Weekend Hangouts - Paul Revere Charter Middle School

Paul Revere Charter Middle School
January/February/March 2013
Volume 57, Issue 3
School Board OKs Laptops
for Every Patriot Next Year
By YONI STRUGATSKY
A big change is coming to
Revere next year that will affect
the way each Patriot participates
in class projects and discussions.
On Tues., Feb. 12th the Los
Angeles Board of Education approved tablets for Revere and 46
other pilot schools. It is too soon
to know if they will be iPads or
another brand, but major companies are making their pitches and
one will be chosen soon.
Mrs. Somoza thanks the hard
working Technology Team—Ms.
Banner, Lori Vogel, Teresa Williams, David Youssefyeh and
other members of the parent
component—for convincing the
school board to include Revere
in this new technology program.
“This is quite a big moment
for students and teachers,Ó said
Weekend Hangouts
ItÕ s 3:02 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. The bell rings. Students
of all grades scatter the crowded
hallways. Then suddenly, everyone leaves the school like there is
a wildfire on campus. But where
does everyone go? From Baldwin Hills to the Palisades Village, from the shops in Crenshaw
to the waves in Venice Beach,
from the ramps at Stoner Park to
the restaurants at the Brentwood
Country Mart, Patriots take busses, cars, skateboards or even
their two feet to their favorite
hangout places.
Nicolette Khalifian favors
the Brentwood Country Mart.
“They have a large variety of
food choices there! And their
candy store is filled with mouthwatering treats.” Jack Butler, also
a Country Mart regular, says, “I
prefer sitting by the fire pit after
I buy some chicken from Ready
Chick or a nice juicy burger from
Barneys.Ó
On the other side of town Daniel G. hangs in Crenshaw. “I like
this place because we play bas-
Revere Looks for Ways to
Increase Campus Security
By HARRISON LARKINS
ketball in the gym and play football on the field and hang out after school.Ó Melissa Santos adds,
“Crenshaw has great restaurants
and shops. My favorite restaurant
is Chinese Garden.Ó
Across town, Alexander Siliezar
enjoys Santa Monica. Ò The ice
rink is a great place to hang out
with friends,” he says. “You can
rent skates for $12 and buy food
and drinks at the snack bar.Ó For
Brianna Gold itÕ s all about the
shopping! When I go to the Santa
Monica Third Street Promenade
Continued on page 6
When Patriots look back on the
events of Dec. 14th, 2012, most
remember a day of relief and excitement over the first few hours
of Winter Break. Yet 3,000 miles
away, on the other side of the
country, the residents of Newton,
Connecticut were beginning to remember that day not as a joyous
celebration, but for the deaths of
20 innocent children. The Sandy
Hook Elementary School shooting has taken the country on a path
that may change the way everyone
lives their lives at school.
.Just as quickly as news of the
shooting spread, Paul Revere and
many other schools in Southern
California and the country started
to take campus security to an entirely new level.
Starting on Jan. 7th, 2013,
LAUSD has begun to tighten security measures at many schools in
the district. Ò The LAUSDÕ s number one priority is the safety of our
students and staff,Ó stated a recent
announcement made by the district. LAPD policemen have now
added public schools throughout
the city to their daily patrols, and
several private schools in and
around the Los Angeles area have
also requested police visits. Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore
makes a visit to Revere at a random time each day.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Somoza,
RevereÕ s principal, reported that
she is working with her colleagues
on making the school’s 27-acre
campus even more secure than it
is now. “The safety committee has
Continued on page 5
Santa Monica Ice Rink is a popular spot during the winter season for RevereÕ s seventh graders.
By BETTINA PAPAGEORGE
Mrs. Somoza. “Now we just have
a few wrinkles to work out prior
to the tablets arriving—more
than a few, but we can do it.”
For at least the first year, students will not be taking the tablets home. The school is waiting
for direction from the district
about how the tablets will be
stored and recharged each night.
The District plans to arrange
a one-day paid professional
development for teachers in the
pilot program during the summer. Revere is also planning on
more training sessions in the beginning of the year.
“All this is very exciting and
will benefit every student at Revere,” Mrs. Somoza wrote in an
e-mail to her faculty and staff.
Ò When the Board heard that our
API was 897 they all applauded.
You deserve these accolades.Ó
Eco Recovery Mission 5
Winter Wonderlands 6
A Lovely Day 7
Ping Pong Power 11
Flipping Through Life 11
Students promote a green campus.
Maude cheers at the inauguration.
Patriots exchange valentine gifts.
Andrew paddles his way to victory.
Hank fearlessly grabs over a gap.
2 January/February/March 2013
THE TOWN CRIER
Editor-in-Chief:
Lilly McClure
Reporters and
Photographers:
Alicia Abramson
Emi Arevalo
Caroline Bamberger
Margaret Boelter
Harrison Larkins
JoJo Levey
Alon Levi
Angel Ogwo
Bettina Papageorge
Abner Santiago
Hannah Shabtian
Claire Spector
Cole Stanton
Yoni Strugatsky
Graphics:
Julian Budge
Gabriel Galef
Harrison Gelber
McKinley Souder
Faculty Advisor:
Mr. Wechsler
Does our middle school need
full-time armed protection?
Ò The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun
is a good guy with a gun,Ó says Wayne LaPierre, vice
president of the National Rifle Association. There has
been a lot of discussion about gun control and armed
guards at schools in the U.S. following the elementary school shooting in Connecticut. After twenty
children and six adults were killed by a mad gunman,
our country has been under pressure to come to a conclusion about gun control and safety.
A main issue has been whether or not armed
guards should be positioned at schools throughout
the country. The question is, would the guard be effective or not? At Revere, there are multiple ways
to get in and out of the school, and only one guard
might not do that much good. However, at other
smaller schools, an armed guard could save lives. Another complication is that the shooter could be a stu-
dent, and the guard would not know. An example of
such an event occurred in 1999, at Columbine High
School. The student shooters had acquired guns and
explosives, prepared to kill multitudes. There was a
guard stationed at Columbine, but he was not able
to stop the shooters. Why? The fact that the shooters were students was very unexpected. Even so, the
guard wouldnÕ t be able to check every single student
entering the school for weapons.
Personally, I believe that it is not a good idea to
have armed guards at our school. The shooter would
simply find the guard an extra challenge to overcome.
The money used to hire the guards could be used
elsewhere, and more effective security systems can
be enforced. All in all, I believe the United States will
not become a safer nation by providing armed guards
at our schools. Ñ Alicia Abramson
It would be great to have someone
here to watch over us, but itÕ s not
really necessary for them to be
here all the time. But we should
make sure someone is nearby in
case of an emergency.
Ñ Tiana Torkan, 8th Grade
No. People who carry guns are statistically more likely to be shot, because they are now a target. I think
that if schools had armed security,
they would become more of a target
for shootings.
Ñ Wes Mahony, 7th Grade
I do not think Revere needs full-time
armed protection because we are
hardly ever in danger. We should
have it when needed, but not fulltime. The idea that people would
watch our every move is almost
weird. Ñ Lauren Welborn, 8th Grade
I do think that we should have
people just in case, but not fulltime. I don’t like the idea of seeing
police all around watching our
every move every day.
