L I N G L E S T O W N M I D D L E S C H O O L RAMpages 2.0 I S S U E # 2 N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 2 The Wrath of Hurricane Sandy As we all well know, hurricane Sandy struck us here in Pennsylvania on Monday October 29, 2012. She caused many, many problems, and people across the Northeast are still recovering from her effects. Before she even came to the United States, Sandy left a path of destruction all through the Caribbean. The monster storm made landfall in New Jersey on Monday, causing damage to hundreds of coastal towns and cities. New York City was hit especially hard. The areas struck by this Super-Storm experienced power outages, major flooding, property damage, and many, many safety concerns, and she claimed over 100 lives in the United States alone. Bringing sustained winds of up to 90 miles per hour, up to eight inches of rain, and three feet of snow in mountainous areas, you can be sure that Hurricane Sandy packed more of punch than many people expected. In terms of power outages, more than 8.1 people across 17 states were without power at some point from this massive hurricane. Utility crews were coming from all over the U.S. from as far as the West Coast in preparation for the epidemic of outages sure to be brought by the storm, but even so, millions of people were without power for weeks. The property damage was initially projected to be around $30 million but has since risen into the billions of dollars After the storm, most of the damage was seen in New York City. All underground utilities (including subways) had flooded, and blew power transformers throughout the entire city. The New York Marathon was scheduled for soon after the hurricane, and instead of cancel- ling it, it was decided to use it as a creative way to help those affected by the storm. However, after a backlash from the community, the mayor of New York City decided to cancel the marathon. The American Red Cross set up shelters across the Northeast, and around 1,900 people spent one or more nights in 16 of these shelters across the affected regions. Nearly 9,000 Red Cross workers spread across the affected areas to help those hit by the superstorm. They made it a priority to get meals and water to the victims, and have served more than 6 million meals and snacks, as well as delivered more than 2 million relief items such as clean-up kits. We still have a long way to go in restoring places like New York, New Jersey, and even our own community, but with the help of people from across the country, we are making our way, slowly but surely, back to our former glory. Written by Maggie S.
Do you want to keep up with what is going on in the world around you but don t have time to watch the news every night? Check out CNN s Student News website for daily 10-minute videos that recap important news you need to know. The videos are posted daily at 4:00 a.m. www.cnn.com/studentnews Red Ribbon Week Donations During Red Ribbon Week, the Bully Prevention Club had students sign a pledge at lunch to be drug, alcohol, and bully free. The National Junior Honor Society handed out red I MADE THE PLEDGE! wrist- bands to any student who signed the pledge and donated $1.00 to the National Bullying Prevention Center. National Junior Honor Society is proud to announce that $83.00 was raised and will be donated to the National Bullying Prevention Center. Great job, LMS! Daffodil Days are Coming! National Junior Honor Society is once again teaming up with the American Cancer Society for this year s Daffodil Days Campaign. Last year LMS raised $1,971.50 for the American Cancer Society through the sale of daffodils. Our goal this year is $2,200.00! Let s make it happen, LMS! PRIZES will be awarded to the top sellers @ LMS! Watch for more details coming in January 2013. R A M P A G E S 2. 0
I S S U E # 2 Staff Spotlight: Mr. McMinn This issue s teacher interviewee is Mr. McMinn. Mr. McMinn is the eighth grade math teacher on the Viking s Team. How long have you been a teacher? I have been teaching in the CD School District since 1992. LMS is the third school that I've worked in. I started at East Middle School and then I worked at CDE High School. This is my 4th year at LMS. Were you in any careers beforehand? If so, how long were you employed there? Before I became a teacher, I was in the Army. I spent four years in the military serving overseas in Germany and Iraq. I was also stationed in New York and Virginia. What made you become a teacher? After I got out of the military I interviewed for several business jobs. At that point nothing immediately caught my interest, so I went back to school and got my teaching certificate. My father, who was a teacher and a principal, was my inspiration. Do you have a wife? Children? My wife, who I met while teaching, is an educator in the Lower Dauphin school district. We have two children. What extracurricular activities are you in charge of or apart of? My favorite part of teaching is working with students outside of the classroom. In the district I have been a football coach, softball coach, basketball coach and I also coached 1 year of wrestling. At LMS I am responsible for running the clock during the middle school basketball games. Any words to the wise you wish to share with students? I encourage all students to try their best at everything