Panther Press F A L L / W I N T E R
OAK HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL 130 WHEELER ROAD
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Undefeated cross country team races ahead of the pack
NEWTON, MA 02459
By henry W. th
On October 5 , the entire cross country team was optimistic and ready as the races of the day were being prepared. The students on the team all felt like they were ready and prepared. As runner Katie Collins said, “The training is tough, but eventually you get good”. Others who were interviewed thought a little differently. Another student said that even though the team was undefeated, they wished
they could practice more. Most, however, thought the training was tough and necessary. The coach said, “The season so far is hard fought, but the effort we’ve been putting forth has paid off ”. The runners were leaving every bit of energy on the field. Another runner thought the opponents were weak. The coach, who disagrees, believes, “we’ve had nothing but good competitors”. An opposing
Photographer, Michael G. captures the Oak Hill’s Track Team as they compete.
runner had this to say, “From what we’ve seen of the boys, they are very fast and very confident.” A first place winner,Yuval Levi, is happy with the result and that all the training paid off. He was one of two Oak Hill runners who were in the top five of that race. The Oak Hill girls’ winner, unfortunately, was not documented in the time allotted for the report. Overall, the team is happy with the so far undefeated season as well as learning useful training methods.
Girls Basketball team is looking great even before the official team is together PAGE
Coach Mihalic
“I believe we’ll be able to be
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By henry W. On Friday November 30th, 2012, the girls’ basketball team is on fire. They are playing well all around. The shooting is great, the defense is incredible, and every player has their head in the game. Players and Coach Mihalic were asked what it takes to make the team and Katie Collins believes that it takes hard work, leadership, enthusiasm, and practice. Coach Mihalic says it takes skill, hard work, attitude, and willingness to make some sacrifices for the team. A third source who wishes to remain anonymous says it
takes determination, focus, skill, and dedication. In an interview with the coach, he says one of the main skills he is looking for is the ability to control the ball in situations when there is a crowd of many defenders. He says of the outlook of the season, “I believe we’ll be able to be competitive, and we’re very enthusiastic about our chances with our opponents.” In the practice drills themselves, all the girls are doing great and some of them were being competitive in a friendly
way. The drills didn’t let up until the time came for a new drill, and the face-offs in the drills never had a much weaker side. All in all, the team looks great and there is lots of confidence in the season ahead.
competitive, and we’re
Triple E CLUBS BY Aviva G. and Hannah P.
very Newspaper
enthusiastic about our chances with our opponents.”
The Newspaper Club is a place where students come together and create a newspaper. Firstly, the Newspaper Club is held on Fridays in the library with Ms. Comiskey. During Newspaper Club students write articles, design comics, conduct surveys, write book reviews, do photography, do interviews, write sports articles, and write about current events.
COMIC BOOKs In the Comic Book Club, students write their own
comics and illustrate them. They use iPads for graphics and create super heroes. Students also dress up as characters. The Comic Book Club is great if you like comics, anime, dressing up, drawing, and having fun! The Comic Book Club meets on Mondays and Wednesdays.
SPEECH TEAM The Oak Hill/Brown speech team meets at Newton South High School at 3:30 p.m. In the Speech Team, you pick a piece, which can range from a short children’s poem to a speech made by the president,
and for the entire year you work on improving the presentation of your piece with help from coaches and fellow teammates. In the Speech Team, you also go into statewide competitions against middle school kids from other schools, and if you get a good enough score, you break into finals, and there is the possibility of winning a trophy! The Speech Team is the perfect place for you if you want to improve
EEE CLUBS, Cont. —>
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TRIPLE E CLUBS (continued) BY Aviva G. and Hannah p. your acting skills, want to overcome your fear of public speaking, want to create new and lasting friendships or if you just love to talk! MATH TEAM The Oak Hill Math Team meets on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m and is open to all grades. In the Math Team, students practice different types of math problems and go to
annual math competitions. In the math competitions, students take three ten-minute tests that focus on different kinds of math. The Math Team enables you to challenge yourself in math, and most importantly, you get to eat pie!
for students to explore their interests in engineering, problem solving, and technology. Students work hands-on, building intricate models and explore the possibilities of motion.
