February 13

Valentine’s Day- Its Meaning, and Its History

So Valentine’s Day. Most of us know what this day/ holiday is, but how many of us know what it is truly about or where it is derived from? Today I’m going to be explaining Valentine’s Day, its history and how it is celebrated here at McDowell.

When most of us think about Valentine’s Day, we tend to think of love, and getting each other gifts and romance and all of that other… stuff. Did you know that Valentine’s Day is named after a person, or why it’s celebrated today? Well today’s blog post will cover all of that.

Starting off, what is the back story behind Valentine’s Day? To start, this holiday originated in a Roman festival, Lupercalia. This festival celebrated the coming of Spring, and held a lottery to pair men and women. Later a pope replaced Lupercalia with the title of St. Valentine’s Day. It later became a day to celebrate love in the 14th century and up. The most popular legend states that this title came from a priest named St. Valentine, whom was a priest that defied the emperor of Rome’s orders and married couples so the husbands could be spared from the war. That is the reason that this day is associated with love.

In McDowell, we celebrate Valentine’s Day by taking a compatibility test, which is a survey that takes your results and tells you your match. We also celebrate by doing a few activities like line graphs and such. We also have the option to buy candy for someone. Apart from the past and modern concept, this is how McDowell celebrates Valentine’s Day.

If you want to find out some more info on Valentine’s Day, then check out the link. Valentine’s Day

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February 10

What we are doing at school!

7th grade at McDowell is doing an Aleks reward system. Aleks is a website that helps students learn more and practice math. Aleks can be very useful for teachers wanting to get their students working more on math. We sometimes have topics due for a certain day, it is assigned kind of like homework for the week. We also have homework due including the Aleks topics. The reward system works by you progressing by the hundreds. There is no reward for 100 but there is for everything else up to 200 Aleks topics you get a candy bar. 300 Aleks topics mastered you get a Logan Elm T-shirt if you get 400 topics mastered you get a root beer float. If and once someone masters 500 topics you get a pizza party. 

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February 7

Compatibility

Hi! It is Lindsay from McDowell schools and I am here to talk about a Compatibility Test our school is having. Ya, ya, I know it sounds SUPER crazy but, well, it is. I think it is going to be SUPER fun when we find out our results and what not. I for one am very excited about this test because I think it will be a fun little Valentines day treat.

This Compatibility thing we are having is for Valentines day. Everybody already took the test and now we are just waiting for the results. The test was maybe 30 questions asking you about you likes, dislike, gender, height and other things. The whole school is doing this test so I am kinda nervous about along with everyone else. We are selling them for a dollar each so it is kind of like a fundraiser for our school.

The test results will show you the top 10 people you are most compatible with. Girls will get boys and boys will get girls. Then it will show you your top 3 best friend matches. Next it will show you your least compatible matches and finally 1 random match. It shows the persons name and the percent compatible off to the side.

Again, this is just a little, fun school fundraiser for Valentines day. I really am looking forward to buying my results and knowing who I am compatible with. I really hope my best friend isn’t my least compatible match!

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February 6

Art Improvment// How to improve your art!

I’m sure you’ve heard many a time that practicing is the only way to improve. Technically this is true, but some tips and tricks are impossible to ignore. Here is some advice to help you enhance your art and make it pleasant to look at.

One: Things to draw for speedy improvement

Improving can take a very long time depending on what you draw, somethings can help you develop more than others. One of the things I recommend you draw the most are figures! Figures can help you get an ampler understanding of human anatomy and how it works. They help with proportions tremendously and I highly recommend drawings lots of them!

(examples)

Two: Draw things you don’t like!

This may seem like lousy advice at first, but drawing things you don’t fancy drawing (like hands, eyes, etc) help you improve and maybe grow to enjoy drawing them! I highly suggest drawing hands and lips, hands are a thing many neophyte artists (like myself) struggle with. You want to draw the thing you struggle with multiple times (around twenty times) because then after repeatedly drawing it, you will improve rapidly.  Pinterest is really helpful in locating images to draw and scrutinize. Here are some things you could draw for improvement (if you struggle with drawing these things).

 

Three: Advanced improvement can take time

Improving your art on a drastic level can take years if you are just drawing the things you want, for example, here’s a sketchbook that I made when I was nine verses one I’ve been working on recently.

 

Here’s some digital art I made over the summer versus one I made last month.

Animation I made over the summer

user uploaded imageDrawing I made last month

Four: Draw from a different perspective

Drawing from manifold perspectives can improve your shading because the light of the image would be coming from a different source. It can also help you with variation in your art, if you draw from the same viewpoint in each drawing you will never learn how to draw from other perspectives! I suggest a 2PT perspective because it’s easy for novices who are just learning to draw from different outlooks. Here are a few examples from a 2PT perspective.
Image result for 2pt perspectiveImage result for 2pt perspective

30 Day Improvement Challenge!

Now that you have the gist of things you can try some challenges! Challenges can be really good when you’re looking for high-speed development. The 30 Day Improvement Challenge is one of the most ambitious and rewarding challenges out there. I haven’t completed it myself but I’m trying to. This challenge can help you a lot with anatomy and better you as an artist in general.

