The Buffett Bugle
Edition Four Spring 2018
The Buffett Bugle is the student produced newspaper at Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School. The Bugle is produced for distribution to the students, staff, and administration of Buffett, as well as members of the community and the Omaha Public Schools. Students in this course participate in all areas of the production process, including planning, interviewing, photographing, editing, and computer layout design.
We are excited to bring you our new online format of The Buffett Bugle. One of our Advanced Media classes worked with a UNO journalism storytelling class. Together, they created PSAs and multimedia pieces for the non-profit ModeShift Omaha to use for their marketing and advocacy campaign.
High School Registration
By Kassidy T., Sarah L., Alexis C., Grace J., and Taylor G.
Numerous students at Buffett have taken interest in Burke, Central, and North; however, there are other amazing schools in OPS school district students are attending.
Northwest is another major pick from Buffett students. Dalton M. said, “I want to go to Northwest because they have a lot of interesting electives.” Northwest’s magnet focuses on law, international diplomacy, and government. They also have over 70 honors and AP courses. Northwest's mission includes service learning where students are able to use their skills in real life settings.
Other students from Buffett picked Benson as their high school. “I want to go to Benson because of the medical academy,” said Jordan A. At Benson, there is a survey of allied health careers. Students are able to earn up to 22.5 quarter credit hours through Metropolitan Community College.
Another option for eighth grade students is Bryan. Amarie T. said,” I heard the basketball team was good, and I want to be a part of it.” Bryan's magnet focus is the Family and Computer Sciences department. The department includes budgeting, nutritional intake and the family and community relationship. There are 16 career clusters to prepare students for various careers.
The seventh OPS high school option is South. It has a Dual Language program and focuses on Spanish bilingualism. This program prepares students for the transition to post-secondary education. Omaha South was awarded school of the year for their multiculturalism and bilingualism from the Spanish embassy.
Students must think carefully about which OPS high school to attend because it is an important decision. Overall, all OPS high schools offer incredible opportunities for students to thrive.
Club Day
By Blake O., Brody B., and Jose H.
This year, Buffett added a club day to the schedule on Wednesdays. Clubs are significant to student learning because they offer a way for students to get to know more students of different grades and teachers. Mr. CK wanted to support all students by closing the opportunity gap by giving all students an equal amount of opportunity to be involved in different types of activities. Previously, clubs were after school and not all students were able to participate. Mr. CK also wanted to increase student growth and engagement through clubs.
The opportunity gap is when some students are not given the same opportunities as other students. “We hope that clubs will close the student opportunity gap,” Mr. CK said. He continued, "Club day is intended to get students involved in activities that they may not otherwise participate. The idea of introducing clubs into school days came from Bryan Middle School during Dr. Ortega’s administration.”
Clubs gave students the opportunity to get to know other teachers they may not usually see. “Teachers get to know other individuals that they usually do not know as well as other students,” said Mr. CK. Clubs allowed Buffett students to be a part of a community that encouraged a healthy learning environment and have new exerperiences.
Clubs gave students the opportunity to branch out, try different activities, and explore their passion. One examples is CARE Club, where students learn about different animals and gives students the opportunity to think about veterinarian careers. “We believe that clubs should have that fun feeling to them, but they should also help you with things like careers. If you find something you really like in one of these clubs, you could possibly make it into a job later,” said Ms. Tolliver. Club day became a gateway into careers because it supports students interests.
Club day also offers a good way to make new friends and be active in school. “Getting students involved is what we like to do. I really enjoy seeing the smiles on their faces when they’re participating in a club that they enjoy,” said Mr. CK.
Club Feature - Walking with a Purpose
Pollution Photo Essay
Bottled Up- The inside of a Gatorade bottle. In this photo, there is a bottle laying still on the sidewalk. "Only 1 in 5 plastic bottles are recycled." That is not very much and we need to change that. We can change this by recycling our plastic, and it does not take much time out of your day to do so.
