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| News October 2003, Volume 7, No. 1 |
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By Jessica L.
Op-Ed Editor
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| Student council president and vice-president, eighth graders Kevin H. and Evin S., listen as Dr. Nickisch addresses a Student Council meeting. | |
First of all, they would like to see the dances last longer. They would also like to have themed dances like "Hawaiian Night" or "60's Night."
In addition to selling pizza, pop and glow-sticks, they hope to add more raffles.
Another of their goals is to have more spirit days. At the first student council meeting of the year, which took place on Wednesday, September 17, 2003, they discussed what kind of spirit days we should have.
The students came up with several very creative ideas. Among those ideas were twin day, where every one picks a partner and dresses identically, and crazy hat day, where everyone wears their favorite or craziest hat.
Another idea was silent day where nobody would be allowed to talk, but instead they would have to communicate by writing notes.
Kevin and Evin also hope to have more pep rallies to support Peacock's many sports teams. They hope this year's pep rallies will last longer and have more interaction with the audience.
Finally, Kevin and Evin would like to thank all of the voters for electing them and they hope they can fulfill all of our wants and needs through the duration of the year.
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Peacock vandalized twice over summer
By Amy E.
News Editor
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| Peacock was spray painted, or “tagged,” in a vandalism incident this past summer. | |
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There was over $5,000 worth of damage done just to Peacock. |
There were two major tagging incidents in Itasca, both involving Peacock Middle School, one in June and the other in August.
Other places vandalized included Spring Brook Nature Center, the Itasca Library, the railroad junction box on Catalpa St., the 7-11, multiple village parking signs, Tree Guys Pizza parking garage, the School District building, and the swan house in Usher Park.
There was over $5,000 worth of damage done just to Peacock.
So far the police have gotten some leads and charged four juveniles with criminal damage to town property in relation with the gang graffiti. Because they are juveniles, their names cannot be revealed to the public.
Two of those charged are residents of Itasca, and two live in Wood Dale. There is an ongoing investigation relating to the graffiti at Peacock. No arrests have been made yet. The leads came from comments overheard by students at the Itasca pool. The offenders may be former Peacock students.
The penalties for the tagging incidents could result in the offenders having to pay back the victims for the cost of the clean up of the graffiti.
If you have any information on this or any other acts of criminal damage to property of the village, please call the DuPage County Crimestoppers at 1-800-424-9119. There is a reward of up to $1,000 for any useful information.
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Principal has high expectations
By Pamela R.
Almost everyone was busy over the summer, and Peacock principal Dr. Nickisch was no exception. He was busy meeting with building contractors and getting ready for the incoming school year by making schedules and handbooks.
When interviewed recently, Dr. Nickisch discussed some changes at Peacock and offered the students some advice.
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Dr. Nickisch advised new students to be sure to keep their backpacks light. |
The eighth graders also have many field trips to look forward to, in which they will meet some of the most intelligent scientists in the world and also get a more in-depth look at World War Two and the Holocaust.
Dr. Nickisch, at the request of a group of students, is thinking about hosting another talent show.
Students are expected to treat the Peacock as if it was their "home away from home," meaning that they are expected to respect others' property and pick up after themselves.
Dr. Nickisch advised new students to be sure to keep their backpacks light. They should get to know their schedules and which books they need for which classes.
His advice to the eighth graders was to keep in mind that they were the role models of the school and to remember the impact their behavior has on the other grade levels.
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Dr. Nickisch, at the request of a group of students, is thinking about hosting another talent show. |
According to Dr. Nickisch, "That group last year was an outstanding group, who had among them some kids who were less than outstanding, who caused some problems for me, the teachers, and probably for the building, too."
On a last note, Dr. Nickisch would like to have the eighth graders know that "All indicators point to an outstanding year for this group of eighth grade students, and I'm excited about the year. I think you guys are going to be a tremendous group."
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One million pop tabs collected for charity
By Amy E.
Six years ago Washington Primary School (now Benson Primary) started to collect pop can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House Charities to help sick children and their families. The goal was to collect one million pop tabs, and on Tuesday, September 30, 2003, they collected their one millionth tab.
