The Bear Times - Schoolwires

The Bear TimesSpring 2018 EditionPleasant Valley Middle SchoolVolume 5, Issue 3Editor’s NoteAs editor of the Bear Times, Ihave had the opportunity to interviewteachers and staff members to see notonly how much work goes intocoordinating events but even the dailytasks of running the middle school.However, as a student for the past twoyears, I have had amazing experiencesthat go far beyond the classroom. I havelearned lessons that will last a lifetime.For example, I have learned thathard work always pays off. I have alsolearned that our PVMS staff cares,wants to help our students, and arealways there for us. Our teachers areamazing people, equipping our nextgeneration with the tools needed to enterthe real world. They are not justteachers, they are dedicated, caringhuman beings.On the last day of school when Iwalk out of the glass middle school doorsfor the last time, I will be saying “Thankyou!” -- because the staff here at PVMSdeserves it!- Tyler Mann“I have learned that hardwork always pays off.”- Outgoing Bear TimesEditor, Tyler Mann1

PVMS POETRY SLAM!Writing.So easily misunderstood.Writing is not just puttingwords on a paper.It’s expressive.It’s more than somesymbols and lines.Writing, in so many waysto understand, is life,a vortex of light,a torch in a cave.It empowers you,but it can tear you down.So why am I writing onthis piece of paper?It was my destiny.- Antonio AyalaOn May 29, students, staff, andPVMS family members gathered tocelebrate the sheer power of words.Organized by Mrs. Lucas andMrs. Anglemyer, the 1st AnnualPVMS Poetry Slam featured originalstudent and staff poetry, incredibleartwork, and heartfelt performances.Guests relaxed in a cozy, dimly-lit gymand sank into the beauty and creativityoffered by students and staff.Poems expressed joy, struggles,hopes, dreams, awe of nature -- life.Mrs. Krall commended all poets andartists for “their honesty, creativity,hard work, and courage.” As Mrs.Lucas noted when introducing ourpoets, “Sometimes we have somethingto say.”A great big thank you toeveryone involved in this amazingcelebration of student expression. Weat the Bear Times have a feeling thatwe’ve experienced just the slightestglimmer of the enormous talent ourstudent writers and artists have tooffer.- Tyler Mann2

PVMS POETRY SLAM!Featured PoetsSydney JekerEllyot CastilloAriana BassGretchen FinkbeinerJustin AmorusoJenna ZerilliDashawn HinesKassidy ShuppSamantha WeddermannLillian WarnkenAmara RubinoKaitlyn LampkeAutumn CastroLucas RommelEm RobertiAddison SnyderMichael RichardsonKierra PurgarJames SyracuseAntonio AyalaJarod MooreCaia HarrisBella VerhageMarissa OjedaMrs. WerkheiserAshley KovacsSamara PrudenGino GuerrisiCandace SummersLauren BatstoneLindsey BaldwinJenna FosterBriana NoelMrs. KrallRiley StatlerLishka Soto-SemideyThe Raindrop, Nature, Yes I Am NatureNot So SunnyUntitled (Bumblebee)What is the Meaning of Life?What If?Happy PlaceUntitled (I Was Born)SurgeryMusic, Every Day, MotherFriendsUntitled (Indulge)I’m TiredLast GoodbyesUntitled (Vast Expanse)Still Fighting, A2 TeachersUntitled (You Told Me)School ChaosUntitledI AmUntitled (Writing)UntitledIs Life a Game?BlindDepressionWalt DisneySpring’s ArrivalVineUntitledHere One Day, Gone the Next(Untitled) I Crossed the LineControlLiesAn ActJoseph’s LegacySword vs. ShieldUntitled3

PVMS POETRY SLAM!UntitledShadeI am a shadeA covert ghost unseen by manyAs I sit and watch the days go byI see the faces that I have alwaysrecognizedThey have never really known meThey don’t want toBut I have grown used to it all nowbecause I am a shadeUnperturbed by the words andactions of othersThat isUntil it tears me to shredsPiece by piece- Ziara MarshallNot So SunnyThe sun is shiningYou can see summer’s comingBut it had to rain.- Ellyot CastilloA soft bumblebeedarkest black andsubtle yellowI’m an eagle,I can’t fly,I can’t be independent,I can’t find my own food,I am still an eagle, right?I represent freedom because of how brave Ilook,What if I am not brave?Am I still an eagle?How do the other birds feel?I see them fly,I see them all alone,I see them as hunters,No one cares because they are small.Does it matter they aren’t big?They aren’t loud when they chirp,They don’t look strong,Is it really that bad?Am I a better bird because of how I look?Do humans think that too?It’s not right,But we speak a different language,I can’t stop them.But it’s okay, I’ll live,Even if I can’t fly,Even if I can’t be solitude,Even if I can’t get food,I’ll live,Somehow.- Lishka Soto-Semideysits on a tulip.-Ariana Bass4

