MAMS Monthly
November 15, 2017
A Message from the Principal...
The 2nd Marking Period begins today, November 15th! It's quite amazing how fast the first two months of the school year have flown by, and I would imagine the rest will do the same.
Please be sure to check the Parent Portal on November 28th so you can review your child's report card. Additionally, sign-ups for December conferences are currently taking place and can be completed using the Parent Portal.
Lastly, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I look forward to seeing all of the students participate in the Winter Band and Chorus performances.
See you soon.
Sincerely,
Aaron S. Eyler
Principal
A Message from the PTSO...
The next PTSO meeting will take place on November 20th at 10:00am.
Thank you,
Jennifer Tesi
MAMS Yearbook Ordering
Visit: www.jostensyearbooks.com and search for Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School. They are currently discounted for $37. Remember, we will not be selling yearbooks on site, so take advantage of the discount and order yours today!
NOTE: On the website, there may be an option to purchase an ad message for your student. This is for 8TH GRADE STUDENTS ONLY. Thank you for your understanding and support!
Important Dates and Events
November
16th- 10:00 am: Monthly discussions with the Superintendent
17th- 9:00 am: Multicultural Club Trip to State Theater is CANCELLED
20th- 10:00 am: PTSO Meeting
22nd- 12:04 pm: Early Dismissal
27th-1st: SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR!
27th- 7:00 pm: Board of Education Meeting
December
4th- 2:45 pm: Boys Basketball Try-Outs
5th- 6:00 pm: Parent Teacher Conferences
6th- 1:05 pm: Parent Teacher Conferences
7th- 7:00 pm: Student-Faculty Basketball Game
12th- 1:05 pm: Parent Teacher Conferences
13th- 6:00 pm: Parent Teacher Conferences
Student Contributions
MAMS NJHS Class of 2018 Induction
(Back Row) Mr. Eyler, Sarah M., Atia A., Bella F., Colleen L., Gianna T., Carla V., Melina R., Mehr R., Amanda S., Nicole V., Lily H., Jake P., Ryan S., Tyler C., Matt G., Ryan M., Esben N., Alex A., Isabel L., Isabelle H., April I., Shruthi R., Mrs. Nilsen
(Front Row) Ashna S., Emily M., Jade G., Chloe R.
Google Visits MAMS!
This October, 8th Grade science classes were visited by the renowned online search engine company, Google. They are developing a new app known as “Google Augmented Reality”. As it is still in the processing stage, this visit was an experiment.
A google representative supplied about 20 selfie sticks with an attached google phone. Students were briefed beforehand, of how some glitches may occur if they touched the screen. As they moved around the room, 3D figures appeared on the screen within the classroom environment. The figures were designed to correlate into the current lesson they were teaching about adaptations. First they observed an image of the ocean floor, and from there multiple aquatic creatures and plant life. This included a lobster, stingray, school of fish, seaweed, and coral. A very favorable feature about this app is its 3D ability. This enables you to examine the figures at every angle. Multiple images of the same presentation would show up around the room. This prevented a large group of students herding around one.
When the class concluded with their activity, they were asked to write on a sticky note any thoughts/comments they had on the app. These reviews are going to be relayed to the production team at google, in order to improve the “Google Augmented Reality” experience.
Overall, the teachers were very grateful for this opportunity, as it peaked a lot of interest about the subject students were learning. The process was very engaging, and made the lesson extremely enjoyable. In the future we hope to have similar experiments, because the truth of the matter is, learning can be a lot of fun. It’s activities like this, that open the eyes of curious young minds.
Sports Reviews
Girls Field Hockey
By, Gianna T. (8th Grade)
This year the MAMS field hockey team had a great and very exciting season, with some ups and downs. The team gotten through some wins, some losses, and even some injuries this season. Field hockey’s record for this season was 6 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw.
The team won about half of their games this season, with many people scoring for the first time. Some of the games were won easily, but others were very challenging, some winning by only one point.
