Swimming Bubbles! It Is Warmer Than the Shower

JANUARY 2016

VOLUME VI

PHOTO BY OWEN KIVETT the water is cold. Students can choose to get sprayed by a hose instead and it is better to take the hose because Swimming Bubbles! it is warmer than the shower. There used to be two women who worked at the pool who helped with things like getting shower caps on, but now they only help in the shallow end during class, so students help each other put swim caps on. The boys do not need caps unless they have long hair. Then, swimmers go in the pool and start their warm-ups. The warms-ups are either freestyle, backstroke or but- terfly kick. When time is up, students come out and get their towels, which are waiting for them on a blue bench. Next, they head to the locker room and do the same routine as before. It’s important to take a shower after swim class because there are chemi- MATILDA FRIED LEVENSTEIN AND MEERA WILLIAMS cals in the water, including chlorine. So, they shower (or hose) and change Where can you swim? At the pool! think it is better to leave their stuff back into their clothes and wait to get P.S. 11 has an awesome pool. As a there, so parents don’t have to clean picked up by their teacher. top secret agent, here is your mission: it at home. Also, they don’t have to OBJECTIVE 2: Determine how stu- Discover the top secrets of the pool. carry all their stuff in their back pack. dents get free swim. No one knows you are a top secret Second graders have to go to the third To get “free swim,” students have to spy because, remember, this is top floor, which is six or eight sets of be the first ten people to finish chang- secret! steps up!) Next, Mr. David Nichols, ing after class. The first ten kids sit- OBJECTIVE 1: Detect how students the Physical Education teacher and ting and waiting for their teacher on go from math or science to soaking swim coach, calls boys and girls to the blue bench get free swim the next wet and back. get their stuff, and then they head to week! The grown-ups write down the When students come down to the the locker rooms. names of those kids so they’ll know pool, which is in the basement of the In the girls’ locker room, each lock- they have it next week. Those named, school, the first thing they do is get er has two sides, and students can get to have five to ten minutes of free their swim stuff and towel. If they had change on either side. In the mid- swim after class! In the meantime, left their stuff there for the week, they dle, there is a shower. Two or three the other kids are getting changed. would get it from a bin that holds all students can share each locker area. Mr. Nichols did a very smart strat- the laundry, which is done by a man Students have to take a shower before egy for free swim so that, of course, who works there. (Some students they go in the pool, but sometimes continued on page 2

