The Knightly News

THE KNIGHTLY NEWS

Northglenn Middle School February 2018 Volume 5, Issue 2

Career Expo provides students a glimpse of their futures

By Joshua Gonzalez criminal justice, design, and information and Expo it gave us some experience.”

technology, to name just a few. The intimidating swarms of profes- Some students even explored jobs that sionally dressed students could have Eighth grade students said they feel like they could never imagine themselves actu- caught you off guard if you were not pre- the Career Expo really helped with their ally doing, and admitted they discovered pared for it. The horde descended upon interviewing skills and knowledge about the these careers were enjoyable and interest- the Denver Merchandise Mart on Tues- different education and career paths availa- ing to learn about. day, November 14th with all the subtlety ble after they graduate from high school. Yet it was even more relevant for stu- of a bulldozer. dents who already have a career interest. The large group of Adams 12 students Victoria Thompson, for one, felt that the were there for the future, their fu- Career Expo was enlightening and helped tures. Every year in November, eighth her learn about her most appealing pro- graders are invited to go to the Adams fession. Thompson, who is interested in County Commissioners’ Career Expo, becoming an FBI agent or homicide detec- where they have the opportunity to meet tive, got to learn a ton about those fields. with professionals representing career “I got to learn about a branch of the Colo- options in most of Colorado’s Industry rado Bureau of Investigation," she said. Career Clusters. Overall, to most of the students that According to NGMS eighth grade attended, the Career Exposition was a Guidance Counselor Mrs. Teresa Biller, very relevant and rewarding field trip be- who coordinates the field trip, cause it provided information about differ- the Career Expo helps Northglenn stu- Eighth graders Jay Martin and Ethan ent jobs that students might be interested Florio meet with one of the career fair’s in. That’s why several eighth graders dents in a number of ways. “All eighth company representatives. Students had graders in Adams County participate in the opportunity to meet with profes- wanted to offer some advice to other stu- the Career Expo,” Biller explained. “The sionals representing career options in dents when they go next year. most of Colorado’s Industries. purpose of the Career Expo is to provide Northglenn’s Starlene Garcia encour- students the opportunity to practice in- aged students to take the field trip seri- Conrad Venegas, for example, an 8th terviewing skills and learn about different ously. “I’d recommend the Career Expo grader who attended the Career Expo career and education options after high to other students,” she said. “It’s fun and found the field trip and it’s focus on inter- school.” it helps you to check out other careers.” viewing preparation did help. ¨I believe that Biller noted that students had a Garcia speculated that the Career Ex- it (the Career Expo) helped us to prepare chance to meet with a wide variety of po could potentially be one of the great- us for the future,” he said. “Most people go professionals from a wide palette of ca- est learning experiences a student could in blind to interviews and with the Career reer fields, including human resources, See Expo cont. P. 2

Index P. 1—Career Expo. P.2—Career Expo. (cont.), Attendance Celebration P.3—District Orchestra Festival P. 4—Holiday Choir Recital P.5—NJHS Bike Wash, School Vandalism P.6—Vandalism (cont.), School Fights P.7—Digital Distractions P.8—Join a Club P.9— Minecraft Mania P.10—Volleyball Club P.11— “Stranger Things,” Build your own P.C. P.12—Fans of the Beautiful Game, Dress Code Article P.13— Dress Code (cont.), Your Picture Here? P.14 Spanish Writing Club Article P.15 Spanish Article (cont.), Can You See the Future? P.16—Future (cont.), After School Study Sessions, Poetry!

have in middle school, and an excellent Seventh graders win Attendance Competition way to learn about different careers. by Trista Abbott and Jena Schug She also offered a last bit of advice, “Be Confident when speaking,” she said. You're a seventh grader walking down the D-Hall on your way to another boring lunch, Snapchatting and messing around with your crew. You’re about halfway down the hallway when you feel the featherlight punch of a good bassline thumping through the cafeteria doors. “What’s this?” You think to yourself. What it is is the very first Attendance Celebration, hosted by Northglenn’s own At- tendance Team lead by Assistant Principal Mrs. Teresa Barajas. The seventh graders pulled out a narrow victory over the sixth grade, and were rewarded with ice cream, dancing, and, of course, a D.J. “We try to promote good attendance because we know if students are here then we know they are not falling behind,” Barajas explained. “We want students to be here every day, so they are learning and getting all the wonderful information that they need to Above: Emiliano Salcido tries out a tractor while Octavio Aguilar and Cesar be on their way to the next grade level.” Lopez Espino look on. Barajas is excited about Northglenn’s improving attendance. “Right now we have 91 % attendance as a school,” she said. Still, she wants to improve that even more. “I’d like to get that up to 92 or 93 percent,” Barajas explained, “because in the last five years it has been consistent at around 90 or 91 percent.” So, Barajas and the attendance team thought that the lunch time D.J. and ice cream celebration would be a good way to Isabela Castaneda Rodelo, Karem Ca- Mrs. Barajas was extremely proud of cheiro and Teressa Briones pause to get students motivated. the seventh graders for their excellent pose at the career fair. From the feedback the team has gotten attendance. so far, she’s right. “What I hear from all grade levels is that they want the D.J. at lunch and they want the ice cream party,” she said. “So they are trying to motivate their peers to come to school so they can win the competition.” If your grade didn’t win the competition, don’t despair. Another one just recently started at the beginning of the third quarter. To keep track of how you’re doing, see the race track themed score board on the way to the cafeteria. The entire attendance team hopes students take the challenge seriously. Who knows, there could be ice cream and a D.J. in your future. Above and below: NGMS students at the career fair. Seventh graders jump and sway on the linoleum dance floor while Attend- ance Team members Mrs. Teresa Barajas, Mr. Julian Proctor, and Mr. Carlos Trujillo look on from the stage.

