JUNE 2014 Newington, CT
So Long and Farewell
As we enter June, students, teachers, principals and tutors look forward to the summer weeks ahead to rejuvenate their minds, soak up the sun, enjoy the outdoors and take a little break from the hustle and bustle of the school year. However, this year we will leave these halls knowing there will be some very familiar faces who will not greet us each day next year. They will not be standing by us in the classroom any longer. They have spent years in Newington...helping us, inspiring minds, encouraging and challenging students. They have motivated, guided, prepared, persuaded, and cared for all those who entered their classrooms. And although they are leaving, they should leave knowing they have empowered hundreds of students with all they have taught. Now, it is time for them to fulfill new dreams of their own.
Mrs. Dufault, Mrs.Sfara, Mr. Cashman, and Mrs. Benson, from the bottom of our hearts...THANK YOU! It is time for you to enjoy the fruits of working hard for so many years. We wish you hearty congratulations as your retirement day nears. You will be missed but never forgotten.
Best Wishes,
The Staff and Students of Martin Kellogg Middle School
Mrs. Dufault, Mrs.Sfara, Mr. Cashman, and Mrs. Benson, from the bottom of our hearts...THANK YOU! It is time for you to enjoy the fruits of working hard for so many years. We wish you hearty congratulations as your retirement day nears. You will be missed but never forgotten.
Best Wishes,
The Staff and Students of Martin Kellogg Middle School
5th Grade Reading Champs |
MUSIC REVIEW: EXOBy Esha Khandoker
EXO is the hottest South Korean-Chinese boy band. Their music is very relatable and emotional. There are 12 members. The members of EXO-K are Suho, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., and Kai, Sehun and Kris, Xiumin, Lu Han, Lay, Chen, and Tao. Exo’s first album was XOXO. The biggest song in that album is Miracles in
December. Their newest song is “Overdose” which girls are going crazy about! My favorite song “Growl” because it’s really relatable. Did you know in the music video of Growl it was taken in on shot? |
Featured Teacher: Mrs. Blustein
Interviewed by Caroline Lynch
How long have you been teaching? What subjects/grade level have you taught?
I have been teaching over 25 years. At E. Green, I taught special education in grades 1-5. In the gifted program I have taught in every school and in grades K-12. What is your favorite part about teaching EXPLORE? I love helping kids think "outside of the box" and explore new areas. I like providing opportunities for kids to think creatively. What is your favorite activity to do outside of school? I enjoy going to the beach with my daughter and taking my dog on hikes. Where is the one place you would like to travel to or travel back to? I would like to travel to England and stay in an old, maybe haunted castle. Do you have any pets? I have Ginger, a small, white, 3 year old rescue dog from Tennessee and a turtle names Jaws. What was your favorite childhood movie? All the Disney movies at that time: 101 Dalmatians, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book If you could live any place in the world, where would it be? I would like to live on an island in the sunny Caribbean. |
DOES HOMEWORK MAKE STUDENTS GROUCHY?
By Julia Holland
So, what do students REALLY think about all that homework they get? Does it make them grouchy? Well, I decided to find out. The question asked was:
"How do you react when you have a lot of homework?" Here's what they said! 5th grade Name: Sam Davies I dislike homework because there are so many better things to do than sitting down for long stretches of time. I also think that at least two pages of homework is a waste of focus. If homework was fun more people would want to do it. When it is a nice day out you should be playing outside exercising. This is why I don't like homework!!! 5th grade Name: Anonymous I get mad then I decide to do it after school the second I get home, I try to stay calm so I can concentrate. 5th grade Name: Lindsay Forauer I want to get it done as soon as I can and take breaks so it's not so overwhelming. 6th grade Name: Anna I really don't like having so much homework all on the same day. Especially with the time change I feel like it is really late and feel all stressed out. 6th grade Name: Shea I get mad because I want to hang out with my friends and neighbors. 7th grade Name: Anonymous When I get a lot of homework I get really stressed out and don't know if I will get it done in time for when I have a game or practice. 7th grade Name: Erin Montgomery I try to plan out the rest of my day. I do that because sometimes I don't then I come to school with no homework done. Along with sports, chorus and bellas I have to make a solid plan. 7th grade Name: Yaci Moni-Ruthourski Stressed duh! Like today I have to do two sets of notes for science and two set of notes for social studies! I feel stressed because I have a lot of work to do after school like Leo club which is an hour. Then I have to go to a piano lesson for another hour and I will be spending 3-10 hours on my homework. Then guess what I have to shower and go to bed! The VOTES ARE IN! Find oUT WHAT THE MOST POPULAR CUPCAKE FLAVORS ARE! |
7th grade
Name: Virginia De Frances I get stressed and don't do very well on the homework sheet, quiz, or test. I get overwhelmed and can't concentrate. 7th grade Name: Jamar Mitchell When I have a lot of homework I get mad or annoyed like when I mess up. 7th grade Name: Ryan O'Connor What I do is just do it and get help if I need it. The only thing I don't like about it is that it takes a long time. 8th grade Name: Mitchell Hintlian I get worried at first but then I calm down and figure out which is the easiest sheet to the hardest sheet. 8th grade Name: Grace Cala When I have a lot of homework, I plan my time wisely to make sure I get everything done. The key to success is time management! 8th grade Name: Kayla Walker I get frustrated when I have a lot of homework because I do not like to waste my time doing it when I have better things to do. CRAZY SOCK DAY: June 2, 2014Martin Kellogg Spirit Week kicked off with Crazy Sock Day! Check out some of our student styles!
