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| First day issue! August 1998, Volume 2, No. 1 |
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This month's stories
Principal welcomes students back and explains changes - Scott P. and Jeff R.
Peacock enters the information age - By Elizabeth F.
Back To School - By Christa M.
Middle school veteran offers advice to new recruits - By Brittany B.
Vending machine dilemma solved - we hope - By Scott P.
By the way... - By Scott P.
Holy Cow! The Cubs are winning! - By Brad C.
Are the Bulls disappearing? - By Andrew S.
By John S.
Principal welcomes students back and explains changes
By Scott P. and Jeff R.
According to Peacock principal, Dr. Nickisch, students will start the 1998-99 school year with a new nurse, Mrs. Maney, and a new Spanish teacher, Mrs. Crown. Mrs. Butler, who taught Spanish last year, will still teach one seventh grade class. Math teachers, Ms. Kaye and Mr. Behrendt are exchanging jobs this year, with Ms. Kaye taking on seventh grade and Mr. Behrent teaching sixth grade.
As far as the school grounds go, there are no changes, but there were several new and exciting additions in educational equipment. 
These include new stationary bicycles and heart monitors for use in Physical Education classes, and the new Dell PC's with internet access and scanners for student use in the media center and computer lab. The library's card catalog system has also been upgraded to computers, much like the system at the Itasca Community Library.
Dr. Nickisch is expecting this year's eighth graders to be role models for the incoming sixth graders. He also commented that he expects more student participation in Student Council and hopes that students become more involved in school affairs. As for advice to the Peacock newcomers, he said, "Remember your locker combinations!" Dr. Nickisch also added that even though some people claimed that the three minute passing periods are too short, they are more than enough time to walk to your next class.
Although it is only the first day of school, just remember this: there are only 176 school days until summer vacation.
Peacock enters the information age
By Elizabeth F.
Mr. Charles Kapachinski is the new computer/technology guru in District #10. His proper title is Director of Technology. When he was younger, he enjoyed playing the computer games, Pong and Asteroids. Mr. Kapachinski went to college at DePaul University in Chicago. He majored in Business, which had absolutely nothing to do with computers. So, how did he get into computers? Mr. Kapachinski enjoyed playing around with computers and repairing them as a hobby since he was young. He is most interested in networking or connecting computers so that they can work together. At the moment, Mr. Kapachinski's only complaint is that he cannot buy all the equipment he wants at once.
Mr. Kapachinski has not yet formed a real opinion of Peacock, but so far he thinks the school is nice and the staff are friendly. He really enjoys the enthusiasm of the staff and is looking forward to working more closely with the staff. Mr. Kapachinski worked previously at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, as the Technology Coordinator for three years. According to Mr. Kapachinski "Peacock is at the same state as St. Viator was in when it first started. It had no network setup, services, or media system."
Peacock’s new computers are all Dells with 350mhz processors, 4 gig hard drives and with 64 megs of rams. All the computers have CD roms and zip drives, and they are all networked together. The school bought these computers during the summer to move forward with the district's technology plan. Peacock purchased IBM compatibles instead of Macintoshs because the district wide technology plan calls for the replacements of all Apple computers. According to Mr. Kapachinski, IBM compatibles are more common in the majority of student households, therefore, it will be easier for students to work with both their home and school computers. Mr. Kapachinski commented that he thought that both teachers and students would find their new internet access very exciting--the Peacock community will be able to surf the World Wide Web and send email!
When asked if boys or girls are better at computers, Mr. Kapachinski said that he thought both were equally good. He did note, however, that they used the computer differently; boys generally liked to play more games and girls seemed to use it more for work.
BACK TO SCHOOL
By Christa M.
At Target, while I walk the aisles,
I can’t help but notice a lack of smiles
On the faces of children, who are usually glad,
What could it be? Perhaps they ate something bad.
When suddenly it hits me, I’ve been such a fool!
As I see the banner that reads “Back to School,”
A feeling of nausea comes over me,
Oh say it’s not true! How could it be?
Why yesterday was just the 4th of June!
Why are we going back so soon?
Summer just arrived and I’m hardly tan,
Is that being kind to your fellow man?
I suppose it will be good to see all my friends,
And see all the teachers and staff again ? Not!
The first month is tough but I’ll get through,
Welcome back everyone, back to the zoo.
Middle school veteran offers advice to new recruits
By Brittany B.
Welcome Sixth Graders!! You are entering a new and wonderful stage in your life ! Too Cheesy? I'll tone it down some... This year everyone will get to know everyone else...because we all get split up, that's why. But don't feel bad, you'll get to make new friends. Unless you don't want to...then, you'll shut out the rest of the world, and become isolated, and lonely. Ha, Ha! No, but seriously folks, in sixth grade you get to experience so many more things without the nagging teachers, wait, no they're here too...
