What is “Prom?”
By Cassie Wren
May 24. 2023
Prom, a seasonal dance that comes around towards the end of the highschool career, breathing life into the overall death that is the tail-end of highschool and school in general. Prom is seen in all kinds of media, from animated shows (The Owl House’s ‘grom’), to books, (The tail end of ‘Twilight,’ by Stephanie Meyer) to plays, (The play named, ‘Prom’ by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin) and that is because every kid in America hears of it.
What is Prom?
Prom is an experience that most high school students see. It is so ingrained into our society, that not going is ‘weird.’ America is one of the leading producers of movies (As cited by several sources, including ‘The Numbers’ among other sites.) and one of the binds of the ‘American experience’ (Referring to the ideals and life an ‘American’ lives by) that is shown in teen, young, or romance movies. Prom is in essence an American tradition, but why?
Why do we have a prom?
Prom is based on the ‘debutante balls.’ These balls were made to have young suitors find their wives and court them. Debutante balls eventually ended around the time of the first world war, but they were taken from London (Their original home), to the USA when the pilgrims migrated to the ‘new world’. Prom is an adaptation of debutante balls from centuries of them existing independent of the origin country, the United Kingdom.
In summary, prom and debutante balls exist because of courting, courting created prom. Prom is a spring phenomenon that all Americans know about, and countries that consume American media know of too. Thank you debutante balls, for this high school dance that people hate, love, and most importantly, remember.
Harry Belafonte : Entertainer and Activist
By Andrew Russell
May 24, 2023
On April 25, 2023 in New York City Harry Belafonte died at the age of 96. Harry was known for being an American singer, part of the Civil Rights movement, and an actor. He was born on March 1, 1927 in Harlem, New York City. He brought a new style of music to America which was called Calypso music, a style of Caribbean music. He not only brought a new type of music to America, but he also protested for the civil rights of African Americans.
Belefonte was born in Harlem, New York, where his mother was a house cleaner and his father was a cook on a merchant ship. When he lived with his parents they lived in poverty.When he ran away as a kid he went to live in Jamaica where he spent most of his childhood.. During his time in Jamaica he watched how English authorities treated black people which affected his view. When Harry Belafonte went back to live with his mother in New York, he relied on others when his mother worked long hours. He later told People magazine, “The most difficult time of my life was when I was a kid.”
When he started his music career he befriended Martin Luther King Jr. Bellefonte was a massive supporter of the civil rights movement and became a lifelong friend of Martin Luther King. He also took the role of bailing activists out of jail and marching even though he thought it wasn’t ideal, and he participated in the March in Washington D.C. He was also one of the major funders to the Martin Luther King Organization.
The Rise of Kyoshi
By Kaylee Higgins
May 24, 2023
The Rise of Kyoshi is a young adult fiction, adventure fiction, and fantasy fiction story. This story was written by F. C. Yee and Micheal Dante DiMartino.
Avatar Kyoshi is the Earth Avatar before Aang in the popular TV show Avatar: the Last Airbender. F. C. Yee wrote all of the Avatar: the Last Airbender novels. He also wrote the Genie Lo books.
Micheal Dante DiMartino is one of the creators of Avatar: the Last Airbender. He worked alongside Brian Konietzko to make the show. He has also helped illustrate the Avatar graphic novels.
This story revolves around young Avatar Kyoshi. It tells about her being adopted by Kelsang, who is an airbender monk. The story then explains about the avatar tests for the Earth Kingdom and Air Nomads. Then we cut to the present time. In the present everyone thinks that Kyoshi’s friend Yun is the Avatar. It then shows that Kyoshi, her friend Rangi, and Yun are a friend group. It also tells that they are all friends because of Rangi’s mom, Kelsang, and Jianzhu.
Then they go to the South Pole to talk to Tagaka about not being so violent and ask her to stop attacking the southern water tribe. She then attacks the crew. Because Tagaka does this, Kyoshi was seen to earthbend earth from the ocean floor, which is a move that only very strong earthbenders can do, and this hints to the fact that she is the avatar. Jianzhu takes Yun and Kyoshi to see a spirit named father glowworm.
After an incident happens Kyoshi and Rangi run away to find The Flying Opera Company. The Flying Opera Company is a group of thieves that Kyoshi’s parents were in. They started the earthbending technique called dust-stepping. The group consists of Lao Ge, an earthbender who is old and wise. He is also suspected to be immortal and knows the secret to that; Kirima a waterbender who instead of dust-stepping she has to mist step. She is a strong waterbender when it comes to fighting, but not that good at healing. She taught Kyoshi how to bounce locks to open it; Lek is a sandbender who was shunned from his village. As a child he was adopted by Kyoshi’s mom, Jesa. Sandbending is a sub-type of earthbending. Since he was adopted by Jesa, who was a rogue airbender, he knows how to take care of flying bison. Jesa taught Lek how to care for her flying bison Pengpeng; Wong is an earthbending outlaw who was previously part of the Autumn Bloom Society. He was the main teacher for dust-stepping.
Soon after, they go to the town that all the Daofei (outlaws/gangs) are in. During this they must go see the leader of the Daofei. The leader is brutal. Rangi gets in a battle with another Autumn Bloom Society member and fights almost to death. Meanwhile, Kyoshi and the rest of the Flying Opera Company are having a meeting about the siege they will have on a government official’s house. The leader has them join this siege to capture the official.
Then, they infiltrate the estate. The official tells a story then Lao Ge decides not to kill the official.
After this Kyoshi talks with Lao Ge about him being probably immortal. Lao Ge tells Kyoshi the secret to immortality. Kyoshi also talked to Rangi about the fight she had while she was talking with the rest of the company to the leader. After this, Kyoshi worked on her bending with Kirima, Wong, Lao Ge, and Lek.
Towards the end The Flying Opera Company got into a fight with the Autumn Bloom Society. The battle harmed Lek to the point where Kirima had to try to heal him. She succeeded a little bit but it ended up failing even though they still got him to a medical professional and hospital.
More books like this would be The Shadow of Kyoshi, which is the sequel to this story and gives more detail on Kyoshi’s life after this story. The Dawn of Yangchen is the story about the Avatar before Kyoshi’s predecessor Kuruk. Yangchen’s early life is told in this book. She is the air Avatar before Kyoshi and Aang.
The Summer I Turned Pretty: Season 2 Announced
By Addison Porter and Lily Manzi
May 24, 2023
The producers of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” recently announced the next season’s release date. The show is based on a book series written by Jenny Han, which includes; The Summer I Turned Pretty, It’s Not Summer Without You, and We’ll Always Have Summer. The books follow the story of the main character Isabell “Belly” Conklin. Throughout the books, Belly visits her family friend’s beach house every summer, staying up late, breaking the rules, and most importantly, starting new relationships. Her mother’s best friend has two sons who never gave Belly much attention until she was 16. Drama involving Belly’s friends, Her mother’s best friend having cancer and her parents’ relationship all share a major part in this series. But the question still remains, what will happen next?
The show is very popular. Although it adds some information that is not in the original books it still follows what Jenny Han has written. The first season was released on June 17, 2022. The film’s cast includes Lola Tung as Belly, Christopher Briney as Conrad, Gavin Casalengo as Jeremiah, Sean Kaufman as Steven and Rain Spencer as Taylor. New and returning characters will be in the new season of the show.
The filming for the second season started on July 25, 2022 and wrapped up in November and will be released on July 17, 2023 on Prime Video.
What is “Real” Art?
By Cassie Wren
May 5, 2025
Digital art and traditional art may come out with the same product, beautiful art, but they are both very different. Digital art is heavily debated, to this day, as to figure out what is and isn’t art. While art is suggestive and subjective, it can and will have several differences.
Digital art is art drawn (or painted, whichever term is preferred by the artist) on a digital platform. Apple has clip studio paint, while Microsoft has Krita, Adobe Photoshop, and other platforms. Digital art can take longer or shorter than traditional art, but it all depends on the process.
Traditional art is defined as using a medium in person, and the art is tangible without any form of printing. Some mediums of traditional art include graphite, pen, coloured pencil, markers (Alcohol and water based), paint, oil pastels (or paint), and crayons. There are so many different things artists can use to make traditional art, which is one of the reasons as to why people argue traditional art is the only ‘real’ kind of art.
One argument used against digital art is brushes. On the average digital art platform, there is something called a brush. A brush is what the artist uses to draw with, and there are brush presets for common mediums (i.e. graphite, pen, markers, kneaded erasers). Another kind of brush preset is the more ‘unconventional’ kind. These brushes are chains, blades of grass, and more recently, African style hair, among others.
These brushes are incredibly versatile and incredibly useful. Chains, grass, and certain hair styles are tedious, but these brushes are easy to use, and simple to make and find online. Certain artists and art critics think that these brushes are essentially a cheat code, making digital art easier, and therefore not real art. While at first this may seem reasonable, this argument falls flat since there are art ‘cheats’ (though more famously called art ‘hacks’) which follow the same principle and make beautiful art easier.
No matter what art is made, whether one sings, or builds, or draws, it is still art. Art is fluid, and anyone can make it.
Autism Awareness
By Cassie Wren
April 5. 2023
Autism is a disorder that affects several people in our natural world. Autism, according to NIMH, also known as the National Institute of Mental Health, says that autism is, “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life.” Though, there are several different kinds of autism. April 2nd of this year was international autism awareness day. America celebrates the awareness of autism, or ASD, because so many, about 1 in 100 people have autism.
The PSSAs are Coming!
By Carmen McAdoo
April 5, 2023
Over the years, most students at IJHS have taken at least one PSSA. The PSSAs are a part of our experience as students, and while many students don’t particularly like taking the tests, the tests serve many purposes. The results of the PSSA tests provide students, parents, and educators with understanding of a student’s performance, and the attainment of the academic standards in different subject areas like ELA, Math and Science.
Students generally don’t have to study for the PSSAs like they do with a normal test; however, students can review information already learned throughout the school year and review in your classes. PSSAs are scored based on a “basic,” “proficient” and “advanced” system.
This year’s PSSA testing begins on Tuesday, April 25, with three days of ELA tests, followed by Math testing on May 2-3. Eighth graders also take the Science PSSA, which will be conducted on May 4-5.
Springtime in Washington, D.C.
By Liliana Manzi
Springtime brings many different kinds of beautiful flowering plants. One of the more commonly known ones are Cherry Blossoms. Cherry Blossoms can be found all over the world, especially in Washington D.C. In 1912 the mayor of Tokyo gifted Washington D.C. 3000 cherry trees. There are many varieties of Cherry Blossoms but the two most common ones are Yoshino and Kwanzan.
There are festivals all Spring long to celebrate these beautiful plants. People travel from all over the country to come and view these unique trees. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is hosted in D.C. and lasts from March 20, 2023 to April 16, 2023. There are many fun events that go on during this time, such as the Blossom Kite Festival, the National Cherry Blossom Festival parade, and the Pedalpalooza. There are also many tours of these Cherry Blossoms. The Festival kicks off with a Pink Tie party on March 16th to help raise money for the festival. The festival will wrap up on April 16th with a Japanese Street performance.
There are so many different places you can go to see the Cherry Blossoms. The most popular ones are the Tidal Basin at the National Mall, the Arlington National Cemetery, the US National Arboretum, and Stanton Park on Capitol Hill. The National Arboretum has many different types of interesting plants to see. There are Cherry Blossoms as well as different types of trees, flowers, and a wonderful Bonsai garden. The Bonsai garden has a Bonsai tree that has been alive for 390 years. This tree also survived the atomic bomb attacks in Hiroshima.
