Vol. 21, No. 1 Winter, 2020 Woodland Middle School

Rachel’s challenge By Alisha Irshad

Rachel’s Challenge was an event for the 6th graders that took place in September. The 6th graders gathered in the auditorium. While they sat down, there was a video playing. It showed pictures of Rachel and also showed people in different schools carrying paper chains. We were introduced to who Rachel was. Rachel Joy Scott was born on August 5, 1981, in Denver, Colorado. She had two older sisters (Bethanie and Dana) and two younger brothers (Craig and Mike). Rachel Joy Scott was 17 years old when she was killed tragically in a school shooting (also known as the Columbine High School massacre). She was the first victim to be shot. She sadly passed away on April 20, 1999, at the young age of 17. Rachel is known for her inspiring words in the journals that her parents found after her death. Ra-chel was energized by people. Her love was expressed in an outgoing personality, but also in a heartfelt compassion to the people around her that were in pain. In high school, she purposefully reached out to three specific groups of people and wrote about it in her journal. She said, “I want to reach out to those with special needs because they are often overlooked. I want to reach out to those who are new in school because they don't have any friends yet. And I want to reach out to those who are being picked on or put down by others.” Rachel seemed to always know that her life would end short, and she wanted to make the most of it. She was at peace with the idea of passing away early while making her life meaningful. When she was 13 years old, she traced the outline of both of her hands on the back of her dresser and wrote: “These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of people's hearts.” And they have. Rachel’s messages have inspired millions of people all around the world.

“Compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer. I have this

theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness

can go.” -Rachel Joy Scott

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Woodland Middle School East Meadow, NY 11554

516-564-6523

Fax: 516-564-6519

Building Administration

James Lethbridge, Principal Patricia Graham, Assistant Principal Danielle Lasher, Assistant Principal Terrence Chase, Dean of Students

Board of Education

Matthew Melnick, President Alisa Baroukh, Vice President

Allyson Benowitz D. Scott Eckers Dr. Jodi Luce

Eileen Napolitano Melissa Tell

Administration

Dr. Kenneth A. Card, Jr. Superintendent of Schools

Anthony Russo Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Administration

Dr. Patrick Pizzo Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance

Dr. David Casamento Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Jennifer Frisenda Assistant Business Administrator

Woodland Word Staff Advisors:

Mr. Krauss and Mrs. Largana

Contributing Writers:

Under the auspices of the East Meadow Kiwanis Club, the Woodland staff selects six students, a boy and a girl at each grade level, who have shown great enthusiasm and interest in a particular subject area. The students chosen have demonstrated a very positive attitude.

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

Grade 6 Grade 6 Grade 6

Gwendolyn Denzler Aasimah Abdullah Kayla Lederer

Michael Bellocco Christian Garcia Ramirez Adel Deljanin

Grade 7 Grade 7 Grade 7

Olivia Scriva Sydney Makower Anna Kofod

Judah Baroukh Aaron Robbie Persaud Tyler Mendes

Grade 8 Grade 8 Grade 8

Jeevika Bajaj Dynastee Ramos Miah Euler

Arjun Saini Alejandro DeJesus Nicholas Cervo

Elijah Banas Aidan Lehmann

Leah Deutchman Chloe Lyga

Jack Dieso Ashlyn Marsico

Alisha Irshad Alexis Nieto

Brianna Gangi Nicole Padilla

Anna Kofod Hunter Piccoli

Kayla Lederer Maya Provitera

Jonathan Lima Brianna Vallone

Gabriella Menechino- An Eighth Grader By Maya Provitera

A local eighth grader, Gabriella Menechino, gave this information and some opinions about her year thus far. Question: What are you thinking about your last year here? Answer: Umm… I’d say it’s exciting because it’s my last year and the 8th grade picnic is coming up. Question: Are you excited or sad to leave middle school? Are you scared for high school? Answer: Scared for high school because I’m used to middle school and high school might take adjusting to get ready for. Question: Did you have fun while you were here or do you hope to get out as soon as possible? Answer: I had fun while being in middle school and I’m not very excited to leave. Question: What was your absolute favorite year? Answer: Eighth grade, this year. I’m really enjoying this year because I made more friends and I got closer to the friends I already had. Question: What was one enjoyable school activity you did this year? Answer: So far I have gone on a field trip but it’s not over so I’m not fully sure yet. Question: How do you like this year so far? Answer: It’s going pretty well. When asked what activities Gabriella plans to participate in at the high school, she said she is sticking with band. She’s going to try out for the Rockettes. Gabriella wants to be in Color Guard or as she likes to call it, a “flag girl.”

