MAY 2014 ISSUE
Time Sensitive News
Future STEM Parents and Students:
STEM Camp takes place on July 29th for all incoming freshman. Register by June 13 for regular pricing: $20!
STEM Camp takes place on July 29th for all incoming freshman. Register by June 13 for regular pricing: $20!
Recent Happenings
Career Day at Clara Love
By: Kyra Hays and Collin Deffner STEM is an academy that participates in volunteer work showcasing what they have created, such as “Jorge” the robot from the Robotics Club, and helping the community. STEM volunteered to attend career day at Clara Love Elementary School on Monday May 19, 2014 to present STEM to the elementary school students and show them the advantages of going into the academy in high school. When students, Joshua Swoyer, Hunter Marks, Kyra Hays, and Shannon Crowley, including Mrs. Helmick, went to Clara Love Elementary School they presented rockets, robots, STEM, and future careers including the classes that STEM students are involved with during their four years of high school. The elementary school students were able to hold the model rockets, which the juniors in STEM made before they created rockets that were able to fly a mile high with a one-pound payload. The students were also able to hold the bigger rockets. The students interacted with both robots that were present, the VEX robot and “Jorge” from the Robotics Club in STEM, for which they enjoyed watching them wheel around the gym and were able to chase after them or watch them complete tasks. For example, one of the elementary students wanted to see the small VEX robot pick up their shoe, for which the STEM students gladly obliged. All the elementary students were encouraged to talk about what they like in school and what they wanted to do when they grow up or what they want to study. After participating at the career day, Hunter Marks was interviewed about the purpose of the presentation and what he presented, in which he said, “The purpose was to get elementary school students excited about the STEM program. I believe we did achieve our goal of getting the kids excited about participating in the academy. Kyra Hays was also interviewed after career day for which she said, “The whole day was great. I was driving around Jorge and showing the kids what and how we were able to build, which includes the rockets and robots, and tell them all that they can do, and how much fun it is to be able to participate in all the different activities in STEM.” |
After participating at the career day, Hunter Marks was interviewed about the purpose of the presentation and what he presented, in which he said, “The purpose was to get elementary school students excited about the STEM program. I believe we did achieve our goal of getting the kids excited about participating in the academy. Also, Kyra Hays was interviewed after career day for which she said, “The whole day was great. I was driving around Jorge and showing the kids what and how we were able to build, which includes the rockets and robots, and tell them all that they can do, and how much fun it is to be able to participate in all the different activities in STEM.” |
STEM in Athletics: Sidekicks Spotlight
By: Vanessa Marlo
One of the most unrecognized teams at Northwest is the Sidekicks Drill Team. This team is not only dedicated, but also supportive of each sport. They come to school every day to have practice at 7 am, and put extra time in after school for practices and even booster club meetings. Most people think that the Sidekicks just dance during half time at football games, but that is not even close to everything they do. Once the football season ends, the dance season really begins. Competition season is the most stressful part of the year, and is what the team works up to all year long. McKenna Cook, a Sidekick's Officer, says, "The hardest part of competition season for me is not only to prepare the team, but to make sure I also have the officer routines perfected. I perform 9 dances at each competition and it's important that I remember all of the choreography and the specific details of each dance."
Currently, there are two members of the Sidekicks in STEM. These two girls are Shayla Anderson and Vanessa Marlo, and both of them are Social Officers on next year's team. They have to manage their time for both STEM and Sidekicks. To comment on time management, Shayla Anderson says, "I write stuff in my planner, and I multitask to where you do your STEM homework around sidekicks event. You have to plan out when you're going to do your projects if you have things to do, like performances." Although both activities hold a busy schedule, both girls enjoy their experiences, and are happy to have joined both Sidekicks and STEM.
By: Vanessa Marlo
One of the most unrecognized teams at Northwest is the Sidekicks Drill Team. This team is not only dedicated, but also supportive of each sport. They come to school every day to have practice at 7 am, and put extra time in after school for practices and even booster club meetings. Most people think that the Sidekicks just dance during half time at football games, but that is not even close to everything they do. Once the football season ends, the dance season really begins. Competition season is the most stressful part of the year, and is what the team works up to all year long. McKenna Cook, a Sidekick's Officer, says, "The hardest part of competition season for me is not only to prepare the team, but to make sure I also have the officer routines perfected. I perform 9 dances at each competition and it's important that I remember all of the choreography and the specific details of each dance."
