The Lion's Pride: VOLUME VII

News

The National Geographic Bee

By: Zehra Taqvi

This year, our school participated once again in the annual National Geographic Bee, also known as the GeoBee. Students, who ranged from fourth to eighth grade, took the same competition with varying questions each year. This competition was taken by students to further their geographic skills and to create an incentive through competition.

Every student in the school participated by taking a thirty-three question Google Form on Wednesday, November 7th. After every student in each class had completed the form, the student who answered the most questions correctly in his/her homeroom would be participating in a second round, which would take place one week later.

After the initial round, these homeroom winners competed yet again, except this time it was against every other winner in their quad. When this round concluded, each quad produced their own winner, the student who had managed to answer the most questions correctly in their respective group. Due to the fact that there are only three quads per grade, there were nine competitors left to battle it out in the final round, where they competed for the title of Geographic Bee winner.

On November 21st, following a heated battle in the final round, one winner emerged: 8th grader Varun Gupta. In second and third place was sixth grader Krish Shah and seventh grader Sharabh Ojha, respectively. All contestants are recognized for their valiant attempts in this competition. The National Geographic Bee has concluded in our school, leaving us with our school champion: Varun Gupta.

School Movie Night

By: Simran Maniar

It was a chilly Thursday evening, and MMMS’s Student Council arranged a school movie night. Students gathered into the cafetorium to watch the all-time classic, The Incredibles. It’s a captivating movie about the iconic superhero family. A variety of snacks were arranged neatly on long tables. This was a fun way to spend a weekday with classmates and friends. Thank you MMMS Student Council for setting this up, and we look forward to other fun events for students to enjoy!

Holidays at Memorial

The Spelling Bee

By: Zehra Taqvi

This year, our school once again participated in the annual Spelling Bee. It all started off in the homerooms, where every student was given a chance to participate.This year the round was slightly different because there was no video. Students instead had to pick the correct spelling out of four answer choices and listen to the speaker projected from the board.

In the second round, the students who scored the highest in their homerooms competed with another Google form. This form had twenty questions: ten vocabulary questions and ten spelling questions, an improvement from past years because it had multiple choice instead of blanks to fill in.

The third round was live and took place on January 10th, 2019. In this round, around twenty of the sixty-three initial contestants were admitted. There was a great deal of pressure as students completed course after course. Finally, the tenth round arrived. Three competitors were left: seventh grader Sharbh Ojha, seventh grader Zehra Taqvi, and eighth grader Varun Gupta. They competed in what turned out to be a too-close-to-call round three. It was decided that a final, fourth round would be held the next day.

During second period on January 11th, Sharabh, Zehra, and Varun met a final time to compete in the Spelling Bee. Zehra misspelled a word, but still secured herself a spot in third place. Sharabh and Varun went at it for many more rounds. However, in the end, Sharabh spelled a word wrong. In that round, Varun needed to spell his next words correctly in order to become the spelling champion. His word was “valise.” Varun spelled this word accurately and earned himself the title of Spelling Bee Champion. The final standings were: Varun in first place, Sharabh in second, and Zehra in third. Congratulations to our MMMS spelling champion!

Red Ribbon Week

This Year Dinner is on Memorial!

By: Zaina Saif

This year, students at Marlboro Memorial Middle School participated in their annual student change hunger challenge. The Difference Makers started this challenge several years ago, and it has quickly developed into an annual event. This challenge took place around the holiday season to help the less-fortunate in need of food and money. In addition, not only do these school donations benefit people in our community, but the food drive builds a positive school environment as well.

This year, the Difference Makers set a goal of collecting 2000 pounds of food. Homerooms were placed into a competition, and the ones with the most cans at the first checkpoint got a coupon for a free cookie and for the teacher auction (a series of activities that allow favorite teachers and students to interact and understand each other better). Consequently, the first delivery totaled 924 lbs and 2000 items of food were donated, making this challenge a success! The leading homeroom at the second checkpoint won a frozen treat from Chartwells and got to design a custom Memorial wristband as well.

When the results were counted, Mrs. Osborne’s homeroom took the lead for sixth grade with 124 donations. In 7th grade, Mrs. McLoughlin’s homeroom won with 178 donations. The school-wide and 8th grade champions, Mrs. Pagliaro’s homeroom collected an incredible 508 donations of food. This year’s student change hunger challenge has been a great success and once again, it has spread great awareness throughout our school!

AV CLUB HUNGER CHALLENGE TRAILER

Toys for Tots

By: Sashreek Bhupathiraju

Aesop once said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” The Toys for Tots program is a perfect example of Aesop’s teachings. Builders Club hosts the Toys for Tots program every year in an effort to put a smile on a kid’s face. Toys for Tots is a program that encourages the donation of toys to children in need. In 1991, Toys for Tots made a decision that would change their history, and teamed up with the United States Marines. The addition of the Marines augmented the success of the program doubling the toys delivered.

In 2018, this program still affects kids all over the world today. Marlboro Memorial Middle School is one of the many schools to contribute to awareness and happiness among children everywhere. To encourage donations, a competition between homerooms for who could donate the most toys took place. At the end of the event, a sum total of about five-hundred toys were collected, making this year another success. Thank you to all who participated in Toys for Tots!

AV CLUB TOYS FOR TOTS COMMERCIAL

6F Disguise the Turkey Drawing Contest Winner: Daniel Palagano

Battle of the Quads!

Clubs and Sports

Shooting for the Stars: 8th Grade Basketball

By: Riya Prakash

The 2018-2019 basketball season has commenced at Marlboro Memorial Middle School! As they work harder than ever, both the 8th-grade girls’ and boys’ basketball teams set their sights for yet another season victory. Both basketball teams train vigorously almost every day for one hour and forty-five minutes after school in order to enhance and refine their skills in an attempt to defeat their opposing teams. Luckily for them, their hard work paid off, considering the fact that both teams successfully made it to playoffs.

8th Grade Girls’ Basketball:

After holding tryouts on November 16, 2018, the 8th-grade girls' team was chosen. Coached by Mr. Fine, a 7th-grade social studies teacher, the team consists of Helen Kwok, Skye Urbach, Katelyn Messina, and Skylar Cioffi as forwards, Madison Wise, Sofia Kelly, Erica DiSimone, and Gabrielle Sivash as guards, and Natalie Agostinelli and Varsha Simha as forwards and guards. With all of their skills combined, these girls have shown great potential.

Following about a month of practice and a few scrimmages, the girls had their first regular season game on December 13, 2018 against Howell South. Unfortunately, they suffered a defeat of 38-15. However, the girls didn’t let their loss bring them down. From December 20 to January 7, the girls won three games consecutively. They won against Wall with a score of 16-12, demolished Barkalow as they ended with a score of 40-28, and secured yet another victory against Howell North, 36-24. This streak was sadly broken by a loss against Manalapan in an exceedingly close game resulting in a final score of 24-22, a loss by merely two points. Being that these girls are very steadfast and determined, they were able to add another two wins to their name as they defeated Freehold Boro and Eisenhower the following week. The scores were 30-9 and 18-9, respectively. As the regular season neared its end, the girls only had two games left- Marlboro Middle and Asbury Park. With the pressure set high, they experienced a downfall at Marlboro Middle on January 17 with a score of 31-20, but they were able to redeem themselves by winning against Asbury Park (36-7). After all this, the girls ended their regular season with 6 wins and 3 losses. Having qualified for playoffs, the girls are soon to participate in a battle of the best teams, and they have the support of the entire school with them.

Cheer, Wrestling, Basketball, and Cross Country!

