Horses Help Kids

By Julie

Last year for guidance class, I volunteered for a program called SPARC.

In the SPARC program, children with disabilities can ride horses and get a 30-60 minute lesson where they are lead around by helpers and have side walkers for support. The program is often used for physical therapy because when you ride a horse you strengthen your balance.

SPARC runs year-round at different barns all around the country but is most popular in the spring and fall when the weather is most favorable. The program relies on volunteers to donate their time and expertise with horses. Volunteers teach the lesson, tack the horses, feed the horses, groom the horses, help the children attending the program mount the horse, watch the children who aren't riding at that time, lead the horse around, clear the riding area of anything that could scare the horses, clear the waiting area of hazards to the children, and more.

The instructor of the group has the children do other activities that will also help them make progress in their therapy, such as holding onto cups and having a walking race on the horse to see who can cross the finish line first while holding the cup. The children are challenged while riding but being on the horse makes their therapy more fun.

What's on your holiday wishlist?

Compiled by Chloe and Lianna

"A hammock for my room." -Graydon, grade 8

"A remote-controlled, red firetruck with a hose that squirts water." -Casey, grade 8

"Clothes, books and facial cleansers." -Kady, grade 8

"A new dog." -Sarah, grade 8

"A giant microbe." -Russell, grade 7

"An art set." -Isabella, grade 3

"A new digital camera." -Sophia, grade 3

"A Nintendo DS!" -Hudson, grade 3

"A Nintendo DS and a new Obi Wan Kenobi costume." -William, grade 1

"A Nintendo DS and a Wii." -Anna, grade 1

"A new iPod." -Kailyn, grade 1"A Gameboy, a scooter-horse, and a computer screen with a dog and a horse. -Athena, grade 1

"A Polly Pocket." -Ruby, grade 1

"A Nerf longshot blaster." -Hayden, grade 1

"My own Barbie house." -Madison, grade 1

"A baby doll." -Solana, grade 1

"A remote-controlled car." -Benjamin, kindergarten

"A cat that has a holly dress and holly in its ears." -Emma, kindergarten

"A dog that rolls and over and is named Tumbles." -Fallon, kindergarten

"My own new sunglasses." -Luke, kindergarten

"Sunglasses too." -Autumn, kindergarten

Opinion: Students React to Historic Presidential Election

"I was in my room doing homework when I my mother called me to come into the living room to see who won the presidential election. I ambled inside and saw Barack Obama's face staring at me on the TV. I believe he will change America for the better. Last year, I had a health problem and was glad to have health insurance. Every American should have heathcare benefits. I think America has changed. Not as much segregation and racism will haunt our future."--Chloe

"When I found out Barack Obama was the new president of the United States, I was in my living room watching TV with my family. Obama winning the presidential election means to me that hopefully the nation will change for the better. Obama being the first African-American to become president inspires me very much. I hope that Obama will help our economy so families won't have to worry about it as much as they have to now. I also hope his health insurance plan works because many health plans are awful now and need a change. Three of the main things that I would want Obama to accomplish during his term are: helping our economy, getting our troops out of Iraq and putting his health insurance plan into action!"--Julie

"When I first heard that Barack Obama won the presidential election, I was in my living room with my dad. I was watching MSNBC. The election of the first African-American president of the United States makes me very happy and excited, because America has defeated one of its many problems. We have become an even better nation, and we can now hope for the best. I hope to see him change how we deal with the foreign oil trade. I also hope that we can stop the killing of whales in Antartica. And I hope to see more affordable healthcare, smarter and better ways to get electricity and gas, maybe even an end to drilling and the start of creating new ways to run a car, like using biofuels. Things that I would like Obama to achieve while he is in office include new ways of getting power, whether it be solar, wind or water, bringing our troops back and last, but certainly not least, seeing the stock market rise and the inflation in our country end."--Nicklas

"When I first heard Barack Obama was the president-elect, I was half asleep on the couch in my family room. My parents and I were watching CNN when his face appeared on the screen. It was truly a historic night that I will never forget. To have the first African-American president, and in my lifetime, is truly a great step forward. With Obama as president, I believe we will be able to get out of our financial slump. I also think we'll become much more popular throughout the world with other peoples."--Simon

Music Review: Perfect Symmetry

By Simon

The British rock band, Keane, has finally come out with its third CD, Perfect Symmetry. Now, I've always been a fan of Keane, and I still am, but I'm sorry to say that I was not completely satisfied with its new sound. The band, in the beginning of its career, sounded beautiful and straight-forward, relying on the piano instead of guitars as its lead instrument. But it has now started experimenting with its sound to come across as more modern. If you ask me, it's only worth listening to the first three songs. It seems that Perfect Symmetry is not so perfect after all.

