Embedded Files
Rooted in Pride: How Adrian Public Schools Shaped a Community
From one-room schoolhouses to modern classrooms, Adrian’s schools have grown
with the city—fostering success, unity, and generations of "Maple Pride."
compiled by Brandon Gautz
From the beginning, Adrian Public Schools have been integral to the success of our city. They have educated generations of Adrian citizens and been the driving force behind the city's growth through a well developed plan, by creating a talent path of graduates to fill jobs and create new businesses in Adrian.
As a student here, I can honestly say the schools mean a lot to everyone. It’s not just a place where we learn, it’s a big part of our community. The pride people have for Adrian Public Schools is something you can feel from the start. These schools have been more than just buildings. The people inside them have helped shape our town and made it what it is today.
The story of Adrian Public Schools goes way back to the 1800s when the town was just starting to grow. The first schools were very small, just one room where all the kids sat together, no matter their age. As more people moved to Adrian, the schools needed to grow too, so new buildings were built. The schools started offering more subjects like math, science, and history, and they also added activities like sports and music to give students more opportunities.
The sports teams at Adrian Public Schools are a huge part of what makes the schools special. The football and basketball teams have been really successful over the years, winning a lot of games and championships. The whole town gets excited when the teams do well. It’s not just about winning, it’s about coming together as a community to support our players. Everyone cheers on the teams, and that energy makes the town feel closer. Even if you're not on the team, you still feel part of it, and that’s something I think is really cool about Adrian Public Schools.
It’s not just sports that make Adrian Public Schools stand out. The academic programs here are also really strong.Lots of students have gone on to do amazing things in their careers, like becoming doctors, teachers, or artists. There are even students who have won awards for their achievements in subjects like science and math. The schools really prepare students for the future, and it's awesome to know that so many people who went to these schools have done great things.
The arts are also a big part of Adrian Public Schools, whether it’s band, choir, or theater, there are so many chances to be creative. I’ve seen some amazing performances over the years. It’s really cool how the arts help students express themselves and build confidence. The music programs have been successful too, with awards and recognition for the students who put in the work. Being able to perform or play in a band or choir is a big deal at Adrian Public Schools, and it’s something that brings everyone together.
Over the years, Adrian Public Schools have had their challenges, too, as in the 1970s and 80s, there were financial problems that made it hard to keep everything going. Even when things were tough though, the people of Adrian stepped up to make sure the schools stayed strong. They held fundraisers, voted on new ways to raise money and worked together to support the schools. That’s something that really stands out to me –how much the community cares about the schools and how they always find a way to keep them going.
As time went on, the schools kept up with changes in the world. When new technology started becoming a bigger part of everyday life, Adrian Public Schools made sure students had the tools they needed to learn. Access to computers and technology help us stay connected to the world. The schools have always made sure we’re prepared for the future, no matter how much things change.
One of the biggest things that makes Adrian Public Schools stand out is the maple tree. The maple tree is the symbol of the city and the schools because it represents strength and growth. Just like a maple tree grows tall and strong over the years, Adrian Public Schools have faced challenges but always kept growing. No matter what happens, the schools keep standing strong, and the people of Adrian always come together to support them. That’s why "Maple Pride" is such a big deal, it’s about pride in the schools and pride in how far they’ve come.
Today, Adrian Public Schools are still a huge part of the community. It’s not just about going to class and doing homework, it’s about being part of something bigger. The schools bring people together, whether it’s at a football game, a graduation party, or a concert, everyone in the town feels connected to the schools in some way. "Maple Pride" isn’t just a slogan, it’s something we all feel. We take pride in our schools and the people who make them great.
Adrian Public Schools have shaped this town in so many ways. They’ve helped students grow and succeed, and they’ve helped make Adrian a place where people support each other. From the early days with those small one room schools to the big schools we have now, Adrian Public Schools have always been a big part of this community, and just like the maple tree, they’ll keep growing and standing strong for many years to come.
Gone Fishing!
While at College
by Cruz Borton
College bass fishing is a sport that is gaining popularity all over the country. Bass fishing is when you take a long rod and put a reel on it and a lure and cast it out to catch a fish. Bash fishing is also a hobby. Many people around the world fish for fun.
Fishing is found all around the world but have you ever thought of competitive fishing? Competitive fishing is a real thing. If you are thinking about going to college for fishing, it isn't that easy, it’s harder than you think. My dad is a bass fishing coach at Adrian College and even though they are a D3 school, they still have two championships under their belt. Winning a fishing tournament isn't all about how good you are at fishing. It's about your technique, when you'refishing, and knowing what lure to throw. There are many different kinds of lures you can throw, but if you
are an experienced fisherman you know when to throw specific baits in specific spots at what time and with what weather. Great brands of lures are Rapala, AFTCO and Big Bite. Some fishermen also make their own lures.
To catch bass in spots at the right time you have to use the right bait. There are so many different kinds of bait out there, it's not even funny. First, you have a swim bait this LureIs I bet you cast out And real Slowly Next we have a Wacky rig a wacky rig is a we're at looks like a worm and when you cast it out every 5 Seconds you jig it up twice this is also another great lure for the summertime catches many bass. Another one is called a chaturbate. This one is just like a swim bait that has a metal attachment on it to make it vibrate. This one has a skirt on it and all you do to this one is the same thing as a swimbait just really slowly.
But don't you need a fishing reel? There are many different brands of fishing reels out there, but some of the main brands are Abu Garcia, Shimano, Bass Pro Shops, and Tatula. These reels are great brands, but they are a little pricey.
Fun fact: did you know there are a total of 610 competitive bass fishing teams in the USA? Some bass fishing colleges around here are Adrian College, Southwestern Michigan College, Central Michigan University, and Western Michigan University.
There are many colleges that have fishing, but, in my opinion, there are not enough. The only reason I love fishing is because when I was really young, my dad took me out fishing and I fell in love right there and then. If you’ve never been fishing, you really ought to give it a try. Not only do you get to appreciate the great outdoors and our beautiful lakes and rivers here in Michigan, but you also just might catch your dinner!
Fishing is a sport that is all around the world and sometimes, if you think about it, it's a job. The next time you think about fishing, think about this article.
Today for The Brook Report, we’re recapping Spring Sports Day, which took place here at Springbrook on May 9, 2025, during school hours. The event featured Adrian middle school sports teams scrimmaging against each other in soccer, baseball, softball, and an exhibition track meet. Students who were failing one or more classes were not eligible to participate, but those not playing were encouraged to watch and cheer on their classmates. Adding to the excitement was a concession stand filled with snacks and drinks, including Ring Pops, Mt. Dew, water, Coke, Gatorade, hot chips, regular chips, Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, Nerd Ropes, Skittles, Goldfish, Cheez-Its, Airhead Xtremes, candy bars, and snow cones. It was a fun and motivating day—one that reminded everyone of the value of teamwork, school spirit, and keeping up those grades!
SPRING SPORTS DAY RECAP
Who Will Be MVP?
by Ricky Veres
MVP for Major League Baseball is kind of a big deal for the people who actually care and want to be an MVP winner. DId you know that Shohei Ohtani won for the National League side of MLB and Aaron Judge won for the American League unanimously? If you don't know what unanimously means, it means a player received 100% of the votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). Fun fact: did you know that football does an MVP award? Yes, they do, but only one person gets it instead of two people. Baseball MMP is not the highest award you can get, getting into the Hall of Fame is considered the biggest honor. Getting your jersey retired is also a great tribute.
In an interesting move, just recently on May 13, 2025, in a historic decision, Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, announced on Tuesday that any punishment of people banned from the game ends with their deaths, leaving open the possibility that the legendary slugger “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and the all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, could be elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. Both players were banned from baseball and from receiving any honors because of allegations of gambling on the games.
One person that is not on this list is Babe Ruth. He was, in my opinion, the best baseball player ever. My favorite player that has won MVP is Miguel Cabrera because he was just so good and also so nice. Here are some of his stats: 511 home runs + 3,174 hits in 21 seasons.
Well the season has not ended yet but by the stats of some of these players who have been playing crazy good like Shoei Thani; he has been doing fantastic. There is another award that I like is the Cy Young Award. Last year one of my favorite players won it, Tarik Skubal. Who would you vote for?
Are Teens Too Tied to Their Phones?
by Giselle Shipperbottom
Do you think kids these days or people in general are overly attached to their phones? As a teenager I would say yes, we are way too attached to our phones. The average time teens spend on their phones is about 8 hours a day, mind you that's just an average. I mean you never know, teens could be spending way over 8 hours a day. But it’s also not all our fault. I say this because teens are always stuck inside their house with nothing to do, especially when the weather is bad, so all we have left to do is be on screens. But, that’s no excuse.
The real question is, WHY are teens so overly attached to their phones? According to What Phone Addiction Looks Like in Teens and How to Help, “Having access to the technology on a 24-hour basis caused us to develop a dependency upon our devices.” That dependency is also used during school. Some students depend on their phones to help them with school work, so that’s another reason why teens are overly attached to their phones. I think school is supposed to teach us hard work and effort and that’s all just getting taken away because of technology handing everything to teens.
