The Paw Print Press - UMS-Wright Preparatory School

The Paw Print Press
December 16, 2014
UMS-Wright Preparatory School
Volume 3 Issue 2
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Pictured above at left with some of the presents are J Greene (kneeling) and standing left to right are
Clarke O’Connor, Ashton Lambert, Campbell Ladd, and Anna Kline Lee. Pictured with the Thanksgiving
baskets and turkeys on the back row are David Bell, Jack McAnnally, Ahsan Jamal, Mary Martin
Yance, Esther Feinstein, Campbell Ladd, Olivia Swann, JP Cave, Trey Greer, Ann Corrigan, Mary Miles
Peterson, and Julia Sumrall. Front row left to right are Madi Hill, Parks Moore, Seth Davis, and
Chapman Johnson.
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Giving Back With a Grateful Heart
by Madi Hill
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The UMS-Wright middle school students have a yearly tradition of
assisting families during the holiday season. Again this year, the middle
school advisories brought in various items for the Thanksgiving baskets.
Fifteen families living at the Sybil Smith Family Village were in need of food
for Thanksgiving meals, and there were also five additional families in the
Crichton area who were struggling as well. The students provided twenty
boxes of food including various canned good items as well as breads and
boxed items. They also provided a turkey for each of the twenty families.
Middle school students also brought 130 Christmas toys for the Dumas
Wesley Toy Store. Families who are struggling at Christmas time can shop for
new discounted toys at the Toy Store. The Toy Store caters to eligible
residents of Crichton and Dumas Wesley’s transitional housing program,
Sybil H. Smith Family Village. Many thanks to everyone in the UMS-Wright
family for making these projects so successful.
The Chatterbox
!
We asked what some favorites things were
around campus so far this year. These
were some of the responses.
The Paw Print Press
!
UMS-Wright Preparatory School
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Abby Baker-Spanish
Alex Baker- band
Hudson Barnett-Yellow Day
Gary Beasley-history class
Caroline Bethea-dance
Will Cunningham-rotating schedule
Rachel Duthu-civics
Benedikt Flechsenhar- lunch
Megan Hwang-Scholars Bowl
Allie Lairmore-Camp Grace
Jack Lambert-STEM labs
Jack McAnnally- cross country
Chaney McCorquodale-the library
Emme McPhillips-cheering at games
Tre Mitchell-advisory
Katie Morris-volleyball
Sam Norris-pep rallies
Alexander Neumann-science
Anita Nguyen-PE
Audrey Sewell- art
Rainey Tanner-drama
Megan Taylor- break
Ryan Rothermel-changing classes
Morgan Walker-lockers
Grant Whitehurst-photography
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Middle school students were also asked
how much time they spent a night on
homework. Fifty one percent said they
spent an hour or more.
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Headmaster
Dr. Tony Havard
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Upper School Principal
Mr. Doug Barber
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Assistant Principal
Mr. Wes Lathan
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Academic Dean
Dr.Keith Rice
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Dean of Technology
Mr. Brent Daughtery
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Counselor/Assistant Academic Dean
Mrs. Dana Stewart
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Sponsor
Ms. Ashley Fillingim Hill
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UMS-Wrighters for Vol 3 Issue 2
Rachel Duthu
Madi Hill
Justin Lieber
Zoe McMahan
Lauren Olzinski
Colin Young
Around the World in a Day
by Zoe McMahan and Lauren Olzinski
!
What an amazing experience to visit the Mobile International Festival! For over
30 years, the Festival’s goal is to promote understanding, tolerance and friendship
among the cultures that our world represent. We
definitely got a taste of it!
Mae, Chandler, Brenda, Morgan, and Mary Helen
!
The staff at the Festival issued us a passport so as
we traveled around the world, we could get a stamp
at each nation. As we visited each booth and a
person from the country stamped the book for us,
they also talked a little about the country they
were from and about the culture. Lots of pictures
and artifacts and videos played at the different
booths to help take us to the country we were
visiting. We received around 3O stamps, but a couple of countries didn’t have
stamps. Some people were hard to understand based on the language they spoke. We
just smiled and nodded. That fact just made it more interesting!
!
