The Wildcat Roar
Volume 3
Number 3
Mid-Spring 2008
A Quarterly Publication of Rocky Hill Middle School
Mr. Whiting Weighs In On
RHMS Today
By Chelsea Markot
Mr. Whiting, Principal
Rocky Hill Middle School
Almost
every
week,
RHMS enrolls new students. With
so many new students, we are now
find ways to build learning communities within the school. Apparently Mr.
Whiting and the school administration
are making an effort to build a strong
and positive learning climate. Clearly,
being the principal and handling an
ever increasing population can be challenging. Mr. Whiting loves his job because he said, “We have the best students, the best teachers, and definitely
the best community at Rocky Hill.”
Rocky Hill has been through
some changes since it started thirteen
years ago. We have seen an increase in
the number of students enrolled. Of
course this means more diversity. But
the good thing about this is that students are earning more community service hours, since diversity provides
opportunities for a wide range of programs. “That’s awesome!” Mr. Whiting exclaimed. Part of the school’s improvement plan is to encourage stu-
forced to use portables, build new
lockers, and expand classes until
every desk is filled. But Mr. Whiting has kept everything under control. While interviewing him, he
explained that the population was
changing and it was time to give the
school some changes too. About
three years ago when RHMS moved
into a new building it looked huge
and spacious, but now we can
barely fit everybody in the building.
Presently we have two portables
that are being used for eighth grade
classes and six more that have just
been added for use next year. Some
of us would really want students to
stop coming here, but we can’t push
them all away from the chance to
learn.
When asked about the rising population at Rocky Hill, Mr.
Whiting said that there is a need to
And The Winner is…
By Chelsea Markot and Ms.Okoye
Barack Obama! The 2008
Presidential election will go into history as one of the most electrifying
elections because of the excitement
that has come with it. The democratic
race continues to dominate local and
national news. With Barack Obama
and Hilary Clinton still fighting for
the democratic nomination, there
don’t seem to be an end in sight.
Senator John McCain, the senator
from Arizona, has emerged as the
Republican nominee, after beating
strong contenders like former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney,
and former Governor of Arkansas,
Mike Hackabee.
While McCain has his sights
set on the general election in November, the Democratic Party continues
to feel the heat of not having a clear
nominee to face McCain in the general election. Intrigued by the history
making events shaping the Democratic Party, voters have turned out in
great numbers to be part of this history-making event. Ultimately the
first African-American or the first
female presidential candidate will
emerge from the Democratic Party.
Voters will also get to know John
McCain, a true war hero, who is already on the Republican ticket.
Like most Americans, students at Rocky Hill Middle School
are watching and listening as this
historic political process unfolds.
Senator Barrack Obama
Presidential Candidate
(Photo from Google Images)
Homework, video games, basketball,
lacrosse practice and all other extracurricular activities after school are not
the only things on the minds of Rocky
Hill Middle School students these days.
Some students have openly declared
their choice for president. The Wildcat
Roar conducted an in-school mock
election. Students at Rocky Hill Middle
School voted, recognizing the fact that
they have to be 18 years old to vote in
the main election. For some the wait
could be four years or more. However,
these students welcomed an opportunity to have a say, knowing that adults
would be the ones to decide who be-
1
comes the next president of the United
States in November.
Students at Rocky Hill Middle
School voted for three candidates still
in the front lines of the race for president. Out of the 158 votes counted, 95
students voted to Obama, 35 voted for
McCain, and 28 voted for Clinton.
With Obama leading with more than
60% of the votes, he is the president
elect. McCain came in second with
22% of the vote and Clinton came in
third with 18% of the votes. Now the
question is, are we ready for President
Obama?
We would like our readers to
know that students who voted got a
chance to state their reason for their
choice of candidate. More than 90% of
the students who voted for Obama did
so because they want change. Sean
Grayson, a sixth grader, who supports
Obama says that Obama “believes in
change and he has a heart.” Marcus
Jones, an eight grader who supports
Obama, indicated that Obama would
make good changes to our county. Min
Jee Shim indicated that Obama is the
most prepared of the three candidates.
Another student who supports Obama,
Tai Fernandez-Sardina had this to say:
“I believe that he will be a good president because he will show other countries we’re diverse.” Another Obama
supporter, Yaneidy Lora, a sixth
grader, cited Obama’s healthcare policy as her reason for voting for him.
Thavon Hunt, a seventh grader, likes
the fact that Obama will bring our
troops back. Jennifer Taff, a seventh
dents to respect our diversity through
the PRIDE program. We also want to
be able to find ways for small learning communities because a classroom
learning environment affects individual attention. Mr. Whiting and the
administrators improved some things
about Rocky Hill to accommodate
the size of our school. They increased
the number of lunches, added portable classrooms, and organized differently. Since the school is so much
more diverse, Mr. Whiting wants students to be accepting of other students and their differences. He also
wants students to see things from
different points of view.
Just like every great leader,
Mr. Whiting has great dreams for the
students at Rocky Hill. “I hope that
every student who leaves Rocky Hill
is successful in what they enjoy doing.” Mr. Whiting said with a great
smile spread across his face.
grader who supports Obama had this
to say: “He is trustworthy. He is
strong and will be able to handle anything that is thrown at him.”
Students also responded to
issues like the economy, security, and
education. Most of the students who
voted for Clinton cited her experience
as a reason for their choice. More
than 80% of Clinton’s supporters
indicated that she has very good policies that would help the economy.
Paula Carroll, a seventh grader who
supports Clinton had this to say: “She
is a woman, and I think that she has
very good ideas for the U.S.A.”
