The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

Issue Number 27 http://somersschools.org/domain/995 Spring 2017

One SMS Tusker’s Philosophy on Life

By Samantha Fabry about makes me hungry. I have Tusker Tribune Staff Writer even had every drink on the se- How does this happen? Why is it cret menu, too! here? Why do you make me waste my time And then there’s Snap- on something that is unneeded? chat! THE DOGE FILTER IS I waste all my money on random things ALWAYS ON POINT. And that my inner self is just telling me to guys…. we all know that I get. However, I really never end up us- have the highest score: ing them because my obsessions don’t 148,918 AND STILL GOING UP. I feel like a last longer than a week. celebrity with this high of a score. Whoop! Well, other than Starbucks…… Whoop!! if you ever need a re- But then there are some obsessions that freshment, STAR- you should never get into. Like JUST BITING BUCKS IS THE PLACE INTO STRING CHEESE!! What has become of TO GO!! Green tea lem- this generation, people? It’s called “string onade, chocolate chip Frappuccino, cheese” for a reason. And also, when eating a Kit iced coffee, raspberry refresher, Kat. please don’t be stupid. There is a thinner and so much more that I would piece of chocolate in the middle to break off. Don’t probably be yapping about this for be eating it like your STRING CHEESE!!! months. Ahhhhhhh! Just thinking Continued on page 6 An Interview with Ethan Hsu

By Colin Brooks America for the whole school Tusker Tribune year, he Staff Writer can understand most if not Ethan is 12 years all the English words that and is 7th grader. people say on a daily basis. When he was born in New York, but when he was Also, Ethan says that young, he moved to Taiwan school is very different in were his family is from. Taiwan from SMS. He says Ethan enjoys to draw and that school in Taiwan starts is a great artist. This year at 7:30 and continues up un- he came from Taiwan to til 4:00. He says that in Tai- the USA for about a year. wan, the teachers change Ethan has noticed many classes and the students stay differences from Taiwan to in the same classroom for America. their whole day. In Taiwan, Ethan says that one of every single day there is a his hardest things about coming to America is quiz and he thinks that testing is the main focus of speaking and writing in English and have a good the teachers, which he says is very tiring. vocabulary. He says that since he has been in Continued on page 8 Page 2 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Spring Break! Winter Recollections A Poetic Tribute By Nate Bellio and Terrence Shalley By Brandon Armstrong Tusker Tribune Staff Writers Tusker Tribune Staff Writer Snow falls down with no sound all around, School is out! Planning to do whatever I want, you sit and watch the flakes as your Rescued from endless hours of work, brother stuffs his face with snow, Indulging in food, friends, and fun, Not worrying about due You lay all dates or alarm clocks, around with snow Getting to experience on the ground and new places. a big smirk on your face. Bringing together friends and family, You build a Relaxing and really fort with many enjoying ourselves. mean quotes to yell Experiencing complete at your friend when happiness and then, Already starting to feel depressed snowballs go whizzing passed them. You go back in with Knowing it's all about to come to an end. frostbite all over and you’re sad that the season is over.

The Tusker Tribune Staff How Lemonade Terrence Shally Nate Bellio Alex Dahling Changed a Dog’s Life Makenna Comparetto Amelia Lopez Maggie Hannan By Conor Some dogs have Julie Rios Xander Pedersen McCooey called me Lemonade Jake Riina Tusker Dog, because I… a… Olivia Shea Joe Burgio Tribune Staff well talk to lemonade. Conor McCooey Diana Antonnechia Writer If you are still so Emma Murphy One day, I, a shocked, please stop Michael Carlson Ethan Like dog, was being so Brandon Armstrong waiting with shocked. I Colin Brooks Sara Vala my owner have said it Samantha Fabry who was three times! Eli Yates Noami Lucciola running a All right, lemonade calm down stand. and listen to The Tusker Tribune is published OH, this story. online and is featured weekly on THAT’S Now the Somers Middle School Website. It is entirely student-written by RIGHT, my where was 6th, 7th and 8th grade students name is I…? OH, so from Chris and I my owner Somers Middle School 250 Route 202 can speak to gave me Somers, NY, USA. lemonade. I some lemon- Any SMS student is eligible to write stories. If interested, please am a Corgi puppy and ade and I, well, acci- e-mail Advisor Dean that’s right, you heard dently spilled it on my Pappas at me right, I talk to lem- stuffed chew toy. [email protected] onade! Continued on page 6 Page 3 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School The Exploring Adventure of Kids By Alexander Dahling The gang came across some different Tusker Tribune Staff paths. "I always like to explore new paths," Writer said the second girl. And they went through A bunch of kids were the new paths. exploring a haunted hallow The first girl took out a ball of yarn. one evening. One of the kids was "Wait," said the second boy, "You car- goofing off. ry around a ball of yarn?" "Come on," said a girl. "No "Well no," said the first girl, "When I lollygagging." "Sorry," apolo- heard we were going exploring, I decided to gized the boy. The gang continued bring it. I have cats you know." along their way. The girl tied an end to a branch and "Are we lost?" asked a differ- they continued along their way. One of the ent boy. boys yawned. "No," said a different girl. "I'm tired," he said, "Can we go back?" "I've been this way a lot of times." "Sure," said the second girl, "I'm feel- "Phew," said the first boy. "I thought we ing tired too." and the friends walked backwards were lost." towards home.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

