The Panther’s Pause, Jr. -­ Issue #3

News in the ParkCalling All Talent!By: Staff Writer

Make sure not to wear expensivesocks on the night of the talent show,Friday, April 26th, because they will beblown off! There will be 14 actsincluding the stylings of classical pianopieces, comedic acts, angelic singing,guitar playing,and intricate dances.Plus, prepare yourself for a specialsurprise act! BE THERE OR BESQUARE!

Read Across AmericaBy: Staff Writer

On March 1, during the typicallytorturous 8th period on a Friday, wehad a little treat: Read Across America,celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday. Iinterviewed two of my favorite teachersfor their thoughts on Drop Everythingand Read. First I talked toMrs. Kuperus, and we finally put therumor to rest: she can read!Reporter: “What book did you read?”Mrs. K: I read ‘The Math Curse.’Reporter: Why did you pick this?Mrs. K: I picked this because readingisn’t my first love, but since the bookinvolved math, I made the exception.Wow! How original!Next, I interviewed the over-­emotionaland extremely passionate Mr.Anderson, and he had a few words tosay about his students.Reporter: What’s the most importantthing about reading?Mr. A: SO many kids these days justdon’t read anymore! *tears in eyes*,because there are so many otherthings to do, but we should read all

day, everyday! (continued →)

Mr. Anderson sets up the bracket for the Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament.

Video Game TournamentBy: Staff Writers

What event has students vs. teachers, as they all vie for the coveted title ofbest video gamer? Mr. Anderson’s Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament! OnFebruary 14th there were at least 20 kids in the classroom and they were alldefeated by the ruthless Andrew Anderson. “None of them were really a challenge,just small obstacles in my path to victory,” said the conceited Mr. Anderson. Afterhe won the event, he climbed onto the table and roared a fearsome cry: “THIS. IS.ENGLISH!” He then proceeded with a victory dance on a table that burned thestudents’ eyes out. Dancing is not his talent, which is why he teaches English sowonderfully. If you want to relive this disturbing yet fun experience, come to thenext Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament before the end of the school year!

A close source to Mr. Anderson told a friend of a friend of a friend of mine thatonce he gets home he reads for 23 hours a day and doesn’t leave his house everbecause he is too busy reading. We as students should try to find a balancebetween Mr. Anderson’s and Mrs. Kuperus’s ways of reading, but I am pretty surethat nobody wants to read for 23 hours a day.

Issue 3 · Spring 2013 · Midland Park · News in the Park

Despicable Me Movie NightBy: Staff Writer

The latest project for the seventh and eighth grade class officers went as well aseveryone had hoped! On February 1st, quite a few middle schoolers got togetherto watch Despicable Me, a new, heart-­warming cartoon which stars Steve Carell asthe main character. “It’s a pretty good movie,” one eighth grader states afterenjoying her evening with friends. “It was really fun, and I think the seventh andeighth grade officers did a great job,” says one enthusiastic seventh grader. Therewere quite a few delightful snacks and drinks along with good-­hearted laughter.Stay tuned for the next class officer event!

The Grammy’s 2013By: Staff Writers

Welcome to your source ofinformation on the 2013 Grammy’s. Thisyear, there were many interestingperformances. The craziest one was probably TaylorSwift. First of all the psychotic break-­upsinger spoke in a British accent during aspeaking part in her song. Who does shethink she is, Nicki Minaj? No, she is acrazy lady with blonde hair. “She is soweird and obsessed with Harry Stylesthat she mocked Harry Styles in aBritish accent,” says an inside sourceAshley Cagorian. On Twitter, the blondepsychopath was getting millions of hatemessages, most of which were sent byHarry’s fangirls. Harry Styles hasn’t saidanything about this drama caused byTaylor, and Taylor hasn’t made a formalapology yet. Also, pictures were leaked of TaylorSwift from a new music video. She isseen in a cream shirt and a greenbeanie-­-­ the SAME outfit Harry Styleswore in his own music video! Manyfangirls were astonished by Taylor’sacts. Is this a case of false information,or is Taylor Swift still hung up on herex-­boyfriend, Harry?

What’s Up With Gaga?By: Staff Writer

It seems like Lady Gaga has beenout of the spotlight for months, but ithasn’t been for any bad reasons. Thesinger has been touring the world on herBorn This Way Ball Tour. However, hertour had to be postponed for severalshows in Chicago, Detroit, and Ontario inmid-­February. According to CNNEntertainment, Lady Gaga has synovitis,which is a severe inflammation of thejoints. Lady Gaga tweeted, “I’ve beenhiding a show injury and chronic pain forsome time now, over the past month ithas worsened [...] After last night’sperformance I could not walk and stillcan’t.” She was also very apologetic toher fans, tweeting, “To the fans inChicago, Detroit, and Hamilton I hope youcan forgive me, as it is nearly impossibleto forgive myself. I’m devastated andsad.” Hopefully, Lady Gaga will recoverfrom this injury. If she doesn’t, it seemslike it will be pretty impossible for her toever be as big of a celebrity as she wasat the beginning of her career. Her toursare incredible, but they don’t allow her tocreate new music and have led her to thisinjury. When you think about it, her songsaren’t played as much on the radio, shewasn’t even mentioned at the Grammys,and this injury is the first time she’s beenin the news in months. Is Lady Gaga doomed, or will she beable to jumpstart her career with her newalbum, Artpop, coming out in the spring?Only time will tell.

