Paul Revere Charter Middle School November/December 2012 Volume 57, Issue 2 Winter Joy Patriots Fills Campus By YONI STRUGATSKY Sock It and ALON LEVI Get out your coats and mittens, because this year’s winter events to Drugs are going to leave a cool impact By CLAIRE SUISMAN on Revere. Teachers and students have been working towards a week During the week of Oct. 29th, packed with dance and music. Revere looked like the Red Sea, On Wed., Dec. 12th, the Win- because it was Red Ribbon Week. ter Wonderland Dance will bring Students dressed up to support be- some winter spirit to Town Hall. ing drug-free, and heard a series of For $2, Patriots will be able to at- facts on the announcements every tend this groovy winter-themed morning, which taught them the dance, which will include a DJ, effects of drugs and alcohol on photo booth and lots of dancing. the body. Ms. Augenstein, the or- “While planning the Winter ganizer of the weekly events, says Wonderland Dance, we always she thinks the most effective way of preventing drug use is educat- face the problem of [not having] ing students on the negative side enough teachers helping to super- effects of drugs. She believes the vise the students at the dance,” reason students get into drugs in says Ms. Walker. In addition, no the first place is curiosity or some- food is allowed at the dance, but times they feel like that will help each person who attends the dance them connect with other people if will receive a glow-stick and a they feel alone. The statistics read mint Lifesaver that sparks in the daily over the intercom helped dark with each bite of the candy. educate students about the conse- The upcoming winter concerts quences of drugs. presented by the Revere music de- Red Ribbon Week “kicked” partment promise to fill the cam- Student Council members prepare for “Mission Impossible,” the America Day competition, in the gym. off with “crazy sock day,” so Pa- pus with even more winter spirit. triots could “sock it to drugs.” On “We will have a lot of bands Monday, the halls of Revere were playing a variety of music,” said lit up with neon and polka-dotted Mr. Miyoshi. “We will be play- Students Show Their Spirit socks, which represented their ing some jazz, some marches and pledge to steer clear of drugs. By ALICIA ABRAMSON some music from movies and T.V. possible was held during lunch, triots went all out. They showed On Mon., Oct. 29th, the three and JOJO LEVEY We will be featuring a ton of tal- where students had to attempt to off their identical traits, such as winners of the Red Ribbon Week ented musicians,” proclaimed Mr. cross the gym while not lifting shirts, skirts and shoes. To test Creative Expressions Contest Let’s go, Patriots, let’s go! were announced, and they got Miyoshi as he talked about the up- their feet off of paper sheets. their compatibility, twins com- On Mon., Nov. 5th, Patriots The winners were Geena Pol- peted against other twins and their prizes on Tuesday. The three coming winter band concert. They contestants that wowed the judges will be featuring famous songs showed their true colors by wear- dnev, Justin Romero, Jack Book- faced off in Revere’s Ski Race, ing their favorite team shirts. ey, Chance Chapman and Cam- which involved pairs of twins with their artwork displaying anti- such as “Pink Panther” and the drug themes were Kana Suzuki, Batman theme. He also mentions Some students displayed profes- eron Bailey. “All that I really did attempting to cross the gym in sional teams, such as UCLA and was focus,” says Jack Bookey, tandem on skis. Evelyn Hernandez and Amanda that he wants to “…demonstrate to Thompson. the parents the wealth of talent we the Lakers, while other wore their “and as many people know, ‘slow Those who were most in sync own team shirts. As a reward for and steady wins the race.’ I won were “twins” Shayan Safa and Said Amanda, “In my science have at Revere. We have a lot of class, we had to research a type of hard working students here.” dressing up in their sports team, by sliding the bases and consis- Tyler Ghadoushi, Luna Lactez dodge ball games were held in tently and systematically moving and Geena Poldev, Nina Lowry cancer to learn its risks, causes and Revere’s musicians, singers and preventions. If you do that with dancers and presenting their con- the gym. my feet backwards to keep my and Jaya King, Otis Smith and drugs, then all students would be certs over three nights. The bands On the second day of Spirit balance. I want to thank everyone Young Shin, Sierra Somkin and more educated.” Amanda’s draw- perform on Tues., Dec. 11th, the