Currently, there are two members of the Sidekicks in STEM. These two girls are Shayla Anderson and Vanessa Marlo, and both of them are Social Officers on next year's team. They have to manage their time for both STEM and Sidekicks. To comment on time management, Shayla Anderson says, "I write stuff in my planner, and I multitask to where you do your STEM homework around sidekicks event. You have to plan out when you're going to do your projects if you have things to do, like performances." Although both activities hold a busy schedule, both girls enjoy their experiences, and are happy to have joined both Sidekicks and STEM.
Middle Schools Tour STEM
By: Clay McClendon and Brad Dam
On Thursday, May 22nd, 2014, the 8th graders came to tour the STEM and AMAT academies. The students toured the academies to see the many opportunities and careers that that are avilable to them in the future. The 8th grade students were able to see what it is like to be a STEM student on a day to day basis. Current STEM students showed the 8th graders what daily engineering classes look like including architectural design, robotics, and aeronautics. The incoming freshmen got to experience some of the projects that current students have created including robots and rockets. They saw what STEM is all about and the tours gave them an opportunity to see if engineering was a field they were interested in.
By: Clay McClendon and Brad Dam
On Thursday, May 22nd, 2014, the 8th graders came to tour the STEM and AMAT academies. The students toured the academies to see the many opportunities and careers that that are avilable to them in the future. The 8th grade students were able to see what it is like to be a STEM student on a day to day basis. Current STEM students showed the 8th graders what daily engineering classes look like including architectural design, robotics, and aeronautics. The incoming freshmen got to experience some of the projects that current students have created including robots and rockets. They saw what STEM is all about and the tours gave them an opportunity to see if engineering was a field they were interested in.
Claycomb Architecture Award Northwest STEM Students
By: Casey Martin, Mac Barrow, and Mia Zaro On May 14, 2014, the entire student body of STEM had the privilege of meeting for a presentation from Claycomb Architecture on the awards for the TASB Architecture contest. Two teams, comprised of two people each, won awards from this contest for designing exemplary facilities for schools. One such team, Shayla Anderson and Sterling Norman, was awarded Honorable Mention for their design of a library to be put into a new elementary school. The other team, James Castellanos and Melanie Fleck, were awarded a giant check for two hundred and fifty dollars. The TASB Architecture Contest was a contest for students to take a library from a current school and innovate it into a modern and effective hub for students to work and a media center. The third place winners, James and Melanie, were awarded two hundred and fifty dollars for their exemplary design of a student media center, and the two students who earned honorable mention, Shayla and Sterling, were praised and received plaques for their honorable mention. This contest is directly relatable to STEM and engineering and design because the students learned to take a current design and ovate and create something new and better, which is what STEM is all about. Engaging projects and contests like this give students a view at what their future could be like, and gives them a slight taste of the real world in the field of architectural design. Winning an award of honorable regeneration from the representatives of Clay Comb contest in Shayla Anderson’s words, “is very rewarding and shows that all my hard work paid off.” |
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2014 STEM Showcase
By: Sebastian Reyes, Austin Cratty, Skyler Blacett, and Karina Chavez
By: Sebastian Reyes, Austin Cratty, Skyler Blacett, and Karina Chavez
Tables lined the hall of the Northwest High School foyer, entry way and all of "Main Street" on May 15th, 2014 as STEM held its 4th Annual STEM showcase. This event is held at the end of every school year, and gives all grade levels of STEM students and their teachers the opportunity to showcase their hard work and tremendous progress this year. In a "gallery walk" style, each STEM class sets up multiple tables containing standards, driving questions and numerous and various products from their project-based learning courses. The products this year included a fully functional conveyer belt, multiple to-scale models of homes and businesses, re-scripted short films, rockets, trebuchets, games, just to name a few. There was also a robotics competition help throughout the evening for one of the courses, judged by STEM's very own Mr. Jim Brown.
Northwest's Principal Jason Childress commented on the night saying, "I feel like the students and teachers in the STEM program have outdone themselves this year. It’s so nice seeing all the faculty and superintendents being able to look at all the hard work that is put into STEM." A parent of a STEM student added to this expressing that they were "very impressed with all of the fascinating projects and how good everything looks".
