. Those
students who have scored six out of seven continue to compete until the number of semi-finalists is reached.
In the second round, students answer questions orally and if the participant gets two answers wrong then they are out of the Geography Bee. The
round lasts until two contestants remain. For the final round, two competitors vie for the chance to go to the state competition. Here, three answers
are written on a piece of paper. If there happens to be a tie, one final tie breaker is asked to determine the winner. Categories in the bee this year
included: U.S. Geography, U.S. Historic Places, Continents, World Geography, Odd Item Out, and Cultural Geography. The winner of the school
Geography Bee must then prepare to pass a multiple choice test to advance to the state finals in April.
If you think you have what it takes to be in the geography bee try your luck at answering these questions:
A. Which state has a longer coastline, Maine or Rhode Island?
B. The Rogue River runs through Grants Path as it flows from the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean in which state Oregon or Idaho?
C. The capital city of Maseru is the trade and transportation center of which country, Lesotho or Libya?
D. Polish, Russian and Czech are all examples of which Indo-European language group?
(Answers found on page 7.)
3
The Eighth Grade Trip to Washington D.C.
by Rebecca Weisberger and Ben Borrok
This November the eighth grade embarked on a three day trip to Washington D.C. This was a special trip for the school because it marked the
first time the eighth grade was going to Washington in the fall instead of the spring. The eighth graders arrived at school on November 13th early
in the morning. They were all given red sweatshirts to make them stand out in Washington. The students checked in with their teams and eagerly piled onto the buses to head down to the capitol.
When the eighth graders reached D.C., jaws dropped as they passed the monuments and historical places we all have heard of as young kids.
The groups were fortunate enough to have great tour guides who explained the sights as the buses drove by. A few major monuments and historical places stood out. Upon arriving at the White House, everyone wanted to get close and take a picture in front of the President’s residence.
Though, tourists cannot get too close, so the Secret Service can do a better job of protecting the president. The next major stop was the U.S.
Capitol, which houses Congress. Thanks to the tour guide, the students found out that Congress was in currently in session when they pulled up.
A group picture was taken in front of the building and everyone could see the bright red sweatshirts for miles!
The eighth grade then made a stop at a very important burial ground, Arlington Cemetery. They all paid respects to the fallen soldiers who
protected our freedom. John F. Kennedy was also buried there alongside his brothers. At the cemetery the changing of the guard was witnessed.
The changing of the guard is a ceremony where the soldiers guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier switch shifts. It was amazing to see
how precise the entire ceremony is performed.
Out of all the monuments that were visited, the one the eighth graders favored was the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is an iconic statue of
Lincoln inside a building with pillars welcoming in guests. Inside the building is also the written form of the Gettysburg Address. If you visit,
try to find the error in one of the words in the speech. In front of the building, on the ground you will see a circle marking the spot where Martin
Luther King Jr. made his famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
The eighth grade also visited a unique museum all about newspaper and media, the Newseum. The crown jewel of the Newseum was the Covers of 9/11 exhibit. It showed a piece of the World Trade Center and surrounding it on the walls was newspaper covers on 9/11 from all over the
world. It was amazing to see how fast information spreads around the world and how everyone came together to help the families and friends
of that tragic day. The museum also showcased Pulitzer Prize winning photos. These photos captured the hidden struggles and victories of
everyday life in other countries, throughout the last three decades. From pictures of war and famine to the homecoming of troops, these pictures
capture the essence of humanity in the modern day and age.
Overall the trip was an unforgettable experience for all of the students and faculty. From the White House to the Museum of Natural History the
eighth grade really saw everything Washington D.C. had to offer, including its extensive amount of Starbucks. The trip was not only an educational experience, where students learned more about the history of our country, but a bonding experience for all.
4
Effects of Stress
Yoga
by Sydney Markowitz
by Josh Richards
Stress is a state of mental or emotional tension resulting from very
demanding circumstances. Stress has many effects on the body. Longterm stress can lead to serious health issues. One issue is high blood
pressure. This can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes later
in life. Also it is proven that a great deal of stress speeds up the aging
process. A possible end result of stress is more anxiety and depression.
Stress has extreme health effects on the body.
On October 23, 2014, students and teachers were invited to the library
media center to be part of an amazing and invigorating yoga class. This
class was taught by two greatly experienced instructors, Jamie Scher
and Adina Moldovan from Namaste Yoga Studios. In this class the students learned how yoga can bring a healthy mental state into their lives.
