Odd Orange Journal

April 20, 2016

Issue 3

SHOWING SPIRIT FOR THE SHAKESPEARE

CLUB
BY ZAHIRA SHAHEEN AND CHLOE KAPLAN
Mrs. Alloway has created a club surrounded and inspired
by the art that is Shakespeare. Shakespeare Club is one of the
most popular clubs at South Orange Middle School. The club consists of playing games to improve your improvisation skills and to
warm up your acting. The members put on skits and dress in costumes from Shakespeare plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Julius Caesar. The Shakespeare Club performs at school
gatherings such as School in Action Night. At this school event the
Shakespeare Club ran around the school and performed different
skits at random times. Putting on the skits was fun for the performers and the viewers.
When asked why she started the Shakespeare Club, Mrs.
Alloway responded with I thought it would be fun. I thought students would like it, and I thought that was a win-win. She was
right. Students love this phenomenal club. Last year Mrs. Alloway
devised Shakespirit Day where CHS Shakespeare students
came to South Orange Middle School to lead middle schoolers in
Shakespeare related acting games and activities. Students were
asked to dress up as any Shakespeare character of their choice
and could take part in a costume contest for each grade. Each
activity draws students closer to Shakespeare and his magnificent
works of art.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Showing Spirit for the Shakespeare
Club ....................................................1
Students Speak out about Shakespeare
Club ...................................................2
Book Review: The Future of Us ..........2
SOMS Goes Crazy for High School
Musical ...............................................3
Spring Recipe .....................................4
Spotlight on Staff: Mrs. Irby ...............4
Scientific Spring .................................5

STUDENTS SPEAK ABOUT SHAKESPEARE

BY CHLOE KAPLAN AND ZAHIRA SHAHEEN

School in action night 2015, Daisy Andrejco

(left), Carrie Hill (Middle), Zahira Shaheen (right)

SOMS student, Jonah Smith said

what compelled him to join
Shakespeare club and why did he
stick with it. I wanted to join because a lot of my friends were
doing it. They said that it was really fun and I would like it a lot.
Also it was good that I knew Ms.
Alloway. It turned out that it has
very fun so I stayed. Charlie
Baker, a 7th grader was asked,
What is your favorite part of
Shakespeare club and why? He
responded with My favorite part
of Shakespeare club is the
environment that it is supported

and enabled by Ms. Alloway and

the people in the club. This environment allows myself and other
members of the club to express
ourselves through Shakespeare's
plays freely without fear of being
judged or laughed at. Ty Rances,
another SOMS student reflects on
how Shakespeare club impacted
his time at SOMS, I know more
about Shakespeare than the other students so I get to teach
them.

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays
many parts, His acts being seven ages. - William Shakespeare
.

BOOK REVIEW: THE FUTURE OF US BY JAY ASHER

By JANE FLEETWOOD

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler is a novel about

teenagers in 1996 when the Internet was starting to become popular.
When Emma Watson logged onto her computer for the first time, her
Facebook account, from when she was an adult, was right in front of
her. She soon realized that by logging on she somehow had the power
to see her life in the future. Now Emma has to make a choice. Is she
going to use what she learns online to try to make her future self happy? Or is she going to let her life play out the way its supposed to?
Emma couldnt help but read through her future Facebook posts after
logging on, and she was shocked by what she saw. She posted personal
thoughts like you know why I need comfort food? JJ hasn't come
home for three nights. His trip was only supposed to last one day. I feel
hopeless, (31). She was putting things on Facebook that she would
usually only share with someone close to her. So thats exactly what
she did. She called up her best friend, Josh Templeton, so she could
talk to someone about it. They then figured out that Josh, a quiet, average high school boy, had married the prettiest girl in school! He was
thrilled, but Emma and Josh decided to keep their futures a secret from
everyone else, to try to get back to their regular lives, and to let their
lives play out as if they did not know their futures. Josh, at least, sticks
to the plan.

Continued on page 5

SOMS Goes Crazy for

High School
Musical!

Model UN Clubs Trip to

NYC is Picture Perfect

By: Lexi Sachs

More than 150 students participated in
South Orange Middle Schools school play,
High School Musical, for three incredible performances April 1-3. Students from
all three grades were in the play. The music was performed by a group of teenagers, who do not go to our school, but
who were outstanding. The orchestra was led by our band teacher, Mr.
Tighe.
The lead roles were played by: Gabriella was played by 8th grader, Claire
Sullivan. Troy was played by 8th grader Jonathan Minor. Sharpay was
played by Anna Pettigrew. Ryan was played by 7th grader, Alex Ferrandiz.

The Model UN
Club

The students practiced several times a week for five months, beginning in November. Seventh grader Alex Ferrandiz, who played Ryan, Sharpeys brother
and sidekick, gave an outstanding performance. He says that hes going to
miss the play practices and all of the excitement leading up to the show.
Every day that I went to rehearsal I was looking forward to spending time
with my play family. They were very loving and made me happy, Alex said.
Alex says that being a part of the production was an incredibly meaningful
experience for him. He bonded with the other cast members and created special relationships. Alex feels sad that the play is over, and he says it's even
more of a let down knowing that all of his 8th grade friends from the play
wont be there with him next year. Alex already has decided that he will audition for the play in 8th grade. He said that the 8th grade year by far is the
most emotional, meaningful, and special year to be a cast member. It is the
kids last year at SOMS and they do a ritual, Alex tells me.