Ñ Autumn Wagner, 8th Grade
I believe that Revere needs full-time
armed protection. People don’t realize it, but there are lots of potential
threats that can enter the campus.
Ñ Daniel Allen, 8th Grade
I think schools need armed protection. But if it means that other
schools that are in more need of
armed protection donÕ t get it and we
do, I would much rather a school
that is in a greater risk of shootings
to have full-time armed protection.
The odds of a shooter entering a 26acre school in a good neighborhood
is very unlikely.
Ñ Zollie Daily, 7th Grade
I think we need full-time armed
protection. Incidents like the one
in Newtown, Connecticut can happen anywhere. I’d rather have it
and not need it, than need it and
not have it. It might make people
feel safer. LAPD takes a while to
get to this area so someone would
have like 15 or 20 minutes to do
what they please.
Ñ Cade Christensen, 8th Grade
I think we do, after all the things
that happen with guns lately. It’s
important to not have any more
lives lost again.
Ñ Dessery Alvarez 8th Grade
Yes, because anything can happen
at any time! You never know who
will do something or what they
will do. It’s always better to feel
protected.
—Sanaz Khalifian, 6th Grade
Yes, we need armed protection.
We have an open campus and there
could be strangers walking in without us even knowing. If for some
reason there is an emergency the
armed guards would protect us.
—Gabriella Padilla, 6th Grade
What happened at Sandy Hook
Elementary School was terrible. I
think we should have protection. If
somebody came into Paul Revere
and started shooting a bunch of 6th
graders, we would have help right
here and we wouldnÕ t have to worry
about the police being late.
—Lily Schall Kruzan, 6th Grade
I think full-time armed protection
is a little overkill, don’t you? I definitely wouldnÕ t like the thought of
a bunch of guys outside my school
with guns and police batons every
day. Maybe one or two, but not
more.
Ñ Gage Stauff, 8th Grade
Yes, I do think our school needs the
police with full-time armed protection because if another crazy man
comes into the school with a gun,
no one is here to protect us which
means many of us will die.
Ñ Jonathan Moore, 7th Grade.
IÕ m not convinced that a full-time
armed guard would necessarily
stop the type of violence that took
place in Newtown. Rather, I’d suggest schools focus on security entry points to campus and practicing
lockdown procedures. Most importantly, however, we need to keep
assault weapons out of the hands
of people who would harm our students. Ñ Mr. John Slavin, Teacher
Paul Revere Charter Middle School
Cheating Gets
You Nowhere
YONI STRUGATSKY
Lance Armstrong was a hero to many. He won seven Tour de
France championships and founded his own charity for cancer
patients called “Livestrong” while defeating cancer himself.
However for a long time, there were rumors that the great cyclist
used performance-enhancing drugs, which he denied time and
time again. Eventually, investigators came to the conclusion that he
was lying and he was stripped of his titles, leaving his fans devastated. Recently, Lance went on Oprah to discuss these rumors.
This time, he admitted to years of doping and covering it up.
People used to look up to Lance Armstrong, but now, they just
see him as a liar and cheater. Still, Lance’s actions can be a lesson for others. What he did just shows that cheating will get you
nowhere. There is no reason to take the easy way out, because
being honest will end up leaving you with more opportunities.
Sometimes it may be tempting to cheat, but the thrill of victory
should be accomplished through honest acts. How could someone cheat on their mile run for example, and say they got subsix? How would others react if it turned out that the great story
you put in the literary anthology was copied off the Internet?
Even if we find that cheating might be possible at Revere, this is
still no excuse to do it. So, do yourself a favor, and don’t cheat.
Remembering
Dr. King
ANGEL OGWO
Before another MLK Day and Black History Month fades
completely into memory, we should remember the great acts of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. School was closed on Mon., Jan.
21st, but how many of us really appreciate why the birthday of
Dr. King is nationally celebrated?
Dr. King’s birthday is a day of remembrance and commemoration of his life, works, sacrifices, philosophy and practice of
non-violence. Because he led the nation to enact laws to grant
civil rights to people who had none, Dr. King could be described
as the “Father of Civil Rights.” Along with personalities such as
James L. Farmer and Rosa Parks, Dr. King constituted a national
effort, which included the NAACP and other supporters to
eliminate segregation and racial discrimination.
Here at Paul Revere Middle School, there is a mural that
commemorates the famous “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr.
King. The question is, does this mural by the auditorium appeal
to the younger generation as it does to the older generation?
Does it stir up reflections on the human rights and nonviolence
principles of Dr. King? The mural here at Paul Revere seems to
be remembered only during Black History Month. However the
policy and philosophy at Paul Revere is that of tolerance and
integration, and although there may have been unfortunate instances of bullying, the overall outlook at Paul Revere is friendly
and conducive to learning. Not all schools can claim this. Still,
we must remember the sacrifices made by the great Dr. King, or
else, who will?
January/February/March 2013
THE TOWN CRIER
Paul Revere Charter Middle School 3
Layout by Alicia Abramson
Workers dig by the P.E. area.
Nature Calls, and
Relief Is on the Way
Ms. Murrow and Mr. Hastings
Saying HelloÑ and
GoodbyeÑ to Staff
Ò Everyone has been so helpful and I feel really welcomed!Ó
exclaims Ms. Murrow, Paul
RevereÕ s newest assistant
principal. She takes the place
of Mr. Hastings, who left Revere to be principal at Fleming
Middle School. According to
Ms. Monica in the attendance
office, “Mr. Hastings is just a
great guy and we all miss him.Ó
So far, Ms. Murrow says she
has really enjoyed getting to
know all the students and staff.
Before coming to Revere, Ms.
Murrow had over 24 years of
teaching experience in both
New York and California. After
that, she worked as a principal
for several years at Palms Middle School. While familiarizing
herself with the campus, Ms.
Murrow plans to Ò support all
the wonderful programs here at
Paul Revere.Ó ÐA lon Levi
All hail Revere! On Fri., Mar. 8th, Patriots got a taste of the weather up North with a spontaneous
hailstorm in the middle of a sunny day. Many enjoyed this short surprise visit from Mother Nature.
nosis that leads to curing a patient,Ó he said.
Dr. Bamberger has been following the debate over the
What is the purpose of the
presidentÕ s new health care
mitochondria?
That is one of
law. Ò Our health care system
many challenging questions a
needs to change,Ó he said. Ò Opsixth or seventh grade Aca Deca
ponents should not be arguing
student might face. Throughout
for the status quo. They should
the months of January and Febbe arguing for better changes if
ruary, children in the Aca Deca
RevereÕ s new council line-up
there are any.Ó
club formed groups and comincludes
(left
to
right)
Jamie,
In another Town Hall event,
Mr. Andrew Pelosi, a regional Genna, Ashley, Amir and Claire. peted within themselves.