they do. That doesn't always mean that they receive the highest marks or awards, but hard work will pay off in the end. How do you think the team is doing? The Freshmen football team completed their fine season with a record of 8 wins and 3 losses. (Two of the losses were only by 6 points.) The team got better throughout the season. In fact, the team won their final 3 games by a combined score of 105-21. Would you encourage anyone who wants to play football to join the team? Playing on the Central Dauphin football team is a privilege. The players must perform well in school and on the field. The players make a commitment by attending conditioning and strength training in the spring and the summer, well before practice starts in August. Interview by Isabella G. Student Spotlight: Mackenzie B. This issue s student interview is with Mackenzie B., an eighth grader on the Viking s Team. Name: Mackenzie B. Age: 13 Grade: 8 th Extracurricular Activities: Yearbook Editor Sports: Use to cheer, but none right now, although I love to watch and play football with my brother and neighbors. Favorite Movie: Finding Nemo Schools Attended: Holy Name of Jesus, Mountain View Elementary, and Linglestown Middle School Other Places You ve Lived: Nowhere Family: My brothers, Brian and Matt, and my mom and dad. I also pretty much live with my best friend, Joe. Favorite periods: Enrichment and English Pets: 2 Labradors and a Jack Russell Fox Terrier. She is my baby; I love Ellard. Anything Else You Want People to Know? My favorite TV shows are Desperate Housewives and The Ellen Show! I also love Cap May so much, and I love summer! Interview by Isabella G.
Restaurant Review: Red Robin Where should I even start? Whenever my family goes out to eat there, terrible things happen. But all of the times have the same pattern. Our hostess looks bored out of her mind, we get stuck in a booth that is either too big or too small, someone s food is cold by the time it gets to our table, or the other costumers either have children under the age of ten whining and complaining or are just extremely rude. I don't hate the food, but I've had better. So if you want to eat out, don't go to Red Robin. Review by Isabella G. Restaurant Review: The Manor A little while ago, my uncle took my family to a restaurant called "The Manor". I have to admit, I wasn't too thrilled at first to go, but the second I got in there I loved it. They had food for everyone! Even my little sister, who is a picky eater, seemed to enjoy her meal. I loved the decor of the restaurant part of The Manor. If you go, I would suggest wearing jeans and a nice t-shirt. It isn't overly fancy, but I wouldn't suggest walking in with a pair of sweats on. Our waiter and host were nice, patient (it was our first time there, it took us awhile to figure out what we wanted to eat), and funny. He suggested some foods, such as there loaded fries, and my family's verdict was delicious! On the topic of food, I would rank it on my top five restaurants I think has great food. All of us were so stuffed; we ended up taking the rest of our meals to-go. I thank my uncle for showing me this restaurant and I hope you all enjoy it too if you go! Review by Isabella G. 300 S. Hershey Rd Harrisburg, PA 17112 717-545-2338 R A M P A G E S 2. 0
I S S U E # 2 Getting Organized: Making a System If you ve read the information below, you ve learned about how to clean out your folders, binders, backpacks, purses, lockers, and anything else that needs cleaning. You know what kind of supplies you need, what to keep on hand, and now you re going to learn how to use those supplies. There are many ways of organizing your school stuff. You can color code, alphabetize, or simply categorize based on your class schedule. I recommend color coding for your locker. If you have a book cover, folder, and notebook for each subject in a predetermined color, i.e. everything green for science, or everything blue for math. This makes it easy between classes to grab the color you need and be on your way. You should also arrange your books in order of your classes, thus allowing you to get all the books you need, and none you don t. For your backpack, make sure you keep everything in folders. That way everything stays nice and neat (and uncrumbled). To keep those folders organized, clean them out after every unit. Get rid of any papers you won t need anymore. Either keep homework that is still due on a certain side of each class folder, or have a separate one for your homework. Getting organized isn t that hard, but staying organized is the real challenge. I hope this helped to inspire you to organize your life, as well as gave you some sure-fire ways to get yourself (and your stuff) in order. By Maggie S. Let s Get Organized! Organized! Organization is not only helpful to your grades, but it just makes you seem cleaner. Most people, like me, carry around more than you need just to stay on the safe side. But really, here are some supplies lists that ll keep your stuff organized. Locker supplies: your text books and your backpack Things you need for class: a pencil case, color-coded folders, a binder or two notebooks, sticky notes, your agenda, paper clips, index cards, your brain Optional Supplies: a locker shelf, mirror, coloring pencils, white-out, tape/glue, a smart brain By Isabella G.