Amistad Group Heads To MYSTICOn Wednesday, May 21 Mrs. Davies' Amistad group met up with their partner school down in Mystic to go sailing! They were not just passengers, but participated in activities on the schooner, Argia, as well. All hands were on deck to help raise the sails, haul the fish nets, and learn about the waters of the Mystic River. As they sailed back into the dock they dined on their own bagged lunches, waving to the many landlubbers on the docks and piers. It was a beautiful day on the water!
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What's Summer GOt in Store for 6th Grade Teachers?
Interviewed by: Caroline Lynch
Ever wondered what the MK 6th grade teachers do when school’s out for the summer? I asked all 7 sixth grade teachers do over vacation. From swimming to gardening to kayaking, here’s what some of your teachers do in the summertime!
Mr. Peterson, Math and Social Studies Teacher
“Golf, yard work.”
Mrs. Norwell, Language Arts Teacher
“Annual trip to Maine with friends and family.”
Mr. Schuman, Science and Social Studies Teacher
“Golf, spending time with my daughters.”
Ms. Tager, Language Arts and Social Studies Teachers
“Travel to see friends and family, read!”
Mr. Pestka, Math Teacher
“Get back into shape. I will paint your house. (20 years of experience)”
Miss Yukna, Social Studies Teacher
“I go to the NEA (National Education Association) convention Denver, Colorado. I go to my house on an island near the Cape, and I spend time gardening.”
Mr. Cucinella, Science Teacher
"Every summer I make every effort to make sure we have a camping trip. I would liked to camp much more than once a summer, but every year we get new camping gear. My wife and I also like to try a new outdoor activity each summer and try more and more new things. Last summer we ran a 5K race together as a family (my daughter Avery ran with us in her stroller too). I also bought my very first fishing pole last summer and started fishing. in the past we have also done kayaking and started traveling to different places in New England that we have never been to. I would really like to get into rock climbing and mountain biking (or at least start hiking again). "
Thank you to the sixth grade teachers for contributing to the article. Happy summer!
Ever wondered what the MK 6th grade teachers do when school’s out for the summer? I asked all 7 sixth grade teachers do over vacation. From swimming to gardening to kayaking, here’s what some of your teachers do in the summertime!
Mr. Peterson, Math and Social Studies Teacher
“Golf, yard work.”
Mrs. Norwell, Language Arts Teacher
“Annual trip to Maine with friends and family.”
Mr. Schuman, Science and Social Studies Teacher
“Golf, spending time with my daughters.”
Ms. Tager, Language Arts and Social Studies Teachers
“Travel to see friends and family, read!”
Mr. Pestka, Math Teacher
“Get back into shape. I will paint your house. (20 years of experience)”
Miss Yukna, Social Studies Teacher
“I go to the NEA (National Education Association) convention Denver, Colorado. I go to my house on an island near the Cape, and I spend time gardening.”
Mr. Cucinella, Science Teacher
"Every summer I make every effort to make sure we have a camping trip. I would liked to camp much more than once a summer, but every year we get new camping gear. My wife and I also like to try a new outdoor activity each summer and try more and more new things. Last summer we ran a 5K race together as a family (my daughter Avery ran with us in her stroller too). I also bought my very first fishing pole last summer and started fishing. in the past we have also done kayaking and started traveling to different places in New England that we have never been to. I would really like to get into rock climbing and mountain biking (or at least start hiking again). "
Thank you to the sixth grade teachers for contributing to the article. Happy summer!
living and working at the south pole
A Student Essay By Amy Lund
“An awful place” Robert Scott said. “The South Pole is terrible.” from the article “Explorer Wanted”, Robert is right. Working and living there is very challenging. Most people struggle from loss of money and water. There’s one thing I know, and that’s that it’s a different way of living.
The author of “A Day at the South Pole” stated that it is a horrible place to live. Do you like to garden? Well the only plant that lives there is moss. Its frigid temperatures go below zero in the day, at and night. Do like long relaxing showers? Well you only get two short ones a week.
In the text “A Day at the South Pole”,it mentions that there isn’t that big of a choice for a job. There isn’t that big of a decision. Most people work in a lab. When they’re not working they watch movies in the theater. You might go play a game or two at the basketball court, or work out in the gym.
One thing, my friend, that you have to remember is that the South Pole is truly the most terrible, horrible, and awful place. I hope you take this into consideration.
The author of “A Day at the South Pole” stated that it is a horrible place to live. Do you like to garden? Well the only plant that lives there is moss. Its frigid temperatures go below zero in the day, at and night. Do like long relaxing showers? Well you only get two short ones a week.
