ABGS MS Celebrates Spring! SPRING 2020

Tiger’s Paw Volume 2, Issue 2 A newsletter published by A.B.G.S. Middle School Newsletter Club 70 Greenwich St., Hempstead, NY 11550 www.hempsteadschools.org Phone: (516) 434-4300

Check School Website! SPRING AHEAD MS Students & Families: Please students are going on virtual field trips, check the school website daily for ABGS Middle school is excited that Spring learning new platforms like Acellus, seeing guidance on the overall academic is here! With spring comes dandelions, their classmates in “Meeting Rooms,” and structural program for each grade afternoon showers, sun drenched windows figuring out how to learn more and, of course, the good old ELA exam level. The website also has independently with support at home. important information for parents …which was to begin March 25. But this is Perhaps, most surprising, many tell us they a Spring like none we have ever seen and students, along with library are missing school, friends and teachers and academic resources. before. Due to a pandemic called COVID- but the beauty is that they can see them all 19 or coronavirus, our school buildings in the “Meeting Room” or the Chat Room. have been closed, but learning is still going As we forge ahead, take a moment to enjoy ATTENTION STUDENTS! WIN $5 on – in the homes of our students as they the latest issue of Tiger’s Paw! Subway GIFTCARD! become attuned to something called online -The advisors instruction. Teachers, students, and Read the newsletter, answer the families are showing perseverance like questions below correctly and you Salva in A Long Walk to Water, as we may be one of 3 students to have navigate a new path for learning and your entry drawn in a Raffle. making connections. This new path affects 1. Where did Ms. T. Washington’s all of us – teachers and students are field trip traveler’s go in December? learning together as we move around in this new digital world and are 2. What is the main idea of the Skit? communicating with each other in exciting 3. When is Ground Hog’s Day? new ways against a backdrop of a war waged against an invisible enemy. Our 4. Name one of the historical figures newsletter pieces were written before the Emerson Ramirez illustrated. current health crises. It includes creative Email your responses to mfox@ work on the part of our students. In this hempsteadschools.org or new education normal, every aspect of [email protected] by schooling goes on – it just goes on in new April 20th -make sure you put your name ways. Instead of traditional “field trips,” on your entry and answer in complete sentences. Good luck! Note: Members of Newsletter Club may not enter contest.

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By Tabitha Marcel Valentine's Day is a romantic holiday celebrated each year on February 14. Usually on that day, we celebrate love and affection. Valentine’s Day is all about greeting cards and gifts, dating, and church services. But, really, where did the whole idea of “Valentine's Day” come from? Valentine was a man. Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before he was put to death, he sent the first 'valentine' to the jailer's daughter when he wrote her a letter and signed it, “Your Valentine.” Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance and love on that special day…and every day.

Fun Facts about Valentine’s Day  Origins to a Bloody Pagan Festival.  Letters Addressed to 'Juliet'  Box of Chocolates.  First Valentine Was Written from a Prison.  'Vinegar Valentines' Discouraged Suitors.  'Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve'  'Sweethearts' Candies Started Out as Lozenges.  Cupid Began as a Greek God

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5) Groundhogs eat plants and grass and are herbivores. -Giovanni Michel AROUND THE CLUBS!

You’ve heard about Groundhog Day, right? The holiday where it’s an early spring if the Groundhog On MLK Day with Mr. Segure’s law club, and does not see his shadow and if he does see his Boy Scouts it consisted of many activities you shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter. You could choose from. The two activities I chose probably already knew this but did you know where were putting utensil bundles together and a it actually came from? The first official Groundhog vaping workshop. Putting the utensils Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887 in together was benefiting the Mary Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The tradition actually Brennan Soup Kitchen in Hempstead. I then comes from Germany. On an old Cristian holiday attended a vaping workshop. The called Candlemas Day the Germans paid attention vaping workshop gave an interesting insight to a badger. Candlemas Day was the midpoint into e-cigarettes and cigarettes. I really between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. If the badger saw its shadow, it meant a “second enjoyed these activities and hope that I can do winter” was coming in other words 6 more weeks of them again. I also like knowing that the winter. Candlemas Day is a Cristian holiday utensils I put together helped people in need, celebrated annually on February 2. How does after all, isn’t that what it’s all about?- Candlemas Day relate to Groundhog Day? Christina Hines Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas, when Clergy The Lady Tigers Club members led by advisor would bless & distribute candles needed for winter. Mrs. Barnes, posted Black history highlights The candles represented how long and cold the near the heavy trafficked main office as a winter would be. Germans expanded on the reminder of the importance of the month. concept by selecting an animal to predict weather. According to research, the response you get from the Groundhog is only 25% accurate. There have been a few times where it has been right but it’s

