THE COUGAR STAR
The Gilbane project: a community divided
SAANVI KULKARNI MANAGING EDITOR
In 2019, Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) approved a $1 billion school bond, designed to be utilized over 30 years for the renovations of existing public schools. Gilbane Building Company was unanimously chosen to lead the first phase of the bond initiative, spanning from 20192026. By September 2024, Gilbane and AAPS convened a meeting to present and discuss the next phase of the project, aiming to renovate Thurston Elementary School.
The plan will be launched in March 2025, starting with building a new Thurston building 35 feet away from the current one. Students will continue attending their classes in the original
building during construction.
After the new building is complete, students will be attending school there while the original is demolished.
However, the construction of the new building requires the demolition of the Thurston Nature Center’s rain gardens and other natural habitats. Additionally, the building would be moved closer to the pond in the Nature Center. This has caused concern to arise over the plans to have specific portions of the Nature Center demolished, such as some foliage and the rain gardens. Many have also expressed concern over the impact this will have on the pond and the animals around it.
The chair of the Nature Center, Praveena J. Ramaswami, views the Nature
Center as a cornerstone of the community, highlighting its status as one of the nation’s oldest environmental education centers.
“That is a unique experience, to be able to see all kinds of play around you and wonder,” Ramaswami said. “And I think for this community, I think most of us are mourning the loss of that experience that future generations will never have in the same way that our children have had.”
Lia Rose, the parent of two Thurston alumni who were students at the time the bond was approved, shared with The Michigan Daily that she had no knowledge of the project’s plans until September of this year. In response to concerns raised by her and other parents,
Gilbane organized a meeting where participants expressed optimism for having the opportunity to share feedback.
After the meeting, Rose reached out to Sarah Devereaux, a current Thurston parent and trustee for Superior Township, and discovered that her frustrations were also shared by others. In an interview, Devereaux explained that their discussion led to the creation of Let Thurston Play, a group of parents and community members united in their concerns about the Gilbane project.
Let Thurston Play proposed an alternative plan involving the staging of Thurston students at Logan Elementary, while the old Thurston is demolished and reconstructed, reducing the
An annual event returns to Clague grounds: the Scholastic Book Fair
STAFF WRITER
An event took place at the Clague Middle School library from Dec. 9 to 13 — the Scholastic Book Fair. During the event, a wide variety of exciting items were available for purchase, featuring popular titles like “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “Dork Diaries,” including new additions to
these series. Other favorites included stationery, a diverse assortment of pens, pencils, erasers, funshaped highlighters, and a personal favorite, the “Chocolate Calculator.”
“Overall, the book fair is a win-win situation,” Clague Librarian Kim McLean said. “Because not only do students have the chance to choose books to read and to build their home library, but the library receives 25 to 50 percent of
each purchase (depending on final sales) that comes back to us to purchase books that will be added to the Clague Library! We also had a lot of excitement around our pencil pull.”
There were a variety of posters available, Hello Kitty, Spider-Man, Minecraft, Pusheen, you name it One fun event involved trying to win said posters. To participate, students could donate money to the book fair and pick
a pencil from the “Giving Tree.” If lucky enough, some would find a pencil with red tape at the bottom, indicating that they had won a poster. This was a fun way to support the book fair while contributing to a good cause.
“I thought it was wonderful to see so many students buying books that bring smiles to their faces,” Clague Library Cleark Allison Jeter said.
VIOLET KANG, ANNABELLE YANG, AND JESSIE GUO
Pictured above are the dates for the Scholastic Book Fair’s hours, Dec. 9 to 12. ANNABELLA MI
The Thurston Nature Center will be partially demolished for the construction of the new Thurston School. ANNABELLA MI
CONSTRUCTION
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loss of the Nature Center.
Rose explained that the group’s proposal aims to ensure students can continue their education in a secure, undisturbed environment during construction. She emphasized that this approach would be especially beneficial for students with disabilities, including those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans, as it would support their learning needs.
During the Board of Education meeting on Nov. 13, several parents expressed their support for the Thurston Elementary School project,
highlighting its immediate advantages. In a written statement submitted for the meeting, community member Taylor Morgan acknowledged the concerns raised by other parents but stressed the pressing need for a new school. The building is now over six years past its 2018 assessment as ‘poor,’ and is dealing with cramped space as well as signs of physical deterioration.
During the Nov. 13 meeting, following the public comment session, AAPS trustee Susan Baskett responded to concerns regarding the timeline for gathering
community input.
“The team has taken into consideration all the input and we continue to receive more input,” Baskett said. “The team is looking at the plans to see what could be done to address the input.”
In an email to The Michigan Daily, Andrew Cluley, AAPS Director of Communications, shared that the bond committee is actively working to address the community’s needs. He explained that the bond was approved with the intention of tackling the pressing needs of the community, including significant
renovations to aging schools like Thurston Elementary.
The district’s construction plans do not leave other schools completely unaffected, however.
“There are many fears about damage to the natural areas that comprise the Thurston Nature Center and to the current green spaces that surround the existing building,” said former Clague PTSO President Leah Klass. “Many Clague neighbors are unaware that 200 trees will be removed, green spaces for middle schoolers will be reduced and traffic will increase if a new Logan is built on the Clague property.”
An AAPS construction contractor submitted a plan for the removal of over 200 trees in the Bluett/ Nixon area, expansion of Logan Elementary, and
alteration of adjacent roads by the spring of 2025.
