Features
A New twist on Spanish one - the meet up!
WRITTEN BY MADI LARSH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MS. GRAFWALLNER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MS. GRAFWALLNER
Once Reagan’s Spanish 1 students finished their projects for third graders at Sandburg Elementary School in Madison, (see last month’s article entitled “A New Twist in Spanish 1”), it was time to meet these pen pals. On February 19, Señora Moore’s Spanish 1 students, along with Ms. Painter’s third graders, finally met in person in Reagan’s gymnasium. There, the two classes shared their projects, and played a game entitled ‘Moose,’ with each other.
After the activities in the gym, the two classes relocated to a nearby mexican restaurant, El Fuego, and continued the event over lunch. The students chatted and ate authentic Spanish foods. Spanish 1 teacher, Señora Moore, had nothing but positive things to say about the outcome. She’s very glad that her students got to have this experience, and were able to put the beautiful language to a legitimate use. ¨We had a lot that were really excited. They had never been to Milwaukee, and an all day field trip was awesome. And I think nervous, if I’m honest with you. The kids were really concerned about ‘What if I don’t speak Spanish perfectly?,’ you know. This is a real chance for them to actually kind of use it, and so I think there were a lot who we just kept reinforcing about effort, and not about being perfect,” says third grade bilingual teacher, Ms. Painter. Both the Spanish 1 students and third graders were very happy with the results of this project. Third graders Mikayla and Dulce were very excited to come to Milwaukee, as neither had ever been to the city before. “No, we’ve never been to Milwaukee. But I was excited to see my people,” said Dulce. Her favorite parts of this project were meeting the partners at El Fuego, and getting to see the physical projects in person. |
Third grader, Mikayla, enjoyed everything about this project. “I was kind of nervous. I want to do it again,” she said.
Freshman and Spanish 1 student, Cerina Jossart, was also a bit nervous to meet her third grade buddy. She felt as though her buddy would know more Spanish than her, or that she herself, would not speak the language perfectly enough. She says that it was overwhelming, but exciting at the same time. Mikayla is not the only person talking about doing this again next year. Señora Moore and Ms. Painter both said that they would love to continue these projects in the future. Señora Moore adds that she would like to maintain the pen-pal communication between the two classes, and that she would like to do this project again with next year’s Spanish 1 students. Ms. Painter says that she would like to as well, but begin the project much earlier in the year to build the relationships between the students.
As the due date of these projects approached, and the big meet up was nearing, students were rushing to finish their projects. Señora Moore offered after school work periods to give extra help to those students in need. She recalled that most days her room would be overcrowded with students working on their projects. Time management was a struggle for students across the board. Marcos stated that managing his time and working at the right pace was his biggest obstacle. Cerina said she spaced out her work time, completing little bits at a time so that she wouldn’t be rushing so much towards the end. Both Cerina and Marcos were very happy to be doing a project like this, rather than a standard test and completing this unit in the classroom. 
Sra. Moore and Ms. Painter
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Marcos Avila, Freshman and Spanish 1 student, was also enthusiastic about the unit. “It felt good, cause like, it took so long finish this project for him, and then they finally met us, and to share the project with him. He was really excited about it, and it felt really good,” he stated.
“This was really a life changing experience!” Señora Moore exclaimed. |
“You actually get to use the language. You know how you do the speaking tests? It’s kind of like, read off a lot. But when you actually speak the language, you actually interpret it like it’s real,” Cerina said.
“It was good and it helped a lot, because you have to be more determined to work, because you’re actually making it for somebody, and not just for yourself and for your grade,” Marcos reflected In addition, he said that this project was more fun and challenging as well, and that he feels it helped his learning more than in class lessons would have. The teachers are also very grateful for all the effort put into by the students. Their hard work meant a lot to them, and they weren’t shy to say so. Señora Moore said the whole experience was a giant whirlwind. She was a bit down about the fact that she was sick, so she could not hug Ms. Painter on first sight. The combination of medicine she was on, and the additional amount of people that were there was overwhelming [in a positive way]. Señora Moore said it was amazing to “‘finally be able to put a face with the name.” She hopes that her students know she is so grateful for their’ time and effort put into this project, and for caring so much about this live audience. |
“When I walked in the gym, I teared up to see all of these older kids who are in high school, who I’m sure are sort of cool and into their own stuff right now, taking time to be, like, so thoughtful for a little kid that they’ve never met. It means more to these kids than these high schoolers will know. It means a lot,” Ms. Painter concluded.
