Heart of Soule Students News Journal

Volume 3 Issue 2

FEBRUARY

MARCH 2012

Highlights in this Issue: • Scott

Westerfeld Book Review

• Was the

surgery worth it? Two opposing viewpoints

Contributors:

Julie Coggiola

Taylor O’Connor

Julia Mumpton

Nicole Jasinski

Sean Rancier

Tisha Tull

Alex Taskovski

8340 Soule Road Liverpool, NY 13039

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5, 4, 3, 2, 1... One Month Done! How are you doing with your

New Year’s Resolutions? By: Julie Coggiola

Happy New Year! It’s finally 2012, the beginning of another

year. Another 366 days (it’s a leap year, remember?) filled with surprises and excitement (or not…) while some wonder, “What can I do to make 2012 a better year for me?” Those people could be thinking about what their New Year’s Resolution will be. New Year’s Resolutions are when people determine goals for themselves that they hope to accomplish within the new year. Some students and teachers here at SRM have decided what they will do to help themselves out. Here are some of their responses.

Nicole Sedlock, a member of the 8R pod, has recently

determined what her goal will be. “Normally I don’t have one [a New Year’s Resolution],” she said, “but this year, I think my goal is ‘Think and act more positively.’ This is my goal because I think I need to be more open-minded about everything, especially change.” Now, of course she needs a way to achieve this goal. “I will accomplish this by always thinking and acting in a good way towards others.” She seems pretty determined, to me.

7S pod student Will Karins also has his own ideas for self-

improvement in 2012 (his being more sports-related). “My goal is to get better at basketball,” he claimed, “I’m on my CYO team and I want to make the A squad over the B squad. Basketball ends in April and I want to get better by then.” Karins’s plan for reaching this goal is to “dribble a basketball in my basement and play in my driveway a lot when I can.” With the way he set up his plan, I think Will could get better if he sticks to his idea.

General music and chorus teacher Linda Nolan wishes to

make good choices this year as well. “I want to make sure I run every day. It makes me feel healthy and usually I slack off in January and February because of the musical here at SRM.” said Nolan, “This year I will try extra hard, though.” Having a goal that provides a good feeling is a great reason to keep on going with your New Year’s Resolutions!

Finally, Mark Russell, technology teacher of the S pod (7th

and 8th grades) shared his resolution for 2012. “My plan is to lose 15 pounds. I do this by making up rules for myself: the ‘Two Slices of Pizza’ rule; the ‘Only One Whopper’ rule; the ‘No Cookie, Chip, Candy, or Donut’ rule; and finally, the ‘If I Want Them, It’s Probably Not Good for me’ rule.” Deciding rules for yourself is an awesome way to set limits!

Whether you want to lose weight, get better at a sport, or

simply become a better person, the new year is a great way to start fresh and start doing all the great things you’ve always wanted to do! Even though the year has already started, it’s never too late to try to make yourself better! However, don’t let the fact that “The world is going to end” this year hold you back. Just because the Mayan Calendar runs out, doesn’t mean everything else will. Will you have a New Year’s Resolution?

Heart & Soule/ Volume 3, Issue 2 / Page 2

The Midnighters; The Secret Hour By Julia Mumpton How would you feel if you could live in a secret hour, where everything and everyone froze on the stroke of midnight?

The Midnighters: The Secret Hour by

Scott Westerfeld is a science-fiction fantasy book. A new girl, Jessica Day just moved to Bixby, Oklahoma, where time freezes and only a few special people have the ability to walk around in the “blue time”. They are called Midnighters, they were born at midnight, and each has an individual power. Jessica awakens in the frozen hour and wanders, only to discover she is not alone. The other Midnighters; Rex, Melissa, Dess, and Jonathan teach her about who created the twenty-fifth hour; the Darklings. The Darklings were once timid creatures that hid in the shadows, but they know what Jessica’s power could do to them. Jessica can’t figure out what her power is and she needs to fast, because the Darklings are out to kill her.

The ending of this book was tremendously surprising. It tied everything together and still left you wondering about what will happen in the next book. For example the problem is resolved but someone is still after Jessica. Melissa who is a “Caster” can hear what people think and say, and someone in Bixby wants Jessica dead. I think the ending of this book is very cliffhanging. I could not stop reading! I had to find out what happened. Something that left me on edge for instance is Jessica and her friends are under attack and they only have one way to survive, to figure out her power. They are in a pit with a force field above them but every time a darkling strikes at the barrier it gets weaker. Soon the force field will break and they will be killed. Everyone is depending on her unknown power to save them, but blood must spill in order for her to discover her true power. Scott Westerfeld has written 18 novels. He was born in Texas but spends his time in Sydney, Australia and New York City. His most famous series is Uglies. Two of his books were awarded “best young adult books”, Uglies and Peeps. The book I read got an Aurealis Award. His first book he wrote was Polymorph. In my opinion I like him because he writes vividly and in a way I can understand.

The Heart of Soule, a member of the Empire State School Press Association is published exclusively online and periodically by the students of Soule Road Middle School, Liverpool Central School District. It is intended as a vehicle to inform, educate, and entertain the student body. Opinions expressed are those of the students and do not necessarily reflect those of the administration, Mr. Sheitz or the adviser, Mrs. Colabello. Have a story idea? Let your English teacher know! Writers are always welcome!

