Swinging in the Breeze
By Holly B.

Peacock eighth grader, Holly B. earned a Gold Key Award for her photography entry "Swinging In the Breeze" (pictured above). The contest was sponsored by West Suburban Chicago Consortium of Schools.

Her photograph was then sent to New York to compete nationally.

A Silver Key Award was earned by eighth grader Kathryn K. for her photography entry, "Mirrored Serenity," while eighth grader Sarah Z. received an Honorable Mention for her printmaking entry, "Chinese Multiplicity."

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Peacock places third at Lake Park math competition!
Staff

On Wednesday, May 9, Peacock's math team placed third of seven schools at the annual Lake Park High School Math Contest. Based on the top six individual scores, Peacock received second and third place plaques in the problem solving and arithmetic categories, respectively.

The Peacock math team members were: eighth graders Michele B., Alyssa J., Jason L., Chris M. John V.; seventh graders Sunny B. Frances M., Mike R., Abby Z.; and sixth grader Matt V.

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Video crew had fun filming Birdie
New activities are planned for next year
By Missy W.

This year we had the pleasure of having a video crew and it was great. I was part of the video crew for a band concert, and I helped tape and it was fun.

The video crew meets on Mondays and Fridays before school. According to Mrs. Bernahl, the media center director and crew advisor, there are only about twenty-eight students on the crew. She would like more students to join.

Anyone can join. The crew tapes such school events as basketball and volleyball games, all kinds of band concerts, and performances such as Bye, Bye Birdie.

Students join to get the opportunity to work together, to learn the equipment and technology and also to have fun.

In the future, Mrs. Bernahl and other faculty plan to tape and broadcast school news, contests, community events and special speakers.

Mrs. Bernahl also explained that the recording equipment is to help students hear what they sound like, to see how they communicate and to tape their presentations.

Sixth grade crew members, Agnes Z., Jamie L. and Briana L. said that video crew was fun, and they enjoyed working with Mrs. Bernahl. The girls helped tape the recent performances of Bye, Bye Birdie.

Briana added, "You should join it will show you the great time I had being a camera person and helping out the rest of the team."

Briana's classmate, Cesar P., also said that he enjoyed taping Birdie.

Sixth graders Ashley D. and Ashley C. explained that they were on video crew because they missed signing up to perform in Bye, Bye Birdie. Plus, they both liked taping their favorite scenes.

Ashley D. recommended video crew to someone who didn't want to be in the play, but liked to watch it.

Ashley Cross says that she liked taping and being on the crew, and that taping was a lot easier than running the tech panel.

Some other students who helped tape Bye, Bye Birdie were Mike B., Jason Y., Adrianna C., Matt Geese, Paul P., and Aaron Z.

If you like taping, having fun and working hard, you should sign up for the video crew.

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What's hot? What's not? Summer fashions
By Alyson D.

Everyone wants to look good for the summer, right? Sure everyone has his or her own look, but everyone wants to be fashionable

When asked what was in style this summer, seventh grader, Liz I. said, "Well for the girls, I think that flared capris are so in. I think that they are really cute."

"Also, I think halter tops will be the fashion. They come in so many wacky designs."

Liz's classmate, Christa C. also commented on what she thought was fashionable. "Lots of short shorts for the girls, obviously," she said. "Halters, spaghetti straps, and colorful flip-flops. Also sunglasses, definitely."

And of course, the boys have fashion preferences too. According to seventh grader, Ian M., Diego Tee's (sleeveless) and cargo shorts, plus anything with Hawaiian designs are really cool.

Ian also added, "I think that everyone should get highlights for the summer because I have them."

John S., seventh grade, agreed with Ian's suggestions and also recommend surf shorts and draw string shorts.

If you need fashion advice for the summer, I recommend these tips. Remember, dress to impress!

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Third Harry Potter is exciting
By Elysia B.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999) by J.K. Rowling is the kind of book that you can't put down because it leaves you in suspense of what's going to happen next. At some points, it will even make you cry.

The story is about a boy named Harry Potter who is in his third year of witch school. Harry and his friends get in all sorts of trouble with the teachers and students.

There is a murderer on the loose who is trying to get Harry. To find out what they do in all of their exciting adventures, read this book.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has a medium reading level because some things happen so fast that you don't understand it right away and there are some difficult words.

Overall, I highly recommend it.

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Number the Stars
Realistic and interesting
By Sammie D.

Number the Stars (1989) by Lois Lowery is a realistic fictional story of what took place during World War II. It shows how everything from labor camps to Nazi troops had a great impact on the lives of many people living at that time.

This tale of the friendship between two girls from different cultures and religions tells how they faced the struggle between their friendship and the war.

Although this is a fictional story, it really shows what might have happened to a large number of families at that time.

I enjoyed this story because it was both pretty short and really interesting.

Number the Stars is a good book for people who like reading about history and learning about what really happened during World War II.

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Anne Frank, Life in Hiding
A true story of violence and persecution
By Crystal R.

Anne Frank, A Life In Hiding (1988) by Johanna Hurwitz is a wonderful historical book about interesting people. These include Anne, her family, and Otto Frank.

The setting of the book is Amsterdam, Holland.

The theme of the book concerns the violence and persecuting of innocent people that occurred when Germany took over Holland and started to arrest Jews just because they were Jews.

The Nazis made-up laws for Jews, such as they couldn't be outside after eight o'clock at night. They could only have so much butter and sugar. Christians weren't allowed to shop in Jewish stores.

After that, the Nazis loaded Jews on to waste-infested trains and sent them to concentration camps where they labored for the Nazis.

The story started off on Anne's birthday. She got a diary and started to write in it daily.

Then her family realized that Nazis were coming into town. So they put on as many articles of clothing as possible. They packed a small bag of important things to take with them, so no one would be suspicious.

Anne's uncle Otto found them and another family, the Van Daans, a place to hide until the war was over.

Then one day everybody got caught. They were sent to concentration camps. Anne and her sister Margot were sent to several concentration camps. Anne and Margot died at the last concentration camp they were sent to.

I really liked the book even though I couldn't relate to Anne and her family being held captive and having to hide from the Nazis. I recommend this book to sixth graders on up to adults.

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Itasca Park District dance recital rocked
A review
By Lara P.

The lights dimmed and silence filled the air as the Itasca Park District Dance recital began on May 5, 2001.

The Itasca Park District hired a dance company, Dance-Plus Productions, to provide instructors and to help run the program. Many of the students in the recital attend Peacock Middle School.

Joan Welpoltt was the manager of the company and the master of ceremonies. She announced the numbers and choreographed the finale. The instructors were Tanji Harper, and Lisa Pendzimaz.

The numbers were outstanding. There were a variety of dance styles performed. These included jazz, hip hop, ballet, tap, and musical theater.

Christina Agulera's "Come On Over" was the opening song, danced to by the advanced jazz class.

Two numbers from Annie, "It's a Hard Knock Life," and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," were performed by the musical theater class. This number included many props and lines.

One of the hip hop classes performed "Bug a Boo," by Destiny's Child.

The finale was the last of fifteen dances. Save the best for last definitely applied in this case. The whole recital was fantastic.

For more information about the Itasca Park District's dance program call 773-2257.

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