The variety of things to do at the Festival surprised us. You could get your name
written in different languages. Like in Iran, our name was written in Arabic. You
could also get your name written in the countries of Japan, Cambodia, and Iraq. We
learned a lot and wish to go back next year.
!
There were a ton of awesome foods to try in the center of the festival and cool things
to buy at each booth as we walked around. The most popular attraction to us was the
Thailand booth. The Thai donuts were out of this world. Everyone loved the donuts really a great food to try. Another popular attraction would be the Japanese soda
from the Japanese booth. We think most people tried
one. Everyone had a good time walking around and visiting all the counties.
!
Several stages were also set up so you could go to to watch singers and dancers to
show the differences in the cultures. One of the acts we witnessed demonstrated
some amazing drummers, but no one from UMS got to go on stage while we watched.
Maybe next time.
!
Mobile, Alabama has many cultures with people living and working together
everyday – and we didn’t even realize this. We all were transported for just a little
while to a different place. We got to visit, right here in Mobile, Alabama, different
countries from every continent. Our world definitely got bigger. !
International Festival
Hayden
Jack,Sam, Pearson, Kade, Cameron, and Christopher
n and
Saga
and Grif
fin
Isabella and Katy
Sam
Frances, Abbi, and Catie
EmmaGrace and Katie
Caden and Walt
Colin, Wil
nd Ebb
l, Ryan, a
A Christmas Carol
by Rachel Duthu
!
On November 20th the UMS-Wright
seventh grade went to the forty-second
Alabama Shakespeare Festival to see A
Christmas Carol. In English class, the
students have been reading the classic
Charles Dickens novel and were looking
forward to seeing the story performed
live. Six chaperones and five English
classes eagerly boarded the bus early that
Thursday morning. The attendees were
divided between two buses and left
promptly at 6:30 in the morning to drive
to Montgomery.
Every student chose a traveling
companion to sit with on the bus. Some
students had been to the festival before
and took the chance to tell their partners
all about it. However, many like me had
never been before, and were quite
impressed by the stunning landscape of
the Carolyn Blount Theatre property
when we arrived around nine in the
morning.
As we exited the bus, several people
found their friends from the other bus to
sit with them during the play. Our school
had the best seats in the theater-- the
front rows in the middle section. The
actor portraying the role of Charles
Dickens served as the narrator for the top!
hat for two young children sitting on the
left of us.
The performers that portrayed the
Christmas carolers and various other
parts also came on stage, and sang
traditional Christmas carols. The carolers
exited when the lights dimmed allowing
time for the starting roles to take their
positions. Ebenezer Scrooge and his clerk,
Bob Cratchit, starred in the first scene of
a wonderful two-hour play with a fifteenminute intermission. The performance
ended with little white bubbles coming
down from the ceiling in the place of snow
on Christmas Eve.
Everyone then exited the playhouse,
and headed to Eastdale Mall in
Montgomery for lunch. We had thirty
minutes to navigate the food court, buy
food, eat, and leave the mall. A large
number of students went to Chick-fil-A,
but there were many other options. Some
finished early, and went to explore other
parts of the mall like the ice rink. Every
person was on the bus by one o’clock
ready to return to Mobile.
All six chaperones and eighty-five
happy children arrived at UMS around
3:30 in the afternoon. The children that
had attended classes that day were gone,
but parents of the seventh graders were
lined up ready to hear about the trip.
Parents might have heard the story with
different variations, but I am sure
everyone had a great experience.
"I will honour Christmas in my
heart, and try to keep it all the
year. I will live in the Past, the
Present, and the Future. The
Spirits of all Three shall strive
within me. I will not shut out
the lessons that they teach. Oh,
tell me I may sponge away the
writing on this stone!"
!
~ A Christmas Carol
!
Airbus 5K
by Justin Lieber
!