If you’re trying to lower your screen time, here are some things you could do instead of being on your phone. If the weather is nice, go outside! Go for a walk, bike ride, scooter, etc.! You can also color. Coloring is a good way to clear your mind and get some creativity back in your life. Cleaning is also another way to clear your mind and we all know that refreshing feeling after you get done cleaning. Those ideas are just 3 in a million. So when you get a chance, take a break from your phone.
Dandy’s World is a featured experience on ROBLOX. Dandy’s World is an endless arcade, and escape styled game. It features many fun cartoon characters you can play as and unlock! Along with many tools to help these characters and the player. Although… there seems to be a twisted and dark secret… Dandy’s World is owned and being developed by Qwelver (Qwel). It is still in its alpha version. There is only one main objective which is to escape. That seems easy doesn’t it? Well, yes. Although, there are many challenges the player can face, like making the wrong step, or even not having enough stamina.
Let me explain starting with the “twisteds” they are the main foe, or monsters in the game. These are the more corrupted and dark versions of the characters mascots, the twisteds are usually very different from each other in aggression or how they seem to attack if they are not common. If you get hit by the twisteds three times as a regular toon, you will… perish, and if you get hit two times as a main toon, you will also perish. The toons are the non-corrupted versions, the toons are the main mascots of the game. The player has many toons to choose from, so make sure you pick one just right! The toons vary in many different skills, they all have their own unique base stats. Your main objective is to extract as many machines and escape, surviving as long as you can. You can also collect items, and pick up tapes from the floors. Tapes can be used during a run to buy more items that might be harder to find.
Ichor (this is what you extract from the machines) doesn’t seem to affect the toons very well… hinting as to why these twisted versions exist. Ichor is like ink, but instead it's very special. It’s more like a remnant, as it gives life to these characters seen throughout the story behind the game. It is also used as a currency for buying toons, trinkets, and even skins from Dandy’s Shop! These tools called “trinkets” are very useful. They make some tasks easier. The player can equip two trinkets in total. These trinkets can be used by giving the players toon more base speed, or helping them extract from the machines easier and faster. Some trinkets can even block hits from the twisteds! Let’s move on to the toons, the characters in the game you get to choose from.
Just a heads up, some toons require you to reach or complete certain objectives. The most common objective that needs to be met is having enough research. Research is found throughout on the floors, it can be seen as capsules. Capsules give you very little research and Ichor. There are 19 regular toons, following five main toons. This isn't all of them in total, I am just not counting the seasonal toons because those characters are limited. Neither am I going over every single toon, just the basics because some of them are just common and have nothing special about them. It’d be better for you to do your own research, and play the game for yourself!
Let's move along, starting with Boxten, and Poppy. Boxten is one of two starting characters you get to choose from when you begin the game! His stats are very simple, three stars in each class. (skillcheck, speed, stamina, stealth, and extraction). Boxten is described to be somewhat shy, noticeably being more comfortable with toons he knows well. He tries to put on a friendly persona, especially when he’s nervous and doesn’t know much of what to say. Boxten is one of the regular toons, distancing from the main toons. Poppy, Poppy is the second starter character you can choose from, also being a regular toon. It’s only one, or the other. Poppy has the same base stats as Boxten, except this time she has a special passive ability. Everytime you get hit by a twisted as Poppy, she gets a 50% base speed boost that lasts 3 seconds! Poppy seems to be described as a more fun, and excited toon to be around, she loves to share what's on her mind.
If you’re going down a few floors, and then the lights suddenly go out… Make sure you have Brightney with you! Brightney is a lamp, her passive abilities are very helpful. One being she emits a light from her head, and the other being she lights up the whole map and highlights the machines for 3 seconds for anyone nearby. Brightney is described as being very clever, as someone who thinks and creates many ideas. Brightney’s base stats are three stars in skillcheck, speed, and stamina. She has one star in stealth, so you’d better be careful! It isn't great running around as a giant light all the time. Brightney has four stars in extraction speed, she’s a bit faster so it’d be better if you’d just focus on those machines and stay hidden. Another character similar to Brightney, is Vee.
Vee is one of the main toons, they are also known for being the gameshow host of Vee’s Gameshow. They have a four star skillcheck, and two stars in movement speed. Be careful. Vee also has three stars in stamina, so just be wary because they have two stars in stealth. Vee has five stars in extraction! I believe if you’re playing as Vee you should take it slow and watch your surroundings, you definitely need to be more focused on machines. Vee has two passive abilities, their first ability highlights all the twisteds on the floor for everyone only for 5 seconds. Sweet! Their second ability highlights a nearby machine that doesn’t seem to be completed each floor, this is very helpful. Vee’s personality is very straightforward and logical, hardly showing emotion besides being unamused around the other toons.
Next up is Cosmo and Sprout. These toons are great to have with you in the elevator, as they can both heal the other players! Sprout and Cosmo are also very well known for being best friends. Cosmo is a regular toon, he has one star in skillcheck, and three stars in extraction and movement. Judging by this, Cosmo isn’t very good with machines. Cosmo has four stars in stamina in stealth, Cosmo is great for running around the floor making sure your teammates are in good condition. Don’t forget to pick up some bandages for yourself! Cosmos' special ability allows him to heal the other players, but he cannot use it when he has one heart himself… Same thing with Sprout! Sprout's ability allows him to heal anyone when he has 100 tapes. Except, it doesn’t take his own health away unlike Cosmo. Sprout has another ability that highlights all the other toons on the map, and their health status. Just like Cosmo, Sprout isn’t great with machines either.
I think that’s just the basics of what to expect from all these toons! My personal favourite I like to play is Looey. As I mentioned before, there are more toons than just the few I listed. The rest are up to you to discover and learn more about yourself. We’d be here for a while if I went over everything… Moving on.
Gardenview is where the toons reside, this is the main location of the game and the only location we know of existing in this universe. EVer since the incident, the Gardenview has been shut down in 2002 due to lack of safety regulations, and allegations regarding the “malfunction incident” no longer allowing visitors. Gardenview was an educational center and museum created by Arthur Walton and Delilah Keen. It’s believed Gardenview was opened up sometime in the 80’s, since a lot of the notes and posters in the game vary between the early 2000’s and 1980’s. There is very little known about any staff, besides the toon handlers, and founders themselves. Each of the handlers are assigned to one of the main toons, based on their uniform appearances. The interactions between these toons and their handlers are very important, playing into the characters' personalities. You can find a lot of notes and articles around the maps. They’re usually hidden though, or a majority are covered in Ichor. I’ve been able to find some myself, so it isn’t very hard!
A Review...
by Julianna Wilson
Learn about some of the most beautiful, yet strange, natural phenomenons on our planet
by Landen Fouty
Teens And Social Media
How Would Teenagers' Lives Be Without Social Media?
by Julianna Wilson
Would their lives be better?
According to research about social media, I believe that teenagers' lives would be better. In ways like how their mental health will be affected, what that teen is exposed to for their age, and how safe they may feel. There could even be a lesser chance of depression, anxiety, stress, and even insecurity coming from social media but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to develop these disorders. Without social media, your child would less likely be prone to grooming, manipulation, and probably bad relationships you’d never want them to have. Their life wouldn’t be worse, just excluded because due to individuals they know with social media, like their friends and even people they look up to would most likely be talking about it quite often. I choose to agree with this because of my own experiences with people I know always talking about their following or accounts.
Does social media benefit society?
Social media does benefit society in many ways. It helps with connecting, and meeting new people, discovering way more than you probably would in person, like many different cultures, and beliefs. You can even create and be a part of a community. Although there may be a lot of pros about social media, there are also many cons. Some communities may not be the best place to be, some people you meet may not be good people. Oh, and content? Yeah, there isn’t always going to be appropriate content, comments, and even suggestions. There are plenty of terror groups supported by minors, which is concerning. Although I think it’s just a phase, it’d be safer if anyone just stayed away and joined communities they know feels safe to them, communities that are normalized and believed to be a better place.
What aspects of social media could be improved?
I think social media (everyone collectively) needs to be different on how it lets people shape its reputation. A better way to have a contained and controlled community. Now yes, there’s no way someone can just control millions of people and make them act pretty perfect. But, if you own a group, or you’re a part of one, just do your best to set that role model feeling, create inspiring content or leave nice and memorable comments, and even suggestions.
Well, what if you see a concerning, or even harmful person/group? Yeah, I know everyone usually says “Oh, just scroll, block, or ignore them.” No. That shouldn’t always be the case. If you see someone hurting another person, or even a community, don’t be afraid to speak up about it or even confront those individuals. Then again, you shouldn’t make the internet a big part of your life, even if it feels good to just be you. It gets bad when you start letting these things get to you everyday… Although many users just seem to be out of the ordinary, be aware, there are many users that like to rage bait. What's rage bait? It is when a person, or something does a thing to make another one or even a community mad. The name explains itself, the rage baiter acts and puts on a show so they will get the attention they want. These people can be intentionally harmful, or they're just playing a little scheme. Usually it is teens who decide to be this online persona.
So… Do you think teens should have social media, or not? Think of the benefits, think of the consequences.
Celebrating Black History Month
Every February, we celebrate Black History Month—a time to learn about the amazing contributions Black people have made to our country and the world. It’s a month to honor their struggles, achievements, and the impact they’ve had on history.
Black History Month began in 1926 as “Negro History Week,” started by a historian named Carter G. Woodson. He wanted to make sure that the important stories of Black Americans were remembered and shared. In 1976, the week became a month-long celebration.