The team had to get over a few challenges during the season as well. Kristina Coppins, the team’s goalie, had a foot injury in the middle of the season and wasn’t able to play. Kristina says, “While being injured and watching the games, I was getting so into it that I felt like I was playing.” Playing without their goalie was quite a challenge, but the team overcame their obstacles and had a great rest of the season with a few wins.
The last game of the season was played by the all-star players, and even after the season is over, some things continue. Sports awards took place on Tuesday, the 14th, and there will be a field hockey conference that two players will be attending in the middle of the year.
Boys & Girls Soccer
By, Charlie C. (8th Grade)
MAMS has been known to have fairly well-rounded athletics. This fall season, the soccer team really held up to those standards - especially the girls. The girls had an undefeated season, and this is the first time for that to happen in multiple years. When attending a game, it was easy to witness first-hand how well they worked together as a team. Overall, the girls were the team to beat this year and had an amazing 2017-2018 school year season!
In addition, the boys did quite well this season. With five wins and seven loses, they still were able to hold their own. Although it wasn’t an undefeated season, it was still a decent one. At their games, you could tell that each player was needed to hold the team together, and each player took his position very seriously. To sum it up, the boys put a lot of their time and effort into this season and it paid off fairly well.
Congratulations to both the girls and boys MAMS soccer teams, for a well-played season!
Cross Country
By, Mehr K. & Kassie M. (8th Grade)
The Cross Country started off this season with an away meet against Thompson Middle School. Coach Dean and Coach Harnett worked hard to make every practice fun and every meet successful. He always brought out the best in us, shaping us into strong runners. Thanks to Coach Dean and the devoted runners, the records were as follows:
Boys: 10 wins, 1 loss
Girls: 8 wins, 3 losses
The All-Star Meet consisted of the best runners in our cross country team from the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. The annual Run for the Roses marked the end of the MAMS 2017 Cross Country season. Several of the teammates in our 8th grade class have gone above the expectations and have impressed us with their running performance. Some mentionable runners are Ryan S., Julia J., and Gabriela C., who all received the Maroon and Steel awards for their hard work and amazing performances a meets. Ryan S., in addition to that, set the school record time for a mile and a half run in a cross country meet. It was a great season for the Matawan Aberdeen Middle School Cross Country team and we can’t wait until next season!
School Record Shattered!
All Smiles!
Sports Awards for Cross Country
From the Environmental Club!
The Environmental Club will be collecting used markers to be recycled; any type - dry erase, highlighters, etc. and any brand. The Environmental Club members will be making collection bags for the classrooms. Call room 202 if you need your collection bag emptied. Thank you for all you do, Mrs. Mescal
Why do we Carve Pumpkins?
One of America’s crazed holiday traditions is carving pumpkins around halloween time. But why do we do it?
The Legend Of Stingy Jack
America is made up of many immigrants, and a lot of their cultures and stories came with them, including the legend of Stingy Jack. Jack was a partier in town, who was thought to have cheated "the Devil" repeatedly. One night, Jack pretended he couldn’t pay and convinced the Devil to transform into a golden coin so Jack could pay. Once the Devil had transformed, Jack put him into his pocket next to a silver cross, and the Devil was trapped until he agreed never to take Jack’s soul.
Another time Jack had urged the devil to climb a tree and steal them some fruit. After the Devil reach the fruit, Jack carved a sign of the cross on the tree, and the Devil was yet again trapped. He freed himself when he agreed not to bother Jack for years to come. But soon after, Jack had died.
The legend says that he would not be accepted into Heaven and he sent him below to the Devil. But the Devil could not break his promise, so Jack’s spirit was forced to roam the earth for eternity. Jack was given a coal to light for his journey. He put it in a carved out turnip and carried it with him everywhere, terrorizing kids ever since. Villagers called him Jack of the lantern, which turned into Jack o' Lantern.
