It takes a school
Peacock students raise money to help classmate
By Brittany B., Entertainment Editor

Peacock Middle School's students and staff, and the citizens of Itasca have come together to help a member of their community when she really needs it.
Just about a month or two ago, Gina M., a seventh grader at our school and talented Charger cartoonist, fell ill, with a devastating disease, Systemic Lupus Erythmatosis, also known as "Lupus." This disease requires a lot of costly treatment to help patients manage.
To help Gina and her family pay for her treatment, Peacock Middle has set up an account at the Itasca Bank & Trust, to collect donations and proceeds from school sponsored activities.
So far, the proceeds from 2 dances have been donated to Gina's fund. In addition, the sixth graders held a bake sale on February 28, to raise money for the fund.
Mr. Scalleta's eighth grade advisor class recently held a raffle, with the proceeds also going to help Gina.
Furthermore, there are plans to charge a low fee of $2 for admission to the annual spring musical, Annie, all of which will be donated to the fund.
And, while we're on the subject of talent, Mr. Travis' advisor class has decided to organize a talent show for May 25, to raise money. Student Council is sponsoring the talent show.
Gina's classmates and friends in the Itasca community intend to do their best to help her and her family as they manage through this difficult time.

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

Peacock seventh grader is an Irish dancing phenomenon
By Krissy M.

At age twelve, Aubrie H.is an Irish dancing phenomenon. Ever since she saw a television program about Irish dancing, she knew she wanted to learn the native dance of Ireland.
Aubrie participates in competitions twice a year. "Right before you're ready to go on, you get a whole bunch of butterflies in your stomach," she said, discussing her pre-competition jitters. Aubrie has won many different medals for her performances, including first through fourth place medals.
She has attended dance classes every Friday since she was nine. Aubrie explained her practice routine: "When I go to practices, I have to run through the steps three times each, then I usually go to get a drink of water."
Aubrie said that in order to be an Irish dancer, you have to be able to commit yourself completely during rehearsals in order to learn the steps properly.

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

What's in a name?
By Christa M.,
Features Editor

March comes in like lion and out like a lamb,
Springtime blossoms appear again,
Other things may appear too,
They're small and green, can you guess who?
They're called leprechauns, you see,
Or is it really Fred or Lee?
Or another name that is equally lame,
But as Shakespeare said, "What's in a name?"
Which brings me back to these men of green,
Do they have pots of gold and have they ever been seen?
Silly me, I thought green men were from Mars,
I sometimes wonder if they fly with the stars.
Alas, March is just a month that will be over soon,
Which is followed by April, May, then June.
Which brings me to another topic _ the end of school,
I'll save that for another poem, until then, adieu.

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

Students meet pop star and have a brush with fame
By Christa M.,
Features Editor

You can find photos of their visit here and here.

If you have surfed to the Rolling Stone website recently, you would have learned that pop sensation Christina Aguilera made an appearance at the Target store in Schaumburg, IL, on January 15, 2000.
If you looked closely enough at the photograph on the website, however, you would have seen some people even more exciting-- Peacock eighth graders, Melissa and Katherine O.
Melissa, Katherine and their classmate Kristin K. had gone to the Schaumburg Target that Saturday in January to meet Aguilera. They had made an enormous poster that said, "We heart (love) you. Then we had lots of pictures all around it," Kristen explained.
It was their poster that caught Aguilera's eye. As the singer autographed their poster, a photographer snapped the girls' picture with the star. It is this picture that is currently displayed on the Rolling Stone website.
The poster is currently in Kristin's house "but we trade on and off" said Katherine. "People were climbing the isles and throwing socks and things. It was scary," Kristin added, remembering that day.
According to the girls, they had heard that Christina Aguilera was visiting Schaumburg on the B96 radio station and then made their plans. They arrived that Saturday with their poster at 10:00 a.m., but they did not meet Aguilera until 3:00 p.m., five hours later. But, all three girls agreed, it was all worth it!

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

Invisible for a Day
By Allie G.

I woke up this morning and much to my surprise,
I was, as I considered no more than a fly.
I put on my clothes but found out just then,
That I was thinner than a pen.
My body was very much made of air,
And I didn't think that was very fair.
I was invisible yes I was,
And I didn't know why nor because.
I went to school that very day,
I could hear everyone say,
Things about homework, people and school,
And also what they thought was cool.
I went to my first class,
I didn't have a blast.
My classes went downhill from there,
And I was the only one that cared.
In sewing class no one knew,
Who was putting the thread through.
At lunch all the kids stopped to stare,
While my sandwich was floating in midair.
At the end of the seven hours,
I wondered what I could do with my powers.
I snuck into my sister's room,
And closed the door with a big BOOM!
She jumped up in obvious great fright,
Though she saw no one in sight.
I did this trick again and again,
'Till over came her best friend Jen.
I then wandered to the door that said,
Stay Out! Don't even touch my bed.
I went into the room,
And realized why I called my brother a loon.
I ran out of there real quick,
It was enough to make a person sick.
It was 5:30 time for dinner,
Mother had cooked up a real winner.
They took turns telling of their day,
And were shocked when they heard me say.
"I've had enough of not being seen."
" Would someone please pass the beans?"
Then the next morning when I awoke and
looked in the mirror,
I was overjoyed when I appeared!

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.