The Mirror
New Paltz Middle School Student Newspaper
Edition I Fall 2012

School News

Fresh Veggies to Fresh Food
By James Hyland
When people think of stereotypical school food such as standard cafeteria food, and “mystery meat,” people usually don’t think of a giant feast filled with delicious fresh veggies! Where would that happen? It happened in Ms. Erhlichs 8th grade home and careers class!
Four 8th grade classes produced many scrumptious fresh veggies! Ms. Erhlich’s classes made a lot of fresh food, and how did they do that? Thanks to the gardening group, who tends the garden after school, our school now has many delicious fresh vegetables. And with all those veggies what is better than to make many great foods!
Ms. Erhlich’s classes made many different veggies. They started with fresh veggies such as tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, potatoes, and zucchini. They made salsa with the tomatoes, and some chips to go along with it. And with some peppers they cooked up some frittatas. They also made eggplant pizza. Potato chips were made from the potatoes. They also made zucchini bread and stuffed potato skins along with many other delicious foods.
“Students should know where veggies come from and the connection between growing and preparing healthy and nutritious foods,” says Ms. Erhlich. And they did.
The students searched the web for many diverse recipes. The recipe for Red Pepper Frittata Squares is on the last page. Enjoy!
Hopefully, this year’s 6th and 7th graders will look forward to this delicious project.

Table of Contents
Page 1,2,6,10-School News
Page 3-New Teachers
and Student travels
Page 4,5-Sports
Page 6- Reviews, Poem
Page 7-8-Time For Fun
Page 9– Club News

Students Become Scientists
By Aurora Mendez
During September and October, the 6th graders went to Mohonk to find out what the pH level of the lakes and ponds were .Also, they went to study the aquatic life and see what the effects of acid rain are on the life in the lakes and the ponds at Mohonk.
Students started at the dock by the Mohonk Mountain House. They used the ph test kit and got some water from the lake. Students put in ten drops of the indicator solution and shook it. They put it in the test kit that tells you what the pH is of the water. Then they found out what the pH was. From there they went on a hike on a trail. Next students climbed on some rocks to the Mohonk Sky Top and ate lunch. After that they went to the preserve. They hiked back but instead of going back to the buses they went to Lily Pond.
Students had a good time on the Mohonk field trip. Some did not go because of the rain. It soaked everything. It was the last Mohonk field trip that the students will take. They got a magnet that said “ Graduate-I went to the last Mohonk field trip.”
Halloween Homeroom Door
Contest
By Isabella Carlini
This October the art club put together a contest. Every homeroom had the choice to decorate their door for Halloween. The winners won a free breakfast hosted by the art club! There were three winners. Mrs. Conrad won the spooky/creepy door category. Mrs. Belgrave and Mrs. O’Malley won most creative/artistic door! Everyone enjoyed it and is looking forward to next year!
Ms. Belgraves door

Frost valley
By Isabella Carlini
The 6th grade went to Frost Valley on October 3rd – 5th. There were ten learning groups. Each learning group had a tour guide. Students did candle making, a nice long hike, the cable bridge, Project Adventure, low ropes, water ecology, candle/castle and the R.M.C. They learned different things during each activity.
A favorite activity was Project Adventure, which was when kids worked together to solve puzzles. The trust walk was when kids were in pairs and one is blind folded while the other told his or her partner where to go! The next activity was candle/castle. This one was interesting. Students first toured the castle of Julius Forstmann and then made homemade candles! Frost Valley was a great experience. This was a true adventure!
Hurricane Sandy
By Elizabeth Medrano
Hurricane Sandy blew into town on Sunday, October 28 and left on Monday, October 29. During this time, school was closed for two days because of the horrendous wind, and power outages that lasted for hours or days. Many trees fell on people’s houses, and a state of emergency was called.
Some places like New Paltz didn’t get as hard hit as New York City; they had severe winds and major flooding and their power was out for days! Hurricane Sandy affected a lot of people on the east coast. Residents along the Hudson River got hit with extremely high tides. In places like NYC and parts of New Jersey, people were evacuated and moved to safer places. This was an historical storm, and one of the biggest storms that ever hit the U.S.

