The Canine Chronicle MBMS Jan. 2014

[the]

Mount Baker Middle School, Auburn, Washington

January 2014

Volume IV, Issue 3

Table of Contents]

[2 * Volume IV, Issue 3]

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Bulldogs,

Procrastination

4

New Electives Available

5

The Art of the Excuse

6

Holiday Door Decorating

7

Robotics Team Wins Regionals

8

Culture Poll

9

Book vs. Movie

22

The first semester has officially ended and a New Year has begun. Among the hopes, dreams, and resolutions, it is difficult to find a pessimist around this time of year. Along with the multitudes of students at the school, all of The Canine Chronicle staff is spending our time reflecting on our past editions in order to correct mistakes because, as we all know, to err is human.

To amend our inaccuracies from our previous edition, we would like to inform you of the following mistakes and the factual details as they correspond to each fault that has been found through thorough evaluation. First and foremost, we reported that the Yearbook Glow-In-The-Dark Dance raised enough money cover expense for the decorations incorporated in the dance, a DJ, and a scoreboard. Upon further review, however, it has become apparent that the Yearbook staff did not intend to raise funds for the scoreboard with this dance. The funding for our new scoreboard has come from the Yearbook budget raised by past yearbook sales, according to an ASB treasury report.

In addition, we reported in our Honor Roll article that the new standards based system can cause computational difficulties for one who determines the Honor Roll recipients. Upon further review, it has become apparent that an improved system has been adopted to compute the Honor Roll prerequisites, and, as such, computational difficulties will not be present.

Despite these fallacies, The Canine Chronicle staff will continue to work as hard as ever to accurately report school news and to correctly portray the opinions of students and staff.

Swerving from our usual tradition, we will not be reporting sports teams’ scores or recent games, since the sports season has only recently begun. Rather, we will be reporting upon the topic of the sports teams to come in the third season in our next edition.

January has certainly been a funPHOTO BY A. MARACICH filled month and we hope to make February just as exciting with you,

Arts & Entertainment

23

Make it a great day,

What Grinds My Gear

27

Life

28

Exclusive: Teachers Married to Teachers

10

The Cost to Compete

12

The Maurus Breaks Lifting Records

14

MBMS Sports

15

20 for 20: Sports, Grunge, Technology

17

COVER PHOTO: Eight grade basketball player Pa’treon Lee participated on the league champion basketball team. Despite its high cost and time commitment, he also plays competitive AAU basketball all year to prepare himself to compete in high school. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY A. MARACICH

Hope Addison Aaron Baker Jonathan Casey Alyssa Ferry Jalen Forward Ben Geisen

Staff Editors

Hope Addison Aaron Baker Jonathan Casey Alyssa Ferry Jalen Forward Ben Geisen

Reporters

Reporters

Technical Support

Destany Abellera Gigi Alcedo Kyle Bates Jeremiah Brown Bella Coronado Jasmine Dang Maddie Feeney Daniel Filovets Ka’Sean Griffin Kat Hamm Ryan Hess

Kamalvir Jhajj Samantha Leurquin AJ Maas Ysabela Manuel Anna Maracich Harrison Maurus Colby Pretz Daniel Shablevskiy Cameron Shute TJ Williams

Aaron Cowan Jay Kemp Vicki Reifert

Adviser Peter Warring

Mission: The MBMS Journalism 8 class produced this limited-voice newspaper with intent to ethically report events accurately, without bias. As a public forum for students, all decisions made on content are made under the guidance of the advisor, with intent to uphold students’ First Amendment rights.

The opinions presented in articles are provided to represent the views and perspectives of students and individuals in our diverse student population, not necessarily the whole of the advisor, faculty, and administrators. Any material that would cause a disruption to the educational process like libel, invasion of privacy, or copyright infringement will not be published The Canine Chronicle is produced using Microsoft Publisher. Photographs not taken by students have been utilized through a Creative Commons and Microsoft license.

School portraits are licensed though Dorian Photography.

[News & Features]

[January 2014 * 3]

Destany Abellera

Since MLK fought for equality, it’s a daily routine to interact with anyone of any race. When looking in our hallways during passing period, clusters of friends walk to class together unaware that roughly 45 years ago, some friends would be disgraced and forced to live elsewhere.

In Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a Dream” speech, he mentioned, “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the ‘unalienable Rights’ of ‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’”

Here at Mt. Baker, students are to be treated the same as everyone else, but that doesn’t mean they feel that they are treated as fairly as everyone else. Since Mt. Baker has such a diverse group of students and staff, it’s almost impossible to eliminate bullying or discrimination, but teachers and students work hard too.

Seventh grader Elijah Blyden said, “We have an interesting mix, but overall [students] get together in a way that’s not horrible.”

There’s more than one factor that can make students feel unequal compared to others. Even though MLK stood for and achieved racial equality, there are still qualities people find to criticize on other people.

Kids may worry that they might be judged by others on where they live, how much money their family has, what they wear, or what they look like.

Elijah Blyden is one student that feels like he is treated differently because of his race, “There are racial opinions, stereotypes, and social discriminations.”

As Blyden mentioned “racial opinions”, a problem that kept appearing around school is the usage of the word “racist”.

Students have been commenting “That’s racist” after a sentence that wasn’t directed toward race. Many teachers have been taking actions to make sure the word has been only used in the correct way.

One of those teachers are, seventh and eighth grade language arts teacher, Mrs. Carstens, “The term ‘racist’ has a very negative connotation and should, as the

COURTESY OF MLKDAY.GOV VIA CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE

history of the word is a social invention to separate humans based on physical characteristics such as skin color.

Unfortunately, many middle school students don’t weigh the power of their words before they speak, which leads to both racist comments as well as calling each other ‘racist’. It has been my experience as a teacher that students use the term ‘racist’ too often

and too easily, considering its meaning.”

As minor issues, these don’t let the students and staff members stop from representing MBMS as a place where everyone is welcome. Since the day Mt. Baker has opened its doors, they allow kids of any race or religion to come and learn. Mt. Baker looks past where students live, what they look like, or how much money they have and Baker continues to do the same today.

MLK Assembly Celebrates Diversity Ryan Hess Every year, Mt. Baker celebrates the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. with a special assembly where we learn about his struggles and sacrifices to change the world for the better. He made it possible for schools like MBMS to have such a diverse population.

Throughout the assembly this year on Jan. 17, a group of students from Mrs. Lantz’s and Walker’s classes read to the audience quotes and facts about MLK. They also recited a story that recounted MLK’s short but long life.

Members of the staff and student population recreated times in MLK’s early life. They recounted events that led him to the path of a minister.

Principal. Brown showed a video that entailed MLK’s famous speech, “I have a dream.” Within the clip, MLK shared his words of wisdom to a large crowd in Washington D.C.

Both the choir and the orchestra participated in this event. The orchestra composed three songs, including “Just a Closer Walk” , “Amazing Grace”, and “Star Spangled Banner”. The choir assisted the orchestra in “Star Spangled Banner “, while also singing “Follow the Drinking Gourd”.

The assembly, however, was not just about music. This was an important event that reminds us about what the world was without MLK. Thomas Nelson stated, “[The assembly] is important to everyone; they need to know about the events of the past or history may repeat.”

If we were to forget all of the terrible things that transpired in that time period, then who’s to say that it wouldn’t happen again.

Students honor MLK by reading the story of his life. PHTOT BY H. ADDISON

[News & Features]

[4 * Volume IV, Issue 3]

Likely as Semester Closes

AJ Maas It’s getting to the point where the semester is ending which means that kids and teachers start to procrastinate.

Seventh grader Cameron Kaku stated that he procrastinates sometimes.

And the class he procrastinates most in is Algebra. He believedthat “the more you procrastinate the more you fail.”

The case a recent study by Act.org stated that there are four kinds of procrastinators, “Type one procrastinator would choose to go to party instead of do work or they think that homework is boring and would rather do something else.”

A type two procrastinator has a feeling of dread when they do homework and feel that they may fail no matter how hard they try so they avoid the assignment.

The type two procrastinators are also prone to thinking that the homework is just too hard and that the teachers expect too much, while the type three procrastinator believes that if they don’t “think” they can do it right the first time then all they do is procrastinate so that they can’t fail.

The type four procrastinator procrastinates just to get back at their parents or teacher. If the student feels that the teacher is being mean and or not being fair, then the student will not do assignments assigned by that specific teacher.

WikiHow.com believed that you can stop procrastinating in ten easy ways. One of these ways is “Finish the hard stuff. If you have a looming project that is bogging you down and making you unproductive in other areas, tackle it first.”

