Hoofprint

The only sports played during the winter at MMS are men’s and women’s basketball. That is a big difference from the fall when there is three different sports going on at one time. Coach Hill, the men’s basketball team coach said that he has an older team with six returning players, and wants hustle, hustle, hustle. The team has a lot more experience than previous years and expects to win. MMS is looking forward to a long energetic season because this is one of our best teams in a while and we can easily produce points whenever we want. Coach Hill likes the hard work from the players which will give them momentum to win their games. To sum it up everyone is expecting a pretty good season for the Boys Mustangs team.

I also talked to the women’s basketball coach, Coach Vickery, and one of the returning players. Coach Vickery also said that there is a lot of talent and experienced returners from last year. He said that he and the assistant coach made new offensive plays that are nearly unstoppable. Almost half of their team is returners, with a total of five. Lily (8th grade) said that, “the team is going to grow, and is a lot better than the teams in the past”.

MMS is looking forward to these great seasons. We have a great crowd here so it will make it difficult for all of the visiting teams to concentrate. I think that the players and coaches will do their part.

We hope to see all of the readers at the MMS games. The price is only four dollars, and we all would appreciate your support for MMS. The schedule for the teams are below.

The bus, a common way for the average student to get to school and home daily but how do students really feel about it? I decided to ask a few MMS students about how they feel about the bus and the results are as follows.

First I interviewed Laith, an eighth grader here at MMS and I asked him if he enjoyed his bus rides. Laith said, “Yes and no , In the morning I don’t like the ride because I want some quiet but I’m constantly hearing noise.” After that I asked him if he found the bus more efficient than alternate transportation and Laith said, “Yes because if you have friends on the bus you have more fun and have the opportunity to make new friends.” I was also wondering if our students all had the choice between carpool and the bus which would you want? Laith said, “The bus because my friends ride my bus and its great and a ‘thrill ride’.”

I decided to get some more information out of a few more students just to see if anyone else thought anything else of it. I decided to interview Nic a seventh grader and these are the answers to my questions. He said, “I sometimes enjoy the bus, because some kids are mean and other times they are nice.” This was a bit of a surprise to me so I decided to learn more about this. I then asked if he thought the bus was more efficient and he said, “Yes I think it helps prevent pollution because multiple people are riding in the same vehicle.” I asked whether he would choose carpool or bus and he said, “The bus because I have a long drive home and I’m with my friends so I have people to talk to.”

I decided to interview one more student named Sarah. She’s a sixth grade and is just starting the MMS bus experience. When I asked if she enjoyed the bus she said, “Yes but sometimes it’s slightly boring but most of the time we start talking.” When it comes to the efficiency question Sarah said, “Yes because it saves on gas and transports more kids in the same vehicle.” I finally made it to my last question and asked her preference and she said, “Bus because the one time I rode carpool I was late. Plus it’s more efficient for me.” Fellow MMS students conclude that the bus is an efficient way of transportation.

The bus is a good way to get from place to place in the mornings and afternoons. If you rode the bus in Elementary School than I would definitely ride the bus in Middle School because you will be with familiar people from your neighborhood. If you’re new to the whole “bussing” situation then I might recommend taking it slowly and getting yourself used to it.

I feel that I agree to some extent with the students I have interviewed but I would certainly rather be in carpool. Despite the fact that the bus is more energy efficient I still find my bus far too chaotic for my taste. That’s just my honest opinion but maybe you have your own.

All parents or guardians received letters talking about the school assignment policy in mid-November, 2011. The school assignment policy is a plan to give your child choices of which school to be enrolled on. In this plan, you have the option to discover which school is for your child’s and family’s needs. From there, the children will grow as a learner to achieve. The school district believes in the potential of all the students and is committed to providing an education.

The key points of the student assignment policy are if a family is happy with the school they child is in, they can stay within their current transportation. Families who have a child moving from elementary to middle or middle to high can stay in the newly approved feeder pattern of their child’s existing school. Each school will be part of a defined feeder pattern that will provide students with a predictable, stable path to senior year of high school. In this plan, the magnet program will not change. Therefore, all magnet schools and programs will continue. The people participating in this plan are families with rising kindergarteners and families new to the system. Also, existing families who want to change school assignments. Lastly, families who have a child moving from elementary to middle or middle to high would like to choose a different school from their list rather than staying within their newly approved feeder pattern of their school.

According to Mr. Martin, the school assignment policy mostly affects eighth graders. If the eighth grader is a magnet student, they will go to Enloe. However, if the eighth grader is a base student, they will go to Broughton. This policy helps families that have moved to Wake County and that need to know which school they will be assigned. The policy also exists so families have more choices in terms of schools and so all schools in the county will be filled with children. In Mr. Martin’s opinion, the school assignment will work, but may take some time to make it work.

