P a w P r i n t s - The Bear Creek School a w P r i n t s what's on your plate? ... english muffin pizza, granola bar, ... Among the vegetable group are some very healthy foods,

P a w P r i n t s

what's on your plate?

FooD FrenZyPublished by the Middle School Journalism Class at The Bear Creek School

MarCh 19, 2008 • voluMe 03 • iSSue 03 • redMond, Wa 98053

� March 19, 2008PawPrints

french fries 44%onion rings 24%cookie 28%

salad 17% chips 20%

P a w P r i n t s

Morgan CadiganJake CasaleBlake dixon

elizabeth FernandezJimmy Gorzalski

neal Jatekarolivia ochoaMollie reams

Kiersten SprickSam Stansell

Cameron TillinghastJoe WilsonSarah Witt

Jake Wyman

Mrs. Sanger, adviser

PawPrints Staff

opinion

When the bell rings after fourth period, everybody heads down to the Commons for the best part of the day – lunch! So

that is why the PawPrints staff decided to devote this issue

to all things edible, whether a sandwich or a deadly pufferfish.

Your tongue, the five-second rule, and everything having to

do with culinary cuisine. . . it's a food frenzy!

What's on your plate?

makeitmyway

white 36%wheat 21%sourdough 19% turkey 40%

bacon 39%roast beef 29%

ham 25%

none 17%

cheddar 32%swiss 21%

american 17%pepper jack 16%

mayo 40%mustard 35%

lettuce 37%tomato 20%

Warm and Toasty?

69%upper schoolers

and faculty

YES!!most like their sandwiches toasted

79%middle schoolers

There are many different ways to make a sandwich, and most people have an idea for the perfect sand-wich. What is it? We can not speak for everyone, but here is a peek at what the average Middle School student had to say . . .

What makes a perfect sandwich?

For the report, 75 middle school students

were surveyed (and enjoyed part of a huge

sub sandwich).For the toasty question,

42 upper school students and faculty were also surveyed.

by yearbook staff

Baggin' it:

P.S. We hope you like our new full-color look. For this issue,

each and every staff member was responsible for research, writing

and layout for their article. Good job, staff!

�March 19, 2008PawPrints

makeitmyway

none 17%

cheddar 32%swiss 21%

american 17%pepper jack 16%

by yearbook staff

Baggin' it: what's in your bag?Many people pack sack lunches because it is cheaper than buying food at

school. Some pack them because they are probably more nutritional than what is served at school. Others bring sack lunches and also buy something from the school cafeteria.

Eating healthy foods gives energy for the day, which is needed for school. Some moms make their kids eat a sack lunch everyday and do not let their kids order. Others moms pack lunches from dinner leftovers.

What to pack—here are some ideas for a great lunch:

Bagels, oatmeal raisin cookies, organic pear, juice box

lasagna with a salad and bread,water bottle, carrots

by Jimmy Gorzalski

“I always bring a sandwich, and sometimes I buy a drink and candy,” said Andrew Leadbeater.

Saving money is a big deal and a lot of money can be spent buying lunches. For packed lunches, save money by making your own lunch and using a permanent lunch box instead of buying brown bags and throwing them away.

Buying lunches and purchasing expensive things can add up over the school year.

Turkey or ham sandwich on whole-wheat bread, celery with ranch dip, apple

english muffin pizza, granola bar, grapes, milk

feature

Mark Phillips

G2

Exercise ResultsCam- 20 times on incline and 19 times on bench

Mark- 30 times on incline and 20 times on bench

"It tasted really bad, and all it did was fill my stomach."

- Cameron

"It tasted horrible, but I felt like it did more for me."

-Mark

by Ja

ke W

yman

Cameron Tillinghast

Some people grab water, others grab sports drinks. One of the earliest sports drinks is Gatorade. It was invented in 1965, and the business has grown ever since. Now, after 43 years, Gatorade has finally come out with a second gatorade, called G2. It's for hydration off the field. Although mainly for athletes, anyone can drink G2.

To make sure this drink really does work, we tested G2 and Powerade, Gatorade's leading competitor, on two different athletes: Mark Phillips and Cameron Tillinghast, who are pretty even in strength.

Both athletes drank Powerade and G2 in two trials, each time trying to see how many times they could lift a 45 pound bar in both a bench press and an incline press. The results are shown to the right.

