Dips, cookies, and goodies, oh my!

Smithsonian
SMITHSONIAN
1
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
Eric S. Smith Middle School, Ramsey, NJ
March, 2011
Dips, cookies, and goodies, oh my!
By: Sarah Kramer
Devil‟s food cookies, chocolate peppermint bark, and chocolate-orange fudge lay out
on a table for everyone to share and eat. These
were just some of the delicious treats that
were featured at the last meeting of the Smith
School Cooking Club, hosted by the Smith
School Life Skills teacher, Ms. Vinopal. The
Smith School Cooking Club is a fun way to
improve your culinary skills, but at the same
time have fun with your friends. Kids are able
to experiment with new recipes, while finding
out a new favorite food. They can also learn
how to cook and prepare for an independent
life, so they can start cooking at home.
The cooking club is a great extracurricular activity for kids at Smith School. But
do other people also think this is true? When
interviewed, Smith School parent Lisa
Kramer stated, “I think the cooking club is a
good activity because it teaches you independence in the kitchen, and it teaches you a good
life skill; you need to feed yourself. You can
also use math in cooking, like fractions, and it
is calming, relaxing, and fun.” I agree with
Lisa Kramer, who is also my mother. You could
always use another skill, especially if it means
feeding yourself. Also, the better cook you are,
the more people will enjoy your food.
Now that you know about the cooking
club, you‟re probably wondering what you
would do in cooking club. So to find out, I
asked my fellow cooking club member, what
would she like to do in cooking club? “I want to
bake more, like cookies, instead of doing stuff
without the oven,” explained 6th grader
Meghana Sankaran. At the last meeting, we
did make cookies, and they were delicious. I
agree with Meghana, because I love sweets and
goodies, and I like to use ovens.
What can you expect to do when you
sign up for cooking club? Well you can certainly expect to cook delicious recipes! I asked
another 6th grader who joined the club, Maeve
Connolly, what she expected to do when she
signed up. “I expected to bake, cook, and learn
how to do much more,” Maeve explained.
Maybe like cutting up a very hot pepper? That
was what Maeve did at her first cooking club
meeting. What can you expect? A fun-filled,
two hour, delicious experience!
You would really enjoy cooking club if
you like to cook and learn new things. It is a
fun experience filled with delicious new food. It
is a fun way to learn and enjoy new foods. The
food made is delicious. At the end of the club,
you make your favorite recipes for the PTO,
who sponsor the character education programs.
At the cooking club, you can expect to make
delicious food, and there is always something
for you to sink your teeth into.
They shoot! They score!
By: Jon Turk
“Swish!” Every Monday and Wednesday morning this is the sound you hear as four
teams play to win just before school starts with
the early arrivers watching. This basketball
league is called Hoop Heaven. There are two
games each morning on the side courts of the
gym. The league, run by Mr. Truppi, focuses
on friendly competition and sportsmanship.
Although normal basketball rules are applied,
there are additional rules specifically for Hoop
Heaven games. For example, if a team is winning by five or more baskets, that team cannot
dribble the ball, and can only make passes
without the ball touching the ground. This is
one of the unusual rules that contains the lead
of the game and promotes fairness between
teams. Even though these rules can hold back
a team‟s ability to score, all the teams strive to
win.
You may be wondering how to create a
team for Hoop Heaven. When asked how he
created his team, Connor Koch replied, “I made
my team by gathering good friends. This was
hard because I had to call them and ask.” Another student didn‟t find it that difficult. “It
was not hard to make up a team because all I
did was get my closest friends together,” said
Danny Botta. Each team captain may have a
different view on making the team. Danny also
said, “But it was also hard because we had to
make up our name and choose our position.”
This can obviously be difficult since some players may all want to play the key positions, but
the team as a whole has to make compromises
and accommodations on various abilities.
You have now learned what you need to
know about Hoop Heaven. But why should you
participate in the Hoop Heaven league? When
asked, Christopher Lim said, “I like to play
competitive basketball with my friends.”
Timmy Ryan replied, “You can also express
yourself and compete in a nice way”. Hoop
Heaven is a great way to start the day off with
your friends on your team or the team you are
playing.
Once the team is together, it is best if a
strategy is formed before hitting the court or
the team could find itself in trouble quickly.
Mike Ryan said, “It was hard to play at first,
but then it all fell into place.” This is a testament to having a strategy before hand so that
each player contributes to the game. Another
response during the interview was, “At first we
didn‟t understand the rules fully, but then we
started to develop,” replied Christian Tesoriero.
Keeping in mind that the more you play, the
better you become will help you be King of the
Court!
Hoop Heaven has many positive attributes that are developed on the court and carried
out in every day life. Run by Mr. Truppi you
are guaranteed to have fun and a sense of accomplishment. So start “swishing and dishing”
on the courts of Hoop Heaven.
Lonely to exciting every Friday
By: Maura Thompson
Have you ever felt like you were surfing
on water? Well you get the same effect when you
ski with the Smith School Ski Club. From the
top of the mountain, all the way to the lodge at
the bottom, the ride down almost feels like you
are surfing on water. The smooth sailing of a
sailboat or surfing gracefully is another way to
describe it. You feel free, almost like you could
ski or snowboard anywhere. Ski Club is a fantastic, exhilarating experience. No matter what
age you are (you have to be in grades 6-8 and go
to school at Smith School) you can join ski club.
You can also join Ski Club if you are a beginner,
intermediate, or expert. At any level you can
find a hill for you. Not only can you go skiing,
you can also go snowboarding. Every Friday the
Ski Club goes on a trip to Hidden Valley. The
bus ride there is about 45 minutes to one hour
long. After the wait everyone rushes out of the
bus so they can go skiing quickly.
The main purpose of Ski Club was for
kids to carryout their passion in skiing or snowboarding. But that‟s not the only reason kids
signed up for Ski Club. I went to Rhiannon
Brown and Evan Schreiber to find out more reasons. “ Skiing is a big part of my life. When I got
to do it with my friends it was second nature to
sign up,” spills Evan Schreiber. What I think he
is trying to say is he loves skiing, but he thinks
that skiing with his friend is even more fun so he
wanted to sign up. He was many of the students
who signed up because their friends were doing
it.
I met up with Rhiannon Brown one day
to find out the reasons why she signed up. “It
looked like a lot of fun and when a lot of people
were talking about it I knew it would be fun for
sure.” That‟s one of the reasons I signed up for
ski club too. My brother had gone to Ski club and
he loved it. He also recommended it to anyone
interested. There are so many people that are in
Ski club so it is very hard not to hear about it.
Word gets around that it is a fun activity to do
with your friends.
The first trip was supposed to be January 7th but unfortunately it was cancelled because of a huge snowstorm and a half-day of
school. The next Ski Club was January 14th and
there was some very cold weather. While people
were zipping down the trails most did not realize
the frigid weather. Rhiannon Brown commented,
“ It was really cold at the top of the mountain,
but you got used to it.” The conditions were icy
but most people didn‟t seem to mind.
Some would say amazing. Some would
say awesome or some would say too good to be
true. These are things to describe Ski Club. Skiing was totally fun at the mountain, but with
only four or five trails it does get boring. Luckily,
there are other things besides skiing for kids to
enjoy. Evan Schreiber „s favorite thing was the
food. “It is unhealthy and greasy but what kid
doesn‟t enjoy that?” said Evan Schreiber. The
restaurant has so many selections that you get
lost in choices. Other kids enjoyed the famous
bus ride (personally, that is my favorite). Most
everyone enjoys the bus ride. You can hang out
with your friends, meet new people or get to
know someone better on the bus. Some kids also
enjoyed the chair lift. The chairlift held three
people so if you are in a big group it is easier and
quicker to get on and off. Other people liked the
chairlift because it gave them time to talk and
plan the next trail to ski or snowboard. Others
enjoyed being able to go down more slopes since
it was quicker. Ski Club has many other things
that people like and these are just a few.
