RHINO REPORT

November 6th, 2015 Ramsey Middle School Minneapolis, MN Volume 1 No. 2

WE Day Camp St. Croix! BY: Madison C. & Marley H. BY: Solveig J. Today (Tuesday) Ramsey Middle School, and other schools, The sixth graders are back from a went to the Xcel Center for WE Day. WE Day is an organization that three-day trip to Camp St. Croix and for the focuses on kids, like us, changing the world. WE Day acknowledges most part they enjoyed it very much. Let's the schools that help change their community and other places hear some of the sixth graders thoughts around the world. This year we talked about the 5 pillars of anonymously: charity, which are clean water, education, food, health, & just On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate this raising money. These things we’re going to be focusing on trip? throughout the school year and hopefully next WE Day Ramsey will Person 1: 9 be featured on the floor. Person 2: 8 WE day had many stars. Some of them include, singers Nico Person 3: 8-9 and Vinz, singer Natalie LaRose, singer Darren Criss, the Kenyans What was your favorite part of the trip? Boys Choir with Kardinal Offishall and for the final singer Ciara. For Person 1:The study group. speakers there was Chelsea Clinton, Lily Collins, Girl Meets World Person 2:KP duty with my cabin because we Star, Rowan Blanchard, Marlee Matlin, Henry Winkler, Dr. Mae were setting up not cleaning up. Jemison, the co-founders, Craig and Marc Kielburger, Dayle Person 3:The outdoor survival fort building. Haddon, the poet Mustafa, Abbie Nelson and Pia Phillips, Dean and Would you recommend this as a summer Hutton Phillips, and Danielle Liebl. Lastly, the announcers included, camp to go to? Gracie Schram, JRDN, Spencer West, Elliot Miville-Dechenes. All of Person 1: yes!? the speakers were so inspirational, They always made us feel Person 2: no special and made us feel like we could do something to change the Person 3: yes, our instructor was really nice world. Which we can. If you want to change the world, do so Would you say the point of this trip was to because we are the next generation to do so. practice team building activities? At the end of the day I’m glad we got to go to WE Day as it Person 1: I guess… was very inspirational and it makes me want to change the world. Person 2: sort of WE Day informed us that we can do things that people might not Person 3: no say we could do and that if someone tells you that you can’t do Was your cabin good? something or shouldn’t do something or aren’t good enough… Person 1: Yes! PROVE THEM WRONG! Person 2:YES!! Person 3: Yes. There you have it!!! Also, have you been seeing black bracelets on the sixth graders? Those are bracelets that show that they helped someone at camp!

The Fantasticks BY: Rory Kliewer and Jackson Grant This week, two of us from the Rhino Report took up a mission to check out the nearly completed (or, by the time this is published, finished) autumnal musical theatre production of our neighbors across the field, Washburn High School. The Fantasticks, made up of a relatively small but brilliant cast and taken over by spectacular student managers and directors, will be, from what we saw, a truly fantastic show. The actors, which we witnessed at a tech rehearsal, portrayed characters beautifully, and even just testing mics had a definite air of both fun and professionalism. And again, from what we witnessed, the production will be an outstanding success.

(Story and interviews continued on Page 3)