8th Grade Boys’ Basketball:

The 8th-grade boys' basketball team was assembled shortly following their tryouts on November 16, 2018. Although several boys tried out, the selected contenders formed the much qualified “power team.” With Mr. Styler, a math teacher, as their coach, Peter Budveit (forward), Justin Capell (guard), Mike DiSimone (guard), Sohan Eleti (point guard), Jared Goodman (guard), Chris Jorgenson (guard), Jack Levine (center), Lucas McEvoy (guard), Ryan Mendes (forward), Dylan Miccoli (guard), Vikram Parasuram (guard), Corey Shanin (forward), and Logan Simon (guard) harnessed their abilities and practiced arduously while they waited for their season to begin.

The boys started out their season strong with, remarkably, five consecutive wins. Their first game took place on December 11, 2018, against Wall, in which they trounced their opponents with a finishing score of 40-17. In the following weeks, they defeated Manalapan 45-28, Howell South 33-23, Barkalow 56-33, and Howell North 40-26. The boys seemed unstoppable. However, in a neck and neck game, Eisenhower ended up beating our team by eight points, resulting in a score of 31-39. Although the boys gave their hardest effort against Asbury Park on January 10th, they suffered defeat once again. The score ended up to be 48-36. The last two games of the season, against Freehold Boro and Marlboro Middle, were played with valiant perseverance and gave the team, accordingly, one win (38-26) and one loss (31-32). This led the boys to the end of the season having earned 6 wins and 3 losses. The boys were able to earn their spot in the playoffs with a lot of determination.

With playoffs soon to come, the basketball teams here at MMMS hold their hopes high and determination higher. Will this year bring another victory for our school? Stay tuned to the morning announcements to find out!

Good luck to both teams!

6th and 7th Grade Boys Basketball

The Magical Lamp of Aladdin-Review
By: Samantha Dillner

“Act well your part; there all the honour lies.” - Alexander Pope.

Marlboro Memorial Middle School’s production of The Magical Lamp of Aladdin was, overall, a very well produced play. Actors and actresses were dashing on and off the stage, calling out lines agilely. Performed by students ages 11-14, their manner of acting out their parts was impeccable. The students acted out their parts so meaningfully. They really got into character and put a lot of hard work into this play. There were three genies in the production: The Genie of the Ring, The Genie of the Jewels, and The Genie of the Lamp.

One aspect I really enjoyed was how they expressed modernism in it. The producers added characters and themes to the play to bring a present day feeling to it all. For example, The Genie of the Jewels acted as if she really lived in the 21st century. She had a phone, a nail file, and let us not forget her fabulous pink tutu! The way she talked was very ‘popular girl’ style, meaning that she sounded how like a stereotypical popular girl in a modern day movie would. Overall, the play was phenomenal, especially considering it was a middle school theater production. I am happy to say that I give the play a 4.5 star rating. If I could see it again, I would, and the production has left me eager for next year’s play.

AV Club

By: Sashreek Bhupathiraju

Do you like to make videos? Would you find broadcasting the morning announcements fun? If your answer is yes, then AV club is for you. Newly created this year, AV club is a brand new after-school activity that teaches and allows you to practice filming, video production, and broadcasting. Run by Mr. Bucci, you will learn how to make incredible cinematic effects and films. In addition, you will learn proper tech-related terminology, learn how to maintain and manage equipment, and participate in different jobs that contribute to the broadcasting of the morning announcements. If you find yourself interested in this club, you will be welcomed any time of year, all year long.

AV CLUB LION'S CARD PSA

Of Wind Instruments and Hitty Sticks
By: Jianna Milan

Every year, music teacher extraordinaire Mr. Goley auditions students from both 7th and 8th grade to find the ones who are worthy of being in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble (also known as SWE). Generally, the total amount of students accepted is around thirty. They perform typical wind music but to a higher caliber. One of their most recent and popular pieces is a medley of songs from the hit movie The Greatest Showman, which Mr. Goley claimed to be the most difficult song ever played in this ensemble. It’s a high school level piece, he said. SWE performs at the 8th and 7th grade concerts for both the winter and spring concert seasons, as well as having rehearsals almost every Thursday after school until 3:15, although some practices have been extended until 4:15. A subsidiary of the group, also known as the Monarch Jazz Orchestra (MoJO), is also selected and features students with a prominent or promising knowledge in the style of jazz.

At the end of every year, around late May or so, MoJO and SWE, along with the select choirs and orchestra, travel to Hershey, Pennsylvania for The Hershey Music in the Park Festival, a competition between music groups from multiple schools. Last year, both ensembles received a “superior” rating from the judges, as well as the “Best Soloist” award for a now graduated ninth grader. It’s obvious that these students are the best apples of the bunch!

Stem Club

All About Student Council
By: Arca Baran

If you have spent any amount of time in our school (this should be all of you reading this), you have probably heard the words “Student Council” uttered at some point. Whether it be in a video, the morning announcements, or on a sign in the hallway, this group of students is just about everywhere. I don’t mean figuratively, either; after all, there is a representative in every homeroom class.

What is Student Council, you may ask? First let me state the obvious: It’s a school club. But it is very different from all of the other clubs. Unlike Chess Club, for example, the teachers aren’t truly in charge of what happens. In this club, the students take control of what we do. We are the ones who plan out projects, lead discussions, and brainstorm ideas. As Mr. Ancona puts it, “We [the teachers] are only here for the sake of adult supervision. That’s it.”

Student Council is a group of elected student leaders which consists of homeroom representatives from each homeroom, a secretary, a president and vice-president for each grade, and the school president. (That’s not to be confused with “8th grade president.” That role, as I found out the tough way, doesn’t actually exist.) We are in charge of running special activities that promote school spirit and fun.

What are some of the things that we do? To provide examples, in the past, we have been at the helm of the school talent shows, movie nights, spirit weeks, and music trivia contests. This year, we are doing a students versus teachers lip sync battle for the first time in the history of our school.

In short, you should join student council because it is very fun to be able to imagine ideas of what we want our school to do and actually be able to execute the best of them. Student Council is great for you if you are a leader at heart, have lots of creative ideas, and have at least minimal speaking/acting skills (for the wacky video skits and announcements that we create).

How do you join Student Council? At the beginning of sixth grade and the end of seventh and eight grade, you get the chance to sign up to run for certain roles, which were previously mentioned. All you have to do is prepare a speech and hand it to your teacher, and you too can join! So what are you waiting for? In the words of that gray-haired man, with a colorful hat and goatee, pointing at you, “We want YOU!”

Pop Culture

Horizon Zero Dawn Game Review

By: Jacob Babich and Samridh Das

Horizon Zero Dawn is a new game on PS4 developed by Guerilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The controls are medium in complication level. This game follows Aloy, an outcast of a tribe called the Nora. She became an outcast because of her father, Rost. This game takes place in the 21st century. As a pariah, Aloy has one chance to prove herself as a real tribe member through “the Proving,” which is a competition in which the two different rewards are winning a prize or becoming a tribe member.

In the very beginning of the game, the player is a kid and falls into a cave after wandering off. The player ends up finding a weapon called The Focus, which allows him/her to track enemies.
In this world, all of humanity has reverted back to primitive houses made of wood, stick, and stone. This was caused by a group of children, who created millions of “killing machines.” These machines destroyed everything that humans have created before The Fallout.

The group of children that created the machines work for Ares. Ares has corrupted the door that the player must enter to access a special room that will let the player learn the rest of the missing history, which includes family history and much more.

Additionally, the player can unlock many skills that improve critical damage, aiming, speed of material gathering, and many others.

In conclusion, Horizon Zero Dawn is a great game and we highly recommend it if you like video games and have a lot of time to kill!

Solo: A Star Wars Story Movie Review

By Arca Baran

Keep in mind, while this review refrains from mentioning any major spoilers that would ruin the movie for anyone watching it, it isn't entirely unrelated to what happens in the movie. I will mention some basic plot details, as well as summarize the exposition of the story. So if you are a person who never watches movie trailers and goes to watch a movie knowing nothing about it, then this isn't the review for you. Otherwise, feel free to keep reading this.