The Logan construction plan involves building New Logan Elementary School on the western portion of Clague property. This work would include modifications to the Clague parking lots and access drives, and bus drop off locations on Nixon Road and Bluett Road.
“Portions of the Cougar trail are also going to go,” Ramaswami said. “That was raised by the community. That money to build that trail was raised by the community. That was not AAPS fully.”
Currently, construction at Thurston is scheduled to begin as planned in March. The petitions against both projects can be found on actionnetwork.org.
The Detroit Pistons shoot the hoop on Dec. 10 for Students of the Month
JAY TAVANE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The air was filled with anticipation as Clague Students
Naya Almandi (8), Amorra Bailey (8), Ashley Tall (8), Elennar Freeland (8), Noemie Wurster-Dillard (8) and Nawal Tashkandi (8) waiting for the Detroit Pistons to come out on stage. JAY TAVANE
The mascot, Hooper, showcased his athleticism, launching himself off the trampoline.
JAY TAVANE
1. A trail in the Thurston Nature center with peeking sunlight on foliage. 2. When temperatures fall, ice glazes over the Thurston Nature Center’s pond.
3. A tree branch punctures through the water, while shrubs grow adjacently.
Across the images, there are horizontal and vertical white bars meant to mimic paned windows since the Thurston Nature Center is truly the backyard for some Ann Arbor residents. The design’s intention is to represent how this botanical sanctuary is only a street and window away from the Clague community.
The most difficult instrument
EDWIN LIANG COUGARS OF CLAGUE EDITOR
In the world of instruments, many musicians argue about what the most difficult instrument is to learn. There are many different instruments and many different types of music to play. Here are some of the most difficult instruments to learn.
Violin: The violin was created during the early 16th century in Italy. Many violinists say that they have the most difficult instrument because it is challenging to play it on the shoulder and the precision with fingers is more demanding since it is the smallest of the string instruments. Most orchestral pieces use the violin part as the melody which makes their part usually more difficult to play than others.
Double Bass: The double
bass was created around the same time as the violin in the 16th century. Some people say that the double bass is the most difficult instrument because it is the biggest of them all and has the largest fingerboard. Since they are much bigger than violins, bassists have to shift their hands up and down the fingerboard longer distances because it is much bigger. They also have much bigger and thicker strings which might be strenuous for small fingers.
The harp is a stringed instrument that dates back to 3500 BCE in Western Asia. The harp can come in many
Why lily pads matter
SOFIA CHRISTENSEN STAFF WRITER
You might see a lily pad on the water and not think twice about it. These plants are not only pretty but also play a big role in the ecosystem. First they provide shade for fish and lower the water temperature and reduce algae growth. They also stabilize the bottom of the pond.
But like anything, there is a downside: Lily pads are toxic if you touch them. And if they overpopulate, Lily pads can reduce the oxygen
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Jay Tavane
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Learning how to pluck specific strings without touching the others and also knowing the placements of the strings are
bagpipes are a woodwind instrument that uses enclosed reeds fed from an air reservoir in the form of a bag. The bagpipes are difficult because the player must provide the instrument with a constant flow of air and create the perfect amount
pressure on the bladder underneath their arm. The fingering positions of the bagpipes might resemble the recorder’s but they are more complex and
can take years to learn and master.
Accordion: The accordion’s earliest form was invented in 1822 by Christian Friedrich Ludwig. The accordion is very difficult to become proficient at — it is like playing piano and bagpipes at the same time. The coordination required to press the keys and keep the right pressure is not easy.
Even though these instruments are the hardest to learn, every instrument is difficult in their own ways. No matter the instrument, mastering it is always a difficult process. Which instrument do you think is the most difficult?
Why we should have a threeday weekend
levels, which can hurt fish and other aquatic plants.
However, it is still important to keep
Editors: Saanvi Kulkarni
Jaewon Lee
Noah Davidson Kiya Rostamian
Jacob Davidson
Sophia Alison Rustia
Edwin Liang
The Cougar Star’s mission is to deliver news to the best of our ability to the Clague community. We strive to work together as a team and build our leadership skills. We will treat each subject in an unbiased manner and provide all points of view. We aim to have a range of different topics covered with a variety of sources procured. All of our work is original and content is decided by students.
Staff Writers:
plants safe. Lily pads are all around us in most rivers or lakes, where frogs, dragonflies and other insects use them as resting places. Additionally, ducks can eat the seeds, and lily pad flowers attract pollinators.
These are some of the positives to them. While it seems hard to help these plants, there are some things you can do just to help the environment, which can help the lily pads as well.
Ashok Senthooran
Frederick Rom Rass
Ella Tang
Emma Toma
Aadya Desai
Kora Monroe
Ashlyn Bostwick
Alison Boehmer
Lloyd Smith
Audrey Yuan
David Park
Nathan Grant
Annabelle Yang
Lillian Fox
Anya Raman
Francis Badala-
mente
Bryn Hirschman
Madisyn Jackson
Olivia Yim
Siyona Dalal
Claire Wei
Stella Swarup
Adriana Aquino
Violet Kang
Zahra Syed
Olivia Whitehead
Maryam Khan
Pearl Keller
Sharon Lee
Myrna Flaherty
Medha Sangi
Chiara Christensen
Aeda Baang
Boquian Li
Edward Gao
Eva Sahul
Jessie Guo
Ethan B. Chen
Ava Eitel
Ron Lin
Matthew Bezas
Sofia Christensen
STELLA SWARUP STAFF WRITER
I think we should have a 3-day weekend because if you work too hard you have an increased risk of stroke and coronary artery disease. Everyone needs a break from work and even school, that’s why we should have a 3-day weekend.