A Look Inside:PVMS LibraryMost students are unaware ofthe responsibilities of PVMSlibrarian Mrs. BonLore. The fact isshe does much, much more thanchecking out books for students: shehelps teachers with planning lessonsand makes sure all library materialsare in excellent condition forstudents to check out.Mrs. BonLore became alibrarian because she loves to read.In fact, she believes that everyonelikes to read, they just have to findwhat they like first.When asked what she lovesmost when reading, she smiled andrevealed, “happy endings.”Mrs. DeBarry is the libraryparaprofessional, and her favoritepart about the library is seeing andhelping all of our PVMS students.Her work in the libraryconsists of checking in books andresources and making sure resourcesare ready for the students. She lovesthe quiet of the library and findshelping students rewarding.Mrs. Debarry loves to read asurprise ending, and her favoritebook at the moment is The Weddingby Nicholas Sparks.- Tyler Mann and Sophia TauerStudent GovernmentAssociationThe Student GovernmentAssociation, or better known as theSGA, is an amazing group ofmiddle-schoolers. Reflecting onthese last months, SGA members canproudly say they have had quite abusy, productive, meaningful year.SGA members worked hard,promoted an atmosphere of givingback to our community, and servedas inspirational role models for thePVMS community.SGA members came togetherto co-host the 7th grade dance withthe National Junior Honor Society,held a food drive and threw a bagelparty for the winning homeroom,made Survival Bags for thehomeless, collected cereal for ourlocal food pantry -- to name just afew activities!Co-Advisors Mrs. Dekmar andMrs. D’Agostino did a wonderful jobnot only guiding the SGA, but alsopreparing eighth-grade members forhigh school. SGA is an invaluableorganization, and we salute theiryear-long efforts to make not onlyPVMS but our community a healthy,happy, giving community!5

Bear SportsTrack and FieldMrs. Eisenhauer coaches middleschool track because it is one of herfavorite sports. “It’s fun to teach newskills,” she shared.This particular season, her goalsincluded encouraging students to beexcited about track and field, helpingathletes increase their PR andencouraging teamwork. About 50-60middle school students per yearparticipate in track and field, and eachathlete can participate in up to 4 events.Coach Eisenhauer indicated thatwhen compared to contact sports, trackand field is relatively safe, apart frommuscle strains which are common. Sheencourages athletes playing more thanone sport, as “it can boost play.”She also explained one significantdifference between high school andmiddle school track: in high schoolworkouts are more independent andathletes are expected to pushthemselves, whereas middle schoolathletes receive more guidance andsupervision.-Zac HayesAthlete One-to-One:Mandy BeadeHow do you think your team did overallthis season?I was very worried at thebeginning if the season because many ofthem have never played before. We didn'twin many games, but that didn't matterbecause the girls on the team became likefamily and that's all that really matters.Individually how do you think you didmotivating your teammates and yourself?I did a good job. When the girlshad any questions they mostly came to me,At games, I’d always try to give themtalks to pump them up to play their bestand help them.What were you team and individualgoals?My individual goal was to improvemy pitching. I didn't get much time on themound as I wanted this season, but it gaveme a chance to try other positions that asit turned out, I like.As a team we struggled to getwins on the season, so that was our maingoal. We ended with about 3 or 4 wins,and I’m proud of our team.What were the new positions yourcoaches opened up to you?They put me at shortstop, but I’mused to playing outfield on my otherteam.Moving to shortstop opened up adifferent opportunity by learning a newposition and I'm thankful they did that.- Jarod Moore6

Every Day is EARTH DAY7th grade reporter Julia Gower sat down with Mrs. Lovito for her thoughts on our planet andto discover how we can ALL do our part.JG: Earth Day seems more important thanever, and its focus has widened to bringingattention to problems far greater thanlittering. What, in your opinion, shouldstudents know about the health of ourplanet?ML: Our planet’s health is in trouble and hasbeen for a long time. I remember the energycrisis in the 70s -- President Carter put upsolar panels in the White House and did notuse air conditioning, but when PresidentReagan came into office he took them down.This is unfortunately a political issue, and Istruggle between both parties about globalwarming. But we should take either side andbe on Mother Nature’s side.Unless we all make an effort to learn aboutsustainability and become environmentallyconscious and active, the earth’s health willnot get any better and will continue todecline.Many students have lots of free time thatthey could use toward volunteering andhelping their communities reduce theirenvironmental footprint. Students shouldknow it will be their environmental activismthat will be necessary for real change. Itwill be their ideas that will be used to comeup with new solutions to our current andfuture problems with climate change andpollution.JG: As a teacher and a parent, what doesEarth Day mean to you?ML: It’s a day to learn about how we cantake care of our planet and educate thosearound us about our natural resources,which are important to our own health.It’s also a good day to reflect that every daycan be Earth Day if we get in the habit ofthinking about our impact on theenvironment.JG: Can you recommend one small, easything our PVMS students can do every daythat will make a big impact on our planet’shealth?ML: Reduce, reuse, and recycle as manythings as possible. Conserve water, and useless plastic.We should look for ways to reduce our wasteand environmental impact. For example,students could help in the cafeteria byorganizing a plan to add recycling bins fortrash, recyclables, and food that can becomposted. Okay, so that might not be justone thing or that easy, but it can be done andwould make a big impact if you think aboutthe number of people and the waste created inthis building.How can a student learn more about thechoices he or she makes and how thesechoices impact the environment?ML: That’s really easy. Just go online andresearch how you can help the environment.There are many great websites and resourcesavailable. You can also get involved andvolunteer at your local state park, participatein community cleanups, join earth friendlyorganizations like the Boy Scouts and GirlScouts. Help educate the people around you.Be a good citizen and role model.If you had to come up with a slogan forEarth Day, what would it be?ML: Every Day is Earth Day, because we 7need to be reminded that our daily activitiesaffect the earth’s health.