The ‘Stang Express The Newspaper of North Shore Middle School Volume 4 • Issue 2 • January 2014
Although many may text and walk every day, it doesn’t take a lot of thought to realize how dangerous texting and walking really can be. - page 4
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2014
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‘STANG EXPRESS STAFF
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The ‘Stang Express • Feb. 2013
4 COVER STORY
4 TEXTING AND WALKING: A SMART CHOICE?
NEWS
Watching where you’re going could be the difference between life and death. by DANIEL DAVILA
3 Character education helps students improve behavior
SPORTS
Respect, tolerance, and self-disciplined students represent NSMS well. by IVON LOPEZ
3 Saving the community one shot at a time To prevent people from catching diseases, North Shore provides citizens with free vaccinations. by JADA RICHARD
FEATURES 5 Many jobs with many smiles
Taking on new challenges, Mrs. Romo’s spirit can be seen in the classroom and on the field. by JOANNE COBOS
6 Shutdown negatively affects our country
The government shut down cost us money, but not our freedom. by JOANNE COBOS
OPINION 7 WILL THE ASTRODOME BE DESTROYED?
Houston postopones its decision to tear down the Astrodome. by MICHAEL ESTRADA
8 Giving versus getting: The annual christmas fight
The Christmas spirit affects us all in different ways. How does it affect you? by PATRICK MARTIN
9 MUSTANGS DEFEAT THEIR RIVAL TEAM
Aggressive defense and constant offense leads the Mustangs to victory by VICTOR MONTOYA & VICTOR DAVILA
10 Mustangs defeated by the wildcats
Mistakes near the endzone give Cunningham the upper hand and the victory by VICTOR DAVILA & BENNY MOORE
11 Mustangs fall short, lose to biggest rivals
The Mustang’s hard fought game ends with them losing by two points by VICTOR DAVILA
ENTERTAINMENT 12 The Hunger Games: Catching FIre
Revolution is stirring in the hearts and minds of the citizens of Panem. Will it catch fire? by EDWARD HERNANDEZ
13 evolution of the first-person shooter Always bringing first-person shooters to the next level, Battlefield 4 doesn’t dissapoint its fans by EDRAS MATA
13 wHICH IS THE BETTER NEXT GENERATION CONSOLE?
X-box and Playstation face off to provide their users with a unique gaming experience by LEONARDO REYES
PHOTO STORIES 9 SONS SHOW AFFECTION FOR THIER MOTHERS NSMS hosts a dance for mother and sons to share their love for one another. by RONNIE HOLLAND
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Co-Editors-in-Chief
Hailie Russell
Opinion Editor News Editor Features Editor Sports Editor
Patrick Martin Ivon Lopez Joanne Cobos Victor Davila
Entertainment Ed. Photo Editor Social Media Mgr
Leonardo Reyes Melanie Gomez Hailie Russell
Cover Story
Daniel Davila
Page Design
Mr. Fonder
Writers Cynthia Barragan Edras Mata Daniel Davila Victor Montoya Michael Estrada Benny Moore Edward Hernandez Katia Patino Maray Kelly Jada Richard Cesar Landa Camryn Sylestine Photographers Melanie Gomez Ronnie Holland
Adviser Principal Superintendent
Mr. Will Fonder Mr. Paul Drexler Dr. Angi Williams
CONTACTING US
Mailing address: 120 Castlegory Houston,Texas 77015 Phone: (832) 386-2600 Website: http://www.texasschools.net/nsms Email: stangexpress@yahoo.com
RESPONDING
Letters to the editor will be accepted. Letters may be submitted in Room C107 or placed in the mailbox of Mr. Burke. All letters must be signed. Names will be published. Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual and may be edited.
PURPOSE
The ‘Stang Express is a student publication distributed to the students, teachers, and parents of North Shore Middle School and Galena Park ISD. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the student writers and are not necessarily the opinions of the Galena Park ISD. The ‘Stang Express is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Assocation. The newspaper earned an Award of Distinguished Merit and won a prestigious Bronze Star Award from the ILPC in April 2013 and was recently awarded a Gold Crown by the CSPA in New York City.
Character education helps students
improve behavior
Respect, tolerance, and self-disciplined students represent North Shore Middle by IVON LOPEZ Dr. Williams, the superintendent of Galena Park Independent School District; Ms. Patterson, the director of social studies, and certain other middle and high school teachers have been working on something new this year called character education. The main purpose of character education is to improve students’ ways of behaving. “Character education is teaching students character traits such as respect, self-discipline, and tolerance for others, as well as instilling values and morals at the same time,” said Ms. Merrill, 8th grade Social Studies teacher. Character education not only helps students with the way they behave in school, but it also helps them with their attitudes
at home. “Character education is important because if students really absorb the traits that are being taught and learn from them, it could significantly improve their relationships with their parents and teachers, as well as their attitudes,” said Ms. Merrill. Every month, different teachers, representing their departments, come together to come up with activities to present the themes and weekly focuses for character education. The focuses for November were respect for authority, self-respect, respect for other people, and respect for other cultures. The focuses in December were reflecting on and facing challenges, having hopes and dreams, and setting goals. The rest of the themes are honesty and
integrity for January, responsibilities and trustworthiness for February, fairness and compassion for March, perseverance for April, and citizenship for May. Some teachers fit character education in with their daily lessons while others have the students present it in their own way. “One thing I would do to face challenges is to pray about it and another thing is to ask for advice from my friends,” said 8th grader, Scira Pereida. Character Education will continue for the rest of the year, and it will be an ongoing attitude focus for students. It will continue to educate students about the importance of their attitudes, and, hopefully, they will be able to absorb it and improve themselves as young adults.