Week, Tues., Nov. 6th, students who competed for trying.” Alison Howard, and Isaiah and ing depicts a girl throwing out orchestras take the stage on Wed., of Revere celebrated the United Once Nov. 7th rolled around, John. drugs, because she realizes the Dec. 12th, and the choirs offer up States of America by dressing in Twin Day arrived. From terrific All the excitement continued consequences of taking them. Continued on page 7 their songs on Thurs., Dec. 13th. red, white, and blue. Mission Im- twins to quirky quintuplets, Pa- Continued on page 6 Good Deeds, Good Eats 3 A Fierce Competition 4 Revere’s Loss 5 Holiday Magic 8 Running for a Tee 10 Revere helps out during the holidays. The votes are in for the mock election. The school remembers Ms. Aidikoff. The Nutcracker shines onstage. How fast is he? The Tees tell the story. 2 November/December 2012 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Charter Middle School Editor-in-Chief: Angel Ogwo Sam Harrison Bettina Papageorge Abner Santiago Our Allegiance Managing Editor: Hannah Shabtian Sophie Krasny Claire Spector to the Pledge Cole Stanton ALICIA ABRAMSON Reporters and Yoni Strugatsky Photographers: Claire Suisman You rise up from your chair as the loudspeaker asks you to stand for Alicia Abramson the Pledge of Allegiance. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Emi Arevalo Graphics: States of America...” The words come out of your mouth naturally, but Caroline Bamberger Marissa Angelich do you really realize what you are saying? Margaret Boelter Gabriel Galef It’s very common to simply mumble the words tediously, and not Peter Jebsen Harrison Gelber say them with meaning. However, it’s important to understand the Harrison Larkins Spencer Howard words you’re reciting; you’re pledging your loyalty to the flag, and to Shannon Lee Hunter Luncar the United States, every morning. Most students don’t say the Pledge Jojo Levey Autumn Wagner with significance. We reluctantly stop what we’re doing in order to Alon Levi mutter a series of words that are etched into our brains permanently, Lilly McClure Faculty Advisor: but we only do so because we’re told to. Half the time we’re still Julia Monkarsh Mr. Wechsler focused on what we were doing before the Pledge began. You could be reading your book, or still have a pencil in your hand as you finish your homework. Another important issue about the Pledge is that it mentions God. “One nation, under God…” But what about the people who don’t How much homework should believe in God? The Pledge of Allegiance is forcing you to recognize that you are a part of a nation that is united under God, despite the fact that you may not think God even exists. The original pledge did be given over winter break? not mention God; it was added in 1954, sixty years after the Pledge With winter break right around the corner, Patri- to prepare themselves by studying information for the was written. Maybe we should have kept the original Pledge, where a ots are gearing up for the holiday season and a suf- final months of school, many feel winter break is a time certain religion wasn’t forced upon us. Part of the Constitution states ficient load of homework, but is it really necessary? to relax and escape the pressures of projects, home- that people have a right to believe in whatever they want to. Being Many teachers may argue that assigning homework work, and other aspects of the educational curriculum. forced to accept God as real does not qualify as freedom of religion. during vacation keeps information fresh in students’ Aware of this, most teachers give minimal amounts of Although the Pledge of Allegiance is a normal part of our daily minds. This way, classes can immediately resume homework to their students, but the assignments pile routine, perhaps it would be best to give students the option of choosing at the start of the second semester. Students are less up quickly, leaving many students drowning in a sea not to say it, therefore being loyal to their own religion and beliefs. likely to forget previously learned material, allow- of work. ing for more success going forward. In addition, On the other hand, some students spend their entire winter break is a good time to prepare for the up- break inside playing video games or sitting around with coming CST’s in the near spring. nothing to do. In these cases, a little exposure to edu- Too Much, However, many students have big plans for cation is nothing but beneficial. A constant reminder the winter break, and most don’t involve stacks of of the classroom can keep students productive and fo- homework.