The Adams 12 District Orchestra Festival: Music to Your Ears said. by Victoria Thompson and Breanne Martin There was a total of five combined orchestras. Each combined orchestra played two songs. For the grand finale, all the orchestras united to play one final song, an encore of sorts. For many conductors and students alike, this seemed to be a favorite part of the concert. Eighth grade bass player Aiden Zavala, from Rocky Top Middle School, certainly thought so. “The ending, where we all played the same song, it was the best part,” he confessed. Festival organizer Danielle Johnson also found the encore to be a goose bump mo- ment, a just reward for all her hard work. “For those couple of minutes, all the or- Mr. Stopperan’s eighth grade orchestra students take a break from rehearsal to pose chestra students were playing together, for a pic. Stopperan especially enjoys observing his merry band of musicians in their natural habitat. “I like hanging out with kids from our class in a different setting oth- and all the orchestra teachers were con- er than our class,” he explained. ducting together to put such fun music out there. It was a wonderful collaboration,” All at once, music rang out throughout the halls of Northglenn High School on Sat- she said. “It’s gratifying to know you had a urday, November 4, as hundreds of bows struck the strings of the instruments of most hand in bringing more than 500 young peo- every middle and high school orchestra student in the district. As the song ended, the ple together to create a little bit of beauty clouds of rosin hadn’t even had time to settle before the audience erupted into ap- in the world.” plause. Both conductors and students alike glowed with pride, soaking in the praise the applause represented. This was the Adams 12 District Orchestra Festival. The Orchestra Festival has been around for about 40 years, created to showcase orchestra programs throughout the Adams 12 district. It also provides the 500 plus orchestra students in the seventh through the 12th grades a chance to show off their skills and demonstrate to their families and the community just how big of an impact orchestra has on their lives. Danielle Johnson, the Mountain Range High School Orches- tra teacher who organized this year’s Festival, believes the festival does even more than that. She thinks that not only has the festival grown into a great tradition within the community, but that it also provides orchestra students an opportunity to experience what it’s like performing in a formal setting in front of a large audience with a large orchestra. “It is really just a great experience for everyone involved,” she said. Northglenn’s own Mr. Corey Stopperan, who conducts the eighth grade orchestra, agreed. Stopperan especially enjoys observing his merry band of musicians in their natural habitat. “I like hanging out with kids from our class in a different setting other than our class,” he explained. Stop also thought that the music was well organized, and he appreciated the song selections. “I think they picked a lot of Eighth grade orchestra students Josiah Guitron, Josh Gonzalez, Tanner Bonnell, and Ambhur Ramirez perform at the recent holi- good music and fun music for kids to play as big groups,” he day orchestra recital. 3

Choir recital brings out the holiday spirit by Breanne Martin and Victoria Thompson

The holiday spirit was unmistakable as every Northglenn choir student gathered in the cafeteria to sing at Northglenn Middle School’s Winter Concert on December 12. Before the show, Ms. Maggie Masciarelli, the choir teacher, was especially anticipating the recital because this time she was looking forward to her singers preforming with even more confidence and skill. “I think that they'll be better because they’ve got their first concert jitters out of the way,” she explained. “Plus, it is a holiday concert, which will be fun.” The Show Choir shares their spirit at After the show, Masciarelli explained the purpose of a concert, what she hopes to the December 12th performance. accomplish every time the choir performs. “Concerts are like our tests,” she said. Below: Eighth grader Luna Novoa Otero “Students have assessments in math and science at the end of the unit. The concert belts out a solo as other vocalist look on. really is our test.” Accordingly, Masciarelli designs each recital to demonstrate the vocal skills that students have worked on for the entire quarter. “It will all be presented in the concert,” she said. “It’s important for the students to be able to perform.” Among the eighth grade choir students that preformed at the concert, there was Marco Gandara. Just as Ms. Masciarelli called the concert a test, Gandara compared concerts to schoolwork. “I think they’re in somewhere in-between,” he said. “For some kids it's useful, for others it's just an obligation, like other school work.” Still, Gandara agreed that singing does have some positive attributes, such as allowing singers an artistic outlet. “I guess it’s sort of a way for people to express themselves,” he said. Whether expression or celebration, one thing was clear; the Northglenn Middle School’s Winter Concert was well received by the audience. In the end, it seemed that the choir students were able to pass the test.

Above and left: Seventh and eighth grade Choir singers bring out the holiday joy at their December recital. “Concerts are like our tests,” explained Choir Director Ms. Maggie Masciarelli.

NJHS Helps Clean Bikes for Kids School vandalism by Jenna Schug affects everyone by Ethan Florio On a bright sunny Saturday in December of last year, the Northglenn National Junior

Honor Society helped to clean up used bicycles that were then to be given away as a Christmas present for kids in need. Have you ever walked through the National Jr. Honor Society is a club that serves to honor outstanding middle school hallways, and, instead of rushing to class, students. According to sixth grade Language Arts teacher Mrs. Tara Dunning, who spon- going through your locker, or talking to sors the club along with Media Specialist and Librarian Ms. Kathy Williams, the club is de- friends, paid attention to the walls and signed to recognize students who “have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholar- ceilings? If you look, there is often some ship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.” kind of graffiti displayed, or, perhaps, Dunning believes that community service participation that NJHS focuses on, such as holes in the walls and ceilings, drawings the annual bike wash and the Farmers Highline Canal Clean Up that takes place in March, on the walls, scribbles and/or rips on the is meaningful. “It provides a person or student an opportunity to be a part of service,” posters. she said. “It gives our honor students a chance to be helping other people in need.” You might think, “So what, how does that affect me?” Well, the truth is, it could affect you a whole lot more than you think. At Northglenn Middle School, a few students would rather vandalize school property instead of paying attention in class and getting an education. They draw on walls, desks, and books, breaking pencils and leaving them on the floor, scrawl- ing graffiti on chairs, putting holes in the walls, and other senseless acts of destruc- tion. And it does affect everyone. These senseless acts are costing the school nearly a thousand dollars a year. Money that could instead be spent buying new books, computers or P.E. equipment. So, yes, it does affect you. For example, Northglenn Middle Above: the NJHS bike washers, from left to right: Cerriah Trujillo, Kaylee Collins, School Building I.T. Coordinator Mr. Kev- former club member Anna Nguyen, Tram Hyung, Jenna Shug, Katie Lopez- in Meis lamented that nearly every school Hernandez. Below: seventh grader Jenna Shug in action (left) . Jeremiah, Cerriah and Kaylee get year he is forced to spend money to fix ready for another bike. computer problems caused by students that are angry or that just don't care. “In 2017, I've had to buy nearly 750 dollars worth of parts and equipment for technology that was damaged, either inten- tionally or by accident,” he explained. Meis noted that computer keyboards are particularly vulnerable to vandals. ”The items that are almost certainly damaged the most by vandalism are keyboards,” he said. “People think it's no big

