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Thursday, December 3, 2015
Gazette Weekly Poll
Take the Wood Hill Gazette's weekly online poll. Vote on your favorites! Share your opinion!
And lots more! :)
Thursday, October 15, 2015
First school dance welcomes students back to Wood Hill
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| Eighth graders Katie Benjamin and Solace Lockheardt having fun at the dance. |
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| Solace Lockheardt and Mrs. Sullivan |
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| A group pose by sixth grade boys at Wood Hill. |
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| Katie Benjamin enjoys a night off from homework. |
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| Olivia Dionisio, Danna Mejenes, Ella Brockleman, Lizzie Hart enjoy the dance. |
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Wood Hill students excel at Academic Bowl
by Lekhya Sathi
Thursday March 12 was the last Academic Bowl meet for the 2014-2015 school year. This year the Wood Hill team has won four of the five meets. The team from Wood Hill, made up of nineteen selected students from sixth, seventh and eighth grade competed with middle schools from Andover and other neighboring cities, such as Methuen, Lawrence, and North Andover.
Each Academic Bowl competition is divided into two parts. The first challenge is to as a team, simultaneously complete a fill-in-the-blank worksheet, followed by a building challenge, and a scrabble challenge in a given amount of time. After this is the buzzer round, which is played jeopardy style, with the teams being asked questions and having to press the buzzer to answer.
Thursday March 12 was the last Academic Bowl meet for the 2014-2015 school year. This year the Wood Hill team has won four of the five meets. The team from Wood Hill, made up of nineteen selected students from sixth, seventh and eighth grade competed with middle schools from Andover and other neighboring cities, such as Methuen, Lawrence, and North Andover.
Each Academic Bowl competition is divided into two parts. The first challenge is to as a team, simultaneously complete a fill-in-the-blank worksheet, followed by a building challenge, and a scrabble challenge in a given amount of time. After this is the buzzer round, which is played jeopardy style, with the teams being asked questions and having to press the buzzer to answer.
In an interview right before the final meet, eight graders Nicole Papageorgiou and Allyson Care said the Academic Bowl is a really fun experience.
Each academic bowl competition is divided into two parts. The first challenge is to as a team, simultaneously complete a fill in the blank worksheet, a building challenge, and a scrabble challenge in a given amount of time. After this is the buzzer round, which is played jeopardy style, with the teams being asked questions and having to press the buzzer to answer.
In an interview right before the final meet, Nicole Papageorgiou and Allyson Care, two eighth graders who participate in this said the Academic Bowl is a really fun experience. This year, the Wood Hill team has won 4 of the 5 meets which is really good.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Students Mix-It-Up at lunch
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| Dan Ivanovich, Sona Chaudary, Emma Azzi and Jackie Hemman. |
On Wednesday, April 29, Wood Hill Middle School held a Mix It Up Lunch run and organized by the Student Ambassadors. At this lunch students were assigned to tables at lunch, instead of choosing where to sit. This forced students to sit with different people.
The cafeteria was decorated, including a balloon at each table. Icebreakers were also at each table, these were questions that were meant to “break the ice” or start a conversation at each table. Some examples include: what's your favorite food or what's your favorite Mexican restaurant.
At the start of the lunch, everyone was given a question card filled with Wood Hill trivia, then at the end the answers were revealed. If you got a certain number of questions correct then your group got free ice cream on Monday.
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| Sixth graders switch up their seating during Mix It Up Lunch. |
Most people interviewed disliked the event, explaining that it was uncomfortable being with people that they didn’t know. Others liked it because they got to meet new people.
History Comes Alive!
By Abby Chou
On Thursday night, May 21, almost all of team 6West and their parents were at Memorial Hall Library, for the presenting of the Andover Research Project iMovies. Though there were some technical difficulties, they were worked out, and overall it was considered a wonderful night.
It started off with a presentation by Emme Pitts, Emily Chen, Lizzie Jones, and John Lee about the process through which we made our iMovies. It involves being grouped, picking our topics, researching our topics at Memorial Hall, and learning how to use iMovie. After the presentation, the movies started. Each group of about four kids was assigned a topic about Andover history, for example, the fire department, the Andover Townsman, Shawsheen and Frye village, Phillips Academy and many more.
The movies varied, showing off the students’ creativity and skills with technology. Some used and interview to show what they learned, some used a game show, and some created a story related to the topic. Each video brought new and original ideas into the minds of the viewers, and the night was a great showcase of the students’ talents.