Rumors of Feminist Student Bullying: It’s WRONG! Leadership Group BY: Rhino Report Staff Bullying, where is it? Why do people do it? How BY: Cooper C. does it affect the victims? What happens when people After a couple last Friday’s controversial protest are bullied? These are some questions we’ll be involving the arguments of Feminism, Social Equality answering in this article. between the genders (beauty standards; gender wage Bullying is not something to mess around with. gap and how it effects women’s lives, and many other People can get seriously hurt from things you do or say. fun feminism related topics), did spark a lot of thought Bullying isn't always intentional. Sometimes you can throughout Ramsey on these issues. Protesters would hurt someone by what you say to them, but not hold up signs with statistics and quotes, causing a lot of actually think it’s bad. That is what can cause bullying a people to stop and read, notifying them of the problem. lot of times, people saying things and not expect the While talking with the protest/sit in’s starter, Isabel person to be hurt by it. Another way that people are Kleckner, she said that there were some plans she had bullied is cyberbullying. People being bullied online on for starting a feminist student leadership group, even social media or anything else online. Most of the time asking Ms. Angie Trimbach to help lead, who will agree. its social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. I reached out to Isabel via text and FaceTime, People say things online that hurt others. Maybe they and here are the answers we got from this trailblazer in say someone’s ugly or they’re a geek, or maybe it’s gender equality at our school. something more serious like they’re a disgrace to the Q: What do you hope to achieve from this group? world and that the world would be a better place A: “Just to make people feel better about themselves, without them in it. and to bring awareness to the fact that there is still an Some of us have been bullied. Online we’re issue with women not being treated fairly. called “ugly” or “gross” or “ew” or really anything Q: Will it be limited to girls, or will all be able to join? related to that. It stings it really does because there’re A: Anyone can join. The only problem is that it would be strangers who don’t even know you who are saying during 7th grade lunch. you’re ugly. But just remember that if you're being Q: What is your opinion on the ‘Meninist’ Meme? bullied, people love you and care for you and that’s all A: That is insanely stupid. It’s taking a very real issue that matters. That’s what always can keep you going and mocking it. whenever someone tries to shut you down. Also stand Q: Do you think it will bring better awareness to the up for yourself because no one deserves to talk to a cause? human like that. A: I hope so. We haven’t met yet, so we can’t know for People bully others because they want to feel sure. better about themselves. They believe if others feel bad Q: In your opinion, how do you think it will help our about themselves they’ll somehow feel better. school, or make the community better? Sometimes when people are bullied it can get A: I think it will be a group for the feminists to channel bad enough that they start hurting themselves in some their energy, and a way to get our voices heard in a way ways. They could start cutting or some other things, but supported by the school staff. the most common one is cutting. Also, some people Isabel plans to make it available to students this commit suicide because of bullying, and it’s sad. People year. We’ll keep you updated on any further progress die because of what people say to them or if someone on this becoming a reality. harms them in some way. We can’t get why people still

bully when they know they could end up killing people. An Interview with Mr. Halverson When people say words can’t hurt they’re lying right to BY: Madison Curtis your face. Words do hurt and they can do much more I interviewed Mr. Halverson about the 6th than just “hurt.” graders and his experience at Camp St. Croix. I choose October 21 was Unity Day, which means that it’s Mr. Halverson because he has been at Ramsey since we against bullying day. If you wore orange, hurray for you! first reopened 4 years ago, so he knows all the past 6th I wore orange myself and I was happy to see others did, graders (or at least the ones he taught). too. Q: How well did camp St. Croix go this year? Another thing that people are debating on is A: It went very well. The weather cooperated very whether or not people think there’s bullying at Ramsey. nicely. We brought more challenges by bringing more Some of us personally haven’t seen any but we know kids than before. Also all the teachers and the camp there is. Maybe it’s intentional like friends in a fight or staff did very well with all the kids and the challenges ignoring someone, but there is bullying. We asked a few we had. people their thoughts on Bullying at Ramey, and this is Q: Was this year as good or better than the previous what they said: years? 8th grader: “Yes, there’s bullying at ramsey. I have A: Just as good as previous years. Students who didn’t witnessed bullying here at Ramsey before by many have the opportunity to go to camp got to. people.” Q: Do you think camp helps 6th graders meet new 8th grader: “My friend is being bullied by her so called people and get to know other 6th graders better? “friends”. THey’re excluding her and not letting her A: Yes, it breaks away from the usual cliques, and it hang out with them. They’re being really mean to her gives kids the opportunity to talk to kids they normally and it hurts her. But yet she’s always going back to wouldn’t. them thinking it’s no big deal. (Continued on page 6) 8th grade teacher: “At the beginning of the year a girl The Fantasticks Ramsey Runners 5K (continued from page 1) FROM: Ms. Thaney-Driessen A shout out to our Ramsey Girls who completed Madeline their practice 5K on Tuesday! So proud of them, and I

Madeline is the understudy for a large character (the wanted to share some of the excitement with YOU. We mute). She started acting at the ripe age eight. She has want to thank all that cheered them on and been in seven professional shows. She started in choir volunteered their time and energy to be a running as the girl who sits in the corner and is not talked to. buddy. It was a great run, but also so much more that She felt alone in school. Soon she started to do theater, that for these girls. and she really felt accepted. So far she has made friends with almost all of the members of the cast. She is in ninth grade and already is in the musical. I asked her ‘What would you say to young actors who want to be on the stage. her response was ‘be proud of of your part, even if it is just in the chorus!’