Region Band competes in the annual fall competition North Shore’s region and symphonic bands put their hard work to the test in competition by CAMRYN SYLESTINE On November 15th and 16th the Region Band performed for the annual fall concert at Beverly Hills, Pasadena at an individual competition where other schools in the district compete. The bands that are competing (Region and Symphonic bands) have worked very hard for the concert since they started practicing during the second week of school. According to Ms.Killough, the band instructor, Region Band helps students
with their academics and their knowledge of music. When they practice, students get more skillful by getting used to their instruments more and playing better. The band students worked hard on the song they had played. The Region and Symphonic bands have also been successful at their other concerts and competitions, their effort showing when they place in a lot of different categories. The Region Band students that performed on November 15th and 16th played their instruments as if the bands had
practiced their whole lives. The Region and Symphonic bands had practiced for that very moment at the fall concert for a very long time. Furthermore, Region Band has students that are willing to practice hard to be perfect in competition or to perform well in concert. The bands’ competitive spirit thrives in competition. The students’ hard work and preparation paid off. Students who placed in it, and even those who didn’t, agree that Region Band is a good experience to be a part of.
Saving the community one shot at a time
To prevent people from catching diseases, North Shore provides citizens with free vaccinations by JADA RICHARDS On January 8th, North Shore held their very own vaccinations from 8:30a.m.12p.m. in the multi-purpose room. This event had a very big turn out, which had an estimate of about 50 people, including many students with their parent or guardian. During this event the nurses were very busy tending to people from the community such as toddlers, babies, adults, teens and even some elderly citizens. Underaged citizens were to bring their shot records and their parent or guardian. Then, they were told to wait for their name to be called and were given their
vaccinnations. ”We had a very big turn out, and lots of people came out that needed their shots, especially kids from the school,” said Mrs.Ramsden, the nurse’s assistant. Many types of vaccinations were being given to prevent diseases, such as whooping cough, chicken pox, pneumonia, and influenza, also known as the flu virus. The whooping cough is a disease you catch when bacteria infects your lungs and respitory system. It can be passed on by coughing or sneezing. Influenza/flu is best described as the most known disease that can cause you to have a runny nose, headache, and fever. Also, the chicken
pox is one of the most contagious diseases you can catch. Therefore, this disease has a very repellent vaccination, which has dropped the death percentage rate. Last is pneumonia. This is caused by secondhand smoke, smoking, or asthma and is very deadly. Most people say that they have bronchitis, which leads to pneaumonia. These vaccinations that were given are very important because each one of these diseases can affect your life negatively. The event was known as, “a gift to the community,” because it helped protect the people. By doing this event, North Shore Middle School has made the community a cleaner and safer place. VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2014
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Texting and walking: Watching where you’re going could be the difference between life and death.
A smart choice?
The people of the world communicate in several diverse ways. There are thousands of complex communication tools and technologies, but for the common person it is generally very convenient to pull out a cell phone and begin writing a text message. As teenagers, we are likely to send texts rather frequently, so, more than often, a teen may text message so much that the action itself becomes very instinctive and second nature. Many people might consider texting as they walk a very routine action. Although many may text and walk every day, it doesn’t take a lot of thought to realize how dangerous texting and walking really can be. As we walk, whether it is in the parking lot or on the city sidewalk, we are prone to thousands of seemingly harmless objects and environmental factors. These factors include stationary items such as trees, light poles, and/or waste bins as well as more mobile things like cars, birds, or even people. With all of these diverse and unalike threats, the amount of focus we need to walk a distance safely and effectively is unusually high. For example, imagine walking down a paved sidewalk during the day. Now, imagine distracting your eyes with your phone as one normally would while texting. We don’t usually realize it, but by texting and walking you are not only adding a minimal distraction; you are directing your attention to a completely separate area other than the course of your path. Most people would consider texting and walking a minor problem, if a problem at all. The majority of people are more critical of texting and driving. “I’ve never heard of texting and walking, but I have heard of texting and driving which I think is very dangerous”, said 7th grader Chazz Brion. A lot of people even consider texting and walking more of an annoyance then a great problem. This annoyance factor may allude to the effects of texting and walking. One of which is an overall decrease in speed and/or acceleration. “I don’t like it because they tend to text and walk really slow and get in everyone’s way”, 7th grade girl Gladys Puga pointed out.
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IMAGE / USARMY.VO.LLNWD.NET
by DANIEL DAVILA
Although texting and walking may not get very much attention by the common person, there is the occasional exception. “I consider it very highly dangerous because many people bump into each other and get injuries”, said 8th grade girl Allisen Banda. Due to the negative effects associated with texting and walking, it can be a lot more of a health hazard than a pesky bother. In fact, the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, an electronic emergency room database based around the country, helped researchers estimate that from 2004 to 2010, approximately 1,506 people were seriously hurt due to cell phone affiliated accidents. About two thirds of these people were below 25 years of age. Also, according to a study conducted by Ohio State University, more than 1,500 pedestrians were cared for in emergency rooms in 2010 due to injuries
developed while texting and walking. With statistics such as these, it becomes evident that teens are not only ones experiencing these accidents. Although the adolescent portion is visibly larger, grown men and women were also physically damaged and at times killed. This simply goes to verify that maturity is not an aspect that will cloak the risk that texting and walking poses. We all eventually face the same dangerous threats. In conclusion, considering the large threat that texting and walking evidently poses and the seriousness of others on the matter, an increase in hospitalization due to lack of cautiousness is, without a doubt, highly likely. More and more studies are being conducted on texting and walking, ultimately portraying the same negative results. So, next time you pull out your cell phone to walk and text, think twice.
