Issue 4—March 31, 2016
Westfall Middle School’s Student Newspaper
Mustang Wrestlers Win SVC Tourney
Overall we were a young team with lots of guys who had
little wrestling experience. Each and every week we continued to improve and get better. We showed improvement in
each one of our tournaments and eventually capped off the
season by winning the SVC Junior High Tournament (beating
six other teams).
All the kids improved so much throughout the season. Our 8th graders alone won over 85% of their matches,
helping lead this young team throughout the season. They
were a wonderful group of young men to work with and had
great attitudes all season long.
In the Nelsonville York Tournament we finished sixth out
of 15 Teams. In the Circleville Tournament we finished fourth
out of 12 Teams. In the Teays Valley Tournament we finished
second out of ten teams.
The team this year was led by our returning 8th graders
(William Morris, Jadan Hall, Lucas List, Caleb Washington,
Zach Martin and Chanston Moll). The 7th graders this season
were Trenton Plogher, Jace Butcher, Jose Kern, Marcus
Whaley, Rex Brown, Thomas Martin, Wyatt Cooper, Josie
Kelly, Nathan Allen, and Logan Skaggs.
MATHCOUNTS Team Takes Second
The 2016 Chapter MATHCOUNTS contest was held at
Circleville Everts Middle School on Thursday, February 18th.
Westfall Middle School was represented by team members
Trenton Plogher, Jacob Hawkes, Joe Morris, and Matthew
Ruff. Lillian Fox, Maria Flowers, Corey Thompson, and Justin
Schobeloch competed as individuals. The students competed
against teams and individuals from Fairfield Union (Rushville)
and Circleville Middle School.
MATHCOUNTS is composed of an individual part, a team
part, and the Countdown Round. In the individual contest
By Coach Shane Patterson
By Coach Cindi Post
Jacob Hawkes placed third, earning the chance to compete at
the State MATHCOUNTS competition to be held at Columbus
State on March 12, 2016. Other individual results were: Joe
Morris - 7th, Trenton Plogher – 10th, Matthew Ruff – 18th,
Lillian Fox – 20th, Justin Schobeloch – 21st, Corey Thompson
– 22nd, and Maria Flowers – 25th. The Countdown Round is
a head to head matchup of the top 5 individual scorers. Students answer orally the best out of 3 questions. Jacob finished 4th in the Countdown Round.
MATHCOUNTS is a national math enrichment, coaching
and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement in every U.S. state and territory.
With over 25 years experience, MATHCOUNTS is one of the
most successful education partnerships involving volunteers,
educators, industry sponsors and students.
The mission of MATHCOUNTS is to increase enthusiasm
for and enhance achievement in middle school mathematics
throughout the United States. With the generous support of
all MATHCOUNTS sponsors and volunteers, and leadership of
the National Society of Professional Engineers at the local and
state levels, MATHCOUNTS is providing today’s students with
the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering or mathematics careers.
HEY KIDS! Make sure to take the WMS Express home and share all the Westfall Middle School news with your family!
WMS Express—Issue 4
Page 2
Transformers Program Honored
Editor’s Note: Westfall’s Transformers group was recently recognized by Ohio Public Images’ 2015 Awareness
Awards Competition. They won an award in the Outstanding Collaborative Efforts category. According to OPI’s president, Andrea McCay, “Entries had to meet very high standards to earn recognition, so we hope you take pride in the
fact that your entry was chosen from an array of outstanding submissions.”
Marie Wilbanks, from the Pickaway County Board of
Developmental Disabilities, says the Transformers were
founded “to proactively build a more positive experience for
students with disabilities served in the public schools of Pickaway County.”
The Westfall Transformers are a group of students at our
school who are trying to make a happier and kinder environ-
ment at our school. This is the second year the Westfall
Transformers have met. (They meet every other Thursday in
the library.)
Last year the group managed to do projects like pick up
trash around the school grounds, give valentines to the entire
building, and put positive messages on the lockers (along with
the help of another class). This year the group has once again
accomplished making and passing out valentines and posting
positive messages on the lockers.
The group has many pleasant surprises planned for the
next couple of weeks and the next couple of years. I have
been involved with the group for two years now and I haven’t
regretted signing up. I learned a lot from the program, like
social skills and finding the best in people. It's also a good way
to make friends that aren't in your grade.
We’re Playing: LEGO Dimensions by: Asher Wallace
Lego Dimensions is a $100
game available for the Xbox ONE, Xbox
360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. It
is a game where you can put these characters and vehicles on a buildable portal
and play as Batman, Wildstyle (from The
Lego Movie), or Gandalf the wizard. You
can buy extra packs for other characters. There are many characters, like
Scooby Doo, Superman, Chell (from the
Portal video game series), Marty McFly
(from Back to the Future) and many
more.
In the main story line there is a
villain named Lord Vortech. He is collecting the core artifacts from each dimension and it is destroying the dimen-
By Lillian Fox
sions. Characters are leaking into other
dimensions, so Wildstyle, Batman and
Gandalf have to try to stop Vortech.
The story is very interesting and keeps
you interested throughout the whole
game.