Lila: Props Manager We also took the time to interview the production’s props manager, a student at Washburn. She told us that her years of high school have both been spent at the same school, and has been involved with five theatrical shows (not all in high school). Lila also explained to us that there were many things that drew her into theatre, but one that stood out to her with props was how much variety it had. A production like Les Misérables, a show WHS performed spring of 2014, will require different props than a show such as the one they are putting on currently, The Fantasticks, for many reasons. Before we left to talk to others, Lila gave us some parting advice for younger people who may be interested in theatre, and it’s something we heard a few times, so it certainly has the ring of truth--just go for it.

Stage Manager The stage manager has been working in the theater for six years. His parents showed him the magnificent work of the theater. He did not want to act or sing, He wanted to work behind the scenes. His job is as important as any actor. Without him there would be no show. He has made friends with every cast member. His advice to younger people is (the Nike slogan) Just Do It.

We all wish the whole cast good luck with their performances! Performances of The Fantasticks are: Day of the Dead Celebration November 6, Friday, 7PM November 7, Saturday, 2PM and 7PM Fundraiser A Success! Tickets $5 students and $10 adults. BY: Mr. K. Advance tickets available at: Last Wednesday’s event was a big success! We washburnfantasticks.brownpapertickets.com had between 90-120 people come out on a cold, rainy night, the day before a four-day weekend, and just after the 6th grade returned from Camp St. Croix, and we Editorial: Suspending Suspensions? raised nearly $400.00 dollars for the Ramsey Middle By: Ellie Traxler-Menz School PTA! The homemade, handmade tamales were a The Minneapolis School District is cutting down BIG success (we ordered 120, and we SOLD THEM ALL!), on the amount of times kids get suspended. Do they the Bread of the Dead was a HUGE seller throughout worry about their image or how others think of them? the night, and while we were unable to show the movie Giving kids 1 chance is understandable, but handing out in the new Auditorium (technical difficulties; Mr. Duran multiple chances to the kids dispense is unessential. was at RMS until nearly 9 PM working on the issue), we MPS has stopped giving out suspensions to grades Pre had a very patient and understanding crowd that made K- 1st which is okay, but kids in a Junior High, Ramsey their way to the Choir room for the movie, The Book of for example, should have the same expectations as a Life. school in Maryland. Every kid should get the same Thank you to EVERYONE who made the night education but also the same expectations of behavior. and the event a success! Next year, it will be EVEN BETTER!

iPhone 6S Letdown Reviving Extinct Species BY: Josh Maynard BY: William Musser The new iPhone, with the slogan, “the only Do you remember Jurassic Park? Fantasy, right? No. Thanks thing that’s changed is everything” sure to new research, you may come face to face with a mammoth in leaves me wonder ing, what exactly has your life time. changed. When I lo oked into this on the Imagine riding in a jeep in Siberia, with a few other people official Apple websi te, I was a little a native employee is lecturing your group about the animals in this disappointed; there really has only been one area. Soon, everyone quiets down. Not more than 20 meters away, change. a herd of wooly mammoths lumbers along. The only change that’s happened is the all - That could be happening to you soon thanks to years of new pressure sensitive screen. If you apply a study and the discovery of a frozen baby mammoth. certain amount of pressure to the screen, it These are 3 plans to bring back the wooly mammoth, or will do certain functions. No more tapping. with slight modification, any animal for that matter.

Basically it allows you to use your finger as a

pointer, like on a computer. This allows you to slide between options, and chic ly allows you to make new motions. All thoug h this is the only significant c hange, the phone is still one of the top 3 iP hones on the market

Apple Pencil BY: Ellis Durand Apple has come up with yet another revolutionizing device, the Apple Pencil. At first, like me , you might think its just another stylu s, but its definitely not. I checked it out on the official A pple website, and its pretty amazing. Sadly it’s only available for iPad P ro, but that’s because it comes with new apps, drawing apps. Here are some features of the Apple P encil: there is virtually no lag between when you touch the pencil to the iP ad to it making a dot, its Bluetooth, and using that feature, the pencil can sense pressure , and so when you press down with it, it will make the line your drawing thicker. That’s not all! You can tilt it to make quick and easy shading. So if you’re an artist, but you want to make your art easier to share and easy to edit, get the iPad

Pro with the separate purchase for the pencil! Available in November, at a starting price of $99, I think it’d be worth it.