Ski Club lets kids express themselves in
many ways. It brings you closer to good friends,
new friends, and old. It also lets you meet new
people. Ski Club‟s main goal was to make kids
happy doing something they love to do. They
definitely made that happen and everyone knows
it.
Page22
NEWS
A basket worth making
By: Alison Saunders
“Go team,” you shout! What would life be
without exercise? The truth is we would all be out of
shape. Thankfully, our cozy little town of Ramsey
supplies us with several athletic activities. From
travel soccer to recreational field hockey, Ramsey has
it all. Currently, Ramsey offers recreational (Rec) basketball for girls. There are six teams in the 5th and 6th
grade division which includes nearly sixty girls. Enjoy
a low-pressure game with all of your friends. Rec basketball is the ultimate, fun challenge. Are you game?
First, you have to get involved and sign up. Is
it hard to sign up? Maddie Taradash, a proud part of
Rec. basketball smiles and explains, “It‟s easy. I
joined because I enjoy the sport and it‟s a great way to
practice my skills.” Maddie is very positive about the
program, and will reassure you it is worth while!
Dana Webb and Krista McGonigle, two other athletes,
state, “It is nice because it is not as competitive as
traveling sport leagues and it is also a great way to
spend time with friends.” As you can see, there is no
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
negative response about this welcoming sport.
You shouldn‟t wait another second to sign up!
basketball when you are not enjoying yourself. Amanda Thorp feels the same way.
“Rec basketball is a low-pressure challenge
There are several aspects to love about
that I am proud to be a part of.” Amanda
Rec. basketball. The overall theme of this sport If you have not joined this program yet,
is to have a splendid time while participating in consider getting involved. It is extremely
it, as Allie and Catie Ernest remark. They say,
gratifying and rewarding to have this bas“Our favorite part about Rec basketball is how
ketball organization in Ramsey. How
anyone can play.” Regardless of your skill level, would Rec basketball be explained in one
you can practice or learn new skills. Rec basket- word? Bridget Bohmert and Victoria Clinball is all about teamwork. Don‟t be afraid of
ton grin, “It is fun!”
making a mistake. Hailey Reynolds and Alex
Peller quote, “It is okay if you are just beginIn conclusion, Rec basketball is a
ning.” If we work together anything can be fun. friendly competition that girls have while
exercising. It is a convenient way to meet
Are you a bit confused about what Rec.
other girls in a different grade. If you are
basketball is? Dana Webb can help. Dana exlooking for a great way to spend your Satplains, “Rec basketball is an entertaining athurday morning, think about joining Rec
letic program that lets girls play one basketball
basketball. See you on the court!
game a week. Everyone is put onto a spirited
team. I know that if you like a friendly competition this is a perfect activity to fulfill your Saturday morning.” There is never a moment is Rec
“I have a dream………”
By: Emma Diamond
Imagine standing with a huge crowd of
people in Washington D.C. They are all waiting for the man standing in front of the Lincoln
Memorial to speak. He is an African-American
man with a big hope, a hope that he wants everyone to know. He starts to speak and you hear
the words, “I have a dream,” come out of his
mouth. Do you know who this man is? His
name is Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He
was a monumental figure in the famous Civil
Rights Movement. On Monday, January 17,
2011, Smith School had an assembly commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
There were many mixed feelings about this
assembly. I took the time to sit down with Veronica Klenk and Anna Lobmeyer to talk about
their views on the assembly. When interviewed, Veronica said, “Before the assembly, I
wasn‟t really sure how it would work, but after, I thought it was really creative and I enjoyed it.” This was my opinion also. The assembly really focused on the parts of the Civil
Rights Movement that showed the full
strength of segregation and its opposition.
Anna replied, “Before this assembly, I felt
bored because I thought it would just show and
talk about things that we already knew. After,
though, I felt intrigued and a bit grossed out. It
was very interesting, but it also showed innocent people getting beaten and killed horribly.”
Yes, it was also very sad because many people
died fighting for what they believed in.
stop segregation so that everyone could live together in peace and harmony.” He did play a
BIG part in the desegregation of this nation.
Kaity Kopack answered, “He represents the
battle of segregation. He also represents the
freedom of our nation.” I think many people
have the same opinions.
Because of this, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. stepped up and helped fight for the
civil rights of African-Americans in the United
States. He meant so much to so many people. I
talked with Elly Raisch and Mrs. Meyers to get
their opinion on the importance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Mrs. Meyers replied, “It is
important to me because he [Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.] made a big difference in a lot of people‟s lives.” Yes, he did. Many people who opposed segregation looked up to him and he
changed many of their lives. Elly commented,
“It is important to me because it shows that
everyone deserves equal rights, no matter
what.” I agree strongly with both of these answers. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was pretty
much the symbol of equal rights back during
the Civil Rights Movement.
Monday‟s assembly had a lot of great information and was creative, but also sad. It
brought forward many of the issues of segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. It also
talked a bit about the life and legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Many people know
about his historic “I Have a Dream,” speech delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs
and Freedom. Sadly, though, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.
He was only 39 when he died, but his legacy
still lives on and is remembered by many people. He had a vision. He had a hope. He had a
belief. He had a dream. What‟s your dream?
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. also represents
different things to different people. Veronica
said, “He represents freedom because he helped
Practice makes perfect
By: Natalia Senanayake
Have you ever been in a situation
where there‟s a humongous crowd in front of
you waiting to hear excellent music? Okay, it‟s
not that bad since there are a hundred other
kids with the pressure on them too. This is
what all the kids in the Smith School band
have to go through. They have to work hard,
practice, and put on a great show for all who
come to watch. It may seem tough, and believe
me it is, but everyone has a fun time doing it!
It must have been very hard work preparing for this concert. I wonder if they had
fun doing this. When interviewed, Jina Park
explained that there was a lot of work to do to
prepare for this concert. She had to practice
the songs. More importantly she focused on the
notes she was having trouble with. She wanted
to make them sound perfect. Though this may
seem hard, Jina said it was loads of fun. She
loves being in band! She said the work is definitely worth it when you get to have fun at the
concert. Plus she likes dressing up for the concert. The places where the band rehearses may
not be her favorite, but she still loves it!
Speaking of where the band rehearses,
where do they rehearse? I‟m sure it‟s not all in
just one place, It takes more places to rehearse
to be that perfect! When interviewed, Danielle
Dupont says the band members practice in the
band room, the stage, and at home. She said
she practices a lot in these places. The only
place Danielle said was annoying to rehearse
was the stage. The stage is too tiny to fit all 109
band members. To fit that many people on the
stage must be a nightmare! “A lot of the time,”
Danielle complains, “It is.” Plus it‟s harder to
hear everyone since the sound doesn‟t echo. She
also explains that people with big instruments
have a harder time because they have a smaller
space. It‟s worth it though. It will all pay off
when they play great at the concert! They‟ll be
ready for sure even if they are very nervous
that night!
I can‟t imagine what everyone was feeling the night of the concert. I bet they all had a
bad case of the jitters! Cristina Camejo told me
what it actually felt like minutes before the
concert began. When interviewed, she told me
people were excited. Everyone was chatting
with their friends wishing them good luck. Excitement definitely filled the air. Not only was
excitement what everyone was feeling, but also
some were nervous too. “Most people,” Cristina
explains, “were a natural at this because they
had band last year. They had to go through the
whole experience, so they knew what to expect
this year.” However, there were people that
were new to the band and had absolutely no
idea what to expect. These were the people that
were nervous. Although, Mrs. Hanratty (the
band teacher) had total faith in the band, and
that was very reassuring for the newcomers.
