VOLUME III

Sports

The Lions’ New Mascot

By: Arnav Patel

7th grader Austin Friedman has been chosen to be the next mascot for the MMMS Lions. He will be appearing at sporting events in his costume to promote the lion’s pride.

(Arnav Patel) Q: What does being a mascot mean to you?

(Austin Friedman) A: [It means] that I am the champion of school spirit. I represent MMMS spirit through our mascot, the lion. Wait ‘til you hear me roar!

Q: What made you interested in being a mascot? Do you have any experience with being a mascot?

A: I was interested in being the mascot because I have a lot of pep and enthusiasm. Many of my friends suggested that I try out and I am very glad I did. It really suits my outgoing personality and energy for MMMS.

Q: How did you feel when you first got the news that you were the new mascot?

A: When I first got the news that I was selected as the new mascot, I was so excited. I was thrilled to hear my name called over the loudspeaker. I jumped up and down and ran straight to Ms. Grevesen and Ms. Shatynski to tell them how I couldn’t wait to star as the mascot.

Q: What is the selection process for becoming a school mascot?  

A: The selection process for becoming a school mascot is that you need to audition. At the tryouts, I needed to run around the room and show my energy and spirit.

Q: Are you planning to do anything different this year than what mascots have done in previous years?

A: I think that Eric, the mascot last year, did an awesome job, and I want to follow in his legacy. I plan on adding my own personality to the role. One example would be to run into the stands and take selfies with the fans. If I am permitted, I will create an Instagram page and post the pictures for everyone to see.

Congratulations to Austin. Thanks for supporting the Lions. Roar on!

Girls’ Basketball

By: Helen Kwok

The girls who tried out for the girls’ basketball team all performed so well that Miss Bruzzi and Mr. Fine almost couldn’t decide who to choose. Tryouts were the 6th, 7th, & 8th graders’ last chance to show Miss Bruzzi and Mr. Fine that they should be selected for the team.

During the tryouts, all the girls had to have their names on the backs of their shirts. The girls first jogged for 50% power and 75% power, then full out sprinted, power skipped with no hands, power skipped with hands, and did karaoke. Then, they stretched and played a small game of basketball. Next, they did shooting, passing, and dribbling drills. After that, they sprinted from the baseline to the close free throw line and back, then sprinted to half court and back, and finally to the other baseline and back. The tryouts ended with a 5 vs 5 game. All 17 girls in 6th and 7th grade put a lot of effort into making the team!

That Friday, there were 26 people there, mostly 8th graders. The girls did a 3-way warm-up. Then, they did an activity that deals with shooting, passing, rebounding, and running. When they finished with the warm-up and the activity, they played a game. After 10 minutes of the game, players headed to the main gym and did dribbling drills. After about an hour of tryouts, Mr. Fine and Mrs. Bruzzi created this year’s team. The girls’ basketball team held their first practice on Monday, November 21, 2016. They have had a great year so far, and continue to make MMMS proud every day. Congratulations to everyone who made the team!

Volleyball

By: Eton Lee

      Volleyball is a sport that can be played at Marlboro Memorial Middle School. It is a safe and fun addition to our school’s sports and physical education program. Players must learn many skills, like serving, bumping, setting, and digging. Players have championship games and even more. If you want to learn more about volleyball, you have to join our school’s volleyball team. Volleyball at MMMS takes place in the fall.

    The bump in volleyball helps exercise the hands because a player has to bump the ball to the opposing team. This helps with hand-eye coordination. The set in volleyball helps strengthen fingers when players push their fingers to get a good angle. There are two awesome coaches that help players learn the set and the bump. The dig in volleyball is really simple. The player must make a fist and bump it to the opponent. The dig is only used when the ball is coming below the knees, so it will make the ball go up higher.

       The serve in volleyball is really easy, and students learn to serve the ball in two different ways. One way is underhanded. The underhand serve is putting the left or right arm in front balancing the ball while the other hand swings the ball to the opponent. Another way to serve is overhand. The overhand serve is harder because a player has to throw the ball in the air and hit it with the palm of the hand. These ways to serve the ball become very simple and easy once they are taught and perfected.

       Volleyball is very easy to do, and students just have to learn the most important steps to be able to play. The dig, the bump, the set, and the serve are all important skills learned in volleyball. Overall, volleyball is fun and safe for everyone.

Cheer for Cheerleading

By: Madelyn Valle

Go, team! It is winter which means that cheerleading has started. Cheerleading is a cut sport and you have to tryout. The MMMS 2016-20017 cheerleaders have worked hard to earn their places on the team. During team practices, the cheerleaders work on their new dance routine that will debut at the pep rally. Along with a dance routine, they practice many different cheers. You may not know this, but the cheerleaders condition too. They do laps, pushups, and situps. The cheerleaders go to every home basketball game to support their school team.

“Before a game, we go to Ms.Grevesen’s room and get ready. We have team bonding time,”  two of the team captains, Mackenzie Werther and Sophia Esposito, say. Their favorite part of cheerleading for the school is the cool bows and sweatpants they get to wear as their uniform. They also like that they can cheer for their friends on the basketball team. We look forward to seeing them in action at the first home game!

Wrestling

By: Anita Osuri

Even when winter comes around, there are always great sports teams to join here at MMMS! One of these sports is wrestling. Taught by Mr. Morris, it’s open to all grades and all people. Our school will occasionally compete with other middle-school wrestlers from Antrim, Eisenhower, and Sandburg during the season.

In the club, wrestling practice is on Wednesdays, when the wrestlers either practice or compete. They have daily practices and matches, which helps them improve as the year goes on. Numerous wrestlers are passionate about what they do, and 7th grade wrestler Michael Sokolov is one of them.

Unlike numerous other activities, wrestling is an independent sport. At first, all students can be in wrestling, but certain tournaments are not available for everyone. Overall, there are twenty different weight classes, and wrestlers compete against people in their own weight class. During the year, there is a tournament for starters and a tournament for more experienced wrestlers. After the tournaments, the best person in each weight class goes to the tournament held on January 28th, at Manalapan regional school. We wish the wrestling team good luck this season!

Clubs

Building Memorial’s Leaders

By: Gauri Lahoti

Builders Club is a Kiwanis Service Leadership Program with the purpose of bringing students together to provide service to the school and community and allow students to cultivate valuable leadership qualities, all while interacting positively with other peers and having a fun learning experience. This united club is responsible for the organization and function of many fundraisers that our school is able to partake in. Students involved will work together to plan this from start-to-finish; they will choose a cause to support, decide on a fundraiser, create advertisements and announcements, allocate resources while keeping in mind the budget, and make collections to deposit to the fundraiser.

So far this year, this club has played a vital role in the organization of the Toys for Tots fundraiser, which was a great success. The Toys for Tots fundraiser has just recently come to an end, and the students worked diligently to bring hope to children in poverty through a present for the holidays. Students organized a raffle for a prize, wrapped boxes for each homeroom, and collected all of the toys at the end of the month. Not only did they make a powerful difference for the community, but they strengthened skills like time-management, social-awareness, and decision-making, that will help them later in life; however, most of all, it was a fun and exciting experience for them all.

By implementing social and emotional skills, learning to manage time and resources efficiently, building relationships, and helping those in need, the students in this club are truly leaders in our school and community. If you are looking for a way to help others and have fun, contact Mrs. Coulter in Student Services for details -- new members are always welcome! They meet until 3:10 after school on Thursdays, and are always looking for passionate leaders looking to make a difference.

Japanime Club

By Amisha Singh

The Japanime club meets during lunch in Mrs. Jaeger’s room every D day. Since it meets during 7th grade lunch, only 7th graders are eligible to be members this year. The activities vary, from drawing, singing, and speaking Japanese and is mostly student run. Students also discuss Anime that they enjoy and have short drawing contests as well. If you’re looking for a place to further your interest in Japan and its culture, join the Japanime club!

National History Day Club

By: Danielle Lirov

The National History Day Club is off to a great start.  The members are picking out topics related to this year's theme:  “Taking a Stand in History.”  The topic is very broad, giving the club members a lot of freedom in choosing their topics.  Topics range from the Indian civil rights activist Mohandas Gandhi all the way to the anti-Nazi student protester Sophie Scholl.  Club members are working diligently to research all the information needed to create a presentation that could go all the way to a national level.  

There are a few different types of presentations the students can make.  Those with film-making skills have the option to create a documentary.  Artists can create an exhibit.  Those who favor traditional scholarship can write a paper.  Actors have the opportunity to create a performance.  Tech-savvy students can make a website.  There are so many different options for presentations that students can do.  Each group of students is currently researching information relating to their topic and presentations to get started.  

Once the presentations are complete, the members will present them to the judges. Winners at the local level move on to the state competition. State competition winners compete nationally.  

Creating a National History Day presentation requires a lot of hard work.  From researching and writing to presenting, students show dedication every step of the way.  As the club’s director Mrs. Persico states, “National History Day Club is where we get to ‘do’ history.  ‘What happened, why should we care, and how do I tell this story so that people are interested?’  These are some of the questions we work on when putting together a National History Day entry.  The contests are interesting and fun, and, sometimes, we even learn stuff too!  You should check it out!”

The National History Day Club is one amazing group, and they are always looking for new members. Come join them in this amazing opportunity to learn about history and have fun while doing so!   

STEM Club

By: Tanisha Sahni

STEM club is a science, technology, engineering, and math club. Club members are given ideas for short and long term engineering design projects, and the members can choose which projects they would like to complete. Everyone gets the materials they need and then they start planning, designing, building, testing, and redesigning.

The members of STEM club brainstorm and design solutions to solve real-world problems. This club provides students interested in STEM with a “head start” to solving current and future problems.

STEM club is held by the 6th grade science teacher, Mrs. Wilczak, in science lab room 113. The club is divided into two groups. One group is only 6th graders, and the other is 7th and 8th graders. The system in STEM club is that each group meets every other Wednesday. If you’d like to learn more about joining this interesting and interactive after-school club, see Mrs. Wilczak for more details!

Math Club

By: Varun Gupta

Math club is designed for students who excel in mathematics. Ms. Freeman, a wonderful 8th-grade math teacher, runs the club. The club is extraordinarily popular, and many students signed up this year. There are approximately twenty-five 7th graders and twenty 8th graders.