Do you know your teachers? Well here is the greatest one of all her name is Ms. Sorrell. She is the math teacher on the Mantas team. I would describe Ms. Sorrell as kind, smart, helpful, funny, and cool. Ms. Sorrell went to Meredith College but, for masters degree in teaching at East Carolina University or [ecu]. She decided to become a math teacher because she wanted to be a teacher but, later she started to get into math. Ms. Sorrell has been a math teacher for 7 years. She said really likes her job. She likes the teaching but not the meetings. Ms. Sorrell likes to work with 6th graders because she enjoys the energy that 6th graders have when they learn. Ms. Sorrell hobbies outside of school are swimming, playing the Wii, and spending time with friends and family. Ms. Sorrel likes to have a good time. Ms. Sorrell’s favorite thing about MMS is the diversity of the school and people get to choose their own electives which most schools don’t. Her favorite memory is Mr. Hale because he makes everyone feel special. Also he help her when she started teaching. Plus he

Do you think you know Mrs. Cleveland? Well there are some things you might not know. For example when I asked Mrs. Cleveland, “What was your favorite part of middle school?” She responded, “I hated middle school I can’t remember one good thing about it!” Then she quickly added, “No offense.” I also asked her how long she had been teaching she simply said, “six years.” Which then lead to my question of why she decided to start teaching? “Have you always wanted to be a teacher?” She quickly responded with no. “What did you want to be?” she responded, “I wanted to work for a professional sports team!” That made me continue, “I college what was your major?” I asked “Exercise and Sports Science” she replied. Then I also asked “What are some of your favorite professional sports team?” She replied, “Philadelphia eagles, The Phillies, and the San Francisco Giants.”

To change the subject to some more personal questions such as “what are some of your hobbies?” she simply replied “Running.” And “what is your favorite animal?” she replied “Cats”. Then we want back to the subject of school. “How is middle school different today than when you were a kid?” I asked “It’s very different structurally but the kids are the same” she responds. “Where did you go to Middle school?” my question was, she politely responded “Talley Junior High in Wilmington Delaware.” I asked her “What careers did you have before I coached for soccer, field hockey, and basketball?” “I have been a teacher for 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade, and a fashion merchandiser, advertising sales.” I also asked “Mrs. Cleveland where did you go to college?” she replied “University of Chapel hill (UNC) and Arizona State University (ASU).”

Also two other questions I asked were “Is there any advice you would like to give to rising 6th graders and/or other students?” and “What are some tips for excelling in your class?” she took these two questions very seriously. Her response to them was “Take responsibility for your choices.” And “actively participate and be respectful" I then asked “what is the nicest thing a student has done for you?” she politely responded “I got a really nice card from a student saying how I had changed her view of school.” How sweet! Do kids who you taught in middle school ever come back to visit you from high school and/or college?” she responded “No because none of them live in North Carolina, I just moved here from Arizona.” Who I didn’t know that! “Mrs. Cleveland how was your thanksgiving?” I asked she responded with enthusiasm “Wonderful! I got to spend a lot of time with my family and even some of my friends. I loved it!” Now do you still think you know Mrs. Cleveland?

Summery Jack (Adam Sandler) is a successful commercial producer. Over Thanksgiving, his sister, Jill (also Adam Sandler) comes to visit and ends up staying through the New Year’s celebrations. In the time she is there Jill goes on a bunch of crazy adventures that include being a contestant on a game show, horseback riding and Philippe, the gardener, brings her to a festival where she has Mexican food for the first time. On the way back, Philippe tries to tell Jill he loves her, but she is too busy “dropping chimichanga bombs” to notice. When the New Year comes, Jack and his family decide to let Jill go on the family’s New Year’s cruise. When Jill leaves early from the cruise upset, she goes to a party where Jack and his family come and defend her from old classmates. If you want to know how it ends, go see the movie Jack and Jill! Lainey’s Take: Overall, I thought Jack and Jill was a very good movie. It was funny and family oriented. The only things I found a little weird were that Adam Sandler played both Jack and Jill and the rude humor. I GAVE IT 4 MUSTANGS!!!

Hannah’s Take: I disliked it, and did not like the rude humor at all. I found all of the jokes to have rude humor and politically incorrect parts in them. Though some parts were funny, the beginning and end had disturbing depictions of twin babies. The message the movie got across was very sentimental. Though how they sent, I did not like. I GAVE IT 1 MUSTANG!!!

Do you hear gossip and insults in the halls? Even behind the person’s back? Well, that is just an example of how MMS students treat each other. I have interviewed five people about how their peers treat each other in their cores and electives. First I talked to a 7th grade Explorer, Noah; I asked him how students at MMS treat each other in general. Noah replied “Well, mainly with respect.” Then I asked the same to two others, Ryan, another Explorer, he replied “Well, school is fine, but, the bus is another story.” A 6th grade Shark, Harry, said “They care about each other.” Then, afterwards, I asked the kids to rate themselves based on how they think they treat others. On average, they said either eight or nine. I also asked them how often they see the students around them treat each other with disrespect. On average I got the answer “No more than a few times a day.” So, if you want a better school day, treat others well.