Teachers also got to enjoy the showcase. STEM English teacher Ms. Kylie Lloyd expressed this saying, "I am always so impressed with my students' capabilities, and an event like this is a great reminder of the possibilities for learning. Getting to witness firsthand how multifaceted these students are has been really enjoyable". Mr. Gonzalez, who is a percussion instructor at Northwest High School attended the event in support of the many students he teaches who participate in STEM. He commented, adding, "I think it is wonderful seeing them involved in other things other than music and drums."
Not only did the students enjoy having their teachers outside of STEM witness their hard work, but the rest of the community as well. STEM student Mac Barrow, a junior in the academy, stated, "It feels really good to be able to show people outside of the school all of the hard work we do in STEM". For some STEM seniors the event held more significant meaning. As the students worked hard to clean up after the event Senior Stephanie Almanza said, "I think it went well. I’m sad to say this is my last one... I’m glad to have been able to be a part of the academy and truly put in a lot of effort towards projects and learning new things."
Northwest's Principal Jason Childress commented on the night saying, "I feel like the students and teachers in the STEM program have outdone themselves this year. It’s so nice seeing all the faculty and superintendents being able to look at all the hard work that is put into STEM." A parent of a STEM student added to this expressing that they were "very impressed with all of the fascinating projects and how good everything looks".
Teachers also got to enjoy the showcase. STEM English teacher Ms. Kylie Lloyd expressed this saying, "I am always so impressed with my students' capabilities, and an event like this is a great reminder of the possibilities for learning. Getting to witness firsthand how multifaceted these students are has been really enjoyable". Mr. Gonzalez, who is a percussion instructor at Northwest High School attended the event in support of the many students he teaches who participate in STEM. He commented, adding, "I think it is wonderful seeing them involved in other things other than music and drums."
Not only did the students enjoy having their teachers outside of STEM witness their hard work, but the rest of the community as well. STEM student Mac Barrow, a junior in the academy, stated, "It feels really good to be able to show people outside of the school all of the hard work we do in STEM". For some STEM seniors the event held more significant meaning. As the students worked hard to clean up after the event Senior Stephanie Almanza said, "I think it went well. I’m sad to say this is my last one... I’m glad to have been able to be a part of the academy and truly put in a lot of effort towards projects and learning new things."
STEM Banquet
By: David Bricker
This year in STEM, the faculty and students decided they would do something new and have the very first annual STEM Banquet. It was made for the initial purpose of awarding those who reached great achievements with going above and beyond the bare requirements.
Of course in future years this might change and more may be added to the banquet or it may be held in a different place, but who knows. When some were asked what they thought of banquet, there were serious responses and of course, the silly ones that just made you laugh. When Mrs. Carter, (previously known as Ms. Rix) was asked her opinion on STEM’s first ever banquet she responded with, “I think STEM Banquet was a great success! I enjoyed seeing all the students dressed up and enjoying the photo booth. I am extremely proud of all the students’ hard work all year.”
By: David Bricker
This year in STEM, the faculty and students decided they would do something new and have the very first annual STEM Banquet. It was made for the initial purpose of awarding those who reached great achievements with going above and beyond the bare requirements.
Of course in future years this might change and more may be added to the banquet or it may be held in a different place, but who knows. When some were asked what they thought of banquet, there were serious responses and of course, the silly ones that just made you laugh. When Mrs. Carter, (previously known as Ms. Rix) was asked her opinion on STEM’s first ever banquet she responded with, “I think STEM Banquet was a great success! I enjoyed seeing all the students dressed up and enjoying the photo booth. I am extremely proud of all the students’ hard work all year.”