This completion of a large task will make you feel as if you have less to do then you thought and thus will make you more productive getting the other assignments completed, instead of fearing them.

Another step you can take to try and stop procrastinating is you can give yourself a break. WikiHow.com states that if you feel you are working “half-heartedly” then you

People have been procrastinating for years and have not known what damage procrastination can put on you. PHOTO BY AJ MAAS

should set a timer for ten minutes and do whatever you want whether that be calling your friend, making a meal to eat or surfing the internet.

Of all American , 15-20 percent adults and 80-90 percent of all college students are self -confessed procrastinators, and WikiHow.com stated, “Procrastination is often overlooked as a psychological disorder.”

This means that if you believe you are a chronic procrastinator you may have a mental disorder.”

Compiled by Gigi Alcedo & Samantha Leurquin “I haven’t pro“There’s a L.A. crastinated project that I’ve this year, bebeen putting off cause I mostly since winter do my homebreak, and it’s work right due in a couple away... and I of days. I’ll just usually don’t be working on it have a lot of homework.” at home every day until I get it done.” in.”

“Yes, I have but I don’t have any missing assignments. I try not to procrastinate.

Even if I procrastinate I still get all my homework

“I’m currently procrastinating on correcting the eighth grade Definition Essays. I’ll have to finish them in the next two weeks.”

CreativeCommons.org

-Drew Bates Sixth Grade

-Ilona Kovalenko Seventh Grade

-Kristina Pogosian Eighth Grade

-Mrs. Hubbell

Eighth Grade Language Arts

[News & Features]

[January 2014 * 5]

Jalen Forward Two new electivesat Mt. Baker Middle School, Creative Writing and Public Speaking, are giving students a better variety to choose from while setting up their schedules.

High school students are allowed to pick their own electives. At Mt. Baker, you can request to have a certain elective but often your schedule can’t change or there is not enough room in the class.

Eighth grade counselor Mr. Vatne said, “The main reason that Mt. Baker students don’t have the choice is one, because there are 900 students at Mt. Baker...In middle school, we want you to have a variety of classes before you go to high school.”

One new elective that has arrived to Mt. Baker is Creative Writing. ”Creative writing can help make your writing more interesting and can help you when taking written tests. I have been asking for this [elective] for years,” Ms. Hammond, the creative writing teacher, stated.

A few students that excel in her class are eighth graders Hannah Kazlauskas and Bryan Cubillos, and seventh grader Kennedy Inkster.

“Hannah Kazlauskas and Kennedy Inkster are brilliant writers, and Bryan Cubillos is a funny writer,” Mrs. Hammond said.

Jazmin McLaiughlin’s ode poem iss featured in the sidebar.

The second new elective at Mt. Baker is Public Speaking taught by Mrs. Hubbell.

Mrs. Hubbell said, “I have seen each of my students excel in their own way, but I do have some “naturals”; Kristina Doucette, Rachel Summers, Rylie Tew, and Khue Nguyen to name just a few.”

Seventh grader Kristina Doucette stated that her favorite thing about the class was she gets to talk loud and have a lot of energy.

According to Mrs. Hubbell, this elective mainly focuses on volume, speaking clearly, and just being comfortable speaking in front of others

These new electives can help you both in school and out of school.

When you are in school, Creative Writing can help you when you are writing an essay, taking a test, or writing a note to your friend.

Public Speaking can help you when you have to present your essay, do a project, being a lead in a group you are in. Jazmin McLaughlin Both electives work together to bring up your grade and make you successful in class.

Mrs. Hubbell said, “It is my hope that this class will help students feel more comfortable speaking in front of others; sharing their thinking and ideas, instead of remaining silent and unheard.”

Ms. Hammond, the creative writing teacher, speaks publicly at the MLK assembly. PHOTO BY J.FORWARD

Table of Contents]

[6 * Volume IV, Issue 3]

Ben Geisen Excuses have been around forever. The classics like “My dog ate my homework” and “I left it at home.” have been used my kids for years but they aren’t the only ones using excuses. “I got stuck in traffic” and “I haven’t gotten around to it yet” are used by adults every day.

Normally, children are accustomed with making excuses when they didn’t do something like their homework or chores. Excuses like “I was doing homework” when they

were watching their favorite episode of SpongeBob. “People tend to use the same excuses over and over again because it ‘works’ ,“ seventh grade teacher Mrs. Durham stated .

Durham has heard every kind of excuse from “I spilled dinner on my homework” to “There was a mouse loose in the house and I had to catch it”.

The classic excuses are becoming less and less com-

Students must think of clever but still believable excuses in order to “fool” teachers. PHOTO BY H.ADDISON.

mon due to the increase in technology. “My dog ate my homework” has become “My computer crashed” or “the printer’s out of ink”.

“Kids think that adults don’t understand technology at all, so they blame their problems on computers,” Durham said .

This can work both ways, adults can use the lack of tech knowledge as an excuse for not finishing a presentation or writing up a report.

Excuses are not always what they seem; “my computer crashed” could be an excuse to hide the real reason that they didn’t do their homework, reasons like they are having problems at home.

Some people believe that being completely honest with someone is better than trying not to get in trouble.

According to seventh grader Jaden Monto, “To not get in trouble” is the main reason why students use excuses.”

“Certain students are so afraid of getting scolded or ‘processed’ that they will avoid the subject altogether,” seventh grader McKenna Price stated .

As the end of the semester closes, so do the grade books. Teachers and students alike, stress to finish projects and study for final tests.

These excuses become more and more common, as in the time of the year determines the frequency of computer and printer failures.

Some teachers procrastinate and use excuses for not grading projects and tests, excuses like “I had a family event last night, so I was unable to finish grading everyone’s test.”

The definition of excuse is “to lessen the blame attaching to a fault” but in reality teachers prefer that you are honest with them, not blaming something or someone else juts to avoid a little bit of trouble.

Compiled by Gigi Alcedo & Samantha Leurquin “I left my homework at home.”

“I broke my bathroom door off the hinges, and I told my dad it was my sister after she left for Oregon.”

“I can’t really think of any that have worked, since I’m not a very good liar.”

“My cousin’s dog ate my homework.”

CreativeCommons.org

-Jimena Rosales Sixth Grade

-Trinity Jenkins Seventh Grade

-Pavlo Levytskyy -Ms. Utu Eight Grade

Sixth Grade Counselor

[News & Features]

[January 2014 * 7]

Valentine’s Dance

Mr. Cowan’s first period science class collectively decided that “Christmas” doesn’t always mean “tasteful”, while classic themes often reappear in the competition. PHOTOS BY A. BAKER & P. WARRING.

Aaron Baker

It has been a Mount Baker Middle School tradition for teachers to festively decorate their classroom doors with their first period class in the spirit of Christmas. Many students and staff, however, were surprised at the level of participation in this event, or lack thereof.

Despite fierce competition in the past, a comparatively few amount of teachers decorated their doors this year, which essentially meant that prizes were awarded by default.

Fewer than 15 classroom doors were decorated out of over 40 classrooms.

“My first period teacher did not participate much, but I ended up helping my third period teacher anyway,” seventh grader Brenden Chaowanipibool stated.

Part of the lack of participation is attributed to the lack of preparation, as teachers only received pamphlets announcing the competition a few days prior to the event rather than the custom two weeks.

“I have not kept track of actual dates in the past but it did seem as if we had less time than usual. The extension did help but we felt rushed anyway. I do

believe that a number of teachers chose to not participate because they felt they had little time, both with the competition and keeping up with school work.” eighth grade teacher Mr. Cowan said.

Chaowanipibool stated, “I think that the competition is a great way to show holiday spirit!”

Some teachers barely contributed and showed their spirit by hanging a wall ornament or a meme on their door. These teachers were not considered participants.

“I was disappointed because we did not have a lot of competition this year. We had to compete with time more than other classes.” grand-prize winner Mr. Cowan stated, “I remember having more participation in the past. I remember a few years that we didn’t even decorate doors so this was at least better than those.”

The Attendance and Main Offices competed against each other to decorate their work spaces, despite not being part of the voting.

Overall, the competition, while it has been a great tradition, fell flat by some standards this year.

Kat Hamm The Valentine’s Day dance is approaching on Feb. 14.

One of the recognizable features for the dance are the dresses.

Ladies have to make your dress be a certain length, straps be a certain width, and over all it has to be school appropriate. But we don’t always know what school appropriate is, here are a few tips on what is and isn’t acceptable. During the dance girls may take off over jackets.

