The Cougar Times

The Garrison Union Free School
1100 Route 9D
Garrison, New York 10524
(845) 424-3689

Editors
Olivia
John

Adviser
Mrs. Rowe

Friday, June 6, 2008

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.