In this test, it was discovered, that G2 worked better on the athletes than its competitor. All together, the two athletes did 89 reps using the 45 pound bar when they drank G2. On the other hand, the total reps after drinking Powerade was 74. So, in the end, G2 came out on top as the most effective sports drink.

Which sports drink is better: G2 or Powerade?

Powerade

Exercise ResultsCam- 20 times on incline and 20 times on bench

Mark- 18 times on incline and 16 times on bench

"It is good tasting and a lot more hydrating."

-Cameron

"Tasted good, but I didn't feel like it worked for me."

-Mark

� March 19, 2008PawPrints

Eating sugary foods

causEs tooth dEcay

feature

chocolatE is high in caffEinE

by Joe Wilson

According to many parents, chocolate is just another unhealthy sugary candy. Scientists have found, however, it can lower your blood pressure (preventing heart attacks) and can even prevent cancer!

Antioxidants in chocolate, called “flavonoids," are responsible for these benefits. This comes with a catch though. Only dark chocolate contains these cancer reducing chemicals.

But does this newly discovered fact overpower the fact that a box of chocolates has an unhealthy amount of calories and sugar?

If chocolate eaters are not fond of the idea of eating dark chocolate every day, a new study shows that hot cocoa is now thought to be healthier for you than green tea or red wine (in terms of the lowering of blood pressure). Antioxidants are in tea and red wine too, but hot cocoa contains more.

So, is it worth it–risking all those calories and the amount of sugar in chocolate just so you can get those antioxidant benefits? Unfortunately, no. The amount of good things in the chocolate will never make up for all those calories, but do not let that get in your way. Eating moderate amounts of chocolate can get you those flavonoids without as many calories.

So go ahead, eat chocolate knowing that not only are you lowering the risk of cancer and heart attacks, but you are also slowing down the cavity process.

Question: Is chocolate good for you? Answer: For now, we can say yes; but, like many things, only in moderation.

hocohEalththE truth bEhind thE mythc

falsECavities are usually caused by plaque and foods containing

fermentable carbohydrates sitting on the teeth for too long. Believe it or not, there are ingredients in chocolate that can actually slow

the process of tooth decay.

falsEIn fact, there is less caffeine

in chocolate than there is coffee, tea, or soft drinks.

truE or falsE

In America today, 15% of all teens are obese. One of the main contributors to this problem is unhealthy fast food full of calories and fat. However, recent changes in menu options may suggest that fast food restaurants no longer want to contribute to obesity.

The new menu includes additions like low fat milk and applesauce, as well as salads and low carb sandwich wraps. Also, Burger King has apple slices that look like french fries. Fast food chains have also been introducing new products like healthy sandwiches and more fresh vegetables and fruit.

As well as different menu items, most fast food joints have improved the atmosphere by cleaning off tables as soon as customer leave and playing soft music.

Quiznos is also following the example of Subway by introducing the new Sammies, 200 calorie sandwiches for $2.00 each. Also, a Taco Bell in southern California has a customer appreciation day complete with freebees and a guest book to sign.

by Sam StansellSome kids at TBCS, however, do not like the

changes happening at fast food restaurants. "I do not like the changes because you lose the

flavor of the food," said Ricky Olsen. Some people, like Ricky do not think the changes are good or helpful. Their view is that you go to a burger place to get a burger, not a salad.

Many professional researchers and health researchers believe that fast food might finally change for the better. Even McDonalds is changing their philosophy to be more healthy.

"McDonald's is proud to work with world-class consultants who help with daily lifestyle and fitness information. It is part of our shared philosophy of living a more balanced, active lifestyle," said McDonalds' wellness experts.

This may be, but most kids at our school do not care what happens at McDonalds because, as Blake Emery said, "I don't eat the healthy stuff."

•Fast food started in the streets of ancient Greece.

•The largest KFC is in Beijing, China.

•There are three Mcdonalds franchises in israel that do not serve burgers; they only serve kosher food.

