School & Students

Fall Fun in Physical Education

By Aaron Weed with contributions from Lizzie Foti and Mae Fulton

Throughout the year, all students in New Paltz Middle School have to participate in Physical Education class. They have started this year off with Kubb, soccer, and football.

Kubb

First off is Kubb; Kubb is a hand-eye coordination based game where the goal is to knockdown the other team's pins before they knock down yours. Both teams toss 6 beanbags each turn to slowly progress for the win. Once a team has successfully won their game they advance in a tournament. Every team in the game gets 2 chances before they lose.

This year students have reported to enjoy this game. Though there also seems to be the threat of students being too competitive with many students saying that others are taking the game too seriously. Students also reported that Kubb helps them learn how to throw better using underhand tossing. Kubb is also a great game to learn hand eye coordination from a distance. This makes Kubb practically perfect that it teaches a very important skill while being incredibly fun.

Soccer

Next, we have soccer! Soccer is a sport that is played by kicking a soccer ball to the opposing team's goal box. Soccer is a team vs. team game like Kubb, these teams are made up of three parts. One of which is defense who stops the other team from scoring. The defensive team is made up of two fullbacks, a stopper, two center backs and a sweeper. Then there is a midfield where there is a mix of defensive players and the offensive players. The roles of the midfielders consist of one attacking midfielder, one defensive midfielder a center midfielder and two regular midfielders. Their goal is to control the tides of the game and make openings for scoring points. Finally there is the forward team which is made up of two strikers and two forwards. Their main goal is score points on the opposing teams so they can win.

Soccer gets positive feedback from students saying that they love the sport but they don't like running or the drills that come with it like dribbling practice. It's also a very immersive sport that requires everyone to be present and active at all times so it can be quite exhausting for most students. On the brighter side students have said they learned how to dribble the soccer ball and how to kick the ball correctly. This has helped more people enjoy and immerse themselves in the game because they understood how to play it.

American Football

Alas we have American Football, this has been the first sport we played outside this year. Football is once again a team versus team game where the goal is to get the football to the other side either by; passing it to your teammates or running with it to the other side. The distance in football is measured by yards and the yards required to pass, to score is roughly 50-80 yards. Teams can also punt the football to try and hit it through their goalposts. Six points are gained from making it to the endzone with the football, and if the kicker kicks it through the goal posts, three points are scored.

American Football has been favorably rated by the students as many of them have said to love the game, though it was said to be “too strict” and hard but the students still said that they had enjoyed American football nonetheless. The students have learned how to throw a football and how to catch the football.

Fall Comes to an End

Fall is unfortunately coming to a close and winter is rolling in meaning the New Paltz Middle School gym classes will have more indoor based sports like hockey and basketball. The Kubb classes are facing the end of their tournaments, and with the end of the Kubb tournament, we can officially send off fall sports and welcome winter sports into our gym classes.

Middle School Students Descend on Local Businesses After the Bell Rings:

Is this dreaded or delightful?

by Sami Treubig

From simply going across the street to a small shop, to walking half way across town to get the new drink, there have been so many different places middle school students have been going. I know that you probably enjoy going into town, but how do the workers at these stores feel about it? At precisely 2:45 pm they get borderline attacked by a bunch of middle school students. Are they seen as snotty, perky, and annoying middle schoolers? Or nice, pleasant, and kind middle schoolers? Which way do they feel? Are they looking forward to you coming or do they dread the moment? Since we can’t know for sure how they feel, the best thing to do is act as respectful and kind as possible. Let's start off by first finding out if kids really do enjoy walking.

After interviewing Ida Beckman:

Ida walks into town for various reasons, not only for fun. She goes to Hebrew school by walking through town after school, but she also goes with friends for fun. Ida enjoys going to Convenient Deli, Starbucks, and Hole in the Wall Donuts. She feels comfortable crossing roads as long as she is with friends that she trusts to be safe. If she is crossing roads alone then she does not feel as safe.

Anonymous Speaker:

Anonymous has to walk to school everyday. Although it can be fun walking to school occasionally with friends, it starts to get cold and tiring having to walk to school and home everyday, and gets annoying.

Ways to Stay Safe, and Respectful:

When crossing roads try to walk with trusted people if possible. Make eye contact with the driver coming to make sure that they see you before crossing. Be respectful by letting people go and put your hand up to say thank you for stopping for you. Don’t use your phone when walking because you can be distracted and not see a change in traffic.

When ordering food make sure to talk clearly so they know what you are saying. Be respectful by saying please and thank you. Try to have your money out and your order ready before you go up to order so you don’t hold up the line.

When in stores even if you don’t notice that it is a disruption try not to be too loud with your friends because there are other people who want peace. Be careful not to break anything or knock something over so essentially don’t roughhouse with your friend inside a store because there is merchandise in a small space so something is bound to break.

Stranger Danger is a serious issue. Don't talk to any adults that you don’t trust or know.

What Have You Been Doing After School?

By Ida Beckman

Maybe you've been going to Starbucks, Convenient Deli, Water Street Market, or an after school program or club? One place that is always packed with Middle School Students every day. And that is The Youth Center, which you may also known as The Teen Scene. In this article you can read five interviews of Middle Schoolers that go there and three interviews of amazing volunteers that work there.

First up for our volunteer interviews is Andy:

Question 1: Do you like working here and why?

“I don’t just like working here, I love working here, because my co-workers are awesome, the kids are amazing and it’s a lot of fun.”

Question 2: Are the kids who come here kind and respectful?

“I think for the most part, yes, but this is also a learning environment for them, and will help them become respectful.”

Question 3: If you could make one wish of a rule that everyone had to follow, what would that rule be?

“My gut would tell me to say, to recycle but I would say clean up after yourself because I feel that recycling would come along with that.”

Next up is Heaven:

Question 1: Do you like working here and why?

“I love working here and the reason why is because I get to connect with kids at a pivotal time in their lives.”

Question 2: Are the kids who come here kind and respectful?

“It really depends on the day, some kids are super polite but others are most certainly not but I love them anyways.”

Our last volunteer interview is Jimmy:

Question 1: Do you like working here and why?

“I love working here because I love coming to work everyday and bringing positive energy. Also getting to be at a place where kids can just escape from the stress of life, and I just love being a part of it.”

Question 2: Are the kids who come here kind and respectful? “I think that for the most part yes, but I think some of the kids who aren't will learn and that if you haven't learned to be polite and respectful that this is a great place to learn.”

Question 3: If you could make one wish of a rule that everyone had to follow, what would that rule be?

“Just be respectful to other kids because If you aren't, it really just ruins the energy.”

Those were the interviews from a few members of staff at the Youth Center. Now for a few student interviews.

Here is what our students have to say:

Ariana/Ari Dones