BAND NEWS! BY: Tsuko Johnson Ex , is releasing a new with his new band Clearly we can bring them back, but there are a few Violent New Breed. The album is called constraints. One is that most DNA dies off after about a million or CASKET DREAM. so years, so maybe not [bring back] dinosaurs yet, but we have Falling Reverses guitarist Jacky found some dino remains still with living DNA. [However], they Vincent leaves band. All the coming up aren't enough to actually make a dino clone. Also, we need a lot, shows for the band are still going as planned and I mean a lot, of DNA to clone something. We will need a full (but they are not playing in MN). string of DNA to actually clone something. For instance, we may have an incredible amount of mammoth tusks, but if we just CONCERTS injected the DNA we have now into an African elephant, the Fall Out Boy is playing Monday, Dec. 7th African elephant would have a baby with curved tusks and that’s it. PVRIS is playing on Sunday, March 13 We need a full string to make a full clone. But, oddly, the biggest Sleeping with Sirens is on Monday Nov. 9th constraint is the public. Isn't it crazy how some people aren't exited about a 16 ton behemoth being brought back from the dead for no remote gain at all? This is part 1 of a series. Check back next edition for part 2! Student Photographer: Eli Carr

Vicious Dogs? Jokes! BY: Marley H. and Chloe L. BY: Alice D. and Solveig J. When we think of dogs that the so-called Q: What musical instrument is found in the bathroom? “bully dogs” and are considered “vicious,” we A: A tuba toothpaste instantly think of pit bulls, Doberman pinschers, Q: What do elves learn in school? Rottweilers, great danes, etc. But that is wrong. A: The elf-abet Many of the dogs we mentioned are not vicious Q: Where do pencils go for vacation? at all. Many of these dogs are kind, friendly A: Pencil-vania dogs. I (Chloe) have a great dane pit bull mix Q: Why did the girl smear peanut butter on the road? who is very sweet and shy and gentle. I have A: To go with the traffic jam met so many of these so-called “bully” dogs and Q: Which flower talks the most? they are the sweetest and most kind dogs I have A: Tulips of course because they have two lips met. Q :Imagine that you are in a room with no windows or doors When we interviewed teachers and very very thick walls, ceilings, and floors, and you don't throughout the school. 90% said that if they saw have anything with you. a so-called “bully dog” they wouldn't be scared. How do you get out? The one exception was 8th grade Earth Science A: You stop imagining that you're in the room teacher Ms. Shultz, who, was bitten by a so Q: What did 0 say to 8? called “bully dog”. Most teachers wouldn't go A: Nice belt! out and buy one of these dogs, but they think Q: Why couldn't the pony sing himself a lullaby? that it all depends on how the owner raised A: Because he was a little horse them. These are the teachers we asked and Q: What has no beginning, no end, a no nothing in the middle? their answers: A: A doughnut Mrs. Wender- She said that it depends on how Q: How do you know if your clock is crazy? the owner raises them but she wouldn’t adopt a A: It goes “cuckoo” dog at all. Q: What did the buffalo say to his kid when he dropped him off Mrs. Knee- She says it depends on how the for school? owner raises and treats the dog. A: Bison! Ms. Schultz- She doesn’t really know about Q: How do you stop a rhino from charging? dogs. She was bitten by a dog in the past and A: you take away its credit card/ you unplug it! when she sees a dog in public her past fear kicks Q: What did the duck say when he bought lipstick? in. A: He said “put it on my bill?” Mr. Koupal- He thinks that they are incredible After many years, a prisoner is finally released. dogs and any dog can be a good dog, depending He runs around yelling ”I'm free! I’m free!” on how the owner treats and raises them. A little kid walks up to him and says, ”So what? I’m 4.‘’ Mrs. Jolstad - It depends on how they were raised in their nature influences how they are. But some are stronger than others Comic By Ellis Durand

Mr. Kunze- “He says it depends on the owner and how they were raised”, he also said he was Mr. Kunze Be Like… raised with pitbulls and they were great. He also said that he would adopt a “bully dog” So we shouldn't judge a dog by the past reputation that they had. Because the dog might be the nicest dog you've met. Just because a dog seems scary doesn’t mean they are bad.

