The EMS Grapevine
Winter 2016 Edition
Welcome Back for the Winter Edition of The EMS Grapevine!
The EMS Grapevine is a newsletter created by middle schoolers for middle schoolers. Our team consists of writers, editors, photographers, and layout designers. As we meet every other Tuesday, we discuss story ideas to capture a quick peek into life at EMS. Contributions are always welcomed by emailing us at TheEMSGrapevine @gmail.com. Share the news and tell others that you heard about it...through the Grapevine!
UPCOMING EVENTS
By Faith D
January 22, 2016 - Girls Basketball Game vs Mendham at 4
January 25, 2016 - Boys Basketball Game vs Brooklawn at 4
January 27, 2016 - Girls Basketball Game vs Frelinghuysen at 4
January 29, 2016 - End of Marking Period 2
February 12, 2016 - Half Day
February 15, 2016 - President's Day - No School
EMS Spirit Days
by Antonia M.
January 15, 2016 - Pajama Day
January 22, 2016- Blue and Gold Day
January 29, 2016- Blue & Gold/ Crazy Hair Day
February 5, 2016- Blue and Gold Day
February 12, 2016- Disney Day
February 19, 2016- Blue and Gold Day
February 26, 2016- Decades Day
WELCOME TO 2016!
Keeping Your Resolutions
by Viviana P. & Julianne M.
When keeping our resolutions, we often say “There’s always next year!” However with these tips, you’ll stay on task!
Remember the New Year’s resolution you set for yourself at the beginning of this year? How’s that working out for you? Trust me, maintaining your goals can be tough. I’m not
the best at it, I’m usually a hard-working master procrastinator and a hardcore music buff. But in just a few (hopefully) easy tips, you will be aiming high for what you want to achieve.
Be a hard-working procrastinator - I know that sounds silly but it can help you in the long run. You want to be focused with your work, but you don’t want to be overwhelmed with everything. Once in awhile you have to say to yourself “I have been working hard for ______ long, I deserve a break.” If you want more information on this tip check out this video!
Give yourself a reward! - If you stayed true to your resolution for a certain amount of time, you should reward yourself. For example, if your resolution was to be more studious and you received good grades for a whole marking period, go out to the movies with your friends.
Break It Into Smaller Parts - If your resolution is a gigantic task, break it down! Do one step each day until you reach your goal. Start with the tasks that you like the most, it’ll help you stay motivated. It might take a while to do everything, but it’ll be worth it in the end.
When all else fails:
Concentrate on 1-3 goals
Create milestones
Create a plan
Track your results
- Learn to say no
Check out more resources below to help keep your resolutions.
DIY CRAFTS AND TREATS
DIY Frozen Hot Chocolate
by: Gabi M
‘Tis the season to have hot chocolate! Learn how to make this easy and yummy frozen hot chocolate to make you cool this winter.
Ingredients:
6 fluid ounces (equal to ¾ cups) milk
½ cups hot cocoa mix or 2 hot cocoa mix packets (Swiss Miss is recommended)
1 ½ - 2 cups crushed ice cubes
Whipped cream (optional)
Additional hot cocoa mix (optional)
Instructions:
Pour milk into blender
Add hot cocoa mix and ice
Blend first at low and then high speed until ice is finely crushed and slushy
Pour into tall glass and top with whipped cream and a dusting of hot cocoa mix, if desired
Credit to Food.com for the recipe
DIY Winter White Popcorn
by Gabi M.
Caution: Contains peanuts
Popcorn is not only used in the winter as a decoration for a tree. You can make scrumptious snacks out of it too!
Ingredients:
14 cups popped popcorn
3 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups salted peanuts
1 lb white chocolate wafers (around 2 cups)
2 tablespoons peanut butter
Instructions:
Put the popped popcorn, Rice Krispies, and peanuts in a large bowl
Melt the white chocolate wafers
Mix the melted white chocolate together with the peanut butter
Pour the white chocolate mixture into the bowl with the popcorn mixture and stir
Place on two or three baking pans and let the chocolate harden
Break up the larger pieces and it’s ready to serve!
Credits to Food.com for the recipe
DIY Christmas Candy Crunch
by: Gabi M
Caution: Contains peanuts
I’ve had this before and it is amazing, I recommend that you try this!