During this month, we remember leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who fought for equal rights, and Rosa Parks, who bravely stood up against unfair bus rules. We also celebrate artists, scientists, athletes, and everyday heroes who made a difference, like Harriet Tubman, Jackie Robinson, Maya Angelou, and so many others.
Black History Month reminds us to be kind, stand up for what’s right, and appreciate the diverse people who shape our world. It’s a time to learn, reflect, and celebrate!
How will you honor Black History Month this year?
by Brogan Holly
Conversation candies have become a colorful part of Valentine's Day with their sweet messages. The candies have made Valentine's Day a loved tradition for many.
During the Valentines season do you eat conversation candy? According to Gabby Romero, 13 billion pounds of the conversation candy is sold in six weeks. The history of conversation candies dates back to 1847. The original candy said " Marry Me, Lov U, Be Good, Kiss Me and Sweet talk”. Now it says “Be Mine, Love You, and so many more. According to Tomorrow’s World Today, the sugar is pulverized and placed in a large mixer. Corn syrup, gelatin, and dextrose are added for color and flavor. After a few minutes of being mixed, then the candy is ready to be made into its shape and then be stamped with its saying. Then it’s dried before the colors get mixed and go into the boxes.
You can do more with this seasonal candy than just eating them. I have seen so many ways you can use the candy for decoration during the Valentines season. You can put the candies in a large sized vase then in the middle put a smaller size vase then put your candies in the big vase, in the small vase you can place the flowers. Select a vase of any size that suits your space or the amount of candy you want to use filling it almost to the top but not all the way. Place a small candle on top of the candy for a decorative touch. You can fill a jar with conversation candy for a cute and yummy treat station!
Conversation candies are not only a sweet treat but they are a way to express affection, humor, and fun. So, as you hand out or enjoy these cute messages, remember there is more than just sugar and words; there are tiny reminders of how simple gestures can make love feel fun.
Sweet Tart Conversation Candies
Fun, flavorful messages to share love, laughter, and a little sweetness.
The BAN is coming!
... or is it not?!
UPDATE: TikTok is no longer available to download from any app store, but there are still some ways for you to get the app if you don't have it, you just need to do some research, or ask me - Mya! Also, the president has suspended the ban on TikTok for an additional 75 days, so you can still use it for now.
by Mya Gonzalez
Tiktok is an app that is very popular with teens and adults, and there were lots of events that occurred on TikTok that will always be unforgettable. The app is known for its dances, its relatable content, and new random trends that happen every week and so much more.
But now the United States is trying to ban TikTok on January 19th 2025 because there has been some evidence that TikTok uses spies from China to watch users while they are using the app and while they are creating videos. On January 13th 2025 a bill was created to extend the ban.
There are many reasons why the United States is trying to ban TikTok, but the main reason is because in 2022 President Biden signed a bill into law to ban TikTok, but it will not be banned if an American citizen buys the company. Tiktok is currently owned by Bytedance, which is a private global company founded by Chinese enterprises. Two people who are trying to buy TikTok are Frank McCourts, former Los Angeles Dodgers owner, and Kevin O'Leary, billionaire entrepreneur who is on Shark Tank. The New York Times reports that they have enough money — say $20 billion plus — to both build out their own app and buy the name and business from the Chinese — if they will sell. Why do they want to buy TikTok? "This isn’t just about buying TikTok’s U.S. assets," O'Leary said in a statement on X. "It’s about something much bigger: protecting the privacy of 170 million American users. It’s about empowering creators and small businesses. And it’s about building a platform that prioritizes people over algorithms."
Tiktok was founded in 2018 but it became really popular during the lockdown. There are now 170 million people who use TikTok almost everyday. There are two theories about what's happening if it gets banned. One theory is you will still be able to use the app but it will not be able to update which TikTok usually updates about twice a week, so the app would become very laggy and glitchy to users. You could also change the region of your phone to somewhere not in the United States or you can use a VPN. The other theory is that if TikTok gets banned it will be like a blackout, as soon as you open the app, the screen will just be black and there's nothing you can do about it except to move out of the United States. If the ban takes place it will be illegal for the Google Play Store and the App Store to allow anyone in the U.S. to download the TikTok app. As a matter of fact, Web-hosting providers must cut ties with the platform or be subject to fines of $5,000 for each user that can still access the service, a penalty that can easily add up to billions of dollars. As of January 16th 2025, the Supreme Court is still waiting for either Joe Biden or Donald Trump to sign a bill that will extend the TikTok ban. If the bill is signed then TikTok will get a 270 day extension hoping for someone to buy it off of Bytedance and, as of now, they have 130,000 signatures to pass the bill to extend the ban. This ban is supposed to go into effect one day before Donald Trump takes office. But, he says he is going to take action to stop the ban of TikTok when he can. As of Friday, January 17th, the Supreme Court ruled that the the United States government has the right to enforce this ban and does not violate our First Ammendment Rights of Free Speech.
So stay tuned! New developments are happening every day regarding this TikTok ban - make sure you educate yourself about it before your favorite app disappears!
TWO AUTHORS AND THEIR TAKE ON DRAMA
How to Avoid Drama
by Emma Francis
A lot of people are in drama in this era, in and out of school. So here is how to avoid it. You need to remember who your real friends are. People are always going to have a friend who they shouldn't trust at all. Second tip, you need to stay as loyal to your friends as possible, always tell the truth and keep their secrets. Third tip, make sure if you have a problem with someone you go talk to them about it to fix the issue, it was probably a misunderstanding or miscommunication. Fourth tip, be open to other people and stay focused on what's important to you. Abigail Brenner from Psychology Today says five ways to avoid drama are to create healthy boundaries, watch how you interact with others, be a good human, stay positive, and develop strategies to remove yourself from drama.
Drama is often created by those who seek attention and excitement. There will always be someone in your school that seeks attention. If you find yourself getting into drama more often try to learn to take more responsibility over yourself instead of blaming others when you get yourself into the drama. Make sure you also choose your battles wisely. You could be in this mess over something stupid so be the bigger person and tell them how you could solve this problem.
Remember that you are incharge of your own feelings, not others. No one can tell you what you can and can not do with your life. Try to avoid being in drama the best you can and stick with people who you think is a good influence on you and others. Tell an adult if you think drama between you and someone has gotten to a point where you don't want to go to school or anywhere for that matter. If drama between you and your family has been happening, talk to your school counselor or counselor for help and tips to make you feel more confident.
How to Deal with Drama
by Julianna Wilson
Drama, we all should be familiar with it. Sure, there’s more than one type of drama but in this case we’re talking about the drama that has to do with a relationship between you, and usually someone else. Drama is especially common in an educational and working environment (school and maybe even your job). That's what we’re here to discuss today.
It is quite easy for rumors and lies to be spread just through a few peers being led all through just one person. So you’d better have an understanding defense or backup for yourself because these things are never usually pretty or fun to deal with. As an example, say you and a friend are talking about a certain someone, and your friend makes a “joke” or says something they probably shouldn’t have. Someone passing by hears them, and takes it seriously or believes it, once that person gets to their group of peers it starts getting mentioned and passed around, and becomes a rumor. Now that certain someone is beginning to have a bad reputation all because of someone eavesdropping on you and your buddy’s conversation.
Now, you may be wondering; “How do I come up with ways to avoid something like this happening, or staying out of any drama?” Well, it depends on your environment, and who you choose to be around or surround yourself with. No, this doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself from certain people. Just limit how much time you spend with a certain someone if you think something with them is going to impact you emotionally, and maybe mentally in a way you dont want it to. You should also keep an eye on how you speak, or note how others decide to use their language and common sense. There have been lots of cases (experiences) where you may be guilt tripped, manipulated, or forced onto someone's “side” against another person, or individuals.
Now, this doesn’t mean you’re set, and going to stay out of drama for the rest of your life. It's still bound to happen eventually. Just remember this, don’t pick sides, try to stay as unbiased as possible depending on the situation if it isn’t against you, and have a truthful explanation for your reason. Even make agreements, apologize, or better yourselves to fix it. Taking a break away from someone for a short while shouldn’t hurt, and use it as time to fix how you act towards that person or people.
From Hello to Friendship:
How to Connect with Others
by Isabella Mora
Do you like meeting new people? Because new people that you meet might just be your new best friends. How will you ever know unless you take a healthy risk and reach out to others? But, do you struggle with making new friends?
Well here is how to make friends. Just be yourself and don’t let anyone get to you. But this can be hard because it can be really tricky trying to make friends in middle school. One article titled 8 Ways To Help Your Middle Schooler Connect With Other Kids says that it’s challenging because some middle schoolers might have trouble with social skills. When making new friends it may be hard or awkward trying to create a conversation. To make new friends people may try to act cool and not act like themselves in order to fit in. But that’s not the proper way because all you need to do is act like yourself because they might not like the act, they might just like your normal self.
Do you think it’s weird introducing people? Some people might just think it’s awkward or weird introducing people to each other, according to an article called Why Is It So Hard To Make New Friends As An Adult? See, it’s even hard for adults. Also some people think it might be weird to hang out with people outside of school because there will be nothing to talk about, but just start a conversation and think of funny things to come up with. If you guys can’t keep a conversation then find a new friend you can talk to inside of school and outside.
by Briella Robinson
Hey there Springbrook! We’re going to be talking about fashion trends. Fashion trends have been very popular throughout the years, they’ve also changed throughout the years. They’ve gone from neon outfits with big hair to a more modern style with slick back looks and more complicated looks then back then.