A Lonely Valentine’s Dayin Midland ParkBy: Staff Writer

Whether you’re spending time with aloved one, or you’re sitting alone in yourroom crying with a tub of ice cream inbetween your legs watching re-­runs ofGlee, Valentine’s Day is always terrible. This Valentine’s day was no different.Yes, being alone on this special day oflove was a little tough, but having aboyfriend or girlfriend on this day is evenworse. Honestly, people set theirstandards too high, especially formiddle-­school. You’re twelve;; you don’tneed to receive a box of chocolates fromyour “boyfriend” of 2 days. I kid, I kid, I’msure you guys will be together forever. If you were alone on Valentine’s Day,you should have spent it with yourfriends. Remember in 3rd grade, we usedto give our class candy and a card? Eventhough you may not have a ‘crush’ onthem, we should have done the same,giving each other cards and candy, justso you both don’t feel awkward whileseeing all of the cute couples walkingaround, hand in hand. May the singlepeople unite! Maybe next year will bebetter.

Issue 3 · Spring 2013 · Midland Park · News in the Park

The Oscars 2013

By: Staff Writer

The music-­themed Academy Awardswere a big hit this year. Hosted by Seth MacFarlane, theshow was filled with lots of surprises.“Argo” won for Best Picture. This wasnot expected, since the film’s director,Ben Affleck, was snubbed of anomination for Best Director. Accordingto dawn.com, this was the first BestPicture winner that was not nominatedfor Best Director since 1989. Another surprise was JenniferLawrence’s win for Best Actress for“Silver Linings Playbook.” According toTariq Khan of Fox News, she really hadmore of a supporting role in the movieand some of her acting was forced.Other winners of the night were AnneHathaway, for Best Supporting Actressin “Les Miserables,” and Daniel DayLewis, for Best Actor in “Lincoln.” The 2013 Oscars were trulymemorable this year. Both the youngestnominee ever (Quvenzhane Wallis, 9years old) and the oldest (EmmanuelleRiva, 86 years old) were nominated inthe same category of Best Actress.Daniel Day Lewis’ win was actually arecord third Best Actor Oscar, makingLewis the actor with the most awardsever in that category. There was also atie for Best Sound Editing for the movies“Skyfall” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” FoxNews said that with 6,000 voters foreach award, ties are extremely rare.This was the first one to happen inalmost twenty years! The 2013 Academy Awards were anexciting event and definitely one for therecord books.

The Secret Life of Mr.

McDonough

By: Staff Writer

It has been very suspicious. Mr.McDonough has a beard, glasses, and anunassuming identity... just like ClarkKent. In addition, no one has ever seenMr. McDonough and Superman together.So, finally, after many seconds of waiting,this reporter has gone undercover tointerview Mr. McDonough and see whathe’s really hiding:Reporter: Why did you want to become aHistory teacher?Mr. McDonough: When I was younger, Ialways found myself imagining what itwould be like to live in a different timeperiod, so it is no surprise that Historybecame my favorite subject. When I wasin the 7th grade my middle school historyteacher had a group of Civil Warre-­enactors come to the school and set upan encampment. I thought it was thecoolest thing ever, and knew at that pointthat I wanted to be a History teacher.

Q: Did you ever collect rocks as a child ordid you not find rock very ‘empowering?’A: I once took a Geology class in collegethat I found surprisingly interesting,although I was sure to stay away from thegreen ones.

Q: Did the destruction of your home worldaffect your career choice?A: One reason for studying the past is tolearn from the mistakes made by thosewho came before us. If this can in someway help my students to make betterdecisions in the future, then I guess I’mdoing something good. (continued →)

Fashion Tips

By: Staff Writers

Aren’t you tired of seeinguncoordinated outfits at school? It’s okay to express yourself bywearing different clothes, but you can’tjust throw clothes together. Here is a helpful guide to wearing niceclothes and to keep yourself coordinated:1. For guys,you don’t have to wearsweats everyday. The same goes forgirls. You just look like a slob if it’severyday. Mix it up! One day wear chillclothes, another day wear nice clothes.2. Guys,all you have to do is wear nicelyfitted jeans and a nice shirt. It’s not verydifficult and you’ll look so much betterand maybe even attract some girls.3. Girls, stay comfy but cute (don’t wearUgg boots EVERY day).4. Do not dress like Hannah Montana. That’s all for now, but catch somemore fashion tips in our next issue!

Q: How has the use of the cell phoneaffected your wardrobe?A: Not an issue – it can be hidden veryeasily behind a cape.

Q: What is your favorite color?A: Blue

Q: Did you ever work for a newspaper?A: I did not, but my wife worked as ajournalist for two years before deciding ona career in education as well.

Q: At your high school football practices,do you teach the players to leapincreasingly tall objects in a singlebound?A: Linemen do not need to do muchjumping;; they just need to push peoplearound! Coach Doerr and I are big fans ofbear crawls.

Q: What’s one thing would you like thepublic to know about you?A: As you can imagine, I am a prettyactive guy. I enjoy being outdoors and Ilove to travel. It doesn’t help that I’mafraid of flying – go figure!

So as you can see the world can nowbe 76.8% sure that Mr. McDonough’ssecret is that he is the man of steelhimself: Superman.

Issue 3 · Spring 2013 · Midland Park · News in the Park

Issue 3 · Spring 2013 · Midland Park · News in the Park