May 2016 Student Newsletter

Upcoming
Events
The Roaring
Newsletter
The Fastest People Alive
By: Chania Crowder
At lightning speed, with fire burning off their feet, several astounding athletes hold records that are some of the most difficult to accomplish.
In honor of the track and field season in session, here are some facts that
will blow your mind. I present to you “the fastest people alive.”
Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, and Asafa Powell. Do any of
these names ring a bell? Well, they’re currently considered to be the fastest male athletes in the world. At 207 lbs with only 6-8% of body fat, Usain
Bolt masters the impossible with a 9.58 time in the 100 meter race. Behind
Bolt, Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake compete for second place, since both
have clocked in with the same 9.71 time. Racing in 4th place, Asafa Powell
takes pride in his 9.72 time. Unfortunately, Powell tested positive for the
use of the drug oxilofrine in 2013 and was unable to race in the 2013
World Athletics Championships. He was suspended for 18 months. On another note, Usain continues to hold both records for becoming the first man
to win both 100m and 200m in record times. He became the first man to
set three world records, and win gold medals in his sprinting events four
years after his wins in 2008. Of the four men, only Tyson Gay is American.
The other three sprinters, hail from Jamaica .
However, since our article is about the fastest PEOPLE in the
world—we can’t leave out the top women sprinters. Florence GriffithJoyner, Carmelita Jeter, and Marion Jones are considered to be the fastest
women on earth. Florence Griffith-Joyner is no longer living, she died tragically at the age of thirty eight from an epileptic seizure, but she still maintains the number one title. The reason? Griffith-Joyner still holds the records for the 100m and 200m races. She set those records in 1988, and
they have yet to be surpassed by any other female athlete. Carmelita
Jeter’s time of 10.64 makes her the second fastest woman. She competed
in the 55m, 60m, 100m, and 200m. Lastly, coming in at only a .01 second
slower than Jeter, Marion Jones placed with a 10.65 time. Like Asafa Powell, Jones confessed to steroid use and was stripped of her Olympic medals—although she was never stripped of her 1999 World Champion medals and the records she achieved are still in place.
As you may have already assumed, most athletes pour hours of
hard work and dedication into their professions. Success comes to those
who work for it. As any athlete, including these 7, will tell you: you can do
whatever you put your mind to—but you have to work for it!
April 13: Boys’ Track & Field finals @ Ft. Myers HS
April 14: Girls’ Track & Field finals
5:45pm
April 15: Report cards get mailed
out
April 22: Lock-In! Make sure you
get your permission slips in early!!!
April 25: 6pm SAC/PTO Meeting
April 26: FCAT 2.0 SCIENCE
TEST
April 27: FSA ELA ASSESSMENT
April 28: FSA ELA ASSESSMENT
May 3rd & 4th: FSA -Math
May 6th: NJHS Induction Ceremony
May 10th & 11th: FSA Algebra
May 17th: EOC Civics & Spring
Concert for Beginning Band, Concert Band and STOMP
May 19th : Spring Concert for
Jazz and Symphonic Bands
May 20th: 7th Grade Awards
June 2nd: 6th Grade Awards
June 3rd—8th Grade Awards and
dance.
John F. Kennedy: Assassination of a President
By: Lea Pick
John F. Kennedy’s assassination was dreadful for America. Questions have been circling around the event
for years. Many conspiracy theories have been put forth, and despite the fact that the murder took place over fifty
years ago, there is still a lot of interest in the events that shook not just America, but the world.
Lee Harvey Oswald was the man who was blamed for the murder of America’s 35th president. This is because it wasn’t proven if he actually killed Kennedy—you see, Oswald was himself assassinated and never stood
trial for the slaying of JFK. According to reports, Oswald seemed to resemble a man who was seen leaving the
Texas School Book Depository. It was thought that the shots that killed Kennedy came from the building.
A famous film called the “Zapruder film” captured the exact moment that Kennedy was shot. Many believe
that the film supports the idea that Oswald could not have been the only gunman that day. It has been studied by
amateur sleuths, policing agencies, experts and more, however there is still quite a bit of disagreement over how
many shots were fired at the president—and by how many gunmen. Texas Governor John Connally who was riding in the limousine with JFK, and who was also shot, maintained until his death that the shots came from different
sides of the vehicle.
John’s wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, escaped being shot, however she could not escape the splatter of her
husband’s blood and brain matter. Despite being offered a change of clothes at the hospital, she refused stating:
“Let them see what they’ve done to Jack!” She never washed the blood off of the pink Chanel suit she was wearing that day. In fact, the suit is currently at the National Archives in Maryland. The public will not be able to view
the suit until 2103.
Speculation over his death aside, one truth remains: the killing of an American president changed the
course of history, and with it, the world.
Habit 3: Putting First Things First!
