The Student Newspaper of Freedom Area Middle School

Volume 9, Issue 4 The Student Newspaper of Freedom Area Middle School January 2020 In loving memory of Mrs. Erica Davids March 25, 1971 - December 25, 2019 Beloved kindergarten teacher leaves lasting impression on entire community Pogue Regan he ever had. She treated all of her Grade 8 students like family and showed Copy Editor them how important and good they Mrs. Erica Davids, Freedom were. Larrick said that Mrs. Davids’ Area Elementary kindergarten kindness and generosity influenced teacher, lost her battle to breast him positively, as he learned to be cancer on Wednesday, Dec. 25, kind. He thinks that this helped 2019, after years of fighting. In him stay away from bad behavior. the end, her cancer overpowered Her bubbly behavior was her. She was beloved by many. The contagious and never failed to make teachers and students that knew people smile. She made each and her only have good things to say. every student feel loved and cared Many students knew her as a kind, for and constantly lifted everybody compassionate person. She was an up. She even tried to share her sick elementary teacher at Big Knob days with other teachers near the Elementary and Freedom Area Photo by Lifetouch Studios end of her time, saying that breast Elementary for over ten years. She cancer fighters stick together. was 48 years old, far too young in first day of school every year, just Although she’s gone, she will many people’s opinions. because she knew that DeChellis never be forgotten. Her positive Mrs. Amy DeChellis, a close was cold in the air conditioning. light and spontaneous behavior friend and kindergarten buddy of She would always buy things for will be remembered forever. She Mrs. Davids, says that she was a her students that she thought has changed many students’ and caring and compassionate person. they would enjoy, no matter her adults’ lives for the better with her She put everyone before her, even financial situation. generous personality. Her students when she was sick. DeChellis said To Logan Larrick, an 8th-grade are extremely grateful for their time that Davids got her a sweater on the student, she was the nicest teacher with her.

@bulldogbarker www.bulldogbarker.com 2 Bulldog Barker Students visit Holocaust Museum and Monument Samantha Young, Grade 7 Writer

The seventh grade ELA and social studies classes and the eighth grade advanced ELA class have recently learned about the Holocaust. Seventh grade ELA classes read the book “Prisoner B-3087” by Alan Gratz and did critical thinking activities on the story to go along with this unit. They also went to The Holocaust Museum of Pittsburgh and the Community Day School Holocaust monument in Squirrel Hill on Dec. 17 and 19. Many of the kids and teachers enjoyed this unit. Community Day School tour guide tells seventh graders about the Holocaust monument and answers many of their questions. Mrs. Carole Hartman, seventh Photo by Mrs. Hartman grade ELA teacher, explained that she had the seventh graders It’s just very very cool to see kids so “The actual day of the field do critical thinking activities interested in something reading.” trip - it always comes together throughout the book they were She also said that she most because of the awesome support of reading because she wanted them the staff and the good behavior of to practice the skills that they enjoyed telling the students what she personally knows about the our students. To see the students had previously learned. Hartman actively engaged, learning and wanted her students to learn about Holocaust. Hartman thinks we should definitely do this again but having fun - makes all the stress the Holocaust and that being mean worth it. I always come back to someone just because they are she says next year she hopes to have books for every student. feeling proud of how we represented different is not right. Hartman says our school.” said Culler. she really enjoyed this unit and Mr. James Culler, seventh grade wants to do it again next year as geography teacher, also thought the Many students enjoyed visiting this is her second year teaching it. unit went well. Culler was mainly the Holocaust museum and seeing Hartman also taught this in high in charge of planning the field trip. many of the historic artifacts from school. He said that it was stressful as most the time period of what they have recently been learning about. “I did teach a class in the high field trips are because of so many school on the Holocaust and this little details but that this year he “I thought it was cool that they was one of the books and the high had a lot of help from Hartman, still had stuff from back then,” says school kids just sucked it up. They Mrs. Angela Post, seventh grade seventh grader Haydan Baucan. were so excited about the book and math teacher, and Ms. Lisa Finch, “It’s interesting what they had to when I tried it last year with the seventh and eighth grade ELA seventh grade I got the same results. teacher. Continued on page 5 @bulldogbarker Freedom Area Middle School 3 FMS Parents’ STEAM Walk: Educational and fun Lorenzo Guandolo, Grade 5 Writer