If you're interested in rock/pop music, I recommend listening to this band, but first listen to the other two albums, Under the Iron Sea and Hopes and Fears.

I give it a 7 out of ten.

Letter from the Editors

Dear Readers,

The new year has begun with ups and downs. Left and right you notice differences in the school: the new signs outside the building, the pumpkins decorating the breezeway, the new Ecokids' garden, and most importantly our new and improved Cougar Times web page!

This year the staff of the Cougar Times is devoted to informing you of everything exciting happening in our school. Last year, since the newspaper was new to all of us, there were only two editions. This year we plan to post new articles much more often. We are also planning on putting a whiteboard in the breezeway with poll questions, updates, and information about our web page. Interesting and fun new articles coming soon are a Haunted Hayride description, a music review, and a book review.

Remember this, these new changes to our newspaper are done to make you, the readers, excited about each new edition. Please contact one of our staff members if you have any ideas for stories that you would be interested in, and don't forget to check for new articles!

--Lianna and Chloe, editors

Letter From the Editors

Dear Readers,

It's spring (finally) and everyone has been busy! From plants to concerts, the whole school has been up and about. What are you reading for the spring? What are your plans for the summer? O'Neill or Haldane? How old is our school? Who won what in the Science Fair? The sax, what is it really? Why are the teachers holding up signs--are they protesting? What happened in the Spring Concert? What is happening in the courtyard?

All these questions are answered. Read carefully--you don't want to miss anything!

Welcome to the Cougar Times Newsblog, written by students for students. Comment on our articles and participate in our polls!

From,
Chloe and Lianna, Editors

(P.S. We would like to give a big thank you to Mrs. Rowe. Without her this would be impossible.)

Ecokids Grow Garden

By Nicklas

Have you seen the construction in the courtyard? Do you know what it’s for? Well the Ecokids are making a Wildlife Learning Garden in the courtyard. It’s going to have flowers and walkways. The Ecokids are very excited and are working extra extra hard.

The Ecokids designed this project just for this school. They Ecokids also say if you want to join the fun just get your hands in the dirt. This project will not be finished by the end of the school year. If you want to help this is how. You can help by going to a family work day. The next family work day is June 14, 1-4 pm. And here are some things you can do there: (1) plant prepared area, mulch and water; (2) set water/care schedule for the summer. So to finish the garden they will continue the project through the summer. Also they will work through the fall. You can contact GUFS parent Anne Symmes for more information about the garden.

Did you know that the Ecokids have their own Ecokids spot? It’s in the hallway by the office. Some things that I found out about the Ecokids spot is that it has environmental programs and helps the environment by recycling batteries, cell phones and ink jets.

They also have some advice on how to help or improve the environment. There is a big globe of a lot of the animals in the world. With 14 plastic bags you can drive a car for a mile, WOW! Did you also know that the average American uses tons of bags annually? Did you know that there is a box in the Ecokids' corner for unwanted glasses?

The Ecokids also had a recycling competition. The 5th-graders came in 1st. The 3rd-graders came in 2nd. And the 2nd-graders came in 3rd.

Local Author Leads Class

The Cougar Times welcomed local author and Wall Street Journal columnist Wendy Bounds to its last staff meeting of the school year June 6. In her book "Little Chapel on the River," Ms. Bounds captured the unique community spirit of Guinan's Pub and Country Store on Garrison Landing. She shared with the class her experience as a community blogger for the Little Chapel on the River website she later created to keep that same spirit going. Students wrote a story about the launch of their Spring edition and posted it on Ms. Bounds' blog during the class. Visit the Little Chapel on the River blog to see the launch story and read more about other community happenings in Garrison. Thank you, Wendy, for an inspiring day!

