Pantherpress spring 2014

Issue #3, February 28, 2014

PANTHER PRESS

Oak Hill Basketball Teams Dribbling Past Opponents

By Ariel F. Panther Press Staff

The first games of the Oak Hill Panthers Basketball teams are off to a strong start.

At their first game on January 6, the boys’ team beat Brown Middle School 58-­‐51. Unfortunately, the girls lost to Brown in a close 33-­‐29 score. Throughout the game, several players made significant contributions.

Some of the notable statistics included Izak Monaco (#12), who scored 22 pointsl; LJ Pope (#6), who scored 11 points, and River Yan (#3) who scored 7 points against Brown. Paige Ollivierre (#9) scored 17 points, and Jordan Briney (#23) scored 4 points against Brown for the girls’ team.

Despite a few disappointing results in games since the beginning of the season, Coach Mr. Trunk says, “We have a really talented team, and our record doesn’t show how good we are.”

Robotics Team Preparing for Life Musical Approaches as Events and Next Year’s Competition Spring Draws Near

By Amy F. Panther Press Staff

On Saturday, December 7th, the annual First Lego League (FLL) Robotics tournament was hosted in Oak Middle School, located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Following tradition, our school robotics team took part in this much anticipated competition and had a spectacular time enjoying and competing in the event.

Oak Hill’s robotics team, Mega Oak Hill Middle School, or ‘MegaOHMS’, performed exceptionally in Saturday’s Nature’s Fury competition, against 50 other teams. Their challenge included several tasks, including programming robots to perform certain duties and complete missions and suggesting ways to prepare for and decrease damage and harm in the case of a natural disaster.

The three teams of MegaOHMS, led by Mr. Bunting, Mr. French, and several parent volunteers, worked vigorously to achieve their goals. They used teamwork and strategy to accomplish and succeed in the tasks they were handed, and made this particular robotics season one of the most enjoyable and pleasant yet.

By Catherine G. Panther Press Staff

Oak Hills annual musical is quickly approaching us! Last week, the cast list was posted, marking the start of rehearsals. The production, Once on this Island, features the story of peasant island girl named Ti Moune (Anika Sridhar). Her life changes when she rescues a wealthy boy, Daniel Beouxhomme (Shaw Miller). Ti Moune falls in love with this boy, despite their differences. She must discover her own strength as she goes on a quest for love, with only the power of the island gods and her own will power to defend her.

Can she succeed? Come to the musical, starting March 13, 2014, to find out.

Kurland Victorious At Oak Hill Geography Bee

By Amy F. Panther Press Staff

Eighth grade student Ben Kurland earned the title of Oak Hill Middle School Geography Bee Champion on Friday, January 9, at the school’s annual competition to test three students on their ability and knowledge in Social Studies.

The Oak Hill Geography Bee, made possible by fellow teachers Ms. Simpson, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Syph, Ms. Kappel, and Dr. Bercaw, was attended by the entire student body.

Middle schoolers and staff alike watched on attentively as students Cam Parsons, Max Plottel, and Kurland fought for the title of Oak Hill School Champion.

Parsons, Plottel, and Kurland, the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade level champions, faced each other in the challenging and competitive Geography Bee. They were given ten questions regarding world geography that they answered using their knowledge, skill, and memory on the subject.

Each competitor demonstrated talent and effort during the event. They competed with good sportsmanship, displaying fairness and friendliness throughout the competition.

Although all three students competed well and did excellently in the event, there can only be one winner. That winner was Kurland, who achieved a perfect score of 10 out of 10, earning him the title of Oak Hill School Champion.

“Robotics” Continued from page one…During the competition itself, the teams were judged upon several factors: the robot “game”, core values, the robot presentation, and the safety project. In the robot game, competing teams set up their programmed robots on a field, and displayed the robots’ capabilities to complete missions, earning and losing points as they did so, based on the performance of both themselves and their programs. Next would be the core values judging, in which individual teams interacted and shared their experiences with judges, showing their team spirit and their willingness to work together by participating in a team activity. Then there would be the robot presentation; teams presented their robots and the attachments, programs, and other various technology they had used with it in order to complete missions. Finally was the safety project. Teams received the task of preparing for a natural disaster. They created presentations that taught others to prepare, and thought of ideas that could lessen any potential harm or damage.

Although MegaOHMS did not take home the championship, they worked with determination, effort, and spirit, and had the opportunity to experience an enriching, splendid program. The robotics team members had the chance to participate in an event that they will certainly remember for years to come, and anticipate next year’s competition just as eagerly as they did this one.