WEST UNIVERSITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VOL. XIX ISSUE VII APRIL 2019 Monthly Mustang Harrison Benitz, Caroline Larsson, Cannon Pinchback and Thomas Larson try out Michael Connoly, Susan Samples, John Threet Aaron Colins, Mayor Pro-Term Mardi the new recycling containers donated by the City of West University. Turner, Amber Pinchback, Orval Marlow, Chairman, West U Recycling Olivia Benitz, parent volunteer, and Pamela Castro, Recycling Board member. IS PLASTIC BAD FOR US? BY KAVAN PANDHYA THE STAAR TEST BY AMELIA KUSINSKI Ocean plastic can last in sea vinyl chloride, lead, and bisphenol A waters almost indefinitely, eventually (BPA). Heating plastic causes these On the 9th and 10th of April, the Math and accumulating in remote areas of the chemicals to leach into our drinks and Reading STAAR tests will be held for 5th grade world’s oceans. The largest potentially cause cancer. There are and the Writing STAAR will be given to 4th accumulation zone of ocean garbage on some good things about plastic, but grade. In May, the remainder of the STAAR the planet is much larger than anyone later those good things can turn into tests will be given. thought. It measures 1.6 million square bad things. A few of the good things kilometers (three times larger than the about plastic are that it is useful for Grade Math Reading Writing Science size of France) and contains an bags, straws, etc. But now there are so 3rd May-13 May-14 estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic many of these plastic materials being 4th May-13 May-14 Apr-9 weighing an estimated 80,000 metric used and sent to the dump or even to 5th Apr-9 Apr-10 May-15 tons (the equivalent of 500 Jumbo the great garbage patch. But don't lose Jets). * hope yet. Some companies don't use What is the STAAR Test? plastic anymore. STAAR stands for “The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness” and is the McDonalds and other restaurants state’s student testing system. Students will take plan to use wooden straws instead of this test beginning in 3rd grade all the way plastic. San Francisco has banned through high school. STAAR tests reading, plastic bags and Seattle is the first writing, math, science and social studies. major city to ban plastic straws and Reading and Math STAAR tests are given every utensils. But the best thing is some year beginning in 3rd grade but the other tests communities volunteer to pick up are scattered throughout the years. Each test is a plastic. But there's even more. four hour test. The purpose of this test is to see if Replacements for plastic are materials the student has mastered the subject for that like silicone, glass, and wood grade level. It also shows if a student is ready for products. If this keeps up the great the next grade level. The great garbage patch, marine garbage patch could be the great water animals dying, so many dumps, and patch in the next few years! How to Prepare for the STAAR test nobody doing anything about all the Teachers are preparing students for the STAAR * https://oceancruisingclub.org/newsitem/ test all year long and teaching them test-taking plastic everywhere; on streets, in lakes, strategies along the way. Students should understand oceans, rivers and even in caves. 394/The-Great-Pacific-Garbage-Patch-is- Growing-Exponentially what they are being tested on. Continued on Page 6 Plastic has toxic chemicals like PVC, Houston Independent School District http://westues.org page !1 WEST UNIVERSITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VOL. XIX ISSUE VII APRIL 2019 GET TO KNOW MRS. MILLS BY YUTIA LI Q. How long have experience for me. After that year, I know I got married, surrounded by friends and you been that I wanted to be a teacher just like her. family. teaching? Q. What subject do you enjoy teaching the Q. What is your favorite quote? This is my 5th most? A.