Benchmark Tests. Prepare For STAAR. Peek of The Ash Girl at HS. Nov. 18, 2016An online student publication of Melissa Middle School Volume 6

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1 Nov. 18, 2016An online student publication of Melissa Middle School Volume 6 Benchmark Tests By Brianne Finnell MMS Band will march in the annual Melissa Christmas Parade on Dec. 3 at 6:00 p.m. with many of the town s groups and organizations. A holiday favorite, Jingle Bells, is one of the songs they will play, as they perform through the streets. Clubs and organizations may participate by contacting the Melissa Chamber of Commerce. Before the parade, there will be activities including the Reindeer Run, which starts at 5:15. The event offers entertainment for people of all ages. Prepare For STAAR By Neemah Mureithi Students in seventh and eighth grade took Benchmark tests to prepare for the STAAR exams. Taking this exam gives teachers the opportunity to see where students are academically, in each subject tested. MMS has a high percentage of passing students, according to Jim Miller. For students this is just a dress rehearsal so if you don t pass it s just a warning, Jim Miller said. actors To perform Sneak Peek of The Ash Girl at HS By Ethan Henderson MMS Performing Arts presents The Ash Girl Dec. 1, 7 p.m. at the High School Cafeteria. This performance is a sneak preview of their UIL competition production scheduled for Dec. 3 at Princeton High School. Having the opportunity to get in front of an audience before the competition should give the actors and techies a chance to get the kinks out, MMS Director Louise Hickey said. There is nothing like a live audience to inspire the players, she added. Veteran actor Mattie McGrady rehearses the leading role for The Ash Girl. Photo by Louise Hickey

2 Court In Session Cardinals Ballin For Basketball Season By Alexis McCombs The Cardinals begin their Basketball season with tryouts and big expectations for the upcoming year. Hard work is the remedy for success, according to Coach Crossland. My goals for the season are to get better every week and to win the District Championship, he said. As the season begins, the Cardinals strive to improve and succeed by working hard and putting in their best effort on and off the court. Cardinal Basketball season begins this week. Photo By Brianne Finnell Robotics Recruits Students Melissa High School Robotics Team builds robots. Graphic art by Ethan Henderson & Colton Thomas By Ashley Vasquez Do you like math and engineering? These robotics students do. Last Wednesday, the MHS Robotics team swept many students away with their robot they built themselves. During all middle school lunches, the club members explained what they do in robotics. They brought a robot they built in the club, made to herd pigs and pick ears of corn. The creative team used squeakers shaped as pigs for herding and cylinder shaped foam as corn. Rick Gagarin, the robotics coach, wants all the 8th graders to join robotics club next year so the Melissa High School Robotics club can continue.

3 Can You do ThIS? MMS Students are Flexible By Mia Rodriguez Ashton Fisher, 6th grade student, showing off his strange talent. Photo By Kate Fletcher Flexibility is a key to Ashton Fisher s and Maisy Gustavson's talent. These students at MMS are both unusually flexible. I ve been able to do this talent for about five years and I don t know anyone else that can do it, Maisy Gustaveson, 6th grade student, said. Ashton Fisher seems to be one of the few with this same extraordinary flexibility. Well I ve known how to do this since I was three years old. I don t know anyone else that can do it, Fisher said. While being flexible has often been a good trait in problem-solving, these students bring a whole new light to its meaning. Maisy Gustaveson, 6th grade student, showing off her strange talent. Photo by Kate Fletcher Thanksgiving Traditions Graphic By Ethan Henderson By Mackenzie Wilkie Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy the company of family and friends. Some traditions of Thanksgiving are families travel to different places to go and see other family members. The traditional food stays the same such as turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes,etc. Now we get to the best part, the dessert. The best pie flavors are pumpkin, pecan, and apple. Thanksgiving has many fun facts such as that the Cowboys play on Thanksgiving every year. The first Thanksgiving had no turkey.