The dance will be in the Commons after school Feb. 14.

Only seventh and eighth graders can go. The theme of the dance is “A Night in Hollywood”. Dress up is optional.

There will be a red carpet, a walk of fame, and paparazzi.

In an interview with Mr. Char, he stated, “No we didn’t have any problems [with dress code last year], we just make sure it’s appropriate.”

“We give them a t-shirt to wear over their hundred dollar dress [if the dress break the dress code].”

Seventh grader Kamsi Onyema said, “Yea, [I’m] probably [going to the Valentine’s Day dance].”

Ladies for your dress, it has to be passed your finger tips. If you wear one of the dresses that are shorter in the front and longer in the back, you also need to make sure that the front is not too short. If your dress does not meet length, then you absolutely have to wear leggings.

Your straps have to be three finger width. One shoulder tops are not allowed, even if it meets the regulation.

If your top doesn’t meet regulations, then you must wear an over coat or sweater.

But you don’t want your top to be too low, if it is, then you need to wear a tank top or an over coat.

If guys want to look exemplary, they should wear a pair of slacks and a nice and simple dress shirt, with nice shoes.

If one wants to have lazier style, wear jeans, a t-shirt and a flannel or jacket.

Basketball shorts are not very fancy, but style is in the eye of the beholder.

Many current eighth graders posed at last year’s dance. PHOTO BY P. WARRING

[News & Features]

[8 * Volume IV, Issue 3] Jansen, Maas, and Geisen prepare themselves for the exhilarating competition soon to come. PHOTO BY J. CARTER

Ysabela Manuel Sitting in the gym while the band is playing music, the roaring sound of the crowd, the stomping of feet on the bleachers. The ASB calling out students to play games in the gym. ASB dancing around sitting on the floor and holding up the eighth, seventh and sixth grade signs, and all the while trying to get the kids to stand up and cheer. On Jan. 10, our most recent pep assembly showed all of these characteristics and more Pep Assemblies used to consist of just one game, the PRIDE awards and the rest was all about sports.

This quarter there were a lot of games, lots of presenting of sports and some of them are the same like last time.

The ASB students ran the assembly and designed the games.

The seventh grade soccer comes to the floor with Mr. Decker and the eighth grade varsity soccer comes to the floor with Mr. King.

Sixth grader Espi Gonzalez said, ”[The school has pep assemblies] because we can celebrate have fun and we can dress up.”

Seventh grader Daezjon Owens said, “[The school has pep assemblies] because it shows school spirit”.

Mr. Brown, school principal, said, “[The school has pep assemblies] to keep our school spirit up and to recognize the great things our student [accomplish].”

Eighth grader Wendy Santos said ”[The school has pep assemblies] because it shows our Bulldog spirit.”

The seventh grade basketball team came to the floor with Mr. Vatne and the eighth grade varsity basketball team came to the floor with Mr. Lubash.

The sixth grade gymnastics and the varsity gymnastics came to the floor with Ms. Swanson and Ms. Hammond.

Each teacher and each student in different grades played in the different games on the assembly and students cheer on the teachers and their classmates.

Brown said. “It’s fun and our ASB are putting a great job together and [I] wish the other students would stand and get involved.”

Santos said “The [Pep Assemblies] are great because it helps kids get their spirits up, have fun, and enjoy the games.”

The whole school shouted and cheered, and the ASB collectively decided that the sixth grade students and teachers were the loudest of all grades.

Our next assembly is schedule for late February.

The varsity gymnasts wait to be called for recognition in the Pep Assembly. PHOTO BY H. ADDISON

Aaron Baker

To most of us, computer engineering and robotics are mysteries, and their knowledge should generally be reserved for billionaires in the making. For Benjamin Geisen, Corey Jansen, Kyle Bates, AJ Maas, and Joey Cacatian, however, robotic engineering is very, very real.

These five eighth grade boys have spent the last year designing a small 18x18 (inches) robot, nicknamed “Jimmy the Clutch”, in order to participate in a competition made up of various tasks the robot is specifically programmed to complete as quickly as possible.

The rules of this competition are simple, the robot must be able to control itself for thirty seconds while completing various preset tasks, and must be driver controlled using a remote control for two minutes while completing other preset tasks. The robot itself is a partial automaton, meaning it can function on its own but still requires limited user assistance.

All the boys agree that the competition itself is “long, exhausting, exciting, and, most of all, euphoric.”

According to FIRST Robotics.org, the database for the competition, the “First Tech Challenge” (hereafter referred to as FTC), is “designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head,

using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams.”

The competition included three regional qualifiers, a district competition, and finally a regional competition coming up in early February. The boys have won all of the qualifiers and the district competition, and as such have advanced to the regional competition.

According to a statement collectively compiled by the boys, “We are very excited for the challenges that the state competition will bring, and we are very excited that we qualified at all.”

The FIRST Robotics Program’s mission is “to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including selfconfidence, communication, and leadership.”

According to FTC, the participating students get to design, build, and program robots, apply real-world math and science concepts, develop problemsolving, organizational, and team-building skills, compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments, earn a place in the World Championship, and qualify for over $13 million in college scholarships.

[News & Features]

[January 2014 * 9]

Gigi Alcedo You can run, but you can’t hide… from rules; they’re everywhere! Your whole life you’re expected to follow certain rules. The first couple days of middle school always seem to be the toughest, because the teachers introduce all their different rules and expectations.

The planner may say one thing, but the staff members sometimes expect the opposite.

Everyone likes when the teacher is care free, but having to go from the “cool” teacher to the “mean” teacher in 50 minutes can be a struggle.

Then again, having a strict teacher might not be so bad.

They show you the reality of life. But the fun teachers make school fun and everything that may be boring into something thrilling.

After a journalism class poll, two science teachers were picked. Sixth and eighth grader teacher, Ms. Davis was voted as the strictest teacher at Mt. Baker and seventh grade teacher, Mrs. Rogers was voted as the least strict teacher.

After teaching at Mt. Baker for eleven years, Mrs. Rogers is honored to be voted as the most fun teacher, but she worried her students might be having too much fun and not learning what she expects them too.

Ms. Davis thought her students voted her as the strictest teacher because she does not accept any excuses and has little patience for shenanigans.

“She processes and gives out lunch detentions for small

In high school students are allowed to chew gum and use cell phones during class. Why can’t Mt. Baker students? After a journalism class poll, on who’s the strictest and the most fun teacher is, Ms. Davis and Mrs. Rogers were picked. Do you agree? PHOTO BY G. ALCEDO

things sometimes.” an anonymous student of Ms. Davis this year said,. The source had Mrs. Rogers last year too.

When both teachers were asked approximately how many lunch detentions they give per week, Mrs. Rogers replied, “Close to zero,” while Ms. Davis said, “Maybe five?”

Both teachers have the same perspective of what a strict and an excellent teacher is.

Is it how they deal with the students that refuse to follow the rules? What determines whether a teacher is strict or not?

Can it be because seventh graders follow more rules than eighth graders do; so Mrs. Rogers doesn’t have to give out as many consequences as Ms. Davis does?

Every teacher has their own way of dealing with rules and consequences and not everyone will agree with it.

In the end of the day, both teachers are teaching you valuable skills to be successful in the future.

Kamalvir Jhajj & Destany Abellera

The Giver Movie Summer Release

The Giver movie releases on Aug. 15, 2014, and many of the

American Horror Stories

eighth grade students have been reading the book the past couple of weeks. Some students say they are excited for the release, while some say they aren’t. Are you excited for the release of the movie The Giver?

The show American Horror Stories has been trending and being talked a lot about on social media sites, such as Twitter and Tumblr. Many students from Mt. Baker have also been keeping up with the show; do you watch the American Horror Stories series?

New Semester

Obey, the Brand

The first semester ended last week, and students were rushing to correct and turn in all their late work. Schedules are changing, and so are grades. Now for second semester, it is time to buckle down and continue doing the best you can. Are you prepared to start second semester?

Designer Shepard Fairey’s brand ‘Obey’ has become a popular trend amongst the students of MBMS. Many of the designs are meant to represent rebellion—like his ‘Andre the Giant’ graphics. Obey appeals to both guys and girls. Fairey’s merchandise is sold locally at Zumiez. Do you like the brand Obey?

Heavy Snow and Cold Weather

Eastside Catholic Staff Fired

This year, our weather in Washington has been extremely cold, right from September, but we’ve had no snow except for just a little bit, throughout some days. States towards the east like New York have been getting lots of snow, with many school closures. Massachusetts even had it be illegal to drive after 4 P.M. because of dangers from too much snow. Do you think it’ll snow in Washington this month?