Cristina also thought the band was ready. “We
sounded great! I was so pumped!” She exclaims.
No need for the jitters! The gold band did great!
The band had a lot of nerves getting out
there and doing a great job. All that practice
and hard work definitely paid off. The people
who were nervous had nothing to worry about.
They performed excellently. Keep on practicing
at home and school gold band. I can‟t wait to
hear what you play next!
Page33
NEWS
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
Is it your thing to sing?
By: Alanna Fullerton
“Have you ever sung a song in a different language?” Smith School Chorus is working hard on their new songs to sing in the upcoming spring concert. They will be singing
some songs in Hebrew and Spanish. See what
two students in chorus think of these songs:
As I walk down the hall to chorus, I
think what other kids think about singing in a
different language, so I ask my friends, Ali and
Danielle. Ali tells me it is challenging because
the words are difficult to pronounce when you
do not speak the language. Danielle says that
it is hard for her because a new language is not
easy to learn.
Do you have a strong singing voice? If
you don‟t, chorus can make your voice stronger.
The chorus rehearses voice exercises and practices their songs many times. I ask Ali and
Danielle if they think their voices are stronger
now that they have been part of the chorus.
They both agree that their voices have become
stronger, but they have different opinions on
why. Ali says, “My voice has grown stronger
because I have been doing the exercises in chorus.” Danielle says, “yes, because I have been
practicing. If you never practice, then you will
never get better at singing.
Performing in public is very scary, but
fun too. What do you think about performing in
public? I spoke with Ali and Danielle to see
how they felt about the upcoming spring concert. Danielle told me “I am excited about the
concert because I have never done this before.”
Sometimes you have to take a chance and try
something that you have never done before or
you may not get another opportunity. Ali told
me, “I am nervous because I don‟t really like
getting up in front of big audiences.” I understand what she is feeling. It is really scary getting up in front of a large crowd to sing.
Now you know a little bit about how
some kids from chorus feel when they are singing. All of us have worked hard on our songs
for the spring concert. We really hope you will
come to see our show and that you will enjoy it.
Shooting for the stars…...Hoop Heaven is heating up
By: Angela Weber
You can hear the sound of sneakers as
they pound against the court. You have possession of the ball, but you have no one to pass to.
You place your hands on the ball, jump up, and
shoot the ball. Swoosh! The ball soars into the
air as time runs out on the clock. This is what
the Smith School Hoop Heaven Basketball
league is like. The Hoop Heaven Basketball
league is a program that gives sixth graders
the opportunity to be active in the mornings
with their friends while playing basketball.
This is one of the many, exciting Character
Education programs, and this particular one is
run by Mr. Truppi. Mr. Truppi does a phenomenal job refereeing and running Hoop
Heaven, and everyone is excited for the end of
the season, where the championship game determines the 2011 Hoop Heaven winners. It is
so suspenseful, exciting, and eventful, and
there is so much to look forward to!
There are many events that have already happened in Hoop Heaven, and there
are many more to come. I got the inside scoop
on what other sixth grade students enjoy so
far, and what they are looking forward to. “I
think that Hoop Heaven is so much fun, and
I‟m really looking forward to future games. I
hope my team makes it to the championship
game! I think Hoop Heaven is an excellent way
for students to be active in the morning,”
Maura Telfer explains. Jaime Davis also replied, “I think that Hoop Heaven is lively,
amazing, entertaining, and I love consuming
my time with my friends. I‟m looking forward to
advancing in the competition.” It seems that
everyone‟s goal is the same, to advance in the
league and to play hard with their friends. Everyone in the program is eager to continue their
Hoop Heaven experience, and anyone can if
they have skill and a positive attitude!
The only thing better than
playing and competing in the Hoop
Heaven program is being on a team
with your friends! Does having friends
on your team affect the way you play?
Does it improve your performance? I
asked two participants these questions
to hear what they thought about having their friends on their team. Maura
Telfer answered, “Playing basketball
with my friends does affect the way I
play because it makes it more enjoyable for me, and this improves my performance. It really helps to have your
friends cheering you on, and it motivates you to do better.” Brianna Kipp
had a slightly different perspective. “Playing
basketball can affect the way you play because
you may fool around or be completely distracted, and you won‟t be paying attention to
the game. It does, however, improve your performance because your friends can give you
helpful tips, advice, and strategies that will improve your skill and ability.” No matter who‟s
on your team, Hoop Heaven is a fantastic way
to become more advanced in basketball, which
can also aid you in other sports you enjoy. Being on any team with friends can really help
you, as long as you keep your head in the game.
Let‟s travel back in time to when all of
the students learned about and signed up for
Hoop Heaven. What (or who) encouraged them
to sign up? Gemma Murrell told me, “I thought
it sounded like a blast, and it would be wonderful to do it with my friends. I am super glad
that I joined because this program is helping
me improve my skills.” Ashley Choi responded, “My friends encouraged me to take
part in this program, and I‟m glad that I
joined because it gives me the opportunity to
be active in the mornings, rather than
watching television or playing games.” Playing sports can make you more agile and
lean, and it is a healthier way to start your
mornings, too!
As the end of Hoop Heaven draws
near, some teams will advance to the playoffs, while other teams‟ journeys will come to
an end. Will our winner be the Crazy Monkeys, Team CARFOX, the Baby Ninjas, The
Real Homies of New Jersey, the Jersey
Trollz, the Geico Geckos, the Little Monks, the
Shooting Stars, the Pink Limeanators, Kings of
the Court, the Lil Pandas, or the Spartans?
Who will make it through to the March Madness Playoffs? Who will be Smith School‟s next
Hoop Heaven
Champion?
4
Page 4
COMICS
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
By: Brooke Dommenge
By: Maria Martino
By: Emily Derleth
Page55
COMICS
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2
By: Julia D’Antonio
By: Khadija Khan
By: Garrett Mast
6
Page 4
COMICS
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
By: Sophia Seo
By: Kelly Carolan
Page77
PROFILES
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2
From the courts to home Tommy is on top of sports
By: Devin Crowley
Have you ever met a person whose life is basketball? If you haven‟t, meet Tommy Fatuova. Tommy
loves basketball because when he was growing up he
saw Kobe Bryant play and he got inspired. Also
Tommy is an amazing basketball player, and his most
memorable moment while playing basketball was
when he was playing a game and his team was down
by 10 points and because of him, his team came back
and won. Along with that Tommy says that he loves
basketball because you get involved in every drive or
play.
Along with playing basketball, Tommy finds a
way to spend his free time with his bunny named
Huggs. He told me that he got his bunny when his sister graduated pre-school, and his family wanted to surprise her with a pet bunny that day. Tommy helps
takes care of Huggs along with his family. They take
care of Huggs by letting him run around in their living
room, and feed it a lot of lettuce, bunny food, and water. Tommy likes to dance with Huggs and pet him too
because he is cute and cuddly.
he liked them. Out of all of these teams he likes
the Lakers the best because they are a basketball team, and he loves basketball. Also Kobe
Bryant is on the Lakers, and he is Tommy‟s favorite basketball player.
Since Tommy is a Lakers fan, whenever
he plays Xbox 360 on a basketball game he usually is the Lakers so he can be Kobe Bryant his
favorite basketball player. Tommy would want
to be Kobe Bryant in a Xbox 360 game because
he is very good and he is also Tommy‟s admired
player on the Lakers. Kobe Bryant is Tommy‟s
favorite player because he grew up loving him
and Tommy also says that he got his basketball
moves from him.
Overall, Tommy enjoys his day by playing the sports he loves and spending time with
his bunny. Along with that he loves to play
Xbox 360 and if he was a character in a game he
would be Kobe Bryant, a famous basketball
player. Tommy plays sports and also watches
sports too, and while he watches sports he
cheers on his favorite teams. Tommy‟s life
ranges form being athletic to loving sports and
his bunny. Maybe one day he will be playing in
the NBA following Kobe Bryant‟s footsteps.