Lately, the fashion trends that have been going on in 2025 have been kids wearing pajama pants, crop tops, leggings, oversized hoodies, tight jackets, t-shirts, jeans, Ugg boots, and more. As for adults, they wear clothing such as jackets, jeans, turtle necks, t-shirts, leggings, sneakers, boots, and more like these.
I feel fashion has always been a big thing for every era and generation. Fashion is the thing people pick up and do to fit into the crowd. For example, if you saw people wearing clothing such as a pair of leggings and a T-shirt you wouldn’t go out in a clown suit, you would try and wear something similar to that person’s outfit. I feel like fashion trends are always changing and we’re changing with them as well, but in our own way of fashion, because my fashion style might be different to yours. For instance, my fashion style is to pretty much everything I’ve named such as pajama pants, oversized hoodies, leggings, sweatpants, flair jeans, crop tops, and T-shirts. As for my mom’s style of clothing, she wears black sweats with a black T-shirt and a black North Face jacket, and as for my grandma she wears more outgoing outfits. Outfits that a lot of people wouldn’t occasionally wear. Now if I were going to school I wouldn’t wear what my grandma or mom wears because my style is completely different. So your style might be different too, and nothing close to mine, my mom’s or my grandma’s. I hope you enjoyed this article on fashion trends and helps you find your type of fashion.
Check out what some people think will be the biggest fasion trends coming up in 2025. Watch these videos and decide for yourself it there's anything featured that you would wear. Are you ready to be trendy?
Who Will Be This Year's MVP?
by Cruz Borton
The NFL is full of great players. The NFL stands for the National Football League, this sport played all around the world. Did you know the NFL was created in 1920? Each year the Associated Press presents an award that recognizes the NFL’s top player, and they have done this since 1957. There is a panel of 50 sportswriters that vote at the end of the regular season for who they think is the best. The winner is announced the day before the Super Bowl.
Now we will talk about the main idea of this article. Who will be the NFL’s Most Valuable Player? There are many people that try to be the NFL MVP, but only the best player with the best stats in the league gets it. This takes grit and grind to be always giving your best performance. The MVP is one of the best awards you can get in the NFL.
The NFL this year has the most people running for the MVP, this year's draft was insane like Caleb Williams for the first pick and Jayden Daniels for the second pick. These two quarterbacks were the best quarterbacks in the college football 2024 season. These players put the work in to be the best.
Now let's talk about who will be the MVP this 2024-2025 NFL season. This season the runners are Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff, Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley and Joe Burrow. All these players are outstanding.
My opinion is that Lamar Jackson should Win the 2024-2025 NFL MVP season. Many players are close to him, but he is an outstanding player. Do you think I’m right? We’ll find out on Feb. 6th!
World's Wierdest Foods
by Landen Fouty
The first of the three weirdest foods is Balut Egg. The reason for why people eat this strange food is because back in the 1600’s, Filipinos ate Balut because it was cheap, easy to find, and has high amounts of protein, and in case you were wondering what it even is, it’s a developing duck eaten inside of its shell.
The second weirdest food in the world is Tuna Eyeballs. Tuna eyeballs are eaten by someone if they have low cholesterol because of the high amount of vitamin B.
The third, and final weirdest food is Jellied Moose Nose, and I know that sounds pretty gross, but some people actually really like this type of food. A description from Chef Andrew Zimmerman states, “An explosion of little tastes.” And later describing it as, “Corned beef.” A way to prepare Jellied Moose Nose is, first you cut the fur off, second you boil the skin off, third you sear it with garlic and other herbs and spices, and lastly it’s mixed with gelatin to make a jelly type consistency to the dish.
Yes! People actually eat this stuff!!
Stay tuned for more disgusting food featured in future articles.
Survival Skills in the Wild
by Mitchell Barnett
This article briefly lists the essentials that you need in order to survive in the wild. It does not go into detail, but I will continue this column by focusing on one specific survival skill at a time, going into detail and giving a bunch of information about it. So, stay tuned for more survival skills to come!
One skill you would need to know in order to survive in the wild is starting and building a fire. This is actually the most important skill to learn because fire would keep you warm and give you a source to cook your food on. You also need a hatchet for chopping trees down or fighting off wild animals like bears or foxes. Remember learning all of this when you read the book “Hatchet” in 6th grade? Brian Robison learned the hard way!
Things you would need to do in the wild: First, build a shelter so you can sleep and be safe. This is what you need for your shelter: sticks, rope, and a blanket. You can make a bed out of the sticks and the rope is for when you tie it across the tree and the blanket is for covering the sticks so you feel comfortable and warm. You can also cover the sticks with soft leaves or pine branches. You also need to quickly build a fire by first, putting rocks in a circle so none of the sticks fall out. You need wool and a fire starter. I’ll explain in a later article how to do this method of starting a fire, and other ways too. Hunting is a skill that you need to have in the wild so you can eat food. The stuff you will need is a knife, a bow, arrows and rope. The arrow is going to be your bullet, the bow is like your gun, the rope is your aim and the knife is for getting whatever you hunt.
The best place if you're in the wild is to be by water so you can keep hydrated. You also should learn some first aid skills like CPR. Hopefully you have a flashlight so you can see at night and know where you're going. A first aid kit would be great to have in the wild so you can treat cuts or any other injury because you never know what could happen. Foraging is a good skill to have but you have to be careful because you never know if it's poisonous or its a good food source. Foraging is where you scavenge for food like berries and mushrooms.
The Outdoor Boys is a YouTuber that goes to places that are cold or out the wild talking mostly about survival skills and the wild. Sometimes he brings his little boys with him on his trips. He also studies a lot of stuff like berries and how to spot different kinds of animal poop and a lot more so go check out his YouTube channel called The Outdoor Boys - you just may learn something new!
Working Lunch
Working Lunch
by Ricky Veres
Did you know that we do working lunches here at Springbrook Middle School? Working Lunch is assigned to students who have one or more failing grades. At lunch time, You get your lunch and go to an assigned area where you work on raising your grades to passing. There are three separate working lunch groups that are each supervised by a different graduation coach.
I have some statistics from the working lunch helpers. At the end of the first trimester, they had the lowest number of kids since Mr Benschoter has been here. He says that there are 175 current people on the working lunch list, but when they started they had 232 on December 11 2024, so that means they have dropped 57 students. There are a total of 615 students in the school with 175 kids in working lunch. That comes to 28% of our student population having to work on missing assignments while they eat. They were supposed to start working lunch on January 6 but when he ran the report’s there were a lot of students failing so they had to start it a little early.
I got some answers from Mr. Esponoza, one of our graduation coaches, who supervises one of the working lunch groups, says that he has roughly 20 to 30 kids per lunch period. His goal is to get it lower. Mr Esponoza has been doing working lunch for one year. Mr. Skeels helps out when needed. His main thing is to watch the lunch room and helps makes sure that kids are not skipping working lunch. He has been helping with this goal for two years. Mr. Fox, another graduation coach, Says that he has roughly 25 kids per lunch period. He says some kids take advantage of this time and work, but some do not.
So if YOU are assigned working lunch, make sure you have a good attitude about it, because it gives you the opportunity and the time to raise your grade - so just do it!
by Briella Robinson
Coming to you is the Brook Report talking about a musical called “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” Springbrook Middle School is performing this musical for the school on January 31 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Most people might know “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” as a TV show or a book series, but not too long after, it became a musical performed on Broadway. The story is about a kid in middle school trying to fit in and follows his relationships with his best friend Rowley.
According to Mrs.Force, she got to pick the musical and chose this one because she thought it would be relatable to the kids here at Springbrook. Mrs.Force really likes teaching these musicals to the kids and being a part of the performing arts. There are 70 people in the cast, 17 are tech people. For those who don't know what a tech person is, it’s people in the musical who wanted to be a part of the musical, but not be on stage. So they help with back stage stuff, props and things you will see on the stage throughout the musical.
As for the costs for the musical, Mrs.Force says that it’s covered by the school and as for some of the extra things, a lot of parents are willing to help out with costumes and props that their student may need.
The kids and Mrs.Force put in a lot of work and effort to make this musical come to life and present something people not only here at Springbrook, enjoy but anyone in the community, including parents, family members and friends, enjoy later when they perform in the evening. Mrs.Force said that teaching these plays has been really fun, not only for her, but for the kids as well.
“If you didn’t do this musical this year because you didn’t think you would like it, we do a musical and play every year, so if you are thinking that’s something you would be interested in but didn’t like , you can try next year to see if you would enjoy that story better.” Mrs. Force really encourages anyone who wants to take a risk, try something new, and have fun at the same time, to come join them next year.
I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see this musical this year and I hope you are too. Hope this helped you understand this story better to get an idea of what this amazing musical has in store.
