Issue Number 8 htps://www.somersschools.org/Page/11489 Winter 2020

Enjoy the break! Next issue will Enjoy this TERRIFIC performance be published on January 8, 2021! by the SMS Bell Choir! While the traditional tour to schools and Good Riddance, 2020!!!! around town couldn’t be done, the group still gathered to make some magic. Thanks, Mrs. Malara! Somers Middle School Bell Choir

Editor’s Note: The next several issues of The Tusker Tribune will feature articles based on broad overarching topics. This week, students write about the biggest surprises in their lives, the importance of honesty, and a favorite song. In addition, Benji Cutler gives his predictions for the upcoming NBA Season! So enjoy reading and Happy Holidays!

Collision With Wall Sticks in New Dog Was Definitely a My Mind HUGE Surprise!

By Chloe Lee By Jayden Newman Tusker Tribune Staff Tusker Tribune Staff One day I was watching TV. I was thirsty, The biggest surprise in my life so I went to go get water. When I was walk- is when my parents surprised my ing back, I slipped and fell on the wall in a brother and me with our dog four years corner. ago in third grade. The house was silent, and I was lying on I think it was the biggest sur- the floor. The next thing I knew, I was in the hos- prise because it was pital feeling nauseous. I just a normal day. I needed to get stiches so they went to school as if had to do that/ I was scared everything was nor- but they let me sleep so I mal. would not feel as much pain. But then I In the middle of saw my mom’s and when I was sleeping, I woke my dad’s cars in the up to something moving, I driveway, and that thought I woke up but it was very unlikely was dark so I was thinking I because my mom opened my eyes in my brain did not say she was staying home and she usu- or something and I saw a ally coms home at 4 and I get home from the needle poking through. I went back to sleep not bus at 3, so I was confused. thinking about it much. So I walked throw the door and saw a I woke up laying there and a little dizzy, tiny black dog with a little bit of white fur on but I was ok. We left the hospital, and I was tell- its belly. I stopped under the door frame so ing my mom about the needle that I saw before confused as to what was happening. but she just said that it went too far deep. Then I yelled, “IS THAT OURS?” My A few months went by so you can barely see mom said, “Yes” joyfully. I ran up to the dog anything. Now you can’t really see it that much, so happy and started to pet it. but this is the day that I would never forget. Her name is Onyx. The Tusker Tribune Page 2 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

Honesty Will Last Your Lucy and Charlie Have Doggone Entire Life! Good Lives!

By Dean Palazzolo By Kieran Ryan Tusker Tribune Staff Tusker Tribune Staff I think it is better to be The biggest surprise of my life is when my honest. parents got me and my sisters a puppy. So when I First, popularity is going to was about two, we had a babysitter for when my get you nowhere in life. You can be popu- parents went out, and they said that they were lar in middle school but then when you just going to the grocery store, but about an hour after get older, the popularity is gone. they left, they walked in with a puppy. I think being honest is the most It was a little black Lab- important thing in life. Being an honest rador Retriever named Lucy. and person will get you somewhere in life. Be- she was so crazy and she would ing popular isn't that chase us around the house, and I important; it won't would try to play hide and seek get you a job or a with her, but she found me every house. People will time in a matter of seconds! just know who you But then the same thing are. happened about 2 years later, Being honest and we knew we were getting a can get you a lot of puppy this time. So this one was things. Popularity a rescue, so he came in a big comes and goes but truck. being an honest per- Now everyone was cutting son will stick with you your entire life and line and pushing and shoving to a lot of people like honest people. get their dog first, but the man Also, being an honest person saw me and since I was so little, means other people can trust you with he let me get my dog first and something they only want you to know, his name is Charlie. and no one else. When we first brought him home, he was scared Being popular is a big thing. I because his last owner abused him and threw him and mean, yeah, everyone wants to be an ac- all his siblings in the dumpster. But he got used to us tor and make money and be famous, but and he knows we will never do something like that to being honest is a bigger thing. him.