Photo Gallery: A collection of events and accomplishments from STEM
By: Skyler Blancett and Karina Chavez
Senior Spotlight
Recent Projects
Freshmen Engineering Digital Game Design:
This year the freshman in STEM were challenged with a fun, yet difficult task of creating a board game that numerous electrical components. This was a fun and creative way for the students to learn about electrical circuits while also applying their newly learned OSHA skills. OSHA is a required safety course that one must obtain in order to work in any field regarding engineering. The Freshman STEM students got the opportunity to complete this course for free and become OSHA certified for life. When asked if the project was enjoyable Dillon Duble stated, “Yes, because it was amazing to see the game work and it was exciting to see people playing it.” During the student’s first year of STEM the students main focus is electrical circuits. Designing this game gave them the chance to apply their knowledge of circuits to a real life situation. Duble further notes “We learned how to draw a schematic and a diagram from scratch.” Overall, this project gave the students an opportunity that normal students that aren’t in the STEM Academy wouldn’t normally get. It provided a creative way for the students to think outside of the box while still learning the required concepts. Assembly Line Project
By: Damon Lanum This year, students had the option of two more STEM electives. One of those classes is Mr. Brown’s Robotics and Automation class. This fifteen-student group had two different challenges for the year. The first semester consisted of a claw-bot completion. However, the small, PVC pipe grabbing robots were just a warm up for what was to come. The second semester was all about automation. Mr. Brown presented an unexpected project to the class, one where everyone worked together to achieve the same goal - to design, build, and program a small-scale robotic assembly line. One student, Tanner Reinhardt, did not know what to expect by the end, “I thought it was going to be pretty challenging. After all of the things I’ve seen about assembly line robots, I figured it would be almost impossible to have the same precision”. The project began all the way back in January, right after the break, and the teams worked all the way up to the STEM Showcase. Each team of four had their own challenges to face, what design to choose, how to build a virtual model in SolidWorks, what parts to order, how to build the complex arms, and most importantly, how to program them so that each element worked seamlessly together. Four and a half months may seem like a long time, but it felt like a fraction of that to the teams, as Tanner adds, “The days went buy pretty fast, and we only had about 30 minutes to work each day. It definitely did not feel like a whole semester”. In the end, nothing was more satisfying than showing off the three arms and working conveyor system to the public on Showcase night. “My favorite part was watching the parts come together at show case, and seeing how everyone was able to work as a team”. |
Dream House Project
By: Elias Rosario and Chance Hutson The dream house project was a project for the sophomore engineering class that is using AutoCAD. The sophomores were assigned a client that they then in turn, had to get all of the details of what the client wanted in their dream house. Sophomore Leila Aghili said that she learned “That there is a lot that goes into building a house individually, unlike in a group separating it all you have to do it all by yourself.” The things that were required within the project were AutoCAD drawings of the furniture, floor plan, and a budget that you could tell the client how much it will cost. The sophomores also had to add whatever the client wanted. Leila said that some of the interesting aspects that she liked in the project are that it is “Individual and how competitive it is between each other that has the same client” she said she has learned quite a bit. An example of this is “We had to listen and put in whatever the client wanted wither we liked it or not” this is a prime example of compensation and showing that they are willing to work for their goal. The sophomores will build a model of the dream house and present it to their client whom will then pick the student who they think had the best idea and creation of their dream house. Junior Rocket Project
By: Jacob Suchors, Ridge Hanson, and Brandon Fryer Recently the Junior Engineering III students designed, built, and launched a 1-pound, 1-mile rocket. This type of rocket is designed to carry a 1 pound payload and reach an altitude of 5,280 feet, or 1 mile. Designing a rocket takes a lot of designing and redesigning in order to get the mass and pressure perfect. Once the students built the rockets, they made the grueling 5 hour drive to Fredericksburg, Texas, where they were able to prep and launch their rockets. In addition, the seniors have the option of taking and Aerospace II class where they design and build a transonic rocket that carries no payload in an attempt to break the sound barrier. Building the rockets was very tricky especially trying to stay under the $800 Budget. Junior, Corey Mallon notes, “It was very difficult to stay under budget when the motor itself cost upwards of $400.” The students had to choose which parts would be best for them, find the parts, and order them. Once the parts came in the students began the building process. The process of building took about 6 weeks and the students had to overcome many obstacles. Once the students built the rockets, they were able to travel to Fredericksburg and launch their rockets. Many people think that this is a simple task and does not take very long; however, it is a very long process and takes a lot of preparation. The students arrive at the stage 1 check-in, finish last minute preparations, and get their rockets certified. The students are then able to proceed to the actual launch site and enter stage 2 and 3 checkpoints. Once the students reached stage 3, the y made the final preparations including loading of the black powder charges and testing of all components. Finally, the long wait is over and the rockets are carried down to the launch pad. The fuel tanks on the rocket are then filled and the rockets are launched and hopefully recovered safely. Corey Mallon also adds, “The trip was really fun and actually getting to launch our rockets made all the hard work worth it.” |