For some people, it can also cause mental illness or make your mental health worse. Some symptoms of working too hard are fatigue, anger, changes in eating or sleeping, and social disengagement.
weekend would benefit teachers and students
because, teachers would get more free time and could grade more papers.The students would get to relax or catch up on their homework.
This idea would also help the environment because there would be less transportation that mostly uses gas. And gas can pollute the environment. If there is enough gas, it can cause unhealthy air.
This is why I think we should have a 3-day weekend. It reduces stress and burn out. It allows both students and teachers to get a break.
Additionally, it helps our
GRAPHIC BY SAANVI KULKARNI
GRAPHIC BY SAANVI KULKARNI
GRAPHIC BY SAANVI KULKARNI
Genetical engineering ethical concerns
BRYN HIRSCHMAN STAFF WRITER
Gene editing has the potential to shape our future in the best possible way, but it can also be a huge ethical concern. Gene editing/engineering is where scientists change the DNA in a living organism using various complicated methods. This can also be done with selective breeding, taking specific traits from one organism and breeding them another organism with similar traits to emphasize that specific genotype. Like breeding two dogs with long fur genes to try and get puppies with longer fur. The ethical concerns come from the untested health risks that may come from these edited organisms, for humans, we have used this in gene therapy — replacing mutated or broken genes with new genes to cure a disease or medical disorder. Genetic engineering can be very helpful, but some people raise concerns about a future where aristocrats will change their children’s physical and mental characteristics, fearing that we will create a new
superhuman-like generation of these designer babies. Some also believe that it is morally wrong to “play” God and change a person’s DNA.
Germline genetic engineering is where most people’s concerns lie. Being able to transfer different things to your offspring could be dangerous, and it’s unknown what could happen since it’s understudied.
Another thing is editing an early human life before it matured enough to make decisions or even have a full body has been seen by people as unethical and inconsiderate of the future child.
“Well, there will be you to correct certain diseases. I just read about transplanting disease in an article so you can correct genetic diseases like sickle
cell,” long-term substitute of Jeffrey Taylor Carl Godwin said, “There are many others that you could cure as well.”
Genetic engineering could be revolutionary for the medical field, curing hundreds of thousands and even millions of people from common, uncommon and rare diseases — a far stretch would be to say it could cure illness itself! Another pro to genetic engineering is our food! Many
Smartwatches: friend or foe?
JAEWON LEE STAFF WRITER
Imagine being surrounded in a digital world – phones, smart watches, Alexa, Google Nest, ChatGPT, Siri, and more. These newly invented technologies surround us, being hailed as the king of the world. But then –
Beeeep!
Now imagine a world where you are constantly interrupted– not with a phone, but a tiny screen strapped to your wrist. A smartwatch. At first glance, they do not seem harmful – why would they? They are great for tracking steps, checking messages, or managing daily schedules. However, nothing in this world comes without any cost. Smartwatches have three hidden reverberations, and are compensated by nothing. You should not wear smartwatches because it can constantly distract you from work, can lead to data breaches, and they emit electromagnetic waves which is a wave that can be harmful to your body. Let’s get started. First, you should refrain from wearing smartwatches
because it constantly distracts you from work. For example, studies showed that children can be extremely distracted by smartwatches during class such as constant buzzing of notifications (VRT news).
A recent survey conducted by Clague Middle School’s eighth grade students stated that 20% of the people said that smartwatches were distracting in their schoolwork. A Clague eighth grade student recommended “Just [buy] a regular watch,” highlighting the futile invention that many people use.
Smartwatches can also cause data breaches. You might think this might be dishonest, but technically it isn’t. Only 9% of adult Americans read the terms of use and privacy policy (Pew Research Center). This gap can lead businesses to provide vague information in their privacy policy. There has been a few rare moments where these scam watches had attacked your personal data, but in fact, legitimate smartwatch companies can be dangerous too. Apple has long cultivated the technology area and grown a reputation of trust within most of us.
However, in September 2024, there was an incident where Apple smartwatches collected customer data despite several settings users put to disable this feature. This sparked a major lawsuit against Apple, highlighting that even large and trusted companies pose a risk when it comes to data security. Moreover, Garmin, a renowned smartwatch and GPS company, suffered a ransomware attack in 2020. While they claimed that no user data were stolen, this incident highlights that even reputable companies are not completely impervious to cyber attacks.
Finally, smartwatches
are concerning because they emit electromagnetic radiation. Though current research hasn’t definitely proven harm from the emissions, some scientists still argue that prolonged exposure could lead to potential health risks such as but not limited to adult leukemia, brain and breast cancer (Science Direct). Studies about radiation are still ongoing, but why take the chance?
Despite the vague information about electromagnetic radiation, some cite the World Health Organization (WHO) and the FCC, stating
vegetables and fruits have been bred to be bigger and fuller in nutrients than their original. Utilizing this it could potentially help solve the major food crises with bigger amounts of food we have grown.