Ingredients:
4 cups Chex cereal (rice or corn is the best option)
2 cups pretzels (mini twists are the best option)
½ cup Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups, you can add more if you like
1 cup M&M’s candy
1 cup White chocolate chips
Instructions:
Line a cookie sheet with foil or wax paper
Combine all ingredients except white chips in a large bowl and toss
Place chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat for about 30-40 seconds, stir until smooth.
Pour melted chips over mixture and stir well until coated
Spread mixture onto cookie sheet and let set about 10 minutes
Break into pieces
Credits to hoosierhomemade.com
Christmas Cookies
by: Gabi M
Are you still in the holiday spirit? Try making these cookies!
Ingredients:
225g (8 oz) plain flour
110g (4 oz) caster sugar
110g (4 oz) cold chopped butter
1 medium egg
1 teaspoon of water
Materials Needed:
Baking sheets and trays
Mixing bowl
Something to mix with
Decorating icing!
Pre-heat oven to 180'c (gas mark 4) 350'F
Mix flour, sugar and butter in a processor until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. This will take a long time!
Add the egg and water and mix again until it starts to glob together into a smooth ball! You can use your hand for this near the end.
Flour the surface and roll out the dough to a thickness of a £1 coin and cut out shapes!
Bake for 10-15 minutes - swap the shelves over halfway through!
Don't worry if they are slightly soft when they come out the oven! They will harden.
6. Cool on a wire rack. When the biscuits are cold, decorate!!
Credits to danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil on YouTube
WINTER CRAFTS
By: Julianne M. and Viviana P.
Monster Mittens
Materials
Sewing machine
Scissors
Iron
Instructions
Download and print the monster mittens template. Attach felt pieces to fleece mittens with all-purpose thread and a sewing needle. Use embroidery floss to create nostrils, and sew on buttons for eyes.
Cut out three felt fins; sew on. For teeth, sew white rickrack to front curve of glove.
For mane, cut 2 wide felt pieces to cover the top 3/4 of mitten. Crease felt lengthwise down the middle with an iron. Pin pieces together, and cut a fringe on each side with pinking shears. Sew to mitten along the crease. Glue pink and orange felt triangles together for ears, and sew on; cut a felt tongue, and sew on underside of mitten.
Cut two same-shape felt pieces for scales. Stack; slide top piece down. Pin; crease down the middle with an iron, and sew to glove. Sew on a notched rectangle for a darting tongue
Make Your Own Snow Globe Craft
What you'll need:
●Small clear bottle or jar (baby food jars or spice jars work well – they
must have a lid)
●Corn syrup
●Glitter
●Popsicle stick or child-safe butter knife
●Water
*Optional: hot glue gun/hot glue – adults only
Instructions
Place the jar on a paper plate or some newspaper.
Fill the jar 1/3 of the way full with corn syrup. The corn syrup helps the glitter stay in suspension longer.
Add water to fill the jar ½ way. Mix the corn syrup and water together until the corn syrup dissolves most of the way. Once the corn syrup is dissolved, top the jar off with water
(If you fill the jar up completely and then stir it, we guarantee a mess! Make it cleaner by dissolving the corn syrup in ½ a jar of water and then topping it off completely)
Sprinkle in some glitter. Use as many colors as you’d like, and as much as you’d like.
Put the lid on the jar and shake to watch the snow swirl.
** Here is the optional part. If you’d like, you can hot glue the lid onto the jar. If you do glue the lid on, make sure to use hot glue and not something that will wash away in water (like Elmer’s glue) or the water in your globe may turn cloudy as it eats the glue.
Make Your Clay Pot Snowman Craft
Materials:
●Small clay pot
●Medium sized clay pot
●White and black paint
●Paint brush
●Red ribbon
●2 googly eyes
●Blue 3-D paint
●Orange felt or construction paper
●Glue
●Scissors
Instructions
Paint the medium sized pot white and the small pot black. Set aside to dry.
Turn the black pot upside down and glue a strip of red ribbon on top of the rim of the pot.
Turn the white pot upside down and place the black pot on top of it. (This is the hat)
Glue two eyes onto the white pot.
Cut a small triangle out of orange felt and glue it onto the white pot under the eyes.
Dip the handle end of the paint brush into black paint and use it to make dots in the shape of a smile under the orange nose.
Use the blue 3-D paint to write "Let it snow" on the bottom rim of the white pot.
How to make your Styrofoam Penguin Craft
What you'll need:
Small styrofoam egg
Black and white craft paint
Paint brush
Black, orange, red and green felt
Cotton balls
2 googly eyes
Glue
Scissors
Popsicle stick or wooden dowel
Serrated knife
Instructions
Cut a small portion off the bottom of the styrofoam egg so that it sits flat.