More than 90% of McCain’s
supporters indicated security and the
war on terror as reasons for their
choice. Being a war hero has proven
that he knows how to handle a war
situation. Kara Metcalf voted for
McCain mainly because of security.
She said, “He actually has common
sense and is not someone that people
would try to manipulate, or who
would lie to people to get their
votes.” A sixth grader, Calvin Toner,
a McCain supporter, writes: “He is a
veteran and has devoted his life for
our country.”
Americans will be going to
the polls in November to choose the
next president of The United States.
We hope that adults who have the
right to vote consider voting, not just
as another civil duty, but as a responsibility and privilege. Most of the
kids at Rocky Hill would have to wait
their turn, and for some, it will be a
long wait.
The Editorial Page
Diversity at Rocky Hill
By The Editorial Staff of The
Wildcat Roar
Rocky Hill is growing so fast
it just might burst! There are eight
portables outside the school. With the
increasing number of students presently at Rocky Hill the population is
getting more and more diverse. This
creates the need to take the time to
understand the cultures of the people
on “The Hill.” The issue of diversity
tends to be sensitive because it deals
with peoples’ identities at various
levels. Some of those issues include
culture, traditions, language, religion,
belief system, economic status, gender, food, and physical appearance.
These issues reflect who we really
are. It is also important to understand
the fact that people have variety of
beliefs systems that we need to respect.
Montgomery County is home
to people of many ethnic backgrounds. This means that the world is
getting smaller, and people do not
necessarily have to move to other
parts of the world to learn about other
people and their way of life. Although the Caucasian population is
still high at Rocky Hill, there has
been a steady increase in the enrollment of African-American, Asian,
and Hispanic student between 2005
and 2008.
Teachers and the administrative staff at Rocky Hill clearly recognize the need to us to learn to co-exist
as a productive community. At the
beginning of this school year, there
was a school-wide effort to address
the issues of bullying. The workshop
was a big success. Students made
conscious effort to make better
choices that would lead to a better
understanding of one another.
Looking at the Ethnic Break-
The Wildcat Roar Staff
Supervising editor/facilitator
Ms. Okoye
down graph at Rocky Hill since
2005, it is clear that the enrollment
of African-American students has
risen by 5%. The enrollment of
Asian-American and Hispanic students have also risen by the same
percentage margin. The change is
evident in the halls, buses and cafeteria. The present population at
Rocky Hill has posed the challenge
of helping learners with varied
needs.
Teachers are doing their
very best to meet the needs of their
students. The ESOL program serves
the needs of students, who are
learning English as a second language. The building is equipped
with an elevator to help kids who
cannot use the stairs. Although we
are on the right track, we need to
make more effort to understand our
population.
Between the beginning of
the school year and now, more stu-
dents have been enrolled at Rocky
Hill. There should be programs in
place to help students welcome the
incoming students. Some teachers
and counselors have initiated such
programs, and we greatly applaud
their effort.
The school did a fantastic
job addressing the problem of bullying earlier in the school year. We
could have had two or three of such
workshops to address issues of diversity. At this point it is safe to
say that Rocky Hill is ready for a
diversity club. We could organize a
diversity club where students can
learn leadership skills and take ini-
A communication from Counseling Services
the perception of the message (to
the receiver). For example, a student might just be “playing” by
slapping a friend on the back.
However, the friend might be having a really bad day and therefore
interpret the slap as bullying. The
friend now has the responsibility to
express his/her feelings without
making the situation worse. During
the next couple of weeks students
will participate in two different lessons regarding Intent vs. Perception.
The first lesson is to help
students recognize and understand
that the intent of a behavior or comment (from the sender) is not always the same as the perception of
the behavior or comment (to the
receiver). The second lesson is to
help students recognize and under-
Chief Editors
Kiki Obiyor
Chelsea Markot
Rocky Hill Page
Kami Kostolansky
Sports
Taylor Davis (Chief Sports Editor)
Tayler Smith
Comics Editor
Kiki Obiyor
Fashion and Entertainment
Shalom Sabwa
Brittany Boakye
tiatives to implement programs that
promote tolerance.
Tastes from around the
world, now seems to be a thing of
the past, but it was very effective in
bringing us together around food.
Who doesn’t like food? We could
organize a cultural event, where
people could showcase their clothing, and yes, their food.
We hope that parents and
teachers think about our diversity at
Rocky Hill as they plan the next
school year. We need programs at
Rocky Hill that would help us better appreciate our diversity.
Communication is a key
part of our daily interactions. We
send and receive messages hundreds of times a day. In every communication both the sender and receiver have a responsibility to express their message without offending the other person. Sometimes,
the intent of a message (from the
sender) is not always the same as
2
stand that there are a variety of ways
that they can respond to a comment
or behavior if they perceive they are
being teased or bullied.
These lessons are part of our
Student Leadership program. Pay
close attention. This information is
valuable and can serve you well
throughout your life.
Rocky Hill Page
Ah-Mazing Teachers
From the Absolutely Cool
Kids’ Files of Ms. Okoye
By Kami Kostolansky, Staff Writer
Rocky Hill is special for
many reasons One of them is that
we have teachers, who make a difference. We are proud to showcase
the following teachers, who have
gone above and beyond to inspire
us.
By Ms. Okoye
Mr. H.: The small class sizes.
(YEAH RIGHT!)
TWR: How do you feel about being
nominated as teacher of the month?
Mr. H.: “It’s awesome. I want to
know if I go into a drawing for
teacher of the year!”
TWR: How would you describe
your interaction with your students?
Mr. H.: Humorous and positive,
I’ve learned so much from them.