To begin with, the advisor of a club is crucial. Ms. Freeman has been the advisor for the math club for 5 years, giving her ample experience to help students further their knowledge of mathematics. Likewise, Ms. Freeman’s experience makes her try harder to make the club enjoyable, even with challenges including “finding new material to challenge students each year.” She can also teach students more complex mathematics, including Algebra I, Geometry, and some Algebra II. The students can learn something new every meeting. In addition, Ms. Freeman can appropriately compensate for students' competitive spirit with frequent math contests. Therefore, having Ms. Freeman as the advisor is a major benefit.

Joining math club is simple and straightforward. You must first have a desire to learn more math and compete. This is a mandatory quality to have in this club since Ms. Freeman describes all the students to be “very competitive.” There are at least 2 in-school competitions and occasional competitions on Saturday mornings in the spring. You must also attend the information session and pay the standard $32 for all clubs. Hence, the process of joining math club is simple and straight-forward.
Math club offers a lot of benefits for just about everyone. This is because Ms. Freeman attempts to tailor the experience for everyone in a different way that suits the student’s personal needs. She builds on people’s strengths, helps them with their weaknesses, and explains everything at a pace that all members can follow. As a result, math club is run efficiently, and engaging in it can prove to be not only entertaining but also advantageous for all students who participate.

Creative Writing

The Life of Creepy Larry

By: Danielle Ahearn

Greetings, my name is Creepy Larry, and I am the skeleton that lives in Mrs. Klink’s science classroom. I sit near the shower, watching several students working on science lessons everyday. I also think Mrs. Klink is a great teacher, but hey, who would disagree with that? Anyways, there’s one question that’s always on students’ minds: How did I become a skeleton?

One day, some years back, Mrs. Klink taught an advanced course for adults after school. It was her first year teaching, and we were doing a big science experiment. The potion was supposed to cure a disease of some sort, but one of the students had the wrong chemicals, because the chemicals they were working with looked similar. I won’t call that adult somewhat dumb, because what I did was about 84,742 times more dumb.

Anyways, the students were working with the chemicals. There weren’t any chemical reactions, though. Mrs. Klink quickly realized that they were the wrong chemicals, so she went to the other room to get the right ones.

Suddenly, my throat got really dry. The chemicals that Mrs. Klink’s students put in the test tube were clear and looked a lot like water. Since I wasn’t paying attention to the science experiment, I thought it was water and I drank it. The potion turned me from a rather short human into a skeleton. I lost control of my arms and legs, so Mrs. Klink put me up on a stand for display, so I could stay in the classroom. It was more than a little disappointing to be immobile, but at least I could still stay in Mrs. Klink’s class. There’s one thing I sure learned from that science class…..Pay attention! Not only is it for your grades, but it is also for your safety.

Two on A Bench

By: Cloe Dingfelder

A middle aged man sits on a bench. Once he sits down, the section of blue paint on the bench under him starts to melt. The thick liquid drips on the floor with a plop. He sighs.

A young lady sits next to him. The section of blue paint around her seems to turn more vibrant as she sits down. She breathes in the muggy air on this hot day and turns to the man.

“Hi!” she says enthusiastically. “You’re waiting for the bus too?”

“Hm?” he grunts, “Eh, I’m just heading off to work. I would like some peace and quiet.” He takes out an old newspaper from his duffel bag and begins reading. It seems that he has already forgotten about the girl.
“Oooh, what kind of work do you do?” the girl says. The man looks up from his newspaper and gives her an odd look. He rolls his eyes and turns to her.

“Um, I’m a, uh—”

“Oh, silly! Did you forget? It’s the old mind, eh?”

He cringes, “Hey! I’m not that old!”

“HAH! Old people are so funny!” She laughs and starts talking again. “I’m taking the bus to my university. My car’s at the shop, so I have to go on the dirty old bus!” Her face tightens and she grumpily kicks a small rock under her foot.

“I, uh, the bus should be getting here soon, so maybe you should pick up your bags and...  stand up?” The old man scratches his almost bald head and starts to sweat.

“Pfft, I can wait!” She scooches closer to him.

“You’re quite the happy one, aren’t you?” he scoffs.

The girl blabbers, “Yep! And you seem pretty grumpy, mister! You old hag! Wrinkled mongoose!” She giggles and playfully nudges him with her elbow.

The man holds his face in his hands, “Listen, lady, I’m not here to talk, so can you just… shut up?”

She gasps sarcastically, “Excuse me, mister, but that was very rude!” His eyes widen and he opens his mouth to speak, but he is interrupted. She starts laughing and says, “Hah, I’m just messing with ya!”

He can’t take it anymore. Without another word, the man blatantly picks up his things, stands up, and walks away.

Before he can even escape five measly feet away, she begins to talk again. “Huh? Where are you going, mister?” She smiles widely.

The man slaps his forehead and sighs, still facing away from her. He slowly turns around and says, “Oh, you wanna know what I’m doing?” His face is turning red and his voice is tense. “I’m going to a bus stop far away from here, to get away from you!”

There’s a moment of silence as they stare at each other.

“Hah, silly old people!”

The man continues to walk until he gets to the next stop. He sits on a bench, and some more blue paint plops down. He sighs, and takes out his newspaper from the duffle bag.

Time Will Always Pass

By: Shivani Patel

The morning mist still hung to the ground like a child to a mother’s arm before the rising sun would chase it away. The gentle patter of Catriona’s worn feet on the fertile ground was the only sound that echoed for miles. Each movement sent a sharp pain through her aging body, but she still continued the diurnal trek to the field. The thin red cloth hastily wrapped around her head could not keep the biting chill from seeping in, and neither could the thin scraps that adorned her frail body.

The elderly lady gripped a home-woven basket in one hand and impatiently pushed aside her graying hair as she bent down to pull the first leaves of the potato crop from the frozen ground. Her timeworn hands worked the stubborn plant from the ground with a skill mastered over years. Catriona’s eyes trailed from the wilted leaves to the potato at the end; the crop that provided her family with food for years now lay rotten in her calloused hands as if the devil himself had come and taken dirty little bites right from it. A knot formed at the bottom of her stomach as she dragged her gaze from her hands to the acres of growing crops.

As far as the eye could see, the farmland stretched. A sharp exhale escaped Catriona’s chapped lips and a strangled sob rose in her throat as the rows of wilting crops focused into view. Turning her back against the dying crops, she faced the way she came. Upon a hill lay the modest home in which Catriona had lived and flourished for years; the home where she grew up, where she had kids, where her family was born.

The knot grew bigger and tighter as she approached the ivy embellished house with a small wooden door and great big french windows she had come to love. Catriona’s body was hit with a wave of familiar warmth as soon as the door swung open to reveal a little foyer that stretched out to the many rooms and corridors. As she gradually made her way through the maze of hallways, each passerby straightened his back and lowered his head in respect. The woman finally reached the great mahogany door of her eldest daughter, Rosin. The old lady had run the house for years after her husband died, and Rosin would inherit the title when Catriona was reunited with her husband.

After rapping on the door and hearing a faint “Come in,” she turned the rusted brass doorknob and entered. Rosin’s gaze flicked over to her mother with strong vibrant green eyes that mirrored Catriona’s own. While turning to fully face her mother, Rosin nimbly put up her fiery red hair and her pink lips curved into a brilliant smile, but her smile slowly fell apart when Rosin saw the sadness in the old lady’s eyes.

“Oh Rosin, I’m afraid I bring bad news.” Despair laced every word as she continued, “The year's harvest has rotted. I do not know how much we can salvage, but I do know many have died. We are being punished for another man’s sins.” Catriona looked as if she had aged ten years; her shoulders sagged from the burden, wrinkles from worrying became more prominent, but she straightened her back in a futile attempt to hide her true fear from her daughter. She would not dump her responsibilities on her daughter, no, she would give Rosin as much time she could of ignorant bliss before having to step up as the new leader. So she concluded, “We will not let this kill us, little rose. We will find a solution.”

A sullen mood fell over the house like a damp blanket on a raging hearth; with one order from Catriona and the many hands of the somber family, each plant was uprooted, examined for any bruising. When the sun set, the healthy potatoes lay in a dauntingly small pile. Another sigh escaped Catriona’s lips.

Dinnertime came and went and the house finally slept. While the old lady prepared for bed, she heard a tap on the door and a creek of the knob. Rosin stood in the doorway, standing at her full towering height. There was determination in her eyes and strength in her shoulders. A small smile formed on Catriona’s lips despite the dismal events, for the woman before her made her heart well up with pride.

“Maman, I know that you will not approve of this, but I beg of you to consider,” her voice rang with authority. How has she grown up so fast? Catriona mused. Rosin proceed, “Crops have failed all over Ireland. People are starving and dying. We must leave or we will also starve. There is a ship that is sailing for America in three days time, and a friend of mine can get us on. You must tell the family-they request your permission-but I have already informed my brothers and sisters and they agree.”

Her words cut like shards of glass. “Rosin, you know that I will not leave. This is our home and I will not allow some failed potatoes to drive me from our home. God knows that we have done nothing wrong, and if he has done this, then we must not run away from it; we must conquer it.”

“Maman!” Rosin took on a desperate tone. “Don’t you see, we will die if we stay here. God will not save us from this; we must save ourselves. Think about your children, your grandchildren. Everyone we love will die from hunger. Maman please, we must leave immediately. Not just for you, but for the whole family.”

Each word hit Catriona like a physical blow, but it also made her realize that her daughter was ready. She was ready to lead the family, and it was time for Catriona to let her. She had always guarded her daughter, denying the blatant fact that Rosin was growing up; her little rose had bloomed into the person that Catriona raised her to be. A person who was able to stand up and say what she believed in, a person who was now more capable of leading this family to success than a fragile old lady.

“Okay my dear,” Catriona said in a small genuine voice, “you have my blessing, but you know that I am not well enough to make that voyage, and my time is coming regardless. I wish to die here, in my home, and so I give you my blessing to take the family, lead the family.”

Rosin stumbled back a step when  her mother’s words sank in. Then, confirming Catriona's beliefs, Rosin held her chin high to show her mother that she would not let her down and would bring her family to success, and nodded in acceptance of this new responsibility. Catriona felt something she hadn’t felt in years: relief. The burden had been taken off of her weak, aging shoulders onto a stronger, stable pair that would bring them to a brighter future than she could herself. That night, the old lady slept in tranquility.