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| John Lee, Emme Pitts and Emily Chen. |
It started off with a presentation by Emme Pitts, Emily Chen, Lizzie Jones, and John Lee about the process through which we made our iMovies. It involves being grouped, picking our topics, researching our topics at Memorial Hall, and learning how to use iMovie. After the presentation, the movies started. Each group of about four kids was assigned a topic about Andover history, for example, the fire department, the Andover Townsman, Shawsheen and Frye village, Phillips Academy and many more.
The movies varied, showing off the students’ creativity and skills with technology. Some used and interview to show what they learned, some used a game show, and some created a story related to the topic. Each video brought new and original ideas into the minds of the viewers, and the night was a great showcase of the students’ talents.
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| Parents, teachers, students and friends enjoy movie presentations at Memorial Hall Library. |
Friendship and fun in Buddy Up!
By Emme Pitts
Looking for a an after school activity where you can bond with younger students and learn about different cultures? Then buddy up is the activity for you!
Wood Hill and High Plain students meet every Tuesday with their buddies to help them with their homework, play games and do fun activities. Both Katie Allen (6 East) and Navya Pandya (6 West) agree that Buddy up is a great opportunity to meet younger students. They also think that it helps you develop skills good for babysitting.
Both the younger students and the older students love the activities they do together. They play play games like nine square to get some exercise and fresh air. This helps the students to learn more about each other and each others cultures.
Looking for a an after school activity where you can bond with younger students and learn about different cultures? Then buddy up is the activity for you!
Wood Hill and High Plain students meet every Tuesday with their buddies to help them with their homework, play games and do fun activities. Both Katie Allen (6 East) and Navya Pandya (6 West) agree that Buddy up is a great opportunity to meet younger students. They also think that it helps you develop skills good for babysitting.
Both the younger students and the older students love the activities they do together. They play play games like nine square to get some exercise and fresh air. This helps the students to learn more about each other and each others cultures.
The Earthy Green Summer Concert
By: Katie Benjamin
Wood Hill chorus students will be performing in the Nature Concert on Wednesday, June 3, featuring songs that are nature themed. The songs are "No One Is Alone" from the hit movie Into the Woods, "Tres Canciones de los Elementos," sung fully in its original Spanish, and one Kids' Choice Song, which will be a mashup of "Geronimo" by Sheppard and "Lived" by One Republic.
"I only like the Spanish one, even though it isn't really that summer-y to me, but the song 'No One is Alone' is a good one," says a seventh grade chorus student.
"[In 'Tres Canciones de los Elementos'] I think the fire part is really like summer because it's hot and talks about fire, but I think people might not like it because they might not understand it." The student also says that she thinks it might be like the French song [performed earlier this year], meaning people might not understand it.
The concert is bound to be a hit.
Wood Hill chorus students will be performing in the Nature Concert on Wednesday, June 3, featuring songs that are nature themed. The songs are "No One Is Alone" from the hit movie Into the Woods, "Tres Canciones de los Elementos," sung fully in its original Spanish, and one Kids' Choice Song, which will be a mashup of "Geronimo" by Sheppard and "Lived" by One Republic.
"I only like the Spanish one, even though it isn't really that summer-y to me, but the song 'No One is Alone' is a good one," says a seventh grade chorus student.
"[In 'Tres Canciones de los Elementos'] I think the fire part is really like summer because it's hot and talks about fire, but I think people might not like it because they might not understand it." The student also says that she thinks it might be like the French song [performed earlier this year], meaning people might not understand it.
The concert is bound to be a hit.
7W Trashion Show celebrates Earth Day
By Eric Qu
Team 7West celebrated Earth Day this year with a "Trashion Show" project. 7West students had to think of ways to take recyclable items, such as paper bags, cardboard, and more to create works of art or clothes to put into a Trashion show! One of the featured creations included Amu Tawawalla's and top hat, made of newspaper, with pennies glued to it.
Team 7West celebrated Earth Day this year with a "Trashion Show" project. 7West students had to think of ways to take recyclable items, such as paper bags, cardboard, and more to create works of art or clothes to put into a Trashion show! One of the featured creations included Amu Tawawalla's and top hat, made of newspaper, with pennies glued to it.
