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The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

Issue Number 12 http://somersschools.org/domain/995 Fall 2018 Inclusive Schools Week: The Jingle Ball What’s It All About? By Alexander Susca Tusker Tribune Staff By Kaeleigh Picco I’ve been waiting for this for Tusker Tribune Staff three years! Every year, I ask to This past week, December 3rd through get tickets, but I can’t because December 7th, was Inclusive Schools week, pro- they’re sold out. moted by the No Place for Hate Club and Stu- This year, they were sold out too, dent Council. but somehow, we got tickets after they sold You may have seen the signs around the halls, out. The Jingle Ball is at Madison Square advertising this event, but did you understand why the Garden (and other places in different school was doing it? states) During Inclusive Schools Week, we are remind- Hosted by ed as a school district to accept all students and peers Z100 radio sta- as a part of the Somers community, no matter one’s re- tion, Jingle Ball ligion, nationality, or learning ability. features artists On Monday, December 3rd, the school was en- like Shawn Men- couraged to wear red for school spirit. Also on Monday, dez, Camila Ca- Student Council representatives appeared at all three bello, The lunch periods. They walked around, asking kids what Chainsmok- they think makes them “YOU-Nique”. Students re- ers, Cardi B, sponded with a variety of answers, from favorite color Calvin Harris to what sport they played. and more. Today, December 7th, we are asked to wear out- If you fits to show what makes us “YOU-Nique”. Personally, I can’t be there, love musicals and shows, and I think that makes me you can watch it on December 7th, on the unique. CW at 7PM. I’m really excited and I can’t Recognizing uniqueness helps us understand wait to go there. It’s going to be really fun what makes our peers special, and no matter how dif- and I think anyone could enjoy it. It hap- ferent you may feel, you will always be a part of the pens every year, so if you can’t make it this SMS community. year, it happens every year.

Eid al-Adha Observed by Muslims

By Allison O’Connor The day starts with Tusker Tribune Staff prayers, and then you visit Eid is a Muslim family and friends and ex- festival. Mainly Eid al- change gifts and food. After Fitr or Eid al-Adha. that you wait until 8 p.m. to This religious holiday, eat, then you go to bed and called Eid, is the first and only start all over again. day in the month of Shawwal, The holiday is also during Muslims are not permit- known as the Feast of Sacri- ted to fast. This year, it was cele- fice or the Month of Fasting. brated from Tuesday, August 21 Eid al-Adha commemorates to Wednesday, August 22. when God appeared to Abra- The holiday celebrates ham. (Which is known as Ib- the conclusion of 29 or 30 days of dawn to sunset rahim to Muslims). The festival depends on the fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. sighting of the new moon. The Tusker Tribune Page 2 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Why Surviv.io should stay BANNED from SMS

By Michael Aiello eo games (but that is getting off topic). Tusker Tribune Staff Video games can affect the brain’s functions Surviv.io is a game that goes into and the behavior by “the regions of the brain that the category of (meaning play a role in attention are more efficient in gam- multiple people fight each other or in ers compared with non-, and they require teams to get 1st place). less activation to stay focused on demanding As you probably tasks.” -Medical News To- know, and day. Sure, it does make it PUBG also go into the efficient, but it can also Battle Royale category. make the brain become Did you know that addictive to the video there is a pacifist type games! Battle Royale and a Going onto that, violent Battle Royale? some people are so addic- Surviv.io goes into the tive to Surviv.io that peo- violent category only ple are playing it in class because of the guns and whenever they can! I and the gore (very lit- have spotted people play- tle gore but there is ing it at the library when blood). they are supposed to do The game could also affect the brain and work. let’s not forget kids play Surviv.io during class! The peers have their own rules to this Surviv.io should stay banned for eternity at scheme, so they do not get caught. 1. Have work SMS. Some classic games that have gore are Tomb out so it makes it seem that I am doing work. 2. I Raider, Halo, , etc. Gore is blood that need an excuse, so I do not look bad. 3. When a has been shed, especially as a result of violence. teacher comes by, I need to switch to my work tab. Surviv.io has violence including guns, punching, This step-by-step process is common around the throwing axes at each other, knives, and grenades. school at SMS. When a player is at 20 HP (Rough estimate) the Surviv.io is an addictive, gun based game player begins to bleed and crawl to safety. If the that has gore, that peers and people play to have guns are not enough to add into a game, let’s add fun. It might look friendly because of the cartoon some blood for a 12-year-old to play! style but next time you see it come up, try it and Sure, Surviv.io has blood and guns, but af- you might see how bad it is. It is not that I'm salty ter all, it is just a game. What if people’s brains get about losing most of the time, it just that Surviv.io affected? That is true! There are many positive is a game that is just rated for teens and instead and negative effects such as: boosting memory, be- we have 12-year-olds playing a battle royale game! havior change, function changes, etc. Video games Did you know that the first Battle Royale game do boost memory so people who are old can use vid- was Musical Chairs? The Tusker Tribune Commentary: Cellphones and Vaping in School