Unfortunately the cons are problems that must be addressed. The first problem with genetic engineering is how new and unknown the science currently is. The germline gene editing side of it has not been thoroughly researched, and the fear of horrid mistakes on experiments is a big risk. Many countries including Belarus, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, and others have banned gene editing trials on human embryos for these cons.
“The biggest fear has been what they call eugenics, it’s where you create like a master race, which they tried to do in the 20 and 30s, Adolf Hitler tried to do that to make a master german race, like designer babies,” Dr. Godwin said. So you transplant those
that smartwatches only emit a small amount of electromagnetic radiation. However, this isn’t necessarily true. Even in just small amounts, prolonged exposure could lead to health risks. After all, this is just like when Marie Curie discovered uranium. During Curie’s time, scientists did not grasp the peril of it. Scientists didn’t realize this error until they did more research. Therefore, it is the same thing about electromagnetic waves –scientists don’t know much about it yet.
While smartwatches might seem like convenient gadgets that help keep us organized and connected, their hidden costs –distractions, risk of data breaches, and health concerns – might outweigh the benefits. Next time you consider strapping on that little piece of technology, ask yourself: Is it really worth it? After all, even kings can have weaknesses.
20% of students said that smarwatches were distracting. GRAPHIC BY SAANVI KULKARNI
This image describes the two types of genetic engineering. GRAPHIC BY BRYN HIRSCHMAN
Pirouetting since four: Maelle Alverez’s solace in dancing
Maelle Bautista
Alverez is a seventh grader at Clague Middle School. At school, she does Debate and K-pop club, which she enjoys a lot. Out of school, Alverez does all types of dance, including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and production. Alverez finds pleasure in dancing, because it helps reduce her stress levels by calming her down. While the dancing she does isn’t always meditative, she finds it calming and stress reducing.
Alverez has been dancing since she was fouryears-old (for eight years). She started dancing because it was her mom’s dream. Her mom had fantasized of doing ballet when she was a child, so she encouraged the young Alverez to start. She agreed and started dancing at Dance Theater Studio. Once she started, she found joy in the fun activity. Dancing can include combinations of spins, twirls, and jumps.
“Something about dancing just makes me so happy!” Alverez said.
Throughout her dance journey, Alverez had a lot of experiences that have for the better and for the worse, some even resulting in serious injuries. A couple years ago, she twisted her foot falling out of a pirouette (spin).
“It was the first time I suffered an injury doing dance,” Alverez said. “I didn’t really know what to do in the moment.”
After the accident, Alverez went home and promptly put it in a cast. But
as for the present time during the accident, she was in the middle of dance class, so she had to wait until after the class to do anything about it.
“I couldn’t really do anything, because I was in the middle of a dance rehearsal,” Alverez said. “So I had to tough it out, and finish the class strong.” After the class, though, Alverez bandaged her ankle, and walked it off.
Though she has experienced many horrible incidents while dancing, it has also taken her through an incredible journey where she has made so many friends.
“Dance has impacted my life positively because it has made me make so many new friends,” Alverez said.
This is because dance actually requires a lot of teamwork.
“Partner work is a key element in dance,” Alverez said. “It is one of the many reasons why dancers are so in sync.”
really well, and she’s very good at dancing. Doing a duet with her made me feel really good, because we both did awesome.”
Alverez also says that dancing has given her sportsmanship, and a good attitude.
“Dancing in a team, or even by myself, has actually helped me so much as a person in life. It can help calm me down, or it can help me just let loose.”
mess up, you have to keep calm and not change your expression, otherwise people will know you messed up.”
But in the end, she always manages to pull through. In April of 2024, Alverez managed to get first place at Headliners, which is a competition for dancers. She entered in the intermediate category. Not only that, but she also performed in the play “Matilda” in 2021, playing as a side character, the principal’s helper, which took place at the Power Center on the University of Michigan campus.
Alverez classifies herself as an “okay” singer, because she participated in this play and had to sing. While this was a play, and there was more singing than dancing, the facial expression part of dancing contributed to her performance. She also has performed in the Henry Ford museum quite recently (December 7th, 2024). On top of that, she performs in conventions and recitals. This shows how much experience Alverez has.
because they each help me in some way. Ballet is me using more of my emotion, while hip-hop uses my energy.”
Alverez encourages people to start dancing, because it could affect your life in a positive way, like harnessing your creativity and emotions and using them through this sport.
“When you are dancing, you must be professional,” Alverez said. “When you make a mistake, don’t show it. This leads to my advice, which is to fake it until you make it. In the middle of a recital, keep going and don’t stop!”
Alverez states that dancing doesn’t always have to be serious. In fact, she loves dancing to “Baby shark” because it makes her laugh. Dancing can sometimes be hard, and it can sometimes be easy. But whenever you do it, no matter professionally or not, it can be enjoyable, stressrelieving, and a good way to express your emotions. Alverez would recommend dancing for everyone because “it is a source of enjoyment, and is really fun once you learn how to.”
Academic Games (AG) is a little-known afterschool program. AG helps players exercise their logical thinking and will help them perform better academically in school. AG is also fun. you can go for free or donate to help with statewide and nationwide tournaments. The more AG you play, the harder it gets, since there is one normal division, Minor, and four adventurous divisions, Elementary (sixth grade), Middle (seventh and eighth Grade), Junior (ninth and tenth grade), and Senior eleventh and twelve grade). Clague won team first place in the Elementary division and team third place in the
Alverez has done many jazz duets before, including one with fellow Clague Cougar Elisa Brito.