FEATURES Many jobs with many smiles Taking on new challenges, Mrs. Romo’s spirit can be seen in the classroom and on the field by JOANNE COBOS She helps to lead cheerleaders out on the football field during halftime, teaches her students in the classroom, and she keeps a bright smile on her face through all her hard work. Being new to school, teaching, and helping lead a cheerleading squad may seem like a handful, but Ms. Romo does this everyday while keeping a positive attitude. Ms. Romo attended Channelview High School then went to college at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville for four and a half years. She chose Sam Houston because many of the teachers she admired went to that school, so she attended and majored in Disciplinary Studies and Math Minor. Then, she traveled to Houston to begin her teaching career, and she chose to take the opportunity to teach here. The first day of school, when many seventh graders and possibly some eighth graders started attending this school, she started her first day also. “On the first day, I was excited, anxious, eager to learn, and ready to start off a great first year,” said Ms. Romo. Although she had never experienced the life of a being a cheerleader herself, the task of being one of the cheerlead-
ing coaches was given to her and she agreed to do it. She thought the girls on the squad were a lot of fun and she knew they would make her proud. She is already adjusting; getting into a routine of making it day by day and maintaining a positive through anything that comes up because she believes that a day spent complaining is a day wasted. This is why she always looks at the positive side of things, and is a reason why many students enjoy her class. “I love how Ms. Romo teaches. She explains things thoroughly so that I understand everything. She takes things step by step, but she also likes to play around to add some fun to the lesson,” said seventh grader, Jackie Montes. She wants to give her students the opportunity to love math because according to her, math isn’t a subject that a lot of people like, and she hopes her teaching will help them learn and grow to love it like she did. She chose to teach math because she believes there is something intriguing about knowing an answer to something. “When you figure out an answer to something you didn’t know, it provides a feeling of accomplishment and I love that. I also like that there is more than one way to solve a problem,” said Ms.
Romo. As for the cheerleaders, she wishes to teach them to become role models because she believes they represent our school, so they need to have the mentality that they should have high standards. She also looks forward to being a good coach and to guiding them well. “Ms. Romo is a good coach, and she coaches us well. She taught us to make the right choices and to ask for help when we need it,” said Jariel Godfruiey, a seventh grade cheerleader. Although she is new here, Ms. Romo has already left an impression on many students, and our school has also had an effect on her. “I love the environment here. Everyone says, ‘Good morning,’ and even if they’re having a bad day, the staff is positive. The students also have their days, but in the end, I hope I’m making an impact, and I love seeing their light bulbs go off once they solve a problem,” said Ms. Romo. Ms. Romo may be new, but already she has taken on an important task. She has to teach every day and then, with the help of Ms. Vasquez, she guides the cheerleaders. Most importantly, she does everything on her schedule with a bright attitude.
Character Education! January
Having morals means doing the right thing no matter what everyone else is doing. Respect, honesty, and hard work don’t always seem to pay off immediately, but the people that are remembered and trusted for it never turn from what they know to be right.
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It’s easy to point blame at someone else to stay out of trouble, or to run away from a tough situation; however, standing up for what’s right and true always pays off in the end. People depend on those that are honest, even during troubling times.
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FEATURES Shutdown negatively affects nation The government shutdown cost us money, but not our freedom by JOANNE COBOS For sixteen days in the month of October, our government was shut down. Part of our government closed, and our economy was badly affected, but why? What started this and what were the consequences? First, it all started with an argument. Congress has many jobs, and one of those is the task of passing spending bills which fund the government. If Congress doesn’t send out these spending bills, most of what makes up the government can’t function. Only some more important parts of government would remain funded and get paid, including Congress. This wasn’t the first time the government shutdown has happened. In the past, our government has shut down seventeen times. These shutdowns happened for many different reasons, but usually, the opposing people were the President and Congress or the House and the Senate. Now, the House Republicans want to stop funding Obamacare, which is a national health care plan focused on improving health care and health insurance. While the Republicans want it gone, the Senate Democrats insist that they want to keep Obamacare. House
Republicans passed two spending bills: one that would delay Obamacare for a year and another that would take away the Obamacare taxes. However, when the Senate rejected the House’s idea, the government was sent into a shutdown because Congress didn’t make a choice on time. Most of the 3.3 million government workers that are deemed “essential” were allowed to stay and work, but approximately 800,000 government employees would go home. Not only did the shutdown meddle with people’s jobs, but it made the United States lose money. The most recent shutdown only lasted sixteen days, but it still cost us approximately 24 billion dollars because during the shutdown all tourist attractions closed and travel money was lost because the U.S. Travel Association was closed. Almost everything remained the same for those sixteen days, but loans, permits, or passports would have to be given after the shutdown ended because Passport Offices were closed and loan programs came to a halt since the government needed to save as much as it could. How did the government shutdown affect our daily life? During those sixteen days, national parks, zoos, and
museums were closed. These national parks lost nearly 500 million dollars due to the shutdown. Also, federal employees were on furlough, which means they were not to go to work, but if you were working anywhere else, like any small businesses, you continued to work and receive paychecks. This government shutdown might have caused damage, but it had one positive effect: it taught us to value the things the government does, and it showed us how everything would be if we did not have such a well-functioning government. Things could have been worse; we were lucky things died down so fast because government problems, like the ones that recently led us to shutdown, can lead to major changes in our society. If things had gone differently, the government could have taken possession over everything and our government could have had similar results to the government in “The Hunger Games”, with the important people who lead us taking a very controlling stance. Thankfully, that did not happen.