most likely to be wrong. Still, Groundhog Day is a chance for some light-hearted fun in the middle of winter.-Danna Mendoza

5 Fun Facts On Groundhog Day 1) Groundhog Day is February 2nd each year. 2) The groundhog is also known as a woodchuck. 3) Groundhogs are members of the squirrel family and are largest of all marmots. 4) Groundhogs can climb trees and can swim very well.

# Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on friend Maya Angelou's birthday, on April 4, 1968. Angelou stopped celebrating her birthday for years afterward, and sent flowers to King's widow, Coretta Scott King, for more than 30 years, until Coretta's death in 2006.

# First lady Eleanor Roosevelt challenged the segregation rules at the Southern Conference on Human Welfare in Birmingham, Alabama, so she could sit next to African American educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune. Roosevelt would come to refer to Bethune as "her closest friend in her age group."

# Female science fiction author Octavia Butler was dyslexic. Despite her disorder, she went on to win Hugo and Nebula awards for her writing, as well as a "genius" grant from the MacArthur Foundation.

#When African American neurosurgeon Ben Carson was a child, his mother required him to read two library books a week and give her written reports, even though she was barely literate. She would then take the papers and pretend to carefully review them, placing a checkmark at the top of the page to show her approval. The assignments inspired Carson's eventual love of reading and learning.

# Politician, educator and Brooklyn native Shirley Chisholm survived three assassination attempts during her campaign for the 1972 Democratic nomination to the U.S. presidency.

# Rap artist Chuck D graduated from Adelphi University, where he studied graphic design.

Emerson Ramirez’s artistic rendition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of the most when we honor him on his special day. celebrated names in the Civil Rights Movement. He believed in non-violent protests and made incredible speeches such as the “I Have a Dream” speech. He led the Montgomery bus boycott in response to the arrest of Rosa Parks, who was arrested for sitting in the front of a bus. His is a name that we will always remember every January The dream lives on...and on…and on INSPIRED STUDENT ART…

` Emerson Ramirez was inspired while reading The Diary of Anne Frank in Damari Diaz makes her artistic class to create this image of Anne dreaming of one day being free from debut in Tiger’s Paw newsletter the Secret Annex.

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Art is  any creative work of a human being  a form of expressing oneself  resides in the quality of doing; the process is not magic  an act of making something visually entertaining  an activity that manifests the beauty  the mastery, an ideal way of doing things  not a thing — it is a way  the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known  discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into beautiful forms suitable for human use. https://www.theartist.me/art/what-is-art/

ABGS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS OUT & ABOUT!!!!

. Micaal making gingerbread cookies ABGS Students in Gaming Class during a Friday night Boy Scout event. at Adelphi University (B.R.) Credit: M. Tuitt

Christopher Powell & Mr. Segure at Hofstra’s February 3rd Black History Month event.

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW…IS TO FOCUS ON LOVE & COMPASSION!

Valentine’s Day is Every Day! By Génesis Chacón

Valentine’s Day is celebrated as the day of love. However, it is my opinion that people spend a lot of money on pointless items for loved one’s . To prove this point, I conducted a survey to identify what people bought the most on Valentine’s Day; flowers, chocolate, or teddy bears . The results came back as flowers being the gift most often bought. Why would you spend so much money on something that’s going to die? Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be the only day to share your love for someone. According to research, while some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of St. Valentine’s death or burial–which probably occurred around A.D. 270–others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s Feast Day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the Ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. With all these interesting facts in mind, Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be the only day you value your loved one’s.