See Vandalism cont. P. 6 5

deal to pop keys off the keyboards, but School fights: all about the drama they cost a lot of money to replace.” by Nancy Vargas Martinez Northglenn Principal Mr. Jami Miller noted that the seventh grade portion of the building seems to be one of the areas Maybe you’ve been unlucky enough to see it; you’re walking down the hall, minding that is often the hardest hit, especially in your own business when a huge commotion breaks out in front of you. You see two the bathrooms. “Seventh grade is proba- kids that look like they’re either trying to dance or wrestle. When one of them slams bly the grade that does this the most,” the other against a locker with a loud bang, you know you’re witnessing a fight. The next explained Miller. “They’re starting to do thing you know a crowd of kids have gathered around and they’re chanting, “fight, fight, this the most because that's the age fight.” where they think it cool to do it.” According to Dean of Students Mr. Douglas Stirling, there are about one or two In contrast, Northglenn custodian fights that occur every quarter here at Northglenn Middle School. Mike Gergurich observed that the sixth If you have ever gotten into a fight, then you might know the drill. However, have grade hallway is probably the least vandal- you ever wondered what the conse- ized in the school. He speculated that quences for fighting were? It really de- the sixth graders were still new to the pends on how bad the fight was, and if school and didn’t want to get in trouble. anyone got hurt. “They (sixth graders) are not as destruc- Stirling noted that if the fight was tive as the seventh and eighth graders,” really bad and one of the kids got se- he said. “Their only problem is leaving verely injured, the consequences can be trash on the floors.” pretty drastic. In some cases, parents of Sixth grade administrator Mrs. Teresa the injured child may even consider Barajas noted that there has already been suing. In addition, the school will punish far too many incidents of vandalism and those responsible and hold them ac- she is disappointed. “I know we have had countable, usually by suspending that 11 incidents of vandalism in our school student, with suspension of up to five this school year,” she said. days or more if necessary. Dean of Students Mr. Doug Stirling Obviously, for each one of these inci- So, that’s it for the consequences for thinks that all fights could be avoided if dents, the school has had to spend mon- fighting, but did you ever really wonder students only knew how to deal with ey to repair or replace the areas or items why students get into fights in the first their emotions. “It’s all about the drama,” Stirling said, when asked about that were damaged. This is money that place? Well, “It’s all about Drama,” accord- the reasons why students fight. the school could use for vital improve- ing to Stirling. The veteran educator de- ments instead. fined drama as “The inability to control So, in short, vandalism does affect your own emotions.” Stirling observed that how a person decides to deal with their you. It affects everyone in the school emotions is a major predictor of how that person deals with conflict, For example, if because it cost thousands of dollars to one student is mad at another, and decides to deal with that anger with a physical con- repair holes, scrub away graffiti, replace frontation, then it will, most likely, end up in a fight. However, if that person controls broken equipment and clean and repair their emotions by calming down, then their will be no fight and no drama. bathrooms, hallways, classrooms, and According to the guidance counselors here at NGMS, there are better ways to re- rooms. So, the next time you see some- solve conflict. Instead of dealing with confrontation using violence, they recommend you one starting to destroy school property, relax and try to calm down by using deep breathing, positive visualization, or simply ask them to stop. In the end, it will bene- counting to ten. “It’s hard to make good choices when you’re angry,” explained counse- fit everyone. lor Mrs. Jill Martinez. When you are calm, you can communicate more effectively, and that will help you resolve your conflicts more effectively and productively. In other words, just say “NO,” to drama.

Digital Distractions Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and other by Larissa Hernandez Cerros with contributions from Ray Macias social media sites. More importantly, he thinks parents You go into a classroom, sit down and get prepared to learn. You have your note- can teach kids that human connection is book out and your pencils sharpened. The teacher is in front of the classroom getting more rewarding than communicating ready to share the information you need to know. All is quiet, and everyone is fo- through devices. “Parents could help by cused. Then it happens, someone’s phone buzzes or plays an obnoxious ringtone, and convincing their kids that it’s better to the entire class gets distracted. socialize face-to-face instead of just com- While cell phones can also be used for beneficial activities and serve as a learning municating with friends through a screen,” tool, some students use their phones in class inappropriately for such activities as Face- Peterson said. book, Snapchat, Instagram, and texting. In the end, if students want to be able Seventh grade Math teacher Mrs. Amanda Praska understands both sides of the cell to use technology in class, they need to be phone usage issue. She has seen students use their devices to solve problems and set able to demonstrate the self-discipline to reminders. However, more often, she has seen students’ attention get drawn away, and not use it inappropriately. watched them lose their focus because of devices. “Cell Phones, in general, affect students grades because they lose their concentra- tion,” she said. Praska also said she’s noticing that in her classes where students are sneaking looks at their phones, grades are trending downward. She admits that it does affect her teaching because she is competing with how easily students get distracted. “I think that Snapchat is the most used Social Media site,” she said. “It grabs all of their attention and focuses them too much on how many ‘views’ they get.” Some of Northglenn’s eighth graders NGMS seventh grade student Ashley Padilla agreed that the social media websites she with their favorite devices. uses the most are Snapchat and Instagram. “I like these sites,” she explained, “because I get to interact with my friends outside of school.” Padilla admitted that It would probably help students if they left their phones in their lockers during classes. “It could help them get less distracted,” she said. She also thinks that parents play a role. “If parents reduce the amount of technology that their kids use, it would help them get their grades up,” Padilla said, “and focus more during class instead of getting distracted by the sound of their phone.” Mr. Kevin Meis, Northglenn’s I. T. Man of five years, keeps the computers running smoothly. Meis knows that the appropriate application of technology in the classroom can be powerful. Yet he also believes that technology, when used incorrectly, can be a distraction. “That's the main reason why the kids don’t get to use their phones in class,” he said. Computer teacher Mrs. Valerie Fink agreed. Though she gets that phones can be used for educational purposes on such websites as Kahoot (where students can interact with and respond to teachers), she knows that more often than not students can get distracted by the lure of social media and the temptation to text a friend or check their feeds. “I see the need for students to be able to contact parents,” she said. “But as for having the latest smartphone in class? It sometimes disrupts the learning environment at school.” Seventh grade Science teacher Brian Seventh grade Science teacher Mr. Brian Peterson admits that cell phones can be a Peterson, seen here in his “Back to the good tool in the classroom, but he also said, “This could only happen if students use it Future” costume on Halloween, said, appropriately.” “It’s better to socialize face-to-face instead of just communicating with Peterson also agrees with Ashley Padilla, parents do play a role in their kids’ social friends through a screen.” media use and can set a good example by talking to kids about their interactions on 7