Mark Zmuda, the former vice-principal at Eastside Catholic left his job on Dec.20 because he was planning to marry a same-sex partner. According to Zmuda’s contract his marriage would break his employee contract. As a result, students signed a petition to change the rules of the school. This isn’t the first time a teacher has lost their job because of intolerance of alternative lifestyle. Do you believe that teachers should have to leave their position at school in order to be with their partner?

[News & Features]

[10 * Volume IV, Issue 3]

PHOTOS COURTESY OF A. DURHAM, M. MARCOTTE, G. BROWN, J. KEMP

Teachers Married to Teachers Colby Pretz Do you think it would be strange to be a teacher who is marcareful when you sign yearbooks as you might be signing your future “It is nice to have your other half ried to a teacher? At Baker we have eight teachers who have a sister/brother-in-law's book.” being a teacher too, because wives or husbands who are also teachers.

All married couples talk about their work at home. Do teachers talk In pursuing this heartfelt question so close to Valentine’s more than other married couples? they understand what you go Day, we decided to ask some of them what it was like to live Principal Brown replied “I believe we do because we share a lot of through throughout the day.” with someone who has the same profession. ideas with each other.”

One of the questions that came to mind was if they were Mr. Kemp feels that he and his wife do talk more than other couples teachers before they married? because they are in the same profession.

Mrs. Marcotte responded by saying, “No we were not. We met “My guess is we probably talk more about work than other couples. through a blind date arranged by one of my teacher friends. My husband became a teach- It is easy to talk about work since we both understand what the job entails.” Mrs. er seven years after we were married.”

Durham’s responded.

Marcotte also said, “I twisted his arm to become a teacher because he really enjoys All of these teachers are good at what they do. Is having a spouse being a teacher also kids and did a lot of activities with them.” one of the reasons?

Principal Brown commented ,“Yes, we were both teachers at the time we met. It was at Mrs. Marcotte and Mr. Kemp believed that having their spouse as a teacher has helped a meeting that neither of us wanted to be at because it was on a Saturday, so it was a them become better teachers. They are able to share ideas with each other and also good thing we went.” understand each other better.

Mr. Kemp’s answer to this question was, “Yes. We were both teachers when we met. We Principal Brown responded, “It is nice to have your other half being a teacher too, met at Lakeview Elementary and were teaching fourth grade.” because they understand what you go through throughout the day.”

Mrs. Durham and her husband were both teachers before they married. She stated “We Mrs. Durham said “I think I am a better teacher because I am able to exchange ideas were both elementary teachers in the Kent School District. He was a technology teacher and strategies with him in order to help my students understand concepts better. We for grades K-6 and I was teaching sixth grade.” also enjoy sharing "interesting" stories. There is never a dull moment in this profession.”

She also added “It turns out that [my husband’s] sister and I attended the same middle According to our interviews, it seemed that it was meant to be that they married other school in Bellevue. We even signed each other's yearbook. So I always tell students to be teachers!

—Principal Brown

[New & Features]

[January 2014 * 11]

January

Maddie Feeney, Samantha Leurquin, Harrison Maurus

Locker Lottery was created as a way to feature students’ opinions at MBMS. They are selected completely at random, like the lottery. The Canine Chronicle staff randomly selected one boy and one girl from each grade to interview for “Locker Lottery” to give our student population a voice. The staff interviewed Michaela Powell and Gabe Stenberg from sixth grade, Kasandra Shadle and Aundrey Grishchenko from seventh grade, and Rhys Butt and Curtis Van Daele from seventh grade.

What’s your best excuse for not having your homework done?

MP: [I] forget to do it.

AG: My cat ate it.

RB: I spilled coffee on it.

CVD: I’m having family problems.

What do you do when you’re really mad?

MP: [I] sit in my room and read a book.

GS: [I] tell them to go away.

AG: I sit down and breathe it out.

RB: [I] Cry.

Are you going to the Valentine’s Dance?

KS: No, [I’m not going].

AG: I’m not sure.

RB: Most likely, [with] me, myself, and I CVD: Probably, yeah.

Is the book normally better than the movie?

GS: Yeah, normally in the movie, they skip stuff.

AG: No, I don’t read books.

RB: Uh, yes, absolutely, all the time.

CVD: Yeah.

Do you procrastinate?

MP: Yes, when [I’m on my] tablet, I forget to do dishes.

GS: Yes, I play games, I don’t do it till the last second.

KS: Yes, I don’t feel like doing homework.

RB: Um, yes, because I’d rather be eating.

Do you listen to ‘90s music?

MP: Sometimes.

Are you participating in a sport this season? Which one?

MP: [I] did gymnastics, going to do volleyball.

KS: Yes, volleyball.

AG: Yes, wrestling.

CVD: Yes, wrestling.

What grinds your gears?

GS: [A] messy area at lunch or anywhere.

KS: [I hate when] skinny people say their fat.

AG: Screechy noises.

CVD: Dumb jokes.

What’s the most successful sport at Mt. Baker (in your opinion)?

MP: Gymnastics, they’ve won a lot of championships.

GS: Wrestling.

AG: Track.

CVD: Probably track.

GS: I don’t listen to a lot of music.

KS: No. RB: Yes, when I’m with my parents.

Do you think the hallway rules are enforced?

MP: Sometimes, [but people are always] running.

KS: Not really.

RB: It depends on the teacher.

CVD: Yeah, about running.

Who should have won Holiday Door Decorating ?

MP: [The] main office.

KS: I don’t know.

AG: Mrs. Nelson.

CVD: Ms. Hammond [should have won].

[Sports]

[12 * Volume IV, Issue 3]

Anna Maracich & Alyssa Ferry

As opportunities become increasingly sparse; athletes are being pushed to the limit to be more competitive at a younger age, but at what cost?

Both out of school and in school sports have some sort of contributing expenses, but whether or not they compare in the matter of training is an entirely different question.

The discussion of price is one of the main reasons club athletes are set apart from in-school athletes.

Seventh grader Tyler Braun said, “I had to choose soccer, over hockey because hockey was too expensive, but I still love hockey.”

The yearly tuition for U14 girls at Reach Volleyball Club is $2,200.

The annual price for Northwest All-Stars, a local basketball league, is $900.

This

PHOTO ILLUSTARTION BY A. COWAN

price can be a substantial amount in the eyes of our parents at such a young age for us. For others, this amount is worth the significant improvement of their child and maybe future opportunities.

As an athlete’s parent, a coach, and a teacher Mr. Brown said, “For club sports, our family tries to coach as much as much as possible to minimize the cost. By us coaching, we either have to pay nothing or a limited amount, but we have less time on our hands because of the coaching schedules.

If the cost wasn’t so much we wouldn’t have to make those sacrifices.”

While in the process of becoming a teenager,

students are pushed to start a sport they are serious about at a more competitive level, yet the continuously increasing prices are one of the few things holding them back.

Eighth grader Calley Hielborn said, “I think you should start sports when you’re young because you will have more room to improve.”

Many would agree that the competitive edge, professional coaches, and athlete perseverance is what persuades sport participants to dedicate themselves to this costly lifestyle.

Hard work is one of the essential attributes in which club athlete’s show during their sports season.

Eighth grader Isaiah Prescott said, “I work harder in club, because I know the punishment is more severe.”

[Sports]

[January 2014 * 13]

High costs to compete aren’t the only limited to competitive select sports.

Many districts follow the “pay to play’ budgeting system to supplement the high cost of athletics in schools. This system has affected neighboring districts, such as Sumner and Kent persuading them to add a fee to play sports at their school.

Sumner School District has two different fees to participate in sports. At $55 per season or $130 for all four seasons, athletes are most often playing only if they are also a club athlete.

These fees, plus the cost of uniforms and equipment is certainly a price to pay to represent your school.

Kent’s schools also follow a similar price range. Their middle schools charge a $60 fee per sport.

Athletes taking part in three seasons can only be charged up to $180. Choosing to participate in all four seasons makes the fourth free of charge.

This could be the direction the Auburn School District is heading, but it seems as though that if a student has to pay, they’re less likely to participate.