Paint the majority of the egg black. Paint a small egg shaped patch of white on the front of the egg to be the penguin's stomach.
Cut two small "eye" shaped pieces out of black felt for the wings. Glue onto either side of the egg.
Cut two small triangles out of orange felt for feet and glue them onto the bottom of the egg.
Glue two googly eyes onto the penguin.
Cut a small triangle out of orange felt and glue under the eyes as a beak.
Cut a small bowtie out of red felt and glue under the beak. Add a small white dot to the middle the bowtie to better define the center point.
Cut a hat shape out of green felt. Pull apart a cotton ball and glue a bit to the point of the hat as well as along the bottom of the hat. Glue a popsicle stick or wooden dowel to the back of the hat and insert it into the penguin's head.
Credits to danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil
EMS SPORTS
An Interview with the Boys Basketball Team
By Serena V.
What do want to see in your coach?
I’d like to see enthusiasm in my coach and I’d also like my coach to be motivational ~Max S.
Is it important to get along with your teammates?
Yes it is very important to get along if we didn’t get along on the court it would be madness. We wouldn’t be able to work as a team ~Ryan R.
Do you intend to have basketball as a career?
Yes I would want to be a professional basketball player and make a lot of money ~Jake W.
When did you realize you were interested in playing basketball?
I realized that I was interested in basketball when I was a little kid ~Colby S.
What is your favorite position?
My favorite position is shooting guard ~Max S.
My favorite position is point guard ~Colby S.
Is there a specific team that you’re looking forward to playing against?
I’m looking forward to versing Rockaway and Mount Olive ~Jake W.
Do you idolize any specific players?
Stephen Curry is the bomb ~Jake W.
What is your favorite professional basketball team?
My favorite professional basketball team is Phoenix Suns ~Jake W.
Why do you like to play basketball?
Because I like to win ~Jack F.
An interview with the Girls Basketball Team
by Antonia M.
How do you work as a team?
You might think that teamwork in basketball is mainly about passing, but the truth is that it’s mainly about talking. You need to be able to know your teammate’s names, and call for them when you are open. You also need to cheer for your team. That’s one of the biggest things; you really need to cheer for your teammates even if they did something wrong. Just cheer them up and continue playing.
Do you have to be tall to play basketball?
No! It might help for rebounds and things, but you definitely don't need to be tall!
Is basketball your passion or is it just an after school thing?
Just an after school thing. I like it and I’ll probably do it in high school but yeah it's for fun.
Why do you like to play basketball?
I’ve been playing since 3rd grade and I just like it…. it's fun.
What position do you play?
Center and Power forward
What is your favorite basketball team?
The Cavaliers
Who is your favorite player on that team?
Mo Williams
Interview with Holly V.
SPOTLIGHT ON NEW TEACHERS AT EMS
Mr Babetski - 7th grade Science
1.) What made you want to teach at Roxbury?
Well, it was a very awesome school, and I remember their great sports teams I remember playing with.
2.) When did you start teaching?
I started in 2013.
3.) How is this different from your last job?
Well, for this on I’m teaching science and the school is a lot different since it’s only 7th and 8th grade.Email: DBabetski@roxbury.org
Location: Room 21
Mr. Capra - 7th grade Social Studies
1.) What made you want to teach at Roxbury?
I grew up in Roxbury, and I enjoyed going through the Roxbury school system. When I graduated from college I had other job offers, but I chose Roxbury because of the pride I had for my childhood town.
2.) When did you start teaching?
The Fall of 2002
3.) How is this different from your last job?
EMS is a great school to work in. The daily use of the chromebook in the classroom, teaching social studies to the same group of kids for a full year, and less announcements over the loudspeaker throughout the day are some of the differences from my last job.
Email: RCapra@roxbury.org
Location: Room 20
Snow Days? Try Movie Days!! Checkout the Top 10 Most Loved Disney Movies
By Antonia M
Fantasia
Alice in Wonderland
Peter Pan
The Little Mermaid
Tarzan
Robin Hood
The Sword in the Stone
Mulan
101 Dalmatians
The Princess and the Frog
EMS Chimes in on Their Favs of 2015
EMS 2015 Playlist
By: Julianne M and Viviana P.