Brief Plot Synopsis:

When the movie starts out, we see a young Han Solo performing one of his first heist jobs on the streets of his home planet Corellia. Together with a girl named Kira, they steal a piece of the extremely valuable material coaxium (which are metal cylinders full of blue energy). This ticks off a fish crime boss, who immediately sends a bunch of his (or her) henchmen after the two, while they engage in a high-speed hover car escape.

They find themselves in an Imperial spaceport in their reckless attempt to escape the henchmen. Han sees a piece of Imperial propaganda along the lines of "I Want You!" (with some determined finger-pointing by Uncle Vader, not Uncle Sam), and this gives him an idea. So, in the heat of the moment, he gets in line with Kira to join the Imperial Academy to hide from the bounty hunters who have put a price on his head.

However, his plan doesn't go quite the way he expects, and after the Imperial Academy admissions officer discovers that he has stolen coaxium, he is separated from Kira and forced into stormtrooper duty.

During his first battle, things don't go well due to his rebellious attitude and constant questioning of the Empire's cause ("How are we 'bringing peace and order to the galaxy' by attacking a planet that isn't ours?') He is soon fired from his job as a stormtrooper, and as punishment, they throw him into the "Monster's Pit." Guess who that hairy, growling "monster" happens to be?

He somehow finds a way to befriend Chewbacca, who at the time was a very aggressive Wookiee indeed (I won't spoil how they became friends, just watch the movie yourself to find out). Together, Han and Chewie escape the pit and are rescued by Beckett. Beckett is Han's Imperial boss, whom Han finds out was just in it for the money all along.

Beckett tells them he is putting together a crew for a notorious gangster and wants them to join. Although he is hesitant at first, Han eventually agrees, and together with Beckett, Chewie, and Dryden Vos (the leader of their crew), they perform a daring coaxium train heist of on the snow planet Vandor.

Just like any other plan that Han Solo is famous for, it goes wrong in one way or another. They backtrack a little bit after finding themselves face to face with a group of space pirates called the Cloud-Riders, who attack them to try to stop their heist.

They still manage to steal the coaxium, however, and this encourages them to heist (yet again, I know). Noticing a pattern here? So they decide to try out doing it on the planet Kessel, famous for its smuggling route that always took 17 parsecs to complete. Guess who decided to try to break that record?

In order to make the Kessel Run as efficiently as possible, Han needs the best ship possible. And that would be the Millenium Falcon, which at the time was being owned by his future-frenemy, Lando Calrissian. In order to win the ship from Lando, Han must beat him in a game of cards called Sabacc.

Will Han be able to claim the Falcon for himself? How does he get his nickname "Solo"? Will their heist go as expected? Will Han finally see Kira again? Or will the odds not be in his favor, resulting in a criminal goose-chase for him with just about every bounty hunter in the galaxy putting a price on his head? As Han Solo says, "Never tell me the odds!" But if you really want to know, I suppose that you should go watch Solo: A Star Wars Story in theaters yourself!

My Opinions and Rating: Fan Service Done Right

So, what did I think of the movie? I felt very positive about this, actually. While I have been a huge fan of the Disney-era Star Wars movies so far (unlike some other people), what I saw from the trailers for this movie didn't appear to be as good of a movie as I was desperately hoping a young Han Solo movie to be. Thankfully, this movie went against my expectations in terms of quality. In terms of storyline, though? I would have to say that it was pretty straightforward and unsurprising. There is everything that you could possibly expect a Han Solo origin story to include. How he became such close friends with Chewie? Check. How he met Lando? Check. How he got the Millenium Falcon? Check. Even the seemingly meaningless question of "How did he get his blaster?" is answered. The plot is decently predictable right from the start. However, none of this makes Solo a bad movie. It is very entertaining and full of action-packed scenes throughout. There are loads of funny moments, and it will make you laugh quite often (but it's still not the funniest Star Wars film). The visual effects are dazzling, and despite all the behind-the-scenes mess of reshoots and director changes, I was surprised that none of this is obvious when you are watching the movie.

I can tell that, first and foremost, this is meant to be a fan-service movie. Sure, the story is fine, and so are the new characters, but there is also an overwhelming amount of what is familiar. There are so many easter eggs and references hidden throughout that die-hard Star Wars fans will surely notice, even on their first-watching of the movie. This movie also has plenty of references and similarities to the Star Wars EU (AKA Legends), and fans of the Expanded Universe will be happy to know that Han's origin story here is somewhat similar to the one there (there is even one particular "SW Holiday Special" character thrown in there for good laughs). Everything from the Kessel Run, Holochess, and one particular surprise cameo (which I won't spoil for you), is meant for those fans who can brag to their other moviegoers, "I know something that you don't." But seriously though, that cameo at the end will have everyone who has watched the Star Wars TV shows (Clone Wars and Rebels) to be screaming out loud with excitement. Everyone else, though, will just be very confused about it.

Now to talk about the characters. Han, Chewie, and Lando act just the way that audiences have come to know and love. The new characters, though, I felt were mostly pretty boring. They were weakly written with little to no substance or story arc to them. The one exception to this, though, is Lando's droid L3-37 (voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge). She has more personality than even Rogue One's K2-S0, and is a self-made robot constantly fighting for "droid equal rights." Alden Ehrenreich's performance as a young Han Solo is solid, but it doesn't quite match the roguish scoundrel played by Harrison Ford. The real star of the show, though, is Donald Glover's portrayal of Lando Calrissian. Lando is just as smooth, cunning, and clever as you would expect, and Glover's acting does a great job of bringing him to life. I would rate the movie 4.4 out of 5 stars, or 88%.

In conclusion, Solo: A Star Wars Story is a prequel that takes its pride in delivering plenty of fan service, without oversaturating a franchise that is already jam-packed with seemingly too much content (as the low box office numbers for this film prove). While its plot is very straightforward and its new characters aren't so memorable, it still manages to be an entertaining, fun-filled watch that answers all the questions about Han Solo's life that someone could possibly ever care to ask (even though it disappointingly lacks in information about his childhood). Ehrenreich's acting of Han Solo doesn't quite match Ford's, but Glover's Lando evens the two performances out in the end. While I feel safe in saying that this is the worst of the Disney Star Wars movies so far, it is highly recommended for anyone who is a fan of Han Solo as a character (or Chewbacca, or even Lando) should watch this movie. Seriously, though, just watch it. I mean, so far this movie hasn't been selling so great (a stark contrast from the billion-dollar revenues generated by the previous three modern Star Wars movies), and I really want Lucasfilm to continue making spin-off movies like these. It would be awesome to learn more about characters like Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Boba Fett in their own separate movies, and it seems like the folks at Disney are getting quite discouraged at the moment at the statistics for Solo. So, for the sake of seeing more spin-off Star Wars movies happen (and just for the sake of having a great time watching a movie), please go and watch Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Anki Vector Product Review

By: Saketh Ayyagari

Some people may know the robotic company, Anki, and their third robot, Cozmo. This year, Anki released its newest AI (artificial intelligence) robot companion. Its name is Vector, and it is officially Anki’s first home robot. It is similar to Cozmo, but also very different in some ways.
First of all, Vector is like a personal assistant. It’s like a Google Home device, but with better features. It can tell you the weather, take photos, and even set a timer. Just say the words, “Hey, Vector,” and he will immediately reply to your command. When low on battery, Vector will automatically go to his charger to recharge his batteries. Vector likes to be petted, so not only is he like a home robot, but he’s also like your own animal companion. He has a touch sensor on his back that can be used to pet him.

The best part is that, except for setup, you don’t need a smartphone or tablet to use him! Unlike Cozmo, where you need a device to use it, Vector is always on and never turns off since he is a home robot. Another great feature is that it is being included with Amazon Alexa!

Furthermore, Vector is able to sense the environment all around him with the mechanical parts inside him. He is able to move autonomously like Cozmo, “as well as [being] able to avoid falling down like a tightrope walker,” as said in Anki's video. Like Cozmo, Vector has a camera on his head, which allows him to sense his cube and faces of people. To listen to commands, he has a microphone array in him. To sense objects, he has a laser distance sensor.

