Issue 3.5 BEAVER BUGLE 2022-23

Beaver Bugle

About this publication

Vol 2, Issue 3.5, Special 8th Grade Edition, June 2023

Alameda, CA

The Bugle is written and published by students at Wood Middle School. New editions are available in print and online.

WMS Class of 2023: Highlights + More

Hope for America Honoree Revealed: Kevin G!

by Ivan (rising freshman at ASTI)

We have had an exciting 8th grade year here at Wood Middle School. One of the primary highlights of our middle school years has been lunch. During lunch we're allowed to go on the field and play with equipment, hangout on the blacktop with our friends, and we are given access to TAD LAB, which is a place to work on classwork.

Another highlight would have to be Ms. Scott's class. Her class not only challenges you physically, but as a student as well. She gives great advice and makes sure that your school work is of the eighth grade standard.

Beloved 8th grade PE teacher, Ms. Scott, likes to provide rich content and knowledge to supplement the physical side of PE classes.

Pictured: Kiwanis Club President, Wood recipient Kevin, Mayor Ashcraft, Ms. Mulholland

On Wednesday, May 17, the Alameda Kiwannis Club honored a handful of eighth graders for their annual Hope for America award. This honor recognizes students who represent outstanding qualities in citizenship, academics, and peer relations. They are young people who give us that 'hope' for our county.

Wood student, Kevin G, was present with his mom and sister after he was nominated by the eighth grade teacher team. Ms. Mulholland and Ms. Dwyer joined the celebration.

Fave 8th Grade Projects

So many assignments, but a few stand out!

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Egg - Cellent Science Project

by Ivan (rising freshman at ASTI)

One of the most intriguing projects to have worked on this year was the eighth grade egg drop project. We were given a budget of one dollar, height restrictions, weight restrictions, and a deadline for a couple of weeks. The first phase of our project was to create a design of our egg drop project on a piece of scratch paper, which provided us a way to list our materials and ideas. We were allowed in fact encouraged to alter our design as we progressed through the project. The budget restriction proved to be a challenge for me and many others, since we had to manage the costs of our materials to be less than 1 dollar. ANother challenge was the time restriction since we were only given a certain amount of time to work on it in class, this forced us to find creative ways to manage our time. I for example, went to the TAD LAB after school to work on my project.

During the duration of the project, we were given opportunities to test our project. The first test was to throw it off the stairs, while the second test was to put it in an air vacuum. Once test day came around the result was that only 2 out of my entire period broke. This project was engineered to make us think outside of the box, with managing our time, budget, and workload.

"My favorite thing about this assignment this year, was seeing students stretch and explore while trying to make cheap or Green Egg drop devices." - Ms. Stewart

Fun Facts:
--Alice Walker was accidentally blinded in one eye, so her mother gave her a typewriter, allowing her to write instead of doing chores.
--Walker and her husband had the first legal interracial marriage in Mississippi.
--Her most famous quote is “Don't wait around for other people to be happy for you.”
--Across her writings are the themes of activism, feminism, relationships, race relations, nature and heritage.
--Alice Walker’s most famous work is the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple.

"Everyday Use" was the first story 8th graders read this year as part of their interpretive work.

Short Stories Stay With Us

by Ivy (rising freshman at Encinal)

Alice Walker is a well-known American author and activist. She was born in 1944 in Putnam County, Georgia, to a sharecropper family as the youngest of eight children. Despite her difficult childhood, Walker was an accomplished student who entered Spelman College on a full scholarship.

In 8th grade, English students read her short story, "Everyday Use." The moral lesson is that when you have a bad past, you shouldn’t forget about it like it never happened.

Her novel The Color Purple won her worldwide acclaim and renown. The novel published in 1982, follows the narrative of Celie, a black woman living in the American South in the early twentieth century. The book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983, and it was later transformed into a popular film directed by Steven Spielberg.

All the High Schools

"Born to be wild; live to outgrow it." - Lao Tzu

page 3

by Ivy (rising freshman at Encinal)

The majority of Wood students will one day attend either Encinal High School, Alameda High School, or Alameda Science and Technology Institute. Each is part of the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) and located on the island of Alameda.

Alameda High School

Encinal High School

Alameda High School has grades 9-12. According to their school's website, Hornet PRIDE means that their students are Prepared, Respectful, Inclusive, Dedicated, and Engaged. The school colors are gold and white, and their mascots are hornets. It was founded in 1874.

Encinal has grades from 6-12. The high school's graduation rate is 92%, which is higher than the California state average of 85%. According to their school's website, every student will become college and career ready in their dynamic, engaging, and innovative environment. They are known for the jet in front of their school, which has been their mascot since 1984.