In the text “A Day at the South Pole”,it mentions that there isn’t that big of a choice for a job. There isn’t that big of a decision. Most people work in a lab. When they’re not working they watch movies in the theater. You might go play a game or two at the basketball court, or work out in the gym.
One thing, my friend, that you have to remember is that the South Pole is truly the most terrible, horrible, and awful place. I hope you take this into consideration.
Fun & Games
Logic Puzzles
By Caroline Lynch & Lindsay Forauer
Look at the following logic puzzles and try to figure out what each one represents. (answers at the bottom of the page)
Caption Contest
By Anna Saunders
Let's hear your best captions. Look at the pictures below. Fill out the form with your creative captions. Next issue we will include our favorite captions from those submissions.
ComicsWhy Can't We all Just Get Along?!
Do YOU have a comic that you created that you would like to submit? Please email it to Mrs. Baylock [email protected], give it to a News Club member, or drop it off to Mrs. Baylock or Mrs. Maslak.
We've ALL got a little bit of "superhero" inside.
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PUZZLER: See how quickLY you can put this puzzle Together!Favorite MK Memories from OUR GRADUATING 8th GRADERSThe bridge project and being able to use your phone. - John Edwards
When we went to DC - Jonathan Perez My most fond memory has to be in 7th grade when Ms. Blais did the robot for the class because as a class we had a 95% average on a test. - William Weidlich My favorite memory was the Otaku club last year. I brought the guys a cake that was homemade. None of them, however, showed up. So the next day, I walked over to where they were and I took the cake and threw it at them. - Sarah Stepek Going to Mr. Peterson after school to get M&Ms and talking to Ms. Tager after school with Michaela a lot. - Mackenzie Cayer My favorite memory was my 6th grade field day. That day was awesome. - Jordan Bennett When I used to bring my friends Luke Papalardo and Ashwin Cherian outside to throw hackey sacks, eat lunch, and just talk until our next class. - Logan Matteson My favorite memory was the 3 school dances I went to with my friends. - Karen Castaneda Best of luck to all of our 8th graders as they move on to high school! |
Mother Nature's BIGGEST BEAUTY
By Amy Lund
Do you really want to let the rainforest die? It is such a beautiful place. You might be thinking, who needs beauty? Well this forest does more than that. It
gives us some amazing things. If you take a look around the room there, at least one object will be from the rainforest.
One thing that we need from this forest is its supplies. Things like Cocoa Beans, Oranges and Mangos. As noted in the article “Food from the
Rainforest”. You see when these things are picked, it doesn’t hurt the forest. When people cut down trees, no new ones are growing back. So since they are
still doing that, there will be less Chocolate, Mangoes and Oranges. Production would decrease giving us less of these products. Ask yourself, “Do I really want this?”
Are you an animal lover? Well, tons of unknown species live in the rainforest. If companies cut down trees, animals will either move away or DIE!!! This will lead to
extinction. Lots of animals that live there are in danger, or will be.
These forests store something we need to survive, Oxygen. The trees in this wilderness hold much of it. If people are taking the source down, it goes
away. Even cutting down some plants effect the amount. At today’s rate, the forest will be gone in 40 years, stated in “Let’s Save the Rainforest.” At least care about air!
If you do want to help, you’re probably thinking “What can I do? Where do I find a way to help?” Well go find a computer. There’s a cool site called “Ran.org” it will give you all you need. It also tells you what you can do to help. If you really cared, you would find a way to get on.
The rainforest needs saving. I hope you go run and grab your device. Please take my reasons into consideration. Hey, it will benefit you later on in life.
gives us some amazing things. If you take a look around the room there, at least one object will be from the rainforest.
One thing that we need from this forest is its supplies. Things like Cocoa Beans, Oranges and Mangos. As noted in the article “Food from the
Rainforest”. You see when these things are picked, it doesn’t hurt the forest. When people cut down trees, no new ones are growing back. So since they are
still doing that, there will be less Chocolate, Mangoes and Oranges. Production would decrease giving us less of these products. Ask yourself, “Do I really want this?”
Are you an animal lover? Well, tons of unknown species live in the rainforest. If companies cut down trees, animals will either move away or DIE!!! This will lead to
extinction. Lots of animals that live there are in danger, or will be.
These forests store something we need to survive, Oxygen. The trees in this wilderness hold much of it. If people are taking the source down, it goes
away. Even cutting down some plants effect the amount. At today’s rate, the forest will be gone in 40 years, stated in “Let’s Save the Rainforest.” At least care about air!
If you do want to help, you’re probably thinking “What can I do? Where do I find a way to help?” Well go find a computer. There’s a cool site called “Ran.org” it will give you all you need. It also tells you what you can do to help. If you really cared, you would find a way to get on.
The rainforest needs saving. I hope you go run and grab your device. Please take my reasons into consideration. Hey, it will benefit you later on in life.
Puzzle Answers: 1. upstairs 2. scrambled eggs 3. sidewalk