Editorial: Gym Uniforms In the beginning of this year, we all got standard Phys. Ed uniforms. There have been a lot of mixed emotions about this topic during the past few months. Some people object to them, some like them, and some just don t care either way. I actually feel that the gym uniforms are a good thing, though they could be improved upon. For one thing, it s not like we ve never had gym uniforms before. They ve just been different. We needed to wear a white t-shirt and athletic shorts with sneakers. The only difference is that the old dress code for PE was easier to bend. The new uniforms ensure that students are following the rules and changing for gym class. In the past it s been that people would wear a t- shirt and shorts to school, and not change before gym, but it wouldn t be noticed because they re clothes matched the PE uniform code. I m glad that the new uniforms are different from what most people would wear to school, because in previous years I ve heard it mentioned how it wasn t fair that some people slack off, and still get credit, while most of us followed the rules. Now people who forget their clothes or just can t be bothered to change can be penalized for that, and I feel that that is a good thing. For another thing, the gym uniforms make it so much easier to keep the clothes in check. There are no worries about whether or not the clothes are school appropriate, because everyone wears the same thing. In past years, girls in particular have been wearing not-so-appropriate clothing for gym class, and it was only noticed some of the time. With the new PE dress code in place, there are less incidents of indecency and inappropriate attire. It is plain to see why some people don t like the uniforms, and you can be sure that they aren t exactly my favorite fashion statement in the world. People like the self-expression of being able to choose what they wear, even if it is just the color of their gym shorts, and I understand that, however for a 45 minute period every other day, I think we can all survive a little bit of monotony. In conclusion, while the gym uniforms may be a bit annoying, they are for the better of the students, and for the school as a whole. It makes things easier on us, and on the Phys. Ed. teachers, and as mentioned before, wearing a gray t-shirt and green shorts for 45 minutes at a time will definitely not kill us. Stop focusing on the negatives! Gym class is supposed to be fun, and you can enjoy it much more once you stop complaining about your clothes and PLAY! Written by Maggie S. R A M P A G E S 2. 0
I S S U E # 2 Book Reviews: The Vindico & The Crimson Crown. The Vindico by Wesley King is a great book for boys and girls alike. In a world where superheroes exist, five kids are kidnapped to be trained to become the protégés of the Vindico. The Vindico are the league of villains. The villains give the kids their powers and train them to fight the League of Heroes. But, the kids soon find out that the line between good and evil isn t as clear-cut as it seems. Read The Vindico by Wesley King to find out if the kids become villains or heroes. The Crimson Crown is a wonderful conclusion to Cinda Williams Chima s epic series, The Seven Realms*. The queendom of the Fells is on the verge of destruction, with no one cooperating and everyone pitted against each other. Raisa ana Marianna, queen of the Fells, is trying to keep peace between wizards, clan, and Valefolk, but to no avail. She needs to unite them against a common enemy, who just happens to be the person she is in love with. Han Alister has made enemies out of almost everyone. But, he has discovered a secret that could unite the people of the Fells and win him Raisa s hand. Will his enemies get to him before he can tell it? Find out in The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima. *If you want to read the whole Seven Realms series, here is the order of the books: 1. The Demon King 2. The Exiled Queen 3. The Gray Wolf Throne 4. The Crimson Crown Reviews by Cecilia B. Movie Review: Here Comes the Boom The comedic actor Kevin James is back in his latest film, Here Comes the Boom, in which he takes on the role of Scott Voss, a deadbeat biology teacher. However, that all changes when he finds out that the school s music program is going to be cut, unless they can somehow get the funds they need. Now, Scott s friend, Marty Streb (played by Henry Winkler), is the head of the music department. Therefore, if the program gets cut, Marty will lose his job. Scott knows how much this job means to Marty, and he will stop at nothing to get these funds. Want to know what will happen next? Check your local movie theatre for show times! Review by Laruen S.