Alameda Scince and Technology Institute (ASTI)

ASTI is an early college high school founded in 2004. The lowest grade level is 9th. They offer college classes early on in your high school career. This small school is housed on the College of Alameda property for easy access to the college course.

by Zoey

by Mahri

On to High School

High School means getting to class!

by Sam (rising freshman at Alameda High)

High School. The thought of it can be very daunting. You might have deadlines and due dates to deal with or drama with friends. Between sports, classes, and clubs, high school can be very complicated. To get through it you might need some advice and wisdom from some of your mentors: your teachers!

Mr. Robbins said, “My advice would be to try as hard as you can, even though it could feel uncomfortable, to try to reach out to make new friends. Join any groups or organizations that we offer because those are safe places to meet other people like you. Also, study hard, and get good grades.”

Ms. Mulholland said, “Make good friends, choose people who are going to lift you up, not bring you down, and don’t get involved with the drama that will happen.”

If you are having trouble with high school, there are always clubs full of people like you. All you have to do is find them. Teachers will always be there for you. Whatever it is, they can help.

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Final Week: 8th Grade Schedule

reminders from Ms. Dwyer and Ms. Mojica

Lucy (rising freshman at Alameda High) surveyed the journalism 8th graders to find out where they will attend high school. Here are the results.

June 5:
Last regular day of school; dismissal at 3:03pm.

June 6:
Minimum day schedule-dismissal at 12:30pm.

June 7:
Report to MPR at 9:30am to start promotion practice; dismissal is12:30pm. Tickets and map of where to enter AHS will be handed out at practice.

June 8:
Students arrive at Alameda High School by 9:45am and dropped off at Central Ave entrance. Promotion starts at 10:30am.

Families are to enter through the main entrance and bring ticket for entry. Please be mindful when entering the building as Alameda High School students will be in the middle of taking their final exams. No balloons are allowed in Kofman Auditorium.

For more tickets, contact Ms. Tiffany to be placed on a list. It is not a guarantee you will receive more tickets.

High School Hopes

"Goodbye...? oh no, please. Can't we go back to page one and do it all over again?" - Winnie the Pooh

page 5

What are you looking forward to in High School?

Top Ten Tips to Triumph

by Nirbaan (rising 8th grader)

Sam: Sports and I guess some classes.

Ivan: Track and creating my own schedule for classes.
Jayla: Experience and leaving middle school and starting a new chapter.

Diamond: Being able to experience a new school and meet new people.

Sody: Sports and clubs

Sophia: Meeting new people and eating at park street.

Roxy: I look forward to meeting new people and taking more advanced classes.

Meridian: Lunch

Audrey: Meeting new people and the new campus and going to park street during lunch.

Zack: More people

Mae: Starting anew academically and having more options to choose for.

Lucy: I think I look forward to more freedom and more opportunities

Mahri: Getting new classes
Ivy: New electives

Nayel: A new environment.

1. Start with a positive attitude
2. Get to class on time
3. Be prepared with all you need in class
4. CHARGE your Chrome book
5. Find your people--make strong friends
6. Join clubs and sports
7. Eat healthy and drink water
8. Pay attention in class/take notes
9. Ask for help when you need it
10. Remember that failure is momentary; learn from your mistakes and try again

Perhaps the most memorable--if not challenging--time in 8th grade was Showcase.

by Ivan

Teen Summer Jobs

This year we could finally bring back dances, and thanks to student council we have had one successful dance and I'm sure this coming one will be even better!

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Income for Incoming Freshman

by Meridian (rising freshman at Encinal)

Don’t be broke, stay dope this summer. How can I be dope this summer?!? Get a job! Summer jobs are great for teenagers to gain valuable work experience and extra cash. Where am I supposed to work? I just left middle school! Most jobs require you to be 16 or older, however there still are some jobs you can do!

#1 Babysitting. Babysitting is a great job for the summer and it’s easy to start. You can get jobs by going around your neighborhood or setting up flyers around your town.

#2 Camp Counselor. Being a camp counselor is not only a good job for money, it’s both fun and looks good on a resume. Working with kids can open many doors for future jobs.

#3 Lawn Mowing. All you need for this job is to know how to cut grass and a lawn mower. And if you're lucky the client might have a mower for you to use!

#4 Tutoring. If you know your stuff, this is the job for you. Take the chance to be a teacher and help kids for the next year, and get paid!

And finally, #5 Jamba Juice! This fruity smoothie store hires 14+. At just 14 you can work as a cashier and make dough to be spent all year long.

Take these 5 jobs into consideration, and as always; Don't be broke. Stay DOPE!

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