Challenge Seekers Club Challenge Seekers is sponsored by sixth grade Language Arts teacher Mrs. by Raeyaunna Rosales Tara Dunning and Media Specialist Mrs. Feeling lonely and left out? It’s okay to admit it. Middle school can be an awkward Kathy Williams. time in the life of even the most well-adjusted kid. Still, here at Northglenn Middle The club meets in the NGMS library School, there are so many opportunities to make new friends. All you have to do is join on Mondays from 3:45-4:30. During club an after-school club. meetings, students will get tons of chal- There are so many to choose from. Here's a list of just a few: Minecraft Club, Chess lenges. They will have to pick locks, Club (now Board Games Club), Pokémon Club, Cooking Club, Challenge Seekers Club, build mazes, solve puzzles, and program Soccer Club, Volleyball Club, Basketball Club, The Spanish Writing Club, Recycling Club robots. Dunning loves to work with and that’s just to name a few. Although these clubs are educational, they are also fun. these students, who are constantly look- And, they’re sure fire ways to get to know some new people and maybe make some new ing for ways to engage their intellect and friends. test their problem-solving skills. “I enjoy Here’s a little bit more information on a few of the clubs. working with kids who think everything is easy,” she said. “I give them tasks that Minecraft Club challenge them.” Minecraft Club meets on Tuesdays from 3:45-4:30 in room F100. One of the reasons that Minecraft Club is so much fun is because club leader Mrs. Valerie Fink, the Comput- er Education teacher, logs in to a server that creates a new and interesting Minecraft Cooking Club world for students to explore. Cooking club is also on Tuesdays. It Being social is a big part of Minecraft Club because you get to meet new students, and takes place in room C104 and is spon- you also get to learn more about the game itself. sored by Mrs. Genevieve O'Bryan. The club starts after school at 3:45 and ends Take for example, eighth grader Diana Lujan. She is interested in the club because she about 45 minutes later. wants to get better at the game and learn to create more buildings. “I want to know more about Minecraft Club,” she said. “Because I want to build awesome houses.” Like According to O’Bryan, the club pro- Lujan, most students want to learn how to build and how to control their character. vides an opportunity for kids to be intro- duced to basic kitchen skills, like how to When you first start Minecraft, you get a beginner’s turtle. From there, you can build properly chop up fruits and vegetables, anything that is appropriate. how to read a recipe and measure ingre- If you want to join, all you have to do is show up and sign in on any given Tuesday. dients, and what different types of foods are out there in this wide world. “The What Who Where When purpose of the club is to give students a Book Club Mrs. Berohn F 112 Fridays during lunch Recycling Club Mrs. Hake and Ms. G 114 Mondays 3:45-4:30 chance to learn culinary skills and try Mikayla Weingarten. diverse new foods,” she explained. “I Mariachi Club Mr. Stopperan Band Room Mondays 3:45-4:30 love to see kids try new foods.” Jazz Band Mr. Stopperan Band Room Fridays 7:45-8:20 Board Games Club Mrs. Sawaged and F 111 Thursdays 3:45-4:30 Cooking Club welcomes would be Mr. Chermak chefs of all skill levels. Some students Yearbook Club Mrs. Praska, Mrs. G 106 Thursdays 3:45-4:30 Nementh, and Ms. are experienced cooks, and some have Spinoso never even boiled water before. They Spanish Club Mrs. Cortes B 107 Tuesdays 3:45-4:30 MathCounts Club Mrs. Shaffer Mobile 5 Wednesdays 7:15- are all at the club to get better. Some 8:15 student chefs have the goal of cooking an Basketball Club Mr. Espinoza and Gym Tuesdays and Thurs- Mrs. Christus days 3:45-5:00 entire meal for their parents, while oth- Scrapbook Club Mrs. Shock G 109 Thursdays 7:20-8:20 ers just want to know how to cook up a Pokémon Club Mrs. Kawalec and C 105 Mondays 3:50-4:15 Ms. Edwards tasty snack for themselves. Whatever Student Ambassador Mrs. Ralph and Mrs. F 112 Tuesdays 3:50-4:30 your goals, if you are interested in food Berohn (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), then you National Junior Hon- Ms. Williams and Library Tuesdays 3:45-4:30 or Society Mrs. Dunning should check out Cooking Club. Battle of the Books Ms. Williams Library Wednesdays during Club grade level lunches 8