After watching Anki’s video, it seemed pretty convincing to me to pre-order one. But, I would stick with Cozmo, since he is directed more towards kids and has a playful side to him. If you wish for a companion to play with, Cozmo could be great for you. But, if you are looking for a “trusty sidekick” to help you with some work, consider Vector instead. Just remember, Vector is directed more towards adults.

If you are interested in buying a Vector, you can watch the video here. The future seems to be changing, and as Anki said in its video, “we are going to change the world, one Vector at a time!”

The Only Review That Matters: An 8th Grader’s Perspective of Pray For The Wicked

By: Ana Kristine

On June 22, 2018, American alternative band Panic! At The Disco (yes, with an exclamation point) released their sixth full studio album entitled, Pray for the Wicked. This is a definitive review and if you disagree with me then you’re wrong (just kidding, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions). Sit back, relax, and agree with me wholeheartedly. You don’t have a choice.
Now, I initially started to write this article while pumped up on coffee. Thus, my mind was running on overdrive, and I realized very quickly that I couldn’t rank these songs as initially planned. The reason being that, in the simplest of terms, they’re all way too good. Seriously, feast your eyes upon some of my review notes for the “worst” and “second-to-worst” songs:
“Every song that Panic! produces is a blessing to humanity; ‘The Overpass’ just isn’t superior enough to warrant any spot but #11. If you like this song, you may also like that song that plays in every Party City commercial. You know the one.”
“As with the rest of the album, ‘Dancing’s Not A Crime’ maintains a steady pop-like rhythm with the signature intellect expected of a Panic! song. Quite frankly, there’s nothing on this album that makes me go, ‘Hm. Those lyrics were terrible!’, and that’s gotta be a plus somehow.”
So, instead of the ultra-critical super-professional review I had planned, this is just going to be me raving about the masterpiece that is Pray For The Wicked until I fill up this page. Seriously, this is such a good album. Now, I’m the type of person who thinks that Austrian death metal is a perfectly good genre. Maybe I was the wrong person to write a review. But, I like to believe that I can recognize when I hate something. And I definitely did not hate this album.
If it hasn’t become obvious enough, the only thing bigger than my love for this album is the lead singer Brendon Urie’s vocal range. My mom is, understandably, frustrated with not being able to go anywhere without hearing the booming sounds of Panic! At The Disco.
About as frustrated as I’ll be if you don’t go on to listen to Pray For The Wicked right this moment.
Do it.
I double dog dare you.
Go on, I won’t keep you.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Movie Review

By: Zaina Saif

What is young Dumbledore wearing? How is McGongall even alive? Who is Credence Barebone? The second edition of the Harry Potter prequel series, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, leaves even the most jaded “Potterhead” with many unanswered questions.
The two hour, thirteen minute film creates many subplots in the already convoluted “potterverse.” It is centered on Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) who was previously introduced in the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The new movie picks up in New York, in the mid-1920s, at the end point of the last movie.
No matter how high your level of Harry Potter knowledge, trying to follow the plot of the movie is not easy. It starts out with Grindelwald - as the controversial Johnny Depp - in jail after his infiltration of the American magical congress. Grindelwald escapes prison and the movie goes on to provide a backstory for Dumbledore and Gridelwald’s relationship. Dumbledore is unable to fight Grindelwald (possibly because of a blood pact made early on) and that is when The Crimes of Grindelwald introduces our hero, Newt Scamander. Newt goes into battle against Grindelwald and they both take on the task of finding a boy with incredibly powerful magic - Credence Barebone.
The movie then follows Newt and Grindelwald attempting to locate Credence in Paris. This “chase for Credence” is where J.K. Rowling, the screenwriter, throws the most hastily assembled and quite disturbing political allegory at the viewers. Fans have definitely begun to speculate about Rowling’s connection to Hitler and Nazi Germany during the 1930s.
The movie’s plot, basically, is for Newt to find Credence before Grindelwald does. As these two characters battle head to head to find Credence and acquire his powerful magic, many confusing subplots are introduced. We catch a peek of Nicholas Flammel, hidden baby-killings (yes, you heard me right), and many, many more fantastic beasts. Although Rowling keeps trying to make Newt, Credence, and Grindelwald the narrative’s center, the viewers attention longingly shifts to Queenie (a delightful Alison Sudol) and Jacob (Dan Fogler). Queenie and Jacob are part of the film’s more light hearted line of plot.
That is, until Queenie decides to join wizard fasicm because Jacob doesn’t want to marry her. The movie also loses the viewers at cases of mistaken identity, dramatic flashbacks, and several different moments that disrupt the established canon (officially part of the fictional universe) timeline of the Harry Potter universe.
To put it not-so-lightly, I feel that this installment in the Fantastic Beasts film series has such a twisted plot that it makes sense to only the most devoted Harry Potter fans. To understand (and bear) the complex connections, the goals of the characters, and essentially the entire plot, you would need to have a deep love for the “Potterverse.” As a very devoted Harry Potter fan, I like to focus on the positives of our wondrous fandom. But, I would also like to say that Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is certainly not a movie for everyone.

Spider-Man PS4: An Honest Review

By: Samridh Das

He swings through the streets of New York City. He shoots webs and defeats enemies threatening the innocent. A hero like no other. Spider-Man! Except now, you, the user, get to play as him. But, is it worth the hefty 60 dollar price tag? Well, I’m here to justify whether you should buy this game.
First things first, let’s get a bit of history about this game and the previous ones. Now, if you surf the web for Spider-Man video games, you’ll find lots of them. Even so, only two games were really popular. These were Spider-Man 2 and, of course, this game. While the gap of time between the two games is quite large, many feel like this is the successor to Spider-Man 2.
Controls:
The controls on this game will take some time to get used to and master, but once you do, you may appreciate all the different features they packed right onto your controller.
Here’s the layout:

Gameplay:
The most important part is most likely the fighting and web swinging. The web swinging is fluid and excels even more once you start going fast. You can also walk on walls and perch on objects. There are so many fighting styles. Even if you don’t like this game, you have to agree that the options are exciting! You can even disarm someone with a web and then swing it into them. The raw fighting style is good too, and strategy is needed to win against your enemies, which also helps to create a challenge for not only new players but old ones as well. Even on the “normal” difficulty setting, the game is still quite challenging. I myself think that the raw combat is well worth the hefty price tag.

Pricing:
60 dollars. If we look at the amount of playable content in here, plus the DLC, the game is well worth it. Plus, the open world gameplay in a hyper-realistic recreation of New York City keeps you immersed in the game even after you complete the story. So now you know what to do. Go get Spider-Man now!

Comix

By [NAME]

Spotlight

Mrs. Dokus: Touching Hearts, One Note At A Time

By: Rishika Raghavan

Mrs. Dokus, one of Memorial’s spectacular music teachers, makes being a part of an orchestra a fun and enjoyable experience for her students.

Mrs. Dokus divides her time between the two middle schools in Marlboro, along with directing a special group called the Griffins, which includes advanced-level students from each school. However, her undying love for music and conducting orchestras did not start out this way.

As a child, Mrs. Dokus never believed that she would become a teacher, let alone an orchestra director. Music was always a big part of her life, but she never thought it could be a career in her future. In fact, Mrs. Dokus was a varsity athlete in soccer and basketball in high school, and she believed that she would go to college on an athletic scholarship. Even though she was busy with her athletics, Mrs. Dokus continued to play the cello throughout her middle and high school years. However, after a serious sports injury, Mrs. Dokus decided to pursue a degree in musical education. Working with students sparked her interest in teaching, especially since conducting classes were some of her favorite in college.

