The Middle School Review connection and respect for one another” is at the heart of many issues that girls face. At St. Paul’s, while we
In This Issue Highlights from the year, including interviews with some of our favorite coaches. A look at all things middle school – from Dr. Mac‟s thoughts on the year to the service learning side of SPS. Need a good book for the upcoming break? We have the best titles to check out! You might also want to see a movie. We have that too! A tribute to the holiday season! We have popular traditions, gift ideas, holiday poetry, and even a hint at what Old Saint Nick is making at the North Pole…
Our Middle School has a HEART of SERVICE This semester has been filled with service projects in the Middle School. From the hard work of our Philanthropy Ambassadors to grade-level service days during the holidays,
may not have a problem with physical bullying, we do have girl problems that could get out of hand if they are not addressed. So, we put together a list of Mrs. Stone’s tips that are valuable to any young student:
to be treated with respect, including you!
more details.
Do not walk around with slumped shoulders and eyes focused on the floor.
Assert yourself! Hold your head high and stand up straight. These moves radiate
students have been busy! See the “Service and Giving” page for
FIRST, understand that everybody deserves
CONFIDENCE!
Look others in the eye when speaking. (It is hard to insult someone who is looking you in the eye.)
Finding Kind…with MS Advisor Mrs. Stone Mrs. Stone sat down
The “Finding Kind” movement at SPS thus far has been successful and full of enthusiasm, according to Mrs. Stone! In the interview she pointed out that she and other counselors cannot “legislate
with student reporter Mary Dann
friendship”; however, students must always treat
Betbeze to discuss “Finding
others with respect and KINDNESS.
Kind.” This movement started
So, fellow middle school students:
when two girls, Molly and
Let’s BE KIND!
Lauren, began a documentary in film school. They discussed their own experiences with bullying and decided that it was time for someone to speak up! The girls traveled across the country to find what a difference BEING KIND can make! Mrs. Stone was part of a team that brought the film to St. Paul’s this fall. She wants middle school students to understand that bullying should not be a “rite of passage” in growing up. According to the “Finding Kind” website, “lack of a human
In other news, reporter McGowin Griffith invited SPS guitar teacher and worship leader Forbes Sirmon to the Communication class for an interview…
“When I interviewed Forbes Sirmon I really did learn a lot about him. One thing I learned was that he started playing the guitar in 6th grade! Well, he started with his mom putting stickers on the piano keys. He wanted to learn so he could play a Christmas song for his grandmother as a Christmas present. He first started to play the piano when he was 5 years old. He has rewritten church songs, and he loves to sing and play the blues. In the words of Edward Leatherbury, „he is Boss.‟”
The Middle School Review
McGowin Griffith’s Thoughts on GOING GREEN!
Recycling is like exercising. We all know we should do it, but most of us don’t do it as often as we should. There are simple ways to recycle in Mobile – the easiest is right here at St. Paul’s! Every classroom has a recycling bin and there are receptacles for bottles and paper across campus! Go GREEN!
We love our coaches! Read below to learn a little more about a couple of our favorites: An interview with Coach Andy Robbins by Lacey Evans I really enjoyed interviewing Coach Robbins! These are the things that stood out to me: he loves to spend time with his wife and family his favorite sport is baseball he teaches 3rd 4th and 5th grade P.E. his favorite subject is history Mrs. Robbins pokes fun at him for watching the History Channel so much!
A Moment with Dr. Mac and Caroline Bowers Dr. McDonald has been the middle school director for 5 years. I think he needs a break! I think we should have one day where no one gets in trouble and we can get all of our work done in class. This way
It has been an exciting semester in sports at St. Paul‟s! Not only did our Varsity football team make it all the way to the third round of State Championships, but every single football team defeated UMS this year!! Coach Jimmy Perry highlighted this incredible feat, calling it a “sweep” and inviting each team from the Middle School to stand at a school-wide pep rally and receive applause! An interview with Coach Jimmy Perry
he can have a relaxing day like we do almost every day
By Davis Hargrove
after school. His favorite part of his job is seeing the
During my interview with Coach Perry, he said that being a good role model for his players is the most important part of being a coach. He came to SPS three years ago with substantial coaching experience – Robert E. Lee and Trinity in Montgomery and Auburn University! He pointed out that we could hear the guys training in the weight room. This team, he stated, has been so dedicated throughout this season and does not take a break before training for next season! When asked if he was nervous about playing UMS, he gave a simple answer: “No.”
