The Hornet Herald

Fall 2013

Volume 1, Issue 1

Inside this issue:

News Around the Halls 1

News Around the Halls at East Prairie By: Cameron Ochs and Cade Kresin The 2013-2014 year at East Prairie Middle School the students are learning in new ways. The students will be starting a new system called Activity Period.

“Activity Period is a time to set aside every Tuesday and Thursday for students to meet with staff members to work on skills, reinforcement, and/or enrichment.” said Mrs. Carol Munson. “Activity Period is a school-wide program that was instituted for federal mandate by a Response to Intervention (RTI) program.”

The students are benefited by Activity Period because it provides extra-curricular support and skill practice for students. Mrs. Munson thinks Activity Period has gone very well.

The 8th grade students in Ms. Blessman’s Activity Period painted a sign that says “Activity Period”. It is hanging in the hall by the locker pit. The 8th grade students in Mrs. Wigall’s Activity Period work on homework they have had earlier in the day. In our 7th grade Activity Period in Mrs. Steffens’s classroom, we

are bringing back the “Hornet Herald”. The “Hornet Herald” is our school’s newspaper.

As students, we think Activity Period has gone very well! We hope that we can have Activity Period throughout our years in East Prairie Middle School. It’s a good thing Mrs. Munson said we will have Activity Period for a long time!

Common Core

2

East Prairie Sports

2

Weather

3

Pumpkin Growing Contest

3

Homecoming 2013

4

Meat vs. Meet

5

Gotcha!

6

Photo by: McKinlee Miller and Grace Dietrich

The Hornet Herald

Page 2

Common Core By: Halie Pfeiffer and Gabby Gunther

“The Common Core is a higher, clearer, and deeper set of learning standards for English, Language Arts, and Math. “

East Prairie Girl’s Basketball t-shirts 2013

Have you heard your child say anything about the common core? If you have and know nothing about it we are here to give you more information on it.

In this article you will learn the standards, what teachers have to teach in regards to the common core, and some other information.

each year and graduate from school prepared to succeed and build a strong future for themselves and the country. The Common Core State Standards are designed to be relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in both college and work.

Common Core Standards:

Using the Common Core in Illinois:

The Common Core is a higher, clearer, and deeper set of learning standards for English, Language Arts, and Math. The new standards have been a state -lead initiative. States are volunteering to raise the bar for students. Current Illinois standards will remain in effect until new Common Core subjects are added. The Common Core State Standards will provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so that teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. With students, parents, and teachers all on the same page and working together for shared goals, we can ensure that students make progress

Learning standards have not been updated in Illinois since 1997 and the world has changed a lot since then. These new standards will ensure that students are better prepared for college and the work force by enforcing more complex content.

It has more problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. The standards will begin to be introduced to all Illinois classrooms by fall 2012.

All districts are required to fully implement the standards by fall 2013. You might be wondering if Illinois is the only state using the common core. There are 46 states have voluntarily adopted the common core and all public

schools within those states will be using these standards. This consistency means we will be able to accurately compare how our students are doing with those in other states and that students in Illinois will be ready no matter where they end up going to college. are better prepared for college and the work force by enforcing more complex content. It has m o re p r o b le m s o l vi n g , collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. The standards will begin to be introduced to all Illinois classrooms by fall 2012.

All districts are required to fully implement the standards by fall 2013. You might be wondering if Illinois is the only state using the common core. There are 46 states have voluntarily adopted the common core and all public schools within those states will be using these standards. This consistency means we will be able to accurately compare how our students are doing with those in other states and that students in Illinois will be ready no matter where they end up going to college.

East P rairie Sports B y: Will Little and Paul Nau The sports that are offered in the 2013 season are track, basketball, and volleyball. The only sport that is being played right now is girls’ basketball.

Girls’ basketball is looking good this year, and the turnout of players was high.

The track and field season of 2013 starts in the Spring and goes to the end of the year. It is offered for boys and girls. Who can participate in field sports

such as discus, shot-put, high jump, long jump, and all the running events. The first meet for boys track will be on March 26 for girls as well.

The basketball season for 2013 starts in the Fall and ends in December. It is offered for both boys and girls. The girls’ basketball season has already started with their first win over Villa Grove 33-12. They are coached by Mr. Brewer. The

boys’ basketball season has not started yet. Their first game is November 5th. Tryouts will be October 21st for the boys’ season. They are coached by Justin Bozarth.

All in all, the teams and the sports for the 2013-2014 season is looking really good. There are new coaches, new players, and new victories. This is going to be a good year. GO HORNETS!!!

Page 3

Volume 1, Issue 1

School Weather in Tuscola By: Turner Hastings and Robert Steepleton During the beginning of the school year it has been hot. It has been especially hot at East Prairie and the High School.

Since Northward has AC they might not be as hot. The months of August and September have had record breaking temperatures. This year school has been getting out early due to the heat.

The hottest day in August, when school started, was 104 degrees F. The old record was set in 1988. This record was broken in August 21, 2013. This year we

have gotten out 4 times, because of heat. The first three were in August the last one was in

September. After these days we believe we will get out again during this winter this year.

Now, the winter is predicted to be the opposite. The weather will be harsh, cold, and snowy, which is most likely to get us out another day. The Farmer’s Almanac predicts the weather will be mild for the 2013 October. It also predicts the 2013 November will be very cold and snowy towards the end. If our predictions are true we will have a very snowy and cold winter.

