1
The
​
Orange
Volume 2
News (Pages 1-2)
OAS News (Pages 2-4 )
Oracle
Orange Avenue School Newspaper
Sports (Page 5)
Arts & Pop Culture (6)
Technology (Page 7)
January, 2017
Of Interest (Page 8)
Donald Trump’s Presidency
By Matthew Chae and Dan Pereira
On Friday, January 20th, 2017, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States during his inauguration
ceremony in Washington, D.C. Despite your political beliefs, we can’t forget how he got here in the first place. Although there are some
speculations of tampering with the election polls, Donald Trump still came up on top. The people voted and Trump received the most
electoral votes, but not without controversy.
Russian Hackers Affect Election?
In the 2016 election, it is suspected that Russian hackers hacked the ​emails of
Clinton’s campaign chair John Podesta​ and provided information to WikiLeaks. In
​ The Washington Post, Podsta is quoted as saying, “Something is deeply broken at
the FBI,” referring to the FBI’s failure to respond adequately. Another thing that the
Russians allegedly hacked are many computers belonging to the Republican party.
These attacks on government information are very troubling.
Preparation for His Inauguration
Both supporters and antagonizers of Trump showed up at his inauguration with the
event theme being “Uniquely American”. ​The inaugural events included concerts,
the swearing-in ceremony, a luncheon, parade, ​inaugural balls​, and the interfaith ​inaugural prayer service​. The Rockettes, the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir, and Jackie Evancho were among some of the performers at the event. Many sources have estimated that this inauguration
drew a crowd of about 300, 000 people, but Trump soon after argued that there was at least one million people in attendance.
The Space War
By Nathaniel Fossella
Powerful countries are scrambling to get a piece of space because this ownership holds many opportunities to dominate and
conquer the world. Since land has almost all been conquered, space is the new land to obtain. Right now, there’s a war being arranged. It’s
not your typical war on ground and with guns and bullets, but with lasers and satellites. Yes, it’s a space war. Currently, countries like
Russia, U.S, and China are shooting off rockets that are going into orbit. Another reason to acquire​ ​space is that you can place satellites in
orbit that can strike anything on Earth.
​Space is infinite and full of infinite possibilities. Powerful countries are advancing their
space programs and are shooting off rockets that contain satellites. With precision, those satellites
will get caught into orbit and will provide perfect defense and attack positions. With the rising
tensions, this could mean total dominance for the U.S. against Russia and China, or total fear. Our
Military is preparing in our own way by developing our own counter satellites that will protect and
destroy other satellites. Brian Ang, the author of this article, stated, ”​It cannot be denied that
currently, space is the next frontier. America, like any other powerful nation, sees the cosmos as an
essential part of its arsenal” (Ang, 1). This shows that since all land has been divided, but space has
not been completely taken over and can prove a country's military dominance. One quote by ​Air
Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of the Air Force Space Command​ is, “​Adversaries are
developing kinetic, directed-energy, and cyber tools to deny, degrade, and destroy our space capabilities​” (Ang, 2). This further explains we
don’t have a choice to not get a piece of space. This is because the countries that pose the biggest threat to our nation have already put
satellites in orbit​.​ It isn’t a choice to join the space war, it is inevitable.
ISIS Is a Problem
By D. S.
ISIS has been attacking many civilian and tourist locations over the past few years. ISIS, The Islamic State of Isis and Iraq is a
very dangerous and outrageous group who is trying to spread their religion in a violent way. There has been attacks in France, Germany,
United States, and mostly where ISIS is homed in Syria and Iraq. Although these terrorists are mostly trying to kill people, they are also
breaking million dollar buildings. ISIS is a growing problem, but we are noticing and reacting to it more now.
ISIS is able to maintain their economy perfectly because they control many different oil factories that they later sell for lots of
money. Sadly, that makes up only 50% of their economy the other from the people in the towns they have captured. People are forced to
pay taxes or they will be killed. After all of this, ISIS has lots of money to spend on more soldiers, tanks, cars, guns and more. This is why
ISIS is able to thrive as a terrorist unit. David Rodelo, an OAS 7th grader, laments, “They need to be stopped because they are ruining our
world!” ISIS also kidnaps and kills people then posts the videos online. From these videos, ISIS gets more and more followers. People that
follow ISIS then mastermind other attacks such as running into crowds with bombs or even with trucks. These people are causing as much
trouble as the actual ISIS is. Mr. Seaman, Info. Lit teacher, added, “We are the strongest country in the world, but every time ISIS kills one
of our own, it is a wakeup call that we need to remain vigilant.” ISIS is a terrible threat that the world continues to face, but we have to
work together to obliterate them.
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Three Cheers for Dakota Pipeline!
By James Ganley
The Dakota Access Pipeline transports oil through a long tube from North Dakota to Illinois and many people have been protesting
for many reasons.
Michael Ganley says, “I agree with the protesters because it can cause accidents that could be fatal to those citizen in the states.
Thousands of protesters have been arrested for protested.” While Dan Nigro, a student from Orange Ave says, “I believe that what the
protesters are doing is illegal because they can’t hurt or do some of the things they are doing to the builders of the pipeline.” However,
farmers and ranchers are split in between supporting it, or not. This is because they get paid money for selling some of their land to get easy
money but are scared that their crops may be affected by this.