“It’s really fun to dance with Maelle because you can tell she is very serious about what she does,” Brito said. “She always performs
Middle division last year. Even one Clague student won individual first place in the elementary division.
The Academic Games League of America (AGLOA) has many different games such as Equations, On-Sets,
Through the years, dancing has shaped Alverez’s life in so many ways. She has done dancing for so long, it’s a breeze for her. However, to this day, there are still challenges that she faces when she performs and does competitions.
“One thing I find hard sometimes is maintaining my facial expression,” Alverez said. “When you
LinguiSHTIK, Theme, and Current Events. The ones played at Clague are Equations, On-Sets, LinguiSHTIK, Presidents, and Propaganda in the Elementary and Middle divisions.
Equations is a mathbased event where players
“I really want to continue this as I grow older,” Alverez said. “However, I want to do it as a hobby and not a profession. I aspire to be a lawyer when I grow up.”
Alverez wants to continue being a dancer as she grows up (as a hobby), because as stated before, it helps her a lot. “I’ve come so far, I can’t even think of quitting,” Alverez said. “I love all kinds of dance
Alverez encourages dancing to people who are energetic/active and like having fun. Anyone can learn how to dance, if properly taught. If you want to learn, you can always sign up to take classes at the Dance Theater Studio, the place that Alverez goes to. At this moment in time, she still enjoys dance a lot, and is actively participating in dance events.
“[I am] thankful that I started dancing,” Alverez said. “Because it’s changed my life for the better.”
Academic Games
numbers can be interpreted and even the way they count, like when calling the variation “Base m” that changes the base. Usually we count up from zero to 9 in a Base 10 system, but in Base m, that’s different. Players can set the m in base m to any number from eight, nine, or 10. The variations make it so that we count up to whatever m is called. More about equations can be found on this website.
On-Sets is a game that focuses on set theory, the
branch of mathematics that studies sets. A solution in this game is a set name made using operations used in set theory. In Adventurous OnSets, you get to use subsets to restrict the entire pool of sets. The goal-setter uses numbered cubes to set their goal. The unused numbers by the goal-setter will go into the “Forbidden” section of the playing mat. The player who sets the universe draws cards randomly, in a chosen number ranging from six to 12. Each player has to set a variation, either restricting or expanding the possibilities of solutions. There are various cubes to use in your solution to the goal set. Solutions are
DAVID PARK, ETHAN CHEN, AND BOQIAN LI STAFF WRITER
ELLA TANG, ZAHRA SYED, AND ANYA RAMAN STAFF WRITER
Teamwork and Triumph: the inner-workings of Clague
PHOTO BY YURI KIM
Maelle Bautista Alvarez smiling for the camera. PHOTO BY MAELLE BAUTISTA ALVAREZ
The Land of Stories: a book review of altered fairy tales
Conner and Alex Bailey are ordinary twins who lost their dad in a car crash — until they inherit an old fairy-tale book from their grandmother. What they thought was an ordinary fairy-tale book leads them into a kingdom full of magical surprises.
“The Land of Stories” is a wonderful story of two twins finding quests to accomplish in the world of fairy tales. But while meeting new friends along the way, they unwrap the truth of what actually happened in “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” or what happened after Cinderella married Prince Charming. In their adventures,
witches try to take over the fairy-tale world and the world they live in. The “Masked Man,” another villain, does the same as well.
“The Land of Stories” by Chris Colfer is a wonderful series (I rate it five out of five stars). It is a book of adventure, fantasy, romance, friendship, and much, much more. It isn’t as famous or widely enjoyed as “Harry Potter” or “Percy Jackson”, but it should be because it is as fun to read as these two famous book series. It is really humorous and I always giggled when I was reading this book series. And what’s most interesting about this book series is that it tells you the truth about a fairy tale or what happened after the fairy tale. It is a book series
with overflowing imagination and adventure
I have often wondered what happened after the happy ending of a princess story or why Goldilocks went into the cottage of the three bears. Chris Colfer used his imagination and came up with all of the answers to my questions. He also used his incredible imagination to come up with the characters’ story when time had passed. Goldilocks became an outlaw while Little Red Riding Hood became a first ever elected queen in the kingdom of fairy tales. It is such a fun book series! If you ever wondered what the truth behind fairy tales are, this is the right book for you!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Chalice of the Gods: a book analysis
NOAH DAVIDSON STAFF WRITER
SPOILER WARNING FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK!
If you are looking for an intriguing book series for some winter reading, you don’t need to look further than Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” If you’re already a fan of Percy Jackson, the recently released sixth book, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Chalice of the Gods” is a real page turner that leaves you wanting to read more every time you pick up the book.
In 2009, Rick Riordan released the fifth book in the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Last Olympian.” Since then, Percy Jackson has become a popular character, appearing in the “Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard” and “The Heroes of Olympus” series, which are both under Rick Riordan’s penmanship as well. Recently, he has brought the three of the main characters from the last Percy Jackson books back for another adventure: getting Percy into college at New Rome University. These characters are: Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood In order to get Percy enrolled, they need to get three letters of recommendation from different gods. How do they get these letters? They are obtained by completing quests from different gods. In this book, Percy obtains the first letter of recommendation from Ganymede, the chalice bearer of Zeus. The chalice bearer is important to Zeus, because anytime he has a feast (there’s one towards
the end of the book) it’s Ganymede’s job to make sure that everyone has their godly beverages to stay refreshed during feasts.