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Rec Night By Kayla Lederer

Rec nights are on Friday nights at Woodland. There are snacks, a dance room, computer games, board games, movies, and you can even play basketball in the gym. It is a great time to hang out with friends and socialize with new people. It is $10 to get in. There are a total of eight rec nights throughout the school year. You have an option to buy a Fastpass in the beginning of the year for $50. That pass gets you into all eight rec nights. Rec nights are usually twice a month. In the cafeteria, there are snacks and a dance room where you can dance to songs the DJ plays. In the computer room,

you can play video games. In another room, there are arts and crafts as well as board games. In the Little Theater, there are movies playing. If you want a snack, make sure to bring additional money. Rec night is a lot of fun! Everyone should attend!

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Spelling Bee 2020 By Nicole Padilla

BEFORE Question: Hi, Emily. How are you feeling? Answer: I'm nervous. Question: How are you preparing for this event? Answer: I am confident because I studied a bit. Question: What do you see as the worst outcome? Answer: The worst possible outcome could be getting out in the first round. Question: What do you see as the best outcome? Answer: The best possible outcome is winning, but if I don't win, the next best outcome is being one of the finalists.

AFTER

Question: How was your experience in the school Spelling Bee? Answer: The Spelling Bee made me nervous, but it was fun. I hope I can win next year. Congratulations to the winner, Allison!

On January 9, 2020, the school wide Spelling Bee took place. This is a before and after interview with one of the contestants, 6th grader Emily Zheng.

Ryan’s stoRy By Brianna Vallone

On October 8, 2019, Woodland’s 8th graders experienced a powerful assembly based on what bullying can do to a person and the impact it has on so many people. Ryan Halligan took his own life because of extreme events that happened to him. His father came to Woodland to explain how being kind could change someone’s life for the better. Throughout the assembly, Mr. Halligan went into greater detail about how Ryan had faced cyber bullying throughout his middle school years. It was so amazing to get to attend this assembly because Ryan’s dad has appeared on many famous television programs because of his success in spreading hope and kindness all throughout the US. The assembly inspired me and everyone else to show others support and compassion when they need it most. I’m sure bullies will even change their mindset after this amazing presentation that for sure had an impact on everyone who got to take part in it.

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Festival Games

By Jonathan Lima

On January 24, 2020, there was the third annual 6th grade Festival Games. The Festival Games are based on the novel, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. During this event, there are four cabins- Athena, Ares, Hades, and Poseidon- competing against each other in multiple activities. There are eight events: Olympian Quest, Olympian Family Feud, Math Olympians, Capture The Flag, Garden Gnome Emporium, Design A Ride, It's All Greek To

Me and Cabin/Flag Design. At the end of the day, all the 6th graders met up in the auditorium and we found out who won. “In fourth place, we have Poseidon! In third place we have Ares!” Now everyone was on the edge of their

seats. “In second place we have… Hades.” And you know what that means: ATHENA WAS FIRST!!!!! That was the end result of this year’s Festival Games and how Cluster Three won The Festival Games for the first time! It was a day filled with so much fun!

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Mix It Up Day By Brianna Gangi and Alexis Nieto

Mix it Up Day was all about making new friends and having a good time. Mix it Up Day this year was based on television shows. We had games to play and raffles with prizes during lunch! The games included Pin the Tie on Sponge Bob, television show trivia, cross word puzzles, and guess television shows’ names. The way Mix it Up Day worked this year was in the morning students received a wristband that had a television show on it. Then when it was your lunch period, the television show that was on your wristband indicated which table you would sit at for that day. Our opinion about Mix it Up Day is that is was amazing, fun meeting new people and a great opportunity to get to know each other.