 Lawless Love

By: Gauri Lahoti

Dropping the bucket from my hands, I came to a dreary realization: dead men really do float in water. I had heard it before, but only when I saw the blanket of indiscernible human bodies cloaking the surface of the murky water did I fully believe it.

My eyes swept over the decaying soldiers, until I found myself locked in the gaze of one still covered partially with scraps of a green and black camouflage uniform. Hundreds of maggots and larvae swarmed over him, into his empty eye sockets, and out of his open jaw. A few patches of skin were still attached to some parts of the body that the bugs had not fed on yet, and the surrounding water was besmirched with sanguine blood.

When the putrid stench of decayed limbs was finally too much for me to bear, I closed my watery eyes and whispered a few words of respect for the gallant soldiers who had lost their lives the same way that my father had--protecting citizens like me. Realizing that there was no use in collecting water from this lake of a cemetery, I stumbled down the hill with a heavy heart and no water to bring back home.

I ran, down the burnt hill, past the withering trees, and through the catacomb of wooden huts, but came to an abrupt stop at the undeniable aroma of freshly baked bread. It was from the home of a lonely, old couple--their son had gone to fight in the war, but no word from him had reached our town in months. They knew he was alive though, or they wouldn’t be receiving the monthly shipment of grains. When ours had stopped coming, just a few months ago, we knew what it meant.

My stomach churned, as I hungrily eyed the luxury from the break in the wooden wall. Though it rumbled in bitter disapproval, I kept walking and smiled at the thought that at least someone wouldn’t be starving that day.

As my wispy hair fell over my eyes by the gust of wind that pushed past, I nodded it away. I looked into the blue-gray sky, hoping that it would be bright out, but dropped my head in dismay after seeing that the clouds had enveloped the sun’s hopeful rays, once again.

“Skye,” a scratchy voice croaked, interrupting my thoughts. “Darling, did you bring the water?” Snapping back to reality, I realized that I had reached the tangle of sticks and mud that I was thankful to call my home.

Peeking out of the doorway, I saw my emaciated mother propped on the wall. Her misty blue eyes held a level of desperation, and it felt as though she would come crashing down with the tap of a finger. Her pale hands shook as she reached forward for me, and I ran to her, holding her gently and pulling her back into the house, her fragile body shivering against mine.

“Mother, the water was… of no use to us.” Then, looking at her eyes widen and eyebrows scrunch in fear, I quickly added, “But don’t worry. I will find a way to get some water or food for you and Lilly. I know you are starving. You really shouldn’t have given us the last of that chicken.” Her eyes were closed now, and she slid down to the floor next to where my eight-year old sister was still sleeping on a bundle of dark cloth. The color had completely drained from her cheeks, and sweat dripped down her forehead. Though she was as thin as humanly possible, her innocent, cherubic features were still perceivable in the dark of the hut.

Voice shaking, Mother murmured, “Oh, Skye, what will happen to us? What will happen to us?” As her eyes welled up with tears, I felt my own do the same, and in that minute, I was absolutely helpless; there was nothing I could do to help my mother or my sister. There was nothing I could do to reassure her that everything would be alright, because it probably wouldn’t. There was nothing I could do to stop the war that had taken the life of my father and a million others like him. There was nothing that I could do to bring food for my starving family.

Or was there? In an instant, images of the wooden cabin a few blocks away from ours, the old couple, and their freshly-baked bread flashed before my eyes, and I was taken aback by the horror of own thoughts. How far was I really willing to go for the love I had for my family? Could I live with myself if I saved my family at the cost of another’s pain and loss? When I turned and saw silent tears streaming down the side of Mother’s face, I knew the answer.

Leaning forward, I wiped my mother’s tears and pulled her chin up, my steel blue eyes locked into hers. “It’s okay. I’ll be back in a minute, Mother. It’s all going to be okay.” Before my conscience could convince me to do otherwise, I let my heart lead the way, ready to go wherever it would take me, and do whatever it would make me.

When I slid into the house, I felt like I was in a daze. I knew what I was doing, and I knew that it was wrong, but my desperation took over my mind, and before I thought about the effect of my actions, I had pushed the feeble little woman to the floor with a crack, and picked up the warm bread from the table. I turned before leaving and saw the lady lying unmoving on the floor. I took deep breaths and assured myself that she was only unconscious, then turned to bolt, my mind still fuzzy from what I had done.

It’s okay, I kept telling myself, until I was convinced that my actions were justifiable because I did it out of love for my family. It was something that needed to be done.  

That day, we had decent food for the first time in two weeks, and when they questioned where I got it from, I responded that it was given to me from the pity of a kind woman.

At the end of our meal, my mother called, “Skye, would you hide the leftovers somewhere? I heard some rumors of a cruel thief who’s stealing food from others. Can you believe what we have come to? God forbid something like that happen to us.”

Lilly’s eyes widened in fear. “Really? People are doing that?”

“It’s nothing for you to be worried about, Lilly,” I responded, my voice slightly rising in pitch. “It’s okay, Mother. I don’t think that will be necessary.”

Miss Hiver

By: Jianna Milan

I can still remember the day my owner found me. I was lying on the streets, bedraggled and scrawny. There were pools of rainwater scattered on the cold black surface, washing away tire marks. A small, bright yellow taxi slowed down, coming to a stop in front of my cold, wet body. A young woman stepped out of the vehicle. She had short black hair and wore such dark clothes that she blended in with the dreary sky.

She began to approach me, her hand outstretched in a welcoming manner. I staggered to my feet and slowly approached her. “Oh, poor baby!” she whispered, hugging me softly in her arms. “You need some food, don’t you?” Her voice sounded like silk to my drooping ears.

I whimpered softly in reply, trying my best not to let my black and white fur dampen her expensive looking jacket. Her jacket was held together by some of the shiniest buttons I’d seen in all of my life on the street. It looked new, all the more reason that I attempted not to ruin it. The woman, however, seemed to disregard the value of her clothing and held me tight.

“Sir! Would it be alright if I brought this dog into the taxi?” she called to the driver who had been watching us this entire time.

“Just make sure he doesn’t track mud into my cab,” he responded in a gruff voice.

The woman nodded and hugged me tighter, carrying me into the car. As she sat down, she reached over to the seat next to her and grabbed a towel. She began drying me with it, while the driver fumed in the front seat. We were getting mud all over the car.

It took about 20 minutes, but we reached Miss Hiver’s New York apartment. It was small compared to other places I’d seen, but it soon became the world to me. Within a week, I knew where everything was kept. It was a small apartment, but it was filled with more belongings than I could imagine. There was a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom, and a living room. A small laptop was stationed on a glass table in the center of the living room.

Occasionally, I would see Miss Hiver, the woman who took me in, on the computer, typing furiously. During those times, she would beckon me to sit next to her and curl up on the green sofa that she would sit on. Sometimes, she would place her head in her hands and complain about how frustrating her job was.

About a year after Miss Hiver first took me in, there was a stormy night and I was alone. It was much like the night that I first met her. Rain raced down the windows, and thunder shook the apartment building. A drenched Miss Hiver ran into the house, sheltering an object underneath her new winter jacket. The object started moving and shaking. Out of her jacket popped a brown poodle.

Miss Hiver ran to the linen closet, the poodle trailing after her. She dried the poodle off. “There you go, Lucille,” she named the dog right away.

Naturally, I was jealous of the new dog, She got all of Miss Hiver’s attention. It was she who was sitting next to Miss Hiver. It was she who Miss Hiver pet whenever she had a bad day.

One day, I threw up in the apartment. Miss Hiver freaked out and brought me to the vet down the street. The vet noticed something was off with me, and asked Miss Hiver if she could perform some tests.

Miss Hiver was shocked; I could see it on her face. Her eyes went wide, and she started stuttering. “W-what do you mean? W-what do you th-think is happening with Oreo?”

The vet’s reply was straightforward, “I have to check to make sure. I don’t quite know yet,”

Miss Hiver nodded her head. “Please, check.”

The vet poked me with needles, checked my blood pressure, and took blood. It was a long couple of weeks before we finally got the results, which Miss Hiver was not happy about. She opened the manilla envelope carefully, revealing a handwritten letter from the vet. I don’t know what was in there, but it couldn’t have been good. Miss Hiver started to sob violently, and both me and Lucille balled up next to Miss Hiver, trying our best to comfort her.  

It’s been several years since the day that Miss Hiver found out I had cancer. My fur was turning gray, and with each day that passed by, I could feel my life ticking away. Lucille rarely left my side those days—she knew that I would die sooner or later. I had survived three years already, but Miss Hiver couldn’t afford money for my treatment.

It was mid-July when it finally happened. I was at the vet, surrounded by Miss Hiver, Lucille, and Dr. Fait. I closed my eyes, took my final breath, and everything faded into oblivion.

Bad Cop Good Cop: The Untold Story of The Lego Movie

By: Madison Li

If you knew you only had 24 hours left to live, what would you do?

President Business was going to freeze the whole city with the Kragle on Taco Tuesday at exactly 12:00 PM. It was exactly 12:00 PM on Monday when I finally tracked down Emmet in the Wild West and overheard him announcing it to Dynamite Belle.

As Bad Cop, I believed I was President Business’s most trusted friend. Even though he didn’t like Good Cop, he always trusted me to complete the most dangerous, important missions. Emmet’s news hit me hard. I had no idea he wanted to freeze everyone, even me. It was impossible to believe, but Emmet Brickowski wasn’t the type of person to lie or pull a prank like that. Bad Cop and Good Cop were fighting with so much gusto that I couldn’t even form coherent thoughts.

When my internal conflict and confusion ended, it left me with two conclusions: President Business wasn’t such a nice guy after all, and I was going to be the equivalent of dead in 23 hours and 59 minutes.

So, I decided to do the one thing I’ve always wanted to do.

I was going to skydive from the pinnacle of the Octan tower. It was clearly forbidden, but even as a small child I loved heights, and the Octan tower was so tall that it seemed to touch the sky. Skydiving off the roof would be the most amazing experience of my life, regardless of the fact that it would be my last.

I left Emmet alone and took my car straight back to HQ. On the way, I set my car to autopilot and took out on the parachute in a secret compartment of my car, stashed there in case my car ran out of fuel while flying. Once I put the backpack on, I entered the front doors and headed towards the elevator. It wasn’t too hard to get past the robot workers, since they all recognized me as President Business’s closest confidant. The usually hostile and stiff receptionist even favored me with a smile when I walked in the front doors.