Townsfolk would carve pumpkins into scary faces to ward of Jack, the Devil, and other ghostly spirits. That's how the tradition of carving pumpkins began!
History's Mysteries: Vampires
Although vampires aren’t technically real, the legend of the blood sucker has been around for centuries. The first account of a vampire was Vlad the Impaler in 1456-1462. He was born in the classic Transylvania, Romania and ruled over Walachia in Romania. He seemed like a normal ruler until it was uncovered that he impaled his war prisoners and even his own subjects to drink and harvest their blood. No, not kidding. Vlad was an expert in killing and mauling his victims. According to royal waiters and commanders, Vlad would sit beside his dying victims and dip his bread in their blood. Family friendly. While his adventures were quite gory, he was nothing compared to the tales of Mercy Brown, who was a ‘vampire’ according to her New England town in the 1800’s.
After she died, from being frozen to death, she was accused of making people sick from her grave. In response to this the townsfolk, dug up her body, burned her heart, and fed the ashy remains to her already sick brother. Hold on folks, we’re almost through. Mercy and Vlad are considered the very first vampires in the world and were very much feared during the times in which they lived.
These events were to inspire Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, which has become a cult classic in the horror genre. Dracula is a classic beast from literature, one that will strike fear into the hearts of many even after the vampire craze has died off.
Book Recommendations
By, Isabel L. (8th Grade)
Looking for some autumnly awesome books to read this month, but can’t find any that interest you? Here are some unbeleafable reads for November, with summaries to go right along side them!
#1--Behind The Song
Multiple Authors
Do you enjoy music and short stories? If so, then this is the book for you, and you can find it in the teen section of the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library. In Behind the Song, young adult authors write short stories inspired by songs. Famous singers also write personal essays about the songs they wrote that changed their life. If you want a book full of exciting stories based on songs and essays written by well-known musicians, this is the book for you.
#2--Before I Fall
Lauren Oliver
Are you looking for a dramatic, thrilling novel that never runs out of plot twists and always has a cliffhanger? Then take a peek at Before I Fall, the book behind the newly released movie. In the beginning of the novel, the main character, Sam Kingston, seems to have the perfect life. She’s one of the most popular girls in school, has a great boyfriend, and everyone wants to be like her. Then, in an instant, everything changes. While driving home from a party, Sam gets in a car crash--and doesn’t survive.
But the next day, Sam wakes up in her bed, completely alive. Now she’s trapped in the same day, doomed to die over and over until she can find out how to finally change her fate...and discover the hidden reason why she died.
#3--The Fault in Our Stars
John Green
What if romance is more your style? Then check out The Fault in Our Stars, a New York Times bestseller and a famous movie written by the well-known author John Green. In The Fault in Our Stars, Hazel Lancaster has grown used to her boring life that revolves around her incurable lung cancer. Then, during a cancer support group, she meets Augustus Waters. The metaphor-obsessed, video game playing,The-Price-Of-Dawn-loving Augustus Waters, who invites Hazel to watch a movie, read a book, and fall in love.
But Hazel is worried about this love. After all, she’s incurably sick. She spends her days reading the same book over and over and watching America’s Next Top Model. What if she ends up breaking her own--or Agustus’--heart? What will happen if she decides to give in, or pushes him away? What if she focuses on the fault in the stars, instead of the beauty all around?
#4--The School For Good and Evil (the series)
Soman Chainani
For the fantasy lovers, a great book is The School For Good and Evil, a starter to a three-book series that’s filled with monsters, fairies, royalty, villains, and two best friends. Sophie and Agatha couldn’t be more different, but that doesn’t stop them from hanging out as much as possible, talking about everything--especially the mysterious School for Good and Evil. According to the years past, soon what the villagers call the “School Master” will swoop into Sophie and Agatha’s town and steal two children. One child, the kinder one, would be placed in the School for Good, where he or she would learn to become a prince or princess in a fairy tale. The evil child would be dropped in the School for Evil, where he or she could aspire to become a supervillain. Sophie wants nothing more to go to the School for Good and become a princess, but all Agatha wants is to stay in her town and live her life normally. So what happens when, despite Agatha’s attempts to stop him, The School Master kidnaps her Sophie? And what happens when Sophie finds herself in the School for Evil, and Agatha in Good?