Minecraft Mania It’s a fact that all middle schoolers at by Deavion Turner-Rosales NGMS like to hang out with their friends, but when the school day ends, everyone goes home and you don’t see each other again until the next day. But what if you want to see your friends for longer than the seven plus hours of the school day? That’s where Minecraft Club comes in. Todd Young, another seventh grade student that goes to the club every Tues- day, enjoys seeing his friends. “I can have fun with friends while playing Mine- craft,” he claimed. What could be better? Since the game is multiplayer, Young, along with everybody else in the club, in- The Minecraft Club meets Tuesdays after school in F-100. Mrs. Valerie Fink, the teracts with others and learns how to col- leader of Minecraft Club, explained that all that students really do in the club is play laborate and cooperate while having fun. Minecraft. To review, Minecraft is a multiplayer Since May 16, 2009 when it was first released, Minecraft has taken the world by game that you can build and create, have storm. Over 27 million copies of the popular video game have been sold on PC alone. fun with friends, and spend an hour playing Since then, it has become one of the most popular games of all time. So, it makes perfect video games. Now who doesn’t like that? sense that Minecraft the game has morphed into Minecraft Club, a Northglenn Middle Remember, it takes place after school School after school gathering. on Tuesdays, begins at 3:45 and ends at For those of you who like mining, crafting, building, hunting, surviving, creating, and 4:45. See you there! having fun with friends, then you should go to room F100 after school on Tuesdays. There you will find about 20 to 25 other students that will join you every Tuesday. All you have to do to join is come in and play. Still, how much do you actually know about Minecraft Club? Well, Mrs. Valerie Fink, the leader of Minecraft Club, explained that all that students really do in the club is play Minecraft. However, there are other reasons you should join the club. For example, the opportunity to be creative in front of other students and the chance to hang out with your friends after school are other great excuses. According to Dillon Urland, a seventh grader here at NGMS, Minecraft Club is time well spent. “Minecraft is a motivational game, and you can build and survive and have fun,” he ex- Seventh Grader Rachel Morgan talks plained. Needless to say, like the 25 or strategy during a recent Minecraft Club so other students that come every meeting. “Minecraft is a motivational game, and you can build and survive Tuesday, he enjoys Minecraft Club. and have fun,” explained club member When asked, Dillon said what he Dillion Urland. likes most about Minecraft. He said he likes to build and create things. However, that isn’t all you can do. Caden Wells and Ethan Collins share a laugh during Minecraft Club. Image courtesy of Creative Commons 9

More hits, sets, and spikes with the Volleyball Club Though there is some fierce game play, by Aliyah Rivera the Volleyball Club doesn’t focus on competition. Instead, it is an intramural club team (the prefix intra- means “within, on Desperate to get the volleyball over the net, players run and jump around the shiny the inside"). Sablich explained: “We had gym floor. "Pow!" One of the players hits the ball with all their might. The ball jets over anywhere between 12 and 20 students the net as another player races quickly to try and save it from hitting the ground. It's from all three grade levels,” he said. 4:40 pm on a Tuesday, and the Volleyball Club is practicing their game. “We’d pick teams and then compete During practice, players learn different skills, such as the different hits, and how to against each other.” correctly bump, set, and spike the ball. Seventh grade ESL teacher Mr. Ean Sablich is the head coach of the club team. He believes volleyball is great for all students, because anyone can play, and it offers excellent physical exercise. “Personally, to me, I think Volleyball is important because it’s another great way for kids of any age to get some exercise and to learn something new,” he said. According to the coach, Volleyball is also great for learning to work together with teammates. “It helps you learn to communicate, work together with a team, and to overcome the difficulty of learning new skills,” the coach explained. Sablich noted that practice starts with warm ups and fundamentals, and ends with game play. When Volleyball practice starts, players do some stretching and warm ups to get their muscles ready. Then they go at it. “After warming up, we start practicing a couple different skills,” Sablich explained. Along the way, players learn volleyball terminology, some strategy, how to keep score, serve, and, of course, the three different types of hits. “We do different drills that focus on different skills,” Sablich poetically explained. “Then we usually end practice with a scrimmage where students can face each other in a game."

Eighth Grader Abbigail Lara practices setting the ball. “We do different drills that focus on different skills,” Sablich explained. “Then we usually end practice with a scrimmage where students can face each other in a game."

Even though it was mainly intended to be fun, Sablich had big goals for the players, as he hoped the players will continue playing in high school or for a club team. “Some students might want to play volleyball later in their lives,” he said. “So we focus on fundamentals and teaching those skills.” In conclusion, according to the coach- es and players, Volleyball is a good sport, helpful for students all ages. It taught stu- A few members of the Volleyball Club take a pause from practice to pose. The club dents new skills, encouraged camaraderie focuses on fundamentals as well as fun, dividing practice time between working on and competition, and helped students stay drills and skills and playing practice games. active after school.

How to build a storage con- A binge worthy show tainer Personal Computer by Emily Johnson by Ismael Ruiz Have you ever had a time in your life when you were just flat out bored? Of course Want to create a small-enough com- you have; we all have. It’s human to be bored, but do you know how to fix that? puter that you can carry it around easily. Technology has advanced, and now, so have the television shows available for entertain- All you have to do is find a container (a ment. There is always a good show to watch on T.V, whether it’s a rainy day, a blizzard, wooden box works well) that can accom- or you just want a pleasant distraction. modate a Micro-ATX computer mother- In this modern age, television shows are now a lot like books. You can look at a board, a standard ATX power supply, book, and just by looking at the cover, you can tell if you want to watch or not. Of two 3½ inch hard drives, and a 2½ hard course, there are always the endless recommendations, the recommendations that go, drive or solid-state drive (SSD). “Because you watched this show (insert your favorite title here), you might also enjoy You won’t need a graphics processing this show” (insert title of a show you’ve never heard of).” unit (GPU), the CPU has integrated However, most of those shows are recommended based solely on mathematical graphics, which aren’t great, but they logarithms. These equations have no idea what you’re like as a person. Instead, it’s al- work, and you don’t need much power ways better to get show recommendations from a human being, preferably someone anyway. who knows you well, or is at least on the same level as you. So, here is a show that will First, decide where you want to put be worth your time: the Netflix original, “Stranger Things.” the power supply. The bottom center is a The show is set in 1980’s America, in a small Indiana town called Hawkins. A lot of good spot, with the power cable running weird and strange things go on in Hawkins that no one seems to be able to explain. out one of the handles of the box. Tape In essence, “Stranger Things” is a show about a creature who takes people to anoth- the cord down with double-sided tape er dimension. In season one, the disappearance of a young boy, Will Byers, sets the and electrical tape. story in motion. While some of the small town’s citizens search for the lost boy, his Then, put the computer power cables three friends begin an expedition of their own to locate him. Yet instead of finding the to one side, so you can mount other boy, they uncover a myriad of other secrets that has all of Hawkins on edge. hardware later. It seems that fans have really taken a shine to the show. Sixth grader Ashlyn Can- You should be able to put the hard canon, for example, claims the show is one of her favorites. “I like “Stranger Things,” drives to the side of the power supply she said. “It’s a good show.” Cancanon thinks others should check out “Stranger and the SSD on the bottom. Things.” “They’re suspenseful and fun to watch,” she claimed. Next, test fit the motherboard on top Mia Mondrono, another sixth grader, agreed. She says the show is also one of her of the hard drives. It should fit, just tape favorites. “I like watching and I would recommend it because it’s really funny,” she said. it with some more double-sided tape to “It’s a really cool show.” secure it. You can also use the hard Obviously, as a Netflix original, you will only be able to watch it on Netflix. The sec- drives as pillars to hold up the mother- ond season is just out. board. So, whether you’re a fan reviewing season one, or a newbie who wants to just binge, It might not be the most attractive tune in. You won’t be disappointed. setup in the history of computer design, but it works. All that’s left to do is install Windows 10 and some games that don’t need too much power and voila!

