Sa i l o rs On the ScenenewsmagazineDecember 2012 | Volume 7 | Issue 1

MONA SHORES MIDDLE SCHOOL I 1700 WOODSIDE I MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN 49441

On The Inside Student balances school and skating

Jump-startyour brainSeventh grade

Social Studies goes digital

www.sailorsonthescene.com

sailors on the scene ~ staff

PAGE TWO2

On

The

Cover

photo by: Heather Audo

Eighth grade coach Shelley Kurth is talking with her team before a big game against Grand Haven.

Staff Writers:Editors-in-Chief:Maggie DuffJordy Walker

Photo Editor:Heather Audo

Section Editors:Trisha BennettJordyn JacquesKendyl Marine

Web Editor:Ashlyn Bryant

Broadcast Editor:Kayle Cunningham

Julie Beechnau Jayce Bowyer-BotkoJuan Briceno Angelle Bush Jackson Clark Ca’Nasia Herron Amanda Hichue Kiersten Moore Rachel Quick Sara Sabo Ruben SustaitaKarlina Vandenbosch Braxton Wasileewski Brianna Webster

Adviser:Mike Phillips

Editorial Board:Marie BettenKen ByardShelly DykstraJacey EcclestonCheri KimballCarol MogdisMichelle Phillips Matt SchuchardtCharlotte ScottAmy StielstraLori Veurink

IN THE LEAD 3

Students enjoy the first Sailor Celebration

Our Voice

This Christmas you might want to think

about what you ask for. Yeah, sure it’s

normal to want what’s new and what every-

body else has. But have you ever stopped to

think of how other families may have 2-3

jobs just trying to get by and get the neces-

sities.

While you’re always thinking of what

else is new, what else does everyone have

that you can ask for. Maybe this Christmas

you ask for money to donate to the less

fortunate or ask to go help at a children’s

center. Or you could even think of things

you could do to make someone elses Christ-

mas better. If we all put a hand out, we can

all climb higher together.

A time to be thankful

Our Voice is the opinion message selected by the editors of the Sailors On the Scene newsmagazine.

Mona Shores Middle School had its first Sailor Celebration of the new school year.

On Friday, October 26th, 2012, Sailor Cele-bration was held at 6pm and ended at 8pm. The next Sailor Celebration

is Friday, February 8th, 2013. Sailor Celebration is an event that hap-

pens three times a year, in October, Feb-ruary, and April. Sailor Celebration is a chance for students at Mona Shores Middle School to get together to have fun. The theme of this falls Sailor Celebration is black light.

Each year at Sailor Celebration there is a amazing DJ and he always has awesome songs and there is always that one song that almost everyone can’t get enough of. Last year it was Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Je-psen, this year it is Gangnam style by Psy.

There are a lot of other events to do dur-ing Sailor Celebration besides dancing in the east gym.

In the west gym there is basketball and volleyball. In Mrs.Stielstra’s room there are Wii games, such as Wii sports and other activities. Karaoke is in the auditorium where students can pick any song they want to impress their audience.

Top Left: Seventh graders Hayleigh Frantz and Anna Tardani singing in the auditorium. Top Right: Students take some time to smile for the camera while listening to their friends sing in the auditorium. Above: Seventh graders Keontae Watson and Xzavius Coleman stopping to take a picture while playing basketball.

photo by:

SaraSabo

This year, during the months of October and November, the middle school started a “Green Team” to make the school more environmentally friendly by placing recy-cling bins all around the school to try to get students to recycle more and help the environment.

With the new recycling bins, located in the cafeteria, classrooms, and hallways, students can now recycle paper, cardboard, and plastic.

“I think its a good idea and it’s no extra work, you just put it in the right bin,” eighth grader and Green Team member Charles Poole said.

Two years ago, Mona Shores Middle School took its first steps to going green by eliminating styrofoam from the lunchroom, but incorporating these recycling bins will make our school an even greener place.

“The recycling bins are a great idea and I hope our students use the bins with great care and for their intended purpose,” princi-

pal Greg Helmer said. There are a few rules and regulations that

come with these bins for example what to recycle and what not to.

“I did find out that we can now recycle the plastic silverware in the lunchroom as long as it doesn’t have food on it,” seventh grade science teacher Cheryl Brink said.

Our school’s “Green Team” meets the third Thursday of every month at Ross Park Elementary School to discuss more ways to make the schools in the district more green.

“I attend district Green Team meetings once a month and share what I learn at those meetings with the ones here,” Mrs. Brink said.

Americans make up 5% of the world’s population, but create 50% of the garbage; it is our turn to give back.