The gum policy is it worth it? Students aren’t supposed to chew gum at school, but some do it anyway. I mean, have you looked under the desks in the computer lab, or the art room? Some students think they should be allowed to chew gum because it helps their brain think and because it doesn’t bother them when other people chew gum. Of course there are people who disagree with them. They don’t like when people disregard the gum policy because gum gets on their shoes. Miss. Fuller, the art teacher said “I love the gum policy because I just had to scrape gum off of one of my tables and it was nasty.” Also, Mr. McDonald said, “I think you look like a cow when you chew gum.’”

The gum policy exists because the teachers and janitors don’t want to have to clean up the gum on the desks or anywhere on school property. Some people love the gum policy even though they love to chew gum! Mr. Cox, the assistant principal said, “On the breezeway you can see where the students put their chewed gum.”

Hannah of 6th grade said, “I think that the gum policy should be that you have to get your parents signature on a sheet of paper and if the teacher catches you with gum you have to show the signature or else you would get lunch detention, and would stay after school to clean up any gum in the classroom under desks.” Others say they like the way the gum policy is. Ms. Peckham said she doesn’t miss gum at school at all. “It was everywhere,” said Mr. Cox, “Mostly the breezeway.” Over all, The Gum Policy is needed!

Get ready, get set, read! It’s time again for Battle of the Books (B.O.B). Grab your reading glasses and thinking caps.

What is B.o.B.? B.O.B is a competition where students read from a list of books. Then on 1/4/12-1/6/12 there will be a competition. During that completion two opposite teams will be asked questions. They will have to give the answer by saying the title of the book. They may get 2 points if they get the title right and one if they get the author correct. How does B.O.B work? There will be one team of 12 students. That team will be broken in two. One team of the two will play against another team. That will narrow the team that had 12 to now being 6. There will be 12 questions the two teams will be asked. They will have 20 seconds to answer each question. Only one person may answer the question, but in your 20 seconds they can discuss the answer with their team. They must wait until they hear the person that is going to answer the question’s name is called a second time. If they don’t they will be warned and the second time they will have to give the question to the other team. If they get the answer wrong the question will go to the opposing team, but if they think the answer is right they may challenge the judges by raising their hand and saying “time”. They will have 3 minutes to prove their answer is right. How can you get ready? The first way they can get ready is to read the selected books (no brainer). As they read each book try & memorize the author and pay attention to the details. Think about questions they might be asked. Write the question on an index card. Organize each book by the genres (science fiction, myth). It will help them when they have to say the answer. They can practice memorizing the author and thinking of the questions with a friend. Make sure that each member of the team reads the book he/she is assigned to read.

Go MMS B.O.B team!

Toniyah Allis Kush Emir Kathrine Addie Laurd Taylor McKenna Emily Anna Lydia Anvita Lucy Joshua Liam Vivek Sharient Eloise Sofie Shreya Selena Dillion Sydney Patrick Luke Natalye Jay Lainey Stacy Athena Lauren Faizan

When Coach Castro (better known as “Mary Jane” to the sixth grade girls), was in sixth grade, he was an average student. He kept busy, stayed out of trouble and liked sports. Maybe that is why he is a P.E teacher. A few days ago, I interrupted his floor hockey class, but he still agreed to be asked a few questions. The native of Queens, N.Y moved because the teaching jobs here were better and easier to find. I am pretty sure that he could have found a PE teaching job up in Queens though. Before he took up teaching, he played professional soccer and attended a college called SUNY Cortland. Despite his impressive background he does not coach any MMS teams. However, he did coach two C.A.S.L. teams. Both of those teams finished number one in the state. I see a MMS coaching job in his future. Despite that, it’s not just soccer that he likes tied for his favorite sport is basketball. His favorite sport to watch is football. Although one of his favorite sports is basketball, he does not care about the NBA lockout, and prefers college basketball.

Even though he looked very happy when I interrupted him in the middle of his floor hockey and appears to love his job, he says that he would like some jobs more than the one that he has currently the job he would like the most would be a college coach or becoming a doctor. The MMS teachers are all pretty close but he says that he is best friends with the PE teachers at MMS; Coach Hill and Coach Calabrese. From time to time when for some reason, we cannot do our real electives, we play games. These games usually involve throwing dodge balls as fast as you can at or near another player. His favorite of these games is called Greek Dodge. This is pretty much like regular dodge ball, except you play for points, by achieving certain tasks. His favorite elective to teach, he says is probably flag football. His favorite NFL team is the Giants (hence his birthplace).

He has been teaching at MMS for seven years. That is at least twice as long as any students have been here at MMS. He has also been teaching two years longer than our principle. He chooses to teach P.E because he likes kids and he enjoys sports. Finally, I asked him if his name was Mary Jane, he never answered. Coach Castro, the former average middle school students and professional soccer player, obviously has lots of teaching and coaching talent. He is also a very nice man and a very fun PE teacher. I hope that that after reading this blog you know coach Castro more than you did before.