• The original KFC recipe had 11 herbs and spices.

fast food fast facts

fast foods: a nEw lookhow fast food is changing

�March 19, 2008PawPrints

by Joe Wilson

by Sam Stansell

Lettuce. Green beans. Peas. Broccoli. Celery. The brussel sprout. What do all these foods have in common? The answer is that they are all green, and all vegetables. To kids all over the world, from toddlers to even some college aged students, they are avoided at all costs. Many would rather skip lunch or dinner than eat that gross, yucky green glop Mom had the audacity to put on the table. But why do so many people have an aversion to vegetables and other green foods? Is it simply a child’s picky eating habits that will eventually be outgrown? Or is there actually a scientific explanation as to why the green food hate strikes almost every kid at one point or another? Many scientists have an interesting argument as to why nearly all young children will not eat green foods. An aversion to green foods is actually a genetic condition called neophobia. The decision to avoid green foods is all in children’s genes. It seems that neophobia causes kids to unconsciously believe green foods are poisonous to them, resulting in the reluctance to eat them. People have (according to the scientists) evolved this way, to be wary of potentially harmful foods. However, many parents find ways to work around their children’s neophobia, and by the teenage years, it is rare to find a kid that does not like at least one type of green food. There are plenty of reasons why vegetables are a very good food choice. Among the vegetable group are some very healthy foods, including lettuce, celery, and even the feared and hated brussel sprout. Seventh grader Andrei Nikkonen says, “I like all of them (vegetables), except celery! They’re not the best thing ever, but I can stomach them much better than some other foods.”

feature

by Jake Casale

VEgEtablEs: thE GOOD, thE BAD, and thE UGLY

LETTUCEThe Good: It has great amounts of potassium,

vitamins, and tastes good in a salad.

The Bad: The least healthy brand, Iceberg, is the one most bought.

The Ugly: It can rot pretty quickly. Eat fast!

CELERYThe Good: Chopped up celery and peanut

butter? An pretty good snack.

The Bad: The stringy texture may turn off

some people.

The Ugly: It's very tasteless without dip.

PEASThe Good: Peas have

67% of the daily value of Vitamin C.

The Bad: Some people are allergic to them.

The Ugly: Bad peas carry over 20 diseases, but don't worry, they

only affect plants.

GREEN BEANSThe Good: Certain brands are bred for

exceptional freshness and flavor.

The Bad: They're very tender, so leftovers generally rot fast.

The Ugly: They are actually fruits!

brussEls sProutsThe Good: They

protect against cancer! Seriously!

The Bad: It is probably the most despised

vegetable.

The Ugly: So many people will never know

the taste...

Brussel (or Brussels) sprouts actually originated in the

Belgium town of Brussels, so some add an "S" on the end of

the name.

However, there are some that still suffer from a touch of neophobia. “I don’t like the color green!” said Katherine Whiteman. “The only green stuff [I like] is salad. So that would be lettuce.” It seems that the issue with some is the texture. “Celery is too stringy,” said eighth grader Luke Cody. But the most common gripe is the flavor. Whiteman professed, “Everything else—it doesn’t have any flavor!” Nikkonen provided an interesting opinion: “[The flavor] is pretty much an acquired taste.” Scientists recommend that if kids are exposed to a variety of green foods as young children, neophobia can be overcome well before the kids reach double digits. Almost all kids are affected by neophobia at some point in their lives. But that natural skittishness around green food can rob many people, kids and adults alike, of some great foods that are very healthy for your immune and nervous systems. Ultimately, even though those green foods look gross, don’t shrug them off immediately. Give them a try. Who knows? You might become one of those rare people that actually like Brussel sprouts.

Foods you Love to Hate!The Good and Bad SideS of all food Green

� March 19, 2008PawPrints

As the young people of the U.S., we need to help keep our country healthy. One way to do that is to eat right; another is to exercise everyday. Exercise is simply just the movement of the body in a way that uses energy. There are many ways to exercise. A few ways to incorporate exercise into your life is to walk the dog, play on a sports team, swim for recreation in the summer or on a sports team, or walk to the neighbor's house instead of driving. It can be fun. Hannah Postings said, "I like to dance because it is random and fun." A healthy amount of exercise is about 30 minutes a day. Make sure your exercise is actual energy burning activities so it really counts as exercise!