Tommy is very athletic, but also loves watching all sports. His favorite teams are the New York
Knicks and the New York Jets because they are near
his home state, New Jersey. He also likes the Los Angeles Lakers because when he was in 2nd grade and he
saw their team play he saw how good they were, and
Walk like an Egyptian
By: Sarah Kramer
Have you ever met a girl that has been to Egypt
and is Egyptian? Well, if you haven‟t, you probably have
not met Sarah Eldib! During her visit to Egypt, she experienced a hot and humid climate, and many new experiences. Sarah, while in Egypt, went to the beach;
where the water was a perfect shade of turquoise blue.
She also saw the Sphinx, which was, to Sarah, taller
than the Empire State Building. There were more apartment buildings than “regular” houses. Though, Sarah
says she would not like to live in Egypt, because the
United States is where she was born. Also, the food in
Egypt just isn‟t the same as the food in America!
Sarah also did something in Egypt that most
people don‟t get to experience in their whole lifetime.
She rode on a camel and saw the pyramids! Sarah says
it was a new experience, and she had never seen anything like the pyramids before. It was a different environment for her. She enjoyed riding on a camel because
it was different for her. “It was different from riding in a
car or in a bus!” Sarah
says. Also, for anyone
that wants to ride a
camel, you should read
this. Sarah says that it
wasn‟t that uncomfortable riding on a camel. If
you are wearing shorts,
it could be itchy, and a
camel has a hump, so
that could cause pain.
Did you know
Sarah has two pet canaries? During our inter-
view, she said that canaries aren‟t anything
special to Egyptians. She did tell us about the
curse of King Tut‟s Tomb, though: The canary
that belonged to Howard Carter, who found
King Tut‟s Tomb, was killed by a snake. Sarah
has one male canary and one female canary.
Her male canary has pale yellow feathers with
white highlights, and he has a pale pink beak.
He has shiny black eyes, enjoys singing, but is
very shy. His name is Arabic, but in English his
name is Bob. Bob is called Bob because there is
a famous parrot in Egypt named Bob. Sarah‟s
female, Sue, is the yellow color of macaroni and
cheese, she has a pink beak, and is a notorious
troublemaker. Sue doesn‟t like to share. Sue‟s
name is also originally in Arabic, and she was
named for Sarah‟s mother‟s childhood bird.
Can you picture yourself going on an
African safari? Well, Sarah got to go on one!
With her cousins, she got to experience seeing
monkeys out of their cages and running loose, feeding llamas, riding on a
boat to see gorillas, seeing hyenas, and
have the experience of “thousands” of
monkeys jumping on their car. She also
got to see her newborn cousin. Sarah
says she would always sweat a lot, and
she remembers how everything was so
close! For example, the mall would only
be two blocks away. “It was very humid
there, and cats would be wandering
around in the streets.” Sarah remembers.
If you haven‟t met Sarah Eldib,
then you have missed out on a really
interesting person. Maybe someday, Sarah
might be able to teach Sue how to be more
generous. Even though Sarah Eldib might
be Egyptian, she is a fun person with a
background that is different. You might
not meet someone Egyptian everyday.
8
PROFILES
Page 6
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
The lazy truth
By: Maura Thompson
Have you ever seen a see through
fish? I know I never had. Richard Vincent
sees a fish just like this everyday! The coolest thing about this fish is you can only see
its head. It may be a little creepy but cool at
the same time. He has always wanted a pet.
After years and years of begging his parents
they took him out to a pet store. While there
he picked a fish because it was the scariest
but coolest fish here.
Speaking of see through fish, Richard
spills, “ My fish never really got a name.”
This piece of information was very interesting so I went to go get more. He told me that
if the fish ever got a name then it would be
called Lazy. The reason for this is because he
is truly lazy and he waits for the food to come
to him instead of swimming toward it. Wow.
Now these fish are so easy to take care of
that he admits he might want a second one.
They are very entertaining and easy to take
care of.
During all this time of getting his fish
and being an amazing goalie Richard got something you may already have. This thing is called
braces. I went to him not long ago and he told
me, “My sister told me it would hurt really
badly and it was scary, and gullibly I believed
her!” smiles Richard. When he got them it was
not bad at all although it did hurt a little. It
turned out fine. Wow what a relief, but it is
likely for siblings to say that. It did not surprise
me a bit.
So Richard Vincent has great taste in
fish, can rule the rink, and tell you anything
you need to know about braces. What more can
he do? Probably
much more plus 17
other things! He
may say he is lazy
but by reading this
we all can agree he
is totally not.
His fish may be lazy but Richard is
definitely not! Richard is the lead goalie for
his ice hockey team. He loves being out on
the ice and controlling the rink. Richard
started being a goalie because it would be
fun and the only time you have to hit the
puck is when it is near the goal. So maybe he
is a little lazy. He even admitted it himself!
When he first started it was very challenging
because Richard needed to make sure he
never left the goal unprotected.
A girl with a crazy life
Natalia Senanayake
Imagine you are sitting and relaxing in
California when you get the most shocking news
ever. Your mom is going to have a baby! This
happened to Britni Strobeck. She was just as
excited as her mom and dad were. She had always wanted a little sister, and she was going to
get one! Shock, excitement, and happiness
flooded her body as she and her family went out
to celebrate. They went out to breakfast and
hung out at the beach all day. Yay for Britni!
Now that Britni‟s sister is four years old,
it doesn‟t mean they don‟t like to play with each
other anymore. Her sister Kelsey loves to have
tea parties, play dress up, read books, and dance
with Britni. The sisters have had some pretty
crazy times. “Once when my dad was sleeping
Kelsey and I got out mascara and lipstick and
put it all over my dad‟s face!” Britni exclaimed.
“It was hilarious!” Looks like Britni and Kelsey
are close and like to have fun. They aren‟t afraid of
anything, like their dad for instance. I mean seriously, can you imagine putting make up on your
dad?!
Britni loves to play with her sister like she
likes to play with her dog Diego! She loves her dog!
She‟ll always remember the time she got him. Her
family had already bought him. He was from
Michigan. Her family had to go to the airport to
pick him up. As they got there, someone led them
back where all the animals were kept. Right away
they knew which dog was theirs. He was cute, cuddly, and very friendly. You‟re probably wondering
how he got his name. Well, Britni‟s mom went to
Mexico and met someone named Diego. She told
Britni and her family to name him Diego. When
Britni looked at their dog again, she realized he
looked exactly like a Diego! How cool is that?
Not only does Britni like to hang out with
Diego, but her best friend Lucy too! They love to
do everything together! Their craziest memory was
when Lucy came over to meet Diego. It didn‟t work
out as planned…Diego started barking and biting
Lucy! He went all crazy on her. They didn‟t know
why. Britni thought it was because Diego didn‟t
like Lucy. After all the barking stopped, Britni was
cracking up because she thought it was so funny!
Lucy was confused. She didn‟t know why Diego
didn‟t like her. I guess we will never know!
As you can see Britni has had some pretty
crazy times. Like being in California and getting
shocking news, to Diego biting Lucy. Like when
she put lipstick on her dad, and when she got
Diego. I‟m sure there are more crazy times to come.
We‟ll just have to see what the future has to
bring for Britni!
9
Page 7
EDITORIALS
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
The hunt for October is about to get better
By: Chris Russo
How did you feel when your favorite
baseball team missed out on the playoffs by one
game? Major League Baseball is considering
allowing an extra wild card in each league.
There should definitely be a second wild card
added to each league. It will give teams a better
chance to make the playoffs. It will also make
teams fight harder at the end of the season.
Fan interest will increase at the end of the season as a result of the second wild card. Having
four wild cards will be better for everyone.