Night of No Limits
The STEM academy recently presented at the Northwest ISD’s 2nd annual “night of no limits” event. The event is a chance for all grades, kindergarten through 12th, to present what they have been learning throughout the year and showcase their presentation skills. The Robotics team was asked to attend the event as representatives of not only the robotics team, but the entire academy. The event took place on Thursday, may 29th at Byron Nelson High School. And showcased over 300 students and their abilities. The Robotics team took multiple projects from the year including two robots and a rocket. Josh Swoyer, a junior who went to the event had this to say; “I think it’s awesome that Northwest ISD holds events like this. It is not only a time for the STEM academy to show, but also allow other students and programs to show what they’ve got.” Although there were no awards at this event, the STEM Academy constantly received compliments on their presentation skills and their abilities to answer any question they were presented with. This event was a great way for the younger kids of our school district to see the STEM Academy and we hope that we have sparked a few minds into joining the academy when their time comes. |
Shark Week
By: Ridge Hanson, Jacob Suchors, and Brandon Fryer Everyone thinks that shark week only happens once a year on discovery the channel. Where it really happens, though, is once a year in the STEM academy. Starting May 19th, the sophomore class of STEM goes into their own shark week. During shark week, students get into teams and dissect dogfish sharks. “The project was really fun. We spent some time preparing sharks before dissecting and had lots of fun removing all of the organs and inner parts of our shark,” states sophomore Michael Frey. “We learned a lot from dissecting. We learned a lot about the anatomy of a shark and how organs work together to make a body function.” Even though STEM shark week does not deal with 10-feet long great white sharks, it is still just as interesting. It is a great way to give the students hands-on experience with body systems and have some fun doing it. |
STEM Camp
By Michael Morgan and Beau Rasberry While most students dread doing anything school related during summer, the incoming STEM students are quite surprised with how much fun they have while being involved in STEM camp. In the past, STEM camp has been a very fun and hands on way for incoming freshman to see what the STEM academy is all about. Each year there has been different activities for the new students to test out their engineering and innovation skills. For example last year’s STEM camp consisted of an activity where the students had to construct a rat trap in order to launch a ping pong ball, and the year before that the students had to build a remote control car out of Legos. But this camp isn’t just for the incoming STEM freshman, current students enlisted in the STEM academy also sign up to help run this incredible event. This is a great opportunity for the new students to get insight from the current STEM students. Having current students involved in the STEM camp is also imperative to convince students that STEM is an incredible opportunity and a great program to be involved in. Current STEM student Ridge Hanson was a part of STEM camp last year and he said “even thought he had two opportunities to be involved in the camp he only participated once and after last years he regrets not doing it both years.” When asked what STEM camp teaches the new students Ridge explained that “the camp itself is a fun and interactive way to help the incoming freshman learn a lot of the teachers that they will have as well as a few of the upper-classmen, and also it helps students get a grasp of their current engineering skills.” He also believes having the upperclassmen help run the camp is a great opportunity for the incoming students to get insight and encouragement for their upcoming years in STEM. When asked if he would be helping run future STEM camps Ridge was excited to say that “I do plan on working the S.T.E.M. camp in the future because I like being around the incoming freshman and being a person that the kids can talk to when they are having problems during the school year.” |
Ridge also offered us insight on ways to make STEM camp more beneficial by changing the organization and events that we do during the S.T.E.M. camp. One event he suggested was a paper airplane contest to teach the new students about aerodynamics, which will be a lot of their curriculum when they are upper-classmen.
Without doubt STEM camp has been a very beneficial and a great way to show new freshman what the academy is all about. With the past few years in mind we as an academy hope to make the upcoming camp the best one yet. With more and more students signing up to assist with the event each year this goal is definitely within reach. The STEM academy also seems to be growing, with more students entering the district and Northwest High School more volunteers are needed. This is why it is imperative that more students’ sign up to help the new freshman see how great the STEM academy is. |
Technology and Innovations
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Creativity and Current Events
Adventures of Serena
By: Briana Maskell
There I was on STEM field day. "Who would have known I'd make it this far?" I thought aloud to myself as I walked off the rickety, yellow bus on the gravel road. Today was the day S.T.E.M was going to the OLC or the Outdoor Learning Center for team bonding.
