Embedded Files
Inspirational Quotes to Keep in Mind
Inspirational Quotes to Keep in Mind
By Matthew Ferris-Koha
These inspirational quotes are meant to help inspire you to live your life wisely and to its fullest. In addition, it may help middle schoolers navigate these hard middle school years.
Here are a few memorable quotes and our takes on their meanings.
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m’ possible!’”
-Audrey Hepburn
You can achieve anything no matter how hard it is
"You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
—A.A. Milne
Going through the middle school years can seem like a scary and difficult time for many, but knowing that you are braver, stronger, and smarter than you seem makes going through the middle school year less hard.
"Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor."
—Truman Capote
Failing at something for a while then doing it successfully gives a feeling of satisfaction and happiness
"No matter what you're going through, there's a light at the end of the tunnel."
—Demi Lovato
If you are going through a tough time in life, or if you simply just having a bad day, there will always be happiness and relief once it is over.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." —Nelson Mandela
Even though education may be something that many of us do not like, it is what is most needed if you want to do and have all the things you want to have and in order to change the world.
"Tough times never last, but tough people do."
—Robert H. Schuller
If you are tough, the tough times will never bring you down
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
-Albert Einstein
It is important to keep moving through life, no matter what happens or how bad things get.
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
— Thomas Edison
If you keep failing at something, but continue to keep practicing, you will get better and better at it, until you reach success.
"There is no substitute for hard work."
— Thomas Edison
The easiest way to get to where you want to be in life is through hard work.
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
— Dolly Parton
If you want to achieve something in life, you have to work hard and maintain perseverance to reach your goals.
We hope that these quotes make life more fulfilling and manageable, or just make those tough days a little easier.
Spring Break '25
Spring Break '25
By: Joseph Frankel
Before you read: Please read spring break in a very ominous and spooky voice with a boom sound effect to make this article more interesting and cool.
The ever elusive Spring Break is approaching very very very slowly. Not even kidding, a 70-years old, sleep deprived, placed 50th place in a 50 place race, one-legged, and on his deathbed three-toed sloth could come faster than this break is. Having the idea of a break in your head, all the fun things you could do being fantasized about while you wait, suddenly makes the time between the break and today seem ten times as long. Luckily there is time killing content right in front of your eyes! It's also very high quality if I do say so myself. I know because my mommy said “Good job really proud of you” in her proud voice when I showed her. Without further ado let me tell you all about Spring Break and what it's all about.
Spring Break for Jockey Hollow Middle School by definition means a five day break from the school to enjoy the time in our lives when we are young and not bound by the rules like “No eating out of designated times” and “No escaping”. With these rules lifted students can eat while escaping, some even doing so on planes as they escape the U.S to go on vacation. Freed by this one week Spring Break kids often spend this time relaxing or hanging out with friends. Most people have those, sadly some animals don't have those, like my cat, there's a reason for it to. He doesn’t go outside, he's an indoor cat. He doesn't speak to other people because he's a cat and can't get past the language barrier. So he leches on me, sitting on my desk as I talk with my friends, he also eats a lot.
That's another thing you can do this Spring Break. You can eat a lot! Maybe even better than the canned food my cat eats! You could try cooking this Spring Break trust me, it's so fun, sometimes my mom comes in screaming “What’s that smell?!” As the fragrance of cooked eggs rises their signature tasty aroma fills the room, and my lungs, causing me, and my mom to cough and drop to the ground. As the tasty alarm goes beep beep beep she calls the tasty police to get rid of the tasty eggs smell that is now making my lungs extra crispy. Anyways cooking is alway fun and if the kitchen doesn't look like my extra crispy eggs afterwards you can sit at the table and enjoy the creation.
I Hope you aren't as lonely and bored as my cat this Spring Break. My mom agrees that I just shared some quality advice, and a quality waste of time, as the seconds tick by until the break begins.
Like my TV always says “Have a break, Have a Kit-Kat.
Jockey Hollow Wellness Fair
By: Hudson Falco
The Wellness Fair came to Jockey Hollow, brought to us by the planning and hard work of our very own school nurse, Mrs. Weed. We learned about all things related to wellness, avoiding drugs, keeping you healthy, you name it! At this fair, there were a variety of different stands set up in our gymnasium where you could learn about different aspects of wellness. At some of these stands, you could even earn prizes! At some, you could learn about some medical processes, and even do some of them (Not with real people, of course.) My favorite was probably the organ transplant. I was able to see how all the organs fit together.
But the fair in the gym wasn’t the only thing that you could do that day. There were also a variety of activities to do, like stretching, boxing, or yoga. This reporter attended the fencing wellness workshop. It was a sport I had always wanted to try out, so I took the chance and did it. And it was awesome.
We learned about the three different types of fencing. Foil, Épée, and sabre. The three types of fencing, though the same sport, are each played differently. In foil, the players use a lightweight sword, where scoring points is limited to the torso. Épée is close to the same, but it employs a heavier sword and you can score anywhere. And in Sabre, you can slash as well, but scoring is limited to the upper body.
In foil and Épée, there are buttons on the ends of the swords, since, in these types of fencing, you can only hit with the tip of the sword. The buttons help judges know when someone scores a point. When the button is pushed down, it alerts a machine to tell judges when someone scores a point.
Overall it was a great day. We learned, participated and had some fun along the way. Thank you to Mrs. Weed and all the participants who volunteered their time to help us try to live healthier lives.
Jockey Hollow Drama Club Spring Musical
Jockey Hollow Drama Club Spring Musical
by : Aurora Bresky
Some days after school there are noises coming from the auditorium. You can hear lines being rehearsed, music, and the tell tale thumps of dancing. Most people know that these are the sounds of our very own Jockey Hollow Drama Club. The Drama Club has been a valued part of our school for years and will be for many more to come.
In the start of the year the club put on a wonderful show of When Bad Things Happen to Good Actors by Ian McWethy and Jason Pizzarello. As reported in the Lion’s Roar, the show was funny, well put together, and overall a wonderful way to spend the night. Now, for the spring musical we are excited as ever to witness their wonderful enactment of Shrek the Musical. The cast and crew have worked for a month and a half on costumes, hair, makeup, lines, music and dancing.
You can catch the culmination of all their hard work on Friday, March 7th, and Saturday, March 8th in the Jockey Hollow Auditorium. There will be three showings. On Friday, the show will start at 7pm and on Saturday there will be two shows, one at 2pm and the second, and closing production, at 7pm. You can buy tickets at the door and snacks during the fifteen minute intermission with cash or checks made out to Jockey Hollow School.
Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. This show will be a wonderful end to the 2024- 2025 school year for the drama club. So come watch this heartfelt and hilarious show, filled with all your favorite Shrek characters. Grab your showbill at the door and get ready for a wonderful performance.
Are Letter Grades Really That Good?
By: Hudson Falco
This story is different than what I usually write, since I usually write reviews, but I'm here to discuss a pretty important topic. Grades.
It’s the day you’re getting your test back. You’ve been super anxious about it, and are worried about how you did. The teacher hands you back your paper…and you got a B. Most people would probably be sad to get a B, I definitely would. But a B is equal to an and 83 to an 86, and that’s not actually that bad. This is what I find wrong. Letter grades are the wrong way to grade because it stresses people out, in my opinion. Kids are always trying to keep their grades up, and this can cause stress constantly trying to keep straight A’s.
According to the Point Loma Nazarene University, “It’s also believed that poor letter grades can lead students to feel unmotivated, or even to abandon their education journey altogether if they consistently struggle to succeed by the scale’s standard.” It clearly shows here that letter grades definitely have consequences. That’s why I feel like we should use number grades instead of letters. And some people agree with me. I interviewed students Ethan and Max, and the Unified Arts Teacher, Mr. Biase. Here are their opinions:
Student: Ethan
Q: What is your opinion on letter grades?
A: “They’re fine, but like, if you get an A, you have to be at least 90 percent, and anything lower just feels depressing.”
Q: Do you think letter grades cause stress for students?
A: “Yes. I believe so because of what I said before, if you get so much as an A-, you feel like you didn’t try hard enough.”
Q: Is this good or bad for the students
A: “If people start getting B’s, it could lead to them not trying as hard because of this stress.”
Student: Max
Q: What is your opinion on letter grades?
A:”They sometimes stress me out sometimes because I want to get a better grade.”
Q: Do you think letter grades cause stress for students?
A: “Yes. They would worry about their parents looking at their grades, and then they would have to explain why they got that.
Q: Is this good or bad for the students
A: “Yes and no. Yes because it motivates them to try harder, even though it takes time away from video games. No, because they don’t want their parents to see that they did a bad job, and it stresses them out.”
Teacher: Mr. Biase
Q: What is your opinion on letter grades?
A:”Love ‘em.”
Q: Do you think letter grades cause stress for students?
A: “I don’t know. Whether letter or number, being graded might make a student anxious. Both are assessments of achievement, and everything that comes with it”.
Q: Is this good or bad for the students?
“Ideally, being graded should be a suitable and appropriate incentive for student achievement.”
You’ve seen their opinions, so what’s yours? You might actually like letter grades. Which leads me to my next point. That number grades might not be the best, either. For example, number grades limit feedback. An “83” isn’t the most descriptive grade, so kids won’t get clear feedback on their test. I also feel like a number grade would cause kids to be like, “A number’s a number” and kinda just brush it off, not care about it. Which isn’t good, because you should always care about your grades. But also, if you don’t care about your grades, then you won’t be that stressed.
Now that you’ve read this article, how do you feel about letter grades? Maybe you don’t like them, maybe you still do. Anyway, everyone has their own opinion. And if you’ve got a test coming up, look at that grade and think hard about it. Do you like how your grade is told? Through numbers or letters? What do you like? ANyway, have a good day, and good luck on your test (If you have one).
Some Basic Rules for Being a Decent Human Being
Some Basic Rules for Being a Decent Human Being
by: Aurora Bresky
Listen, I know there’s always a lot going on in our world, in our continent, in our country, in our state, in our town, in our family, and in our very own lives. But remember, there’s always something you can do to make everything a little better. Remember things like karma. Put out energy into the world that you want to come back to you. Like that old proverb, treat people the way you want to be treated. Every small thing helps to just make everyone's days a little less gloomy. Which brings me to this article, “Some Basic Rules for Being a Decent Human Being”.