Seventh grader Kyle Macaluso shared photos of his trip this past summer to Tanzania in Africa with Ms. Pereira’s sixth grade social studies class.
Students learned about the animals, including a wildebeest migration and a close encounter with a lion.
Student Council Elections
Congratulations to the winners
President Vice President
Caleb Sheedy Sherap Lama
Secretary Treasurer
Rosalind Bendell Samantha Russo

Interview with Ms. Harrison
By Kiah Saxe and Kaitlyn Scialpi
Ms. Harrison is New Paltz Middle School’s new 6th grade music teacher. She went to college at Crane’s School of Music for music education and then went to Eastman School of Music for ethnomusicology. Ethnomusicology is a study of world music like folk music, popular music, and underrepresented groups in music .
This is Ms. Harrison’s first teaching job. But, she had a student teaching job in Monroe Woodberry at elementary and middle school. She also has been teaching clarinet and saxophone lessons for over 10 years. Ms. Harrison loves working at New Paltz. She loves the kids, and the teachers and staff are wonderful to work with.
Her favorite experience at New Paltz was Frost Valley (so far) because she got to know the teachers and students outside the school. She also liked Frost Valley the most because she loves outdoors. She also thought that Dr. Wiesenthal’s scary story was scary.
Ms. Harrison’s hobbies are playing music, clarinet, ukulele, saxophone, guitar, learning piano, hiking, crocheting, reading, and going to the movies. Her favorite band is The Beatles and her favorite song is “Your Mother Should Know” by The Beatles. She believes it’s unusual, has a good tune and when people think of the Beatles they don’t usually think of that song which is from the Magical Mystery Tour album. New Paltz Middle School is lucky to have Ms. Harrison on the staff!

Baseball Flashback to Last Year
June 2012 Baseball Team
By Megan Geher and Ginger Baur
In June of 2012 the Modified Baseball team ended with a good season. The team included 9 eighth graders: Matthew Barbieri #26, Tyler Black #41, Danny Carubia #27, Antonio Fazio #33, Michael Kenney #15, Michael Paino #7, Wesley Watts, #10 and Michael Yanik, #9. The team also included 9 7th graders: Vincent Barresi #17, Corey Burke #11, Matthew Dequarto #31, Joe DiMarco #21, Christopher Massaro #1, Nicolas Messina #30, Aaron Murphy #25, Anothony Nittolo #23 and Adam Stolfe #19. This well executed team was led by 3 captains, Antonio Fazio, Michael Kenney, and Michael Paino, and led by their coach of 13 years, Coach Norcross.
Girls Modified Soccer Team practice

Photo by Serena Brandt

Cross-Country Team Races to MHAL
The girls cross country team is coached by Coach Vance and Coach Barberio from the high school. Runners include: Danielle Wilson ,Stephanie Stewart-Hill, Sarah Holland,Willa Butler ,Julia Eisenberg, Katie Brooks, Halley Mastro ,Jordan Nagel ,Sophia Noel,Olivia Prestia , Sara Stafford, Daniela Sackett, Sophia Shands, Grace Holod,, Megan Geher, Brian Ackert , Elijah McKee, Jack Purcell, Mike Berger, Seamus Trewik-Quinn, Oliver Goland, Chad Catania, Loujack Morgiewie, Ryan Gertler ,Nick Marshall, Liam Correa,Casey Reisinger ,Skyler Cain and Owen Sullivan. They won all their meets.
Boys Modified Soccer Team Practice
Photo by Serena Brandt
The official roster includes: Steven Scribani, Dylan Scribani, Christian Michael Gottstein, Kyle Brewer, David Greene, Riley Gibson, Bailey DeFino, Ben Cuppet, Julian Lewis, Owen Sheeky, Dale Wilson, Josh Berry, Kyle Macaluso, Otto Richards, Dong Wood Kim, Joseph Kay, Matthew Gattul, Thomas Gluckman, Rico Persaud, Noam Schwartz and Logan McPherson.