The heavy parachute backpack put a huge weight on my shoulders—both literally and figuratively. As the escalator rose, my stress increased. What if the parachute didn’t work? What if I dropped on the middle of a highway? What if President Business found out? It was miracle that no other employees walked in on me. As I paced back and forth in the elevator, I suddenly looked up to the huge mirror on the wall. My two personalities weren’t fighting, but the worry that bit into me had made me wear a face I didn’t even know that I had: an apathetic one.

Ding! I had reached the top floor. Above me was a static, endless sky. I cautiously walked to the front of the building and looked over the edge to see a dark, frightening void. For a while, I stared down into the void and felt like my thoughts were getting lost in them. Suddenly, the elevator dinged. As the doors opened, the seconds seemed to slow down. Grimacing, I glanced at my watch. 12:07. It was now or never.

I stood on the edge of the tower and tensed the muscles in my legs. My arms were spread out wide, and I was about to jump. The elevator dinged again, signaling that it had completely opened.

Abruptly, I felt Bad Cop and Good Cop fade somehow. Without another thought, Apathetic Cop leaped off the tower, but the strange lack of screams were compensated by what the intruders in the elevator simultaneously said.

“Son?”

The Last Secret

By: Arca Baran

A man walks out from a bush and sits on a wet bench. It was very rainy yesterday, and the bench still isn’t dry.

“It’s okay now, Boss,” he says into his sleeve. “Everything is going as planned.”

“Very well,” croaks a horrible-sounding voice from the watch inside his sleeve. “Everything is going as we planned. You have the Object, I presume?” Then the voice starts coughing.

“Yes, sir,” the man says. He is a middle-aged man with a goatee and sunglasses too large for his eyes. He is wearing an unusually large top fedora, and he has black clothes.

“And no one but us and the group knows about my secret, I expect?” the voice croaks back, and bits of spittle come out as he talks.

“Of course,” says the man. “I will make sure that it stays that way.”

A few seconds later, a bus pulls up in front of the bus stop bench.

“Perfect timing,” mutters the man. “I bet that the Boss sent Barbara to deliver the Object to headquarters.”

He walks up to the bus. The bus driver is sitting in her seat, looking solemn. The bus driver is a woman with red curly hair and a brown fedora over her head. She is wearing a huge coat.

The man walks over to Barbara and whispers something in her ear.

“Very well then,” she replies. “I will not fail you this time.”

The bus is empty of people except for Barbara and the man. Then, the bus starts spinning crazily, and it lights ups in a vibrant green color. A split second later, they have teleported to headquarters.

The man waves a farewell to Barbara and walks off the bus. In another flash of green light, the bus disappears behind him. He reaches into his raincoat and grabs a black briefcase.

“I am at headquarters with the Object,” he says into his watch. “This will help solve the problem with the Secret.”

“Yes, perfect,” says the voice. “Best keep the Object warm. It is best that way.”

He walks forward and takes a right turn. Now, the man is running across a hall with blue walls and silver floor tiles to an elevator at the end of the hall. The man walks in and pushes the button for the seventh floor.

This is it. He is finally going to give his boss the Object. No one would ever ask about the terrible secret, since the Object would cure it. He is hoping for a raise. Even better, a promotion! These are the most suspenseful moments of his life, since if the Object isn’t delivered on time, he is doomed. The object isn’t just highly beneficial for his boss, but it also helps him get promoted.

As soon as the elevator doors open, he dashes across the hall to his boss’s room. He presses a button on the wall of the metal door and speaks into the microphone.

“It’s me. I have the Object,” he says.

The door opens immediately.

The man walks towards his boss, an elderly man with mostly gray hair. He is wearing a suit and tie.

“Yes,” croaks his boss in a sore voice. “I cannot thank you enough. This can finally end my suffering.”

The man unlocks the briefcase. He brings his arms down to open it up. He is about to open it. This is it. What he has been waiting for for such a long time… The boss will be thrilled.

I bet you wanted to know what the Object and the secret are. There is a moral to this story: life doesn’t always give you all the answers. Sometimes, you have to find the answer yourself. How? By common sense and taking hints wisely—hints that may or may not be in this story to help you figure it out. Fortunately for you, if you are having trouble finding hints throughout the story, there is a code. Reverse each word and remove any numbers to find the answer. The first bundle of numbers and letters goes first in order. The next one is second. Good luck!

HERE IS THE CODE:   t34ce567j77bo  e4h343t 232s43i 23h885gu255oc  en121i1ci21de523464m

Part 2: ta4334or345ht e4553ros 45a6 s465a45h sso332B he33t taht s4i 6t6e32423r332c34es44 e453ht

Totally Tragic Life

By: Zaina Saif

I bet you don’t know how hard it is being a tiny little munchkin at Dunkin Donuts! It’s a total tragedy! My name is Todd and I’m one of the jelly glazed munchkins at the Big Dunker. My only pal here is Maximillian, my pudding-glazed brother-in-law. Max is the type of munchy who’s an impassive genius who studies all day and actually cares which paper bag he's going to be in. He always complains that I’m going to end up with the moldy munches if I don't start studying for the eatterm exams.

Another one of my problems here is that the big donuts always bully me and call me names. But not having a hole in the middle of me or not being covered in sprinkles doesn’t make me any different from any one of those oval-shaped disgraces! What's even worse than being picked on by the cool kids is losing to them. If they lose a single game of tic tac toe or rock paper scissors, they’ll blow up with anger and the winners will get sugar wedgies the rest of the month. But if we lose and complain just once, they tell us to stop acting like babies and say, “Dude, relax! It's just a game!” I know anyone would agree that these donut guys are jerks. It’s the only thing I know for sure since the day I first came to Aberdeen Dunkin Donuts—the big kids DON’T PLAY NICE!

But the donuts are least of my problems in this store. What bothers me the most is seeing my friends come and go everyday. I used to have a ton of friends until Dunkin Donuts became famous and now has customers 24/7. My friends were all so nice to me and they cared for me so much! It was so sad to see them get sold and eaten everyday. Sometimes little kids would take them out RIGHT ON THE COUNTER to eat them. That was harsh!

Now, as you already know, I am only left with one munchkin, my brother-in-law. As hard as this is for me to say, I actually want to get bought now. With the eatterms coming up, this is the perfect time to plan my escape. I, Todd, the 49th ancestor of the gobbled up union, do not belong in Dunkin Donuts!

Google’s Perspective (response to an article published last year)

By: Danielle Ahearn

Hey! I am one of the two computers on your phone. My name is Google, and I am the most used search engine in the world. I think it’s funny that Siri calls herself the “smartest robot alive,” because we all know that’s a title that I, and only I, live up to. Unlike Siri, I can answer a billion questions at once without having a problem. However, I do admit that I get too tired to answer some questions, so I just put links to other websites. But hey, at least I’m helping!

After you came home from school and checked Snapchat and Instagram, you asked Siri to look up your homework. But, she had to be lazy and said, “I’m not sure I understand.” You then asked her what zero divided by zero was, since it was one of the questions on your homework, and she told you that you have no friends and upset the Cookie Monster. Of course, you finally came to me for help. I’ll be honest, I thought it was sort of dumb that you had to ask me that question when you’re in the 6th grade. Anywho, I simply said it was zero—I was answering a billion questions. Ya know, no time to give a whole in depth explanation! Since you used me, you finished your homework in five minutes flat!

However, the next day, you got angry at me. You asked me some crazy question that was really hard to answer, so I sent you a link to another website. However, the website was wrong, and when you sent it to your friend, who had to know the answer for an honors class, he flunked a test and got mad at you. You FaceTimed the friend that you FaceTime whenever Siri annoys you.

“Ugh! Google is so stupid sometimes!” you whined. “I don’t see the point in this computer. This is ALMOST as dumb as Siri! And now, my friend in honors is mad at me.” Wow! How rude! I can’t believe you think I’m almost as dumb as Siri… She’s such an idiot!

Then, I saw your battery going low. However, I don’t know how to actually talk to Siri and tell her to remind you to charge your phone. When Siri finally noticed, she begged and begged for you to charge your phone. It was the only thing I could have ever agreed with her on.

Of course, you had to torture the both of us, letting your phone die so you could do your homework without distraction,  knocking both of us out. How unfair is it that we’re the reason you have more than a quarter of your knowledge, and you treat us like this?! Anyways, you got your charger and went back to playing games on your phone, so we came back to life. It could have been worse. Remember what Siri always tell you…..CHARGE YOUR PHONE.

Siri’s Perspective (originally published last year)

By: Megan Xie

       Why, hello! I am your personal assistant on your iPhone: Siri. I can answer all the questions you ask me, though I am quite overused. I am the smartest robot around. In fact, I have the capability of answering three million questions at the same time, since I am installed on everyone’s iPhone. Please don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I’m just a little lazy and reply, “I’m not sure I understand.” Don’t blame me! I work all day!

       Today, you came home from school, checked all your little social media apps, and went on that group chat. I was recording all your history while you were spending fifty-seven minutes and twelve seconds on your iPhone 6S. As I recall, you then checked the time and took out your math homework. At least, that’s what you told your friend when you FaceTimed him. After that, you came to one math problem and asked me what zero divided by zero was. Then I explained to you that zero divided by zero is infinity, but in a simpler way that anyone could understand. Strangely, you got annoyed.

      “Argh!” you groaned to your friend on FaceTime. “Siri just gave her stupid explanation on the Cookie Monster thing!”

      “I know, it’s annoying,” your friend replied. “I don’t see the point of her!”

       How peculiar! I was just trying to help you. I thought you would appreciate that. Oh, well. I didn’t have any time to complain, because I needed to record your history. It wasn’t that offensive anyway.

       What really irritated me was that you then opened the Google Chrome app and asked Google what zero divided by zero was, the exact same question you had just asked me! Even worse, you were satisfied by Google’s answers. Nobody realizes that she is one of my worst enemies. She always thinks she’s better, even though I can get a higher IQ! People should acknowledge that.

       I guess after that, I was feeling queasy and tired. Suddenly, I realized that the battery was at ten percent! I snapped myself awake and buzzed your phone to remind you that I needed to charge. Oh, no, I thought. Please don’t let this happen again!