Names and Pronouns
If you go to someone's house. And then see a dog that’s collar says Fluffy and say, “Aww Fluffy’s such a good boy!”. But then someone says, “ Fluffy is just what their collar says, her name is Daisy and they are a girl.” you would just say daisy and she from now on. So if it is so easy with a dog why is it so hard with a human being who knows what you are saying. Use peoples names and pronouns. BE RESPECTFUL. If you get one or both wrong, just ask and they will be happy to tell you. It is a small change that can make a heck of difference in how good someone's day is.
Physical Touch
I get what it’s like to just really want to give someone a big hug, but you have got to know when it is not ok to do that. You have to understand that all relationships between two people are between two people. It is not just what one person wants, but what both people want. If physical touch in any way, shape, or form is uncomfortable for one person then respect it. Nobody is a mind reader so if you are uncomfortable you have to tell them. However, if you have been told not to touch somebody then don’t do it. Physical touch is not something that is necessary for a healthy relationship.
It is ok to be Sad
The need to comfort and help and heal are sometimes overwhelming. It hurts to see other people sad, especially when you know you can’t do anything about it. Just know that it is ok to be sad. I know you want to cheer your bestie up and get them back to themselves again, but it is always ok to cry and be upset. Always being sad is another story. Being sad every once and a while? That is normal. Sometimes you need to cry and feel all the emotions you feel to the fullest. And that is perfectly fine.
Space
We all know that sometimes you just need to be alone or need “ space ”. That is a respectable and normal thing to want. Wanting space is not saying they don’t want to ever see you again. That is not what is happening. Space is something that is for a while. It will be different for everyone, but we should all respect it. Sometimes you need a moment to gather up all your thoughts and emotions. And if someone says they need space they just need space. No matter how much you want to comfort them, the best thing that you can do is listen to them and give them space for a while.
No
Since the creation of the word, no is, and will always be, a full sentence all on its own. No does not mean change my mind, it means no. No does not mean maybe later, it means no. In fact, no means nothing else, but no. It is not a difficult feat to respect someone's answer even if we do not like it. Afterall, we are no longer small children.
Sorry
It is as important as ever to apologize. If you do something that hurts someone physically or mentally no matter what, apologize. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know them. It’s better for you to apologize then for them to just think, wow what a jerk. Let’s say you bumped into them and made them drop their stuff. Then saying sorry and offering to help is probably the best thing you can do to help them. Sorry is also knowing that sometimes just saying sorry doesn’t fix things. When someone says sorry isn’t enough you can ask what you can do to fix things and give them time and space. Maybe sorry won’t fix it even with time and that is something that you and that person need to talk about.
Please and Thank You
We are going back way back to the younger years with this one. I know that you are probably extremely tired of people telling you, say please and thank you! I know I am. But it’s just one of those things that can truly make your day worthwhile. Please and thank you are what you say to be polite. It’s something you can do to act more like a human and less like a demanding robot. Thank you is also, perhaps even more, important than please. It is showing gratitude towards someone who helped you out or made something for you. Show gratitude and it will be shown to you.
Boundaries
In this article I have already talked about some boundaries by themselves. But maybe a broader approach is needed to fully put across the message. What is a boundary? You may find yourself asking the computer this while reading the article. * A boundary is a limit on anything that is an emotional, physical, or mental aspect of life. It is important to respect peoples boundaries. Why? Because boundaries are set up so that both people in the relationship feel joy and safety when seeing each other. If you really care about someone you will respect their boundaries. Respect people's boundaries and they will respect you.
( * = Credit for Council for Relationships )
Checking in on the Bros
Even though this says bros make sure to check in on all of your besties. Bros, gals, and other pronoun using pals. Checking in sounds easy and it is. It’s as simple as asking how life is going or how they are. When my dad doesn’t talk to someone for a while he texts them, hey buddy check, how are you doing? This is crucial to having good relationships and helping each other to have improved mental health.
It’s ok to Ask
Through all of this I have talked about listening to what other people say. But sometimes it’s not just about listening, it’s about asking questions. It’s ok to ask someone about their pronouns and name so you don't mess it up. It’s ok to ask if someone is ok. It’s ok to ask for space. It’s ok to ask about boundaries. So it’s ok to ask. If somebody doesn’t want to talk about something that’s also ok. Still, it’s better to ask than to just assume because sometimes it can really hurt somebody. Ask questions, it will make you appreciate each other more.
This has been a long article and I look forward to doing more articles like this. In the end it’s all about being respectful. It’s never too late to turn someone's day around for the better. Remember the little things because sometimes, they help the big things.
Travel to Seattle, a City of Charms, Fun and Unforgettable Memories
Travel to Seattle, a City of Charms, Fun and Unforgettable Memories
by Matthew Ferris-Kohanski
Nestled in the pacific northwest, lies the gem, Seattle. Seattle is nothing like any other American city, because of its natural and architectural beauty. Seattle also has a different kind of culture compared to other US cities. So when you are there, you will not be learning about other people's culture that much, as much as a unique culture arising from the historical and everyday influence of aviation, architecture, art, culinary excellence, natural beauty and more.
Landmarks
Erected for the 1962 world fair, the Seattle Space Needle remains the city's most iconic landmark. The Space Needle offers a beautiful glimpse of the city, and provides a stunning view of its marvelous landforms. A new unique feature the Space Needle offers is the world's one and only glass floor. If you walk on it and look down, you will feel like you are in midair.
Dominating the pacific west coast's landscape, stands Mount Rainier. Its beautiful snowcap and rough rough surface gives tourists a view of America's beautiful nature. Visitors can travel to this natural beauty by hiking or bike riding at Mount Rainier National Park, America's 5th national park. Mount Rainier offers a humongous lasting impact, and is a beautiful example of what true nature looks like.
Gas Works Park, originally built as a gasification factory, provides people with an understanding of industrial history and industrial architecture. The park's widened green spaces welcome visitors for a great time outdoors, because of its views of Lake Union and the Seattle skyline. Gas Works Park is a great place to visit anytime.
Cultural Experiences
If you're interested in aviation, the museum of flight is the perfect place for you to visit. The museum of flight has small fighter jets to ginormous American Airliners. There are also retired Air Force One’s that served our past presidents. Furthermore, you won’t just learn about airplanes, you can also visit the space aviation area that provides you with insight on space and exploration. It even contains a space shuttle that was actually sent into space. And even better, this one is a free exhibit, where you can go at any time.
If you are an art lover, the Seattle Art Museum is the perfect place for you to visit, providing a glimpse of 25,000 works of art from all over the globe. Including contemporary and historical masterpieces. The Seattle art museum does not just provide its visitors with beautiful art pieces, it provides insight into the different cultures and artistic movements that contribute to the city's culture. It is said that art helps heal the mind and the soul, which would be a good way to enjoy your vacation without any stress.
Beautiful Nature
The shores of Seattle offer a gorgeous view of the Puget Sound, especially with the vast evergreen forests creating such a striking background. Hearing the osprey birds call as they fly overhead adds to its unique character. In addition, you may also see ferries giving people water tours. Another thing that makes the shoreline a beautiful experience is the fantastic architecture of the buildings near the shore as well. A memorable experience can be gained simply jogging along the shores, with the bright sun reflecting off the gorgeous dark blue Pacific waters, with the beautiful emerald evergreen forests in the background.
The mighty emerald evergreen forests wrap around Seattle upholding the city's natural beauty. If you're ever walking on the shores of Seattle, take a look at the beautiful evergreens. In addition, if you do see Mount Rainier, you will see a long evergreen forest wrap around it as well as the other bordering mountains. You can see these beautiful sights when you travel just outside of Seattle into more open land.
Food And Drink Delights
Known for its lively atmosphere and amazing food, Pike Place Market provides memories that you will remember for the rest of your life. Pike Place Market buzzes with tourists that come to immerse themselves in the taste and smell of the food. There are so many very different shops there. A popular attraction in Pike Place Market is the fish market known for the fish tossing by its fishmongers. Leaving Pike Place Market reminds us of the distinctive beauty of the area of Elliott Bay and Puget Sound, making it a must go destination.
If you're hungry for culture and hungry for food, Seattle's asian cuisines are the perfect place for you to go. There are many different Asian cuisines throughout Seattle, such as Korean and Japanese. They provide splendid tastes and their own unique way with their foods. For example, if you go to a Korean restaurant, you will get an excellent example of what great asian noodles taste like. You probably will not be able to get this type of taste anywhere else on this planet besides Asia. If you are a sushi lover like many other people, Seattle’s sushi bars will draw you in like a magnet. You will probably be eating sushi for every second of your life, because of how great its condiments are and its many different varieties of sushi.
Extra Spectacles
Get on your diving suit and explore the underwater wonders of Earth at the Seattle Aquarium. Many visitors are captivated by its gorgeous jellyfish and the many different species of fish. An attractive exhibit that many enjoy is in the lower part of the aquarium. When you walk through this level, you feel like you are actually in the ocean seeing many different aquatic species. It almost becomes an interactive experience, feeling as if you are underwater. It is really cool! Overall, the Seattle aquarium will take you through a journey of the underwater wonders like no other, as well as making you feel like you are one with the fish. In my personal experience, I would say the Seattle Aquarium is more friendly and amazing to be in than a submarine.
If you can’t get a high rise view of Seattle on the Space Needle, then why not try the Seattle Great Wheel. The Seattle Great Wheel will give you an awesome view of Seattle from all angles. Overall, I believe the Seattle Great Wheel is a wonderful experience for everyone who visits, and I think you should definitely try this out whenever you have a chance to go there.
Seattle is a blend of our country’s maritime past and melting pot of cultural influences. It offers unique and different viewpoints of each. Seattle reminds us of how amazing our country is, with its engineering feets, such as the Space Needle. It gives us a taste of our maritime heritage with Pike Place Market. You also learn of the impact of aviation and flight, as well as many different urban cultures. Not to mention the distinctive combination of urban cultures and surrounding natural beauty.
When you are on your next summer vacation, maybe take a second thought about staying home and watching TV. The world is full of amazing adventures, and some you will have to see to really know. I think Seattle is one of those, offering rich enlightenment and amazing natural beauty.
HALLOWEEN
HALLOWEEN
by: Ethan Krackehl
by: Ethan Krackehl
It's spooky season and Halloween is just around the corner! Thursday, October 31st is Halloween. We have some fun facts for you!
Did you know that historians have said that Halloween falls on October 31 because the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain occurred on the 31st, and the Festival of Samhain was basically a Celtic new year. It marked the end of the harvest season. People would wear costumes to ward off evil spirits and protect their crops.
