Elective Overview

The year is thickening under a warm blanket of freshly fallen trends, plentiful memories, funny-scary-embarrassing-moments, admirable quotes, projects, other unforgettable sights, and certain “rivalries” between friends and foes… Under all of the heat and pressure from the first semester leaving with the polar express and the second semester reported to have been staring down the school from only a quarter mile away. It can be admittedly challenging to stay focused and on task during these tough times. Which is why you the reader should have taken a deep breath by now, contemplated why you are reading this, and are prepared to absolutely nothing!

Many topics have been covered in the first four issues, provided by On The Horizon’s most talented and gifted students. But in this article, members from On The Horizon have been diligently concentrated on providing this newspaper with an analysis of a couple of the finest electives around! From Art class, to the depths of choir, all the way to the peak of husky wellness, and finally curving around the bend of FACS. Electives are worth mentioning, for they shape us out to be better human beings...

Now take a seat and dust off your reading glasses. Because a brief review of the 2017-2018 first semester is in session!

Art:

An interesting fact that you might not know about Mrs. Worrel the art teacher, is that she is very interested in World War II. Quite a few of her projects are related to the past, like World War II. Those are just some of the interesting facts about her and her art. Her favorite project to teach is the Modigliani with oil pastels. She admires how the kids can be super creative with this project and never knows what the students will put together for her. Most of you probably don’t know this but the reason Mrs. Worrel wanted to become an art teacher is so she could have relationships with the students. She said that it would be different teaching high schoolers because it would be a different relationship than what she has with middle schoolers. Mrs. Worrel didn't know if she wanted to be an art teacher for quite some time. She said she got her art degree and then she went from there and started teaching art at 25 years old. Back to the art portion, Mrs. Worrel’s favorite medium to work with is clay because you can mold it into anything and she loves seeing the stages of the students clay project. She also says-

"You never know what you are going to get when working with clay."

Choir:

As the servitor leans forward and gestures to the luminous glass that has been placed casually to the far left corner atop the silver plater, you can’t help but salivate as the arctic cold, frothy beverage is deposited onto your table. Oh how one can practically feel the satisfying sensation as freshly whipped and bathed in flavor sherbet slides down soothingly into even the tiniest crevices of your parched throat, before you even take grasp of the chalice! That is, if the waiter doesn’t slant forth over your well desired treat, curl his full lips into a strapping u shape and regurgitate his peanut butter and worm breakfast into it… Here in choir no matter the grade, if you are a student that crosses the line… You may have to pay the time by hearing your fellow companions say the rhyme- “Don’t be the loogie in the milkshake.”

Choir has been quite prosperous this first semester with each 6th, 7th, and 8th grade class singing mesmerizing songs at not one but two concerts which were held in October and December. (Two concerts per grade)

Double the fun, eighth graders were aloud to audition for a spot in an ND-ACDA

state level choir around the beginning of the year. Where, quite a few of our own-

(Soprano ।) Emily Russon- (Soprano ॥) Chloe Blutrich, Peyton Sitter-

(Alto । ) Anja Fritz, Samara Link, Carly Pfennig- (Alto ॥) Megan Hubley-

(Tenor) Peter Cady- (Base) Duncan Tufte, Ian Hamar-

Were selected! (Way to go Horizon Family!) Adding on to the choir pride, another few opportunities that occurred shortly after were the auditions for another state choir,

as well as regionals!

Congrats to those participating in Fargo and Chicago honor choirs this second semester in February!

(Fargo State ND-ACDA)

Mixed:

(Alto) Megan Hubley, Morgan Twardoski, Madison Hoskins, Jaycilou Ciz- (Tenor) Logan King- (Base) Duncan Tufte, Ian Hamar, Carsten Irgens, Carson Motschenbacher-

Treble:

(Soprano ।) Emily Russon- (Alto ।) Chloe Blutrich- (Alternate Soprano or Alto) Samara Link-

(Regionals)

Megan Hubley, Anja Fritz, Chloe Blutrich, Peyton Sitter, Samantha Stordalen-

After interviewing Mrs.Stordalen, one of the choir directors at Horizon, she quotes that-

“All of the choirs have been working so hard with everything that has been happening since the start of this school year. Learning so much in a short period of time is challenging but impressive.” Her hope and goal, is to further reach out to all of her students and have every individual leave with a feeling of belonging and mind impatient to return!

To the opposite, the only “struggle” so far that Mrs. Stordalen can think of, is the excessive talking during class. So to freshen up with a brand new semester, she has recently been spraying the famous quote in choir- “Don’t be the loogie in the milkshake.” In other words, don’t be that one person that causes the rest of the class to take a horrendous fall.

Is there possibly a lesson to be learned here? Well, as the second semester serves up your plate, be sure to order an extra side of french fries to go along with that milkshake and see if you or your waiter ends up with a loogie for a taste.

Husky Wellness:

Did you know that Horizon is the first school in Bismarck to have a special needs program? Presently, Century has a class called “Peer to Peer”, which is inspired by Husky Wellness. Husky Wellness is an elective exclusive to 8th graders. I had the opportunity to interview Mrs.Moritz and Mrs.Bauman. They each told me about the class, and went more in depth about its purpose. As Mrs. Moritz put it, "Husky Wellness goal is to create an inclusive physical education class. Kids were unengaged in the past without this class, needed to adapt. Thanks to the Husky Wellness kids, kids who need that extra help are able to play and learn without fear or feeling nervous from other students."

Over the semester, the class has done many fun projects. Mrs. Baumans favorite experience was when the class presented at a conference for a group with special needs. She told us that there was a bodybuilder with Down syndrome. He really inspired the kids, and the kids inspired him as well. When asked the same question, Mrs.Moritz responded that her favorite was swimming. Kids got the chance get out in the community and experience everyday activities. All of the kids had a blast splashing around in the water!

The class not only teaches the mentee but also the mentor. You learn many important life skill through the course of the class such as leadership, patience, diversity, and many other advocacy skills. Overall, Husky Wellness has had a very successful semester full of fun memories.

FACS:

Have you ever wondered if FACS would be a fun class to join for next semester? This next section might help you decide. Mrs. Schneider was gracious enough to let us interview her on 1-10-18 in the FACS room.

She explained what her classes got to make for their sewing projects. The 6th graders made the small animal pillows, the 7th graders made aprons, and the 8th graders made duffel bags. There are many different types of animals to choose from when you are in 6th grade and quite a few combinations of colors for the 8th grade duffel bags. This semester she tried something new for the 7th grade aprons. Instead of giving them only a few choices she let them go out and buy whatever type of fabric that they desired.

I am sure you all are wondering what dishes you get to make in FACS. Some of the 6th grade favorites were pizza roll ups and microwave caramel rolls. The 7th graders enjoyed making pancakes and performing a cookie experiment. Chicken Alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, and a cookie contest were very enjoyable for the 8th graders.

Mrs. Schneider tried many new things this semester including a Foodie Friday. On Fridays the classes would watch videos or learn more about different types of foods. Another thing she tried was the 7th grade cookie experiment that was mentioned earlier.

Overall she says that it was a successful semester and she has many plans for next semester. She loves when kids come up to her and say they tried a recipe from class and made it even better!

The first semester electives have been intensely engaged with so many different activities and events! As the school year continues, stay tuned to find out more about what goes on inside of Horizon Middle School!