By: Sophia Mathewson
The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective Teens
The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective Teens is a book written
by Sean Covey. Its purpose is to
provide teenagers with a framework of so that they can build
better relationships, make better
choices, improve their selfesteem and generally become
more confident in their decisions.
The book is the basis for
our leadership classes here at
Diplomat Middle School.
According to the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens”,
habit 3 is “putting first things first.” Putting first things first is one of the most
important things a person can do for themselves. Too often, we allow the
list of tasks the must be completed to overwhelm
and control us. We forget to take care of ourselves. In doing so, we cheat ourselves of valuable “me time” that is so very essential to our
well-being. We forget how to manage our time
properly and to prioritize those things that are
truly important. For instance, you’re addicted to
video games, but you have homework that’s due
tomorrow. A way to overcome this challenge is
to think of the consequences of not completing
the assignment. If you finish your homework,
you get a top notch grade. If you don’t you will
most likely get a bad grade and be forced to redo it. Thus, wasting more time.
It’s your life, don’t let something else distract you from what’s important!
The Dangers of Processed Food
By: Brianna Rich
Life is busy. As a result, more and more people choose processed
food over natural food. When one speaks about processed food, most assume that they are making reference
to fast food. However, processed
food doesn’t just have to be your favorite drive-thru snack. Many items
that are in your kitchen cupboards
contain food that is most likely processed. Everyday products such as
butter and ketchup contain ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup. These artificial elements are what makes these products processed
food.
So what’s the big problem with processed food? Processed food
doesn’t have the necessary nutritional value that natural food products have.
For example, consuming the proper amount of daily fiber is essential to
good health. You need it to help your body work properly in everyday life. A
diet high in fiber can aide in things like a healthy heart, clear skin, and help
to keep your weight in control. Although some processed foods make the
claim that they are “high in fiber” often their claims are false since the products they are adding to the food are nothing more than “filler” foods.
The one thing that processed foods do provide to a person’s diet are
chemicals. These chemicals can produce cancer in areas such as the
brain, liver, and the kidneys. Many common known chemicals that can
cause severe damages like these are artificial colors and Butylated Hydroxyanisole or BHA. BHA is not only found in over hundreds of foods, but can
also be found in cosmetics.
Processed food isn’t just bad for your health, but it can also lead to
addiction. According to the website medicaldaily.com “highly processed
foods were more likely to have the same effect on the brain as hard drugs,
compared to non-processed foods like wheat, fish, and other “boring” and
“healthy” foods.” These foods trigger dopamine which makes your body believe that you are feeling good and they offer nutrients. However, this leads
to overeating which can cause addiction to this food. The addiction can be
very injurious to your health leading to things such as obesity and extreme
weight gain.
There’s an old adage: You are what you eat. Think about what
you’re eating before you consume it. You may find yourself feeling and looking a whole lot better.
School Mission Statement
“To inspire lifelong learning by building character
and providing rich academic experiences in a safe
learning environment.”
TWENTY ONE STUDENTS
SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ART SHOW!
Mr. Dominguez and his art
students have done it
again! Twenty one of our
Wildcats were selected to
participate in the 24th Annual Exhibition: The Future
of Art. The show, presented by Lee Art Education
Association and Lee County Alliance for the Arts, celebrates the work of elementary and middle school
students. If you see any of
the students listed below—
make sure you congratulate them!
Diana Perez
Amber Sefcik
Kristin Warren
Gavin Strader
Briana Perez
Kristal Arel
Ayleen Zurita
Diana Perez
Alyssa Mitchinson
Molly Reagan
Sarah Spoor
Hannah Staruk
Nagelli Staruk
Donovan Jeffery
Olivia Hubbard
Lydia Kim
Kristine Stuart
Jayda Rakestraw
Lydia Kim
Andrea Zuniga
Aydian Hene
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Horoscopes!
By: Lea Pick
What time the signs wake
up on the weekends:
Aries: They don’t sleep
Taurus: 12pm
Gemini: 3pm
Cancer: 11am
Leo: 8am
Virgo: 7am
Libra: 1pm
The History of Zodiacs
By: Lea Pick
You’ve heard of the zodiac signs—Leo,
Virgo, Aquarius and Sagittarius, to name just a
few. But do you know the history behind the zodiac signs?
It was assumed that it all started with
Babylonian astronomers, in Mesopotamia. They knew it took 12 lunar cycles for the sun to return to
its original position according to the
American Federation of Astrologers. (AFA) Thus, there being 12
zodiacs. It soon became popular
amongst the Greeks and Romans.
The word “Zodiac” came from the
Greeks, meaning “circle of animals.”
The names of the zodiacs all mean
something related to their symbol. For instance,
Sagittarius means “The Archer” in Latin. Currently, many people embrace the “circle of animals” by going online and looking up their horoscopes.
Scorpio: 4pm
Sagittarius: 11am
Capricorn: 2am
Aquarius: They don’t wake
up—they just sleepwalk
through the weekend.