Later on Pope Gregory marked November 1st as a day to honor saints. It became known as All Saints Day. Eventually some of the rituals of All Saints Day and Samhain became combined. The 31st was then called All Hallows Eve and later was shortened to Halloween.
Trick or treat?
Track and Field Annual Celebration
Track and Field Annual Celebration
By Lorenzo Lucas
Wednesday, May 29 was the annual Track and Field celebration! While Coach Casey (yes, the same Coach Casey from Unified Sports) was setting up the obstacle course, everybody had pizza and played with hula hoops and cornhole.
Coach Casey set up limbo, and everybody was excited for the fun games, which is very different than their normal running practices. The lowest the limbo got was just under a foot tall, which is very impressive! Next, Coach Casey gave out the awards.
First, he gave everybody a yellow smiley ball, which is the way he feels about the team. He also gave out pencils to everyone. The most prestigious award was the Certificate of Excellence, awarded to everybody that participated in the Track and Field team.
After the award ceremony, fun was back on track! After a short break to do anything fun, Coach Casey started the obstacle course. The obstacle course consisted of two hopping sections, a high knee section, a running hurdle section, and a full speed running section. After completing the course twice, Coach Casey started the clean-up challenge, where you have to clean up as fast as possible. This challenge was required to play the next game. The gym was cleared, and the next game began! The game Coach Casey chose was Sharks vs Minnows, where the girls started as the sharks, and the boys started as the minnows. The object of the game is for the minnows to make it to the other side of the gym without being caught by the sharks. All of the minnows that got caught became sharks for the next rounds. Next, the girls were the minnows and the boys were the sharks.
Game three started with 6th graders at the minnows, and 7th and 8th graders as the sharks. Game four started with 6th grade as the sharks, and the 7th and 8th graders were the minnows. There was a short water break during halftime. More games continued, but the Lion’s Roar team had to go. Thank you for inviting us, Coach Casey!
The Countdown to Summer Break Starts Now!
The Countdown to Summer Break Starts Now!
By Lorenzo Lucas
After three long quarters of school, summer break is right around the corner. As of Thursday, April 4th, there are only 45 days left of school until summer! This quarter will be the best out of all four! Every grade is going on a field trip. 6th grade is going to Nature's Classroom and Wolfe Park, 7th grade goes to Shelton Sports Center, and 8th grade is going to Holiday Hill!
Also, SBAC testing will be done, and 7th and 8th graders in World Languages will have final exams, and the AAPL test. For 8th graders, this quarter is your last chance to make a change in your grades before highschool. On Monday, April 8th, Students took an excused absence due to the solar eclipse. Monroe saw 90 percent! After all of this, many students and teachers will just be tired, and want a long, summer break.
Will AI Take Over Newspapers?
Will AI Take Over Newspapers?
By Lorenzo Lucas
If you haven't heard of AI, it is an artificial intelligence that can do many things. Depending on the app you choose to use, ChatGTP, Google Genesis, OpenAI, Microsoft Copilot, amongst others, images and texts can be quickly generated artificially, including newspaper articles. Here at the Lion’s Roar, Mr. Biase feels that the use of AI defeats the purpose of student participation in the newspaper. On other sites though, AI may soon take over the news. It appears to be easier to use AI to write an article in minutes, and not have to pay writers, AI just makes sense for the business minded.
On TV news, AI may be used to come up with stories to write, but it may be harder for local news. AI is mostly used on smaller, clickbait online newspapers that do not have breaking news. Some of these sites will even use AI to generate title images! AI may be used most for travel, review, or other articles, even short stories and games.
Most likely, live and breaking news will not be written by AI for now. One of the worst instances of a suspected AI generated article is the Jonny Razer biography dispute. Next time you read an article, and it seems a little weird, it may be written by AI.
Happy Spring!
Happy Spring!
By: Lorenzo Lucas
Did you know that spring is on March 19th? Other than the weather getting warmer, and the days getting longer, there are other events happening all spring long. On March 10th, daylight savings time begins, set all of your clocks forward one hour. On a brighter note, spring break will be April 13th to April 21st, so go have some fun! Also happening in spring is Memorial Day. A fun fact about Memorial Day is that even though it is believed by many to be the start of summer, it is still spring! We also have the last day of school on June 14th.
Since the weather is warmer in the spring, there are many fun activities to do. You can go to Quassy or Lake Compounce, or if you are more of a thrill seeker, visit Six Flags New England. The Beardsley zoo is open, and is a fun place to visit to see the animals. You can also go down to New York to go to many fun places. Rye Playland is a classic amusement park and beach, and Bronx Zoo is a giant zoo. Closer to us, you can go to Wolfe Park, or go Swimming in one of the various lakes or public pools.
If you want this spring to be the best, it is all up to you! If you make this spring boring, then it will be boring. So make this spring the best by being calm, kind, and safe!
Valentines Day
Valentines Day
By: Ellie Mendez
Illustration by: SiYi
As Valentine's Day approaches, it's important to prepare a thoughtful gesture for your beloved. Although love is always a beautiful thing, this special day reminds us to express our affection through heartfelt gifts and messages.
Interestingly, the origins of this holiday can be traced back to the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated in mid-February. In addition, birds have become a symbol of this romantic occasion. To honor the tradition, candy and flowers, especially red roses, are popular gifts to convey beauty and love. So make sure to get your special someone something sweet and thoughtful to show your appreciation and affection.
Did you know during the 18th and 19th centuries, puzzle purses gained popularity as Valentine's Day presents in England and the United States. A puzzle purse was composed of folded pieces of paper with verses or messages inscribed on separate corners. To ensure that the recipient followed the correct sequence, the folds were typically numbered. As one unfolded a portion, they unraveled the puzzle and exposed a fragment of writing. On occasion, a small token of appreciation was concealed in the center of the puzzle purse.
Also did you know Valentine's Day only gained popularity in Germany after World War II. However, Germans have added their own unique twist to the holiday by incorporating pigs, a symbol of good luck, into their Valentine's gifts. Additionally, large heart-shaped gingerbread cookies, called lebkuchen, are often given out on this day with handmade messages included.How cool is that!
Wishing you a joyful Valentine's Day in any way possible!
Monroe Food Pantry - Dominate December!
Monroe Food Pantry - Dominate December!
By Lorenzo Lucas
The Jockey Hollow Student Council is hosting the Monroe Food Pantry Dominate December Drive! This event will be a food drive, but other items could be donated. The food drive will be from December 11th to December 15th. The first grade to fill their bucket will win a prize! Items needed include:
Juice
Condominints (Mayo, Ketchup, Mustard)
Canned vegetables
Grape jelly, strawberry jam
Hamburger Helper, Knorr Pasta/Rice, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
Egg Noodles
Rice
Hot & cold cereal
Bread crumbs
Canned Tomatoes
Chicken, beef, or vegetable broth
Cooking oil
Syrup
Salad dressing
Snack items
Personal hygiene products
Household cleaning products
Other items will be on a list, located throughout both STEM Academy and Main Campus. Let’s go 8th grade! (Let’s go 6th and 7th too!)
Roller Coasters
Roller Coasters
By: Rocco Lucas
A Very Wide Selection of Coasters
Wooden Coasters Wooden roller coasters were the first roller coasters made. Some wooden coaster companies are Gravity Group, they make family wooden coasters, Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters or PTC, made Comet at Six Flags Great Escape. The Comet was built in 1947 and rebuilt at Great Escape in 1994. Great Coasters International or GCI was founded in 1994. Intamin, founded in 1967, made El Toro, a prefabricated wooden coaster. The difference between a prefabricated wooden coaster and traditional is that prefabricated gets built like a steel coaster. Intamin made four prefabricated coasters.
Single Rail Coasters
Wonder Woman Flight of Courage is the tallest single rail coaster in the world beating Jersey Devil Coaster. In America RMC has made Jersey Devil Coaster, Wonder Woman Flight of Courage, Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster, Stunt Pilot, and then the two prototypes, which are Wonder Woman Flight of Courage at Six Flags, Fiesta Texas and RailBlazer at California's Great America. Single rail coasters can have loops but none of them do, they have barrel rolls and zero G stalls. Single rail coasters can have launches but RMC did not do that, but Intamin made the Hot Racers and they did have a launch. RMC created two types of single rail coasters one of them is a raptor which they made, the other one is a T-Rex model, the T-Rex can go up to 500 feet tall, but RMC has not made any yet.
Hybrid Coasters
A hybrid coaster is a wood coaster that gets its wooden track removed or completely rebuilt so they can put a steel track on it to make a more intense version of the original wood coaster. Iron Gwazi is the tallest hybrid coaster with a height of 206 feet, 76 mph, and 4,057 feet of track. Zadra is the longest hybrid coaster with a length of 4,318 feet, 200 feet tall and a speed of 75 mph. Wicked Cyclone is a smaller scale RMC hybrid coaster with a length of 3,320 feet, 109 feet tall at a great cost of ten million dollars.
The Parks
Six Flags
The new CEO raised the prices a lot. The most expensive membership used to be about $20 a month so 20x12 (12 for how many months are in a year) =240 so about $240, the new price is about $250 for a lot less stuff. The new CEO said that it would make Six Flags get more money so they can make it more premium. They got the worst profits since they filed for bankruptcy back in 2009. So far they made the food better and added a lot of events. One event is Scream Break, it is basically Fright Fest during the night in April.
Six Flags Great Adventure
Did you know that Six Flags Great Adventure has the tallest coaster in the world, Kingda Ka. Opened in 2005 as the world's tallest fastest acceleration and speed, now it just has the height record at 456 feet. Six Flags Great Adventure has El Toro, if you watched the news you would now what happened to it 2 years in a row, 1 year it valleyed so basically on one of its turns it went backwards not having enough speed to pass it, and in 2022 it had a technical difficulty accrued when it got to a point in the coaster it jerked, and seriously injured the people on the train. Six Flags Great Adventure also has the most B&M coasters in the world, five in all, they are Medusa steel coaster, Nitro, Batman, Green Lantern and, SuperMan which on April 17, 2023 turned 20 years old.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Did you know that Wonder Woman Flight of Courage is the tallest, longest and fastest single rail coaster in the world. Six Flags Magic Mountain has the most coasters of any park in the world.
Six Flags New England
Did you know that SuperMan got the golden ticket award in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009. SuperMan is also the only Hyper coaster in New England, 217 feet tall. Six Flags New England also has the wooden coaster Thunderbolt which is a very old coaster, the oldest coaster at Six Flags New England. Their newest coaster was Wicked Cyclone in 2015.