Freedom Area School District held on a STEAM Night on Jan. 22, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The STEAM Walk was a hands-on learning event held by the FMS Parents to teach kids about the scientific method and engineering. The STEAM Walk happened in the auditorium and in the middle school cafeteria. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. STEAM used to be called STEM which STEAM Walk stations were set up in the cafeteria for students to visit. included all of the same acronyms Photo by Lorenzo Guandolo except for “Arts”. The Kahoots were all questions The FMS parents sponsored The STEAM Night offered a lot about either science, technology, the STEAM Walk, but the Beaver of things to do and see and even engineering, arts, or math. The County Educational Trust funded had concessions. With the STEAM questions were a good difficulty the grant for the event, which was Night having 11 hands-on learning for the age group, and really fun. really nice. booths and one and a half hours There were multiple winners, like “There was always a STEM to do all those things, there were *Vomit Noise* and Mega Wolfy. plenty of fun things to do. Night for elementary schoolers, You could also play in teams with that had good participation. So I The STEAM night held your friends. thought, why not continue it into multiple events during the time “I think the STEAM Walk is middle school.” said Mrs. Deal. it was open, including the ability amazing, it is a great way to learn to win prizes by going to all the The STEAM Walk also offered about science while having fun.” prizes for going to a lot of the booths, and a Kahoot game from said William Verosky, fifth grader. 6:45-7:15 p.m. The STEAM Walk booths. There were 17 prizes that was a huge success. Not only did it Many people and organizations students could win such as, a have crowds of people, there were helped make the STEAM Walk fitbit, Dick’s Gift Cards, Go-Cam, tons of fun things to do and even possible, including but not limited Polaroid Camera, and geo sets. The a real Formula 1 car that was rolled to Charles Brenckle, Bryson Deal, STEAM Walk was truly a fun and into the school. Trevor Denhup, and Mrs. Elizabeth educational event that should be Deal, who organized the STEAM repeated in the future. “I loved it, my favorite thing Walk. is how they got a racecar into the school,” said Cameron Ruyz, fifth “The cleaning was hard, also grader. setting up stuff took a lot of time,” said Brenckle, sixth grader. www.bulldogbarker.com 4 Bulldog Barker Second intruder drill practiced by Freedom Area School District Maddie Richards, cause some kids’ anxiety to increase Grade 8 rapidly. In some occasions, students Writer are not warned about the drill so they end up sending texts to their On Friday, Jan. 10, Freedom parents with final goodbyes or get Area School District participated so nervous they do not want to in an intruder drill. These drills show up to school the next couple are very important for our safety at days. This is an argued topic, but the school. Unfortunately in 2019, Mr. Ryan Smith, FMS principal, there were 45 total school shootings believes the drill is important to in the United States. These tragedies make sure staff and students are have taught schools that we need aware of surroundings and will to take more precautions within know how to react. However, we the school. The state now requires cannot account for every situation intruder drills in schools. Intruder which is probably the biggest drills are important to the school problem we face with this drill. because it constructs an idea for At Freedom, the students are what we would do in an emergency, New entryway helps improve safety warned about the drill beforehand, so we would have a plan. of students and staff. but we do not know exactly when Photo by Maddie Richards These drills can be very scary it is going to happen. They do not for students and teachers because want the students to be completely it is a sensitive topic and scares unaware of the drill because it can the entry to help with the safety of some people to think about lead to students harming the person our students and staff. Smith says it something like this ever happening pretending to be an intruder, was a huge success because there are in our school. The realism of these but they do not want to tell the no longer visitors in the building worldwide problems frightens a lot students exactly what time it is until they are given approval. of students, teachers, and parents, going to happen because in a real Overall, this drill is very important but since the state wants students situation we would not know it was for the students and staff. to feel safe at school the drills are coming. Smith explains that after necessary. Although, some people doing the drill a couple of times, believe the drills are harmful to the the amount of information given students. before the drill will be limited. NBC News says that the drills Recently, the school remodeled