TWR: How much do you love
teaching and what do want your
students to know about you?
Mr. H.: “I look forward to my job
almost every day. Teaching middle
school, watching the growth from
6th grade to 8th, and having the opportunity to have a positive impact
on a child’s life is why I love what I
Believe in Faith
By Ms. Okoye
do.”
Mrs. Diana Rye
Sixth Grade Teacher
TWR: How long have you been
teaching at Rocky Hill?
Mrs. Rye: I’ve been teaching here for
eight years; six years in the 6th grade
and two years in the 7th grade
TWR: What do you like about teaching at Rocky Hill?
Mrs. Rye: I love all my colleagues
and all the teachers. It’s a great working environment. I love all the students and I love teaching them.
TWR: How do you feel about being
nominated as teacher of the month?
Mrs. Rye: I’m flattered. I would
share the award with all the teachers
here because they rock!
TWR: How would you describe your
interaction with your students?
Mrs. Rye: We learn a lot and we
write a lot, yet we have lots of fun
while doing all of this
TWR How much do you love teaching and what would you like students
to know about you?
Mrs. Rye: “This is my calling – it’s
all I’ve ever wanted to do. Sometimes I can’t believe I even get paid
for doing this job I love!”
Mr. Heinemann
TWR: How long have you been
teaching at Rocky Hill?
Mr. Heinemann: I’ve been teaching
for nine glorious years.
TWR: What do you like about teaching at Rocky Hill?
Faith Jackson
Faith Jackson is an extraordinary 7th grader for many reasons.
Faith was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor, in December of 2005. After
undergoing surgery and painful
chemotherapy sessions, Faith could
not attend classes. However, she
was determined to come to Rocky
Hill Middle school in the fall of
2006.
Faith lived up to the true
meaning of her name when she
mustered whatever strength she had
left after long hours of chemotherapy to attend classes. Her smiles
and her friendly disposition are evident as she makes her way to her
classes at Rocky Hill. For many of
us who have had to privilege of
knowing Faith, her story is a story
of real triumph. Here are some of
Faith’s teachers in their own words:
Mrs. Rye, Faith’s 6th grade
teacher, admires her courage. She
had this to say about Faith: “It was
my honor last year to teach such a
hardworking and determined student! Faith is a breath of fresh air.”
Ms. Zabel, who worked
closely with Faith last year, was
delighted to share her thoughts
about Faith. “I was lucky to know
Faith last year when she was in the
sixth grade. We spent many lunches
together both working and sharing
stories about our experiences. To
me, Faith is an inspiration. She has
gone through such adversity and
has triumphed. Faith is hardworking, creative, and really cares about
others. Once Faith has touched your
life, she will always stay in your
heart.” These words came from the
heart. Ms. Zabel had to fight back
tears as she spoke about her beloved student.
Mr. Vinar
TWR: How do you feel about being
nominated?
Mr. Vinar: I am flattered and honored.
TWR: What do you think makes
you special?
Mr. Vinar: Well, my mom always
told me I was., especially when I
eat mud as a kid.
TWR: How would you describe
your interactions with your students?
Mr. Vinar: I like to have fun with
the students while making sure they
understand all that I teach.
TWR: How much do you like
teaching, and what would you like
your students to know about you?
Mr. Vinar: I love teaching. There’s
no other job I’d rather have.
I have two Beagles: Wrigley and
Ruth.
Hi there Wildcats,
You have one more chance to
nominate an amazing teacher.
If you’d like to nominate a
teacher please see Ms. Okoye,
or talk to one of The Wildcat
Roar staff writers.
3
Mrs. Kinderdine, who
also worked with Faith, could not
resist an opportunity to talk about
her “What a remarkable young
lady. In spite of the health adversity that she faced in her young
life, she is always upbeat and
smiling. She is a very conscientious student, capable of great
things. We love you, Faith, and
are praying for you.”
We have been touched
by the courage that Faith’s family
has shown throughout her ordeal.
Her sister, Kayla Jackson, one of
my favorite students, talked passionately about Faith’s love for
music. Katie Jackson, Faith’s
mother meets with Faith’s teachers on regular basis to support
her daughter with her academics
as well as her health. Ms. Jackson had stopped working to take
care of Faith. She continues to
participate in fundraisers to the
offsets Faith’s mounting medical
bills.
Faith reminds me of an
African proverb. “If you see a
small bird dancing confidently
along a bush path, you must
know that its drummer is in a
nearby bush.” It is easy to see
that Faith has a strong and loving
family that supports her. We are
truly blessed to have family like
hers here at Rocky Hill.
Faith is doing much better these days and continues to
thrive in spite of the daily challenges that she faces. Clearly she
is not giving up her fight against
cancer. Her tenacity is a great
inspiration to us all.
Writers’ Corner
Dedicated to Mrs. Margie Holmberg
This poem is dedicated to the memory
of Mrs. Margie Holmberg, one year
after that sunset in April. Gone but not
forgotten.
Book Review by Frankie VanderVegt
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Author: Jules Verne
A trip underwater! That would be
nice! That’s where Jules Verne
takes you in 20,000 Leagues Under
the Sea, a book that was way ahead
of its time. The main characters in
this book are Professor Arronax,
who tells the story; Ned Land, a
skilled harpooner; and Captain
Nemo, the captain of the Nautilus.
The book begins with Professor Arronax and his servant Consiel meeting Ned Land aboard a
boat during an attempt to find and
destroy a so-called “narwhal” that
gives off an eerie glow when underwater.
All of a sudden the
“narwhal” attacks the boat. Ned,
the professor, and Consiel are
thrown from the boat.