Top 5 Tips for Lazy Spring Cleaners
BY CALLIE SPICE
For many, cleaning is almost unbearable, but it has to be done. The beginning of spring is a great time that many people like to use to get their houses and themselves organized. This time has coined a name known to many: Spring Cleaning. This general period is used to do a deep cleaning of the house. Throwing clutter out, scrubbing the floors, refreshing your home. How is one supposed to clean a whole house if they cannot stand doing a single dish? The Husky Howler is here to help.
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Tip 1: Garbage on the Go! Wherever you go in your house, keep a garbage bag in your hand! It sounds crazy, but if you are walking and see a piece of garbage, you will be more inclined to pick it up knowing you have somewhere to immediately dispose of it. This way, for lazy cleaners, there is no need to walk down levels or halls to throw something away. |
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Tip 2: Enter a Room, Remove an Item. Every room has something that you do not need that is just taking up space. Whether it is a tacky picture frame that no longer fits your taste in the living room, or an old box of food that is probably expired in your cabinet, they are unnecessarily taking up usable space. Every time you enter a room, take a deep look around and think of something you could remove. Sometimes it is hard to let go of items, even if they have little meaning, but it will feel better once the house is decluttered. |
Tip 4: Toothbrushes Are Not Just for Teeth. You can brush your kitchen floor? Yes! Have annoying floor tiles that collect dirt like crazy? Use an old toothbrush with some floor cleaning solution on it and scrub in between all the cracks of the tile and floor to pick up all the stubborn dirt that a mop could not get to. It may be pesky work in the beginning, but the difference is noticeable at the end after the mopping and brushing is done! The floor will look spotless. |
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Tip 3: Make Goodwill Your Friend! Goodwill accepts donations year round. Clothes that have been outgrown? Household items that are collecting dust but someone else could use? Goodwill will be happy to take them! It is a win-win situation: you are clearing out your house, and Goodwill has merchandise to sell. Remember, your donation helps someone get a job! A Goodwill near us: - 153 W Oklahoma Ave (414) 744-6014 |
Tip 5: Clean Yourself and Your Shower! Most people shower pretty regularly, so keep a dish wand in your shower. Water’s already flowing, use the dish wand and take a little time every few times you shower to broadly clean up and around the shower. This way, the scum from soap and dirt does not build up over time and make it a more time-consuming job. Keep up with it and your shower should stay relatively clean. (http://www.listotic.com/55-must-read-cleaning-tips-tricks/31/) |
politics
BY ALEXXUS HART
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SLIM SPENDING THIS SPRING BREAK
BY MADELYN DRURY
Milwaukee, Wisconsin isn’t necessarily seen as the warmest place from late March to early April. Being outside when it’s cold, rainy or snowy is miserable- but here’s the thing, it’s Spring Break! Don’t waste a perfectly good break because of the weather. During these times, we are in desperate need of some fun but cheap activities for Spring Break in Milwaukee.
Especially if you reside on Milwaukee’s south side, go to a couple of interesting places to avoid the cold. Go to places like coffee shops to sit down and enjoy some treats and a good conversation with a friend. If you haven’t heard of the Starbucks’ secret menu, it is a must try.
For more information, go to: http://starbuckssecretmenu.net/ Also, go to local cafes like Collectivo, Stone Creek Coffee or Anodyne Coffee in select locations.
Especially if you reside on Milwaukee’s south side, go to a couple of interesting places to avoid the cold. Go to places like coffee shops to sit down and enjoy some treats and a good conversation with a friend. If you haven’t heard of the Starbucks’ secret menu, it is a must try.
For more information, go to: http://starbuckssecretmenu.net/ Also, go to local cafes like Collectivo, Stone Creek Coffee or Anodyne Coffee in select locations.
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Places like the Milwaukee Public Market are a great place to stop and have so much to offer there. In the MKE Public Market you will find things like coffee, confectionary, and ethnic food all the way to some vintage, custom Brew City apparel and plants that you didn’t know you needed until you saw them. So, visit Water Street and grab some grub in the Market and take a short walk around downtown. You never can discover enough of your own city. http://www.milwaukeepublicmarket.com/
Whether the weather is warm or cold, ice cream and custard always sounds good. Except the usual trips to Culvers, the real custard can be found locally and in this case, relatively cheap. Leon’s “World Famous” Custard is well known for being open year round. If it just happens to be a bit chilly, stop by anyway and enjoy your blue moon with blue lips. Another famous custard shop right in our own backyard is Cream City Swirl in the Bay View area. Stop in and enjoy your choice of: (are you ready for this?) frozen yogurt, gelato, crepes, smoothies and custard. How can this get better? Free WiFi!?! (Yes, it’s true!) |
The best things that are in Milwaukee are often hidden. These hidden gems make good stories and also, great picture opportunities. Feel free to visit the Safe House in downtown Milwaukee to visit, eat and explore - if you can find it. What’s even better about The Safe House is, you need a password to get in. Even as mean as it sounds- after you get in, you get to watch others make a fool of themselves while they try to get in. http://www.safe-house.com/ Check out the Safe House and become a secret spy while dining.