There are many different and wonderful things to visit in our nation’s capital but the Cherry Blossoms should definitely be on your list if you ever visit.
You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown
By Kaylee Higging
March 10, 2023
The Junior High Musical “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” was performed the weekend of March 3rd. There were three performances over the weekend featuring Junior High Students in 6th through 8th grades. The Musical shows what an average day looks like for Charlie Brown.
The Friday cast included Griffin Poole-Smith (For all Nights) as Charlie Brown; Kami Dugan as Snoopy; Sydney Adamsky as Sally; Freddie Knepper as Schroeder; Stryker Sparks as Linus; Natalie Collinger as Lucy.
Saturday’s Cast included Kate Mckelvy as Snoopy; Tegan Baunoch as Sally; Freddie Knepper as Schroeder; Ian Knepper as Linus; and Julia Weber as Lucy.
Sunday’s Cast had Kami Dugan as Snoopy; Sydney Adamsky as Sall; Stryker Sparks as Schroeder; Ian Knepper as Linus; and Julia Weber as Lucy.
Mrs. Kessel served as the director and the Choreographer was Ms. Kukula, while Dr. Rummel was in charge of the pit orchestra.
Crew included Leannah Hill as stage manager; Justin John and Ean Frame as assistant stage managers; Alaina Warfel, Emily Matty, Aubrey Heidenthal, and Kara Wolfe in props crew; Adalene Appleby, Kenzie Byers, and Victoria Catanzaro for costume crew; Aaron Herr and Kaylee Higgins for spotlights, and Isidora Poole-Smith as the runner.
All in all we worked very hard for this and appreciate everyone who came to see the show.
Sixth Graders Weigh In: Elementary or JH?
By Samantha Aljoe and Aubrey Hunger
March 10, 2023
Many 6th graders think that 5th and 6th grade are very different, but others think they are mostly the same. Some kids like 5th grade more because they have play time or more fun and then some kids like 6th grade more because they have more freedom or they get more opportunities to do things. So we did an interview to determine what 6th graders like more. Most of the students surveyed said that they preferred 6th grade but some of them said 5th grade.
Grayson Jordan responded that “the Junior high is different because it’s in a different building, while Addison Phillips said “The Junior high is different because there are more classes and more work.”
Kamarah Dunn said “Fifth grade is different from 6th grade because in 5th you have 2 teachers and in 6th you have 9 teachers.”
Addley Schwal said, “6th grade is a little harder stuff and doesn’t make as much sense.”
Maddox Sevajian said, “6th grade is a lot more fun than 5th.”
Lena Magolis said “Junior high is different because it’s easier and you can walk freely and you don’t have to walk in a line.”
Lydia Aljoe said, “5th grade is different from 6th grade because it is a lot harder and teachers make you do your school work yourself.”
Alaina Warfell said “The Junior high is different because it’s bigger and it’s harder to get from class to class.”
Elle Griffith said that she likes 6th grade more than elementary school because you have more opportunities to do stuff.
Dane Naylor said, “5th grade is different from 6th grade because in 5th grade I left the room a lot and screamed at my friends and now in 6th grade I’m not doing that stuff as much.”
In conclusion, the majority of the 6th graders interviewed said that sixth grade was a lot harder but the freedom is nice, and they liked 6th grade better.
IJHS Musical Tastes
By Cassie Wren
March 10, 2023
Music, as a whole art, is one of the most important things in our culture. That is why I compiled a survey on musicians and popular genres. The most popular musician was Taylor Swift, though there were many other artists mentioned as well. In terms of music genres, two styles, country and rap music, were so close that they warranted sharing the title.
Of the 167 students who completed the survey, the most popular musicians were pop singers and some rap musicians, with the top three being Taylor Swift at 15%, Eminem at 10.8%, and Twenty One Pilots, at 5.4% of the vote. Some of the most interesting patterns were U2 being put in four times, and a number of ‘I don’t know.’
The majority of the votes for genres of music went to rap, country, then rock. Rap had 20.4% of the vote, and country had 18.6% of the vote, and rock had 12%. Looking through several of the survey’s responses, for many students their favorite artist was not necessarily from their favorite genre.
The Inspiring Story of Red Dog
By Andrew Russell
March 10, 2023
In 1971 Red Dog was born, which would lead to him showing the world his journey and what made him so memorable. Red Dog became good friends with many members of his hometown Damper, where. His story not only showed how life can go many ways but it also shows us it’s not about the journey it’s about the friends you make on the way.
His story started in Paraburdoo, Western Australia. His first owner died and was given to John Stazzonelli, who was a bus driver with Hamersley Iron. John brought Red Dog on the bus with him while he worked, this might have been the lead of Red Dog traveling around the continent. When John died in 1975, Red Dog traveled over Western Australia’s boundless Pilbara region. He also was taken to many places across Australia by the Dampier community members. Also Red dog loved his veterinarian, Rick Fenny and shared a special bond with him.
When Red Dog died on November 21st 1979 of strychnine poisoning. Strychnine poisoning causes agitation, stiff gait, tremors, and seizures, leading to respiratory arrest and death. Red dog was then buried next to Rick Fenny in an unmarked grave in Roebourne, Western Australia. In March of 1980, a statue was placed next to the entrance of Dampier, Western Australia for the memorial for Red Dog.
The journey of Red Dog inspires many to have fun on their journey and make friends along the way. Red Dog is now a beloved dog in the history of Australia, but here for a reminder about how you should always be friendly towards others and it will pay off.
Rhianna Rocks Super Bowl Half Time Show
By Carmen McAdoo and Lyla Russell
March 10, 2023
Roughly 103.4 million people screamed and cheered for Rihanna as she sang some of her most topped and popular songs at this year’s Super Bowl LXXVI halftime show. The Super Bowl halftime show cost around 10 million dollars this year.
Most of the years in the Super Bowl there are always two or three people that perform but Rihanna said she wanted to represent black women and immigrants. When Rihanna was asked to perform she stated that “It was one of those things that even when I announced it,I was like, ‘OK, I can’t take it back. Now, it’s like… final.”
Rihanna also drew attention by performing while pregnant. While she didn’t announce that she was pregnant before the performance, her outfit revealed her baby bump. A few days after the Super Bowl Rihanna made the announcement of her pregnancy.
Some of the songs that Rihanna played at the Super Bowl consisted of “Only Girl (In The World)”, “We Found Love”, “Rude Boy”, and many more. Umbrella was one of the most liked songs amongst fans.
When it comes to opinions on the performance there were mixed feelings about it. Many people thought it was a good performance but some people complained that it was inappropriate and not a good influence on younger audience members.
Grammy Awards Celebrate Music’s Best
By Andrew Russell
Originally called the Gramophone awards, The Grammys are one of four major awards in the entertainment industry. The major awards include The Tonys, The Emmys, The Oscars, and The Grammys. There are many categories of the Grammys including Album of the year, Song of the year, Record of the year, Music video of the year, and much more. This year’s Grammys were held on February 5, in Crypto.com Area.
Some Nominations of the Grammys were Harry Styles, Lizzo, Steve Lancy, and many others. The person with the most nominations in total is Jay-Z with 88 nominations throughout his career. The person with the most awards won is Beyoncé with 32 grammys. In second place is Georg Solti with 31, and in third place is Quincy Jones with 28 grammys.
The Grammys started in 1958 by NARAS in Los Angeles. Only 28 grammys were handed out, now over 86 to 91 grammys are handed out a year. The grammys were made to honor the most talented composers, songwriters, and musicians because of the renewed interest in music in the 1950s.
In conclusion, the Grammys happens once per year and is a site to see. They are one of the most watched ceremonies on tv. This year over 75 Grammys are given out, but back when it first started it only 41 were handed out. The Grammys started out small and it slowly became one of the top ceremonies in the music industry, it shows us a small thing can snowball into something important to all.
“Wednesday” Season Two On Its Way
By Lauren Watkins
February 13, 2023
The announcement is out! The new TV series Wednesday is officially coming back for season two. Just a month and a half after the show aired on Netflix, its popularity is rising due to its highly popular cast and great plot. The plot of season one is about teenage freak, Wednesday Addams, going to a new high school called Nevermore Academy. When she arrives, she is immediately faced with many difficulties and challenges.
The announcement dropped on Friday January 6th, just 43 days after the show’s official release on Netflix. The show has gained much popularity surpassing Netflix’s most popular series Stranger Things, in just a week with 341.23 million hours of views. It hit 1 billion hours of views in the first 19 days after the release. There was some controversy over whether the show would come back for a season two because of conflicts with MGM television and Netflix, but the show is officially coming back to Netflix for its second season.
There is no official date for when season two will be released. Most likely it should air around early 2024. Netflix has already started hiring writers and has had scouts looking for places to shoot season two. Knowing the success of season one, Netflix is going to work very hard to get Wednesday’s season two out ASAP.
The cast is also not official yet but taking into account that most of the actors did well on season one, the cast should be pretty much the same. The star of the show, Jenna Ortega, should be returning as Wednesday in season two, given the amount of popularity she gained and how well she portrayed Wednesday. The cast of Wednesday was very well put together and director, Tim Burton, seems to be pleased with the cast and will be very disappointed if there are any major changes. In season two we might see new characters which will require new cast members.
With that being said, Wednesday is coming back for season two, and it should be very exciting to see the series come together over the next year.
New Year’s Resolutions
Liliana Manzi
January 20, 2023
New Year’s Resolutions are goals or promises you make for yourself in the new year. The top three most common resolutions are to lose weight, eat healthy, and exercise more. The top resolution for 2022 is to live healthier with 23% of Americans wanting to do this. 38.5% of US adults set New Year’s Resolutions with only 9-12% of people keeping their resolutions.
New Year’s Resolutions started with the Babylonians who made promises to the gods hoping they’d earn good favor in the new year. Common resolutions for Babylonians were to get out of debt and return borrowed farm equipment to medieval knights.
There is a tradition in Spain where people eat 12 green grapes for each of the midnight bell strikes. Each grape represents each of the 12 months of the year. If you make the goal of eating 12 grapes you can make a wish for the new year. They eat the grapes in hope of having good luck for the year.
Many people watch the New Year’s ball drop at midnight. The ball has been around since 1907, but celebrating in Times Square has been popular since 1904. The ball did not drop in 1947 and 1948 due to wartime blackouts. The ball is 12 feet in diameter and weighs around 11,875 pounds. The ball is covered in 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles. Artkraft Strauss designed the Times Square ball.
What are your New Year’s Resolutions?
Actor Jeremy Renner’s Snowplow Accident
By Kaylee Higgins
January 20, 2023
Actor Jeremy Renner, better known as Hawkeye in the MCU(Marvel Cinematic Universe) suffered a terrible snow plow accident. On New Year’s day, Jeremy Renner was plowing his driveway, in Nevada, when he was hit with a seven ton snow plow. Jeremy Renner was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) because of this.
Renner was in pretty bad shape, suffering from blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries. According to the accident report, Renner had trouble breathing, bled heavily in his head and had some other unknown injuries. The caller to the 911 dispatch said that the right part of his chest collapsed and his upper torso was crushed. On January 2, Jeremy went into surgery. As of this writing, it appears that he is going to have to have his leg amputated.
After his first surgery, Renner posted a picture of himself from what appeared to be an ICU bed. He sent this picture on his Instagram with the caption, “I’m too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all.” He also posted a video in which he joked, “ICU spa moments to lift my spirits.”