Mrs. Dokus gained her love of music from a very young age. She started to learn how to play piano in kindergarten and cello later on in third grade in her elementary school’s music program. During the instrument demonstration, she heard the teacher play the “Jaws” theme on the cello. At that moment, Mrs. Dokus knew that she would love to learn how to play cello and be able to play that song. Mrs. Dokus has been playing the cello for nearly twenty years now, and she continues to improve her skills every day.

Mrs. Dokus has been teaching for seven years. She started teaching in Lumberton, NJ, after graduating college at TCNJ. She taught fourth through eighth grade strings there for three years before coming to Marlboro. This school year is her fourth year teaching in Marlboro. Mrs. Dokus’ favorite part about teaching at MMMS is the students. She really enjoys the experience of seeing and hearing the progress of the orchestra coming together. She believes strongly that a lot of teamwork is required to be able to play in an orchestra, and that it is always exciting and rewarding to perform together after the hard work everyone puts in.

When she’s not teaching at MMMS, Mrs. Dokus loves spending time with her family, friends, and dog, Johnny. She is also very involved with music outside of school. She is in a professional string quartet called Four Shore Strings that she manages, and she is currently playing in her eighth season with The Monmouth Symphony. She also conducts The New Jersey State Youth Orchestra and The Marlboro Phoenix Orchestra and is the vice president of All Shore Orchestra.

Throughout her life, her mom has been her biggest musical advocate and has supported her through every step of the way. Her musical idol is the cellist, Yo-Yo Ma. He is not only one of the finest musicians in the world, but a humanitarian. He is a kind, humble, and inspiring person, and she strives to be like him one day. Five years from now, Mrs. Dokus sees herself still teaching and exploring new ways to get kids involved in music.

One piece of advice she would give to her students to use in the future is, “Never stop appreciating and exploring music! Music is something you can actively participate in throughout your entire life. Even if you choose to stop playing, remember the life skills learning an instrument has taught you- responsibility, teamwork, setting and accomplishing goals, listening to others, and learning from your mistakes.”

Mrs. Dokus’s encouraging words, helpful advice, and one-of-a-kind teaching skills will undoubtedly inspire a myriad of children aspiring to be successful musicians one day. Thank you, Mrs. Dokus!

Ms. Freeman: Motivating Students to Succeed
By: Rishika Raghavan

As William Arthur Ward once said, "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” Ms. Freeman, one of Memorial’s awesome teachers, makes learning math fun. If you don’t like math, all of that will definitely change when you’re in her class.

Ms. Freeman loves teaching math and was always good at it. It all started in high school, when she was lucky enough to be in classes taught by great teachers who made math really fun for her. However, her dreams of becoming a teacher originated much earlier than that. She has dreamt of becoming a teacher since elementary school. Hence, Ms. Freeman decided to pursue a career in teaching mathematics

Ms. Freeman’s teaching career began in 1999. She’s been teaching and inspiring students to love math for nearly nineteen years! Before she taught at MMMS, she taught students in Japan for a year. Her students’ ages ranged from one and a half up to eighty. After this experience, Ms. Freeman realized how much she loves teaching middle schoolers. Her favorite thing about this age group is that they are still young enough to enjoy “childish” things like arts and crafts, but old enough to know how to behave properly in class.

One thing she loves about teaching at MMMS is the amazing staff and environment. She loves how the atmosphere in the school always encourages people to improve and share ideas with each other. Her favorite thing about teaching math is when she finally sees students find their “aha moment” and understand a particularly difficult topic.

Outside of school, Ms. Freeman enjoys traveling. So far, she has been to forty eight states, twenty three countries, and counting! She also loves reading, watching shows, and attending concerts. Five years from now, Ms. Freeman sees herself still teaching at Memorial, creating more memorable moments, and helping children understand math better. One piece of advice Ms. Freeman would give to her students to use in the future is, “Be yourself, and stop worrying about what others will think about you. The only opinion of yourself that matters is your own.”

Ms. Freeman’s influential words will definitely help many, many students throughout their lives, and her unique and fun method of teaching will make math one hundred times easier for any of her students.

Memorial’s Superhero - Mrs. Tatgenhorst
By: Zaina Saif

Above: Mrs. Tatgenhorst with her husband and her dog, Chunk.

“Not all superheroes have capes; some have Teaching Degrees.”

Mrs. Tatgenhorst is an eighth grade math teacher who has been teaching at MMMS for 10 years. She was born born in Manalapan, New Jersey and started teaching at Memorial after she graduated college. At Memorial, Mrs. Tatgenhorst coaches the sixth and seventh grade girls basketball team and the softball team. She chose to teach math because she loves that math always has a right and wrong answer. She says, “There is nothing you can do without math. Everything in life revolves around mathematics. Numbers are [all] around us.” She encourages her students to study, try their best, and most importantly, show all of their work! Her hobbies include coaching, playing with her dog, Chunk, and spending time with her family and friends. Mrs. Tatgenhorst is Memorial’s superhero and I’d like to thank her for spreading joy and positivity throughout the classroom. Thank you, Mrs. Tatgenhorst!

Mr. Ancona: Teacher Spotlight

By: Danielle Ahearn

Literacy can be defined as the ability to read, write, and analyze. When many people think about that, they are disgusted. English. How tedious, one may think. However, once a student experiences being in Mr. Ancona’s class, that will likely change

Mr. Ancona is an 8th grade English teacher who teaches on Quad J. He has been teaching since 2010. For his entire teaching career, he has been at MMMS. However, it wasn’t always clear to him that he would eventually be an English teacher. As a student of Rutgers, Mr. Ancona’s original major was physical therapy. However, he did not enjoy the amount of mathematics involved, so he eventually switched majors to English. Mr. Ancona continued as a student at Rutgers for his graduate degree as well.

When Mr. Ancona was a child, he never really enjoyed English as a subject because he thought the class itself was boring due to the restrictive mindset some of his teachers had on the subject. Nonetheless, he always enjoyed reading and writing. To him, English is an avenue to be creative. As a teacher for nine years, Mr. Ancona enjoys helping students express creativity and achieve goals. He also enjoys that when teaching, he has the freedom to approach certain topics in creative ways. He believes that teaching is a great way to learn and expand one’s knowledge.

“I saw, and still see, teaching as a way to foster a love for learning, not just about literature, but anything in general,” he says.

Outside of teaching, Mr. Ancona is a big Yankees and Broncos fan. He is very involved with fitness and has been a fan of the WWE since he was in third grade, as well.

As one of Mr. Ancona’s students this school year, I would like to thank him for everything that he does for his students.

Checking in With 2013 Graduate, Grace Zhang
By: Danielle Ahearn

Grace Zhang is a 19-year-old sophomore at The University of Notre Dame who graduated from MMMS in 2013. Grace’s hobbies include playing tennis, cooking, and reading. Grace enjoys science, biology in particular. She is a big fan of Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and Anne Hathway, and loves the movie The Devil Wars Prada.

When Grace graduates Notre Dame, she would like to go to medical school after taking a gap year. Currently, she is majoring in Biology and has a minor in Poverty Studies. When she gets out of school, she intends to become a pediatrician and a professor, specifically working in academic medicine. Grace believes that the decisions she made while she was at MMMS greatly influenced her career choice. During middle school, she took pleasure in humanities, writing, and science. When she was in 8th grade, she had the decision to either go to Howell High School for humanities or Biotechnology High School. Grace chose to go to Biotechnology High School. She says that this decision is something that greatly impacted her life.

In middle school, Grace participated in yearbook club, tennis, jazz band, and creative arts. She says that the clubs she participated in helped her build strong friendships that she would not get to make otherwise. These activities and her classes helped her improve as a student and friend through challenges she faced in and out of the classroom. For her, it wasn’t the easiest time, but MMMS helped shape her as a person and prepare for her high school and beyond.

