Middle school conference

Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 MIPA Middle School Conference Carry-In Contest.

Winning entries were published in 2013 and submitted by schools when they arrived at the Middle School Conference on Nov. 7 at the MSU Union.

Nearly 200 student journalists from across the state attended the event.

middle school carry-in contest 2013 winners The winners from the 2013 Middle School Conference Carry-In Contest Michigan Interscholastic Press Association

Newspaper-Best Feature Story

“Fordson student inspires people he left behind” Amar Hamade Unis Middle School Ali Hachem said, “Determination, hard work, sacrifice and sweat lead to success.”

Ali was determined to become a lawyer and sue his own father, whom he said owed for child support.

He wanted to sue his father because, when Ali was younger, every time he wanted something his mother said she would have to wait to get her next payment. Ali didn’t like seeing his mother living from check to check, so he said “my dad should pay.”

Ali, a student at Fordson High School, never became a lawyer. He passed away when he was 15.

His mother, Mimi Sion, said “Ali passed away of an enlarged heart. He was breathing but couldn’t breathe right. When he got to the hospital they worked on him for 30 minutes. The doctors gave him medicine to make his heart right, but it wouldn’t work.” Ali died Feb. 17, 2013.

Before this tragedy, Ali, his mother and sister Mariam were talking about how to do his Advanced Placement work and his sports together. He assured his mother he would do it all.

His mother said his death shocked her. “I knew CPR but couldn’t do it because he was still breathing.

Unbelievable. Something you never think: Your child could go before you.”

Sion couldn’t sleep the first few nights.

Mariam found out Ali passed away when their mother

called and told her the news.

“Without my brother, it’s kind of like an empty feeling. Nobody to talk to. Ali and I used to talk to each other at night. Now I have nobody. I just play on my phone.”

—Mariam Hachem Mariam said she is still in shock. She said, “I just kept doing what I was doing, playing sports and going to school.”

Their friend Suzan Berro said, “I was at my sister’s house when I received the news. I felt really depressed, cried a lot.” She said she still cries. “We had a lot of memories. I was also thinking, ‘what’s going to happen to Mariam and his mother? What are they gonna do without a man in the house?’ Why did he have to die at such a young age?”

Whenever Fordson football players have a game, they wear his picture under their jerseys to represent Ali. There is an online memorial for him, too.

When Ali was alive, every Sunday the family would go to a Leo’s Coney Island. Then, Ali insisted on visiting his aunt, uncle and grandma, and watching football. Now, Mimi and Mariam go to the cemetery and Leo’s every Sunday.

Sion misses “The happy-go-lucky kid that was always friendly, outgoing, and helpful, never stopped smiling.”

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Best Feature Story Winners 1 Amar Hamade Unis MS 2 Zanib Hammoud Unis MS 3 Rachel Harris, Alyssa Kafarski & Bridget Sanford Brownell MS

Newspaper-Best Feature Story Best Feature Story Winners 1 Amar Hamade Unis MS 2 Zanib Hammoud Unis MS 3 Rachel Harris, Alyssa Kafarski & Bridget Sanford Brownell MS

“Syrians inside and out fear for their families” Zanib Hammoud Unis Middle School The hardship of knowing you have family overseas in a warring country is almost unbearable for Unis Middle School student Maryam Alrefaai. She is one of many young people in Dearborn, known as the capital of Arab America, who are personally affected by the war in Syria.

Maryam, who is Syrian American, said she is fed up with her family being pushed around by the Syrian government. Her family in Syria comes from her mother’s side. Here in Dearborn, Maryam and her parents are constantly worrying about their family in Syria, making calls and sending video requests weekly. Sometimes they are denied contact because the Internet is controlled and only available at certain times.

After the tragic loss of her 6-year-old cousin Majed, who was shot in the stomach on the roof of their Syrian home after hearing noises outside, safety is now the main priority.

Maryam says that all the chaos is because of deception

by Syria’s president, Bashar Hafez al-Assad. “Even though I am not as close with my family, they are still blood and they are just as important to me,” Maryam said. Maryam agrees with millions when she says, “Take Bashar al-Assad down!

Another student who has a strong opinions on the

subject is Sumaiya Abbas. A seventh-grader at Crescent Academy International in Canton, Sumaiya fears for her family in Syria in many ways. Death is not her only fear. There are many more such as kidnapping, torture and even public beatings. The city, Homs, was destroyed the same day Sumaiya’s uncle, aunt and cousins fled the doomed city. Bombs went off, and as the flames grew, Sumaiya and her family sat on the edges of their chairs waiting for word that their family was still walking and breathing.

Sixth-grader Hussein Zaarour has a different opinion.

Hussein, who is Lebanese, said the problem needs to be dealt with in the country where it started: Syria. Even though Hussein is not on the inside, he still has a knot in his stomach and fears deeply for those trapped in Syria.

Hussein said, “Imprison those who support the war and treat the wounded.” He said he is sad and even worried for those trapped in the war-bound country.

Across Dearborn and around the world, Syria is a touchy subject. Millions of strangers discuss the fate of people there. Has the problem grown or stayed the same? What is the solution? At Unis, students don’t have answers, but they have a lot of strong feelings on the subject.

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Newspaper-Best Feature Story

“Drama Club presents another blockbuster with Once Upon a Mattress“ Rachel Harris, Alyssa Kafarski & Bridget Sanford Brownell Middle School Performing in Brownell’s play is not as easy as laying upon a mattress. There’s much more effort put on behind the scenes.

This year’s play Once Upon a Mattress is a comedy version of the well known tale, The Princess and the Pea. The prince is played by Patrick S, a 7th grader. The princess, played by Mary R, is an 8th grader.