30 Day Improvement Challenge

 

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February 3

Superbowl LIV (54)

For Superbowl LIV, the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the San Francisco 49ers.   The Kansas City Chiefs have traveled a rough road getting here though.  During the middle of the season their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a broken knee cap which hurt the team by not having him.  The 49ers haven’t had it so rough though, considering they went 13-3 in the regular season.  The playoffs leading up to the Superbowl were pretty crazy because The chiefs were down by 10 or more points in both playoff games leading up to the Superbowl.  Their first playoff game against the Texans they were down 24-0, but still game back to win.

In Superbowl LIV it’s going to be San Francisco great run game and defense against the Chiefs fast pace passing game; who will win, that is yet to be determined.

The winning factor of Superbowl LIV was the fast pace passing game of the Kansas City Chiefs.  The Kansas City Chiefs came out victorious in 31-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers.  Again the Chiefs were down 10 at the start of the 4th quarter.  But, Patrick Mahomes showed what he was made of by leading two consecutive scoring drives with a passing touchdown and another touchdown with a hand off to Damien Williams to seal the deal.

QuinceMedia / Pixabay

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January 31

Julia-Techy chapter 1

freephotocc / Pixabay

This is a original chapter that I made for a book series that I am working on called Techy. Techy is a book series about a 19 year old who works at a cafe. The 19 year olds name is Roco. Roco really hates his job But he cant quit his job because he does not have a lot of money and he lives on his won. Roco really wants to go to college but he cant at the slow rate hes making money. But then one miserable day Roco gets the opportunity of a life time.

Have you ever watched a “HALLMARK” movie? You know one of the ones at Christmas time where there’s a nice calm little town. The little town has a nice bakery or something like that. That cute little bakery is never packed and it’s always so calm and quiet!

WELL THAT’S NOT MY LITTLE TOWNS CAFE/BAKERY OR WHATEVER!

“Please calm down!” I said “You will get your drink soon, I promise!” This is the reality of my small towns “nice” cafe. Since there’s no other cafe/bakery’s our place is always busy. A ton of customers were yelling at me at the same time for their drink.“Hey!” I yelled at our baristas whatever that means. “Does someone want to work the register? All these Karen’s are going to LITERALLY kill me!” “NO!” All the baristas yelled at the same time.

                                 …………..

“ I don’t see what you think is so special about that curly haired kid.” Said my assistant. “He’s special, you’ll see” I said. I closed my laptop and stood up. I took one last glance at the curly haired kid. “We really need him you’ll see.” I said quietly. 

                                  …………..

Man being a barista is so hard! My best friend really has it easy! All he has to do its work the register and take orders. Well at least my shift is FINALLY over. I am exhausted. I went into the break room to grab my keys from my locker. 

But then I saw something on the floor. Oh no what is it? A crocodile, alligator, a HUGE spider? Oh no I hate spiders! They are so creepy with all of their legs and their eyes! What should I do? Should I turn on the light? Do I really want to see what it is?

After much hesitation, I turned on the light! I screamed in terror at what I saw. 

                                   ………………

I was lying on the floor when I heard a scream. Oh no there’s probably a spider and it scared Thomas. “DUDE OH NO! PLEASE TELL ME YOU’RE NOT DEAD!” Thomas screamed in terror. Thomas rolled me onto my back. 

“Calm down” I said quietly, ” I’m just taking a nap.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m tired I don’t have time for this Thomas. Working the cash register is the WORST,” I said with an annoyed tone. “Sorry you just looked so…..you know …dead!” He said. I jumped up on my feet. “I really need and want to go home. Bye Thomas.” “Bye?” He said questionably. My job can be really weird sometimes. I just wanted to take a nap. 

                      …………………..

I heard the keys jingling in the door.”You ready?” I whispered to my assistant. My assistant gave me a big smile. “Yup I hope this “Roco” is ready” he said. 

                       …………………..

 

     

 

 

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January 29

Clubs – Scotty

Here at McDowell middle school we have many clubs. Any student from McDowell has to join a club of their choice and participate in them every month. There is a large variety of clubs to choose from all fitting in different categories.