6th Grade Winter Concert

By Leah Deutchman and Nicole Padilla On February 6, 2020, the 6th graders had their annual winter concert. The concert start-ed with the jazz band. The songs they played included, “Chameleon” and “They Don't Get Around Much Anymore.” Orchestra was up next. They played “Gypsy Tale,” “Ukrainian Dance” and “Burst.” Following them were the vocal jazz members. They sang, “The Longest Time,” “Blackbird” and “Ain't No Mountain High Enough.” Next was the chorus. They sang, “The Fox,” “Circle Round The Moon,” “Wake Up” and “Anything You Can Do.” Finally, there was the band. They played, “Wind Dances,” “Celtic Air,” “Dance No. 2” and “Summon The Heroes.” It was an awesome concert and everyone performed their best!

“you can Do anything that you Believe in”

By Anna Kofod Earlier in this school year, Rohan Murphy came to Woodland to speak to the 7th graders. Rohan Murphy explained, “You can do anything that you believe in.” Rohan Murphy lost his legs at birth. In his early years of elementary school, he did not want to go to school because he thought he would be bullied. Instead, he was homeschooled for all of his elementary education. When it came time to go to middle school, Rohan wanted to go, so he did. Rohan wanted to play soccer in the fall, but he couldn’t play. The soccer coach of the school let Rohan be the team manager. When it came to the winter season he really wanted to do wrestling and tried out. After he tried out, he did not make it in, but his wrestling coach wanted him to come to practices to see what everyone was doing. After all the times of him coming to practices, he was wondering why couldn’t he be on the team. He asked the coach and he said that he needed to try harder. So he kept on

showing up to practices and before he knew it, the season was over. That summer he wanted to get better at wrestling, so he attended a summer program at a college. The coach at the college always made Rohan do more than he knew he could. Then, when Rohan went to high school, he tried out for the wrestling team and made it in on the team! Rohan Murphy had learned that you can do anything that you believe in.

The Toy Drive By Ashlyn Marsico

This year, The John Thiessen Children’s Foundation ran a toy drive. Woodland students donated toys until December 13, 2019. Any new toys from arts and crafts to board games were brought in. After the cutoff date, students donated toys at their local Friendly’s or Outback Steakhouse. The toys were brought to hospitals for the kids who couldn't go home for Christmas. Donating is a great thing to do. You are giving a kid around your age something to do. It definitely made kids smile this holiday season.

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By Jack Dieso

Pun- a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have

different meanings.

Reviews

School Lunch Review

By Hunter Piccoli

Since I wanted to find out someone’s opinion of our school lunch period, I asked a 7th grader some questions about how he felt about our cafeteria.

Hunter: What do you think about how the seating arrangements are in the cafeteria? Eben: Some tables are full and other tables do not have many people. Hunter: How do you think we should change it? Eben: I think we should mix everyone up so everyone can be friends. Hunter: Do you think it's fair to unfair we have a designated day to go outside for recess? Eben: I think it is unfair that we never get to see our House Two friends.

Hunter: How should we change it? Eben: I think we should have everyone go out in a line, so we can all go outside, but I do understand why it works this way.

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Wonderful Winter Treats By Brianna Vallone

Have you ever been bored at home needing something to do and craving a sweet snack? If yes, then these winter delights are perfect for you!

S’mores Bark

S’mores are tasty any time of year! This chocolate goodness brings you a campfire favorite during the

freezing winter months and will not let you down. It’s so easy to make, too!

Ingredients (For 20 servings) 30 graham crackers crushed 16 tablespoons butter, melted 3 cups mini marshmallows 3 cups chocolate chips, melted Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Pour the graham crackers into a bowl, reserving ¼ cup for later.