There are lots of extra curricular activities that don't have anything to do with your school subjects, except getting the teachers mad at you for getting out of class for practices. But no sweat, they don't stay mad for that long. There are plays you can perform with Mr. Travis, and volleyball, track, etc., with Mrs. Krisik and Mr. Anderson. All fun, and look good on your permanent record.
On the first day though, you always encounter the same thing. Rules. And they are not fun, with a capital F. (Hopefully you won't get grades that resemble the F in some way.) But usually by the second month, you realize it was all some big conspiracy against you, and the phone calls you made to the president of the United States had some how found their way into the principal's office, and handed out to the teacher's mailboxes. Okay, so I exaggerated just a tad, it's not all true. But no matter the rules, you have to follow them, and you get used to them soon any way.
There's so much you'll learn today, and in the next few years, that your brain will explode from the daily stress of "Did I even DO that page?!" as the bus rounds the corner and comes for your stop. You sixth graders will do fine this year. All seventh graders made it, don't let the first day get you down. There are a lot of great days in store for you all this year, and next, and the next, and the next four years...those are for high school, those can't all be bad, and your college years, if you go, I'm looking forward to those...Good Luck and Good-bye!!!!!
Vending machine dilemma solved - we hope
By Scott P.
One of our pleas has finally been answered. Well, not yet. According to Dr. Nickisch, the school has negotiated a new plan with DVS, the vending service that services, or, for that matter, doesn't service the machines in our cafeteria. The plan includes better service for the machines and machines that actually work. These new machines will be brought in either this school year or next. If DVS doesn't fulfill all the points of the agreement, Dr. Nickisch said that he will find a new vending machine company.
Of course, one problem still remains. Will we still be asked to pay the same high prices as last year? Dr. Nickisch (and the whole student body) hopes not. Hopefully, this year's Student Council will do something about it. Last year we had machines that were junk and, when they did work, we had to pay way too much for soup, chips, and all that good stuff. At least this year we have a shot at machines that work. Presumably, we will not have to pay 80 cents for a can of soup again.
By the way...
By Scott P.
Hollywood, California, is the film-making capital of the world. Most people think Hollywood was named after the large number of holly trees that grow there. In fact, the first film company that went out to California named the city. The head of the company named it after his home neighborhood in Chicago - the Hollywood neighborhood.
Holy Cow! The Cubs are winning!
By Brad C.
Holy Cow! The Cubs, after a few off-season moves, have really played well this year. They are on top in the wild card race with a .550 win percentage. Because the Cubs are nearly 8 games out of first in their division, they need to win the wild card spot to make the playoffs
Sammy Sosa has been having an MVP season.He is batting over .300 with 47 home runs, 118 RBI's, and 94 runs scored. Sosa's 111 strikeouts have not helped the Cubs too much, but the fact that he has only committed 4 errors has been a real defensive bonus for Chicago.
Pitcher Kerry Wood has of late not lived up to the potential of his spectacular performance early in the season, and some commentators suggest that his arm is dead for this year. Only a rookie, Wood, has had an outstanding year. He is 11-6 with a 3.57 ERA.Wood struck out 193 batters this year, leaving him behind only Kurt Shilling of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Randy Johnson, recently acquired by the Houston Astros. He has only allowed 11 home runs and 55 earned runs.
At this pace the Cubs will have an excellent chance of making the playoffs and if they make it there, they could go very far indeed.
Fun Facts
If the Cubs can make the playoffs it will be the first time since 1989, almost a decade ago.
This could be Sammy Sosa's best year yet.He is on pace to hit 61 HR's which would tie Roger Maris's home run record. He has more RBI's then anybody eles in the NL.
Are the Bulls disappearing?
By Andrew S.
The Bulls sixth championship was a huge success. It could also mean a huge loss! Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan may leave the NBA. When Scottie injured his back and had to undergo surgery he still wanted to play. Now that he is recovering, he may be unwanted for two reasons. First, his back surgery, and secondly, the thirty unpaid players who are likely to become free agents. One of those free agents might be the Bulls' first pick when the lock-out ends. This really will kill Pippen's chance of being picked by the Bulls.
Tim Floyd is the new coach. If Jackson wants to come back, however, Floyd said that he is willing to move to the front office. Jackson has coached the Bulls to six championships, no small achievement. Michael Jordan can also come back as a player coach, play and coach at the same time. This is legal in the NBA. Neither Jackson or Jordon, however, have shown any interest and both have been pretty firm about there decision to quit.
Michael Jordan, considered the greatest player ever, might have retired after 10 seasons, 6 championships, and a career as a 7 time all-star and rookie of the year. Maybe Jordan is retiring, maybe he is not. John Stockton of the Utah Jazz does not think that Jordan or Jackson will retire. I agree with Stockton, what about you?