Hershey Park
Hershey park is adding in a new coaster, Wild Cat’s Revenge! Originally Wild Cat was a wood coaster, but RMC made it a hybrid! So it’s going to be called Wild Cat’s Revenge, it got topped off (the top track piece was placed) on April 17, 2023. Hershey Park is also one of the only parks with two Hyper coasters one of them is Skyrush the other one is Candemonium. Skyrush was built by Intamin, Candemonium was built by B&M.
Brands of Coasters
RMC
Almost every Six Flags park has one, a RMC Hybrid. Six Flags Over Texas has the first ever RMC Hybrid, New Texas Giant. With RMC Hybrid coasters the names are basically the same from the time they were wooden, some examples are Cyclone to Wicked Cyclone, Wild Cat to Wild Cat’s Revenge, Cyclone to Twisted Cyclone and Gwazi to Iron Gwazi.
B&M
B&M makes inverted coasters, where your legs are swinging and the track is above you. Stand up coasters is basically what it says, you stand up on a coaster! Floorless coaster is when there is no floor and the track is below you so that your feet are right above the track, but do not touch the track. Flying coaster is when you lay down and the track is above you.
Intamin
Intamin has some good coaster designs and some bad ones. One of the bad ones is a 4D coaster. They copied the 4D freepin from S&S except Intamins is worse. They also made KingDa Ka the world's tallest coaster. When it opened it was the tallest, fastest and fastest acceleration. El Toro was also built by Intamin in 2022 it was voted best wooden coaster in the world by the people choice award. El Toro also broke down in 2021 and 2022.
Did you know that SuperMan at Six Flags New England was built in the year 2000 and ranked best steel coaster in the world five times, one in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. SuperMan the ride also got repainted to Bizzaro in 2009 but got its original superman coolers and theming back in 2016.
BREAKING NEWS -
BREAKING NEWS -
Six Flags and Cedar Fair to Merge
Six Flags and Cedar Fair to Merge
By Lorenzo Lucas
On November 2nd, 2023, the Cedar Fair and Six Flags companies merged into one corporation. This new company will be called Six Flags. It will be located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is unclear what will happen to the parks, and how the parks would run. There will be a total of 27 theme parks and 15 water parks. The new CEO will be Richard Zimmerman, the current CEO of Cedar Fair. The CEO of Six Flags will now be executive chairman. This new combined company will take effect in the first half of 2024. Many investors are calling this company a “Playground Powerhouse” due to this company having the most theme parks of any chain in North America. Hopefully, this new company will keep adding new coasters across the chain, and will make the parks a nicer place to be.
Trick or Treating:
Trick or Treating:
How Old is Too Old?
How Old is Too Old?
by McKinley Vanlandingham
As Halloween is coming up and people are starting to plan their costumes. The Lions Den writers began to ask two questions about Halloween and Trick-or-Treating. What age should kids stop trick or treating? And, what should be the cutoff age for dressing up in general?”
We had the opportunity to interview three teachers and ask them for their opinions. The first teacher is Mrs. Holly Lever who teaches 7th grade language arts. The second is Mrs. Amanda Morrison who teaches chorus and music and technology. The last teacher is Mr. Michael Demchak, who teaches technology education.
Mrs. Holly Lever
Lions Den: “What age should kids stop going house to house and trick-or-treating?”
H.L: “I think as soon as you can drive and go and buy yourself candy.”
Lions Den: “So, would you say about 16”
H.L: “Yes, I’d say 16 is the limit.”
Lions Den: “What about dressing up in general when do you think the cut off age should be when you stop dressing up?”
H.L: “I don’t think there should be a limit. Everyone should have the freedom to celebrate the holiday and dress up.”
Lions Den: “Do you have any other comments you want to add to the topic?.”
H.L: “Not that I can think of.”
Lions Den: “Well, thank you for allowing me to interview you.”
H.L:”You're very welcome.”
Mrs. Amanda Morrison
Lions Den: What age do you think kids should stop going out and trick-or-treating?
A.M: I think around when you start to drive, like around 16.
Lions Den: What about dressing up overall when do you think the cut off age should be?
A.M: Well I think you should NEVER stop dressing up. It’s a fun activity for ALL ages.
Lions Den: Do you have any other comments you want to add to the topic?
A.M: Yes. I think Halloween should always be on a Friday.
Lions Den: Well, thank you for letting me interview you.
A.M: You're welcome.
Mr. Michael Demchak
Lions Den: When age should kids stop going house to house and trick-or-treating?
M.D: I would say 16 or like, once you can drive.
Lions: Den: What about dressing up in general when do you think the cut off age should be when you stop dressing up?
M.D: I think it is complicated, cause I am not a big Halloween person. But, I would say if you have kids or are child trick or treating then, yeah dressing up is okay, otherwise I would say probably not. Like I don’t dress up but when I have kids I will.
Lions Den: Do you have any other comments you want to add to the topic?.
M.D: Nope, I don’t think so.
Lions Den: Well, thank you for allowing me to interview you.
M.D: You're welcome, thank you for choosing me to interview..
{END OF INTERVIEW}
In conclusion, all teachers agreed that 16 is an appropriate age at which kids should stop trick or treating. Clearly a popular response. The question about a cutoff age for dressing up in general generated different opinions. Two teachers felt there should be no cut off for dressing up, while on the other hand, one teacher said the cut off should be 16- unless you have children that are Trick-or-Treating.
Feel free to ask your friends and families for their own opinions, we hope you have a Happy Halloween.
Red Ribbon Week 2023
Red Ribbon Week 2023
By Sydney Lampley
Attention all sixth graders! Imagine a week where you can wear your pajamas all day, or wear your favorite sports jersey, well now you don’t have to. The reason we address the sixth graders, is because we realize this is your first red Ribbon Week at Jockey Hollow. So to prepare you for a fun week of dressing up while supporting an important cause, here are some things you should know.
Red Ribbon Week 2023 aims to raise awareness and prevention of alcohol and substance abuse. The theme this year is, “Be Kind to Your Mind, Live Drug Free.” Jockey Hollow is not the only place that commemorates Red Ribbon Week. It is observed by thousands of school districts across the nation to inspire kids to be brave.
Danielle Helm, the Youth Service Center Coordinator at Russell County Middle School in Kentucky said that the 2023 theme was chosen because, “...drugs alter our current brain development and hinders further growth. Drugs decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the reward system of our brain (...) This can block our brain from naturally experiencing happiness.” Therefore being kind to our minds, and living drug free is about making positive choices to be naturally happy and healthy.
At our school, this takes place from October 30th, to November 3rd. Each day there will be a new prompt. This year's prompts are: Pajama Day, “Hero” ween,Wacky Wednesday, Team Thursday, and finally, “Red-y” Friday where we wear red to show that we are ready to be drug free.
And finally, if you or anybody you know is struggling with alcohol or substance abuse, help is available. There is a national hotline run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. You can find it online by searching SAMHSA National Hotline
And don’t forget to, “Be Kind To Your Mind.”
Always be Alert
Always be Alert
By Elisavet Mendez
We all know you should not text and drive. But have you ever thought about what you would do if the person that was driving you was texting. If you were in a situation in which there could be an accident if you don't speak out and tell the driver to put the phone away, would you?
Too many drivers feel the urge to text someone, or answer a call. They may realize they forgot to reply to an email, or a friend texts them. You may think to yourself, should I ask the person who is on their phone to stop? YES, definitely tell the person who is on their phone. Don’t hesitate. It's really important to keep you and others safe, and by speaking out you can remind the driver that they are not really paying attention to the road.
According to Google, “ It's estimated that at least 23% of all car accidents each year involve cell phone use – that is 1.3 million crashes. 3,331 people were killed and 387,000 were injured in accidents involving distracted drivers. 10% of fatal car accidents were reported to involve driver distraction.”
This data proves that there are WAY too many car accidents caused by people that are on their phones while driving- and just maybe by passengers not speaking out. Do you want to protect your family and friends? If so we suggest you always be alert, look out and speak out.
Should Halloween be Moved to Saturdays?
Should Halloween be Moved to Saturdays?
By Sydney Lampley
There is a worldwide debate on whether Halloween should be celebrated on the 31st, or be moved to the last Saturday of October. This might seem like a weird request from parents, but once you hear their reasoning it might change your mind.
According to Scholastic Scope, a pro to Halloween on Saturdays is that school-goers can celebrate the holiday of pumpkins and scarecrows all day and not have to worry about waking up early the next morning. They also added that having Halloween during the week promotes skipping school or work, so this could be a fix.
On the other hand, people think that Halloween on a Saturday is unfair to those who view their Saturdays as a day of religion. There are religions that spend their Saturdays at church or observe it as a day of rest, and are unable to trick or treat or celebrate.
Another negative to having Halloween on Saturdays, since it is a tradition to go trick or treating on the 31st, there will be people that continue to celebrate on that day. Halloween can bring people together, and with people celebrating on different days, that could create more problems than it solves.
There aren't just negatives to having halloween on Saturdays. A positive with which many parents agree is that it makes halloween safer. I’ll admit, when I first heard that claim I was skeptical, but now that I have researched I’ve found that, according to Scholastic Story Works, kids could begin trick or treating earlier. They say this will be safer because with kids walking around at night, sometimes even by themselves, accidents can occur. Parents think that trick or treating in the daylight can help kids avoid those occurrences.
So what do you think? Should Halloween stay on the 31st, or is Halloween in need for a change?
Welcome Back to School!
Welcome Back to School!
By Lorenzo Lucas
After a long summer… we are back at school! This school year, you will learn, make new friends, and have fun! Some important things to remind 7th and 8th graders, and for 6th graders to start doing for the first time.
Check PAWS - Every day, remember to check what you have scheduled for PAWS. You WILL get into trouble if you forget - so check, check, check!
Be Kind to Others - Respect your classmates and teachers! There is no penalty to being kind. Remember - Treat others the way YOU want to be treated.
Participate in Class - Participation in class is important, and may count towards your grade. Also, participation can be fun!
Study - Want good grades? Don't forget to study! Read, go over today's work, and have parents or friends make study sheets.
Go to Sleep - Sleeping can improve memory and concentration. If you go to sleep, you will also have energy for the next day!
Have Fun - Just because you are at school doesn't mean you can't have fun. Pick fun PAWS options and participate in fun activities. If you haven't joined a club yet, try one out!