Teachers, BOE in Contract Talks

By Eryn and Chloe

The teachers and the Board of Education are currently in confidential contract negotiations. The contract expired in June of last year. School Principal Stephanie Impellittiere works under a separate contract.

Here are parts of the expired contract, which we found online at the website of Cornell University's ILR School's Martin P. Catherwood Library:

"Garrison Union Free School District and Garrison Teachers Association

Garrison Union Free School District

Garrison Teachers Association

Effective Date: 07/01/04

Expiration Date: 06/30/07

PERB ID Number: 5081 Unit Size: 33 Number of Pages: 28

ARTICLE 111: NEGOTIATION PROCEDURE 1. The District and the Association agree to mutually present all their demands on or before February 1 of the calendar year in which the Agreement expires. 2. All proposals made by either party shall be confidential and neither party shall release any information concerning their proposals or the content of meetings to any news media except by mutual consent."

The full text of the expired contract can be viewed at: http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/perbcontracts/550/

Book Review: The Lightning Thief

By Lindy

Our featured book for this issue is "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan.

Mr. Berger, the Middle School English teacher, has recently taught the sixth graders their unit on Greek mythology. They have also performed plays with many of the characters from their studies. The plays went by the names of “Demeter and Persephone” and “Speed, a Story of Atalanta.” The plays and their unit tie in with their studies with the Mighty Theater program. One student, a sixth grader in the Middle School, commented that she thought the unit of Greek mythology was interesting and fun. She especially enjoyed the story of the Trojan Horse.

"The Lightning Thief" combines all of the gods from Mount Olympus as well as a captivating story with a most unusual main character. In this epic tale, you will find that looks can be deceiving and even those you trust can turn on you. Join Percy Jackson in his quest to fit in and solve the mystery of the strange beasts he seems to always be attracting. Along the way, experience how things can go wrong and something as simple as riding a bus can be lethal.

If you enjoy Greek mythology or just a good story, then "The Lightning Thief" is definitely the book for you. "The Lightning Thief" can be bought at stores such as Barnes and Noble or from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Thief-Percy-Jackson-Olympians/dp/0786838655/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211905262&sr=8-1.

If you have any questions about the Greek mythology in the book, all of the characters and tales related to Greek mythology can easily be found on Greek mythology websites such as:

http://www.greekmythology.com/
http://www.mythweb.com/
http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology
http://www.desy.de/gna/interpedia/greek_myth/greek_myth.html

Garrison School Celebrates 100 Years!

By Maddie

We as Garrison students, teachers, parents and community members should all be excited for the 100th Year anniversary that our school will be celebrating this coming September!

In 1908, our ancestors and former community members watched as the historic cornerstone was being laid for the Garrison School. As some of you may not know, the first school for Garrison stood in St. Philip's Church. When the school was built, it was one of the top schools in the state. It took only $20,000 to build the school. The old building is still intact, adjoining the beautiful addition that we know of today.

Our community will be holding celebrations on the weekend of September 26 so save the date!

For more information, go to http://www.gufs.org/site_res_view_folder.aspx?id=78916b6d-b198-4a7c-9b1f-ca1d8ecc891c.

Problem: Science Fair Results? Conclusion:

By Richard

The annual Garrison School Science Fair was held on March 24 and March 25.

The winners of 1st place in the Science Fair went to the Tri–County Science Fair on April 12 at Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers. The winner of the Tri-County Science Fair was 5th-grader Cooper in Chemistry.

1st place winners: 5-8 grade

Poppy – 5th grade, Biology – Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human's?

Penn – 5th grade, Chemistry (tie) – Which cereal gets soggy the fastest and why?

Cooper – 5th grade, Chemistry (tie) – What cleaning agent works the best?

Emma – 6th grade, Environment – What pollutant affects marine life the most?

Russell – 6th grade, Engineering/Technology – Do you get a better quality trash bag for a higher price?

Kady – 7th grade, Physics – Which material absorbs sound the most?