They soon find themselves
inside the so-called “narwhal,”
which actually turns out to be the
submarine Nautilus. A submarine
was a type of craft that was virtually unknown during the time of
Jules Verne. Aboard the Nautilus
they meet its captain, the mysterious Captain Nemo. The Nautilus
has been attacking and sinking
ships because of Captain Nemo’s
anger at the nations of the world for
polluting the oceans and depleting
its resources.
The three captive passengers go on many adventures aboard
the Nautilus. They learn many
things most men never realized
about the sea. However, they also
learn much about the madness of
their host.
Like all adventures, this
one had to come to an end. Fortunately, Ned, Consiel and Professor
Arronax escape somehow. I’ll let
you find out for yourself by reading
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a
book that I highly recommend!
Sunset at The Dawn of
Spring
THE CLIQUE
SERIES
The only thing harder than getting in is
staying in!
By: Lisi Harrison
By Katie Odey Okoye
As I watch the morning sun rays
Peaking through the eastern sky
And feel the embrace
Of the crisp April morning breeze
As it ushers in a blissful spring day
You embrace my thoughts
With your tender spirit
And the enchanting fragrance
Of a springtime delight
Reminds me of your elegance and
grace
The image of you
Surrounding yourself with
Dazzling daisies and daffodils
And enjoying a gentle drizzle
In your flower garden
Is a treasure for many springs to come
Evening came too soon
When the sun set on your life
Early last Spring
Leaving us yearning for longer
Spring days, filled with fond memories
And a splash of your exuberance
Rocky Hill Sixth Graders had a wonderful time at Outdoor Ed. Nurse Boyd
and some of the teachers did a great job nursing all the cuts and bruises, as
well as manage some major heath issues. One thing they wouldn’t say is that
they have just as much fun as the students. Nurse Boyd had a kick out of
inspecting students’ cabins. The poem below is the result of one of her inspections.
Margie, your voice may be silent now
But the seeds of kindness and love
That you planted in our hearts
Continue to bloom for eternity
The soft melody from a twilight choir
And the candlelight above the fireplace
Are reminiscent of your glowing presence
Just like the morning sun rays
Exudes the splendor
Of an early spring morning
Cabin Inspection At Outdoor Ed
By Mrs. Boyd, Summit Lake Nurse
Out the door and up to cabin one.
Lots of clouds in the sky but also some sun
As I opened the door to cabin one, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
This cabin looked great to my surprise, 10 points.
Cabin two, you had articles scattered around your room.
You also need to do a better job with your broom.
Sorry and 7 points is what I said.
Cabin five had suit cases out in isles
And clothes scattered on the floor and top of shelves
Disorganized and soap on shower floor.
A big towel on floor in bathroom
I will be back to recheck your room soon. 5 points
Cabins 4, 6, 7, and 8 all clean and very neat
Keep up the good work you’ll be hard to beat at 10 points.
Cabin nine also had dirt lying around your room.
Tomorrow do a better job with your broom 9 points
Inspecting the girls’ cabins is always a treat.
You never know what or who you will meet.
There was black and white puppy
Black and white cow and small brown bear
Lots of snowmen and green smiling monkeys
Lying here and there
101 Dalmatians, a big red beetle
And this little black shark
Scooby Doo, the Bratz, and monkey
Playing rock and roll and leaving their mark
I walked in one room and nearly jumped to the sky
This huge yellow duck was starring me right in the eye
Black and white dog, big gray elephant
Whinny the Pooh, Little white duck, leopard
And this purple face just wondering what to do
One cabin had name tags on each bed
While two kitty cats and kissing cousins
A green frog waits for someone
Cabins 12-15 and 16 all had dirt on your floor
So nine was all I could give for your score
Cabin 13 had dirt on the floor and dirty socks
There was a towel on bathroom floor
So 8 was your score
Cabins 11-13 and 14 all clean and neat as a pin
I was really happy to give you a great big 10
Review By: Shalom Sabwa
Staff Writer
One of the hottest book series that teens are reading is the
Clique Series. This all started when
one of our RHMS students picked up
the first book, The Clique and spread
the word. Then it continued with the
books Best Friends for Never, Revenge of the Wannabees, Invasion of
the Boy Snatchers, The Pretty Committee Strikes Back, Dial L for
Loser, Its not Easy Being Be Mean,
Sealed With a Diss, and the newest
one Bratfest at Tiffany’s. This 8
book series is about five girls, who
rule their school, Octavian Day
School or OCD. Massie Block is the
leader of the clique while her posse,
Alicia Rivera is the co-leader. Kristen Gregory the Jock, Dylan Marvil
the weight watcher, and Claire Lyons
are the newest addition. The girls do
what typical girls our age do, like
going shopping, going to the spa,
getting their hair done, and of course
dealing with school drama. Did I
mention they also are the most popular girls in school but all of them
have crushes at their brotherly school
Briarwood! In the end they always
find a way to resolve their problem.
They retain their clique status and
rock the school.
Watch out because in the fall of
2008 the movie with all of the amazing characters coming to life!
Stepping-Stone
Where’s the love
So much hate
Torn apart into groups
Is this our fate?
We follow the rules society has made
But we break our own with no delay.
To love to share and care no matter how they do their hair.
The color of their eyes, how they laugh and giggle.
Should we separate ourselves for such civil affairs?
It’s a mental segregation through all races,
but there are some who have overcome.
Despite the world they live in the clicks, groups and gangs.
Friends of all races surround them, blocking out the worlds pain and suffering.
To them friendship has no bounds covered in a sheet of kindness, the sky is
nothing but a stepping-stone. They have no limit.