Swimming with Dolphins an Unforgettable Experience

By Anelise Bobadilla To get there, we had to ride on this little Tusker Tribune Staff boat, where it would take us to the dolphins. It We were on was a little shaky but beau- a cruise for a tiful at the same time. Once friend who just we got there, we had to put graduated from high our life vests on and wait in school. line to swim with the dol- That day, the ship phins. was heading to St. Kitts, Finally, we walked which I was really excited into the water and there about. The water there were so many fish swim- was as clear as tears. It ming around! We were able was blue and turquoise. to swim with a dolphin Earlier that morn- named Gaia. She was ador- ing, my parents called me able. She had freckles on and my sister into their her stomach and on her room. They explained to nose. We held onto her top us that we were going to fin and swam to the other go swimming with dol- side. I held onto a boogie phins! I was extremely excited. That was my fa- board while Gaia pushed my feet to the other vorite sea animal, so you could imagine how hap- side. It was such an adventure and such a sur- py I was. prise! The Tusker Tribune Page 3 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

New Go Kart an Surprised by the New Dog

Awesome Birthday Gift By Kate Seeger Tusker Tribune Staff By Vince Pomponi About one month ago, I was Tusker Tribune Staff at school! I got a text from my mom The biggest surprise of my life was my saying, “Tell me when you are going 12th birthday, when my parents surprised me to be home.” with a gas Coleman go kart! Then my sister, who is in the high I had no clue that they got me this go kart be- school, says, “When are you going to be cause at first, my dad wanted to get it for me and my home”? mom was totally against it, so I thought that ship has I said, “In a few minutes. Why are sailed. you asking?” So I asked my mom for a PC My sister said, “Oh, I was just won- or Air Pod Pro or a gaming set up. dering.” But then, about a month later, she So, I was asked me, “Hey Vin, what do you like, “OK” and I want for your birthday?” was kind of con- Then I brought up the go fused as to why kart to see if she would let me get my mom and sis- it, and she was like, “That’s what ter were so inter- you want for your birthday?”, and I ested about said, “Yeah.” when I was go- Then, one night, I was get- ing to get home. I thought maybe some- ting back from baseball practice and thing bad had happened. it was the day before my birthday, When I was getting off the bus, I and she asked me, “Do you want saw my mom at the door with something your gift now or tomorrow on your birthday? that looked like a dog! I said, “Now!” I was thinking to myself, there is no So she had a bag full of candy and at the bot- way we got a dog. It’s probably our neigh- tom, there was a box and inside the box was a piece of bor’s. paper, and the paper said, “arriving on 10/15/20” and Anyway, I ran to the dog. It was my birthday is 10/14/20. So, the day I got it was a day such a cute dog. Then I asked my mom, I had just gotten off the bus for school, and there was a “Whose dog it that?” huge box containing teh go kart in our garage! That She paused and said, “It’s yours!” was a really huge surprise! I could not believe what I had just heard. I was shocked. I was like, there is no way we got a dog! I was so happy. I was about to cry. Finally, I took the dog inside and ‘House of the Rising Sun’ is a played with it all day. Terrific Song By Simon Szabo The Tusker Tribune is Tusker Tribune Staff the online Somers Middle School Student So, first, my favorite song is “House of the Newspaper. Rising Sun” by The Animals. This is m favorite It is published weekly song right now because right now, I am learning Reporters (except during school va- cations) on the Somers the guitar and this song was the very first song I learned Analise Bobadilla Middle School Website. and it was stuck in my head because the guitar solo in Benji Cutler It is entirely student- the song, in my opinion, is very good. Chloe Lee written by 6th, 7th and Jayden Newman 8th grade students from: I also love this song because when my dad was Somers Middle School, teaching it to me, he played it first to see how good it Dean Palazzolo 250 Route 202, Somers, sounds and that is was got me into learning the guitar. Vince Pomponi NY, USA. Sometimes, when I play a video game or some- Kieran Ryan Any SMS student is eligi- Kate Seeger ble to write stories. thing, this song comes up and I get so into the game be- If interested, please e-mail cause the song is so good for any moment. Simon Szabo Advisor Dean Pappas at That is why I picked this song, because I love DPappas many songs, and this was one of them that came to mind @somersschools.org