Photo by: McKinlee Miller and Grace Dietrich

Illustrated by: Emmalee Phillips and Bryce Hutson

Page 4

Homecoming B y: Gra ce Dietrich, McKinlee M iller a nd As hton Smith

“This year’s homecoming consisted of many fun activities.”

This year’s homecoming consisted of many fun activities. It consisted of volleyball, football for the boys and girls, a parade and the week ending Coronation.

Freshman-Sophomore game was tied 12-12. The Jr.-Sr. game was very close. The Juniors pulled through a win at the last second making the score 6-0.

First off was the Volleyball game.

The Volleyball girls played Chrisman. They won the 1st match, lost the 2 nd match, and then they came back and won the final match. The Volleyball team did really well. Good job ladies!

The Friday Night Football game was against the Clinton Maroons. The intense game was full of exciting action and wonderful music by the band.

Also, some alumni were announced for their football achievements. The game ended with a win of 41-7. Great job boys!

Wednesday kept the week going with the Powder Puff Football games. The Freshman played the Sophomores, and the Juniors played the Seniors. The exciting

Homecoming Royalty Chandler Kerns and Olivia Christy

Lastly, the week ended with the Homecoming coronation and dance. First, student council named all the varsity players.

Afterwards, they announced all the attendants. The freshman attendants were Will Bosh and Ashley Mattingly. The sophomore attendants were Maddie Meinhold and James Ross. Junior attendants were Maria Myer and Cole Evans. Finally, your 2013 homecoming King and Queen were… Chandler Kerns and Olivia Christy.

To conclude, Homecoming 2013 was filled with many fun activities. These include Volleyball, Football, and the Coronation.

A thanks goes out to everyone who m a de th is ye a r ’s Homecoming a success. It was a great Homecoming week for everyone!

Page 5

Volume 1, Issue 1

Illustrated by: Emmalee Phillips and Bryce Huston

Gotcha!

By: Emily Kemp and Sabrina Alcorn Gotcha! Have you ever dyed your hair white? I dare you to……

We’ve interviewed a few teachers and found out some real good “Gotcha”, answers.

Keep reading to find out who has the silliest worst fear, or the most embarrassing moment!

When asked if they would die their hair purple and asked to explain Mr. O said, “No-Enough said”, and Mr. Romine said only way he would do it would be for lots of money. Mr. Romine has the same birthday as his mother’s dog, and Mr. O shares a birthday with Tina Fey from SNL. We asked them to explain their most embarrassing moment, Mr. O said,” Too many for one to stand out “, and Mr. Romine said he accidentally went into the woman’s bathroom at Ryan’s messes or a lot of clutter, it also really bothers me when people are mean to others for no reason,” Mrs. Pollock said. If we were you we would clean out our desks and lockers RIGHT AWAY! Mrs. Pollock became a teacher because she wanted a job that would be different every day. Now you know a little bit more about Mrs. Pollock.

Steak House and he didn’t know!

The only way he found out was because the lady in the next stall had coughed. When it is your birthday you like to get present, and teachers do too. To give you an idea of what to get Mr. Romine we asked him what some of his favorites were. He likes the color red, anything steak, Eye of the Tiger, and Forest Gump.

Did you know that Mr. O likes to give little homework (yay) but Mr. Romine likes to give pop quizzes (watch out). If Mr. O could have any other job in the world he would be a grounds keeper. Everyone has a crush, and Mr. O’s crushes are Raquel Welch and Farrah Fawcett. Mr. Romine has a crush on his wife Gina Romine. Mr. Romine’s pet peeves are people who just sniff

Volume 1, Issue 1 their nose over and over again.

He wants you to just go blow it.

Mrs. Pollock is our newest teacher. She started not too long ago. We interviewed her, so you get to know her better. Mrs. Pollock grew up in Crescent City, Illinois; it is a town of about 600 people. That is double our school.

Did you know Mrs. Pollock can speak Spanish? It isn’t very good, but hey! She still can! Mrs. Pollock was dating a guy whose hometown was Tuscola which is how she heard of it. “When we got engaged, I moved to Tuscola.

We are now married happily and living on Center Street”. You might want to know her pet peeves, to get on her good side.

“It drives me crazy when people are unorganized! I can’t stand

Volume 1, Issue 1 Fogerson said that if she Volu Maybe next time you will be the won the lottery she would one to ask or answer some faint then she would remain questions. Use this information teaching. “I love my job and I wisely we hope it will last. Until wouldn’t quit it for all the next time GOOD LUCK! money in the world”. Did you know that Mrs. Morgan hates snakes? When asked to describe their most embarrassing moment Mrs. Pollock said, her senior year of High school her volleyball team went to state. When running out of the locker rooms for warmups she tripped and fell in front of the entire crowd. A few of the people behind her fell on top of her so at least she wasn’t the only one. Mrs. Morgan said, in a Cubs game she was sitting at the top but when she started to go down the stairs she tripped and landed on the bottom.

Did you know Mrs. Morgan has had purple hair before? It was only a streak, but it was for a good cause. Mrs. Fogerson said, “I suppose. We don’t think Mrs. Pollock has a good excuse for hers, though. She said, “No way!

My husband and family would give me a hard time if I had purple hair.

I also don’t think I would like being stared at whatever I went. Mrs. Morgan has the same birthday as Michael Irvin from the Dallas Cowboys. Mrs. Pollock has the same birthday as Nick Carter from Now you know a little bit more the Backstreet Boys. Mrs. about some of the teachers.

Which teachers have had purple hair?