De tr o it Coun tr y Da y M idd le S c ho ol
Friends By: Ariana Tagavi
You can learn a whole lot when you're with your friends. How
March, 2013
Volume 1, Issue 3
they eat, what makes them happy or mad, what their interests are or what
they hate. Sometimes you laugh with them, sometimes you compete with
them, and sometimes you want nothing to do with them. But—-at the end
of the day—you are back to normal. Laughing and talking.
Editor:
What I found interesting is that friends are people who are there
for you at all times. A true friend is not there to take advantage of you or
to show off when you have a bad day. A true friend is not the one who
talks behind your back or is friendly to you just when they want to.
Sabriya Imami (6th)
A true friend is one who is pure, honest, and caring—no matter what the
day brings.
We, in middle school, may not have had a lot of experiences in
life, but we all have seen the differences in friends. We all have had
friends who are flaky and not true to us at times. Fortunately, though, we
have also experienced ones who call us to sit with them at lunch, talk and
laugh about our day, and help us when we need it. Those are the friends
we should cherish and appreciate... and those are the ones we build
memories with that will last a lifetime.
One day, we will all be spread out. Some people on the other side
of the country, others on the other side of the world. We might not be as
close to our friends as we are right now. Maybe just have them as a friend
on Facebook or whatever other social media comes then. Most of us will
remember the times we had with our best friends and laugh about for
years to come. So be thankful for your friends!
Ariana Tagavi (7th)
Writers:
Kayvon Rahmani (8th)
Caroline Keating (6th)
Special thanks to Miss Tabaka
for her AMAZING and delicious Rolo Pretzel Delights
Inside this issue:
Funniest Teacher
2
Rolo Pretzel Delights!
3
Book Reviews!
4
Siblings Learning
Together
5
5th Grade Visitors
5
The WINNER of the FUNNIEST TEACHER for
DCDS Middle School 2012-2013
It was a very tight election. Many voted in the Your Voice
Ballot Box located in the first floor office. All the teachers
in our school are wonderful in different ways. The winner
of the 2012-2013 FUNNIEST TEACHER CONTEST
goes to…
MR. BOSSERT
Congratulations, Mr. Bossert! We look forward to
hearing more humor in the future!
Page 2
Your Voice
Rolo Pretzel Delights!
Courtesy of Miss Tabaka
Ingredients:

round or square-shaped pretzels

Rolos

m&m's and/or pecan halves
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or
tin foil.
2. Place pretzels on the prepared sheet. On top of each pretzel, place
one unwrapped Rolo.
3. Bake 3 minutes or until the caramel begins to soften but not melt. Remove from oven and place
either an m&m or a pecan half on the Rolo.
4. Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for about 20 to 30 minutes and enjoy!
5 Star Recipe!
*****
Volume 1, Issue 3
Great for ANY
occasion!
Page 3
Book Reviews By: Sabriya Imami
Girls Books:
Smile: Raina Telgemeier
A true story about a girl‟s life from middle school to high school, Smile is a book we can all relate to... From teeth
falling out, to braces, to a retainer with fake teeth attached, to extractions, this girl‟s life sounds painful enough!
But when you hear about the traitors who were supposedly her friends, and her embarrassment of high school drama, you automatically want to curl up and not stop reading… An added bonus is that this book is a graphic novel, and therefore, the pictures help illustrate some scenes. An AMAZING book.
The Mother-Daughter Book Club: Heather Vogel Fredrick
The kick-off to this series of 6 makes you think about your friends and how close you are to them. It makes you
realize how different you all are, yet you still „click‟. It reminds you of your past experiences with “Queen Bees”
and their courts of “Wannabees”. When I read this book for the first time, I automatically loved the characters
and found the ones who were most like me and all my friends. There are twists that surprise you, but with a
„classic‟ touch as they read classic books in their club. These books make you want to even read the classics!!
Boy’s books:
The Phantom Tollbooth: Norton Juster
This book makes you think of all the details you never realized. Milo and Tock are such kindred spirits you immediately begin to like them. From the doldrums to worlds about math and writing, you‟ll be surprised at the next
twists and turns you see.
The Lightning Thief: Rick Riordon
This book puts a modern spin on classic Greek myths. From the story of Medusa to the story of Zeus, you‟ll be
surprised how one author‟s opinion can change a myth into a fiction story that will keep the pages turning…
Both Genders’ Books:
Peter and the Starcatchers: Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
Have you ever wondered why Peter Pan can fly? Why he is the boy that „never grows up‟? On a ship set to Rundoon, Peter
learns about a secret society and helps a girl named Molly keep a certain treasure away from a certain bad guy you all know
of… Captain Hook. But now, he isn‟t the only one who is trying to get the best for himself. Now there are more of the
„Others‟ than you can imagine. Only a true Starcatcher can save the world, can you help?
N.E.R.D.S: Michael Buckley
The National Espionage, Rescue and Defense Society (I know, I know… Unfortunate acronym) recruits a new member to
their team. Ex-most popular kid in school, Jackson Jones. Codename- BraceFace. He gets a set of braces and now is part of
a team to save the world. How‟s that for surprising? Stick around to see how they try to save the world with the only power
they have- The power of being… NERDS!
Page 4
Your Voice
Siblings Learning Together By: Kayvon Rahmani
Throughout history some of the best teams have been of sibling, and this year siblings are teaming up to
face middle school. This year is the first year the Rahmanis are in the same building-for school. Even though we
don‟t see eye-to-eye on everything and our relationship is like fire and ice, I actually like having my sister in the
same building as me. I enjoy being a role model, giving advice, helping with questions on sports, homework, and
middle school life. I find it fascinating to compare us. It is always a competition when it comes to siblings. In the
fight for bragging rights, everything is a competition when it comes to grades, sports, and arts. Now that you
know about my relationship with my sister Tara, I interviewed other siblings on their view of middle school with
their sibling.
Jack Dolan (6th Grade): “It‟s annoying to have a sibling in the same school. In the halls I usually just say hi to my
brother when I see him.”
Brendan Dolan (8th Grade): “I don‟t like having a sibling in the same school. I don‟t really talk to my brother
when I see him.”
Jalen Graham(6th Grade): “It‟s good to have my sibling in the same facility. He introduces me to his friends. I
usually just say hi to him in the halls. I know more teachers cause of my brother.”
LaNard Graham (8th Grade): “It‟s good having my sibling in the same facility because I can keep close eye on
him and transportation is easier. I usually ask him what class he is going to when I see him the hall. It is a advantage because we both study with each other.”
Jack Ohyrn(8th Grade): “I think it‟s weird to have my sibling in the same middle school with me because her
friends always annoy me. I sometimes say “hi” to her when I see her in the halls.”
Madeline Ohryn (6th Grade): “I don‟t really care about having my sibling in the same middle school; it doesn‟t
make a difference. We usually just say “hi” when we see each other in the hall.”
Pano Cardasis (7th Grade): “It feels normal, just another person I see everyday. I don‟t really talk with my brother
in the halls. We see each other so much I don‟t have anything to tell him.”
Tino Cardasis (7th Grade): “It think it‟s helpful, sometimes, because you have someone to discuss assignments
with. When I see my twin in the hall, I say, “ What‟s up?”
Stavros Cardasis (8th Grade): “It gives me a sense of support, knowing that they have my back. I usually say “hi”
when I see them in the halls.”
Siblings have to learn to get used to each other because in every community—in home, at school, or in
the neighborhood, and so on—siblings will have to work together and make the community a better place.
5th Grade Visit to the Middle School By: Caroline Keating
I know some of you who didn‟t have a visitor and were in grades higher than 6 th you probably noticed that there were some
extra kids in the building. You were correct… Trust me, you weren‟t seeing things. They came to see what it was like in the Middle
School, maybe to see how different it might be from the Junior School. When they got here, I know the 6 th graders were more excited for them to be here than the fifth graders were because, as 6 th graders, some of us like to take charge and be the leader…And on
that day that is exactly what we got to do.
We got to show them how to get to your classes, how long you get in between classes, how to always be prepared, etc. If you
were one of those people who were in the Junior School and came to visit, think about what it was like for you. Because for me it was
the fact that it was so much bigger, and I didn‟t know if I was going to be able to handle it. We all loved getting to introduce our
visitors to our teachers… (And by the looks on the teachers‟ faces, I know they loved it, too.)
If you were one of those people who didn‟t do their homework on time, didn‟t take notes, or didn‟t pay attention during
class, and you have a sibling in the Junior School, advise them to break those habits while they are still in the Junior School, so they
won‟t have to stress about breaking those habits in the Middle School. Plus, for all of those people who had visitors write down below what you thought. Was it fun? Was it boring,? Did they become your best friend? Whatever you write will be yours to keep… so
write whatever you want.
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