Peacock wins Blue Ribbon!
By Liz F.,
News Editor

Way back in March, Mrs. Bette Lewis, the Blue Ribbon Site Visitor, came to our school to observe the activities and curriculum of Peacock Middle School, and confirm that what was included in Peacock's thirty-page application to the Department of Education was true. Mrs. Lewis's visit was the last stage in the long process, to have Peacock added to the elite list of public schools throughout the country that are recognized for their excellence in education.
Last week, Peacock principal Dr. Nickisch finally received the good news: Peacock was awarded the Blue Ribbon. Peacock is now considered a model to other middle schools. In recognition of the school's achievement, three representatives will go to Washington D.C. in the fall to meet the President or Vice President to receive the award.
According to Dr. Nickisch, Peacock was awarded the Blue Ribbon because of our outstanding nomination essay. A few good points that the department commented on were students' achievement and all the diverse kinds of learners, such as special education students, who attend Peacock. Dr. Nickisch said that he was extremely proud of the students, staff, and the entire community of Itasca.
When interviewed in March, the Blue Ribbon Site Visitor, Mrs. Lewis commented that she thought Peacock was "a wonderful school, with wonderful students, who have a lot of pride in the school. They are very interested in learning as much as they can."
Mrs. Lewis also noted that Peacock has outstanding teachers and an excellent administration. The teachers, she explained, were very well prepared for the subjects they taught. In other schools, many teachers have to switch back and forth between subjects because there is a shortage of teachers.
Additionally, Mrs. Lewis was impressed with the fact that teachers were available both before and after school to help students. She noted that the parents were as supportive of their children as the teachers were of their students.
Finally, Mrs. Lewis commented that she thought Peacock gave students the opportunity to participate in whatever activity they chose. The more opportunities students have earlier in life, she said, the better off they were later in life.

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Talent show was a popular success
By Ashley S.,
Op-Ed Editor

The most obvious fact about the Peacock talent show, held on Thursday, May 25, was the diversity of the acts. Acts ranged from Irish step dancing to rock bands to *Nsync dance ensembles.
There were also three very polished piano performances by Jason Y., Abby Z. and Carl L.
Matt C's surreal quitar solo, which featured dancers in the background, received a lot of attention. One audience member described it as "scary, but pretty cool."
The talent show included seven dance acts, including a rendition of the *Nsync number "Bye, Bye, Bye," by sixth graders Daniela F., Ashley H., Christa C., Despina P., Alyson K. and Kimberly C.
Eighth grader Dave S. took the prize for best solo act for his original drum solo, "Turpentine." Seventh grader Jason Y. was the runner up.
Eighth grader Brittany B. handled the duties of master of ceremonies, with a little comic help from Christa M. and Patrycja M. As stage manager, Nikki Aljilji kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
The show was generally considered a success. There was an audience of approximately two hundred and fifty students and parents.

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Stock market success streak continues
By Liz F.,
News Editor

The Stock Market Game was started years ago by a professor at DePaul University. 1985 was the first year Peacock seventh graders, under the direction of their social studies teacher, Mr. Peel, won the game. Since then, Mr. Peel's students have consistently excelled at the game, and made a great deal of "mythical money" in the market.
Competing against both middle schools and high schools, Mr. Peel's students won second, third, and fourth in our region this year. They also won third place in the state competition which included a field of 3,700 teams! Matt G., Stevie H. and Krissy M. made up the Peacock team that placed second in the region and third in the state.
The stock trading teams, which are usually made up of three students, receive $100,000 of mythical money over a period of ten weeks to invest in whatever they wish on the New York, American and NASDAQ stock exchange.
The students are charged interest if they buy on margin, which is borrowing money to buy stock. Every time they wish to buy or sell a stock, they are charged a two-percent commission.

"The greatest part is to see them open to the business section instead of the comics"

The purpose of the game is to help students learn about economics and to also help enhance what they learn about math, reading, science and even research skills.
Tracy A., Holly B., and Lauren G. took third place in the region. They ended up with a portfolio worth $145,665 and an annualized return of 237%. Michele B. and Agnes M. placed just behind their classmates and fourth in the region, with a portfolio worth $142,010 and an annualized return of 218%.
When asked about some of the secrets behind sound investing, Mr. Peel explained that you have to be a long-term investor. When investors think short-term and don't diversify, it can become a game of gambling. The people who are in for the long run diversify, are patient and don't let greed and fear get the money.
Peacock winners, Matt and Stevie, explained that their strategy was to wait a long time to find the stock they liked and then to stay with it.
Their teammate, Krissy, commented that she thought it was "interesting" to take so many risks. Matt said that it was exciting to follow how your stock went up or down from day to day. Krissy added that "this was a great experience for me to know what it was really like to play the stock market. Everyone should have the chance to play."
Over the past sixteen years Mr. Peel's students had won first, second or third fifteen times! Peacock has less than one percent of the teams. Statistics therefore would predict that Peacock teams should win only once in every 100 years!
Mr. Peel said that he loves seeing the students come in the morning and pick-up a newspaper. "The greatest part is to see them open to the business section instead of the comics," he explained.

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Computer club sparks student creativity
By Melissa M.

Mrs. Bernahl is the staff director of the Peacock Computer Club. Mrs. Bernahl said that most of the kids come before school around 7:10 A.M., that is when the early bus arrives. Every morning, anywhere from one to eight students attend.
In the media center, students use really cool programs, such as Painter, for drawing, Bryce 3D, for making landscapes, and Flash Director, for creating animation.
Some of the students are starting to learn a program, Avid Cinema, for editing cinema.
For the computer club you are allotted your own disks and may take home your projects, but only when the staff has approved it.
Next year, Mrs. Bernahl is planning to try a new program, Video Broadcast System, which will allow students to run a T.V. studio.
Eighth grader Chris Ingebrigtsen and seventh grader Laura G., members of the club, both enjoy working with Painter, Avid, PowerPoint and using the internet. Chris commented that he thought surfing the internet was the most fun. On the other hand, Laura said that she most liked creating presentations in PowerPoint.
Mrs. Bernahl commented that there was plenty of room for new members, and that she would enjoy seeing more students in the morning next year.

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