Hoofprint

As of late healthy food has been on the forefront of most American minds although there is a general feeling that school cafeteria food should be changed but people feel helpless to change it. A lot of the people at MMS including the students, teachers, administrators and cafeteria workers dislike the food but no one is willing to do anything to change it.

The cafeteria workers want to serve healthier food and less unhealthy foods but they don’t think they will make any money unless they sell junk food. Some students would rather not eat than eat healthy food and some students refuse to eat processed and sugary foods even when they don’t have a lunch to bring. A small portion of the people at Martin are vegetarians and some can’t afford to bring a packed lunch. It is unfair to subject students to unhealthy and disgusting food when they can’t afford anything else .

Wake County and the rest of the United States needs to do something about this problem because recent studies show that more than nine million Americans between ages seventeen and twenty four are too fat to join the Army. This problem quickly went from a small thorn in our side to a matter of national security. Even if the United States can’t afford to put healthier food in our schools we should educate kids and their parents about healthier food choices.

The Playoffs are a tense part of the NBA season. Teams practice numerous days and work all season so they can ride momentum into the tournament. Students at Martin have picked two of the powerhouse teams in the NBA. The Magic a strong rebounding and shooting team and The Lakers a fast break team. The students have picked the Magic to win the finals and be the National Champions. Personally I agree because I think the only competition to the Magic are the Cavs and if they win against the Cavs then they will be unstoppable. The strong presence of Dwight Howard in the paint is what will win it for the Magic, along with the outside shooting from Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis. I believe the Lakers will give the Magic a run for their money but the Magic will prevail.

Eastern Conference Round 1

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Chicago Bulls

Cleveland shouldn’t have any problems against the Bulls. The Cavs have been playing great all year and that won’t change here. The Chicago Bulls have never lost a playoff series to the Cavs, but I don’t think that matters. I say Cleveland wins this series.

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Miami Heat

The Boston Celtics have been playing very bad lately, losing to mediocre teams and finishing the season with a bad home record. So their home court advantage won’t mean much against the Heat. The Miami Heat finished the regular season red hot, but they have mainly played teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. I still think the Celtics will get by the first round, simply because the Heat don’t have the personnel to match that of the Celtics and while the Heat have been winning a lot of games, they haven’t beaten anyone good.

(3) Atlanta Hawks vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks

The Hawks have home court advantage, which is key, considering their phenomenal home record. Then considering that the Bucks will be without star center Andrew Bogut, I like the Hawks to win the series.

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (7) Charlotte Bobcats

The Magic shouldn’t have any trouble putting away the Bobcats. Charlotte has an atrocious road record at 13-28. They may have a good home record but with Orlando having home court advantage, and well, the better team, Orlando should knock the Bobcats out pretty quickly.

Western Conference Round 1

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Oklahoma City Thunder

The Lakers may have the number one seed in the west, but they played horribly to finish the regular season. Behind Kevin Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, the Thunder finished with 50 wins and have been playing very well. The Lakers have not been able to hit threes and are lacking a pure shooting, 3-point-specialist. The problem with the Thunder is that they don’t have depth. Other than Durant, Westbrook and Green, they don’t have any consistent double-digit scorers. The Lakers are still the Lakers though and Andrew Bynum is likely to be back which will make a huge impact. I think that Los Angeles will come out of the slump and with their size and depth I think that they get past the Thunder. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it went to six or seven games.

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Utah Jazz

This is a great 4/5 match up. The Denver Nuggets are very hard to beat at home, as are the Jazz. Both teams have struggled on the road, making home court advantage key in this series, and the Nuggets have it. Also, the Jazz haven’t exactly been playing well lately and have struggled with injuries. Even if some of the questionable players start for the series, they won’t be 100 percent, which will affect the Jazz. Mainly because of the home court advantage, I think the Nuggets advance, but it should be close, as the Nuggets struggled a little down the stretch as well and these are two evenly matched teams.

(3) Phoenix Suns vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers

The Phoenix Suns are red hot and the Blazers have been playing great too. But with the injury to Brandon Roy, Portland is going to have a very tough time beating the Suns. Plus, Portland has lost five consecutive playoff series. I’m going with the Suns.

(2) Dallas Mavericks vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs

Don’t underestimate the Spurs. They may be a seven seed, but I believe they are much better than given credit for. They will have a tough match up though. Behind Dirk Nowitzki, and the mid-season acquisitions Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, the Mavs are rolling. Dallas has never won a championship, always seeming to flop in the postseason. But, the Mavericks do have home court advantage, as well as the best road record in the NBA. Combined with their depth and healthy team, I think Dallas pulls out this rivalry rematch series, but probably in six or seven games. The Spurs are definitely going to keep it close, if not, win.

Eastern Conference Semi Finals

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (4) Boston Celtics

I’m going with the Cavs without a doubt. The way the Celtics have been playing there is little chance of them beating Cleveland if they don’t come out of the funk they’re in. That is if they even get past Miami.

