The Middle School Messenger Holiday Edition A Newspaper by and for Independence Middle School students of the Bethel Park School District Volume 1: Issue 2 ! ! ! Christmas Do’s & Don’ts Snow Dance!By$Mia$Adams$ By:$Alyssa$Iampietro$ $ $ Over$100$students$bought$tickets$and$showed$up$to$the$ 1DO$find$the$perfectly$warm$outfit$for$ Snowball$Dance.$The$dance$was$held$on$Friday,$December$ Christmas$Eve$and$day$ 13,$2013$from$8:00p.m.$to$10:00p.m.$in$our$school$ 1DON’T$hook$yourself$up$with$one$of$ cafeteria.$It$was$decorated$with$festive$designs$of$white$ those$“ugly”$Christmas$sweaters$ snowflakes$and$blue$streamers,$hanging$from$the$cafeteria$ 1DO$help$make$Christmas$dinner$(you$may$think$cooking$is$ celling$with$bright$lights.$There$was$music$provided$by$the$ fun)$ DJ$which$was$pop$music$and$there$was$a$Christmas$song$ 1DON’T$sit$around$and$do$nothing$but$pop$little$Hershey$ “All$I$want$for$Christmas”$by$Mariah$Carey.$We$all$had$a$ kisses$in$your$mouth$(as$much$as$you$love$to)$ great$time$dancing$and$eating$and$talking.$The$student$ 1DO$decorate$the$tree$with$as$many$ornaments$as$possible$ council$members$did$a$great$job$planning$the$affair!!$That$ 1DON’T$be$stingy$with$the$ornaments$ is$it$for$this$article$I$hoped$you$enjoyed$it.$See$you$next$ 1DO$set$up$lights$at$the$perfect$time:$not$too$early,$not$too$ time.$$ late$ 1DON’T$set$up$lights$before$Thanksgiving,$and$don’t$set$up$ lights$like$1$week$until$Christmas$ 1DO$be$sure$to$bake$the$best$holiday$treats$around$ 1DON’T$make$just$any$casual$cookie$ 1DO$stay$in$the$spirit$of$the$holiday$season$ 1DON’T$be$a$scrooge$on$Christmas:$it$will$come$back$to$ haunt$you$in$the$future$ 1DO$have$a$Merry$Christmas$and$have$fun$celebrating$with$ these$helpful$do’s$and$don’ts$of$ Christmas!$ $ So, remember when I, Anna Wynne, put the polls in the book fair? Well the winning dessert was fudge!! With a winning score of 75 points!! So for all your fudge lovers, there’s an easy recipe for “Fantasy Fudge on page 3! “Wynne”ing Holiday Recipes submitted$by$Anna$and$Christa$Wynne$ Do you need some fun and easy recipes to go along with your cookie exchange party? Well here are some easy(and yummy!) Recipes for you! Cherry Chocolate Kisses Fantasy Fudge Peppermint Cake Pops Found&in&Better&Homes&&&Gardens&Special& Yield:$36$small$pieces$of$fudge$ Ingredients:$ Interest&Publication&“Christmas& Prep*Time:$10$min$ 1$box$chocolate$cake$mix$(plus$ Cookies”&2001.&The&pretty&pink&color&of& Cook*Time:$12$min$ ingredients$required$for$cake$mix)$ these&cookies&comes&from&the&cherries& Such$a$super$easy$recipe$for$ 1/2$of$a$(16$oz)$container$cream$ and&cherry&liquid;&no&food&coloring& microwave$fudge.$ cheese$frosting$ necessary.& Prep:$20$minutes$Bake:$14$Minutes$ Ingredients:$ 2$(16$oz.)$packages$Vanilla$ $ 3/4$cup$(1$1/2$sticks)$salted$butter$ CANDIQUIK®$Coating$ 1$C$butter$(no$substitutes)$softened$ 3$cups$granulated$white$sugar$ 1$1/2$cups$round$hard$peppermint$ 1$Cup$sifted$powdered$sugar$ 2/3$cup$evaporated$milk$ candies$(finely$crushed)$ 1/8$teaspoon$salt$ 12$ounces$semi1sweet$choc$chips$$ Lollipop$sticks$ 2$teaspoons$maraschino$cherry$liquid$1⁄4$ 7$ounce$jar$marshmallow$cream$ 40$round$hard$peppermint$candies$ teaspoon$almond$extract$ 1$teaspoon$vanilla$extract$ Instructions:$ 2$1⁄4$cups$all1$purpose$flour$ $ 1.