Mythology Time
By Jonathan Goodman
Mahnoor Afteb, Cluster 8, Grade 6, winner
Do you think you know all the Greek gods and heroes? Do you think you know every ancient Greek from the Hydra to the Furies? You may have been in the Mythology Bee. Fifty students from each grade level competed from February 13-17th. While you may have heard about the winners of this competition and the intense pressure during the rounds, you may not have heard about the masterminds behind this event, although you may have had them as substitute teachers. They are (drum roll please) Ms. Baigert and Ms. Generoso!
Inspiration for the Mythology Bee came one day when Ms. Baigert was talking with a student about who knew more about mythology. Ms. Baigert recalls saying, "I think I know how to figure that out." Thus the Mythology Bee was born.
Although both interns organized the bee, Ms. Baigert is really crazy about mythology. She takes mythology classes in school and has read "all of them (the Percy Jackson books) multiple times." Although she likes all the books, her favorites are number two, The Sea of Monsters, and number four, Battle of the Labyrinth. She says they teach students a lot about mythology "and they teach it in a fun way." It turns out that just reading the books is not enough to get students through the bee. "The beginning of the bee is mostly about Percy Jackson, but later rounds are (about) general Greek mythology," Ms. Baigert said.
Not unheard of, the Mythology Bee was a first timer for Ms. Baigert and Ms. Generoso. They found a premade question sheet online. I got the inside scoop on the questions because I was a participant. Most of them were asked to name an ancient Greek god or other mythological character (i.e. who is the god of the sea? [Poseidon]).
There are great prizes for the winners. If you weren't in this year's Mythology Bee, Ms. Baigert and Ms. Generoso hope to see you next year!
Inspiration for the Mythology Bee came one day when Ms. Baigert was talking with a student about who knew more about mythology. Ms. Baigert recalls saying, "I think I know how to figure that out." Thus the Mythology Bee was born.
Although both interns organized the bee, Ms. Baigert is really crazy about mythology. She takes mythology classes in school and has read "all of them (the Percy Jackson books) multiple times." Although she likes all the books, her favorites are number two, The Sea of Monsters, and number four, Battle of the Labyrinth. She says they teach students a lot about mythology "and they teach it in a fun way." It turns out that just reading the books is not enough to get students through the bee. "The beginning of the bee is mostly about Percy Jackson, but later rounds are (about) general Greek mythology," Ms. Baigert said.
Not unheard of, the Mythology Bee was a first timer for Ms. Baigert and Ms. Generoso. They found a premade question sheet online. I got the inside scoop on the questions because I was a participant. Most of them were asked to name an ancient Greek god or other mythological character (i.e. who is the god of the sea? [Poseidon]).
There are great prizes for the winners. If you weren't in this year's Mythology Bee, Ms. Baigert and Ms. Generoso hope to see you next year!
Rock 'n Royalty Dinner Theater 2012
By Kaylani Inman-Johnson
Dinner Theater waiters and waitresses
"Black and White," by Michel Jackson, "Blue Suede Shoes," by Elvis Presley, "Crocodile Rock," by Elton John, "Somebody for Me," by Queen, "Bohemian Rhapsody," also by Queen, and lastly "Let's Go Crazy," Prince-- were this years special songs for Rock 'n Royalty, the theme of the 2012 Dinner Theater at WMS. 35 students danced and served dinner, but at the same time. The show was held Thursday, May 10th and Friday, May 11th in the Washington Middle School café. At least 180 people came to see the students perform each night.
Guests ate crispy southern fried chicken, with mouth watering gravy, baked macaroni and cheese, crisp green beans, and sweet strawberry short cake for dessert. The meal was catered by Goldilocks, according to Mrs. Noonan. The dessert was prepared by Ms. Sanderson’s cooking classes, she said.
Running dinner theater for three years so far, Mrs. Noonan, Mrs. Mercieri, and Mrs. Zeiser also coordinated the costumes. The waiters and waitresses need costumes that made them look like royalty so, the girls wore tiaras and the boys wore crowns. Dinner theater waiters and waitresses wore black pants and purple T-shirt with the dinner theater logo on the front and a related design on the back drawn by Nataly Garcia from Cluster Five. Mrs. Pappas also joined the advisors to create and organize the decorations.
After auditioning for the show the students practiced twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays after school, for one hour for many months to prepare. Mrs Noonan said she felt it was a good idea to include former students in the show. She said she invited former WMS student and former Dinner Theater Alumna, Trina DiMella, to help with the show. Trina, who is now a student at Maloney help with the choreography. Mrs. Noonan also had a student stage manger, eighth grader, Becky Fazzina. Teachers, family, friends and even superintendent Mr. Benigni watched an unforgettable show!
Guests ate crispy southern fried chicken, with mouth watering gravy, baked macaroni and cheese, crisp green beans, and sweet strawberry short cake for dessert. The meal was catered by Goldilocks, according to Mrs. Noonan. The dessert was prepared by Ms. Sanderson’s cooking classes, she said.