By Millan Robinson
Are you reading a good book? We would like to know all
about it. Send your book reviews to Ms. Okoye or the
TWR staff. We would like to publish your poems and
essays. Entries for the final issue of the WCR should
be turned in by May 13.
4
Sports
One Crazy Tournament
Rocky Hill Boys Basketball Team
From the Eyes of the Coach
Upsets, Overtimes, and a Cinderella Story
By Taylor Davis
This years tournament was
full of upsets and excitement but
what stood out the most was this
years Cinderella story. The Davidson Wildcats, seeded at #10,
climbed their way to become one of
the final 8 teams in the tournament.
It was no cakewalk for Davidson,
who had to go through three very
strong teams to get there: #7 Gonzaga, #2 Georgetown, and #3 Wisconsin. Stephen Curry at guard led
this feat averaging 32 points per
game in the tournament. But their
quest ended in the Elite 8. Davidson
and Curry put up an excellent game
but lost to #1 Kansas 57-59. One
last-second shot could have sent
Kansas home but Jason Richards
shot hit off the backboard helplessly.
There were many Cinderella hopefuls, with underdogs winning time after time. #12 Western
Kentucky defeated #5Drakes hopes
of a title with a winning buzzerbeater in overtime from Ty Rogers.
San Diego carried the game down
to the wire and sending it into overtime with #4 U Conn as well. In
OT, San Diego hit a clutch jumper
to lead leaving 1.2 seconds on the
clock that Connecticut could do
nothing with. In the Midwest Region of the bracket, the #10, #11,
#12, and #13 seeds all upset their
first round competitor.
But ironically, all #1 seeds
made it to the Final Four for the
Mr. Heinemann and some members of the Boys Basketball team
By Taylor Davis
TWR Sports Director/Editor
I had a chance to sit down
and talk with Mr. Heinemann about what he thinks
about this year’s boys’ basketball team.
As Rocky Hill knows, the
boys’ basketball team has done excellent this year losing only one
game in the regular season. The
coach (Mr. Paul Heinemann) shared
his thoughts with me on this team
and its success. He described the
team as well-rounded, and that the
team consists of varying levels of
skill and ability. There are some
players that have never been on a
team and others that are on several
teams and have been playing their
entire life.
I asked him what he
thought was responsible for the success of this team. He explained how
the key was the ability of the players to know their strengths and what
their roles were on the team. Also,
working together on a common goal
and pressure defense helped because it brought the team together
to intimidate the opponent.
The team accepted an invitation to a tournament because of
this success. The tournament was a
field of 16 and participating in it
were the 4 best teams from Montgomery, Frederick, Carroll, and
Washington county. For Rocky
Hill’s first game they were missing
2 of their starters but still had 7
strong players. These 7 led Rocky
Hill to their first victory in the tour-
nament over Oakdale, 46-42. Mr.
Heinemann said it was their best game
ever and the effort was outstanding.
Rocky Hill was the only team in Montgomery County to survive the first
round. But Rocky Hill’s success didn’t
continue. They lost their second round
game to Urbana having only 6 players
and missing 4 starters. But Mr. Heinemann was very proud of the 6 players
and said they played their hearts out.
With most of the team being
8th graders, the team will have to rebuild with 7th and 6th graders next year.
I asked him what he was expecting for
next year’s team. He informed me that
no one is guaranteed a spot on the
team. Also, he said that the players
coming in are always a surprise.
The last two questions were
about Mr. Heinemann and what he
thought about the team. I asked, “What
do you like about coaching this team?”
He replied, “We have a little of everything: size, speed, athleticism, good
shooters, passers, defenders, etc. Finding ways to get everyone involved and
contributing a fun challenge and what
has led to our success.”
Next I asked him to describe
himself as a coach. He explained how
he used basketball to let the players
grow as people. “I like to think that I
find ways to utilize everyone’s individual abilities. I strongly stress the concept of student-athlete,” he explained.
“I hope that all my players are not just
better b-ball players at the end of the
season, but better individuals as well.”
This is what Mr. Heinemann
thinks about his team and what he expects to come. I want to thank Mr.
Heinemann for giving me the opportunity to interview him and learn more
about this team.
first time in the history of the tournament. The Final Four featured matchups between Memphis and UCLA
then U.N.C. and Kansas. Derrick
Rose led Memphis past UCLA to
advance to the finals in the first
game. In the second game, Kansas
ripped apart U.N.C.’s defense to win
84-66. In the title game, Kansas allaround team made a spectacular
comeback from 9 points down with a
little more than 2 minutes left in the
game to tie up the game and send it
into overtime. Kansas then got the
job done and won the game 75-68.
The team who could have
gone home with one more made basket survived and won the 2008
NCAAB crown. Kansas won this
crown with a well-rounded team,
players coming through in the clutch,
and just little bit of luck. Not many
tournaments were or are going to be
as eventful as this one. This competition was filled with many upsets,
many overtimes, one big Cinderella
story, and much excitement.
Steroids: The Role Model Killer
Are performance-enhancers killing our role models?
By Taylor Davis
In recent years, more and
more sports stars have been reaching
an all-new level of performance. But
a handful of them have been caught
or accused of using steroids and other
performance enhancing drugs to improve their game. These players make
them appear safe by using them intentionally and frequently. But what
has happened to the superstars caught
and what message is this sending to
youths with high hopes?