Eating is a part of everyday life, but knowing what is healthy to eat is a

different story. Here is a guide to help. Eat these amounts from each food

group daily. This plan is a 2,400 calorie food pattern based on average needs for someone like

you (a 13 year old child, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 105 pounds,

physically active 30 to 60 minutes a day). Food

needs also depend on rate of growth and other

factors. See a health care provider who

can track height and weight over

time to identify your specific needs.

Grains 8 ounces per day

BreadPasta

OatmealCereal

Make half your grains whole vegetables 3 cups per day

BroccoliCelery

AsparagusCarrots

Vary your veggies Fruits 2 cups per day

ApplesGrapes

Orange JuiceBananas

Focus on fruits

Meat and Beans 6.5 per day

Steak Chicken

Peanut ButterTuna

Go lean with protein

oils 2 tablespoons per day

FishNuts

Liquid Oils

TThhhe Staiirrrway Too HHHealthh

Breakfast Lunch DinnerWheat Toast with butterEggs and BaconOrange Juice

Caesar Salad and AppleHalf a turkey sandwichMilk

Salmon Fillet Chocolate MilkGreen Beans, PotatoesWheat Bread and Butter

Milk and dairy 3 cups per day

MilkCheeseYogurtEggs

Get your calcium- rich foods

by Sarah Witt and Mollie Reams

feature

What To Eat & Whhhen to eaaat it!***

*** based on 2,400 calorie diet for "normal" teenager

�March 19, 2008PawPrints

World's FareWhat's For dinner around the World

Suströmming – Nordic Countries•Fermented (an organic substance broken down into simpler substances) Baltic

herring•immersed for a day in brine and

then left in the sun to ferment•an inch or two of space is left at

the top of the barrels/cans they are sold in so that gas formed during

fermentation can accumulate without causing an explosion

Durian – Vietnam and Thailand•literally means “thorny fruit” in vietnamese•revered in Southeast asia as the King of Fruits•Thailand produces about 927,190 pounds of durian per year

Fugu – Japan•deadly puffer fish; the kanji (characters) used to write “fugu” indicates “river pig.”•Fugu’s poison (tetrodotoxin) can lead to instantaneous deaths of diners, so

chefs cooking fugu must have a special license

•Winter is the best season to eat fugu

Deep-fried Mars Bars – Scotland•an ordinary Mars Bar deep fried in a batter also used for fish, black and white pudding, and haggis•long believed to be a Scottish myth, like the loch ness Monster•400 calories per serving

Frog Legs – France•also eaten in China, Caribbean, Southern uSa with some variations in recipes•in French cuisine, it is served with a butter, garlic and parsley sauce on salad or rice•in China, the meat is eaten off the bone like we eat chicken drumsticks in the uSa

Seal Flipper Pie – Newfoundland, Canada•eaten typically at easter•Served like a chicken pot pie,

with pork in the mix as well

Bird’s Nest Soup – China

•Made using the nest of the swiftlet, a tiny bird found

throughout caves of Southeast asia•The swiftlet makes this nest from

strands of its own gummy saliva•Generations of families have collected

these nests without any modern technology; it is a very dangerous job that often involves climbing trees several stories high

Soup made out of bird saliva?

Pie made out of seal flippers? Many people probably think, “ew! Gross!” when confronted with these foods.

But from Vietnam to Scotland, people have created foods from the world around them that have become revered and loved by people in their country.

enjoy this safari of food from around the world!

feature

by Olivia Ochoa

� March 19, 2008PawPrints feature

Pictures from library.thinkquest.org

by Morgan Cadigan

TaSTy TidBiTSa BiT of informaTion aBouT your TonGue

The tongue is made up of a group of muscles that run in a variety of directions to carry out all the tongue’s jobs.

The muscles on a tongue move and push small bits of food along with the saliva into your esophagus, which is a food pipe that leads from your throat to your stomach. The saliva on a tongue also is very important to eating.

Taste budsTaste buds are sensory organs that allow the average human to experience

tastes that include sour, sweet, salty and bitter. They let people taste the sourness of lemon, the sweetness of candy, the bitterness of cooking chocolate and the saltiness of popcorn. (For more information on popcorn see the article, “Get your Popcorn Here!”). People are born with about 10,000 taste buds. While a person ages, their taste buds die out. An older person might have only 5,000 taste buds!

The bumps on a tongue are called papillae (puh-pih-lee) and most of the papillae contain taste buds. On taste buds are little microscopic hairs called microvilli (mye-kro-vih-lye). These send messages to the brain about how something tastes.