By Makenna cause it's a great yet interesting Comparetto and life lesson. Amelia Lopez Makenna: Thirteen Tusker Tribune Reasons Why by Jay Asher is Staff Writers hair-raising story that will grip Amelia: The book Thirteen you from the very first page. It's Reasons Why by Jay Asher is a thrill- addictive, electrifying, and ing story that will keep you at the keeps you on edge. edge of your seat from the beginning It has a meaningful mes- until the end. sage, as well. The moral of this The lesson of this book is that story is that rumors can affect your words and actions affect that you and be more harmful than person. This story shows a possible you think. All in all, I recom- consequence of bullying, or teasing. I recommend mend the book Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Ash- the book Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, be- er. ‘A Cut Above the Rest’—The Story of ‘Mr. Sciz’ By Maggie Hannan and bag of bread. That’s when he started mak- Julie Rios ing the kids’ lunch with his special scissors. Tusker Tribune Staff Every day at 7:35, Mr. S had to look at Writer what was for lunch that day. Today it hap- Mr. Scissors taught pened to be quesadillas. So Mr. S got the at a school in the middle of Idaho. Every cheese, tortillas and all the ingredients for morning he woke up at 4:27 and ate pan- lunch. Before you knew it, he had made cakes. Then he was the first person to 100 lunches. Every second he would make show up at school at 6:30 and stood out- at least 10 lunches. His special scissors is side the doors for an hour until the doors what were so magical. They worked at opened at 7:30. lightning speed to cut everything. All he Then he would walk up 3 flights of stairs, had to do was bake the quesadillas in the oven for sit at the top of the staircase, and eat a slice of 15 minutes. No one knew how he did it. Mr. Sciz bread. Then he would walk all the way back made a ridiculous amount of lunches in such a down stairs to the cafeteria where he worked. He short period of time. would then take out his scissors tool box and his Continued on page 4 Page 4 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

Apple Update—iPhone and Apple Watch

By Xander Pedersen That's why this announcement does not Tusker Tribune really excite me. The new iPhone SE's on- Staff Writer ly difference to the original is that it has On Tuesday, March better storage. 21 Apple revealed it latest The final thing Apple announced iPhones. That are literally the same March 21 was a red iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. as the old ones. It looks really cool. Yet if you already have But first, let's get to the less exciting stuff an iPhone 7, you are paying hundred of dollars because they also released new bands for the Ap- for the color red. Sure some of it goes to charity, ple Watch. Honestly, this was just kind of meh. It but you could just donate eight hundred dollars is kind of cool to have more different colored to charity. bands. But, they did not release any stainless If you don't have an iPhone 7, it's cool to steal bands, which was kind of disappointing. have a new color option, but if you were not going Now let's get to the new iPhones. First up to buy the iPhone 7 already, you shouldn't buy it is the iPhone SE and I hear you— "But Xander, just because it's red now. Those are my thoughts they released the iPhone SE last year". I know. on the matter. What are yours? Xbox or Play Station? An Analysis of the Debate By Joseph Burgio has PlayStation Vue which is Tusker Tribune Staff like TV on your console. The Writer Xbox is backwards compati- The age-old argu- ble (you can play games for ment. Is Xbox better or is the 360 on here) but only for PlayStation better? Let's start some games. There are a LOT with the features. of great games. I'm just going The Xbox has Kinect, to call PlayStation PS4 be- which is uh...they haven't come cause it's shorter. So PS4 has out with a new game for Kinect in this thing called PlayStation a while. I guess they forgot about Now where you can play PS3 it? I don't know, but the Xbox has Netflix, music, games. There is a little delay when you push the and a bunch of other stuff that isn't gaming. buttons though which can get annoying. The PlayStation has VR (virtual reality) Continued on page 5 which is kind of old news if you ask me. But it also