Matt – 8th grade, Math – Are there any outliers or unusual spikes in the graphed statistics of players named in the Mitchell Report compared to non-Mitchell Report players?

2nd place winners: 5-8 grade

Spencer – 5th grade, Physics – Does temperature affect a magnet’s strength/power?

Cameron – 5th grade, Engineering/Technology – How do dimples affect a golfball’s flight?

Johnny – 5th grade, Biology – Does gravity affect seed growth?

Tim – 6th grade, Chemistry – What is the strongest adhesive?

3rd place winners: 5-8 grade

Matt – 6th grade, Biology (tie) –What mouthwash kills the most bacteria?

John – 7th grade, Biology (tie) – What subject will affect fish and in what way?

Essay: Saxophonin' to the Top

By Simon

The baritone saxophone (a.k.a. bari-sax) is essentially a giant saxophone. Because it is so much larger, it plays an octave lower than a basic alto sax.

I started playing an instrument for the school in 5th grade, but I did not start out with the bari-sax. I would have, but the school had not actually bought it yet. In fact, I first played a clarinet. I then went on to play a bass clarinet. Just as the bari-sax is to the alto sax, the bass clarinet is to the clarinet. This year I started playing the bari-sax. I was tired of the clarinet. Besides, the bari-sax was shiny, and I always wanted to play the sax.

Because of the sax’s size, you have to reach quite far to play some notes. It’s also really hard to carry it because it’s so heavy, and if I ever dropped it, Mrs. Bresnan would have a super-sized cow.

I’ve performed in about nine concerts and every single time, mostly this year since I had to play a solo, I’ve been extremely nervous. My favorite songs that I’ve played are the "Bottom Line" (Williams), which we played in advanced band this last concert, and my all-time favorite "Birdland" (Sweeney), which we played in jazz band.

I probably don’t practice as often as I should. I get in about two practices a week at school. I don’t bring it home, though, because of three reasons: it’s too big; I’m not allowed to bring it on the bus; and my mom gets irritated driving to and from school for it.

As I already said, I play the clarinet and bass clarinet. I tried to play the guitar. That was a mistake. Now my mom is trying to teach me piano, because we already own one and I don’t need to lug that to and from school.

I would like to continue playing the sax, but the school owns the one I use. I would buy one, but they’re extremely expensive. If I did get one, I would probably start a garage band.

Spring Concerts

By Olivia

The 4-8 Band & Chorus Spring Concert was a huge success. There were performances by the Beginning Band, the 4th-grade Chorus, the 5th-grade Chorus, the Advanced Band, the Middle School Chorus and the Jazz Band.

The Middle School Chorus played songs from various musicals, including "Phantom of the Opera" and "Wicked." The Jazz Band was directed by a new director named Ben Neill, father of 7th-grader Kady. The Jazz Band played "Pentatonic Blues," "Oye Como Va" and "Birdland."

I am a 7th-grader who currently plays the flute. Being a student who performed in the concert, I believe it was a huge responsibility. The day before the concert we practiced every moment of time we had and it paid off. After the concert, everyone was giving many compliments to the Jazz Band and the Chorus.

8th Grade High School Choices

By Robby

Andre-
Max- Croton
Gavin- Haldane
Dylan- Private School
Matt- O'Neill
Kyle- Private School
Jacqui- Haldane
Aaron- Haldane
Ryder- Private School
Wil- Haldane
Mac- Haldane
Sasha- Haldane
Rose- Haldane
Judge- Haldane
Bryant- Haldane
Ray- Haldane
Frankie- Haldane
Trevor- Haldane
Lukas- Haldane
Elle- Haldane
Jack- Haldane
Elizabeth- Haldane
Amanda- Haldane
Sam- Haldane
Justin- Haldane
Sal- Haldane

What will you miss the most about leaving the Garrison School? What are you looking forward to most?

Sasha:
"The doughnuts and the little cookies with the blue frosting. The things I am looking forward to are having more than six girls in one grade and leaving school at 2:15."

Dylan:
"The thing that I'm going to miss the most is the food. I'm looking forward to the food at the new school."

Amanda:
"I will miss the people. I am most looking forward to cell phones in class and learning new things."