Change is good, in this case though, it's great!- Two plastic water bottles lay in the sun by some trees. In this photo, plastic is found by a bridge with water and a trail. "Some of these compounds found in plastic have been found to alter hormones or have other potential human health effects." Recycling is a big deal because it really can help.
Be the change you want to see in the world -Plastic is caught between the tall weeds. In this photo, plastic is caught between the tall weeds by a local trail. You would think that people would pick it up if they were walking down the trail; unfortunately, they do not. "Virtually every piece of plastic that was ever made still exists in some shape or form (with the exception of the small amount that has been incinerated)." You can do the earth and yourself a favor by going out into your local neighborhood and go PLOGGING! (Jogging and picking up liter).
One cup, two cups, three cups, four- There's a cup laying in the grass. In this photo, the grass by a trail you can find trash, mostly plastic. Did you know that, "Enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the earth four times"? That is horrible. How do you solve this problem? We can solve this problem by recycling our plastic and not throwing on the ground. Plastic is non- biodegradable just like many other trashes.
Boxed in- Boxed water lays in the grass untouched. In this photo, there's a nearby street, sewer, and water. "People who live pollutants have a 20% higher risk of in places with high levels of air death from lung cancer than people. This is why it is very important to pick up who live in less-polluted areas.
Red Cap- A small bottle lays in the sun. In this photo, a clear bottle with a red cap is on the sidewalk. The sun is shining and the grass is casting a shadow onto the sidewalk. "Last year, the average American used 167 water bottles, but only recycled 38." We need to do more recycling; it takes not even a minute out of your day. Show the next generation that recycling is important and needs to be done.
Do Something- There's trash in the trees and on the ground, mostly plastic. In this photo, a local park in my neighborhood is filled with trash. It makes it look dirty. Who wants to go to a park filled with trash? No one, which is why we should do something about it. Did you know that "Pollution is one of the biggest global killers, affecting over 100 million people." You can help decrease these numbers by walking around your neighborhood and picking up trash.
The trash is real- Many pieces of trash surround the fallen tree branches and grass. In this photo, trash is everywhere. I turn around, trash. I look down, trash. "Each year, 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, storm water, and industrial waste are dumped into US water." Pollution is a big deal and it really does have a negative impact on our Earth.
Make the change- There's plastic caught in between the bars and the water is murky from all of the pollution that invades it. In this photo, anywhere you go if you see water it is probably polluted. Did you know that, "40% of America’s rivers and 46% of America’s lakes are too polluted for fishing, swimming, or aquatic life." That is almost half of the rivers and lakes in America. But, how can we fix this problem? It's so simple, all you have to do is not liter and pick up trash around your neighborhood and soon those number will decrease.
Hanging on- A white bag is caught in a fallen branch by the water. In this picture taken, a brown bridge with red bars and water underneath have been polluted. "Humans create over 1.3 billion tons of trash a year, more world." The fact that our country has the most pollution than anywhere in the world. The United States has 254 million tons a year is a big deal and a huge problem. Pollution causes deaths and life expectancy rates to go down.
Animal Adoption - Hands, Hearts, Paws
By Olivia A.
Pets, where would we be without them? Just think about how much time people put into making sure that they get proper care. Why do people do that, spend hours and hours taking care of a little fluff that cannot speak, but yet bring us so much joy? There are many people who adopt their furry friends, and there are many organizations that foster animals until they find their forever home. Hands, Hearts, Paws is just one local organization. Their mission is to help these little animals find homes that will guarantee a caring home, and a life full of happy tail wags for these pets that deserve it so much. Hands, Hearts, Paws is a pet foster home located in Omaha, Nebraska that cares for dogs and puppies.
Jenny Houfek, a dog foster mom for the organization has devoted much time into caring for dogs and has many stories about how she received the animals and the adoption process. Ms. Houfek explained the best part of being a dog foster mom. She said, “Puppy kisses! No matter how bad my day is going, they all want to love on me when I get home and it makes me feel so good.”