and I think that everyone should at least listen to the song. Website: Click on the link to hear/view the song . . . https://www.somer http://www.viewpure.com/4-43lLKaqBQ? sschools.org/Page/ start=0&end=0 11489 The Tusker Tribune Page 4 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School The NBA is Here, in Time for Some Holiday Cheer!

By Benji Cutler Tusker Tribune Staff Major Additions: (PG) The 2020-21 NBA Season officially begins on December 22, and the NBA Western Conference Preseason has been in action for a week now! It’s crazy how quick the transition Major Additions: Montrezl Har- from last season to this season was! With the sea- rell (C/PF), Wesley Matthews son just around the corner, the offseason has been (SG/SF), (C), Dennis simmering down and now it is very quiet. The on- Schroder (PG) ly big move that could still happen is James Hard- en being traded to a contender but as of now, we Major Additions: Luke Kennard know what all the NBA teams and what the NBA (SG/SF), Serge Ibaka (C/PF) Playoffs somewhat will look like. Today, I will make my NBA Playoff predic- Major Additions: (PF/C), RJ Hampton tions for both conferences. If you don’t know yet, (PG/SG), JaMychal Green (PF/SF) the top eight seeds in each conference make the playoffs, but this year, seeds 7-10 in each confer- Major Additions: (SF/PF), Josh Rich- ence will participate in a play-in tournament to ardson (SG/PG), (PG/SG) decide who will make those bottom two seeds. Again, these are just predictions so if you Major Additions: Robert Covington (PF/SF), Enes disagree with them, that is completely fine. With Kanter (C), Derrick Jones Jr. (PF/SF) all that said, let’s get into my predictions. Major Additions: Derrick Favors (C/PF), Udoka Eastern Conference Azubuike (C/PF) Major Additions: John Major Additions: Jrue Holiday (SG/PG), DJ Au- Wall (PG), Christian gustin (PG), Torrey Craig (SF/PF) Wood (PF/C), DeMar- Brooklyn Nets cus Cousins (C) Major Additions: Landry Phoenix Suns Shamet (SG/PG), Major Additions: Jalen (Back Smith (PF/SF), Chris from Injury – PF/SF) Paul (PG), Jae Crowder (PF/SF) Major Additions: Aaron Nesmith (SF/SG), Major Additions: (C), Kelly Oubre Tristan Thompson (C), Jeff Teague (PG) Jr. (SF/PF), Brad Wanamaker (PG/SG) Major Additions: Avery Bradley (SG/PG), Precious Major Additions: (PG/SG), Mario Achiuwa (PF/SF), Maurice Harkless (PF/SF) Hezonja (PF/SF), Jr. (PF/SF) Those are my predictions for the 2020-21 Major Additions: Aron Baynes (C), NBA Playoffs and Play-in Tournament. December (PG/SG) 22 is the day when the ac- tion begins with the Brook- Major Additions: (PG/SG), Danny lyn Nets taking on the Gold- Green (SG/SF), Seth Curry (SG/PG), Dwight en State Warriors at 7:00 Howard (C) PM EST and the Los Ange- les Lakers taking on their Major Additions: (PG/SG) city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:00 PM EST. Major Additions: Russell West- Just three days after brook (PG), (SF/ that, the Christmas Day PF) games will take place, and Atlanta Hawks you can see what games Major Additions: Onyeka those are right below this. This season will have Okongwu (C/PF), Danilo Galli- surprises, exciting moments, incredible moments nari (PF), (PG), and moments that will make NBA fans glad that Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG/SF), is back. (Back from Injury – C) I will see you when the NBA season is un- derway, and Happy Holidays everyone!