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News........................................1 & 4 Editorial.....................................2 Opinion.................................3 Entertainment.........................5 Features..................................6 & 7 Sports and Clubs...................8 & 9 Arts and Academics.....................10 Technolog y........................11 Student Life...................................12
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February 2015 * Volume 18 * Issue 3 * Bak Middle School of the Arts * 1725 Echo Lake Drive * West Palm Beach, Florida 33407
Pep rally displays passion for grade level Spirit week lets students dress up, show creativity according to the day. “We could wear the craziest stuff and never be judged or laughed at because we wore tacky clothes, leg warmers, or even all silver,” Elliot said. “It is funny to see everyone participate in the days, especially teachers, because some people go all out with their outfits,” Willow Cao, eighth grade visual major said. Although spirit week was enjoyable, some students thought the days could be changed. Elliot said, “I would add in neon day like we had last year because that was
fun. I would also throw in dress like a famous person because that would be cool. I loved way back Wednesday and hope we do that again next year.” On Friday, Dec. 19, many students screamed and cheered for their grade, while classmates competed in events. “The best part of the pep rally was when Michael Raffoul and I did the wheelbarrow race. It ended the pep rally and the whole gym really got into it,” Christian Rawlinson, eighth grade theater major said. The four different competitions were a three legged race, student and teacher
Day 1: Pajama Day
Day 2: Tacky Tuesday
Day 3: Way Back Wednesday
Students hopped right out of bed to come to school in their favorite set of pajamas.
Plaid shorts paired with polka dot shirts were seen up and down the halls along with other mismatched outfits.
By Carleigh Dickinson Editor in Chief he startling roar of the crowd filled the gym as students cheered on their classmates, hoping to win the annual winter pep rally. “I thought the pep rally was awesome, even though seventh grade lost. Eighth grade did deserve to win,” Madison Elliot, seventh grade theater major said. In the last week before winter break, many students showed spirit by participating in spirit week, dressing up
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School says goodbye to three retiring office staff
present. “What I will miss the most about Bak are definitely all of the students and staff,” Granda said. All staff members were working for a large amount of time before their retirement. “I have been working at Bak for 10 years now,” Jaimez said. The three office staff members were Photo taken by Carleigh Dickinson the only people to retire after the first Retiring staff members Lorraine Granda semester but were only a fraction of and Margaret Schuemann say goodbye the total retiring members this year. at the winter pep rally on Dec 19. “I will definitely miss the students and staff Each staff member had favorite parts the most,” Granda said. Schuemann and about working at Bak that they would Granda were two among three of the never forget. retiring office staff members this year. “I liked working here at Bak because I By Valeria Tezak love being around young and energetic News Editor ast December, Bak bid farewell people. They make me feel younger and light up my day,” Jaimez said. to three Granda, Jaimez, office staff and Schuemann members Lorraine I would like to tell the were all staff Granda, Margarita members that Jaimez, and Margaret students that I love them, worked hard at will miss them very much, Schuemann. “What I will miss and that they are full of talent Bak for a long time. the most about so continue reaching for the Jaimez said, “I Bak is all of the stars.” would like to tell activities and all the the students that adrenaline I get from I love them, will participating. I’ll also miss the students miss them very much, and that they are with all of their energy,” Jaimez said. All students and staff gave their full of talent so continue reaching for goodbyes during the winter pep rally, the stars.”
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where the retiring members were
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Travel to the past in way back Wednesday, where students explored recent decades by dressing in the appropriate attire.
basketball, balloon pop, and wheel barrow race. “I would change the order of events,” Elliot said. “I did not like how they separated the competitions, or that they introduced the sport teams randomly.” The pep rally ended on a high note, leaving students looking forward to the end of the year pep rally. Elliot said, “I enjoyed the pep rally because everyone just had fun and I forgot about my math homework and monologue. I just let loose and had a great time.”
Day 4: Twin Thursday Students were seeing doubles after being encouraged to become twins and dress the same.
NASA launches Orion along with hopes of getting to Mars
A Delta IV heavy rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 at launch complex 37B at Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two-orbit, four-hour unmanned flight test will evaluate the systems critical to crew safety. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)
By Luke Stone Sports Editor fter an aborted liftoff the day before, NASA finally launched the Delta IV Heavy rocket known as Orion on its first test flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Dec. 5, 2014. “It’s a difficult mission. It’s a tough environment to fly through. It had tough objectives that we set up for this flight. But it appears that Orion and the Delta IV Heavy were nearly flawless. Great job by the team,” NASA’s Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer said in an interview with VOA News. Orion’s test flight took approximately
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four and a half hours as it circled around Earth twice before reentering the atmosphere and splashing down off of Baja California. The test flight was not only a symbol of success, it was also a symbol of NASA’s ultimate mission for the rocket safely putting astronauts on Mars. “I think they will [get to Mars when they said]. I am hoping they will, because going to Mars is awesome.,” Zane Hurley, sixth grade science teacher said. See Orion Rocket Continued on page 4
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