Be Prepared - Be prepared for anything. A pop quiz, hard work, and bringing your stuff to class.
Get Ready for High School - Mainly for 8th graders, you should get ready for high school. If you thought middle school was hard, you should start to study more, get more rest, and participate in class, but don't worry! You will do great!
Now that you know what to do in middle school, you can have a great time!
This year, Jockey Hollow is focusing on the power of curiosity. Like last year, we will most likely learn about curiosity and how it affects how we learn at school. Also, new AC units have been installed throughout the school, so learning can be more comfortable!
The Jockey Hollow newspaper club wishes everybody a happy back to school, and to have a wonderful school year ahead!
Feeling at Her Fingers: The Story of Helen Keller
Feeling at Her Fingers: The Story of Helen Keller
By Emily Clark
Could you imagine if you couldn’t see, hear, or speak every single day? Could you even learn to communicate with others? Could you even learn to read or write? That’s what Helen Keller did. Deaf, blind, and mute from an illness at nineteen months old, she was capable enough to learn to speak, read Braille, write, and go to college. As Helen got older, she became a world famous author, activist, and stood up for the rights of people with disabilities. By the time of her death in 1968, many people had begun to follow her teachings, and continue to do so today.
Helen was born in a small town called Tuscumbia, Alabama in 1880, the daughter of Captain Arthur H. Keller, a former Confederate Army soldier, and his second wife, Catherine Everett “Kate” Adams-Keller. She had four siblings; two half-brothers, James and William Keller from her father’s first marriage, and two siblings; Mildred and Phillip Brooks from her father’s second marriage. In fact, one of Helen’s paternal ancestors was a teacher for the deaf in Zurich, Switzerland. Her maternal grandfather, Charles W. Adams, was a Confederate Army general and captain, like her father was.
By the time Helen was one, she started walking. She said a couple of words, such as “tea, tea, tea,” and “wah-wah” for water.
But when Helen was almost two, she ran a very high fever. Her parents called the doctor, and the doctor said that she wasn’t going to live. The doctor diagnosed Helen’s illness as “acute congestion of the stomach and brain” or “brain fever.” It was most likely a case of scarlet fever or meningitis.
Suddenly the fever broke. Helen’s parents were glad that their daughter had lived. They also noticed her life would be different. When her mother moved her hands in front of Helen’s face, she didn’t blink. When the dinner bell rang, Helen didn’t move toward the sound like she used to. After she had a high fever, it had destroyed her hearing and her sight; she was now deaf and blind.
How could Helen learn to speak if she couldn’t hear? Could she read or write if she couldn’t see? At the age of five, she made up hand signs and mimed what she wanted. Often, people couldn’t understand them. This made Helen more angry. She kicked and screamed in anger.
At that time, people believed that a bad fever left someone “crazy.” Her behavior was very loud, uncontrollable, and violent. Some people, including some of Helen’s relatives, believed the girl belonged in a lunatic asylum. Because of her behavior, Helen’s parents tried to find someone to help.
Helen’s aunt Evaline (called Ev) recommended the Kellers to see a famous eye doctor in Baltimore, Maryland. Even though he said he couldn’t restore Helen’s sight, he recommended to see Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. Bell, who worked in Washington, DC, knew of schools and teachers that could help Helen. He mentioned one school; the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston, which had helped a young girl named Laura Bridgman to communicate, who was also deaf and blind. Helen’s father wrote to the school, recommending a teacher. Guess what? The letter received a reply. Helen’s new teacher was Annie Sullivan. She agreed to move to Alabama to teach her.
On the six thirty train, Annie Sullivan arrived in Tuscumbia. Kate Keller and her stepson James went to greet Annie. They took the carriage home, and chatted happily. Annie wondered where Helen was, but when they came home she wanted to see her. When Helen approached Annie, she reached out her arms for a hug because she thought it was her mother. Annie took the girl in her arms. But Helen twisted back. Curious about the stranger, she felt Annie’s round glasses, nose, and dusty dress. She continued to follow her up to her room.
On Annie’s first morning in Alabama, Helen followed her upstairs. Her hands touched Annie’s suitcase and opened it up. Inside, Helen found a doll! It was a present for Helen from the students at the Perkins School. Laura Bridgman, the former deaf-blind student there, had sewn the doll’s clothes. Helen loved dolls. Happily, she held the doll close.
Annie took Helen’s hand. D-o-l-l, she spelled, carefully spelling the letters in her hand using the sign language alphabet. Then, Annie took Helen’s hand and patted the doll’s head after spelling the word. She continued the process, first spelling the word into Helen’s hand, then patting the doll’s head. But the problem was; Helen didn’t understand. Annie took the doll away to see if Helen reacted, and she was right; she did. Mrs. Keller came in, and tried to get Annie to give the doll to her daughter. For her early life, Helen was spoiled-rotten. The Kellers pleaded with Annie to give Helen what she wanted.
Annie refused, trying to tell Captain and Mrs. Keller that her behavior was unacceptable, and wanted her to learn the rules. She wanted her to learn from her actions, and said the family can leave if she found her behavior upsetting.
The worst battle between Annie and Helen was at breakfast. First, Helen ate her breakfast with her hands, then stuffed her mouth with it. Annie was shocked; by Helen’s bad table manners. After Helen “ate” her breakfast, she went from plate to plate like a dog sniffing what was on other people’s plates.
“Yum!” Helen thought. “Sausage!” She put her hand on Annie’s plate, but the woman slapped Helen’s hand on the table. Helen soon lunged and grabbed full strength at Annie. Annie put a spoon in Helen’s hand. She threw it to the floor. Annie tried to put the spoon again in Helen’s hand. She threw it to the floor. The third time, regardless of whether or not Annie would make her, Helen finished her breakfast using the spoon.
Annie wanted Helen to fold her napkin. Angrily, Helen threw it on to the floor. Helen began a tantrum, screaming and kicking. The second time, the tantrum passed, and Helen folded her napkin.
On April 15, 1887, Annie took Helen out for a walk outside. The two went to the water pump, with Annie spelling w-a-t-e-r into Helen’s hand. This time, Helen did not react. She finally understood that words stood for things!
A year later, Annie and Helen were invited to Washington, DC to meet President Grover Cleveland. In their time, many people thought that just because they couldn’t see or hear, deaf-blind people were not smart enough to learn. Helen proved to the President of the United States how wrong that statement was. Annie was determined. She now was going to teach her pupil to read.
Reading was another big challenge for Helen, because she couldn’t see the words on the page. Annie gave Helen a piece of cardboard that had letters of the alphabet printed on them in dots, which can be read by the blind by touch. Helen loved to read. She read to her dog Belle, her baby sister Mildred, and her parents.
Besides reading, Helen was tired of fingerspelling. Many people couldn’t understand this way of talking. So she spelled back to Annie, “I don’t want to talk with my hands, I want to talk with my mouth.” But the problem was; Annie didn’t know how to teach Helen to talk. She found another teacher who did. Her name was Sarah Fuller and she was the principal of the Horace Mann School for the Deaf in Allston, Massachusetts. In the first lesson, Sarah brought Helen’s hands up to her face and felt the vibrations of her mouth moving. By the end of the first lesson, Helen could say several letters, but people couldn’t understand her. Between the second and third lessons, she uttered her first sentence; “It is too warm.” Whenever she thought about talking, she wished she could speak to her family, including Mildred, her younger sister.
Helen and Annie soon started a journal together, which she wrote in pencil on paper fitted over a grooved writing board with block letters. This is how the blind or deaf-blind learned to write. In 1937, after Annie Sullivan’s death, the journal was published.
The doors of the Perkins School closed suddenly, and Annie heard of another school in New York, called the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf. When Helen was fourteen, she and Annie traveled to New York to study French, German, Latin, and math. Besides Annie, Helen had a private tutor, and Annie continued to finger-spell all the words the tutor said.
Before women were allowed to go to college, there were schools called finishing schools, which prepared students for different women’s colleges. There were few women’s colleges, and most big colleges, like Yale and Harvard, were only for men. Helen had a big goal, to go to college. She wanted to go to Harvard, but since it was only for men, she found the college connected with Harvard, Radcliffe, which was for women. She left the Wright-Humason School and went to the Cambridge School for Young Ladies, a school that prepares students for Radcliffe. Annie called the president of Radcliffe if he wanted to accept Helen as a student, but he said that she could cause too many problems.
Helen entered Radcliffe in the fall of 1904 with several other girls. In every class, Annie sat next to her and spelled the professor’s words and the textbook assignments in Helen’s hands. Most of Helen’s textbooks were unavailable in braille, so her teacher spelled the words into her hands. It took longer than many of the other students, who could hear the professors and read the books on their own. By the time the day was done, Helen didn’t have any time to relax or play.
In June of 1904, just after her 24th birthday, Helen became the first deaf and blind person to get a college degree. Starting after college, she wrote her autobiography, called “The Story of My Life.” After college, Annie and Helen were asked by viewers to tell the story about how she taught the wild and violent little Helen at seven years old. Critics called Annie a “miracle worker.” They were also asked to do a movie, called “Deliverance.” It had no sound, but was a big hit.
In 1932, Annie became very sick. She had a problem with her left eye. In 1936, she collapsed shortly and died. Annie’s remains were placed in the National Cathedral in Washington. After Annie’s death, a secretary named Polly Thomson filled in for her, and shortly after the funeral she and Helen moved to Westport, Connecticut.
After The Story of My Life, Helen wrote 13 other books, including articles, and speeches. She traveled around the world, worked for the AFB (American Foundation for the Blind) until her death, and met different world leaders including every U.S. president from Grover Cleveland to JFK.
In 1957, a play called The Miracle Worker was presented on the TV show Playhouse 90 starring Teresa Wright as Annie and Patricia McCormack as Helen. William Gibson’s play tells the story of young Helen when Annie Sullivan arrived. It wasn’t until 1959 when they brought the play to Broadway, starring Patty Duke as Helen and Anne Bancroft as Annie. A movie based on the play gave Academy Awards® to Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft, for their outstanding role in the movie.
Two years after The Miracle Worker closed, Helen suffered a number of strokes, where the blood supply of the brain is blocked. On June 1, 1968, Helen died in her sleep. She was cremated after her death, and her ashes were placed at the National Cathedral in Washington, next to her teacher.
Helen Keller accomplished many things that many people of her time would not have. As she once said, “A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.” As she got older, she never gave up and wished that she would be able to see and hear.
