The Poets Page

The Official Newspaper of John Greenleaf Whittier Middle School Issue 1—February/March 2011 STAFF JGW Staff Profile: Mrs. Donais By Tiffany Costello REPORTERS Jamian Figueroa Over the summer, Mrs. Donais was appointed as Tiffany Costello our new Principal. I interviewed Mrs. Donais to find out the things that Middle School students Abigail Monson would want to know about their Principal. Jack Bove Kylie Quigley Mrs. Donais went to the Hunking Middle School in ADVISOR: Bradford where she played Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Cross Country, and Track, wrote for the Mrs. Prescott School Newspaper, and was in the Art Club. Mrs. NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS Donais knew she wanted to be a teacher as young WELCOME. as when she was in the First Grade. Her father, LOOK FOR THE also a teacher and Mrs. Donais would “play school” PAPER AND UP- together. DATES ON THE JGW WEBSITE. Mrs. Donais’ favorite holiday is Valentine’s Day because it is the day of “love”, being nice to one another, and showing everyone that you care.

She still buys Valentine Day Gifts for her grown children and hand de- livers their gifts to them. Her other favorite things include Color: Aqua, Sport: Running, Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate, Pizza: Hawaiian, Place to Cool Off: Ocean, TV Show: “A Minute to Win It”, Movie Star: Barbra Streisand, and Favorite Song/Music Group in Middle School: The Mon- keys and the Beatles. Dancing and singing are not her forte, and the last concert she went to was “Meatloaf” with her husband. Mrs. Donais’ Birthday is on May 3rd. She has been married to her husband, Mark, for 31 years, and they have three children, Melissa, age 27, and twins, a girl and a boy, Jennifer and Christopher, age 24, along with their family dog, “Jacksey”. Mrs. Donais is very fond of the JG Whittier Middle School. Her favorite thing about the school is the warm and caring staff who were very kind to her when she first came to JGW from Pentucket Lake School. She is very proud of the fact that JGW’s MCAS scores have risen. The biggest honor in Mrs. Donais’ career was being named Principal at JGW. JGW Building Enhancements that Mrs. Donais is currently working on for JGW include: a “Math Walkway” and a Math Lab in the Computer Lab near that Cafeteria. Mrs. Donais ended this interview by emphasiz- ing: “I like the way all the students come into school every day with smiles on their faces. I know the students are always trying so hard and putting their best effort into their work. It makes coming to work each day such a pleasure when I see this happening all around me!!!”

STUDENT CONTEST OF THE MONTH By Abby Monson

Write a poem! Put your first and last name and your grade on the paper and give it to Mrs. Prescott. It can be any kind of poem, rhyme, haiku, etc. Three winners:, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place , will be chosen. The Prizes are: 1st Place $25 GIFT CARD, 2nd Place: $15 GIFT CARD, and 3rd Place: $10 GIFT CARD. All Winners will also receive a “Principal’s Citation”. Winners will be announced in the next edition of the school paper!

JGW STUDENT RECOGNIZED BY GOVERNOR Patrick Marlayna Buco, Grade 8, was nominated and chosen to participate in Gov. Deval Patrick’s In- augural activities in January which started with a Community service project in Boston. “Project 351 is about encouraging the next generation of leaders like Marlayna to give back to our communities," stated Governor Deval Patrick. "The goal is to generate 351 ripples of impact as the young people return to their homes and schools, spreading the spirit of service in Haverhill and across the commonwealth." Additionally, Marlayna, deemed an "ambassador" for this initiative, was asked to bring a book to donate to the Haitian Multi-Service Center to help rebuild libraries across the country dev- astated by an earthquake on Jan. 12 last year. Of course, Marlayna took this one step further by bringing the idea of her mother, our own Mrs. Buco, who asked JGW Staff members to donate books.

Marlayna, who has been active in many school activities and programs during her 4 years at JGW, has participated in community service since Grade 5, frequently providing brown bag service in and around Haverhill for the city's elderly, and participated this year in gathering toys for the Toys for Tots drive. "It was an honor," Marlayna said of being chosen to participate. "It felt pretty special. I'm looking forward to the community service, and just doing things for the people."

Trend Or Disaster? By Jamian Figueroa

OMG! Everyone has their own style, but seriously keep it on the down low. We don’t need a lot of Lady Gagas roaming around the school. No offense Gaga, we love your style. Any how, kids should be and act and dress like kids!!! So here it is. Boys, get the hint: PICK UP YOUR PANTS! Use a belt if you have to! Girls, please have a respectable fashion: PLEASE WEAR PANTS AND TOPS THAT FIT! I think that they should get help from each other!!!