Crew group helps out around Wood Hill
Students in Miss Menesale's Crew group helped out around the school picking up trash to help celebrate Earth Day and give back to the Wood Hill community.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
The History of Earth Day
By Vincent Candela
Earth Day is a day where the earth is recognized and we try think of ways to not wreck our planet. It is celebrated on April 22. It was first celebrated in April 22, 1970 and it was the start of the environmental movement. At that time factories dumped whatever they wanted in rivers, factories could also burn whatever they felt like burning and they could do it anywhere. Companies also made many dumps with toxic materials sometimes in the middle of watersheds and people drove around cars with leaded gas.
The basis of the modern environmental movement began when Rachel Carson published a book called Silent Spring in 1962. It was where she took on the chemical industry. She exposed information about many dangerous chemicals that different companies were using. Before this book was published, the word “environment” was never really used except for in spelling bees. This book raised awareness for the environment.
The founder of Earth Day was Gaylord Nelson a senator from Wisconsin who was worried about the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. He thought that if he could get the energy from the anti-Vietnam movement to the environmental movement then there could be actual change for the environment. He persuaded Pete McCloskey another congressman to be his co-chair for his environmental movement. He also hired Denis Hayes as the national coordinator for the movement. Hayes hired about 80 people as his staff. Since many people then realized a lot of environmental problems they staged many protests.
On Earth Day 1970 almost all politicians (except for industry politicians) agreed on national environment reform. The following laws congress enacted were staggering. The laws were the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. They also created the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) which protected the environment and managed superfund sites. Superfund sites are places where there are a lot toxic chemicals. The main agency is the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.).
Earth Day is a day where the earth is recognized and we try think of ways to not wreck our planet. It is celebrated on April 22. It was first celebrated in April 22, 1970 and it was the start of the environmental movement. At that time factories dumped whatever they wanted in rivers, factories could also burn whatever they felt like burning and they could do it anywhere. Companies also made many dumps with toxic materials sometimes in the middle of watersheds and people drove around cars with leaded gas.
The basis of the modern environmental movement began when Rachel Carson published a book called Silent Spring in 1962. It was where she took on the chemical industry. She exposed information about many dangerous chemicals that different companies were using. Before this book was published, the word “environment” was never really used except for in spelling bees. This book raised awareness for the environment.
The founder of Earth Day was Gaylord Nelson a senator from Wisconsin who was worried about the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. He thought that if he could get the energy from the anti-Vietnam movement to the environmental movement then there could be actual change for the environment. He persuaded Pete McCloskey another congressman to be his co-chair for his environmental movement. He also hired Denis Hayes as the national coordinator for the movement. Hayes hired about 80 people as his staff. Since many people then realized a lot of environmental problems they staged many protests.
On Earth Day 1970 almost all politicians (except for industry politicians) agreed on national environment reform. The following laws congress enacted were staggering. The laws were the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. They also created the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) which protected the environment and managed superfund sites. Superfund sites are places where there are a lot toxic chemicals. The main agency is the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.).
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
POLL: Kids vs Pets
By Rohini Josh
These are the results of a 3 week survey we did:
13 out 30 kids have 2 children in their house
11 out of 30 have 3 children in their house
2 out of 15 have 1 child in their house
The last two had 4 kids and 6 kids living in their house
½ of the kids we surveyed had 0 pets
4 out of 30 had 1 pet
1/10 of the kids we surveyed had 2 pets
1/10 of the kids we surveyed had 3 pets
The rest had immense amounts like 50, 20, and 4
8 out of 30 had dogs
1/15 of the kids surveyed have cats
1/5 of the kids surveyed have fish
½ had no pets at all
1 kid had turtles
1 kid had a bunny
1 kid had shrimp
1 kid had a bird
How this compares to the whole US
2 kids per house
At least one dog resides in 36.5 percent of households,
while 30.4 percent of households have at least one cat.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Camp Kieve: What is it?
By Eric Qu
As we all know (or most of us), the annual visit to Camp Kieve is upon us! Be ready for a whole entire week of sleeping in cabins and having a fun time outdoors on thing like the tree-top adventures and other things, like solo, which is thinking by yourself.
Since 1981, The Leadership School at Kieve has been developing leaders and strengthening communities by challenging students, teachers, and parents to take positive risks, set meaningful goals, make healthy decisions, all while being supportive team members and strong leaders. Adolescents still face a world of challenging choices and conflicting messages: our approach to supporting them as they face the challenges of growing up remains the same, states the Kieve website.