3. Add melted butter to a bowl with the graham crackers and mix until the texture of wet sand.

4. Transfer the graham crackers onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spreading into an even layer.

5. Sprinkle 2 cups of mini marshmallows over the top of the graham cracker crumbs, then bake for 10 minutes.

6. Pour the melted chocolate over the graham crackers and marshmallows, spreading evenly with a spatula.

7. Top with remaining cup of marshmallows and reserved ¼ cup of crushed graham cracker crumbs. Drizzle with remaining melted chocolate.

8. Freeze for at least 1 hour.

9. Remove the bark from the freezer and break it into pieces.

10. Enjoy!

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Snowman Oreo Truffles

These are a great, festive treat to add to you holiday party menu or even to just make when you are bored! They’re for sure to make you smile!

Ingredients 8 oz. softened cream cheese 36 OREO Cookies (regular size), finely crushed 16 oz. vanilla candy coating, melted 48 Mini OREO Bite Size Cookies decorations: decorating icing or gel, multi-colored sprinkles and anything you would like to add Instructions

1. Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until well blended.

2. Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls; place in a single layer shallow pan. Freeze for 15-20 minutes.

3. Dip balls in melted candy coating.

4. Place the balls in a shallow wax paper-lined pan, allowing excess coating to drip toward the bottom of each ball.

5. Chill balls until coating is set.

6. Decorate with remaining ingredients.

7. Enjoy!

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Fun Page

Short Story: The War of Fruits and Vegetables By Elijah Banas

Long ago, the two nations the Fruits and Vegetables were in peace until the fertile hill came and broke peace. They were fighting for the land. But right now, the Fruits have the ad-vantage and the Vegetables want it back. Now you will wit-ness the two nations fighting for their land. “These are ours!” the Banana Clan said. The Banana Clan stood tall with all the other fruit clans and their flags. The Carrot Clan said, “No! This field is ours!” “Well,” the Fruits said, “We have the high ground!” The problem was that the Fruits had the rich soil at the top of their territory hill while the Vegetables had the muddy and wet dirt. The Vegetables knew what was going on. The Fruits had the high ground, but they weren't ready to give up! The Vegetables started climbing up the hill, hoping they could get some sort of lead! The Fruits also advanced hoping they can keep their lead. Once they finally met it was time to duel! Or so they thought. Suddenly it started raining! They all fell to the muddy territory. They realized they must work to-gether to gain the high ground. They started throwing each other on top of the hill. With good teamwork, they made it on top, getting the best soil they could ever need.

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Winter process By Chloe Lyga

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Jayden Henriquez Zain Amjad

Isabella Pota Grace Toner Kelly Stump

Athlete of the Month is an award given to recognize outstanding athletic accomplishments, as well as the positive qualities each coach looks for in their athletes - hard work, commitment, and leadership.

Sport September 2019 October 2019

Cheerleading Kaylie Epstein Brianna Vallone

Boys Cross Country Zyad Mohamed Jake Chimienti

Girls Cross Country Allison Twible Brooke Vislocky

Field Hockey-8 Emma Pandolfi Gianna Celano

Field Hockey-7 Jaelyn Zabala Erin Stump

Football-8 William Kyriakidis Christian Brennan

Football-7 Ryan Michel Michael Festa

Boys Soccer-8 Jason Torres Robert Derwin

Boys Soccer-7 Judah Baroukh Jayden Cohen

Girls Soccer-8 Emily DeRosa Rosie Blaney

Girls Soccer-7 Alissa Valente Melissa Marien

Boys Tennis Brendan Cronin Ryan Monahan

Sport December 2019 January 2020

Boys Basketball-8 Aaron Matos Daniel Minero

Boys Basketball-7 Camron Myers Izaiah Richards

Girls Volleyball-8 Charlotte Viola Madison Lehmann

Girls Volleyball-7 Kiera Olson Aleece Catalano

Cheerleading Ryann Merkle Gianna Celano

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Photo by Aidan Lehmann

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Spirit Week and Mix it Up Day 2020

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Woodland Fall-Winter 2019/2020-Photo Wall

Rachel’s Challenge