On December 13, U.S. Senator George Mitchell released a report
of 89 former and current MLB players who supposedly used steroids and
other anabolic steroids. This report
included many of today’s superstars:
Barry Bonds (SF), Roger Clemens
(NYY), Andy Pettitte (NYY), Brian
Roberts (BALT), and Miguel Tejada
(BALT). Roger Clemens is denying
all allegations that he was injected
with steroids from trainer Brian
McNamee. But Clemens’ best friend
and teammate, Andy Pettitte, told
Capitol Hill under oath that Clemens
admitted to using performance en-
STAFF VS. PARENTS CHARITY
BASKETBALL GAME
Hey! It’s that time of year again! The Staff vs. Parents
Charity Basketball Game is almost here! Mark your calendars and
be ready to be part of this important event.
When: May 16, 2008
Time: 5:00 PM for dinner and auction, and 7:00 for the Game
Where: Wildcat Arena at Rocky Hill.
You wouldn’t want to miss watching our teachers take on our parents.
5
hancing drugs in a conversation
they had in 1999(NTDTV.com).
Lying under oath can result in up to
5 years in prison.
Marion Jones knows that,
for she was sent to prison for lying
to investigators about taking performance-enhancing drugs. Fortunately for her, she was only sentenced to prison for six months.
Another hero, especially
for fans in San Francisco, has been
accused of cheating and has been
scrutinized by critics and former
fans, but has amazingly worked past
it to become the new homerun king.
Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron
homerun record with his 756th
homerun. But the ball was branded
with an asterisk and put into the
Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The
asterisk represents the assumption
from the fans that Barry Bonds did
use steroids to increase his strength
and performance.
So with all these heroes
going down, how would young fans
know who to look up to? These
steroids are destroying the sports we
love. It could also kill the players
we love, figuratively and literally.
Black History Reflections
The month of February is the Black History month: A time when American pause to reflect on the trials and triumphs of African-Americans,
and commemorate their contribution to their contribution to the country. Students at Rocky Hill took time to reflect on Black History
Thoughts about Black History Month
By Brittany Boakye
Staff Writer
Black History is very important. If it was not for Martin Luther King Jr. Rosa Parks, and many
other African-American figures,
this country we call Freedom Land
would be full of hatred, racism, and
many, many wars. This is why we
have Black History Month.
Black History Month is a
month where America remembers
the contribution of AfricanAmericans. Black history is really
American history because some of
the liberties that we enjoy now
came about because of courage of
some African-Americans. Rocky
Hill had a chance to write essays
and watch movies to experience
things about Black History. Now
that people have a better understanding of Black History, it is important to understand that Ameri-
cans were affected in one way or
the other by the events that took
place during the segregation era and
the civil rights era. I want to urge
students at Rocky Hill to learn more
about Black History. Next year instead of listening and forgetting
about black history, make up your
mind to learn what it really means.
We need to reflect and celebrate
this important aspect of our culture.
Why is Black History
Month Important to
Me
The Rocky Hill SGA would like to congratulate the following students for winning the
essay contest on Black History Month.
Black History Month
Jenny Unruh
SGA President
The history of the African
American Race has impacted the
course of American history. Important icons such as Martin Luther
King Jr. or Harriet Tubman have
sparked a lasting impression. From
the start of America’s colonies
when a few strong willed African
slaves chose to stick up for themselves, today when America sees its
first black candidate for president.
The African American wave of evolution has constantly been a mark of
pure will and strength to stand
above the crowd and voice your
opinions.
Black history
month comes each February, and
even with this annual reminder of
the importance of Black History
isn’t always as highlighted as it
should be. The ways in which black
icons have changed our world to
what it is today is almost unfathomable. Imagine a world with separated schools, one for blacks one for
whites. A world where blacks were
constantly ridiculed and could
never come into contact with the
life whites lived. Even with the
brave souls such as Harriet Tubman
who risked her life in order to bring
freedom to others, prejudice continued to plaque many. It took several
more people to break through the
walls of racism. For these indivisuals , it was pure determination
which brought them to be idealized
today. Without their own bravery,
our world would be incredibly different.
The main reason
Black History Month is important
to me is what it reminds the human
race of our past and how it took
such impeccable strength for African Americans to overcome ridicule.
Black History Month
By Katarina Leiby
8Th Grade
of those students. Listening to those
stories of brave African Americans
risking their lives for what they believe. Until now, I have never really
understood why black history month
is important.
In my family we do not have
any traditions or celebrations to celebrate Black History. But to me Black
History month us more about remembering and honoring the African
Americans who have brought together our nation.
A very important person to
this month is Martin Luther King Jr.
He united both blacks and whites as
one. He taught people that there is no
such thing as color, and that everyone
deserves the same opportunity as
anyone else. We have read many
times in the years of our life what it
used to be like. Whites and blacks
had separate schools, water fountains,
entrances to public places, and even
seats on buses. Looking back from
today it is hard to believe how far we
have come. Look at Rocky Hill as an
example we have a very diverse
school with any kind of ethnic group
you could think of. As a school we
do not look at color and that it is exactly what MLK Jr. wanted our nation to be like.
We all know that does not
mean that the U.S. is perfect with
nothing said about color. There is no
such thing as a completely and utterly
color blinded nation. But we have a
community for a start. So to me black
history month is about reflection,
remembering, and honoring those
who have tried to make a change.
Black History Month gave
me a different view in life. Many of
my friends are African Americans. I
used to take that for granted. However, I now realize if many heroes
like Martin Luther King Jr. or Harriet
Tubman got scarred of risking their
lives and the lives of their family for
what they believe, I would not have
many of my friends today. Because
of many African Americans stood up
for what they believe, I can live a
better life. I have learned that in order
to achieve what you believe in, you
must always take a risk because the
first step is always the hardest.
