HOOPS OF STEEL
An official publication of the Komodo Dragons
NEWS TEAM – Ariel Bloch, Katie Lane, Tim Mulhern, Jack Norberg
SPORTS TEAM – David Hessen, Marie McVeigh, Nicole Owuor, Annelise Slater
ENTERTAINMENT STAFF – Kimmy Hosan, Christie Lodge, Courtney Naser, Katie Woods
EDITORIAL STAFF – Zach Assenmacher, Kim Guglielmo, Jeff Hodgson, Sonja LaRosa
SPECIAL FEATURES – Deanna Costante, Elisabeth Gavin, Nikki Harnwell, Alexis Hartfuss, Daniel Paolo Juan, Dylan Simonson, Shannon Wichmann
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – Mr. Langin
THE NEWS
Renovations At HMS
By: Katie Lane
There have recently been many renovations going on at Haverford Middle School. Over the spring break, construction workers ripped down the ceilings and blocked off many parts of the school. They have also been doing work outside on the school grounds. The construction going on at the school has been inconvenient to most of the teachers, also. "The construction has caused inconvenience to park, bad air quality, noise, and cursing from the workers," said Seth Gardner, middle school chorus teacher. "We will be moved from our classroom for a year and this will make teaching chorus difficult." The construction affects some teachers more than others, but it still affects everyone. Although the school looks very bad now, people think the renovations are necessary or the school will just keep getting worse. All teachers are hopeful that the school will be better after the renovations are complete.
"There is noise, dark hallways, and it is very dusty and dirty, but when they are done there will be air conditioning, new lockers, and heating that works. Everything that doesn't work now will when they are finished," said Angela Bruno, sixth grade math teacher. Since the ceilings are ripped down, it could possibly cause a hazard to students and teachers walking in the hallways. "They took Gym D out which makes classes a lot larger because we have to combine. We lost half of the field which makes it difficult for individual classes. It rains a lot so there is flooding in the gym teachers' offices on a daily basis. We have to wear aqua socks because our feet will be in water all day. We can't access the back exit, so we have to walk down Golf Road to get to the field. The school just really looks bad, too," said Daniel Tallon, middle school gym teacher. Some teachers don't mind it as much as others, but it has to do with where they are in the building. If they are closer to the blocked off areas or the basement, then they will have more construction around them and it could bother them more than other teachers. If their not as close to the construction it might not bother them as much as the people closer to the construction.
Changes in the Math Curriculum at HMS
By: Jack Norberg
In recent years the math curriculum at Haverford Middle School has changed. However, it is not the content that has changed, but the recourses that are used to teach the content. As seventh grade math teacher Ms. Mary-Ann Somers explained it, "The new recourses focus more on the students knowing WHY and being able to explain HOW." When asked if she agreed with the changes made in the curriculum Ms. Somers said that she does because she feels that it is important for the student to be able to understand how to do the problems and now to just complete them by "rote."
When asked if there are any further changes that she would suggest be made to the curriculum, Ms. Somers said she things that the seventh graders should be made to master the basics (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) of whole numbers as well as fractions and decimals. When asked to elaborate on this subject Somers said that, "Algebra is just an extension of the basic skills." Ms. Somers was unclear as to if this is true for all grades or just seventh graders. However, when asked if the teachers should have more of less freedom in the classroom, Ms. Somers replied that it is good that the teachers are all teaching the same curriculum so that the students are all "on the same page." This assures none of the students are ahead or behind others next year. Somers also said that she would like to enhance the students' learning experiences by adding her own assessments. Ms. Somers seems to believe that each teacher should be able to leave his or her own mark on a student whether it is ethnically or mathematically.
Missing Matzah
By: Ariel Bloch
Currently there is very little kosher food in the cafeterias, especially on Passover. The people of the Jewish faith observed Passover this past week. It is a Jewish festival that commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and is marked chiefly by the Seder ritual and eating of Matzah. Matzah represents the unleavened bread the Jewish people ate when they hurried to leave Egypt; during the 7-8 days of Passover Jews traditionally do not eat bread.
At the moment in both cafeterias A and B there are few choices for those who are keeping kosher on Passover. Yes there may be potato chips, hot dogs, and yogurt but no real meal. People of the Jewish faith deserve a right to have kosher choices on Passover.
When interviewed Ms. Meiers said the following "Having Matzah or snacks that are made specific for Passover such as macaroons would be nice." She also stated "It is difficult to expect a school district to come up with options of food during this holiday." It may be hard to expect options of food during Passover, but an overall effort would be appreciated.