There are a few important characters to this book, the first is Percy Jackson. Percy is the son of Sally Jackson, a human whose dream is to become an author, and Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Percy is in his senior year at Alternate High School (AHS), a high school for kids with Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. This is the only high school Percy could attend to receive enough high school credits — after all, he missed school saving the world multiple times. His step-father, Paul, teaches English Literature Arts at AHS.
Percy’s girlfriend, Annabeth Chase, is the daughter of Fredrick Chase and Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom. She goes to the High School of Environmental Design, due to her love of architecture. She is the cousin of Magnus Chase, who has his own book series focused on Norse mythology.Norse mythology is similar to Greek mythology, with there being multiple gods, each of them having their own powers, and a few similar ideas. Greek mythology was much
after Pan’s death. Pan is the god of the wild, who had an appearance similar to a satyr.
Grover is dating Juniper, a tree nymph who lives at Camp Half-blood, a safe haven for demigods to become stronger. Each god has a cabin in Camp half-blood, but they started making houses for the minor gods (Such as Iris, Hecate, Nemesis, Hebe. ect) . He first met Percy when he was in his first year of high school, where he helped Percy reach Camp Half-blood after being attacked by the Minotaur.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Chalice of the Gods” by Rick Riodan was published on Sept. 26, 2023 and is the sixth novel in the mythological“Percy Jackson” series. PHOTO BY ANNABELLA MI
earlier than Norse mythology, with Greek mythology being started around 1300-1100 BCE, and Norse mythology being created around 500 CE. Norse mythology was believed in by the vikings, who were fierce warriors, and Norse mythology helped explain where they would go after death. While Magnus never appears in the Percy Jackson series, he does meet Percy Jackson in his own series.
Grover Underwood is Percy’s best friend, and a satyr, who is human on the top half, with two goat legs on the bottom half. They would normally have beards and horns. He is a Lord of the Wild, and is a Chosen of Pan, carrying his resting soul
Ganymede is the bearer of Zeus’s chalice, the Chalice of the Gods. He came to Percy for help finding this chalice after it was stolen from him. He was chosen to be the chalice bearer due to being beautiful. Zeus granted him immortality. He believes the chalice could have been taken by either Hebe or Iris, the past chalice bearers. He doesn’t know why they might have taken the chalice, but he believes it is because of his good looks.
These books are great for fans of mythology. This is the sixth book related to Greek mythology focused on “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (not including the “Heroes of Olympus”), so you would want to read books one through five first. This is a book filled with adventure and thrills, perfect for a whole family to read. Throughout the book, there are many
risks, fights, and moments that get your heart racing and make it impossible to stop reading. “Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Chalice of the Gods” is not a very long book, being just under 300 pages at 268 pages long
The main premise of the book is finding who stole the Chalice of the Gods,, which is a large gold cup used by Ganymede to pour drinks during Zeus’s feasts. The date of finding this chalice is before Zeus’s next feast, which could be at any time, so Percy and his friends can’t procrastinate. If any feast occurs and Ganymede does not have the chalice, then Zeus would most likely kill Ganymede.
As a lover of mythology, Percy Jackson fan, and follower of author Rick Riordan, I think this is a book worth reading. Rick Riordan makes sure that every time we meet a new god, the characters (and the reader) are immersed in that world. An example of this was when Percy and his friends were meeting Hebe,the Goddess of youth and divine wife of Hercules. She was in a retro style arcade with chickens and lots of younger people, as she is the goddess of youth and her sacred animal is a chicken.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is a very good book, and I would recommend it to anyone, whether you love mythology or just want to start reading something new. I do, however, suggest starting with the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” the first book in the series. I would give this book an 9/10 “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (who needs stars).
AEDA BAANG STAFF WRITER
Pictured are book three “The Grimm Warning” (farthest to the left), book five “An Author’s Odyssey” (middle), and book six “Worlds Collide” (farthest to the right) of
“The Land of Stories” series by Chris Colfer. PHOTO BY ANNABELLA MI
Clague ballers take on A2 Steam
FRANCIS BADALAMENTE STAFF WRITER
1. Looking to make a pass is seventh grader Eve Pinsky. The Cougars took on A2 Steam last week on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
2. Possessing
the ball, seventh grader Lucy Fox looks to make the next play.
3. Eighth grader Carly Polikoff in the post being defended by eighth grader Amorra Bailey at warm-ups.
4. Left to right: Seventh graders Lucy Fox, Sila Shim, Olivia Whitehead, and Elena Skerlos.
5. Seventh grader Olivia Whitehead scanning the court for passes during the game. The Cougars won 16-9.
Clague vs. Slauson women’s basketball
FRANCIS
BADALAMENTE STAFF WRITER
The Clague Cougars took on the Slauson Golden Bears on Dec. 9, 2024 at home. At first, the score was low in the first half, but by the second half, both teams started to score more. Players made a lot of layups. Seventh grader Olivia Whitehead led the team scoring the most points. Whitehead said the game went pretty well. This is her first
time she has played on a team.