Kyle:
"I will miss the ravioli and the quesadillas that we get at hot lunch. Not going to school at Garrison."

Liz:
"The thing I will miss most about the Garrison School is the close friends, because the school is so small. I am looking forward to a larger school when going to high school."

What Are Your Summer Plans?

Edited By Lianna

Drew, 7th-grader:
"This summer I am going to camp and going to Florida."

Ms. Akhondzadeh, Middle School Math Teacher:
"This summer I am going to Virginia Beach for a week to relax, bike and run."

Lianna, 7th-grader:
"I am going to camp and Canada."

Mrs. Waters, 5th-grade Teacher:
"I’ll be riding my horses and spending time with my kids."

Ander, 7th-grader:

"I'm going to camp, Montreal and Florida."

Nicklas, 7th-grader:

"Driving my Corvette to Hollywood."

Ms. Palumbo, Librarian:

"Going on vacation."

Mrs. MacEnroe, Teacher:

"Teaching summer school, moving my mother from Florida, reading books and relaxing by the pool."

Elizabeth, 7th-grader:

"I'm going away to camp for a month, going to Puffin Island and going to Mishaum in Cape Cod with my family."

Building Our Town

By Mrs. Rowe

Seventh-graders visited Mrs. Greene's kindergarten class to make an "Our Town: Garrison" puppet theater. Each kindergartner made a local building or house and placed it along a roadway or the river drawn on posterboard. Puppets created out of straws and paper gave them a chance to pretend taking trips to the Desmond-Fish Library, the Garrison Art Center and other favorite local spots. A special thanks to the Middle School volunteers who made it all come together!

Something Fishy

By Olivia and Robby

Ever wondered why Mrs. Clune has a big fish tank in her office? She has had the tank for almost a year. She has it because Mr. Keegan gave it to her. In the tank, there is one Yellow tang named Sunny, two blue dorsils, two sea urchins and Hermie the Hermit crab.

Letter From the Editors

Who doesn't love to read about current events? You can get yourself up to date and know what is going on. On The Cougar Times, we always make sure you're "up to date." If you want to read about fashion, health, advice, news and more, check out our website.

During the past couple of months, a lot of events have occurred. The winter concerts were well-performed, health concerns have arisen, fashions have changed just as fast as seasons, questions have been asked and answers have been given. Do you want to read about a man who actually went to the North Pole? Do you want to learn about what is happening on the sports teams? Do you also want to learn about what happened at the holiday dance?

What you want to know, you can always ask. Comment as much as you want on our website. The site is written by its staff and reviewed by its readers. If you would like something changed, comment on the article you wish to change. If you have any ideas, post what you wish. And be sure to participate in our Reader Polls!

--Lianna and Chloe

Stay Healthy: Tips From School Nurse Mrs. Dunstan

By Chloe

How do you stay healthy working with sick children?
"I think it's because I've worked with children for a long time. My body has built an immunity. I think if you are a healthy person, you can stay healthy."

If someone had a cold, what would you say?
"Do not ride on an airplane! It will be painful because of the plane's movements."

What can you say about Staph/MRSA?
"Watch for any sore or open area in the skin. See your doctor if you have a cut not healing well."

What is the best way to stay healthy?
"Exercise, eat right and sleep. Wash your hands frequently."

Do you recommend that students get flu shots?
"Yes, I think it's a good idea. Get plenty of rest and eat right."

Fashion Passion: Students Bundle Up in Style

By Lindy

Winter is here at Garrison, and students and teachers are bundling up, preparing for the cold weather. Even boys who prefer shorts year-round are sporting jeans and khakis. The girls are putting on layers as well. When I say layers, however, I literally mean, layers.

Layers seem to always be in style no matter what time of year. You’ll see a vest over a t-shirt covering a long-sleeved shirt. Camisoles are also being worn, showing through under trendy long-sleeved button-ups or even a t-shirt. Camisoles are great for any time of the year and the great thing is, you can get them at almost any clothing store. Some of these stores include Hollister, Abercrombie, Aeropostale and many others. Olivia sports a maroon camisole while she's working in the school store in the breezeway. Even boys have the layered look down, though mostly the t-shirt is over under armor instead of a well-fitting long-sleeved shirt.