During Black History Month,
I open my eyes and ears to the contribution of Africans Americans. Every
day, many kids buy potato chips at
school. They are a very delicious afternoon snack. The man who invented the potato chip (1853) was
George Crum, an African American
chef. Another African American man
named Garret Morgan invented the
gas mask (1914) for rescue miners. It
later became very popular for firefighters, painters, and even the US
Army. If African Americans were
still segregated then many great inventions that affect how we live may
never exist.
Understanding the culture of
African Americans helps me better
appreciate the important contributions that they made to America.
It can also help me to relate
to many of my friends. Therefore,
Black History Month is very import
for America.
What Black History Month
Means To Me
Andrew Qian
7Th Grade
Throughout my school life,
Black History Month has been a very
important topic. It teaches everyone a
life lesson; everyone is equal no matter their race, religion, or any other
thing. Often times, students will listen to stories of Black History Month
through one ear but will just let it slip
out of the other ear. I used to be one
By Kathryn Kearney
Black history month is the
whole month of February. Since
this essay competition was announced, my mom has asked me to
write something every single day.
Yes of course I wanted to do it, but
I couldn’t find the time to. However
I did manage to find time to play
Wii and paint my fingernails green.
So maybe I wasn’t really planning
on doing it, but just today she said
something. Something that made
me run up the stairs and start typing. “You know what? I won’t say
anything else, because when you’re
grown, married, and have children,
Black History Month won’t even
exist, and all of the important people who played important parts in
the struggle won’t be remembered.
We won’t even remember the
names.” I hardly know the names
of some of the people, who have
made a difference. Emmett Till,
Medgar Evers, and James Meredith,
are definitely people that I’m not
familiar with. I know Martin Luther
King Jr., Ruby Bridges, Harriet
Tubman, and Malcolm X, but even
some of their contributions are
fuzzy to me!
We celebrate Black History
Month by honoring those who made
contributions and those who have
made a difference for our country.
We take the opportunity to learn
about some of those important figures, not just in February. In my
home, we talk about this every day
because my parents don’t want me
to forget. And I will remember.
What do you know about…
•
•
•
Slavery
Segregation
Laws that were changed to give
us the liberties that we now
enjoy?
Visit a library near you, and check
out books about your history.
Knowledge is power, and it’s free.
6
Today’s Technology
Tech in Habit
Were would we be without Technology
Kiki Obiyor
Editor/Staff Writer
Just think about it… Look at
how you life has changed due to the
technology of this world. What if
your iPod never existed? What if
your Wii did not exist? What if you
had no computer? Then this article
wouldn’t even exist. Just imagine the
whole world without technology.
Technology is not just electricity; it’s
really a method that changes over
time. Without technology there
would be no life as we know it.
Imagine that! Try going a
day without any technology. That
includes your house. Go ahead, camp
out. Really, just try it. “NO WAY!”
Right? Is this what you’re saying?
That’s because you’re so used to
technology being the way it is. Technology is a good thing, but could it be
a bad thing as well. If something
went totally wrong because of a technology malfunction, and we became
homeless, what would we do? Before
you think that it could never happen,
think about the blackout in New York
last year. It happened in Florida not
too long ago.
Now you know that anything
could happen anywhere, and it would
be huge problem since it would be
hard to cope. If there was a huge
storm or natural disaster, you would
have a shelter to stay in. Aren’t you
glad that our early ancestors made
little mud huts and stone homes?
They started the whole idea of making good shelters to live in, if we
bother to think about it. That skill just
may come in handy. Can you imagine how far we have come? These
days we want faster computers, faster
appliances, faster cars, and faster everything. We are still not satisfied, and
new technology gadgets get invented
almost daily. Oh, but it gets better. In
about 25 years, it is predicted, there
will be flying cars. I’m not kidding.
Technology has influenced
everything. Don’t get me wrong,
technology has some good influences
as well. Good influences that are absorbed into people change what they
want and what do.
People are doing wonderful
things with technology. Think about
the internet. Wow! How on earth did
people live without the internet? Information now travels around the
world within minutes. Now the world
is right at our finger tips!
Now you’re hopefully think-
ing, thank goodness for technology!
Well, just don’t get carried away just
yet. Remember global warming?
Some of the exhaust fumes
from the billions motor vehicles continue to pollute the air everyday. We
hear about nuclear energy, heat, and
gases. We know that they all contribute
to global warming. We now have to
find ways of conserving energy since
technology uses so much energy.
Speaking of global warming
and energy conservation, have you ever
turned on the light in your room and
never turned it off when you finished
using it? My parents, like most parents,
get frustrated by high energy bills, and
now I’m taking steps to use less energy. They totally love me for that.
Thanks for the standing ovation. I’m
just doing my part to save the planet.
Remember that when you leave the
lights on it also adds to global warming.
Technology is good and is
changing our lives for the better, but
we need to use it wisely. Try to remember to turn off things that you are
not using. Keep trying, and before you
would notice the difference. Soon it
will be a habit. Your parents will thank
you, and you will enjoy living in a
world free of polluted air.
Now, about those iPods, MP3
players, Blackberries, and whatever
gadgets you happen to own, maybe it is
time to stop and think. Remember that
each time you put those gadgets down,
you would pay more attention to your
friends and family. You would be doing something good for yourself you
take a walk. If you happen to remember where you left your bike, you could
even have fun riding it. More importantly, you will be saving the environment. At the end we will have more
energy to use for the gadgets that we
have now, and the ones that are soon to
come.
Hey, do you have any technology
information to share? The Wildcat Roar would like to hear from
you.
We are also accepting technology
questions for our “GEEK GURU.”