Haverford Middle School has a language program, which explores different cultures and teaches students to do so as well. Case Western University of Ohio has done something similar and added a kosher program to its menu. Haverford Middle School could follow in their footsteps and have kosher options on Passover, giving people of the Jewish faith a small choice for their meal.
Choral Night- A Big Success!
By-Tim Mulhern
On Thursday, April 16, 2009, the 84th Annual Choral Night took place. Choral Night is a great chance to see all of the select choruses of our township. Performing that night was the District Chorus. Comprised of fourth and fifth graders from all of the Elementary Schools in our area, two middle school groups, Chamber Choir, which is made up of select sixth grade students, 7th Heaven, a group of seventh and eighth graders, Concert Chorale and the Chamber Singers of the High School and Men and Boy's Choir, which is comprised of students from all three schools. All of the students who participated that night had to audition to be a member for the groups of their grade. Each group performed about three numbers of various genres.
I had a chance to sit down with the Middle School Choral Director, Mr. Gardner, to ask him a few questions about the night of music. When asked if he was excited about Choral Night, his reply was "Yes, I enjoy Choral Night, it is one of the few concerts I don't look upon as work." He also said that "they [referring to the younger singers] get a chance to see the older kids, it is great recruiting, also the older kids enjoy watching the younger kids perform because they remember what it was like, it's very nostalgic."
Overall Choral night was a wonderful chance to hear a wide variety of song selections performed by a wide variety of singers at all ages
THE SPORTS REPORT
Ten Minutes of Baseball
By David Hessen
Haverford baseball player Matt DePetris accepted the idea of an interview and gave us some details of his baseball life and career.
The reason why Matt tried out for the team is because baseball is his favorite sport. What would he do if he didn’t make the team? He would try out for basketball, as that is his second favorite sport. He has been playing the sport of baseball for several years, ever since he was three and a half, and got into baseball because his mom signed him up to play.
When Matt was asked how he felt when he made the team and for he won his first game, Matt said, “I was very excited” and “It felt good to be on a good start.” Matt trains for his games in a very rigorous exercise. First, he goes to a batting cage and hits some home runs. Then he plays some tough catch with his teammates.
Matt plays as the outfielder and has had no balls hit to him yet. He is supremely confident on the outcome the next game, having absolutely no fear about what is to come, as he knows the other team he is about to face. However, he is unsure on other future games.
His favorite pro-ball team is the Philadelphia Phillies and Matt likes home games the best because there are a lot more fans.
We wish Matt the best in his baseball career and that his team has the successful season they deserve.
The Insight of Track Girls
By: Marie McVeigh
It is the middle of the girl’s track season and we met up with Rachel Alfano, Jessica McCarthy, and Julia Hubbard. They are a part on the track team at Haverford Middle School. These students enjoy running and hurdling so much they take time every day after to practice for meets. To be on the girl’s track team they had to have a physical but luckily no one gets cut from girls track. At practice the girls wear sneakers with, (of course, socks, soft shorts, and a t-shirt. For their hair they wear a tight ponytail. At meets the uniforms are different. Hair in ponytail, sneakers or spikes, socks, red shorts with built- in underwear, and a red Haverford thick-strapped tank top.
Rachel Alfano is a 7th grader at Haverford Middle School. She is a sprinter, which means she doesn’t run long distance. Her favorite events to be in are the 4*100 relay, and the 100, 200, and 70 meters. When Rachel is not running and is in the stands she likes to watch relays and 100 meters. Rachel loves track but also soccer. She says, “I like soccer and track. I can’t decide.”
Courtney Naser is also a 7th grader at Haverford Middle School. Courtney runs long distance because she said, “I enjoy looking around and talking with friends.” Courtney loves running and would not want to do any other sport at school.
Jessica (Jess) McCarthy is an 8th grader at HMS. Next year in high school Jess plans to run track. Even though the track team can be big with 7th and 8th graders combined, Jess says she doesn’t want it to change. When she takes a break Jess loves to watch the 4*100 relays. Jess does not run long distance, which means she is a sprinter. When she is running she prefers to be in the 100, 200, hurdles, and 4*100. Jess says, “I would not rather do a different sport at school. But, I also play field hockey for school.”
Julia Hubbard is a 13 year old, 7th grader at HMS. She is also a sprinter, but prefers to be in hurdles. When she is watching she likes to see long distance and hurdles. Julia says, “I would not want to be in a different sport at school!”