Girls’ Volleyball
By Coach Kristen Conrad
This year’s modified volleyball team not only won their games on the court but they grew as individuals and as a team. They made progress in all areas such as serving, accurate passing and setting. They learned volleyball basics as well as difficult position plays and higher level thinking on the court. Most importantly, they learned that they were all in it together and without each vital team player, success would not have occurred. This is one of the most bonded teams that I have ever coached. They learned that they all had an important role on the team and each member contributed on a daily basis.
I counted on leaders Kelly Brinkman, Lexi Klinger, and Shannon Wolfrum on a daily basis and they excelled at their captain role. It was a pleasure to coach them and I looked forward to seeing them every day. We have heart...and played with class. It takes every color to make a rainbow just like it takes every member to make our team.
Congratulations to all the girls on the team including: Kelly Brinkman, Lexi Klinger, Shannon Wolfrum, Jill Harrison, Livy Casa, Allie Defoe, Julia Judge, Gianna Fazio, Samantha Musso, Catie Scaduto, Addy Ronk, Josie LaPolt, Hailey Newell, Stephanie Graham, Audriana Zraly and Mallory Fariello.
Modified Football Team
By Serena Brandt
There are three girls on the football team this year. Their names are Tara Linneman, Lauren Torres, and Kayla Marie Morrison. The Mirror asked the girls on the New Paltz modified football team a few questions.
Did you play football before you joined the team? Tara said no, Lauren said no, Kala said that she played in her back yard with the kids in her mother’s day care.
Why did you join the football team? Tara said for the physical challenge. Lauren said the same thing, but also she thought it would be fun. Kayla said to prove she could do something different.
What do you like about playing football? Tara said seeing peoples’ expressions and tackling and blocking. Lauren said tackling. Kayla said blocking and playing with different people.
What is difficult about being on the school team? They all said that the teasing from other students (girls) and them being really disrespectful and mean was the most difficult. The easiest thing was the boys. They were “nothing but respectful when they had to be.” The boys were welcoming by helping them with their warm ups and drills.
What position do you play? Tara said she is a sub, end and safety. Lauren is offensive and defensive tackle. Kayla is sub, defensive tackle and guard.
How is the team doing this year? They said OK. They won two games and lost three games.
The last game the football team played was on November 8 against FDR.
The coaches for the football team are Coach Constable and Coach Pizzarello.
The 2012-2013 Football Roster includes the following players: Dylan Abramson, Chris Bendell, Vince Bongura, Jahred Bunce, Chris Burda, Corey Burke, Tyler Cole, Mike Cozzolino, Logan Davis, Matt Dequarto, Joey DiMarco, Tanner Dippel, Quentin Dixon, Phil Dorman, Brandon Eisgruber, Greg Hull, Phil Jones, Brian Kenney, Matt Koplik, Tara Linneman, Jordan Lopez, Max Lunati, Hunter McVea, Tim Hihalics, Kayla Morrison, Cody Ormond, Matt O’Conner, Patrick Palcic, Jon Rigano, JC Rigano, Rob Rivera, Nate Sabarese, Mike Simpson, Kumar Singh, Alex St. George, Will Sloan, Lauren Torres, Ben Williams, George Williamson, Jacob Wright, Hunter Morris, Danny Albach, Shane Gullickson, Isaac Salvesen, Adam Monsour, and PJ Davis.
Lauren, Kayla and Tara

DISPLAY RECORDER
App Review by Cristian Pannuto
Have you ever wanted to record something on your Ipod but didn’t have the right tools? Is your camera too wobbly to focus on your Ipod’s screen?
Well, look no further! You can get the display recorder app for only $10.00! It sounds expensive, but think about it. Its features make it worth it! First off, it records whatever is on the screen at the moment! You can change it so it can only record the picture and no audio, or audio and no picture, or audio and the picture!
And, it gets better! You can delay and edit the recording! Meaning, you could put on a five second beginning delay, so that when you tap the record button in the app, it waits five seconds and then it starts recording! You can also add a 5 second ending delay! Why? So that the recording doesn’t pick up you pressing the record button! And, why would you want that? Because… wait for it… you can upload your recording straight to YouTube! So, that means you don’t have to hook up your IPod to your computer, then sync, and do all those difficult steps!
People really like this app. It is very helpful if you want to start a career on YouTube with this app on your Ipod!
Lily Pond
By Claudia Kaplan
The water was clean
It was a little bit green
It was a beautiful scene.
Lily pond
The sun was shining
The clouds were aligning
The flowers were climbing.
Lily Pond

Recognition Breakfast
By Claudia Kaplan
The recognition breakfast is a get together for children from the school that have been good students and allies. These students and their parents or guardian came to school on Thursday November 15th in the New Paltz Middle School’s cafeteria at 7:00 to 7:45.
These students had a nice buffet breakfast with fruits, bagels and other healthy treats. The students that attended this recognition breakfast are responsible and have something special about them that made a staff member or teacher recommended them for this honor.
Superintendent Rice spoke to the audience saying how these students knew how to do the right thing. Dr. Wiesenthal then handed out certificates and read the reasons that each student was recognized.
The students honored at the breakfast included: Daniel Balutowski, Alex Barrese, Willa Butler, Bailey Defino, Alexandra De Foe, Ryan Dennison, Mia DiMaio, Grace Dixon, Oliver Goland, Sarah Holland, Claudia Kaplan, Josie LaPolt, Julian Lewis, Erin McAllister, Stella McMahon, Aurora Mendex-Newell, Raymond Morton, Hunter Murawa, Marta Pankowska, Otto Richards, Ashley Ruger, Jacob Sirof, Danielle Takacs, Clayton Thompson, and Lucy Tween. Congratulations to the these students.