All in all Renner is on his way to recovery.
Country Music Star Spotlight: Morgan Wallen
Emma Palmer and Gracie Reed
January 20, 2023
Morgan Wallen is a very popular country music artist. Some of his most popular songs include, “Chasin’ You”, “Wasted on you”, “Sand in my boots”, and ” This Bar.” Morgan Wallen’s career has been going through the roof recently. He has sold over 5,533,000 million albums.
Wallen started his singing career in 2016. He is 29 years old and is from Sneedville Tennessee. When he was younger, he took piano and violin lessons and now he plays the piano, guitar, violin, and sings. When he was 3 years old he sang in his fathers church. By the time he was 18, he started writing songs.
Wallen sings country music, so if you like country music and haven’t heard Morgan Wallen’s music, you should check it out! Most people really enjoy his work. In 2015 he competed on the 6th season of The Voice and was moved from Usher’s team but then put on Adam Levine’s team. Later he was eliminated in the playoffs that season and signed to Panacea Records releasing his debut EP, Stand Alone in 2015. After this, his music started to become popular and he became a hit.
Morgan Wallen is currently on tour and is scheduled to play on March 15,2023 and March 19,2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. The lowest price for tickets is $275.00, the average price is $365.00, and ticket prices are as high as $11169.00 a ticket. While some people think that these prices are crazy and not worth it, others would like to disagree. In 2022, he sold 839,704 tickets. Wallen’s June 3rd in 2022 show at Chula Vista’s North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre sold out of tickets.
Overall, Wallen started his music career from a young age. He went from singing in his fathers church to performing in a sold-out show. People will pay crazy money to get even a glimpse of his music. Many people enjoy the music he produces and so could you!
6th Grade or 7th Grade? 7th Grade Students Weigh In!
By:Samantha Aljoe and Aubrey Hunger
January 20, 2023
Switching from grade to grade can be a little bit difficult, but it is different for everyone. So we asked some seventh grade students to voice their opinion on being in 6th grade versus 7th grade.
Kaylee Walker (7) – said, “7th, because I actually understand stuff better than last year.”
Berlynn Fulton (7) – said, “7th, because I like the teachers more.”
Alana Juart (7) – said, “7th, because the teachers are better”
Brinley Walker (7) – said, “I like 7th more because it is easier.”
Peyton Sheinwald-Erker (7) – said, “ 6th, because 7th grade is harder.”
Smantha Martian (7) – said, “I like 7th grade more, because I feel like we get a lot more freedom and it’s fun.”
Sadee Bowditch (7) – said, “7th, I feel like teachers are more laid back.”
Rebekah Tew (7) – said, “7th, because I understand the stuff that there teaching better in 7th than I did in 6th”
Ava Roser (7) – said, “7th, because I feel like we get more freedom and there’s better teachers.”
In conclusion, most of the students like 7th grade better. Only a couple of the students said they liked 6th grade more. The overall opinion is that the most liked is 7th and the common reason is because of the teachers.
Golden Globes 2023 Results
By Ruby Westrick
January 20, 2023
What are the Golden Globe awards? The Golden Globe awards are awards given to a specific person. They are given by Hollywood, so the winners are usually actors, actresses, singers, etc. This year, it took place in the Beverly Hilton, where the Golden Globes have always taken place. It was held on January 10, at 8:oo pm.
Now let’s get to the more interesting part: Who were the winners of this year’s Golden Globe ceremony?
There were many categories for awards this year such as: Original song, Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Animated Feature Film, and many others. Some award winners were for “Pinocchio”, an animated movie based on a book winning the “Animated Feature Film” award. Runner ups for “Animated Feature Film” were “Inu-Oh,” “Turning Red,” “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” The song,“Naatu Naatu,” won for Original Song with the runner up songs being “Ciao Papa,” by Alexandre Desplat; “Lift Me Up,” by Rihanna; “Hold My Hand,” by Lady Gaga; and “Carolina,” by Taylor Swift. Angela Bassett, won for Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (in the movie “Wakanda Forever.”)
Not Only a Student, But also a Firefighter
By Stella Empfield
December 20, 2022
Firefighting is considered one of the most dangerous jobs. In spite of that Dane Yachisko, an 8th grader at IJHS recently joined the local Indiana Volunteer Fire Association. To be eligible to join the IFA, a person must be at least 14 years old. When someone joins, they must go through extensive training before being allowed to do anything on calls.
Dane joined on December 1st, 2022. So far, he has completed his first test. The test was to put on all bunker gear in under one minute. If the trainee doesn’t put on his bunker gear in under a minute, he fails the training. The reason for this training is so that when there is a firecall, he can get his gear on fast and make it to the emergency in little time.
Dane has also done training on where all of the tools and equipment are on the fire trucks. Knowing where everything is on the different trucks is very important for when firefighters need a piece of equipment in the middle of an emergency.
Some of Dane’s goals of being a firefighter is to stay a member for a long time, to learn a lot, and to get higher up in the ranks.
In conclusion, Dane is taking on a big job to help our community out greatly.
The Joys of All Seasons
By Addy Porter and Jane Porter
December 20, 2022
Now that it’s getting into the colder months, the days are getting shorter and it’s starting to snow again. As winter officially begins, it is likely to just get colder. This can make people start to daydream about summer and get tired of the snow. The warmer seasons, longer days and vacations slowly make people miss summer. There are multiple pros and cons to these specific seasons. Throughout the year there are many changes that are important to people’s lives.
Summer is a very warm, beautiful, and endless season. To some people summer is the time to hang out with friends and family and forget about school. Many people go on vacation to different places and enjoy their time with people who love and care about them. But to other people summer is when they feel closed in. They might miss school because that’s where they like to spend time with their friends. School can be a safe space for people where they can talk to people and they will listen.
Winter is a very cool, refreshing, bitter time. Snowflakes are falling and making a beautiful view for us to look at. When there is a lot of snow, sometimes we can get a snow day. This is a great time to heat up hot cocoa with marshmallows and sit by the fire watching a movie with your family or friends. For some people they don’t look forward to the winter time. They might not be a fan of the cold or wearing all of the big fuzzy clothes. Other people suffer from the lack of daylight that winter also brings.
Although these months have their differences, it’s good to go through those changes. It can give people a new perspective on nature, try something new, and have time off.
Either way, living in Pennsylvania can allow people to experience more things because of its four-season climate. Pennsylvania offers the opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and sledding in the winter, and then in the summer spending time with friends at the pool, camping and going over a few states to the beach. Although it might be hard to get through winter or summer, one thing is for sure: at some point the weather will change!
Animals are Smarter Than You Think
By Jack Duchesneau
December 20, 2022
Animals are way smarter than you may think! While animals are often portrayed as cute and helpless or dangerous twisted creatures like they are in Hollywood, a majority of animal species are very smart and curious.
Now you might’ve heard about monkeys and apes using sticks to get ants or build small shelters, or even termites building huge structures to thrive in, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You probably haven’t heard of a smart bird after all, they are “bird-brains” but the Magpie begs to differ. Magpies have been spotted and filmed dropping pebbles into open water bottles so the water displacement lets them drink as much of the water as possible. In fact Aesop documented this and wrote a fable called the Crow and the Pitcher.
Moving on to another impressive feat from the insect kingdom we have the bees.
Bees have an insane sense of time and can even get jet lag after crossing time zones! Not only are bees always on time, they also have decent problem solving skills for bugs. There have been recordings of bees unscrewing bottle caps on sugary drinks like orange juice to get to the energy inside!
Now of course some kind of monkeys or apes were going to put in this article; however their achievements are nothing to guffaw at. While much has been made of orangutans spearfishing in Borneo, there’s a specific monkey we want to put in the spotlight right now, the capuchin monkeys.Capuchin monkeys are one of the smartest animals out there, using tools like sharp or blunt rocks to do tasks such as opening shellfish or walnuts on a daily basis, but that’s nothing for them. These smart monkeys use these tools to do beyond the normal monkey things and use them to dig up things or just to make holes or grind up small seeds.
All in all, next time you see an animal remember they are nothing to laugh at and aren’t so different from us– when they use their heads.
The Rise of Jenna Ortega
By Connor Fleming
December 20, 2022
Jenna Ortega started her career at just 12 years old starring as young Jane in Jane The Virgin. From then on she thrived, gaining the big role of Harley Diaz in Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle. When interviewed about her time on the show, she said it was a fun experience for her and she will miss it very much.
Ortega went from PG films at the start of her career to PG 13 & Rated R roles in other movies and shows like The Babysitter Killer Queen. Some of the newer movies and shows she is in are The Fallout and the new series Wednesday. Critics have many different opinions and so do the viewers watching, but in the long run the most popular opinion is it is one of the best shows out right now. Her newest movie is called X. It is rated R and has thousands of reviews. Ratings have tended to be low because it is such a gruesome and gory movie with added horror. This movie was based on a true story, (Ray and Faye Copeland killings). Jenna Ortega, plays the role of Lorraine. Since this is rated R you won’t find information about the movie in this article but there are plenty out there to see if you are interested in watching it.
Jenna Ortega is now 20 years old and her career as an American actress is still going strong. She was born on September 27, 2002 in Coachella Valley, Palm Desert California. Her mother is Natalie Ortega, and she has 5 siblings. Jenna is overall an amazing actress and internet personality with over 28 million subscribers/followers on her social media platforms. She is loved by many all over the world and has a huge heart for her fans.
It’s A Wonderful Life in Indiana
By Gracie Reed and Emma Palmer
Like every year, Indiana PA had its annual “Light Up Night” this year. Light up night is when a bunch of different organizations, businesses, sports teams, and more all walk or ride in a parade to celebrate the start of the Christmas season. The parade is at night and starts at about 7PM. During the parade people hand out hot chocolate and in some places you can even roast marshmallows. One of the most popular places to get hot chocolate is outside of the old courthouse. First CommonWealth Bank hands out hot chocolate to the people passing by. Where do you roast marshmallows? If you want to make a scrumptious marshmallow go to IRMC park. There are fires lit and supplies to roast your perfect marshmallow.
Since there are so many different things to be in the parade for, a lot of people end up being in it rather than watching. Floats of all sorts roll down the street. One of the most popular sites in the parade is the fire truck with Santa Claus riding on top. Not only could you see Santa in the parade, but you could also see the grinch. Even though there may have been more than one grinch, kids still loved waving to him, taking photos with him, and exchanging high-fives and fist-bumps. Some of the different groups handed out candy canes as they walked to children watching, too.
The parade was hard to miss. Lights shone everywhere on Philadelphia Street. Lights were strung up on buildings and led a bright path for the parade. Small Christmas trees with lights on them were on every street post. But the thing that shone the most, was the 30ft Christmas tree at IRMC park. The tree was lit before the parade. Many squeezed in just to get a glance of the first lighting of the tree for the 2022 year. Indiana Junior High Band played just before the lighting and did an amazing job bringing Christmas songs to Indiana. Everyone stood in awe as the lights switched on when the countdown reached one.
Although the parade was a lot of fun, the freezing temperature was not. The temperature read 26 degrees moments before the tree was lit. If you wanted to enjoy the night, you had to withstand the cold. Hand warmers, heated gloves, and vests came to the rescue. But, the people of Indiana PA didn’t let the cold temperatures stop them. They layered up and indured the cold to enjoy the wonderful night First CommonWealth Bank brought to us.