If you want to listen your peers’ favorite songs of 2015, check out this Spotify playlist - (https://play.spotify.com/user/sparklyvivi/playlist/4lhEhh4gSVnEn69UFscNqv)
“UGH!” by The 1975 - Viviana P.
“Sorry” by Justin Bieber - Maddie D. and Ashley R.
“Hotline Bling” by Drake - Mia D.
“Stitches” by Shawn Mendes - Andres C., Tori K., Serena V., Ludwika V., and Bianca N.
“A.M.” by One Direction - Amanda M.
“All Day” by Kanye West - Hailee I.
“Hey Everybody” by 5 Seconds of Summer - Hannah A.
“LA Devotee” by Panic! At The Disco - Melina M.
“Hotline Bling” by Drake - Arianna Y.
“What Do You Mean?” by Justin Bieber - Morgan O.
“Black Magic by Little Mix - Olivia B.
“Renegades” by X Ambassador - Hayley M.
“Irresistible” by Fall Out Boy - Audrey V.
“Uma Thurman” by Fall Out Boy - Gabi M.
“See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth - Julissa B.
“Watch Me (Whip/ Nae Nae)” by Silento - Robert K.
“Emperor's New Clothes” by Panic! At The Disco - Kara R. and Wallezcka C.
“We Don't Believe What's On TV” by Twenty One Pilots - Ashley M.
“Infinity” by One Direction - Jess C.
“Gold Slugs” by DJ Khaled ft. Chris Brown, August Alsina, Fetty Wap - Romina S.
“Hello” by Adele - Natalie G.
“Stressed Out” by Twenty-One Pilots - Amber C. and Nicole L.
“Hotline Bling” by Drake - Jon E.
“Girls Like Girls” by Hayley Kiyoko - Julianne M.
“One Call Away” by Charlie Puth - Jennifer S.
“Message Man” by Twenty One Pilots - Ciara R.
“Cracked” by Pentatonix - Kendal C.
“Lane Boy” by Twenty One Pilots - Ileana G. and Jacob F.
“Let It Go” by James Bay - Antonia MK
“Roses” by Chainsmokers - Mia E.
“History” by One Direction - Bailey G.
“Get Ugly” by Jason Derulo - Maddie T.
Laughing Corner
Just a few Jokes...
By - Julianne M.
These jokes are a gift to all!
Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
A: Frosted Flakes!
Q: What did Jack Frost and the vampire name their child?
A: Frostbite!
Q: How do Eskimos make their beds?
A: With sheets of ice and blankets of snow!
Q: Why don’t mountains get cold in the winter?
A: They wear snowcaps.
Q: What did the snowman say to the customer?
A: Have an ICE day!
Q: What do you call a slow skier?
A: A slopepoke!
Q: Why did the farmer wear one boot to town?
A: Because he heard there would be a 50% chance of snow!
Q: Where does a polar bear keep its money?
A: In a snow bank!
Q: What do you call a snowman in the desert?
A: A puddle!
Q: How does an Eskimo stick his house together?
A: With iglue!
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Snow.
Snow who?
- Snowbody!
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
by Serena V
You only live once, but if you live it right once is enough.
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.
If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.
It’s not about being the best; it’s about being better than you were yesterday.
The harder you work the luckier you get.
Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupting the ones doing it.
Strive for progress not perfection.
Faith doesn't make things easier, it makes things possible.
Imperfections are what make you who you are.
Happiness is found when you stop comparing yourself to others
Surround yourself with those who make you happy :)
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know what peace is.
Your best teacher is your last mistake.
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.
The struggle you are in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.
People who think they are crazy enough to change the world are the ones that do.
Maturity is knowing when to be immature.
If you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
YOU are the creator of your own destiny.
You wouldn’t care so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.
Someone else is happy with less than you have
Sometimes you win. Sometimes you learn.
If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.
Never stop doing your best just because someone stops giving you credit.
Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take a moment and make it perfect.
If you are having a bad day do me a favor. Put your hand over your heart. Do you hear that? It’s your heart. It’s beating. That means God has given you another day to live. So live! Please! You are here for a reason. Find it. Reach for it. Chase it. Just please live another day and experience life for me. Thank you.
P.s. I hope you are inspired and I hope you have a great day. :)
The EMS Grapevine
Email: theemsgrapevine@gmail.com
Website: http://www.roxbury.org/Domain/9
Location: 47 Eyland Ave, NJ, United States
Phone: 973-584-2973
Facebook: facebook.com/RoxburyEMS/
Twitter: @EisenhowerMS