An online student publication of Melissa Middle SchoolVolume 8January 13, 2017

Van Schepen Captivates Reading ClassesBy Aubrey Bell

When it comes to helping students stay on the right track, Michelle Van Schepen is the one for the job. She draws her students in by reading, which is noted as one of her strengths. Van Schepen’s on level classes are currently reading My

Brother Sam is Dead, and her Honors classes are reading Chains. According to Van Schepen, the most significant part of the plot in My Brother Sam is Dead is when Tim starts to change and he decides whether to be a Patriot or a Tory.

The next literary work that her classes will be reading is the Holocaust master- Photo By Brianne Finnell

Students listen eagerly as Michelle Van Schepen reads the novel Chains to her class.

Snow in North Texas is a rare thing to see, so when the snow started falling last Friday, MMS students started celebrating. Although there was very little accumulation, the flurries led some

Snow Big Deal

Photo By Kate McMinn

By Mackenzie Wilkie parents to pick up their kids from school early. Students who have waited for this winter marvel were disappointed when school remained in session. Going to math class, however, was more fun than usual, as students took a route through the

falling snow. “I was really excited because we rarely get snow and I like to eat it,” Ashley Vasquez said. It wasn’t quite the Great Blizzard of 1899 or even the North Texas ice storm of 2013, but for locals, a little bit of snow was a big deal.

piece, The Diary of Anne Frank. “I am very excited to read The Diary of Anne Frank,” she said. “It’s my favorite to teach.”

North Central Texas receives snow.

What do you call the cast of Oklahoma?Oklahomies!

By Brenna Smith

Monica Noel’s eighth grade art class recently finished painting a gradient with any color they wanted to use, and a black silhouette over it.

They are displayed on the wall located near the Science Lab. They also finished the clay bobble heads that are very well made.

Photo By Brianne Finnell

Slippery, Soapy Sculptures The sixth graders are making their mark in soap bars, in a creative soap sculpting project in reading classes. This is a difficult craft, but these students make it look easy. After reading Becoming Naomi Leon, students made sculptures making connections with the novel.

MMS Art ExcelsUnder Ms. Noel

Photo By Brenna Smith

Photo By Brenna Smith The eighth grade started a new project before break, including making mosaic artwork out of magazines.

The seventh grade is working on set tape projects.

MMS art students are always working hard to excel in class.

The only way to get out of this mess was to find Santiago, Naomi’s biological father, and ask him for help. The reason for the carving is because Naomi would always carve what meant most to her. Our students made meaningful connections with the book with this carving project.

Photo By Clency Richardson

The story is about a young girl that lives with her grandmother and she has a passion of carving, which she gets from her dad. One day her mom made a surprise visit with her new boyfriend. They came to take custody of Naomi so she can full-time babysit “Stepdad’s” baby.

By Clency Richardson

Students Share Most Memorable MomentsPhoto essay by Mia Rodriguez and Kate Fletcher

“My 2016 was made by playing football.”

“My 2016 was made by friends and sports.”

“My 2016 was made by playing sports.”

“My 2016 was made by traveling, friends, and sports.”

“My 2016 was made by getting to see my grandma on New Year's Day.”

“My 2016 was made by having Christmas with my family.”

Antonio Robinson, 8th

Avery Ifarinde, 6th

Kale Brakebill, 7th

Abbie Chaloupka, 6th

Payton Wallace, 7th

Abbey Maldonaldo, 8th

By Clency Richardson Being such a small city, we want to be a little unique.Our mayor, Reed Greer, decided to put lights on the water tower. Melissa residents personally enjoy looking up at night and seeing this wonderful attraction with the stars. The lights change colors on special occasions. When the Cardinals win a game, the tower turns red. The lights changed for “Click it Colby,” shining bright green to show the love the community has towards him and his

Let It Shine!Iconic Water Tower Lights Up the Town

family. Each October, it explodes in pink for breast cancer awareness and on the Fourth of July, it stripes our national colors of red,white, and blue.

Water tower inspires the community.

K ’ F CBy: Kate Fletcher

Kylie Cosmetics came out with an eyeshadow palette that she named the Burgundy Kyshadow Palette. It has nine pressed powder shades. The following shades are Naked, Beach, Penny, LA, Burgundy, Dubai, Brick, NY, and Almond.

Naked has a

Photo Courtesy of City of Melissa

satin finish with a gold sand color, Beach has a matte finish with a light warm brown color, and Penny has a matte finish with a red orange color. LA is a metallic true copper color, while Burgundy is a matte bright red. Dubai is a metallic finish Burgundy.