Some reasons of why people were protesting the access pipeline is because it was going through a Native American land and the
Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, and the oil could have leakage in the pipeline which would affect the land and water. The reason that
people don’t want to transport oil by train is because it would take longer and the train may crash, causing an oil spill.
Instead of using the oil, people are suggesting solar energy because that will use less oil and will save the government money.
The Dakota Access Pipeline is going to be rerouted so it won’t go through the Native American land, and will be rerouted under
Lake Oahe in North Dakota. Still, some protests still go on to have the pipeline abolished. However, this is a huge victory for protesters
because they are a step closer to perhaps stopping the pipeline from being built after Trump enters the Oval Office.
NEWS AROUND OAS
The New Vice Principal of OAS
By Jack Conley
Mr. Van Dam, the vice principal of OAS, was selected when Mr. Deacon left. He had a lot of experience being a teacher at OAS, and
the superintendent and the Board of Education thought he was the best option for the job. Mr. Van Dam believes that the school, the teachers,
and the students are all great, and he is always walking around the halls and is very interactive.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Van Dam to ask him a few questions.
JC: Do you have any future goals to make the school better?
MVD: I would like to have cleaner hallways and a cleaner cafeteria, as well. And to go along with that, I would like to grow student
respect.
JC: Did you expect that you’d ever be Vice Principal?
MVD: I was not expecting this major change from being a technology teacher to one of the main people of the school.
JC: Why did you want the job?
MV: I went for it because the opportunity was open, and after 18 years as a technology teacher, I thought the experience would help me
be an asset to the school.
JC: Have you gotten used to the new role?
MVD: It took him a good 3 months to get used to the fact that I am Vice Principal, but I am learning everyday.
Now, OAS students have a great new vice principal that is determined to make the school a better place, and we are all excited to have him!
What Does the Future Hold for Orange Avenue School?
By David Rodelo
(Cranford, NJ) This year the new Student Council has done a lot for this school, but now it’s time to look a little closer into what they are
planning on accomplishing for the rest of the year. The Student Council at Orange Avenue School consists of Billy Johnson, Madelyn Swanson,
and Kevin Keogh. These very official students meet at meetings after school to discuss what needs to be fixed throughout the school and how
they can make the school a better society. They do this because is their job to make Orange Avenue School a better place for kids to come and
learn and have fun!
Many middle school students want the Student Council to fight for better food selections, arguing that many of the offerings are
unhealthy or not appetizing. Billy Johnson, Vice President of the Student Council stated, “We are planning on having Sabrina or Maya Serna as
secretary. We also plan on contributing to the water bottle filler that Mrs. Corvelli is raising money for. We also plan to add paper towels in the
boys and girls bathrooms.”
The Orange Oracle staff will keep you updated as the remainder of the year unfolds!
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​Lights..Camera..Action!
By Emily Sormillon
Peer Rushing Through OAS
By Patrick McMahon
Cranford, NJ- Peer is a program at Orange Avenue that meets on Thursdays and Fridays.
The leaders of this program and the school are called Peer leaders and are put with other
younger children. They are there to have fun with them, and also teach a few things. It is
always a great experience for the leader and his “kid”.
Peer has just started for this year, but it has been going on for a long time. There
were a huge amount of applicants this year, so Mrs. Braxton (the Peer Advisor) decided to
make different levels of the program. This year there are peer leaders, peer cadettes, and
peer-in-training members.
All members that I have spoken to love it and are looking forward to it for the rest
of the year. A Peer leader, Ronan Waters, says, “Peer is a great experience because you get
to learn many things that will help you later in life like responsibility, how to get your
priorities in order, and it also teaches you how to become reliable and why that's important.
Although peer teaches you many things, it is a fun experience with your peer kid because
you get to really know him/her and get to have fun and play games with them.” Ronan tells
us that peer balances between fun and learning. As you can see, peer has a great effect on
the school, and the people inside of it.
Mrs. Braxton was also interviewed and thoroughly deepened our knowledge on
this topic. Mrs. Braxton says, “Peer leaders learn respect, patience, tolerance, and many
find that their voice is heard. Peer leaders learn acceptance, time management, and most of
all, humility.” The peer leaders took part in peer training Friday December 9th and
Saturday December 10th to make sure that they are the best peer leaders that they can be.
At Peer training, these Peer leaders learned many skills that they can now use during their
after-school sessions including how to talk and interact with their “kids”.
Creating this article I wanted to know what it was like to go through the peer
program, and what you learn. A past Peer leader, Connor McMahon, says about what he
learned, “From my days of a Peer leader some of the things I learned were leadership,
responsibility, teamwork, teaching skills, and promoting positive conversation on various
topics.” Connor shows that there are many ways of gaining knowledge in the Peer program.
Peer is making OAS an even more awesome school!
