Back-to-School WEB Event

Back-to-School WEB Event

By Tessa Barcelo

For some people, going back to school is super fun. For others, not so much. But I think that all the sixth graders and WEB leaders can agree that the back-to-school WEB event was definitely on the fun side of things.

The event took place in the Wood Hill cafeteria on Friday, September 15. There was food, dancing, games, karaoke, and tons of fun. Everybody was rocking out to great tunes like Feel It Still, I Like To Move It, and Rude. The WEB leaders organized some games, too, including Find the WEB Leader, Limbo, and Freeze Dance.

Some other fun from the night was a raffle, whose winners were given a ten dollar gift card to Mr. Gelato, UBurger, and Orange Leaf. There was also a dance battle circle, in which participants did their craziest dance moves. A few brave souls stepped up to sing in front of their classmates for karaoke, and even more danced their hearts out to the music. All in all, it was definitely a fun night.

Camp Kieve

By Lisa and Madeline Shin

Are you a seventh grader?  Did you sign up for Camp Kieve last year?  Then you are in for a blast!  Starting next week, seventh graders will ride on a luxurious coach bus heading towards Nobleboro, Maine.  The destination they will be heading to is Camp Kieve, the camp where the seventh graders will get memorable lessons on leadership.  They will be taught numerous things that would help them in realistic scenarios.  These various lessons will be helpful to the seventh graders because they might face the same situations in today’s world. For example, at Camp Kieve, you might be taught about working with strangers that you’ve never known! You’ll have to learn how to be supportive of your teammate, despite the fact that you’ve never even talked with the person in your entire life! This will probably be a paramount moment in your work life. At work, you might have to work with people you generally don’t find pleasant.  This will help seventh graders learn vital skills in teamwork.  

Camp Kieve will be an experience to the seventh graders, but they must prepare in order to fully enjoy it.  They must bring certain personal items-shampoo, sunscreen, and extra socks, e.t.c.  Mostly items that would be helpful in the household. Think about it. You do not want to stink the place up with your odor.  While you do have tons of things to bring, however, you cannot bring electronics or any school supplies.  Just for your sake, don’t bring any expensive things like the non-cheap variety of shoes.  Especially if they are the high heel variety.  They are going to be ruined since we go outside everyday, no matter the weather.  Trust us.  You do not want to mess with Mother Nature.  Your shoes might look like you came from a warzone. Other than that, just make sure you keep your memories with you!

At Camp Kieve, you’ll be assigned to different cabins. Each cabin is cozy and are in good condition. They have indoor plumbing, electricity, and over 16 bunk beds.  Homesickness may occur as these cabins are much different than your home, but adjusting to your new surroundings is easier than most people think. Your window might also have a nice view of the lake!  That’s great!

That’s all folks! Camp Kieve will probably be the best time of your life, so for sixth graders, better sign up!  You will regret not taking the decision to make another good opportunity to yourself for the future.  As the Butterfly Effect goes, one little choice in the past greatly impacts the future, no matter how small.  Think of what I said as you will.  The world you see today was impacted by the smallest choice, so joining Camp Kieve will also impact the world too.  Seems impossible, but is true.  See you next year or next week in Camp Kieve!

We got this photo from the Camp Kieve cite.

https://kievewavus.org/camps/kieve-camp-for-boys/view

Schools Hit By Harvey

By:Emily Flanagan

Hurricane Harvey hit the state of Texas on August 25- September 3. Now the kids are already back in school. For you, the first day of school may mean, tests, homework, and stress. But for these kids, it meant having something normal in their lives. At Codwell Elementary the the secretary stood outside offering a hug to every student who walked through the doors. Out of 280 schools in Houston 250 opened last Monday. Several of the unopened schools were still closed due to the damage that Harvey caused. Roughly nine of the schools were closed because they were so wrecked that they had to be relocated or possibly doubled up with other schools in the nearby and surrounding areas. The Superintendent made a speech on the first of school, put a lot of stress on being flexible. Superintendent Carranza said, “This is going to be a year of not only great academic achievement, but it's going to be a year of healing.”