ROBOTICS The Lego Robotics Club, which meets on Fridays, is an excellent opportunity
Nature’s Classroom Poetry Finalists
Nature’s Classroom by Mitchell G.
Our Cabin by Jeana K.
A bristling red in the sun
Our cabin is like a wild jungle
Ushered into the cold weather
With 24 people who like to mingle
Gathering through storm or settled hill
Clothes everywhere on the floors and bunks
Running through the trees and leaves Our star flickering through the branches
There’s also candy wrappers and all sorts of junks
And then settling down to the earth
Music and laughter travel to my ears
A fire and hearth to share laughs
They laugh so hard
And learning each stem in the cradle
Their eyes fill with tears
Of Nature’s Classroom
Entries, cont. —>
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Nature’s Classroom Poem Finalist Entries (cont.) Step, Step by Abby L. Step. Step We pass a group We stare and they stare back. Both of us waiting for the whistle That will signal an attack. Step. Step We face off I am an ant, insignificant. My chances of survival are slim. The whistle blows. Step. Step I turn Running Fleeing for survival Step. Step They are close Closing in A hair’s breadth away Ready to strike Step. Step Move Step. Step Running Step. Step Can’t last much longer Step. Step Another second Just one more Two A whistle And another I survive For now.
TNL by Kitty M. and Kiana L. TNL, Thursday night live Where entertainment and laughter thrive From skipping and “GIRL what’chu doin’” To spilled water and the audience wooing A night filled with punny jokes And spending time with all our folks But remember bananas are for eating And bandanas are for cleaning Through the good times and the bad NC is still always rad The adventures we find Hold a special place in our mind. “Don’t stop believing, hold onto that feeling”-Journey
Sleep by Henry W.. A million miles, a wandered mind A stranger’s shadow not so kind Forever seems to be a cage Extremes in dreams are never rage The deepest sleeps are blank and bare And darkest sleeps keep happy rare Infinity never stops sleeps grip The deafening silence helps us slip Into a fantasy not so deep Forewarn or reason always reaped
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HUNGER GAMES: An Intricate Perspective The Hunger Games, a novel written by Suzanne Collins, stirred the hearts of both the young and old audiences. This one book developed a huge fan base. With a movie for the original book complete and another one already in the making, the buzz around this book lives on after the climax of its success. What do people think about this work of art? Favorite Part Individuals had varying opinions regarding the beginning scenes of the book. Some thought it was a bit boring. Others contend that the dramatic turn occurs when the main character, Catniss, makes a selfless sacrifice to save her beloved younger sister. Everyone agreed on one thing: This book wasn't just a war story. For every adrenaline pumping action scene, there was a dramatic and sometimes tearjerking act of humanity. This book can hold a variety of audiences, from the romantic teenager to the young survival specialist.
the cruelest of dictators. Legacy Will this book live on? Will The Hunger Games be named the new masterpiece of the era? Will the target audience, the teens, treasure the book? Will the book drastically change how some people live? Perhaps no. Even if the book has been as good as it was, it was still just another story. New books will replace it. Nothing groundbreaking. Just another idea that for the moment is grabbing a bit more attention than usual. A true revolutionary classic would be known by everyone around the corner. There are some who haven't seen the movie or read the book! But there are a few who said that maybe it would end up being a cutting edge novel that would change the future of literature. Who knows? Maybe the Hunger Games haven’t died yet. There sure was commotion when the book and the movie came out. The Controversy
A Lasting Impression People may believe the harsh environment and treatment leave a lasting impression on the audience. Others said it was the actions of the civilians of the Capitol, treating the game as a reality show. But if there was a single scene that people had noted, it had to be the death of a beloved character, Rue. The emotional power that Catniss presented caused an entire rebellion! No wonder some people thought this was a powerful scene. So many had loved her, and Catniss's song and decorations moved everyone, even
The story goes that Suzanne Collins was flipping through the channels when she saw a reality T.V. show and footage of Iraq, and she got the idea for the book. Others argued The Hunger Games holds many similarities with a Japanese book, Battle Royale. Tributes, fights to the death, and districts are just a few of its similarities. Suzanne Collins said,” I had never heard of that book or that author until my book was turned in. At that point, it was mentioned to me, and I asked my editor if I should read it.” Other books and movies which
possess similarities ti The Hunger Games are The Most Dangerous Game, The Running Man, and Das Millionen Speil. Lessons The Hunger Games is said to be a powerful book. What did people get from the book? People have said the book is about questioning society’s customs and rituals, about freedom, and the cruelty of society. The book really gives off a powerful message. The Use of Violence Easily the most controversial topic in the book is the use of the violence. Unfortunately, the use of violence raises questions about our society. Some people think that it was a necessary addition to the book, and others said it ruined the experience. Naturally, not everyone loves the violence. Some parents and educators thought that the blood and gore was horrifying and traumatic. The Hunger Games The Hunger Games, perhaps one of the most popular books of this generation, set the stage for many other writers in this genre. Without a doubt, this book had its time in the spotlight. “May the odds be forever in your favor.”