For the most part, jeans are almost always present in the winter because there aren’t that many fashionable pants that would keep you warm in the frigid weather. Though of course, there is your choice of light wash or dark wash. In the winter, the best wash to be worn would be the dark wash. This gives the jeans a more wintery feeling, and they stand out more against the snow. Please, don’t even ask where jeans are sold. Anywhere from American Eagle to a sporty store like Modell’s could carry jeans. If you really want some specifics, however, I suggest American Eagle (AE), Wet Seal, Old Navy and Banana Republic. Honestly though, jeans can be found even in the clothing section of Walmart.

As far as jackets go, to look good and be warm at the same time isn’t exactly easy. Vests are always good as long as they don’t look like life preservers, though even a vest like that can be saved by what you are wearing underneath. It seems the coats that are really in style for the girls are long, wool coats with two rows of buttons on the front. These give the wearer a more sophisticated look, even if they wear the coat with jeans.

The other jacket that's made its mark on the Garrison girls is the jacket with fur lining on the rim of the hood. These jackets, I predict, will be around for a long time. Their classic look never goes out of style.

For the boys, they go for the thinner, loose-fitting type. This includes fleeces and raincoats with some sort of interior lining. Some of them simply wear sweatshirts outside.

Another fashion statement shown by the Garrison Middle School is that of prints. Liz with Elle wears a blue and white button-up shirt with vertical stripes running up and down the shirt. Another girl sporting stripes this winter is Maddie, wearing a three-color striped t-shirt and a striped sweater over that, along with jeans.

That's a secret if you want to wear prints. Do not wear prints on your pants if you have prints on your shirt. Otherwise, the look is too busy and the outfits tend not to match. Always make sure that if you have lots of prints and designs on one article of clothing, prints and designs aren’t displayed anywhere else. This tip does not apply to jewelry or shoes as long as the jewelry and shoes complete the look.

You can find jewelry almost anywhere, but if you are really looking for a specific piece, try Claire's, or even the jewelry section of Kohl's or Macy's. Some great shoe stores are Payless and Modell's. Zumiez and Zappos have wide selections.

Here’s a resource list:

. Aeropostale
. Abercrombie
. Hollister
. American Eagle
. Banana Republic
. H & M
. Wet Seal
. Charlotte Ruse
. Old Navy
. Pac Sun
. Zumiez
. Gap (for teens)
. Delia's
. DSW
. Nike
. Forever 21
. Zappos
. Claire's

Cougars Tear Up the Ice

By Robby

January 25 was a memorable night for Middle School students who spent the evening skating, learning to skate and drinking hot cocoa on the annual ice skating trip to Bear Mountain. At around 7:15 p.m., a Garrison School District bus headed off into the streets. It was a crisp night with a temperature of about 30 degrees. Many students from grades 6-8 participated in this field trip. Seventh-grader Avery and friend Kieran, a seventh-grader at Masters who formerly attended Garrison, agreed the field trip was alot of fun, though it was pretty crowded with students from another school also skating.

Girls' Basketball Nets New Coach

By Nicklas

The Lady Cougars have now started their basketball season with their new coach, Mrs. Kuchera. She has been working with the girls and practicing almost every day after school. They are only a few games into the season, but they are doing very well. I sat down and asked some of the team members to ask them how the team is going and what it is like to be on the team.

"We are now practicing very hard," says Eryn. "We are getting a lot better. I think that we can improve by continuing to work very hard."

"We've been having a great time on the team," says Lindy. "I love playing with the rest of the team members. We are having a great season."

Poll: What Do You Want on Hot Lunch Day?

By Richard

The Cougar Times surveyed students in grades 4-8 on what they would like to see added to the Hot Lunch menu. Here's what they said: French Fries got the most votes with 52. Coming in second was Other with 32 votes. Third was Salad Bar with 30 votes. The meal that came in fourth was Chicken Fingers with 26 votes. Finally, Veggie Burgers had 5 votes. Some people who voted Other also put what they would have wanted. Some people wanted to keep the hot lunches we already had, and some people put other choices, including pancakes, soda, hamburgers, plain tacos, cheeseburgers and cinnamon buns.