Main Characters:
Greg- Ricky Coumoundouros Joshie- Moroni Gordon
Rowley- Colin West Fregley- Braxton Hickman
Chirag- King Brinson Fregley’s Mom- Melina Blackhurst
Claire- Anna Salenbien Rodrick- Rachel Hladis
Patty Farrell- Jordyn Brighton Mom Heffley- Emma Gurrea
Dad Heffley- Kayson Rojo
by Emma Francis
Angel Reese is a D1 recruit who played for Louisiana State University and now plays for the WNBA team Chicago Sky. She was nicknamed Bayou Barbie because she always had her hair, lashes, and nails done.
According to Kahlil Haywood with Revolt TV, Angel Reese is one of the most vocal and emotional leaders on and off the court. Now that she is with Chicago Sky she is striving to take her talent to the next level! Angel Reese has won a NCAA championship award against Iowa, it was a huge game with Angel Reese vs Caitlin Clark.
Angel went to Deer Park Middle School and was 5 foot 8 in 8th grade. Reese went to St. Frances Academy high school. She was born on May 6, 2002 and is now 22 years old. According to Claire Watkins from the Just Women's Sports Association, she fractured her left wrist in a third-quarter fall, but still finished the game with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
LSU Sports says that Angel played for Maryland before LSU. She’s 6’3” and her position is forward. When she was a junior she led her team in scoring and rebounds with an average of 18.6 points and rebounding average of 13.4. They also say that Reese became the first player since Wendy Scholtens from Vanderbilt in 1989 and 1990 to lead the league in both stats over consecutive seasons, finishing the season with 76 assists, 62 steals and 32 blocks. Her 441 total rebounds rank No. 7 in program history and she scored in double-figures in all 67 of her games at LSU, and also led the nation with 5.5 offensive rebounds per game.
Angel Reese
Are Healthy Foods Actually Healthy?
by Emily Mora
Are healthy products actually healthy? A lot of people eat and drink healthy products but they don’t know if they are actually healthy. Some healthy products like energy bars, diet soda and more products like that claim that they are healthy but are they?
Energy bars claim they are healthy but are they? Energy bars have ingredients such as oats, rice, wheat, quinoa, and buckwheat along with products featuring real simple ingredients like fruits, nuts, spices, and vegetables but are those good for you? Yes, they are good for you according to The 11 Healthiest Grains Ranked by a Dietitian in an article Best Grains For Your Health.
Is diet soda good for you? Some people drink diet sodas to avoid the sugar. Even though it has zero calories, diet soda has so many chemicals in it that are bad for you. It’s bad for your teeth and your heart and lungs. There’s a higher risk of disease. According to University Hospitals “Studies have shown that even one or two diet sodas a day can have negative health effects, potentially increasing the risk of a variety of serious health problems”.
Do you think it’s healthy to take a multivitamin every day? Harvard researchers say “They might offer extra vitamins and minerals you may occasionally lack from your regular diet, but they are not a replacement for healthy eating, and they won’t offer special benefits or protection.”. This product might be considered healthy, but should not replace all those healthy fruits and vegetables that give you those vitamins naturally.
Some products that are labeled as healthy, may not be the best for you. What about all those protein shakes and powders and bars? Do they really have enough protein, and the kind that will make a difference? They still have protein, but some don’t. Protein is good for your muscles and bones and it’s good for energy and it also helps your body function. According to an article titled Nutrition Value of Protein, “The nutritional value of a protein is measured by the quantity of essential amino acids it contains.” So are essential amino acids the same as the protein you get in peanut butter, or chicken or beef? Yes, the protein in these products are actually good for you, but protein drinks, powders and bars have some hidden dangers. They are high in calories, sugar and additives. Some even contain heavy metals and other substances that can be harmful. If you use any of these products, just do your research and find out what all the ingredients are so you can pick one that is of high quality.
by Landen Fouty
Today we are going to go over the biggest, main concern, “Are healthy foods actually healthy?” I’m going to provide you with the right information for your proper health with picking the proper foods to eat when going to get groceries.
If you’ve ever gone to a supermarket, or some grocery store, you might find yourself in an aisle with a selection of “healthy foods,” and you might be thinking to yourself, “ Are those healthy foods actually healthy?” And sometimes I think to myself the same things, such as, are those foods FDA approved?, and, if not, why would the supermarket/grocery store allow the foods for people to eat?
In an article titled - Are Foods Labeled Healthy Actually Healthy? I found that “energy bars, protein bars and also granola bars should be avoided because of lots of calories”, and that “it would be best for someone who is trying to gain weight instead of someone trying to lose weight.” The article also says that it would be a second choice over fruits or nuts which pack protein, and vitamins. And it's the same with Vitamin Waters which pack less vitamins than just a couple fruits. Avoid dried fruits because the portion size of the dried fruit actually has way too much sugar.
Now getting to the brands of supposedly “healthy foods/snacks” and what the ingredients to the bag/box of the foods contain. First we are going to be talking about the product: Quest.
The Quest marketing bags will usually say that the snack is healthy, it's nutritious, and that it's good for athletes. But you can't always trust brands who say this, because in a tiny font, on a tiny part of the ingredients list it has in the corner it says “Bioengineered Products Included,” And if you don't know what bioengineered products are products that are genetically modified to taste better. And so far you might be thinking to yourself, “that doesn't seem so bad,” but just wait because it gets way worse, because the side effects are way worse than what you might think, because the side effects are allergic reactions, cancer, changes in human DNA, and are toxic to vital organs. So it's a HUGE thing to stay away from. So just do the easiest thing and just look at the back of the snack, and near the ingredients.
Now we are going to move on to food that is REALLY healthy and the things that are in them that you can’t live without. From an article named - 50 Foods That Are Healthy - it has a list of foods that are healthy, for example….
Apples are a great snack because they contain fiber, vitamin C, numerous antioxidants, and are filling, which makes a good snack.
Avocados contain lots of healthy fats, high in fiber, and are filled with vitamin C.
Bananas are very high in potassium, which can eliminate cramps during sports. Also Bananas are high in vitamin B6, and are filled with fiber.
Dark chocolate, yes CHOCOLATE!!! mainly because it contains antioxidants known as flavonoids that help manage cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. You just have to make sure it is DARK chocolate. However, the amount of chocolate that is usually healthy to eat is not enough to provide significant benefits.”
If you'd like to learn more about healthy foods, click on the link below which will take you to a Time magazine article that lists the top 100 healthiest foods, shows their picture, and tells you why they're healthy. It's a really interesting article to scroll through.
I hope this helped you make the right decisions about what food you choose to eat. So just remember to stay away from bioengineered food, and that you can eat dark chocolate, bananas , avocados, and apples because of what great foods they are for your health and can get you away from unhealthy foods that could be harming your health.
Pilot Training Flight Simulator (Roblox) by Landen Fouty
Keep Our School Clean
Do you pick up your trash at school?
Here are the reasons you should.
by Emery Hudson
Fewer Sick Days: If the school is clean, there will be less germs. You can't stop students from bringing germs to school, but you can stop germs from leaving the school. Healthier students are better prepared for learning. If the school is clean, people will want to go to that school. Think about it, if there was a clean school and a dirty school you would want to go to the clean school wouldn't you? With better attendance, the school would have more people on count day, so that means more money for the school so we can get more school supplies, and better school supplies means a better learning experience. Parents would want to do more things for the school. Safety would be much better if there wasn’t stuff all over the floor. You could slip and fall and possibly get a concussion. We should have a “strong sense of school pride” and take care of our own Springbrook Middle School
If the school is trashed, a bug or rodent problem might develop. So if there was a rodent problem there would be mice or rats running around the school and getting into the lockers and eating through bags and bugs are just gross to be around so we wouldn't want either of those, right? But if the school has garbage all over it this might happen. Keeping the bathrooms clean is also important. Do you really want to go into a bathroom used by every other student that is trashed? And leaving things on the bench is just asking someone to go through your stuff and steal things. If you lust leave your bag on the bench it might get taken to the lost and found. Have you seen our lost and found table this year? It’s out of control because it gets filled up so fast.
So, do your part to keep Springbrook clean. Start small, just pick up after yourself at lunch, in the classroom, or at your locker. If you see garbage on the floor, pick it up. Help make Springbrook Middle School a great place to learn!
Get Off Your Screens! Go Outside!
by Mitchell Barnett
Phones and tv’s and game systems are not good for your health because it can cause neck pain, metal stress and headache. Being outdoors provides a break and for you to relax and recharge. Your screen can cause you to have bad vision and going outside is a good exercise. Even if you're just walking out and about or riding your bike, going outside can make you sleep better. Having just a little run can burn calories too. Going outside provides vitamin D and an immunity boost, cleans your lungs and lowers your heart rate. Watching your phone all day or playing video games can change brain activity and reaction times. The average person's screen time is 6 to 8 hours a day when the normal average should be down to 2 to 4 hours a day. Going outside is amazing for spending time with family and friends. Going outdoors is a way for you to get some space for your screen and have a little relief. The outdoors is very peaceful. You can go on hikes, mountain climbing and fishing. Having a lot of phone time is a bad way for you to have a cracked neck because looking down for so long can make you have back pain. Tv’s are what impact your eyes you can have in strain and blurred vision. Staring at the tv for too long can cause irritations and headaches and itchy eyes and back ache, you can feel dizzy and nauseous and have watery eyes. Too much screen time can even cause poor sleep and motion sickness.
