February 2017: 11th Edition NEWINGTON
The pawtastic Mat Ball battleAn after school mat ball event was held for students, grades 5 - 8, who signed up by cashing in their earned paws. Students and teachers teamed up against one another for the ultimate mat ball battle. Throughout the first 12 innings, the score was held very tight as teams went back and forth with points. Not until entering the tied 13th inning, seconds before the bell to end the game, did it take a huge turn. Gabriel Tirado was up to the plate and managed to nail a kick across the entire court, hitting the backboard of the far basket, just above Mr. Jaksina's attempted block. If you know the rules of the game, hitting the backboard is an automatic five run home run, added to the kids who were already on base. At the time, five kids were on base and that gave Mrs. Laccone's team a total of ten additional runs, thus breaking the tie and ending the game. What made it more awesome, was this kick happened as the bell rang. It was a total buzzer beater ending the game. Both teams erupted in cheers and jeers at the realization of the game changing kick. Congrats to Mrs. Laccone's team, Gabriel's winning kick, and to the kids to participated because they earned the paws. Keep it up and keep an eye out for the next student/teacher after school event!
Obstacle CourseBy: Shashir Kollu and Michael Silva.
The obstacle course was a wellness event that most if not all grades participated in!. It was an athletic pilgrimage that included balance beams, Big Bertha, ropes, and.. a jail! The ideal idea is:because the ropes are SEEMINGLY the student body’s favorite, that is the goal-to get there.. However, you can only get there by getting across the equipment creatively. You can’t touch the floor, though. The floor has also been replaced with open mats. Thankfully, closed mats count as obstacle crossing. They’re safe. But, if crime possesses you to do this, you can.That’s right! Run around the course to the rope swing! However, if a “sheriff” teacher catches you cheating, you’re done for, and are sent to jail.
You’re stuck until the declaration allows you to leave the jail. If you bail from jail before it is out, you stay in jail for the whole rest of the time, or some severe consequence along those lines. So, when you hear cheater, think VICTORY!! Not that we encourage you to cheat any time else!!! WEIRD SportsBy: Michael Silva and Shashir Kollu.
In this day and age, you may think something like sit-ups or push-ups are hardcore weird. These are regular exercises, though. Along with exercise comes sports, which you devourer with love. The point is, you need to treat fittness equally, because some inventors didn’t think of that when creating unpopular from the start weirdness. Check it out! In addition to Valentine's Day, show your P.E. passion with super fun facts!
Look at a lot of weird sports!
(Keep in mind grammar from our website isn’t the most reliable. We’ve added correct punctuation for some of them.) Oddly enough, people attempt these great and dangerous stunts while most people have never even heard of the sport! Show these fun facts to somebody, and we’ll promise a rather outgoing surprise. Work Cited: Wood, Robert. "Complete List of Unusual Sports." Complete List of Weird and Unusual Sports. The Sports Fitness, 2001. Web. 31 Jan. 2017. <http://www.topendsports.com/sport/unusual/list.htm>. Invention ConventionBy Sophia Rathbun
Are you interested about Invention Convention? If so you should join next year. Invention Convention is about the progress not the product’s success. If your prototype isn’t the best, don’t worry, it’s about the demonstration towards the progress of the prototype, not the quality. So what time is Invention Convention? It’s every Thursday after school in the STEM room. You can take the late bus home. Keep reading to learn more.
Invention Convention participants first got an Invention log and a Scamper worksheet. Each letter of Scamper meant something like s for substitute or a for adapt. The invention log had questions like, What problem are you trying to solve? Scamper is important on making your invention. What times are bigger Invention Convention meetings? The Newington Invention Convention is on 3/16/17 at John Wallace. Regional Invention Convention is on 4/8/17 at Goodwin College in East Hartford. CIC finals are on 4/29/17 at Uconn. CIC is Connecticut Invention Convention. Hope to see you there! The rules about CIC are simple. You must spend fifty dollars or less. The prototype must be 2 feet x 1.5 feet. You have to work independently. Your prototype must work and 3d printers are allowed. It must be physical. That is some information about Invention Convention. I hope you are interested and like this information. For more info ask Mr. Machen. |
Fuel Up to Play Jingle Bell RunFuel of To Play 60 sponsored another great afternoon event on Thursday, December 8. It was the Jingle Bell Run. If you looked at the Kellogg fields that day, you definitely saw a lot of festive runners getting active and running the course. Special thanks to Mrs. Leslie and Miss Batista for coordinating this wonderful event.
