Come Fly with Me

Mrs. Wongs Science class is doing a project with three paper airplanes. For this assignment student are supposed to create a hypothesis, design procedures, complete two graphs, and write a conclusion that explains results related to the question. Their question is, "how does the weight of paper affect how far a paper airplane will fly?"

Many students set up their experiments by going into the hallway and marking a point on the floor where they were going to first throw their airplanes. After they had thrown their airplane they would pull the measuring tape to where the airplane landed then record their data. They repeated those steps with the other two airplanes. Next, they made a graph to show their data. Finally, they wrote a conclusion.

Students had a lot of fun in the hallways testing out their paper airplanes. Students can't wait for their next project!

Keep Black History Month in Schools?



Carter G. Woodson



Should Black History be celebrated as its own month? Many people are wondering if Black History should only be taught in February. Black History Month was once Negro History Week. The week was chosen becuase it was the birthday of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Carter G. Woodson created this holiday becuase he hoped that one day it would be eliminated and be thought of as American History. The government thought as popularity grew in was good to dedicate an entire month to Black History.

Many people say we should keep Black History Month because it is important for children to know Black History. Robert Ellis, a teacher, says, "If we didn't have Black History Month, black history might be overlooked, minimized, or ignored." Robert also says, "Black history is a part of American history and should be incorporated into regular history lessons, but we shouldn't give up the scarce opportunity to highlight the contributions of African Americans during February." Karen Warrington says, "America is so diverse that we should be teaching the stories of all its people evenly."

Some think that Black History should be celebrated all year round. "Black people are like everyone else," a source says," it should be celebrated all year." Julius Thomas, a teacher, says that we should celebrate black history all year round because, "American history should be inclusive of all cultures so we can minimize prejudice, racism, and ignorance."

All races are celebrated around the world. But in such a melting pot of a country, there's not enough time to celebrate all the cultures. What do you think? Should we have Black History Month celebrated only in February? or all year round?

Black History Month

By Serena and Isheba

     Black History Month is a month that recognizes the history and accomplishments of African Americans. It was first announced by the name of "Negro History Week" by Carter G. Woodson in 1926. It was celebrated in the second week of February because Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass's birthday fell in the same week. Once popularity grew, people of all races had more interest in black history. It wasn't until decades later in 1976, the federal government acknowledged Black History Week and changed it to Black History Month by the Black United Students at Kent State University. Now thirty-seven years later, we still acknowledge the accompishments of African Americans in the United States and the United Kingdom. Here are some important figures who changed our society for African Americans:

• Harriet Tubman was born in Dorchester County, Maryland in 1820. Born into slavery, Tubman was beaten by masters. When she was a child, she suffered a harsh head wound from a heavy metal weight. Later this injury caused her seizures, narcoleptic attacks, headaches, and vivid dreams sent from God. Later in 1849, Tubman escaped from Maryland to Philidelphia to rescue her family from slavery and bring them back to Maryland. And over a span of ten years, Tubman traveled a total of 19 trips and brought over 300 slaves to freedom. She got so many people by using the Underground Railroad. She "never lost a passenger" as Federick Douglass once said.
• Malcom X, or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was an African American Muslim minister and civil rights activist. At the early age of 13, his mother sent to a mental hospital and a series of foster homes. A rumor said that Malcom's father died because of white supremacists; and on top of that, his uncle was lynched. Later in 1946, Malcom was sent to prison for breaking and entering. When in prison, Malcom joined the Nation of Islam. After his parole in 1952, he became leader of Nation of Islam. But the head of the group led him to go out of the country in March 1964. During his "vacation", Malcom traveled through Africa and the Middle East. Once he came back home, he founded the Muslim Mosque Inc. and the Orginization of Afro-American Unity. Less than a year after in February 1965, he was assassinated by three members of the group. We thank him for spreading the idea of integration and black supremacy.
• Martin Luther King Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. In 1955, he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. King also organized the 1963 March on Washington where he spoke his "I Have A Dream" speech. On October 14, 1964, King recieved a Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence. In 1965, the SCLC also orgainized the Selma to Montgomery marches. In the last years of his life, he moved his movement to Chicago to expand his focus on poverty and the Vietnam War. But sadly on April 4, 1968, King was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee allegedly by James Earl Ray. The man convicted may have been framed or have acted together with government agents. But his assassination lead to riots around the country. We'll all know King for his efforts to make people of all nationalities come together as one.

• Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States. He is the first African American President,  and is of the Democratic Party. He was re-elected and will serve for another four years. In 2009 Obama won the Noble Peace Prize. He was awarded this prize for, "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."  
• Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major League Baseball. Robinson played for the Dodgers and ended racial segregation, that regulated black players to negro leagues. Jackie won MLB Rookie of the year in 1947, National League Most Valuable Player in 1949, and was also inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1962. In 2004 MLB adopted a new tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day," where all players on all teams wear #42. He helped establish the Freedom National Bank and in recognition of his actions, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congress Gold Medal.
• Rosa Parks was a woman who the United States Congress called the, "mother of the freedom movement." In 1955 Rosa Parks refused a bus driver's order to give up her seat to a white passenger, when their section overfilled. Rosa was arrested for her actions of civil disobedience. Her acts of defiance helped the Montgomerty Bus Boycott go into place.
• Gabby Douglas was a member of the U.S. Gymnastics 2012 Summer Olympics team. She was the first African American woman to become the individual all-around champion. She is also the first American to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics. At the 2012 World Olympics she was a member of the gold winning U.S. team.