Little HelpersUnder the weather? When a person has a stuffed up nose, they usually

notice foods don’t taste as strong as they used to. The nose actually helps a person taste by smelling them before they go in the mouth and as a person chews them and swallows them. Olfactory receptors inside the upper part of the nose have special cells that send messages to the brain to help you smell. So, when the nose is all stuffed up, it can’t smell the foods, resulting in a weak tasting food.

Normally when you chew, the food releases chemicals that travel up into the nose and triggers the olfactory receptors. Together with taste buds, the olfactory receptors creates the great (or gross) tastes of food.

Dr. TongueThe tongue also helps prevent sickness. The section in the back of the

tongue contains the lingual tonsil. Tonsils are small masses of tissue that contains cells that help filter out harmful germs that could cause an infection in the body. The medical word, lingual, means relating to or similar to the tongue

No Sleeping!!!The tongue never rests! You’d think it has to because of all the work the

tongue does! But no, the tongue is kept busy by pushing saliva into the throat to be swallowed. If tongues did sleep, pillows would be soaked with drool (ugh!).

"i definitely like the taste of sour better. My favorite sour tasting food would probably be Sour Patch Kids."

-- andrew leadbeater

"i love the sweet taste of chocolate, even though i'm lactose-intolerant."

-- Kaley French

STuDENTS AND THEiR FAVORiTE TASTES

Keeping Your Tongue Healthy"As you are growing up you can help stay healthy by not starting to

smoke. Smoking upsets taste buds and your nose – smokers do not have a good sense of taste. It can also cause other problems, like ulcers in your mouth.” said Dr. Kate from www.cyh.com.

The tongue is a very important sensory organ in the average human’s body. The tongue helps us register the great tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Without your tongue you couldn’t taste cookies, candy, or even some juicy steak. It is amazing how God designed the human body and how every part of the body has a significant part in a human’s function.

ExPERiMENT WiTH YOuR TONGuEif you really want to test how the nose helps with taste, try holding an onion under your nose while eating some thing sweet like candy or an apple!

BACK

FRONT

There are different sections in the tongue for certain tastes.

�March 19, 2008PawPrintsfeature

by Elizabeth Fernandez

Energy drinks are the new things that kids love to have. But are they really good for you?

Doctors worry about the huge amount of caffeine that these drinks hold. Caffeine makes the heart work harder and it can make you breath faster. Studies also show that caffeine can cause people to become more hyper and make it difficult to concentrate in school. According to Canada's guidelines, it is not healthy for kids to get more than 85 milligrams of caffeine per day. A 22 ounce of caffeinated soda contains about this much of caffeine.

Energy drinks contain a lot of ingredients besides caffeine. They contain antioxidants which prevent cellular damage and, guarana a drug that has the same effects as caffeine. It also can be known to increase weight loss. Another ingredient is ginkgo which increases metabolism, enhances circulation and increases immunity. Energy drinks also contain vitamin B, which breaks down carbohydrates into glucose which provides us with energy. Sugar known as glucose also is important in some drinks.

At Bear Creek, energy drinks are very popular among the students. Some, like Joey Button, drink one almost every day. Most students here do not recognize the negative effects of caffeine. Students don't realize that by drinking energy drinks they are making it harder for them to concentrate in school because of all the caffeine and sugar they carry.

Energy drinks are not all bad for you. Some of the other ingredients can heave good effect on your body but they are overpowered by the caffeine content. Drinking one or two probably won't hurt, but in the end they can have a really bad effect on you. Most students love the boost and don't care about the side effects. It is important to know that energy drinks are not as perfect as they may seem.

Brandon Matson "They help me stay up later."

Christine Kindel "They make me feel happy inside. They give me an inside boost and are perfect at dance conventions to keep the energy up. Blue Jolt is the best."

Jake Wyman "They give you a boost, but afterwards you get tired."

get a joLtare energy drinks really good for you?

Morgan Petesch "They make me feel more energized and keep me happy, but you sometimes get a headache if you haven't eaten."

by Neal Jatekar

According to parents and some dentists, gum is a sugary, cavity-giving problem and should only be chewed once in a while. Some gums are bad. But, with recent studies, gum can actually be a good thing.

