The Tusker Tribune The student newspaper of Somers Middle School

Volume 2, Issue 8 http://somersschools.org/domain/995 Winter 2016 SMS KIDS: Vacation’s Great! Too Bad It Has to End

By Remi Saad not that excited for school, but I realized that my Tusker TribuneStaff friends were there and I was very excited to see SMS just got back from their week of va- them. It's okay to come back & learn." cation. Students did I also interviewed Sa- some very fun things mantha O'dell and she an- over the week such as soccer swered, "I went to the beach in games, vacation, the Gram- the Bahamas and it was really my's too! fun, warm and windy. I wasn't I have a feeling that that thrilled that we had not everyone was happy com- school, but I was looking for- ing back to school, however. I ward to seeing my friends and have interviewed students and everyone I know, so it wasn't a asked them, "What did you do total loss." over vacation and how did you Coming back to school is feel about coming back to always hard, especially after a school from a week of vaca- long break, since your brain is tion?" Caitlin Norbutt re- still in vacation mode. I'm sure sponded, “I watched the that this feeling is shared by Grammy's with a friend, and went to the walk both, the teachers and the students. Now that over the Hudson and Poughkeepsie. My attitude we're back, we have to work hard and stay coming back from break was that I was tired and strong, until our next break in March.

NBA All Star Saturday Night!

By Evan Volkman ilar to an All-Star Game for Tusker Tribune Staff younger guys, there is usually From February very little defense played. 11 to February 18, the Last year Wolves SF NBA was busy. Between Andrew Wiggins won MVP, All-Star Weekend festivities this year it was Wolves Zach and the trade deadline, every LaVine. LaVine and Wiggins NBA GM was running are showing a promising fu- around trying to make their ture and the Wolves are begin- roster better in every way ning to surround their fran- possible. chise around them. Here is a On Friday, February 12, BBVA Rising link to the full recap: Stars challenge featured players in their 1st, http://www.nba.com/news/as.rising.stars/ 2nd, or 3rd NBA season who are playing a at high level. The two teams are separated by USA 2016-rising-stars-challenge-event- born players, and other worldwide players. Sim- page/index.html?ls=iref:nba:specials Page 2 The Tusker Tribune The student newspaper of Somers Middle School The Tusker Tribune Special Feature: Matt Kushner’s “First Communications” series

Authors Note: It is recommended to (re)read the tablet (computer tablet) and then booted up to previous chapter(s) first. show me where I was in the spaceship. “Also, can I have a gun?” Chapter 12: A Useful-and Failed- “Sure thing, Crevasse.” He sounded un- Experiment sure about what he was telling me. So that’s “So, what is the first thing I should do to probably why instead of giving me a gun, he help, Captain Blekniq?” said, “Kill him while we can!” With the map of “Ah… I am going to project your face to the spaceship in my hand, I started running as the whole Earth. Once you are there, explain fast as I could down the hallway. the truth to them. Then we can live in harmo- “Kill him! Do whatever you can to kill ny: the slave-the humans and us.” If my failed him!” Guns fired from almost every direction. I experiment showed the side effects on me that headed left down the hallway. I found, then… humanity will be saved. From “Do you think you can escape us?” I felt the gross, disgusting, fake-pony, aliens. the floor fall beneath me. I landed a floor be- While the pony-things looked at me, low, and there, lots of aliens were waiting for waiting for an answer, I was thinking about me. They all shot their weird guns at me, and a how to ‘activate’ the side ef- few hit me. Terrorizing pain flashed fects. But how? How can I do through my veins (or should I say it? And then, and just then, neurons…) and I stood up, and start- my plan was put together, like ed running down the hallway again. one of those 1000 piece puz- Not before another bullet (or laser, or zles that you can’t solve for a syringe, or whatever they shoot) and while, but with patience, you more pain rushed through me. can. Just survive a little bit longer, “Captain Blekniq, can Crevasse, just a little bit longer…. you bring my daughter down Two aliens had some strange device to the planet?” on them, blocking my path. Well I’ll “After you speak the take a little detour. I sprinted with truth, I will do that.” the last of my energy to the place I “I will.” wanted to get to. The Power Room. A “Okay, Dr. Crevasse, say the truth.” I huge engine loomed below me. Then I jumped felt a light coming on my face, probably show- onto it, probably breaking a few bones while ing my face to everyone in the world who was doing that. Then I sat there, waiting for the in peril because of these aliens. aliens to catch me, and kill me. “Wrong “My people, I am sorry about this. But choice, Dr. Crevasse, wrong choice.” Then let me explain. These aliens are, in a way, try- something hit me, which brought no pain, but ing to kick the truth into us. They want to live made me lose breath very quickly. And then… in harmony with us. Think about it. We could and… a… I died on the spot. I died right there. live on other planets than Earth. We can live in “We win! Finally! The aliens will get space. I mean, who wouldn’t want that?” I their slaves back!” That was Captain Blekniq’s laughed nervously. “Just trust me. And take last words. care of my child. Please.” Side effect of the failed experiment #2: “Joneki, bring the child down to the When I die, a nuclear explosion will follow, planet via escape pod.” Side effect of the failed originating in my body. experiment #1: every single human knows The alien’s machines stopped working, the U.S. when I am lying. was saved, and most important, my daughter “Thank you so much, Captain Blekniq. was still safe. May I please have a map or a blueprint of the spaceship?” The End “Here’s a map of the spaceship. Does that help?” The alien gave me a blank slate Page 3 The Tusker Tribune The student newspaper of Somers Middle School