IMPEACHMENT PROCESS By Chaessy Rodriguez Sosa I’m sure you have heard about the recent story in the news. President Donald Trump was brought up on impeachment charges for taking advantage of being president and abusing his power. As president, he violated the rules of his presidency. Even though he was impeached by the House, he did not get removed from office by the Senate, unfortunately. We might not pay attention to these types of things because as kids we do have other things to think about, but it is important to know that our world is changing. Events like this will affect all of us in the future. Also, the election of 2020 is coming up in a few months and if Donald Trump is our president for another four years, we are in big trouble! Please remind your parents and other relatives to vote! He has demonstrated racist views against people of color and it needs to end Now! The History of Valentine's Day

-By Jekhi Whitfield McDougal, 8th grader

‘’Love never fails, always hopes, always preserves, it always protects, always trusts, but rejoices with the truth. Love does not delight in evil, it keeps no record of wrongs, it is not easily angered, it's not self-seeking, it is not rude, it is not proud, it does not envy, it does not boast, Love is kind, love is patient.” 1st Corinthians 13 4-8

Valentine's Day is famously celebrated every February 14. Candies, mostly chocolates, flowers, and gifts are exchanged to loved ones. But many do not know how Valentine's Day came to be. It started with someone called St. Valentine, but who is this mysterious person? St. Valentine happens to be a Roman Preist who performed secret weddings against wishes of authorities. Mr. Valentine was a mysterious man. Fun fact: he is said to have healed a nobleman's daughter from blindness, then being converted to a Christian and sealing his fate before being tortured on February 14th. He sent a girl a love note, but that was probably one of many ways this romantic holiday came about. Many believe Valentine's Day came along before the Romans, but no one knows except for those in the olden days. But Valentine's Day is not just a couple's thing, Valentine's Day is for all people -- those in love or not in love. Everyone deserves a little love in their lives from family and friends or even from a stranger.

The Middle School Food Drive benefitted several families. Members of the Lady Tigers Club coordinated the drive with advisor, Mrs. Barnes. ______

ABGS STUDENTS TAKE A FIELD TRIP TO HOWE CAVERN AND EXPLORE A CAVE On December 18, on the eve of the Christmas break, a busload of ABGS students under the guidance of Ms. T. Washington, headed to Howe Cavern in upstate N.Y. to tour a cave, watch glass being made, mine for pearls and savor the holiday spirit of 2019. The students had a great time on the trip, raving about everything from the bus trip itself to the thrilling trek through the cave, the boat ride in the cave, the glass making demo, the snow that greeted them when they departed and the fulfilling dinner at Cracker Barrell. In fact, one student, Ruben Garcia, had such a grand time that, during the school Christmas Break, he and his family went BACK to Howe Cavern and he had even more fun…he saw the bats!!!! Here are a few student thoughts on the trip: Iyanna Stephenson: “I liked everything, including the cave, the glass making and the snow.” Jorge Galo: “I liked the boat ride best.” Emanuel Joya: “I loved walking through the cave and seeing the rocks, some looked like faces and I loved the restaurant.” Ruben: “I liked being on the boat in the water best.” Joseph Raudales: “For the me, the coolest thing was the cave boat ride.” Elizabeth Pichardo: “I liked the bus ride, the cave walk and the boat ride.”