The Importance and Impact of a Simple Hug
By Liam Hunter
December 5, 2022
Some people are huggers and some aren’t. Some are absolutely repulsed by the idea of a hug and others find it very endearing. I am going to talk about the importance of hugs and the physical and internal effects they have on you, and your body.
As you may already know, hugs can reduce anxiety and depression, but did you know that they can make you overall just happier? A hormone is released in your body when you make almost any contact with another person who makes you happy. This hormone is called oxytocin and is commonly called “the love or cuddle hormone.” Even mammals have the hormone oxytocin. So next time you are feeling down, just give your pet a big squeeze because it benefits yourself and them.
Hugs also help prevent sickness. The release of oxytocin helps your immune system. It all goes back to oxytocin. So next time you are greeted with a hug, maybe consider hugging back because it’ll benefit you and whoever you are hugging.
Holiday Traditions of 6th Graders
By Lyla Russell and Carmen McAdoo
We asked IJHS 6th graders what traditions and fun things they do around Christmas time and Christmas Day.
Amaberline Petermen (6)
Amaberline Petermen celebrates Christmas and she said she really enjoys it. A few traditions that she does is she goes to her grandparents to open presents, eat amazing food, and spend time with her family members.
Aiden Macaroy (6)
Aiden Macaroy celebrates Christmas by spending time with his family at his grandparents house. He enjoys eating the yummy breakfast his grandparents make.
Hugo Rummel (6)
Some traditions that Hugo Rummel does is eat really sweet food and he goes to his grandparents house to eat again and open presents.
Lennon Jones (6)
Lennon Jones celebrates Christmas by praying when she wakes up, eating yummy pancakes with her grandparents, and opening presents.
Rowan Cordaro (6)
Rowan Cordaro celebrates Christmas by watching The Christmas Story with her whole family before going to her cousin’s house. Once she arrives at her cousin’s house they open presents and eat lots of food.
As you can see there are a lot of different traditions that people do, and maybe you can relate to some of the traditions listed.
Interview with a Veteran
By Kaylee Higgins
November 14, 2022
Veterans Day is dedicated to the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the U.S military. On honor of Veterans Day, I took the opportunity to interview my friend’s father, Mr. Rodriguez.
Question 1: Why did you enlist in the military? Mr. R told me that he enlisted in the military because he wanted to do more with his life and serve a greater purpose and calling.
Question 2: Did you do training and if so, what are some of the things you did for training? Mr. R’s career in the Air Force started with basic military training, technical school where he learned his specific job in Security Forces, and continuous training to make sure he was proficient in his job.
Question 3: What part of the military are you in? Mr. Rodriguez is in the Wyoming Air National Guard, which is a reserve, or a part time component of the Air Force.
Question 4: What does that part do? The Air National Guard serves both state and federal government for homeland security and natural disasters, like hurricanes, floods, and forest fires. The National Guard responds and helps however they can.
Question 5: What is working in the military like? Working in the military is great because I have learned several different things I can use in the civilian world. I get the best training and there are so many benefits that come in return. I work with very disciplined and respectful people who are all about serving and helping in any way they can, Mr. Rodriguez told me.
Question 6: What is the order for rankings in the military? I was told each branch of the military has its own rank structure for enlisted and commissioned members. For the Air Force the enlisted ranks are airman basic, airman first class, senior airman, staff sergeant, technical sergeant, master sergeant, senior master sergeant, and chief master sergeant.
Question 7: Have you gotten any awards and if so what have you won? Mr. R has received many awards in the Air Force for deploying overseas; achievement medals for doing well on his physical training test;a Heroes Among Us award for helping a lady who was involved in a rollover accident; an appreciation award from the state command chief; and for being recruiter of the year.
Question 8: If you weren’t in the military what job do you think you’d have? Mr. Rodriguez has been in the military for 18 years so he said he doesn’t know what he’d be doing right now if he wasn’t in the military. Before he joined he wanted to be a firefighter, so he told me he probably would do that.
Question 9: What is your favorite part of being in the military? Mr. R’s favorite part of being in the military is the fact that he gets to serve and make an impact for this amazing country and people who live in it. He does it to keep us and our families safe.
Question 10:If you could choose another branch of the military what would it be? He wouldn’t want to choose to serve in another branch of the military because the Air Force has been such a great branch and has had so many great experiences in the air force. Plus he really likes flying, and has the best air power in the world.
My friend’s dad is really cool. This seems like a really cool career choice. So that has been an interview with a veteran because of Veteran’s Day.
Let’s Lego!
By Jack Duchesneau
November 14, 2022
Why are Legos so popular? This may seem like a weird question but it is a very strange subject. Lego is a company that started with selling simple wooden toys in Denmark and run by a family and a handful of workers. It is now the largest toy company in the world with a market share of roughly 7.6% and having the status of being a household name among families with children. So, how did they get to where they are now?
Lego now primarily makes small bricks of different colors, shapes, and sizes, that are packaged in sets with instructions on how to create different structures. They have done a lot of sets to do with pop culture such as collabs with Star Wars, Batman, and Harry Potter just to name a few. You can also just make builds of whatever you want all you have to do is buy the pieces. They make many lines of lego such as lego Technics, which focuses more on making a functional build than a decorative one. Another example is Duplo, which is a bigger, blockier and safer lego aimed towards ages 3-5.
With the range of versatility it’s clear why it would be a successful product as it supports a wide range of audiences. It’s that simple.
Constitution Day
By Lauren Watkins
October 11, 2022
Have you ever wondered if there is a day dedicated to the Constitution, and if so have you wondered what day that might be? In this article you will learn about what the Constitution is, who wrote it, what it talks about, when it was written, and why we celebrate it.
You may ask, what is the Constitution? The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. The constitution has seven articles, each of the articles holds important information about how the Supreme Court is supposed to be run. All of the articles are about the different branches of the Supreme Court and how they are run and what they all do.
Now that you know what the Constitution is, you should know some history behind it. The background behind the constitution is very important in how it came to be. After America gained freedom from the British in 1783, it had become very evident that America would need a strong central government to stay stable and in peace. Alexander Hamilton, 3 years later, held a meeting to discuss the matter of laws. The Confederate Congress invited representatives from all 13 states to have a meeting in Philadelphia. At this meeting in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787 George Washington was unanimously made president of the United States of America. Months late on September 17th, 1787 representatives from 9 out of 13 of the states signed the Constitution making it a law.
Now that you know the overall history of the Constitution. You might be asking yourself who wrote the Constitution? The constitution was said to be written only by James Maddison, but that is a lie. The Constitution was written by James Maddison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. James Maddison, also called the Father of the Constitution, is believed to write it all because he wrote a large percentage of the Constitution. He was also a Founding Father. James Maddison was also the 4th U.S. President from 1809-1817. Alexander Hamilton was one of the other writers of the Constitution; he was a statesman and Founding Father. John Jay was a statesman, Founding Father, abolitionist, negotiator. He also wrote a large portion of the constitution.
When was the constitution written? The Constitution was written and finished being drafted on May 25, 1787. The Constitution was written by James Maddison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. The significance of the signing was that the Constitution could not be approved without those signatures. The people who signed the Constitution were John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, James Maddison, John Marshall, and George Washington.
Why do we celebrate Constitution Day? We celebrate Constitution Day because without the Constitution America would be in shambles. How do Americans celebrate Constitution Day? Americans celebrate the Constitution by giving students an education about Constitution Day, having parades, and having fun activities and reenactments of Constitution Day. Americans care a lot about Constitution Day because it is an important day to their history.
Is Social Media Dangerous for Teens?
By Jackson Matty
May 25, 2022
Many of us are familiar with social media. There are many social media platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc. We use it to communicate with friends or loved ones and follow your favorite actor, actress, or influencer. When people think of social media, many tend to think of the positive and happy side of social media, but not a lot of people think about the negative and dangerous side of social media. How can social media be dangerous for people?
There are a plethora of reasons as to why social media can be dangerous for people, especially teenagers. One reason social media can be dangerous for teens is due to the cyberbullying that can take place. Cyberbullying can happen in many different forms including harassment, personal attacks, discriminatory behavior, the spreading of misinformation, and many more. In an article titled, “Social Media Addiction Linked to Cyberbullying”, it states that cyberbullies tend to be more aggressive with cyberbullying on social media due to the fact that they can be anonymous and will not face any retaliation. Cyberbullies also may feel less empathy because they can’t see the impact of their actions.
Another reason social media can be dangerous for teens is because of body image issues that teens can face because of social media. Comments and judgements made by friends, family, and people on social media can cause teens to base their self-esteem on those comments and judgments, which can lead to them needing constant validation about their body type and size, age, appearance, etc. Teens may also get the feeling that they need to look like their favorite actor, actress, or influencer, which can lead to body image issues and can do more harm than good to their bodies and mental health.
A final reason social media can be dangerous for teens is because of data breaches and scams that can happen. A data breach is a security violation, in which a hacker steals sensitive and private information from a website, and then sells it to third party websites or other places. Security breaches can be small or large. Security breaches may not sound that common, but they are more common than you might think. On July 15, 2020, Twitter’s network was breached by a 17-year old and other accomplices. Together, they carried out a cyberattack and took over the accounts of famous celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Jeff Bezos, Barack Obama, and Elon Musk. While having control of their accounts, they posted bitcoin scams pretending that they came from these celebrities. Twitter users unfortunately fell for this scam and as a result, the 17-year old and his accomplices stole $118,000 worth of bitcoin from unsuspecting users. This can be dangerous for teens because if a security breach were to happen on any social media platform that a teen is on, a hacker can steal the teen’s private information and illegally sell it to third party websites. Teens may also fall for the scams because they might be more likely to trust it since the post is coming from a person they follow on social media.
In conclusion, social media can be dangerous to teens, and it may continue to get worse with the rise of new social media platforms and trends. However, there are steps that can be taken to not make social media as dangerous for teens. For example, teens can limit the amount of time they spend on social media, and parents can monitor their child’s social media accounts to see who they follow, what they post, etc.
Summer Fun
By Liam Hunter and Connor Fleming
May 25, 2022
Liam Hunter & Connor Fleming
As most people say in the IJHS, this school year went so fast! Some people are excited for the hot season, but don’t know what to do. This article may show you how to make this summer the best one. For the people who like to get in the water, this might just be for you! The Mack Park Swimming Pool is open to everyone, but especially for the IJHS students. The Mack Park Swimming Pool provides a free membership for students who are in 6th, 7th, or 8th! This pool is suitable for all ages because they have a kiddy section for littles, a medium section for teens that are slow swimmers, and then they have a big pool section with a tall twist\y water slide! For more information on this, you can visit this link. https://ymca.org/membership/jr-high-membership/
If swimming is not your thing, there are plenty of other things you can do, but this article is only gonna list one more. If you like nature you have to try this! Right near Mack Park Pool, there is the Indiana Community Garden! You can either just walk and look at the beautiful work of others, or you can get your hands dirty too! To get involved you can go on the site and follow the instructions. There are all volunteers and you don’t get paid. This requires no experience and allows you to learn how to professionally garden! Visit this site for additional information. https://www.indianacommunitygarden.org/get-involved.html Hopefully this article showed you how to have fun this summer!
From one Journalist to Another– An Interview with Jessica Pressler
By Gabi Isenberg
May 4, 2022
If all journalists reported like Jessica Pressler, we’d never be bored. In 2018, she took the world by storm with her article on Anna Delvey, which was turned into a Netflix Series in 2022. In 2019, another one of her articles became a movie starring Jennifer Lopez. How is it that Jessica Pressler has impacted the world so greatly, but we know so little about her?