The list of the clubs we have and what they are is here:

  • Agriculture, a club dedicated towards farming and the science of farming.
  • Art, a club dedicated to drawing, painting, and sculpting, this may include information on said subjects.
  • Board games, a club for playing all types of board games and having a good time. Book club, a club aimed toward reading books and sharing your book with other members.
  • Community service, a club dedicated to helping the community they can have many tasks to complete and they all go to a good cause.
  • Creative writing, in this club you would write a series literative writings and share with each other. Dance/music/singing club, this is all about fun, whether that would be dancing, singing, or listening to music.
  • Debate cub, in this club you will research and learn about controversial topics then argue your point about them.
  • Design/engineering club, if you were in this club you would learn and create new ideas about engineering. Home ec, in this club you will learn about multiple household tasks such as sewing, knitting, and many other tasks.
  • Improv/drama, here you learn about and do plays this is a club where everyone will have a part. Intramural sports, to join this club you cannot be playing a current sport such as basketball, wrestling, etc. This club is about multiple sports that you will learn how to play with each other.
  • Junior naturalists, this club is focused mainly on nature and exploring and learning about local or faraway wildlife.
  • Kindness club, this club is all about being nice to others and helping each other out, this can be toward a large series of students that need to be helped.
  • Personal fitness, this club is all about keeping yourself in shape, here you will do many physical activities such as jogging.
  • Relaxation club, this club is the opposite of personal fitness club, here you can lie down, relax, and have a good time.
  • Spanish club, here you will learn about the Spanish language, this can help prepare you for future Spanish classes in highschool, and maybe college.
  • Technology club, in this club you will be learning about the wonders of technology, whether it would be learning code such as Javascript, C, or Python, you will be shown how modern day items work like TVs or PCs.
  • Last but not least, yearbook club, in this club you will collect information and achievements from students and staff at McDowell, and make this year’s yearbook.

Those were the many clubs of McDowell, us students here would be glad to infrom you more about our clubs so if you have a question about our clubs, ask one of our students! I hope you learned something about McDowell and have a great day!

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January 24

Cheerleading

Here at McDowell , the 7th and 8th grade cheer squad is like a family.  Making memories during team meal, choking on croutons while laughing at each others jokes and funny comments.  We’re always there for each other, putting in each others bows (it’s a very difficult art to master), and asking “First or second button?” when helping each other button our skirts (also difficult)

Cheerleading is tons of fun but it’s also a lot of hard work. We work hard at practices, learning new cheers and perfecting our stunts.  Stunting is one of our favorite and most difficult things we do, and we have to make sure we do it right or else we could drop our flyer (the person that is help up in the air) which could result in serious injury of the flyer or the bases, backspots, or frontspots (the people that hold her in the air).  All of the struggle is made up for by all of the fun we have cheering at the basketball games, and on the joyful bus rides back to the school after each away game.

Our squad is definitely not perfect, we mess up and have conflicts, but we always work it out.  We have so much fun together we are more like sisters than friends.

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January 22

Track and Field By: Michael Bock

Track and Field is a sport that involves things like running and jumping. Track involves many different events that are played in meets. Track is one of the oldest sports and originated in Greece. Track started in seven hundred seventy six B.C. and was also apart of the first Olympics. Track involves many records for each of its events for example Usain Bolt set the record for the one hundred meter dash and set a time of 9.58 seconds and is regarded as the fastest man in the world. Track is played mostly on a rubberized artificial running surface and is supposed to withstand all weather conditions. Track is played in multiple events mostly in dashes or sprints but also have events like jumping in hurdles or long jumps, throwing is another major event type which includes shot put, discus and javelin.

Running is a big part of track and can do many things for your body and muscles. Running is a way to lose weight since its better at burning calories than most forms of exercises. Running also benefits muscles around the calf and thigh. Running is really easy to practice since there are many different ways to run for example outside or on a treadmill. Running can be practiced anywhere even off the track itself and can be practiced outside or inside.

Track is one of the oldest sports in history dating back seven hundred seventy six B.C and is very beneficial to the body. Track has many different events and records that players or people can strive to beat. Track is set up in events that include running jumping or throwing and are played in meets.

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January 22

Skeleton Creek

Skeleton Creek is a series written by Patrick Carman. There are six different books in the series. Also, the books are written in first person like it is Ryan’s journal. The books are about two teenagers that got in trouble at the dredge. Throughout the story they uncover secrets and discover more things about their town Skeleton Creek. The story contains many twists and is exciting to read. In the books there are videos to watch about what happened at the dredge.

The first book of the series is Skeleton Creek. Skeleton Creek is about Sarah and Ryan discovering the crossbones and all their secrets around the dredge. In the story Ryan and Sarah go to the dredge and are haunted by Old Joe Bush. Throughout the book Sarah and Ryan cannot talk to each other because of the accident at the dredge. Sarah secretly sends Ryan videos and emails. The videos are codes in the book that you put into Sarah’s website.

The second book is called The Ghost In The Machine. The Ghost in the Machine is about Ryan and Sarah finding the secrets hidden in the dredge. In the second book Sarah and Ryan still cannot talk to each other, but they communicate by email.

Skeleton Creek series is a wonderful series and you should go and read it.

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