The Flyer
Sycamore Junior High School
WORLD NEWS
Syrian Refugees
No shelter, no home, trapped. Some countries open their doors to Syrian refugees, but other countries are not so welcoming, for a multiple reasons. For example, Canada has reported that they are willing to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February. Some other countries believe that ISIS will plant soldiers into the groups of refugees that are entering asylum countries, countries that are willing to allow refugees enter their country until they resettle or return home. Most Syrian refugees are fleeing their war-torn home of Syria because of the bloody civil war that has been taking place in their country for the past four years.
President Obama recognizes this fact, and he proclaimed that the United States of America will welcome 10,000 refugees from Syria. However, after and because of the Paris attacks, The House of Representatives shot down the idea of allowing Syrian refugees into our nation, so this action may be postponed to a later date.
You might be wondering what a refugee actually is. A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or a natural disaster. Syrian refugees have been forced to leave their home and endure the long journey to hopefully a better future, a better life, and a better tomorrow.
What are you thoughts on this very controversial issue of allowing Syrian refugees into The United States? We may print your thoughts in our next edition. Please let us know via our email address, theflyer@sycamoreschools.org.
Mia Maniet 8
Holidays Around the World
During the month of December, there are many holidays that are celebrated, with main holidays being Kwanzaa, Christmas and Hanukkah. However, most people only know information about the holiday they celebrate.
In has been estimated that 45% of the world celebrates Christmas, which is equivalent to approximately 2.275 billion people. An interesting fact is that some of the people who celebrate Christmas may not even be Christian. Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates Christ's birth, and is held on December 25 every year.
Compared to the amount of people who celebrate any other religion, Judaism has a very small number. At approximately 0.2% of 7.125 billion, the number of Jewish people around the world is very modest. This is equal to about 14.2 million people. The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah celebrates the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and is celebrated by lighting a menorah and spending time with family.
Kwanzaa is a holiday established in 1965 that honors African heritage in and is celebrated from December 26 to January 1, ending in a feast and gift-giving. Kwanzaa is celebrated by 28 million people around the world. Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, "first fruits of the harvest".
Most people assume that Ramadan takes place during December but in reality, it occurs during the summer. This year it took place in June and ended in July. Ramadan is observed by Muslums as a month of fasting to remember the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad.
It’s nice to know and understand how different religions celebrate their holidays.
Lindsey Brinkman 8
SCHOOL NEWS
Keyboard Shortcuts on Chromebooks
Tabs and Windows
Use ctrl+shift+t to reopen recently closed tabs.
Use ctrl + f to type in a search to find a word or phrase in a certain document.
Use alt+search to turn on Caps Lock.
Use ctrl+1 to go to the first tab in your window. (press any number up to 8 to jump to that specified tab).
Use ctrl+tab to move to the next tab in a window.
Use ctrl+shift+tab to move to the previous tab in your window.
Use ctrl+shift+b to show/hide the bookmarks bar.
Use ctrl+d to bookmark the page you are on.
Text Editing
Use ctrl+b to embolden selected (highlighted) text.
Use ctrl+u to underline selected text.
Use ctrl+i to put the selected text in italics.
Use alt+backspace (for chromebooks) to (access)the equivalent of delete on other devices.Athena Eborall 8
Cans for Jams/Valentines Day Dance
In November, the project “Cans For Jams” was finished and over 4,000 cans were collected! Since we met this challenge, we are going to have a Valentine's Day Dance! Not only did we help the needy on Thanksgiving, we will get to dance the night away! The dance will be on February 12th directly after school. The time has not been set yet, but we will be informed when it has.
A DJ has offered to play music at our dance! He was impressed with our worthy cause. There have been some requests to have a snack bar, so cross your fingers ! We also might do Beta Club’s Compatibility Test again this year, for all of the 8th graders who remember that.
There was also a challenge for the aviator bell who brought in the most cans. That challenge was won by Miss. Endreola’s aviator bell class, they get to “makeover” their teacher. Miss. Endreola’s class will decide her outfit for the dance! Poor Miss Endreola, we will keep our fingers crossed for you!
We donated to a great cause, and we hope to see you at our first Valentine's Dance in five years!
Olivia Lindsey 8
SPORTS
Who Dey, Who Dey, Who Dey Think Gonna Beat Dem Bengals?!
Right now, the Bengals are performing phenomenally, which is surprising many avid football fans. Their success is because of the amazing players and coaches on the team, such as their star quarterback Andy Dalton, who has had 25 touchdowns totaling at 3191 yards. The Bengals killer defense also contributed to their success with players like Vincent Rey with 93 tackles, and Reggie Nelson with 8 interceptions. Thanks to those factors and more, the Cincinnati Bengals currently have a record of 10-3.
