Students have injured classmate in their thoughts
By Liz F.,
News Editor

On Tuesday, March 16, Sean N., a Peacock seventh grader was hit by a car in front of the school. Sean was flown from St. Peters grounds to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. Sean's peers on Wednesday made cards for him in advisor and some students also made cards in Spanish class.
Here are some comments from Sean's peers. Mike D. said that he felt really sad because he couldn't do more to help Sean. Mike thought the counselors which the school provided were a good idea because talking to them made him feel better. Ryan C., also one of Sean's close friends, felt shocked by all that was going on.
Brianna C. said she felt really bad at first. She just wanted to be alone in her room that night and not talk to anyone. The next day she felt the same way. Brianna also added that she made a lot of cards.
Vanessa A., Julie M., and Nikki A. commented that it was really shocking to hear of Sean's accident and they were surprised that it was Sean of all people. Like Mike D., they thought it was a good idea to have the counselors because it made the people who went to see them feel better.
Everyone hopes that Sean gets much better soon and returns to school because he is missed.

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Two eighth graders tie for Golden Test Tube
By Izabela B.

In this year's science fair there were two winners, both in eighth grade. They were Mike M. and Jeff R. When asked about what they thought when they heard they won, both Jeff and Mike said "I was surprised." Jeff was glad that both he and Mike won the Golden Test Tube.
For his experiment, Mike tested both eighth grade boys and girls. He gave the students fifteen seconds to look at a sheet of eight pictures. On the sheet, four of the pictures were of things typically related related to boys, and the other four of things typically related to girls. Mike wanted to see if there was a gender difference in short-term memory. Mike said that he picked this project because he wanted to find out if boys or girls had better short-term memory. He also commented that he liked working with his peers. Mike has been competing in the science fair for nine years, starting when he was in kindergarten. This is the first time he won.
Jeff did a comparison of soda brands to see if people could taste the difference. He choose this project because of the influence brand names have in everyday life. Jeff has competed in the science fair for seven years, ever since second grade. He also won the golden test-tube last year.

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Students perform in solo and ensemble festival
By Jason V.

On Saturday, February 6, a solo and ensemble festival was held in the Peacock Middle School. The solo and ensemble festival was a contest in which all the band members, grades six through eight, played their pick of either solo or ensemble pieces in front of a judge. According to Peacock's band director, Mr. Loest, the solo and ensemble festival is held because it's important for musicians to have a variety of playing experiences and well-prepared solos of different music.
There were three judges at the festival, chosen by Mr. Loest. The judges were band directors from nearby schools, and they are chosen based on their experience. Students placed either in the first, second or third divisions. Students who finished in the first division received a blue ribbon, and in the second division, they received a red ribbon.
Mr. Loest explained that he helped his students prepare by helping them practice their rhythms and explaining the musical terms found in the music. Mr. Loest commented that he was very pleased with the preparation and performance of all the Peacock band members. All of the band members interviewed agreed that they had learned a lot from practicing very hard with Mr. Loest.
Peacock band members generally seemed to enjoy their experience in the contest. Sixth grade trumpet player, Izabela B., said that she practiced hard for the festival. Her solo was Beau Brummel. She thought that her judge was nice. She placed in the first division. Seventh grader Erik M., also a trumpet player, commented that he had not felt nervous playing in front of his judge, whom he thought was nice and fair. Erik placed in the second division. Eighth grade trombone players, Ryan D. and John S. agreed with Erik. Ryan placed in the first division and John in the second.
In the woodwind section, sixth grade clarinet player, Kristy H. also said that she was not nervous, and that she thought her judge was agreeable. She received a first division medal for her solo. Fellow clarinetist, seventh grader Brianna C. admitted that she was a little nervous when she started to play. She thought that her judge was weird, but fair. She came in first division along with Kristy.
In the percussion section, sixth grader Jason Y. performed in a drum ensemble along with fellow sixth grader Jackie B., and seventh graders Rory B. and Danny S. Jason agreed with most of the students interviewed from other sections, he felt quite calm while performing and believed that his judge was both nice and fair. Sixth grader Anna B. plays the bells. Her solo at the festival was the "Nutcracker Melodies." She thought playing in front of the judge was a piece of cake. She came in first the division.

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Play preparations proceed apace
By Liz F.