“I’m proud of myself,” Whitehead said. “I appreciate the coaches and community support.”
During the second half, there was a lot of back and forth with possession until Slauson loss control of the ball. The Cougars scored more as the game progressed because they got into a groove.
Despite the few fouls, all the girls played the game very well. The Cougars won the game at the end 22-8.
Left: Seventh grader Lucy Fox goes in to take the shot against Slauson. Above: Seventh grader Olivia Whitehead goes in for the layup. She led all scores during the game. FRANCIS BADALAMENTE
NATHAN GRANT
Michigan Football 2024 Season Summary
MAX FINE SPORTS EDITOR
After an unstable quarterback room all season, a first year head coach, a major upset in the last regular season game, and many more ups and downs, Michigan Football has finished their 2024 campaign with a respectable 7-5 record. This is nothing close to what Michigan football has been able to accomplish the past three seasons as they went to the College Football Playoff (CFP) all three seasons and won the national championship this past season. But if you consider that Michigan played five top 25 opponents with their worst roster in four years, it is more
respectable considering the circumstances.
Michigan started off the season with a 30-10 win against Fresno State but then got handled easily by Texas in week two 31-12. This was a realization for most Michigan fans that the team was not going to be close to as good as it was the past three seasons. Michigan then benched their starting quarterback, Davis Warren, for Alex Orgi after Warren threw three interceptions in their 28-18 win against Arkansas State. Michigan did not have a stable quarterback the whole season, switching to Jack Tuttle in the middle of their 27-17 loss to Washington, for him to retire from football after a concussion the
following week.
By Michigan’s seven-game mark, they were 4-3, suffering two bad losses to Washington and Illinois with only one good win against University of Southern California (USC) while maintaining a rotating quarterback room.
Michigan needed to change things up so they went back to Davis Warren as their quarterback, who was still very unpredictable yet nonetheless their best passer. Michigan then got a win against rival Michigan State University (MSU) but then lost two in a row to Oregon and Indiana, both of whom were ranked top 10 in the country.
By this point, Michigan was eliminated from the new 12-team playoff but still had two more games to play. Michigan played Northwestern and had their best game of the season, crushing them 50-6. The succeeding week was “The Game.” Michigan was going into The Game playing their best football all year but were also 19.5 point underdogs. Michigan had beaten Ohio State, who was the number two team in the country, the past three years and were trying to extend their rivalry winning streak to four. Michigan miraculously won 13-10 and ended off their season with a victory.
Even though
On the run: a feature of Hudson Doll on the track
KORA MONROE STAFF WRITER
Hudson Doll has already been to the Junior Olympics and is only in eighth grade. When he was ten years old he started competing in track competition. He has gone on to compete in many big tournaments. Doll started track because a teammate on his old soccer team mentioned that he was very fast, which inspired him to join track.
“It was super fun. I made a lot of new friends and learned lots of new things,” Doll said.
Now, Doll attends practice three times a week for an hour and a half with competitions on Saturdays.
Doll’s main events are now the 1600 and 800 meters. His personal record is 4:31.35 in the 1600 and 2:03.08 in the 800. He also won a record for both seventh and eighth
grade 800 and 1600 meters.
One of Hudson’s biggest competitions was when he competed in the Junior Olympics. During the Junior Olympics, he won second place in the 13-year-old boys 1500 meters race.
“I wasn’t that worried about the tournament because I knew that I would do well if I worked my hardest,” Doll said. “Plus it was super fun traveling around
the country because I don’t get to travel much.”
One of the biggest challenges Hudson Doll has faced during his meets is being able to stay focused.
Doll’s family and friends helped him through this.
“One of my biggest supporters has been my dad, who told me that I can achieve anything I work for,” Doll said.
“I also thank my coaches for giving me the support and confidence I need. Lastly, one of the biggest parts of my success is thanks to my teammates!
Season 3 sports start Jan. 27. Make sure
Step 1. Fill out the online Athletic Registration
Step 2: pay Fees through RE & Ed
Step 3: Print a current Physical Medical Form (dated after April 15, 2024)
Michigan didn’t make the College Football Playoff (CFP), they still finished off their season with a 7-5 record which makes them bowl-eligible, which means that they get to play a game after their season is done at a neutral site. Michigan will be playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve against Alabama. Michigan played Alabama in their bowl game last year as well, except that time it was in the CFP. Even though Michigan didn’t have the best season this year, Michigan fans have a lot to look forward to. This can include the top 10 recruiting class they are putting together this year — a new offensive coordinator, and a chance to beat Ohio State five years in a row!
They’ve helped me train hard and keep practicing.”
Some of Hudson’s future goals are to break two minutes in the 800 meter and to win the 1600 and 800 in the Middle School New Balance Nationals. The Middleschool New Balance Nationals is one of the biggest indoor track tournaments for minors in the country. This year’s competition will be held in Boston through March 13 to 16.
But being able to participate at such a caliber is through the advice Doll follows himself and gives to other student-athletes.
“Be consistent,” Doll said. “If you’re consistent you can accomplish anything.”
Hudson Doll at the Amateur Athlete Union (AAU) Junior Olympics games. JESSICA DOLL
Winter Favorites
Drink
“My New Years Resolution is to get taller.” - Ella Mueggenborg (7)
“My New Years Resolution is to stop biting my nails.”
