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Cougar News Summer 2016

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Cougar News Summer 2016 THE COUGAR Summer 2016 Ardsley Middle School • Ardsley, NY 10502 Dear AMS, very quickly. In addition, I find myself relying on my friends more as classes become harder. Whether it is help on homework or So much has changed since my first emotional support, I know my friends will always be there. day at AMS. As I stepped into the cafeteria on the first day of fifth grade, Learn how you study I was greeted by paper airplanes, styl- In order to do well in middle school, it is important to learn how to ish backpacks stuffed with supplies study. Everyone learns differently: do you learn better visually or and one of my friends getting tram- by listening. Which is more helpful: flashcards or notes? Do you pled by a giant kid (later called an “Eighth grader”). “Four years,” I do better studying in 20 minute sessions or a long 2 hour session? thought, “Four years will be a long time.” In the end, studying is the process of remembering facts or a meth- And before I knew it, the end of my middle school career had ar- od of how to do something. The sooner you learn how to study, the rived. From Ms. Silberfein’s CAP class to blanking out on Mr. Nap- more successful you will be. pi’s extended response, I have so many memories of AMS. Nevertheless, there are some things I wish I knew before Don’t sweat the small stuff coming to middle school. Here are some of the lessons I have Sometimes it may feel like the end of the world when you are in a learned: fight with your best friend or you get a bad grade. Before you start to freak out, take a deep breath and ask the question, “Will this Meet as many people as possible matter a week from now? What about a month? A year?” So many One of the biggest transitions from Concord Road to the middle of the events that happen in our lives are insignificant. Just move school is the amount of people you see everyday. I never get on from them. bored at AMS because I see at least half my grade every day, mak- ing for some interesting conversations. And there are not many (Continued on next page) opportunities in a lifetime to become close with so many people PAGE 2 THE COUGAR But perhaps the most im- From the Editor portant thing I’ve learned is to Continued from page 1 String Bags: Good or Bad? live in the present. If you By Matthew Carrera, Rishi Raj and Elizabeth Chun get caught up in the past or First impressions matter worry about the future, time Have you ever tripped on a bag out- safety hazard. First impressions are lasting will leave the station at light side the cafeteria? Well, we’re sure impressions; they are never speed without you notic- many of you have, because we have However, this isn’t always the forgotten and can tell a per- ing. That’s what happened to interviewed Mrs. Winslow who case! We interviewed 20 AMS son a lot about you. If you me. My 8th grade graduation brought up the issue during the sixth students and of those 20, a major- set a bad impression, teach- has arrived. So enjoy your grade lunch period. We asked her a ity of the kids claimed that they ers will be less flexible with time at AMS, cherishing every series of questions about this topic walk to the cafeteria. While 9 said you, and can cause distress minute of a once in a lifetime in order to get her opinion on this they run to lunch, 11 said that later in the year. Be the per- experience: middle school. possible hazard. So, read these they walk. But, in order to ensure son you want to be. It will go questions and start to think about that no one gets hurt, everyone much further than you think it Farewell, your safety when going to and from needs to be aware of the safety will. Justin Lu lunch. precautions at all times -- not just the 11/20 students that walk to Q: What is your general opinion on lunch. putting string bags outside the cafe- teria at lunch? Why? Because we surveyed the Message from the A: I think the best place for storing same 20 people again, and 15 of bags is in the cubbies located inside them put their bags in the com- Girl Scouts! the cafeteria. They’re there for a mons. The other five people bring reason, and they should be used! their bags into the cafeteria with them. 15/20 is 75%, which is a lot with our web- Q: What would you say if kids could more than 5/20, which is site,PAYITFORWARDTAG.C not bring their books and string bags 25%. So, when those 9 people OM where you can find ideas to lunch? from before come charging into for good deeds to do and a A: I think it would be harder, be- the cafeteria and all those bags comment link so you can tell cause some kids like to do school- are in the commons, it creates a us what you did or pass along work during lunch. If their bags were safety hazard for people to trip your good deed ideas. We not with them, they wouldn’t have and fall. hope to get people started on the necessary materials to have an spreading random acts of effective study session. And if you think that’s bad, then kindness through our game of imagine this: Say there’s a fire tag so we hope you'll play Q: Do you think that kids leaving drill, or even a real fire. Then, Be on the lookout! Junior girl along! This project will help us their bags outside the cafeteria could what is everyone supposed to scout troop 2580 wants you to earn our Bronze Award pro- cause a safety hazard? do? All those bags would be play Pay it Forward Tag! ject so we hope lots of people A: Yes. They definitely cause a blocking the way of the students Bracelets like the ones pic- will play! safety hazard. However, I under- and teachers. That would create tured have been hidden stand that at the beginning of the a really serious problem. around town and if you find year, younger kids have to adjust to one - TAG, you’re it! their new schedule. They have a lot Okay, so maybe a fire is unlikely, If you find a bracelet it should on their minds and it’s hard for them and maybe a kid that slips on a have a treat attached. If to focus on where they leave their bag and falls doesn’t normally get someone gives you a brace- bags. Often, they’re really busy and seriously injured but just gets a let, they should do something just toss their bags wherever. But as minor bruise. However, take all nice for you first. Instead of time goes on, our students do a the “what-ifs” into consideration, paying the favor back we great job adjusting. They should and think about the consequences hope that instead you will work hard to get to class on time and that -- although they seem unlike- “pay it forward" by doing a Thanks! From troop 2580 do their work, while still leaving their ly! -- may result if everyone contin- good deed for someone and (Milena Cheung,Nina bags where they belong. ues to carelessly toss their bags giving them the bracelet. Now Gellman, Ellaina King, Molly in a chaotic heap outside the cafe- they will be “it” and they can Lipka, Quincey Leonard, and Q: What do you think is the best way teria! So next time you go to do a good deed for someone Emma Sudo) for kids to carry their books through- lunch and are looking for a place too. The bracelets are printed out the school -- bags, or just hold- to put your bag, carefully place it ing them? on a bench in the commons. Or A: Either way is fine. Each individual better yet, put it in one of the or- student has a system that works for ganized cubbies inside the lunch THE COUGAR them. However, in my opinion, I room! Wherever you put your Ardsley Middle School think that string bags are helpful for bag, make sure it’s safe and won’t 700 Ashford Avenue kids, because they can carry their cause injuries for anyone at AMS. Ardsley, New York 10502 materials hands-free, and also be- (914) 295-5600 cause they have all of their materials INSIDE THIS ISSUE: in one place. Dr. JoAnne Januzzi, Principal Overview of the Year 3 — 4 Q: Do you think kids run in the hall- Mr. Stuart Horlacher, Assistant Principal ways too much? Do you think this Mind Boggling Emoji Puzzles 4 Mrs. Sabrina Rich & Mr. Doug Weitz, Advisors causes kids to trip more than they Book Review, Land of the stories 5 would if they walked? Would fewer Create Your Own Harry Potter 5 kids get injured if everyone walked? Writers: Zachary Arce, Octavia Basco, Matthew Carrera, Milena Chan, Pentatonix: The A Cappella Group 6 Alicia Chang, Alexander N. Cruz, Deanna Demopoulos, Luke Faberman, A: Yes, definitely! Although many Emma Feldbaum, Alexander Fu, Lavanya Garg, Emma Greenspan, Preity kids don’t want to be late for class, California 6 Gupta, Charlotte Koenig, Yu-Chen Lung, Olympia Nassis, Clea Ndocaj, teachers would much rather kids Eulogy to Mrs.
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