Ms. Houfek has a passion for dogs. As a little girl, her father would help neighbors and would spend time with neighborhood dogs, and it led her to want her own. Her love of animals led her to Hands, Hearts, Paws. She now has her own dog and is a foster dog mom.
Ms. Houfek explained that Hands, Hearts, Paws hopes to get most dogs off the streets of Omaha and cut back on putting down dogs in shelters due to lack of space. She explained in most shelters, animals are only given about two to three weeks to find a home before they are put to sleep. Hands, Hearts, Paws does not euthanize dogs, but fosters dogs until they find a home. Ms. Houfek said, "One of the dog breeds that lack homes the most are pit bulls. Typically, they look more aggressive and are larger dogs various people do not want to adopt."
She also gets to name the new puppies she receives. Ms. Houfek explained when it comes to the name of the dogs that they find she tries to think of something cute. If you ever want to adopt a dog, Hands, Hearts, Paws is a great organization. Ms. Houfek and other dog fosters ensure your new puppy is in good care prior to finding a forever home.
Jump into a New Start
By Megan C., and Payton R.
The transition from middle school to high school is a big jump. Students have prepared for high school since they first began middle school. Buffett teachers try to prepare students through setting high expectations, deadlines, and critical thinking. Since high school is such a big change, how well prepared are students?
Peyton S., 8th grader, plans to go to Burke. She explained she learned how to balance homework with sports. Peyton said, “I am excited to meet new people, but I am nervous about going to such a big school.” Preparation and keeping organized will help students in high school. Dylan J., another 8th grader, plans to stay organized by having an agenda and keeping a folder for different classes, much like middle school.
Most students at Buffett felt prepared learning wise; however, students wanted to experience more freedoms. Jaylin W., 8th grader, who is going to Northwest said, “We need more freedom because we are about to go into high school.” Having more freedoms could increase student responsibility. The new experiences could help students learn to make better choices at school and may help students learn how to utilize their time during the day.
Involvement at school is also important while in high school. Representing your school is important to a lot of students. At Buffett, the students said they wanted to be involved in high school. Quincy E., said, ‘’I want to play football, basketball, and maybe baseball.” School involvement not only includes sports but other extracurriculars such as show choir and debate team.
Peyton S. explained being part of extracurricular activities such as sports helps to teach teamwork, an experience that she can bring back to classroom when working in groups. She said, ‘’Being on a team and working for the same goal seems amazing.”
Many students are worried about balancing their work and extracurriculars. Elise M., 8th grader, said, ‘’Sometimes it can become a lot when I have sports and a lot of homework to finish.” Part of balancing is not procrastinating on big projects and homework. Teens can get overwhelmed when trying to juggle everything, but most are up for the challenge. Some good advice is keep a calendar of due dates and pace your work. Try to get larger projects completed in smaller chunks instead of all at once. If students are able and know their assignments ahead of time, complete them as soon possible instead of waiting. If students do not like traditional calendars, try phone reminders or other apps.
Many teachers have different ways they prepared their students for high school. Mr. Pentland, 8A ELA teacher, said, “I have worked to instill the value of independent learning, critical thinking, and to focus on the details regarding idea.’’ He hoped his students will feel well prepared and are ready to take on high school.
Mrs. Rosenberg, 8B science teacher, put a lot of time and effort into her teaching and students. She said, ‘’I have hard curriculum that my students must work hard to understand, and I run my physical science class much like a high school class because it is high school work.’’
Overall, students are excited and ready for a change. It is evident that Buffett teachers and staff tried to prepare students as well as possible for the undertaking of high school. Buffett teachers tried to teach their students how to stay organized and balance.
Movie Review - "The Miracle Season"
By Kira S.
The movie Miracle Season is definitely one to remember. This inspiring movie is based on the true story of the West High School girls’ volleyball team. After their star player, Caroline Found, is tragically killed in a moped accident, the remaining team members must come together with the help of their coach, in the hopes of winning a second-consecutive state championship.