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (3) Atlanta Hawks

Simply put, I like the Magic. They took three of four from Atlanta during the regular season and barely losing the one that they lost. Orlando has looked great and with home court advantage and the Hawk’s inconsistent ability to win road games, I’m going with the Magic.

Western Conference Semi Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have done very well against the Lakers this year, taking three of four from them. The Nuggets are a great home team, yet a poor road team, and will have to win a game at the Lakers to win the series. But they have proved they can do that. I think the Nuggets are going to shoot their way into the conference finals. Chauncey Billups, Arron Afflalo, Carmelo Anthony and sixth-man J.R. Smith, (the Nuggets all time record holder for 3-pointers made), are all great 3-point-shooters. They have the size to match the Lakers and the Denver is also a great second half team, something I really like about them. I’m taking the Nuggets with the upset. Oh, and Chauncey Billups has been to seven straight conference finals, another reason I’m going with Denver.

(2) Dallas Mavericks vs. (3) Phoenix Suns

This will be a great series if things turn out this way. Both teams have been playing great. I’m taking the Suns in this series because they shoot the three ball so well and Amare Stoudemire is going to make a huge difference with how well he’s been playing since the All-Star break. Phoenix also has an impressive bench with guys like Channing Frye and Jared Dudley. Plus, the Mavs have been nothing but disappointment in the postseason the past few years. Brook Lopez is likely to be back for the Suns, which will be big for them. I expect the series to go to six or seven games for sure though.

Eastern Conference Finals

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (2) Orlando Magic

This is the rematch everyone wants to see. If we do see it, I like the Magic to win it. Cleveland is a very big team with Shaq, Varejao, Jamison and Ilgauskas. But what they lack are good guards. Other than Mo Williams, Cleveland doesn’t have any decent guards. The Magic should be able to use guards Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter to their advantage against the Cavs. And it’s not like Orlando is a small team with Dwight Howard, Marcin Gortat and Rashard Lewis. The Magic also have the best record in Eastern Conference play and shoot the ball very well. I think they will get past Cleveland.

Western Conference Finals

(3) Phoenix Suns vs. (4) Denver Nuggets

This is another series where I think home court advantage is key, because of the Nuggets poor home record. On top of that, the Suns won the season series 3-1, and with how well they’ve been playing, especially Amare Stoudemire, I’m going with the Suns.

NBA Finals

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (3) Phoenix Suns

The two teams split the season series, Orlando dominating their first meeting and barely losing the second. The Magic have everything. They have size with Dwight Howard, who in my opinion is the best center in the game. They shoot threes so well, setting an NBA record for three pointers made in a single season. I really like everything about the way they play. Phoenix is also a very good three point shooting team that likes to push the tempo and score in transition. They have a good inside game with the red hot Amare Stoudemire. But I’m still going with the Magic to win the championship this year. They have so much versatility and hold the best point differential, at 7.5 points per game. On top of that, they have beaten every team in the NBA this year and haven’t lost a season series to any team. They can beat anyone, anywhere and they will beat the Suns for the NBA championship.

I have asked some teachers some questions about gang related activites. I have asked these questions because many students have been getting in trouble for gang related things. I asked principals and teachers these questions. The two questions are what you would tell people who are in gangs and do you think that red and black should be considered gang related since it is school colors.

Q: What would you tell people who are in gangs?

Mrs. Macon-Belmont: she said that she would tell people that it is a loose, loose situation. She would also say let my people go because there is no place for that.

Deputy Mosley: she would say that gangs are a no win situation, and you will either go to jail, prison, or end up killed.

Mrs. Harran: she would say that you are throwing your life away and that there is no future for gang members.

Q: Do you think that red and black should be considered gang related even though it is school colors?

Mrs. Macon-Belmont: She said it depends on who is wearing it and how they are displaying it.

Deputy Mosley: She said yes, because some of the gangs hide up under school colors.

Mrs. Harran: she said no, if the students are wearing it in support of school color then no. But kids who have been known to be in gangs start wearing the colors often then they should not be able to wear the colors. But always be on the lookout.

Lunch timings, in my opinion, are not set up to appeal the average eighth grade student. I think the timings for eighth grade lunch should be earlier than they are right now. Sixth graders should get their lunch last. Seventh graders should get their lunch second, and eighth graders should get lunch first. Eighth graders work much harder than sixth and seventh graders, which results in them getting hungry quicker. If they get their lunch earlier in the school day, then they will have the energy to work more and better the rest of the day. Also since it is the eighth graders’ last year at this school, this could make their last year a good one.

We interviewed several people on bus 357 and asked the question, “What do you do on the bus?” the responses were as follows:

Nicole ( 8th): I talk to people and hang out with 8th grade friends and do homework

Abby (6th): Talk, play on Megan’s iTouch, sleep when I’m tired, EAT a lot, laugh, scream (YES), tickle Priyanka (7th grade friend on bus), play with Megan’s hair. Also, tell people that she’s the sweetest out of the bunch (hahaha), make fun of people while “trying” to be sweet.

Well this is a few of the people we interviewed and from all grades.