Game review: Popular gamesBy Victoria Harris
In this past year, there have been quite a few very popular toys. Many people will say their top 2 are Pie Face and Watch ya Mouth. Many people like these two games because they are fun, and they are engaging activities where you don’t have your face paralyzed by a screen but instead, you are having fun with your family.
Pie Face Most people have played this game, or at least have seen it in a commercial on TV, but if you haven’t, Pie Face is a game in which you put your face through a face hole and turn the knobs on either side the amount of times it said on the spinner. If you are lucky, you will not get pie on your face and could possibly win the game. If you aren’t as lucky, the hand covered in whipped cream swings up and smacks pie into your face. I personally think this game is a really fun game, especially if you do it at a party with many people around. I would give this game a 4.5 star rating. Watch ya Mouth I haven’t played this game (yet), but there are videos of people playing it all over the internet and on TV. You play the game by putting a mouthpiece in your mouth to fold your lips back (yes, the kind that dentists use) and you read off a card and people try to guess what you are saying. If you say it in such a way that they don’t get it, you lose, but if they do, you win. This looks like a really fun game and I can’t wait to play it, but for now I’m sticking with its rating of 4 stars. A Pawtastic pride dayOn Friday, January 27th, the Kellogg students who displayed the four pillars throughout the second quarter participated in a grade level Pride Day. The fifth grade went into the gym and participated in activities that Mr. Pilz and Mrs. Siano directed. Some activities included knee tag, the Mexican Hat Dance, and making it rain. Sixth grade participated in Games Galore where they chose two activities they wanted to participate in and they switched half way through the pride celebration. Activities they could choose from were board games, coloring/drawing, Go Noodle, and Improvisation. Seventh grade was in the auditorium playing BINGO and winning various prizes, and grade eight was involved in a difficult game of Jeopardy, involving questions that pertain to Kellogg staff and various trivia. Students had a lot of fun and the pictures will prove that! The next Pride Day celebration will occur at the conclusion of the third quarter. Keep up the good work and we will see you again at the next Pride Day!
Book ReviewsBook Review: WonderBy: Michaela Feldblum
The book Wonder is about a boy named August Pullman. August was home-schooled for his whole life until 5th grade. He was home-schooled because he had a facial deformity. August never tells you what he looks like but he tells you little things about what he looks like. In the book he went to a public school for the first time and everyone was looking at him and his only friends were Summer and Jack. Everyone was mean to him except for his friends. August had so many difficult times and he had to face his biggest fears. The book gives a good message that you should never judge a book by its cover. Finally, the book is told in different characters’ points of view. Some of the characters are, August, Summer, Jack, Via (August's sister), and a few more. Read to find out how his school year turns out. Will it turn for the worse or for the better. Book Review: Red KayakBy Olivia Trumbull
Do you like a book full of mystery? Well this week's book review might catch your attention.This week's book review is “The Red Kayak”. This story is about three boys and they come to find out that one of their neighbors just died. So they pick up on the mystery and they try to figure out what happened. If you read the book till the end you will want to read more, well this book will leave you in a cliffhanger and there is a second book so you can keep on reading. Me being the reader would give it probably a 5 star rating. If you aren't that patient you shouldn't read this because there is a lot of suspense.
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Love Godesses
By Elizabeth Doll
As Valentine’s Day is coming up I realize just how far we have come from ancient times. I mean now we choose who we marry and when. In ancient times your father would chooses who and when you would marry, but if you were happy depends on your culture’s love god or goddess. I’m going to inform you about three famous love goddesses.