This heartbreaking, yet encouraging movie has many special things about it. One of the most notable parts about it was how strongly the friendship between Caroline and her best friend Kelly was conveyed, as well as how nicely the movie showed Caroline’s positive impact on others. This allowed the audience to really feel Kelly’s emotions when Caroline died, and we could see how the students’ lives were changed once Caroline was gone. Another likable thing about Miracle Season is how well it followed the way the events happened in real life. This showed me that the writers payed very close attention to detail and it was interesting to see the scenes in the film, compared to real-life videos. Miracle Season is absolutely a movie worth seeing and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to see it.
Bingeable Netflix Review - Stranger Things
By Kira S.
The Netflix Original Series, Stranger Things, is definitely one worth watching. Created by the Duffer Brothers, this thrilling series has won numerous awards such as the MTV Show of the Year Award, Producer’s Guild of America Award, and multiple Kids’ Choice Awards.
This show takes place in the year 1983, when Joyce's 12-year-old son, Will, goes missing without an explanation. This leads Joyce to launch a terrifying investigation into his disappearance, with the help of local officers. As they search for answers, they unravel a series of unbelievable mysteries including secret government experiments, unknown supernatural forces, and one very strange girl.
There are many likeable aspects about this show. One of the best things, in my opinion, is how well the kids on the show portray their characters. Their amazing acting really allows the audience to feel the emotions along with the characters and feel connected to them. Also, the friendship between the kids is shown very well, and you can really tell that the cast has a strong connection. Another likable thing about the show is how well thought out the story lines and characters were. The plot events are very creative, and it is apparent that the creators, The Duffer Brothers, put a lot of thought and effort into the show. However, the one thing that I wish they could’ve done differently is add a couple more episodes to the seasons. Filming a couple more episodes would allow the plot to develop more and the show wouldn’t seem to end so abruptly. The series also has an intended audience of 13 and up, due to the language and dark nature of the show.
Overall, Stranger Things, is an amazing series. Although you technically have to pay to watch it on Netflix, this series is definitely worth your time and money. Stranger Things has elements from many different classic 80’s movies, but it is very similar to The Goonies. The Stranger Things schoolboy friend group and small-town mysteries plot are like The Goonies. This series is one of my favorites, and I would strongly recommend it.
DIY - Do It Yourself Club is a Hit Among Students
By Kira S.
Do it yourself is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things without the direct aid of experts. Mrs. Packard’s 7th and 8th grade DIY club enjoys making many different types of projects, doing the work themselves. “We do projects that the kids want to do such as dirt-n-worms, tie-dying shirts, making bath bombs, creating water color artwork, and more,” said DIY club teacher Mrs. Packard. Students in the club have also become accustomed to following a routine each class. “We start off class by getting all of our materials prepared for our project that day,” explained Mrs. Packard. The club then goes over instructions and starts working on their projects for the remaining amount of time left.
Mrs. Packard has many different aspects she enjoys about the club. “My favorite part would have to be seeing the kids because I love all their unique personalities and it is fun to work with them,” explained Mrs. Packard. She says that she also likes trying new things that push her out of her comfort zone, such as tie-dying t-shirts. “This club is a lot of fun and I enjoy making new projects,” said club member Shasha R. DIY is a unique club, which allows you to be creative and let out your artistic side.
Photo Essay: Ms. Buller-Kirke
Tryouts! Sixth grade music students tried out for solos for their upcoming
spring concert. Teacher, Mrs. Buller-Kirke has taught for 30 years, 14 at
Buffett. She said, "I have taught for 30 amazing years."
Feeling the beat! The students are practicing the dance moves to one of the songs they are singing for the concert. Mrs. Buller-Kirke has a lot of favorite memories. "I the think what is so fun about teaching is being able to see students that you have as they grow up and go to high school, and some of them are still involved in music or remember something you did in class with them," said Mrs. Buller-Kirke. She is always glad when someone remembers something from her class.