All Broadway shows are terrific, but
Waitress will be a show you’ll remember
forever. Jessie Mueller is starring in the
Broadway show, Waitress. Waitress is
beginning previews in the American
Repertory Theater in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. The musical is also showing
in New York. The musical began to show
previews in August 2, 2015. This Broadway
show is based on the 2007 film written by
Adrienne Shelly, and she decided to put it
out as a Broadway show. The story takes
place in American South. The amazing Sara
Bareilles, wrote all the song lyrics. You
might know her song, ​Brave.
This Broadway show has gotten tons
of brilliant reviews. Everyone who had an
opportunity to see Waitress, loved it. It’s
definitely a must watch. The practice run
was amazing, so the real show will be even
better, “The show garnered generally
positive reviews in both runs,” said Frank
Rizzo. Jessie Mueller has a heart for singing
and acting. She sings her heart out all the
time, and loves to share that passion with
everyone. Frank Rizzo also says that,
“Mueller’s performance transcends the
shows imperfections. She’s funny, frisky,
and likable.”
When the previews at the American
Repertory Theater are done, the production
would transfer to Broadway in March 2016.
In order to want to watch the show, you
must know what it’s about. This Broadway
show is about a woman, Jenna Hunterson,
who is a waitress in a small town diner.
Jenna has a miserable love life and she just
becomes pregnant. When a pie baking
contest comes up, Jenna enters and the prize
is everything she wishes for. You should
definitely check it out. All Broadway shows
aren’t the same, but they all share the same
love!
Les Miserables: A Short Summary of the Longest Musical
By Audrey Esteves
Attention all OAS students -- your school’s production of Les Miserables is coming soon! Les Miserables is, to this day, the longest
running musical in the world, and is a very popular choice for school musicals. In fact, since the launch of Schools’ Musicals in 2001, there
have been over 4,000 school productions in the UK, US, and Australia. There will definitely be a sizable audience for this​ ​performance,
because most everybody has heard of it. But a lot of people don’t know what the actual musical is about. This article will give you the shortest
summary of the longest musical in the world. Read on to learn about the play your school will be performing this February.
The story starts with the former French convict in nineteenth century France. Jean Valjean changes his name and becomes a mayor.
One of his workers, Fantine, has an illegitimate child. The Mayor sends Fantine to the hospital instead, and on her deathbed Jean promises
that he will take care of her little girl, Cosette. Nine years later, the two find themselves attacked by a street-gang in Paris, only later to be
saved by the gang leader himself, Javert. The street gang’s daughter is named Eponine, who is secretly in love with a student named Marius,
whom Cosette has also fallen in love with. When a favored General dies, students flee to the streets to support a revolution. In act two is when
the students prepare to build a barricade.
Once the barricade is built, Javert is exposed as a police spy, and when Eponine tries to return to the barricade she is killed. Valjean
goes to the barricade in search of Marius, and he prays that Marius won’t be killed by police like Eponine. The next day, the rebels are killed,
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but Valjean manages to escape with an unconscious Marius, pleading to the gang leader to bring the student to the hospital. Marius recovers
under Cosette’s care, and later in the story they are married. Marius does not have knowledge of who saved him at the barricades. Yet at their
wedding Eponine’s family tries to blackmail the former student, saying that Cosette’s father is a murderer, which is false. Later, when Marius
discovers Valjean is his rescuer, he and Cosette get told Cosette’s history for the first time before the old man dies.
Be sure to stop by Orange Avenue to see your peers performing. One of the cast actresses, Savannah Seda, says, “This play was a
great choice because it is a challenge for the cast and it will be a beautiful performance”. The actors and actresses are eager to start practicing
this musical, and hope to exceed expectations as they​ ​perform an amazing show when the time comes. Sources say that the Les Miserables
School Edition “...packs an emotional wallop that has thrilled audiences all over the world.” We all know that Orange Avenue will give a
brilliant show for the audience -- be sure to come around and watch when they’re ready!
Orange Avenue Presents Les
Misérables
By Patrick McMahon
Cranford, NJ- The students of
Orange Avenue School will present ​Les
Misérables February 23-26 as the school
musical. Coming off a great performance of
The Miracle Worker, the theatre group is
looking great this 2016-17 school year, with
a total of 59 actors. Les Mis is a very loved
and enjoyed play across the country, so the
play director, Mrs. Becky Randazzo, chose
to bring this play to Orange Avenue. ​Les
Mis is a story about a middle-aged man who
gets let out of his prison, and begins a new
life.
Since there are many different
shows to choose for the school play, many
wonder, why ​Les Mis? Play director Becky
Randazzo answered this question for me
saying, “We have a lot of strong kids this
year and finding a show with good featured
roles can be difficult. ​Les Mis is a classic
with lots of great roles and with a school
edition available, we thought it would be a
great way to challenge this year’s kids and
introduce them to the music and story of ​Les
Misérables.”
Many of the actors have told me
that they are very excited about this
upcoming show. The main character, Jean
Valjean, is going to be played by Dan
Klimko who said this about the play, “It
will go very well because the cast is made
up of awesome people, and I’m excited
because I love the show ​Les Mis.” Another
actor from the play, Alex Wetherell, told me
this, “It will be good, but the show is hard to
do because it is mainly a high school play.
Our cast will perform it to the best of our
abilities.”