Gum can be good for a couple reasons. Some (sugar free) gums have the artificial sweetener Xylithol (i.e., Xylifresh gum) which has shown that it can actually prevent cavities. The reasons why it does is unknown, but scientists have an idea. They think that Xylithol increases the amount of a certain type of bacteria that attacks cavities. Also gum is known to help people focus and do better in tests.

Gum can also be bad though. A lot of gums have a lot of sugar and can be bad for your health. Sugar builds plaque, which leads to cavities. Also, if you have braces, it can get stuck in the wires and brackets which can be an annoyance.

Overall, gum is a good thing. As long as it is sugar free, it is fine for your health and teeth. But if the gum is sugary, scientists recommend you chew it for only 15-20 minutes, so your saliva can wash away extra sugar.

Cavity giver or killer?the pros and cons of gum

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10March 19, 2008PawPrints feature

by Kiersten Sprick

Get Your PoPcorn Here!tHe SAltY-Sweet SnAck

America has slowly fallen in love with the popped vegetable known as popcorn.

First introduced to Europeans in 1519, Hernando Cortes saw that popcorn was used in many Aztec Indian ceremonies. For the Aztecs, it was an important food source, and they also decorated their religious artifacts with strings and necklaces of popcorn. Bernardino de Sahagun, a 14th century Franciscan missionary to the Aztecs, said, “A number of young women danced, having so vowed, a popcorn dance. As thick as tassels of maize were their popcorn garlands. And these they placed upon (the girls’) heads.”

In the Bible, the Egyptians are often referred to as having corn stored in their pyramids, but that “corn” is most likely to be barley. Many other countries use the name of corn for their own plants. In England, so-called corn was really wheat. Scotland and Ireland referred to oats as corn. America even called maize as their own species of corn.

Popcorn also has nutritional value. The fiber that makes up the snack helps stomachs with digestion.

The National Cancer Institute says that adding fiber to the diet can help prevent certain types of cancer. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research also says that popcorn is great as a low calorie and sugarless snack.

Popcorn has stolen America’s stomachs and hearts with its buttery goodness, and it will stay there for as long time.

wHAt iS Your FAvorite Movie SnAck?

Fun reciPe to trY!PEanut buttEr PoPcorn balls

1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup light corn syrup3 T. butter or margarine3 T. peanut butter8 c. popped popcorn1 c. candy-coated peanut candy (Reese’s Pieces)

1. Line a baking sheet or work surface with waxed paper; set aside. 2. Stir sugar, corn syrup, butter and peanut butter together in a large saucepan. Bring to a full boil over medium heat. Stir in popcorn until well coated. 3. Remove pan from heat and stir candy pieces gently into mixture. Allow mixture to cool just enough to allow handling. Using an ice cream scoop or buttered hands, shape mixture into two inch balls and place on waxed paper to cool. 4. Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container.

Chandler Nelson"I really like popcorn."

Colin Malaska"I either like

popcorn or Sour Patch Kids."

Kristin Wallis"I usually get popcorn or M&Ms."

11March 19, 2008PawPrints

Sick of Schoolare Bear Creek students real trying to skip school? or is there a

bigger problem that is not immediately seen? School is an easy place to get bacteria and spread germs. We can’t control people being together in classrooms. Fortunately there are ways to stay healthy and catch up on overwhelming school work.

The first thing to do at school if you are sick is to sneeze or cough into your sleeve. if you incautiously cough into the air, you spread germs to all of your classmates.

Wherever you are, try to wash your hands before you eat because it decreases the

amount of germs on our hands. if you think about it, we touch many things

with our hands during the day. When you don’t wash your hands, you spread germs to the food you eat. if possible, wash your hands whenever you can.

even if you already do, try not to share drinks with your friends. it is not smart to share

because we never know what sicknesses other people have. in some cases, you might feel healthy, but

really there might be a rising infection in your body.according to the TBCS school handbook, students must stay

home if they are sick with a higher than normal temperature. however, it is okay to come to school if a student has a minor cold or recovering from sickness (no temperature).

if a student is sick and misses school for more than eleven days

they must meet with the division head. depending on the situation the person missing school may not be given credit for the semester.