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@bulldogbarker Freedom Area Middle School 5 Pep Club and Student Government raise money for victims of Australian wildfires Olivia VanDeCar, Grade 5 Ms. Heiman, librarian and Writer Pep Club sponsor, says that it is important to give when others are Pep Club and Student in need, especially when you have Government are working together just a few extra dollars. She and Mr. to raise money for families affected Kappas, eighth grade history teacher by the Australian wildfires. About and Student Government sponsor, 12.35 million acres of land has think it is a good opportunity to been burnt across Australia and reach out to others who need some an estimated 1 billion animals help. They are collecting the money now lie dead as a direct result of by having students buy tickets at the fires. Some of the animals are lunchtime for $1 each for a chance koalas, kangaroo, Tasmanian devil, to win a stuffed koala. echidna, wombats, and kookaburra. “I think this is a great The tolls continue to grow opportunity for kids to be involved as the fires have yet to be with supporting the victims of the extinguished. The fires travel at Alexa McGhee won the raffle for the fires. It is important to give when speeds as high as 60 miles per hour stuffed koala bear. others are in need.” said Julianne with walls of flames traveling as fast Photo by Ms. Heiman Hein, fifth grade student. as 20 mph. People have also seen The total money raised was $66. “firenados”, also known as “fire start in many ways, most by Alexa McGhee, fifth grader, won devils” or “fire twisters”, which are lightning or human actions. The the stuffed koala. the result of the right combination climate conditions provide fuel for of hot, dry air and fire. The fires the fires to grow. Students learn about the Holocaust Continued from page 2 “I didn’t enjoy [the Holocaust was really good. go through and what we don’t have unit] because of how dark it was.” “I did have fun learning to now. It’s good we learn this stuff said seventh grader Landon Fehir. about it because the Holocaust is so it doesn’t happen again in the “I enjoyed going out of school and something that has always interested future,” said Baucan. learning about it. I recommend me.” Chase Grable, eighth grader [learning about the Holocaust] so Some of the students wish for said, “I thought it was good. I you learn the history, but try to mean even though it wasn’t like activities that they can be more make it more interesting next year.” interactive in doing. These may a really huge museum it still had help the students better understand Many students and teachers a lot of interesting information.” what happened it the Holocaust. think this unit was a success. Grable also thinks this is something Some of the students may need Teachers may always add or take everyone should learn and this to be interested and have some away to this unit but what they did recommends this unit for next year. educational fun during this unit. this year, in most people’s opinion, www.bulldogbarker.com 6 Bulldog Barker FMS hosts sixth annual RoboSumo Christopher Denkovich, Christopher Denkovich, and Jason Grade 7 Mengel, seventh grade. Freedom Writer ninth-grade students Luke Snavely, David Denkovich, and Jacob The sixth annual Beaver County DiCenzo, who participated last year, RoboSumo competition was held refereed during the competition in the Freedom Area Middle after they moved up to the high School gym on Thursday, Jan. 23. school. RoboSumo is a competition where students design and program Lego Last year, Freedom students Mindstorm robots to find and took second and third place. This push their opponents off the edge year none of the Freedom teams of a round board. The robots start Two robots prepare to battle in made it into the finals. The top in the center of the circular board RoboSumo. three teams were Hopewell in first and move to the edge, turn around, Photo by Pogue Regan and second and Riverside in third. then fight. rounds and the top