What are Bake Sales Really
About?
By James Ganley
(​Cranford, NJ)- Bake sales at Orange
Avenue School have been around for a long
time. Students and faculty have been
participating in bake sales to raise money by
selling treats after school.
Patrick McMahon, a middle schooler at
Orange Avenue School, explained how he
feels about bake sales and shared, “It’s a
good way to make or raise money, but
maybe we could include more than just
sweets.” In fact, most students would agree
that bake sales are delicious way to raise
money for good causes and socialize.
McMahon’s comments bring up the
interesting argument of possibly having
healthier options at bake sales. Instead of
cupcakes and candy, people could choose to
purchase healthy foods like apples, oranges,
healthier cookies, instead of cupcakes,
brownies, or muffins. However, healthier
offerings may result in a decline in sales,
which would defeat the purpose of the bake
sales in the first place. Perhaps the best
route is to find happy medium for the sweet
tooths and health nuts alike.
There are many different types of bake
sales. Some include the Philly Pretzel sale,
the original bake sales, the guess a number
for a treat game, and more.
Bake sales actually have another
purpose than just eating that $1 cupcake or
that fifty cent cookie. The point of bake
sales is to raise money to improve the
school’s budget, to help out with charitable
organizations, or to donate money for
school field trips.
Therefore, bake sales are a pretty
amazing way to raise money. So next time
you're running a bake sale or providing
food, try and make you offer treats that are
both sweet and healthy. The more people
you appeal to, the more money you will
raise!
New Water Bottle Filling
Station
By C.H.
Imagine if all of OAS’s water was
as cold as an iceberg and as refreshing as
gatorade. If we can raise enough money,
we can get a refilling station. What is a
refilling water station? It is a water fountain
with a station that refills your water bottle.
It also isn’t just water. It is cold and
refreshing.
OAS has been raising money for a
while. Have you bought a new OAS water
bottle? If you have, then you have helped
raise money for these stations. It looks nicer
and provides better water. So next time our
school holds a fundraiser, try to contribute.
OAS Lunch Menu Looking for a
Change
By: Shane Jarosz
Orange Avenue School’s cafeteria
in Cranford, NJ hopes to serve healthier
foods because it makes students healthier by
providing key nutrients. They plan to do
this by serving healthier foods that still taste
good.
Although many may not think this
way, lunch is a big part of our day and
impacts it a lot. Many students report that
without lunch they’d be too tired and
wouldn’t be as successful for the rest of the
day. If a kid is eating bad food from the
lunch menu, they won’t feel as energized
for the rest of the day as kids that did eat a
good lunch. After eating a healthy lunch,
your brain is recharged and you’re ready for
your next classes. After Dan Abrahamsen, a
student at OAS, was asked about his
thoughts on school lunches, he said, “I feel
good after eating a healthy lunch rather than
bad ones.” On the other hand, healthy foods
that kids will eat is hard to come by. Many
kids just want to eat foods that taste good
and most healthy foods don’t. But, there are
some healthy foods that the cafeteria can
serve that kids like fruits such as
strawberries, watermelon, grapes etc.
Without a healthy lunch, students wouldn’t
be focused. As a result, they won’t be doing
as good in school and their grades could be
affected. This is why it is important to
Orange Avenue School that the lunch being
served is good for the students.
The lunch menu will gradually
become healthier and healthier. There still
will be some unhealthy snacks, but not
many. This is the latest on Orange Avenue
School Lunch Menu.
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Cleveland Browns
By Matt Coyne
Ever go1-15? Well,
the Cleveland Browns
have. The Browns are
always losing, but never
like this. This is because
during the off season, they lost almost half
their team. The Browns have no chemistry
together, and they are just not coming
together as a team. When they go to the
football field to practice, they must not be
practicing enough. The Cleveland Browns
are a disgrace to Cleveland. The Cavaliers
won the NBA championship, the Indians
got to the World Series, but the Browns
can’t win a game.
There is one good thing about going
1-15, they get a very good pick in the NFL
draft. All this trading has done them no
good though. They should have really
re-thought the trading. “The Browns traded
“away way too many of their players,” as
Jakob Alexo once said and Michael
DeSimone said, “they’re trash.” This means
they have no chemistry whatsoever. The
Browns are the absolute worst team in the
NFL. All in all, The Cleveland Browns need
to step it up big time or their franchise will
be ruined.
SPORTS
Middle School Basketball
By: Dan Abrahamsen
Coach Antab, coach of the middle school
basketball team at OAS, selected fifteen
students on December 13th to participate on
the team this year at our very own Orange
Avenue School.
Twenty-two students from the 7th and
8th grade tried out for the boys basketball
team and 15 made the team, which consists
of three 7th graders and twelve 8th graders.
During these tryouts, the students worked
hard on many different drills and
conditioning. Coach picked the players who
he felt are the most coachable, hardest
working players to join the team. When the
teams were finally picked, the practices
started Monday, December 16th. During
these practices, the team spends time doing
drills, running plays, scrimmaging, and
finally, a lot of running. They consistently
do this 4 days a week.