You may have noticed that there are posters and boxes all around the Wood Hill Middle School asking for donations, for a school in Texas that was hit particularly hard. Everything that will be donated are going to the the families and teachers at that school so that hopefully they can soon reopen. Below are some links used for this article

https://www.google.com/search?q=schools+hit+by+harvey&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjc1Nnq_LHWAhWF7iYKHSVyAasQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=638&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=dz7zKyjS3QFwxM:

https://www.google.com/search?q=schools+hit+by+harvey&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjc1Nnq_LHWAhWF7iYKHSVyAasQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=638&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=DrN5I7ggc-69XM:

https://www.google.com/search?q=students+in+school+after+harvey&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUyZy4_LHWAhXIYyYKHUflDYUQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=638&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=-uOUvIgdcUSWBM:

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/09/11/550218485/houston-public-schools-open-after-delays-from-hurricane-harvey

 

Destination Imagination

By Tessa Barcelo

About

Destination Imagination (more commonly known as DI) has caused a lot of excitement at Wood Hill. Last year, the team MEGA V (now MEGA TV) went to Globals with their awesome skit about an octopus. This year, all three of Wood Hill’s teams went to States and the Kabba Blimey Manatees have made it to Globals. But what is DI?

DI is comprised of two parts- the Central Challenge and the Instant Challenge. In the Instant Challenge, a team is given a task and they have a limited amount of time and materials to complete it. They are then scored on different elements of it. The Central Challenge has many different categories. This year, Wood Hill competed in the Fine Arts, Scientific and Improv challenges. Each challenge has a problem or a scene that the team must make a skit about. There are a few requirements for each one.

Wood Hill’s teams are MEGA TV, Defying Gravity, and the Kabba Blimey Manatees. This year, MEGA TV competed in the Fine Arts challenge, Vanished, Defying Gravity competed in the Scientific, Top Secret, and the Kabba Blimey Manatees competed in the Improv challenge, 3-Peat.

This Year

On March 18, the first competition was held. This was Regionals, at Greater Lawrence Technical School. The Kabba Blimey Manatees and MEGA TV each got first place in their categories and Defying Gravity got second. All of the teams made it to States.

The next competition, States, was held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on April 2. The competition was fierce, and only one of our teams made it to Globals, the Kabba Blimey Manatees. When asked about their experience with DI, the team in question exploded into rants about things that must have been inside jokes, including “FASHION, FASHION, FASHION”, “water damage”, and “it’s also a cult”.

Team Talk


We talked to members from the teams about DI in general and their experiences with it. “This was my first year and I loved it. I’m definitely doing it again next year,” says Tessa Barcelo, 7th grade, MEGA TV. Maddy Zugel, also a member of MEGA TV in 7th grade, said, “DI, or Destination Imagination, is where we can let our thoughts out in the open. Even if the thoughts are crazy, the thoughts will not be rejected right away. Every crazy idea in your mind you can let out, and those thoughts will be added by other ideas to create something amazing. DI doesn’t really run on too many rules, it runs on your imagination. Your imagination is everything in DI.” Emme Pitts, 8th grade, Kabba Blimey Manatees, said, “What are your food options? I’m on a diet of strictly air.”

Hopefully you know a little more about DI now!

Here Comes Kieve!

By: Nadia Shah

Who’s ready for Kieve? In a few weeks, 7th graders are going on a 5-day trip to camp Kieve, located in Nobleboro, Maine. It takes about three hours to get there, and three hours to come back. Are you ready to review the trip?

The first thing you should be looking at is your packing list. You are going to need many things, so be sure to read the packing list (included right below):

Personal items: toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, towel, etc.


Sleeping bag and pillow ( or sheets and blankets). Bring in a plastic bag to keep them clean and dry.


Rain gear: unless there is thunder and lightening, we DO go outside.