According to Mary R., she put in a lot of effort in this play, with it being her first lead role in a Brownell production. “Everybody puts in a ton of work and it always turns out well.”

The director, Mrs. Dempsey, is a seventh grade English teacher here at Brownell. Seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Duffield, will be producing the play. Mrs. Gross, the choir teacher, is the vocal director.

Casey J, a seventh grade crew member said, “We started about a month ago.” When asked about what a crew member job, Casey said, “You have to move a lot of things. Some are heavy, but others are lighter. Everyone has to be in uniform and on time.” Crew members have to wear black to blend into the stage to move prop items.

With over 100 students participating in the show, everyone taking part in the performance is given a part to play. Boys and girls alike are able to become young

actresses or actors as they learn from the Brownell teachers leading the play.

Dylan M, a sixth grader playing Sir Harold replied when asked about the effort he has put into this show, “A lot. 100%.”

Many hours are put into the production to make it a success. Chorus members Maren R. and Grace B. have put in at least 70 hours of singing, dancing, and acting!

Mary R. was Mrs. Potts in last year’s Beauty and the Beast. She has also played Agatha in 2011 as a sixth grader in Guys and Dolls. Maddy T., Lady Merial had a role as Lady with the baby, a villager in Beauty and the Beast.

Noah B., Sir Harry, was a mobster in Guys and Dolls and a crew member in Beauty and the Beast.

Most students who try out for the play know the amount of hard work that will have to be put in. However, this is all part of being in a Brownell Production. The students will put in loads of effort, singing, and acting, but most of all, the young actors and actresses will fulfill their dreams of being onstage.

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Best Feature Story Winners 1 Amar Hamade Unis MS 2 Zanib Hammoud Unis MS 3 Rachel Harris, Alyssa Kafarski & Bridget Sanford Brownell MS

Newspaper-Best Photograph Best Newspaper Photo Winners 1 Cassandra Herman Sturgis MS 2 Brookelyn Wheeler Sturgis MS 3 Mariam Baydoun Unis MS

By Cassandra Herman, Sturgis MS

Newspaper-Best Photograph Best Newspaper Photo Winners 1 Cassandra Herman Sturgis MS 2 Brookelyn Wheeler Sturgis MS 3 Mariam Baydoun Unis MS

By Brookelyn Wheeler, Sturgis MS

Newspaper-Best Photograph Best Newspaper Photo Winners 1 Cassandra Herman Sturgis MS 2 Brookelyn Wheeler Sturgis MS 3 Mariam Baydoun Unis MS

By Mariam Baydoun , Unis MS

Newspaper-Best Page Design Best Page Design Winners 1 Alex Harring Brownell MS 2 Emma Boland Sturgis MS 3 Madisyn Prichard Sturgis MS

By Alex Harring, Brownell MS

Newspaper-Best Page Design Best Page Design Winners 1 Alex Harring Brownell MS 2 Emma Boland Sturgis MS 3 Madisyn Prichard Sturgis MS

By Emma Boland , Sturgis MS

Newspaper-Best Page Design Best Page Design Winners 1 Alex Harring Brownell MS 2 Emma Boland Sturgis MS 3 Madisyn Prichard Sturgis MS

By Madisyn Prichard, Sturgis MS

Yearbook-Best Caption Best Yearbook Caption Winners 1 Maddison Allan Sturgis MS 2 Ali Burk Sturgis MS 3 Mackenzie Claar Unis MS

8th grader Jake Bundy in the Sturgis cross country invitational against Coldwater, Mendon, Centreville, and White Pigeon, on his way to breaking the school record! He has been trying to beat the record for a long time now, and is glad he finally did it in his last cross country meet as a middle schooler. Jake’s time for two miles was 11.15. Great race Jake!

By Maddison Allan, Sturgis MS

Yearbook-Best Caption Best Yearbook Caption Winners 1 Maddison Allan Sturgis MS 2 Ali Burk Sturgis MS 3 Mackenzie Claar Unis MS

The dynamic duo, Madison Allan and Skylar Gottschalk, running to victory at the annual Sturgis Kiwanis invite.

By Ali Burk, Sturgis MS

Yearbook-Best Caption Best Yearbook Caption Winners 1 Maddison Allan Sturgis MS 2 Ali Burk Sturgis MS 3 Mackenzie Claar Unis MS

The picture above is one of the players on the Sturgis Middle School’s 7th grade football team. It was at their first game of the season! They are in the middle of a play during their game against Northwestern. Sturgis combined their team (7th and 8th grade) because the Northwestern team didn’t have enough players eligible to play. The 7th played offense, then the 8th played defense. Then they would trade. They finished off the game with a win, with a score of 6-0.

Nice way to start off the season!

By Mackenze Claar, Unis MS

Yearbook-Best Photo Best Yearbook Photo Winners 1 Ali Burk Sturgis MS 2 Katherine King Sturgis MS

By Ali Burk, Sturgis MS

Yearbook-Best Photo Best Yearbook Photo Winners 1 Ali Burk Sturgis MS 2 Katherine King Sturgis MS

By Katherine King, Sturgis HS

Yearbook-Best Two-Page Spread Best Two-Page Spread Winners 1 Brookelyn Wheeler Sturgis MS 2 Dynasia Tran Sturgis MS

By Brookelyn Wheeler, Sturgis MS

Yearbook-Best Two-Page Spread Best Two-Page Spread Winners 1 Brookelyn Wheeler Sturgis MS 2 Dynasia Tran Sturgis MS

By Dynasia Tran, Sturgis MS