$Prepare$and$bake$cake$mix$as$ 1⁄2$Cup$chopped$maraschino$cherries$ Directions:$ directed$on$box;$cool$completely.$ Granulated$sugar$ 1.$In$large$glass$bowl,$microwave$the$ 2.$Crumble$cake$into$a$large$bowl.$ 48$Hershey’s$milk$chocolate$kisses$$ $ butter$until$it$has$melted.$Add$sugar$ Add$frosting$and$mix$thoroughly.$ Heat$oven$to$350’.$Beat$butter$in$a$mixing$ and$milk;$whisk$together$well.$ 3.$Roll$mixture$into$1l$sized$balls.$Chill$ bowl$on$medium$high$speed$for$30$ 2.$Microwave$on$high$3$minutes,$then$ for$approximately$112$hours$in$the$ seconds.$Add$powdered$sugar$and$salt;$ stir,$then$microwave$on$high$2$ refrigerator.$ beat$until$combined.$Beat$in$cherry$liquid$ minutes$more.$ 4.$Melt$CANDIQUIK®$Coating$in$Melt$ and$almond$extract$until$combined.$Beat$ 3.$Mix$well;$scraping$the$sides$of$the$ &$Make™$Microwaveable$ in$as$much$flour$as$you$can$with$the$ bowl.$Microwave$on$high$for$3$more$ Tray$according$to$directions$on$ mixer.$Stir$in$remaining$flour$and$the$ minutes,$then$stir,$then$microwave$ package.$ cherries$with$a$wooden$spoon.$ on$high$for$2$1/2$more$minutes.$ 5.$Insert$a$lollipop$stick$into$each$cake$ Shape$dough$into$1$inch$balls.$Place$balls$ 4.$Remove$from$microwave$and$add$ ball.$Dip$cake$pops$in$Vanilla$ 2$inches$apart$on$an$un1greased$cookie$ sheet.$Flatten$with$bottom$of$a$glass$ chips.$Stir$vigorously$until$melted$and$ CANDIQUIK®;$allow$excess$coating$to$ dipped$in$granulated$sugar.$Bake$about$ smooth.$Add$the$marshmallow$creme$ drip$off.$Dip$cake$pops$in$crushed$ 14$minutes$or$until$bottoms$are$lightly$ and$the$vanilla$extract;$mix$well$until$ peppermints$and$place$on$wax$paper$ browned.$Remove$from$oven;$press$ you$no$longer$see$any$white$streaks.$ to$set.$ unwrapped$candy$kiss$into$the$center$of$ Pour$into$greased$91inch$square$pan,$ 6.$Once$set,$use$a$dab$of$CANDIQUIK®$ each$cookie.$Transfer$to$wire$racks$and$ or$13x91inch$baking$pan$(depending$ to$attach$cake$pops$to$peppermint$ cool.$Makes$48$cookies.$To$store;$Place$ on$how$thick$you$would$like$your$ disks$(see$directions$below).$ layers$separated$by$wax$paper$in$an$ fudge)1$I$used$9x91inch$for$the$photo.$ For$peppermint$disks:$ airtight$container;$cover.$Store$at$room$ 5.$Cool$completely$at$room$ 1.$Preheat$oven$to$350$degrees$F.$ temperature$up$to$one$week$or$freeze$up$ temperature.$Cut$into$squares.$ Line$a$baking$sheet$with$parchment$ to$3$months.$Tip;$Unwrap$all$of$the$ Heresy$Kisses$as$your$first$batch$of$ Tips:$means$add$in$1$cup$chopped$ paper.$ cookies$are$baking.$Keep$them$ready$ walnuts!$ 2.$Place$candies$on$prepared$baking$ nearby$in$a$bowl.$ * sheet.$Bake$for$517$minutes$or$until$ If$the$cookies$cool$before$pushing$the$kiss$ soft.$Remove$from$oven$and$use$the$ into$the$cookie$the$kiss$will$not$melt$and$ back$of$a$spoon$to$press$candies$flat.$ will$fall$off$of$the$cookies!$Also$it$takes$a$ Cool.$ long$time$for$the$Hershey$Kiss$to$harden.$ TIP:$If$cake$balls$become$too$soft$or$ You$can$speed$things$up$by$putting$the$ are$not$holding$their$shape$while$ cookies$in$the$freezer$for$about$fifteen$ being$dipped,$place$back$in$the$ minutes$ refrigerator$for$20130$minutes.