How did the Government Shutdown affect us? National Parks closed down which affected the tourism industry: $76 million were lost altogether. National wildlife refuges lost 4.5 million dollars in sales every day which amounted to $72 million for the whole shutdown.
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Hundreds of federal workers were furloughed, and exactly 800,000 were sent home. Childcare and other services for military families were discontinued for 16 days.
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Parks and recreation: Government Employees:
In total: The 16-day government shutdown took $24 billion dollars out of the US economy.
Will the Astrodome be destroyed? Houston postpones its decision to tear down the Astrodome
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, the people of Houston voted on whether or not to save the Astrodome, also known as “The Eighth Wonder of The World”. The results were official: the Astrodome was supposed to be destroyed; Houston citizens rejected the plan to transform the Astrodome into a family convention/ event center because it had been vacant for many years. Fifty-three percent of the voters decided to destroy it, and fortyseven percent was in favor of converting the Astrodome. When the Astrodome opened in 1965, it was the “talk of the century”. It hosted professional football and baseball and held many events. People went there all the time, but over time other more complex stadiums opened with advantages over the Astrodome, and people went to those stadiums instead of the Astrodome. As years passed, coaches sold their teams, such as the Oilers, and the Astrodome became vacant, and it was shut down completely in 2009. People could still use the Astrodome in more ways than just a family event/ convention center. It could shelter victims that lost their homes due to natural and manmade disasters like it did in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. Also, it could also shelter people that are homeless so they have a place to live, instead of living on the streets. “I think we should have transformed the Astrodome into something else because it’s a major place in Houston and because we could have used it for something else, like a park,” said eighth grader Oscar Rojas.
On the other hand, the Astrodome would cost too much money to renew and transform it into a convention center. It is estimated that it would have been 217 million dollars to transform it, and only 29-78 million dollars to demolish it. They chose to demolish it because it cost too much money and would just add to the country’s debt. “It’s good that the astrodome was destroyed because nobody ever used it, and now people are making a big deal about whether or not to save it,” said eighth grader Ulises Martinez. I believe that the Astrodome shouldn’t be destroyed. The three exterior ramps were demolished on Dec. 8, 2013, but before the whole Astrodome could be destroyed, the endangered Astrodome was thrown a possible lifeline as the National Park Service and was named the world’s first domed athletic stadium to the National Register of Historic Places. Even though the Astrodome was thrown a possible lifeline and named this, it doesn’t mean the Astrodome can’t be destroyed. The city of Houston doesn’t have a deadline to determine if it will be destroyed or transformed, but they are trying to close down the discussion. Pretty soon they will have their outcome, and I hope they choose the smarter one. I believe that Houston Citizens should have voted to transform the Astrodome into a family convention/event center. Ever since 2009, the Astrodome has just sat there collecting dust. They could have transformed it into something else, but they decided not to. They should transform it so everyone can enjoy the once popular Astrodome.
IMAGE / ONE.ARCH.TAMU.EDU
by MICHAEL ESTRADA
Did You Know? The Astrodome was opened in 1965, and was nicknamed the “Eighth Wonder of the World. It was the first domed, fully air conditioned stadium. It hosted a number of different sports ranging from professional to collegiate football and baseball. It also held championship boxing, Portuguese-style bullfighting, professional soccer, polo, rodeos, college basketball, special concerts, conventions, and religious meetings. The very first game that took place there was on April 9, 1965, and it was the Houston Astros going against the New York Yankees in a baseball exhibition match. The first football game took place on September 11, 1965. Tulsa University beat University of Houston with a score of 14-0. In 1992, the Republican Party held its national convention there. Soon, the astrodome started fading away out of everyone’s mind. In 1996, the Houston oilers moved to Tennessee, and the Houston Astros played their last game in the Astrodome on October 9, 1999. After this game, they moved to Minute Maid Park, a newer constructed field, to begin the next season in 2000. However, the Astrodome was not yet abandoned. After the teams left, it hosted the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a tradition since 1966, up until 2002. The next year, George Strait held a live concert in the Astrodome, with an album called “Live From The Astrodome.” In 2005 it sheltered victims that lost their homes due to Hurricane Katrina. Then, the astrodome was completely shut down in 2009. Ever since then, nobody went to the Astrodome again. VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2014
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Giving verses Getting: The Annual Christmas Fight The Christmas spirit affects us all in different ways. How does it affect you? by PATRICK MARTIN You feel a warm glow inside as you hand your little brother or sister the gift you got them for Christmas. You know that they will love it, and you wait as they unwrap their gift to see them smile and say thank you. But once they finally open it, they throw it down saying that they didn’t want this, and as they ask why you didn’t get them what they really wanted, you feel a sinking feeling, like you’re the worst person in the world. The truth is that some people value the giving over getting and vice versa. According to Slate, an online magazine, in 2011 the average American spent 646 dollars on Christmas presents that will go to family, coworkers, and friends. That means that the average person spends 646 dollars on giving every year around Christmas time. So which is better, giving or getting? While we may be too young to afford to spend 646 dollars, we do often give to our immediate family. Giving shows love and compassion. Even when we can’t afford anything, we often make gifts from the heart. What do we get in return? We get a warm feeling in our stomach when we give. For some, that feeling is better than any gift. “Giving [is better] because you are being more generous and making others happy,” said 7th grader Daniel Arenales, and 7th grader Genaro Perez said that,
“Giving [is better] because you have to give to the needy. Sometimes you may have a little too much.” I agree with both of them because giving, to me, feels better than getting. On the other hand, some people value getting over giving. They think that a gift will last longer than any feeling. A feeling will go away after a few moments, but a gift might last for years. A better way to think of this is that you are helping them feel that warm feeling, which you get from giving, by letting them give to you. If people enjoy giving, then someone has to get for the people who enjoy giving to give. While I may not agree with this logic, I understand why some people would enjoy getting better than giving. Personally, I enjoy giving better. I think that that warm feeling is better than any gift that you can receive. While it may not last as long, the overall amount of enjoyment will outweigh any gift’s enjoyment, but even though I like giving better, getting is not an evil thing. People give to show their love for you, and by taking their gift, you let them feel that warm feeling too. After all, wouldn’t it be selfish to keep that feeling to yourself? I think both giving and getting are good. I also think giving is the better of the two. It is the season to spread cheer, so it is good to give. What do you think is better, giving or getting?