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PHOTO BY LUC BASMA SWIMMING continued the same kids don’t have free swim the next week. Remember, people only get free swim if they’re the first Questions ten people to be changed and ready. with... Since the free swim kids are the last ones to get changed that week, they can’t possibly have free swim again Ms. Sharon Golub the next week because they can’t be the first ones ready again if they’re busy at the end having free swim. The most common game to play in 1. What do you like most about is a blast. This is the best Pre-K free swim is “Treasure Island.” There teaching kids music? we’ve ever had. I put them at the are eggs and mini Frisbees with num- I like to see how proud they feel keyboards and they get to play. bers on them. The kid in charge gets when they learn a song or a piano 7. What’s your favorite sports to throw them into the pool and the piece. team? players are split into teams. The team 2. What types of music do you The Yankees! My father was a that collects the most eggs or Frisbee like? Yankees fan. They are the best points wins! My background is classical. So, I baseball team, end of story. OBJECTIVE 3: Investigate the con- started playing that, but I played in 8. What’s something that no one dition of the pool. rock ‘n’ roll bands for a lot of years. knows about you? According to Mr. Nichols, “The I also like jazz, reggae and I love I’ve written two music books and pool is very, very old.” However, it blues. there’s a song written about me by “is always clean.” It has a filter to get 3. What instruments did you play a group called Mountain. It’s called the germs and hairs out of the pool. in rock bands? “Long Red.” You can find it on There is a robot vacuum cleaner that I played all the keyboards, including YouTube. goes under water and gets all big dirt the Hammond organ. I also played 9. How do you, Ms. Sarah and and icky stuff out of the pool. Chlo- flute but not that well. I used to play Ms. Wurman decide what shows rine is used to disinfect the water. “The Hustle” on flute. you are going to do? There is also a drain in case they need 4. What are some of your favorite We listen to the fourth graders. We to get all the water out. groups? get together with them and hear them FINAL OBJECTIVE: Assess the The Beatles, Procol Harum and sing and that’s how we pick a show safety of the pool. Peter Gabriel. that’s going to be right for them. Mr. Nichols and Ms. Marcou are 5. What did you like most about 10. So far, what has been your great swimmers. Nicole Marcou is the David Bowie? favorite 5th grade production? school health teacher and the swim How innovative and creative he That’s hard. There are so many teacher for the after school program. was. He changed things and did a good ones. Beauty & the Beast, Every 3 years, they have an ocean life- lot of things first. Music Man, Alice in Wonderland, guard test and they always pass. They 6. What grade do you enjoy Annie, and Peter Pan are all also have to get CPR certified every teaching the most? favorites. year. When no one is in the pool, Mr. Every grade for a different reason: 11. Why do you like to make school Nichols practices in the pool so he can Fifth grade, because I get to do plays? become a greater swimmer. He is the graduation with them. Third grade, I like watching something going swim teacher, after all! In addition, because I get to teach them from nothing to the end product. It’s throughout Mr. Nichols’ time at P.S. recorder and we do rock songs on exciting to be part of that. 11, there have never been any safety it. Kindergarten through second, Congrats, Ms. Golub, on your 20th issues or emergencies. I get to teach them piano. Pre-K year teaching at P.S. 11!! Mission accomplished! BY MAX STÖHRER 2 PAPER JANUARY 2016

PHOTO BY OWEN KIVETT Overheard at LUNCH: BY SADIE HOWARD AND JAMIE KAURI

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12 Malvin, grade 3 “It was hot and burning my mouth, but tastes good.” Meera, grade 2 “Today I had pasta, cheese stick, apple, chips, and Oreos, and it was the best lunch ever.” Ella, Pre-K “Today, I really didn’t have time to eat my lunch.” Rachel, grade 4 “I had a cheese sandwich. The cheese is funky to me. It also tastes rubbery.” Eli, grade 2 “I had a pretzel bagel with ham and turkey, a cheese stick, a[n] apple and a B a c k w a r d s D a y chocolate Z-Bar!” Raheem, grade 3 “Good.” BY JENSEN KREBS Lila, grade 3 “My home lunch is good.” Did you ever wear your pants back- but some students forgot, too. One Emily, grade 5 “Usually the wards? If not, you got a chance to on reason may be because the student pasta is good and cheesy. This Backwards Day. Almost everyone council waited until two days before particular day it was disgusting participated, and it was easy to plan to announce this spirit day. Student cheese stuffed shells with mari- for because you didn’t need to buy a council member, Ella Scandura, ex- nara sauce. Also, the breadstick costume or wear special accessories, plained that they “were supposed was overcooked.” like make-up. You could just wear to put up posters, but it was unclear Sophia, grade 5 “I feel that the regular, everyday clothes and turn when we were supposed make the problem is that school lunch just them backwards. One third grader posters. In the end, we decided to needs to be more encouraged by wore a backwards shirt, backwards go around to each classroom and the lunch ladies, cooks and lunch hoodie and backwards pants. Anoth- announce the spirit days, instead.” staff.” er student wore a backwards sweater She also explained why spirit days PHOTO BY LAUREN ESHELMAN and skirt. are always on Friday. “At the begin- Not many teachers dressed up for ning of the year, the student council the day of backwardness. One third voted that they should have the spir- grade teacher explained that she for- it days on the first Friday of every got. She said that she should have month.” laid her clothes out the day before as So, until the next one, try to figure a reminder. out what this sentence says: Gnikool Not only did some teachers forget, drawrof ot eht txen tirips yad.