Jazz hands! The sixth graders are getting into some new moves they are learning. Her decision to become a teacher was inspired by her parents. "My parents both are teachers,
so I decided that after I saw how they enjoyed a lot of their career, and after I made a some decisions, I decided that teaching was for me."
Excitement! The students are getting more excited as the concert is coming up very soon, so they are working hard on memorizing the dances. Her favorite thing about teaching is that every class is different. She said, "If you teach the same lesson it can be something totally different because of the kids involved in the next class. Every class is different."
Reach high! The kids are all happily dancing to the beat of the song. Mrs Buller-Kirke said that the thing she will miss the most about teaching is, "Seeing kids excited about singing."
The final song! The students are practicing the dance for Mrs. Buller-Kirke's last chorus concert. Mrs. Buller-Kirke is excited to something different when she retires. She said, "I am excited just to do something different, after 30 years of doing the same thing I am and do new things because she still wants to be part of the world. excited to maybe see what else I might be good at." She plans on going to work something
Girls Soccer
By Jacob G.
Goal! This year's Buffett girls varsity soccer team is off to a great start. The past 13 years the girls soccer team has not disappointed and won city for those consecutive years. This year, the team continued to strive for another perfect year as the expectations are high.
One of the varsity players, Peyton S., is ready and excited for what lies ahead in the season. Being on the varsity team last year, she has experienced what it takes to win a city championship. This year, the team’s main goal is to improve. Peyton said, “We need to bond with each other and being selfless." Building relationships with teammates helps with collaboration and success.
The girls soccer team has very talented members. One thing Peyton mentioned they could improve on is communication and passing options. She said “We could communicate more and look up for more options.”
Like every team, the Buffett girls soccer team has many goals and ways to improve their game. They are a dominant team and this year is no different. This season they retained their championship and won city. Awesome job lady Bobcats!
Sports Season Updates
Boys Lacrosse
10-2 Loss (Goals from Ben Spethman and Joel Hammond)
5-2 Loss (Goals from Turner Zetterman and Gabe Kenoyer)
Girls Lacrosse
Girls Lacrosse has had a great season! All of the girls have increased their knowledge of lacrosse as a team. Our record isn't great (1W and 3L). Coach Lima tried to keep the team focused on improving and the progress they made, as it is the first year Buffett had a girls lacrosse team. They are all learning the sport and learning to work together. Below is a list of our players and their main position(s).
Elise B. (8th)--Attack
Jill F. (8th)--Defense/Attack
HaiLei R. (7th)--Midfield/Attack
Tyra K. (7th)--Attack/Goalie
MacKenzie M. (7th)--Midfield/Attack
Anli G. (7th)--Defense/Attack
Kayla P. (7th)--Midfield/Attack
Grace H. (7th)--Midfield/Goalie
Charlotte E. (7th)--Defense
Bailey P. (7th)--Defense/Attack
Dipika K. (7th)--Defense/Attack
Girls Varsity Soccer Scores
10-0 Buffett vs. King Science
10-0 Buffett vs. McMillan
7-0 Buffett vs. Lewis & Clark
8-0 Buffett vs. Morton
1-0 Buffett vs. Beveridge
6-0 Buffett vs. Bryan
4-1 Buffett vs. Marrs
City Champs!
Girls Junior Varsity Scores
Boys Varsity Soccer Scores
6-2 Buffett vs. McMillian
3-1 Buffett vs. Lewis and Clark
6-0 Buffett vs. Morton
0-6 Buffett vs. Bryan
5-0 Buffett vs. Beveridge
1-1 Buffett vs. Norris
Buffett vs. Monroe
1-0 Buffett vs. Hale
City Champs!
Boys Junior Varsity Soccer Scores
0-3 Buffett vs Bryan MS
2-1 Buffett vs. King MS
0-1 Buffett vs. McMillian
0-2 Buffett vs. Lewis and Clark
2-1 Buffett vs Morton
2-0 Buffett vs. Beveridge
Girls Grade Track
8th finished 3rd Place.