As for season predictions, their record is going to be about 13-3 at the end. For Bengals fans, that hopefully means that they will not suffer any more losses. It’s also believed that the Bengals will stay in their position at the top of the AFC Northern Division. They are most likely heading into the playoffs with a big chance at the Super Bowl because of their 10-1 odds, as opposed to last year’s 14-1.
Marc Filippelli 8
EDITORIAL/OPINION
Bathing Suit Dress Code in the 1920s.... Looking a Little Familiar?
Black Friday: Is It As Great As You Think?
Black Friday. You see those two words all the time around Thanksgiving. Retailers go ad-crazy trying to persuade you to buy items that are on sale. But is Black Friday really just a money-saver, or does it cause problems? Ironically, Black Friday is day with a sole purpose of buying more, but it starts the day after Thanksgiving, a day to be thankful for what you have. As if that’s not bad enough, Black Friday takes away from family time on Thanksgiving, with shoppers curtailing their Thanksgiving dinners to go shopping. In recent years, many stores have opened as early as 5 P.M. on Thanksgiving evening. Not only consumers, but employees at these stores must sacrifice time with their families on Thanksgiving to work long, busy hours at the crowded shops.
Starting this year, the outdoor equipment retailer REI astounded consumers with their groundbreaking move to close their stores on Black Friday. They promoted the hashtag #optoutside, encouraging customers and employees to spend the day outside with their families. Additionally, other stores such as Costco and Nordstrom refused to open until Friday morning. Shops like these could be starting a pivotal movement towards adjustments of Black Friday. Still, there is another problem with Black Friday: many riots and fights break out on this day, causing the need for high security. Seven deaths and 98 major injuries have happened on Black Friday since 2006. People have been trampled, shot, and have gotten in brawls for items as trivial as the hottest toys at Walmart. This proves a horrible truth: people will do anything for a deal.
I have to admit that I did go Black Friday shopping this year. I can relate to many others hoping to receive a major sale on that expensive but cute shirt. I mean, who wouldn’t want to save money? Black Friday does have its benefits, but it can be adjusted in several ways. Just remember to spend some quality time gobbling turkey and pumpkin pie with your loved ones before you dash out the door for deals.
Allison McElroy 7
SPOTLIGHT ON....
Every Student of Sycamore Junior High School
One morning last November my dad fell over when he got out of bed. My mom called an ambulance to come pick him up and take him to the hospital. He had a bunch of tests run on him when he got there. It turned out he a gastrointestinal tumor. He was in the hospital for a while and he got a surgery to remove the tumor in his stomach. The experience was very scary, I didn't know if I was going to lose my dad. I was really sad but I had a lot of good friends that comforted me and helped me through the experience.
-an Anonymous SJH studentMrs. Christine Allen- 7th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Mrs. Christine Allen was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 12th. She had three siblings, one of which is still alive. She likes to read, babysit her grandchildren, work in the yard, and walk her dog, Baxter. She loves seeing a student grow during the year and how this growth improves their confidence.
Mrs. Allen graduated from Sycamore High School which used to be our very own junior high! She participated in choir, theater, and studied French for 4 years. All three of her siblings participated in activities during high school. One of her sisters was a Flyerette, the other was a cheerleader, and her brother was on the state wrestling champion team that won three years in a row! I asked Mrs. Allen how the school has changed since she was here. She said, “The front of the school is an addition along with the science wing. It is strange to walk the same halls, see the same lockers, and to teach in the same classroom where I was once a student.”
Some student comments about Mrs. Allen include:
Ellie Forman (Bell 4) - “She is strict teacher but she wants us to do our best.”
Will Motley (Bell 6) - “She has taught us a lot in the past 2 quarters.”
Brendan Lewis (Bell 4) - “She is a really good teacher and her level of teaching is higher than a class I have taken before.”
George Vlady (Bell 4) - “Her class is difficult, but I know I’m learning a lot of things.”
Caroline Sack (Bell 6)- “She has a very challenging class and she is strict, but I know that she is a wonderful teacher and I will learn a lot from her class.”
Liam Skinner (Bell 4)- “She is strict but she has taught us a lot.”
Nolan Bieber (Bell 3)- “She makes us work hard and be the best we can be.”
Gunjan Bahri 7
Mr. Matthew Nickol- 8th Grade Math Teacher
What College did you attend and what was your major?
I attended for 4 years at the University of
Cincinnati, and originally my major was mechanical engineering for my first 2 semesters,then I switched to what is called middle childhood education. This is a program that focuses on grades 4- 9 and teaching mechanisms for those particular grades.
What has been the most difficult problem for you, as a new teacher?
Lesson planning and making sure that I can present the material in the most understanding way. Also, attending to the needs to all students and making sure they understand the different lesson plans while they have different math skills was probably the most difficult aspect.
What changes do you plan on making knowing what to expect for the next school year?
It was difficult this year because I was hired a week and half before school started, and next year I want to change how I present the lesson plans since I’ll have more time to plan.
Have you always wanted to be a math teacher?