I Am Autistic. Ramsey Not So Official Mad Libs Part 2 BY: Rather not say By Alice D. and Solveig J. I am autistic. this may seem like a shock or surprise, 1.verb that ends with ing but i cannot emphasize 2.noun emphasize that too. 3.noun It doesn’t make me any less of a human than 4.t ype of business you. 5.same animal so yes I may shake my hands and stomp my 6.animal feet, 7.adjective but that doesn’t mean I cannot keep. 8.adjective

Since I am autistic, 9.verb ending in ed

I can’t do many things, 10.color

my writing is messy and I don’t like loud 11.number

rings. 12.adjective I don’t do many activities like clubs or sports, 13.verb ending in ing instead I make forts and hide away from the 14.plural noun world. 15.plural noun My mind is the barricade from the real world 16.plural noun and me. 17.animal A door without its key. Sometimes it feels like we’re tangled up in As H erald was ______down the ______, the thousands of cords. ______started to follow him. It was very nerve -racking for Cords of sadness and confusion, H erald seeing as he had never been stalked before. He was not a it feels like an illusion, rhino to panic , though, and this was getting very suspicious. Herald like the world isn’t real and were just went straight to the ______. He reported his case and left dreaming. before the ______could find him. After all the ____ was very ______and ______. Herald ______home as quick as any ______rhino can. The ______thing herald had learned as a child was to always stay ______and never start ______. As days went by, herald went out in to the world and saw ______, ______,______… and the best part? Herald never, ever saw that ______ever, ever, EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

Batman vs. Superman BY: Rowmeo Ross and Eli Carr TEAM BATMAN (Rowmeo): We all have wondering this question: Who would win in a fight, Batman or Superman? Well I'm going with Batman. He is strong, fast, and the ultimate strategist. He also has kyronite built into his suit. Batman is the ultimate superhero in my eyes. Hands down. Batman is one of the best superheroes who has ever been created!

TEAM SUPERMAN (Eli): Superman would totally win this

fight. People always say that Batman would win because Batman

would have kryptonite, but that really doesn’t matter. Kryptonite

only weakens him. It does NOT KILL HIM!

Bullying: It’s WRONG! (continued from page 2) I’m hoping that soon she’ll realize that they aren't worth it.” 8th grade teacher : “At the beginning of the year a girl was picking on a boy, and another girl was supporting her, and I had to call a joiner, because I don’t allow bullying in my classroom. They brought them to Ms. Tibbetts, and she is taking care of it. I had to move one of the girls to a different class so it wouldn’t happen again.”

7th grade teacher: “Yes, I’ve seen bullying in both the halls and the classrooms of Ramsey. I think it happens more in the hallways than the classrooms, but still happens in the classroom.”

6th grade teacher: “I have not seen any bullying in my classroom, but I do know there is bullying at Ramsey.”

In conclusion, there is plenty of bullying everywhere. If you say there isn’t, you’re wrong. Perhaps you’re one of the bullies without actually knowing it …

If you see or hear bullying at Ramsey, be an ally, not a bystander. If you don’t feel like you can say something, find an adult. If you see something, say something. Bullying has NO PLACE at our school. What’s For Lunch?

Word Find: Use EduCreations to Solve! Maze: Use EduCreations!

Contributors Eli Carr Cooper Cieslicki Madison Curtis Alice Duncan Ellis Durand Jackson Grant Marley Hinschberger Tsuko Johnson Solveig Juntunen Rory Kliewer Anagram! Alexander Kurtyka Figure put what these word can turn into! (HINT: Definitions) Chloe Lewandowski 1. the eyes Josh Maynard 2. astronomer Will Musser 3. a decimal point Rowmeo Ross 4. eleven plus two Ellie Traxler-Menz 5. dormitory Ms. Martin (WE Day photo) Ms. Thaney-Driessen Answers in the next edition! Mr. K.