Alyssa Ferry

With the many different opinions on the world of dance show any form of ability other than skills found in gymand cheer, personal beliefs concerning athleticism can nastics. be found around every turn, online and face to face. T At a national level however, many disagree. he opinions of our student body vary, along with those Sixth grader Tyler Berry said, “[Dance and cheer] in and out of the dance and aren’t very physical, [dancers cheer world. and cheerleaders] just jump and Many argue that dance isn’t throw people in the air. It could a :sport” because it’s an art, be a sport, but it has to get more and therefore fails to have a known and competitive.” large amount of athletic ability; The Women’s Sports Foundation while others say that if it’s an created a list of requirements art due to its technique and lack that an activity must require in of “athleticism”, golf shouldn’t order to be a sport. be considered a ‘sport’ either.

This list includes some of the Sixth grader Nikesha Ibana following: “It must be governed said dance and cheer are comby rules that explicitly define the petitive, but others may not time, space, and purpose of the believe so because ,“They don’t contest and the conditions under know about the effort put into which a winner is declared. It [dance and cheer], there’s a lot must acknowledge that the priof physical activity.” mary purpose of the competition Seventh grader Brayden is a comparison of the relative Brown said, “[Dance] isn’t a skills of the participants.” physical thing, mainly [dancers] Though some believe that dance just jump around. [A committee] and cheer meet hardly any of never could make it a sport; Hannah Weidenbach, from The Surge Dance Center those aforementioned rules, [dance] is stuck as an acproves that dedication to something makes all difference. others think that dance and tivity or art.” cheer surpass them by a landHer tilt is the proof. PHOTO BY A. FERRY. To some, cheer doesn’t slide.

[Sports]

[14 * Volume IV, Issue 3]

Jasmine Dang & Aaron Baker

One of the essential five pillars that we celebrate here at Mount Baker is excellence. Excellence is the ability to succeed and go above and beyond expectations, and eighth grader Harrison Maurus has certainly done so many times over by breaking numerous national weight lifting records.

Maurus began power lifting approximately two and a half years ago, began Olympic lifting one and a half years ago, and broke his first Washington State record on his twelfth birthday. His first national record was broken shortly afterwards.

“I’ve known [Harrison] since elementary school.

He has been lifting ’mind-blowingly’. I think it brings publicity to the school and inspires kids to do a lot of things,” said seventh grader Brenden Chaowanapibool. “He is a really great athlete.”

Maurus can squat over 182 kilograms (about 400 pounds), which set the record for all American youth power lifters.

“It takes practice” Maurus said humbly, “A lot of practice.”

Maurus’ diet, rather than consisting of specific items, excludes many foods that most of us put no mind to, such as doughnuts, soda, and fast food .

“It’s not about eating less carbohydrates, it’s about eating less of the bad carbohydrates,” stated Maurus. “I don’t mind missing out on unhealthy food.”

Like any sport, weight lifting has its difficulties.

It’s both physically and mentally demanding.

Weight lifting is not a team sport, so it takes an individual that is focused and well-disciplined to rise to the top.

Maurus certainly obtained these qualities, in such a short time he has accomplished so much.

Most people think that weight lifting is about how much you can lift, but it’s about more than that. It should be evident that the strongest athlete doesn’t always win, but the athlete that can produce the highest amount of force in the shortest amount of time.

Power lifting has been a large part of Maurus’ life, and his exuberance is evident.

“Power lifting is a way I can see if I have improved and is a great way to test my boundaries,” Maurus said.

Maurus, an avid weight lifter, has adequately proven his physical prowess by not only breaking several national records, but also proving his ability to power lift weights as heavy as 268 pounds. PHOTO BY T. MAURUS

[January 2014 * 15]

[Sports]

PHOTO BY H. ADDISON

Hope Addison

The MBMS wrestling season started on January training [a form of sports training that involves 15. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders are getting performing different exercises in rotation]. ready and working hard to support our school in “I want to be a conference champion [for the wrestling. school],” stated the seven year wrestler.

This year, the wrestling team has two returning On his favorite part of wrestling, Chaowanapibool champions, Drake Peariseaff and John Quiroz. The said, “There’s always a mental game with your eighth graders were District opponent and it’s fun to try out “[I’m] very excited for the upChampions last year and are different moves”. coming season.

The eighth grade training hard to achieve a two “[I’m] very excited for the leadership is outstanding ,and we -time Conference Championupcoming season. The eighth have a lot of really talented sev- grade leadership is outstanding ship title.

Returning champion, Drake enth graders who worked really and we have a lot of really talhard…”

Peariseaff, said, “My old ented seventh graders who wrestling coach, Coach Volk worked really hard last year to —Coach King [was my greatest inspirabe ready for the varsity chaltion]. He always cheered me lenges. There will be a few sevon in my second and third grade years”. enth grade wrestlers that fill the varsity weight The team spends time training before and during classes this year” stated head coach, Mr. King. the season to build stamina and muscle for the Mr. Vatne, also a MBMS wrestling coach, said, “I upcoming competitions. love wrestling. [I’m most excited for] working with Seventh grader Brenden Chaowanapoibool, stat- beginning wrestlers and helping them be successed that he gets ready for the season with circuit ful, having positive [varsity] leaders, and just having a great season”.

The training process is simple, according to the coaches. Make a nine week sacrifice. Wrestlers go to practice every day and expect to work hard.

They learn both offensive wrestling and defensive wrestling.

Coach King said, “[Wrestlers must] expect that there is always someone better out there ready to beat you, so don’t waste a single minute of practice and or conditioning”.

“I try to eat better and work out more [to condition for the season]” Drake Peariseaff stated.

It’s said, that the strongest wrestlers, are the ones returning [with tournament experience].

Those are the boys that know how hard the tournament is and what it takes in the nine weeks prior to train for it. “[The beginning of the season is] mostly teaching fundamentals and getting the boys in shape. [The end of the season is the boys] using the skills they learned to improve,” Mr. Vatne stated.

MBMS wrestling has won six league championships and five district or conference championships throughout the years.

[26 * Volume IV, Issue 3] [16

[Sports]

Ka’Sean Griffin & TJ Williams

Seventh Grade Sports,

The girls’ soccer players get ready to practice on the first day of tryouts, Jan. 15. Many players appeared to be nervous to show their skills. PHOTO BY K. GRIFFIN

Eighth grade girls’ basketball and soccer is thought team because there are not a lot of people trying out for soccer” stated Micaela Boettcher, “I practiced to be the highlight of the third season sports.

Eighth grade sports are said to be the hardest of all soccer all year long, so I could make the team.” because students have to tryout for sports like soccer and basketball, rather than just getting put on a team.

“If we have to tryout then I’m going to be really nervous,” stated Daelyn Hawes, “I did practice, but not as much as I had hoped to. I went to a three day basketball day camp and then at school, during lunch Everybody is working very hard to get a spot on the I would do pop-a-shot with my friend. The first few team. Players can’t just make a team because they days are really hard… I went from having Ms. are a decent player. Competitors have to work hard Burkhalter as a coach for two years and then I got a to maintain a spot on the team. coach who I had never met and I had no idea what Trying out for a sports team can be a nervethey specifically expect of me.” wracking experience, even for the best of players. It Already this far into the season ,the players have can be stressful having to demonstrate your ability found team mates that are showing excellent techand compete against many other players. Not to forget that tryouts are usually designed to be physi- nique. cally and mentally exhausting. Size doesn’t matter in “I think the best ball handler is actually Calley Heilthese leagues. It’s all about the way members play. born,” Daelyn Hawes stated, “ What was once considered a fun, learning, and healthy activity for kids has now turned into a contest to win the most games and gain the most publicity.

“I feel nervous about tryouts, but I know I will most likely be on the

Daniel Shablevskiy & Cameron Shute Third season sports are under way. Seventh grade girls’ basketball and soccer are the main sports for girls.

People may wonder, ‘What is the difference between seventh and eighth grade sports at Mt. Baker?’ There are many differences to the two grades’ sports.

For example, in the eighth grade team you have to tryout to make the team, but in seventh grade all you have to do is sign up.

Ms. Hammond is going to be picking the students positions for soccer. There is eleven players on the field (one team) all together there is twenty two. There is going to be one team for both seventh grade soccer and basketball.

Soccer coach Ms. Hammond said, “[We use] a combination based on work ethic, skill, and academics.”

Mrs. Burkalter, seventh grade basketball coach said, ” I will be looking for their height and how quick they are.”

In the seventh grade basketball, there are nineteen players, but on the eighth grade team there is only thirteen. The seventh grade basketball it will be easier to play because the can sub more and won’t be that tired.

For eighth grade it could be more difficult because the team can’t substitute players as much, and will be more tired.

“The warm ups kill me every time,” said Jackie Colson, a seventh grade basketball player.

Other players think different things are most difficult. “The running sucks,” said Kashe Stansberry.