“It started with money, as it so often does in New York.” These words began Jessica’s groundbreaking article, “Maybe She Had So Much Money She Just Lost Track Of It”. These words introduced the world to Anna Delvey. Anna Delvey, born Anna Sorokin, is a Russian-born German con-artist. She pretended to be a German heiress in order to con people out of millions of dollars. Anna served two years in prison for frauding people and is now in U.S. custody for overstaying her visa. She is currently in the process of being deported. Jessica’s New York Magazine on Anna Delvey was written while Anna was in prison. And the article was so good, Netflix turned it into a series.
Inventing Anna follows a journalist (Jessica Pressler) who is investigating the actions of Anna Delvey. In the show however, Jessica’s real name is not used. Her name is Vivan Kent. In the movie of her other article, Hustlers, her real name is not used either.
“I think it’s a whole legal thing, but as I understand it if you are going to fictionalize a character, like change major factual details about their lives and/or have them do things they didn’t do– then you can’t use their real name without their permission and buying their ‘life rights’.” Jessica said in an email to me. “But, in my case, I did not want the journalist character in Hustlers or Inventing Anna to be named for me, so I guess that was my decision. And both are heavily fictionalized.”
If you’ve read any of Jessica’s articles, you know that the majority of them deal with a scandal. But they’re told in a way so that no one seems like that bad guy. Everyone gets a fair shake at telling their side of the story. It’s a common theme in most of the articles and it’s one of things that makes Jessica’s reporting so famous and captivating. In most articles, you see one side of the story. Whatever the law enforcement or general population has dubbed a person seems to be the side that is reported on. But like she did in her article about Anna Delvey, she tells everyone’s side of the story.
“I’m definitely drawn to stories where there is some kind of conflict, because they have a natural sort of tension and dramatic arc and also because there’s the possibility of finding interesting and nuanced characters. We have a sort of cultural tendency in the US to categorize people as “good” or “bad” especially lately but really the people who are one thing or the other are in the minority, most people are combination of positive and negative traits and I feel like it’s interesting to see the good in a supposedly bad person or the bad in a supposedly good person.” she stated.
Pennsylvania Water Parks
By Stella Empfield
May 4, 2022
Summer is coming around the corner and Pennsylvanians are always looking for something to do. Pennsylvania is filled with water parks that are really fun. Pennsylvania has a surprising number of water park, including: Sandcastle Water Park, DelGrosso’s Amusement Park and Lagoona Splash, Splash Lagoon, Idlewild and Soak Zone, Kalahari Indoor Water park, Pirates Cove, Aquatopia Water Park, Dorney Park & WIldWater Kingdom, Hershey Park, etc.
Pennsylvania’s most popular water park is Hershey Park. There are so many fun water slides and rides. The tallest water slide in Pennsylvania is the Aquablast at Dorney Park in Lehigh County. Nearby Idlewild is the oldest water park in Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1878. This summer, take a road trip to one of these fun and popular water parks, and hope you have fun.
What is an NFT?
By Liam Hunter
April 14, 2022
An NFT is a vast new universe of money making. NFT stands for a “non-fungible token.” An NFT is like a unique online trading card. Each NFT is one of a kind and can not be replaced.
NFTs are usually sold with cryptocurrency. A cryptocurrency is a digital currency that doesn’t rely on a government or a bank to establish or maintain its value. The most well-known cryptocurrency is Bitcoin. Investing in cryptocurrency carries risk because the cryptocurrency could fall in value and investors can lose the money they put into it.
The reason people buy NFTs is to be able to say that they have the original file. An NFT can be viewed by anyone, but there is built in technology in each NFT to prove which buyer has the original file. A NFT can only be owned by one person at a time.
NFTs are a popular investment in the tech world. Think about it this way, there is an original Picasso painting so the owner has the one and only painting; any other versions of the painting are copies and not worth as much. At the same time, if interest in Picasso paintings decreases, so will the value of the original. So if everybody moves on from an NFT then the NFT will all lose its value.
In Junior High a couple of years ago everybody wanted fidget spinners, but then they moved on to slime. When slime was “in,” nobody cared about fidget spinners. It is all about what is in and popular.
Investors looking to make a profit off their NFTs need to sell it while it is popular in order to make money. When an NFT loses popularity it can then be worth less than the investor bought it for and he or she won’t make a profit.
NFTs are what is in right now. They can possibly make people millions, but a wrong move can result in losing the money someone put into it. Investors have to weigh the pros and cons of buying NFTs and make the best decision for them.
Profiling 101: The Case of New Teachers
By Jackson Matty
April 5, 2022
In this case of Profiling 101, new teachers are the prime focus. The Indiana Area School District has had many teachers come and go due to retirements and other circumstances. Recently, many new teachers have entered the school, but not much is known about them. Who are they?
The first new teacher being profiled is:.
Christina Brooks
Christina Brooks (known as Mrs. Brooks) is the long term substitute teacher for English teacher Mrs. Smith. She grew up in New Kensington, PA, and graduated from North Greenville University in South Carolina with a degree in Secondary Education– English. Before IASD, she used to teach at Burrell High School in Lower Burrell, PA. Mrs. Brooks shared who inspired her to become a teacher. “A teacher I had in high school. I was a problem child in her classroom. One day I was called into her room. I assumed I was in trouble, but she had breakfast waiting for me. She just wanted to chat and ask me about my life and my interests and my struggles. It really changed the direction I was headed as a student. She truly cared for her kids. I wanted to do for others what she did for me.”
The second new teacher being profiled is:
Julie Shirley
Julie Shirley(known as Mrs. Shirley) is the new Computer Concepts teacher, alongside Mrs. Brocious. She grew up in a town called Patterson Township in Beaver Falls, PA. She attended Blackhawk High School, graduated from Edinboro University, and is currently attending IUP and will graduate in December of 2022. Mrs. Shirley shared what inspired her to start teaching. “I used to own a daycare and enjoyed playing and teaching the children something new every day.” Her favorite hobby she shared is that she is into running. “Running is my favorite hobby. I began my running career when I was 12 years old and have not stopped. I ran two years of cross country in high school and six years of track. Over the years, my mileage increased from sprints to running marathons. I have run over twenty marathons, many half marathons, and too many 5ks to count. I plan to run the Pittsburgh Marathon on May 1 and then run my longest distance at the 32 mile summer equinox challenge on the Ghost Town Trail on June 18. I recently became a track coach for the Junior High School and am excited to watch the students grow and excel as they train to accomplish their goals as I cheer them on at my favorite sport.”
The third teacher being profiled is:
Kathryn Gaudreau(known as Mrs. Gaudreau) is the new librarian at the school. Mrs. Gaudreau grew up in State College, PA. She went to State College High School, received BA (Bachelor of Arts) degrees from Penn State, and graduated from IUP with a graduate degree. Before teaching in Indiana, she worked as a substitute teacher for three years at Marion Center High School, and then went on to be a 9th grade teacher there also. “Compared to Marion Center, Indiana is quite a bit bigger and located in a much more suburban setting. Marion Center is a good school but very rural.” Mrs. Gaudreau shared what inspired her to start teaching. “It started with educational programming with local historical societies, and I loved sharing with others how amazing history and books and reading are.” She also shared one of her favorite hobbies. “I spend many of my weekends doing living history activities. That means I dress as a person from a different time period and recreate how they would have spent their time.”
These new teachers are a wonderful addition to our IJHS family. We are lucky to have them.
Opportunities presented during Flex
By Jeanice Hill
April 5, 2022
Battlebots, recycled art, ceramics; these are just a few of the many activities Indiana Area Junior High has available to students this year. During COVID, school seemed to be all lessons and no fun. This year, however, the school has provided new opportunities to get students involved. There are many students getting involved and are enjoying the outlet that extracurricular activities provide. They have so many positive outcomes and effects on the students that pursue them.
A majority of people would argue that it is important to expand your interests. A middle school will offer activities like this in order to get students engaged and excited about learning. A middle school is supposed to help its students discover which way they learn best and what they want to be when they grow up so they can take high school classes pertaining to that subject. By introducing these opportunities, Indiana Area Junior High is encouraging its students to expand their interests and pursue the opportunities presented to them.
As for the more artsy side of the activities offered, students from Ceramics and Recycled arts such as Taylor Rowe and Anna Kauffman (grade 8), have reported that they feel the art is calming and is like a retreat from the rest of the school day. They also say that they’ve made friends that they otherwise wouldn’t socialize with. By joining the program, they learned things they didn’t learn in their art classes. Things like this make joining activities worth it. It could help someone discover that they want to become a sculptor or an artist.
For BattleBots, Laura Keppich was interviewed. She joined this program because the opportunity struck her interest. She enjoys working with kids from other grades and group up with them to create the bots. “I have made so many new friends that I would never have even known their name without this program! I am glad I joined and I believe everyone should expand their interests so they will explore what they want to be.”
Besides BattleBots and art programs, there are also several music-related programs for those who play instruments or sing. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the Indiana Area Junior High orchestra meets and makes music. Every Wednesday, the Vocal Ensemble- a group of 7th and 8th graders with extreme singing talent- meet and sing their hearts out. For VE, musicians have to audition to join by singing the National Anthem, or The Star Spangled Banner. For orchestra, students must simply play a string instrument such as a violin, viola, cello, or upright bass.
Studies have shown that just listening to music provides a workout for your brain. However, playing music provides a whole-brain workout that also boosts your fine-motor skills by using your fingers to play the instrument. By pursuing these opportunities, kids allow their brains to grow and expand faster, and by choosing to do new things they also expand their interests.
Everyone should choose to expand their interests. Not only can one find something new to enjoy, but you could also help nourish your brain and grow into an amazing human being.
Getting Ready for the PSSAs
By Emma Palmer
April 5, 2022
It is that time of year again: PSSA testing! Here is some useful information to get students prepared for these annual assessments.
Sixth and seventh graders take PSSAs for ELA and Math, and eighth graders take ELA, Math, and Science tests. ELA testing starts on April 26 and ends on April 28th; Math testing starts on May 3 and ends on May 4; and Science testing starts on May 5 and ends on May 6.
The PSSAs stands for Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. The test is based upon Advanced, Proficient ,Basic, Below basic. There is no time limit when taking the PSSAs. PSSA results usually end up coming in the summer and parents receive them in the mail. Even if the PSSAs stress you out, don’t worry, just do your best!
Pranksters’ Delight: April Fools Day
By Adrianna Cammarata
March 18, 2022
April Fools day is just a couple of weeks away and pranksters around the world are making plans. Let’s take a look at how this “holiday” came about.
It is believed that April Fools started back in 1582, with people playing practical pranks. Soon enough, it became a tradition. The first official April fools “holiday” was celebrated in Odessa, Ukraine. Even though no one knows exactly how or why this tradition was made, it was and is still celebrated as a holiday each year to bring laughter and fun memories.
The name “April fools” remains a mystery, but there are theories. One theory states that April Fools comes from a playful reference by writer Geoffrey Chaucer.
“April Fools” is an ongoing tradition. April fools is the one time of year, when friends can prank each other. Some April Fools pranks are epic and crazy. One crazy prank was “Pasta grows on trees” from 1957. On April Fools Day in 1957 people put pasta on a tree as a joke, and other people seemed to believe it. The person who did that remains a mystery.
