Hoffman News
The Week of January 21st, 2019
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School News
Spelling Bee Recap (Redux)
Last week, we brought you a brief recap of the 2018 Hoffman School Spelling Bee.
This week, we wanted to share an interview with the winner of spelling bee, who has already moved onto the next round!
Congratulations again to all of the participants!
Spotlight on Staff: Mrs. O'Hara
By: Logan
Hello Hoffman Hornets. This is Logan with our Staff Spotlight! This week, I got to sit down with Mrs. O'Hara!
L: What made you start a teaching career?
O: Actually, I was first a banker, but I then decided to go back to school and become a teacher. I taught first grade at Henking for a long time.
L: Why did you choose to switch to third grade?
O: I like teaching third grade because the kids can do so much more than they could in first grade. They are curious and interested in so many different things.
L: Did you teach other grades or at other schools before?
O: I taught Kindergarten and first grade at Henking school.
L: What do you do out of school?
O: I like to spend time with my husband and my five children. They play lots of sports and I like to cheer them on. I like to do yoga and play golf.
L: Do you have a dream job?
O: Teaching is my dream job. I love coming to work each day.
L: Do you have a fantasy home or place you dream to live in?
O: I have a lake house in Minnesota and I like going up there. I like to boat, ski, fish, and go on my paddle board.
L: Do you wish to or currently play an instrument?
O: When I was in fourth grade I started playing the clarinet, and did that until I was in high school. But, I wish I knew how to play the piano. I was in the marching band at Glenbrook South, too.
L: Do you have a favorite emoji?
O: My favorite emoji is the smiley face because it makes me happy. I love to see kids smiling.
Music Update w/ Mr. Banas
By: Brielle
B: What do you like most about teaching music at Hoffman?
Seeing students making progress and being happy.
B: What made you decide on recorder for the third grade students?
It's a pretty standard instrument! Third graders love to learn the recorder.
B: What made you decide piano for the fourth grade students?
Before Hoffman, I did it with fourth graders, and I thought it was a great.
B: What made you decide on ukulele for the fifth graders?
The fifth graders had already been learning it, so I wanted to continue to see how far they can take it.
B: Did you ever play any of the three instruments before teaching music?
When I was really young, I played piano.
B: Um...do you like to have parties?
No. (Wut?!)
B: Ok, back to the real questions. What made you want to be a teacher?
My mom is a teacher. She was a big influence.
B: Do you like to use tech?
Yes! I use it a lot. It makes us more interactive
B: Do you have a favorite "Harry Potter" book?
The third book is my favorite. And I would be in Hufflepuff!
Homeless Animals Update
By: Lulu and Simi
Hello Hoffman Hornets!
We’re just letting you know that our brief fundraiser to raise money for homeless animals is over. We were able to donate $60.87!
We would just like to thank you for helping us help some very important animals; they will thank us even though they can’t talk.
The fact that you have contributed your own money means that we have an amazing school!
Research Corner
The Great Seal of the United States
By: James and Nico
Hello Hoffman. We are James and Nico, here with some interesting facts about the Great Seal of the United States.
The shield is an alternating white and red stripe pattern, which goes vertically in the bottom two-thirds, but in the top third it is solid blue. This part of the Seal differs from the American Flag because the outermost stripes are white, not red.
On the Great Seal, white signifies purity and innocence, red symbolizes hardiness and valor, and blue means vigilance, perseverance and justice.
The shield is held by a bald eagle with its wings outstretched. Above the eagle’s head is a Glory Or (that thingy surrounding a saint's head in religious paintings) with a blue field inside. There is a constellation of 13 five-pointed white stars arranged top-to-bottom in a 1-4-3-4-1 formation, making a larger six-pointed star.
In its beak the eagle holds a yellow ribbon with black letters that read the national motto, “E pluribus unum,” which is Latin for “Out of many, one.” The eagle holds a quiver of 13 arrows in its right talon from our perspective. In its left talon, it holds 13 leaves and 13 olives. Its head faces the olive branch to symbolize that the United States always prefers peace, but is ready for war.
On the back of the Seal there is an unfinished pyramid with 13 levels (do you know why there are so many 13s?). The Eye of Providence (which is just plain creepy) is in a triangle above it with a glory or around it. The first level of the pyramid says MDCCLXXVI which is 1776 in Roman Numerals. On a tan ribbon below the pyramid reads Novus Ordo Seclorum is in black letters. Above the pyramid, with a space just above the Eye of Providence, the motto Annuit Coeptis is printed in gold letters.