$ $ Crafty Corner From$Anna$Wynne$ Does$your$house$need$some$holiday$bling$and$you$just$aren’t$an$experienced$enough$decorator?$Here$are$some$easy$ decorating$ideas$that$will$be$good$for$holiday$parties,$or$anything$else$you$have$for$the$holidays! Sparkly Christmas Tree Ornaments $ $ Step*3* Step*5* Remove$all$of$the$tape$on$the$side$ Allow$the$stencil$to$air$dry$for$24$ and$bottom,$leaving$only$tape$on$the$ hours.$This$is$a$step$that$you$can't$ top.$ speed$up$with$a$hairdryer. $ $ Step*1* Tape$the$raised$stencil$down$to$the$ decorative$cardstock$and$add$a$dollop$ of$Stencil$Paste.$ $ $ $ Note:$Stencil$Paste$takes$about$24$ Step*4* hours$to$air$dry.$When$dry$it's$ Slowly$lift$the$stencil$being$carefully$ bendable,$and$has$the$texture$of$soft$ not$to$smudge.$ rubber.$It$will$stick$to$a$variety$of$ $ different$surfaces$including$walls,$ $ wood,$glass,$cardstock,$foam$and$ Step*2* some$plastics.$You$can$make$quite$a$ Slowly$press$the$Stencil$Paste$into$the$ few$stencils$from$just$one$container$ stencil$being$careful$not$to$slide$the$ of$Stencil$Paste.$However,$I$always$ cardstock.$ have$some$on$hand.$ $$ supermarkets.$$He$had$only$junk$food$ empowering$girls$from$underserved$ from$what$was$around$him$and$he$ communities$around$the$world.$She$ was$a$bit$obese.$He$would$suffer$from$ also$became$aware$of$a$campaign$ depression$because$he$felt$fat$and$ called$Girl$Up.$She$then$started$her$ unwanted.$Then$he$took$a$trip$to$ own$Girl$Up$campaign$at$her$high$ New$Orleans$and$he$was$farming$and$ school$to$raise$awareness$and$funds$ making$houses.$He$decided$they$ for$girls$living$in$developing$countries$ should$have$a$garden$where$he$lives,$ to$be$safe,$healthy,$educated,$and$ Hi$guys.$It$is$Mia$Adams$and$I$am$ but$he$had$to$find$the$right$spot$ counted.$ going$to$talk$about$the$TeenNick$Halo$ (which$was$a$dump).$It$took$over$4$ * Awards$that$aired$on$November$17th.$ years,$but$they$finally$did$it$and$now$ Zachary*Kerr:$He/She$grew$up$as$one$ For$people$who$don't$know$what$the$ they$have$a$fresh$garden.$ of$three$identical$triplets.$He$always$ Halo$Awards$is,$it$is$an$amazing$award$ * knew$something$wasn't$right$with$his$ show$that$honors$4$teens$that$do$ Miranda*Fuentes:$Her$brother$has$ personal$identity$and$suffered$years$ extraordinary$things$to$help$out$their$ autism$and$she$felt$isolated$because$ of$confusion$and$depression.$Then$he$ communities.$$ no$one$else$had$an$autistic$sibling$and$ learned$he$was$battling$gender$ This$year's$nominees$were:$Rocio$ she$never$understood$her$brother.$ identity$issues$and$decided$to$go$ Ortega,$Miranda$Fuentes,$Zachary$ Also$she$had$to$explain$her$brother's$ through$a$transitional$journey.$ Kerr,$and$Denzel$Thompson.$They$ condition$a$lot.$Then$she$was$ Through$this$transition$from$girl$to$ also$had$special$appearances$by$Josh$ introduced$to$Surfers$for$Autism$ boy$he$faced$challenges$with$students$ Hutcherson,$Queen$Latifah,$Austin$ where$she$helped$her$brother$and$ and$teachers.$He$then$decided$to$ Mahone,$Shay$Mitchell,$Fall$Out$Boy,$ others$with$surfing.$She$then$was$ become$a$positive$advocate$for$the$ Nikki$Reed,$Enrique$Iglesias$and$ invited$to$work$with$the$organization$ transgender$community$so$he$could$