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
By Sidney Lampley
“Isn’t Saint Patrick a leprechaun?” That is what I thought when I first started researching this article. A lot of people don’t think of Saint Patrick's Day as a holiday, just an excuse to get a day off of school. Don’t get me kidding, I do love a day off of school, but once you hear the history of the day, you’ll realize that Saint Patricks day is more than just a day off of school.
St. Patrick's Day takes place annually on March 17. This day is the anniversary of St. Patrick's death. You are probably thinking, “Who is Saint Patrick?” Saint Patrick, who lived during the 15th century, is thought of as the protector, or guiding saint as they call it, of Ireland and its national apostle.
The story was, Patrick lived in Britain until he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave when he was sixteen. He later escaped but ended up staying in Ireland where he was credited with bringing christianity to his people. In the centuries following Patrick's life, the myth became more and more established in Irish culture.
Of course we can never really know if all the stories surrounding St. Patrick are true. There are many myths that added to the lore of Saint Patrick as he became the historical figure that he is today. There is the famous tale about Patrick being attacked by snakes. He concluded that the snakes were the devil’s doing, so he banished all snakes to the ocean, never to be seen again. Which stories do you believe?
So no, Saint Patrick wasn’t a Leprechaun. He was a historic man that did great things for his adopted country, whether they were entirely true or exaggerated.
After School Competitive Events are a Win Win : March Madness is Here
After School Competitive Events are a Win Win : March Madness is Here
By Sydney Lampley
It is never too late to try something new. That is why you should start participating in some of the afterschool sports and competitions that we have to offer at Jockey Hollow. You might be thinking, “But I’m not very good at sports,” that’s ok. Sure, there might be people that are better at it than you are, but that is not what these events are about. They are about having fun, and in cases like March Madness and the Lions Ball tournament, you will also be contributing to a fundraiser for a good cause.
You might also be thinking, “Aren’t all the competitions over?” Yes, a lot of competitions have already happened, but March Madness is coming as well as a couple of other smaller, fun events, whether they’re athletic competitions or not. And hey, if there is a competition that you missed, next year you might plan for it and practice to feel more comfortable about possibly participating- and having fun!
More important than the competitive aspect of it, these events help raise money for different charities and people in need. For example, the Lions Ball tournament raised money for the families of the heroes from the Bristol police department. We raised over two thousand dollars!
So even if you might not be the sports type, you should try to participate in at least one to have fun and raise money for good causes.
How to Study for a Test
How to Study for a Test
By Lorenzo Lucas
Studying for a test might be hard for some people. Some people find it hard to focus, some people find it hard to study effectively, and some try their best, but don't ace the test. Here are some tips to help you study better for your next test.
Make a Quizlet or Blooket
If your teacher gives you a paper to look over, try making a Quizlet of a Blooket. Also, if your teacher already made a Quizlet, just transfer it into a Blooket! This is a fun way to help memorize your information.
Write stuff down
If your parents don't like you studying on the computer, or you don't have access to the internet, try writing stuff down on paper.
Make goals
If you have time management issues, try to make a goal for how much time you should study each day.
Quiz yourself
After doing all of the studying, quiz yourself to make sure you know the facts. Also, you can have family or friends quiz you too.
Hopefully now you can study better and get better grades on your next tests. Happy Studying!
Go to Lion Ball!
Go to Lion Ball!
By Lorenzo Lucas
The fourth annual Lion Ball tournament will be held on Wednesday, February 15th. The Jockey Hollow dodgeball tournament will be held after school. Prizes will be awarded to tournament winners, and the best dressed team. Dress appropriately.
Lion Ball is a game in which two teams of five players try to eliminate each other by throwing a ball at their opponents. The team that eliminates all its opponents wins the match. The cost per team is $50.00 / $10.00 per person.
Spectators and parents are welcome to watch the event. Jockey Hollow will request a 1 dollar donation at the door. Half of the donations will go to Bristol Police Heroes, and the other half will go to Jockey Hollow gym equipment. See you there!
You’re Halfway There!
You’re Halfway There!
By: J. Ryan O’Shea
Attention students of Jockey Hollow Middle School, Main Campus and STEM! You are halfway there! Quarter 2 ends on Wednesday, January 18th. Which means Semester 1 is over. Quarter 3 and Semester 2 bring us into the home stretch of the school year! For some of you, in 6th Grade, you’ve done great in your first Semester. Only one more to go this year! In 7th Grade, the ending of Semester 1 means you are exactly halfway through your entire middle school career. Think about it, two semesters in 6th Grade plus the first semester in 7th Grade. That’s one half. Then you have the 2nd Semester in 7th Grade and the second in 8th Grade.
Congratulations 7th Grade! You have two halfway points to celebrate. And last but no least, 8th Grade. You guys are starting your final two quarters, or final semester at Jockey Hollow. Think back to the years passed……wait a minute! No! Don’t think back to the beginning, think ahead. You can think back when it’s all over. But like I said, we’re only halfway there! 6th, 7th and 8th Graders: What are you looking forward to in these final two quarters? Is it a U.A. class you like? A field trip you’re going on? An activity or club you want to do here at J.H.? Enjoy the final 2 Quarters in this school year! Happy halfway!
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
By Sidney Lampley
A holiday that often goes unnoticed is Martin Luther King Day. A lot of people only think of this day as an excuse to not have school. But there is actually a lot of history and meaning behind this day.
Martin Luther King did many great things in his life. One thing he did was protest to gain equal rights for people of color. When some people think of protest, they think of violence. King protested in a completely non violent, harm free way. He gave his excellent I Had A Dream speech in August of 1963, in Washington DC. He so eloquently said his piece that it not only brought many people together in the United States, but also encouraged lots of people around the world to dream of equality for all. Unfortunately there were still people that hated Martin Luther King, but he didn’t let that get in the way of making his dream a reality. Martin Luther King was imprisoned nearly 30 times, but he didn’t let that stop him.
Before Martin Luther King Jr., so much of America was segregated. This means that there was a systematic separation of facilities and services based on the color of your skin. Housing, healthcare, education, employment, and so much more were deeply affected
Martin Luther Kings stood up for what he believed in, and you should too.
In the Shadows of the Lion's Den
In the Shadows of the Lion's Den
By: Sydney Lampley
November's Lion's Den spotlight is Mrs. Coppola! She is an amazing teacher that has been teaching for almost 20 years! But in this article we are focusing on the things she does behind the scenes.
Everybody loves the competitions and fun PBIS activities that we do here at Jockey Hollow, but not a lot of people know who organizes these fun things. Mrs.Coppola is one of the many people that help with these activities, she has helped with the Pumpkin decorating contest, (which is her personal favorite) the gingerbread house contest, the canine dog show last year, and so much more. Mrs.Coppola loves helping with these fundraisers and competitions and we know a lot of other people do too. The next competition starts next week! In celebration of the holidays coming up, it will be a gingerbread house competition, I hope you will consider participating!
If you have any questions, email Mrs.Coppola at : rcoppola@monroeps.org
In the Shadows of the Lion's Den
In the Shadows of the Lion's Den
By Sydney Lampley
This new monthly article is all about recognizing staff members that often don't get the commendations they deserve. Every month there will be a new article about one faculty member. This series will be called, “In The Shadows Of The Lions Den.”
The spotlight for October is Mrs. Bourdoulous, a guidance counselor. She does so much more than you think. She helps students academically, with any kind of social issue you may have such as issues with peers, or family. She also helps when students are stressed, or have issues with their schedules.
If you want to talk with Mrs. Bourdoulous she encourages you to come any time down to her office. Just sign in on the chrome book next to her room. If she happens to not be there then she will make sure she finds you as soon as possible.
When not working at Jockey Hollow, Mrs. Bourdoulous enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, and running. In fact she even is the advisor for the running club and student activist.
Even though Mrs. Bourdoulous loves her job in pupil services she actually wasn’t always a guidance counselor. She used to be a Spanish teacher. She says that she liked being a Spanish teacher but being a guidance counselor is something that she really wanted to do.
Finally, one piece of advice she would like to give to all Jockey Hollow students, is a quote from David Perlmutter, “Strive for progress, not perfection.” She wants students to know that nothing is perfect and nothing has to be.
Mrs. Bourdoulous is a great guidance counselor and an overall great person. If you have any problems with your peers, family, or any problems academically, don’t be afraid to come down to her office. She also wants every student to know that if you get called down to her office, it doesn’t mean you're in trouble.
Have You Ever Wanted to Join a Club But Didn’t Know the Benefits?
Have You Ever Wanted to Join a Club But Didn’t Know the Benefits?
Then this article is for you.
Then this article is for you.
By Sidney Lampley
Clubs and after school activities are a great way to become involved in your school. It can help you academically improve in a subject, or just be somewhere fun to go to after school. There are many clubs and organizations for different interests. We have Art club, Drama club, history club, running club/cross country, and so much more.
There are so many benefits to joining a club. It can help you make new friends, support busy families, help you discover and develop new hobbies or skills, you can gain leadership skills, you can get help academically, it can even help you gain confidence.
There are so many different clubs offered and every one provides at least one of the benefits listed here. Homework club for example. Homework Club gives you a place to work on homework with the help of teachers if needed. Another example could be Art Club. It gives you a place where you can express yourself and maybe even make some good friends at the same time. Clubs also provide support for busy parents as well because club members stay an extra forty-five minutes after school. Families don’t even have to worry about picking up their students, because the school provides late buses. All you have to do is sign up in front of the office at your convenience.
There are many benefits to joining a club or after school activity. To see the list of all the clubs we offer, click here Clubs and Activities Descriptions
Memorial Day in Monroe - 2022
Memorial Day in Monroe - 2022
By: J. Ryan O’Shea
Memorial Day is back! This year it takes place on Monday, May 30th. It’s a treat for teachers and students because we have the day off!
Monroe celebrates by: 1) Having the day off (OF COURSE)! 2) We have a parade. At 2:00 PM, this Sunday, May 29th, the Monroe Memorial Day will step off. The Parade starts on Route 111 (Monroe TNPK.) in front of Soup Thyme, Subway and Dunkin Donuts. In that area. The parade steps off and goes up 111, passed Stop & Shop. It then passes Rite Aid and CVS. It continues up 111 to the round-about. It passes through the round-about and keeps going on 111. The Parade ends at the Town Green. It should take about 1 hour to march. It is 1.5 miles long.