And that is the Great Seal of the United States.
Cryptids: aka Scary Monsters
By: Walden and Sonam
Walden: Hey kids, my name is Walden.
Sonam: And my name is Sonam.
Walden: Today we will be talking about Cryptids.
Sonam: Cryptids are monsters that were known long ago. Some Cryptids are the Megalodon, Kraken, Bigfoot, Loch Ness monster, and more!
Walden: Some say...they are still alive. Including me!
Sonam: No, Walden. They are all dead.
Walden: For our first Cryptid, we are choosing Bigfoot, an ape like man.
Sonam: Like a gorilla, Bigfoot has long, hairy legs and arms.
Walden: Some people claim that they have heard or even seen Bigfoot!
Sonam: If you look online you can see some pictures of Bigfoot. But, finish
reading this first.
Walden: People believe that Bigfoot eats animals, plants, and --
Sonam: and people! Everyone run!!
Walden: Wait, wait! No, he doesn't eat people unless you try to capture him.
Sonam: Oh. Okay. Great!
Walden: Back to the info. Bigfoot has been around for more than 600 years!
Sonam: Wow, it’s been around for long time!
Walden: Yes, but no one even know about him until the 1800s.
Sonam: Did someone find him?
Walden: Yes, his name was Joshua Blu.
Sonam: Well, that's all!
Walden: Thanks for reading. Tune in next time...or else!
Sports
NFL Playoffs
By: Logan
Well, we are down to the final two teams of the NFL Season: The New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams.
Both teams won very close games this weekend, and will square off against each other in the big game in the two weeks!
Player of the Week: Luka Doncic
By: Anthony
::holds for applause::
Welcome back Hoffman Hornets! I’m Anthony Spalo back with the Player of the Week!
This week, it's the rookie in the NBA that everyone’s talking about. You know who I’m talking about: Luka Dončić!
Luka Dončić (pronounced Donchic) was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia on February 28, 1999 to Saša Doncic and Mirjam Poterbin. Surprisingly, Luka’s mom and dad played basketball too! No wonder why he’s in the NBA!
His love for basketball began at seven months old when his parents put a mini hoop in his room. He also played soccer, but at seven years old, he was already playing in his school basketball league. When Dončić was eight, his dad started playing for Union Olympia, and one day, his coach invited him and a bunch of other kids his age to a fun practice. Just sixteen minutes in, the coach moved him up with the eleven year olds! In the very next session, he was in the 14 and up league! Unfortunately, the rules said he had to stay home.
In 2011, he represented Olympija at the under 14 Vansas Intesa Sanpaolo cup and was the MVP! When he was 13, he signed a five year contract with Real Madrid’s under 13 basketball team. And just before the NBA, he was on the Senior National team.
Finally, as of this year, he is the best rookie in the NBA, and on target to win the first of many awards.
And that’s it for Player of the Week!
::applause::
Book of the Week
By: Isabel
For this week's Book of the Week, we're going to do things a little differently. We're going to let you choose.
So, which book do you like better: "Frindle" by Andrew Clements? Or "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio?
Vote here.
Movie of the Week
"Safety Last"
By: Your Movie Gurlz
Weather
For Fun
Would You Rather?
By: Vahan and Maria
Caution: This may be disgusting...or dangerous!
Would you rather...
Eat an 8 oz. bowl of arugula or 8 ounces of spinach?
Kill a momma bear’s cub and face her consequences or would you rather step on an egg sac?
Every time you burp, it’s loud or would you rather have your sneezes be loud?
Be an author for kids or would you rather be an author for grown-ups?
Have braces or would you rather have "nerdy" glasses?
This has been Would You Rather!!!
Which Chair?
By: Simi
You may remember our hit segment last week, "Which Chair?" Curious about the results? Well, here they are!
We'll have more "Which Chair" next week with Ms. Cone!
Comics
"Snow Day"
By: Oscar, Joseph, Alysaa
Meme of the Week
Ladies and gentlemen, your meme of the Week. Thanks Anthony and Walden.
(Editor's Note: I no longer know what it happening.)
Have a great week, Hornets!
Staff
Thank you to the entire Hoffman News Team for their efforts.
Each member of the team dedicates his/her entire lunch and recess hour, as well as time outside of school, to contribute to the news. We are extremely lucky to have such dedicated 4th and 5th grade students in our school community.
Do you have a news story for us to cover?
Submit your ideas for a news story by sending an e-mail to our producer.