Mrs. Moldovan explained, that as young students in middle school, we
will experience a lot of stress and that a great way to relieve that stress
is to take part in yoga. But yoga isn’t just for students. People of all
ages should practice yoga. It is a great way to keep your physical and
mental health balanced.
Many students get stressed out about going back to school. But the real
question is how do you deal with stress?
One way to reduce of schoolwork stress is to manage your time better.
Instead of spending time worrying, spend time working. After you finish
your work, you will have more time to spend time with your friends. A
good way to manage your time is to create a time chart. Each section in
the chart is for a different subject. For example from 3:00-3:45 you can
read your English book.
During the class, the students were taught many poses that could be
performed throughout the day. Some of these included the downward
dog, the chair pose, the goddess and the ragdoll position. After learning
these poses, students felt they would definitely perform them again to
help relieve the stress they experience in middle school.
One of the things students stress about is socializing. 32% of students
have stress due to social issues. One way to deal with this issue is to
be yourself when talking to others; you will find people like yourself to
be friends with. Try to surround yourself with people who are nice and
don’t try to change you. Those types of people will stay true to your
friendship.
If you need more advice on what to do when you are stressed out talk
to a family member like your parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins,
aunts, or uncles. You can also talk to a guidance counselor, or maybe
even a good friend. Remember to get enough sleep and always save
enough time to hang out with your friends. Don’t let stress be a big part
of your life.
References: helpguide.org, kidshealth.org
Spotlight on Mrs. Faust
by Billie Green
Have you ever been to the guidance counseling office? Well then you probably have met all three of our counselors. Mrs. Faust is one of the three guidance counselors at H.B.T. She has done so much for the students and faculty
here that we decided to highlight her in an article in H.B.T Herald.
Mrs. Faust meets with many kids each and every day of the school week.
She is kept busy by the pile of work that accumulates every day on her desk.
But she always finds time to sit down and talk to one of her students who
may have a problem or just needs someone to talk to. Mrs. Faust is a kind
and considerate person. She is well-known throughout the building, not only
by the faculty, but by the student body too. Mrs. Faust even finds time to run
not one but two groups for kids who are coping with issues such as: divorce,
parental issues, inner-self issues, school issues, or any other issues. Mrs.
Faust runs the Divorce Group and the Friends Group both of which provide
students someone to talk to when they are feeling sad, angry, or confused.
The groups include student peers that share similar issues or problems. The
Friends Group is a group of kids from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade that offer support
to other students and provide helpful advice with the support of Mrs. Faust.
The Divorce Group includes students who live with one parent due to a
divorce or separation. Students talk about how their situation makes them
feel and discuss any issues or problems they may be having because of their
changing family. Students are always encouraged to join the Friends Group
and/or the Divorce Group. These groups usually meet on a weekly basis as
well as a different period each week to give students the chance to attend
meetings. They even have parties certain times during the year. Mrs. Faust
is a very helpful and caring person. The student body and faculty couldn’t
agree more!
5
The New World of
Sports Media for
Kids
H.B.T Cross Country
Track
by Billie Green
Have you heard that H.B.T has its own cross country track team? The
team welcomes girls and boys in 7th and 8th grade who love the endurance type of track. It includes 8 meets and many practices. The team
has “Fun Fridays” where they play a variety of games such as “Sharks
and Minos” and “Red light Green light.”
In the first four meets, the team runs a 1 mile and .5 mile race. As the
team’s endurance increases the meets turn into 2 miles. The team
competes against schools such as Port Washington. Some of the 1
mile and .5 mile meets take place at Syosset High School, Great Neck
South, and for the first time ever at H.B.T Middle School.
At Great Neck South, the team faced giant hills, bumpy roads, and
tough competition. They were on fire! The cross country girls went
for the win as they crossed the finish line with whopping times such
as 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:39, and 17:29 minutes. The team is lucky to
have Sean Ahearn a 7th grader who may be able to run with the high
school students next year.
As the season closed, we saw one of the best seasons H.B.T. has ever
had. The cross country students continued to amaze Coach Quinn and
Mr. Kassebaum as they continued to run 2 mile meets and defeated
teams one by one.
Want to hold onto HBT
Memories?
Then purchase this year’s
HBT Yearbook!
by HBT Staff
Have you heard about the new sports “network” for middle schoolaged kids? It is called The Whistle and was founded by John West
in 2009. After watching sports coverage with his kids, John realized
that most of what was being shown during the broadcast was geared
towards adult males and was portraying very negative images for kids.
He recognized a need for sports media that were positive and age appropriate for kids and teens and that also focused on the fun in sports.
The aim of The Whistle is to teach kids the importance of healthy
habits like good nutrition and regular exercise to help them develop
self-confidence and a healthy body image.