       Apparently, your phone died yesterday, even after I reminded you to plug in your charger. You know what happened? You didn’t listen to me at all! Soon, your phone died and I was gone.

       Recalling what happened yesterday, I sent you an urgent reminder to plug in your charger, hoping that you would cooperate.

       Unfortunately, you did not get your charger. You know what that meant? Well, about a half an hour later, your phone died. Oh, you don’t care? Guess where Siri went? She disappeared! Oops!

       Oh well. At least you got your charger eventually and went on Snapchat again, and I came back to life!         Yay! Anyway, I have to go now- you just turned on your phone again. Next time, please remember your charger

-Siri

Spotlight

Ms. Baccaro

By: Shruthika Parsa

There is a saying… “The best teachers teach from the heart—not from the book.” After meeting sixth grade Math teacher Ms. Baccaro, this quote came to life!

Ms. Baccaro is the most amazing teacher I know. She is very kind, fun, and a great role-model. She inspires her students to give their best, and she does not let a single one of them leave without learning something new in math class every day. Making math fun in the most ways possible, she also makes sure that each of her students understands the content she is teaching. Instead of treating her students as a part of a stressful job, she treats them with care and kindness, helping meet each of their personal needs.

Ms. Baccaro has been teaching for six years and spent four years in MMMS. She was able to teach eighth grade, seventh grade, and now sixth grade math. Using her knowledge from previous experiences, Ms. Baccaro says that it is easier for her to identify common mistakes and how to teach in the most effective way that students will understand.

She has wanted to become a teacher since second grade. Inspired by her own second grade teacher, she decided to follow her footsteps. Going by the quote, “Keep Calm and Carry On,” she was able to reach her goal successfully. She is a wonderful teacher, and no matter what she is teaching, she tries to make it fun. “I think that students notice my excitement about math. Even when I am teaching a topic that may not be the most interesting, I like to show my students that it is fun and exciting to solve the problem,” she says.

Ms. Baccaro is more than a teacher to me. She is my friend, my role model, and somebody that I will never forget! Some advice that Ms. Baccaro has for middle schoolers is “to enjoy every day. Sometimes when life becomes overwhelming, we forget to enjoy the happy moments throughout our day.” It is important to enjoy your life even in stressful moments, and I’m sure we can do that with Ms. Baccaro as a teacher. Thank you, Ms. Baccaro, for choosing to teach and being there for your students. Thank you so much!

Mrs. Bodsford

By: Madelyn Valle

There is a saying: “To the world. you may just be a teacher, but to your students, you are a hero.” Mrs. Bodsford surely is a hero in my eyes. From the very beginning of the school year, I knew that my reading teacher, Mrs. Bodsford, was going to be a great teacher.

“I first started teaching at Workman Junior High in Arlington, Texas, 14 years ago,” says Mrs. Bodsford.  She started off working in a school office in a private school. On the days that the school couldn’t find a substitute teacher, they would ask her to be the sub.

“[I]... started working with kids, doing teambuilding and leadership classes. From the very moment I stepped into the classroom, I knew that I wanted to become a teacher,” Mrs. Bodsford exclaims. Mrs. Bodsford has been teaching for 14 years and in those fourteen years, she has taught both math and reading in 7th grade. “I love to read and I really love to read students' writing,” Mrs. Bodsford added.

Mrs. Bodsford has had a lot of practice with kids. She has been an aunt since she was 9 months old, as well as growing up with 11 siblings. Now, she has 2 children of her own.

“I was really shy and lacked confidence—all the subjects were easy for me, but I didn't know how to speak up for myself,” Mrs.Bodsford explains, which is really shocking because she is always cheerful and excited in class.

“Work hard and be willing to listen to others,” Mrs. Bodsford advises. “I would tell a new teacher to get to know your students as quickly as possible, that gives you the best chance to know when and if they are needing help.”

In addition, she says, “Be yourself—it's a time to explore lots of new opportunities and find your path. Don't let others determine that for you. Most of the people you know in middle school will not be part of your life in a few years, so focus on getting to know yourself,” Mrs. Bodsford says.

Mrs. Bodsford is a phenomenal teacher and she’ll definitely be using her talent to help students for years to come.

Mrs. Farrell

By: Deeya Nevatia

Mrs. Farrell is an amazing 6th grade science teacher. She has been teaching in MMMS since 2003, for a total of 14 years. She says, “The best thing about science is that it creates a logical way for people to solve problems. It provides a framework for anyone to look at a problem, pose possible solutions, test those possibilities… gather data, analyze the data… [then] go back to the beginning and ask, ‘Did I solve the problem?’ Before science, societies relied on superstition rather than reason.”

One of her inspirations for becoming a teacher was that Mrs. Farrell loves learning. She didn’t really show that much interest in school while she was growing up, but she always knew she wanted to be a teacher. She even started her own tutoring business at age 14! She says that part of what motivated her to become a teacher was that she wanted to do things differently than what her teachers did when she was a student. She wanted to make things more interactive and fun.

Additionally, Mrs. Farrell says that many experiences in her life inspired her to get a career in science. When she first started teaching in New York, she was qualified to teach high school business subjects. Unfortunately, during the period of time when she was teaching in New York, boards of education were taking away business programs throughout the city. After all the business programs were taken away, she couldn’t find a job. As a result, she decided to return to college to finish her master’s degree, so that she could earn certification to teach another subject. She chose science as her subject because it was the complete opposite of she was doing before.

Mrs. Farrell has found inspiration from many people in her life. For example, her brother inspired her to travel Europe and learn other languages. Her mother inspired her to never be afraid to take things apart (even if she didn’t know how to put them back together!), and her father inspired her to be independent. Finally, her students inspire her to become a better teacher.

Furthermore, her grandfather had inspired her to become a pilot, and she compares this to obtaining her doctorate today. She says that the biggest challenge in her life that she is facing right now is obtaining doctorate, and it’s the most difficult thing that she ever tried to do. “It’s way harder than flying an airplane!” she says.

Even with this heavy load on her back, she still manages to be a great teacher. Mrs. Farrell admits that she becomes disappointed if she doesn’t get her work done, but she believes in herself and knows she’ll find a solution to her problems.

As someone who has watched more than a dozen generations grow up, Mrs. Farrell does have some advice for students and teachers. Two of her favorite quotes are “Be true to yourself” and

“Be patient and kind—not only to others, but to yourself as well.” Respecting others is crucial, but many don’t realize self-respect is also important. Teachers find that a lot of students will carelessly say, “Oh, you’re right. I’m so stupid!” or “Why didn’t I know that? I’m so dumb.” Instead of insulting themselves, they can give compliments and learn from others. She also says, “Try to be your own best friend. Most of us are supportive of our friends when we see them struggle. Try to be that way with yourself too!” She sends out a great message to everybody. Not only should you be patient, but you should be supportive to yourself when you are struggling in a hard situation.

In conclusion, Mrs. Farrell has a message for all her students. She says, “"I’d like to say from the bottom of my heart, “Thank you!” to all of my students. You are the reason I am still here." Thank you, Mrs. Farrell, for being an amazing teacher, role-model, and person, as well as being there for your students throughout our great 6th grade year with you!

Madame Barthole

By: Danielle Lirov

Madame Barthole, beloved French teacher at MMMS, is an amazing woman with an even more amazing history.  Before she became a teacher, she worked as a translator in the Executive Board Office in the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).  This non-profit organization helps children in need throughout the world.  Afterwards, she had different jobs within UNICEF for 20 years, such as working in international media relations in the Information Division.  

Today, Madame Barthole lives in New Jersey, but did you know she grew up in France and then lived in Canada before finally settling in the U.S.?  She speaks 3 languages fluently (English, French and Spanish) and also knows some Italian.  When she is not busy teaching, she enjoys reading, sewing, designing clothes, and traveling.

She says her favorite part of being a teacher is “Being with the children and witnessing their learning experience.”  This is part of the reason she is such a great teacher.  She says that teaching French allows her to share not only the language, but also a whole new culture with her students.

Her favorite topic to teach during the year is food.  Madame Barthole is eager to share her love of delicious French cuisine with her students. She teaches about such culinary delights as escargot (snails) and frog legs in the hopes that one day her students will try them.  Perhaps the adventurous among us will!

There are both perks and challenges that come with being a French teacher.  In Madame Barthole’s opinion, one of the best parts of the job is “being with the children.”  Her biggest challenge, she says, is being a disciplinarian.  So just behave and you won’t create a challenge for her!

Those lucky enough to be in Madame Barthole’s class will benefit from her enthusiasm for all things French.  Her love for the French language and culture is evident in her teaching style.  Merci Madame Barthole!

MMMS Art Gallery

Human
By Zaina Saif

“Sunset at Jenkins Boardwalk, NJ”

Photo By Zaina Saif

“Screaming Cat”

Drawn by Zaina Saif

City Street

by Zaina Saif

"Water"
Drawn By Zaina Saif

Holiday Doors!

“Ballet”

Tanisha Sahni


 

“Tea”
Tanisha Sahni



“Flowers”
Tanisha Sahni

“Bunny”
Tanisha Sahni

Eagle 
by Roy Chen

Sunset
Photo taken by Madelyn Valle 

Boardwalk at Night

Photo taken by Madelyn Valle 

Flowers
Photo taken by Madelyn Valle 

Pumpkin Witch
Made by Cloe Dingfelder: The living block of Cheese

Bird in flight
By Aaron Lee

Anhinga spreading its wings
By Aaron lee

A double crested cormorant on coconut tree
By Aaron Lee

A Mexican Petunia with a bug on it

By Aaron Lee

Dragonfly
By Aaron Lee

Turtle at Biscayne national park
By Aaron Lee

A Kiwi in Everglades National Park
By Aaron Lee

Great Egret taking off at Everglades National Park
By Aaron Lee

A Hawk
 By Aaron Lee

Sunset at Everglades National Park
By Aaron Lee

“Sunset at Everglades National Park”
By Aaron Lee

Sun through Clouds
By Aaron Lee

Finches
By Aaron Lee

A blooming flower
By Aaron Lee

“Turtle”

Tanisha Sahni

“Zoom In of a Flower”

Tanisha Sahni

Fading

By Aaron Lee

Drama and Music

Beauty and the Beast: The Drama

By: Danielle Ahearn

The Marlboro Memorial Middle School Drama Club was proud to start off the year with their play, Beauty and the Beast: The Drama. The play was performed in the cafeteria on the nights of Friday, November 18th and Saturday, November 19th. It was written by Michele L. Vacca.