All groups had to have at
sales director at Maker Studios,
least one sixth, one seventh, or
spoke about the road to his fuone eighth grader. This rule can
ture. His company was founded
often cause a problem. Ò Last
by YouTube artists and is home
Ò
We
are
planning
many
events
year we couldnÕ t get sixth gradto many of the internetÕ s top stars.
for
the
spring
semester,Ó
said
Jaers. This year eighth graders
As a child he said he strongly
mie
Snell,
student
council
presidonÕ t want to participate,Ó exenjoyed classes such as English
dent.
Ò
We
donÕ
t
want
to
get
anyplains Mr. Hamanishi. Patriots
and acting, although creative
one
excited
yet,
but
itÕ
s
going
to
still managed to make teams
writing was the most important
and race to see who could get
to him. This really helped him to be great!Ó
After
a
few
Student
Council
the right answer to the question.
think outside the box and taught
representatives
left,
there
was
a
After a lot of ruckus, the team
him to express himself. This led
slight
position
switch.
The
new
Savvy Scholars proved to be
him to a bright future at U.C.
order
is
as
follows:
President
Jaworthy of fighting against other
Berkeley majoring in American
mie
Snell;
Vice
President
Genna
schools.
Studies. Ñ Claire Spector
Torgen; Historian Amir EbtehAccording to Mr. Hamanishi,
adj; Secretary Ashley Miller; and Palms and John Burroughs are
Treasurer Claire Jiang.
two middle schools that could
“We just try to come up with be challenging to beat. But
more fun events so you can par- Mr. Haminishi thinks that Ò the
ticipate and gain new experi- Ô Savvy ScholarsÕ are up to the
ences,Ó explained Genna Torgen. challenge, with some of the best
But how much power does the students in the club, including
student council really have when the club president, Ben Wolit comes to creating fundraisers man, who has been there for
and events? Jamie Snell says that three years.Ó ÐA lon Levi
they must get permission from
Ms. Walker and the school staff
but other than that, they make
their own decisions.
Last semester, the student
council feels that the Bookends
drive and the Winter Wonderland Dance both were considered
Joey (left) and Spencer celebrate some of the Ò highlightsÓ of 2012.
E-5Õ s schoolwide best attendance
They look forward to bringing
honors for January. The E-5
more exciting events like these to Sutton, Harrison, Ben and Shana
students also won for February. Revere. Ð Yoni Strutagasky
make up the Savvy Scholars team.
Savvy Scholars
Race to Victory
Tired of walking long distances to use the restroom?
DonÕ t worry, because a new
bathroom is currently getting
set up near the gym. Ò This bathroom will make it easier for
students and teachers because
they wonÕ t have to go as far to
use the restroom,Ó explains Mr.
Iannucci. ThatÕ s right teachers, this new building will also
have a menÕ s and womenÕ s faculty bathroom in addition to
the studentsÕ bathrooms. While
constructing the new sanitation
building, workers face a few
obstacles, including weather.
Ò They canÕ t work in the rain,Ó
states Mr. Iannucci. This slightly interferes with the project’s
deadline, now set for the beginning of the next school year.
With ten toilets in total, this
new facility will provide a lot of
relief. But before people can start
using it, Mr. Iannucci would
like for everyone to Ò stay away
from the construction zone for
safety reasons.Ó Ñ Alon Levi
New Year, New
Council Line-Up
Dr. Mark Bamberger and Mr.
Andrew Pelosi speak to students.
BAM! Speakers
Share Their Success
There was a doctor in
RevereÕ s house on Wed., Jan.
30th, as Dr. Mark Bamberger
made a house call to Town Hall
to speak to students about his
profession. In his Ò Roads to
Your FutureÓ presentation, he
shared that he has been a doctor of internal medicine for
29 years. After working hard
for over a decade at different
schools, he finally got the opportunity to work in private
practice. But his journey down
the road of knowledge wasnÕ t
easy. He had to spend the typical four years at college along
with an additional four years at
medical school, followed by a
three-year residence in internal
medicine. All his efforts wound
up giving him the best outcome
of all. Ò My favorite part of being a doctor is making a diag-
Attendance Champs
Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann.
This Is Revere
If you love watching movies you probably know about
the film This Is 40, but did you
know it was filmed at Revere?
The crew used the campus as a
home base, similar to when the
cast of Jack and Jill used the
P.E. field as a parking lot. Mrs.
Somoza and other staff members got to meet the crew. Mrs.
Somoza shook hands and talked
with stars Paul Rudd and Leslie
Mann as well as other stars of
the comedy. Revere was used
for a couple of scenes set in
and around the auditorium and
the H buildings. This movie
made a huge contribution to the
school by putting $59,000 into
our schoolÕ s budget. This large
sum of money was all used for
custodial overtime, half of the
Spirit Series, and 7th and 8th
grade field trips. Mrs. Somoza
saw the R-rated movie and enjoyed it, but added, “It’s not for
kids.Ó ÐA bner Santiago
4 January/February/March 2013
THE TOWN CRIER
That Was Then...
Paul Revere Charter Middle School
...This Is Now
Patriots twenty years ago stand over their newly-painted Unity Garden mural by C-5.
P.E.P. painters have put up meaningful
murals all along RevereÕ s east driveway.
By MARGARET BOELTER
Over the crackling intercom one morning twenty years ago, Ms. Thrapp announced in a clear voice, Ò Come to my
room during lunch if you know a second language.Ó And so began RevereÕ s
colorful Ò Unity GardenÓ mural which
still shouts out its colorful messages
near the C-building. Students from all
over the school swarmed to her room
just to get a chance to write Ò We are the
flowers of one garden” in countless languages to help complete the mural.
The actual Ò Unity GardenÓ was a
garden planted on the hillside above
the mural. Ms. Thrapp and her elective
class planted a flower and buried a miniature casket for every soldier who died
in the Gulf War that lasted from 1990 to
1991. Almost a year later, Ms. ThrappÕ s
new students carried on the tradition and
created a mural as a response to another
historical event, the 1992 L.A. riots.
Fast-forward to a Thursday in 2013
and you will find equally eager students ready to leave a piece of their
handiwork at Revere. Their new Ò I am
SomebodyÓ mural is a response to the
Stand for the Silent campaign that has
now taken root at Revere. Just like then,
new Patriots both restore and renew the
peeling murals. They express the community awareness and creativity that
Revere students have always had.
PAUL REVERE PETS
By Margaret Boelter and Lilly McClure
January/February/March 2013
THE TOWN CRIER
Better SafeÑ or Sorry?
(continued from page 1) been
meeting about campus security
and will be announcing a plan
soon,Ó said Mrs. Somoza. Ò The
safety of students and staff will
always be a top priority.Ó
Even before the Sandy Hook
tragedy, Revere had been preparing for a similar emergency.
There are regular lockdown drills,
and administrators and other staff
are stationed around campus before and after school and during
nutrition and lunch. The school
is surrounded by tall fences and
gates that are securely locked
during most school hours. During the school day, visitors must
check in at the front office and
put on a badge before gaining access to the school grounds.
Classroom doors at Revere
can only be locked from the outside. In case of an emergency
lockdown where every second
counts, a teacher might not have
enough time to go outside and
lock the door. At a recent faculty meeting, Mrs. Somoza told
teachers about a new Revere pol-
The Sandy Hook
shooting has
taken America
on a path that
may change the
way everyone
lives their lives
at school.
icy to Ò lock but keep openÓ classroom doors. She explained that
the locked doors can be propped
open during the day so students
can go in and out. In an emergency, all teachers have to do is pull
them shut and no one can get in.