ELECTRONIC GAMES By Jack Bove This week I am writing about Halo Reach. Reach is a prequel to Halo 1 so it will be my first column. For the next few issues I will talk about the other Halo games. In Halo Reach Campaign, you almost know you are going to lose at the end. Your game starts with you arriving on the planet Reach and being briefed by your Commander. Throughout the game, the end gets clearer: you are going to lose the planet to the aliens. For other game modes, fire fight has become very popular. For many people it is a way to rank up. Also, I will give you this advice: go on fire fight, create a custom skull that gives you invinci- bility, and infinite ammo. Turn on all the skulls and set the difficulty to legendary. Play long enough and you will get four (4) achievements. Lastly, I will give you the best load out for multiplayer. The sniper rifle and gravity hammer. Stay tuned for the next edition for more about other games……. STRIKE UP THE Athletics BAND!! Under Mr. Demarais, our Athletic Director, Mr. Bakopolus, JGW Band Director, states that stu- JGW offers a variety dent participation in the JGW School Band is a way of In School and After for them to enjoy music, be a part of an organiza- School programs. Bas- tion that works together, grows together, and has ketball and Volleyball lots of fun along the way. are available to our The current JGW School Band schedule does not 5th and 6th Graders as well as an After allow for the offering of After School Band Pro- School Dodge Ball League. In the Spring, Mr. grams. However, Mr. Bakopolus envisions the of- Demarais hopes to offer an Outdoor Games fering of many assorted ensembles like a Jazz Programs for Grades 5 and 6 that would in- Group, Brass Choir, Flute Choir, and Percussion Ensemble, to name a few. clude Ultimate Frisbee, Soccer, Football, etc. Generally, the JGW School Band participates in the JGW Team Sports include Grades 5, 6, 7, and Memorial Day Parade. Also, the JGW School Band 8 Cross Country and Field & Track. For Grades was recently asked to participate in a yearly Train 6, 7, and 8, Cross Country, Field & Track, Show that supports the Haverhill Public School Basketball, Soccer, and Cheerleading are Band Parent Group. available. These teams travel to other Middle Mr. Bakopolus would like JGW students and par- Schools to play. ents to know that he deeply appreciates their con- When choosing JGW students to play on the tinuing support and participation in the JGW various teams, Mr. Demarais looks at many School Band. He feels that this is what it takes to grow the JGW School Band and that together we student Skills and Attributes including can do it!!! Grades, Behavior/Positive Attitude, Good Skills/Ability, and whether or not a student is coachable. Although winning is always the Goal when playing any sports, winning is not what de- fines the JGW Athletics Program.

Rather, JGW strives to ensure that each and every team represents that school in the most positive manner possible. Every student works to the best ability at all times, and puts forth their best efforts. Kudos to Mr. De- marais for all you do!!!

MUSIC NOTES Last Day of School Monday, june 27th Ms. Bridgford, our Music Director, offers JGW students a Music Program that cov- It’s official. Our Last Day of School will be ers the strands from the Massachusetts Monday, June 27th if there are no more Frameworks Curriculum which are sing- snow days. ing, reading notation, playing instru- ments, improvisation and composition, Because of the excessive number of and critical response. Critical response school days lost due to this winter’s covers listenings, studying music of dif- many snow and ice storms, a great deal ferent genres, and movement and dance. of thought was put into ways that these days could be made up compliant with

the Department of Elementary and Sec- Last year, the JGW Music Program of- ondary Education (DESE) ruling that the fered a Chorus, Hand Bell Choir, Percus- School Year must consist of 180 School sion Ensemble, Xylophone Club, Swing Days. Choir, and the production “Horton Hears So, as of now, we will have the February a Who”. The Music Program schedule has Break and there won’t be school on Sat- not made it possible to repeat these ac- urdays in March. And in June, we’ll break tivities this year. out all the fans in the building.

Students, bring your water bottles and please don’t wish for any more snow days because with our luck, it just could happen!!!

february birthdays By Kylie Quickley

Kiana Bueno: 2/2 Selena Pina: 2/16 Danielle Derderian: 2/27 Caitlyn Platt-Cabral: 2/4 Kearra Grace: 2/17 Jackson Wezesa: 2/27 Sydney Winter: 2/5 Matthew PapGeorgiou: 2/17 Kayle Hobbs: 2/29 Angelique Fernandez: 2/5 Cameron Alder: 2/19 Jillian Verrette: 2/5 Michael Whitcomb: 2/19 Mia DeLaCruz: 2/6 Hannah Flanagan: 2/19 Lissandro Penalo: 2/7 Nathan Caron: 2/20 Sarah Bussey: 2/7 Molly Parent: 2/20 Sabrina Bourassa: 2/9 Keisha Morillo: 2/21 Yavier Ramos: 2/10 Lucien Chretien: 2/23 Tanisha Lewis: 2/12 Levi Stanley: 2/24 Matthew Roberts: 2/13 Ryan Cotreau: 2/24 Destiny Virella: 2/13 Everett Rickett: 2/24 Dawn Loring: 2/13 Noah Pageau: 2/25 Robert Krafton: 2/15