It will play YouTube videos perfectly courtesyImage of Flickr fine, and you can use it for some light gaming. The best part is that it’s cheap and easy to do. So, if you are into tinkering around

with some computer electronics, have a go. It will be easier than you’d think.

The Beautiful Game has it’s fans here at NGMS Dress code policy benefits students Here’s how. by Bryce McDonald by Anastacia Elsberry In professional soccer (Futbol to the rest of the world) there are many professional leagues, and millions of fans, including several here at NGMS. Of course, everyone has Here at NGMS, the dress code has their favorites, teams, players, leagues and managers. been around since 2012. Although many Take for example eighth grader Marcus Martinez. Martinez’s’ favorite team is Chelsea. students oppose the dress code because “It has to be Chelsea,” he said. “Chelsea are blue, and blue is my favorite color, and they they don't think it's necessary, teachers have a solid team.” and administrators obviously have a differ- Martinez seems to be a true fan. He knows some club history and can recall past play- ent perspective. They point to several ers and managers. reasons why there’s a policy. He even named former players Didier Drogba (currently at Phoenix Rising) and Petr Eighth grade social studies Mr. Chris- Cech (now with Arsenal) as two of his favorite players of all time. topher Peterson has been around since Martinez’s current favorite is Belgian international Eden Hazard, who happens to play the days when there was no dress code for his favorite team. “He’s one of the best players at the club and even in the Premier policy. He explained that the policy start- League,” Martinez claimed. ed because there was a lot of fighting and students being disrespectful towards each Martinez is just one of the many Futbol fans here at Northglenn. Eighth grader Oscar other. Ortiz is another. Peterson said he noticed a difference His favorite team is one of the La Liga giants, Barcelona, and, not surprisingly, Ortiz immediately. “I think the first year I saw a claims that Barca striker Lionel Messi is, “Simply the greatest of all time.” big change on how students behaved on For other players, Ortiz also keeps his love mostly in Spain. “Ter Stegen (Barca Goal- those type of issues.” keeper and #1 for German National Team) is one of the best goalies in the world right Peterson appreciates that the policy is now,” he said. He also admires Barca defender Samuel Umtiti and midfielder Ivan Rakitić, in place because it keeps students from though Ortiz admits that Luka Modrić, a midfielder with Barca rival Real Madrid, is better. wearing inappropriate clothing, and that’s Eighth grader Ethan Florio is another student who is fond of European Futbol, though one less thing he has to deal with in a day. he also prefers the Premier League (England’s top division). The venerable Manchester “I think it helps kids and teachers,” he United is his favorite team. “They have talent in nearly every position,” he stated. “We said. “The policy makes it clear how you have people like Bailly at the back, Marcus Rashford up front, Anthony Martial in the mid- can look and what you are wearing.” dle with Juan Mata, and David De Gea in goal.” Peterson also thinks that the dress Like many Soccer/Futbol fans, Florio remarked that the Spanish goalkeeper is at the code policy helps to reduce bullying. “I top of his game. “De Gea is one of the top three greatest goalkeepers,” he said. “If not think it does help stop bullying,” he said. the best right now.” “Because it makes everyone basically look When it comes to some of the other Man. U players, Florio thinks some of them are and dress the same.” He believes that’s a overrated and overpaid. Of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Florio admits he’s a great player good thing. “If students don't have the on the field, but not worth all the drama. “He is just way too arrogant,” he said. newest coolest clothing, it’s no big deal,” Of French midfielder Paul Pogba, the most expensive player in the world, Florio noted he said. “Because everyone is wearing a that he’s a brilliant player, but overpriced. ‘’89 million pounds (that’s north of 125 million polo shirt.” U.S. dollars) is too much for what he did this season,” he stated. The dress code also helps kids get In all, the La Liga and the Premier League are Northglenn Middle’s favorites among all more life experience. Any job you have in the various professional leagues, though the Bundesliga (German league), Calcio A (Italian the future you’d have to wear some type League), and Ligue 1 (French league) were mentioned. of uniform. In the end, the thing all these Futbol fans have in common is the love of the game. Peterson points out that in real life, Brazilian great Pele called it “o jogo bonito,” “The Beautiful Game.” It seems like many you have to wear a uniform. For instance, Northglenn students agree. if you are working at the Super 8 Hotel, staff have to wear polos of blue and red.

See Uniform cont. P. 13 12

You have to show up in uniform. Same is true if you’re going to work at Allstate, where Picture This: As seen at NGMS women must wear slacks instead of leggings. McDonald’s is the same way. If you’re working there (on pretty much any fast food restaurant), you’re wearing a uniform. So, in reality, having to wear a uniform is getting Northglenn students prepared for the real world. Sixth grade teacher Mrs. Alisa Hake agreed with her fellow Social Studies teacher. She thinks that not only does the policy reduce bullying, it also avoids students dressing unsuitably. “Often times when students wear whatever they can ended up dressing inappropriately, and maybe exposing too much skin,” she said. “But the uniform policy takes that away so students are more focused on school instead of what other people are wearing.” Hake pointed out another benefit of the dress code policy. “It helps parents not spend so much money on clothes,” she said. Hake argues that the uniform policy has other benefits as well. She points out that it helps out with students’ safety. “It helps the staff, students and parents know who be- longs here,” she said. “Kids that are running around that are not in uniform will be easily noticeable. “ Assistant principle Mrs. Teresa Barajas agreed with Hake. Barajas stated that one of the main reason they put dress code in place is for safety reasons. “For staff safety reasons, it's a good thing to be able to identify all of their students,” she said. “If they are not in uniform then they don't belong here.” It also helps keep kids from being bullied because the can’t be judged based on their clothes, Barajas pointed out. She also observed that many middle school students are worried about what they are going to wear and how they’re going to look. “I think it helps students because they don't have to worry about clothing today,” she said. Barajas also said that the dress code policy helps stop bullying because students are wearing the same things and they are not picking on each other about who has the best clothing, so it stops those conversations and helps defuse issues where students make fun of others based on how they’re dressed. Northglenn Principal Jami Miller also believes that dress code does help students at NGMS. He thinks that not only are students safer, they are also behaving better. “Since I’ve been here with this policy in place, referrals, which were around 1,600 per year, have been cut down by half,” he said.