The BLUE line shows the parade route
There will be three marching bands in the parade. Fawn Hollow Elementary School 5th Grade Band, Jockey Hollow Middle School 6-8 Grade Band and Masuk High School 9-12 Grade Band. Players of the Monroe Lacrosse League will march. If this year’s parade plan is anything like last year, the parade will contain World War 2 vehicles, cars and floats. As well as the marching bands. This year’s parade is sure to be GREAT!
The history of the Memorial Day Parade goes back a long way. 154 years to be exact. The first Memorial Day was on May 30, 1868. That same year, Ironton, Ohio held the first ever Memorial Day parade in the United States. Ironton still holds that event to this day!
That’s it for this article! I hope, if you can, attend the Memorial Day Parade this year! Or, like me, have a great time marching in it! This parade is very special because it is Monroe’s first Memorial Day parade since 2019- three years! This is due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and last year’s got rained out! This year looks good! One last thing, on Memorial Day, remember to honor and remember those who sacrificed their lives for this country! Have a GREAT Memorial Day!
Lunch Cancelation
Lunch Cancelation
By - Madeline Kahn and Brody Philbin
Are you ever staring up at the clock before lunch with what feels like a starving pit in your stomach? Well, you’re going to have a tough time concentrating on work because lunch is being canceled.
Mr. Crowley and Ms. Strong called us to a secret meeting after school on Friday, March 11, at Chalk Hill. They instructed us to write an article about lunch being canceled because an assembly would be too wild and full of angry students. We asked why lunch would be canceled. Mrs. Strong said this, “Lunch is too crazy, plus studies show that it’s better to eat at home than at school.”
And then they said if we didn’t share this, we wouldn’t get PAWS sessions for the rest of the year (and maybe even next year, too) that made us scramble to find our chromebooks because PAWS is the best. Believe us, we didn’t want to write this in the first place.
One reason that Mr. Crowley shared is that kids are getting hurt at lunch, one kid hurt their foot running to a friend’s table since bags were in the rows, and another broke both of their arms slam-dunking their trash and hitting their arms in the worst way on a garbage can, the poor kid can barely move them. “This is all happening because no one at all listens to the teachers that tell them to sit down.” Says Mr. DelVecchio from Main Campus.
Also, teachers from both campuses are reporting kids throwing, and they mean actually throwing their trash into the garbage cans. “We don’t often see a kid who actually puts their trash into the garbage cans rather than throws it.” States Mrs. Shaw from STEM.
The last reason, in which Mr. Crowley and Mrs. Strong gave us, is that COVID - 19 rates are going up too high and not a lot of people realize it. Some kids are breaking the rule of no more than eight or four at a table at STEM and too many people are sitting at a table at Jockey. One kid from Main Campus said they saw a table with about 15 kids.
So, in conclusion, lunch is being canceled. We are so sorry. A few more things:
April fools!
Quick Notes -
None of these quotes in the article are real and none of the teachers in this article were actually involved in this, the topics are fake, Mr. Crowley and Mrs. Strong did not pull us into a secret meeting, and if you believed this you’re crazy because this entire article was a scam to begin with. You got fooled big time! Enjoy your lunch, or don’t- it doesn’t really affect us.
Monroe Robotics Team Competitions 2022
Monroe Robotics Team Competitions 2022
By: Joseph Bender
At both Jockey Hollow and STEM the basics of robotics are taught in tech-ed, but those that want to take it to the next level join the Robotics team. On the Robotics team you learn to design, build, program and compete in robotics competitions. Every year a different game is selected. This year’s is, Tipping Point. Our teams compete against other towns in competitions, representing Masuk High school. There are both high school and middle school levels of robotics teams.
The top 16 school teams make it to the quarter and semi finals to compete, but watch out for sudden elimination . The object of tipping point is to get mobile goals on your side of the arena and to score points by placing rings or “pringles” on the goals, and placing the goals on the platforms. In heat of competition teams must remember, if the goal is on the platform then the other team cannot take it. Moreover if a team touches a platform in the last 30 seconds they are disqualified! Competitors must be wary there are many ways to be DQ’d, or receive immediate disqualification. Picking up a competing robot, hoarding goals or pinning another team's robot against “the boards” are all cause for disqualification.
On March 11th and 12th regional competitions for middle school will take place. Masuk High School regionals are on March 4th through 6th. Here are some teams that qualified: Middle school teams 8878A, 8878B, 8878C, 8878D, 8878G, 8878H and 8878M and four more to be announced; High School: 4478F, 4478D, 4478B, 4478C, 4478J, 4478T and 4478W with five more to be announced. The competition is in Framingham, Massachusetts. The top seven will make it to worlds!
Regionals - dateline 3/12
Regionals - dateline 3/12
Regionals are over. All robots have been dismantled EXCEPT for the following teams: 4478D, 4478E, 4478F, 4478R, 4478T, 4478W and our only middle school team 8878B. These are the teams going to worlds in Dallas, Texas on the week of May 2nd. Monroe did well in regionals. So did so many other towns.
The Worlds - dateline 5/9
The Worlds - dateline 5/9
Worlds are over!! Monroe did great and a team from Monroe got in second place!!!! These are the top 5 teams 8823G 1st place, 4478D a Monroe team, 9257C in 3rd place, 60502X in 4th place, and finally 323V in 5th place. These were the top 5 teams. Thanks to the emergency services for escorting Masuk Robotics back to Masuk. This is the summary of worlds in Dallas, Texas. Thank you to Mr. McDonough the head coach of Masuk robotics.
https://www.robotevents.com/RE-VRC-19-8502.html
Stress of Fashion
Stress of Fashion
By: Sam Tolila
The stress created by feeling pressured to follow fashion fads has always existed in school, once you knew what it was all about. Fashion trends can dominate your mind during the new school year. Tik Tok is making these fashion standards higher than ever in schools
Some people love that fashion standards have reached such heights, they have up to the minute fashion sources to check and check again . Others believe it has become toxic and that school is the last place to get involved with trying to keep up with fashions. And the fact is that some people don’t have the budget or time to find good places to buy clothing.
In the fashion industry, at the moment, the popular fashion is cropped shirts and ripped jeans. A lot of parents or kids don’t approve of how it looks so they feel left behind. The stress of looking good seems to grow as we get older. So many students always want to be accepted and make good impressions.
This year especially everyone is trying to impress going back to school in-person so it kinda looks like a fashion show. Getting resources for new clothing and the top brands is always expensive and often unruly. Everything that becomes trendy gets bought and sells out quickly.
This topic of stress through fashion goes through everyone's head from getting dressed in the morning for school to going out for lunch with friends. When talking about this stress, the talk about school uniforms comes up.
A lot of people think school uniforms are devised just to dampen your self esteem or to identify all students more easily, but there are also other reasons. Some feel that school uniforms help prevent kids from feeling bad or stressed about not being able to dress like others. There are always instances where kids almost become fashion bullies, making fun of others for not being up on fashions and dressing like what they call “lazy”.
The idea of school uniforms can become very controversial and, even a confusing topic among students, teachers and families. Those that have experienced fashion fatigue or have been unfairly criticized themselves may better understand the school uniform debate.
So many people are still inclined to be stylish, or find a better way to “gleam” in school. Others may try forever to find a stylish outfit but not have anything “gleam worthy”.
The Lion’s Roar talked to some people in Jockey Hollow to see what they feel about this topic. Seventh grader Madelynn Carrol remarked, “I feel in this school if you wear one thing wrong in someone's eyes you will be bullied.” Kyle Saxton, another 7th Grader said that “I feel that fashion is important and I care about it.”
In the end fashion never really lasts. Choosing what to wear may better depend on what makes you happy and comfy. If you don’t have the right clothes or the money to spend on what is deemed “gleam worthy”, know that it really is OK. In the end it does not matter how people see you. It is how you see yourself that counts- and hopefully that is good if not great! The high stress of fashion can get to you but know the Lions Roar has your back.
We Did It!
By: Lily Blair
This year has been tough. There have been many deaths and setbacks during 2021. But we pulled through together. We found a way to have fun during a time of sadness. We started separated, but we came together. We started off with a lot of our friends online, but when they came back to school, we were happy and joyous. We had to go through many hardships, and loss of things to do. But now, we are getting vaccinated, things are opening back up, and pretty much all of the kids are in school in person. Not like before.
We had no clubs, and no after school activities. We had to social distance and not hug our best friends. We eventually had to go all remote, and when we came back, we had shields. And our desks were separated, and we had to use desk shields. The shields were preventing us from seeing our friends without having to look through plastic. We all made it through the year, with help from our teachers and friends. And, as we take this moment to look back at where we were and look ahead to where we can be, I hope everyone has an amazing summer!
Reading or Writing?
Reading or Writing?
By: Lily Blair and Ruby Kuban
We have a question for you. Which do you think is better reading or writing?
We have a question for you. Which do you think is better reading or writing?
We want YOU the students of Jockey Hollow Middle School to decide which is better.
We want YOU the students of Jockey Hollow Middle School to decide which is better.
Reading
Reading
Oh reading, one of the calm things in life with so many books to choose from and anything can happen. What is there about reading that most people don't like… here are some reasons you should choose reading over writing any day! One reason why reading is better is it teaches us things that we never knew every day “reading for pleasure is the single biggest factor in success later in life, outside of an education. Study has shown that those children who read for pleasure are the ones who are most likely to fulfil their ambitions, if your child reads, then they will succeed- it's that simple,” says Bali Rai, a kid social worker. This shows that kids will not only succeed but have a great future. Another reason why is it helps strengthen your mind and make you more flexible in working. Scientists show that reading for 30 minutes a day increases your mind's strength and makes you more flexible by 10 PERCENT! Think about reading everyday for 30 minutes a day for a month. Yeah, that is a lot more than writing ever could ever do. In the end I think we know who you should choose READING!!!!
Oh reading, one of the calm things in life with so many books to choose from and anything can happen. What is there about reading that most people don't like… here are some reasons you should choose reading over writing any day! One reason why reading is better is it teaches us things that we never knew every day “reading for pleasure is the single biggest factor in success later in life, outside of an education. Study has shown that those children who read for pleasure are the ones who are most likely to fulfil their ambitions, if your child reads, then they will succeed- it's that simple,” says Bali Rai, a kid social worker. This shows that kids will not only succeed but have a great future. Another reason why is it helps strengthen your mind and make you more flexible in working. Scientists show that reading for 30 minutes a day increases your mind's strength and makes you more flexible by 10 PERCENT! Think about reading everyday for 30 minutes a day for a month. Yeah, that is a lot more than writing ever could ever do. In the end I think we know who you should choose READING!!!!