“No act of kindness, not matter how small, year teaching. A. I love teaching all the subjects, but is ever wasted.” - Aesop What college did especially Reading. Q. If you could start your teaching career you attend? Q. What was your scariest moment as a over, what would you change? A. I attended teacher? A. I don’t think I would change anything Texas A&M A. I think back on my first-year teaching. The about my teaching career. I love my job university. first day teaching my class was a scary and the experiences that made me the WHOOP! moment, but also an exciting moment! teacher I am today. Q. Where did you grow up? Q. What was the most exciting moment of Q. If you could make one impossible thing A. I grew up in Houston, Texas. your life? possible, what would it be? Q. Why did you decide to become a teacher? A. I have been lucky to have many A. I want the ability to transport anywhere in A. I had one teacher in 2nd grade that I memorable moments in my life. I think if the world. I love to travel and want to adored. She made learning a fun I had to pick one day it would be the day see all the major cities on every continent. JOHN MANGUM: THE ART PRODIGY BY ZAIN IMAM The new addition to our school and The Monthly Mustang, is John Q. Do you only draw cartoons? Mangum, our excellent cartoonist. Most of us turn immediately to A. No. I also like to draw popular movie the comic section to see what John has in store for us each month. and video game characters such as Q. What was your previous school called? robots from Transformers or characters A. Cypress Village Elementary in Irvine, California. from Halo or Minecraft. I also like Q. Did your old school have a newspaper? drawing diagrams of mechanical things, as well as characters from books I read. A. No, they did not have a newspaper. Q. Is anybody else in your family a good Q. How long have you been a cartoonist? artist? A. Since I was 5 years old. A. My mom is. Q. How long have you been drawing the Fido comic? Q. Would you consider having an art career as an adult? A. I started in October of this school year. A. Yes, maybe an art career or an animator. Q. Did you take art lessons? Q. What are your top five tips for creating a good comic? A. For 2 years, I took classes taught by Eric Teitelbaum, the creator A. Good puns of the Pink Panther. Be consistent with your characters Q. Who or what inspired you to become a cartoonist? Always go with your gut A. Jim Davis, the author of Garfield. Be creative Q. Do you have any other special talents? You don’t have to be realistic A. I play the cello and I’m a swimmer. GETTING TO KNOW MRS. FENTON BY SEETHA VENKATACHALAM AND ANIKA KRISHNAN Q.How long have you been teaching at West U? Q.What is your favorite restaurant? A. I have been teaching for 5 years. A. Chipotle. Q.What is your dream vacation? Q. What is your favorite book series? A. My dream vacation is anywhere on a beach. A. Harry Potter. Q.What is your favorite kind of art? Q. What do you like to do in your free time? A. Coloring. A. Read and play with my dog. Q.What is your favorite movie? Q.Where did you go to college? A. The Godfather. A. Baylor College. Q. Who is your hero? Q. Do you like teaching at West U? A. My mom is my hero because she never gives A. Of course. up and she is always there for me. Houston Independent School District http://westues.org page !2 WEST UNIVERSITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VOL. XIX ISSUE VII APRIL 2019 MRS. LAPADULA BY ZAID ALOUSI AND OLIVER BROACH Q: What did you do over Spring Break? Q: If you weren't a teacher what would you be? A: I spent time with my family. A: An astronaut! Q: What is your favorite color? Q: What is your favorite animal? A: Purple and pink A: Elephants. My daughter and I give money to Q: Have you ever taught at another school? the elephant sanctuary. A; Yes, at Hobby Elementary for 4 years. Q: How many years have you been teaching? Q: What do you do in your spare time? A: 33 years in total! A: Read all kind of Different books. Q: What is your favorite subject? Q: What is your favorite book to read to your A: Reading! I love teaching kids how to read. students? Q: What is your favorite part of school? A: Were All Wonders. A: The morning because the kids are excited for the day! PROMETHEAN BOARD REVIEW WITH MRS. UNGER BY JOSHUA SEGRAVES Q. What is the board most useful for? Q. How do the kids like it? Do they A. For handwriting, math, Quizlet, showing work harder when they use it? images, and Storybook. A. They love using the Smartboard. Q. Do you think it makes you a better teacher? They all want to take turns writing A. I think it makes learning more interesting for answers on it. the class since they are used to using smart Q. If you could add anything to the devices. board what would it be? Q. What do the students interact with on the A. A 3-D pen to draw things in 3-D.