The Knightly News would like to thank all the students, teachers, counselors and administrators that make NGMS such a special place. Also, a shout out to Trista Abbott and Jenna Schug who helped edit this edition.

secundaria están asistir a la universidad de Los. estudiantes de octavo grado se están preparando para una nueva etapa de sus vidas y para decirnos hasta luego Colorado en Denver, a la Universidad de Colorado en Boulder y a la Universidad by the Spanish Writing Club de Harvard. Las carreras universitarias en Editor’s note: According to Spanish Teacher Mrs. Adriana Cortés las cuales están en la actualidad in- Statistics show that more students fail ninth grade than any other year in school. The teresados son; la medicina, la enfermería, reasons for this dip in student achievement are varied and complex. Eighth graders la veterinaria y el diseño de modas. contemplating the move to ninth grade worry about a variety of new situations such as: bullying, additional work, grades, getting “lost”, finding new friends, and also the De igual manera entrevistamos a los new drama in their life. Here at NGMS we want to support these students and main- tain their motivated during this new step in their life. We have tools that they can use padres de los estudiantes de octavo to make this process easier for themselves and their families. We hope you remember grado ya que ellos forman parte im- that at NGMS we walk in smart and walk out smarter. We wish you the best! portante de la educación de sus hijos aquí en NGMS y así lo serán en la próxima Los estudiantes de Nortglenn Middle School ya están preparados para iniciar el segun- etapa de sus vidas. A los padres de los do semestre académico del año escolar 2017-2018. Después de las anheladas vacaciones estudiantes les preguntamos de igual de invierno hemos regresado recargados de energía para continuar trabajando arduamente manera los temores que ellos, los padres para tener éxito académico en lo que resta de año escolar 2017-2018, al igual que para tienen y ellos nos dijeron que el acoso estar mejor preparados para el próximo año académico 2018-2019. escolar y las nuevas amistades que sus Antes de irnos a disfrutar de las vacaciones de verano los miembros del club de escri- hijos tendrán hacen parte de esos tura en español de la escuela entrevistamos a los estudiantes de octavo grado teniendo en miedos, al igual que las nuevas experi- cuenta que para ellos se aproxima la fecha en la que se irán de la escuela para iniciar su encias a las cuales sus hijos pueden estar educación secundaria aquí llamada high school. En la encuesta realizada a los estudiantes de expuestos y probablemente no estar octavo grado les preguntamos acerca de los principales temores que ellos estaban experi- preparados para enfrentar, también les mentando ahora que están a punto de iniciar su noveno grado, cuales deportes les gustaría preocupa saber si ellos están listos para practicar en la high school, que planes tenían para cuando se gradúen al igual que acerca de tomar buenas decisiones si tuviesen que las universidades a las que a ellos les gustaría estudiar y por supuesto la carrera universi- decidir entre hacer o no hacer algo que taria que quisieran llevar a cabo. les traiga consecuencias negativas a futuro Los estudiantes de octavo grado nos respondieron que sus principales temores son; como lo son las drogas y la sexualidad. sus calificaciones en la escuela secundaria, el acoso o intimidación escolar al igual que el Teniendo en cuenta las respuestas drama que nuevas amistades les pueden traer a sus vidas. En cuanto a los deportes a prac- que ambas encuestas tuvieron nos senti- ticar están el football, volleyball y baloncesto. En cuanto a los planes al terminar la escuela mos involucrados y quisimos ayudar a los estudiantes y padres de los estudiantes de la escuela a buscar la solución, por lo que también entrevistamos a la señora consejera del grado octavo y a uno de los maestros que en la actualidad les dicta clase a ellos. La señora Biller, quién es la consejera de los alumnos de octavo grado, les recomienda a los estudiantes contactar a la consejera del grado noveno de la escuela a la cual ellos asistirán para tener a alguien con quien hablar acerca de esos temores o en caso de ser victima de acoso escolar, de sus calificaciones y de como mejorarlas. A los padres de familia de los mismos estudiantes la señora Biller les recomienda continuar involucrados en la escuela, en la vida académica de sus The Spanish Writing Club members See Article cont. P. 11 14