SOUND OFF!! What do you think is better, giving or getting? Why? LUKE BANDA 7TH GRADE “Giving because when you get you can get bored with that gift, but when you give, you get a satisfying feeling that feels more worthwhile.”
Daniel riggs 8TH GRADE “Getting because money is not easy to come by and you can’t always give.”
Robbie Mullins 8TH GRADE “Giving because it makes you fell good because you make someone else happy.”
Galena Park ISD promotes Character Education February
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FEBRUARY 2014 • THE ‘STANG EXPRESS
It’s much harder to gain someone’s trust back than to prove your trustworthiness from the beginning. Lying, cheating, and avoiding a problem can all cause losses of trust. Prove that you can be trustworthy by showing responsiblity, honesty, and integrity in every situation.
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Being responsible can be difficult. Many situations will require you to go beyond your comfort zone in order to succeed; however, to be a responsible young adult, you must step up to difficult demands and prove your compitence, but you don’t have to do it alone.
The Mustangs demolish
THEIR RIVAL TEAM
Aggressive defense and consistant offense leads the Mustangs to victory
Seventh grader Chance Pillar runs with the ball in his possession at the Galena Park ISD stadium on November 4th against the Cunningham Wildcats.
PHOTO / MELANIE GOMEZ
On Nov. 5 the 8th grade B football team played against their rival the Cunningham Wildcats at the Galena Park ISD stadium. So far, the Mustangs were undefeated with more than half of their games being blowouts, and were looking to end the season with a perfect record. At the beginning of the first quarter, the running back Nicholas Petry, ran for four consecutive first downs and put the Mustangs at the fifteen yard line. After that, Petry ran the ball up the middle on a draw play for a touchdown with 3:42 left in the first quarter and the crowd cheered when he entered the end-zone. The PAT (point after touchdown) was no good, leaving the score at 6-0. Our defense played aggressively, pressuring the quarter back and forcing the quarter back to make quick decisions. It was a 4thand 4 when Cunningham attempted a screen pass, but failed to convert resulting in a turnover at the 38 yard line with 1:55 left in the first quarter. The quarter back Robbie Mullins scrambled for 8 yards to the 30 yard line. After that, Nicholas Petry ran 30 yards down the sideline on a counter play for a touchdown with 10.2 seconds left in the quarter, making the score 14-0 because the PAT was good. The first quarter ended with a score of 14-0. At the start of the second quarter, defensive end Timothy Smith forced a fumble on the Cunningham quarterback by stripping the ball at 7:59. Our defense was playing aggressively, making it difficult for the Wildcats to gain yards. Next, Petry fought and broke three tackles to get a first down at the 11-yard line. After this, our receiver Kereon Hadnot ran a reverse run play for a touchdown at 3:47, but the PAT was no good. The score at the end of the half was 20-0, and the North Shore fans cheered as the players jogged into the locker room. During halftime the players went into the locker room, and then the Fillies came out and performed their dance routine to, “Feel This Moment” By Christina Aguilera. The crowd clapped and cheered when they saw the Fillies’ well coordinated routine. The third quarter started when our destructive defense tackled the running back in the backfield for a loss of 2 yards. After that, our corner back Deshaun
PHOTO / MELANIE GOMEZ
by VICTOR DAVILA & VICTOR MONTOYA
Seventh grader Chance Pillar runs the ball on November 4th at the Galena Park ISD Stadium to gain extra yardage during the Cunningham game, ending with a score of 18-35.