Along with the police, teachers in several schools across the
nation have been encouraged to
train in the use of firearms. These
brand new Ò teacher-soldiersÓ
could be trained to have a gun
at their sides at all times. Sev-
eral California legislators have
even tried to pass a bill allowing
all schools to arm their teachers, principals and janitors. Mrs.
Somoza, however, said that she
does not favor arming teachers
or other personnel with firearms
to use against a possible violent
attack. Ò I think there are better
ways to make us safer,Ó she says.
Mr. Giron, Paul RevereÕ s Plant
Manager, thinks the same, and
says about the proposal to arm
janitors, Ò I donÕ t think itÕ s wise.
ItÕ s not a smart plan.Ó
New Jersey Police Chief
Raymond Hayducka also warns
against such a plan. He argues
that Ò armed security provides a
false sense of security.Ó He also
says that Ò there could be severe
consequences on the school administration if security personnel
act recklessly with a firearm.”
Already, Ò reckless security personnelÓ have proved to be a problem. In a Michigan K-8 school, a
security guard accidentally left a
weapon unattended in a school
restroom. Thankfully, nobody
Go Green or Go Home
By EMI AREVALO
Walking through Paul Revere,
Patriots see the signs of an ecofriendly campus. The school has
recycling bins, a recycling club,
and even an eco-homeroom.
In addition to promoting the
usual green acts, such as throwing recyclables in the blue bins,
the responsibility of the ecohomeroom is to maintain RevereÕ s recycling program and aid
in efforts to be a greener community and planet.
Led by Ms. Chen, a P.E. teacher
and the faculty advisor for the Go
Green lunch club, the students
in this homeroom recycle every
Wednesday and Friday during the
long homerooms. On Wednesday, they go out and recycle the
contents of their decorated blue
bins by separating trash, recycling, and cans and bottles. Afterwards, they bring the cans and
bottles back to Ms. Chen, who
exchanges them for money at a
local recycling service that funds
the eco-homeroom.
Then what? Some assume that a
big recycling truck comes, picks
up all the recycling materials, and
dumps it all somewhere, or drops
it somewhere where people melt
it down into metal chips, or plastic bottle caps. But what actually
happens to a bottle or can after it
is thrown in a recycling bin?
The bottles are first picked up,
then taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where they
are packed into large bales for
shipping. Next, plastic reclaimers run the bales through a bale
breaker which rips the bales
apart and sorts them. Then another machine shreds them into
tiny flakes. The plastic flakes are
washed and melted down, then
sold to end markets to be made
into a variety of products.
RevereÕ s aluminum cans are
also shredded into flakes, but
then they are melted into 25foot long ingots that weigh over
30,000 lbs. The ingots are fed
into rolling mills, turning them
into sheets one-hundredth of
Ô Being green is
not just a trend.
It is something
we should do
automatically.Õ
Ñ Ms. Chen
an inch thick. These sheets are
rolled up and shipped to can
makers who produce the cans,
then deliver them to companies
for filling with everyone’s favorite beverages.
As for Fridays, RevereÕ s eco
representatives now go to homerooms themselves and recycle
straight from their recycling
bins. This new schedule was created as a result of the merging of
the eco-homeroom and the Student Council homeroom. These
two homerooms decided to join
up because Student Council was
very busy and needed Thursdays
to work. On top of that, they also
had to recycle on Fridays, and it
was too much. Ò We knew Ms.
ChenÕ s eco-homeroom would be
a great support and help,Ó said
Ms. Walker, the faculty advisor
for Student Council.
Meanwhile, Patriots in sixth
grade will have noticed something different in their classrooms. ThatÕ s right, there are new
recycling bins. These bins are
metal, and have three separate
compartments for trash, paper,
and cans and bottles. The separation makes it easier for the students in the eco-homeroom/student council to recycle the cans
and bottles. But remember, not
all plastic is recyclable. Anything
that has food or food stains on it
is regarded as trash, so Patriots
should keep that in mind the next
time they discard their lunches.
The PTSA funded the requisition of the bins for sixth grade
homerooms. Since they were expensive, there was a limited number that the PTSA could afford,
Ò Sixth grade homerooms are often very supportive and involved
and we knew the new bins would
drive their students to recycle,Ó
explained Ms. Walker.
Patriots honed their moviemaking skills and dusted off their
megaphones in time to film for
Paul RevereÕ s Eco Video Contest. Students were asked to make
a 1-2 minute video about the environment and how students can
make it better at school or at
home. The first place video was
Ò Environmental DestructionÓ by
Shay Takei and Ethan Jones. In
their video, the narrator explains
that humans live in a world full
Paul Revere Charter Middle School 5
A police officer makes daily visits to Revere to boost school security.
was hurt, but a curious student
could have easily picked it up
and pulled the trigger, resulting
in a fatal misfire.
Others, though, believe that
having more armed personnel
on school campuses is the perfect solution to counter school
shootings. John Lott, a radical
gun supporter, argues that Ò the
most consistent feature of these
attacks are that they occur in
gun-free zones.Ó Lott and many
others believe that by getting rid
of Ò gun-free zones,Ó mass shootings such as Sandy Hook can
be prevented because shooters
wonÕ t target places where they
could get shot themselves.
Whatever the case may be,
tragedies such as Sandy Hook
are a provocation that America
is desperately trying to erase.
Now the topics of an intense and
controversial debate, gun control
and school safety have become
the center of political attention in
America.
Screen shots from the awardwinning video Ò Environmental
DestructionÓ by Shay Takei and
Ethan Jones show a wide variety
of thought-provoking images.
of environmental destruction,
and everyone should be grateful for the earth, but theyÕ re not.
There is a call to action for all
Revere Patriots to come together
and work to help the earth. Ò We
can connect with the environment like we do with each other,Ó
says the narrator. Ò You can help.Ó
Coming in close second were
Amanda Thompson and Trinity
Stanback with their video, Ò LetÕ s
See What Happens...Ó Their video illustrates the consequences of
not recycling, and how recycling
even little things can make a big
difference.
Last but not least were Mai
Robinson and Schyler MarvinÕ s
video, Ò Wilberz Hot Wings!Ó
The story takes place in a restaurant that is an environmental
disaster. The Ò Green PoliceÓ decide to step in and save the establishment, resulting in a happier,
healthier eatery.
The winners also received prizes as thanks for their hard work.
First place winners were given a
$20 dollar gift card, second place
a $15 gift card, third place a $10
gift card. All videos were scheduled to be shown at grade level
assemblies.
Regarding the partnership between the eco-homeroom and
Student Council, both Ms. Chen
and Ms. Walker are optimistic.
The conjoined homerooms are
dedicated to helping the school
to be more environmentally
friendly.
Ò Being green is not just a
trend,Ó stressed Ms. Chen. Ò It
is something we should do automatically. We will continue to
have these groups work together,
and try to get the administrators,
teachers, staff and students to
work together as well.Ó
6 January/February/March 2013
THE TOWN CRIER
Daniel G. (center) in Crenshaw.