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This year’s eighth grade class was the very first class to participate in this fund-raising effort. |
Second grade teacher, Ms. Mitchell, and a former second grade teacher, and now the librarian at Benson, Mrs. Reuter, started the collection and now invite you to join them and the second graders to help package the tabs. This will happen October 29, 2003 after school, and there will be a pizza party afterwards. There will be a sign up sheet posted on Mr. Travis's door. She hopes to see you there.
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It's that time of the year again
Peacock students visit Springfield
By Joanna M.
Features Editor
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| The Old Capital building was just one stop on the eighth grade field trip to Springfield, Illinois on Friday, September 5, 2003. | |
"It was really bad. I was like sleep walking the whole time," stated eighth grader Julie P. Pam R. took a different view of the early start. "It was good to have a head start, and afterwards I couldn't believe I was up all day. It gives you a lot of energy."
Many eighth graders look forward to the annual field trip as a great way to get out of school. According to social studies teacher Ms. Heppler, the educational point of the trip is to show the eighth graders the sites of the state capital, so that they will seem more real and interesting when the students study about them in class.
With only one stop during the four-hour trip, and with cornfields all around, Peacock students couldn't wait to see the sites.
Their first stop was New Salem, an 1820s village. Walking trough the small wooden houses, stores, and hearing the village's history helped the students imagine how people back then, including Abraham Lincoln, had to live.
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The students saw one of the places where Lincoln worked and toured several official offices in a grand building. |
"The Old State Capital was boring and our tour guide was crabby," commented Julie P.
Only a few minutes walk away, the students toured Lincoln's Law Offices. "It was fun but I didn't like the way that they didn't allow us to touch the things that were actually Lincoln's," noted Pam.
Afterwards the students visited the New Capital where they saw the State Senate and the Representatives Hall, which was under construction at the time. Also, the whole group was allowed to walk up very near to the top of the building and take a good look at the ceiling, which was hand-painted.
We also went to the Illinois Art Museum as a rest stop. Several students commented on the "cool" exhibits.
With so many hours already behind the group, it was time for everybody's favorite time of the day. Dinner.
Arriving at The Old Country Buffet in Springfield, it wasn't until half way through the meal that everybody noticed that the trip had gone well, a little bit too well. The next moment was one that everyone remembered.
Three eighth grade boys decided that it would be fun to play a little joke and lighten up the trip. In the middle of the restaurant while everybody was eating, the boys set-off a stink bomb.
Not everyone realized what had happened at first, but all the students interviewed agreed that the smell was really awful.
The students who set-off the stink bomb were eventually suspended by Peacock Principal Dr. Nickisch.
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Is it becoming a Peacock tradition to ruin the Springfield trip? Ms. Heppler didn’t think so. |
Some Peacock students were also disgusted when they saw a bug crawling around in the cookie container. "It was a quarter of an inch long and really gross and orange, and crawling around in the cookies," explained Pam. Julie also saw the "disgusting" bug.
Most students agreed that this year's Springfield trip was one to remember, and with a four-hour drive back to school, it was a tiring one.
When they finally got back around ten pm, the eighth graders were eager to go home, but not so eager to return to school after their free day and to hear about their antics in Springfield.
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Octoberfest at Peacock only a week away
Annual Senior Luncheon nearly ready
By Emily W.
Sports Editor
On October 17, 2003, approximately 150 senior citizens will be entering Peacock Middle School looking forward to a German feast. Twenty-four eighth grade students will prepare, cook, and serve during the luncheon. The choir will also perform some German songs.
Mrs. Mann is the supervisor for the luncheon. Over the summer she researched German cuisine. She then looked at books and tested recipes to see if they would be easy enough for the students to make.
This year the young chefs will be cooking bratwurst, baked apples, navy bean soup, and a German Chocolate Cake.
Not only does Mrs. Mann have to worry about what to make, it's also important for the students to learn how to handle food properly: "It's really important to look at the sanitation. You must make sure the food is handled correctly so there is not the possibility of a food-borne illness. You look at every aspect, where you bought it, how it's transported; you don't want anyone to get sick."