The Airbus 5K On The Runway was held
on November 22nd from 2-8 at Brookley
Airfield. Before the race started there was
a Fun-Run which was not on the runway
for kids. While we were waiting for the 5K
there were bouncy houses, a snow cone
truck, and even a flight simulator
operated by Zulu. Once they got
everything set up, they told us to walk
down the road to the start line. They blew
the air horn and everyone started to run
or jog. The road was very short, then we
turned on the runway. The runway was
pretty big! They had a water station at
the end of the runway. Then once we
turned off the runway, Mobile's Airport
Fire and Rescue extended their hose to
point the way. We were on another road
for quite a while. Once we neared the end,
there was a FedEx A310 which is a
massive plane you could walk up to. We
were on the final run; everyone was at the
end watching everyone cross the finish
line. They gave out bananas, protein bars,
and water. We had 30 more minutes
before the awards. For those 30 minutes a
band was playing. Then the awards
started, giving out medals to the 1st,2nd,
3rd place for age groups. Airbus has
finished their hangar at Brookley and
soon will make the first A320 in March or
April. Then Airbus will try to make A321
which are a bit bigger than the A320 and
try to make 4 planes a month. Airbus will
host another run next year around the
same time. Make sure you go next year,
because maybe you will get to see the
planes!
Choral Concert Preview
by Colin Young
In the middle school chorus class,
students practice every Tuesday from
2:30 to 3:20. Students were able to
showcase their talents along with the
upper school chorale and Wright singers
on December 4th. Middle school chorus
members sang “Whisper, Whisper” and
“Ding Dong Merrily on High”. At the end
of the assembly, Mr. Massey asked the
whole student body to join in with the
upper and middle school singers to sing
f av o r i t e C h r i s t m a s c a r o l s b e f o r e
returning to class. The middle school
chorus sang various other songs on
Thursday, December 11th at the night
concert, and the band also held their
concert that night as well.
On December 11th during the
school assembly, the band presented a
concert preview as well. If students like
Peanuts or the Grinch, they certainly
enjoyed the musical selections the band
played for the student body. Both the
chorus and the band did an excellent job.
Both groups certainly have helped spread
the Christmas cheer this year.
Keep
praying
for
Davis!
Junior Optimist Work Day
Morgan Walker
s
Brenda Elli
Junior Optimist members had a work day at
the Sybil Smith Family Village on December
2nd. Members performed various chores
including raking leaves, cleaning behind AC
units, pulling weeds from flower beds,
sweeping sidewalks, and wiping down doors,
windows and stairwells. Pictured above on the
back row, left to right, are Kyle Patel, Justin
Littlefield, Harris Sullivan, Andrew Gates,
Matthew Taylor, Will Cunningham, Madi Hill,
Jackson Graham, Joshua Catlett, Sykes
Ashbee, Trey Weaver, Tre Mitchell, Justin
Lieber, Alexander Neumann, Campbell Ladd,
and Ashton Lambert. Front row, left to right,
are Hayden Owen, Mary Stuart McMillan,
Isabella Williams, Katie Holston, Maegan
Taylor, Brenda Ellis, Emma Grace Brantley,
Bailey Weaver, Katie Faggard, Morgan Walker,
and Chandler Bray. Shelby Burton is in the
very front. Ms. Joni Hendee, Director of the
Dumas Wesley Community Center visited with
middle school students via the middle school
announcements on Monday, December 15th.
She was on campus to thank the middle school
students for their support of the Dumas
Wesley Toy Store and families at the Sybil
Smith Family Village. Students in middle
school lend support through various projects
each year.
y
race Brantle
and Emma G
ston
Katie Hol
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and Shel
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el
Tre Mitch
Hayd
en
Isabell Owen, M
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and K
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Camp Grace Scrapbook 2014
We asked eighth graders to complete a
short survey for us so we could share
some of their favorites from Camp Grace.
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What was your favorite activity?
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Elizabeth Boyd the team obstacle course
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Scooter Burmeister the bonfire
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Trey Fowler free time
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Will Hall fishing
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Conrad Inge the team building activity
with Mrs. Stewart
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Annie Klein building the picnic tables
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Allie Lairmore
swings
hanging out at the
!
Jake Lee fishing and hanging out in the
cabins
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Caroline Maitre ropes course and fishing
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Hensley May the ropes course
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Callen Parker karaoke
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Margaret Slaton painting the UMSWright logo on the chairs
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Ellie Tartt building
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Elizabeth Winsor Minute to Win It
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What was your favorite meal at Camp
Grace?