Jordan is bubbly at the Grove, a favorite Patriot weekend hangout. Laura and Lindsey at Garden.
Rhea at the Westside Pavilion.
Paul Revere Charter Middle School
Natalie and Ana Paula at the mall.
Samantha at Westside Pavilion.
John loves the Century City mall.
Chloe, Kiara and Simone dream.
Lyric at Santa Monica Beach.
Helene, Sierra, Cindy and May.
Jay and Ava at the Country Mart. Reina enjoys a boba at Westwood. Jack gives the Mart a thumbs up.
Daniel goes ziplining in Maui.
Tucson, Arizona makes Sasha smile.
Kayla and friends go skating.
Isaac chills by the Tower Bridge.
Camdyn, Lily, Perri and Taylor.
Maude and Chloe visit D.C.
(continued from page 1) with my
family I have a blast! I love the Forever 21 there, but my favorite part
is when people put on little shows.Ó
Not far away, Simone Diamond
has her favorite hangout. Ò Palisades
Garden CafŽ is an awesome place
to get a snack,Ó she shares. Ò The
popular bobas and chili cheese Fries
bring in Patriots. You are guaranteed
to see one if you go on a Friday afternoon!Ó
Bethany Gorfu also eats in the
Palisades. Ò The Village has great
places to eat and drink. I especially
love the Starbucks and Robeks!Ó
Sutton Shin prefers another part
of L.A. Ò Westwood is one of my
favorite places to go because of the
convenience and variety. If I need
anything, I can walk to any store.Ó
Alec Fapeano also hangs near
UCLA. Ò Westwood has great places to eat. I love the pizza place 800
Degrees.Ó
Down in Santa Monica, Lyric
Latshaw and her friends play in the
sand. Ò Whether weÕ re roller blading
on the path, chowing down on a picnic, or jumping through the waves,
every time is great fun!Ó she says.
Claire Spector adds, Ò The beach
is somewhere where I can relax. I
surf for hours, and itÕ s very exhilarating and also somewhere I can go
to clear my mind.Ó
Revere reaches out to students in
100 different zip codes. People of all
different backgrounds and ethnicities come together at one campus.
School might seem long, especially
on a Friday, but there are many places
to go after school that make it worth
the wait!
Hanging out after school may be
popular among Patriots, but what
happens when Revere kids have
three weeks of vacation? The skyÕ s
the limit for these students, with PaRenataÕ s happy in sunny Mexico. triots going to places across the town
and half way around the world!
In January, for instance, Maude
Tipton and Chloe Uhls traveled to
Washington, D.C. to witness the
second inauguration of President
Obama. Ò We saw all the monuments,Ó said Maude, Ò and visited all
the cool spots of D.C.Ó
Added Chloe, the best part of the
trip was being able to see the president live as he received the oath of
office. “We tried to stay warm by
wearing lots of layers and heavy
Bettina snowmobiles Pullasky, N.Y. jackets, but we were still freezing.Ó
Paul Revere Charter Middle School 7
January/February/March 2013
Cupid Captures RevereÕ s Hearts
By YONI STRUGATSKY
While elementary school students pass out paper valentines to
their classmates every year, Patriots prepare for a heartier event.
As Revere was getting ready
for this yearÕ s holiday of love,
two 8th grade teachers created
Valentine-themed projects to
put their students in the holiday
spirit.
Math teacher Ms. Palmer had
thought of a Valentine poem with
a twist. It needed to include 12
math-related words, with six of
them related to geometry. The
poem could rhyme or be free
verse. Student Julia Klotz had
written a poem with math puns
galore: Dear Valentine, when I finally saw the sine I knew that you
would be mine. When I saw your
lovely face, my heart jumped to
outer space. CupidÕ s arrow divided my heart. So now with you, I
can share a part. For you around
the world I would fly. My love for
you will never end like piÉ
Meanwhile in G-1, students
were mixing ingredients for a
perfect Ò element poem.Ó Science teacher Ms. Combis came
up with this idea when a friend
of hers posted it on Facebook.
Patriots were told to express their
feelings through the Periodic Table of Elements and construct a
poem, a declaration, or a creative
statement of their emotions that
they share with the element they
had chosen. Ray Yang wrote up
a shining performance: IÕ m Carbon, nothing much but common.
Because of you, I become a sparkling star, brighten every corners and nights. Because of you,
I race across the open nightfall,
like a falling angel. Because of
you I become brave and strong,
like a piece of forging steel.
For you, I will endure any pain
to become a diamond, because I
love you.
At the same time that the
academic sector of Paul Revere
was getting ready, the Student
Council, too, Ò roseÓ into action.
On Feb. 11th Student Council members began selling real,
long-stemmed roses for three
dollars eachÑw hite, symbolizing friendship, red, for love, and
candy roses just as a sweet and
heartfelt treat for a dollar.
In addition, the ValentineÕ s Day
dance was held during lunch in
Town Hall for two dollars per
ticket as well. There was a D.J,
photo booth, and glow sticks
were given at the entrance.
Still, many students at Paul
Revere think that ValentineÕ s
Day is Ò overratedÓ and that we
shouldnÕ t make such a big deal
about it, while others claim that
it is a day to remember your
loved ones. Seventh grader Angel Ogwo thinks that Ò life is not
about waiting for ValentineÕ s
Day to show your friends, family, everyone in your life as well
as those that are not in your life
how much you can love, but let
ValentineÕ s Day be the example
for how you can love and care for
them everyday.Ó
8 January/February/March 2013
Motion Pictures
of SteelÓ
1 ItÕ s a bird! ItÕ s Ò aMan
plane! No, itÕ s Superman, back in
action on Jun. 14th in Ò Man of Steel.Ó The beloved superhero will be portrayed by Henry Cavill alongside Amy
Adams as his love interest, Lois Lane. The movie is set to
hit theaters during the same month as the heroÕ s 75th anniversary. The movie follows the worldÕ s most recognizable
hero in his struggle to find his destiny and his battle with
enemies General Zod and Faora along with their army of
robots from his home planet, Krypton. But will the man of
steel bend under the pressure?
22nd in the sequel to the hit movie Ò The Hunger Games,Ó
Ò Catching Fire,Ó based on the second book in Suzanne
CollinsÕ dystopian trilogy. Although the movie has a new
director, Francis Lawrence, Katniss and PeetaÕ s adventures will continue just the same. In this movie, the two are
pitted against other former Hunger Games winners from
all districts in the Quarter Quell. No matter what, Ò Catching Fire” is sure to catch fire in the box office.
Ò Iron Man 3Ó
What do the words genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, and trilogy have in common? All of them describe
the Armored Avenger, Iron Man, returning to theaters in
Ò Iron Man 3Ó on May 3rd. After his world comes crashing
down, the hero sets out on a journey to find those responsible
and bring them to justice and finds himself pitted against
Mandarin, a ruthless villain. Much like the first movie, Tony
Stark is left to survive on his own relying only on his wit. But
Marvel fans have to wonder, will this movie live up to the
high standard set by Ò The Avengers?Ó
4
13
For ’13
By CAROLINE BAMBERGER
With all the excitement of 2012 including the Olympics
and the presidential election in our rear view mirrors,
Patriots are left wondering what to expect from the New
Year. 2013 holds many surprises, from smart phones to
superheroes, for our campus.