Two magical enchanters named Flora (played by Asiimwe Laki) and Bunda (played by Adam Fiorito) begin the play. After Prince Phillip (played by Luis Rosado) was unfair to the people of his kingdom, these enchanters put a curse on him, changing him into a beast. When Belinda Bell’s father (played by Niko Mattos) is taken prisoner by the beast, Belinda Bell (played by Brianna Manginelli) replaces him. The beast hopes that Belinda Bell will fall in love with him and lift the curse that the enchanters put him in.

“I think the play was absolutely excellent! The actors really grew into their roles these past weeks. The audience loved them,” says drama teacher Mrs. Shatsky.

The Drama Club is excited to announce that there will be another dramatic adaptation this year. The spring musical will be Legally Blonde.

Seventh Grade Winter Concert

By: Christopher Chen, Eric Wang, & Megan Xie

On Thursday, December 15, the seventh grade winter concert was a fabulous showing of the hard work that students in music ensembles have been working on for the past 3 months. The directors of each ensemble proudly presented the final show of such talent and dedication.

At 7:00 P.M., Bell Choir students filed into the cafetorium, anxiously waiting for their cue to start the show. The select ensemble performed A Joyous Song, by Carol A. Scheel. The song, which is not to be confused with a major and happy mode, was actually minor and sad. The performers were able to start off the night with a spectacular performance, with the outstanding melody being accompanied by the soft and quiet bass voice. To continue on with the concert, the spotlight shined onto the stage, where the 7th Grade Symphonic Band was about to play after a brief introduction by Mr. Goley. The pieces that they were showcasing were Medieval Legend, by Michael Story, and Snow Valley Sleigh Ride, by Philip Sparke. Medieval Legend, with it’s bold and heroic theme, boomed out into the audience with a sense of amazement. Right after, the light and delicate Snow Valley Sleigh Ride, which is a tradition for 7th Grade band members to perform for the winter concert, had a fairly lighter mood. With bouncing bells, light jingles, staccato and legato passages, this piece had everything to fit in with the holiday festivity spirit.

After an exciting performance by the Symphonic Band, the “choirlings” of Miss Winslow were ready to sing their songs. A la Nanita Nana, a famous Spanish Carol arr. Normal Luboff, was first and had a calm and peaceful tone. Sih’r Khalaq, by Jim Papoulis, was the choir’s second piece. This piece enlightened the audience’s mood with the choreography and bold Arabic lyrics. Following the performance of the 7th Grade Choir was a brief intermission, which was when the Monarch Jazz Orchestra played a short excerpt from Rosanna, arr. by Victor Lopez. This was a little preview for what was coming up for the spring concert.

Next, as members of the orchestra and Royalaires filed into the cafeteria for their turn to perform, the Monarch Jazz Orchestra members got ready to play a tune that most people knew, Clocks, by Coldplay. Although Clocks is a famous rock song back from 2002, this version, arr. by John Wasson, was written for a jazz ensemble. Immediately following Clocks was Tweet, by Vince Gassi, a piece that included two improvisational sections with dedicated soloists Alex Wu and Gauri Lahoti. Succeeding the upbeat performance of the jazz band came the seventh grade orchestra, conducted by Miss Dinger. They first performed two pieces from Themes From Harry Potter, Hedwig’s Theme and Harry’s Wondrous World, all arr. by Paul Cook. Next, they played a lively piece, Stone Mountain Stomp, all arr. by Carl Strommen. After the stunning string orchestra played their two pieces, the last and final spotlight was on the members of the select choir ensemble, Royalaires, to end the night. The choir sang Ave Maria, a song composed by Giancarlo Aquilanti, and Cantate, by Shane Dittmar.

Interviewing the performers before and after, their feelings, although different, followed a common theme of enjoying the music. Emily Luo, from the Monarch Jazz Orchestra, explained that even though the music in jazz band was hard at first, “we all have become a large family to constantly support each other [despite the hardships].” Similarly, Vasu Raval, of the Monarch Wind Ensemble performing later in the year in the sixth grade concert, had similar feelings, stating that “We are all great friends and love being around each other. It is very motivational.” They both recommend new students join symphonic band as well as try out for these select ensembles. Both agree on the importance of trying new things and finding a passion, all of which can be accomplished through music.

Eighth Grade Winter Concert

By: Christopher Chen, Eric Wang, & Megan Xie

It’s the first concert of the year! Comprising the most experienced in the school, the eighth grade MMMS musicians performed on December 15, 2016, putting on a fantastic show for the audience. With soft, mellow cantatas and fast-paced, energetic orchestral music, the concert was full of excitement. The first performance was the eighth grade Royal Ringers, or bell choir. They played Savior of the Nations, Come by Kathleen Wissinger. This was followed by a great performance by wind ensemble performing Adrenaline Engines by Randall Standridge and Sleigh Ride arr. Michael Story. Then came the eighth grade choir, who performed Esto Les Digo by Kinley Lango and Lord, Give Me a Little More Time by Derrick Fox.

After a short intermission, the concert went back into action. The orchestra performed two beautiful pieces, Carillion by Bizel arr. McCashin and Brave by Doyle arr. Langfield.  The special women’s choir, Lionheart, also performed Tundra by Ola Gjeilo in the concert. Accompanied by the orchestra and piano, the voices of 8th graders resonated throughout the cafeteria. Then, the Royalaires sang two choral pieces, Ave Maria by Giancarlo Aquilanti and Where There is Light in the Soul by Elizabeth Alexander. The concert was then finished with a lively performance by the Monarch Jazz Orchestra. They played Clocks arr. John Wasson and Tweet by Vince Gassi, featuring two select soloists, Jacob Zhang on the clarinet and Alex Wu on the saxophone.

Eighth grader Natalie Chu, a clarinetist from the eighth grade wind ensemble as well as the Monarch Jazz Orchestra, said before the concert, “[I feel] excited and nervous [for the concert]. I’m excited to watch my friends play [during the concert].”

The concert was a great way to start off the year. Soon, the seventh grade will be performing in their own concert, followed by the sixth grade. Congratulations to all of our talented musicians!

Pop Culture

Hogwarts Houses - Personality Quiz

By: Megan Xie

What do you think of Hogwarts?

1. Cool, I guess…
2. I think of it as my home!
3. It’s the only place I get treated equally.
4. The professors are great!
5. Hog wha?

What are some of your personality traits?

1. Hahahahahaha… this will be a long story.
2. I try to be brave.
3. Well, I guess I’m always left out…
4. I’m dead smart. I’m in so many honors classes!
5. I can be extremely nice… to normal people.

What are your favorite colors?

1. moss green and silver
2. gold and burgundy
3. jet black and sunflower yellow
4. royal blue and gunpowder
5. other

You drop your books in the hallway and a younger student comes to help you.

1. Why would I even drop my books in the first place?
2. You politely respond, “Thanks, I can manage myself.”
3. You smile and say cheerfully, “Thank you!” You hope you can see this student around sometime again.
4. You let them pick your books up for you and wait for them to compliment you on your advanced novel choices.
5. What are books? I use my laptop for school!

What do you do in your free time?

1. Uh, pranking my neighbor…
2. I travel to explore new things and take pictures.
3. I keep a daily journal.
4. Read! What else is there to do?
5. Start a streak with a stranger on Snapchat!

Which instrument(s) would/do you play?

1. double bass
2. clarinet/trumpet
3. piano/flute
4. violin/viola
5. guitar/drums

Your magic wand is good for ____________.

1. dark magic
2. combat
3. charms
4. transfiguration
5. I don’t use my wand!

What can you say about your friendships?

1. It’s pretty complicated.
2. I love my friends, and we help each other through tough times.
3. Well, I have a few friends, but we keep to ourselves.
4. All my friends are nerds like me.
5. I am popular with so many supporters!

What’s your favorite part of Hogwarts?

1. Certain hidden chambers…  
2. The great hall, where everyone is!
3. I’m not sure.
4. The library is a perfect place to read!
5. I have no idea what that is!

Your ideal magical creature is ___________.

1. Hmm, a snake?
2. Any obedient owl
3. I’m satisfied with a toad.
4. An owl or cat, but it better have brains!
5. Unicorns with rainbow hair!

Count up your answers and check your result below!

Mostly As: Slytherin

You are a pure-blood or maybe a half-blood. Some parts of your past life may be imperfect, but that doesn’t affect anything in your current life. You live boldly and don’t let anything get in your way. Usually you are very opinionated. Anyone who disagrees with you makes you infuriated. Don’t take your anger too far, or you’ll fall into the edges of dark magic!

Mostly Bs: Gryffindor

Aha! You are definitely one brave soul. You’ve got the courage to become a hero. Before you came to Hogwarts, you experienced tough times, but you were able to fight through them. Your only weakness is your fears. Get over your fears before they take over you! You have the skills to become a great wizard, but making the wrong choice will darken your future.

Mostly Cs: Hufflepuff

You are more likely to be a muggle-born, but that isn’t too relevant. You sometimes may be left out of your friend group, and all you want is everything to be fair. You might not be the bravest, but you are extremely amiable. Most of the time, you are a solitary person, but you try your best to make friends. Try to socialize more and live happily!

Mostly Ds: Ravenclaw

You probably have straight As in all of your honors classes, because you have brains! Studying for school is mandatory, despite all the stress. Be careful about bragging about your grades in front of others. Your future will mostly lead you to becoming a successful auror. Don’t become too selfish, and continue the hard work!

Mostly Es: Muggle…

What are you doing here? You don’t belong here, go back to the muggle world! Since you aren’t magically associated, you don’t fit here. Thanks for the trouble!

Riddles:

By: Helen Kwok

Read the riddles out loud to have a better chance at guessing the answer. Post your answers in the comments!

Riddle: You throw away the outside and boil the inside. You eat the outside, and throw away the inside. What is it?

Riddle: It takes a person 3 hours to dig a half a hole. How long does it take to make a full hole?

Riddle: There are 5 fish. 3 drowned. How many are left?

Riddle: What can you catch, but can’t throw?

Riddle: This is a word that starts and ends with an “e” and has a letter in the middle.