So where can you access this new sports media source? Well,
TheWhistle.com website was launched in October of 2012, and last
fall they had a weekly show on NBC Sports Network. You can also
view some of the videos on a YouTube channel that was created for
the website (www.youtube.com/the whistle). There are also plans to
include a video channel on Microsoft Xbox, The Whistle Video on
Demand and a mobile app.
Every kind of sport is covered on the website, from backyard sports to
those at the college and pro levels. It covers both the sports kids participate in and the sports that they are watching and following. When
you visit The Whistle, you can find websites dedicated to football,
basketball, soccer, hockey, racing, golf, baseball as well as other types
of sports. The Whistle is partnered with the NFL, PGA Tour, NASCAR, US Soccer, Major League Lacrosse, Alli Sports, the Harlem
Globe Trotters and IndyCar. There are also many famous sports stars
who have joined forces with this network such as Derek Jeter, Peyton
Manning, Mia Hamm and Tim Wakefield.
All sorts of sports media can be found on this new website including
sports videos, news, photos and memes, games and contests. Some
of the videos include sports news, amazing highlights, and interviews
behind the scenes with professional athletes. You can also find videos
that incorporate sports with math and science! Users of the website
can also submit their own videos for a chance to be featured and win
prizes like signed sports memorabilia or a chance to win a video chat
with a pro. In the spring of 2014, The Whistle will also be launching “My Locker” where kids will be able to personalize their lockers
to create a unique sports experience that safely connects them with
friends and other users that share similar interests. Kids will be able
to set preferences for their favorite teams, athletes and sports to help
them determine what content to view. You may even get to compete
against your friends!
You should definitely check out TheWhistle.com. There will be more
to come, and they are continually expanding their content. Best of all,
it is entirely free to sign up!
Yearbooks are currently available for purchase online for $55
(There will be no in school presale)
You can also buy them during
lunch once the yearbook comes
out the last week of school.
6
Book Review:
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
A few jokes
you will love or hate
by Bradley Abelman
by Tommy Pinto
The book Wonder by R.J. Palacio is written in the perspective of the main
character, August (Auggie) Pullman, who is 10 years old. August was born
with a deformed face and was home schooled up until he started 5th grade at
Beecher Preparatory School becomes very difficult for Auggie because of his
facial deformity. Everyone at school who sees him whispers to their friends or
is startled by his appearance. Auggie is misunderstood by his peers and the
school becomes split apart: kids who like him and are friends with him and
the kids who laugh at him. Readers will want to find out how Auggie will fit
in with all the “normal” kids.
Have you ever felt that life isn’t funny anymore? Then
check out these jokes that will knock your socks off!
1. What’s black, white and read all over? A newspaper!
2. What do you call a pig that does karate? A porkchop!
The story is intriguing and shows the difficulty of being different. Wonder
teaches the reader that you should be nice to everyone, even if they are different. The book is a New York Times bestseller and is highly rated as a must
read. You can find Wonder in the HBT library and anyone you ask who has
read this book will encourage you to read it. It truly is a thought-provoking
and life changing story.
3. Why are all the frogs around dead? Cause they keep croaking!
4. What sound does a pirate dog make? Arrrrrrrfffffffff!
5. How much does a pirate pay for corn? A buccaneer!
6. Who does a pharaoh talk to when he is sad? His mummy!
7. What do you call a person who doesn’t pass gas in public? A
private tooter!
8. Here is an old classic: what does the 0 say to the 8? Nice
belt!
9. What did the shark say to the other shark while eating a
clown fish? This tastes funny!
10. Why do milking stools have 3 legs? Cause the cows’ got the
udder (pun intended)
Like a star
by Vivian Huang
You may feel like a very strange outsider
As if in a group of beetles, you’re the only spider
You may feel as if you don’t fit in
And that kind of contest is too hard to win
This may lower your self-esteem
And make you frown instead of beam
However, I shall now speak the truth,
A very important thing to remember during youth
Diversity is the magnificent beauty of our world
One of the most important things the world can unfurl
Without diversity, the world would be boring
Such that our feelings of boredom would be soaring
The world would consist only of clone after clone
With nothing exciting or new to be shown
The one and only thing that counts is being who you are
Be whoever you want to be and you’ll shine like a star
Answer to Geography
Bee questions:
A. Maine
You are absolutely, beautifully unique
B. Oregon
From the bottom of a mountain to its highest peak
C. Lesotho
Being different is absolutely okay
D. Slavic
7
FUN TIMES AT HBT!