“Team Bonding… Psh. It’s just a massive game of capture the flag, probably planned for and by all the jocks,” said Annabelle
“Maybe it will be fun,” I said to Annabelle and Sarah, trying to sound as positive as possible, as teachers herded all of us into the middle of the OLC like cows. I wanted to have fun, and to actually bond with team members, but I will admit that capture the flag was definitely not what I would call "fun". The OLC wasn’t very much to look at either, just a gravel road that leads to the only exit out of this nature center. Trees loom over the edge of the remaining land while brown grass and leaves liter the land.
“This is not what I had in mind; there isn't a lot here,” I whispered to no one in particular, while making my way to my first group activity.
“Serenity, get over here,” yelled my team leader Ben, “You're on flag duty."
Apparently, the game of capture the flag was a day-long event while other activities took place.
"Flag Duty..... Flag duty….. Flag duty…" repeated over and over in my mind like a pitch on the radio, "I can’t do that! I will get it captured, and then everyone will be mad at me! This is way too much responsibility." I definitely needed to say something.
I pleaded with Ben as he handed me the flag, “Ben are you sure that is the best idea? I mean, I don't think that I am the best candidate for this task. I am extremely oblivious”.
Ben laughed lightly, and with a small smile and a "don't be ridiculous" look on his face said, “Serenity, I have faith in you. It's only until lunch-- just a couple of hours.” He set the flag into my hands, and I cradled it like a new born child, worrying it would instantly disappear from my grasp.
Activity after activity went by slower and slower. Finally landing at a snail pace, it seemed like lunch would never come. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. As time ticked by I finally got to join an activity. So much time had passed by that point that I didn't even think about the fact that I left the flag right in plain sight, in the middle of the picnic table. Undoubtedly, as swift as a fox another team jumped at the chance to steal our flag. No one even noticed.
Later on, as “Serenity, its lunch time where is the flag,” Ben asked as he walked over to where I was standing, “You didn’t lose it did you?”
“Oh no! No, the flag! Where is the flag,” I yelled at him as I whipped back and forth looking frantically around for any sign of the white flag.
“It is alright Serenity we will get it back, all of us as a team,” Ben tried to calm me down and help me not draw attention to myself.
Not much time had passed with all of us searching frantically, desperately for the white flag.
As another team went running by with our flag laughing up a storm, Anabelle yelled, "THERE IT IS!".
They other team acted as if it was the funniest thing in the world. We race towards the flag in a mad dash to confuse the other team, and they drop in the heat of the moment trying to escape along with their own flag.
“VICTORY IS OURS!" yelled Ben as he raced away with both flags.
The rest of the day at the OLC was hardly eventful, but in the end we learned that team won’t is the key. Even if one person messes up, everyone can help out to fix it.
By: Briana Maskell
There I was on STEM field day. "Who would have known I'd make it this far?" I thought aloud to myself as I walked off the rickety, yellow bus on the gravel road. Today was the day S.T.E.M was going to the OLC or the Outdoor Learning Center for team bonding.
“Team Bonding… Psh. It’s just a massive game of capture the flag, probably planned for and by all the jocks,” said Annabelle
“Maybe it will be fun,” I said to Annabelle and Sarah, trying to sound as positive as possible, as teachers herded all of us into the middle of the OLC like cows. I wanted to have fun, and to actually bond with team members, but I will admit that capture the flag was definitely not what I would call "fun". The OLC wasn’t very much to look at either, just a gravel road that leads to the only exit out of this nature center. Trees loom over the edge of the remaining land while brown grass and leaves liter the land.
“This is not what I had in mind; there isn't a lot here,” I whispered to no one in particular, while making my way to my first group activity.
“Serenity, get over here,” yelled my team leader Ben, “You're on flag duty."
Apparently, the game of capture the flag was a day-long event while other activities took place.
"Flag Duty..... Flag duty….. Flag duty…" repeated over and over in my mind like a pitch on the radio, "I can’t do that! I will get it captured, and then everyone will be mad at me! This is way too much responsibility." I definitely needed to say something.