‘’When we're in urban environments or the office all day, we can experience sensory overload, resulting in tension and mental fatigue. Studies have shown that our minds and bodies relax in a natural setting. This increases feelings of pleasure and can help us concentrate and focus more effectively,” according to studies in the National Library of Medicine. This just means when we’re inside all day at school, especially on our chromebooks, it will help us be better students by just going outside.
Adventurous Eats
by William Calamungi
Weird Foods
Starting first is the century egg originating in China but now is all over the world. They make these eggs by putting them in clay, ash, salt and quicklime and leaving them there for a long time. The thing is that they don't actually leave them in there for 100 years or a century, they only leave them in there for 7 months. That’s still a long time! Most people make these at home because of how they are put together.
Weird Fruits
Next is durian, a fruit found in southeast Asia. This fruit is the stinkiest fruit in the world with its hard spiky outer shell and its watermelon like insides. Some people say it tastes like a mixture of vanilla, diced garlic with notes of pepper, and caramel mixed with whipped cream. Some people say they are really nasty but a couple scientists say it's from their genetics.
Weird Vegetables
Lastly dandelions are a vegetable believe it or not. Even now that it is recalled as a weed of a plant. People still eat them like people use them for salads and presenting food.
Brush Your Teeth
by Mitchell Barnett
Brushing your teeth is very important because if you don't brush your teeth you could get tooth decay and plaque build up. Over time when you don't brush your teeth it can cause heart disease. When you brush your teeth it takes away all the food out and all that white film around your teeth. Brushing your teeth two times a day is very good for your hygiene and also prevents cavities. You should brush your teeth about two minutes each time. Brushing your tongue is also very good for your hygiene because it makes your breath smell good.
I recommend that you get these toothpastes: Colgate Optic White and Sensodyne. These toothpastes are very good. I even tried them myself. Having dirty teeth will make you have toothaches and cavities. To prevent gum disease when you have yellow teeth that mean that your enamel is either broken or decaying. Brushing your teeth has a lot to do with your eating and how you speak so when you don't brush your teeth you can't eat or speak really well, so this is why you should brush your teeth every day.
According to Biltmore Innovative Dentistry, “ There are certain foods we know are bad for our teeth. That sticky candy, the sugary soda and sweet drinks feed cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth and stomach that, in turn, affect teeth and gum health.” These 9 foods are good for your teeth: water, cheese, green tea, nuts, leafy greens, yogurt, apples, celery, and dairy products.
GUARDIAN CAPS
by Cruz Borton
Guardian Caps are a safety feature in football. Guardian Caps are a hard padding that is made in a circle and goes over the player's helmet. The player does not have to wear a Guardian Cap in a game but they have to wear it at practice. Also some players wear it in game, it's their choice.
Have you ever thought about wearing a Guardian Cap? If you have, it's probably a smart choice. The Guardian Cap doesn't just protect your head a little more, it helps by 10% percent. If you're just wearing it and you hit head to head with another player and if both players are wearing it it helps by 20% according to Guardian Sports.
Now let's talk about what the Guardian Cap is made out of. The Guardian Cap is made out of a hard flexible material, this helps with concussions. It helps with concessions because when they hit head to head the padding absorbs some of the force.
Now let's talk about the pricing. Each cap costs about $70 to $75. The pricing is a little high in my opinion, but i think it's a pretty good deal. Just that small investment could help protect your precious head.
There are many different styles of helmets so the Guardian Cap has many different styles to fit on these varieties of helmets. These include SPEED FlEX, F7, AXIOM, ect. For the F7 it needs to be tall and short, for the Speed Flex it needs to be long and short, and for the Axiom it needs to be wide and long.
According to Guardians Sports, the Guardian Cap was created in 2010. Did you know that the NFL only used leather padding for their helmets back in the day? In the 1990s the NFL upgraded to a hard plastic helmet which was a big upgrade.
The NFL helmet has gotten alot better over the years but still could use improvements. In 2009 the helmets were buckets, buckets meant not nearly as protective as the helmets we have today. The two main helmets we have today are the F7 and the Speed Flex. The Speed Flex is more common, but in my opinion, the F7 has a better style. And that's why I would recommend a Guardian Cap.
Madisen Skinner's Career
by Emma Francis
Madisen Skinner is a professional college volleyball player who plays for the Texas Longhorns. The University Of Texas athletics says that Madisen Skinner is 6,2, position is outside hitter, and she is a senior in the 2024 season. UK athletics say Madisen graduated from Faith West Academy and originally went to Kentucky in 2020 and 2021, then unexpectedly transferred to Texas. USA volleyball says she also has a 2 2.85 hitting percentage per set!
After one year of playing she finished off her season with 389 kills, 49 blocks, and 119 digs.(USA volleyball) The Hudl says that Madisen started playing volleyball at the age of 15 and joined the Houston Skyline Volleyball Club. In Madisen's high school season she was ranked in the top 50 for the prep volleyball association and was the AVCA honorable mention as the all american offensive player of the year. While she played for Kentucky in 2020 she helped lead the team to the national championship.
The Texas Athletics say that in Madisen's personal life her parents are Brian and Rebecca Skinner and her dad was a former professional basketball player. She has 5 siblings, Avery, Brian, Jada, Phoenix and Malachi. Her sister Avery also had an all American volleyball career at Kentucky in 2017 and 2020. Madisen's home town was Katy, Texas and her USAV region was a Lone Star!
The Best They Have Ever Been!
The Year The Detroit Lions Will Win It All!
by Cruz Borton
Do you know the Detroit Lions have never won a super bowl? The Detroit Lions are a very good team, but they have high expectations from their coach Dan Campbell. Dan Campbell is a very good coach but sometimes I don't agree with his play calls. According to the all-sport website, Sportskeeda, before Dan Cambell coached the Detroit Lions, he was the assistant coach for the New Orlean Saints, and was the head coach for the Miami Dolphins.
There are alot of great players on the Detroit Lions. The Detroit Lions offense is led by quarterback Jared Goff, The Detroit Lions defense is led by the two great linebackers Alex Anzalone, and Jack Cambell. You might think that Jack Campbell is the head coach's son, but he isn't, it is just a coincidence. The team's defense and offense are very good but we have some slumps here and there.
The Detroit Lions defensive and offensive leaders were all drafted by the Detroit Lions, but they also played in college. Alex Anzalone went to the University of Florida, Jack Campbell went to the University of Iowa, and last but not least, Jared Goff went to the University of California Berkeley. All three of these colleges are really hard to go to, so that shows how good of a player you need to be.
FUN FACT: Did you know that Dan Campbell played in the NFL? Dan Cambell actually played for the Detroit Lions and is now one of their best coaches of all time. Part of why the Detroit Lions are so good is because they have many leaders on the team that include defensive end Aidan Hutchson drafted out of Michigan, also quarterback Jared Goff drafted out of California Berkeley and defensive back Bryan Branch drafted out of Alabama.
Did you know that Jared Goff has the most interceptions in one game? That just happened last Sunday Nov. 10, but the Lions came back to win the game in the end. So, some people say Goff sucks, but guess what? Jared Goff is also the only quarterback in NFL history to throw 100% completion rate in a game. Some people might think he only threw four or five passes, but to have that completion rate it has to be more than 12 passes to do that. Jared Goff completed an amazing 17 out of 17 passes in just one game!
And that's why the Detroit Lions are going to win it all this year!
Personal Hygiene
by Mya Gonzalez
It's good to keep up your hygiene, but sometimes you don't have the right products or it's not something you can just do, due to certain circumstances, but there are people all around this building that can help. You can contact talk to or email Ms. Blackmon at kblackmon@adrian.k12.mi.us and ask her for some supplies like deodorant, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, feminine products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, and chapstick. Ms. Blackmon will always be willing to help you when you are in need so that you can keep up your hygiene because hygiene is so important. It can help with your physical appearance, it helps protect you against illnesses, it helps refrain body odor, it boosts your self respect and self confidence, it can also help with your academic performance and so many more things. That is why it is so important to have good hygiene and to make sure you're taking care of yourself. Besides, we all want our school to smell good, don’t we?!
Sleep and Teens
by Emily Mora
Sleep is the most important thing for teens. We all know sleep helps us function properly. Us teens are supposed to get eight to 10 hours of sleep per night. Most teens get seven hours to eight hours of sleep.
How many hours do you get per night? A lot of teenagers stay up on their phones and video games instead of going to sleep. If you don’t get much sleep there are effects. Sleep has side effects like heart disease and risk of death. It also affects our bodies such as low energy and muscles. According to the article, Why is Sleep Important by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “A sharp increase in blood pressure and heart rate upon waking has been linked to angina, chest pain and heart attacks.” It’s important to get the sleep you need so you don’t have to come down to this point.
There are ways to help you go to bed: You could stay off your phone and video games and turn your tv off if you have one. Get some exercise like take a run or a walk, do a little workout just so you get your energy out. If you get your energy out, it could help you go to bed. You could also develop a bedtime routine, play peaceful music, relax your body, or take a warm bath or shower. There are way more ways to go to bed. Once you have developed a bedtime routine it will be easy to go to sleep.
Check out the results of our sleep survey. It shows the average amount of sleep 99 students from Springbrook Middle School reported that they get each night.