The team’s lost its first game on January
4th against their crosstown rivals, Hillside
Avenue School. Shane Jarosz says, “We
could have hustled more on fast breaks and
played better defense.” On January 17th, the
team beat Columbia Middle School from
Berkeley Heights in a final score of 49-29,
bringing their record to 2-2.
Cranford Soccer Will Be Better Than
Ever!
by C.H.
Although the OAS soccer team
finished the season 2-1-9, this young team
has potential for next year. Led by Pat
McMahon they, “We will be good next year
because we will be older and more
experienced.”
They started off the season
struggling with a 7-1 lost to Elizabeth. The
team was much taller, and older. But they
never lost hope, as the season went on they
kept losing. The players worked everyday
after school to practice. Then they met
OAS’s long time rivals, Hillside. Patrick
explained, “They had a lot of offensive
pushes, but they were easy to counter.”
They ended up tying with them but that's
when they really got their confidence. All of
their hard work paid off.
They got more and more fans, and
soon the whole field was jam packed. Along
the way, some fans got a little too crazy and
were asked to leave the game. They team
went on to win the last two games of their
season. James Ganley said, “We played
good for a team our age, but again the team
was too young.” The team did well, but
maybe next year they will be even more
unstoppable. So next spring, come down
and take a look at this future all star soccer
team!
Are the New York Rangers on the Top of the NHL?
By Jakob Alexo
The Rangers have always been good, but is this the year that the Rangers win it all? For the past 5 years, the New
York Rangers have been one of the most consistent teams in the NHL. For the past 5 years, they have made an
appearance in the playoffs, appearing in the Eastern Conference Finals twice, and one Stanley Cup appearance, they
were defeated by the LA Kings.
The Rangers made some odd, and just head shaking free agent accusations during the 2016 offseason. Since I am a
huge Rangers fan, I was incredibly confused when they signed and traded for players Michael Grabner, Brandon Pirri,
and Nick Holden. ​All players who played on all near terrible teams, with Pirri playing on the only playoff team,
Anaheim Ducks. Holden playing for the Colorado Avalanche, and Grabner playing for the worst team in the NHL,
Toronto Maple Leafs. Both struggled immensely on their teams, so the signing of Grabner and trading a 4th round
pick for Holden. One of the most crazy trades was sending Derick Brassard to the Ottawa Senators for Mika Zibanejad. No one ever heard of
Zibanejad before he came to the Rangers, but has produced more for the team than Brass has done in the past season, scoring 5 goals, 10
assists, 15 points before getting injured. While Vesey has been absolutely amazing as a rookie, scoring 10 goals, 7 assists, and 17 total points.
The Rangers, have been absolutely dominating, transforming into one of the NHL’s top scoring teams, scoring a total of 115 goals in
just 35 games. Mostly due to the reemergence of Rick Nash, who declined megaly last year, with fans wanting to trade him for anything at
one point. But he bounced back, showing signs of the old Nash. But the real key to the dominance of this team is Antti Raanta, the backup
goaltender to the King, Henrik Lundqvist. After Raanta as a starter was 8-0 for a while, coach Alain Vigneault gave the start to Raanta, going
2-1, shutting out the Devils and Chicago Blackhawks, giving question that sparked controversy​.​ Does Antti Raanta deserve the starting spot? I
can answer that myself, no, he does not. Raanta’s good, but he’s not amazing. Although, in a year or two, he will be. Even Raanta knows this.
Coach Vigneault says, “I think everybody knows Hank's the guy, and Hank's our No. 1, but at this time, I think Antti's game is just a little bit
better than Hank. ​We need to win hockey games, and Antti played real well [Thursday] night, wasn't real busy. This is a familiar spot for him,
so we just thought it was the right thing to do for the team.​”
The Rangers at the moment are 23-11-1, and tied for first in the Metropolitan Division, third in the NHL. Definitely a solid record
for this team, and the season is still young. Will the Rangers win it all this year? Will they cement their names in the Stanley Cup, becoming
legends? Time will tell.
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ARTS & POP CULTURE
Teenage Thrills
Middle School Trends in 2017
By Samantha Reeves
By Kevin Shriner
(​Cranford, NJ) -- ​Yo, what up kids? *cough *cough...sorry my
inner teenager was speaking. Anyway….
In the current world, students have been creating trends
that are sweeping the nation. These trends include water bottle
flipping, the Mannequin Challenge, Backpack Challenge, and dank
memes. Students are doing these trends in school, stores, outside,
during lunch, recess, and at home. Many of these trends have been
around for quite sometime, but many students just started to learn
about them in the last few months.
The water bottle flipping challenge is done with a half
filled water bottle being flipped all the way around, so it lands
straight up. The backpack challenge is a rather dangerous challenge,
but students line up with backpacks and have another student run
through while those students throw backpacks at him or her. The
Mannequin challenge is a challenge that is very popular now; many
people around the world are freezing out of nowhere, playing a song
that goes with the challenge, creating videos of themselves, and
sharing them via social media. Although the memes are not a
challenge, they are something really popular that people like to
make and look up.
Paul Midura says, “These are pretty cool and fun
challenges because they keep me from being bored!” Along with
many other students Paul thinks these trends are perfect to do when
you are bored during school and out of school. Many students think
that water bottle flipping is so fun.
