Viking Press the Student Newspaper of Voorhees Middle School
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Volume 15 Issue 4 June 2011 Viking Press The Student Newspaper of Voorhees Middle School Roll Out the Red Carpet for VMS 2011 Retirees Mr. Ronkin, VMS Principal Mrs. Sandusky, 6th Grade Mrs. Scott, 6th Grade Mr. Smith, 7th grade Mr.Duke, 8th Grade Mrs. Hairrell, 8th grade Mr. Leickel, 8th Grade Mrs. Miller, ESL Mrs. Fekete, Speech Mr. Mottola, CST Mrs. Halliwell, Resource Assistant Mr. Ronkin Rides on Mr. Mottola’s Makes a Move to Retirement to Retirement By Prajnika Chugh By Cameron Krause and Pranav Chugh Mr. Mottola, a Learning Disabilities Teacher Con- sultant, will be retiring this year after many years of work. This year we have to say goodbye to many He has been working in his profession for 38 years and for teachers. But the one good-bye that will hit us the 37 years in Voorhees Township. Before becoming a hardest is the departure of Mr. Ronkin, principal of teacher, some of his previous jobs were a stock boy at a VMS. What makes this even harder is that before his National Bible publishing company, and a grocery store seven years as principal, he was also a teacher for ten clerk, and an accountant in the United States Air Force. In years and a vice principal for seventeen. Over these his experiences as a teacher, he especially enjoys making a difference in the lives of students and their parents, and years he has helped many kids, and now his favorite being greeted with a smile at Shop-Rite, swim meets, base- moments in the school is when former students come ball fields, churches, and many other places! Among eve- and see him. With good reason too, because he’s rything that shines about VMS, Mr. Mottola will miss the taught social studies and was an assistant director of many former students, who took time from their schedules CER so he’s helped a lot of kids. But that doesn’t to visit him, the warm sense of togetherness with many mean that he’ll have nothing to do during retirement. teachers, and most importantly, watching a student grow He told us that he wants to ride his Harley into a beautiful human being. In his retirement, he will spend his time by being (motorcycle) more often and go to the beach with his available for his wife and five children, tutoring pupils on kids more. However, he’s not leaving us with noth- SATs, walking Sampson, his German shepherd four times ing. Mr. Ronkin left us a quote to remember forever. a day, joining an indoor swim facility to help his three her- “Viking Pride.” Mrs. Young will make a great prin- niated discs in his lower back, joining a humanitarian or- cipal, but we will all remember Mr. Ronkin as the ganization, and many more interesting activities. He would best principal ever. So on behalf of the whole school like to thank school personnel, Child Study Team mem- bers, Board members, parents, and most importantly, pu- we’ll say, have a great retirement. pils “who I have been privileged and honored to serve over the last 37 years in Voorhees Township,” he states. The experience Mr. Mottola says he will miss the most about teaching is sharing many stories that he has attained by through experience in education and life. Even though many students may not know who he is, Mr. Mottola will be a greatly missed part of our school system, and we wish him a happy and healthy retirement. Mr. Duke Ducks Out Mrs. Scott Sign Off By Prajnika Chugh By Wyatt Williams Have you ever seen a par- As some of us may know Mrs. Scott, the ticularly enthusiastic eighth grade th math teacher wandering the halls? 6 grade white team language teacher is retir- Well, it was most likely Mr. Duke! Unfortunately, Mr. ing. After this year she will no longer be work- Duke will be retiring this year, but he has had a great ing here, and we will all miss her. th run as a math teacher, this being the 38 year as a VMS Mrs. Scott has worked in the education teacher, and his 39th year as a teacher. Besides teaching amazing eighth graders, Mr. Duke has coached differ- field for forty years. She has taught in Voorhees ent school teams, but outside of school he coached for all of those forty years. Education is the girls’ basketball with the team, the Tar Heels. He has only field of work she’s been in. When I asked enjoyed a lot of experiences that come with being a her what she enjoyed most she said she was teacher, but he especially enjoyed his students, most of the time. He especially likes that every ten months he happy to see smiling, eager faces that are happy gets a new batch of students, so he doesn’t get stuck in to learn. I asked her another question; it was a rut. Some of the things he’ll miss about being a what she will miss most. She answered the stu- teacher is the relationships with his students and fellow teachers, and especially when he sees the light go off in dents and teachers that have become a part of a student’s head while he’s teaching math, and they say her life. In her retirement she said she’s going to “I got it!” spend some time with family and friends, and During his retirement, he plans on working out, hopefully do some traveling. She said that she going to his health club, swimming, biking, and taking care of his son. One of his goals in his retirement is has had a very good time going to every major league baseball stadium and here, at VMS, and will miss it watching a game. very much! In conclusion, Mr. Duke will be missed from Many will miss her and the eighth grade hallway. His exuberant teaching style has made many kids laugh and learn in his class every we hope she has a good day. While we may want him to stay, he is moving on to bigger and better experiences, and he has surely retirement. left a legacy on our school. Walk-a-Thon Raises Money For Diabetes By Jaymin Kang Diabetes has affected many people in the world including the famous African American ten- nis player, Arthur Ashe. I was very interested in this event that I interviewed the person that brought this event to Voorhees Middle School—Mrs. Rossi. Mrs. Rossi started the Walk-A-Thon eight years ago to celebrate the National Physical Education Month. The school sold water bottles for one dollar to pay for research to cure diabetes. Mrs. Rossi told me that this Walk-A -Thon was originally for fitness but the fundraising part came later. She chose the Dia- betes Foundation because of several students who have Diabetes. Budget cuts may affect having the DJ at future walk-a-thons. This year, the walk-a-thon collected ap- proximately four hundred dollars that will be donated to the Diabetes Foundation. From Family members were invited to participate in the walk-a thon as well. It turned out to be a very successful event that is enjoyed by all students and staff members. Ariana Restaurant: An Afghan Delight Staying Focused in By Andrew Tabatabaei the Stifling Most of us in the Voorhees area think about Summer Weather Passariellos, Montenegro’s, or Coconut Bay when we By Prajnika Chugh think of places to eat out, but there is a new restau- Do you feel yourself becoming more and more tired of rant in town. I recently ate at an Afghan restaurant school and homework? Have you noticed yourself stop trying your very hardest in school? Well, then you can called Ariana which serves Afghan/Middle Eastern safely diagnose yourself with Spring Fever, or the feel- food. It is something different than the ordinary ing everyone gets in the last months before summer va- “pizza night.” I have been eating Middle Eastern cation. You may just want to sit on the couch and turn food since I was little, but someone who normally on the TV, even though your teachers expect you to write a five paragraph essay! Sometimes, it may seem as does not eat it would still think this was delicious! if there is no hope, and you will never get out of this The most common thing to order is kabobs with rice, funk. However, there is hope! Concentrating on school and a side of bread called barbari. This meal is so and trying your hardest may seem entirely impossible, delicious, especially when you wash it down with but there are some things you can do to stay on track. There are many different ways to concentrate their homemade iced tea and a nice bowl of Persian on school and still take advantage of the beautiful spring ice cream. Ariana is located in the Eagle Plaza shop- weather! A great idea is to record your study notes onto ping center; they also have a location in Philadelphia. your iPod or phone, then listen to them while you play outside or take a walk. This way, you can still study, but So, next time you can’t think of where to eat you can also get some fun into your schedule. on Saturday night, remember that Ariana is delicious and extremely close to home! http://allenglish.org/blog/?p=1113 for more ideas. ‘Pirates 4’ Sails into Theaters By Jeffrey Hernandez In 2003, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl roared into theaters.