On another April Fools day in 1996, someone played a prank called “The Taco Liberty Bell,” in 1996. Taco Bell pranked people by telling them they had bought the Liberty Bell to help the national debt, but soon enough they admitted that it was a joke, but still donated $50,000.
An Inside View of the Musical
By Connor Fleming
March 18, 2022
This year, on the 11th, 12th, and 13th, of March the IJHS produced the musical The Little Mermaid. This is one of the biggest Disney favorites out there. This show really excited the community. The original storyline was written by Doug Wright and the lyrics were created by Howard Ashman Glenn Slater. The cast and crew consisted of many devoted students.
The musical featured Lilli Fleming as Ariel, Edward Sparks as the Pilot, Zayne Hostetter as Prince Eric, Jonas Vick as Grimsby, Cricket Baunoch as Flounder, Connor Fleming as Scuttle, Griffin Poole-Smith as King Triton, Emelia Campisano as Sebastian, Maddie Jablunovsky as Flotsam, Eva Nealen as Jetsam, Audrey Yang as Ursula, and Grayson Brunetto as Chef Louis.
The director of the musical was Mrs. Aleah Kessell. The Music director was Dr. Jason Rummel, the Pit director was Mr. Zack Karcher, the Choreographer was Ms. Amy Kukula, and the musical set designer was Ms. Tegan McCune. There also were many students in the musical who helped and did backstage management as part of the tech crew, costume crew, the live pit, and the props crew.
This was one of the best shows ever performed by the IJHS, but it also took lots of time and effort. Daily rehearsals leading up to the show made the whole production come to life. The hard work of all the cast and crew was evident. Congratulations on a great show!
Like Wordle? Try These
By Gabi Isenberg
March 18, 2022
The ever-popular Wordle game recently took the nation by storm. The original Wordle is played by having six tries to guess a five-letter word. The color of the tiles show how close your guess was to the word. If the tile is green, your letter is in the right spot. If it’s yellow, the letter is in the word but in the wrong spot. If the letter is gray, it is not in the word at all. The game is so popular that variations have overtaken the internet. All with the same basic idea, these games are a good way to continue your Wordle fun.
One of the most popular Wordle variations is Wordle Unlimited. In the original Wordle, there is one word to guess a day. Everyone gets the same word (don’t be the person to spoil the Wordle for everyone else!). In Wordle Unlimited, there are unlimited Wordle puzzles that you can play anytime. This is popular because you don’t have to wait 24 hours to play the next game. Here’s the link to play: Wordle Unlimited.
If you love music, Heardle is for you. This game is a bit different from Wordle. In this game, there is a song each day that you have to listen to and guess the title. The program starts by giving you one second of the intro to listen to. If you know it from the first second, you type your guess into the box at the bottom. If you’re not sure, you hit skip and the game gives you another second to listen to. There are usually a total of about 15 seconds of the song. The goal is to guess the song correctly in the least number of seconds. If you want to play Heardle, visit this website: Heardle.
Maybe you’re more of a math person and Wordle seems boring to you. Fear not, because there is a Wordle variation for you! Nerdle is based on the same concept as Wordle – except with numbers! You’re trying to guess an equation in six tries. The squares are gray if the number isn’t in the equation at all, they’re purple if the number’s in the equation but in the wrong spot, and they’re green if it’s in the right spot. You don’t need to be a mathematician to play this game, though! The equations used are simple (e.x. 33-10-23) and easy to guess through the process of elimination. If you want to play, click here: Nerdle.
Wordle is a great way to challenge your brain and have fun. But it gets a little tedious to play the same game over and over again. Try these variations to keep the fun going!
Traveling in the Age of COVID-19
By Gabi Isenberg and Lily Manzi
March 4, 2022
COVID changed a lot of things in peoples’ daily lives. Schools and businesses were forced to close, masks had to be worn when leaving the house, and toilet paper became hard to come by. Now, the world is starting to open back up and that means that travel is too.
Airports were one of the biggest concerns during the height of the pandemic. Traveling out of the country could mean bringing more than just luggage – passengers could also be carrying COVID-19. While airports never fully shut down, they had quite a few restrictions. Even now, almost two years after the pandemic started, airports still have restrictions.
We got a first-hand look at how airports are handling out-of-country travel during COVID. On February 19th, we traveled out of the country to La Romana, Dominican Republic. We first traveled to Pittsburgh International Airport, which is the most commonly-used airport among residents in Indiana, PA. There weren’t many differences – spare the mask mandate, social distancing floor stickers, and hand sanitizer stations. When we boarded the plane, they informed us that masks were to be worn at all times. By being on the plane, you agreed to wear your mask unless eating or drinking. If you did not agree to wear a mask, they would remove you from the plane before takeoff.
The next airport we stopped at was Fort Lauderdale International Airport in Florida. We were just here for a layover, but it was the same as Pittsburgh – mask requirements and hand sanitizer. Our final destination was the next airport we arrived at – Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic. This was a bit different because we had to go through customs and immigration since we were in a different country. They still required masks, but we had to pull them down so that the customs officers could identify us from our passports. The passport checks, eating, and were the only places on the flights and layovers that you could pull your mask down. They did have masks that you could use if your mask broke or if you didn’t have one.
At the end of our trip, we had to get a COVID test to re-enter the United States. We had to get the tests in the morning and get the papers that said that we were negative in the afternoon. The resort that we stayed at offered insurance in case you tested positive for covid. They had a wing of the rooms that you could stay in if you were COVID positive. The staff of the hotel would bring you meals and necessities that you need.
In total, other than the mask mandates and testing, the experience in airports and on during the vacation was easy and not much different than normal flying and travel experiences.
We Love Books
By Ellie Coleman
March 4, 2022
Different people like different things, such as food, colors, clothes, people, and more. One of these things is books. Many people see books as a way for them to travel to distant lands or times, make friends with interesting characters, or as a war to connect to and understand other situations.
At Indiana Junior High School the students were asked to take a poll in which they answered the following questions:
What is your favorite book?
What is your favorite book series?
What grade are you in?
Would you like to have a chance to get interviewed if your choice is a popular choice?
When the results were in there were 87 responses. The majority was 6th graders with a couple of 8th graders and 7th graders who also participated. The top book series was Harry Potter, followed by the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and the Percy Jackson books.
The results showed many other things. First question, when asked about favorite books, the survey showed that people like different genres such as: fantasy, scary stories, adventures, humor, and mystery stories. Another thing the survey showed is that someone may have friends who like completely different books, and there are many grand stories that have not been heard
Ranking the Super Bowl Ads
By Gracie Reed
March 4, 2022
An estimated 208 million people watched the Super Bowl on February 13. While many watched to see which team would be the “champions of the world,” just as many probably watched to see the amazing ads for which the Super Bowl is also known.
- Amazon ~ This ad is about what it would be like if Alexa could read your mind. Now, although it could be a good thing, it isn’t always! One really big thing is that if you’re lying, it will expose you!(As shown in the ad) But something good that the ad showed was being able to turn on the TV or turn on the blender. I would rate this ad a 8/10.
- T – Mobile ~ In this ad a guy is complaining about paying too much for home internet and another guy who has T – Mobile who is his neighbor is saying how he doesn’t pay a lot at all and that he is happy. They also sing about it instead of talking, which to me is annoying but others may not agree with me. I would rate this ad a 5/10.
- Avocados From Mexico ~ This ad is about avocados from Mexico. A group of people are standing there and a guy asks them if they want some avocados from Mexico. They say yes and the guy lays out all of these things with avocados in them. Everyone starts eating them and they all have a party and it shows them enjoying them so much. I would rate this ad a 9/10.
- Carvana ~ This ad is about a lady who orders her car online with Carvana. She tells everyone she sees about it and her son gets really annoyed about it. She also keeps telling the son that she bought a car off of Carvana over and over and over again. Everyone looks really annoyed with her but she continues to do it. I would rate this ad a 6/10.
- Super Bowl ~ This ad is hilarious! All of the NFL players jump out of the TV and start destroying their home. The two teams are fighting with each other too. Some of them are playing by the pool and when they go to catch the ball they fall in. One of them is also on the treadmill running when a player from the other team comes over and unplugs it and the player goes flying and the football lands in Granny’s mouth! Then she spits it out and wakes up. Finally, the players get sucked back in, but then the two kids’ parents get home and are like “What happened?!” Then Granny comes by and says, “Football!” I would rate this ad an 11/10.
There were many good and bad ads that premiered but those are some of my favorite and least favorites. During the 2022 Super Bowl, NBC charged companies $6.5 million to play a 60 second ad. That’s a lot of money! But, with how many people watch the Super Bowl, it has to be worth it! The Super Bowl wouldn’t be the Super Bowl without the ads.
Super Bowl Half Time Rocks
By Emily Ferraro
March 4, 2022
The Super Bowl Half Time Show of 2022 at the SoFi Stadium seemed to be a hit for most. Peacock stated that “over 11.2 people streamed the halftime show in 2022.”
The Super Bowl Half Time Show featured the artists Dr.Dre, Snoop Dog, Mary J Blige, Eminem, 50 Cent.and Kendrick Lamar. I asked students what their favorite artist/artists featured in the show were and this is how they answered. Ben Ferraro (6th), said his favorite artist was Dr.Dre. Anna Carnovale (8th), said she liked Eminem and his songs and she also liked the cars on stage. Addy Hutton (8th) stated that her favorite artist was 50 cent because she liked how he was hanging upside down from the ceiling which shocked viewers
As you can see the halftime show of 2022 was a huge hit. The show want just a hit for kids but for adults as well. “It was like a family reunion as the two Cali boys came together to rock that jam from “2001” in front of the hometown crowd. Dre and Snoop were no doubt the heart of this halftime show “… said the New York post.
Read Across American Spirit Week
By Stella Empfield and Lily Manzi
February 10, 2022
Ready for IJHSs Spirit Week for Read Across America? Read Across America was started in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA) as a way to encourage children to read. According to the NEA, one million students participate in Read Across America each year.
The date for the IJHS Read Across America Spirit Week is February 28th-March 4. Every day that a student dresses up, he or she will receive a PBIS ticket. A lot of students grew up reading Dr. Seuss books, and most people said that Green Eggs and Ham is their favorite.
Horace Mann and East Pike Elementary schools are participating in Read Across America Week as well. East Pike is inviting all of their students to dress up as their favorite book character. Horace Mann will be asking students to try to guess a popular children’s book that will be announced on the morning announcements. Each question a student gets right they will get a chance to win a prize. Students will also get to have some quiet reading time in their classrooms. A fun and traditional book swap will also be held by the PTA sometime throughout the week. Horace Mann will have dress up theme days.
Spirit Week is a long tradition that many schools suggest their students doing. A lot of students and teachers over the years have participated in the fun and engaging activities that happen. We are very excited for Spirit Week and we hope you are too!!
A Word On Valentine’s Day
By Emily Ferraro
February 10, 2022
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Some people may celebrate Valentine’s Day with flowers, candy and plush teddy bears. Many people are not familiar with the history or have heard the name St.Valentine. Here are some traditions and legends associated with this holiday.
One legend contends that St. Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. St.Valentine realized the grievance of the decree and continued to perform marriages in secret. When his actions were discovered he was ordered to be put to death but was later made a saint by the Catholic church.
The first valentine may have been sent when Valentine actually sent the first ‘‘Valentine’’ to a young girl he fell in love with who was supposedly the jailer’s daughter. It was signed ‘‘From your Valentine.’’
Some Valentine’s Day traditions include exchanging gifts of flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears. Some people go to the movies and go on picnics. People in the world spend an average of $29.3 billion dollars on Valentines day activities each year. That’s crazy!