Running dinner theater for three years so far, Mrs. Noonan, Mrs. Mercieri, and Mrs. Zeiser also coordinated the costumes. The waiters and waitresses need costumes that made them look like royalty so, the girls wore tiaras and the boys wore crowns. Dinner theater waiters and waitresses wore black pants and purple T-shirt with the dinner theater logo on the front and a related design on the back drawn by Nataly Garcia from Cluster Five. Mrs. Pappas also joined the advisors to create and organize the decorations.
After auditioning for the show the students practiced twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays after school, for one hour for many months to prepare. Mrs Noonan said she felt it was a good idea to include former students in the show. She said she invited former WMS student and former Dinner Theater Alumna, Trina DiMella, to help with the show. Trina, who is now a student at Maloney help with the choreography. Mrs. Noonan also had a student stage manger, eighth grader, Becky Fazzina. Teachers, family, friends and even superintendent Mr. Benigni watched an unforgettable show!
Bread and Broth Community Dinner
By Spencer Trella
Recently Mr. Matsil, 6th grade science teacher and Mr. O'Neil, art teacher, worked together to host the successful Bread and Broth Community Dinner. Bread and Broth is typically held in the spring; this year it was on April 4th .
Mr. O'Neil explained about the bowls used to eat to the soup. "I created the bowls and the students at Washington Middle School glazed them. lt is important to host the event at WMS because, "I think kids need to think about hunger and they need to think about it locally," he said. The money collected at Bread and Broth is donated to the Food Pantry of Meriden, he explained. At Washington, Bread and Broth Dinner has been offered since 1999. Mr. O'Neil said, "I actually got the idea from the Cape Cod Potters. I used to work there in the summer and they would make the pottery and have a community dinner and give the profit to the Cape Cod Food Pantry." |
Mr. Matsil explained that he prepares 100 gallons of soup. "We came close to running out once, but we were lucky." In the chicken soup, there is chicken, of course, carrots, celery, onions, and spices. In the broccoli soup, there is broccoli, onions, celery, chicken broth, and cheddar cheese.
Besides himself, Mr. Matsil said, "Lots of people helped to cut all the vegetables and the chicken. It takes a long time to buy all the ingredients." If there is any left over, Mr. Matsil said, "We put it in containers and sell it to make more money for the Food Pantry of Meriden." |
WMS Multicultural Night: Dig in!
By Demetri Carnot and Globe Staff
Te’Rell Knox, seventh grader with his family
Multicultural Night at Washington was held in the café on Thursday February 16th at 6:00PM. Many different kinds of foods, such as traditional American dishes, like Macaroni and cheese, Irish soda bread, Spanish dishes with rice and bean and Italian dishes like baked ziti were enjoyed. Some of the coolest things there were many colorful and factual placemats that were created by the students. Each cluster had a different continent or place in the world. Cluster 8 designed placemats for North America; Cluster Seven designed Central America; Cluster Six, Africa; Cluster Five, the Middle East; Cluster Four, Europe; Cluster Three, Asia; Cluster two, the Caribbean; and Cluster One, South America. Each one was unique!
Making Memories at Connecticut History Day
By Globe Staff
Olivia Santos, first place district, third place state
On Saturday April 28th, Olivia Santos, seventh grade, won third place at the CT History Day at Classical Magnet School in Hartford, CT.
Olivia wrote a historical research paper on Child Labor. Out of dozens of participants, Olivia's paper took first place at the New Haven District Level Competition held back on March 24th. As the district winner, Olivia was eligible to compete at the state level.
Student participants submitted projects that met this year's historical theme, revolution, reaction and reform. Olivia spent several months writing her paper, which demonstrated her knowledge of social studies. CT History Day is an affiliate of the National History Day competition.
There were 11 students who participated in the district competition from our school. Other district competition participants from Washington Middle School included Nichole Holberg, Samantha Halpin, Natalia Buitrago, Emille Adams, Brianna Boulay, Jewel Munck, Ishani Patel, Kassady Couillard, Julia Kudewicz, and Israel Jimenez. Students entered a documentary film, created a website and also designed historical exhibits.
Olivia wrote a historical research paper on Child Labor. Out of dozens of participants, Olivia's paper took first place at the New Haven District Level Competition held back on March 24th. As the district winner, Olivia was eligible to compete at the state level.
Student participants submitted projects that met this year's historical theme, revolution, reaction and reform. Olivia spent several months writing her paper, which demonstrated her knowledge of social studies. CT History Day is an affiliate of the National History Day competition.
There were 11 students who participated in the district competition from our school. Other district competition participants from Washington Middle School included Nichole Holberg, Samantha Halpin, Natalia Buitrago, Emille Adams, Brianna Boulay, Jewel Munck, Ishani Patel, Kassady Couillard, Julia Kudewicz, and Israel Jimenez. Students entered a documentary film, created a website and also designed historical exhibits.