So many times, baseball teams come up
a game short of the playoffs, and having an extra wild card will give those teams that playoff
spot. In 2010 the San Diego Padres missed out
on the wild card by one game to the Atlanta
Braves. This also happened in 2008 when the
New York Mets fell a game short of the wild
card to the Milwaukee Brewers, and in 2007
when the Mets missed out by one game to the
Colorado Rockies. As well as rewarding teams
for coming so close, it also helps their odds of
making the playoffs. Currently teams have a
26.7 percent chance of getting a playoff spot, but
two more wild cards would increase those
chances to a 33.3 percent chance. This will also
give teams more inspiration to give their all,
because with these odds, anything can happen.
As a result of having four wild cards,
teams will try harder at the end of the season.
Most of the time, when teams are guaranteed a
spot in the playoffs, they slack off at the end of
the year. An extra wild card would prevent this
because teams will not just settle for the wild
card, they will try their hardest to win the division. This is because the two wild cards play
each other before they play the division win-
ners, so the division winners basically skip the
first round of the playoffs. Perfect examples of
teams slacking off at the end of the season are
the New York Yankees in 2010, and the Ana-
also increase fan interest at the end of the year.
More fans go to games when their team is in the
playoff hunt. In 2008 the Mets were in the wild
card chase, and their average attendance in the
month of September was 51,428 people. In 2009,
when the Mets had no chance at the playoffs, the
average attendance in September was 38,069
people. This is exactly what happens when your
team has no hope. Had there been another wild
card, the Mets would not have been so far out,
and more fans would have gone to the games.
Two more wild cards can help in so many different ways, and they should be put in place.
Having another wild card in each league
would have many positive influences. It can give
teams a better chance at the playoffs, it would
make teams try harder, and it would increase
fan interest. The Major League Commissioner,
the players union, and team owners need to be
convinced that having four wild cards instead of
two is a great idea. It will open up the month of
October to more teams, fans, and cities.
heim Angels in 2002. In 2010, the Yankees had
an 86-50 record (.632 win percentage), and ended
the season with a 9-17 record (.346 win percentage), after having been virtually guaranteed a
playoff spot. Similarly, in 2002, the Angels had a
94-55 record (.631 win percentage), and when
they clinched a playoff spot, went 4-8 (.333 win
percentage) at the end of the season. Both of
those teams would have tried harder at the end
of the season knowing there was another wild
card to face. This would also allow the fans to
see more exciting games down the stretch to the
Division Crown.
A better chance at the playoffs would
What‟s that smell?
By: Alex Kwon
Imagine a perfect world that has no
smokers and diseases caused by smoking.
Smoking is a major problem in the United
States. Not only does it create health problems,
but it is an addiction that must be stopped.
Smoking should be made illegal in the United
States because smoking is harmful to the
smoker‟s health, it affects many people, and
people waste too much money on smoking.
Smoking is a major threat to the health and
wellbeing of society and should be removed before greater consequences.
Smoking is harmful to the smoker‟s
health. Some of the many diseases caused by
smoking are lung cancer, leukemia, and emphysema. These are all fatal and deadly diseases
that smokers are at risk of getting. I also have
family members who smoke and they are constantly at risk of many diseases. Other than bad
breath, rotting teeth, and damaged lungs, smoking is just as bad as car accidents, if not worse.
Ryan Carolan said, “I know several people who
smoke or have smoked. Many people have been
affected by diseases caused by smoking.”
Frankie Ahearn also replied, “Some of my family members had smoked and passed away. The
danger of smoking is incredibly high.” In general, smoking is dangerous to people‟s health
and should be illegal.
Smoking does not only affect the
smoker, but people around them too! When
asked about if he thinks smoking affects people,
Ryan Carolan responded, “Second-hand smoking is just as bad as smoking. You always hear
on the news about how it affects them just as
badly.” “Smoking can also be saddening for
families. If a family member passes away from a
smoking-related disease it creates a lot of grief,”
Frankie Ahearn replied. The risks of smoking
can be deadly to society and the world because of
second-hand smoking. Knowing this, smoking
should be removed before it becomes a more serious problem.
People are constantly wasting too much
money on smoking! Alex Whelan commented,
“Even in this economy, smokers aren‟t conservative and they spend too much. Due to addiction,
smokers waste money on expensive cigarettes or
cigars!” Nick Gasparovich agreed saying,
“Cigarettes and cigars cost a lot! People are
wasting money and greedy companies are earning money from their addiction!” Cigarettes contain Nicotine, which is a drug that addicts people
to smoking. This constant problem of addiction is
affecting the world as more people become addicted to the drug. In this recessive economy,
people should make smarter spending choices
but smokers aren‟t. Smoking should be made
illegal since smokers are wasting all their money
on cigarettes.
Making smoking illegal would be better
for smoker‟s health, second-hand smoking wouldn‟t be a problem, and people would stop wasting
money on cigarettes. The problems caused by
smoking can be stopped easily! It should be
stopped before the consequences become more
severe! To stop this crisis, send letters to your
state senators and Congress regarding the idea
of banning smokers in the United States. This
major addiction is spreading quickly but with
one law, everything can be solved. Out of the
problems today, smoking should be added to one
of the major priorities of our government. Adjusting to the change could be difficult but it would
be for the greater good in the end.
10
EDITORIALS
Page 8
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
Uniformity rules
By: Sabrina Casavechia
Ugh! You can‟t find just the right
shirt to complement your new Abercrombie
jeans that you must wear to school tomorrow.
As clothes are flying out of your closet and
drawers, creating a mounded heap on the
floor, you hear your mom calling you in the
distance to please finish your homework - - or
else. But, really, homework can wait another
hour or two . . . . Even your mom would have
to agree that a fashion crisis trumps all.
Would this crisis have been averted if public
schools required uniforms? Most definitely.
Uniforms are a great social equalizer: They
are proven to decrease the amount of detentions given to students; they eliminate unnecessary clothing expenditures; and they allow
students to focus on achieving good grades.
With mandatory uniforms, student focus
would be shifted away from fashion planning,
and toward schoolwork, good grades, and a
quality education. In a suffering economy,
when job opportunities are scarce, it is more
important than ever to pursue an exceptional
education and impressive grades. For these
reasons, public schools, including Smith
School, should require uniforms.
How often do parents complain about
students treating school as a “social event”?
With mandatory uniforms, students no longer
have to worry how their peers or the “popular
crowd” view their outfits. According to
www.privateschooluniforms.com, “It matters
not if you are the Earl of Snowdon or John
Smith, son of the local greengrocer, when you
don that uniform everyone is equal. Uniformity rules.” Ashley Evans, a student at a private school, loves the stress-free process of
donning a uniform every day, explaining, “I‟m
not self conscious because everyone is wearing
the same thing. It‟s easy and I don‟t have to
spend endless hours deciding what to wear.”
Sarah Albert, who attends a Catholic school,
agrees. “I used to get teased for my individuality when it came to outfits, but now I have
more friends because there is no separation
based on how we all dress, and I‟m at peace
with who I am.”
Bullies no longer have ammunition to
pick on someone based on what they choose to
wear or not to wear. Some would argue that
uniforms curtail a student‟s freedom of expression and creativity, but they are missing
the point. As explained by
www.greatschools.org, uniforms create a
sense of team spirit, unity and togetherness
within a school, thereby promoting school pride.
An eighth grade student at Smith School, Morgan Masotti, added, “It would be so cool to have
uniforms because you‟d feel like you‟re a part of
something.”