I pleaded with Ben as he handed me the flag, “Ben are you sure that is the best idea? I mean, I don't think that I am the best candidate for this task. I am extremely oblivious”.
Ben laughed lightly, and with a small smile and a "don't be ridiculous" look on his face said, “Serenity, I have faith in you. It's only until lunch-- just a couple of hours.” He set the flag into my hands, and I cradled it like a new born child, worrying it would instantly disappear from my grasp.
Activity after activity went by slower and slower. Finally landing at a snail pace, it seemed like lunch would never come. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. As time ticked by I finally got to join an activity. So much time had passed by that point that I didn't even think about the fact that I left the flag right in plain sight, in the middle of the picnic table. Undoubtedly, as swift as a fox another team jumped at the chance to steal our flag. No one even noticed.
Later on, as “Serenity, its lunch time where is the flag,” Ben asked as he walked over to where I was standing, “You didn’t lose it did you?”
“Oh no! No, the flag! Where is the flag,” I yelled at him as I whipped back and forth looking frantically around for any sign of the white flag.
“It is alright Serenity we will get it back, all of us as a team,” Ben tried to calm me down and help me not draw attention to myself.
Not much time had passed with all of us searching frantically, desperately for the white flag.
As another team went running by with our flag laughing up a storm, Anabelle yelled, "THERE IT IS!".
They other team acted as if it was the funniest thing in the world. We race towards the flag in a mad dash to confuse the other team, and they drop in the heat of the moment trying to escape along with their own flag.
“VICTORY IS OURS!" yelled Ben as he raced away with both flags.
The rest of the day at the OLC was hardly eventful, but in the end we learned that team won’t is the key. Even if one person messes up, everyone can help out to fix it.
Creative Satire
Duncanville High School Dress Code Riot
By: Tucker Chaka
On May 14, 2014, a school in Duncanville, Texas, suspended 170 students for dress code violations. According to the students, the school enacted a “random enforcement day”. The students also claim that they did not deserve most of the violations as some students were sent home for having a small bit of stubble on their chin or wearing a school spirit shirt. Apparently, one student was suspended because his school spirit shirt (which was sold to him by the school) was out of dress code.
The students were outraged by these suspensions. They wanted the school to show them more respect and so in order to gain the respect they wanted, they enacted the most adult plan they could think of; they started a riot. Students threw food, trashcans, and other items as most of the student body crowded the halls chanting curse words about dress code. The police were called to the scene to disband the riot. In the end, to the students’ surprise, they were still suspended for dress code and were not treated with the high level of respect that they thought a riot would gain them.
The ZaZZZ
By: Michael Hammel
In these fast paced times it seems like everything is on the go, but one vending machine is weeding out the competition by taking convenience to a whole new level. There is a vending machine located in Colorado called “The ZaZZZ”. The machine dispenses anything a Coloradan could possibly want when they are on the go such as, shoes, on the go bike parts, and even Marijuana. The products from this machine range anywhere from $20 to $100 in cost. In order to use this machine, clients need a medical marijuana card and a valid driver's license; first-time users must also answer a few security questions.
Seemingly oblivious to the absurdity of this idea, come Christmas 2014 the inventor of this machine hopes to put 1000 “ZaZZZ” machines in 21 states across the country. He apparently believes that Marijuana dispensing vending machines will make society better. Really, I'm wondering why anyone would walk up to a vending machine with $20 or more while barefoot, thinking, "Oh, perfect. Now I can buy shoes." Also, how many cyclists are willing to buy parts from a vending machine? For that matter, why and how are they cycling to a vending machine on a broken bicycle? I’m not thoroughly convinced that there are enough of them to warrant this idea.
Though, I will admit this vending machine has made me wondering what is coming next in the world of vending machines. Will we see pet food dispensers, or better yet pet dispensers? Maybe we can expect our next family dog to come from button E7 on the "ZaZZZ" machine. The world will just have to wait and see. (http://money.cnn.com/gallery/smallbusiness/2014/05/15/vending-machines-creative/index.html)
The End is Nigh
By: Julio Santos
Read the headline. Now read it again. For what you have read is now all you know. "Why is the end nigh?" You may be asking yourself. Well the answer is simple; monkeys have infiltrated themselves into the military. That's right; we can officially say monkey soldiers are a thing. As of May 9th of this year, the Chinese government has been secretly training a battalion of air force monkeys (they aren't flying planes no matter how amazing that would be) in order to fight birds!