By Seth Cheung room and you see at Tusker Tribune Staff least one or two kids Once upon a time... oh wait this is- on their phones talk- n't a fantasy story; it’s real . ing to each other. In Every day, I walk around the school my opinion I think wondering, why it is so important for there should be more someone to be carrying a phone around in their security around the pocket. They think that teachers won't know about bathrooms to not just it but it's hard when after catch students using their phone but also vaping. class, they brag to everyone And yes, vaping, a harmful substance that kids that they have their phone. have gotten their hands on, does occur. It's been clear that we aren't It's become a problem in our local middle supposed to have our phones and high school. So think about it—do you really on us, but everyone disobeys want this to be happening or should someone stop that rule. Walk into a bath- it? The Tusker Tribune Page 3 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Bizarre World Records By Joseph Melillo diary. Every day, he Tusker Tribune Staff spends 4 hours holed up in Can you believe his office, blasting music this? A named Da- and types. How many vid Alexander set the words? I don’t know, World Record for the most T- around 35 MILLION. He shirts worn at once. He weighs did this from 1972 to 1996. 210 pounds shirtless, and he Then, he was sadly disa- tipped the scale at 285 pounds, bled by a stroke. with 121 T-shirts! Sweet Tooth? Pas- Too much time on his try Chef Alain Roby got his hands? A man named Les World Record fame by cre- Stewart from ating the World’s Tallest Australia set Chocolate Skyscraper. 20 feet and 8 inches of the World pure dark and white choco- Record for typing all numbers, late. It is located in a toy from 1-1,000,000 in word form. shop in Manhattan. It is Yes, you read that right, in made up of 1,000 kg of choc- words. He was a typing in- olate. That’s a lot of choco- structor on a police force, but late! This “sweet” Sky- then he got sick and had to be scraper took Alain Roby removed from the force. After over 30 hours to complete, seven manual typewriters, and it was modeled after 1000 ink ribbons, 19,890 pages, 16 years and 7 none other than the Empire months later, he had himself a World Record. He State Building. said his secret was to type 20 minutes on the This concludes Most hour, every single hour. Bizarre World Records. Bi- Again, too much time on his hands? Rob- zarre, right? These people seem to have a lot of ert Shields of Dayton, Washington, for 20 years of time on their hands. Hats off to them for creating his life, has maintained a diary. Every single these truly remarkable World Records that may thing that has happened to him, since day 1 of his be beaten, but never forgotten. Check out These Cool Game Websites

By Sam Sanz not do very well. This was Tusker Tribune Staff my Nike logo. After scavenging through the in- #3 Draw A Perfect Circle ternet for a while now I have seen Nobody can draw a per- some strange and cool websites. I fect circle, but how close decided to make a list with work- can you get to a perfect ing links. Nerd’s one? This game measures #1 Cat Petting Simulator Word how much of the perfect I personally do not have circle you can draw. (My a cat, but I still like this record is 89%) simulator. You get to name your cat and go #4 Couch 2048 through a story choosing The classic game of what to do and see if you 2048 where you win. combine numbers #2 Can You Draw Logos is reimagined. Cir- From Memory? cles fall from the Most people can recognize a sky on to a couch company’s logo, but can you and you drag then draw it? This fun quiz does to combine. I enjoy just that! From McDonald’s this more than the to Nike you have a bunch of classic version. logos to do. You get to see the (Record is 128) logo once you’re done. I did The Tusker Tribune Page 4 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

By Kaeleigh Picco Tusker Tribune Staff Have you ever wondered what happened today- ten years ago? Twenty years ago? Thirty? In This Week in History I will tell you about the events that happened that particular week that could have impacted our everyday lives, or are just really interesting to learn about.