Parent Spotlight: Andrew Revkin Saves Environment One Article at a Time

By Simon

Andrew Revkin is the lead environmental reporter for the New York Times. He writes and photographs. "My job is to keep track of changes in the world, mainly in the environment, that can benefit or harm humans, including our own actions," he explains. He deals with subjects such as people fishing too much or earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. His main interest and work now is with global warming. He says, "I also write about the politics of the environment, which can get very heated sometimes!" Revkin has two sons. His youngest, Jack, is in fourth grade at Garrison.

Revkin has been interested in writing since he was a kid. He enjoyed writing fictional stories about superheroes. He also loved to be outside and interacting with nature (following animal tracks, snorkeling and other nature-related activities.) He read stories about people surviving in the wild. When he was in high school he worked on a "goofy" newspaper that was mostly fiction. When he was about 25, he started to write real stories.

Revkin said he started writing about global warming because he is keen on working with issues that have big consequences for life as we know it. He believes "we're turning up a thermostat that is very, very hard to turn back."

Revkin not only talks the talk, he also walks the walk. He plants trees and turns off lights "religiously" when not in use. He drives "as little as possible," commutes via mass transit and uses video hookups instead of traveling. Revkin also votes for "candidates who care about the environment."

Revkin has been to the Arctic three times. After visiting the Arctic he wrote a children’s book about the Polar ice caps and melting glaciers called "The North Pole Was Here." It’s about man’s effect on the atmosphere and the rapid melting of the glaciers.

I asked Revkin if he enjoyed his job. He answered that it was "great much of the time, exhausting much of the time and really draining and awful once in a while." He pointed out that the 9/11 attacks, the crash of TWA Flight 800 in '96 and the tsunami of 2004 were especially difficult periods.

Revkin has won many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science Journalism Award and an Investigative Reporters & Editors Award. He has also appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, NPR and CNN.

Editorial: Perfect Attendance Awards Not Necessary

By Maddie

Perfect Attendance Awards--students want them, and parents strongly encourage them, but are they encouraging sick children to spread their germs?

As most know, Perfect Attendance Awards are certificates that award kids for perfect attendance and for the absence of tardiness. Every quarter these sheets are signed by Mrs. I and handed out to those students in our school who did not miss school at all for the time period. But what I am wondering, and questioning is, are they necessary?

I am aware that teachers and members of the School Board want our children to attend and enjoy school, but is there a line that we should draw? I believe so, and I strongly think that these certificates are not at all necessary.

I do not want to take the joy out of the students who work hard to stay healthy and on top of their school work, and stay in school, by taking away their certificates to prove it. But if that is the only way that we can keep infected and sick kids from getting worse and getting their classmates sick, then I believe these awards shouldn’t be distributed.

With that said, I really don’t believe it is necessary to go that far, but how can we keep the kids that do risk their health by going to school, realize that their health is a more important factor? I am only asking to have students be aware when they need to spend that day or two in bed, though they may be eager to spend that time with their friends.

To all those children that stay in school, try to be healthy, do their homework, and on top of that live a life outside school, I believe we should all model after you, but I don’t think, and I think that you should know, you don’t need an award to show all of your personal success. So with that said, Perfect Attendance Awards are not needed at The Garrison Union Free School, but there is no reason we should take them away without trying to fix the problem. So stay healthy, and do your best.

Ask Me: The Best Advice on Everything From Relationships to Classes

Anonymous student-to-student advice.

Q. My friend likes this guy, but I think he’s obnoxious. How do I tell her?

A. My best advice to you would be to tell your friend that you don’t have any problem with her liking him but you’d rather not be around him all the time. Let her know your feelings about this boy and I’m sure she'll understand.

Q. I have problems fitting in with the rest of my grade. How can I fix this?

A. Try signing up for sports with other people that you enjoy. This way, you can all hang out together. Chances are, you have problems fitting in because people don’t know much about you.

Q. There are so many more assignments then last year! We have two or more tests at a time and six classes! How do I deal with it?

