Trojan Times
December 2014
Daphne Middle School Student Newspaper
Features
Exams
by Alex Hayes and Nolan Whiteis
This month DMS students will be taking semester exams. The exams will be counted into the semester grade average. Exams will be taking place on Dec. 15 through Dec. 19. Below is the Mid-Term Exam schedule, approved by Principal Hartner.
14-15 Mid-Term Exam Schedule
Monday Dec. 15 Social Studies/Elective(s)
Tuesday Dec. 16 Science / Language arts
Wednesday Dec. 17 P.E. / Make up (Got Zero Bowling FT)
Thursday Dec. 18 Math / Make-up
Friday Dec. 19 (Half Day) Make-up
Learning Earnings
Thank you to the DMS PTSA for donating some new fabulous prizes for Learning Earnings positive behavior support program that started this year. Students can save up their points given each week to purchase the following NEW items:
Dr. Dre Beat earbuds; Lego PS3; iPOD; gift cards for iTunes, Target, and movie theaters; official basketballs, and a wireless computer mouse. In addition to this, Learning Earnings prizes also include things such as spend a period in the library, tickets to the school dance, sit in the teacher's desk, and participate in a special popcorn party. Students should check their LE bucks each week, and they can cash them in for prizes, or put them in their savings account to gather interest. DMS is excited to have this positive program in place for the first time!
DMS Gives Back: Prodisee Pantry
by Delaney A. Clark
Last week at DMS we had a can food drive for Prodisee Pantry to give to people who can’t afford food. The students and staff thought it would be a great idea to give back to the community. Here is the outcome! In 3rd place was Mrs. Lindsey's Class with 38 canned foods. In 2nd place was Mrs.Trawick’s 8B class with 59 canned foods. In 1st place was Mrs. T. Taylor’s class with an outstanding 170 canned foods! An extra-break went to hallway 7B with a total of 187 cans in all! In total the whole school has brought 511 canned foods. Great job DMS! Can’t wait to see who’s going to win the next can food drive!
DMS Gives Back: Toys for Tots
by Hudson Arnold, Alex Hayes, and Dustin Lowe
The Peer Helpers and NJHS members joined together for a Toys For Tots toy drive, which is a program by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Toys For Tots collected toy donations, and gave the toys to kids who aren’t able to have Christmas like most families. DMS was an official Toys For Tots drop off spot. DMS collected a total of 95 toys from November 10 to December 5. For more information, visit the Toys For Tots website.http://mobile-al.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx
Meeting Mrs. Law
by Alyssa Ducote and Abby Glen
Trojan Times decided to interview one of the teachers who has been teaching the longest at Daphne Middle School. When Mrs. Law was in high school, she had a Language Arts teacher that just brought English to life, so she wanted to inspire just like her teacher did. Mrs. Law chose to teach at Daphne Middle School because once she graduated college and sent out applications, DMS was the first school to reply to her. She also said she liked the principal at the time. Mrs. Law told us she liked teaching 8th grade Language Arts because this grade is a challenge, and a good age to teach. She said what makes her unique as a teacher is that she doesn’t act strict. Mrs. Law said she shares respect with her students. In 10 years she said she would like to see herself retired. Her hobbies outside of school are reading, walking, free time, and working out at the gym. Mrs. Law said her biggest challenge of teaching has been incorporating the Common Core English to her lesson plans. Her vision of teaching is to make her students adjusted, literate, and able to achieve their goals. Mrs. Law has taught at Daphne Middle School for 22 years and Baldwin County High School for 7 years.
Thank you Mrs. Law for always supporting Daphne Middle School and giving us the chance to meet you!
Sports
Upcoming Sports Events
Its basketball season! The boys and girls DMS teams have started off pretty good! Here are the schedules! Games are $4.00 for Middle School students.