December 5th, 1901 Snow White. The Lion King. Pinocchio. Peter Pan. All movies have their roots, and Disney’s perhaps runs the deepest of all. On this date in history, Walt Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois. He began his career in Hollywood in 1928, creating the cartoon “Steamboat Willie”, starring Mickey Mouse.

December 7th, 1787 On this day, Delaware, a northeastern state in the U.S., became the first to adopt the new constitution of the United States of America. Today it is known as the “first state”.

December 7th, 1941 This sorrowful date commemorates the attacking of Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, by the Empire of Japan. The naval base was bombed by two hundred Japanese aircraft, leaving 3,000 Americans dead. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.

The Tusker Tribune Staff The Tusker Tribune is the online Som- ers Middle School Student Newspaper. It is published weekly (except during Co-Editors Photography Editor Alex Susca school vacations) on the Somers Mid- Noah Volkman Allison O’Connor Joseph Melillo dle School Website. It is entirely stu- Joseph Melillo Allison O’Connor dent-written by 6th, 7th and 8th grade Copy Editors Sam Sanz students from: Feature Editor William Underkoffler Isaac Like Somers Middle School Samuel Sanz Andre Possante Seth Cheung 250 Route 202 Michael Aiello Andre Possante Somers, NY, USA. Any SMS student is eligible to write Sports Editor Mike Abrams stories. If interested, please e-mail Jesse Manginelli Reporters Jesse Manginelli Advisor Kaeleigh Picco ArjunOjha Dean Pappas at Noah Volkman [email protected] The Tusker Tribune Page 5 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Hip-Hop’s Love for ‘Harry Potter' By Noah Volkman reliable friend Hermoine Granger, the super Tusker Tribune Staff smart daughter of non-Wizarding parents who’s In June 1997, author J.K. Rowling got something to prove. introduced us to a young wizard named There’re also a few bars dedicated to Hog- Harry Potter who attended Hogwarts warts’ headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. The hous- School of Witchcraft and es at Hogwarts have Wizardry. And since then, gotten their fair share the world of hip-hop has lyrical mentions as well. been in love with the And of course, so does world of magic. He Who Must Not Be The movie stars Named, a.k.a. Volde- Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, mort. a boy who survives an at- Hip-hop’s shown tack from He Who Must love from every part of Not Be Named and is des- the series from Harry’s tined to learn magic at owl, Hedwig…to a not- Hogwarts in order to de- so-friendly game of feat him. The multibillion Quidditch. And even -dollar franchise spans Dobby, everyone’s favor- across seven books, and ite house elf. A few art- eight movies, with the ists have also men- final film released in 2011. But the world of Wiz- tioned some handy spells by name, like ardry found its way into hip-hop back in 2003, “expelliarmus,” used to disarm enemies, and the with one of its earliest mentions. According to da- levitation spell, “Wingardium Leviosa” in our fa- ta, the Harry Potter franchise has had hundreds vorite raps, and so does Daniel, going on Jimmy of mentions in hip-hop about various topics. Fallon’s show a couple years back at rapping the And it’s not just Harry who gets all the “Alphabt Aerobics” exercise. love; so does his red-headed best friend, Ron Wea- What’s your favorite Harry Potter book? sley. And then of course, there’s their always- Favorite Harry Potter movie? Tusker Tribune Trivia Mahomes Possible NFL MVP for 2018 By Allison O’Connor Tusker Tribune Staff By Isaac Like Tusker Tribune Staff 1.What is the first letter of Patrick Mahomes was a fantastic rookie the Greek alphabet? coming out of Texas Tech University. Now he’s Answer. Alpha one of the top candidates for the NFL’s 2018 MVP vote. He was recruited by the Kansas City Chiefs 2. How many milligrams are in a gram? as the 10th draft pick in 2017, but did- Answer. 1000 n’t start for the Chiefs officially until this year. 3. Who is the He started playing very well and world’s fastest land in the fantasy perspective, he is the per- animal? fect quarterback, dropping on a regular Answer. Cheetah basis from 20 to 35 points, which is in- credible. 4. Who is the Born in 1995, Mahomes has world’s largest land been playing football since 2000. He animal? makes the perfect passes and has Answer. Elephant helped the Chiefs drastically. Right now he has thrown 41 touchdowns and only 5. Which bird has 11 interceptions in his whole career the largest wing- (2017-2018). span? Mahomes comes from a background of sports. Answer. Albatross His dad was a former pro MLB player playing as a pitcher. He has gotten 4,207 rushing yards for his team 6. From which language did the word and is turning out to be a star player who can help his “Ketchup” come from? team contend for a Super Bowl title. He is an amazing Answer. Chinese young star we look forward to seeing in the hall of fame. The Tusker Tribune Page 6 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About the NBA