Apparently, on an unidentified air force base of the People's Liberation Army, birds of prey have been attacking planes as they take off, sometimes going as far as to kill the pilots due to the birds running into the planes' engines. For the reason stated above, the monkeys have the special task of creating a counter attack against the birds and ending their reign of terror! If that is not genius, and a sign that the world is soon to end (planet of the apes?) then I do not know what is.
Duncanville High School Dress Code Riot
By: Tucker Chaka
On May 14, 2014, a school in Duncanville, Texas, suspended 170 students for dress code violations. According to the students, the school enacted a “random enforcement day”. The students also claim that they did not deserve most of the violations as some students were sent home for having a small bit of stubble on their chin or wearing a school spirit shirt. Apparently, one student was suspended because his school spirit shirt (which was sold to him by the school) was out of dress code.
The students were outraged by these suspensions. They wanted the school to show them more respect and so in order to gain the respect they wanted, they enacted the most adult plan they could think of; they started a riot. Students threw food, trashcans, and other items as most of the student body crowded the halls chanting curse words about dress code. The police were called to the scene to disband the riot. In the end, to the students’ surprise, they were still suspended for dress code and were not treated with the high level of respect that they thought a riot would gain them.
The ZaZZZ
By: Michael Hammel
In these fast paced times it seems like everything is on the go, but one vending machine is weeding out the competition by taking convenience to a whole new level. There is a vending machine located in Colorado called “The ZaZZZ”. The machine dispenses anything a Coloradan could possibly want when they are on the go such as, shoes, on the go bike parts, and even Marijuana. The products from this machine range anywhere from $20 to $100 in cost. In order to use this machine, clients need a medical marijuana card and a valid driver's license; first-time users must also answer a few security questions.
Seemingly oblivious to the absurdity of this idea, come Christmas 2014 the inventor of this machine hopes to put 1000 “ZaZZZ” machines in 21 states across the country. He apparently believes that Marijuana dispensing vending machines will make society better. Really, I'm wondering why anyone would walk up to a vending machine with $20 or more while barefoot, thinking, "Oh, perfect. Now I can buy shoes." Also, how many cyclists are willing to buy parts from a vending machine? For that matter, why and how are they cycling to a vending machine on a broken bicycle? I’m not thoroughly convinced that there are enough of them to warrant this idea.
Though, I will admit this vending machine has made me wondering what is coming next in the world of vending machines. Will we see pet food dispensers, or better yet pet dispensers? Maybe we can expect our next family dog to come from button E7 on the "ZaZZZ" machine. The world will just have to wait and see. (http://money.cnn.com/gallery/smallbusiness/2014/05/15/vending-machines-creative/index.html)
The End is Nigh
By: Julio Santos
Read the headline. Now read it again. For what you have read is now all you know. "Why is the end nigh?" You may be asking yourself. Well the answer is simple; monkeys have infiltrated themselves into the military. That's right; we can officially say monkey soldiers are a thing. As of May 9th of this year, the Chinese government has been secretly training a battalion of air force monkeys (they aren't flying planes no matter how amazing that would be) in order to fight birds!
Apparently, on an unidentified air force base of the People's Liberation Army, birds of prey have been attacking planes as they take off, sometimes going as far as to kill the pilots due to the birds running into the planes' engines. For the reason stated above, the monkeys have the special task of creating a counter attack against the birds and ending their reign of terror! If that is not genius, and a sign that the world is soon to end (planet of the apes?) then I do not know what is.
“Why are the teachers giving us projects at the end of the year?”
Bear with them, you are not the only one wanting summer to come. They would rather be surfing the waves and flying kites just as much as the rest of us. However, teaching is their job and as long as there are school days left, there will be assignments and projects to do. This job entitles a specific curriculum that the teachers have to abide by each year and they cannot slack no matter how torturous it may seem. Besides, the more projects you are given the easier it will be to showcase your work in your portfolio. I hear those are due to be presented soon.
To all the STEM students and staff, I hope you have an adventurous summer filled with new experiences as well as old ones. Spend time with your loved ones and make memories you will never forget. Most of all stay safe this summer and I hope to see you roaming the halls next year. Make safe choices, @Advice STEM |