Not only do students participate in these challenges and
trends, relatives, parents, and pets do as well. There have been
several videos that include dogs doing the mannequin challenge as
well as grandparents at family parties. On the Internet you can see a
lot of videos including these challenges that people have made for
your entertainment.
In the current world, students have been creating many
trends that catch on quickly. Many Middle schoolers also like these
trends because they appeal to their era more than any other. Many
of these trends have been around for quite some time, but many
students are just learning about them now. Nowadays, many middle
schoolers participate in clubs, sports, and other activities. Most of
the kids do two or more sports. Nowadays, many teens listen to a
particularly different type of music than adults did when they were
our age, with artist like Bobby Shmurda and 21 Savage tearing up
the charts. Another thing that appeals to teens is shoes! Many teens
collect varieties of shoes ranging from $150 to a $1000 dollars.
Also, video games appeal to many with hit games like GTA 5,
Fallout 4, Call of Duty, and NBA 2k17. These games let people
express themselves and interact with their friends with their own
created players.
Lasagna
By ​Michael DeSimone
Garfield has been warming our hearts for many years. Now
we know what the author, Jim Davis, thinks and how he feels. The
author, has been noticing the fall in reading of the comic, but some
die hard fans are still exist. Recently, advertizing has been a way of
getting the word out and Jim Davis is doing just that​. ​Jim Davis will
show up at the Comic Con this year in San Diego for the new
Garfield series.
What can you do to help? Spread the word and we can
make Garfield the great comic it once was. I like Garfield and I
hope to operate a plan to make it better. Will Dirusso said “I hope
that it stays. It’s really good” and Matt Coyne said “ I think that he
should make another movie because it made everyone look good.” I
can't imagine a world without comics.
Jingle Ball, Jingle Ball, Jingle Ball Rock!
By Patricia Colombo
Z100’s jingle ball was a great experience because the performers were astonishing and their performances were breathtaking.​ ​With a
room full of fans and great music all night​, ​the event took place on December 9 through December 10 in Madison Square Garden. Most of the
performers did not sing Christmas music. Although, most of the audience thought there would be Christmas music because it was in
December, they did play some of their top hits. Songs like ​Into you, Where are you now, That’s my girl.
The top performance was Justin Bieber. Iheartradio explains, “@justinbieber’s moves are so next level! #iheartjingleball #beliebers.”
Everyone was jumping and singing the whole time he was on stage. The audience wanted him to stay longer, but his manager said he couldn’t
because he was over time during his performance. Iheartradio says, “​You melted our hearts ​@justinbieber​ ​#iheartjingleball​ ​#Beliebers​” 10
December 2016. There was a lot of cheering when Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber performed. Overall, the performance was amazing and
very interesting.
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TECHNOLOGY
Are Video Games Putting Bad Images In Our Brain?
By Jake Icklan
Affordable Middle School Gadgets for 2017
By Andrew Kehoe
Do you ever feel like video game
creators make the games too graphic and
violent? Kids and teens seem to be getting
more violent, but what is the cause?
Video games are putting violent​ ​images in
our brain. This is happening in our own
modern day video games that are sold world wide. Parents are
starting to get worried about these games because kids under 17 are
playing these games with their parent's permission.
Video games are putting horrible images in our brains and
teaching us the wrong things. “18-year old gunman who killed nine
people in Munich, Germany… was a fan of first-person shooter video
games…”(CNN 1). This is more evidence that video games promote
violent behavior. These video games are ruining kids brains and
future. As Jakob Alexo said “ I think that these video games are
decreasing the chance of kids to succeed in the world.” What Jakob
means is that these games are sending children the wrong message
and can ruin our future. “Violent video games can lead to
aggression...” according to CNN. Aggression can lead to terrible
mistakes and lead to violent behavior. Now, do you think violent
video games can make us cruel?
Are you a student or teacher in need of some affordable technology?
If you are, here are 9 tech gadgets for middle school students and
teachers.
The New Nintendo Switch from a 7th Grader's Point
of View
By Andrew Kehoe
With nearly every student hyped about every game for Xbox One
and PlayStation 4, Nintendo’s new Switch console, codenamed NX,
will be big right? Most people think no, but what does the 7th grade
think?
We showed a few 7th graders the trailer for the console, and they
all reacted differently. James Ganley said, “It’s a cool idea that you
can switch your game from TV, to a Wii U-like thing.” Patrick
McMahon agreed with James, stating that the idea was cool and he
was excited for it’s release. Damian Smykowski added, “It’s great
that you can take it other places.”
It seems like the 7th grade thinks the 7th Nintendo Console is a
great idea, but will it overcome the almighty Xbox and PlayStation?
David Rodelo said, “No, I think too many people are playing
PlayStation and Xbox for it too make too much of an impact.” Most
other kids in the grade thought the same way, saying that Microsoft
and Sony have created a monopoly on the video game industry that
Nintendo won’t be able to overcome.