“We have had an incredible team of students, led by Mrs. Brink, that have really led the way for MSMS,” dean of students Doug Ammeraal said.

This year the seventh grade students get to have the aid of netbooks during social studies class because the curriculum has gone digital.

Seventh grade social studies teacher Jeff Bush conducted a survey with his class showing that 97% students prefer learning with the new netbooks.

“It’s made it easier to do our work,” sev-enth grader Tyler Heethouse said. There are also more ways to find the right answer by using different websites instead of just having a textbook as your only source of information.

“Finding answers is more fun,” seventh grader Kailee Kurth said. “You just google the question and look it up.” Students are seated in groups of four so they can work with each other on the assignments and find answers more ef-ficiently.

“Students can help each other process the information in the class and offer help to each other when one student is struggling with a computer issue,” Mr.Bush said.

However, issues are evident. Some kids

say the online tests are glitchy and students could quickly get off task if not monitored properly.

“Sometimes it’s hard to stay on task because you’re allowed to listen to music,” seventh grader Alyssa Fox said.

The school is thinking about turning the eighth grade social studies curriculum digi-tal too, so the seventh graders won’t have to transition back to textbooks next year.

“I don’t think students’ grades would change if eighth grade social studies went digital,” eighth grade social studies teacher Mrs. Marris said, “but it would be easier for me because test grades would automatically go into the grade book.”

by: Maggie Duff / Editor in chief Seventh grade social studies curriculum goes digital

Top: Seventh grade students use the netbooks to finish their assignment.

Right: Seventh graders Makenna Kuhn, Heather Eek, Markus Daniels, and Emily

Gaiser are engaged and working on the netbooks.

photo by: Maggie Duff

by: Amanda Hichue / staff writerMona Shores middle school gets a Green Team

Seventh grade students Zay Coleman, Chris Murry, and Breon Hooppr are all smiles recycling for locker clean out.

photo by: Amanda Hichue

FEATURES4

The seventh grade volleyball team fin-

ished the season 3-3, and a lot of players

improved in many different areas

Against all their games Taylor Dew,

Ellery Rose, Grace Hellman, and Maggie

Deyoung all made a big difference by serv-

ing strings of tough serves, and setting and

passing.

“Our team was doing good so I wanted to

keep it going” Grace Hellman said.

Sasha Poland and Lucy Eke were the

most improved players from the start of the

season to the end, in areas like serving and

passing.

“I practiced on serving at practice and

home” Sasha Poland said.

Their stand out players were Taylor Dew

and Ellery Rose, Kailee Kurth, Maggie

Deyoung, Sasha Poland from tough serves

and good passing and good setting.

“I’ve always had the strength to get it

over the net and I practiced with my parents

at the gym” Taylor Dew said.

The seventh grade volleyball team had a

3-3 season, but they struggled against both

Grand Haven teams and both West Ottawa

teams, but other than that the seventh grade

volleyball team had a lot of improving play-

ers and had a 3-3 season.

“We weren’t working as a team and we

let ourselves down against Grand Haven

and West Ottawa” Grace Hellman said.

The eighth grade football team concluded their season with a 3-2 record and kept their motto alive.

One of the key factors that helped the team is that they supported each other during the wins and losses and represented their motto of “11 as 1”.

“We never forgot that we were a team and we worked hard in practice,” Kevontea Pegues said.

The highlight of their season came with a comeback victory against rival Grand Haven early in the season. They executed a double pass to win the game and rallied together from that point forward.

Matt Eden says the one thing that pro-pelled the boys forward was, “ The coaches talk during halftime.”

During another one of their big games against The Muskegon Big Reds, they had

a slow start, and the weather conditions didn’t help. After they had got into the flow of things they executed their defense and started to click offensively.

“It took teamwork, hard work, and coop-eration,” Damanpreet Singh said.

Team manager, Marissa Pletcher brought a positive attitude to the sideline and was willing to do anything to help the team.

“Marissa played the role as bonding the team,” Caden Anderson said.

The boys had a winning season with their record finishing 3-2, all of their losses were pretty close and reflected them never giving up.

“I really appreciated the work ethic of the eighth graders and look forward to their continued success in the future,” head foot-ball coach Joe Shaffer said.

by: Jordy Walker I Editor in Chief Eighth grade football season finishes with winning record

The front line of he defense consisting of (left to right) Justin McPhearson, Rodrick Overstreet, Lucas Farber, and Marcus Collins are ready to play hard and get a tackle. In the back row Kenta Watson anticipates the play coming by Grand Haven.