A. The problem here is that you are stressing out. You should plan out your time so that you know when you have to start and when you will finish to make time for other things. Don’t sign up for extra-curricular activities if you think they are going to interfere with your work, unless of course you think you could handle it. If you get stuck on some homework or maybe get a few bad grades, talk to your teachers and find out what you can do to raise them. If you stick with these tips, your grades will improve and your stress level will go down!

Students may leave questions in The Cougar Times Advice Box in the school hallway to be answered in a future posting.

Band & Chorus Winter Concert Sings

By Lianna

On the night of December 7, 2007, families and friends piled into the gymnasium to see the annual Band and Chorus Concert, directed by Mrs. Bresnan. First up was the beginning band. They played "Take Five", "Hot Cross Buns", "Au Claire de la Lune", "Oats Peas Beans", "Dreidel", "Good King Wenceslas", and "Jingle Bells". For their first time in concert, they played excellently.

Next up was the fifth-grade band with "Winter’s Sleigh Ride", "Hanukkah is Here" and "African Noel". The last group in the band portion of the concert was the advanced band. They played "Incantation and Ritual", "Dance of the Reed Flutes", and "And to All a Good Night". All of the band members played their songs fantastically; they were right on beat throughout every song.

Afterwards, the fourth- and fifth-grade chorus performed. They sang "The Spirit of Hanukkah", "Be a Candle of Hope", and "Este es la Navidad", which they sang most of in Spanish. Last came the Middle School chorus. They sang "One More Candle", "Peaceful Night, and "A Bit of Holiday Cheer". During "One More Candle", Kady and Lindy accompanied the chorus on the violin and pennywhistle. "A Bit of Holiday Cheer" turned out to be a Show Choir piece, with a dance choreographed by Liz. Drew accompanied on percussion for both choruses. Art Labriola played along on the piano throughout the entire concert, as did Peter Rundquist on bass.

There's No Business Like Snow Business

By Eryn

On December 18, the children from grades K-3 put on a spectacular winter concert, titled “There’s No Business Like Snow Business.” It was led by Mrs. Bresnan, music teacher, with musical appearances by parents Art Labriola on piano and Pete Rundquist on bass and student Drew on drums. Some songs were "Suzy Snowflake," "Hot Cup of Cocoa" and "Penguin Polka."

Holiday Dance

By Maddie and Olivia

On December 14, 2007, the Middle School students danced, ate and had fun at the annual winter semi-formal. Mrs. Johnson-Ebright, Ms. Hunt and Ms. Nastazi joined us as chaperones.

When we looked at the outfits of the students this year, the colors ranged from classic black to pink polka dots! Some specific styles were the classic short party dress and the popular bubble dress. Both dresses are cut at the knee or higher, but the classic short cut is a flowy dress, while the bubble dress hems inside the dress creating a bubble of fabric. The guys were wearing the semi-casual collared shirt and trousers, but some wore jeans and a t-shirt. So you can conclude that girls get more into the dressing up, compared to guys.

Some students said they weren’t so thrilled with the dance because they wanted different music styles, or they were disappointed with the turnout. So we encourage you all to enjoy the next dance with your friends.

School Store Opens

By Eryn

This year, The Garrison School has decided to partake in the elective school store again. School store is an elective where students can sell school supplies such as pens, pencils, highlighters and water bottles. However, some students argue that the prices are too high. An example of this is water bottles for $5.00, and a bumper sticker for $2.50. Yet, there are some upsides of the school store. Where else can you find pencils for 25 cents and pens for 50 cents? If you wish to discuss this matter with Mrs. I, you can take it up with her in the main office.

Boys' Soccer Scores Winning Season

By Nicklas

The boys' soccer team made a record for never losing a game this season. They had two ties, eight wins and no losses. This was amazing! To find out about the team and their highly successful season, I sat down with several of the team members.

"This season we went completely undefeated," says Matthew. "Being on the team was a great experience. Being on the soccer team was awesome!"

Poem: Once in the Night

By the Sixth-grade Poetry Unit

Once in the night
As the moonlight shown bright
The clouds said goodnight
And the owl took its flight

Morning soon came
And as the sun rose
All the people woke up
And all the trees froze

Student Art

Hudson, 2nd Grade

Bryant, 8th Grade