Uniforms would eliminate those
dreaded dress code infractions and resulting
detentions for short-shorts, tank tops, baggy
pants or inappropriate logos. Ms. Scimanico,
Vice Principal of Smith School, is forced to deliver many warnings, and often detentions, to
inappropriately dressed students. These individuals are often just trying to impress their
classmates, and succumbing to peer pressure to
“look cool.” (www.greatschools.org) With uniforms in place, and the removal of social pressures associated with deciding what to wear,
teachers and administrators can focus on what
they do best - - delivering a top shelf educational experience - - rather than policing hallways for bare midriffs and ripped jean shorts.
Without detentions taking up valuable
time, students can concentrate on their homework and study for upcoming quizzes and tests.
As summarized by Harris Cooper, Ph.D., a Psychology Professor at the University of Missouri,
studies have shown that homework serves to
reinforce topics taught in school and to highlight areas that may require further help.
(www.parenthood.com) By spending more time
on homework and less time on choosing their
clothing, students can improve their focus and
scholastic performance. Who wouldn‟t want
their grade point average to increase? Moreover, Associated Content correctly explains that
“students tend to behave how they are dressed.”
(www.associatedcontent.com) The behavior of
Smith School‟s eighth grade class on their visits
to Washington, D.C. is a perfect illustration of
this point: when students are dressed in an appropriate manner, they behave in an appropriate manner. (Discussion by Ms. Scimanico in
addressing parents on the eighth grade trip to
Washington, D.C.)
Students who are accustomed to presenting themselves properly will also have an
advantage later in life. In the late 1990‟s, many
large companies experimented with “dress down
Fridays” and “business casual” attire, but they
realized quickly that employees feel and behave
in a more professional manner when they are
dressed professionally and almost all major corporations returned to business dress. In fact,
UBS, the large Swiss bank, recently sent spe-
cific and detailed guidelines to all their global
employees regarding appropriate dress for the
office. (Interview with Richard M. Casavechia,
Managing Director, Mergers and Acquisitions,
Bank of America Merrill Lynch).
Ask any parent. Acquiring clothing for
their children can be a large and daunting expense, particularly for middle-schoolers who may
not yet be secure with who they are, constantly
attempting to keep up with their peers on all the
latest fashion trends. Cost is not the only issue:
the amount of time spent on deciding what to
wear is staggering. Opponents of uniforms believe that the cost of the uniform is an unnecessary expense and a burden for some families.
However, when weighing the cost of a uniform
against the cost of the number of outfits any
child would need for school, this argument becomes absurd. In terms of the time issue, based
on interviews with eighth graders at Smith, particularly girls, students spend an hour or more
selecting their outfit. My cousin, Carissa Aglietti, who attends public school in Mahwah, informed me, “I organize my outfit for the next day
each night, including coordinating jewelry,
makeup and footwear, eating up an hour and a
half of my time each night!” On the other hand,
Ashley and Sarah need only ten minutes to get
their uniforms ready for the next day. With uniforms, time previously used to select an outfit
could be spent on academics or other productive
extracurricular activities. As highlighted in the
article “School Uniforms Pros and Cons,” students could focus on their studies and receiving
the best education possible.
(www.suite101.com/content/school-uniformspros-and-cons)
Do you want to equal the social playing
field in terms of dress? Do you want to help your
parents save money previously allotted for clothing? Do you want to relieve the social pressure
of selecting just the right outfit to wear to school?
Do you want to eliminate dress code related detentions? Do you want a better education and all
that goes with it? Do you want to increase your
chances for success in today‟s competitive and
difficult economy? Of course you do. In the final
analysis, the goal of any educational institution
worth its salt is to provide its students with a
top-notch education, preparing them for the competitive world. Uniforms advance this goal in
every sense, and therefore should be required.
Your future is in your hands - - petition your
Board of Education and get the ball rolling!
An unforgettable getaway
By: Alanna Fullerton
Everybody knows that vacations are
the bomb! Of course, the difference of having
a good time to having an amazing adventure
does depend on where you go. If you want to
have an amazing time, I would recommend
The Disney Cruise to the Caribbean. The
cruise offers fun for all ages - from kids to
adults. Teenagers have a special place to hang
out with kids their age. At the teen club,
teenagers can enjoy video games, dancing,
and socializing. Younger kids have the opportunity to enjoy their own fun and games away
from their parents too! There is an indoor
skate rink, oversized pool with slides and a
movie theater to keep everyone entertained.
Your parents will have fun hanging out with
you, or if they are tired or out of shape, they
can go to the spa or the fitness center. Parents
can have adult time too, because there is even
a nursery for babies. Adults can go to private
swimming pools, bars, spas, or work out at
the fitness room. If you‟re looking for family
fun, there are theme restaurants, elaborate
night time shows, and even a fireworks display
every night. These are just a few of the things
you can do on the way to the Caribbean.
Your adventure has already begun with
the journey on the cruise ship, but the adventure really gets started once you arrive at the
Caribbean. You will be in awe when you see
the glittering beaches and the white colored
sand. The water is amazingly blue and filled
with brightly colored fish. You can enjoy the
views with a snorkeling trip and take in all the
beauty of the coral reefs on your first day. The
next day can be filled with water activities like
skiing, kayaking or sailing. If that‟s not enough,
go shopping, sightseeing, or hit the sand, relax
and make sand castles. If you like golf, you‟ll be
able to do that too. The golf courses are some of
the most challenging in the world. You will
never be bored on this trip. There are a million
things I like about this cruise, but you have
heard some of my favorites. There is something
for everyone and no one can dislike this trip,
and I mean no one!
The Disney Cruise is similar to Disney
World. You can enjoy top rate shows and delicious restaurants. No restaurant can beat the
Disney ones. There are Disney characters on the
cruise to sign autographs and take photos, just
like in Disney World. The fireworks display is
breathtaking on the Cruise or at Disney‟s Magic
Kingdom Park. The only big difference I can
think of is the rides. You will not find fast roller
coasters on the cruise like “Space Mountain” or
“Rock‟in Roller Coaster,” but you will find some
pretty incredible water slides and a lazy river!
There are many reasons why I would recommend this trip to you. It‟s definitely relaxing
and a way to kick back and leave all your stress
behind. On every corner there is a new adventure waiting to be discovered. Whether you
choose to do the things I told you or want to experience more for yourself, you will have a great
time. So now that you‟ve learned about the Disney Cruise to the Caribbean -pack your bags and
go. You‟ll have the best time of your life. It truly
is an adventure. Don‟t just sit there - go on the
vacation you‟ve dreamed of your entire life! I
know you won‟t want to miss this opportunity.
11
Page 9
REVIEWS
The fun and exciting planet
By: Amanda Thompson
WEEE!!! That‟s what you will be saying
all day while you are at Dorney Park. With all
the activities there are to do at Dorney Park you
will never get bored. You and your whole family
will have a blast. Dorney Park is great for all
ages and personalities. If you are a dare devil
then you should try all of the exciting roller
coasters and water rides Dorney Park has to
offer. At Dorney Park you will have a wide selection of different and delicious food courts. If
you go in the hot summer there is an air conditioned arcade that will cool you off.
There are positive and negative things
about Dorney Park. The positive things about
Dorney Park are that Dorney Park has water
rides and roller coasters, that means you and
your family have to go to two places to get water rides and roller coasters. Another reason
Dorney Park is so good is that there are
plenty of different food courts. So if you want
a taco, meat, or ice cream you only have to
walk a few feet to get it. Dorney Park is great
for all ages. For the toddlers and babies there
is a Snoopy Land that has a bunch of kitty
rides. For the teens there are a bunch of high
roller coasters and water rides, and for the
moms you can lay on a pile of fake sand reading a book while the kids have fun. The bad
part about Dorney Park is that there are a lot
of really long lines so be prepared to be standing for a while.
Sure there are a lot of different
amusement parks but Dorney Park is the only
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
one with water rides and roller coasters. Mountain
Creek only has water rides and huge hills to climb.