Mr. Sciz made the food so good that the oth- From page 3 er people making lunch quit their job because nobody compared to Later that day, all the kids Mr. Scissors. came running down the stairs. Yeah There was this one day at the you guessed it—the dreaded end of the school year. Everyone lunchtime had come. Almost every was so depressed and mad. Mr. kid loved Mr. Scissors, which made Scissors was leaving to pursue his the other people making lunch jeal- dream. All the kids cried out say- ous because nobody liked them. ing not to go. But there was no Everyone would go running up to Mr. S because turning back. He was leaving for good. he made the best lunches. The only reason kids For his whole life Mr. Sciz had wanted to ever bought school lunch was because Mr. S be a handyman. He already had the skills for it. made it taste good. No kid will ever forget him. But when he left his Obviously, before he came to the school, it job making school lunches, his special scissors had a reputation of being terrible, disgusting and motivated him to succeed in life because they deadly. But he changed that. The food tasted were amazing. So, why couldn’t he be amazing as like it had come from a fancy restaurant. He had well? Page 5 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Looking for a Hero? Give a Call to MOOSE COP!!!

By Noemi Lucciola When he finally regained consciousness, Tusker Tribune Staff he found that his hands were hoofed, his head Writer had grown antlers, his nose hd grown enor- One night, a man mous. In fact, for a second, he thought he was walked into the forest and Pinocchio! when he came out, it was life But that was not to be. He was . . . changing. He found out he was no MOOSE COP!!!!!. By day he's man, by night man. He was . . . MOOSE COP!!!!!! he's a moose. Arrest by arrest, he has become a The night of the transfor- superhero. mation was amazing. This man He has no name. The only thing he with no name found an orb that knows is saving good people and killing bad looked like no other. When he went people. Moose Cop is amazing! Whenever to pick it up, BLAM! He fell to the ground, uncon- you're in danger, he will find you and save you! scious. 7th Grade ‘Will’ Part 2!

By Olivia Shea pencil every day and never give it Tusker Tribune Staff back at the end of the class. Like Writer where is the pencil I gave you yester- Editor’s Note: Olivia day?...and the day before that…..and Shea continues in this the day before that…..etc. issue what Avery and Alisa My backpack will go to the kids started last issue—that is, to who carry a whole library’s worth of list what would be left behind, books around with them to every or “bequeathed” to future SMS class. students once she graduates Oh and I would also like to be- from the 8th grade. queath my tablet to the kids who have When I move on in school I would had a loaner tablet since last year. It like to bequeath my tablet would also be for kids who, for some charger to all of the people who reason, don’t even have a tablet and come to school every day with a dead tablet no have no explanation for it. matter how many times they are told to charge it I will bequeath all my old hall passes to the every night. kids who never have a pass and then get in trou- I would also like to bequeath all of my pens ble. Lastly, I would like to bequeath my locker to and pencils to all the kids who decide never to the kids who carry backpacks around the school bring a pencil to class and always ask you for a for no reason.

Xbox vs top. What it's come down to Playstation are the graphics and the From page 4 exclusives. They're both So for the controller, it really pretty much the same just comes down to your prefer- graphics so don't worry ence. The PS4 has a touchpad about that. The exclu- at the top of the controller, and sives for PS4 are good, two thumbsticks at the bottom. the exclusives for Xbox The d-pad is on the left and the are good. Same thing buttons are on the right. The They're both pretty Xbox has the d-pad on the bot- much the same consoles tom left and the thumbsticks just re-skinned and are on the top left and bottom right. The buttons slightly different games and features. They're are on the right and there is a home button at the both equal. Page 6 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Ode to ‘Mrs. S.’ By Diana Buffalo Bills Antonecchia and Shamrock Shakes. War and Emma Murphy A teacher who By Ethan Like Tusker teaches but is thrilling; Tusker Tribune Staff Writer Tribune Staff Writers serious but funny, I’m loading my rifle. It’s as heavy sarcastic but realistic, as brick. A teacher who a teacher who We are marching onto the battle- is crazy is everyone’s favorite; field where we will conquer! and exciting; she will scream Bullets start to fly and I hit the ground can make you laugh through a mega- with a thud. or make you cry. phone right in your face; she will stand I see an enemy A teacher who on your desk in my scope. loves yoga and laugh in your Bam, he’s and guacamole. face done. My com- panions are A teacher who A teacher who next to me. We is crazy about the is the best teacher of all! are unstoppa- ble!