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Another hidden restaurant in the Milwaukee area is Barnacle Buds. This hidden sea shack has daily specials and is so abnormally placed you have to squeeze through a city fence to get there. Seems impossible? Here’s a hint, follow the Milwaukee river. Go and find it!! http://barnacle-buds.com/ (and do not cheat!) Also around that area, Comedy Sportz is well known for their humorous improvisation. Stop by for a show and a bite to eat and enjoy. What is nice about most shows is they are interactive and if you’re lucky, you can even be pulled on stage. http://www.comedysportzmilwaukee.com/main.html Speaking of seeing a show, there are many movie deals you may or may not know of. A steal of a deal is $5 movies at Marcus Theatres on Tuesdays. Book now! https://www.marcustheatres.com/theatre-locations/southgate-cinema-milwaukee Other than the big theatres around the city, in Bay View, The Avalon Theatre plays around 3 movies at a time but offers great options. Plus, their claim to fame is “The Best Popcorn in the City”. Go and see if you agree. http://timescinema.com/avalon-theater.html |
Finally, the things you never would think to do that often but are actually super fun. During break, turn off your phones and go bowling, go karting, play laser tag or go to an arcade. Places like JB’s on 41, Lightspeed or CMP Lasertag offer great deals and great fun. JB’s and Lightspeed are on the same street: http://www.lightspeedrocks.com/, http://jb-on-41.com/ and CMP has two locations in Wisconsin: http://www.cmptactical.com/ With that, have a great spring break, Reagan! |
History of Easter in 100 Words or Less
BY CHEYENNE RUPERT
Easter is held on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 every year. Easter is one of Christianity's most important holidays, because it is the day that celebrates Jesus Christ's resurrection. The exact history of Easter is still unknown, but some believe that the word Easter derived from the word Eostre, who is a Teutonic goddess of fertility and spring.
bsu'S bLACK hISTORY pROGRAM
BY FREEDOM GOBEL
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The Black Student Union (BSU) recently crafted and performed a Civil Rights Movement program as a contribution to Black History Month.
“The performances were either written by BSU advisors or student actors. When acts were written, they were checked by BSU advisors for historical accuracy and relevance to the overall theme of the program. The speeches were written by myself, spoken word by student artists, and MC dialogue by myself and student participants,” said Mr. Perry, Reagan special education and resource teacher. “The theme of the program changed this year to be more specifically focused on the Civil Rights Movement. Each year the program will encompass a different theme and display different acts and aspects of Black Heritage,” he continued. Of course putting on a show has it’s obstacles, and the BSU did experience some in the making of their performance. “The biggest obstacle in the area of rehearsing was being able to get all participants in the same area at the same time after school. I am still working on completing my Masters program which requires me to leave school by 4:00, and most students in the BSU are either working jobs or involved in other time restricting activities such as community service, sports, or college readiness programs. Everyone was busy,” said Perry. |
Despite the challenges and obstacles, a great performance was given in hopes of sending a message to students and teachers. “I hope that students and teachers take away a few different perspectives than those already established and streamlined in our culture today. Often times, certain leaders are overlooked in Black Heritage due to the public not knowing who they were or not knowing the significance of their contributions. Leaders such as Ruby Bridges, Marcus Garvey, and Malcolm X are not talked about due to excessive focus on Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, and Michael Jordan. There are more contributors to our heritage than the status quo,” said Perry.
“It is important that people know the history of all cultures they are surrounded by. One may ask, why focus only on Black History and not on everybody's history? In response to that, it is wise to look into the figures we study in our regular education setting. Very often, African American's are absent from history books or described in a negative light which somewhat negates their historical impact on this country. I encourage us all to explore our peers culture so that we have a shared community and history. As it seems today, there are "separate but equal histories"; we all know by now what that means after watching the Black Heritage Programs. This phenomena is apparent in our educational system in America.” A successful performance was displayed for Reagan’s teachers and students, and next year’s performance is awaited. |
National History Day
BY LEONARDO ESPINOZA
What is NHD?