At Dorney Park most of it is flat land. Both of
them have gift shops, long lines, and food courts.
But Dorney Park has roller coasters. Dorney Park
is great for all ages and Mountain Creek is more of
an older kid place. I would say the age limit for
Mountain Creek are ages eight through forty five.
I would recommend Dorney Park to everyone who wants to have a great time. Moms should
bring something to do while lying on fake sand or
if you are going to go on the rides then be ready to
stand. If you want to avoid crying babies and toddlers at the gift shop then you should remember to
bring lots of money. Overall I give Dorney Park
four stars
Toys that walk talk and more
By: Evan Schreiber
same way!
Have you ever seen living toys before?
Well, if not, then see the Toy Story series. In
this trilogy of movies, there are toys that are
living when no human is looking. The toys belong to Andy. Andy plays with the toys whenever he gets a chance to and he has a great
imagination with them! When Andy is not playing with his toys, the toys know it and come to
life! I love these movies because it is hilarious
and imaginative that the toys have feelings and
talk to each other. I think of my toys in the
Overall, I would give this series of movies five out of five stars. It deserves this because
it is very funny and lively. The toys are always
getting into some sort of trouble which gets your
heart racing but then there is an outrageous outcome! The settings go from Andy‟s ordinary bedroom to garbage dumps and daycare centers.
Watch these movies for yourself and you‟ll see
how entertaining they are! In this whole series
of movies, there is nothing in them that I dislike!
I can make a comparison to real life because people own toys and play with them and
pretend they are real just like Andy in Toy Story.
The thing that makes his toys special is that his
toys really do come to life! From what I know,
my toys do not come to life when I‟m at school!
I would recommend these movies to kids
of all ages and their parents. I know my parents
liked the movies even though they‟re not kids
anymore. All the movies are action packed and
full of humor. I have seen Toy Story 1, 2 and 3
many times and probably will see them again!
A wondrous place to be
By:
Sophia Savas
If you love to swim in crystal clear water, then St.Thomas is the place for you to be!
There are so many interesting and fun activities. They include windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling and so much more! But after all of these
spectacular activities of course, you want to pig
out in St.Thomas‟s restaurants that are out of
this world… literally! After a long day, you want
to relax and enjoy the amazing island sunsets
that you can only see in St. Thomas. Then when
the sky is black and there is nothing left in sight
except for the moon you will know that it is time
to go to your fabulous hotel and get ready for
the next day. As you drift off to sleep you are
already thinking about what is going to happen
tomorrow.
When I went in the ocean, I saw some-
thing floating in the water. So, I almost picked it
up, when someone yelled, “nooooo.” Ahhhhh,
there are sting rays in the water. So I ran out of
the water faster than you can imagine. This is
one thing you might not be so fond of while
swimming in the ocean in St. Thomas.. I could
still cool off in the humongous pool with the
beautiful waterfall. After swimming for so long,
you are tired and want to go right to bed. But, as
you are walking back to your hotel room, you see
tails sticking out. These are beautiful iguanas.
There are thousands of them all over this tiny
island. After you catch your breath from being
so scared, you go to sleep in your huge hotel
room.
crowded and loud at Atlantis. Also, if you stay at
Atlantis for a week, you can get bored. Finally,
there are only a few restaurants to eat at in this
resort. Both Atlantis and St. Thomas have tropical weather, kind islanders and are located in
the Caribbean. But, in my opinion St. Thomas
is a better place to have a vacation.
Of course when you go to St. Thomas
you might not know what activities to do. I recommend that you try windsurfing, which is awesome! If you want a bite to eat, try the Great
Bay Restaurant. But, mostly I think that you
should just have fun and let loose. If you are
waiting around for another vacation spot, don‟t,
because after all, St. Thomas is the place to be!
Well, of course St. Thomas is so much
better than the resort of Atlantis in the Bahamas. One reason is because it is always
The vacation before vacation
By: Tim Lupo
Can you imagine almost dreading reaching a tropical paradise in the Caribbean? This
is how you feel on the Disney Cruise! As you
board this stupendous ship, you‟re not sure
what you can do aboard it. But, as you get settled in, you realize everything you won‟t be able
to do! If you want to get fun souvenirs or
clothes, visit one of the ship‟s astonishing shops
and stores. When your stomach starts to rumble, enjoy the ship‟s (free for the most part) 5Star restaurants. Then enjoy the ship‟s endless
fun for all ages! The Disney Cruise has a waterslide, many pools, hot tubs, a movie theater,
stage shows, kid clubs, spas, and even sports
courts! If you‟re a runner, jog around the path
that loops around the boat. What can‟t you do?
Once you are tired, enjoy the cozy, clean, and
neat rooms. They are almost like you‟re home!
It is almost impossible to get lost because of the
ship‟s mind-boggling, well-planned, setup. How
could you go wrong?!
There is absolutely nothing to dislike
about the Disney Cruise. The service is better
than a five-star hotel! And the brilliantly
planned setup of the ship … amazing! You could
get a delicious meal of just about any food! On
top of it all, there is no way to get bored. The
Disney factor of the ship makes it all! You can
meet and greet all of your favorite Disney characters in a floating Disney-themed paradise!
And when you get off the boat, you can visit Bahamas paradises like Atlantis, Nassau, Disney‟s
Castaway Key, or Caribbean paradises like Tortola, Grand Cayman, St. Maarteen, and many
other destinations. But if you‟re not a beachy
person, try one of the ships Europe destinations
like Cannes, Barcelona, and even Rome! You
can go in the Panama Canal, with stops like
Aruba and Puerto Vallarta, the Pacific coast and
Alaska, with stops at Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and other exciting destinations, or the Mexican Riviera, with stops at Baja California. Can
it get any better?
Disney Cruise is better than all other
competing cruise boats. A big competitor is the
Carnival Dream. Like the Carnival Dream, the
Disney Cruise has great service, body waterslides, pools, clean rooms, live shows, a movie
theater, kid clubs, and is fun for all ages. But
unlike the Dream, the Disney Cruise goes to
cooler and better destinations, has Disney characters, and fun Disney-themed clubs and restaurants. In my opinion, the Disney Cruise is 10
times better than the Carnival Dream!
This is a fun vacation for all types of
moods. It is thrilling, and can also be relaxing.
You will have guaranteed fun for any age. It
makes the vacation even better if you like varied
food. If you get claustrophobic or seasick, it
might not be the best trip for you. If you are a
fan of Disney movies, Walt Disney World, characters, etc., it would make your journey five
times more fun! But, any way you like to vacation, the Disney Cruise will match your needs.
12
Page 10
REVIEWS
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3
Royal Families, Accents, Tea, Oh My!
By: Natalia Senanayake
Imagine feeling the cool air on your face as
you gaze around at one of the most interesting
places in the world. Once you‟re there, there‟s no
way you‟ll leave without an adventure! London,
England is a very ancient place with fascinating
sights. If you visit sometime you‟ll definitely
want to see Big Ben, the London Eye, and Buckingham Palace. The thing you will mostly be
amazed with is how London is very different
from America. Everything is so tiny especially
the cars and houses. The weather is different
too. It‟s always cloudy and a bit chilly. It‟s definitely worth the visit though!
London is a place for everyone. It‟s very
unique and fun to visit. There are amazing
sights to see. There are some downsides though.
People who don‟t like dark weather and shorter
days should not come here. You won‟t be getting
that much sun but you will be learning a lot of
history. So I didn‟t mind the weather. Also, if you
like big houses and cars don‟t go to London. Everything is tiny. There‟s just one little thing that
gets on my nerves…the accents. Some of them
can get a little annoying. Most of the time the
accents are cool though!
Have you ever been to Seattle? It‟s a lot
like London. They both have cloudy weather and
shorter days. They both have a dark theme but
there are amazing sights. There‟s this place in
Seattle that some people might want to visit
called The Needle. It lets you see the whole city.