WANTED: Newspaper Writers RAMpages 2.0 is in need of student writers in grades 6, 7, and 8 to write a variety of interesting articles for the school newspaper! The staff usually meets once at the beginning of each month to discuss what they want to put into the next edition of the school newspaper. Each person then signs up for an article idea and writes the article during their free time over the next few weeks. Articles and information are then submitted by email to Mr. Andrechik by the end of each month to be published in RAMpages2.0! See Mr. Andrechik in room 210 if you re interested in joining the staff! We need writers for ALL article types! Here are a few ideas Student interviews Staff interviews Feature articles Sports Editorials (opinion pieces) Student polls Quotes Advice Column Trivia Reviews: books, restaurants, movies, etc. A Day in the Life of (a firefighter, doctor, lawyer, etc.) Toys for Tots Linglestown Middle School is collecting new and unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. Please drop off all donations in the main lobby. Thank you!
Quotes That Make You Think Something deeply hidden had to be behind things. ~Albert Einstein Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose. ~Unknown My friend told me I was delusional. I almost fell off my unicorn! ~Unknown "Come to the Nerd Side - We have Pi!" "Sarcasm is the body's natural defense against stupidity." "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots" ~ Albert Einstein "All generalizations are false, including this one." ~ Mark Twain Yes, the past can hurt. But, the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. -Rafiki; from The Lion King I love pictures, because they never change, even when the people in them do. -Anonymous Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. -Benjamin Franklin Your imagination is your preview of life s coming attractions. - Albert Einstein
CHECK YOUR GRADES ONLINE 24/7 USING THE HOME ACCESS CENTER (HAC) By Mrs. Marple Log on to the district website (www.cdschools.org) and look for HAC (home access center) on the green toolbar. Click on HAC. Click on Lost (retrieve) your username or password? Click here. Enter your school e-mail address (Ex: 16smithjl@cdstudents.org) and click on submit.
HAC Continued... You will receive an e-mail through Moodle in your g-mail account with your Home Access username and password. Allow at least 15-20 minutes for this e-mail to arrive in your account. Moodle can be found on the district website on the green toolbar. Once you have your username and password, log into the Home Access Center. You will get a screen like the one to the left. You may update your password by clicking on My Profile on the left column. You may change your password to one which is easier for you to remember such as the one you use at school to log in. Your grades can be accessed by clicking on the CLASSWORK tab. Your schedule and absences are also accessible under the different tabs.