The game introduces a new
feature where there are hidden rooms
and collectables, and the only way to
unlock them is buying a character with
the power you need. Another new feature is that if you get a character from a
different franchise, it will unlock a world
based off of one of the scenes from the
franchise, and you can play around in
that world. The graphics are ok. The
controls are standard for a Lego game.
WMS Express—Issue 4
Page 3
Mustangs Visit Pickaway-Ross
they can apply to attend PRCTC when they are sophomores.
Students at Pickaway-Ross attend reguBy Jayden Hammond
lar classes for a half day and spend the
other half in their career programs.
Many are able to find jobs in their field
On March 8th the eighth grade
when they’ve finished their senior year.
students of Westfall Middle School
Pickaway-Ross Trip
Others are well-prepared to go on to
went on a field trip to Pickawayadditional tech training.
Ross Career & Technology Center
The eighth graders got a lot out of
near Chillicothe. They went to Pickthe trip. Many were surprised at how
away-Ross to learn about the variebig PRCTC is. Others were interested to
ty of programs offered and to see if
learn that Pickaway-Ross operates a
they were interested in attending
day care that prepares students for
PRCTC. While they were at Pickacareers in early childhood care. Eighth
way-Ross they got to see programs
Patrick Ross, Medium & Heavy Equipment Techgrader Brandon Fleak was attracted to
like Criminal Justice, Welding Tech
nologies instructor, describes his program to Dalthe diesel program. He said, “I might
and Engineering Tech.
ton Houghtlen, Eddie Muncie and Trey Collier.
go to Pickaway-Ross so when I get oldThe eighth graders were guided by current Pickaway-Ross students. Students learned that er I can help my dad work on his trucks/machinery.”
Baseball Word Search
ANGELS
by Jarrett Story
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Members of Art
Club decorated
the front and
back windows in
the locker bay for
Youth Art Month
in March. The
back window had
a Star Wars
theme. The front
featured animated characters.
Zoe Pence painted Olaf from
Frozen, and Layla
Glispie added
Bob from
Minions.
Youth Art Month /
Art News
Fox Wins Art Award
Eighth grader Lillian Fox was chosen as an exhibitor for
the 36th Annual Young People’s Art Exhibition sponsored by
the Ohio Art Education Association.
Lillian’s artwork was displayed in the Rhodes State Office
Tower, across from the Statehouse in downtown Columbus,
between February 28 and March 26.
There are nine regions in Ohio representing the OAEA, this
year’s show included 125 student artworks from all over the
state.
PIRATES
RANGERS
ROCKIES
WHITESOX
YANKEES
DIAMONDBACKS
RAYS
ROYALS
REDSOX
TWINS
SAVE THE DATE!
WMS Showcase and Art Gala!
Tuesday, April 12 from 5:00 to 6:30pm
WMS Express—Issue 4
WMS celebrated it’s first annual Muffins
with Mom event on Wednesday, March
16. Students and staff invited their moms
(or other ladies important in their lives) to
visit Westfall, and Principal Fife spoke as
well. The event was sponsored by the
WMS Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee.
Page 4
WMS Express—Issue 4
Page 5
Are You Willing To Pay?
By Zoey Fahnestock
Finally, the screen on your window came out of its frame.
Night after night goes by with your friends. Each time the
You place a book between the glass and the sill of the window
three of you meet it seems like you’re the most excited. You
to keep it open for when you come back. You’re constantly
take your time with the joint every time it’s passed to you.
looking over your shoulder to watch for any turned on lights
You starting the same stuff from a guy that your friend’s
in your now shrinking home. As you walk farther and farther
brother goes to. You start bringing more and more each night.
away your heart is beating faster with each step. You pull
Slowly your friends try to stop meeting each night and they
your hood up to block the
say you should stop getting
wind. You look up to see a
more of the drug from that
light click on and off three
guy. You don’t listen though,
times. You pick up speed as
and eventually your friends
the familiar signal encourages
just stop showing up altoyou.
gether.
Finally, you come in conYou’re walking from your
tact with the culprits of the
home one night, but your
flashing light. They both smile
heart isn’t pounding from
and you smile back at them.
nervousness. You’re calm and
The three of you go into the
use to the routine. You look
nearby cover of the forest.
down the road, but you don’t
You three sit down in a circle
see familiar flashing light.
and start talking. Everything
Your friends aren’t waiting
Zoey Fahnestock, pictured here with Principal Jason Fife and 8th
is calm and normal until one
for you by the forest. You sit
grade ELA teacher Stephanie Davey, was awarded $100 by the
of your friends pulls three
down in your normal spot
Paint Valley ADAMH for writing this year’s winning Write in Red
cans from their backpack.
and open your bag. You pull
essay for WMS’ Red Ribbon Week.