The school’s sports teams are hard at work to compete in games. The coaches are working hard trying to find the positions for their players. It was hard for the coaches to pick because they all are good players.

Eighth graders tend to run more than the seventh graders most likely due to the grade difference; although the seventh graders still run a lot.

The training between the grade levels may differ in other ways, but these are the few that stand out the most.

The best ball dribblers are Rylie Tew, Jordyn Jaeckel, and Micaela Boettcher” Michelle Brickner said.

Hopefully the girls’ soccer and basketball team will have a successful season as a team, and will all grow individually in their basketball and soccer skills.

The seventh graders work hard to compete and win all their games. PHOTO BY P. WARRING.

Kyle Bates For many years this question has been argued, debated, and even fought over: “What is the most successful sport at Mt. Baker?” The answer may never be proven, but the opinion from students and teachers will fuel the debate for generations to come at Baker.

From the statistical standpoint, Track and Field is the clear victor. With 28 total boy and girl championships, the many banners dominate the east wall of the gym.

Rounding out the top five are Wrestling (11 Banners), Football and Girls Basketball (10 Each), Gymnastics (9), and Boys Basketball (8). Also needing mention, two championships were added to the Gymnastics total even though the banners have not been added to the wall yet.

Even though some sports have many championships, there are other arguments to be made, such as with sports like soccer, which has only been an official school sport for one year. As of the end of the first semester, Boys Soccer has already won its first league championship, going undefeated with one draw.

Onto the most debated portion of the argument, the student opinion. In a recent poll with Ms. Armstrong’s fourth period seventh grade math class, they were asked for their personal opinion on the most successful sport currently at Baker.

The choices were every sport listed on the banner wall in the gym. The results were quite surprising, with Football, Fastpitch, Wrestling, and Volleyball all tallying zero votes.

Baseball (2 Votes), Gymnastics (3), and Basketball (5) rounded out the top three while Track was the top scorer with 11 total votes. Analyzing these results, know that some students did not vote, or voted incorrectly.

We also received input from a well-known coach and athletic director, Mrs. Rogers.

“Gymnastics and Track [are the most successful], because we usually dominate in districts and have lots of participation every year.” She stated when asked on her opinion on the most successful sport.

“Fastpitch is also on a five year streak of championships right now,” she also commented on the subject.

Mrs. Rogers further stated that her favorite sport to coach was Fastpitch and the best athletes she ever coached were Jami Koenig and Danielle Robinson because they were both dominate pitchers.

Mrs. Rogers also informed us of a former Baker football alumnus David Paulson, who went to Auburn-Riverside and eventually went on to play oin the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a definite tribute to the success and hard work of the Baker football program.

On the topics of total attendance and participation, football dominates the school

sports landscape ion the US, according to Derek King of ehow.com, he states: “According to Pop Warner, more than 250,000 boys participate in their youth football program. Additionally, more than 1 million boys participate in high school football.”

King also stated that basketball, track, and soccer round out the top four in most participated sports in the U.S. No matter if you have your own opinions or go simply by the stats, everyone has the entitlement to their “most successful sport opinion”, whether horribly uninformed, or as factually-backed up as it can be.

Storied sports such as Track dominate the banner wall in the gym, while sports like Football and Gymnastics bring in very high participation and bring in consistent championships. COURTESY OF MBMS YEARBOOK AND A. COWAN

Compiled by Gigi Alcedo & Samantha Leurquin

“Basketball, because a lot of my friends play it, and it seems pretty popular.”

-Nicholas Benabid Sixth Grade

“Gymnastics, because we have been champions for like ever!”

“Basketball because a lot of people come to the games.”

CreativeCommons.org

-Abbie Juth Seventh Grade

-Tanner Larson

“In all my time teaching here at Baker gymnastics and basketball, and then going to the pep assembly, soccer did really well.”

-Mrs. Nelson

Seventh Grade Science

Music from ‘90s Popular in Seattle-Area Bella Coronado & Alyssa Ferry

Grunge was a huge trend of fashion and music that took place in the early Grunge was considered more alternative in its sounds and also because it ‘90s. A biggest part of the Grunge era was the unique styles of music. It also was looked upon as “different”. consisted of fashion trends, like flannels, ripped jeans, combat boots, among “The ‘90s Grunge was a lot about rebellion. It was an outlet to not be mainother styles. stream, ” Mrs. Wells said .

Grunge music was inspired by the sounds of Bands from the Grunge era actually made a punk and rock music. Some popular bands of breakthrough into the mainstream crowd, but the time were Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in were still expressed as alternative rock.

Chains, and Soundgarden.

Ms. Wells described the sounds of the alterToday, these fashion and music trends are native rock music as whiney and a little dark. being considered “hipster” for the use of alGrunge did not appeal to everyone which may ternative rock becoming more popular with the have caused it to be not so widespread when it teen crowd. first came into recognition.

Grunge was usually referenced to as the It brought a different sound and feel to what “Seattle Sound” because most of the popular people would consider music at the time. bands at the time started in Seattle. Nirvana Grunge was most popular in the teen crowd specifically brought a media spotlight to the and music was sold to millions because of its city. interest and availability.

Nirvana’s lead singer, Kurt Cobain, was made Today, Grunge fashion makes appearances in an international star after their 1991 album teens everywhere. made a rise to the mainstream crowds. Pearl Grunge began to fade out of the mainstream Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden also after Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994. The tragedy gained success in the early 1990s. occurred a few months after Nirvana’s appearMrs. Wells, Mount Baker’s art teacher, said ance on MTV. she thought the recent height with grunge One of the bands to remain the biggest to fashion, and trends from the ‘90s were inevicome from the Seattle Grunge scene was Pearl table.

Jam. They are currently still playing today.

Wells said, “Every trend from the past is Modern alternative rock, and other popular bound to make a comeback someday.” Many music heard today will always trace back to parents and teachers remember ‘90s grunge innovative Grunge bands from the early ‘90s. from growing up. Almost every trend resurfacGrunge brought a revolution to music, showes, and is inspired from the past. ing the rich musical history of the “Seattle “Everything influences the next thing. WhethSound” . er we want it or not,” said Mrs. Wells.

Grunge let people be themselves and branch Grunge bands from the ‘90s have influenced off from other mainstream and traditional or and inspired much of our modern music today. popular music.

Teenagers today are seen sporting Nirvana t-shirts as well as Mrs. Wells stated, “A lot of [the Grunge muTo some, it changed the face of popular music flannels and doc martens. The same trends seen during the ‘90s sic] let other bands be different and branch forever. grunge phase. PHOTO BY B. CORONADO off… it had a modern rock influence.”

PHOTO BY J. FORWARD & BY H. ADDISON ILLUSTRATION K. HAMM

Harrison Maurus Technology has advanced considerably since the 1990s, not only in the field of digital entertainment, but in the medical and science field.

Many diseases have been cured and many amazing discoveries concerning our genes were made.

In the field of entertainment, DVD replaced VHS. The launching of the Internet, email, and smaller cell phones helped to better connect our society. In this article are just a few of the many new inventions and discoveries from the ‘90s.

The Hubble Space Telescope would allow man to view the vast expanse of space. The images we received from the telescope would allow us to better understand our universe. The Hubble Space Telescope would lead to the discovery of Dark Matter.

Scientists don’t exactly know what Dark Matter is, but scientists theorize that it makes up roughly 27 percent of our universe and is leading towards the expansion of the universe.

Also in the science field, the Human Genome Project allowed people to understand our genetics better and was fully completed in 2003.

Along with the Human Genome Project, scientists successfully cloned Dolly the sheep. She was cloned by using an udder cell from a Finn Dorset white sheep.

Then they injected the udder cell into an unfertilized egg that came from a Scottish Blackface Ewe. They injected the egg into a Blackface Ewe and when it was born Dolly had a white face and was successfully cloned.

Cell phones have come a long way since the 1990s.

Before modern touch screens there were keypads on phones. The phones were also substantially larger and more expensive.

The first touch screen phone came out in 1993 called IBM Simon which sold for $899. It was considered the first smart phone because it had a calendar, address book, clock, calculator, notepad, email, and a touch screen with a QWERTY keyboard.

A stylus was used to tap the keys on the screen. The phones also slimmed down from the extremely large “brick” phones to smaller 100-200 gram phones.

Computers teachers Mr. Kemp said he had a “phone line repair man phone” that you “would need to unscrew the antenna so that it fit in your glove box”.

The Internet was also launched publicly in this time.

The , despite being in existence since 1961.