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Disco-Skating & forever when they clean the ice, but it is totally worth it. The ice is smooth, you are skating in the middle of the Flying Over the Ice city in between those tall buildings BY PAULINA BODIN and the magical lights. They play cool music. And the best thing: Admission Summer has ice-cream but winter pizza was $3.50 and not too bad. is free for kids under 12 if you bring has ice skating! I went with a bunch They had bagels and a giant yogurt your own skates. They have a huge of friends to test the neighborhood ice with granola for $6.00, but no hot co- variety of snacks (hot dogs, veggie rinks. We started with the Sky Rink coa. Overall, the place is more like a wraps) and an okay hot cocoa. at Chelsea Piers. The kids’ rentals are skating gym, but good for cold days So, which one is the best? The Sky

PHOTOGRAPH BY KARINA GUPTA because it is indoors. Rink for an hour of disco-skating on Be aware, they close freezing days. Bryant Park for some at 5 p.m. weekdays real skating. And The Standard if (closed on Wednes- you want to have a fun afternoon day) and 3:50 p.m. on with your friends. the weekends. Next, was the ice rink, at The Standard, which I personally JOKES love. It is really good for kids who want to of the spend the whole afternoon there, play tag MONTH and have fun. It’s also BY JACK DOYLE good for kids who are learning how to skate Knock-knock. because the rink is Who’s there? super tiny. The down- Canoe. side: They do not take Canoe who? the best care of the ice. Canoe do my “It is so bumpy. You homework for me? always trip over the bumps,” said Anney, a student at P.S. 11. The rentals are $4.00, but aren’t great. Ad- $5.00. It costs $10.00 to skate. The mission is $6.00 for kids under 12. team at the Sky Rink cleans the ice But, they have the yummiest french at least six times a day, which is pret- fries for $6.00 and a hot cocoa with ty amazing. They sharpen the rent- marshmallows for $8.00. It is so thick al skates every day, so skating over and creamy, it feels like a full meal. that ice feels like flying. Loud music The last trip was to Bryant Park, booms out of the speakers. “The ice a great big rink! It is extremely pop- Why were the elephants is so smooth, the best in the city,” said ular, so sometimes there is a line to kicked off the beach? Jack, a nine year old who has played get in. Then, there is another wait to A: Their trunks were down. ice hockey at Chelsea Piers for five get skates. Rentals are expensive at years. We liked the food. A slice of $15.00! Then, they make you wait

4 PAPER JANUARY 2016

PHOTO BY KARINA GUPTA puppies waiting for adoption. So, if you are looking to adopt a dog or cat, you may consider them. They do not keep any puppies bigger than a Lab- rador retriever. Alexandra said it is very fun to work at the kennel, but sometimes, it can be hard because the puppies are not housebroken. Puppies come to the kennel when they are eight weeks old and usually get purchased around three months old. Just like kids, puppies often get sick in the winter due to the weather change. Adopting a pet can change your health from sick to healthy. With your pet accompanying you, your Adopt a Furry Friend blood pressure will go down because pets can make you feel calm. Dogs, BY NANDINI BAINS AND ELI PARMETT in particular, can assist someone who is blind because the dog’s eyes There are many animals waiting to live in peace. If you care for animals, become the blind person’s eyes. In be saved and taken into families. they will care for you. other words, they see for you. Addi- There are so many reasons for pets The process of pet adoption is easy. tionally, if you have a disease, a dog to be given a home. Why would a Pet adoption only takes a few minutes. or pig can sometimes tell if you are person adopt a pet instead of buy- In that time, you read and sign a con- about to faint, and alert you by step- ing one from the pet store? People tract, and if you are adopting a dog, ping on your foot. rescue dogs to take care of them and you may have to determine whether Pets should be adopted because give them a home. Pets have to be your pet needs shots, depending on they can save your life, they are good rescued because if they aren’t, they the breed. It is also easy because af- for your health and the process of may get put to sleep. If they are left ter you sign the contract, you can just pet adoption is fairly simple. These in the wild, they may get hurt or eat- pay for the dog and take it home. It is pets are doing so much to help hu- en. If you rescue a pet by adopting not like waiting in the line at Whole mans and all you need to do in return it, it will have a home and feel safe Foods, which can take hours! is feed your pet and give them shel- with a really nice owner who cares According to Alexandra, the Man- ter and love. A lot of pets still need for their pet and wants to do a good ager at the Chelsea Kennel Club, she homes. It would be great if you could deed. Adopting a pet helps them to currently has about twenty to thirty go out and adopt a pet! January was Model Boat Building Bird Watching National Hobby Month!! Hope you got extra enjoyment out of reading, birding, going to the movies, model building, playing sports or whatever your favorite hobby is! Sports card collecting PHOTOS BY LAUREN ESHELMAN