eight out of 33 “Over prepare, over practice, do There were 33 teams from teams went to the finals. your best, and add a flamethrower.” the middle school division and is the advice from DeThomas for The students from Freedom next year’s competitors. Freedom four teams from the high school Middle School who participated are division with over 100 kids from students are pumped for next year’s Logan Larrick, eighth grade, and competition and are hoping for nine different schools participating Gabe Sanders, Beau DeThomas, in the competition. There were six redemption. Students read books to Humane Society animals Audrey Mooney, Grade 5 about getting a pet from a shelter. Writer It was a fun experience for kids and lots of people enjoyed it, even Mrs. Clibbens, fifth grade the parents. The kids helped the math teacher, decided to gift wrap animals by getting them used to Christmas presents for the teachers. the human voice. The animals have The money raised would be given to a chart to tell the families if they the Humane Society. Shortly after don’t like something or need to Clibbens’ class raised the money, have something. Once they have her class went to the Humane been exposed to the human voice Society after their hours to give they are one step closer to finding a them the money. They also learned perfect family. how the animals get there and how Kendall Climo, fifth grader, they treat them. Troy Reynolds reads to a dog at the said her favorite part was interacting On Wednesday, Dec. 18 the Humane Society on Dec. 18. with the animals, she also said the kids got to read to the animals. Photo by Mrs. Clibbens dog that she was reading to started That encouraged kids to think to calm down when she read. @bulldogbarker Freedom Area Middle School 7 Features Year of the Rat: How people celebrate Chinese New Year Elizabeth Mooney, Grade 5 celebrating on a rooftop and seeing Writer fireworks “as far as the eye could see.” In her last year in China, Chinese New Year, also Amanda shared an “amazing” New known as the Lunar New Year or Year dinner with a family in central Spring Festival, is a major holiday China. The dinner included special celebrated in China. This year it foods considered to be lucky, like falls on January 25, but it changes fish (because the Chinese word from year- to-year because it follows for “fish” sounds like prosperity). the Lunar calendar, based on Noodles are eaten for long life. the movement of the moon. The Anthony enjoyed eating rice cakes, celebration lasts for about 15 days which are also considered to be until the Lantern Festival. lucky. This year is the year of the Rat, Chinese New Year customs but next year, it will be the year of also include a national television the Ox, which was the year I was variety show and gift-giving. It is born. customary for parents to give their One-sixth of the world’s children Hongbao, which are little population celebrates it, including red envelopes. They contain money, Mainland China, Hong Kong, $20 for the kids, and $100 for the Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and parents! Hongbao, the red envelope, is given some other Asian countries as well Our school doesn’t celebrate to children by their parents on the as Chinatowns around the world. Chinese New Year, but some Chinese New Year. Amanda Erlandson, a families, like mine, do. Photo by Elizabeth Mooney Pittsburgh attorney, and Anthony For instance, we do eat Chinese Erlandson, a Pittsburgh Spanish food, including noodles, but not teacher, each spent time in China. fish. My parents gave my sister and Amanda spent four years in China me Hongbao. We play Chinese- while Anthony spent two years themed board games and hang there. She explained that Chinese decorative lanterns in our home. New Year has public and private, This year, we went to see Shen Yun family-oriented customs. Both of at the Benedum Center. Shen Yun them described incredible fireworks is one hour long, and it was so displays, one of Anthony’s favorite wonderful! My new year is off to a