The teacher class clown
By: Britni Strobeck
Hilarious, cool, and awesome are words
that describe Mr. Stokes!! He is a fifth grade
teacher at the Wandell Elementary school. Mr.
Stokes is an amazing basketball player and he
also teaches the sport too!! He is the tallest person I know. He‟s actually 6‟ 8” tall. When you‟re
in class with him, you will have the time of your
life! One time when I was in his class, he was
doing a math problem on the smart board and he
started turning the math problem into a baby
fish and a HUGE shark by connecting the numbers in the problem with lines!! Then he started
adding sounds and colors and it soon became an
awesome movie clip!! The whole event was so
random, but it was hilarious!! He also is a genius! He can do math problems in his head like it‟s
nothing! That‟s how smart he is! Mr. Stokes is
also kind to others! He would never want to hurt
anyone in any way. He is also helpful
with the students! For example, if you
need help with your homework or you
didn‟t understand what material was going to be
on the quiz/test, he would gladly try to help you
until you understood what you needed to know!
I loved a lot of things about Mr. Stokes.
He was hilarious which made school so much fun!
Who would want to go to school and listen to an
expressionless voice the ENTIRE day? I know I
wouldn‟t! He also related to the kids, so he knew
what was frustrating for them. He helped us with
our homework, which was very nice of him to take
time from his schedule for someone! Lastly he was
also a blast to hang out with! The only problem
was that when he was teaching a lesson, my neck
got a work out from looking up so much. But if
you didn‟t look up at him you wouldn‟t be able to
see him making his awesome jokes!
If you ever had Mr. Stokes as a teacher, it
would be just like being in Mrs. Elwood‟s math
class! They both teach math and they‟re very
Anytime is playtime with Mr. Fun
By: Jordan Vozeh
The whistle blows and everyone runs
over to their spots. The names “Fun Girl” and
“World Traveler” are called out. Soon everybody‟s nickname is spoken by the one and
only Mr. Parcells. Mr. Parcells is a K-3 gym
teacher at Hubbard elementary school. He is
most likely the nicest, most patient guy you‟d
ever meet. Mr. Parcells is also a very clever
man. He makes up the most perfect games
and is always ready to play them with us.
Mr. Parcells is definitely a guy you‟d want
to introduce yourself to. He makes up some
really unique games, makes people laugh until
they‟re on the floor, and always thinks positive.
Mr. Parcells also does activities outside of gym
class. Some of those activities include being a
caller on kids bingo night, the holiday sing
where he would make the students and teachers
laugh in the 12 days of Christmas, play games
with all the kids at field day, and finally scoop
ice cream for the kids at exhibit night! Another
thing you might like are the creative nicknames. Mr. Parcells always comes up with killer
nicknames that truly fit your personality. The
final thing someone might like about Mr. Parcells is that he would always have jeopardy
However I think London is a better place to visit
because it‟s historical, unique, and just plain different. It‟s worth spending your money on. Just
visit and you‟ll see!
If you‟re interested in seeing the wonderful city of London, I would go! It‟s a perfect vacation spot! Vacation doesn‟t mean sunny and
beaches, it means to have fun! That‟s exactly
what you‟ll do in London. That‟s why I give this
city five stars. I totally recommend it for you,
especially if you have a bubbly personality and
love adventures! Adults can have fun sightseeing. Teens can have fun shopping at boutiques.
Kids might have fun riding on the London Eye.
(The tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.) It‟s a great
place for all ages. So visit and you‟ll be truly
amazed! As the British say, cheerio!
helpful! But I think that Mr.Stokes is funnier!!
Both Mr. Stokes and Mrs. Elwood help others
with homework and help them to study for a test
or quiz. They want to make everyone in their
class feel comfortable and safe when they enter
their classroom. When you enter their classrooms,
you just know that you are going to have a good
time! But no other teacher has been as good to me
as Mr. Stokes.
Now if you think you want to meet Mr.
Stokes, go on ahead!! I bet there is so much more
you will come to know about him! He‟s a terrific
person and so nice to be around! I have asked five
of my classmates who have recently had Mr.
Stokes in fifth grade, and they all said, “ We love
him. He‟s awesome!!” That‟s how cool Mr. Stokes
is. I would definitely recommend him to anyone
who is having trouble with school. If I was in
fourth grade, I would totally want to have Mr.
Stokes as my fifth grade teacher! Don‟t you
agree??!!
questions for the kids to answer before gym
started.
If you did not go to Hubbard you can still get an
idea of what Mr. Parcells was like from some similarities he has with Mr. Baldino at Dater. Both
gym teachers make up fun games to play. Another
similarity is that both men have great, positive
attitudes. Along with that both of these wonderful
men always smile which makes kids feel good.
Now that you know about him, I recommend
that you meet Mr. Parcells. His personality, and
creativity is most definitely a two thumbs up, not
only for kids, but adults too! Mr. Parcells is guaranteed to make everyone laugh. What a guy!
American Idol with an a cappella twist
By: Alison Saunders
Imagine standing on center stage. It‟s
you and your fellow a cappella band members in
the spotlight. All eyes are watching, hoping to
be entertained. The judges are taking notes as
you‟re singing your heart out. You hear “Ladies
and gentleman, I would like to introduce you
to...” It is time to shine and please America! Are
you ready for The Sing Off? The Sing-Off is a
reality television show that is also a contest.
The top ten a cappella singing groups in America are chosen to perform on the show until they
are voted off by the judges, and eventually by
the American public who also gets the chance to
vote. The Sing-Off is all about finding the next
a cappella singing group. With its relaxing a
cappella music, it is a perfect show to watch at
the end of the day. The judges are trained to
provide contestants with critical feedback. Supportive audiences fill the room. It is almost impossible to buy tickets. All of the contestants
are talented and these vocalists are the best you
can get. Every week the contestants walk on
stage with fashionable, matching outfits. How
can you not like this show? It is truly magnificent. I like to call it “A cappella Mayhem.” This
show relates to me because I get to enjoy a fun
contest based on a topic I love- Music.
There are several reasons to adore The
Sing Off. With its soothing music and the honesty behind the judges‟ opinions, I can sense
this show is trying to be different from the other
reality television events. I especially love the
fact that it is a real contest. I like suspense and
this show provides it, mainly when someone is
voted off. One of the best factors of this show is
that it is a live production. Everything is happening right in front of America. The American
society receives the chance to watch the show
plan out. The Sing Off also plays videos for
viewers ahead of time so they can see “behind
the scenes” footage. It is as if you knew the contestants for their whole life!
I like to think of The Sing Off as another American Idol. The two shows have their
similarities and differences. The Sing Off is a
cappella, however American Idol is instrumental. The Sing Off‟s host is Nick Lachey, while
Ryan Seacrest hosts American Idol. The Sing
Off contestants do not perform solo like American Idol, and airs on NBC. FOX presents
American Idol. While the judges differ on the
two shows, there are many similarities too. For
instance, American Idol and The Sing Off are
both music contests. Every contestant gets
judged, and viewers vote for the eventual winner. In addition, both shows are very entertaining.
Are you asking yourself, “Is this show for
me?” Overall, I would recommend this show to
people ages nine and higher. If you like music
and contests, this show is definitely for you!
With its original plot, this show can teach you a
lesson – to follow your dream. If you like Nick
Lachey, this is another reason the show will appeal to you. The show can also help teach you
how to sing. The judges supply feedback that
can help improve your singing voice forever. I
rate this show 97% out of 100% for great talent
and originality! My only complaint is that a cappella music can get a bit boring. Other than
that, watch this show! You won‟t want to turn
the television off! This show is an a cappella
dream coming true! Keep your ears open to listen
when season three is coming out! I hear it will be
a hit!