The first successful transfer of information from one computer to another was in 1969. The first email was sent in 1971. Tim Burners Lee Invented the HTML or Hypertext Markup Language, a standardized tagging system, which is widely used on the internet now, in 1991.

Before the arrival of DVDs (Digital Versatile Disks) most people relied on VHS (Video Home Standard) to view

movies and shows. The creation of the DVD would allow people to view movies at home easier. The VHS you had to manually rewind or fast forward to the part you were last on. The DVD would automatically rewind and allow you to scene skip to certain parts of the movie or program.

Technology has advanced dramatically since the ‘90s.

Mr. Kemp said that it had advanced “100 fold”.

So just be thankful that you live in the era of where you don’t have to carry a “brick” around to call someone, and were you can easily occupy yourself on the boundless searches of the World Wide Web at the simple click of a button.

Ryan Hess would mean schools in the According to the Auburn district would reAuburn Reporter, The ceive new equipment for Board of Directors has students to better increase set a $22 million techtheir learning. nology replacement levy Other advancements for Tuesday, Feb. 11, would be 24/7 access to 2014. curriculum and coursework The technology levy is for students, parents, and a six-year levy and teachers, a laptop/tablet replaces the 2005 for every student to use by technology levy. the end of the levy, wireless The 40-member comaccess in all buildings, mittee of community technology enhancements If the new levy passes, students will have more opportunities to use members, parents, for safety and security, technology in the classroom.

PHOTO BY R. HESS teachers and staff met electronic devices for during the fall to create students for increased engagement and learning, and elecrecommendations on high-yield strategies for learning, tronic tools for teachers to improve teaching in the classaccess for students and staff, infrastructure, and funding. room.

The committee determined this levy is necessary to bring The addition of technology in an everyday student life 21st Century learning tools into the classroom. This aligns would take a large amount of weight away from textbooks with the district’s strategic plan, and binders.

A typical laptop weighs roughly five pounds and “Technology will be integral to administration and teachhas access to all the information that you would require at ing and learning to prepare all students for career, college, school.

Instead of rummaging through a cluttered backpack and life beyond high school,” the district said. for the paper you need, all of your papers and assignments The levy provides funding to implement recommendations would be stored in your personal computer. from the 2013 Technology Citizens Ad Hoc Committee. This

[Arts & Entertainment]

[20 * Volume IV, Issue 3]

Kamalvir Jhajj & Jamsine Dang

Movies have a lot to live up to after a phenomenal book catches fire.

Everyone wants to get their hands on the novel with a well thought out plot, that’s filled with action and emotion.

But, readers often leave the theater saying the book was better, or “that’s not how I pictured it”.

Comparing the book to the movie leaves many disappointed.

Books are often filled with more detail, but movies bring other pieces to life right before the viewer’s eyes. Both books and movies have their separate advantages and disadvantages to telling stories, pulling people together in different ways.

Novels make readers feel as if they are the character itself, characters intrigue readers, making them want more, giving readers more detail, and making readers feel everything or live everything. There are no limits.

Films make readers think, putting people on the edge of their seats, inspiring others and creating new worlds before their very eyes. They have people sobbing one moment then laughing the next and are visually more attracting to people.

However, the jump from page to screen isn’t always successful, the suspense and the emotion fail to project properly on film and the translation is lost in context.

Therefore, movie adaption’s can be either a hit or miss with viewers; often causing debate over if books should become movies or not. People are afraid of plots getting ruined or not doing the ’’extraordinary” book justice.

Eighth grade teacher Mrs. Hammond said, “I like it [when books become movies], because it gives me a better perspective of the books I love. I’m usually excited to watch the movie to see how it is.”

When people read books that they enjoy, they often anticipate the movie and hold high expectations.

Sixth grader Tabetha Norris said, “I like watching the movie before I read the book, because if I read the book first, then I will be disappointed.”

More often than not, books and movies have equal amount of pressure built on them. Typically one is more successful than the other, persuading people to agree, but it all depends on the person’s perspective.

Popular trilogies are often big hit in theaters such as The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, Twilight, and Harry Potter, because they have fan bases craving the movie’s release.

When Mt. Baker’s librarian Mrs. Clark was asked what the most checked out books from the library were, she said “Currently, our top books checked out are our graphic novels, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Ender’s Game, and The Hunger Games. Hunger Games books are more checked out than Ender’s Games. We have nine copies of the Hunger Games, and they are usually always checked out.”

Whether you enjoy books becoming movies or not, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Both have their own unique qualities that make them different, and always exciting to read or watch.

They may both have the same plot, but the ways they carry out details are dissimilar.

The Hunger Games book sold over 23 million copies, while The Hunger Games movie grossed over 691 million dollars. PHOTO BY J. DANG

[January 2014 * 21]

[Arts & Entertainment] COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Jonathan Casey

The sequel to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of The film does include a new character, Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly), that was not origiSmaug continues the epic journey of a hobbit, 13 dwarves and a wizard. As this group nally in the book, as well as reintroducing characters from The Lord of the Rings, but continues their quest to reclaim their homeland, this trilogy continues to break plenty not The Hobbit. of past movie records.

Christopher Orr, a top critic from The Atlantic, stated, ”It frequently seems as Making over 73.7 million dollars, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug has the fourth though Jackson was less interested in making The Hobbit than in remaking his own highest weekend debut income of all time; the previous film being the third. As of Jan. fabulously successful Lord of the Rings series.”

20, the film has made a domestic grossing of over $249.3 million and a worldwide Although some are unsatisfied with the movie, it seems the grossing of over $834.3 million. majority of viewers recommend the 161 minutes of actionThe film begins with a flashback of Gandalf (Ian McKellen) telling Thorin packed footage.

(Richard Armitage) that he should go on quest to reclaim a relic provThe motion picture was also nominated for three ing he is king of Erebore.

Oscars; best sound editing, best sound mixing, The journey then continues at a farther location from its last and best visual effects. setting at the conclusion of the previous film.

Overall, The Hobbit: The Desolation of The movie continues to depict the tale created by J.R.R. TolSmaug, is a remarkable film that brought kein, bringing the dwarves, hobbit, and wizard through treachtogether the majority of what a good action erous lands, unforgettable foes, and incredible heroes. film requires and mixed it with everything Lord of the Rings fans will love the overall accuracy and any Lord of the Rings fan couldn’t wait linking plotlines as new viewers to the saga will enjoy the acto watch. tion packed film as well.

According to MSN.com, “Peter Jackson [the director] creates a rousing, immersive sequel that offers the same sort of sweeping action -- and more crucially, emotional engagement -- that helped the ‘Rings’ films become a cultural phenomenon, regardless whether or not you were familiar with the source material.”

Although the film seems loved by audiences, several hardcore Lord of the Rings fans disapproved of the film due to its COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS “lack of accuracy.”

[Arts & Entertainment]

[22 * Volume IV, Issue 3]

Celebrates African Leader Jeremiah Brown Critically-acclaimed Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom illustrates the life of Nelson Mandela, a South African activist who later became president, as well as his hopes, dreams and perils.

Mandela received one Golden Globe award for Best Original Song and four other Capri Hollywood Awards,

COURTERY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

plus Oscar nominations for Best Actor Idris Elba and Best Supporting Actor Naomie Harris. It was nominated for another sixteen (and counting) awards.

Justin Chadwick directed this amazing motion picture Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Terry Pheto are just a few of the award-winning actors in this film. This combination of

actors is probably the best for this movie; they all know how to show real emotion in their acting.

Seventh grader Theo Washington stated, “[Idris Elba] is a stunning actor when emotion is involved.”

Elba has been acting since 1999, starting with the comedic French film Belle Maman. He has also starred in music videos, television shows and even Modern Warfare 3,a video game.

For this being the first time Elba and Harris starred in a movie together, they did an extraordinary job in Mandela.

Daniel Filovets New York Times critic Stephen Holden gave the film a 90 percent out of 100, and praised Elba’s performance.

Have you ever heard of a leader called Mandela? If you popularity among supporters because when the ANC was “Mr. Elba’s towering performance lends “Long Walk to have ,you ever heard of a leader named Nelson Mandela? If losing power before Mandela was the one who brought the Freedom” a Shakespearean breadth,” Holden stated. you did , then you probably know about his death, and if you power back to the ANC. Although Mandela is an enticing drama, it also has a lot keep reading. You will find out how some things are affectHis leadership inspired many artists in the United States. of action-packed and eccentric moments throughout the ed by this event.

Anant Singh even made a film. It has scenes about protestors colliding with the Nelson Mandela was the movie about Mandela called trigger happy police, also how police shoot the people at COURTERY OF CREATIVE COMMONS South African president from Mandela: Long Walk to Free- funerals for their fallen friends.