Traditionally students visit for three to five days at one of the two Kieve-Wavus campuses on the shores of Damariscotta Lake in Maine. The day begins early and “student activities and classes focus on providing opportunities for students to make healthy decisions, practice positive risk taking, form and maintain healthy relationships, raise aspirations, and create physically and emotionally safer school climates,” according to the Kieve website.
Classes cover topics like communication skills, relationships, developing self, decision making, adventures, teambuilding and environmental stewardship.
A typical day starts early at 7:30 a.m. and includes a variety of activities during the day and evening. It’s lights out at 9:15 p.m. for seventh graders. Students sleep in cabins. Each has its own unique character and up to 16 bunks. Choice time every afternoon allows students to play sports, do arts & crafts, go on nature walks or explore the ropes courses.
Q: What do I bring?
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Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Pi Day
By Billy Nicolakakis
On Friday March 13, Wood Hill celebrated Pi Day. Pi is a mathematical symbol that you can find the circumference of a circle, and it represents 3.14. The numbers are infinite and people are finding more numbers everyday. But in Wood Hill team 7 West celebrated by making hats related to pi and had contests of the best hat and who could recite the most digits of pi . At the end of the day every one in the school got mini apple pies.
On Friday March 13, Wood Hill celebrated Pi Day. Pi is a mathematical symbol that you can find the circumference of a circle, and it represents 3.14. The numbers are infinite and people are finding more numbers everyday. But in Wood Hill team 7 West celebrated by making hats related to pi and had contests of the best hat and who could recite the most digits of pi . At the end of the day every one in the school got mini apple pies.
Fiddler hits the stage!
By Abby Chou
On the night of Feb. 7, the WHMS Drama Club produced a stunning performance of Fiddler on The Roof. Shyann Koul as Tevya, Natalie Caffrey as Golde, Madison Quill as Yente, Belle Haslam as Tzietel, Michael Makiej as Motel, Catherine Bravo as Chava, Griffin Viera as Perchik, and many others helped to make this play a success whether they were in the cast, on tech crew, or on stage crew.
Fiddler on the Roof is about a poor Russian Jewish family and their struggle against prosecution by the Russians and changes that are tearing the family apart. It very well known for the song “If I were a rich man,” “Matchmaker” and “Tradition” all performed beautifully by the cast and chorus.
Special thanks to Mrs. Rey, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Sullivan and the student directors for managing the cast, pit band, stage crew, and tech crew.
On the night of Feb. 7, the WHMS Drama Club produced a stunning performance of Fiddler on The Roof. Shyann Koul as Tevya, Natalie Caffrey as Golde, Madison Quill as Yente, Belle Haslam as Tzietel, Michael Makiej as Motel, Catherine Bravo as Chava, Griffin Viera as Perchik, and many others helped to make this play a success whether they were in the cast, on tech crew, or on stage crew.
Fiddler on the Roof is about a poor Russian Jewish family and their struggle against prosecution by the Russians and changes that are tearing the family apart. It very well known for the song “If I were a rich man,” “Matchmaker” and “Tradition” all performed beautifully by the cast and chorus.
Special thanks to Mrs. Rey, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Sullivan and the student directors for managing the cast, pit band, stage crew, and tech crew.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Teacher Feature: Madame Gregory
By Katie Benjamin & Katie Budinger
Q: What subject do you teach?
A: French
Q: How many years have you been teaching at Wood Hill?
A: French
Q: How many years have you been teaching at Wood Hill?
A: Since 2002, when the school opened.
Q: Is it fun working with your husband (Mr. Gregory)?
A:I hardly ever see him, so it's like I don't even work with him. Only at home do we talk, and we talk about school then.
Q: What's something we'd never guess about you?
A: I had one of the best three times for the 60 yard dash in France. I also won a writing award, medals for track and was a hurdling champion.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I like to garden, run, ride my bike and also do crafts like paint.
Q: Where did you go to school? What was it like?
A: School in France was hard, says Gregory. The days were from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There was lots of work involved and doing well in school was important in life.
Q: Where have you traveled?
A: I have been to Africa, all around Europe, across America on a bus at age 22, and Hawaii.
Q: Is French your first language?
A: It is my first language.
Q: When did you come to the U.S.?
A: I came to the U.S. in 1978 or 79.
Q: What was the same in France and the U.S? What was it like moving here?
A: It was very, very difficult, leaving friends, family, culture, habits, you have to learn everything. I miss my sisters. This country is very different. In size, the U.S. is a new country, and France a small, old country.