Ò Monsters UniversityÓ
At Revere
This April, RevereÕ s talented writers will be showcased
at Young Authors Night. The
annual event celebrates Paul
RevereÕ s Literary Anthology
and the students that submitted all types of literature to it.
It also provides an opportunity for Patriots to read their
work to family and friends.
6
Xanadu
Patriots found Ò XanaduÓ in RevereÕ s latest annual play.
The musical starred eighth graders, Madison Kovach and Skyler Kirkpatrick, and was put on from Mar. 7th- 10th. It follows
the story of a Greek muse who inspires artist Sonny Malone to
accomplish his dream and build a disco roller rink and ends up
falling in love with him despite her father ZeusÕ rule.
Farewell to
“The Office” and
Ò 30 RockÓ
with other shows just like
them. Thursday nights
just wonÕ t be the same
without staplers in Jell-o
and Kenneth the page.
Technology
Samsung Galaxy S IV
10
Going head-to-head with the iPhone 5s, is the Samsung
Galaxy S IV, due for release this spring. The phone will most
likely be a remake of the last model, the Galaxy S III, with
some slight adjustments and updates as well as added features, like wireless charging. As a company known for innovation, itÕ s hard to predict what Samsung will unveil.
iPhone 5s
11
Ò Siri, where is the nearest Apple store?Ó
From out of closets and under beds, AmericaÕ s favorite
monsters are returning to the big screen. The prequel to
the movie we all grew up with, Ò Monsters, Inc.,Ó is set to
be released this June. It takes place in Mike and SulleyÕ s
college years and follows the story of how they became
the dynamic duo we know and love. After a long 12 years
since the original movie, Ò Monsters UniversityÓ is sure to
draw viewers of all ages. One thingÕ s for sure, this movie
is sure to be anything but frightening.
5 Young Authors
Night
8/9
Television
Unfortunately, itÕ s time
to say goodbye to the hit
comedies Ò 30 RockÓ and
“The Office” as they close
out their final seasons this
year. Both shows have been
entertaining audiences for
many years and letting them
go will be bittersweet, but
they are sure to be replaced
Ò Catching FireÓ
2Jennifer Lawrence
is back as Katniss Everdeen on Nov.
3
Paul Revere Charter Middle School
THE TOWN CRIER
7 Spring Concert
Ò Failure is not an optionÓ for this yearÕ s spring
concert according to violinist, Paul Joo. RevereÕ s
advanced music classes are
preparing for their performances on May 14th and
Ò are trying our hardest to
satisfy our audience.Ó Additionally, the 6th graders
in Beginning Winds and
Strings are getting ready
for their first concert on
May 20th. Both shows will
include pieces from various composers and give
Patriot musicians a chance
to show off what theyÕ ve
worked on this year.
is what millions of dedicated Apple fans will be asking this summer
after the release of the latest iPhone, the iPhone 5s. The
phone has been reported to be a cheaper version of the
popular device making it available to a wider range of
people in order to compete with the technology giantÕ s
biggest foe, Samsung. As a company known for pricey
products, Apple is sure to hit it big with the 5s and plenty
will definitely be found on campus next fall.
Music
Upcoming Events
12
You’ll surely find plenty of Patriots rocking out at events like:
Festivals:
Coachella
Indio, CA
April 12-14/April 19-21
Lollapalooza
Chicago,IL
August 2-4
Concerts:
Imagine Dragons- March 19
Rihanna- April 6,8,9,11
Green Day- April 18
Marina and the DiamondsMay 6,7,10,11
One Direction- July 30
The Black Keys
Lady Gaga
The Wanted
One Republic
Carly Rae Jepsen
Phoenix
Katy Perry
Nicki Minaj
The Strokes
Justin Bieber
will.i.am
Justin Timberlake
Artists Releasing Albums
13
This year, iTunes will be taken over by albums released by:
January/February/March 2013
THE TOWN CRIER
She’s the blonde, blue-eyed girl of your
nightmares! She’s all over TLC in her
show, Here Comes HONEY BOOBOO with her family. You better “redneck-ognize” this child because it’s Alana, known as six-year-old pageant star
Honey BooBoo! She began on TLC’S
“Toddlers and Tiaras” when soon, videos circled all over YouTube taping her
cat walks and moves. She was known
as a brat who cried for food and fretted
over losing mud splash contests. Booboo’s future is boohoo! –Jojo Levey
Ò Sugar sugar sugar how you do it like
this, do it like this, do it do it like this.Ó
From songs to parodies and covers of
melodies, MATTY B has made an impact
on YouTube with over one hundred songs.
His biggest hit, a combo with Cimorelli of
“Call Me Maybe,” has made over fifty million views. He appeals to young and older
audiences with his cuteness. Some of his
songs are even on iTunes ready to download. MattyB has really Ò made a hit, and it
tastes likeÓ FAME. Ð Alicia Abramson
Have you ever suspected your teacher of
having a second life outside of school?
Neither did Mr. WhiteÕ s students in the TV
series BREAKING BAD. The awaited
season five finally came and meets all expectations from fans. Over the years, the
show has won Emmys from lead actor in
drama series to supporting actor. The lead
Walter White, actually Bryan Cranston,
has won lead actor in a drama series three
years consecutively. This show has set
high standards and is sure to raise the bar
in the years to come. -Cole Stanton
Three sisters. Two half sisters. One
fame-seeking mother. The Kardashians
kicked off their show KEEPING UP
WITH THE KARDASHIANS in late
2007. Since then, Khloe, Kim, Kourtney, Kris, Kylee, and Kendal have
been showing the world their lives,
and becoming exposed. Do you care if
Kim chipped a nail? The Kardashians
been slowly Ò dashingÓ down the list of
people that the world cares about, from
Ò taking it to MiamiÓ to New York and
to every tabloid cover. ÐL illy McClure
CHANNING TATUM is more than hot,
in fact heÕ s the Ò Sexiest Man AliveÓ . HeÕ s
an actor who knows how to portray many
characters. From Ò Duke OrsinoÓ in Ò SheÕ s
the ManÓ to Ò Greg JenkoÓ in Ò 21 Jump
StreetÓ he provides laughs for all viewers. Girls everywhere fawn over his toned
body and gorgeous face. Although heÕ s
aging, thirty two year old star still looks
as good. Tatum also models for Abercrombie, Dolce and Gabana, American Eagle
Outfitters, and other stores. If Tatum’s not
hot Ð no one is. ÐB ettina Papageorge
Yes, he sparkles. He runs fasts. He reads
minds. But surprisingly, heÕ s not a fairy,
heÕ s a vampire! ROBERT PATTISON is
well-known for his role as Edward Cullen,
the glittering vampire. But enough with the
vampires; theyÕ re getting quite old, arenÕ t
they? Before playing Edward, Robert Pattinson portrayed Cedric Diggory in Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which was
largely more successful than the Twilight
franchise. His career as a model was bad,
and his acting occupation will go down the
drain as well. Ð Alicia Abramson
Today I donÕ t feel like doing anything, except for listen to BRUNO MARS! His
music career is soaring, and heÕ s all over
the internet, but for good reason: the release of his new album, Ò Unorthodox
JukeboxÓ , an album that gives taste to
music. Critics and magazines, along with
half the population of girls, rave about his
talent, looks, and the fact that he doesnÕ t
do drugs, drink, or smoke. Bruno is bringing a fresh feeling to the table. Lady Gaga
has got nothinÕ on you, Bruno Mars. ÐE mi
Arevalo
You look to your left and right, surveying the snowy
landscape, and decide to shoot a little green spark at a
passing snowflake. The second they meet, the snowflake
bursts, just like the market for this cool new gadget. The
oculus rift is a virtual reality headset that makes you
feel like you’re the character in you’re favorite video
game. The headset is basically a giant pair of goggles
that generates a virtual image as you move your head,
just like you were actually there. “I was actually lucky
enough to be at Consumer Electronics,” Patrick Cassels
says, “and I saw the oculus in action. You get very
immersed into the game and it seems like its in real life.”