5 PAPER COLLAGE BY LUC BASMA Showcase Show BY JENSEN KREBS

This year, P.S. 11 is a showcase school. Three times a year, princi- pals and teachers from other NYC schools visit P.S. 11 and learn from chosen students, called ambassadors, about the amazing wonders of P.S. 11. There are only 26 schools chosen out of all schools in New York City. Each showcase school has a focus area. P.S. 11’s focus area is Em- powering Students and Teachers. January 26, one of these showcase meetings took place in room 209. Twelve visitors sat with twelve ambassadors and discussed the secrets

PHOTO BY KARINA GUPTA

MLK Holiday BY AADITYA MATHUR

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a very tion. His non-violent methods were important civil rights leader. He inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. He of P.S. 11’s success, including feed- fought for equal rights for African organized peaceful protests, boycotts back using portfolios and the wide Americans and whites. He is also and speeches. range of extracurricular activities famous for his non-violent methods. Martin Luther King, Jr. made a the school offers. One visitor, Blair, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is cele- speech called, “I Have a Dream,” asked to come, “because I want to brated to remember him. This year, where millions gathered to listen. see what other students do at oth- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was on A famous quote from the speech is, er schools to succeed and bring it January 18, 2016. It is always the third “I have a dream that my four little back to my students.” She was im- Monday of January. children will one day live in a nation pressed that P.S. 11 has “a lot of en- In earlier days, African Americans where they will not be judged by the richment programs.” were slaves and not treated equally. color of their skin but by the content The showcase was a success, and African American children were not of their character.” hopefully, the visitors learned a lot. allowed to go to the same school as The laws changed in 1964 and 1965 The ambassadors were really hap- white children. Martin Luther King, to treat African Americans and whites py to be in the showcase program Jr. made a lot of speeches and used equally. People were very sad when and look forward to the next event. the power of words to stop segrega- Martin Luther King, Jr. died in 1968.

6 PAPER JANUARY 2016 Featured Artwork

ARTIST: EUNA KIM, THIRD GRADE ART EDITOR: ROGER CARASSO

If you would like to submit artwork to be considered for our next edition, please draw, paint or write it on 1 sheet of letter-sized paper (one side only), then drop it in the News Box in the Main Office. Make sure to include your name and class on the back. You may also submit article ideas, jokes or poll questions.