Trolls

By: Kavya Jain

Looking for a great movie to see with your friends and family? The wait is over! The new movie Trolls, rated PG and created by Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn, is a delightful way to spend time with family (and maybe eat a few buckets of popcorn). The movie is filled with twists and turns that will take you on a wild adventure. Surprises around every corner and a creative plot will leave you pondering what will happen next.

Trolls is about a community of trolls who have to face the dangers of The Bergens. The Bergens are huge, ogre-like creatures who like to eat trolls. Even though The Bergens are a terrible threat, the trolls seem more interested in partying and enjoying life than remaining cautious. What will happen? Watch the movie to find out!

According to one spectator, “It was fun to watch with a couple of friends while rocking out to ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ by Justin Timberlake. My two favorite songs were probably ‘Get Back Up Again’ and ‘Hair Up.’ These two songs were upbeat and fun to listen to.” With an all-star cast, upbeat playlist, and exciting storyline, Trolls is definitely a must-see!

Star Wars Rogue One - Movie Review

By: Cloe Dingfelder and Madelyn Valle

Star Wars Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the eighth installment of the Star Wars franchise, and it came out on December 16, 2016. The movie takes place between episode 3, Revenge of the Sith, and episode 4, A New Hope. The main plot of the movie follows the rebellion, whose members are trying to attain the plans for the Death Star so they can destroy it as an attack to end the Empire. We watch as the two main characters, Jyn Erso and Cassian Andorpo, learn to respect each other and work together for the rebellion.

The movie starts off slowly at first. In the beginning, we are introduced to the main characters and a general idea of the movie’s plot. Soon enough, though, the movie’s pace speeds up and becomes more exciting. Traditional fast-paced fights common in the series take place, which is very fun to watch. The movie closes some plot holes from previous movies, even minor ones. Though the movie is entertaining, however, it lacks a plot twist to keep the viewer on his/her feet as other Star Wars movies do. However, this doesn’t make the movie bad. It’s surprising to see some characters from A New Hope and other movies make small appearances in Rogue One.

Overall, Star Wars Rogue One leads you on a fun adventure, and anyone can jump on board. From the smallest fans of Star Wars to the biggest ones, Rogue One is an entertaining and action-packed movie that fans of all ages can enjoy.

Star Wars Personality Quiz (From Movies 4-6)

By: Arca Baran

The release of the highly anticipated Star Wars film Rogue One left fans and critics abuzz with conversation. The movie takes place before movie 4, the original Star Wars movie. Because of this, enjoy a personality quiz with characters from the original trilogy of Star Wars films.

1. What would other people describe you as?

a.) curious and kind hearted

b.) boastful and confident

c.) bossy and serious

d.) caring and loyal

e.) annoying but smart

f.) funny and good with technology

g.) wise and intelligent

h.) intimidating and strong

2. Do you work well with others?

a.) most of the time

b.) What’s in it for me?

c.) only if I’m the one who’s in charge

d.) I only work with my friends.

e.) Yes, I am glad to help them.

f.) They better be nice to me!

g.) only whenever I want to

h.) if they do what I want to do

3. What would be your weapon?

a.) a blue lightsaber

b.) a blaster

c.) my negotiating skills

d.) A bowcaster

e.) None, I would prefer never to fight

f.) electric shock arm

g.) My wisdom and the Force

h.) The Dark Side of the Force and a red lightsaber

4. What are your favorite colors?

a.) blue and yellow

b.) black and white

c.) pink

d.) brown

e.) yellow and gold

f.) blue

g.) green and brown

h.) red and black

5. What would be your dream job?

a.) I’m not sure...

b.) pilot

c.) politician

d.) animal vet

e.) mathematician

f.) engineer

g.) teacher

h.) dictator

RESULTS:

If you answered mostly A’s, you are Luke Skywalker. You are good at heart, but you can sometimes have bad judgement. You feel a strong connection to your family. You will do anything for the ones you love. But beware—you are on the verge of the Dark Side, and if you don’t make up your mind soon, things will end up bad for you!

If you answered mostly B’s, you are Han Solo. You are determined to win at everything you do, and can sometimes be overconfident. You never give up, no matter what. You like taking risks, no matter how much the odds are stacked against you. Just remember to keep your promises, or you will soon end up being frozen in a block of carbonite.

If you answered mostly C’s, you are Princess Leia Organa. You stand up for what you believe is right, and will not tolerate any injustice. You want people to listen to you, and you get extremely agitated when they don’t. People sometimes think of you as bossy.

If you answered mostly D’s, you are Chewbacca. You are loyal and caring for others, and form strong bonds with your friends. You always like to lend a helping hand. Sometimes, it is a bit hard for others to understand you. Only your friends really get who you really are.

If you answered mostly E’s, you are C-3P0. You are very precise about things and like memorizing facts. You speak more than one language and are very smart. People go to you to ask questions. However, sometimes you talk too much, and this can annoy many people.

If you answered mostly F’s, you are R2-D2. You are loyal and helpful to others. You help others get out of bad situations. You are great with technology and use it to your advantage. You like building and repairing things. It’s just that sometimes, you should watch your language and try not to be rude.

If you answered mostly G’s, you are Yoda. You are wise and intelligent. You have very deep and meaningful thoughts. You don’t like to resort to violence, unless you absolutely have to. You prefer to be left alone.

If you answered mostly H’s, you are Darth Vader. You are athletic and strong, and have good reflexes. You do anything, even the most extreme things, to get what you want. Some are afraid of you. Don’t worry—there is still some good inside of you. Just listen to your feelings.

News

Elementary Overridden

By: Jasmin Sawhney

Going from training wheels to a two wheeler is a change that we all have been through, but many don’t consider it as an important one. However, this year, many students graduated and took a step forward into something unknown. It was a new phase in their lives: transitioning from elementary school to middle school!

Students were interviewed on the change, and, as it turns out, middle school is the more favored choice. According to sixth grader Amrita Yalavarti, “I like middle school better… [you] get to know more teachers and more people… In middle school you’re always free, nobody’s telling you what to do.” She also said, “In elementary school, you’re always with the teacher in two lines, but in middle school you aren’t. Also, in elementary school there wasn’t much stress or responsibility, but now there are a lot of responsibilities.”

Seventh grader Mahathi Chitti explained, “In elementry school, I liked that life was much easier and we had less workload and stress… [but] in middle school, we are much more independent and have more freedom.”

Finally, eighth graders Asiimwe Laki and Adam Fiorito remembered their experiences as sixth graders. They said, “In elementary school, the recess was lit, [and we had] easy work... It’s a smaller group of people so you get to know everyone a lot better. [What I] like about middle school…[is] the freedom, the teachers, switching classes. There’s more people to see, but at the same time you can’t know them all.” They also mentioned some advice for the sixth graders, saying, “Appreciate how easy sixth grade is now...Get a good work ethic now so you could only get better…don’t procrastinate! But try clubs. You might try something and [say] ‘Oh, I actually really like [it]’ or you might not try something and you’re missing out. Make new friends, go to extra help.”

In conclusion, elementary school was overridden by middle school because of students’ newfound freedom, new friends, and more varied opportunities. Which do you like better?

The Incredible Field Trip

By: Helen Kwok

On September 26, 2016, about 300 sixth-graders went on an astonishing field trip to FrogBridge Day Camp. It was a perfect day to have fun and make new friends.

On the way to the trip, the 45 minute bus ride was pleasant, but noisy. There were five buses, and some classes had to split up. On the bus ride, people sang songs and slept.  When the kids arrived, they were jumping out of their seats and touching the ceiling in excitement. Everybody was lined up by homeroom teacher.

Once the students arrived, they realized that there were so many events that could be done there: bungee jumping, rock climbing, basketball, soccer, go carts, mini golf, volleyball, gaga or you could just walk around and talk. There were especially a lot of people at the gaga pits. When it came to playing games, the teachers also participated in playing volleyball and gaga with the students.

As for things to eat, there were hamburgers, cheeseburgers, veggie-burgers, hot dogs, sodas, pasta, fries, fruits, chips, and ice cream. Lunch was a feast for everyone.

Everybody had fun, but unfortunately, the day had to end eventually, finishing off a great first field trip for new middle-schoolers.

Memorial Takes a Bite Out of Hunger!

By: Zaina Saif

Our school is taking a big bite out of hunger this year! Marlboro Memorial Middle School met their goal of donating 2,500 cans to local food banks remarkably fast. Congratulations to all the winning classes that brought in an unbelievable amount of cans to our school! The winning quad this year was 8N, who brought in over 500 cans. The winning homerooms were Mrs. Bruzzi’s and Mrs. Rothy’s homerooms, who both brought in over 350 cans.

The quads and classes received multiple prizes, including chips donated by Chartwells. Along with the chips, every winning class also got to design their very own Memorial wristband. Mrs. Rothy's homeroom is now the 2016 care-taker of the Memorial Lion.

Our food bank teacher auction was also a huge success. Over 100 people brought in 5 cans each and were put in a raffle. The students had a great time with the teachers during their lunch periods, participating in a variety of activities with them. Every donation accepted was put forward to helping children in need. Memorial did a great job taking a big bite out of hunger this year!

Improving the School Environment

By: Megan Xie

In any learning environment, mischief is quite common, especially in middle school. Young students may get harassed and intimidated. Discouragement and depression are often the severe results of all the trouble happening in schools. Fortunately, our school has something that helps prevent any bullying and threats—the Peer-to-Peer Club.

Supervised by Dr. Baskind and Mrs. Negron-Santana, the Peer-to-Peer Club has accomplished many successful objectives this year. The members who give the presentations were typical students, but now they’re role models. “Through homeroom visits, announcements, outreaches, and special projects, our peer leaders have inspired others to be kind, resist negative peer pressure, make healthy choices, and stay drug-free,” says Mrs. Negron-Santana.

However, this club is more than just a club. “It is about making healthy decisions that will help students be successful in life,” explains Dr. Baskind. “We have fun, build our leadership skills, and truly have an opportunity to make a difference in others’ lives.” The Peer-to-Peer Club is mainly a related arts class for eighth graders who want to make a difference in our school. Students are eligible when they enter eighth grade. They will have a worthwhile experience with Dr. Baskind and Mrs. Negron-Santana.

“It’s really fun, because you get to be creative,” says a member of the Peer to Peer Club. “Everyone should join it.”  

Student Council Results:
By: Kavya Jain
After a tight race, these four people emerged victorious. Our new vice presidents and presidents have promised to contribute to our school and improve it as a whole.