Next thing I know one of them has been Philosophy you take a sip out of it shot. One by one my companions are be- From page 1 there is a huge random ing shot. And lastly, please, chunk in it. WHO KNOWS just please, never obsess WHAT THAT COULD I am now the only one left, Boom! I have over school. That’s the BE!! Maybe your friend been shot. worst possible. I mean Billy dumped his old cat come on, it’s our jail and hair in their because you Slowly I fade into the light. But to my the teachers torture us took the last red velvet surprise, more of with tests on Fridays and cake on Tuesday. And on my solders are the mystery meatloaf. I the side next to the cow coming to take mean what even is the in- that was paid to look hap- back the battle- gredient called IEID? I py, it says “100% real field think it stands for “if eat- milk”. Seems promising… en, instant death.” No Obsessions can be A medic comes wonder Chloe hasn’t been good or bad. But honestly, over to me and in school. how can you choose school helps me. I stay in Or what about the over Starbucks? And the fight till it’s over. milk there that whenever please, string cheese is NOT an option. Finally, it is over and we have WON!

Lemonade "I have heard of you and I wanted to From page 2 see if it was true," he said. "To see if what is true?" I was in the middle of being "To see if you were true." angry when I heard the words, "Me? Why wouldn’t I be true?" "HEY DOWN HERE!!" come out of "Because Chris, you are the only dog nowhere. who can talk to lemonade." I looked all over for the I was in shock "No other dog can talk source but I could not find it. Then to lemonade!?" realized it was the toy. I had spilled "Yes." the lemonade on my toy and now it "But I thought there might be anoth- was TALKING TO ME!!! er." "No, not ever but remember this before "Um… yes?" I said to the toy not under- this story gets too long—you are special." standing how it was talking to me. From that point on I kept saying I was spe- cial to myself. Page 7 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

SPORTS UPDATE By Eli Yates throw. Then, in the UNC-Oregon game, Tusker Tribune Staff UNC pulled away by first getting Kenne- Men’s and Women’s NCAA dy Meeks’ missed free throw, and then B-Ball Roundup getting Joel Berry's free throw that he It's all over. The UConn women’s missed. basketball team lost to Mississippi 66-64 In the finals, with 27 seconds left, in the final four at a buzzer beater shot. North Carolina hit a 2-pointer after be- UConn's streak was 111 and UConn beat ing up by one. When Nigel Williams-Goss the record earlier in the year with 100 shot a 3-pointer to tie it, he got blocked wins after passing their own record of 90 and North Carolina won. wins. UConn's last lost was in November, North Carolina was also in the 2014. finals last year but they lost at the buzzer to Villa- nova who lost to Wisconsin in the round of 32. For the men, on April 1st, it was the final 4. In the Finally, in the UNC-Gonzaga matchup, Gonzaga- South Carolina Game, Gonzaga won by UNC took it 71-65 . 2 points by grabbing Sindarius Thornwell's free-

The Day the Guardians Died (A Brief Adventure Tale)

By Michael Carlson Then he turned around! Tusker Tribune Staff Writer He saw Lord Saladin and the other One day a fierce knight seven iron lords (who were the strongest went into the Hyrule castle. The guardians alive), so he called in a few of knight's name was Crota son of his friends—Golgeroth (an ogre) Warpriest Oryx, the Taken King. He was impris- (strong guard) and his two crazy sisters oned by the guardians, and Crota was who used magic for all kinds of crazy situa- the only one who could save his father. tions. His sword could break through anything, They engaged in an awesome battle even through steel 6 inches thick. and the only two still alive at the end of all When Crota stepped into the castle, he the fighting were Crota and Saladin. But Crota saw three guardians with big weapons in their was not as hurt as Saladin, and when the last hands. He stared at them, said “Hi”, and killed blow came, Crota was the last man standing. them all with one swing of his sword. Finally, the guardians were all dead and “I could do this in my sleep,” Crota mum- Crota could save his father. When he got to his bled to himself. As he got closer to where his dad father’s cell and got him out, they teleported back was being held, he felt he was being watched. to their base. The Magic Of Candy