customs. Anthony described the good start, and I hope yours is, too. fireworks as big, like our Fourth of July celebrations. Amanda recalled www.bulldogbarker.com 8 Bulldog Barker Tik Tok breaks the record of being the most downloaded IOS app of all time Tyler Misencik, Grade 7 section of videos where the latest Photography Editor trends and influencers’ videos are held) are widely being viewed and With social media on the rise, are trending because of Tik Tok. there ought to be new trends in Tik Tok has 500 million active the making. One of the biggest users, with 1.5 billion downloads phenomenons at the moment is worldwide, and has become the TikTok. In 2012, Zhang Yiming most downloaded IOS app of all founded the app Musical.ly, but it time. wasn’t until 2018 that there was a “I enjoy watching funny decision made to change the app’s TikToks as well as making my name to TikTok. The format of the own,” stated seventh-grader Megan app stayed alike, but the name and Ellis who often uses TikTok. logo did not. Charli Damelio, Tik Tok influencer, Many people also have said that dances for MTV to the currently “Tik Tok is great because it they enjoy Tik Tok because of it trending song “Lottery”. is a way to be inspired by many having short videos that are quick Screenshot by Tyler Misencik things like dance videos or just to to watch. find humor in things. Sometimes Tik Tok has influenced the though I do spend hours just All in all, Tik Tok has had a music industry as well in a very scrolling through countless good impact on students by striking positive way. Songs or “audios” videos,” said seventh-grader Gianna their creativity and many students that are trending on the “fyp” Guandolo. will continue to use the app. which stands for “For You Page” (a Sixth grade makes math board games Bryson Deal, Grade 6 textbook and worksheets for a week Drutarosky. Writer once the boxes were completed. In conclusion, the math games After each box was graded students Tricky problems + Board games were a big hit. volunteered to play their games = FUN! Mrs. Wendy Clibbens, sixth with the other fifth and sixth grade grade math teacher, assigned her classes. A few days out of the week class to make math board games the volunteers would go down to from a pizza box. The students the library and play their games cut up paper to fit their box and with the other classes. painted it. They had to create problems that were at a sixth grade “I enjoyed getting to know more level. of the fifth graders and teaching them some math.” stated Charles Most boxes had a theme like Brenkle, sixth grader. Students play their homemade their favorite TV shows such as board games in the library. “Stranger Things”, and music bands “I really liked it, that was a Photo by Bryson Deal like BTS. The class got to ditch the great experience!” exclaimed Garrett @bulldogbarker Freedom Area Middle School 9 Eight chorus students chosen to attend Chorus Fest in April Katelyn Clawson, Grade 5 Freedom in the best Writer possible way.” After the students On April 3 of this year, there were chosen and heard will be a chorus fest for middle the news, they got the schoolers at Lakeview High School. music, which the songs Lakeview High School is about are not decided yet. an hour and a half away from Freedom. Four students from fifth “Honestly, I feel grade were chosen to attend the excited and I feel a festival: Nicholas Metzger, Elizabeth nervous excitement Mooney, Audrey Mooney, and on what’s going to Katelyn Clawson. Four students happen, and I’m from sixth grade are also going, looking forward to it!” Cooper Adams, Abigail Hunter, said Metzger. This is, Anne Martin, and Malanna Chelak. unfortunately, all the information we have “I chose these students because about the chorus fest, they are the strongest singers in until April. this group,” Mrs. Newman, chorus The students chosen for the chorus fest gather teacher, explained. “But also around the chorus room. because they have an impeccable Photo by Katelyn Clawson character and will represent