Looking back on her days at Memorial, one of Grace’s favorite memories was going to Hershey Park with the MMMS jazz band for competitions. She thought the assignments she received when she was in middle school were challenging but fair. She specifically remembers reading the book Animal Farm by George Orwell in Mrs. Ricker’s class in 8th grade. Grace was very fond of the fact that she had classes she was interested in, such as Creative Arts and Jazz Band, but she did not like carrying heavy books around. She also remembers enjoying Mr. Talley’s math class very much. After originally struggling with mathematics in elementary school, she was impacted by Mr. Talley’s teaching style and the course itself.

Grace says, “After taking Mr. Talley’s 6th grade math class, I built a better foundation for mathematics and started to like it. I wasn’t scared of math anymore!”

If Grace were able to redo middle school, she would’ve started playing tennis earlier and would’ve tried out for tennis earlier than she had. Another thing she would have done is talk to her teachers more. Growing up, Grace was a very shy student.

Life now is very different for Grace than it was back when she was a student at Marlboro Memorial Middle School. However, there are certain things she enjoys in the college lifestyle; in college, she enjoys that she gets to choose which classes she takes and arrange her own schedule. College classes are also a lot more specific than they are in middle school.

When asked what advice she would give to current students at Memorial, she said, “It’s all about how you study. There is nothing you can not learn! Be patient with yourself and don’t give up. Surround yourself with hard-working, motivated friends that you want to be like.”

Mr. Goley: Our Musical Savior
By: Jamila J. Abreu

As a wise man once said, "Every answer to your problem is to subdivide." That wise man is Mr. Goley. Mr.Goley is our incredible band director here at MMMS. He guides our school band to sound like a professional symphony and loves what he does. His students in band adore him. How did he discover his passion, you may ask? Let’s find out.

It all started when Mr. Goley was in middle school. Before he discovered his passion for music, he loved to play sports. He knew he wanted to try music. However, he did not know it was going to change his life. He discovered his passion for music when he played his first instrument, the alto-saxophone. He touched the shiny instrument and was intrigued. Once he started to create a sound, it became official: he loved music.

When he was in middle school, he idolized his music teachers. He wanted to be just like them. At that moment, he realized what he wanted to be when he grew up, so he decided to take after his teachers. He wanted to become a music teacher. As he went along, grade after grade, he was working up towards his goal. Years passed, and he graduated high school as a young and hard working man ready to learn more and eventually make a career. Eventually, he did it. He graduated from college and felt proud. His supportive family was also as proud as he was.

His first time teaching was nerve wracking for him. However, he loved working with students. He’s taught many classes here at Memorial, and he enjoys it. Without Mr. Goley, the school band would be very different. He became the person he is today by learning from his mistakes and achievements. Mr. Goley says he could never have been the man he is today without his students and his teachers. As Arianna Huffington one said, "Success is not a straight line; it’s much more of a dance and being open to possibilities."

Student Alumnus: Samantha Ahearn
By: Sreeja Paruchuri

Samantha Ahearn is a 20 year old student who is currently attending Fordham University in New York. She graduated from Marlboro Memorial in 2012. Her interests include reading, writing, swimming, listening to music, and spending time with her family and friends. Samantha is working towards getting her bachelor’s degree in history and is then planning to earn a master’s degree in education. She says that her years spent at MMMS definitely influenced her career choice of becoming a middle school history teacher because it was during that time that she began to discover her passion for history. Additionally, it was during this time that Samantha realized that middle school is the most important time in one’s life and that she wanted to be able to guide and support future middle schoolers the way her teachers did for her. In fact, Samantha even stated that she would love to be able to teach in a school with an environment very similar to MMMS or even teach at MMMS if she had the opportunity.

Samantha said that middle school was an extremely critical time in her life and changed her as a person in positive ways. She says,”I worked really hard in middle school and received good grades, and this made me believe that I could take honors classes in high school and work even harder...Middle school made me believe that with determination and dedication, your dreams are possible.” Her favorite teacher in Marlboro Memorial was Mrs. Marion. Samantha says, “She is the kindest and funniest person I know.” Furthermore, she also thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Bucci’s sixth grade social studies class and Mr. Fine’s seventh grade social studies class. She says, “That’s where I learned the most interesting histories. My favorite time periods in history are the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, so learning about those in seventh grade was interesting.”

During middle school, Samantha also made numerous memories. Her most fond memories of middle school were during the end of eighth grade. Specifically, she enjoyed the eighth grade barbecue at the swim club and the quad days at the end of the year. She says, “That week was bittersweet because I knew I was saying goodbye to my friends and teachers soon, but it was great to make some lasting memories with them.” Additionally, she also remembers enjoying the eighth grade field trip to Six Flags. Samantha also loved several school assignments she had. For example, she has fond memories of winning a debate in Mr. Healy’s eighth grade class. “I’ll never forget how proud I was of myself, because the assignment was challenging for me, but I overcame my struggles,” she says. Another assignment Samantha enjoyed was a roller coaster project in Mrs. Pagliaro’s eighth grade class, which she and her teammates won an award for.

Her favorite parts about her time at MMMS were the teachers, classes, and the wonderful memories she made. She says, “I left MMMS almost seven years ago, and many of my best friends from that time still are my best friends now. The teachers and staff at MMMS were so friendly and the projects and activities were so fun.” However, like most middle school students today, one thing that Samantha did not enjoy about middle school was that she had to wake up so early every day. If Samantha had another chance at middle school, she says she would have liked to be more involved in after school activities. She says, “I joined theater club and many different volunteer organizations in high school, and it would have been nice to start earlier.”

Some advice Samantha has for middle school students is, “Take class seriously, but do not forget to have fun with your friends along the way. One bad grade is not the end of the world, but don’t let that become a habit, because it will only be harder to catch up or improve later.” Some final thoughts she would like to share are, “Although I started MMMS ten years ago, I often look back and smile at those days. I hope that in ten years you can all do the same, and I hope you all know how lucky you are to go to such a great school.”

Creative Writing and Poetry

Falling into Fall
By: Yuvna Musuku

Laughing and shouting, the children stared in awe at the sight of the once viridescent leaves turned orange leaves plummeting towards the ground. The breezy yet light mood consumed the houses. It was that time of year again and while some sat at home enjoying their pumpkin spice lattes and warm furry coats, James sat doing the complete opposite. You see, James was stuck in quite a turmoil here. Fall meant school. James didn’t like school.

Alas, the only thing he could think about was the image of the smooth waves knocking the sand toward James’ ticklish feet. It would all have to come to an end if school started. Even the thought of school made a feeling of dismay pervade through him. If only there was a way to bring summer back. The leaves green, the weather warm, and the feeling joyful- wait that’s it!

James quickly sketched out a plan. The only way to bring summer back was to recreate it. On the paper, he drew a small tree which looked too close to just a bunch of scribbles. After finally finishing his masterpiece, he took out his favorite green crayon and drew over the mess that devoured his paper. It was finished. His plan. His idea. His solution. His genius.

Grabbing his jacket and a can of some sort, James headed outside meticulously, making sure that no one had seen him. He gathered the paint together and covered the leaves until there was no trace of orange or yellow.

James strolled back into the house and watched as the children’s gaze turned to his green-stained shirt and deceiving smile. Mumbling for them stay quiet, he held up a finger to his mouth and crept back into his room returning to his green crayon. No one will ever realize that it’s fall, which means no school for me!

Thanks(for)giving Me Food!
By: Rishika Raghavan

It was a cold November day, yet the toasty, warm fire managed to make it comfortable in my house. It was Thanksgiving, one of my most favorite holidays because the festivities mainly included piping-hot, delicious food. My cousins’ visit from Sparks Glencoe, Maryland only made it better.