As you can see the participants of girls track are dedicated and very happy to be on Haverford Middle School’s Girl’s Track team. Their coaches, Mr. Sabitini, Miss Irwin, and Mrs. Brocklesby are proud to coach them and are happy that these students found a sport that they love
Don’t Let the Skirt Fool You
By Nicole Owuor
As a player on the 7th grade lacrosse team, I know the feeling of victory after we win a game but I also know how hard I have to push myself at practice and the stress of school work on top of that; this is what some of my teammates had to say about it. Carolyn Donohue, Bridget Bergan and most of the team have been playing since a young age. Some however such as Krista Vandetti and myself just started this year. All of us though, have big plans for the future and want to continue on to Varsity in high school and Women’s Lacrosse in college in Universities such as Penn State and Johns Hopkins which are Division I teams.
“Defense (Point, Coverpoint, Third man, Center, and Left and Right defensive wings) can be harder than offense (First, Second, Third Home, and Left and Right attack wings). It involves the most running since you sprint up and down the field to stop the other team from scoring” said Carly Beck. When asked how this affected her game Cassidy answered, “It’s frustrating trying to get the ball back from the other team when checking near the face is illegal and that’s where we’re all taught to cradle. It makes me more competitive though because my frustration is shown in my running so it actually helps by making me faster and fueling my competitiveness.
In the Coach’s Head
By Annaleise Slater
All athletes know the accomplishing feeling they feelwhen their team wins a game and the sleepiness they feel during strenuous practices, but have you ever wonderedwhat the coaches feel about coaching? Mrs. O' Grady, the 7th grade lacrosse coach and the 8th grade field hockey coach told me all about sports and coaching.
Since Haverford Middle School only offers four sports for girls, coaching one would be an honorable responsibility for teachers, but Mrs. O'Grady coaches two of the four sports. It makes sense that Mrs. O'Grady would know about all of the good and bad parts of coaching. She has been coaching lacrosse for ten years and field hockey four twenty seven years! Her favorite part of coaching is when the girls learn something. She says "I like it when the girls learn of improve in skill and when they learn to play"
As a student, Mrs. O'Grady played basketball, softball, and field hockey, so it is safe to say she knows all about sports; she knows the advantages of playing sports. She says "It is not for everyone, but it is good in a sport to workplayers."
Field hockey and lacrosse are very different sports, but she says that she doesn't prefer one over the other. She can not pick a favorite sport to coach because they are too different to compare. Nomatter how busy the two sports keep her, she promises to keep coaching. She wants girls to have the same opportunities she did and more.
That's Entertainment!
Local Chorus Teacher Leaving Haverford Middle School
By Katie Woods
Haverford Middle School chorus teacher, Mr. Gardner, is leaving school at the beginning of next year.
He is leaving for a whole school year and will be back for the 2010-2011 school year and will stay for at least one year. He says, “I am taking a leave to make myself a better chorus teacher.” He has no say in who will replace him but he hopes it will be Miss Manfredi. This is very important to the kids in 6th and 7th grade kids in chorus. Mr. Gardner says that this will certainly be an adjustment for the student’s bit it is good for them to learn from a different teacher. He thinks it will be nice to relax and “recharge”, but he will miss the students and faculty. Students have said many things about Mr. Gardner leaving. Hannah Billbrough, 7th grader, was probably one of the most effected. She is in both 7th heaven and chorus. She said, “Mr. Gardner is my favorite teacher. Once in a life time, you meet a teacher who makes you not want to leave school. To me, that teacher is Mr. Gardner.” Hannah also said that she hopes Miss Manfredi would take over Mr. Gardner’s job while he is away. She has worked with us before and she is the most qualified.
Another student Courtney Naser, 7th grader, has the opposite opinion. She is only in chorus and has this to say, “ I don’t really care because, personally, he wasn’t my favorite teacher, but he was still a good chorus teacher, he was very good at his job.” Courtney also said that she would like a brand new chorus teacher because it would be different. There are other students who feel the same way as Hannah and Courtney. 8th grader Sadie Peden and, 7th grader, Tim Mulhern, are both in 7th Heaven and chorus are sad about Mr. Gardner leaving. They, like Hannah, also want Miss Manfredi to fill in. Although this will not effect Sadie, she is still very sad. Others say that they are happy for Mr. Gardner and that this is a good experience for
him.
Haverford Meets Bucks
By Courtney Naser
On Thursday, May 21 2009. Haverford Middle School theatre students will be performing at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Theatre students attending this trip will gain some of the experience earned by theatre professionals, says HMS Director Michael Braverman. Haverford Middle School has been performing at The Bucks County Playhouse since 2002. This year, the 6th graders will be performing Kokonut Kapers and the 7th and 8th graders will be performing Honk, a musical version of the Ugly Duckling. Theatre student Kimmy Hosan says, “Bucks County is an amazing experience. I went last year and loved it. I can’t wail until this year!”