Without these national heros, African Americans would not be treated how they are today. By the actions caused, African Americans can live freely without slavery and division. These are all honorable members in our history today.

Good Journalism

              I learned that Journalism in 1997 was nothing like the journalism we have today. A video explained that news back then wasn't so easy to obtain. I wonder what people think who were born before 1990 and have witnessed barely any Journalism to News on every corner. I still want to know how hard it was to find out World News or find Good Journalism.

Vans VS Converse

Many students at Taylor enjoy wearing Vans and Converse. Do more people at Taylor like Vans or Converse? There are many differences and similarities between Converse and Vans. Converse is a much more classic shoe, and the look hasn't really changed. Vans come in many styles, but they do sell the original shoe. Both types of shoes come in solid colors and a variety of patterns. Online they each offer a customization link where you can choose a shoe and customize it to be unique. In their stores they both sell apparel. Both companies sell slip on, lace up, hightops, and lowtops. Converse shoes are more expensive then Vans and each of their customized shoes are more expensive than their normal shoe.

When a survey was conducted with ten boys and ten girls, six of the girls said they prefer Vans over Converse because Vans come in more colors, there are more patterns to choose from, and they are more sturdy and last longer. Four girls said Converse because they are a classic style and they like the shape. All ten boys said they prefer Vans over Converse because they have a better look, more options, and are better for skateboarding and other outdoor activities. This survey shows that most likely at Taylor, boys prefer Vans over Converse.

Pets at Taylor

Many teachers and students at Taylor are very animal friendly. Some of them have pets you probably haven't seen before. Mr. Spencer, Mr. Sullivan, and an eighth grader named Johnny have some pets you may find interesting.

Mr. Spencer has a Siberian Husky named Storm. An interesting fact about Storm is that she has one blue eye and one brown eye. Mr. Spencer enjoys taking Storm on walks and playing with her. Siberian Husky's liveabout 12-15 years.

Mr. Sullivan has a pet tortoise named, Scout the Christmas Turtle. Scout doesn't need water

Mr. Sullivan has a pet tortoise because when he eats grass, he absorbs the water. Scout was one of Mr. Sullivan's friends pets who had asked him to watch his tortoise for two weeks, while he went to Peru. Mr. Sullivan has had the tortoise now for two years. Mr. Sullivan's friend still has not come to get his tortoise but doesn't want him to give it away. Scout is about the size of a basketball in diameter. Many people like pet tortoises because they are very generational since they can live about 150 years. Scout is eight now.

Some students have really cool pets too. One student named Johnny has a Chinchilla. Johnny's chinchilla is named Bandit. He says, "Bandit is a really cool pet to have because he climbs on walls and is super fuzzy." An average chinchilla lives 10-12 years.

Dolphin Cove, Jamaica

             Dolphin Cove is Jamaica's number one Marine Attraction. Located in Negril, Jamaica, this twenty acre property is the largest natural dolphin lagoon in the world.  At Dolphin Cove Negril, people can swim with dolphins, interact with stingrays, feed sharks, ride camels, visit a bird sanctuary, and kayak. 

     

           Many people enjoy Jamaica's Dolphin Cove because of it's atmosphere for all ages. For kids under eight there is a sea star interaction area where they can pick up sea stars and other ocean critters. All kids above three are allowed to interact with the dolphins. Kids who can swim and are over  six are allowed to do the dolphin swim. Everyone six and up can do the rest of the activites. If your interested in interacting with dolphins or any of the other activites Dolphin Cove has to offer visit Jamaica.

             

http://www.dolphincovejamaica.com/

Interviewing

An interview is a conversation between two or more people to get information. An interviewer asks questions, and recieves answers from the interviewee. In a journalistic interview a journalist interviews an interviewee and in other forms of interviews a reporter is the interveiwer.

When preparing for an interview you want to plan out the questions you are going to be asking. You also want to write down all the facts you learn about the subject. An important thing to remember while interviewing someone is you want to ask a question and then recieve a long answer, you don't want to be the one talking the whole time. When you are interviewing you should definately take notes on all the good information your gathering, instead of trying to remember everything they said after.

After the interview I will try to shape my interview notes into an article. I will use the information I have learned about interviewing by always asking lots of questions and checking the facts.  I'll try not to be the one talking the whole time in an interview.

http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/careers/0301car1 

http://hiring.monster.com/hr/hr-best-practices/recruiting-hiring-advice/interviewing-candidates/interview-tips-for-the-interviewerus.aspx