You all open the cans and
out what you used to believe
take a nonchalant swig of it.
was just a skinny cigarette
It tastes bitter and burns the whole way down, but you keep a
and you shakily light the end. You bring it up to your lips and
straight face. Not many gulps later and your head feels like its
take a long drag from it. Your eyes begin to water but not
swimming and your vision blurs.
from the smoke. Tear after tear rolls down your cheek as you
Suddenly, your friend pulls three more cans from their
try to stop shaking. You inhale the toxic smoke again and
bag, along with something that looks like a skinny cigarette.
again and keep crying. You want to stop but you can’t. You
Your looks kind of excited and talks about how their brother
need to stop but you won’t. You feel the loneliness and pan
calls it a “joint”, and
eating you alive more and more each bitter night.
they stole it from a
You stand up, drop the shriveled end of the joint on the
box in his closet.
ground and step on it. You’re trying to stop crying but you
Then, they pull out a
can’t. You grab and start to walk home. You get back to your
lighter and light the
window and open it. It was being held up by the same book as
end of the joint. Your friend puts it to their lips and slowly
before. You hide your bag and slowly climb into bed. You
breathes in. Even with the alcohol and darkness you can see
know you’ll go back tomorrow, and you know that’s probably
their eyes water as they pass the skinny cigarette to you and
the reason you’re still crying.
you slowly bring it to your lips. You know you shouldn’t but
You know the danger of it all. You learned about addicyou do it any ways. You inhale slowly feeling it burn your
tion in school, but you still don’t try to stop. You don’t try to
throat as you try your hardest not to cough out all the smoke.
stop because a short amount of time it makes you feel good.
The three of you pass it around for a long while. You
You know you lost a lot because of it. You just don’t realize all
hardly remember they rest of the night. You woke up in your
this pain would go away if you would just be drug free bebed the next morning with your head pounding. Your mother
cause the first time you smoke you pay a cost. The real questhinks you’re sick and takes care of you all day.
tion is, what are you willing to pay?
WMS Showcase and Art Gala!
Tuesday, April 12 from 5:00 to 6:30pm
WMS Express—Issue 4
Page 6
Teacher Feature: Mr. Chad Edwards
Mr. Edwards, what exactly do you teach? I teach 8th grade
Special Ed English/Language Arts. I also co-teach 8th grade
Science, American History, and Regular Ed ELA.
Where have you worked before Westfall? I taught Special
Ed Mathematics at the High School and Elementary level for a
total of six years in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This is my third year in the Columbus
area. My previous two years in Columbus, I taught High School Special Ed
Mathematics and 8th grade Special Ed
Mathematics and Science.
What do you think of Westfall? I love
being a Teacher at Westfall! I am used
to huge school districts. The largest
school district I taught for (Tulsa Public
Schools) had 33,000 students. As of
today, they now have 42,000 students
in their district! I enjoy knowing all of the teachers and almost
all of the students. I feel like I am no longer just a number in
some database. This school is starting to feel like family to
me.
Who’s in your family and what are they like? My wife Julia is
very creative and wants to be an architect someday. She en-
joys reading and watching the Science and History channels
with me. She loves the Big Bang Theory like me and loves to
travel. She travels a lot for work nowadays, but she really
enjoys it. My 20-year-old son, Michael, is working at Little
Caesar’s right now to save money to go back to college. He
tried once, but was not ready. He is ready to go back to college now.
Do you have any pets? We have one cat named Shikky and
two dogs named Lady and Oscar.
Where did you grow up and go to school? I was born in Kansas City, Missouri. I grew up in Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.
I went to college at Central Methodist University in Fayette,
Missouri. Before we moved here, we lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for 17 years.
Who are your role models? My Father-in-Law and my Mom.
How old are you? I will be 47 as of March 30th.
What do you do in your free time? I like watching movies
and Big Bang Theory, learning about math or science, football,
PS4, and going on road trips with my wife.
What’s your favorite food? Lobster, Crab Legs, Shrimp, and
Steak What’s your favorite band and favorite song? Def Leppard and their song, “Rocket”.
What’s your favorite movie? Top Gun!!
WMS Names Employees of the Month
Editor’s Note: Mr. Fife has
started a new program at Westfall
to provide recognition for staff
based on nominations from their
coworkers. Staff members who
are honored get a prime parking
space in front of the building as
well as a cool t-shirt.
Ms. Karen Holbrook was nominated by her peers as Westfall Middle School Employee of the Month
for January 2016. She has taught
Reading / Language Arts at WMS for 25 years. Congratulations
Ms. Holbrook and thank you for all you do!
Questions by: Casey Ellis
By Mr. Jason Fife, Principal
Lori McFarland, the Employee of the Month for February 2016, Models Success by
supporting the needs of all students, families and staff members at Westfall Middle School.
Lori displays an exemplary work
ethic and leads by example. Lori
is an advocate for her students
which is respected and valued by
her peers. Lori is willing to do
anything for anyone, as well as
lend an ear for listening. Congratulations Lori. You make a
difference!
JANUARY
STUDENTS OF
THE MONTH!
FEBRUARY
STUDENTS OF
THE MONTH!
(From left to right)
Claire Latham
—6th grade,
Jack Latham
—7th grade ,
and Eddie Muncie
—8th grade.
Congratulations!
(From left to right)
Owen Barnes
—6th grade,
Brooklyn Probasco
—7th grade ,
and Julian Jude
—8th grade.
Congratulations!