My mom had been cooking all day long, creating a giant feast that was a delight to my eyes when I saw it. When I saw all the food she had made, I gasped and slowly took in the sight, awed. I saw the cheesy, gooey macaroni and cheese, baked so that the top layer was crispy and the cheese was slightly browned. I glanced at the creamy, herb-filled mashed potatoes, my mouth already watering just by looking at them. I saw the corn, some grilled and some merely boiled until it was soft to the touch. I saw the potatoes, which my mom had made into a special dish called gratin. The various aromas cultivated and created a party in my nose. Finally, I heard my mom open the oven with a bang and bring out the prized meal--the main course. It was the turkey! Roasted perfectly, tender, and browned, it was truly a sight for sore eyes. I couldn’t hold back my hunger and was, obviously, the first one to dig in. Everyone admonished me slightly for eating before everyone else, but I couldn’t help it.

Finally, dessert came. My most favorite meal of the day. It was a sweet, burning-hot pecan pie. The perfectly caramelized pecans glimmered in the light shining from the light bulb, and I could see the warm steam surrounding the pie. As we cut it, the juices oozed out, making my mouth water hungrily. We ate and enjoyed the wonderful food while it lasted. Before I knew it, it was over. I was upset, but it only made me look forward to the next year’s celebration even more.

Created by: Mridula Kannan

Food Frenzy
By: Riya Prakash

The ominous ticking of the clock tower hung over them as they awaited the minute hand’s arrival on the 12. As the seconds ticked past, they clutched their baskets tighter and reached a pin drop silence. When the moment finally came, all serenity was forgotten and chaos awakened. A mad rush of people pushed themselves into the door of the building adorned with the neon sign reading “Shoprite.” As the shoppers fought to enter the supermarket, they yelled and shoved each other aside, ignoring their sense of morality. People raced to every corner of the store, sweeping whole shelves of items into their carts, not sparing a single can of tuna or box of microwave dinner for anyone else.

In the meat section, two women played tug of war with a turkey. In nonperishable aisle, a group of college students looted the cart of an oblivious man, not leaving behind a single pack of Ramen. In the bakery, people clawed at the cakes as if they were savages, hoarding boxes in their laps and hissing at those who dared come near them. During that period of inhumanity, mayhem grew throughout the store.

At the beginning of that night, the shelves were packed full of every item on their inventory. After the whirlwind of ravenous shoppers swept through the store, every shelf was desolate within 30 minutes. With nothing left to take off the shelves, they resorted to stealing from each other, pulling items out of carts and stealing out of hands. Those who were sensible enough escaped before the violence heightened. Soon enough, the shoppers found they could hold nothing more, and with their baskets and arms full of every item they could obtain, they once again hustled each other to exit the store.

After they had all left, the store was left looking nothing short of wasteland, all of which was caused by a mob of vicious shoppers. That night, they left with more than just a trunk full of free food- they left with hatred and a new sense of greed, for their longing for food overpowered their sense of humanity.

The Seasoning

By: Evan Chang

A chilly November breeze rippled through the backyard. Little bits of leaves fluttered around the grass. And here I was, stirring a boring, brown drab pot of soup. I chopped up some vegetables and added them into the muddy broth.

I opened the cabinet with a loud thud, searching for an ingredient to add. My mother had a handful of weird ones in there. Ones that no one knew, and no one used either. And then I saw it. It had a faint, shiny glitter. Strange white speckles and a tinge of purple. The seasoning was sealed tightly in an unfamiliar jar smothered with dust. It looked like it came from the stone age.

Then the inevitable came to my head. An irresistible urge of curiosity. I felt as if I was a scientist, testing the properties of an unidentified substance. I had to use the seasoning. I just had to.

A good cook would’ve tasted before adding an ingredient. But I chose otherwise. This would be a revolution in cooking! I envisioned new, exotic tastes and smells in the soup. My stomach started to grumble, and my mouth started to water. I gave in. I added the seasoning. Big chunks of it. At least half the container. I was jumping up and down. Then, things started to go downhill.

I couldn’t believe my eyes as I looked into the stew. It was now churning about with unforeseen energy. Surreal fumes steadily rose from the bottom. The substance started to dissolve into the soup, creating vibrant hues of orange and blue. It was colorful, but it wasn’t very appetizing. What would happen to the mixture next?

Then, the soup started to expand before my eyes, perhaps the result of an unknown chemical reaction, ever closer to the top. No, I said to myself. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real. It was an illusion, only within my head. But the sight was too convincing to disbelieve.

Farther and farther it went, and a sense of dread came over me. I tried my best to contain the extra soup, but it was too late. I gave a push of retaliation, but it rose over the top. A booming splash was all I could remember.

“Evan!” I heard from the back. It was my mother’s voice. “Are you seeing things? Why did you spill the soup?”

Winter Wonderland?

By: Sophia Navarro-Montes

The beauty of winter

The moon wakes early

And goes to bed late

And snow and cold and ice

Beautiful

But is it?

A season keeping warmth

In hiding

A season keeping sun

In hiding

A season keeping life

In hiding.

As bleak as it is beautiful

Like a sweet poison.

Enchanting

Yet uncontrollable

Bewitching

Yet inconsolable

Two sides of a coin

A blessing and a curse

As all flock

from the beast of cold.

The truth is hidden

By a big man in red

Sweets

And the word “Holiday.”

Children press their noses

Against cold glass

To see beautiful cursed stars

Descend from the sky

Whirling

In the storm of winter.

The truth is hidden

Just like the warmth

A Winter Wonderland

But is it?

Winter Wonderland?

By: Alice Xu

The wind creates an imitation of wolves and their loud howl,

Freezing everyone to the point of wearing a jacket indoors.

I think to myself, Why is mother nature being so foul,

Spreading the coldness from the roof to the floors?

Giving Is as Good as Taking

By: Siddharth Avhad

Giving is as good as taking,

And both take a little time.

Everyone’s a star in the making,

Your uniqueness is sublime.

Giving is as good as taking,

And it feels that way too.

For a smile when a person is aching,

Can eliminate their blues.

Giving is as good as taking,

So give thanks to your life, indeed.

That you've made it, you're still waking,

And from tyranny you have been freed.

Giving is as good as taking,

What do you really look forward to?

Friends, family, or mom's great baking?

How ‘bout seeing dreams come true?

Giving is as good as taking,

One man’s trash is another’s treasure.

You might see what they’re forsaking,

And to you, it would’ve given pleasure.

Giving is as good as taking,

And I have done things as well.

Some horrible and life-breaking,

But also some great on which we still dwell.

Giving is as good as taking,

And if you think you don’t know,

What is good and what’s been faking,

Think again, to something you greatly owe.

Giving is as good as taking,

So on this Thanksgiving Eve,

Don't make a toast if you're quaking,

Think of the greatest gift, the life that you've received.

What is winter here?

By: Annika Joseph

Here in this winter wonderland we have….

The strong summer sun resigning

From being out all summer shining

Children laughing and playing, building their frozen friends

What are they? Well, it depends!

Snow angels, and their delightful snowmen with their neon carrot nose

Snowballs thrown in a frenzy before the strong flurry of snow slows

Friends all out together, on their new Christmas sleds,

A competitive spirit revealed in their energetic treads.

Why, school is out!

Let’s all give a shout!

For this winter wonderland is not so far away…

Winter Wonderland

By: Mridula Kannan

Winter is as white and as quiet as it can be.

The branches are bare on the maple tree.

Winter brings snow falling all around.

Animals are sleeping underground.

Time to go skiing, my favorite winter sport

Once inside you can make a fort

You better put on warm clothes to wear

Winter brings snow storms everywhere

Enjoy exciting snowball fights

Everyday from morning to night

Take off your boots and set them aside

Drink hot cocoa when you get inside

The air is filled with cheer.

Winter is here!

