Fitness room gets an elliptical trainer

by Lekhya Sathi

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.

Teacher Feature: Ms. Desjardins

By: Gazette staff

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.

Poll of the Week

By: Rohini Josh

Number of bumper stickers on your parent's car
Zero was the winning number out of 23 votes

What manufacturer is your parent's car
Honda was the winning manufacturer

Donkeys versus Camels
5 to 4 donkeys win

Cake versus Cupcakes
7 to 2, everyone loves cake

Plain M&M's versus Preztel
5 to 3, plain is the winner

Owls versus Hawks
7 to 3

Rock and Rock versus Rap
Rock & Roll wins 9 to 0

Violin versus Viola
7 to 1, violin wins!

Dogs versus Cats
29 to 5, dogs win by a landslide!

Short sleeves versus long sleeves
Short sleeves win 25 to 7

Pizza versus Pie
Pizza wins - 20 to 13

Middle School versus Elementary School
17 to 3, Wood Hill students prefer middle school!

Instagram versus SnapChat
Instagram wins by 7 votes, - 10 to 3

Ice Cream versus Frozen Yogurt
13 to 10, Ice Cream wins by 3

Granny Smith versus Fiji apples
7 to 3, Granny Smith wins!

Fiction vs. NonFiction books
Fiction wins 8 to 3

Early bird vs. Night owl
3 to 8, Wood Hill student are night owls

Chocolate cake versus coffe cake
10 to 6, chocolate wins!

Wendy's versus Burger King
Wendy's wins by 2 votes - 8 to 6

Coke versus Pepsi
Coke by more than 13 votes - 18 to 5

Frozen movie versus Big Hero 6 movie
Frozen wins by 1 - 13 to 12

Teachers win Turkey Bowl 2014

By: Abby Chou and Gazette staff 

Teachers dominated once again during the 2014 Wood Hill Middle School Turkey Bowl on November 26, 2014. They won 20 to 14. The flag football sporting event was created to bring students and staff together and create a fun school tradition. It was a rainy and chilly day, but that didn't stop the rest of the school from cheering on their classmates from the sidelines. 

"I thought it was fun, it was quite enjoyable," said eighth grader Matt Allen. "We had a pretty good team this year. It's a great tradition and I hope we keep doing it."

The annual event has been held since 2002, and teachers have won all 13 years. It originated as an after-school activity but has since become a fun part of the day before Thanksgiving break. Typically about a quarter of Wood Hill staff play and three quarters of eighth graders join teams to take on their teachers. 

"The eighth graders are bound to win," said Principal Patrick Bucco. "They haven't won yet but it may be because they let their differences on the field affect their play and don't work as a team."

Images courtesy of Abby Chou and Emme Pitts 

A.J.F.L. players enjoy 'friday night lights'

By: Iliana Brouillette

On Friday, Oct. 10 many Andover Junior Football League (A.J.F.L.) players and eighth grade league cheerleaders and football players were invited to the Andover High School’s varsity football game for A.J.F.L Night. Once every A.J.F.L. season the high school showcases all the hard work the kids in the A.J.F.L. put in every week and invites them in for no charge.  

The game featured the Andover Warriors verses Billerica Warriors.

Members of the A.J.F.L. include students in the fourth through seventh grades. The 8th grade league is made up of all eighth grade students from all of the Andover middle schools. In the A.J.F.L. there are six teams: the Cowboys, Vikings, Chiefs, Ravens, Panthers, and the Stealers. All the teams were called one-by-one onto the field at half time. The teams were overjoyed when they were called out to the field. 

“A.J.F.L. Night was a blast.” said Katherine Barenboim, a former cheerleader. “The (football) team showed great effort,” added sixth grader Alana Miller. 

Some of the parents had different feelings about the long game. “I'm loving the game, but its very cold,” said Dylan Archambalt, the parent of an A.J.F.L. football player. 

In the end the Andover Warriors won the game 41-17. It was a great victory by Andover and fans are hoping for many more wins this season in all of the leagues.

Joke of the Week

By Vincent Candela

Q. What do Santa’s elves learn in school?
A. The Elfabet

Q: Who says sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me?
A: A guy who has never been hit by a dictionary.

Q: What do you get when you pamper your cow?
A: Spoiled milk!

Q:What type of ticks are on the moon?
A: Lunaticks!

Q: What did venus say when it rained acid all weekend?
A: I didn't plant-et that way

Q: What's the result of a butcher and cattle in space?
A: Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

Q: Teacher, "why are you so late?"
A: Kid, "There was a sign outside that said 'school children: slow.'"

Q: What do boxers eat for dessert?
A: Pound cake

Q: What did Venus say when it rained acid all weekend?
A: I didn't plant-et that way

Q: What are 2 things that you can never have for breakfast?
A: Lunch and dinner

Q: What type of ticks are on the moon?
A: Lunaticks

Are you up for the challenge?

By Abby Chou and Emme Pitts

Destination Imagination (DI) is back! DI is a chance to have some fun with your closest friends and will make you more open-minded while preparing for a variety of challenges and competition. There are seven new challenges this year, which students will tackle using their creative spirit and teamwork. Wood Hill students are participating on a variety of teams this year, including one led by music teacher Mrs. Murray. "I think it is a fun experience socially, you can have imagination and let it out, it's a non-bullying place, and a great thing to do to do with friends, or to make new friends, and it's a creative way to show thinking," says Angelina Robbins, a member of Mrs. Murray's DI team.

The challenge themes are technical, scientific, structural, fine arts, improv, service learning, and an early learning challenge for grades K-2. Each team of 4-7 kids choose one challenge and prepare a solution to present (in an eight minute skit) at the regional competition in March. (regionals is the first competition, if you get 1st at Regionals, you go to States, and if you get 1st there you go to Globals in Tennessee.)

For the technical challenge, named Creature Feature, teams will have to make a fully-functioning creature to complete a series of tasks in the skit. For the fine arts challenge, named Feary Tales, teams will have to create a fairy tale about a character who faces and deals with a phobia. In the improv challenge, named The Improv Games, teams will create three independent two-minute improvisational skits with a one minute planning time and practice incorporating random elements.

Teams will also take part in an Instant Challenge, a 5-10 minute, task or performance-based challenge that stretches your teamwork and creativity to the limits.