- Sofia Christensen (6)
“So my New Year’s resolution is to eat healthy and exercise at least three times a week - so far I have stuck to it. My wife and I exercide together so we hold each other accountable.” - Aaron Weins Social Study Teacher
“Mine is to get better at the sports I’m doing and stay consistent with my academics”
- Mason Mothersell (8)
“My New Year’s resolution is to work out more and be healthier this year.”
- Teacher Colleen Jbeily
PITA WRAPS
Make it A Combo: Fries & Beverage - Add �4.95
.Falafel . �7.45
ADD HUMMUS 0.50
Tomatoes, lettuce, parsley, pickles, & tahini.
.Falafel Zaman . �8.45
Our Falafel Wrap with sauteed eggplant.
.Eggplant and Rice . �8.45
Eggplant, cauliflower, rice, tomatoes, pickles, garlic & almonds.
.Riz Bi Djaj . �8.45
Chicken, rice, garlic, tomatoes & pickles
.Chicken Shawarma . �7.95
Slices of chicken breast, tomatoes, pickles, & garlic.
.Chicken Feta . �8.45
Chicken Shawarma pita with feta.
.Zamaan Chicken . �8.45
Chicken shawarma with almonds, hummus, tomatoes & pickles.
.*Meat Shawarma . �8.45
Slices of beef and lamb with tomatoes, onions, pickles, parsley, & tahini.
.Kafta . �8.45
Ground beef and lamb rolled with tomatoes, onions, pickles, parsley, & hummus.
KIDS MENU
. Shay Zamaan
. Mango Juice
. Fresh Lemonade
. Coffee / Tea
. lced Tea
. Chicken Tender & fries. . Chicken Breast with rice.
DRINKS DESSERTS SIDES
. Sweet Cinnamon Tea
. fountain Drinks
. Rice Pudding .�3.95 . Baklava:
- Pistachio or Walnut .�2.45 - CASHEW 2 PCS .�2.95 . Fries . Rice . Garlie Sauce
* WARNING: Contains raw or undercooked Ingredients. Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shell fish or eggs may increase your risk of food borne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.
Located at The Colonnade
Zamaan Cafe, a restaurant that serves Lebanese cuisine, is sandwiched between other small businesses that deliver flavorful meals or reliable services.
Zamaan in particular, has been serving a “Mediterranean flavor” to the community. PHOTO BY SARA BADALAMENTE
*CORN, TOMATOES, BLACK BEANS, RED PEPPERS, ONIONS, CHEESE. SERVED WITH SOUR CREAM, GUACAMOLE, AND SALSA.*
*HABANERO SAUCE*
*SIRACHA MAYO.*
*CHIPOTLE MAYO.*
*GARLIC SAUCE.*
LETTUCE, OLIVES, JALAPEñO, CHEESE, SOUR CREAM AND SALSA QUESO.*
APPETIZERS
GUACAMOLE & CHIPS $7.95
.SALSA & CHIPS $5.95
.QUESO & CHIPS ................. $6.95
SALADS
.VEG. GRAPE LEAVES ....... $6.95
*STUFFED WITH RICE AND VEGGIES.*
.CAULIFLOWER FRITA ...... $7.95
*SAUTÉED CAULIFLOWER TOPPED WITH TAHINI SAUCE.*
.MANGO AVOCADO ............................................................
$5.95 - $10.95
*LETTUCE, ARUGULA, MANGOS, TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS, ONIONS, AVOCADO.*
.FATTOUSH ............. $5.95 - $10.95
*LETTUCE, TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS, AND CHIPS.*
.MEDITERRANEAN ..................................................................
$6.45 - $11.95
*LETTUCE, TOMATOES, OLIVES, ONIONS, CUCUMBERS, FETA.*
* FALAFEL $3.50 - CHICKEN $4.00 - STEAK $5.00 *
TACO MEALS
*LETTUCE, TOMATOE, AVOCADO SAUCE, CREMA, CHEESE SERVED WITH BEANS AND RICE.*
* (FLOUR OR CORN TORTILLA)* (2 Tacos) (3 Tacos)
.CHICKEN $11.95 .$14.95 *CHIPOTLE MAYO.*
.GROUND BEEF $11.95 .$14.95 *SALSA VERDE.*
.BREADED FISH $11.95 .$14.95 *SIRACHA MAYO.*
.FALAFEL $10.95 .$13.95 *TAHINI SAUCE.*
.CAJUN SHRIMP $11.95 .$14.95 *SIRACHA MAYO.*
.STEAK $12.45 .$15.45 *SALSA VERDE.*
TACO A LA CARTE
*FALAFEL $3.50 - CHICKEN/GROUND BEEF $4.50 - FISH/SHRIMP/STEAK $4.75*
BURRITOS
*RICE, BEANS,LETTUCE,TOMATOES, CORN, AND CHEESE.* .CHICKEN..................... $8.95
SAUCE.* *ADD .WET BURRITTO.$1.50 .GUACAMOLE.$1.50 *
EL LIMON BOWLS
*WITH RICE, GRILLED VEGGIES AND CHIPS*
.HABANERO CHICKEN $14.95
.CHICKEN FAJITA ................ $14.95
.GRAPE LEAVES FALAFEL $14.95 .CHICKEN KABOB ................ $14.95
“New Year, Same Me”
JAY TAVANE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“The four quarters of school”
AUDREY YUAN STAFF WRITER