Does VR Affect Your Brain More than a Regular Device?
by Emery Hudson
Do you have a Virtual Reality headset? Here’s a small list of headsets: Oculus 1,2,3, Oculus Rift, and PlayStation VR. There are large differences between VR and regular devices. For one, you get up and move with a VR device because you are the character. You have full control over them so you are moving around, but to what point does it affect your brain more? The short answer is yes and this is why according to Kathryn Segovia from the University of Stanford “in VR environments we project our eyes to look at things far away but in reality there are only a few centimeters away.” That can mess with our perception.
Also, it should not be surprising that “children are affected even more; most children believe something they did in VR really happened” according to CNN reporter Sandee LaMotte. VR can affect motor skills and cause “disorientation symptoms, nausea, malaise, and discomfort referred to as cybersickness” says health coach Beata Sokołowska and the blue light emitting from the headset can be harmful and “can cause damage retinal cells and cause vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration”
So, yes VR does affect your brain more than a regular device but there are also positives to VR. The fun concept of VR can help with learning, “anxiety and mental health issues,” in an article from Health News Today.
The VR headset is just a computer strapped to your head but you can get ones that have no technology in them and you slide your phone into them and some people think this is better for you but is just as bad as the normal VR headset because it is the same 3D videos/games it is just less powerful of a vr headset so it cases the same damage.
Did you know that Nintendo has a VR headset? Well you might have it and you didn't know. It's the Nintendo Switch: you can buy a kit that lets you build a cardboard VR headset that you slide the switch into. But, this also can affect your brain the same way.
So, I think you get the pattern now - all VR affects your brain the same. The 3D technology for all devices do the same thing, but, if you do the VR with you phone, nothing is in 3D so it’s the blue light damage you have to protect yourself from by using blue light glasses with it. Like most things, you can't prevent everything; 40% to 70% of people get VR sickness and many more get eye damage so it is safe to still use V, but to limit the time spent on it to prevent any long term damage.
The Dangers of Vaping
by Landen Fouty
I’m going to talk to you about the dangers of vaping, why vaping is not better than cigarettes, and also how the Vaping industry affects our planet.
First off let's talk about how vaping destroys the body, and why vaping is SO addictive. An article from What's The Harm? written by the Texas Department of State Health Services, “The way that vaping harms the body is through toxic chemicals that enter the body through the airway that can damage organs, the brain, your lungs, and skin/face because sometimes vapes can EXPLODE in your face, causing deformities in your skin, and leading to painful burns.” An article named What’s in an E-cigarette? written by the American Lung Association says, “Nicotine is highly addictive and that it negatively affects adolescent brain development. Also, vapes contain a chemical called Acrolein and it is a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds, which can cause irreversible lung damage or in some cases lead to death.” It gets even worse because vapes also have a chemical that contains HEAVY METALS!!! Such as nickel, tin, and lead which can lead to trouble breathing and different diseases.
Now we are going to move on to how vaping is NOT better than cigarettes, and after a LOT of research I found information on an article called 5 Vaping Facts You Need to Know written by Dr. Michael Joseph Blaha stated that tobacco cigarettes have about 7000 chemicals in them, but vapes are still under research to see how many chemicals are used in a vape.
And Lastly, I’m going to talk about how the Vaping Industry affects our environment. In an article named Vape Fact Sheet written by the Lung Foundation Australia says, “Vapes only contain some components that are recyclable, but most of the components have a large amount of toxic waste, and micro plastics that can be consumed by wildlife. Also the vape contains a battery that if left under heat can explode, which if left in the sun can also explode, sending e-liquids, chemicals, plastics and nicotine into the air.” And the most expected effect on the environment out of all of the effects, is the effect on you, because every time you let the vapor out of your mouth, if in a room, or a confined area, can release small, harmful particles into the air, and once breathed in, can cause it to be very harmful to breath in.
So make a smart choice of what you're breathing in, because 2800 people are taken to the hospital per year because of vaping, but almost zero have died of breathing air since the beginning of time, so make a smart choice, don’t vape.
Are Video Games Healthy?
by Emery Hudson
Do you play video games? 65% of people play video games and according to Kids Health in an article about video games, Dr. Elana Pearl Ben-Johnson states that “some studies have shown certain video games can improve hand–eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and the mind's ability to process information.” But gaming does have some negatives like Well Powers’ article on the same topic, “Unsparingly excessive use of video games has been shown by some studies to have negative effects like problems with sleep, depression and anxiety.”
But here are some ways to make video games heather according to Francesca Lunzer’s article about making games heather, “Choose games wisely. In some games, even modest amounts of play—30 minutes a day—have been shown to improve memory ability in adults of all ages and some studies have found that playing 3-D video games could also boost the formation of memories. Participants were allocated to either a group that played video games with a 2-D environment or a 3-D environment. After playing the games for 30 minutes per day for 2 weeks, the students were given memory tests that engaged the brain’s hippocampus.” (According to the Cleveland Clinic the hippocampus is the small part of your brain that helps with your learning and memory). You might want to share that bit of information with your parents!
The advanced online gaming security company, Kidas tells us that “being a good multi-tasker is absolutely essential! When playing video games, especially multiplayer ones, research has shown that it increases the ability to multitask. You've probably heard this before: Don't sit too close to the TV. You’re going to hurt your eyes! As it seems, researchers say that when it comes to gaming, this might not be the case. Many research studies have shown that playing video games in moderation helps improve the eyes ability to discern color.”
On the other hand,there are some negative effects of gaming according to Maria Aurelia “wjp studied Psychology and Early Childhood Development. “Sleep Disorders – The blue light emitted by screens and the stimulating nature of video games can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or poor-quality sleep. Emotional Numbing – Repeated exposure to violent content in video games may lead to desensitization to violence, making individuals less sensitive to the suffering of others.” You can avoid some of this by wearing blue light glasses and just playing these games in moderation.
So, it’s up to you; do you think video games are healthy or unhealthy? I guess the answer is it depends on you.
The Importance of Space Exploration
by Gabriel Smaw
Space exploration is very important, and that is why some people even put their lives at risk in order for us to do it. Something you may not know about is there are astronauts stuck in space right now. Their names are Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. They are said to return in 2025. NASA is launching a rocket to retrieve them. Can you imagine being stuck in space for a year?! It’s like a science fiction movie.
Space exploration is a huge part of human evolution because one day we may have to leave our planet. It is also important because we need to learn what's out there and possibly discover potential dangers in space. Exploring space is a way we can gain a new perspective to study earth and our solar system. There are still very many mysteries about space exploration. Did you know that July 14 1965 was when we took the first pictures of Mars? A couple things that we research when we explore space are black holes, dark matter and dark energy. Without exploring space we would have never known that there were other planets around and that we are in a solar system we wouldnt know that we revolve around a sun and maybe even what a star is. This is why it is such a big deal.
We have learned by exploring space that there are other planets in other solar systems that are bigger and are just like earth for all we know there will be intelligent life like us. According to BBC news “Martian sand can be used to build structures in space. According to Conor Feehly “mass extinction can help us find alien life in the cosmos” the mass extinctions have helped us adapt to problems and helped us get smarter thats why mass extinction can help us find alien life .According to Maureen Cohen Aliens may develop different compared to humans one reason is that they most likely don't have day and night cycles like us humans animals that live in caves and deep underwater help us understand how that works.
According to Britannica, “The International Space Station is a large space station that was assembled and maintained in low earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors.” Without rockets we would not be able to exit the atmosphere and we would never even go to space. A big part of exploring space is the need for more knowledge because we don't understand everything beyond our world like black holes. Exploring space could also help us become more advanced and get better tech. We also want to learn if there is other intelligent life out there because for all we know now we could be alone in the vastness of space.
Something crazy that not many people know is that clouds actually weigh more than 100 tons so when you see a movie and they sit on a cloud that is not actually possible you would actually fall through it. Another amazing discovery in space was black holes,dark matter, memory foam, solar cells , gravitational waves and lots more. Some scary things about space are that we barely know anything about space; we only know a tiny fraction of what could be out there.
If you ever wanted to go to space you would have to become an astronaut, but before you do that you would have to have 3 years of professional related experience or have at least 1000 hours of pilot in command time. Did you know that the reason we started exploring space in the first place was that we needed to understand the objects and phenomena but they are better observed from a space perspective. We also will use the information we gain and use it for human benefit.
What are Exoplanets?
by Roseanna Gisewite
Have you ever heard of an Exoplanet before? You may know that the Earth, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all orbit the earth. What about Exoplanets? Exoplanets don't orbit the sun, instead they orbit another star in our galaxy that is outside of our solar system. Exoplanets could be habitable which means that life could possibly live on them, but without water chances are little to none.
NASA states that there are four types of Exoplanets. Gas giant, Neptunian, super-Earth and terrestrial. Gas Giant planets are a large planet that is made up of helium or hydrogen, sometimes both. NASA also says that “Neptunian planets have hydrogen and helium-dominated atmospheres with cores of rock and heavier metals.”
”Super-Earths – a class of planets unlike any in our solar system – are more massive than Earth yet lighter than ice giants like Neptune and Uranus, and can be made of gas, rock or a combination of both. They are between twice the size of Earth and up to 10 times its mass.”
“Terrestrial planets (Earth sized and smaller) are rocky worlds, composed of rock, silicate, water and/or carbon. To determine if some of these worlds have atmospheres, oceans or other signs of habitability, it takes more investigation.”