As you can see Valentines day has a lot of history behind it. Many people also just use it as a day to spend time with the ones they love, but let’s be honest if you can’t tell your significant other you love them everyday then do you really? Why would you need to spend all that money when all you have to say is I LOVE YOU. Anyways Happy Valentine’s day!
Phil Says Six More Weeks of Winter
By Emma Palmer and Gracie Reed
February 10, 2022
Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2nd. Groundhog Day is a special day for Punxsutawney and other weather watchers around the country. Groundhog Day is when the keepers of Punxsutawney Phil(the groundhog) take him out and have him predict whether it is going to be an early spring or a long winter that year.
How does he decide which it’s going to be? According to tradition, if Phil comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow it’s a long winter and if he doesn’t, it’s an early spring. Not everyone believes in the magic, but whether you do or not, it’s still fun to watch!
Some Indiana Junior High students have had the opportunity to attend the Groundhog Day celebration. Sixth grade Kathryn Aiken has gone to see Punxsutawney Phil in person and so has Brinley Walker in sixth grade.
The majority of people interviewed think that it is going to be a long winter; some include Keely Hodgkinson, Samantha Martin, and Claire Brewer. Sadee Bowditch said that she hopes it will be a long spring but is not confident that her wish will come true. Snow is fun, but freezing outside is not!
Groundhog Day was originally a day when clergy would distribute candles needed for winter. The candles were said to tell how cold and how long that winter would be. The Germans expanded on this by picking an animal, which used to be a hedgehog, to predict the weather. The tradition was carried to the United States and the groundhog was chosen to predict the weather by the Punxsutawney community. Some people say that the groundhog is replaced when it dies, but others, including the keepers, say that they give him something magical that helps him live forever.
On February 2, 2022, Punxsutawney Phil came out of his burrow and saw his shadow. That means that there will be six more weeks of winter. Not everyone will be excited about this but others who like the cold probably will!
Wordle-mania
By Andrew Russell
Do you like puzzles? Well you should play Wordle! Wordle is a word game created by Josh Wardle, a Brooklyn software developer. The game was made in November of 2021 it had 90 players, next in the middle of the month 300,000 players joined, and now over millions of people play the game every day! On the 31st of January 2022, The New York Times bought the game. The game sold for over one million dollars.
How do you play Wordle? Wordle is a game that gives people a five letter word they have to figure out. Players can play it only once a day. There are six columns with five blank boxes. Players have to type out words they think it would be. When the box is green it means the letter is in the correct place and should stay in that spot. If the letter turns yellow it means it’s in the word but not in the right spot. And if it turns black it means the letter is not in the word.
Currently, more than one million people play Wordle. This game is a good game to play while in the pandemic, it can get you through the day without even knowing that you’re at the end of the day. Also players can show friends or family how well they did. Another feature allows users to play other Wordle inspired games if they are done with the daily word. Players can get Wordle Archives or Wordle Unlimited, which they can play all the time!
Commemorating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
by Addison Porter
Most people know who Martin Luther King Jr. is and why there is a holiday dedicated to him, but most people don’t know about his past and what led up to his decision to be a civil rights activist. He was born in Atlanta,Georgia in 1929, into a middle class family. His childhood was influenced by his well educated parents, and generations of ancestors who were pastors. His family lived on Auburn Avenue, also known as “Sweet Auburn,” the bustling “Black Wall Street”. This area was one of the most prosperous and largest black businesses and churches before the civil rights movement.
When King was around 6 years old, he experienced segregation.. Some of King’s white friends said they weren’t allowed to play with him anymore because they were about to go to segregated schools. This was one of his first experiences with segregation. After graduating high school at age 15, King went to Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1944. Before he went to college he spent his summer on a tobacco farm in Connecticut where race wasn’t an issue like it was in the South. His experience in his job made him realize how much could change for the South.
King’s beliefs would lead to his boycott of the bus system in Montgomery,Alabama in 1955. Along with other civil rights activists, including Rosa Parks, King led a boycott of the bus company because of their policy that required black people give up their seats to white people and then stand or sit in the back of the bus.
In 1957 he was elected the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which was dedicated to non-violent protests against racial segregation. In 1963 he was a part of the “March on Washington ” which drew more than 250,000 people to the National Mall. This protest was where he delivered the famous “I Have a Dream Speech”.
Crimson Arrow Scavenger Hunt!
The Crimson Arrow is sponsoring a Scavenger Hunt! Pick up a copy of the Scavenger Hunt sheet outside of Room 302 OR write you answers on a sheet of paper (with your name) and turn your completed Scavenger Hunt into Mrs. Lockard in 302. Your entry will go into a drawing for a chance to win one of THREE gift cards to Amazon or Gamestop! Entries are due by DECEMBER 17th and the winners will be selected and announced on DECEMBER 21st.
Name______________ Crimson Arrow Scavenger Hunt Find the answers to the following questions by searching the articles referenced in the Crimson Arrow. The web address is https://jhcrimsonarrow.com/ Turn in your completed (and correct) Scavenger Hunt to Room 302 and your name will be entered into a drawing to win a GIFT CARD to AMAZON or GAMESTOP! There will be three lucky winners! ______________ 1.) What was the goat’s name in the article, Mrs.Stubbe Adopts A Goat? ______________ 2.) How much does ice skating sessions cost in the article, Tis The Season For Ice Skating? ______________ 3.) For how long did Mrs Mitsko teach in the article, Broken Leg Leads to Broken hearts? ______________ 4.) What was the challenge that made our protectors, destroyers? (from the article, Protectors become Destroyers) _______________5.) What were the date(s) of the performances of The Alice In The Wonderland Through The Looking Glass article? ______________6.) What date did Eisenhower catch fire in the article Eisenhower Relocates To IJHS? ______________ 7.) What is Finley Stewart’s favorite song to play with her saxophone from the article, Let’s Make Some Noise? ______________ 8.) What is one way that animals can lower your stress level in the article, The Answer of Why We Have Pets? ______________ 9.) What was the name of the YMCA’s Halloween party in the article Bored for halloween? What to do to celebrate in Indiana, PA? ______________ 10.) Did girls like books or movies better in the article Books or Movies?
Christmas and Hanukkah Traditions
By Jackson Matty
December 3, 2021
When students think of Christmas or Hanukkah they often think of presents, food, and family. However, what many students don’t really think of are the other yearly traditions that take place during these holiday seasons.
Most people are familiar with Christmas. Christmas was not always celebrated in the past. According to Metro.com, “The first recorded incidence of Christmas being celebrated actually dates all the way back to the Roman Empire in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine.” Christmas wasn’t declared a United States federal holiday until June 26th, 1870. After that, Christmas became more celebrated, and now is the most popular holiday.
Traditions for Christmas can range from many things, including traveling to a relative’s house or eating a certain food Andrew Russell (6) shared what he and his family do on Christmas. “Every morning after we open presents, my family makes a big breakfast. We each get assigned a food to make, and we have to make the food that we get assigned.”
Emelia Campisano (8) shared what she and her family do on Christmas. ¨My family and I tend to spend more time together during the holidays. Our biggest tradition is drinking hot cocoa while watching The Polar Express!¨
Another commonly celebrated holiday is Hanukkah. Also known as the “festival of lights,” Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the larger Syrian army. Hanukkah also celebrates what is considered to be a miracle: after the victory just a day’s supply of oil allowed the menorah in the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem to stay lit for eight days.
As for how Hanukkah is celebrated, the most common tradition is lighting the commemorative menorah. The first night, two candles are lit. Over the next seven days, a candle is lit each day until all eight candles are lit. Another common Hanukkah tradition is that all Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. Potato pancakes and jam-filled donuts are common to eat during this time.
Books or Movies
By Sydney Anderson
December 3, 2021
Books and movies are both fun ways to cry, love, embrace, and care about people that don’t even exist. Authors and directors can do things to make the readers or viewers feel truly a part of the scene. However, people always have a preference.
Books are a great way to picture the characters and scenes while movies give you an actual visual of what’s going on. Most people prefer movies, due to the fact that reading takes more time. Others enjoy the silent pleasure of reading to themselves with the cliffhangers at each chapter.
Out of all the people interviewed, most girls preferred the books while most boys preferred the movies. Girls claim that they enjoy taking the time to relax and read while picturing the images in their head. Boys stated that reading takes too much time and that they’d rather just watch a movie in two hours. They also said that reading can be boring if people do it for too long while girls said that although reading takes longer, it’s always more descriptive and intriguing.
Ali Genchur (8), said, “Books, usually. Because sometimes, in the five percent, movies can be better than books.” She claims that in some cases, movies can be better than books.
Oliver John (8) said, “Movies, because movies are better than books.” He later claimed that books can be boring after too long.
Reading can be lots of fun with imagination, however it does take time. Some people prefer the way of watching and observing a movie in about two hours. Usually, the book is more popular, but that’s not always the case. Out of the five people interviewed, three said they preferred books to movies. Next time someone sits on the couch and decides to watch a movie or read a book, maybe think about watching or reading something that correlates with the movie or book.
The Answer of Why We Have Pets
By: Ellie Coleman and Andrew Russel
November 22, 2021
Many people own animals, and think they are cute. What is the point of keeping them? This question ponders through many peoples’ heads. Is it just because they are cute? The answer is no, animals are very intelligent, can help a person’s health and some have a strong scent and can save your life.
Health benefits can come from having a pet. Animals are a great way to keep stress down. Actually, when a person touches an animal a stress related hormone is shown to decrease the level of stress. In fact when a person pets an animal their blood pressure lowers which makes them calm. If somebody has trouble exercising they might want a dog because they need to get exercise and will be reminded to go play with them or go for a walk.
Animals also are very smart, and they can work. Jobs that animals might do is to be in the military, coal mine, a catcher of mice or other rodents, and an aid to help people. Dogs are often used for these jobs, especially working in the military. This is because dogs have great senses like smell. Dogs are not the only military animals, they also train dolphins. Yes that is right, the U.S Navy is using dolphins to help them fight for peace. Animals also can save somebody’s life who has heart attacks, diabetes, or another thing like anxiety.
Children are being helped by animals. Research shows that kids with ADHD in school when a dog is in their classroom focus better. Another research study says that kids who have autism spectrum disorder were calmer when they were playing with a class hamster. Even taking care of a goldfish has shown signs of helping some kids. Pets can help kids have a best friend. Children can tell secrets to their pet and also help them make other friends by sharing about their pet.
Lots of people mistaken the beliefs that pets could be dangerous to their family and home, but this is simply not true. Pets that are trained right will be well behaved. Give lots of affection, pets will love it and stick with their owners. Pets that are deemed dangerous are often given up. There are over 70 mil stray dogs and cats just in the U.S alone.
In conclusion, pets are cute,but there is more to animals than meets the eyes. Animals are intelligent, and can be taught many things. Animals can save people, help people, and give someone better health or a friend.
Mrs. Stubbe’s Class Adopts A Goat
BY ADRIANNA CAMMARATA –
November 10, 2021
Mrs.Stubbe’s class recently “adopted” a pet! No, it’s not in this school or at her home. In fact, it lives in California. The goat’s name is Esperanza. Mrs. Stubbe’s students go on a Google Meet with the goat every week. The goat doesn’t use a computer, and it can’t talk, but all of the students love and cherish Esperanza.