7 PAPER —— FICTION —— Wild at Heart BY CAROLINE STÖHRER

Peppermint looked out the window Peppermint copied him and found They raced towards the two-story of her owner’s car as they entered the him waiting at the foot of a tunnel. meringue-colored house but were highway. It had always amazed her The tunnel didn’t go far and they stopped by three enormous dogs and from her cat ears down to her kitten soon entered a small hollow with a one smaller dog, a Chihuahua, block- paws how fast cars could go. Hold pile of moss that Peppermint guessed ing their way. Their beady, malicious on, what is that hurtling towards the was Oakland’s bed. eyes scrutinized them. The leader, a car? What in the world? CRASH. Peppermint wrinkled her nose. A burly Labrador, growled. “What you The car collided with another, fox den? Oakland snapped, “Look, want, cat?” Oakland strode towards sending them spinning. Peppermint this is the best place I have to live, them. “I wish to bring this kitten held on for dear life as one of the car so just deal with it!” He brought home.” The leader roared, “You will doors opened, forcing her to let go of her back out and taught her how to do no such thing!” Peppermint and the seat and be flung into the forest catch a fish in the pond by his den. Oakland ran in the other direction, by the highway. She first refused to eat the fish, but climbed over the fence and clawed up Peppermint shook her head as she hunger drove her to try it. It tasted the side of the house. The other dogs regained her composure in the dirt. spicy and foreign, yet wonderfully barked brutally below, too big to fol- Where am I? she thought. Unsure of new. Exhaustion drove her straight low. Oakland and Peppermint settled where to go, she wandered through to lights out when she sank onto her on the roof. “We could jump to your the forest. Rustle. She pricked her own mossy bed. roof,” Oakland suggested. “No, it’s ears. Something was hiding in the At the crack of dawn, Oakland too far!” Peppermint fretted. ferns just ahead, something her size. prodded Peppermint awake. She Just then, a scrawny Chihuahua A tabby with hard green eyes leaped groaned and rolled over. “Wake up, heaved himself onto the roof. He out, his long claws unsheathed. Pep- you fish-head!” he joked. “It’s a ways lowered his voice. “My name is Bob, permint scampered back, his claws to the human road, and then we have and I want to help you.” Peppermint barely missing her precious black to get to your den!” Peppermint and Oakland listened carefully. “I and white fur. “Get out!” he hissed, bolted up. “Okay!” She hurriedly am the runt of my pack, and they do staring at Peppermint. Peppermint cleaned herself, making sure no dis- terrible things to the animals that stared back, her eyes narrowing to gusting ticks were in her fur. Then, defy them. I will distract them, and yellow slits. He snarled at her and she squeezed herself through the you go to the far side of the house. swiped his paw again. Peppermint tunnel after Oakland. She landed in My brothers do not dare to venture cried out, “Please! I mean you no the middle of a bush where Oakland there, as it is our owner’s lounge, harm!” The tabby calmed down and sat, cleaning his giant muscular paw. and he does not like to be disturbed. sat. “What’s your business, then?” he “Come on, let’s go,” he said coolly. Good luck.” asked. Peppermint mewed. “I got lost They ran through the forest, laugh- He slipped down the side again and I want to go home.” ing. “You can’t beat me!” Oakland and they heard him talking to the big The tabby looked intently at her. called as he raced away. Peppermint dogs. Peppermint and Oakland did as “Come, then. I will take you in for called back, “Oh yeah?” She put on Bob instructed. “I’m home,” Pepper- one night, then home. My name’s a burst of speed and rocketed past mint said softly, tears coming to her Oakland. What’s yours?” He strolled Oakland, then, skidded to a stop. eyes. Her owner came out and saw into the undergrowth, not bothering They had reached the highway. her. They ran towards each other, to look back. Peppermint followed The stinky asphalt of the road cat leaping into human arms. Oak- closely. “My name is Peppermint,” stung Peppermint’s nose. Oakland land gave a farewell salute and left she said quietly, a little bit embar- grimaced. “This way,” he said. By the way they had come. Peppermint rassed by the way she had reacted to afternoon, they had reached the nestled into the arms of her owner Oakland’s ambush. Oakland didn’t suburbs. “Dairy Street!” Pepper- and purred happily. She was finally respond, but dove into a large bush. mint panted. “My home is there!” home.

8 PAPER JANUARY 2016 P.S. 11 Paper Staff - The Cubs

BACK ROW: Roman Chavez, Owen Kivett, Caroline Stöhrer, Sadie Howard, Jack Doyle, Lila Dupuy, Nandini Bains. CENTER ROW: Aaditya Mathur, Jamie Kauri, Meera Williams, Juliette Carasso, Agostina Rodriguez, Luc Basma, Paulina Bodin. FRONT ROW: Roger Carasso, Joshua Vega, Maximilian Stöhrer, Eli Parmett, Matilda Fried Levenstein, Lauren Eshelman, Jensen Krebs, Karina Gupta.

SPECIAL EDITOR FOR THIS ISSUE: JULIETTE CARASSO

9 PAPER