A World of Technology
By Kevin Shriner
During the fall of 2015, Orange Avenue School piloted a
program called Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT). Teachers say
that it helps improve learning in their classrooms and the students
really enjoy it. Also, it is good for many students to have technology
during class to move lessons along faster and limit that dreaded
homework. It can help students do projects in and out of school while
still staying connected to their classmates. Technology is used
everywhere nowadays, so why not implant it into a school’s learning
environment? Instead of going to a classmate’s house to complete a
project, which may be awkward for some students, the BYOT
program allows students to work together on Google from the
comfort of their own bedrooms. Personally I think the program is
great.
Parents may argue that kids will break the very expensive
laptops that have been provided for them, but I think that it’s time
middle school students have their parents’ trust. Andrew Kehoe, a
middle school student, remarked, “As long as you have adult
supervision in classrooms, why shouldn’t we be trusted?”
For Teachers:
Chromecast Audio
Starting off, we have Google’s Chromecast Audio. At just $35, this
little device plays music streamed from your phone, tablet, laptop, or
desktop. Research shows that kids work better to music, so this
seamless little audio device could be the music player for you. All
you need are speakers and a Wifi network to connect the Chromecast
to, and you and your students can start rocking!
Dell Chromebox
This is probably the cheapest desktop you will find, at a price of
$330. This secure powerhouse is perfectly capable of everything
teachers are doing on our current computers. While it doesn't have
official support for SMART Notebook software, it excels at
everything else Google-related.
CloudReady
If you don’t want to get rid of the 2006 Dells, then installing
Cloud-Ready on them is a good option. It’s a free solution to
installing Chromium OS, (a public version of what’s on the
Chromebooks) which works great. It can maximize productivity by
putting less load on the computer, making it faster, and being tied to
Google, which the school uses frequently.
Fuji Instax Mini 8
It’s no secret that teachers often like to take photos for the school
yearbook, or end-of-the-year movies. To do that, you can use Fuji’s
Instax Mini 8. The “Mini” part is really what makes this camera
unique. It’s super small size, crisp photos, and $70 price tag make it a
great camera all around.
For Students:
Panasonic RP-HTX7
These headphones could be the perfect ones for you if you're on a
budget. Priced from $30 to $46, these retro-looking headphones have
a bit more bass sound than one might like, but other than that, they
are a great pair of over-ear headphones that look and sound the part.
Lenovo N22 Chromebook
There’s no better time to join the BYOT program, and you can
participate with the super affordable Lenovo N22. Featuring a camera
that rotates 180°, and a super rugged and durable design at just $150,
this is a great option. Patrick McMahon, an OAS 7th grader, says, “I
like that they’re fast, portable, and secure. Having the ability to
connect it to a TV is also handy.”
Amazon Fire Tablet
If you're not too set on buying a full on laptop for BYOT, a tablet is a
great choice. Moreover, Amazon’s Fire Tablet allows for great
productivity while also having many different models to suit your
needs. It’s also enjoyed by many students already, like James Ganley.
“I like that it’s focused on books.” he explained. “There is a Kindle
app, but it takes forever to download a book, and it’s too tempting to
do other stuff, like going on Snapchat. When I’m reading, the Kindle
keeps me focused.”
SanDisk Clip Jam
This small, wearable music player offers 8GB of built in storage, and
has a built-in microSD card slot so you can add even more songs.
The Clip Jam also offers a bright, user friendly display, and
impressive battery life.
Blu R1
A super-affordable cell phone for students. Yes, it may not be the
iPhone 7, but it gets the job done well. It even has a school mode that
disables ALL notifications and stays quiet for the school day.
So there you have it. Nine affordable tech gadgets for middle-school
students and teachers. Everything from a tablet to a speaker system
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To join the BYOT program, parents must register their
child’s computer by filling out a form or going to Cranford School’s
website registering online.
could be used in special ways in school, and not many realize it. If
you use tech right, it can, and will enhance your school experience!
Of Interest to our Readers....
Donate and Save Millions of Lives
By William DiRusso
You hear the news and you don’t
know what to do, you feel like you want to run away. That is what
most people think when they have cancer. Even though everyone can
get it, hope isn’t lost. Cancer is a horrible disease and so far there is
no cure, but that can change. Cancer has been around forever, and
some people know a loved one that had or has it. Cancer is
everywhere and everyone has the possibility of getting it, but what if
we can stop it? If you donate just a few dollars, we could stop it by
funding organizations to get new equipment and staff.​ ​There were
other life threatening diseases that are now so treatable you don’t
even have to think about it like Measles, tuberculosis, and
pneumonia​. ​Scientists are closer than ever, but they don't have
infinite money to research. Organizations like American Cancer
Society are trying as much as they can, but they need more donations.
Once you hear the news you, are very confused and feel
trapped. When I say everyone can get it, I mean that you didn't get a
vaccination when you were young and you can’t move somewhere
where it is gone. Cancer is a disease that affects the cell in your body,
so it is not contagious at all like many other diseases. Since Cancer
happens in your body, you don’t have to worry about going
somewhere and getting it. Cancer has been around forever, but only
now is it getting a lot of attention because scientists have already
found cures for many other diseases they were previously focused on.