By Jake Riina I love candy; I love candy; Tusker Tribune Staff Candy is sour. Time stops. Writer Gum drops. I love I love candy; candy; Every hour. I love candy; Candy is sweet. Sour patch. Softer than a Chocolate eggs hatch. I love candy; cloud; It's a great A pleasure to I love candy! treat. the crowd.

Page 8 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

Back for One More Invasion?

By Sara Vala know, terrifying and spooky. Tusker Tribune Staff Writer Gir: Oooh Okay You all remember “Invader Zim”. Right? Zim: Soon, you’re world will beeEE. Nope. No? Seriously, I feel like I’m the only one who re- You ruined it GIR. Nice going. members the good stuff. Gir: Awww For those of you who don’t know who Invad- And we end with three final words on the er Zim is, have you been living under a rock? It screen. “Invading Soon ish”. was one of the best cartoons on Nickelodeon. Now Now, what does this all mean? Well, in an for some brief history. article written by Nickelodeon, they’ve stated that “Invader Zim” was a cartoon on Nickelodeon “Invader Zim” is returning for one 90 minute TV that ran from 2001-2002, and lasted only 27 epi- movie. While we don’t know the release date, fans sodes. It involves the story all over the world are now cheering of an alien invader, Zim. for joy. Their beloved invader has fi- He’s sent to a far-away nally returned, even if it’s only a one planet to invade and con- time thing. But who knows? quer for his home planet, Recently, networks have been Irk. And guess which plan- rebooting some of their popular, old et he got stuck with. Yup. cartoons. This summer, Disney is re- Earth. And so, he tries, and introducing “DuckTales”, with a fails and tries and fails and whole new cast and a whole new look. tries and fails . . . you get Cartoon Network brought “Samurai the point. Jack” back onto their network. And due to low rat- As for Nickelodeon, cartoons like “Hey ings and disputes amongst Arnold!” And “Rocko’s Modern Life” Nickelodeon and Zim’s creator, Jhohen Vazquez, are making an appearance in the form of a movie, this cartoon was cancelled. And for 15 years, we so who knows what’ll return. Maybe we’ll see barely heard from it again. Until now. “Danny Phantom” again. At least, that’s what I’m Recently, April 4th 2016, Nick Animation Studios hoping. released a commercial with only audio. There we So don’t just sit there. Check out “Invader hear Zim talking once more, along with his robot Zim”, and re-watch some of the old episodes. It’s servant, GIR, interrupting. Here are the exact like reverse Spongebob. “Spongebob” is a light lines. hearted cartoon with an occasional dark themes, Zim: People of Earth. Did you really think but lots of laughs. (Note that this is the old you’ve seen the last of me? Don’t you know an in- “Spongebob” I’m talking about). And “Invader Zim” vader never stops till their mission is complete? is a dark-themed cartoon with the occasional light- I’ve been watching you. Waiting. And, soon, your hearted humor, but lots of laughs. world will be mine! And be sure to check out the movie coming Gir: Hehehehe! soon. When? Well, we just have to wait and see. Zim: No GIR. I’m being serious! Wait and see. Gir: But I like your voice. It’s funny. Invader Zim, Signing Off. Zim: I’m not being funny! I’m being, you

Ethan Hsu are all academics, but clubs in America is much From page 1 more fun. He says that the clubs in Taiwan is like more school after school. Also, Ethan claims that every day at Overall, Ethan has noticed man differ- lunch, they have food from a different culture. ences between Taiwan and America. I asked For example, they have foods from Taiwan, Chi- Ethan what country's school he liked better. na, Japan, America, Mexico, Italy, etc. According Ethan responded by saying that he was not sure to Ethan, Taiwan has much more homework than because there are good and bad things about both in SMS. He said that one day he had 14 assign- schools. ments due the next day. He said that, " I think American schools Clubs in Taiwan are also very different than are more free and you can find your hobby easily the clubs here. Ethan say that clubs in Taiwan here. In Taiwan, it is like everyone has to be the same."