I knew I was always interested in math and science and originaly I thought I wanted to work in math and science. Then, after a couple of semesters I realized that I wanted to be a math teacher, so I talked it over with my parents and they thought that it would be the best job for me, and a great major for me in college.Mia Maniet 8
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Asha Daniels: Local Designer Storming the World of Fashion
Many people in this area are more interested in keeping up with the Joneses clothing-wise, instead of developing their own sense of personal style… at least that is what I thought until recently, when I came across a local interview of Asha Daniels.
Asha Daniels is a true Cincinnatian, born and raised. She grew up in Avondale with creative roots. Her mom was a talented seamstress and her dad could create anything. I’m sure that she has those traits running through her veins. Not only that, but she has a first-rate education. Daniels attended St. Ursula Academy and continued on to the University of Cincinnati’s prestigious DAAP program for design.
Even from the very beginning of Asha’s designing career, she was on top. She got an officially unofficial “internship” with Georgina Chapman, the lead designer at Marchesa, which is incredibly amazing. Daniels had two actual co-op internships with Marchesa and when Chapman saw one of her designs she wanted Asha to be her personal “intern”. Less than a year after she graduated from UC and finished said internship, she went on to compete in the first season of Tim Gunn’s show “Under the Gunn”. Believe me when I say that competing is exactly what Asha did. She earned her way to finishing third out of fifteen skilled and ambitious designers. These victories are not the end for Daniels, but more like the beginning.
Maya Goldenberg 8
Movie Review: The Martian
Over Thanksgiving Break I saw The Martian. The movie is based off of a book by Andy Weir, most people had never read the book, so the movie was a new experience. The movie is about an astronaut on a mission to Mars. While on Mars there is a huge dust storm that threatens to destroy their only way to get back to Earth. So, they abort the mission. While forcing their way through the wind, astronaut Mark Watney is hit by a piece of debri, so they thought he was dead. But guess what? They left, but he survived. “Surprise”! -Mark Watney. Now Mark has to figure out a way to survive on a planet so unknown and foreign, they didn’t even plan what to do in this type of situation. This dust storm was less powerful than our strongest tornado. This movie is great for science geeks and people who love science-fiction.
This movie is rated PG-13. If you don’t like these things this movie might scare you!
There is a part at the beginning with some blood.
There are occasional swear words.
I would highly recommend seeing this movie. It features, isolation, suspense, and Iron Man. The entire movie is suspenseful and is a great movie overall.
Ella Wahlquist 7
Holiday Traditions Around Sycamore Junior High School
Alexis Ervin 7
For Christmas every year, my family and I split a very thin piece of bread at the table before dinner. This is a Polish tradition (I am half Polish). We give each other a tiny piece of our bread and say a small message with it, like maybe forgiveness.
Sophie Campbell 7
Sit on big couch, next to Christmas tree while drinking cocoa and watching 80s-90s TV shows like Fresh Prince of Bel Air or Saved By The Bell or Full house or Family Matters.
Matilde Mujanayi 8
My holiday tradition is always putting up my Christmas tree with my sister.
Lindsey Stevens 8
We drive around neighborhoods and look at lights.
John Whapham 8
Our family gets together and eats latkes and plays dreidel on the
first night of Hanukkah! Then we give gifts to each other which is
usually pajamas and socks!
Mrs. Lisa Zelvy- Assistant Principal
My family celebrates Christmas and to celebrate, we go to church and have dinner with our friends and family. Occasionally, we will travel to visit family friends or to just take a vacation.
Dahlia Wang 8
I celebrate Christmas, and I also participate in a charity event called Project For Awesome, were a bunch of awesome people get together and raise money for Charity. This year we raised over 1.5 million dollars.
Tanner Wahlquist 8
The night before Christmas eve all of us gather into our t.v room with a big bucket of popcorn and watch the Polar Express.
Augustus Fredenburgh 8
My family goes to my cousin's house for Christmas Eve and and all of my relatives and friends come to my house on Christmas day.
Olivia Rein 7
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM YOUR FLYER STAFF!
THE FLYER STAFF
The Flyer Staff
Issue Three. December 17, 2015
Instagram: @thesycamoreflyer
Our staff includes thirteen brilliant writers, four editors, thirteen photographers and 850 student contributors.
Editors: Athena Eborall, Mia Maniet, Caroline Skwara, Dahlia Wang, Bethany Brown
Layout Editor: Lydia Masset
Flyer Secretary: Bethany Brown
Cartoon Artwork: Ella Wahlquist, Allison McElroy
Staff Writers: Gunjan Bahri, Allison McElroy, Nikhil Gupta, Maya Goldenberg, Lindsey Brinkman, Marc Filippelli, Olivia Lindsey
Photo Credits This Issue: Mrs. Betsy Marsh, Ms. Tanisha Reeves
ALL editing done by students.
Email: theflyer@sycamoreschools.org
Location: 5757 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH, United States