The North Star - Fall 2017
Student Newsletter for Middle School North
School Hacks and Tips - Christina Cvelbar
Stressed? Tired? Running out of time? “Yes” is a common answer to these three questions for students, and many students are also very good at procrastinating until the last minute. I have come to know that about 60% of middle school students are disorganized. After doing some research I can provide some hacks and tips to help you in school.
Making to do lists and schedules for in and out of school can help with organization.
Highlighting and color coding can help you organize your notes and recording lessons can help you later for studying or taking notes.
When you are studying it helps for that area to be clean, so you don’t get distracted. You should also take breaks so your mind can rest. When studying you might exit out of an important tab on accident. No worries...all you have to do is press control+shift+t at the same time. On an ipad you can get to the website through your history.
Some students worry about their essays because they will use a lot of repetition. To prevent that just go to Dictionary.com then type the word in the search bar and look at the synonyms. Sometimes it is easy for students to forget things even when they review. To fix this say the things you are reviewing out loud. This hack is not school appropriate because it can distract others.
Many students make their own lunch, but some students make them in the morning. This is not the best idea because you could run out of time. To prevent that just make your lunch the night before. Also picking out an outfit the night before can help keep your room in better condition and it doesn’t take as much time.
Waking up is hard for a lot of students. A big chunk of students can wake up in the morning tired even though they got the sleep they needed. This actually might be your body telling you that you need to drink water. Drinking water should help you feel less tired.
If you have worked really hard on a project or studied hard for a test reward yourself!
I hope after reading this you can answer “no” to the three questions now. These tips have helped me so much, and I hope they can help you too!
Halloween Dance - Mia Fisher and Mikayla Barton
The Halloween Dance - a time of friends, music, and dancing. Kids of Middle School North came back to our school after hours for a time of fun Halloween celebration. There was a DJ playing pretty snazzy music and concessions tables outside of the cafeteria run by our very own PTO. The majority of the students there were in fact sixth graders, but some seventh and eighth graders manage to make it. Just a few days after the dance, I went around and interviewed some of my fellow peers who attended the dance on Friday, October 27.
“I had so much fun hanging out with all of my friends in our costumes. We danced and joked around a lot too.”-Statement from one of my fellow sixth graders. “My favorite part would’ve had to be when my friends and I all danced to some of our favorite songs and took pictures in our costumes, even though it was all really fun.”-Jules Long; Sixth Grade. “It was so cool seeing everyone’s costumes and meeting my friends around the cafeteria”- Another statement from a fellow peer. “The cafeteria was decked out in Halloween decorations and it all looked so cool”-Another statement from another fellow peer. “I expected the fact that almost all of my friends were there, and I knew the whole thing would be pretty fun”-Jacob Kirkpatrick; Sixth Grade.
Sixth grade Teachers - Chelsea Chandler
At the beginning of the school year sixth graders are always nervous to meet their new teachers. They are usually nice and we realize that there is nothing to fear about them.
The sixth grade teachers say that when they meet a student for the first time, they are looking for positive and ready to learn behaviors. They want a student that can easily share their thoughts and looks them in the eye. Mrs. Peterson looks for the student’s comfort level.
There are a lot of different mindsets or opinions when it comes to what teachers worry most for their students. Ms.Heavin says that she worries about her students feelings and how they can be sensitive, though sometimes they don’t really act like it. Mrs. Scheer agrees saying, “I am worried about them losing their confidence. They’ve been told many times that they can’t be able to do something and I am afraid I won’t be able to break that mindset.” Mrs. Zarro worries that if the sixth graders realize that they’re halfway done with their school career and they have to start to take their studies seriously.
According to these teachers’ references, it seems like students have the same worries when they walk in the front doors for the first time. From experience, teachers realize that the students are mainly afraid of not being able to open their lockers, making friends, and getting lost. All the teachers though, agree that students are mostly afraid of teachers being strict, unfair, mean and scary!
After we get used to middle school though, we grow fond of our teachers and sometimes look forward to seeing them every morning. So, if any upcoming sixth graders are reading this, there is absolutely nothing to fear about and your teachers will love you!
Veterans Day - Joseph Jahnke
Veterans day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11 1919, the first anniversary of the end 1rst world war. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance on November 11 became a national holiday in 1938.
Veterans Day at Middle School North is one of the most important days of the year for students, staff, the community and most important, the veterans who we celebrate on that day. When asked, “What do veterans mean to you?”, 6th grade teacher, Ms. Heavin says that veterans are very important to her. They mean the world to her, the most important groups of the year. All of our lives are something that we owe to a veteran in some way. Before she was born, Ms. Heavin had her stepfather and father both served in World War 2. She is very grateful for their service and the service of all veterans.
Mr. Shimp says that veterans impact our daily life because without veterans we wouldn't have the same freedom that we have now. Mr. Shimp’s father-in-law was in the military and is now a veteran.
I think that veterans are super important because they work hard, day and night for us. Veterans make many sacrifices by putting us first, not themselves. In my own family, my cousin is still in the Air Force, my grandpa was in the Army. My great great uncle Bud was in the army. It is kind of hard for me because I don’t get to see some of my family because my cousin is all over the place and we see him not often and my great great uncle Bud passed away 3 weeks ago.
Thank you veterans we very very appreciate your hard work and sacrifice for us.