4 Thanksgiving Dreams When You Wish Upon A Wishbone By Caylen Underwood and Liberty Davis My Thanksgiving wish is that everyone in my family will be able to sit down and enjoy each other's company. My Thanksgiving wish is that my grandfather can spend time with us this Thanksgiving because he is sick. - Ashton Mitchell-Johnson - Cayden Cooke My Thanksgiving wish is that all the homeless people have food. My Thanksgiving wish is to be with my family and appreciate all they ve done for me. - Cole Milburn - Grace Lofaro My Thanksgiving wish is to eat a bunch of food and go to my family s house. My Thanksgiving wish is to have my great grandma travel safely to get to our Thanksgiving dinner. - Kendyl Stout - Brooklee Waltrip

5 NJHS Welcomes New Members By Chau Hua & Annemarie Miller The NJHS ceremony is a way to welcome new members to the program. The ceremony took place at the MMS Competition Gym, headed up by Susie Webb, NJHS adviser, who introduced each new member as they each came up to the podium to receive their certificate and goody bag. Judson Greer, NJHS president, started the ceremony with a welcoming speech. The rest of the officers gave their speeches about the five pillars of NJHS, which included scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship. All the inductees then pledged to always follow and exemplify those characteristics that represents an NJHS member. The ceremony continued with Susie Webb introducing the new initiates, while they each came up the podium to receive their certificate and goody bag. After everyone was formally Susie Webb addressing new members. inducted, Judson Greer Photo By Carl Finnell ended the ceremony with a few last words of gratitude and welcome as the crowd was dismissed for reception. Reserve a Thespian Actors Begin Service Project on Campus Natalie Somers helps Savanna Smith carry her backpack. Photo by Annemarie Miller By Savanna Smith Melissa Middle School is introducing a new service program called Reserve a Thespian. This program is being started to help the theatre students gain enough service points to allow them to be in Drama Club next year, and to learn leadership skills. Some of the services they do are helping students carry their backpack, clean and organize items for a teacher, or deliver a singing telegram. This service will run through Dec. 16.

6 Webb s Reading Wonderland Mrs. Webb introduces the Post Mortem project to her 7th grade honors class. Photo by Kate McMinn By Sydney Enoch and Kate McMinn Susie Webb, a 7th grade honors and academic reading teacher, implements a variety of activities that keep all students actively engaged, according to 7th grader Logan Lowery. I like Mrs.Webb because she is always engaging with us whether it's a book or roasting other kids in class. It's just great, Lowery said. Webb has been teaching at Melissa for ten years. Webb and her husband heard great things about Melissa. We wanted to be a part of what was happening here, Webb said. I love reading: where it takes me, who I meet, and what I learn as I read. --Susie Webb In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Webb is also the National Junior Honors Society Coordinator. Webb creates a positive atmosphere for the honor society. Seventh grader Kate Shaw enjoys the people in NJHS and everyone involved. It's really fun having Mrs. Webb as the NJHS leader, because she makes everything feel more comfortable, Shaw said. She's also an awesome teacher, which makes it even better, and I'm really looking forward to doing all the activities and serving for her and NJHS. It's going to be an amazing year and I'm excited for it, she added. Webb has a tremendous love for reading. I love reading: where it takes me, who I meet, and what I learn as I read. I want to help my students to really experience all they can through reading and enrich their lives, Webb said. A lifelong reader, Webb indicated that her favorite quote was by George R. R. Martin. A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. A man who never reads lives only one. Susie Webb leads NJHS meeting. Photo By Brianne Finnell Evident to her students and colleagues, Webb certainly loves what she does. I have two favorite parts about teachingnumber one is the students I get to interact with every day; number 2, our staff is unbelievably supportive, fun, and absolutely all about the students and other staff members. Photo By Sydney Enoch

7 Coffee with Clency A coffee critique by Clency Richardson Fall Flavors Brewing! Starbucks quite often has holiday drinks and desserts.this Thanksgiving brought three new flavors of fall, including S mores Frappuccino, Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino, and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. Out of these choices, which one sounds more appealing? In the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino there s nutmeg, cinnamon, and a lot of pumpkin spice, which might be strong for some people. The S mores includes graham cracker syrup, marshmallow cream, the Salted Caramel Mocha includes mocha sauce, toffee-nut-flavored syrup, milk, ice, and on top whipped cream, caramel, and sea salt. So if you want a little excitement in this year s Thanksgiving break, then get some amazing Starbucks drinks *winks*. Photo by Kenzie Frasier May The FOR Club Be With You By Neemah Mureithi The FOR club members are going into action by writing positive notes on the sidewalk. This is to help kids start the day with a positive attitude. The FOR club represents Friends of Rachel. In addition, MMS is having the a Reindeer Run to support Rachel s Challenge. The For club is trying to spread kindness and positivity all over the school. Positive comments written on sidewalk Photo by Neemah Mureithi