kids grow from small 5th graders up to 8th graders. He has been to Kanuga 8 times. His favorite part about Kanuga is watching the class come together as a group. He has been on the Washington DC trip 6 times, and he says it is a blast. I can’t wait to go on it when I am in 8th grade. His wife is the Lower School Librarian. He also has two sons: Dayne, who is in 1st grade; and Brooks, who is in pre-k. On his much deserved time off, he likes time with his family, exercising, baseball, and cooking. This has been an interview with Caroline Bowers!
The Middle School Review ReadeR’s CoRneR Check out these great titles!
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Middle School students read a lot of great books this semester. Some of the other titles that were voted “Best Book of the Year” were: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Heaven is for Real by Todd and Colton Burpo Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn Born to Run by Christopher McDougall Sarah‟s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay Because of Anya by Margaret Peterson Haddix
In the series The Hunger Games, you follow Katniss Everdeen, a brave hunter with a soft spot for her sister, on her journey to the arena and back. She will face challenges that test her strength, bravery, stamina, and humanity. She will have to make choices that change fate. She Movies to see over the doesn’t know whom to trust or what to think, but one thing is sure: The arena changes you forever; holiday: Katniss Everdeen Top 2 Picks from Movie Reviewer will never be the Mrs. Knezha‟s Picks: Edward Leatherbury… same. Can you 1. “Super 8”- It is an action survive the Games? For Girls: The Mother-Daughter Book Club series packed movie about kids-turnedby Heather Vogel Frederick – A group of girls, forced filmmakers. Then when a train - Mary Dann into a book club by their mothers, discover a bond of crashes, everything goes wrong! If Betbeze friendship. you want to know what happens next, you‟ll have to see it. Lawler Russell For Boys: The Percy Jackson series by Rick and Jackson Bowers give it “5 The Outsiders by Riordan – A young boy in New York discovers that he is a stars!” S.E. Hinton demigod caught in the midst of the gods‟ battle! Check 2. “Cowboys and Aliens”A new twist on the old Western! out Rick Riordan‟s other series too! The Outsiders is an Aliens have invaded, and the cowboys action packed novel For All Readers: Wonderstruck by Brian must find the secret lair if they hope about two gangs on to save the planet. They discover Selznick – The lives of two strangers are beautifully the 1960s. One night that the aliens must be killed intertwined in this half-written, half-illustrated novel. straight in the heart…Go see it! something happens that will change their lives forever. Edward Leatherbury says: “The Outsiders is the best book I’ve read in a year.” Lawler Russell says: “The
3.
Outsiders is an awesome survival story.” I agree with both of them. The Outsiders is a good book to read if you haven’t already. 5
th
graders, you’ll get
to read it next year! -
Jackson Bowers
4.
5. 6. 7.
Other great ones to see… “The Muppets” – Sarah Posey says, “Maniacal laughter…muh na muh na… See it!” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” “Jack and Jill” “Captain America” “Dolphin Tale”
The Middle School Review “Christmas is not about getting presents…It’s about GIVING.” – Caroline Bowers What is your favorite thing about the holiday?
Eating lots of food! Heading to Church on Christmas and Thanksgiving! Hanging out with family and friends Christmas decorating contests Playing football outside after a big holiday meal Waking up to presents everywhere!
Speaking of presents… We have the inside scoop on what is being made at the North Pole! This year, our students have asked Ole Saint Nick for: New iPods, iPads, and all things Apple! Video games Sports equipment New pets
He is Real!!!!!! By Sarah Posey
”Ho Ho Ho!” “Merry Christmas!” These are the famous words of one of the most beloved figures in history, Old Saint Nicolas. Santa Claus uses many ways to help him deliver his presents. Santa uses quantum teleportation which allows him to exist at every point in the universe simultaneously. According to hardwareanalysis.com, Santa has 31 hours of Christmas to work with, thanks to the different time zones and the rotation of the earth. This proves to us that Santa IS real. If he wasn’t, who would fill our stockings, leave presents, eat the milk and cookies we have left out and bestow upon us Christmas spirit? Jesus is Light By Mary Betbeze Silent night,
And after opening all those presents, it will be time to make our New Year‟s Resolutions! What is yours?