Volkman’s “Sport Season Silliness”

By Evan Volkman Tusker Tribune Sports Staff Ever ask yourself, what is the best sports month? Maybe not, but when you look at a cal- endar year, there are some high points, and some low points to the sports year.

Sport (Event) Month

NFL , Pro Bowl, NBA , January NHL hockey

Super Bowl, NBA All-Star festivities. NHL February hockey

March Madness, NBA basketball, NHL hock- March ey, MLB spring training

NBA Playoffs, NFL Draft, NHL hockey, MLB April baseball

NBA Conference Finals, NBA Finals, NHL May playoffs, MLB baseball

NBA Finals, NHL Stanley Cup Finals, NFL June training camp, MLB baseball, NBA Draft

MLB baseball, WNBA basketball July

NFL pre-season, MLB baseball, WNBA bas- August ketball

NFL football, WNBA playoffs, MLB baseball September

NFL football, MLB playoffs, NBA presea- October son/basketball, NHL Hockey

NFL football, NHL hockey, NBA basketball November

NFL football, NHL hockey, NBA basketball December

I believe that October is the best sports month, because football season is in full swing, and teams start playing for real, the NBA preseason is going on, so you can see your favorite stars play and see how players on new teams play together, and the thrilling World Series oc- curs. What do you think? Page 4 The Tusker Tribune The student newspaper of Somers Middle School

Music Field Trips A Mayhem! Highlight of the A weekly compilation of SMS 7th Grade popular tunes Spring Season

By Evan Volkman By Nicola Demarinis Tusker Tribune Staff Tusker Tribune Staff Periodically, The Tusker Tribune features There are a an updated “Top” list for Pop songs featuring iTunes and lot of fun and ex- the Volkman Chart. Charts are accurate as of February 24. citing field trips 2016. planned for Som- ers Middle Volkman Top 10: School’s 7th grad- ers. My House - Flo Rida On April 21st the entire 7th grade class will be go- Work (feat. Drake) - Rihanna ing on an adventurous field trip to the Bronx Zoo. This trip corresponds with our Pillow Talk - ZAYN 7th grade life science curriculum. Next, on May 26th Stressed Out - twenty one pilots Mr. Bill Wienecke (a for- mer SMS 7th grade Social Love Yourself - Justin Bieber Studies teacher) will be hosting the 9th annual Roses (feat. ROZES) - The Chainsmokers Somers Middle School American Heritage Living Never Forget You - Zara Larsson & MNEK History Day. This, unlike other field trips will be held at Somers Middle School it- Stole The Show (feat. Parson James) - Kygo self! Finally, to wrap Sorry - Justin Bieber up the school year 7th graders will be going 7 Years - Lukas Graham on a trip to Splash- down Beach Water Park on June 20th. What a great way to end the Year!

The Tusker The Tusker Tribune is published online and is featured weekly on the Somers Tribune Staff Middle School Website. It is entirely student-written by 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from Somers Middle School Matthew Kushner 250 Route 202, Remi Saad Somers, NY, USA. Any SMS student is eligible to write Evan Volkman stories. If interested, please e-mail Nicola DeMarinis Advisor Dean Pappas at [email protected]