“National History Showcase is a showcase in which students share their research on a historical topic” - Mrs. Holtgrieve - Reagan psychology teacher
The National History Day Showcase is a competition where students get to research a historical topic of their choice. Their chosen topic must be related to the NHD theme of the year, and then they showcase it in one of these ways:
- Exhibit
- Essay/Paper
- Performance
- Documentary
- Website
Who Were the Winners?
“We have a whole bunch. We just had our school event, you know,” said Mrs. Holtgrieve.
“We have a whole bunch. We just had our school event, you know,” said Mrs. Holtgrieve.
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Group Documentary Amaya Leal and Shayla Finley Chloe Haapala and Carolyn Vang Individual Performance Kayana Adams Kirstin Hackbarth Chloe Weithofer Group Performance Lily Pachner and Charlotte McLinden |
Group Exhibit Hannah Smith and Ashley Roemer Abigayle Rasmussen and Josie Sielen Kieara Macerena and Alondra Rodriguez Jazmin Cruz and Kennedy Wilcox Angie Peraza and Nani Torres Individual Documentary Brian Huynh Keric Jackson Steven Plevak Avery Talbot Emily Rasmussen |
Group Website Alexxus Hart and Estefania Gonzalez Sam Loontjens and Daniela Avila Lance Baren and Gabe Hernandez Jack Miralario and Edgar Robles Individual Exhibit Hannah Bloor Aaron Woida Ryan Oberdorf Luke Stoerger Jack Zacher |
Papers Gabriela Casas Corinne Kronschnabel Gabrielle Mastich Malcolm Ramirez Harrison Tremarello Individual Website Juli Gessner Salmai Hernandez Salatiel Nieto Tanya Puebla Destiny Scott-Dyson |
Next Steps
“They’re done so they’re next step is just to show up at UWM” Mrs. Holtgrieve
The contestants are going to regionals at UW Milwaukee on March 5th. Judges offer feedback and rank the students. The Top Three in each category go to the state competition at UW Madison. Then there is nationals which will be at the University of Maryland. Last year one team from Reagan made it to nationals. The team that won last year was under the documentary category. They were Anna Dannecker and Grace Krug.
National History Day Showcase allows students to show off their research they did on a historically relevant topic. To the people that made it to regionals, we all wish them the best of luck in the regional tournaments.
“They’re done so they’re next step is just to show up at UWM” Mrs. Holtgrieve
The contestants are going to regionals at UW Milwaukee on March 5th. Judges offer feedback and rank the students. The Top Three in each category go to the state competition at UW Madison. Then there is nationals which will be at the University of Maryland. Last year one team from Reagan made it to nationals. The team that won last year was under the documentary category. They were Anna Dannecker and Grace Krug.
National History Day Showcase allows students to show off their research they did on a historically relevant topic. To the people that made it to regionals, we all wish them the best of luck in the regional tournaments.
What to do in the fling of Spring
BY ALEXXUS HART
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Saint patrick's Day
BY JEREMY WILL
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Saint Patrick's Day
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Saint Patrick’s Day is held on March 17, which is celebrated on the day of his death. It is widely believed that Saint Patrick drove out snakes from Ireland. This would be a little hard for him to do. Scientists believe that snakes have never been in Ireland since the ice age, due to the cold. It is just the celebration of the foremost patron saint. People celebrate it by wearing green and going out to drink, but in Ireland, it is a highly religious day, where there is little to no drinking. Also, his saint color was blue, green only being affiliated due to the Irish independence in the late 1800’s. So on Saint Patrick's day, why not where some blue and celebrate this saint's life?
The Origins of π
BY LEONARDO ESPINOZA
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What is Pi? 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944 . . . . Pi is a number that no matter in which size circle the formula is applied to it will always result in 3.1415926 . . . Pi is also an irrational number, which is a real number which cannot be represented with integers and will not terminate or have repeating decimals. π is achieved by getting the diameter and the circumference of a circle. How to Calculate π 59230781640628620899862803482534211706798214808651328230664709 . . . . C=2r Diameter C=d d=2r =Cd |
Who Found it? 3844609550582231725359408128481117450284102701938521105559644 . . . .
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When is Pi Day?
62294895493038196442881097566593344612847564823378678316527120. . . .
March 14
What to Do On Pi Day
19091456485669234603486104543266482133936072602491412737245870. . . .
To those interested, Pi Day is celebrated on 3/14 since it denotes the first digits of Pi - 3.14. Many people celebrate Pi Day by eating pie, and even by running around in circles. Here are some recommendations if you are interested in taking the pi game to the next level:
- Eat Circular Foods
- Pie
- Pizza
- Cookies
- etc.
- Run 3.14 miles
- If feeling active
- Changes the daily run