Fall
G A G N E O I V X B A S Y X Y
N C P Q E H C C C P O E I D F
I L A P D E B G P F C V N P R
K Q F Y L Z W L X F R A W N O
C Y Y Q M E E O Y K S E U Z S
I C U D O C P E L E S L C A T
P Y Z M I R K I N L U E D G V
N I U D N R L A C D A R L M A
I Y E U U U C N X K Y H I A L
K R C T G I V R F B I F F L L
P C L X R R W A V B G N H X E
M R N R Q P I H F N A B G O Y
U S U T H A N K S G I V I N G
P H E I P N I K P M U P E V V
K M W E G F A L L S B C I D C
APPLECIDER, APPLEPICKING, FALL,
FROSTVALLEY, HALLOWEEN,
HURRICANESANDY,
LEAVES, PUMPKINPICKING, PUMPKINPIE,
THANKSGIVING, TURKEY
Fun Facts
Q. What do ducks eat? A. quackers :-)
Q: What is the loudest state? A: ILLI-NOISE
A Real Tongue Twister

Drama Club
Calling all actors, singers, dancers, and back stage crew.
This year's New Paltz Middle School musical will be Alice in Wonderland Jr. Watch the morning announcements for meetings in November for audition packets.
Morning Announcement
Join the Morning announcement team!
If you are interested in being on the Morning Show, please sign up outside Room 25 or contact Ms. Holmes.
The New Paltz Middle School Yearbook Club will be starting soon. Club members take pictures of school happenings, have say in the yearbook layout, and work to digitally produce the current year's yearbook. The club is open to students grades 6-8. See Mrs. Belgrave in RM 6 for more information.
The School of Rock is a rock and roll band comprised of 7th and 8th grade instrumentalists and vocalists. The group has its roots in musical genres consisting of: rock & soul, rhythm & blues, and motown. The students performing in this ensemble have been chosen after auditioning many talented student musicians. Stay tuned for a performance by your fellow classmates in the near future!
Art Club meets on Mondays in room 36 with Ms. Sturgis. All students who enjoy art are welcome to come.

What: Reflections: NPMS's literary and art magazine.
Who: 6th, 7th, 8th graders interested in helping to put the magazine together and students willing to submit their artwork and creative writing
Where: room 38
When: Wednesdays or Thursdays, about once a month, listen to the announcements or ask Ms. Rosen for details
Why: to showcase the amazing creative ability and talent of our middle schoolers.
Students who just wish to submit work and not be on the staff can give it to me or leave it in my mailbox.
A reminder to teachers to submit their students' creative work would also be helpful.
The Mirror
The school newspaper, meets on Wednesdays in room 3 and/or in the computer lab. All students interested in writing, reporting, editing, drawing cartoons or working on the Fun Page are welcome to attend.
Geography Club
Meets every Thursday in room 2 with Ms. Naclerio. This club is for everyone interested in history, geography and cultures of the world.
Upcoming Event
The PTA is hosting a book fair from November 16-30. Students will be able to buy books during the day. Special activities and gifts will take place every day. A Holiday Shopping Night will be on Thursday 29-from 6:00-8:30.

Red Ribbon Week
By Zaquon James
Have you ever heard of Red Ribbon Week? Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign to promote being drug free. The Student Council promoted the event. It began on October 23rd and went on for seven days. Each day students dressed differently to show school spirit.
Some comments from students include:
Samantha Koenig said, “My favorite day was crazy tie day!”
Malaina DelPezzo said her favorite day was crazy sock day “because my friend put her crazy socks on, and it was funny.”
Abigail Gravatt said, “My favorite day of spirit week was jersey day. Everyone could show team spirit.”
Many students participated and enjoyed the event.

Photo by Ms. Pereira

LilyJones-Guida and Destani Anderson Williams

The Mirror
Staff
Rebecca Aurigemma, Serena Brandt, Isabella
Carlini, Melanie Grau, James Hyland, Zayquon James, Claudia Kaplan, Marta Pantowska,
Elizabeth Medrano,
Aurora Mendez, Cristian Pannuto, Lily Sackett, Kiah Saxe, Kaitlyn Scialpi, Alexa Stropoli, Lucy Tween and Nick Zaccheo.
Advisor
Susan Pereira
President
Nicholas Zaccheo
A special thanks to
Jeff Lipton for his editing expertise.

*Important: If your club, organization or sports team is having an upcoming event, please let a Mirror staff member know so that he or she can cover the event.

Happy

from the staff
of The Mirror

#