By Mike Abrams 6. The Philadelph- Tusker Tribune Staff SPORTS STUFF ia Warrior’s center Wilt Chamberlain 1. Lebron James, scored 100 points Kevin Durant, Mi- in a SINGLE chael Jordan, Carmelo GAME. Anthony, and Joel Embi- id are the only players to never average under 20 7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds points per game. the record for most career points scored with 38,387. 2. The L.A Clippers, Den- ver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orle- 8. Russel ans Pelicans, Memphis West- Grizzlies, Toronto Rap- brook av- tors, and the Charlotte eraged a Hornets have never won triple-double two years in a an NBA Championship. row.

3. Lebron James, Kobe Bry- ant, and Tracy McGrady are just 3 of the many high school draftees 9. Steph Curry scored a (from high school record-breaking 402 three to the NBA). pointers in the 2015-2016 season. 4. The NBA bans Headphones.

5. Bill Russel of 10. The Golden State Warriors the Boston Celtics went 73-9 in the 2015-2016 won 11 NBA Regular Season. Championships.

Mullins a Bright Spot in 49ers’ Dismal Season

Jesse Manginelli I think this story sounds a little Tusker Tribune Staff like Kurt Warner’s. Warner was a backup Nick Mullens, QB of QB turned superstar. the San Francisco 49ers, The rest of the 49ers aren't doing passed for over 400 yards so great. The 49ers are 2-10 and lost in during Week 13 of the 2018 Week 13 43-16 against Seattle. They are 2 NFL Season. -3 at home games and 0-7 in away games. Mullens passed for 414 yards They also have a 3-game losing streak. in a loss against the Seattle Seahawks. This will This is another year that the 49ers haven’t probably ensure that this young QB will remain as had a winning record since 2013 when they went the starting QB. Mullens is 23 years old. This 12-4 and were placed 2nd in NFC West. The last game outshines all his other games this season. time the 49ers won a Super Bowl was quite a In all his other games he hasn’t had more while ago. The last time they won a Super Bowl than 270 passing yards. was in 1995 and all five of their Super Bowls were He was drafted by the 49ers in 2017. He spaced out throughout the years of 1982-1995. was drafted as a 4th string QB. This is incredible Hopefully they win their next game. performance for a 4th string QB. The Tusker Tribune Page 7 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The Game That All Gamers Are Waiting For