Courtesy photo

by: Jackson Clark I staff writerSeventh grade volleyball wrap-up

Top: Coach Kurth is talking to the team before a big game against Grand Haven.Above: Taylor Dew is serving the ball in the second set against Grand Haven.

photos by: Heather Audo

SPORTS 5

By: Jordyn Jacques, Jayce Bowyer-Botko, Juan Briceno, Rueben Sustita

Summer

What’s your favorite thing to do at the beach?

SpringWhat do you like to do on a rainy day?

7th GradeRoman Sustita

“Go outside”

7th GradeJames Treptow

“Watch TV inside.”

8th Grade Summer Gossett

“Listen to music, read.”

6th GradeErick Hannahs

“Play video games, shoot pucks, play

hockey.”

7th GradeDrew Yin

“Play Call of Duty Black Ops 2”

7th GradeJanell Suszor

“Go on Facebook,chill.”

Teacher Beth Prentice

“Read, cuddle with my cat, I like to bake.”

6th GradeAmauri McIntosh

“Do something inside, read, play. Do something with my brothers or sisters.”

8th GradeKaylynne Dennis

“Read and play in the rain.”

8th GradeAutumn Lambert

“Relax in my bathing suit.”

7th GradeKayla Theis

“I like to tan, listen to music.”

6th GradeAaliyahna Ogle

“Swim, and build sand castles with my little brother.

8th GradeHannah Jensen-Yee

“Tan, Hang out in the sand.”

6th GradeCoi Lakatos

“Hang out with my sisters and my family.”

7th GradeMark Breitembach

“Swim, Play catch with bro.”

8th GradeTravis Stube

“Tan and swim,”

8th GradeTimmy Chick

“Swim, hang with friends, play frisbee.”

8th GradeAlec Venne

“Party.”

CENTER SECTION6

Winter

FallWhat makes jumping in leaves so much fun?

What would the ultimate Christmas present be?

7th GradeEmmonya Sims

“I would want an Iphone.”

6th GradeJulia Uganski

“Ipad so I don’t have to share the computer.”

7th GradeErica Dakin

“Ipad because i’d use it a lot.”

8th GradeBrendon Freeman

“To win the Powerball.”

7th GradeChuckie Anthony

“Longer football season.”

7th GradeSebastian Frasier

“10 million dollars.”

7th GradeGriffin Amrhein

“To be Obama for a day.”

7th GradeKohl Richards

“To be the President of the United States.”

8th GradeZac Cuthberston

“A trip to the world series.”

7th GradeHannah Geogre

“All the leaves flying in the air”

7th GradeTony Dove

“Getting stabbed by a stick.”

7th GradeMcKenzie Terpstra

“Stuffing leaves down my brothers shirt”

7th GradeAnita Smith

“The fact of getting buried in them.”

8th GradeDavis Bonebrake

“You get to have fun, be outdoors.”

6th GradeKacie Juergens

“The fact that you can’t hurt yourself.”

7th GradeNathan Salazar

“Just being stupid and reckless.”

7th GradeKate Olson

“The fact you get to act like a kid again.”

7th GradeDale Johnivan

“Being crazy and having fun.”

CENTER SECTION 7

Letting students decorate their lockers for the school year will bring up Sailor pride, give students a chance to be creative and also it would help students be more responsible.

Students should be able to put things

on their lockers for holidays, sports, and certain school events. Putting things on their lockers could bring up Sailor pride for sports, assemblies, birthdays, holidays or even some certain days of events from school. Spirit week could be a major factor of our locker deco-rating because staff or even maybe students could vote to have a themed day.

Students have been whining to the staff on and off about letting us decorate our lockers because the high school can. The

problem was that having sticky notes and sticky paper on students lock-ers would chip off the paint. Kids should be able to put thin white poster board over the locker so the tape doesn’t tear the paint off the locker. This way kids could be more creative with their lockers, instead of staff ruling out a lot of objects because they will tear.

Staff would have to give a lot of trust to the students to think they will not be tearing down the art, and even having appropriate drawings on their lockers. If this contin-ued to work, they students at Mona Shores Middle School would have the chance to be more responsible. It might be a lot of work, but this could work if students and staff worked together.

Decorating students lockers would help Sailor pride, give students a chance to be creative and also it would help students be more responsible.

Physical Education teacher John Adams came up with the great idea of Jumpstart a few weeks ago so kids can go before school on Tuesdays and Thurs-days and work out, whether it’s playing a game of basketball or

lifting in the upstairs gym. In this experiment, Mr. Adams and his as-

sistants Dianne Murphy and Dawn Menen-dorp want to know if having this open gym before school will help students academi-

cally. Research from the Califor-nia Department of Education reveals that children who are more fit perform

twice as well on academic tests as their unfit classmates. You can become healthier than what you were before, too.