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Preston Alford pizza
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Bianca Dumlao too many to choose from
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Andrew Gates bbq
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Grace George Moe’s mexican
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Lauren-Kendall Graham Chick fil a
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Will Horn pasta salad
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Anna Hunt Foosackly’s
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Julia Thomas King Jimmy John’s
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Skipper Snypes poboys
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What was your favorite song during
karaoke?
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Brink Bedsole
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Angel
Virginia Dukes Please Don’t Stop the
Music
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Laiten Hudson Sweet Caroline
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Tyler Irvin Courtesy of the Red, White
and Blue
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Catherine Lyons Living on a Prayer
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Rivers McMurphy Bohemian Rhapsody
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Avery Otto Cheeseburger in Paradise
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Kenley Russ Dixieland Delight
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Mary Appleton Weston Rock Me Momma
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Building in Record Time
The eighth grade class completed the
projects in record time this year.
The eighth grade class along with
teachers and administrators built 20
benches, 25 picnic tables, 100 Adirondack
chairs, and 20 deer feeders.
They raised $7,000 with $3,500 going
to Camp Rap-a-Hope, and $3,500 going to
UCP Camp Smile. Both of these camps
have their summer camps at Camp
Grace. They also left a few tables at Camp
Grace as a donation and brought some
tables back to school and placed them in
the courtyard.
Three-peat for Marcelle Ellis
The 2014 Spelling Bee participants are pictured above From left to right are Ryann
Jokerst, Ella Fridriksson, Gracie Platt, Hannah McConnell, Brenda Ellis, Aisha Jamal,
Grace Lyons, Catherine Lyons, Rachel Duthu, and Marcelle Ellis. Marcelle Ellis has seized
the winner’s trophy all three years in middle school. This was the first year that two sets
of siblings competed. Grace and Catherine Lyons and Brenda and Marcelle Ellis competed
against each other.
It is Rocket Science
!
On December 11th the eighth grade science
classes tested rockets in the open field next
to the middle school building. At right, Mr.
Michael Napp readies a rocket as Katie
Morris looks on patiently. One of the many
learning techniques used in the new STEM
labs allow students to conduct a variety of
hands-on activities as part of the learning
process. Students rotate through a variety
of modules, but the science teachers also
have an opportunity to teach blended
science lessons as well.
Bulldog Spirit
Teacher Spotlight: Coach
Cameron Williams
by Madi Hill
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Blue Angels Celebrate
100th Anniversary
by Justin Lieber
What are some of your hobbies besides
soccer?
I try and play golf, train my dog to do cool
tricks, and working out.
!
What is your favorite food?
Asian food
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Who was your favorite teacher growing up
and why?
Mrs. Fowler was my favorite teacher because
she showed me how to think outside the box
with government and made learning fun.
!
If you could travel back in time, who would
you like to meet and why?
Dr. Martin Luther King because of the impact
he had on the Civil Rights movement.
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What is your favorite movie?
Remember the Titans
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What is your favorite book?
The Count of Monte Cristo
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If you could go anywhere in the world,
where would you go and why?
Spain-to play soccer
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What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas-because it’s a time for family and
loved ones to get together and celebrate the
birth of Christ
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If you could have a super power, what would
it be and why?
I would say to read people’s minds because the
mind is so mysterious and private. I would be
able to help people that sometimes are afraid
to ask for help.
!
The Blue Angels had their last
show of 2014 on November 9th. The
show produced some amazing stunts:
a girl standing on the wing of a flying
plane going 150 mph, F22’s, the
number one acrobatic pilot, and the
world’s largest group of acrobatic
pilots were on hand. The Blue Angel
plans called The Fat Albert was on
hand for tricks as well.
As the Blue Angel pilots walked
toward the planes, the crowd was
eager to see what they had to offer.
The first four planes ascended in
formation with their wings being
only 18 inches apart. Planes five and
six took off and did solos. Some of the
planes flew at each other, and then at
the last second turned sharp right,
and then planes one through four
completed a “bomb breakout” while
flying at 5,000 feet. They all went
different ways.
When the show ended, everyone in
the crowd was talking about how all
of the pilots performed. It was a
performance to remember!