According to Mrs. Stubbe the class found out about the goat when “my student teacher found this website where you can adopt a virtual pet. She thought that it could be very neat to do that.” Mrs. Stubbe saw that the animals all have disabilities and she thought it would be cool to adopt one.
Esperanza has no legs–well she has fake legs. While the class did “buy” the goat, there are people that take care of all the pets. The class pays for the food and shelter at Charlie’s Acres in Sonoma, California. Esperanza is very happy, healthy, and well fed. Esperanza is very playful and loving, and even without legs she runs really fast. Just because she doesn’t have his two real legs, it doesn’t affect her life in any negative way.
One Fun Fact is that Esperanza means “ Hope” in English. Mrs. Stubbe reported that the experience has helped her students’ learning in animals. While many of us want a goat, most of us can’t have one. Esperanza the “online pet” may be the next best thing!
Ceramics Club to Class
By ADDISON PORTER-
October 29, 2021
During the pandemic clubs and classes have not been able to do what has been done in the past. As conditions change, it is very exciting to have some of them starting again. One club that has changed is the Ceramics Club. The club is now a class and it is an important and evolving curricular program. This year there are 10 students that have joined. Students work in their grade levels and create new projects and learn more about the pottery wheels. The students’ art work from Ceramics Class will be shown in the display case near the front office and in the display case near the cafeteria.
The sixth graders are sculpting an art piece that involves their first names, initials and a country’s culture. The seventh graders are making a container out of clay that looks like a specific dessert. Some of the eighth graders are currently working on a necklace if they choose.
Ceramics teacher Mrs.Weber really wants students to use and learn about the wheel, Sarah Gencher said her favorite part of using the pottery wheel is “the ability just to create things.”
After some changes and adjustments, everyone is excited for the class and what they will achieve. Mrs.Weber is excited that she is able to give students who are invested in art something else to work on and improve their skills. Mia Malobisky, Lauren Watkins, and Aubrey Simms are all excited for future projects. According to Mrs. Weber, however, the most
Tis the Season for Skating
October 29, 2021
BY EMMA PALMER
Looking for something to do on the weekends? Indiana is fortunate to have a local ice skating rink. As the weather gets colder, ice skating is a fun and affordable activity that anyone can do.
Learning to ice skate is relatively easy but often involves some falling! Experienced skaters warn that while it is easy to get used to, new skaters may find that falling might hurt a bit. S & T Arena does water the rink a lot so it is easier for beginners. Watering the rink means that they make it extra icey so skaters can get around easier. Most students seem to prefer ice skating at night.
Ice skating sessions cost $9.00 with skate rental, $6.00 without skate rental, and there is also a $30.00 group rate for up to six people. Weekday skates on Tuesday and Thursday are $3.00 including skate rental. Special events, such as Cosmic Skate on Saturday nights are $10.00. Most people find that afforadble. Many students said that figure skates are easier to skate in because they are thinner and have a smoother blade. Bundling up may be a good idea – it gets cold in there!
So whether you are an experienced skater or new to the sport, skating is affordable and a lot of fun!
Broken Leg Leads to Broken Hearts
BY ADRIANNA CAMMARATA AND RUBY WESTRICK –
October 29, 2021
Something is missing at Indiana Junior High. After 31 years (not counting her three years as a student), long-time English teacher and recent librarian Mrs. Jeanne Mitsko retired at the end of the summer. Mrs. Mitsko taught all levels of English from 6th to 8th grade as well as serving as the Junior High librarian and Student Council Advisor for her last two years.
One factor that contributed to her decision to retire was that Mrs. Mitsko broke her leg at a family reunion by slipping in wet grass. After being in a cast for a couple of months, she is finally beginning to walk and do physical therapy.
Mrs. Mitsko said that, among other factors, she was concerned that it would be hard to get around the school so she decided to retire.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Mitsko is still doing paperwork at home, so she feels like she’s not technically retired. However, she also mentioned that she is feeling better and still reads daily. She misses her friends and students at school, yet she enjoys the free time she has at home.
Mrs. Mitsko is missed by both her students and her fellow teachers and staff. Students said they loved Mrs. Mitsko because she was positive, funny, and she had lots of snacks. Fellow English teacher Mrs. Dongilla said, “I miss her compassion, her guidance, and her sense of humor. She was very hard working and very kind.” Best wishes to Mrs. Mitsko for a speedy recovery and happy retirement!
Student Check In
By Connor Fleming and Kate McKelvy
October 15, 2021
Students have a lot on their minds and a lot of things going on in their lives. Everyone likes different things, and knows different people. The Crimson Arrow surveyed students around the school to get their views on a variety of topics, such as goals for the year and activities in which they were involved.
Destiny Gribsaw, 7th grade, said that one of her biggest goals is to make more friends. She is involved in karate, which is not a very common sport. Outside of school she likes to paint.
Seventh grader Ellie Clark said that one of her biggest goals is to get good grades. One of the sports she is involved in is swimming. Outside of school she likes to draw cats, while she uses her cat as a model!
Lilli Fleming, 8th grade, said that she has started to crochet an afghan for her grandmother and her goal is to finish it by winter. At this time she is not involved in any sports because of a dirt bike wreck earlier this summer. She can play multiple instruments and loves to sing.
8th grader Taylor Rowe said that one of her goals was to get all As this year. One of the sports she is involved in is softball. One of the things she really likes to do outside of school is practicing softball in her backyard.
Bored for Halloween? What to do to celebrate in Indiana, PA
By: Liam Hunter
October 15, 2021
Did you know that there are many different things you can do to celebrate Halloween that are close to home? Check out the following Halloween-themed activities and cool attractions– all within an hour drive of Indiana!.
To start us off, the YMCA of Indiana County will host their annual POOL-A-WEEN event. There will be swimming for pumpkins and candy along with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” playing on the big screen in the pool area. There will also be many other spooky activities, including painting pumpkins. The event is on October 30th from 1 to 3:30.
Another common activity to Halloween is a corn maze. Brooks Farm has a haunted corn maze at 1004 Brooks Farm Road, Punxsutawney, PA (15767). The corn-maze runs on October 22nd, 23rd, the 29th, and 30th. On each of these days it will be held from 7pm to 11pm.
Another spooky maze is at Scary Harry’s. In 2018 and 2019, Scary Harry’s was voted #5 in Pennsylvania for being a must-see haunt by thescarefactor.com At Scary Harry’s there is a haunted trail where spooky things may pop out, scare, or frighten people. Scary Harry’s haunted trail is located on 1703 Pierce Road in Homer City, PA (15748) The spooky trail is open Friday through Sunday. Friday and Saturday gates open at 7:00 pm and close at 11:00 pm. On Sundays gates open at 7 pm and close at 9:30 pm. Also a reminder that to go to Scary Harry’s a person MUST be 18 or be accompanied by an adult.
Also a common thing that students at IJHS do is go skating! The S&T Arena in Indiana, will be hosting a free skate on Halloween. They will also have some spooky music to listen to while you’re skating. People who wear a costume pay only $3. This $3 price also includes skating rentals if needed. This skating event will be held on Halloween (October 31st) from 1 pm to 3pm. The S&T Arena is at 497 East Pike Road in Indiana, PA (15701).
Halloween is such a fun time for kids so if you live in Indiana, PA go out and have an amazing time at one of these spooky events!
Fall Play: Alice in Wonderland Through the Looking Glass
By Jane Stubbe and Emma Palmer
October 15, 2021
Some readers might be asking when is the play? How many people are in the cast? Who is the main character? The Crimson Arrow has answers.
The dates of the production are November 6th and 7th, 2021. On Saturday the 6th the play will run at 7 pm, and on Sunday the 7th, the play will run at 5 pm. Twenty-seven IJHS students are involved in the play. As for who the main character is to be played by, the answer to that one is, drumroll please . . . Madison Jablunovsky!
“The thing I’m most excited for is to perform and have fun with my friends while doing it,” Jablunovsky says. When asked if she has ever been in a production at the Junior High before, she answers, “No, but I have been in other schools.”
Mrs. Kessel is the Junior High’s brand new play director. “The thing I’m most excited for is to meet lots of new people and share the really cool story of Alice in Wonderland with the school and community,” she told us. Mrs. Kessel says that she just graduated with a theater degree and she has directed many plays there, but she also has done even more plays at the high school in Ebensburg. She then went on to tell us, “I’ve directed lots of high school plays before, but never any middle school, so this will be my first time.” Mrs. Kessel also added that she is also excited because she thinks that our school has an amazing auditorium that she is very eager to use.
Oliver John, the stage manager, said that he is most excited to help backstage with everything that needs to be done. Oliver also told us that he enjoys being backstage more than onstage.
So, if you are looking for something fun to do with your family on November 6th or 7th, and even if you aren’t, come to this fun school event. Everyone involved in this play is working hard to make this an amazing production for the school and community.
Seasons Bring Transitions and Change
by Addison Porter
October 15, 2021
After several months of break, students are back to school and the Crimson Arrow is publishing again! After a few weeks into school, clubs, sports, and activities are starting back up. Another very important thing returning is Fall!
As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, it is a great time to pay attention to all of the changes. If you like the cold or not it will start to get even more beautiful outside with all the leaves changing on the trees and decorations on people’s porches. In just a couple months, there will be snow covering the ground and Christmas lights hung up. But for now, get ready for Halloween and Thanksgiving, because before you know it the Christmas season will start again.
Fall is an important time to spend time with family and friends, and also go house to house and get free candy– only on Halloween, of course. Junior high students can still have fun trick or treating and playing football before Thanksgiving dinner. Speaking of Thanksgiving, fall sports continue to wrap up their seasons.
Thinking ahead into winter, boys basketball open gyms continue on October, 18th, 20th, 25th and the 28th. Official tryouts begin November 19th. Wrestling also begins practice on November 19th. The girls basketball team is already in-season and will have their next game on October 19 at Penn Hills.
We are very excited to have Crimson Arrow start again. Keep reading to stay informed of not only what will happen this Fall but also the rest of this school year.
Junior High Halloween
BY SYDNEY ANDERSON
October 15, 2021
Halloween is a time of year where kids dress up and run the streets asking the all-known question, “Trick or treat?” The only thing is, how many Junior High students are still dressing up and asking for treats?
Traditionally, thousands of kids dress up to go trick or treating; however, some people think that Junior High is the time to stop trick or treating and start just using their costumes for dances or parties – or not even dress up at all. Halloween is also meant to be a spooky holiday, but some kids take this holiday as an opportunity to look cute or funny. Now, it’s a school-wide discussion if kids are dressing up or not.
Kylie Felton (7), is going trick or treating this year. She said, “Me and my sister are dressing up as characters from Alice in Wonderland”. This unique idea sides with the thought that some kids aren’t looking to be the scariest character this year. Kylie still thinks it’s fine to dress up even in seventh grade, and most of her friends do too.
Sophia Scardina (8), is not going trick or treating this Halloween. She said “I don’t plan on trick or treating or even dressing up this year,” Sophia, who is in eighth grade, thinks that she is too old to dress up anymore and prefers staying home to watch scary movies instead.
Kids all around the world love to dress up for the fun holiday of Halloween. Many kids that are middle-school-age consider themselves to be too old for the thrill of wandering the streets and asking for candy. Although many kids in IJHS still participate in trick or treating, there are some that claim it’s not as fun as it used to be. Trick or treating is never going to go away, but some kids may stop as they get older, causing Halloween spirit to die down. In the end, Halloween is always going to be fun no matter how you spend it, whether it’s trick or treating or watching a scary movie on your couch.
Crimson Arrow 