Top Champs:
HJ-Alyssa P
200 & 400- Jessica W, Medley-Jeannine, Natalie, Dani, Megan
LJ-Kieran H
800-Kayla P, Medley-Venicia, Chloe, Courtney, Kayla P
TJ-Hannah A
300H-MaKayla T
8th Grade Service Learning
By Maddie V., and Taya B.
Advanced Media students participated in a service learning project at UNO. Students went to UNO and worked with a college storytelling class, and a local non-profit, ModeShift. It is a transportation advocacy group in Omaha that wants to fix some of the intersection issues in Omaha. The students worked together to create multimedia to represent ModeShift and the issues they aim to fix.
This year, the students created multimedia and PSAs (Public Service Announcements) for ModeShift. Students focused on driver and pedestrian safety. During the project, students researched, analyzed, and took footage of the local intersections. The projects will be used for their marketing campaign throughout the Omaha area.
Eighth grader, Brody B., who participated in the project said, "We go to UNO and work with the college students on different projects that take place in Omaha. We look at how we can help Omaha become better."
One unique part of this experience is working with college students attending UNO. It gives students a chance to see how college students work on their projects and how they manage their time. Service learning gave Advanced Media students a new learning experience because they worked with people who are at a higher skills in writing, typing, time management, class expectations, and journalism. Advanced Media student Avery H. said, "It is fun to work with the college kids because I get to see their work ethic."
Another unique part of this project is how it made students think differently. One student Alexis C. said, "It has made me realize how rude people can be while driving."
Furthermore, student, Brody B., said, "Yes, I don’t drive so I don’t look at the roads and stuff like that, so I guess that could be good because it shows how roads can be changed. I'm also learning things because in middle school it's come to school sit down and let the teachers do everything, but in college, it's go into the class take notes and it's more laid back."
This service learning project has gaven students in Advanced Media a chance to expand their learning and their mindsets. Students honed their journalism skills while learning transferable soft skills such as: time management, project management, critical thinking, and the production process. Overall, students journalism strengths grew while learning soft skills.
ModeShift Omaha and Service Learning
Robotics Club
By Maddie V., and Taya B.
One club becoming more popular at Buffett is Robotics. It is a unique club that requires many different skills and abilities. There are three teams composed of students from different grades. The goal of robotics is to work together to complete challenges and have fun as a team.
It is not only teamwork, but uses specific skills such as: programming, building, driving, and leadership. Robotics member and seventh grader, David W., said, "You need to know how to work together with people. You need to know how to work with people because you are going to be teamed up with different people that you do not even know. You need to know how to cope with the people you are working with."
Each teammate has different responsibilities. Anna H., 8th grader explained there are four main jobs: engineer, leader, driver, and programmer. The engineer builds the robot, the leader keeps track of dates and important details, the driver maneuvers the robot, and the programmer programs the robot to do different things. Even though they have separate jobs they all work together.
Many students join robotics for different reasons. Whether it is for academic purpose or because they want to try something new. Tyler L., 7th grader, said, "[I joined] because it is fun and I like building things."
Another member, David W., joined because, "I wanted to be part of robotics since elementary school and it is one of my only interests. I could not think of anything else to do besides sports. It is just something I want to do." He explained it was an opportunity to learn and have fun at the same time.
Winning is not everything in robotics. There are many different aspects of robotics and each member has a favorite aspect. Anna H. said, "My favorite part was the people, everybody working together, and being able to build and construct things. Also, being able to compete."
David W. explained his favorite part. He said, "My favorite part was meeting new people and building cool robots." He explained that not only is competing fun but being able to work with people and the robots.
Overall, the 2017-2018 robotics season was very successful. All three teams experienced affluence in competitions this season. The A team won 1st place overall at McMillan, the design award, and 2nd place in skills. They attended the U.S Open competition in Council Bluffs.
About Us
Email: buffettbugle@ops.org
Location: 14101 Larimore Avenue, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 531-299-2320
Twitter: @buffettbugle