Q: Is it fun working with your husband (Mr. Gregory)?
A:I hardly ever see him, so it's like I don't even work with him. Only at home do we talk, and we talk about school then.
Q: What's something we'd never guess about you?
A: I had one of the best three times for the 60 yard dash in France. I also won a writing award, medals for track and was a hurdling champion.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I like to garden, run, ride my bike and also do crafts like paint.
Q: Where did you go to school? What was it like?
A: School in France was hard, says Gregory. The days were from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There was lots of work involved and doing well in school was important in life.
Q: Where have you traveled?
A: I have been to Africa, all around Europe, across America on a bus at age 22, and Hawaii.
Q: Is French your first language?
A: It is my first language.
Q: When did you come to the U.S.?
A: I came to the U.S. in 1978 or 79.
Q: What was the same in France and the U.S? What was it like moving here?
A: It was very, very difficult, leaving friends, family, culture, habits, you have to learn everything. I miss my sisters. This country is very different. In size, the U.S. is a new country, and France a small, old country.
Author Soman Chainani speaks to Wood Hill, High Plain students
By Vincent CandelaOn March 3, author Soman Chainani visited students at Wood Hill Middle and High Plain Elementary schools. The popular author has written two books in his The School of Good and Evil series and a third is set to come out this spring.
The audience in the Wood Hill auditorium was full of excitement at 9:30 a.m. to hear what Chainani was about to say. He first started off by saying that he wanted to create fairy tales where the heroes don’t always win. He said that when he was a kid he watched the whole collection of Disney movies but he eventually became allergic to them.
In Disney movies, most of the time the villains are the funniest and the most exciting characters. The problem is, they are the ones who die in the end but instead the boring heroes take their place and the story ends with a happily ever after. The only problem with that is that is boring and its not really fair for the "smart" villains.
Students are encouraged to check out Chainani's books at their school library. Learn more about the author and his books on his website.
WHM parents learn more about technology and online safety
By Miss Menesale
Wood Hill parents gathered in The Hub on Friday, Feb. 27 to learn more about keeping their teens safe online. The talk was hosted by School Adjustment Counselors Patty Casey and Hillary Brooks. More than 20 parents came to hear Andover police officers Kevin Aufiero and Steve Gerrior and WHM Digital Learning Specialist Sarah Menesale discuss issues of online safety, technology use, various apps and programs, and resources for parents.
Parents shared tips with each other and had an open and honest discussion about online safety and use. Discussion topics included types of accounts students had, privacy settings, access to usernames and passwords, cyberbullying, examples of students being exclusive posting pictures, friending each other.
To learn more about Andover's district resources, read A Middle School Parent's Guide to Social Media written by the middle school digital learning specialists, check out the Wood Hill health curriculum and internet awareness resources.
To learn more about Andover's district resources, read A Middle School Parent's Guide to Social Media written by the middle school digital learning specialists, check out the Wood Hill health curriculum and internet awareness resources.
Friday, January 9, 2015
Fitness room gets an elliptical trainer
In November, Andover High School donated its old elliptical machine to Wood Hill after getting a new one. Right now it’s placed in the fitness room of the gym. According to Physical Education teacher Mrs. Rogers, it’s a really good piece of equipment for cardiovascular strengthening, and a great addition to use for the fitness unit.
Many people are really excited to have the new equipment to work on, and even Mrs. Casey and some of the other teachers have been coming to work out on it.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Teacher Feature: Ms. Desjardins
Q: How long have you worked here?
A: I've been here for 7 years, since 2007.
Q: What do you teach?
A: Sixth grade English and Social Studies.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: Yes, a cat.
Q: Why did you become a teacher?
A: I had a really great eighth grade teacher, who inspired me.
Q: What was you favorite subject when you were in school?
A: English.
Q: If you weren't a teacher, what would you do?
A: Publish children's books.
Q: What's your favorite movie?
A: Braveheart (It's rated R, guys!).
Q: What's your favorite book?
A: A Separate Peace by John Knowles.
Q: What's your favorite TV show?
A: Once Upon a Time.
Q: What's your favorite food?
A: Indian food.
Q: What's your favorite tool?
A: A screwdriver.
Q: What's your favorite holiday?
A: Christmas!
Q: Do you like pie?
A: Yes.
Q: If you could be any animal, what would you be?
A: A giraffe.
Q: Do you believe in unicorns?
A: No.
Q: Microsoft or Apple?
A: Apple.
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