What is also pretty cool about this idea is that middle school teammates can par-ticipate together and have some extra practice. The volleyball coaches have already been encouraging their players to join, and a lot of basketball players will show up and play matches against others. Not just middle school teams can participate in the program, anyone can come and have fun.

Mr. Adams came up with the idea of Jumpstart because he wants to see an improvement in middle schoolers overall school grades. He claims he would also want to see kids be healthy again.

The Jumpstart program is a good idea because the outcome is never bad, you have better test scores, you become healthier, and you have fun while doing it.

Jumpstart before school could benefit students

BraxtonWasilewski

Top: Players watch as eighth grader Jordan Walker shoots over them.Above: Eighth grader Kaitlyn Hermanson practices her volleyball skills in the West gym.

photos by: braxton wasilewski

Students should be able to decorate lockers

illustration by: grant strieder

— Hunter Downahoe ~ 6th

“It would be good for boys and girls to come in and interact with each other.”

TrishaBennett

— Dawn Menendorp ~ Teacher

“Jumpstart in the morning will make you learn more efficiently during the day and will give us a healthier school.”

— Janell Suzor ~ 7th

“We could show staff that we are responsible because we’d keep it appropriate and not over do it.”

— Marisa Bacon ~ 6th

“We could be creative because we are showing our personality and things we like.”

OPINIONS8

People listen to music for different reasons and at different times.

Music is important to almost everyone for the same common reasons. And the reason why people listen to music varies from one indi-vidual to the other. Most

people identify themselves through the lyrics of songs. Some songs will make your feelings feel great. People listen to music to entertain themselves. Some people listen to music because it helps them to feel relaxed after having a stressful day, especially when

it is their favorite song. Some people may say that the reason why they listen to a particular

song is because it helps them to recall a particular period of their life. One line of the lyrics can set your mood for the entire day.

Music is played in rhyme and some music can express your emotions in an effective way. The rhythms have a strong force to relax your mind. Music is a way of commu-nicating your feelings that could otherwise stay locked inside. Music is sometimes called the “language of emotion.” We listen to music to help ourselves in various ways

like relaxing our minds and expressing our feelings.

‘Jumpin Jupiter” plays really good and upbeat music like Nicki Minaj, Jason Derulo, Usher, Justin Bieber, ne-yo, Britney Spears, and your requests, they keep it simple.

When you’re hungry they have that too. They serve hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, and some others. After

having so much fun you’ll need a drink. They have lots to choose from such as Coke, Pepsi

Mountain Dew, and really tall shakes of your choice fruit flavor.

Every Fri-day there are so many Mona Shores kids that go there

that they give out free coupons just for the school. It’s a great place to just have fun and be happy. ‘Jumpin Jupiter’ is the most fun skate center in Muskegon and its bringing friendship to students all over. You should be the person to make a friend at ‘Jumpin Ju-piter’ and have some fun. On Fridays from 5 PM to 7:30 PM you can skate for only five dollars. If you need to take family you

can start your younger siblings off with the skate starter and 4 wheel skates. Anyone under

54 can skate. They do light shows, birth-days, private parties, skate shop, and they even have Christian music skate night.

Tell your family and friends to come to ‘Jumpin Jupiter’, its a fun place to be.

Students spend their time at ‘Jumpin Jupiter’ skate center

Top: The picture is of the play area for the younger kids to play on while you are having fun in the skate rink below.Above: The skate rink with lights above.

www.jumpinjupiterskatecenter.com

Music helps people entertain themselves in different ways

illustration by:Ca’Nasia Herron

— Haley Alderman ~ 7th

“Last time I was there they played hip hop, rap, and rock-n-roll.”

— Alec Venne ~ 8th

“It’s fun because you get to do the Hokey Pokey.”

Ca’NasiaHerron

AngelleBush

ENTERTAINMENT 9

— Nicole Robinson ~ 6th

“I like the music because they have all of the songs that I listen to on my ipod..”

— Dimitrous Fraisure ~ 6th

“I like the music that they play there because they make you move.”

— Erica Pallas ~ 8th

“It makes you feel happy and makes you forget the past.”

— Logan Armstrong ~ 6th

“It cheers people up when they’re feeling down.”

— Casuy Wettach ~ 7th

“Music is a great way to pass time.”

As a student in Mona Shores Middle School, eighth grader Daphne Jackson is not like some people.