Now that you know what Exoplanets are, let's talk about them. Proxima Centauri b. NASA says that Proxima Centauri b is a super Earth Exoplanet that orbits an M-type star which is a red dwarf. Its size is 1.07 earths and it takes 11.2 days to orbit it. This Exoplanet was discovered in 2016 and it is four light years away which is 24 trillion miles away! Although it is the closest Exoplanet near us.
Scientists at NASA think that there could be life outside of earth. Even though this investigation is basically just getting started, they think from the fact that there are probably trillions of planets in the universe and because the universe has existed for billions of years. there could be life on other planets and not just ours.
Here is a quote from NASA about what they think.
“We stand at a crossroads in the search for life. We've found thousands of planets in our Milky Way galaxy, a large fraction of them in Earth's size range and orbiting in their stars' "habitable zones" – the distance from the star at which liquid water could exist on the surface. We know the galaxy likely holds trillions of planets. Our telescopes in space and on the ground, and our remote-sensing technology, grow ever more powerful. Yet so far, the only life we know of is right here at home. For the moment, we're staring into the void, hoping someone is staring back.”
Just think, there has to be more planets like earth if we are one out of trillions. What do you think?
It Really Helps!
by Cruz Borton
Homework Help is offered every Monday through Thursday after school from 2;30 - 3:30 in the Media Center. It’s a time that students can stay and work on homework and missing assignments while getting help from an adult. Homework Help is very necessary. According to Mr Fox, a graduation coach at Springbrook Middle School, it’s a good thing. He said that there are usually 12 to 15 students that attend and it helps students get better grades if that is their goal.
Students that go to homework help usually get their grades up because of the help they get from the teachers. Most kids don't really have fun, because that’s not what it’s for. But, it helps them on the long road. According to Mr Fox, if the student uses their time wisely at Homework Help, they will get better grades. Mr Fox thinks more students should take advantage of it, and it should be promoted more because he has seen the positive results. Ms. Tindal, one of our ELA teachers, says she loves helping kids with homework because she loves people getting good grades. She tries to make it fun.
So, if you have some bad grades, take advantage of Homework Help. Even if your grades are fine, good, or even great, there are teachers there to help you with anything you need. Besides, your parents will be thrilled that you get some tutoring for free, normally you have to pay for it!
Is Popularity Worth It?
by Emma Francis
A lot of people love the attention they get from people and others like the quiet and not a lot of people surrounding them at once. But the question here is, is popularity really worth it?
Of course nothing is wrong with being popular, but sometimes there is a downside to it. For example, an article in Morning Coach called The Negative Side of Being Popular says that you will never know who your true friends are or you might lose the privacy you once had. It might also mess up the true friendships and also relationships with your family all because you may get into drama and rumors will start happening not just to other people but you too! I guess that just means if you’re popular, people will get in your business.
On the other hand, there is also a good side to being popular. Everyone really follows your lead and everyone always will be there for you, you have so many friends. Some people like the attention and it is a good thing to take on leadership roles. But, you always have to be aware of the negative sides.
There is something in between being popular and being not popular, it is being well known. According to Mitch Prinstein with the Psychwire Q&A article there is an impact of social media. The worst part about it is when rumors spread and there’s a potential for some bad things to happen. Brett Ryan from the Popularity vs Value article says that kids can target other children for a variety of reasons, academic, sporting, musical, and artistic abilities, they way they look, they way they dress and for no reason at all. He says that being popular may have its perks in the short term, but being valued lasts forever. With that being said, do you really think that popularity is worth it?
Sanrio Popularized by Its Characters
by Julianna Wilson
Sanrio is a company many are familiar with just because of its popular characters, though I’ve noticed that a lot of individuals whose favorite characters like Hello Kitty don’t even know about the company or the illustrator she came from!
According to the article The Rise of Hawaii Culture by Urasai Tsukei, dating back to 1960, a man named Shintaro Tsuji, founded Sanrio. It was known as the Yamanashi Silk Company that was worth as much as 1 million Yen. In 1962, the owner, Tsuji, decided to expand the company by adding cute designs to the silk products he produced. The outcome has made Tsuji realize great success doing so, growing in popularity because people loved the cute designs so much. Though, How do we have the Sanrio characters we all know and love today?
Well, in 1974, 24 year old Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu decided she wanted to bring her characters to life, putting down her pen to a paper she started drawing, and eventually working on her cartoons. Since then she has helped Sanrio with her creations gain more than $80 billion dollars! Hello Kitty, or formally just Kitty, was one of the first characters to ever be created in 1974, but making an appearance in 1975, but is Hello Kitty really the first character? No, not really. Some may say that, but she’s really just the first character to appear in her own series. The first ever created Sanrio character is actually Coro Chan!
Coro Chan was introduced in 1973, his appearance is simple as described. He has been described to be a laid-back, gentle bear. Coro was designed by Yuko Shimizu once again, who we know as the original illustrator of Hello Kitty. A short fun fact about Coro Chan is that it’s said that he’s actually a cousin of Kitty’s bear friend, Thomas!
Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater is the first Hello Kitty series dating back to 1987, with long episodes lasting 13-22 minutes. Even more characters featured in these premieres are the following: My Melody, Tuxedo Sam, Chip, Catnip, Grinder, Grandma, and Grandpa. Some of these characters may be familiar, like My Melody, another popular character, as well as Tuxedo Sam. Many of these characters listed also share popularity with Kitty, but now you know!
2024 Character Rankings state that although the franchise has many known and popular characters, Cinnamoroll has a winning streak of 5 years at the top! There are also underrated characters. Some of which are even unknown! Littlelovin is a perfect example of least popular Sanrio franchise characters. There is not a lot known about Littlelovin other than the fact that he has brown fur, droopy black ears, and he loves ogura toast. So which one is your favorite?
Well, according to a survey sent out to Springbrook Students, Cinnamorol stays at the top just like the international rankings. See the pie chart on the right for how 47 of your classmates voted:
Concussions
by Mitchell Barnett
Concussions are caused by head to head contact which is very dangerous. In football, head to head is part of the sport that's why players wear helmets, to protect their head.
Also, concussions can be caused by a hard fall to the head or from trauma to the head caused by some strong contact, like being hit in the head while boxing. Mahumand Ali had a lot of head trauma from over 60 fights, which made him disabled and he eventually passed away because of it.
Here’s a more technical definition of a concussion according to Concussions Legacy Foundation, “A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Rapid movement causes brain tissue to change shape, which can stretch and damage brain cells. This damage also causes chemical and metabolic changes within the brain cells, making it more difficult for cells to function and communicate. Since the brain is the body’s control center, the effects of a concussion can be far-reaching.”
Concussion symptoms are usually very obvious. The Cleveland Clinic explains that symptoms can include:
Headaches or a feeling of pressure in your head
Neck pain
Balance problems
A feeling of lightheadedness
Nausea and vomiting
Double vision
Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light
So, how do you recover if you do get a concussion? Doctors at Johns Hopkins Medicine say. “An important part of treatment for a concussion is getting plenty of rest, both sleep at night and naps or rest breaks during the day if needed. Your healthcare provider will likely tell you to not do certain physical activities and sports while you recover. They may advise medicine to take if you have a headache.’’
Bicycle Motorcross
by William Calamungi
The Beginning of BMX
Bmxing is one of the best sports in the country and is really popular in America, first invented in the 1960’s. Gerrit Does from the University of BMX explains how the first straight-tube BMX frame was made. Marvin Church Sr. cut up an old Schwinn Stingray for his son, welded straight tubes to it and raised the bottom bracket, allowing use for longer 6 ½ inch cranks. Before that they used regular bikes.Joshua Calamungi from Adrian Michigan says it was one of the best sports he ever has completed in.
The Cost Then vs Now
Back when the first BMX bikes were being sold they cost up to $200, but now they will cost you up to $1,000. Each part cost more and more money than ever, especially the more popular the sport became.
The Brands
Even the next generation will probably end up spending more money on BMX bikes. And all of the brands will all gain more and more money on BMX bikes. The popular brands that make BMX bikes are Mongoose and the Schwinn Stingray. Both rose to fame in the 1980’s and are still making bikes today.
.
How a BMX Works
When you spin the pedals of a BMX, the chain starts to spin the first gear then moves to the next gear and you start to move. As you are moving the bike will stay up straight and as you go faster and faster. you may start to wobble. Those are called speed wobbles that happen when you are going too fast. but if you want to hit the brakes NEVER hit the front brake. If you do you will go flying forward and get hurt when you turn the handlebars. There are little parts called barings and they spin when you turn the handlebars or you can just lean and the bike will turn.
BMX Racing
BMX racing is one of the hardest sports there is because you have to push really hard to be in first going almost 50 mph just to be in first, all while going on giant jumps and going sideways on some ramps. When jumping off ramps you can go up to 25 feet in the air. You also have to be calm because there are a lot of rules to BMX racing.
BMX Freestyle
BMX freestyle is the best thing about BMXing because there are no rules to It You can do any trick you want at any skate park you want to, or even in public, absolutely anywhere. Also BMX freestyle is the most common BMXing there is. Everyone starts with freestyle so they can learn how to BMX or it's just the first bike they got.
Page updated
Report abuse