Let's start with the greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. Aphrodite was born from sea foam in a form of a beautiful young woman. Aphrodite is just the goddess of love and beauty. She was married to Hephaestus, but she loved Ares, the greek war god. Aphrodite sacred birds are doves, sparrows, and swans. Aphrodite sacred tree was the myrtle. Aphrodite is actually the mother of Eros, who is commonly known as Cupid. Next, I’m going to tell you about Freya, who is the Norse goddess of love. Beside from being a goddess of love, Freya is also a goddess of war, magic, and divination. Freya was a part of the Vanic race. She is sister to Frey and married Odr. Her sacred animal is cats. She is known as Queen of the Valkyries (the soul reaping maidens of Odin). Last, I’m going to talk about Juno the roman goddess of marriage and motherly love. Juno was the wife of Jupiter and queen of the gods. Juno is also a goddess of childbirth and a protector of woman. Her sacred animals were the peacock and the cow. One of her main symbols is a goat skin cloak. She is mother of Vulcan, Bellona and Mars. The month June was named after Juno. Almost in every culture of ancient time had a love goddess. This is for many reason, the most important reason, all cultures need love. Including modern culture, so on Valentine’s Day thank your family for loving you so much. |
The Holiday Light Fantasia Was a Big Hit! |
Holiday Fun |
By Sophia Rathbun
With the holidays passed, there was a particular fun sight-see, the holiday light fantasia in Hartford’s Goodwin park. The fantasia started from 24 of november to the first of this year. This light show celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years,and Three Kings Day. The cost was 15 dollars per car and it’s fun for all ages. One trivia question giving out was, where was Flurry the dog hidden in the lights? The person who got it right won a new ipad. People who paid there to go and see the lights helped the channel 3 kids camp to enroll new kids to their program. The show was 2 miles long and was sure, to get people in holiday spirit. People were sure to have great fun at the light fantasia there. We can’t wait for next year’s light show and have good year!
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Mrs. Tyler's homeroom received traditional "crackers" for the holidays and thought the crowns inside were fun to wear for the day.
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The Hope SnowFlake
By Beth Doll
As we welcome in the new year we have hopes and dreams for this year. This snowflake below has some of Martin Kellogg students hopes for this new year. The snowflake is a fun way to do it. I’ve put the hopes if they are unclear in the photograph. Please enjoy reading some of the hopes for the this year.
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Hebah- I hope in 2017 for new room Grace- I hope in 2017 to make new friends Colleen- I hope in 2017 for a puppy Rachel- I hope 2017 for another cat Patience- I hope in 2017 for a cancer cure Jessica- I hope in 2017 for a Pomeranian puppy Jackie- I hope in 2017 that everyone enjoys the new year Sarah- I hope in 2017 that I will get straight A's Kyra- I hope in 2017 that everyone will get the grades they wish for Maddie- I hope in 2017 that all win a gymnastics competition Jillian- I hope in 2017 that we will get extra vacation time Carolina- I hope in 2017 that all do well in school Tylese- I hope in 2017 that all get a laptop Mo and Robert- I hope that the school gets their own soccer team Arlissa- I hope in 2017 for a hoverboard Harlan- I hope in 2017 that I'll get new pajamas Nick- I hope in 2017 to get an iPhone 7 Natalie- I hope in 2017 to get another pug |
22 Push Up Challenges
Kellogg Homerooms have been getting involved in the 22 Push Up Challenge to raise awareness of the mental health of our returning soldiers. Some really great challenges have been created so far. Check out some of them below!
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The 2nd Annual Hour of Code
On Friday, December 9, Martin Kellogg became part of a worldwide event once again: The Hour of Code. The Hour of Code was a 2nd year event for our school. It appropriately came along during Computer Science Education Week. It was a chance for every student (and teacher) to test out their logic by using coding language to solve problems. The language of coding is quickly becoming the language to know! So instead of just playing on your computer and phones everyone....try to see what really makes them work. Try CREATING something to play on your computer and phone. Use your brain! Use your logic! Use your creativity! Get coding.