Buckner tackled the tight end for a loss of 4 yards. So Cunningham had to punt it away. Cunningham’s defense started playing smarter, and putting pressure on the quarterback, we answered back by doing the same. It was now a defensive battle, and neither team was going to give up any easy yards. The aggressive defenses resulted in a scoreless quarter filled with pressing defenses and tight coverage, leaving the score at 20-0. The fourth quarter started when Nicholas Petry fought for yards, and got a first down. Next, our offensive line got some blocks for Petry, and he ran 53 yards to the 11-yard line. Cunningham’s defense was having
trouble in their offensive line. The secondary running back Cecil Henry then followed up Petry and ran for 11-yards and got the touchdown at 5:37, the PAT was good and the score was 28-0. Our defense was forceful and they caused another turnover. Kereon Hadnot then ran another reverse this time for a 30 yard touchdown, but the PAT was no good. The PAT ended the game with a score of 34-0. In the end Coach Williams was excited that they won district champs. Also, soon after this game, the 8th grade A team won their game, and also finished with a perfect record. For the first time in 28 years, both 8th grade teams went undefeated. VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2014
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Mustangs suffer defeat by the Wildcats Mistakes near the endzone give Cunningham the upper hand and the victory by BENNY MOORE & VICTOR DAVILA
78 yards for a touchdown on a counter run play; however, the field goal was blocked which made the score 7-6. The Mustangs kicked the ball of to Cunningham and they returned the kickoff for a touchdown, but missed the PAT, ending the first quarter with a score of 13-6. In the second quarter, the Mustang’s linebackers kept the Wildcats from gaining any yards. At this point both teams were getting aggressive. Next, a Cunningham’s running back ran 70 yards to the 20 yard line and was caught from behind by a Mustang player. Coach Penny then called a timeout to fix defensive problems. “We’re going to make mistakes, but we’ve got to rebound,” explained Coach Penny. After a few screen plays, Isaac Murrow plowed through Cunningham’s defensive line and ran for 50 yards on a simple draw play to the 28 yard line with 1:57 left in the quarter. Then, a Mustang player was hit hard and lost the ball to Cunningham’s middle linebacker. Cunningham ended the quarter by running the ball to end the half with a score of 15-6. At the beginning of the second half, we received the ball, but fumbled in Cunningham’s end zone. Cunningham recovered the ball for a touchdown, making the score 21-6. After a few failed plays, we
On Nov. 4, the 7th grade football A team took on their rivals Cunningham at the Galena Park ISD stadium. The Mustangs were going into game 5-2 and looking to close out the season with a win. To start the game, Cunningham received the kickoff. After getting the ball down the field with a few play action passes, Cunningham ran the ball into the end zone with 4:57 left on the clock. The Mustang’s crowd went ecstatic when they saw the yellow flags flying out of the referee‘s pocket. The touchdown was called back because there was holding call in the backfield. After a few failed passing plays with our defense playing a cover two defense, Cunningham took advantage of the spread out defense and ran the ball up the middle for a touchdown with 2:25 on the clock, making the score 6-0. Cunningham ran the ball in for the PAT (Point after Touchdown), making the score 7-0. Next, the Mustangs received the ball and were capitalizing on all of Cunningham’s small mistakes in their defensive line. Soon, running back Katreyvion Smith ran
were forced to punt the ball. When things seemed to be going badly, we recovered a fumble with 4:32 left on the clock. After a few first downs by receiver Chance Pillar, he ran for a touchdown on a reverse run making the score 21-12. The PAT was no good with 0:28 left in the third quarter. Late in the game when the fourth quarter started, corner back Jarius Jones recovered a fumble with 7:54 left in the game. After a few successful plays, Chance Pillar ran for a touchdown on a reverse with 6:19 left in the game, but the PAT failed, making the score 21-18. We lost the ball on a fumble, and Cunningham recovered the ball Cunningham ran for a 42 yards for at touchdown with 3:14 left in the game. Quarterback Devin Jennings threw an interception with 2:12 left. Cunningham scored on a draw play with 0:57 left in the game; the PAT was no good. Devin Jennings threw a long pass to Chance Pillar, and that ended the game with a score of 34-18. Ultimately the mistakes in the Mustangs secondary defense led to them losing the game. Our offense fought hard, but couldn’t handle Cunningham’s defensive pressure.
Inspirational teacher or hard working coach? How about both! NSMS welcomes Coach Bryant’s winning attiude to their teaching family
PHOTO / MELANIE GOMEZ
by MARAY KELLY & KATIA PATINO
Mian Bryant teaches 8th grade reading and coaches the girls’ basketball team but she’s not just a teacher: she’s also the superintendent’s daughter. “I like her because she is a cool teacher, and she is caring and sensitive towards her students,” said Cameron Rogers. “I like the way she teaches and explains everything,” said Cynthia Muniz. Before she started teaching, Coach Bryant graduated from North Shore High School in 2002. Later, she graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.
10 FEBRUARY 2014 • THE ‘STANG EXPRESS
Now she is working on her Masters in Education Administration. While in college, Ms. Bryant played her favorite sport, basketball. Although she does not know for sure why she likes basketball so much, she believes it’s because she gets to be aggressive and intense. “It’s a very physical sport. It’s not that I would like to be aggressive and intense, but it’s that you have to be.” Ms. Bryant decided to teach at the district she graduated from, and now she works here at North Shore because she wanted to help kids who were like her when she was in middle school. Before she taught here at North Shore, she decided to teach Business English at the North Shore Senior High. Coach Bryant also gets to do her favorite thing in the world which is spending time with her family. “It is very difficult to spend meaningful time with family when everyone in the family has a career. Any opportunity to see my parents or spend time with my siblings and nephews gives me a sense of appreciation and love. I rely on them to
get me through the stresses of teaching and coaching,” Ms. Bryant said. Her family supported her through her entire basketball career. Basketball has brought Ms. Bryant close to her family and the girls’ basketball team here. Coach Bryant is excited about this year’s basketball season because she likes to see the girls compete and gets a chance to lead them to victory. She has taught reading for 6 years and loves it. She enjoys reading and hearing how her kids can read the same book and take away different meanings. “If I weren’t a coach, I would just be a reading teacher,” Coach Bryant said. Ms. Bryant enjoys working with kids and likes to help them make good decisions in their academic and personal lives because she wants them to be successful at the long point so that they can have a better future. “At the end of the day, I truly enjoy coaching! The camaraderie built among teammates is priceless. The coaches and players come together with one goal in mind…VICTORY!” she said.