Mrs. Eisentraut is the professional choreographer that the Mr. Travis hired to choreograph the Hot Box Girls and Crapshooters scenes in Peacock's production of Guys and Dolls. Before she started the student practices, Mrs. Eisentraut did a few things in preparation. First, she got the music and then she got together with a few individuals to see what talent the group had. After that, she put together the dance steps.
Mrs. Eisentraut said that she wanted to create a dance that communicated the illusion that the dancers were actually playing a game of craps and the Hot Box Girls looked like show girls. She also commented that she found directing both rewarding and a lot of fun. According to Mrs. Eisentraut, the Peacock kids were not only very nice but also talented singers and dancers.
Mrs. Knudsen, the advisor for the costume crew, prepared by getting together with Mr. Travis to determine what was needed. Next, she decided what the students would be able to make and then she purchased the necessary supplies. The crew is not making as much as in the past years because a lot of the costumes can be purchased at shops, but they are making part of the costumes for the Hot Box Girls. They are creating wrist bands and chokers made out of sequined flowers. They are also making a backdrop curtain.
When Mrs. Knudsen was asked if she enjoyed directing the crew, she replied "yes, it is a lot of fun working with this group of students." She also commented that the students were working well together and that they had excellent work habits. Mrs. Knudsen explained that she enjoyed being a part of the school's creativity. By helping out with the plays, she believed that she was making a contribution to the school.
Mr. Cousineau is the director for the construction crew and later on when it comes closer to the show dates in April, he will direct the stage, lights, and sound crews. Mr. Cousineau, like the other teachers, prepares in advance for crew meetings. He first meets in December with Mr. Travis and they talk about what kinds of sets and other materials are needed. They also pick the crews. According to Mr. Cousineau, "thirty-six kids signed up for the construction crew and only seven or eight make it." The crew is building a 6ft diameter sewer pipe and a number of signs for the Broadway scenes. Mr. Cousineau commented that he enjoyed directing the crew, and said that the kids were great.
Mr. Travis is the paint and choreography crew's advisor. He began by spending many hours at the library researching the 1930's clothing, building, and dance.styles. The choreography crew creates moves for the dances that aren't designed by Mrs. Eisentraut. The paint crew is painting flats and buildings that are going to be on stage.
Like the other advisors, Mr. Travis enjoys working with the crews. He said, "it's fun. I like the variety. It's different from class work." Mr. Travis also said that he was really looking forward to the show, even though he it was a lot of work. He commented that Guys and Dolls looks as though it will be the best Peacock show ever because of the hard work of the cast, crews, and choreographer.
Several of the crew members commented on their part in the show preparation. Seventh grader Josh P., a member of the Construction and Stage crews, said that he likes being a part of those crews "because without the crews the play would not go on." Josh said he can't wait for the play. Dan S., also a seventh grade member of the Construction Crew, said that it was fun and that he enjoyed hanging out with his friends.
Seventh grader, Erik M. is on the sound crew which controls the speakers and microphones. He said that he was looking forward to the play and that he hoped it would run smoothly without any major problems. Several of the Paint Crew participants commented that they thought it was fun because it's fun and you get to hang out with friends that you don't get to see that often during school.

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All-School Chess Tournament
Mid-May
Details to follow soon!
See Mr. Behrendt (Rm 104)

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Talent Show
Sponsored by the Student Council
Mid-May
Details to follow soon!

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By the way…

The old Itasca depot, which now serves as the Itasca Historical Society's museum, was Itasca's train station for more than one hundred years (1872-1970's).

By Scott P.

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Peacock students win awards at national art contest
By Kelly D.

Every year, students' artwork from Peacock is entered into a major, national art competition, the Scholastic Art Contest. It is the largest student art competition of its kind in the world. Students' pieces are judged on their quality, originality, and craftsmanship. The major categories are painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking, sculpture, photography, computer graphics, video, film, and animation. The students are judged by prominent artists from the area universities and high schools.
This year, Peacock had three winners, all eight graders. Christina S. won a silver medal for a vivid abstract watercolor. Rosa S. received honorable mention for a print of a blue and orange poison-arrow frog in a rainforest background. Julie D. received honorable mention for a photograph of her two nieces sitting on a hammock.
When asked if they thought their artworks were award winning pieces when they first created them, Julie and Christina said no. Rosa said she was unsure because she thought all of her classmates had also produced exceptional pieces. They all agreed, however, that they were very proud of their work.

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Illinois... Get in the know Songwriting Contest

Heard anything good on the radio lately? In just a few months, the next song you hear could be your own! By participating in the Illinois... Get in the know Songwriting Contest, you can win the chance to professionally record your song about substance abuse. And that's not all: your song will be sent to radio stations statewide. Music can be a very powerful was to send strong messages. If you have an opinion about the dangers of substance abuse, here is your chance to share it! Entries must be recorded by Wednesday, March 31. See Mr. Travis for details.

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