1994 to 1999 and was a great dom; which is a biographical Mandela can also be a very sad film when the police leader to his people. Mandela film that is based on the mow down peaceful people mourning over deaths, and inspired the world after he book Mandela; Long Walk to how the living conditions where back then. This is a great negotiated a peaceful end to Freedom. movie to go see with family and friends; because it capsegregation.

Mandela has made a big tures much you need them.

Mandela was the first black impact on United States, Nelson Mandela was the president of South Africa from president in South Africa. and many U.S. politicians 1994 to 1999, and made a lot of changes about racial laws.

During the Defiance Camwere very depressed when Before this, he was imprisoned for 27 years at three paign in 1952 Mandela was they heard about the death different prisons, Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison and given a banning order. of Mandela.

Victor Verster Prison.

Mandela served in prison According to seventh Mandela was one of the best civil rights leaders and for 27 years for doing antigrader Diego Alison-Silva, took his job very seriously. Mandela was also President of apartheid activities. He died Mandela didn’t really have a the African National Congress from 1991 to 1997, but was on December 5, 2013 at the big affect on his life. involved for most of his life. It is a great thing they have a age of 95 years old in HoughAlso Diego stated that he ton Estate in South Africa. though that Mandela was a movie for such an inspiring, strong and smart person.

I encourage you to go see Mandela: Long Walk to FreeIn Africa the ANC (African great leader and his leaderNational Congress) is losing ship has a great impact on dom, because it will be one of the best movies you have ever seen. power because it is losing the world.

[Opinion & Editorial]

[January 2014 * 23]

All graphics in feature courtesy of MS Clipart

What

My

Disagree? The segment ‘What Grinds My Gears’ is presented as opinion and does not express the views of all MBMS students or The Canine Chronicle. If you would like to express your opinion, write us a letter, and you may be published in our next edition.

You know what really grinds my gears? Bandwagon (A.K.A Fanwagon) NFL Fans. Just think of your everyday dedicated Seahawks fan, watching games with his dad since third grade. His friend, who has been a Steelers fan for life, suddenly comes to school wearing a Marshawn Lynch jersey, proclaiming his newfound fandom for your favorite team. I mean, how much of a jerk does this guy seem right now? He’s hated your team for years, and now he suddenly jumps on the bandwagon just as your team starts playing well.

Such examples can be found everywhere, just look in your own neighborhood, and maybe you’ll find a first year Broncos fan only three houses to the right. Maybe your friends are unspeakably converting their beliefs to the 49ers. Bandwagoning is everywhere, a deadly disease sweeping this football obsessed nation known as the United States.

The possibly most annoying thing of these monsters is their absolute denial. As soon as their “fandom” is question, a tactic used by two-year-olds is immediately put into place as they hopelessly toss aside each accusing question.

Keep your favorite team close Mt. Baker, because these aliens are lurking around every corner.

—Kyle Bates

Do you know what really grinds my gears? People who constantly accuse you of something you didn’t do. Even if it is a joke, people will accuse you just loud enough so other people can hear, including teachers. The accusations will sometimes be simple and dumb things, like “you never flush the toilet” or more serious things, like “stop hitting me”.

IF I DIDN’T DO IT, DON’T SAY I DID. Constant accusations drive me crazy, especially when they come from the same person, sometimes for the same thing. What’s worse is when someone else approaches you about the false accusation. “Is what he just said about you true?” NO IT ISN’T!!

When you ask these people why they continually say these things about you, they say things like “Calm down, it’s just a joke” or things like “because it’s funny”.

People like this drive me crazy, no matter how many times you ask them to stop the constant blurting out never seems to stop or even slow down.

I’ve heard some accusations get crazy really fast, and then it becomes a blame game.

Things like “She wears other team colors when no one’s around” turning into “She only brushes her teeth on Tuesdays” TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ACCUSE PEOPLE OF THINGS THEY DON’T DO, STOP!!

You want to know what really grinds my gears? People who steal other people’s ideas.

Seriously, it is the most annoying thing ever when someone just takes your ideas.

I mean, YOU’RE JUST SITTING IN CLASS, and your friend sitting next to you has the same idea, and they shout it out right before you. You just get really angry inside and just want to rage and start knocking things over.

One of the things that really annoys me about “idea theft” is when they ask you what you are going to say, and in confidence, you tell them. Right after you finish speaking to them, their hand shoots straight up into the classroom atmosphere…You sit there wondering what they are going to say, as you have had your hand raised for about two minutes, and then they suddenly raise their hand. Your classmate is called on right before you, and they say your idea and get all of the credit for YOUR idea!!

It’s like you were invisible and the teacher didn’t even see you and did it deliberately. It’s almost like the teacher has conspired with the student to call on them just to anger you.

You come to a door, such a big decision, what door do you go through? Left, right, opened or closed, I don’t understand, how hard is it to go through a door.

Do you really have to choose the open door that someone else is coming out of? Wouldn’t it make more sense to open the opposite door and go through it? Common sense should tell you that when you enter a room, go in the door on the left and out the right.

People trying to go through a door as you’re trying to get out, is so irritating.

Do people choose the open door because it is the path of least resistance? Do they not know that the other door will open up too?

Then there are the “shovers”, the ones who decide to push their way through a doorway when clearly everyone else is going the other direction.

This is what really grinds my gears!

All it would take is a little consideration on every ones part to fix this problem. Next time you face a door, OPEN IT and the rest will follow.

—Ben Geisen

—AJ Maas

—Colby Pretz

[Life]

[January 2014 * 24]

HOROSCOPES

Compiled by Jalen Forward 

Did you know that 15 percent of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day?



Did you know that the number of Valentine’s Day cards exchanged is around 180 million?



Did you know that about one billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged in the U.S. each year? That's the largest seasonal cardsending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.



Did you know that a Valentine’s Day superstation is, the first man or woman’s name you read in the paper or hear on the TV or radio will be the name of the person you will marry?



Did you know a kiss on Valentine’s Day brings you good luck all year?



Did you know that 85 percent of Valentines gifts are purchased by women?



Did you know that a Valentine’s Day superstition is, if you see a goldfinch on Valentine’s Day, you will marry a millionaire?



Did you know the oldest Valentine’s Day card was made in the 1400’s?



Did you know that a Valentine’s Day superstation is, if you see a squirrel on Valentine’s Day, you will marry a cheapskate who will not spend money on you?

Did you know that if you find a glove on the sidewalk on Valentine’s Day, your future beloved will have the other missing glove?



Jonathan Casey Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) – For your birthday the Oscar Myer Weinermobile will give you an unlimited amount of ketchup. Hot dogs sold separately.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) – You should make a complete 360 degree change in your life. If that confuses you, then pay attention in math.

Aries (Mar. 21-April 19) – Forget about “Keep calm and carry on.” Be frantic and study for that test.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) – You know that toy you sold for three bucks at a garage sale? That was worth 500 dollars.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) – At the beach you will find a magic seashell that will give you exactly zero wishes, plus two hot-pockets.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) – Burger King and Diary Queen will get married.

Be present for their ceremony.

Jalen Forward

N S W R N G W K S J T F N D D

W O O R M J Y D V A C M M D M

Q A I C E Y L H V N V N H M R

EQUALITY FAMILY GOALS JANUARY

Y K W T C S W T B U P N N B F

L B S R A E T N M A Y G N G A

I P L A T N R L G R M A Y W E

M T T E T B A O I Y G C M N Q

A N U Y V H A T U N M G U J U

F C I W A L G V S T G R O F A

U S N E S H S N B A B B W H L

NEW SEMESTER NEW YEAR PROCRASTANATION

Q A R N I O L G G H R L Z R I

G V P M U M Y L O I V C R E T

N Z L C Q M R Z X I P I O F Y

SOCCER WRESTLING

I U T L J H Q L A J R N B R L

Y Q N N E W S E M E S T E R P

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) – Follow Nike’s advice: “Just Do It.” Unless it’s jumping off a bridge. Then don’t do it.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) – Find yourself. Looking at grass growing and paint drying will help.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) – An albino porcupine will come to your neighborhood and give a lecture on magnets.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) – In a foreign country, Jamaican goldfish will dub you king of puns. Don’t trust them though, they seem a little fishy.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) – You will be bitten by a genetically enhanced super-pig. He will give you the power to raise your body temperature to 101 degrees indefinitely.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) – Real rainbows DO taste like Skittles, as you will soon discover.