#5--Paper Towns
John Green
Last but not least, there’s Paper Towns, winner of the Edgar Award, for those looking for some mystery this fall. In this clue-filled book, Quentin, also known as Q, spends most of his time crushing on his popular neighbor, Margo Spiegelman. Then one night, Margo crawls into his bedroom window and asks that he be her getaway man for a night of revenge on Margo’s many enemies. The next day, Margo goes missing, something that has happened before. This time, though, Margo doesn’t come back. Then Q finds a string of clues and is convinced that Margo wants him to find her. But the more clues Q finds, the more confused he gets. What kind of secret life did Margo live? How much does Q really know about her? Does Margo really want anyone to find her at all?
A Twist on Apple Pie
3 Granny Smith apples
3 pink lady apples
1 tbsp. warm water
2 tsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
1 tsp. cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
1/3 c. granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
1 pie crust
1 large egg beaten with 1 tbsp. milk (egg wash)
Preheat oven to 375°.
Peel and dice one green and one red apple. Slice off the tops and, using a melon baller, hollow out the remaining apples. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together warm water and cornstarch.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add diced apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, and sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook until apples are tender, about 5 minutes. Add in cornstarch mixture and cook 5 minutes more.
Place hollowed out apples in a baking dish and fill with cooked apple mixture.
On a piece of wax paper, roll out pie dough and cut into 4 circles. Slice each circle into thin strips. Make a lattice top on each apple, trimming any excess.
Brush crust with egg wash and sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar. Bake until apples are tender and crust is golden, 28 to 30 minutes.
Drizzle with caramel and serve immediately.
Fall & Thanksgiving Jokes
What always comes at the end of Thanksgiving?
(The letter "g"!)
What should you wear to Thanksgiving dinner?
(A har-vest!)
What key won't open any door?
(A turkey!)
What do you get when you divide the circumference of your jack-o-lantern by its diameter?
(Pumpkin Pi)
I’m tall when I’m young, I’m short when I’m old, and every Halloween I stand up inside Jack O Lanterns. What am I?
(A candle)
If money really did grow on trees, what would be everyone’s favorite season?
(Fall)
What do you get when you drop a pumpkin?
(Squash)
15 Enlightening Facts
1. November 15th is “I love to write day”
2. Squirrels can’t recognize themselves in a mirror
3. Cows have best friends
4. Every time a baby girl is born in the Indian village of Piplantri , the residents come together to plant 11 trees in her honor
5. About 10 billion doughnuts are made in America per year. This is about 31 doughnuts per person, per year
6. A group of bunnies is called a fluffle
7. There have been studies that show that goats, like us, have accents
8. Canadians eat more doughnuts that any other country.
9. You can tickle a penguin.
We now have less crime, a lower death rate and longer life expectancy than at any other time in human history.
10. If you spell out numbers in order, the first time you get to the letter “a” is at one-thousand.
11. Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn.
12. We answer the phone with “Hello” because Thomas Edison petitioned for it. Alexander Graham Bell was in support of saying “Ahoy.”
13. An average cloud weighs around 1.1 million pounds.
14. A couple invited the Queen of England to their wedding as a joke, and she went
15. Blind people smile when they are happy. Smiling is a human instinct
Thanksgiving Comic
Coming Soon!
Featuring MAMS Events and News
Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School
Email: mamsinfo@marsd.org
Website: https://www.marsd.org/Domain/319
Location: 469 Matawan Avenue, NJ, United States
Phone: 732-705-5400