By Andre Possante And of course, with it being a new game, Tusker Tribune Staff there is a bunch of new characters, that gamers If you are a and you have a are practically dying to play as/with. Some of switch, you probably are super excited for their favorites coming to Super Smash Bros. Ulti- a new called Super Smash mate are: Daisy from Super , from Bros. Ultimate. Technically it is not new game , Wolf from , King K. Rool from entirely, but another game in the series. Super , Isabelle from , Smash Bros. Ultimate is set for release TOMOR- from , Incineroar form Pokémon, ROW, December 7th, 2018 and will become the 5th and Simon and Richter Belmont from The Cas- installment in the series. It will be released on tlevania Series. There are so many fighters/ the Switch. Most gamers think it will be characters here that gamers truly believe that the best game when Smash Bros. in the fran- Ultimate said, chise, hence “Everyone is here!”, the name: they meant it. Also, “Super Smash fans of the series Bros. Ulti- are also getting very mate” And excited for the DLC here’s why. that will be availa- To start ble later after the off, if you don’t game’s release. know what Su- (DLC stands for per Smash Downloadable Con- Bros. is then tent) Nintendo has that that’s already confirmed okay. Super Piranha Plant from Smash Bros. is as a a game made free DLC fighter, if by Nintendo, the Super Smash and the first installment was released for the Nin- Bros. Ultimate game itself is bought by January tendo 64 in 1999. There is not really a main objec- 31st. But there is more DLC to come, we are told. tive; all you are supposed to do is pick a charac- Because of so many characters available ter, then fight with CPU or friends by pressing there are also lots of stages and modes in Ulti- different buttons on the controller. Then along the mate. So far there are at least 100 stages present way you will unlock more characters as you com- in the game, which is way more than any other plete achievements or complete adventure/single game in this series had before. Gamers are excit- player mode. (All what I just said is based on the ed to get to try these stages, because most of them newer games like: Super Smash Bros Brawl and will be brand new, based off some of their favorite Super Smash Bros. for U) There is usually series. And players are also exhilarated for the some fun, extra or side modes to play as well. new mode(s) coming to Ultimate. Most gamers are Anyway, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is happy about the new adventure mode coming, what some gamers are calling Nintendo’s Master- “The World of Light”. Fans are hoping that it will piece. It will contain 74 characters in total and be as good as the adventure mode in Super Smash will have 12 characters playable for the starting Bros. Brawl for the Wii, because of all the detail roster, all of them being Nintendo classics and and cutscenes, it is crowned the best adventure favorites. Some of them are: Mario from Super mode so far in the Super Smash Bros. series. Mario, Link from , Right now, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is from Pokémon, and from Metroid. looking to live up to its title and with all of these Returning favorites from the Super Smash Bros. returning and fresh components in the game, peo- series are also available in the game. Lots of play- ple can hardy wait till its release. I hope you ers are excited for returning characters like: Pac- learned a little bit about Super Smash Bros. Ulti- Man, , from , mate and it’s series from this. And if you own a Snake from Metal Gear, and Palutena from switch, you should go get this game when it comes , Ness and Lucas from Earthbound, out, because it is really supposed to be and Fox and Falco from the Star Fox. And that’s “Nintendo’s Masterpiece”. just to name several. The Tusker Tribune Page 8 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School The Remarkable Story of George H.W.

By Arjun Ojha Robinson Bush (died from leukemia when 3 Tusker Tribune Staff years old), (63), On November 30th, 2018, (59) and (62). we got some very sad news. Our Since he was a president, he decided that former president, George H.W. he wanted to be buried in Houston, Texas. As Bush died. Commander in Chief and a veteran, he was enti- He was born on June 12, 1924 and tled to have an American flag over his coffin. died November 30, 2018. He was 94 Also, since he was a president, he lay years old. George H.W Bush was the in state in the Capitol rotunda in Washington, 41st president of the United States of D.C. on December 4 and 5. He then had his America. His presidential term was funeral at the National Cathedral in Wash- from January 20th, 1989 to January ington, D.C. At the funeral where his family 20th, 1993. G members as well as all living former presi- George H.W Bush was not only dents—Barack Obama, George W Bush, Bill a president but a vice president under Clinton and Jimmy Carter—along with the Ronald Reagan and a Seaman 2nd current president, Donald Trump. Class who flew torpedo bombers in Following the funeral in Washington, World War II. He had a wife named D.C., George H.W. Bush was flown on Air . He also had six kids. Force One back to Texas, where he’ll be bur- His kids were George W Bush (72), ied next to his wife and his daughter, Robin. 43rd president of the U.S., (65), Pauline

Fortnite Season 7 Looks to Be Another Success

By Sam Sanz Tusker Tribune Staff Today Fortnite Season 7 was released by . Season 6 ended off with a snow storm in the distance. On the last day it started Nerd’s to snow on Spawn Island. It turned out the snow storm was a snow island with Words a castle on top of it. This island crashed into the map by Greasy Grove The New Locations consist of Happy Above: the skins Hamlet, Frosty Flights, and Polar Peak. Overall the last 2 locations The 3rd skin and the last skins are are ok, but Happy Hamlet is a great the tier one skins. Both are progressive location skins. Then we also have a yeti, a skier, a towards sort of Santa Claus and a cute onesie skin. the bot- The tier 100 skin is the tom of King of Frost who looks the map. Top left: cool. They also added the It has a Happy Hamlet Durr Burger toy and a

clock Middle left: hockey puck toy. They tower Frosty Flight also added weapon and just like vehicle skins. tilted Bottom left: They also added towers in Polar Peak air planes found at the mid- frosty flights. These dle. Also, planes hold up to 5 peo- about ple including the driver. The double-barrel half of shotgun, shockwaves, clingers, chiller the map is covered in snow and ice traps, Port-a-forts and shadow stones were that make you slide. all removed. The battle pass is packed Overall, I think this would be a good with some good skins. season for Fortnite. Thank you.