Send your questions or technology information to Ms Okoye or
any staff writer of editor of The
Wildcat Roar.
7
The Geek Guru
GOT QUESTIONS ON TECH? BET YOU LIKE THEM BEST
ANSWERED BY THE EXPERT
COMMON Q: WHAT MAKES
A SCRATCHED DISC NOT
WORK?
This is not very complicated. Well if you explained the
whole thing, it probably would
be. If you looked at a disc under
a microscope, you would most
likely see little oval like structures on it. I believe the fact is
that there is data under those little structures. They may look
small, but all together, they can
hold a lot worth of data. If the
CD is scratched deep enough,
some of that data may go missing. For instance, I had a game I
really loved, then it had tons of
scratches out of nowhere!! But I
got it cleaned in a disc cleaner,
and, (inferring), some of the
scratches were filled with more
data. It began to work again, but,
not fully.
COMMON Q: IF YOUR COMPUTER IS OLD, WHY DOES
IT TAKE A LONG TIME FOR
IT TO PROCESS?
Much more complicated. I’ll
just cut to the chase. A computer is
somewhat like a human in a couple of
ways. It calculates, it sometimes reads,
it sometimes writes, it sometimes even
listens. But, it DOES NOT THINK.
They actually have all the info stored
in them. When your old computer is
processing, you’ll probably hear a
bunch of noises coming from its CPU,
which is the box where pretty much
EVERYTHING is done. In that box is
the RAM. Pretty funny huh? The
RAM. NO, there is NO living animal
in your computer. Nor dead. RAM
stands for RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY. When your computer saves
something, it makes those noises because its trying to fit data into a spot
where it fits, moving most of the data
all around the place. When you visit a
site, your computer saves that in your
visited sites history. Sometimes, you
may have many sites on that list, and
you can delete them manually if you
want to. If you want to get your computer faster, just delete something.
More info on deleting shows on Microsoft if you press F1 on a program. Just
search what you want.
Presidents of Tomorrow
By: Millan Robinson & Chelsea Markot
The Wildcat Roar is fascinated
by students who have their eyes on
The Drama Club at Rocky is working on another exciting production!
It is a spring musical called, “Guys and Dolls.”
the presidency. Although this may
sound a bit too ambitious, it is important to remember that these students are the leaders of tomorrow.
We would like to point out that
some students are not particularly
interested in the presidency, but
they were able to exercise their
freedom of speech.
This is a “Must See” production featuring the best talents on the hill.
Performance Dates: Thursday, May 1st @7:30 PM
Friday, May 2nd @7:30 PM
Saturday, May 3rd @ 7:30PM
Sunday, May 4th @ 2:30 PM
“I don’t want to be president because I can’t handle that
much pressure.” Kara Mectcalf
“I would help the U.S. with
the war in Iraq and make a difference to help people who live in
poverty.” Brie Albers
“I would make it so people
could vote at a younger age.”
Michalia May
“I would focus on issues
that the U.S. is struggling with and
try to improve those issues.”
Anonymous #1
“I would like to pay teachers more – they made us who we
are today.” Karli Melder
“I would reinforce the
original Bill of Rights and have
Americans realize what this country
was originally organized for.” Gina
Marler.
“I would fix the economy
and any hunting to be stopped to
save endangered species and not
discriminate against any immigrant
that wants to come to the United
States.” Yaneidy Lora
“I would make world peace
by stopping gangs, any wars, and
all other problems.” Solomon
Sewell
“I would try to end the war
and focus on the economy.” James
NOTE: The Saturday May 3rd performance will likely be a dinner
theater. Doors will be open at 5:45 PM with the show starting at 7:30
PM.
It is a fun- filled event for the whole family. Come and join the fun.
MCPS Graphics
and Publishing
Are You Ready for Summer?
Summer is almost here, and it time to check some possible programs around Montgomery County.:
Clarksburg Sports Association, CSA is a non-profit local youth sports organization that offers a variety of
activities. You can learn more about CSA by visiting their website at www.CSAsports.org.
Montgomery County Recreations also offers a broad rage of activities. Check out their websites or call their
office to see what you could do.
Adcock
“I would like to change
how the government hides lots of
the things from the people. I believe
our government has a corrupt system!” Phalange Wood
“I would focus on education so everyone has a future and I
would make peace with as many
countries as possible.” Tai Fernandaz-Sardina
“I would make a new society contributing to the environment
and air pollution.” Catherine Lin
“I would help people from
various countries and give them
support.” Ahmed Parvez
“IDK! I’m only 13!” David
Chong
“I would like to make
schools a safer and better place.”
Paula Carroll
“My main focus would be
abortion, I would also support environmental rights, and help reduce
gas prices and taxes.” Anonymous
#2
“I would make love not war
until some country gets me mad
then its just war.” Anonymous 3
“I would like to help the
economy because there aren’t a lot
of jobs and the cost of living is
high.” Prateek Mechineni
Business News
Money-Making Tips for
Students in Middle School
By Zackary Moneyhan and
Robbie McNair
Students in middle school
are considered too young to drive,
too young to vote, and some are
even too young to stay home alone.
What teachers and parents don’t
realize is that we know how to
make a buck or two.
There are many ways to
make money. Here are some free
tips:
• Mow lawns for neighbors
• Paint fences
• Do chores for your parents and
get allowance
• Do dog-walks
• Baby-sit with supervision
• Make lemonade stands on hot
summer days
• If people, like family members,
borrow money from you,
charge them interest
• Assist coaches during games
• Create raffles at those boring
reunions, and make money
from items that that you don’t
need. Remember that one
man’s junk is another man’s
treasure.
8