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| News May/June 2003, Volume 6, No. 6 |
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By Amy E.
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| Student Council president elect Kevin H. and vice-president elect Evin S. gave their candidate speech before the incoming sixth grade class on May 14. | |
Our new president elect is Kevin H. and vice-president elect is Evin S. The new secretary is Alex D. and the treasurer is Nick P.
Kevin's primary goals are to purchase more microwaves, have longer dances, and allow more time in between classes.
Evin intends to learn from the student body what they think should be done.
They both said that they would try to make school a more enjoyable place to learn.
Kevin offered some tips for next year's candidates including: try your hardest to advertise, let everyone know your ideas, and have some goals that are popular with both the students and the teachers.
Some of the other candidates who ran in this election were Frank C. and David Z., Sammy M. and Alissa D., Nicole M. and Emily G.
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Future of the Stock Market Game in jeopardy
By Pam R.
The Stock Market Game is a program designed to teach kids about the economy and investing. It is sponsored by the Securities Industries Association for Economic Education, the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Secretary of State and Northern Illinois University.
This game improves students' math, reading, and research skills. Students buy, sell, and trade stocks.
They learn the key concepts of the economy, which probably explains why Peacock Middle School has beaten out the other schools eighteen times in nineteen years.
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| Seventh graders Zack F. and Jimmy B. won first place in the region with a $31, 494 profit. | |
Julia N., Julie P., and Heather N. came in second.
The Stock Market Game also teaches persistence and variability, because students are put in groups that range anywhere from three to five people, and are given $100,000 to buy stocks.
Students learn that diversification and persistence are crucial. Diversification is important because it is safer not to put all your eggs in one basket. Persistence is key because you never know when a stock is going to rise or fall.
Mr. Peel does not know if the Stock Market will be played next year because of a lack of funding from the state of Illinois. So all concerned students and parents should write letters to their legislators to try to get the game played next year.
Mr. Peel's advice for investors is to follow the P.E.E.L principle. Pennies a day, Ease in, Ease out, Learn all you can about the historical market.
Feel free to contact Mr. Peel if you have any questions about the future of Stock Market Game.
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Students study particle physics at Fermi Lab
By Kaitlyn L.
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| Fermi Lab | |
After riding on a bus for quite some time, the class was separated into groups. One group went into the labs, while the other group went into an activity center.
In the activity center, they learned things in a more "hands-on" setting. Many students thought that this part of the trip was more exciting and fun than the other part.
One popular activity used a sort of pool table to demonstrate how particles move and bounce off each other.
One of the most fun activities was one where you would "freeze a moment in time." In this small room you were able to freeze your shadow like a picture.
After the activity center, the eighth graders had lunch outside. Many students thought that was fun too, because everyone got to run around a little.
The students also toured the labs and business center where everyone works. They learned about the smallest particles in matter called quarks, different machines used to combine different particles, and many more things that went straight over some students' heads.
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Then they slammed it down on the desk, and the lettuce shattered into many small pieces, just like glass. |
They also showed the students what nitrogen could do to different objects such as lettuce. They placed the piece of lettuce in the nitrogen for almost a minute and then took it out. Then they slammed it down on the desk, and the lettuce shattered into many small pieces, just like glass.
Soon after the scientists answered all of their questions, the eight graders left to return to school. Many felt that the trip to Fermi Lab was fun and fascinating.
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Wesley G. Usher Award recipients
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| The 2003 recipients of the Wesley G. Usher Award, Kaitlyn Linsner and David Keyworth, will speak at graduation on June 4, 2003. | |
Annual arts show showcased student talent
By Joanna M., Finishing editor
You may have noticed that a few weeks ago some pieces of art started to pop up in the hallways. At first it seemed like no big deal, then the next thing you knew, wherever you went, you were surrounded by art. What was going on?
Well, if you paid any attention to the morning and afternoon announcements or looked at some of the flyers posted up you may have noticed that something was coming. That's right, the Fine and Applied Arts Festival.
The event was held at school on Thursday, April 24, from 6-8 p.m. Parents, teachers, students, and anyone else who would have liked to look at the types of art the students did, were welcome to come.
The pieces of art that hung up included photos, drawings, clay ceramics, and weavings. Each piece of art was hand made by a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd quarter 6th, 7th, or 8th grader.
But, art wasn't the only thing that the guests could enjoy. Down in Mrs. Mann's room, cheese cake, cookies, lemon bars, and drinks were being served, which were made by the 4th quarter students. Also, in the gym there was a jazz band performance followed by a chorus concert. All these things were available to the parents, teachers, and students that attended.
Although the parents came to look at the art made by the Peacock students, they also came for another reason. To pick their favorite piece of art for this year.
With over 300 pieces of art hung up around the school, and each one just as well done as the next, the decision was not an easy one.
Finally, at the end of the night the winners were announced. Each grade had three winners and they are as follows: 6th grade- 1st: Brianne F. 2nd:Morgan V. 3rd:Rachel R. ; 7th- 1st: Acaisha B. 2nd:Jessica L. 3rd:Amy E.; 8th- 1st:Mark G. 2nd:Nicole D. 3rd:Katie P..
From concerts to watch to cheesecake to eat, the Fine and Applied Arts Festival was something that needed to be visited this year.
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