For example, you could be holding a controller in the
real world but with your nifty goggles, you could look
down to see a glimmering sword. The demo version was
showcased at the Consumer Electronics show in Vegas,
and the product is expected to hit stores in the near future.
For all the non-gamers out there, Samsung is also
screening the future. Their dual-view TV allows two
people to watch two different channels at the same
time, or if you are a gamer, two full-screen views when
playing with a friend. All you have to do is to put on a
pair of special glasses and plug in your headphones, and
you’re ready to go.
Paul Revere Charter Middle School 9
One upon a time LADY GAGA called
herself the Fame Monster, but has her
fairytale come to an end? But while
her clothes overshadowed everyone
else, the other people belittled her music. When the 2013 GrammyÕ s came
around, she was a no show. Whether
this absence was caused by a severe
hip problem or just her own choices is
unknown, but never the less it seems
the meat dress of Lady GagaÕ s mind
has begun to rot. ÐC laire Spector
NEW TECH
By MARGARET BOELTER
Shown above is a Samsung TV set and the Oculus Rift, a system.
Shown to
the right is
the NASA
private
inflatable
spacecraft
Ever wondered what it would be like to live in space?
NASA may make that possible with their addition of
a private inflatable room they will attach to the ISS
(International Space Station). It would open the door
to affordable space living. NASA is teaming up with
private organizations like Boeing, Bigelow Aerospace,
and SpaceX, paying a total of seventeen point eight
million. Bigelow may be thinking about putting
an outpost on the moon where three hundred thirty
‘habitats’ would be flown down along with oxygen and
all the supplies needed for living. This is just an idea,
but wouldn’t it be cool to live on the moon?
The smart science students from Cmdr. Banner’s
class showed interest from the moment they heard
about these cool gadgets. “Living in space would be
awesome, but I don’t think it would be possible,” says
Thomas Mitchem. “This is a great invention which I
plan on buying,” says Sam Slavkin when marveling at
the oculus rift. “This invention could be pretty helpful
to many people. For the military, it could be used to
train for different combat missions,” says Tyler McCall.
“I think it’s a great idea,” says Thomas Mitchem. Only
the future knows how these new developments will
turn out.
10 January/February/March 2013
Paul Revere Charter Middle School
Two Striking Seasons
By COLE STANTON
Nile Monrose dribbles the ball
down the field towards the goal.
Revere’s girls take on the season.
In the 2013 Revere soccer season, both the boysÕ and
girlsÕ teams played their hearts
out in the many games against
other schools in the area. From
shutouts to ties, from losses to
nail biters, both Revere teams
showed great sportsmanship
and savvy skills in all matches.
The Revere girlsÕ soccer season kicked off on the 10th of
January when Revere girls tied
Crossroads School 1Ð1. The girls
were put down when they were
scored on in the first half, yet they
kept fighting for a goal. They
fought and fought until finally in
the last minute of the game Clara
Epstein took a shot from half
field. The ball floated through
the air and just above the keeperÕ s reach to tie the game. It was
a tough game for the girls, but
Kobe Kanan drives towards the
hoop, dodging a defender.
borhood School, but both Revere teams made quick work of
their opponents. The West Side
teams did not put up very much
of a fight; both of them getting shut out by the Riders. The
boys won 6Ð0 and the girls 2Ð0.
One week later, the 8th
grade boys teamed up with the
8th grade girls to take on the St.
Mathews co-ed team. Together
they shut them out 2Ð0 with
goals scored in both the first and
second half by Lauren Welborn
and Bill Batbayer. Both teams
played great games, as expected the Revere team prevailed.
The next two games were the
boysÕ toughest so far. The Riders played Culver City Middle
School two weeks in a row. The
first game the boys beat Culver
3Ð1, with goals scored by Nial
Monrose and Bill Batbayer. The
second game was not so easy.
Additionally, there is the JV
team playing for our school. With
four games already played they
have an overall score of 4 and 3.
First came their pre-season game
against Crossroads, an easy win.
Their New West game resulted in
a victorious win, but when pitted against Culver City the game
ended in a devastating loss. The
next games were wins against
Westide Waldorf and Saint Anastasia. Following this was a loss
to Park Century, a win against
Saint Marks, and another loss to
Century Community. The season
prepared them for their playoff
game which took place on Tues.
March 12th. Ò We do need to
work on our shooting percentages and improve ball movement,
but we have a variety of kids on
our team from great defenders to
good shooters to amazing ball
handlers to aggressive players,Ó
says seventh grader Trevor Dalton. With few places to improve
and many upsides to the team,
the Revere Patriots seem to have
slam-dunked yet again.
But not only have the boyÕ s
started off with a great season,
the girls are on a roll too. Both
teams have been great so far.
The JV started off their season with an easy win against,
Downtown Value. The Varsity
also won their first game against
ICEF Inglewood. Revere stared
off the game in the lead, and
kept the lead the whole game.
RevereÕ s GirlÕ s Varsity team won
the game 36 to zero, not letting
Inglewood shoot all night.
Ò The season for both teams,
JV and Varsity, is going very
well!Ó Mr. Hamanishi, the coach
of Varsity, explains, Ò The varsity
is 8 and 1, while the JV is 5 and
2.Ó This means that the Varsity
has lost one game, while the JV
has lost two this season. Ò The
flu is coming around and both
teams have been fine, except the
JV who cant afford to lose any
players, with only seven members total.Ó Mr. Hamanishi says.
Continuing their road to victory, both JV and Varsity made
it to playoffs. RevereÕ s girls JV
won their first playoff game
against Frederick Douglas. The
game was intense, but Revere
rised to the top and won. Not
only did JV girls have their first
playoff game, but so did Varsity.
Unfortunately, GirlÕ s JV did not
win their second match, and lost
against the undefeated La Tijera.