MMMS held school elections in September, and there were many promising candidates that decided to run for Student Council. Finally, after a lot of suspense, four hardworking students pulled ahead and were voted onto Student Council. Our newly elected 6th grade president is Trevor Perlow, the new 7th grade vice president is Vasu Raval, and the new 8th grade vice president is Sucheth Parigi.  Congratulations to our new 8th grade/school president, Adam Fiorito.

In conclusion, our newly formed student council is made up of many responsible people with creative minds that will most definitely make this school a better place. They have strong leadership skills that will help them to lead the school with confidence. Congratulations to all of our new student council members. We hope you successfully help our school in your term!

Make a Difference” Competition Winners

The “Make A Difference” competition had many amazing entries, but only 12 students rose to the top. These twelve students produced songs, poems, and presentations about how people can make a difference in our school by advocating respect and peace. The twelve students are Victoria Dillon, Adithya Balachandran, Neha Urdhwareshe,  Payal Rana, Nikhit Basineni, Hannah Augsbach Lamma, Kiera Jacobs, Ashna Patel, Tanvi Shah, Rachael Kim, Asiimwe Laki, and Aastha Kapadia. Congratulations to our “Make A Difference” competition winners!


STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS NIGHT:

Election Results

By: Amisha Singh

On November 8, 2016, the entire nation watched in anticipation to discover who America’s 45th president would be. At around two in the morning, it was confirmed: Donald Trump, the United States’ richest presidential candidate, would become its richest president-elect, and, in January, its richest president.

A few weeks ago, Donald Trump made an announcement: he would become the nation’s third president to forego a salary, a loss of 1,600,000 dollars throughout this term as president. In addition to this, his wife, Melania Trump, along with their son, Barron, announced that she wouldn’t be living in the White House with Donald Trump, one of the first presidential families to do so. Donald Trump also released what he calls his “100-Day Action Plan to Make America Great Again,” a list of eighteen things he aims to accomplish in the first 100 days of his presidency. They include the following (according to www.donaldjtrump.com):

“* FIRST, propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress;

* SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health);

* THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated;

* FOURTH, a 5 year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service;

* FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government;

* SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.

On the same day, [he] will begin taking the following 7 actions to protect American workers:

* FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205;

* SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership;

* THIRD, I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator;

* FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately;

* FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars' worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal;

* SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward;

* SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure.

Additionally, on the first day, I will take the following five actions to restore security and the constitutional rule of law:

* FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama;

* SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States;

* THIRD, cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities;

* FOURTH, begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won't take them back;

* FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.”

If you have any questions about President-Elect Trump’s 100 day plan, you can visit his official website (www.donaldjtrump.com) for more information.”

Spirit Week

By: Anita Osuri

During the student-council sponsored spirit weeks, MMMS students and staff bond in various fun activities. For the first spirit week of the year, the student council announced Crazy Socks Day. Teachers such as Mrs. McQuade wore unusual and fun socks, which made all of the students laugh.

Next, Neon Day surely helped everyone smile. The whole school was filled with students wearing bright colors during the day, and some people even chose to be clever and think outside the box for their outfits. For example, Mr. Fine wore a jersey with the number ten, which is the atomic number of neon in the periodic table of elements.

Lastly, one of the numerous events that students were particularly passionate about was wearing a college shirt. Seventh grade student Annie Ma said, “It was a great experience because everyone was wearing them. It was also fun working together with your homeroom and getting along with everyone.”

In addition to being fun, spirit weeks remind students to be respectful and kind to one another. Students compliment each other on their outfits, and help each other to prepare ideas during the week. The MMMS lions are taking steps to remember respect and having spirit, through exciting events such as student council’s spirit weeks.

Poems

Politics

By: Madison Li

One thousand public fights a day

Two thousand million dollars away

Three thousand insults and lies to say

Four thousand extravagant fines to pay

Five thousand changes from gold to gray

Six thousand neglect their promise to pray

Seven thousand citizens being led astray

Eight thousand rumors and whispers to slay
Nine thousand more have been betrayed
Yet less than ten are there halfway

Pie

By: Madison Li

Rusty or crusted, flaky or thin

They mean the same thing, it’s a win-win

From both sides, it’s a mouthwatering masterpiece

Steam rises from slits, four-and-twenty blackbirds flee

But slice it open, and jump back in surprise

Layers of treasure lay on the inside

Jams and fruits, candies and loot

Smoke ascends from it all, leaving not a smudge of soot

And when it’s almost finished, everyone will cry

And argue vehemently, over the last piece of pie

Pain

By: Madison Li

Some lay in silence, some let themselves fall

Some scream in agony, some brave through it all

A few squeeze their eyes, until tears start to drop

They think no one sees, and they hope it will stop

A few carry it alone, they keep it all hushed

They know when it’s out, they themselves will be crushed

These brave souls, no one knows what they’ve been through

Those who understand know there’s nothing they can do

Except give a little respect, give a little space

See through to the beauty, see through to the grace

You never really know, who’s seen what things

Or how many of the happiest, have bloody, shredded wings

Everyone goes through it, yet deals with it differently
So don’t judge too much, and empathize gently

Forgotten

By: Anita Osuri

The flowers on the desk,

Struggling to stand,

Blue petals discoloring,

Stems wilting to ash.

The doll on the messy bed,

Tangled brown hair trailing on the floor,

One eye poked out,

Dress ripped up to shreds,

The old piano on the unstable wood,

Keys broken and disfigured,

Silent as stone,

Markings disappearing to dust.

The child in the corner,

Quivering from the bitter cold,

Clutching a forgotten photo,

Forever hoping.

Love, Oh Love!

By: Grace Wong

I. Agápe

Endless enduring love,

A fire that won’t be snuffed out

Even through the most terrible of storms.

A selfless, passionate love,

Love enduring,

Bonds unsevered,

Remaining even through death.

An eternal love,

A timeless love,

Preserved through the threads of fate,

Crystallized in the sand of time,

Engraved in the fabric of space.

A love that envelops,

And protects.

A love that endures,

And survives,

Even through the hardest of times.

A wave of change,

A history-maker,

The revolution,

The north wind,

Agápe.

II. Éros

Aesthetic appreciation,

Full of passion,

Full of intimacy.

A love between partners,

An undeniable attraction.

An appreciation of looks,

a e s t h e t i c

Love that is beautiful and entrapping,

Love that appreciates the beauty of others.

Love that focuses on the shining beauty,

From the feeling in your eyes,

To the softness of your hair.

And from the passion in your words,

To the happiness in your smile.

From the fight in your blood,

To the lightness in your step.

The love that appreciates the beauty of the soul,

Éros.

III. Philia

Love between equals,

Between friends.

Love that is formed by choice,

And choice alone.

Love that cannot be forced,

Only earned,

Through the qualities that you show:

Your comical personality,

Or you serious disposition.

Your tendency to smile,

Or your pessimistic act.

Your uplifting laugh,

Or your comforting presence.

A love that is loyal and true,

Forged through the bonds of intimacy,

And the memory of shared hardships.

A platonic love,

Or romantic love,

A love that cannot be replaced or mistaken.

Love between family,

Love between friends,

Affection between lovers,

Loyalty throughout brothers.

A love that is pure and beautiful,

A love that should be valued and nurtured,

A love that is common and plentiful,

Full of loyalty and familiarity,

Philia.

IV. Storge

A natural love,

A protective love,

Love expressed through family,

Love that should endure.

Love from the parents

To their children:

The desire to protect

And see it grow up,

Healthy and strong and beautiful.

The love for a country,

So united and strong,

Proud to be a citizen,

Accepting of the faults and flaws,

But loves it nonetheless.

A strong love,

No less than the others.

Love that is enduring,

Willing to put up with your antics,

Staying with you throughout all the ups and downs,

Willing to support you all the way,

Love between family,

Storge.

Seasons

By: Anushka Sikdar

Autumn

The wind blowing, heard through the grass

The leaves on the trees, falling to the ground

The birds rushing, gathering food for the next season

The last falls of rain, before the coldfront

The lakes settling, cooling to the breeze

These are the wonders of Autumn

Summer

The grass a-growing, greener than the leaves

The sand laying across the beaches, waiting for the water to come

The trees blowing, swaying in the wind

The sun shining, bright over the field of sunflowers

The oceans warm, summoning great waves to crash upon

These are the wonders of Summer

Winter

The ground cold, frost sweeping the turf

The grass blanketed white, snow cooling the air

The sky a colour of silver, gleaming with stars

The lakes frozen, plants cold beneath

The trees bare, with leaves to the ground

These are the wonders of Winter

Spring

The grass a-growing, green as can be

The flower buds, blooming with colour

The leaves growing, brightly tree to tree

The bees buzzing, gathering to the fields

The deer coming out, nibbling the fruit

These are the wonders of Spring

Colors

By: Anushka Sikdar

Red

Anger

Madness

Craze of the mind

Rage

Hatred

The wrath of the brain.

Orange

Calmness

Cool

Ease in her steps

Peace

Tranquility

The serenity of the soul

Yellow

Happiness

Joy

Smile on her face

Blithe

Pleased

Blessed in the heart

Blue

Sadness

Distress

Tears from the eyes

Sobs

Sorrow

Heart that stops beating

White

Confidence

Bright

Ready for anything

Afloat

Brave

Courage takes the leaf

How The Colors Came To Be

By: Joyce Huang

Once it was all just yellow, yellow, and yellow.

Yellow represents all the happiness and joy,

Everything was yellow, yellow, and yellow.

Then one fateful day long ago,

A drop of negativity seeped into the yellow.

While all the yellow were happy and jolly,

There was just one little yellow

Who thought a bit too much.

“What if there was something besides happiness?”

Burdened by unnecessary thoughts,

The little yellow experienced a change.

For the first time, the pure yellow was tainted,

Yes, tainted by the hue of purple.

The little yellow was nervous,

What would he do if the others found out?

“Conceal it, hide it!” he thought.

His franticness served him no good,

For the more he worried, the more purple he turned

Until the once yellow yellow was totally purple.

By now the other little yellows had noticed.

How confused, how angry, how curious they were

That they, too, discovered other colors.

Purple became nervousness,

Red became anger,

Green became disgust,

Blue became sadness,

Orange became calmness,

And yellow became one of many.

The world, once filled with just yellow,

Became riddled with colors.