Jackson started figure skating in the same way most people start attending a sport when we were young. And it has been seven years since she got inspired to skate.

“My sister had been skating for two years and when I saw her skating at her show, I took it up,” Jackson said.

She attends figure skating practices, and competitions while balancing school work and has been the same way since she started.

“I attend one a month, and five times a year,” Jackson said, “ and I do get nervous a lot.”

For Jackson, she knows that practice makes perfect in figure skating and in school.

“It took me about seven years to get where I am now,” Jackson said.

Jackson also has other hobbies too, not just skating that many people can do in their free time during school.

“Drawing, reading, and singing are some of my other hobbies,” Jackson said.

Balancing out school work and figure skating probably isn’t easy, but Jackson still gets through it.

“ I don’t think I would change my life if I could,” Jackson said.

Eighth grader Sunni Liu shares his differ-

ences between cultures in Taishan, China

and Muskegon, Michigan from when he

moved here three years ago.

Sunni Liu made ensemble in the play

“Little Mermaid Jr.” with help and encour-

agement from his friends .

“ I did encourage Sunni to try out for the

play because he is a good singer.” eighth

grader Kara Green said.

Also the foods differ. Our food is all fried

and fast food, but in China they eat tons of

rice there. “My favorite American restau-

rant is Pizza Hut,” said Liu. “But I also like

McDonalds and Burger King.”

Liu also has other hobbies like singing

he says he is the only one in his family that

sings. If he couldn’t sing he said he would

play football.

“ Sunni is an amazing singer,” eighth

grader Kayla Oudsema said. “I sit next

to him in choir and love his voice, lots of

people in choir do.”

The school hours in China would be

much longer and grades for Liu would be

better and classes would be much more

advanced.

“Our school day would be a half day in

China,” said Liu.

America and China are opposites but

Liu likes both even though he misses his

friends. Liu is looking forward to more time

in America.

by: Kendyl Marine I Section Editor Sunni Liu shared differences between China and Michigan

Top: Sunni Liu chilling out in his home town Taishan, China.

Right: Liu relaxing in his old house in China.

courtesy photos

by: Brianna Webster / staff writerMSMS student balances figure skating, school

Eigth grader Daphne Jackson in a competition at Lakeshore Sport Center.

courtesy photo

PROFILES10

SAILOR DAYS 11

Sailors of the Month

Sailors of the Month are voted on by the staff at Mona Shores Middle School

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th GradeLucas Farber and Daphne Jackson

October

Miller VanderMolen and Gabrealle Mescall

Peyton Erndteman and Sara Mikesell

If you could be any cartoon character, who would you be?

voices

Emmonya Sims8th GRADE

“I would be Squidward because he’s funny.”

“I would be Ariel because my singing voice is as angelic as hers and I would get to be with Prince Eric, who is tan guapo!”

Dalton Peevy8th GRADE

”Spongebob because I can laugh and have

fun.”

“Nala form The Lion King because she’s strong, magnificent, and has

beautiful golden hair.”

hallsfrom the

Senora SchillerSPANISH TEACHER

Mrs. Medendorp8th/7th GRADE ELA

Carley Eggleton7th GRADE

“I think Bugs Bunny because he’s really funny and I like his catch phrase.”

“I would be Princess Bubblegum because she’s really awesome.”

Taylor Tenhove

7th GRADE“I would be The Tasmanian Devil

because he’s crazy.”

“Tom and Jerry because they are funny and they do a lot of dumb stuff.”

Curtis Munson 6th GRADE

Markell Thomas7th GRADE

“Betty Boop because I used to like her when I was little.”

“A Teletubbie because they don’t even speak

and they are round and cool.”

Caliegh Slagle8th GRADE

Alec McNarland

8th GRADE

Maya Jones6th GRADE

“I would be Mr. Krabs because he has lots of money.”

“Josie from Josie and the Pussycats because she can totally sing and she rocks.”

Cameren Thompson6th GRADE

“Bugs Bunny because he makes all the other

characters look like wimps.”

“Elmer Fudd because he reminds me of Mr.

Wahlberg.”

Mrs. Ackley6th GRADE

Mr. Kurant8th GRADE S. S. TEACHER

“Wanda because she has magical powers.”

“I would probably be Spiderman because he

shoots webs and he can fight crime.”

Hayden Phipps

6th GRADE

Olivia Wachter7th GRADE

Boo, Its Halloween On October 31st the students of Mona Shores Middle School

dressed up in their favorite costumes to show off

their Sailor pride.

Caption:

12 PHOTO STORY