Lady Mustangs fall short, lose to big rival The ladies’ hard-fought game ends with them on the losing by just two points
PHOTO / MELANIE GOMEZ
On Oct. 31, the 8th grade volleyball B team went toe to toe against Cunningham’s undefeated Wildcats, their biggest rival at North Shore Senior High. They were looking to close out the season as district champions. To start off the game, the Mustangs set up an offensive play and executed it with precision, ending the rally with Emily Esparza spiking the ball straight into one of the Wildcats’ open spots. The Mustangs kept their lead and played conservatively and made some daring saves. The Mustangs, however, lost focus, didn’t communicate as much, and soon lost their lead, with the score being 7-8 after Cunningham started to communicate more. The next rallies ended with points made because of miscommunication or faults. “C’mon. Y’all have to start talking more; we’ve got to fight,” yelled Coach DuPlaga from the sideline. Though the Mustangs were trailing behind the Wildcats, they kept their composure, fought for the lead, and got the lead after Tyler Perkins served an ace, making the score 13-12. The Wildcats soon started to communicate more, while the Mustangs played more conservatively. Cunningham then surpassed the Mustangs, and continued to play aggressively, ending the first set with a score of 19-25 with Cunningham taking the first win. After the first set, Coach DuPlaga
stressed that communication was the most important factor if the Mustangs wanted to pull ahead in the next set. “We’ve got to talk more. Most of their points are coming from our mistakes,” Coach DuPlaga said. She then commenced to go over plays and keep the team motivated. Soon it was time for the second set to start. To start the second set, Cunningham earned the first point after they successfully executed an offensive play. The Wildcats, once again, had the lead with the score being 6-8. “Let’s pull it together. Give me game,” yelled Coach Sandford. The ‘Stangs then started to make daring saves, capitalize on all of the Wildcats’ mistakes, and were gradually closing the gap between their scores. Soon the score was 15-19 when the Wildcats got nervous and served out three times in a row. The Mustangs were now only trailing by one point until Tyler Perkins served an ace to tie the game at 19-19! The crowd went berserk! The Mustangs put their game faces on and then earned one more point and also the lead by capitalizing on Cunningham’s miscommunication. Next, Lacey Ortega found the very corner of the boundaries with a spike to widen the Mustangs lead 19-21. The teams then went back and forth, tying the game at 24-24. If the Wildcats won, they’d be district champions, but if the Mustangs won then the third set
Eighth Grader Lacey Ortega bumps the ball to prevent it from touching the court and giving the opposing team a point on October 31 at the North Shore Senior High Main Gym. The Mustangs won the last set with an ending score of 15-2.
would be the decisive set! The gym was filled with two chants. One side cheered, “Mustangs! Mustangs,” as the other side roared, “Wildcats! Wildcats!” The Mustangs played hard, but fell short when Cunningham spiked the ball for a point. The next rally started when North Shore served, and Cunningham set up a play and found a small open spot where they spiked the ball, winning the game and the match with a score of 26-24. Cunningham’s side of the gym exploded with excitement as the North Shore side sat silent in disbelief. The Lady Mustangs had fought hard, but in the end it was their small mistakes that cost them the win. “We needed to talk more. I think if we would’ve just communicated more it would’ve made all the difference,” said Emily Esparza. The Mustangs didn’t close out the season the way they would’ve liked, but they finished with a record of 3-5.
PHOTO / MELANIE GOMEZ
by VICTOR DAVILA
Eighth grader Tyler Perkins serves the ball to begin a new set on October 31 in the North Shore Senior High Main Gym. The final score for the first set was 20-25 with the Wildcats in the lead.
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2014 11
PG-13
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Revolution is stirring in the hearts and minds of the citizens of Panem. Will it catch fire?
things come out of nowhere, like one part monkeys come out and they try to kill the competitors. I hope you get to watch this thrilling movie.
More information on the movie can be found at www.catchingfiremovie.com. The movie was available on DVD and Bluray Friday, March 7th, 2014. 12 FEBRUARY 2014 • THE ‘STANG EXPRESS
IMAGE / HDWALLPAPERS.IN
save Katniss and Peeta from the Quarter Quell without Katniss knowing. I liked the way they film this movie because the setting is really cool and
IMAGES / WEBTAJ.COM
On November 22, 2013, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire came out in theaters all around the United States. In its first weekend in theatres, it raised 161.1 million dollars. This movie, rated PG-13, is a continuation of the first movie, The Hunger Games. The first movie takes place in the future after a huge war occurred. Twelve districts (cities) were formed for citizens to live in. The Hunger Games represent peace between the districts. Two competitors get reaped (chosen to be competitors for The Hunger Games) from each district to compete in the annual Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are the tributes (competitors) of District 12 for the 74th Hunger Games in the first movie. Peeta helped the other tributes track down Katniss, but she still survived the attack even though she was injured. Katniss looks desperately for Peeta after the gamekeeper changed the rules so that two competitors could stay alive as long as they are from the same district. She finds Peeta injured, but alive. When all of the other tributes were dead except for Peeta and Katniss, the gamekeeper said one of them had to die in order to win. Katniss and Peeta decided to eat venomous berries instead of killing each other so both of them would die right away, but the game keeper said, “STOP!” In Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta go to every district and give a speech, but instead of giving the speeches the capital gave them, they gave the ones they made. The president wants Katniss, Peeta, and the rest of their team dead because they were unknowingly starting a revolution against the capitol. The victors from previous games (Katniss and Peeta) were reaped for the Quarter Quell, which is the 75th Hunger Games. This is a more difficult round for the competitors because only previous victors would be playing. The revolutionaries make a plan to
IMAGE / HEROCOMPLEX.LATIMES.COM
by EDWARD HERNANDEZ
Evolution of the popular first-person shooter Always bringing FPS shooters to the next level, Battlefield 4 doesn’t dissappoint its fans Battlefield 4, the new action game that came out on Oct. 29, 2013, and the fourth Battlefield of the series, is rated M for mature. Battlefield 4 has improved their features to make the game better than the past Battlefields. It is a first person shooter. Several experts on www.metacritic. com, one of the websites that lets you rate games, have played the game and rated it 4 out of 5 stars. There are newer maps, weapons, vehicles, etc., in the campaign. This means the player has the freedom to do more in the game, according to Battlefield and its creators. The maps that the game offers take place in North America, Australia, Japan, and Europe. Unlike Battlefield 3, there are more than 60 weapons in the newer version. The game also includes a complex multiplayer feature that appeals to groups of gamers. Most people
play multiplayer rather than campaign because they get to play online and with their friends. In multiplayer you can drive vehicles because the maps are large. The maximum amount of players in a lobby is 24; they assemble in the lobby to start the match. The Battlefield servers automatically pick the teams. Some people think that having 24 players in the game is really difficult, but others think that it’s better because they can use teamwork to win. The pros that I’ve read are about Battlefield 4 are that it has a good single-player campaign, a really good multiplayer mode, and varied and imaginative maps. The cons that I’ve read said that some maps are too big for some players, and they struggle on old hardware such as PS3 and Xbox 360. I believe that the game is really good, but the maps are too big, so it’s hard to find your opponents. To me, Battlefield 4 is a re-
ally good game because there are a lot of people that play it and to me it’s exciting to
play. You can buy it in stores for $59.99.