Writing
Writing
Writing is an awesome piece of school and life. Writing is something you can do to express your feelings and creativity. You can write books and become famous. Writing is also calming. You can write in pencil, pen, a quill pen, and so much more. You can also get a writing notebook and decorate it. Writing can help you strengthen your mind by learning to write in cursive, bubble letters, cube letters, etc Writing can help you research and think more.
Writing is an awesome piece of school and life. Writing is something you can do to express your feelings and creativity. You can write books and become famous. Writing is also calming. You can write in pencil, pen, a quill pen, and so much more. You can also get a writing notebook and decorate it. Writing can help you strengthen your mind by learning to write in cursive, bubble letters, cube letters, etc Writing can help you research and think more.
Tell us by using the form below to tell us which YOU think is better. Reading or writing?
Tell us by using the form below to tell us which YOU think is better. Reading or writing?
Three Simple Rules about Joking
Don't be offensive
Don’t be rude
Know when to stop
There are many kinds of people who joke in many different ways, sarcastically, seriously, and even just people who are overall funny. Today though, we will be looking at two specific kinds of people who joke.
Michael Scott, and Jim Halpert. These fictional characters from the office both make jokes and prank people, but in different ways. Jim is a person who is overall naturally funny, he makes hilarious jokes and does even better pranks. Micheal on the other hand, can make rude and offensive jokes that upset people as well as crossing over a line that he created. He does pranks that aren’t even funny. Overall Michael appears to not be that good of a jokester.
Here is a chart to show when you become a Micheal or a Jim when you joke. The thing to remember is that even if you’re considered funny, sometimes the joking can go too far. Think, before you joke!
Jim’s Jokes & Pranks
Joke: He once said that ¨My roommate wants to meet everybody¨. Because iḿ pretty sure he thinks iḿ making Dwight up¨. He is very real.
Prank: He secretly put coins in Dwight's phone over time until he got used to the weight and then took them all out at once causing him to hit his head with the phone,
Michael's Jokes, Quotes & Pranks
Quote: “Do I need to be liked? Absolutely not. I like to be liked. I enjoy being liked. I have to be liked. But it’s not like this compulsive need like my need to be praised.”
Prank: Michael fake fires Stanley and Pam, making Pam cry and Stanley angry.
Jims pranks and jokes are funny, but Michael's aren't and are offensive. So the next time you make a joke, think this: Is this a Jim joke, or is this a Michael joke.
How Halloween Is Different This Year
How Halloween Is Different This Year
- by Ryane Nelson
This year Covid has struck down many parts of our lives. But, one of the things that Covid has struck down on hardest is the ability to let kids be kids.
This year instead of making friends that will last until the 4th grade or so, Kindergarteners are learning how to wash their hands and stay away from other children. But one of the things that children are at least a little free to do is trick-or-treat. The State of Connecticut had shared guidelines for how to have a safe Halloween. Here is the link: CT.GOV-Connecticut
Recommendations For Halloween 2020
Here are some of the basic guidelines for Halloween this year.
For people who choose to hand out candy:
Before you answer the door, make sure your face covering is in place over your nose and mouth, wash or sanitize your hands before answering door.
Remain six feet from the Trick-or-Treater.
Place the candy inside the child’s bag for them instead of having them take it from the bowl themselves.
Homes providing candy may set up hand sanitizer stations outside or parents/guardians can pack a travel bottle of their own.
For Trick or Treaters
It is not recommended to trick-or-treat with people outside of your household.
Remain six feet away from people outside your household at all times.
All trick-or-treating participants should wear a mask or face covering while outside at all times.
A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth or surgical mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and does not leave gaps around the face.
Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth or surgical mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
Do not wear a costume rubber mask over another face covering of any kind.
Five Last Minute Gifts for Moms
Five Last Minute Gifts for Moms
By: Riya Pooskur
Moms love coffee so a custom coffee cup would be perfect. You can add initials, paint, and maybe even a worlds best mom cup.
Jewelry is always a great option. I know most of us can’tafford expensive gold necklaces but you can get a beautiful pair of opal earrings on amazon for 10$
A relaxed basket is great for a mom. Take a cute basket and fill it with face masks, blankets, candles, essential oils, and bath products ( epsom salt, bath bombs,etc ) .
A homemade coupon book is always the way to go. Some good ones are the kids clean their rooms, kids do dishes, and free back rub.
This basket is all about food. Take a cute basket and fill with favorites. First find her favorite desserts and snacks, then get her favorite candies and fill up your basket. For extra cuteness tie a red bow around and add candy canes.
How to Play the Trumpet
How to Play the Trumpet
By:Anastazja M.
By:Anastazja M.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to play the trumpet,then I’m going to tell you. I’m going to teach you how to oil your valves on the trumpet, and I’m going to tell you the first three notes. And the last thing will be about how to make a sound come out of the trumpet.
When you are oiling your valves, you need to unscrew them first. Then you take out your valve, but not all the way out. After that, rotate the valve as you squeeze out some oil from the oil bottle. Don’t squeeze it too hard or it might go on your pants. Next, screw the valves back on, and press the buttons down a few times to see if you added enough oil.
Now, I’ll teach you the first three notes I learned. The first note I learned was a C. Make sure you don’t tighten your lips or you might play a G! You don’t need to press down any of the buttons to play a C. Once you know how to play a C, then you can play the next note. The next note is a D. For this note, you have to press down the first valve, and the third valve. The first is the one closest to the mouthpiece, and the third valve is the one opposite of you. Once you know how to play a D, then you can play the next note. The next note is an E. An E is the first valve, and the second valve. The second valve is in the middle(that’s probably what you guessed). And those are all the notes that I will teach you for now.
To make a sound come out of the trumpet, it’s almost like you are spitting in the mouthpiece, but not really. If you want to play lower notes, you have to loosen your lips. If you want to play higher notes, then tighten your lips, and always remember, practice, practice, practice!
I hope you learned something new!
Christmas is Coming!
Christmas is Coming!
by Owen Shields
WARNING: Christmas Spirit Overload!!!
WARNING: Christmas Spirit Overload!!!
That’s right folks, Santa Claus is coming to town very soon, so you better watch out. Keep up the spirit and pass on kindness throughout our school day to get on the nice list! Just a reminder Christmas is a time of giving NOT getting. That means to make sure to donate to the jewelry cart and spread Christmas spirit to our friends down in Haiti! On a related note if you are having trouble shopping for your family, make sure to look at the bottom of the article where we will list some great stores for shopping in Monroe and Newtown.
Now some people wonder how did this amazing holiday come to be. Well we’re here to tell you exactly that.
‘Pagan, or non-Christian, traditions show up in this beloved winter holiday, a consequence of early church leaders melding Jesus' nativity celebration with pre-existing midwinter festivals. Since then, Christmas traditions have warped over time, arriving at their current state a little more than a century ago.’
That was how the magic started and how the holiday Christmas began. Speaking of magic, the debate of whether santa is real or not has come to our attention. We interviewed a few students to see what they think.
The first student we interviewed named Samantha Carroll does not believe in Santa because she does not believe in magic, and as we all know santa is one of the most magical things in our life! She can support her claim because when she was in bed about to fall asleep, her parents snuck into her room. Instantly she decided to pretend she was sleeping, and during this moment her parents moved her elf out of the room to make it look like it was moved. She also doesn’t know how a man can be so nice if he is watching you all through the night - that’s just creepy! Also she is wondering how such a fat man can “Shimmy” down your chimney!
We interviewed another one of our classmates,Alana Leandres. She also does not believe Santa is real either. She believes this because she thinks that Santa is stalking children and she tells me “THAT IS ILLEGAL.” She also thinks that all of the songs about him watching and knowing everything about you are SCARY! Her proof is that when she was younger and her parents weren’t looking she threw herelf across the room, but she did not get coal - kind of suspicious - huh?
Lastly we interviewed our good friend friend Lucas Cerrato and he does not believe in Santa but he wants to desperately. This interview was a little shorter because all he really had to say was that after a lot
time his parents admitted that they were Santa. I know folks we were quite surprised ourselves- but it’s the truth.
So there you have it folks, for all the many Santa Clauses out there, some holiday opinions for the Christmas 2018! Again happy holidays and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!
Whitney Farms Fall
Whitney Farms Fall
- Keira Witkowski
Do you like to walk around the neighborhood with friends? Do you like to dress up as your favorite character? Well if you do, you must love halloween. Halloween is on October 31st every year. It is a time that you can walk around with friends and dress up and masquerade. When you think about it it really is amazing. As a young child you probably asked your parents again and again for candy. On halloween you don't have to beg for candy, because you just walk around and people give it to you!!!
For Halloween, I suggest going to Whitney Farms. It is the best place to go for halloween in my opinion. People come from all over Monroe!!! They even have a hay ride, and a haunted tent.
The Lion’s Advice
The Lion’s Advice
From time to time the Lions Roar receives open-ended advice type questions from our readers. We try to respond to all appropriate questions in a timely fashion. Below are some interesting recent submissions.
What should I do if i’m moving to a different Town/state?
What should I do if i’m moving to a different Town/state?
- Anonymous
Moving state to state can be very hard since I personally been dealt with this since I am in a military family. Like losing friends, family, and the town you’ve been used to.
Counseling:
It is a good way to help deal with your fear away from moving to a different state. It might seem bad, but it helps if you set a positive attitude. You can ask your parents to visit your hometown during the summer to hang out with your friends. Setting a good attitude will make you go through it much easier.
Talk with your parent/guardian:
Talking with your Parent/Guardian is a good way to help. You can ask your guardian interesting things about the town. Talking to someone that will listen is a great way to feel better about moving.
How do I get better at time management?
How do I get better at time management?
- Anonymous
Time management is something every student struggles with. How can I do activities, homework, and socialize, and still find time to relax? These are things we all think. School is a struggle, but we all get through it. In this page, I will be writing advice for you.
This might sound crazy but writing down the estimate of the time you think you should work on it. Like doing homework if you spend way to much time on it. Then you should do a goal of spending 10-15 minutes on each subject of your homework. And projects, take breaks. Chewing on something would make you focus, and make you spend less time on the project/ homework you’re working on. Listen to your favorite music, or classical music to make you work more faster. No rock n roll music or rap music because that makes the process slower.
Report abuse