You should donate to the American Cancer Society because
everyone can get it and you wouldn’t want it to be so scary like it is
now. Nate Fossela explains, “Cancer is a serious topic, but now we
got more cures for it so it is less scary.” Mike Desimone also said,
“People should not be worrying about exploring new worlds when
we got real problems here, like cancer.” As you can see, you really
should donate to help cure cancer. What would you do if you got the
heartbreaking news?
Did You Know?
Is Eggmas a New Holiday?
By David Rodelo
(Cranford, NJ) -- For Carolyn Wignall and her family, celebrating
Christmas is not a thing; they celebrate Eggmas. Their family from
Huddersfield, England made their tree entirely out of egg boxes -1,000 of them. That’s over 6,000 eggs! All of these egg boxes can be
recycled afterward. On December 14th, they had finally saved up
enough egg boxes to make their tree.
The Wignalls are trying to save trees this year by using the
egg boxes. Carolyn tells the reporters, “We wanted an alternative
Christmas tree which is all about preserving trees rather than cutting
them down. We have constructed it out of items the can be recycled
afterwards.” They got their egg boxes from the cake maker in the
local area in Quarmby. Carolyn explains,
“We had so many different sizes and colours of egg boxes and bigger
ones which take 18 eggs were perfect to make a solid foundation for
the tree.”
After all that hard work, Carolyn and her family were able to
look at their tree and feel happy. So, in this 2017, think about having
a Merry Eggmas!
Are You Ready to get an A?
By Sofia Pollack
Everybody wants to get good grades on their tests and
quizzes. The best way to achieve that is to study.
Here are some tips to help you study for a quiz or test for
school. The first tip is to manage your time. When you know there is
a test in a few days, start studying a little each night. You will only
remember what happens in the first and last 10 minutes which leaves
a lot of information out. Another tip is to take notes. When you write
something down, you are more likely to remember it. It may be
bothersome in the moment, but it will really help you later.
Flashcards can be your best friend. You are writing down the
information, and the information can be put in any order that is found
suitable...Stay organized! If you stay organized, you will be able to
find the materials you need to study. If something is in a list, then
make an acronym to remember it. If there is something you need to
read over the night before, then read it earlier because if you read it
before going to sleep or in bed you might fall asleep before you
finish.
Dr. Allison A. Buskirk-Cohen, a counseling psychology
professor, says that you should “Talk about how the concepts relate
to you life, a character in a movie, a song on the radio…” while
studying or preparing for an assignment in a class. Dr. Jenny Yip is a
clinical psychologist who thinks that making a to-do list daily will
help productivity and focus when learning a new subject and having
to study it.
Flu Apocalypse
By Samantha Reeves
(Cranford, NJ)--​The flu and cold virus originate from other people
who sneeze or talk near you. But, there are ways to prevent this
horrible sickness. According to UW Health, there are 10 ways to stay
healthy during cold and flu season:
Wash your hands frequently, especially after blowing
your nose, coughing, sneezing, being with ill people and
especially before you eat
● Avoid sharing objects
● Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes
● Get enough sleep and avoid getting "run down"
● Reduce stress
● Use tissues for coughs and sneezes and dispose of them
immediately and appropriately
● Eat right and get regular exercise
● Avoid crowds and keep your distance from people
whom you know are ill
● If you are sick, avoid contact with the frail, very young
and elderly
● If you are sick, stay home from work or school
(​Taken from www.uwhealth.org)
●
The flu is very contagious especially during the winter when it is cold
and snowy. Many parents around the area are saying that the flu hits
them right after their child. So, if you are wondering if you have the
flu, here are some symptoms of the flu that you should know about:
People may experience:
Pain areas: ​in the muscles
Cough: ​can be dry or with phlegm
Whole body: ​chills, dehydration, fatigue, fever, flushing, loss of
appetite, body ache, or sweating
Nasal: ​congestion, runny nose, or sneezing
Also common: ​chest discomfort, head congestion, headache, nausea,
shortness of breath, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes
OAS student Sofia Pollack remarked, “I hope I do not catch
the flu; it’s not a sickness I would want considering the pain and the
annoyance of having it.”
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During the Flu season, you want to be careful because
schools are filled with germs. When students touch things after being
sick, they can easily pass their sickness on to someone else. You do
not want to be the next victim of the flu apocalypse, now do you?
Block Scheduling at OAS?
By Angelo Fiorenza
Last winter, ​the nine-member Cranford Board of Education endorsed the concept of a rotational drop/block schedule for Cranford
High School, and it has been recently approved for the 2017-2018 school year.
But the real question is, would it work at OAS? I think we could pull it off, but busing would be really tricky. The district only buses
students who came from BPS, so a lot of parents would have to drive. A way around this would be carpooling because it makes the parking lot
less congested. But on the flip side, it could help the environment if students carpool because there will be more kids in one car. When I asked
Mrs. Fiorenza, an employee in Cranford Public Schools, what she thought about the idea of block scheduling at OAS, she said, ” It would be
to chaotic.” I agree with her. I also think it will be very chaotic, and it will be hard to drive back and forth. However, replacing the traditional
42-minute periods with a newer system will makes learning more interesting for the kids.
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