Abby Ratner and Hazel Allison

Way win Honorable Mention for
their research on the Czech
Republic.

We have a very special tradition that we play called Red Rover. Another one
is called the circle is where the full cast sits in a circle and all the 8th graders
take turns saying speeches about the show. Everyone cries and I mean
EVERYONE, I was balling by the end of it all, Alex said.
Not only did students turn out for the play but hundreds of parents attended
as well. Everyone was impressed with the talent and high quality of the production.
You would never expect such an incredible show by middle schoolers. From
the set to the choreography to the acting and the singing, I was blown away,
says parent, Wendy Sachs.
Advisors: Ms. Karis and Mrs. Tsioni

RECIPE FOR SPRING

SPOTLIGHT ON
SOMS STAFF:
MRS. IRBY
What do you like the most
about SOMS?
Being back home!
The students have a real
thirst for knowledge that is
refreshing. They are super
bright and incredibly talented. We have strong, highly
skilled teachers who are
experts in their field of
study.

Pesto
INGREDIENTS
2 cups fresh basil leaves (no
stems)
2 tablespoons pine nuts or
walnuts
2 large cloves garlic
cup extra-virgin olive oil
cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

What are your fondest

memories of attending
SOMS when you were a
student here?
I absolutely loved everything
about the school!
Favorite memories include
being in the plays: The Boyfriend and Leave it to Jane.
When you were in school,
what was your favorite
subject and why?
English with Mr. Shertzer
He made the learning come
alive, and I loved reading
and creative writing.
What subject did you
teach when you first started?
English Language Arts
Grades 6-8, but 8th grade
was my favorite.
What do you enjoy doing
in your free time?
I don't have free time. LOL.
I still teach dance Ballet and
Modern on the weekends. I
love to read, journal writing,
but most of all I love being
with my family!

PREPARATION
Combine basil leaves, pine nuts or
walnuts and garlic in a food processor and process until very finely minced.
With the machine running slowly
dribble in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth.
Add the cheese and process very
briefly, just long enough to combine. Store in refrigerator or
freezer.

http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/2653-basic-pesto

ADVICE FROM MISS INFORMATION

THIS WEEKS QUESTION:
I have Spring Fever! I keep forgetting about homework and
important dates. Help! What can I do?
-Head in the Clouds

Dear Head in the Clouds,

You sound like you are distracted by the warmer
weather. You are not alone. Try setting reminders about
important deadlines on your phone. Make a list of the
things you need to accomplish each day. Most teachers
use Edmodo or Google Classroom to post assignments.
Get into the habit of checking these sites at the same time
each day.
Sincerely,
Miss Information

BOOK REVIEW: THE FUTURE OF US BY JAY ASHER

Continued . . .
By Jane Fleetwood
One of the best parts in The Future of Us was reading about how Josh and Emmas actions in high
school, even the small things, really affected their futures. Josh talked in school more with the prettiest
girl, after becoming more comfortable given his knowledge of the future, and he ended up getting married and having kids with her. Emma signed up for a harder course in science, and she ended up becoming a marine biologist. Other times, when Emma made a wrong decision, like when her and Josh got in
a fight, her future changed for the worse. Josh was removed from her future because Emma said one
mean thing to Josh. The book made me think about how my actions now, even in middle school, might
affect my future. I think this lesson is a good one for all middle schoolers to think about.
Despite the interesting plot and the lessons present throughout the book, I didnt love
everything about The Future of Us. I thought it was weird that Emmas and Joshs families and friends futures were only mentioned once or twice. If two teenagers had a
whole Facebook of the future, they would care about other peoples future lives as well.
In conclusion, The Future of Us is a great book for middle schoolers. Middle schoolers
can learn from the characters mistakes.

Scientific Spring
By: Kirah Tianga
Plants need water, light, warmth and soil to grow. During spring they get all the things that they
need. When the days are longer in spring, they get a lot more time getting the things they need. During autumn and winter, after the leaves are gone, there is a little hardened bud. This protects the
tissues from the bad weather, and they are setup to grow back during spring, when there is better
weather for the leaves.. This year, spring officially began on March 20. This is due to the Vernal Equinox. The Vernal Equinox every year shows when Spring begins. The March Equinox marks when the
Sun crosses the Celestial Equator (an imaginary line above the Earths equator) from south to north.

Spring Photos
by Kirah Tinga

Odd Orange Journal

Code Corner: Caesar Cipher

To decode the message below, figure out what each
letter stands for.

wklv lv d vhfuhw phvvdjh.

___________________________.
This issues staff members:
Lexi Sachs
Jane Fleetwood
Zahira Shaheen
Chloe Kaplan
Kirah Tinga