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Get to know Teachers at Oak Hill BY: Aviva G.
Mr. Wood, 6th Grade Math/Science Teacher) 1. Who is your childhood hero? Larry Bird. 2. What is your favorite game show? Jeopardy. 3. What is your hobby? Breathing. 4. What is your favorite sport? Mountain climbing.
Ms.Oliver, 7th grade Guidance Counselor 1. Who is your childhood hero? Nadia Komawich. 2. What is your favorite game show? Jeopardy. 3. What is your hobby? Snowboarding. 4. What is your favorite sport? Springboard diving.
Ms. Comiskey, 8th Grade Learning Center Teacher 1. Who is your childhood hero? My mom. 2. What is your favorite game show? The Voice. 3. What is your hobby? Reading and being with family and friends. 4. What is your favorite sport? Hockey. Ms.Hong, 7th Grade Math Teacher 1. Who is your childhood hero? My 3rd grade teacher. 2. What is your favorite game show? Wheel of fortune. 3. What is your hobby? Doing outdoorsy things. 4. What is your favorite sport? Swimming. 5. Who is your favorite actor? George Clooney.
Ms. Struthers, 6th, 7th, 8th Speech and Language Teacher 1. Who is your childhood hero? John F. Kennedy. 2. What is your favorite game show? The Voice. 3. What is your hobby? Plants. 4. What is your favorite sport? Baseball. 5. Who is your favorite actor? Robert DeNiro.
Ms. Olivar (6th, 7th, and 8th Grade World Language Teacher) 1. Who is your childhood hero? My brother. 2. What is your favorite game show? None 3. What is your hobby? Gardening- swimmingbiking. 4. What is your favorite sport? Skiing. 5. Who is your favorite actor? Meryl Streep.
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Oak Hill Trends Survey BY: Hannah P. According to the Webster Dictionary, the definition of trend means to “show a tendency”. In this survey, the Panther Press examined Oak Hill students’ tendencies towards a number of categories. This comprehensive survey, collected 6th, 7th, and some 8th graders’ opinions of favorite brand name, color, music genre, and sport. Based on the data , Oak Hill students have varying opinions regarding brands names favorites. At least 39% of students love the color blue and 46% of students polled prefer music from the Pop genre. Rap music is definitely a contender, 31% prefer Rap over Pop. Soccer is a favorite sport among Oak Hill students, 29% of students surveyed prefer soccer. Other students like lacrosse, football, baseball, basketball, and skiing. Most importantly, Oak Hill trends are just that — trends. Oak Hill students are individuals are proud of their individual preferences despite what is “popular”.
Favorite Apparel Brand
Other 36%
Nike
Nike 32%
Abercrombie Under Armour The North Face Other
The North Face 4% Abercrombie 24% Under Armour 4%
Favorite Color
Other 14% Blue 39%
Purple 20%
Blue Red Green Purple Other
Green 15%
Red 12%
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Oak Hill Trends (cont.)
Favorite Music Genre
K-Pop 2%
Other 15%
Country 6%
Pop
Pop 46%
Rap Country K-Pop Other
Rap 31%
Panther Press Staff: Mitchell G. Michael G. Aviva G. Hannah P. Henry W. Advisor: Rebecca Comiskey Layout Editor: Peter K, Newton South Intern The newspaper meets on Fridays after school from 2:30-4. If a student is unable to attend on Fridays, please contact Ms. Comiskey and other arrangements can be made, so that a student can still submit articles for an upcoming issue.
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