Congratulations to all of the students in the Principal’s 100!

www.bulldogbarker.com 10 Bulldog Barker Sports Basketball teams have rough year, looking to improve next year Dylan Scheel, Grade 8 Managing Editor The seventh grade and eighth grade basketball teams had a bit of a rough season. The seventh grade team finished with a record of 7-6 and the eighth grade team finished with a record of 0-14. Even though the teams may not have had their best year, the teams improved immensely over the course of the season. The seventh grade team started out the season the 3-1 through the first four games. The boys basketball teams improved throughout the season. “The team had a good season Photo by Pogue Regan but it could have been better.” team started to play more as one One of these games would include said seventh grade player, Adam team. This made the team much their Dec. 18 loss to Fort Cherry, Rhoades. The reason for this is better and much more successful. where they took a 35 - 34 defeat on because even though they had a a last-second effort by Fort Cherry. decent start to the season the team Even though the eighth grade played selfishly and not as a team. team may not have won a game, they However, as the year went on the had many close, nail-biting games.

@bulldogbarker Freedom Area Middle School 11 Freedom Voices K-pop steps into popular culture Helena Buli, Grade 6 Reynolds has been a fan of Writer B.T.S. for some time now. They have seven members, and is one of K-pop is an abbreviation of the most well known K-pop groups. Korean popular music. K-pop has They call their fans A.R.M.Y. This been largely spread throughout stands for Adorable Representative the internet and has affected our M.C for Youth. A cute fact about generation. Multiple people, kids B.T.S.’s and A.R.M.Y’s logos are and adults including, listen to that when you put them together, K-pop. It has been one of the most it makes a shield. This is meant to popular genres of music for many represent that when B.T.S. and their years now. There are many bands fans are together, nothing can ever included in the genre K-pop. Annie Martin’s collection of BTS hurt them (due to the shield.) Origins merchandise shows her love for “I believe K-pop’s main purpose The first-ever K-pop band was K-pop. Photo by Helena Buli is to let people know how beautiful created in the 1990s, specifically balloons to represent their favorite they are and how unique we can be. 1992. The band was called Seo band, to light sticks. One of the B.T.S. puts positive energy intoin Taiji & Boys. This band’s members first groups to make this change people’s lives. Not only is the music were confined to Seo Taiji, Yang was BIGBANG. Another thing that positive and uplifting, the music is Hyun-suk, and Lee Juno. Their made fans´ lives a struggle was the also encouraging. They even make band thrived for about four years subtitles. Most of the time you had their own quotes to help people until disbanding in January 1996. to learn Korean, instead of just out!” says B.T.S. fan, Annie Martin. Seo made the decision to disband reading English subtitles. Many B.T.S. fans have problems while they were taping their fourth How it affects our schools with mental health, and they agree album, which surprised Yang and with Martin. Some of the B.T.S. Lee. The band then disconnected. Kids express their love for this members even admit that they have Several years later, Taiji decided to music in multiple ways such as their own mental health problems become a soloist. buying merchandise, listening to including Namjoon, the oldest Modern K-pop their music in public, and going in the group and the leader. This to concerts. There are multiple K-pop group has helped their fans Just some of the modern opinions about K-pop music, as emotionally, and in turn their fans Korean pop bands are B.T.S, with music opinions in general. helped them. Blackpink, Girls’ Generation, and “B.T.S, also known as BIGBANG. The music produced K-pop is helping its fans Bulletproof Boy Scouts, is the most from these bands have caused with mental health, and it’s even successful boy band that I know fangirling all over the world. Some a possibility they can help our of. They have over 24 million fans of the ways K-pop has changed generation with mental illness with based off of Youtube.” said Calla ranges from fans using color their uplifting quotes and music. Reynolds, sixth grader. www.bulldogbarker.com FMS Bulldog Barker 12 Freedom Funnies Original Artwork Submitted by Chris Simmons, Grade 8 Freedom Area Middle School 1702 School Street Freedom, PA 15042 724-775-7641 Bulldog Barker Staff

Alexa Davis Lilly Burgess Editor-in-Chief Sara Harp Alexa Hudak Christopher Samantha Young Denkovich 7th/8th Grade Features Editor Writers

Tyler Misencik Helena Buli Photography Editor Bryson Deal Dylan Scheel Katelyn Clawson Managing Editor Lucas Evans Lorenzo Logan Larrick Guandolo Dylan Scheel Chloe Lundy Website Editors Audrey Mooney Elizabeth Mooney Original Artwork Submitted by Pogue Regan Kaylynn Young, Grade 8 Olivia VanDeCar Copy Editor 5th/6th Grade Writers Logan Bickerstaff Social Media Editor Mrs. Miller Faculty Adviser Pogue Regan Maddie Richards Layout Editors

Bulldog Barker is the student news publication of Freedom Area Middle School. The opinions expressed in this publication are the sole opinions of the student writers and do not reflect the views of the faculty, staff or administration of the Freedom Area School District.All Freedom Area Middle School students are invited to submit content to the Bulldog Barker for publication at the discretion of the editorial staff and adviser. Issues are published monthly at the end of each month. To submit questions or comments, please email [email protected].

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