After winning their 2nd playoff
game against View Park, our Varsity girlsÕ dreams came true when
they played at the Staples Center on Wed. March 13th against
OLHC. All of their hardwork
and training came to use when
playing against this team. Playing at the Staples Center has been
the goal of both teams since the
start of the 2012-2013 season.
Four Teams, One Goal
By HANNAH SHABTIAN
and CLAIRE SPECTOR
A girls’ varsity player sprints
just ahead of the opposing team.
in the end they pulled through.
Later that week the boys had
a crack at the Crossroads team
and came out victorious, winning
5Ð2. The Revere boys pushed
out on top early in the game
with a 2Ð0 lead, yet somehow
the Crossroads team scored and
set them back. Just before the
half ended, Revere fit one more
into the goal to end the half on
a good note. Unfortunately, after the break, Crossroads came
out strong with a goal, but Revere’s boys finished them off
with two goals to end the game.
The boysÕ next two games
were both against Windward. In
their first game, Revere came
out on top with a 4Ð0 win, but
that wasnÕ t enough for them.
So in the rematch Revere gave
them an even larger beating.
For their next games both
teams played West Side Neigh-
The crowd is silent. The ball
can be heard loudly pounding the
ground as the star player races
across the court. He steps and
takes the shot while the buzzer
goes off, faded in the background.
The ball seems to be suspended
in mid air as the crowd rises, and
finally … Swish, SCORE!!! The
team has won with zero seconds
to spare.
This is the typical atmosphere
at a Revere basketball game.
The BoyÕ s varsity team, having
already competed seven times
this season, holds a record of 5
and 2 with regular games and 1
and 1 in the playoffs. After winning their pre-season game to
CrossRoads, they started their
more meaningful games. Their
first victory was played against
New West, but their next game
was a loss to Saint Jerome. The
third game was played against
Culver City, which resulted in an
overtime win. Next came wins
against View Park and Wilders
Prep. Their followng games
were a loss to Frank Parent and
another win against ICEF Inglewood. During the playoffs, they
won against Crozier by forfeit
and lost to Frederick Douglas.
Overall, our boyÕ s varsity team
has made a real slam dunk in RevereÕ s name.
Jack Gutheim sends in a cross.
The boys scored a goal in the
first half but were stopped there.
In the second half, Culver scored
an early goal, which kept both
teams battling for a goal. Finally,
in the last minutes of the game,
Jack Gutheim scored his second
goal to win the game for Revere. Both teams fought hard,
but the Riders came out on top.
The girlsÕ second to last
game against Culver City Middle School was a 1Ð0 loss. They
played tough and fought a great
battle, and just an accidental
breakdown led to a great shot.
The girls followed this with another 1–0 loss in their final game
against Culver City.
Over the six-week season the
teams played tons of soccer. The
boys completed their season with
seven wins and no ties or losses.
The girls had a good season with
three wins, one tie and two losses.
GirlsÕ JV player, Lena Thaw takes
a shot from the free-throw line.
Boys’ varsity player, Nima Rafie
dribbles the ball across the court.
January/February/March 2013
Paul Revere Charter Middle School 11
THE TOWN CRIER
Low in
the Bowls,
High in
the Sky
Julian flies high in
sky relieving himself
from his daily stress.
Haley cruises
smoothly by
the beach at
the Venice
Skatepark.
Ô Skateboarding lets
you be yourself.
ThereÕ s no coach to
listen to or players
to play with. It’s
completely free.’
By HANNAH SHABTIAN
School, homework and all sorts
of stress fill the week. When you
simply just need a break, what do
you do? For a number of Patriots,
the answer is simple: skate.
Being a stress reliever shared by
many, skateboarding is a great way
to escape the busy week.
Ò If IÕ m stressed with homework,
or having a rough day, all I do is
pick up my board and skate,Ó says
7th grader Julian Budge. “It’s like
an addictive drug. Once you learn
a trick, itÕ s a gateway to another
one. You can never stop.”
The sport has different levels of
intensity; you either trick skate,
competitive skate, or just plain
street skate, all of which are quite
challenging. You may think that
skateboarding is easy, but in all
reality, getting on a moving board
can be difficult; but when you’ve
been doing it for so long, it comes
naturally.
Ò Skateboarding isnÕ t something
I have to think about,Ó says 7th
grader Haley McCarthy. “It’s one
Ò My favorite tricks are
the fun, old school
ones. A Ô slappyÕ is
grinding a curb like a
ramp and a Ô wallyÕ is
riding a wall like a
ramp.Ó Ê ÑJ ulianÊ Budge
ÑH
Hank shows
off his tricks
at a skatepark.
of those things where I can just clear
my mind and do what I do best.”
Whether it is a person, or an event,
every skater has his or her inspira-
tion. “I look up to Marc Johnson
and David Gonzalez,” Julian says.
Ò They go for the craziest things
and always come out alive. Both
ank Korsan
are really gnarly people.”
When thinking of inspiration,
itÕ s not always the most famous
of all famous people, it can be
the person just around the corner. Literally. “I look up to my
neighbor Gabriel,” Haley says.
Ó He taught me how to skateboard when I was little, and has
helped me ever since.”
8th grader Hank Korsan concludes, Ò Skateboarding is important because it letÕ s you be
yourself. There is no coach to
listen to or players to play with.
It’s completely free.”
Ò My favorite trick is
probably an old school
trick like grinding, but
the first trick I ever
accomplished was on
the halfpipe.Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê ÑH aleyÊ McCarthy
Ò Two of my favorite
tricks are a tre flip and
a frontside shuv it.Ó
ÑH ankÊ Korsan
Andrew Friedman Wins 4th Annual Ping Pong Tournament
but Andrew Friedman was still
able to win in a thrilling match
between the two. Jake’s experience with tennis helped him earn
the second place title. “Since I
already know how to play tennis I already know the strokes
and objectives,” he says. However, practice makes perfect.
Andrew has a ping pong table
at his house and practices a lot.
Andrew took the lead 21Ð 14, but
soon it seemed that Jake would
make a comeback when the score
was 21–19 in their second match.
However, Andrew scored another point, as did Jake, making the
score 22 to 20 in Andrew’s favor.
The tournament ended with Andrew winning first place, Jake in
second, and Niko in third.
Jake (left) and Andrew face off in a hardcore match to test their skills.
By ALICIA ABRAMSON
Excitement blossomed in RevereÕ s gym as competitors Jake
Sands and Andrew Friedman
competed in RevereÕ s fourth annual ping pong tournament. The
two were the final opponents
after the “Elite 8” quarterfinals,
where Grant Ebner defeated Mr.
Tokeshi, Andrew Friedman was
victorious over Wes Mahony,
Jake Sands won over Caroline
Goldberg, and Niko Papageorge
defeated R. J. Sands. Grant Ebner and Niko Papageorge faced
off for the third place position,
which Niko gladly accepted after
defeating Grant. Jake Sands may
be an experienced tennis player,
Andrew (left) who got first place, Jake (middle) who got second, and Niko (right) who got third stand
together with their trophies in the gym. The 4th annual ping pong tournament ended on Fri. Mar. 8th.
12 January/February/March 2013
Paul Revere Charter Middle School