1 -- A haiku story --

Writer: Anish Pallati
because why not (ha)

2 Blazing eventide

A calm and warming sun glows

In the midst of fall

3 Orange leaves on trees

Boxes resting on the porch

Full of memories

4 Trucks near the driveway

Tons of furniture outside

Must be organized

5 Dreaded school shopping

Backpacks, binders, erasers

Oh the horridness

6 Wake up earlier

I don't know anybody

New school and new house

7 Teachers give us tours

Have to memorize a lot

Lockers and schedules

8 Some new friends today

Second day boring as well

Learning peoples' names

9 Getting more homework

Mostly forms and signing sheets

Not too difficult

10 First test of the year

Have to study more for them

I overstudied

11 Halloween’s coming

Fresh out of ideas

Not sure what to be

12 Sunsets earlier

First snow forecast this school year

Hello winter break

13 Goodbye to autumn

All the orange leaves under snow

It's almost New Years

14 I like these haikus

Can't think of anything else

-- A haiku story --

15 By the way, I did

Events in autumn (faster)

To show the “falling”

16 Note: The person here

is clearly not me at all

I'm not new this year

17 I just spoke haiku

This stuff is infectious

Oof still speaking it

Falling Into Fall

By: Rishika Raghavan

Leaves change colors

and drop to the ground;

People drink hot apple cider

And carve pumpkins that are round.

Halloween is so close!

People visit haunted houses

And wear scary clothes.

Festive energy flows.

Fall is the time

To do whatever you please.

But when it’s wintertime,

Fun disappears in the breeze.

Waluigi’s Backstory: Dark Beginnings
By Arca Baran

Forced into the shadows by his more popular companions, he is a resident villain of the Mushroom Kingdom. He wears purple, loves playing tricks on people, and looks semi-similar to Luigi. Except he's not Luigi. Just like how Wario is the evil version of Mario, Waluigi is the evil version of Luigi.

So if he's a character from such a popular video game franchise, how come barely anyone (outside of meme aficionados) knows about him? You see, Nintendo, the very company that created the series, hates Waluigi. That part is pretty obvious. He is the only Mario protagonist not to have his own game, barely appears in main-line titles outside of spin-off titles, and, most upsettingly of all, was rejected as a character for the new Smash Bros game, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

So, yeah, now you know the truth. You know who Waluigi is... Or do you????

Nintendo hasn't exactly given us much information about this purple doppelganger. Over the course of 20 years, all that we have gotten to know about him from the games were three basic things:

1. He wears purple.

2. He plays tennis.

3. He goes "WAHHH!"

Talk about "character development," am I right? Sarcasm aside, I decided, out of pure curiosity about Waluigi, to take matters into my own hands. How? I was going to write a backstory for Waluigi.

That's right, I was going to lift the veil from his crooked nose. I was going to take off his purple hat. People will now know who he truly is!

But to find out the truth about Waluigi, you will have to go to the beginning. In fact, the very beginning. How would I know about it? Because Waluigi told me so. That's right, the purple man himself told me so. In case you didn't know, Waluigi and I have built a close relationship over the last month or so. He saw my blog post complaining about his lack of inclusion in the new Smash Bros game. He reached out to me thanking me for my kind thoughts, and his message was as follows:

“Thank you very much for your kind thoughts. I barely ever get that now-WAH-days. Seeing as you seem to be a fan, I can let you in on a few secrets. We'll make a deal: You let me write posts on your blog, and I'll let you in on the truth, okay? You get more views, you and others will find out my backstory, and I'll get positive publicity. It's a win-win scenario! Maybe Sakurai will see it and put me into Smash Bros... But WAH-tever. That's just wishful thinking.”

Now, I'm handing the tale over to Waluigi himself, as we start chapter one of our wicked tale: his childhood.

_____________________________________________________________________________

I don't remember my parents. In fact, my first memories were sitting in the orphanage. I was quite miserable there; the kids would make fun of me for my long nose and strange demeanor. It was impossible to stand their constant teasing and bullying for a single day. No matter what, the day would end in me whining in my pillow ("WAHHH! WAHHH!") over an unthoughtful insult from another child.

I dreamed of leaving the dreadful place. Of jumping through the window, sprouting wings, and soaring far away, where no one could ever bother me again. I tried escaping there a few times, but the headmistress, Miss Koopa, always ended up catching me and giving me a scolding. On my last attempt to escape, she finally decided to ask me why I kept doing it.

"Why do you always try to run away, Luigi?" Miss Koopa asked.

I had no actual name; my parents had deserted me soon after birth, but most people ended up calling me Luigi due to a tendency I had to uncontrollably spit loogies at people.

"Reggie an-and Doug keep c-calling me m-mean names and, made f-fun of my n-nose, and... WAHHH!!!" Stuttering, I burst into tears, whining with spit bursting out of the edges of my mouth.

"Well, how about you try sticking up for yourself, Loogie---I mean, Luigi," she quickly fixed her mistake, shamefacedly.

"Sticking up for myself," I muttered. I had never heard the phrase before. "Wahh--wha-wa-whats that?"

"Oh, you know," she replied. "Show them that you aren't meat for them to chew on! Put a shield between their sword!"

I nodded in understanding, and from that moment on, I was never the same again. You see, she had meant to give me good advice, but the way I interpreted it was much different than what she could have possibly imagined. I thought of it like this: If people give you a hard time, give them a hard time, too.

So from then on, whenever Doug or Reggie would pick on me, they would probably wake up to find wet toilet paper under their pillow. Or a whoopie cushion under their seat. You know, good ol' trickery. Sigh... How I miss playing innocent pranks on people. Nowadays, it's all about the worse trickery. You know, throwing spiky shells at people and blowing up their go-karts!

At first, nobody had a clue who was pulling these pranks on the boys. Eventually, though, Miss Koopa started connecting the dots about what was happening. Who had a big grudge on Doug and Reggie? Who had a bad temper and would give into it easily? Who was the most cunning and deceiving child of all? Of course, it had to be me (and Miss Koopa must have regretted giving me that advice long ago)!

So she gave me a terrible scolding. "Why would you do that? That isn't nice! This is unacceptable!" But all her complaints sounded as if they were "blah, blah, blah" to my ears, and I just ignored her. So when she told me to sit in the time out corner (which happened to be right next to the exit door), I pretended to happily agree. And just my luck, the moment I walked over, another child was asking for some water.

"All right, Link, I'm coming!" she yelled back, distracted and not looking at me anymore. Here was my chance! I could dash out of this miserable, wretched place! So I took the chance without much further thought, and I was met with a long dark alleyway in front of me.

There were no cars here. It was all empty, lonely, and dark. The only sources of light were the few street lamps, flickering far above my short head. I instantly regretted my decision to run away. I was hungry and sad, and now no one could care for me! Not knowing what to do next, I collapsed onto the dirty concrete and sobbed.

My misery seemed to stretch on for eternity. For minutes, hours, or maybe even days, I was crying in the dark, lonely alleyway. Until, one fateful moment, I heard something other than my loud and distinct "WAHHH!" There were footsteps coming from somewhere behind me.

(Image Above Created by Arca Baran)

I turned around out of a mixture of shock, curiosity, and hope. Who could it possibly be who was walking up to me in the middle of a deserted alleyway? Then something happened that would change my destiny forever.

I heard deep, almost sympathetic laughter, and loud thuds of footsteps. I turned around to see a short, stout, possibly Italian man with a large bushy mustache. He, too, had a large and unusual nose. His eyes gave him an almost sinister look. My sobbing started to slow down. I just stared at him in confusion.

"Hey, kid," he said, in a much more gentle tone than I was expecting. "It'll be all right. I'm the good guy, you see," he paused and chuckled once again, "so I can help you. What's your name?"

Still sobbing slightly, I told him, "WAHHH.... WAHHH.. WAHHH... Luigi."

"Oh," he replied, grinning widely. "So you're a "Waluigi," huh? Want to come along with me? I can make your life a lot better, trust me."

I was too miserable to even argue at that point, so I nodded yes.

"All right then, little man," he said, hoisting me up on his wide, chubby shoulders. "Get some rest. 'Cause we have a long journey coming up if you ever want to get away from this wreck."

TO BE CONTINUED...

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