The first thing to do after missing school because of sickness is e-mail teachers and ask for assignments or projects missed. Most teachers are understanding about making up work and will either give you time to turn in work or help you with subjects you don’t understand when you return to school.

Mr. Benson said, “i give my students time to catch up on the work and i try to be as available as i can for them to catch up on the material.”

Teachers give time during breaks and after school to catch up, but remember to take responsibility and plan with teachers for any make-up work.

i t s e e m s s o m e t i m e s t h a t bugs and germs are everywhere. however, this is a normal part of school (and everywhere else). it can become troublesome to try to do school work missed while sick. if students try to live a healthier lifestyle, they will not have to worry about making up missed work.

by Blake Dixon

Why do sick kids come to school?

How many Middle School students were sick this year?

around schoola

bout 75% of the TBCS Middle School were surveyed.

41%

35%

12%

12%Have not been sick

Sick for more than a week

Sick for 1-4 days

Sick for about a week

by Kiersten Sprick

1� March 19, 2008PawPrints

tHe Five-SeconD rulearound school

Ever wondered about the myth that if you drop food on the floor for five seconds, it remains germ free? Well, according to Snopes.com, it is false.

Often you hear about break outs of E. coli or occasionally Mad Cow. Jillian Clarke performed an experiment while at University of Illinois. She spread E. coli on the floor and dropped gummi bears on the infested floor. After five seconds, the gummi bears had picked up Ecoli. Bacteria doesn't just stay on food. It can easily attract other types of bacteria like Salmonella. These bacterium can stay on surfaces like wood, tile and carpet. After eight hours of these types of surfaces being infested, pieces of bologna and bread were placed on them for five seconds. When picked up, from 150 to 8,000 bacteria cells were on found on the food items.

Yes, the food will have less bacteria when a person picks up faster, but it doesn't mean that food is safe to eat. Who knows what kind of dangerous bacteria can lurk on it? Even a one-second rule is too long!

how Safe iS Safe?

E. ColiBacterium that is most often found in warmblooded animals' lower intestine.

Can cause food poisoning in humans and is the common cause of product recalls.

Can help or hinder humans.

escherichia colia (e. Coli) Picture from wikipedia.org

Every year TBCS gives Middle School and Upper School the option of going up to Steven’s Pass for four Fridays to ski or snowboard. There are many different opinions on how it has gone this year as too much snow caused problems getting to the slopes.

The first time was on Jan. 26 and they made it up and back down smoothly and ahead of schedule. The weather was sunny most of the day and the snow was in good condition. Halle Coleman said, “It was nice, but it would have been more fun if I was a better snowboarder.” The only casualty that day was Halle and her sprained arm. Overall, the day was a perfect start to the season.

The second trip up on Feb. 2 resulted in a disaster according to most people. Everything went as planned in the morning with everybody on the bus and anxious until a rumor was spread that Steven’s was closed. A few hours later it was confirmed: the road to the pass was closed. Teachers and students decided to press on in hope that the road would be cleared in time. Once the busses drove deeper into the snow they had to stop for traffic. They were stopped on the road for around three hours chaining up and waiting for the road to get cleared after a car crash. After they got going again it was estimated there would be one to two hours to ski. They decided to turn around and head home. Brandon Matson said, “Even though we were stuck on the bus for eight hours my friends ended up having fun. I would have liked it more if they had fed us more than one bag of chips every eight hours.” They ended up getting home safely but not so happy.

The third trip up was to be on Feb. 9 and was rated the worst of all. The pass had been on high avalanche warning a day before, so they canceled the trip entirely. The pass received 66 inches of snow in three days and had completely buried the lifts. High winds caused damage to the lift lines. The worst part of the entire mess was that school was put in place of the ski bus. This caused much anger and confusion for those people that do not take the ski bus and had other plans for the day.

Feb. 16 was a good break from the five day week. They made it up on schedule and were excited for their first run in three weeks. All agreed that is was a great day for skiing or snowboarding. Blake Emery said, "I like going up on Fridays because there are not as many people."

To make up for the missed day, March 14 was added to the schedule. Although not as many students went up, the snow was great, the weather was warm and it brought a good ending to a snowy season.

To Ski Or Not To Ski?THAT iS THE quESTiON AS THE SKi SEASON uNFOLDED

by Morgan Cadigan and Sarah Witt

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