How to Access your H Drive From Home: Go to: www.moodle.cdschools.org Click on CDSD WebFiles (located below the moodle login section) Enter your username and password Select your file and download to work on it When you are finished working on your file, save it as 2003 version Either upload to your H drive or email to your school email account. CD Freshman Football Freshman Football Player Mikey O. It seems like it was just yesterday that we got our pads and helmets. At the beginning of the season we thought we were football players, but by the end WE WERE FOOTBALL PLAYERS. Most of us did not know each other or else we weren t friends. But at the end of all the hard work and rough practices, we came together as a family. We would all help each other with anything. Our coaching staff was great. They got us prepared for the varsity level. Even when I am a senior, I will always look back at my first year on the freshman team. Thank you Coach McMinn, Coach Kessler, Coach Linn, and Coach Eason. I also love all of my teammates and thank them for giving me a great season. Freshman Football Player Clayton T. This season was the beginning of a state championship contending team. Every hill, every sprint, and every mile we ran was just a stepping stone to a PIAA Championship. Coach Kessler, Coach McMinn, Coach Eason, and Coach Linn helped shape us into young men this season. I m very grateful for everything the coaches did for us this season. Every technique they ever taught us was put into great use this season.
NEWSPAPER STAFF Mr. Andrechik Adviser aandrechik@cdschools.org Katie S. Annalise K. Cecilia B. Isabella G. Lauren S. Maggie S. Laura G. If you would like to join the newspaper staff, please contact Mr. Andrechik. Please note school will be in session on Friday, February 15th and Thursday, March 28, 2013 due to Hurricane Sandy. Simple & Healthy Recipes for Teens NACHOS: Very popular with older children and teens. Simply pile tortilla chips on a microwaveproof plate and sprinkle with salsa and nondairy cheddar cheese. For nachos grandes, sprinkle with some drained and rinsed canned black or pinto beans. Microwave just until the cheese melts and serve warm. HOT BEAN DIP: Simple and so good, just combine about 3/4 cup vegetarian refried beans with 1/4 cup good-quality salsa in a serving bowl. Sprinkle with non-dairy cheese, if you d like. Cover and microwave for about 1 minute, then serve with natural stone-ground tortilla chips. CINNAMON-RAISIN TOAST: Raisin bread makes great cinnamon toast and is a great after-school snack served with fruit. Simply toast fresh wholegrain raisin bread, spread lightly with vegan buttery spread like Earth Balance, and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon and natural cane sugar. nuts, pecans, hazelnuts) and dried fruits (raisins, apricots, flour-rolled date pieces, dried cranberries, dried cherries, pineapple, mango, or papaya). For a rich treat, add a small amount of cane-juice sweetened chocolate chips or natural peanut butter chips. INSTANT CREAMY DIP FOR RAW VEG- GIES: Simply combine about 1/3 cup each vegan mayonnaise and plain nondairy (coconut or soy) yogurt in a small bowl. Sprinkle in a little dried dill and seasoned salt or seasoning blend (such as Spike or Mrs. Dash). Stir until smooth. Serve with baby carrots, small broccoli and cauliflower florets, bell pepper strips, and other raw vegetables. SKEWERED FRUIT: Any presentation that adds a bit of interest to fresh fruit is always welcome. Simply cut any fresh fruit in season into TRAIL MIX: Sure, you can buy prepared trail mix, but you may enjoy mixing your own, especially if you re already in the habit of keeping several types of nuts and dried fruits in your pantry. Invent your own combinations of nuts (peanuts, cashews, almonds, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, walbite-sized chunks and alternate on wooden or bamboo skewers with grapes (organic fruit preferred, of course). CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER TRUFFLES : These were, and still may be, my kids favorite homemade snack, even though they are quite grown up now. See photo at the top of the post! Combine 1/2 cup each natural peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter), dairy-free chocolate chips, raisins, and wheat germ or hemp seeds in a food processor. Process until the mixture is completely smooth. You may have to stop the machine and reach in with a spoon a couple of times to break up clumps. Roll into a dozen 1-inch balls; roll them in sesame seeds if you d like. PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY PIZZA : Here s a fun way to give a familiar duo a fun spin. Warm up a good-quality personal-size pizza crust in a toaster oven. Spread with natural-style peanut butter (or other natural nut butter) and all-fruit preserves. Cut into 6 wedges. Makes 2 or 3 snack-size servings.