EXPLORING A CAVE; WATCHING GLASS MAKING DEMONSTRATION; MINING FOR PEARLS……

HOW ABGS CAN BE IMPROVED By Tymere Saunders, 7th grader

ABGS MS can be improved. There are three ways I think the school can be improved. First, more of the so-called bad kids need to be held accountable for their actions. For example, when they walk out of class, they should get in more trouble and maybe be suspended for a day rather than being allowed to return to class and act like nothing happened. Second, the teachers need to be nicer to the kids. For example, sometimes teachers seem to be mad at kids for no reason or they come in to the What if a Friend Said She classroom with a bad attitude. That makes the students react in a negative way. When Was Planning to Run Away teachers are nice and have a smile on their from Home? face, the students respond. Third, we need If a good friend told me she was going to run away to clean up our school, especially on the from home, I would advise her not to run away. Also, I outside. Sometimes we see garbage outside would tell my mom or dad so they could also try to talk to my friend. I would cry and beg her not to run and it makes the school look unwelcome. away and if she said she will not run away but does Everyone, including the students, needs to not want to go home, I would invite her to stay at my help pick up garbage and keep our school house and then call her mom and tell her that she is clean. And another thing we need is to ok and safe. But, if I call my troubled friend and she does not answer, I would call the police because I make sure there is toilet paper in the would be worried about her. I care about my friend bathrooms. In the boys bathroom, and will help in any way I can, even if I have to go to sometimes there is no toilet paper so the another state to stay with her for a while. I love my student has to go back to the classroom to friends with all my heart and want to protect them. -Melany Cespedes, 7th grader ask the teacher for tissues and this is wrong. If we can deal better with the bad kids, have friendlier teachers and keep our school clean, we will be heading in the right direction.

are unarmed, so what is your vote going to d? None Ms. Lamothe’s Class showcases of that has been fixed. The importance of Voting Student Two: I hear you, but my vote fixed a lot of other issues. Schools are no longer Skit: segregated, lynchings are no longer commonplace, and many opportunities have been opened to us. Student One: True, but I don’t think it matters that much. Student Three: Yea, it feels like we haven’t come that far at all. Student Two: How can you say that, when so many people fought and died for our right to vote? Student One: Like who? Student Two: Like Malcolm X. Student Four: Student three reads an excerpt from the ballot or the bullet. Malcolm X Excerpt: Say This: This is why I say it’s the ballot or the bullet. It’s liberty or it’s death. It’s freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody. America today finds herself in a unique situation. Historically, revolutions are bloody. Student One: Hey whatssup? We about to go to the Oh, yes, they are. They haven’t never had a blood- park. You coming? less revolution, or a non-violent revolution. That Student Two: Nah man wish I could, but my mom is doesn’t happen even in Hollywood. You don’t have a coming to pick me up. We gotta go vote. revolution in which you love your enemy, and you Student Three: Vote. For what? You not even old don’t have a revolution in which you are begging the enough to vote. system of exploitation to integrate you into it. Student Two: Man, what you mean for what? Voting Revolutions overturn systems. Revolutions destroy is the most important right we have. And anyway, my systems. A revolution is bloody, but America is in a mom says she wants me to learn about the process unique position. She’s the only country in history in a now, so I’m prepared when I turn 18. position actually to become involved in a blood-less Student Three: You chattin. Tell your mom you revolution. The Russian revolution was bloody, don’t wanna go and come play ball. We need an extra Chinese revolution was bloody, French revolution was man, and our votes don’t really count anyway. bloody, Cuban revolution was bloody, and there was Student Two: What do you mean our votes don’t nothing more bloody than the American Revolution. count? But today, this country can become involved in a Student One: Look around you man, look at the revolution that won’t take bloodshed. All she’s got to problems we still face in this country. It’s like the black do is give the black man in this country everything vote doesn’t matter. We still struggle in America and that’s due him, everything. are treated differently. Student One: Wow I've never heard that before. Student Two: You’re right, we still struggle, but we Student Two: Or how about Sojourner Truth, who have come a long way since 1619 when they brought fought for the black vote and the vote for women? those slaves here to be sold in Virginia. I mean we Student Five: Student four reads Sojourner Truth went from being enslaved to having an African Quote American man as our president. Say This: There is a great stir about colored men Student Three: That may be true but unarmed black getting their rights, but not a word about the colored and brown men and women are still struggling. We women; and if colored men get their rights, and not make up the largest population in prisons, we still colored women theirs, you see the colored don’t have the same wealth as our white men will be masters over the women, and it will be counterparts, and police officers shoot us when we just as bad as it was before. So I am for keeping the

thing going while things are stirring; cause if we wait till it is still, it will take a while to get it going again. Student Three: That was powerful. It must have been difficult at that time to fight for voting rights for people of color and women. Student Two: I mean countless people fought for us to have these rights. Dr King of course was one of these people. Student Six:

Martin Luther King Excerpt Say This: Give us the ballot and we will no longer have to worry the federal government about our basic rights. Give us the ballot and we will no longer plead to the federal government for passage of an anti-lynching law;

Student One: I guess you are right. Many people did fight for our right to vote, but I still have to ask, if it really matters. Student Two: It does, voting determines a lot for us. To not vote is a vote. If you don’t vote, politicians can abuse us. When you don’t vote after school programs don’t get funded, like basketball, football and soccer. The people in office determine what funding we will

get. The park we play basketball at won’t have the money to keep up the court, Your mom’s job might move overseas. If it wasn’t for voting, our lives would not be anything like they are today. Student Three: You’re right, I guess I only felt like the presidential elections were important. we will by the power of our vote write the law on the Student One: Yea, me too. I completely ignored the statute books of the southern states and bring an importance of voting in local elections. end to the dastardly acts of the hooded perpetrators Student Two: The local elections play a major role in of violence. our lives. Look, voting effects every aspect of your Give us the ballot and we will transform the salient life. Your vote is what gives you a voice in this world! misdeeds of blood-thirsty mobs into calculated good deeds of orderly citizens. STUDENTS SOMETIMES HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ON TOPICS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS

An Opinion SCHOOL SANITATION By Heaven Washington, 8th Grader injuries, the nurses tend to always want to make us lie down I am a student who attends ABGS or give us an ice pack Middle School and I and other (sometimes a used one) as a students have experienced some solution to all injuries. And sanitation problems that need the band-aids they give us to be addressed. Some of the don’t always stick to our skin. problems include unclean I am also aware of the fact bathrooms (often no tissue, that it isn’t just the soap, paper towels) and the custodians job to clean, it's smell is awful. Also many everyone’s job but in order for classrooms aren’t cleaned on a us to keep it clean, we need it daily basis like they’re to first be clean in order to supposed to be. The lunch maintain it. tables aren’t clean when we come to our lunch period, and the food isn’t the most healthiest or appetizing. Also the school water fountain is very unsanitary, some kids put chip bags, water bottles, old gum, pen ink, etc. into the fountain. Some of the school desks have inappropriate drawings and foul language written on them along with gum stuck on the bottom. Also when the weather is hot, it’s very humid in class or when it’s cold, the teachers often like to open the windows and there’s no heat half of the time. In addition, when kids have Submerged A Poem by Lee

I am submerged into the darkness. Brought under the Wave of my sadness so far out I am lost.

With no one to hear me I’m doomed with nothing yet I lose. The sound of my voice is loose should’ve never assumed

A noise, so far away yet I hear A feeling so Close yes it’s near The storm thunders my way? I am already astray? What am I to say?

I am here in the state that blocks my way So cold and dark I don’t want to stay How to leave? I cannot plea, for my voice is lost under the wave of my own sea

What am I to say?

Back to reality she looks at me but I say nothing so she continues to lead. Not knowing I’m not really there, but still aware, that I cannot plea or cry or feel Where is my life to be?

Co-advisors: Ms. Fox, Ms. Robinson Translator: Mr. Raymond Munoz Contributors:

ABGS Middle School

Principal/Director: Mr. Gray

Assistant Principals/Director Asistente: Mrs. Moore-Drayton Mr. Moore Mrs. Ramsey IB Coordinator: Ms. Hood

Dean of Students/Decano of Estudiantes: Mr. Davis Mrs. Vanhook

Guidance Counselors/ Guia Consejeros 6th grade – Ms. Velez 7th grade – Mr. Isom 8th grade – Mr. Merolle

Community School Director Mrs. Sowell ______

Mrs. Dong-Janeo and Ms. Webber’s class celebrates Lunar New Year!

REMINDERS FOR ABGS STUDENTS…. *FOLLOW THE ARROWS WHEN WALKING IN THE SUITES *STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF A TWO WAY HALLWAY *WEAR YOUR UNIFORMS EVERYDAY *NO CELL PHONES OUT WHEN CHANGING CLASSES *BE RESPECTFUL OF STAFF AND PEERS! *COME TO LEARN…AND LEARN TO COME…EVERYDAY!