Cold weather gear: Gloves, hats, scarves, winter boots, etc


Socks, socks, socks: It sounds silly, but if you get wet or cold, you are going to want warm feet.


Clothing that can be layered. Sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts. It is easier to take off extra layers than to wish you had brought more!


Closed toed shoes: This is a requirement to climb on our Ropes Course.


Miscellaneous Gear: Sunscreen, chapstick, water bottle, bug spray, cameras are allowed but not in the classroom, flashlight.


You can leave your school books, pencils and rulers behind. But, you may want to bring reading material for at night.


Medications must be in the original bottle, with the label indicating name and dose. All medications will go to the infirmary upon arrival and be divided into cabins for your cabin staff to distribute accordingly. Our Health Care Manager will be checking all medications and dosage instructions when you arrive. Also, she will be on duty to help out during the week.


We encourage you not to bring electronics, they may get lost. If you need music to fall asleep you may bring an ipod or portable cd player with headphones, but they must be kept in the cabin.

Next, you are going to want to look into where exactly you will be staying. At Kieve, you stay in cabins. Each cabin has their own character. They will keep you warm and dry (don’t worry!). All the cabins have two toilets, two sinks, and two showers, electrical outlets, heat, and up to 16 bunk beds. Some have a lakefront view! Kieve asks that you do not ruin the cabins, because they serve as homes to staff. Be sure to remember that Kieve is NOT a hotel!

Then, you should look at your schedule. You are going to want to know what you will be doing and when out will be doing it. A normal day is as follows:
7:30 - Wake Up


8:00 - Breakfast


9:00-Noon: Classes. Don’t worry, there's a snack in the middle of the morning!


12:00-12:30 - LUNCH


12:30-3:00 - Class


3:00 - Snack #2


3:20 - Choice time. (See below for sample choice time activities)


5:15 - DINNER


6:30 - Evening program


8:00 - Snack #3


9:00 - Lights out(6th graders) 9:15(7th graders) 9:30 (older students)


Finally, you are going to want to know what you are going to eat, since food is your first priority! Kieve has many choices of food, so you will be okay if you are picky! In the morning you will sit at a table with your cabin-mates and have a family style meal. Breakfast choices include cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, milk, orange juice and a hot entrée like waffles or eggs and bacon. Lunches are served buffet style. You will line up and make selections from the lunch line where you will find a variety of hot foods (turkey with stuffing, chicken fajitas, hot dogs, etc). There is also a sandwich bar where you can make your own sandwich, as well as a salad bar. You can have as many helpings as you want. We just ask that you try to eat what you take. At lunchtime you can sit wherever you please -- catching up with old friends or getting to know new friends and TLS Educators better and catch up from the morning. Like breakfast, dinner is served family style and you will sit with your TLS Cabin Educator and cabin mates. For dinner you can expect things like burgers, spaghetti, stew. There is always a vegetarian choice.

Kieve is an amazing experience (from what I have heard), and I can’t wait to take part in it (and I think you should too)!

Source: Kieve

Professor Fix It:In The Sky

Dear Professor Fix-It,

Why do we see the color blue, whenever we look in the sky? Aso, why do we see clouds?

Please help,

In the Sky

Dear In the Sky,

“Blue light is scattered in all directions by the tiny molecules of air in Earth's atmosphere. Blue is scattered more than other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves. This is why we see a blue sky most of the time.” This is a quote from NASA Space Place. It is great to be curious so I am going to let you look up why we see clouds. If you don't like the answer the web gives you ask your science teacher, teachers love kids who are curious.

Hope that Helps,

Professor Fix It

Diversity Night to be held May 4

By Iliana Brouillette

The word diversity describes Wood Hill's community perfectly. But rarely do we ever stop and celebrate our differences that make us all so unique. There are so many different cultures that a few teachers decided to create a night just for showing and celebrating diversity. Diversity Night will be a showcase of clothes, languages, dances, music, and foods from all around the world. Students from all grades have volunteered to help out with it. The festivities start at 6 o'clock on Thursday, May 4.