Brick is a matte finish dirty brick. NY is a metallic warm brown, and Almond is matte finish deep red brown. All of these colors are really pretty and if you have the desire to match Kylie Jenner's look, this palette is your way to go.

brings families together and is a attraction that the whole town can enjoy. Most people don’t look at the tower as a “prized possession”, but the city of Melissa does; because it’s something that most small cities don’t have. Everyone should have a prized possession, it doesn’t have to be a water tower, but it can be anything that you find amusing or beautiful in your eyes that you can keep it in your heart forever.

That’s everyone’s favorite attraction during the night, but in the morning it doesn’t shine. The reason it doesn’t shine is because the beautiful sunrise we wake up to takes over it’s morning shifts.

By being in a small town, the water tower

New year's Resolutions Photos by Natalie SomersBy Astrid Easton and Natalie Somers

My New Year’s Resolution is to get good

grades, because good grades are good!

My New Year’s Resolution is to get

straight A’s, because I want to be successful and good in college.

Kaylee Lewis, 8th Grade

My New Year’s Resolution is to become

a better person, because I feel I need to

improve in that area.

My New Year’s Resolution is to work

out every day, because I need to get in shape.

My New Year’s Resolution is to stand out as a leader to my peers, because I want to show the definition of a leader!

My New Year’s Resolution is to watch Netflix less, because I need to go outside and

smell the breezes.

Page Howland, 7th Grade Ashlynn Elias, 6th Grade

Parker Jack, 8th Grade

2017 Andrew Eustache, 7th Grade

Reid Minton, 6th Grade

2017 2017

Lady Cards Sweep The Bonham WarriorsBy Alexis McCombs

The Lady Cardinals played an incredible game against the Bonham Warriors with a full sweep. Our girls played with intensity and had proficient scores across the board. The 8th grade “A” team was communicating well on the the court winning 33-15. The 7th grade “A” team had several fast breaks and great defense defeating Bonham 38-2. The 8th and 7th grade “B” teams each played one half of a game. Although

Lady Cardinals defeat the Warriors.

they didn’t play a full game, our “B” teams played excellent games. The 8th grade “B” team played first had great ball movement winning 33-15. The 7th grade “B” team had excellent ball handling skills and defense defeating Bonham 30-12. Our basketball girls have been having a phenomenal season, and are confident that they will do very well in the upcoming district tournament on Saturday January 21 at Melissa High school.

B-Ball Boys Take three

SPORTS

Graphic Art by Ethan Henderson

Our basketball boys played great games at Bonham, taking three of four games last Monday.

The 8th grade “A” team fought until the very end of the game winning 42-41. The 7th grade “A” team played a very

good game with the close loss 18-29. The 8th grade “B” team played with hard work and determination winning 31-15. The 7th grade “B” team fought hard and played an aggressive game on offense and defense winning 15-7.

By Alexis McCombs

Should America Always Save the Day?Since the United

States of America is one of the most influential and powerful nations today, many people believe that as a world power, it has the responsibility to respond to nations in need. However, others argue that U.S. forces should only be used when a threat to the national security exists, and that the United States does not hold any responsibility

Children Should Work for What They Get A popular idea

today is that kids should get trophies just for participating.

Personally, I think that this idea is acceptable up to a certain age, but after that, it just does more harm than good.

At about the age of 5 to 7, children need to learn that things will not just be given to them just because they showed up. In the real world, you have to work

for what you get, and even then, you may not get a trophy.

This practice is just setting kids up for failure later in life.

When things are just given to kids, they may start to think that is how the rest of their life will be, which is a lie. Life is a series of challenges that must be overcome and tackled.

Kids who have to work to get a trophy will

grow up to be competitive. When people are competitive, they work twice as hard for what they want, so they are more likely to achieve their goals.

The custom of awarding participation trophies after a certain age is doing more harm than good. Next time you think about giving out a participation trophy just ask yourself, “Am I helping this child?”

for world conflicts.In my opinion, the

U.S. may be the most powerful country in the world, but that does not mean that we must interfere in other countries’ affairs. Not only do we waste millions of lives and billions of dollars for a rather unbeneficial and pointless causes, we also make dangerous enemies that may be extremely fatal to our national security.

Besides, the U.S. is not exactly prospering right now with seventeen trillion dollars in debt, thousands of homeless people, and an increase in rebels and terrorists, so why do we need to be the “hero of the world” when we can barely sustain ourselves?