IMAGE / I5.MINUS.COM
by EDRAS MATA
Whether it’s storming beaches, sprinting through desolate cities, or claiming terrirtories in the frigid tundra, Battlefield 4 provides its players with expansive and destructable landscapes.
Which is a better next-generation console? XBOX and Playstation face off to provide their users with unique gaming experiences Since both Microsoft and Sony announced the release date for both “next-generation consoles,” the Playstation 4 and X-box One, people have been comparing them to see which console is a more reliable system. The Playstation 4 was released on Nov.15, while the X-box One came out Nov. 22. If you were to buy one of these consoles based on the overall price, the PS4 would be a better choice because its $100 cheaper than X-box One, which is $500. The PS4, on the other hand, has less online features you have to pay for than X-box One. If your decision to buy a system was based on media share, X-box One would be your better choice, sources say, but PS4 is close behind. The X-box One will let you Skype while you play or watch television. The X-box has a new feature for the NFL. You can watch games and also able to watch your fantasy team
scores at the same time. The new Microsoft system also has an interesting feature: if you have permanent connection, updates will download and install automatically while the system is turned off. The PS4 is also able to get on the network and your friends can join while you’re playing a game, and they’ll be able to help you and take control from you on the tricky parts of the game. The new Playstation 4 controller, the Dual Shock 4, is different then the PS3 controller. The new controller is two inches bigger, which is kind of a bad thing for people with very small hands. The PS4 engineers added a share button, and the new pad has mouse-like movement. The new X-box One controller is almost the same but the biggest change is, instead of having big bulky batteries, it runs on double AA batteries. The new
X-box One controller has smaller analog sticks and the RB and LB (trigger buttons) are closer together. The PS4 has better graphics on some of the biggest names at this time like Call of Duty Ghost, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Madden 25, NBA 2K14, FIFA 14, and Battlefield 4. Most experts recommend you to get Playstation 4 rather than X-box One. These two next generation systems are in very high demand. They are really great systems. It really doesn’t matter which one you get. Either would still be a good decision. IMAGE / MICROSOFT-NEWS.COM
by LEONARDO REYES
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2014 13
Sons show their affection for their mothers NSMS hosts a dance for mothers and sons to share their love for one another
Eighth Grader Christopher Cardenas dances with his mother in a group dance with all the other mothers and sons on November 14th in the cafeteria.
All of the students’ mothers dance in a circle to see who can win their son a free dress pass on November 14, in the cafeteria.
All of the mothers are having a good time with their sons dancing together to the song, “The Cupid Shuffle,” on November 14th in the cafeteria.
14 FEBRUARY 2014 • THE ‘STANG EXPRESS
PHOTO /RONNIE HOLLAND
PHOTO /RONNIE HOLLAND
Eighth Grader John Rodriguez enjoys a memorable moment with his mother on November 14, in the cafeteria.
PHOTO /RONNIE HOLLAND
PHOTO /RONNIE HOLLAND
Eighth Grader Aaron Andreas is on his knee reciting the, “I Saw You,” poem to his mother at the mother son dance on November 14, in the cafeteria.
PHOTO /RONNIE HOLLAND
PHOTO /RONNIE HOLLAND
By: RONNIE HOLLAND
Assistant Principal Mr. Eagleton and his mother enjoy the mother son dance and spending a lot of time with each other. After his speech, he danced the night away with his mother, on November 14, in the cafeteria.
IMAGE / WWW.CHEATS.CO
Technology has advanced our society in many areas, but has it caused us to neglect other areas? We’ll examine the effects of e-books on our society in our next issue.
Do clothes affect peoples’ opinions of you?
Love is in the air. Make sure to read our scoop on the Valentine’s Day dance!
“Dead or alive, you’re coming with me!” - RoboCop hits theaters Feb. 12th.
IMAGE / CIRCUIT42.COM
Would bringing back experiments enhance students’ learning experiences in science class? Honoring and remembering those who lost their lives during the Holocaust, Pre-AP 8th graders visit the Holocaust Museum in our upcoming photo story.
Which apps should you keep a lookout for? We’ve done the research, so you don’t have to!
Our next issue will post on the NSMS Facebook page in March 2014 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2014 15