Girls’ Basketball
Thursday, December 18th @Gulf Shores 5:30pm
Boys' Basketball
Monday, December 15th @Spanish Fort 4:30/ 6:30pm
Thursday, December 18th @Gulf Shores 4:30/ 5:30pmSoccer
Lifestyles and Entertainmnet
December Birthdays
by Jackson Meadows
Birthdays this month were Catelyn Alexander, Paige Jackson, Asher Butler, Jassmine Morrison,Trevor Holley,Kennedy Payne, Chance Coleman, Shaw Patterson, Donte' Lee, Eduardo Moreno, Dustin Petty, Diamond Reeves, Miles Cooke, Brandon Klotz, Colton Watkins, Kolby Valrie, Stephen Young, Lillian Carlton, Abigail Glen, Laurel Barker, Britney Luke, Deja Harris, Allen Sappington, ShaeAnn Erryia, Cedric Carroll, Jeremiah Clawson, Zoie Kylynne, Samuel Segui, Zachary Breaux, Isaac Entrekin, Andrew Gilbert, George Burks, Madison Jenkins, Cade Cornell, Terrance Muse, James Moore, Ethan Gilhang, Myiah Williams, Taylor Smith, Nicholas Thompson, Shelby Ross, Tyndal Godwin, Jordan Sampson, Samantha Whitaker, Chloe Theriot, Reese Liggett, and Wade Dixon.
Happy birthday from the Trojan Times staff!
Favorite Teacher Poll
by Hudson Arnold and Hayden Roulston
Over the past few days, 65 people were asked,"Who is their favorite teacher". Here are the results. Mrs. Blake, the journalism teacher, was voted as the best elective teacher. Mrs. Smith, the A hall math teacher, was voted to be the most favorite seventh grade teacher. The favorite eighth grade teacher was Mrs. Boone, the A hall math teacher. In conclusion, math teachers rock!
Movies
by Grace Rodgers
“Christmas is a time of love, joy, and peace. A time of faith, to believe more than presents under the tree topped with a star.” ~ Santa Buddies. Christmas is a time where everyone is supposed to come together, and what better way to do that then watch a holiday movie during these times that will get you in a festive mood. One of the most popular movies is White Christmas, but here is a list of some well known movies. The Santa Clause, Santa Buddies, The Grinch, The Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, The Nightmare Before Christmas, A Christmas Story, The Polar Express, I’ll be Home for Christmas, Prancer, All I Want for Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Four Christmases, Home Alone, and lots more. Seasonal movies make you hopeful, and ready for Christmas. Winter is one of the best times to stay in, cuddle up on the couch, and pop in one of your favorite movies.
Peppermint Swirl Cookies Recipe
Hungry this winter? Here’s a recipe that is sure to calm those cold-day cravings.
Ingredients:
- 1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookies
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- *10 round peppermint candies, finely crushed (1/4 cup)
- *you can substitute the round candies for candy canes
- Red food coloring
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, break up cookie dough. Divide the dough in half.
- Stir or knead 2 tablespoons of the flour into one half of the dough. Stir or knead peppermint, red food coloring, and remaining 2 tablespoons of flour into the other half of the dough.
- On separate sheets of parchment paper, press each into a 10x6 inch rectangle.
- Using parchment paper, gently lift and place red dough rectangle on top of white dough rectangle.
- Using parchment paper to guide dough, firmly roll up both layers together, starting with the longest side.
- Cut roll into 20 (1/2 inch) slices. On paper-lined sheet, place slices two inches apart.
- Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until the the edges become golden brown and set.
- Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.
*This is a Pillsbury recipe.*
Gift of Giving
We all look forward to the presents on Christmas Day. All the new phones, electronics, new clothes; everything you could ever ask for! It sounds fun, but is it the most important reason for the season? One thing we need to remember is that it is better to give than to receive. You can give your time to help with charities and other organizations in your community, or giving your friends and family presents and not expecting anything in return. Some churches lend a hand for our community. For instance, Bay Community Church hosted Merry Christmas Gulf Coast, in which volunteers assembled bikes and handed them out to the community children in need. Crossroads Church is following through with Operation Christmas Child, where families send shoe boxes across the world filled with gifts and necessities for children. With helping hands, we can help families that are less fortunate throughout the holidays! There are so many things we can do to benefit and help the people around us. Don't feel guilty and give away all your presents, but be aware of the needs around you, and think of things you can do to help others during the holidays. Just one act of helping can make a huge difference, and to top it off you receive the Gift of Giving!
Daphne Middle School
Email: ablake@bcbe.org
Website: www.daphnemiddleschool.com
Location: Daphne Middle School, Daphne, AL, United States
Phone: 251-626-2845
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMSTrojanTimes?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @DMSTrojanTimes