8 What Does This Button Do? Student Answers ScrLK Mystery By Aubrey Bell When I looked at it did not lock the screen. ScrLK key, I wondered I finally gave in and what it was for. Mrs. searched Google. This is Hickey gave her best what I found. guess, but was not When the Scroll Lock certain of its purpose, mode is on, the arrow either. keys would scroll the I did what any contents of a text normal, curious person window, instead of with time on her hands moving the cursor. would do-- I played Well, there you have it. around with it. Nothing Mystery solved. happened. I thought it I don t know what that meant Scroll Lock, but means, but I hope you Photo By Aubrey Bell when I tried scrolling, do. Campus Observes National Diabetes Awareness Month By Brenna Smith Melissa Middle School wore blue on Nov. 14 to support National Diabetes Awareness Month. National Diabetes Month is observed every November in communities across the country. Diabetes impacts millions of Americans. This year s theme is Managing Diabetes: It s Not Easy, But It s Worth It. People may continue their support throughout the entire month of November, by wearing blue. Talking about it to friends and family is also a good way to bring awareness to the community. Students dress in blue to support diabetes awareness. Photo By Sydney Enoch

9 Kate s Fashion Corner A Fashion Review By Kate Fletcher Consumers Run to Stores For New Adidas Superstars Adidas Superstars are striped shoes that are worn all around the nation. The collection includes 35 models, including the plain white shoes with the black stripes on them you may see daily. The Superstar is being worn by 75% of all NBA players, which is proof of its revolutionary effectiveness. Adidas sells these shoes at most shoe and department stores, such as JCPenney, Academy, Kohls, Dicks Sporting Goods, Macys, etc. I personally think the Superstars are the kind of shoe that could go with any outfit you would choose to wear, in my opinion I think they might be one of my favorite shoes that Adidas has ever produced. Photo by Kenzie Frasier MMS collects cans for food drive By Chloe Gorman MMS conducted a food drive, headed up by Student Council and Debbie Duguid.. Heidi Thompson s class donated the most cans, with a total of 881. Second place was Taylor Rescnik s class, with 761. Third place was Amanda Hardy s class, with 390 cans. All the cans donated will go to the Melissa Food Bank for people who can t afford food. The food drive began on Nov.1 and ended on Nov. 16. MMS students competed to see which homeroom class could bring the most cans. The winner gets to go out to eat with Principal Jim Miller.

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11 Natalie and Astrid s Survey Session! Article by Natalie Somers and Astrid Easton Photos by Natalie Somers Melissa Cardinals Favorite Holidays Allie Norton, 8th Grade My favorite holiday is Christmas because it s the most fun and has a good meaning. The tradition we have is we go out to a light show. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because it s all about bringing the family together as we have a delicious meal! Cade Gentry, 7th Grade Cheyanne Kennedy, 6th grade My favorite holiday is Halloween because I get to dress up. Every year I go trick or treating! My favorite holiday is Halloween because you get a bunch of candy, and I like candy. Sometimes, I go trick or treating. Nolan Somers 8th grade Emma Schooly, 7th grade My favorite holiday is Christmas because we get to put a lot of decorations and spend time with family. My favorite holiday is President s Day because I like presidents. They do good stuff! Russell Clark, 7th Grade

12 SHOUT OUT! A Celebration of Cards Who Model Excellence S/O to Katelyn Garza for always keeping the school looking good. Without asking, she helped clean the cafeteria and I witnessed her picking up trash in the classroom and the hallway. Way to take pride in your school! --- Alexandria Eichel S/O to Anna Gressett for making book reviews for QR codes. While visiting the library, students can use these QR codes to access book reviews on the back of some of our library books. --- Cari Montgomery Happy Thanksgiving from The MMS Times Staff Editor...Brianne Finnell Copy Editor...Elizabeth Reynoso Photo Editors...Mya DeLeon, Clency Richardson News Editors.....Ashley Vasquez,Caylen Underwood Liberty Davis,Kate Fletcher Sports Editor.... Alexis McCombs Graphic Artists.. Colton Thomas & Ethan Henderson Feature Teacher...Kate McMinn, Sydney Enoch Graphic Art By Colton Thomas News Correspondents: Aubrey Bell, Jagger Burrus, Astrid Easton, Kenzie Fraser, Chloe Gorman, Chau Hua, Annemarie Miller, Neemah Mureithi, Mia Rodriguez, Brenna Smith, Savanna Smith, Natalie Somers, Mackenzie Wilke Adviser...Louise Hickey