Pisces: 9am
4th Quarter is here! Make sure you are not letting things slide—end
strong!
School ends June 10th Wildcats, but don’t worry—
this summer will be slightly shorter since we start
back August 10th!
4
Elvis Presley Conspiracy Theories: Proven False!
By: Emi Kellum
Before the famous stars we know today, there was Elvis Presley, or
“the King.” Presley was popular from the moment he released his first song in
1956 until his death in 1977. For many, his songs are timeless and many
have been covered by current artists.
Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Mississippi on January 8, 1935. He
even had a twin, who was named Jesse Garon Presley. Unfortunately, Jesse
was stillborn, meaning he was miscarried.
In August of 1977, it was announced that the 42 year old singer had
died of an apparent heart attack. However, many people believe this to be
untrue. Conspiracy theorists believe he is still alive and in hiding. The most
common theory is that Elvis faked his own death. The supposed evidence
behind this is on Presley’s gravestone. You see apparently his middle name
was spelled with only one “A,” instead of two. Thus, making it more similar to
his twin’s middle name, Garon. This may be an interesting idea to many,
however, it was proven false. It seems his father, knowing that Elvis had
sought to correct the spelling of his middle on his birth certificate, opted to
honor his son’s wishes. As well, there were several witnesses who saw Elvis’ dead body removed from the house. There’s a theory that there was a
“fake” Elvis in his coffin - but an abundance of people saw him in the casket,
and his family have repeatedly debunked this theory and maintain it was the
real Elvis.
So why all the theories? Well, Elvis was much loved and it seems
that most people couldn’t believe that the famous Elvis Presley, had died.
People were not able to accept that this icon of American music had succumbed at such a young age. In fact, it seems that as in life, Elvis still has a
lot of money making power—according to a 2015 Forbes magazine article,
he still ranks in the number two position for top earning dead celebrities. His
estate made over $55 million dollars in 2015—not bad for a guy who’s been
dead for 39 years!
Lock-in Requirement
If students want to participate in the lock-in, it
is required that they don’t have any behavior
referrals from January 4- April 22
5
For 6th and 7th graders!
It’s almost the end of the year,
and it seems as if there are
endless electives to choose
from. Be sure to choose electives that fulfill your passions!
Electives:
ART COURSESArt I
Art II **
Art III **
Beginning Band
Concert Band/ Band 2 **
Symphonic Band/ Band 3 **
Jazz Band/ Band 4 **
Chorus 1
Chorus 2 **
Orchestra 1
Orchestra 2 **
Orchestra 3 **
Guitar
Stomp
Theatre 1
Theatre 2 **
P.E. (Grades 7/8th)
LITERACYSpanish Advanced **
World Cultures
Film & Literature
International Relations
Philosophy
Sports Sociology
Classic Mythology
Creative Writing
There is much more; talk to
your teachers for the full list!
YOUR LOGO HERE
Underwater Stonehenge and Mastodon Rock
By: Diana Perez
You may know of the prehistoric monument, Stonehenge, but did you
know it has an underwater twin? Many divers and aquatic scientists have found
strange relics under water, but this discovery is sure to leave your jaw hanging.
At forty feet below the surface of Lake Michigan, there lies archeologist
Mark Holley’s greatest discovery; a rock formation which appears to be an
underwater Stonehenge. Holley and his colleague, Brian Abbott, made the
discovery when they were
exploring the waters in
search of shipwrecks.
Equipped with specialized
sonar equipment, they
picked up images of the
strange rock pattern on the
smooth featureless lake.
They immediately
sent divers down to visit
the site and attain photos,
and were surprised with
what they had captured. A boulder was photographed near the site that is
believed to feature a prehistoric carving of a mastodon; an animal assumed to
have become extinct 10,000 years ago. Those who have examined the
photographs of the rock have requested more evidence before drawing the
conclusion whether the markings are truly an ancient petroglyph.
The only trouble is that expert researchers in petroglyphs don’t
necessarily specialize in diving, making the task almost impossible. However,
Holley and his colleagues hope that a 3-dimensional computer model of the
carving will help petroglyph experts confirm the authenticity of the rock, and
whether it was a chance cut by glacial features or the work of ancient humans.
Charles Cleland, a retired curator of Great Lakes archeology, says these
carvings are rare in the upper Midwest, however, he does see the value in the
investigation.
On the other hand, if the item was actually authenticated, it would not be
all that much of a surprise. Other artifacts have been recovered from the Great
Lakes and they are not all that unusual or out of place. More than 100 cities
have been recorded to be found in the Mediterranean sea, let alone more at the
bottom of all the other oceans.
Of course, this is only one of the many discoveries made in oceanology,
and there are much more to be made. As of right now, we have only explored
five percent of our oceans. Luckily, this is not where the adventure stops. Who
knows? Maybe our next discovery will be Atlantis!