Cartoons and Humor
By Owen Dowle
SCIENCE CONNECTION
The sixth-grade students were given an investigative challenge regarding how biodiversity is crucial to a healthy ecosystem. Students selected an endangered species, researched the reasons why the chosen endangered species is facing extinction, analyzed the data and evidence supporting the threat, and drew conclusions regarding the impact on the ecosystem if the endangered species did indeed become extinct by analyzing the food web's flow of energy. Check out the links below to some of the great investigative projects done by sixth graders!
Winter Cupcake Recipes
By:Michaela Feldblum
Chocolate Chip Cupcake With a Cinnamon Frosting Directions
Boston Cream Cupcakes
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS
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Ingredients
Frosting
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FEATURED TEACHER
Everything you ever wanted to know about Mr. Jaksina
By: Michaela Feldblum
Have you ever lived anywhere besides CT?
Yes, in Boston and in Rome
Did you do something before this job(If yes what)?
Yes, a salesman for snow stakes – the stakes that go on the sides of driveways.
What do you do in your spare time?
Grade papers, play basketball, and play on a men’s softball team
What subjects do you teach in the building?
Social studies: World Regions and US History for 7th and 8th grade
What is your favorite food?
Pizza
What is your favorite book?
Of Mice and Men
What is your favorite sport or sports team?
Sport: Baseball
Sports Team: Red Sox
What is your favorite TV show or movie?
Movie: Caddyshack
Do you have any pets?
No
Do you have any other jobs besides being a teacher?
Yes, Parks and Rec referee for basketball
Have you ever lived anywhere besides CT?
Yes, in Boston and in Rome
Did you do something before this job(If yes what)?
Yes, a salesman for snow stakes – the stakes that go on the sides of driveways.
What do you do in your spare time?
Grade papers, play basketball, and play on a men’s softball team
What subjects do you teach in the building?
Social studies: World Regions and US History for 7th and 8th grade
What is your favorite food?
Pizza
What is your favorite book?
Of Mice and Men
What is your favorite sport or sports team?
Sport: Baseball
Sports Team: Red Sox
What is your favorite TV show or movie?
Movie: Caddyshack
Do you have any pets?
No
Do you have any other jobs besides being a teacher?
Yes, Parks and Rec referee for basketball
TECH TOOLS
The New Google Sites
By Mrs. Baylock
If you have ever tried to use the old Google Sites to create a website or webpage, you were probably pretty unimpressed. The old Google Sites was very unfriendly to users and the final project was unattractive. So most Google users avoided the app. But at the start of November 2016, Google made some major updates to Google Sites and the new Google Sites became much more streamlined and easy to use. There are three basic places to build once you are creating your new site: Insert, Pages, and Themes. Everything tool you need to build is listed neatly under one of those three sections, making it super simple! With a few clicks of your mouse you can add text, images, URL embed links, YouTube videos, calendars, Google files and folders, and even embedded Google forms. You can collaborate on one site with other Google users and preview everything before publishing. The biggest downfall is the inability to add embed code to add cool gadgets and other interactive items, but I bet Google is working on that. There are also limited fonts and design options but there are a few work-arounds for that if you are willing to use some other tools outside of Google for your design work. Overall, the new Google Sites is a huge improvement and sure to be a useful tool for students and teachers at Martin Kellogg!
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7th Grade Students produce effective psas
In 7th Grade Educational Technology class, students are given the task to produce their own Public Service Announcements. Students research their cause, write scripts, gather Royalty Free video, and then edit the video, bringing the message to life. Here are some of the awesome PSAs produced recently.
Emma Dowle: Prevent Animal Abuse
Emma Walker:Help Pitbulls
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Bryce Turner: Drowning Prevention
Sam Cultrera: Buckle Up
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