Holy night,
“Make good grades!”
Jesus Christ
“Eat healthier” Like we have learned through the “Finding Kind” campaign, most middle schoolers plan to… “Be Kind!”
Was born tonight. He will guide us Into light So let his spirit
Shine so bright! Our “Service and Giving” section is on Page 5, but to the left we see the amazing efforts to give Angel Tree families an extra special Christmas. Our students were part of a school-wide effort to adopt
219 angels! Amazing!
The Middle School Review Service and Giving 5th Grade Grade Level Service Day: Little Sisters of the Poor Spring Cleaning Day Projects: o Little Sisters of the Poor – Students made Thanksgiving cards for the residents. o Angel Tree – Ambassadors collected money and shopped for two Angel Tree children. 6th Grade Grade Level Service Day: Feeding the Homeless Projects: o Family Promise of Coastal Alabama Philanthropy ambassadors organized, shopped for, and served a meal to 10 homeless families. o Middle School Thanksgiving Food Drive – Ambassadors decorated boxes for Food Drive and designed signs for drive. Sixth graders (pictured right) organized, collected, and delivered 918 cans of food to 15 Place, Home of Grace, Waterfront Rescue Mission, Wings of Life, Salvation Army, Light of the Village, and One Meal. o Mobile Police Department‟s Family Intervention Team – Ambassadors sorted, assembled, and delivered 30 food bags, pine cone turkeys, and cards to the needy. Guest Speaker – One Meal founder Mike McKinley spoke to the sixth grade class about poverty and his ongoing efforts to help feed the hungry in Mobile.
7th Grade Grade Level Service Day: Wilmer Hall Children‟s Home Project: Roger Williams Day Care Center Ambassadors purchased and decorated 70 stockings, shopped, and filled the stockings with treats for the children at the center. Ambassadors will deliver the stockings at the Christmas party on December 16. 8th Grade Grade Level Service Day: Volunteers of America “Buddy” Day Projects: o Volunteers of America (VOA) - Ambassadors made 200 Thanksgiving cards for mentally and physically challenged consumers and residents of several assisted living centers. Philanthropy Ambassadors will also assist the consumers in the VOA Enrichment Center Mardi Gras Parade in February. o Mobile Retarded Citizens Association (MARC) Students will decorate floats for the Mardi Gras Parade for mentally and physically challenged people in our community. o Philanthropy Ambassadors planned a Christmas party for the residents of Mulherin Home (pictured below).
In total the Middle School student body has donated 664 hours worth of volunteered service!
The Middle School Review This paper is a publication of the Middle School Communication elective. It would not be possible without the following: Coach Jimmy Perry, Betty Stone, Coach Andy Robbins, Dr. Scott McDonald, Lori Harris, Laura McGee, Leslie Lerner, Forbes Sirmon, Lisa Knezha, Leslie Suffich, Linda Wettermark THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!
Not pictured: McGowin Griffith
We are the Middle School Communication Staff!
Hey I am McGowin Griffith and I love to be with my friends! My name is Caroline bowers. War eagle! I love communication. It ROCKS!!!!
Jackson Bowers: Well, it all started when I was born. I don’t remember that day, but boy, it was a good one. P.S. Roll Tide Roll! Hi my name is Edward Leatherbury. Alabama is BOSS!!! Hi, I’m Lawler Russell. Roll Tide!!!
My name is Mary Dann Betbeze. War eagle and geaux tigers! Hey! I’m Sarah Posey and I love all art-ish things. I also like musical stuff. ҉ Hi, my name is Lacey…. I like to hang out with my family, and my favorite color is purple!!....... War Eagle!!!!! Hi my name is Davis Hargrove. I like to ride my bike around my neighborhood and roller skate.