hijos al igual que en la vida de sus hijos para De igual manera esperamos que los be realistic and well informed, students poder apoyarlos en el momento en que sus estudiantes que cada año escolar salen de should get more experience with different hijos así lo requieran. la escuela hacia la escuela secundaria o high jobs. “Kids should just be exposed to more El señor Williamson, maestro de ciencias school, sean unos excelentes y fieles rep- options,” she said. “Because they only sociales, nos dijo que en la actualidad el resentantes de nuestra escuela la cual se know half of the jobs out there.” Hake be- nivel académico de los estudiantes aquí en preocupa al máximo por educarnos para lieves that students should have a go at a Northgleen Middle school es bueno pero que tengamos un futuro lleno de éxitos en wide variety of jobs, just to have the practice obviamente siempre es conveniente dar más cada campo de nuestra vida. A Northglen of working in different settings and situa- y ser mejores en lo que hacemos. De igual Middle School todos entramos con conoci- tions, and with a variety of personalities and manera el señor Williamson les recomienda miento y salimos de ella sabiendo más cada people. a todos los estudiantes mejorar sus ha- día. Numerous NGMS students, including bilidades en la lectura y la escritura ya que seventh grader Jose Montoya, agreed with ambas son claves en el proceso de aprendi- Mrs. Hake. They advise that if students per- zaje. ceive themselves as only good at one thing Las recomendaciones de nuestros ex- Can You See the Future? (and consequently don't want to try new pertos siempre son de gran importancia by Trista Abbott and Jenna Schug things), they have the wrong attitude. “You para nosotros y por lo tanto entrevistamos should try new things, and not just food,” a los directivos de nuestra escuela y en esta Have you ever wondered what stu- Montoya suggested. oportunidad la señora Barajas, nuestra sub- dents think their future will be like? Or, His criteria for success is pretty simple. directora les recomienda a todos los estu- do your friends not think that far “If you’re doing something you like and get- diantes involucrarse en actividades extra- ahead? Well, it's time to start thinking ting paid for it, you’re doing it right,” he said. about the question, and entertaining curriculares para así hacer de la escuela Bandleader Mr. Corey Stoperran who as some thoughts about the future from superior no solo un lugar donde aprendan always managed to combine his vocation your fellow students and teachers. en el campo académico sino que además un (skills and passions) with his avocation (job), lugar donde adquieran otras habilidades que Of course, as you might expect, most thinks Montoya might be on to something. la vida real requiere. middle school students will say “I don’t Yet Stoperran feels that students need to El señor Underwood quién es nuestro know,” when asked about their future, take advantage of what they are learning subdirector nos recuerda a todos los estu- but are they really sure that they don’t from working in groups at school, how to diantes, no solo de octavo grado sino a to- know? deal with people with different personalities. dos los estudiantes de NGMS desde sexto Your future is a priority in life. Some It’s people skills Stoperran calls it, and it’s hasta octavo grado que graduarse en la es- kids are on top of it, knowing what col- something a lot of NGMS students should cuela secundaria es parte fundamental para lege they are going to, and what career work on. “They (students) need to be per- los planes académicos de los estudiantes, al they want. They know what they are fecting their people skills,” he said. “Because igual que nos recuerda la importancia de doing and they stick to their plan until no matter what their job is, they will most estar comprometidos cada día con el apren- they reach their goals. However, some likely be working with people.” dizaje para tener así promedios que a futuro students are still confused or have unreal- Still, others think the future is still too far nos lleven a buenos centros académicos e istic dreams to be a rap star or to play in away to start worrying about it now. Take inclusive a beneficiarnos con becas y ayudas the NFL. However, for most, the chanc- seventh grade Science teacher Mr. Kyle educativas económicas. es of that are extremely low. Needless Hartman, for example. He believes that it is Los miembros del club de escritura en to say, you got to have a backup plan in perfectly normal for middle schoolers, espe- español de la escuela queremos darles áni- life. cially seventh graders, to not know what mos a los estudiantes de octavo grado al There are plenty of jobs you can have. they are going to do in their lives. “I think igual que desearles éxitos en el tiempo que For example, you might find work as a it’s okay,” he said. “I think that they still have les resta en la estadía aquí en la escuela al construction worker or an accountant. a long time to think about their futures.” igual que motivarlos para que continúen These are just a few examples of jobs you Then there’s the students that don’t real- mejorando en todo lo que sea necesario can have when you are older. ly sweat anything. These are the people that para que la llegada a la nueva escuela However, according to sixth grade have enough self-confidence to feel like they secundaria sea mas fácil de llevar. Social Studies teacher Mrs. Alisa Hake, to See Future cont. P. 12 15

can deal with anything. Seventh grader After-school study sessions: Isabella Gallegos is one of them. She’s a prime time to get the homework help you need! not worried, and might have a good rea- by Madison Travis-Adams son not to be. “I'm not nervous,” she said. “I feel like if you hang on to some- Study session. It’s a time, usually after school, when teachers are available to provide thing, you can succeed at anything.” help for students who need a little extra. The reason that teachers offer study sessions What do you think? Do you have is simple: Sometimes in a class of 30 or more, a student can be overlooked and or ne- something to hang on to? Do you have a glected, not that the teacher is purposely doing this to the student, but it happens. Study plan for the future, or are you just going session gives students an opportunity to have more one on one time with students, so to let it float? Some students here at they can get the help they need to get their class work completed. It’s a perfect time, NGMS know exactly what they want, teachers say, for students to have access to a fully focused and completely attentive while others are clueless. And although teacher. it’s normal for students to not know According to eighth grade Math teacher about their futures just yet, the Mrs. Julie Shaffer, there is a noticeable im- Northglenn Counseling Department is provement in students that attend the trying to get students to think more study sessions. It increases their academic about. So, the question remains…. can productivity in the classroom when a stu- you see the future? dent attends, Shaffer noted. “It’s small group based,” she explained. “Which gives Poet’s Corner students a chance to really walk out (of the session) with a better understanding of Rain what they were struggling with.” by Regina Gomez To some teachers, the after-school sessions are so important they occasionally

require certain students to attend. Mrs. Drip, Drop, Drip, the noise coming Mervat Sawaged, for example, another Mrs. Mervat Sawaged often requires from my windowsill, eighth grade Math teacher, often requires students to attend. “I made study ses- like a leaky faucet students to attend. “I made study session sion mandatory for a group of students in the middle of the night. mandatory for a group of students who were who were slacking in class,” she explained. “They were not turning in A hint of the breeze slacking in class,” she explained. “They were their homework and overall not being blows by the window, not turning in their homework and overall active students in my class.” the leaves tumble not being active students in my class.” down the street, running with the wind. Sawaged’s objectives are simple, enable struggling students to pass their eighth grade Math class. “My only goal is to better my students,” she said. The light bounces off water droplets on the cars, And many students relish the chance to improve the academic skills. Eighth grader a thousand tiny mirrors Joanna Garcia, for example, attends study session at least once a week. Garcia goes so reflect the midnight sky, that she can get additional help, usually with Math. She claims that during study session, with a little diamond of white. teachers tend to be more attentive. According to her, she would really struggle without

The trees swish and sway additional practice. “I feel proud of myself because I’m taking the initiative and improving throughout the night, my Math skills,” explained Garcia. as the heart of the storm So, if you need a little bit of extra help on that difficult Math concept, or need sup- breaths and beats like a tribal drum. port writing your five-paragraph literary analysis for your Language Arts class, study ses- Sleep away the cold. sion is an amazing opportunity to get help. Soon, in the morning, With that, the real question becomes why don’t students take more advantage of the light will show. opportunity provided to them to get the assistance they need? “It really is the best way to succeed academically,” Mrs. Shaffer insists.