A Word about Writing By Taylor O’Connor

Let’s be honest—is

writing ever easy? No! It may be a challenge and some may think “Oh my gosh, the world is going to end! My head is going to explode!” For others, they think “Easy as pie!” But writing is never that easy. A good writer doesn’t think of the first thing that pops up into their head and camoflauge what they really feel with knock-out words. A good writer looks into themselves and takes what they find to bare it all to all or only to themselves. Every time you write, you should find something new or different about yourself. If you just take what you know already and scribble it down, it isn’t honest. Honest writers are the ones that will make a difference in the world. If you don’t learn something different every time you write, then you aren’t grasping the beautiful art and the gift of writing.

A. Curtis

Heart of Soule/ Volume 3, Issue 2/ Page 3

Has Science Gone too Far? Pros and Cons in Daniel Keyes’ Classic Short Story

Phweet! Goes the whistle and we’re off Tousli

PRO by Nicole Jasinski In the story “Flowers for Algernon,”

Charlie Gordon underwent a surgery that would supposedly increase his intelligence. Although there were both pros and cons to the operation, I personally believe that Charlie still should have undergone the surgery. First of all, there were many pros to this situation. In this story, people hanged for the better. Characters such as Frank and Joe went from mocking and teasing Charlie, to protecting him after the operation. Secondly, Charlie was able to advance science. Although the operation did fail, when Charlie’s intelligence was superbly high, he was determined to find a cure. This helped the doctors learn, and understand the complications of the experiment. Although the surgery did feature many pros, it did contain cons as well. To start off, Charlie lost Miss Kinnian, the love of his life. Before the operation, Charlie didn’t understand his mental condition, and was able to connect with Miss Kinnian. After the operation, Charlie’s intelligence increased, and he was able to connect with Miss Kinnian at a higher level. As Charlie became even more intelligent, he was virtually unable to communicate with anyone. Once he realized the operation would fail, he shut everyone out of his life in order to keep them from seeing him suffer. In addition, what will happen to Charlie is mirrored by Algernon, the original subject of the experiment. Since Algernon died, so will Charlie. Despite both pros and cons of the operation, I still think Charlie still should have gone through with the surgery. First of all, Charlie never complained about the outcome of the surgery. However, he stated he was thankful to have the chance, no matter how short it may be, to be intelligent. Secondly, he taught people that mentally challenged people are human beings, and should be treated accordingly.

As you can see, both pros and cons followed Charlie Gordon’s operation. However, I personally believe he still should have followed through with the operation due to Charlie’s mindset, and the lessons he learned.

CON by Sean Rancier In the short story “Flowers for

Algernon,” the mentally disabled Charlie Gordon thrived at first with the surgery to increase his intelligence, but then suffered a grave outcome. Because of this, I believe Charlie should not have had the operation to increase his IQ. It was not worth the risk. Charlie Gordon was a naive man with “motor-vation.” He was on a course to change mentally disabled minds like himself. To become “smart,” all he had to do was have an operation. After the operation, he finally knew what love was. Miss Kinnian, his teacher, was his true love. He was able to become super smart. He was a genius in every way. But was he happy? After Charlie figured out that the operation was a complete failure, and he was turning back to his old self. The operation was a complete failure. Charlie knew he was going to die when Algernon, the little white mouse, died. Algernon had the same operation. When he was “smart,” he had no social life because he could not communicate with people. He lost the love of his life, Miss Kinnian. At the end, poor Charlie Gordon, we know, dies. Charlie should not have had the operation. Science went too far and had deadly consequences. He could have had a job. After the operation, he was unfriendly and hostile. To me, he should not of had the operation. He was friendly, happy even though he had a low IQ. The surgery was not worth the risk.

Heart of Soule/ Volume 3, Issue 2 Page 4

If You Come Softly Book Review

By Tisha Tull !

! "If you come softly as the wind within the trees, you may hear what I hear, see what sorrow sees" If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson is a love story about a boy and a girl from two totally different worlds who find each other in a private school in Brooklyn, NY. Jeremiah is a black boy who is the son of a writer and a movie director. Elisha is the daughter of a doctor. Her mom has left the family before and she always wonders if she'll ever leave again. In this book, even though they have different backgrounds, they still find a way for their love to work no matter what. This book would best be suitable for teenage girls. If You Come Softly is a realistic book because it is relatable to people in relationships with someone of a different race. It shares some of the challenges that may occur in that type of situation. The mood of this book was a sweet romance because ever since the two main characters met, they can't stop thinking about each other. When they finally met again, the relationship took another turn. The ending of this book wasn't anything you would expect. "And if come I will be silent, nor speak harsh words to you. I will not ask you why, now. Or how, or what you do. We shall sit here, softly beneath two different years, and the rich earth between us, shall drink our tears." Jacqueline Woodson is a writer of children and young adult books. She has won several awards for her books including the Caldecott Medal and the Newbery Honor Medal. Something people don't know about Jacqueline Woodson is that at the age of two, she starred in a series of advertisements for Alaga Syrup. "I used to say that I'd be a teacher or a lawyer or a hairdresser when I grew up but even as I said these things, I knew what made me happiest was writing". If You Come Softly is a realistic love story in which many people can relate to.

We all love the musicial but only a few people

decide what it is going to be. So, to make it easier

for them and our amazing music teacher, Mrs.

Nolan, we’ve asked 7th graders for their opinion!

Poll by Alex Taskovski

“Annie because I did that play at Donlin Drive”

Jacob Castro

“Snow White because I like the dwarves and I

could be Grumpy” Colin Koladziejczyck

“Mama Mia because it has

many songs from m y favorite band ABBA”

Camryn Shepard

“Aladdin because it’s one I can remember”

Emily Wu

“Beauty and the Beast because it’s a classic tale.”

Nicole Abbott

SOUL POLL

b Alex Taskov

ski