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March 16, 2018 Volume 10, Issue 2 Respect New VMS Teacher Mr. Chapeton Five Questions For STEAMS Ahead With New Class Mrs. Fetzer By Bridget He By Violette Tabio Q: What influenced you to become a teacher? Mrs. Fetzer is one of the newest teachers at Valhalla Middle School. A: When I was in 6th grade, my math teacher had a positive impact on me. He She teaches 8th and 7th grade Science and has a lot to offer! I had the was an understanding teacher who truly cared about his students. I was able to see his passion for math and teaching. If a student needed any help at all, wheth- pleasure of interviewing her. er it be for academics, socially, or emotionally, he was always there to help. My Q: Why did you want to become a teacher? goal was to become this type of teacher. As time went on, I gained a passion to A: I always felt that is was a rewarding job and it felt natural because have a positive impact on students and connect real world applications to what students are learning in class. my dad was teacher, my mom was a teacher, I'm married to a teacher, Q: What was your favorite subject in school? and it just felt right. A: Math Q: What made you want to become a science teacher specifically? Q: Is there anything in particular that drew you to technology/STEAM? A: Well, my dad was a science teacher and it kind of inspired me to A: When I was in middle and high school, I enjoyed my technology classes (that is what it was called then). I have a passion for working with my hands and figuring become one too. things out with little to no guidance. I believe that one of the best ways to learn is Q: How long have you been a teacher? to be given a task and think outside of the box to come up with a solution. My A: 8 years. 4 years in a private school and 4 years in public. passion for math also allows me to show students how math is connected to all of the other subjects in school and how we can apply it to the real world. Q: What is your favorite science topic to teach? Q: Is there anything in particular that you love about teaching at VMS? A: I love genetics because there is always something new being found, A: To sum it up, everything. All of the teachers and administration here are very but I also love environmental science. supportive. I have had nothing but positive experiences since I came here. I have Q: If you were to teach a different subject which would you teach? had a lot of guidance and built a lot of relationships here. The Valhalla community is a true family. A: Probably math, but I’m happy to be a science teacher! Q: Is there a subject that you absolutely cannot wait to teach to your STEAM students? And we too are happy you’re a science teacher here at VMS, Mrs. A: Ironically, that is the topic that we are covering now in 8th Grade STEAM. We Fetzer! Best of luck for a long and successful career with us! are currently covering alternative sources of energy and building/surviving off the grid. We are seeing more solar panels, windmills, and other alternative sources of energy being used to provide power to homes and businesses. However, I don’t They’ll Give You Their “Word”: think it stops there. I believe we need to figure out a way VMS Book Club Promises Literary Fun For Everyone! to make these sources more efficient and widespread, as By Grace Condura and Alessia Monteleone well as, find other alternative sources of energy. This is a How do you feel about Book Club? We love it! Today we are going to topic that is relevant to stu- share with you all the reasons why! dents and something they A book that Book Club has recently read was a graphic novel. The tle of hear and possibly talk about this book is called Awkward . This tle matches the graphic novel perfectly. The outside of school. It is a real theme of the story is very “awkward”. The message that is being imparted is to topic and who knows, maybe never judge a book by it’s cover. Dr. Lezia, the club’s advisor, excitedly explained, one of these STEAM stu- dents will come up with the “The next book we are reading is called Goodbye Stranger. We watched a video next alternative source of about it, but it didn’t give us much detail, so you’ll have to read the book to find out energy. what happens.” In response to this, one 6th grader said, “we think that book club is Q: What did you see your- a great club! Keep choosing great books, Dr. Lezia!” self being as a kid? Doesn’t that sound awesome? But what about Book Club itself? Do we A: Just like many other kids, just talk about books? Well, the answer is no! We do lots of cool things! We go to I wanted to be a firefighter. movies, we do scavenger hunts, we even went Geocaching! Of course, we do have to But that was when I was talk about books, that’s the point of the club! We asked a few quesons to Dr. young, probably elementary Lezia about book club, such as, “what is the coolest thing you’ve ever done with school or younger. I kind of this club?” Dr. Lezia replied, “Well actually we have something coming up, we are fulfilled that dream by be- coming a volunteer firefight- planning to install this lile free library that we will fill with books outside by the er, which is something that I benches, so when someone is waing for their parents or the late bus, they can just love doing. However, ever grab a book and read!” I can’t wait to do that! Hopefully it’s a great success! But since I was in 6th grade, I that’s only one of Dr. Lezia’s great ideas! There are many more! knew I wanted to be a teach- So, now you know a lile more about book club! We make great memo- er. I just feel that teaching is ries and have great experiences, and we hope you will join us in the fun! There’s New VMS teacher Mr. Chapeton — Photo by Bridget He my calling in life and fulfills always room for more! my passions. P A G E 2 V ALHALLA MIDDLE SCHOOL CHRONICLE Volume 10, Issue 1 Oprah’s Featured Speech Beloved Classroom Mascot Can Teach Girls To Reach “Bearly” Understood, Until Now By Jaime Pfeifer and Natalie Barbuto By Heidy Coronado There have never be truer words spoken than the words that Bear with Me Bear is the cute stuffed bear came out of Oprah’s mouth the night of the Golden Globes. Like many, in Mr. Erenberg’s room. Bear with Me my family was sitting on our couch in the living room watching the Gold- Bear let me take some of his time to en Globes, with nobody saying a word while Oprah spoke. Everyone in interview him and ask some questions. silence, just nodding our heads at every inspiring word Oprah said. Oprah started off talking about her childhood, watching Sid- Me: Hi, Bear with Me Bear! ney Poitier win the ‘Best Actor’ Oscar award at the Academy Awards. Bear with Me Bear: Hello! She connected it to the many powerful black girls and women who were Me: So when did you come to Mr. Eren- watching her be honored with the DeMille Award. Dressed in black, she berg’s classroom? spoke about the ‘Me too’ and the ‘Time’s up’ movements. She told the Bear with Me Bear: I came in 2008 when story of a woman everyone needs to know about, Racy Taylor. I was given to Mr. Erenberg by a student Even after the thousands of rallies, parades, and marches, who had him in his first year of teaching here at VMS. nothing has changed. Women often blame themselves and don’t want Me: Where is your usual spot in the to go through the trouble of standing on trial and telling the world some- classroom? thing happened to them. Why are women still suffering? Oprah spoke Bear with Me Bear: Well somewhere about this and on behalf of all women, saying “ A new day is on the hori- along the line, Mr. Erenberg started using zon!” This means today is the day to speak up. Women have come me as a paper weight to sit on top of together and supported each other in their experiences encouraging extra looseloose----leafleaf paper. This way, the kids them to report what happened to them. Oprah made it clear that the knew where it was kept, right under my truth goes marching on and we are not alone.” big bear bottom. big bear bottom. Bear With Me Bear vigilantly surveys the classroom Oprah not only spoke about empowering women but she Me: Do you like it there? from his perch on the extra loose-leaf pile. addressed the problem of segregation and how it encouraged her to Bear with me Bear: Sometimes I get a Photo by Heidy Coronado inspire young African-American girls. She says “...there are some little little bored, but from this perspective, I girls watching as I become the first black woman to be given this same get to see the whole class at its best and at its worst.