I understand that there are two sides to every story, and in certain scenarios, watching by the sidelines while people are cruelly

abducted is not an option. With that in mind though, I still believe that we should rather take care of ourselves instead of “going out and saving the day,” except in the most desperate situation. If we can resolve the conflicts within our nation and have the ability to help others without damaging ourselves, we can then go out and be the angel that other nations look upon in times of great need.

By Annemarie Miller

By Chau Hua

OP/ED

By Mackenzie Wilkie

Many people have the idea that e-readers are better than paper books, and I believe that is true.

Nowadays, people can go on their phones and buy books from the Apple Store or Google Play. Also people can go to the bookstore and buy a Nook, a device that allows you to buy books off the online store and read

anytime you want.I would rather read

e-readers, because I lose my place when I lose a bookmark. Having an e-reader is a good idea. No longer will you have to tell anyone the sad news, “My dog ate it!”

The good thing about the e-readers is that people with poor eyesight or a reading disorder such as dyslexia, can benefit from them because they can read it much more easily.

"An e-reader has more in common with the electronic devices that young people use all the time, like smartphones or iPads, than a paper book, when it comes to turning of pages, the possibilities of adjusting font size, etc.," Åse Kristine Tveit, author of the study, said.

This proves why most people prefer e- readers than paper books.

Library Books vs E-Readers

Should technology Replace Paper Books?OP ED

Purchase a cowbell

at lunch on January 26

and you can use them at

the Pep Rally that

afternoon! Show your

school spirit!

Recipes Make The Holidays By Ashley Vasquez and Mackenzie Wilkie

Lucas TauchPhoto By Mackenzie Wilkie

Viktoriya DietrichPhoto By Mackenzie Wilkie

Reed CocoPhoto By Mackenzie Wilkie

Nicholas EsmeraldaPhoto By Mackenzie Wilkie

Autumn BellPhoto By Mackenzie Wilkie

Katelyn GarzaPhoto By Mackenzie Wilkie

“My favorite holiday recipe was Seasoned Beef made by my Uncle John.”

“My favorite holiday recipe was Frozen Cookies made by my Mom.”

“My favorite holiday recipe was Turkey Bacon made by my Dad.”

“My favorite holiday recipe was Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies made by my Mom.”

“My favorite holiday recipe was Pumpkin Pie made by my Grandma.”

“My favorite holiday recipe was Potato Bread made by my Grandma.”

SHOUT OUT! A Celebration of Cards Who Model Excellence

S/O to Bryce Martin for his Babe Ruth move. He predicted a 100 on his Spanish test, and he delivered. Way to go! -Heidi Thompson

S/O to Susie Webb for keeping the staff snacked up this week!

-Kristie Golden

S/O to Nancy Perdomo for her “French Lesson.”

-Melissa Middle School Staff

Editor............................................................Brianne FinnellCopy Editor............................................Elizabeth ReynosoPhoto Editors……….…..Mya DeLeon, Clency RichardsonNews Editors….....…..Ashley Vasquez,Caylen Underwood Liberty Davis,Kate FletcherStudent Beat………………………………..Neemah MureithiSports Editor…………………………...…. Alexis McCombsGraphic Artists……..…Colton Thomas & Ethan HendersonFeature Teacher…………..….Kate McMinn, Sydney Enoch

News Correspondents: Aubrey Bell, Jagger Burrus, Astrid Easton, Kenzie Frasier, Chloe Gorman, Chau Hua, Annemarie Miller, Mia Rodriguez, Brenna Smith, Savanna Smith, Natalie Somers, Mackenzie Wilkie

Adviser………………………………………......Louise Hickey

S/O to StuCo and Debbie Duguid for treating teachers and staff to hot chocolate!

-Louise Hickey

S/O to Josh Volk for helping Paden and I determine the meaning to the rebus that Sydney posted on Thursday: sta4nce

-Taylor Recsnik

JAG An OP ED Columnist

Bad habits are things that everybody has to deal with. Most people don't even realize that what they are actually doing is driving you to the brink of insanity. The thing I hate is when someone asks you a question and you don't hear them. So you ask what they said but they just give you part of the sentence, so you don't know what they're saying. You ask them to to repeat the full sentence, because you don't understand what they're talking about. Then they get mad and just walk away, even though it could have all been avoided if they had just said the full sentence. The advice from this columnist is don't take shortcuts when talking to people because it is very annoying.

Communication Breakdown