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“I think the theme is really cool and the seniors will really like it and have tons of fun,” added Nicole M. |
Twelve students will do the cooking for the luncheon, and twelve will be the wait staff. They will wear custom German clothes, lederhosen, and drindl dresses. The table settings will be decorated with the German colors, and the students will decide on the centerpieces.
The eighth grade FACS elective students are very excited about the luncheon. "The theme this year is unique just like any other senior luncheon theme. I think it's really good especially because of the costumes we wear," said Crystal K.
"I think the theme is really cool and the seniors will really like it and have tons of fun," added Nicole M.
Each student has a slightly different job for the upcoming luncheon. "One of my jobs is to set up the favors for the seniors and another is to be a waitress. I love my parts! I'm trying to think of a speech to first say to the seniors. The favors will be fun to make, too," said Samantha M.
Nicole said, "I'm on wait staff, and I'm going shopping for the luncheon. I love my part in the luncheon because I get to wear festive costumes. And on the shopping trip, I get Portillo's for lunch!"
Mrs. Dengler is also contributing to the luncheon. Her advisory students will make a German Cut Paper project, which will decorate the cafeteria, where the festivities will take place.
The sixth grade art students have been studying Paul Klee, a German-Swiss artist. The students' final projects will be hanging in the hallway leading up to the cafeteria.
The eighth grade photography elective students have been studying a German art school called the Bauhaus. They did a photogram project based on the Bauhaus, which will be displayed.
Also, the two best photographers will be in charge of taking pictures during the luncheon.
Everyone is really looking forward to the luncheon. Mrs. Mann is excited even though she knows it's a lot of work.
Crystal added, "I'm really looking forward to being a part of the senior citizen luncheon. After we spend all that time preparing everything, the work will definitely pay off."
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Starbucks Coffee in Itasca opens on time
By Julie P.
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| Starbucks, corner of Walnut and Irving Park Road, Itasca, IL. | |
Bill Havel is the head of the building department of Itasca. Mr. Havel commented that the reason the construction took so long to begin was that the property was very hard to lease. This was because the village was undecided about the Irving Park expansion. That matter is not yet settled.
Another problem was that there were gas tanks underground on the site. They were removed but there was some gas leakage that had to be cleaned up too.
"I probably won't visit it when it opens because I'm not really into specialty coffee," said Mr. Havel.
Mr. Havel might not be into Starbucks, but eighth grader Joanna M. definitely is.
"Starbucks coming to Itasca is the best thing in the world!" she commented enthusiastically.
Her classmate Claire Z. disagreed. She added, "I don't really like coffee but I am looking forward to trying their frappochinos."
Fellow eighth grader Pamela R. commented that she couldn't wait to snack on chocolate covered blueberries and do homework.
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Sixth graders perform community service
By Timmy B.
Peacock Middle School students are required to perform six hours of community service each year. Several sixth graders recently discussed what they were doing to fulfill this requirement.
Louie B. has already completed his community service hours for this year. He said, "I did not enjoy doing the job because it was picking up trash along Irving Park Road."
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He added, however, “if people would stop throwing their litter on the road, it would help even more.” |
Louie would have done this job anyway because it is something his Boy Scout Troop participates in every month during the warmer weather.
Max G. completed his community service this summer during the 3 on 3-basketball tournament at the Itasca Fest.
He helped by serving the drinks to the participants while they were competing. Max said, "I really enjoyed doing this."
He was able to be outside all day and it was a fun activity. He also said, "I think community service is a good idea."
If anyone needs to get ideas to fulfill their community service requirement, they should look at the list in their common time rooms or talk to their advisory teachers.
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Sixth graders do not miss Franzen
They look forward to middle school success
By Julia P.
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| Eric C., sixth grade, hopes to tryout for the basketball team. | |
Many of the people whom I interviewed said that Mrs. Laughlin was their favorite teacher but also that she gave too much homework. Most said that Mrs. Laughlin was really nice.
Some sixth graders also thought that they got too much math homework.
Some of the goals that these students had for this year were to do better on tests and to get better grades on their report cards.
No one really misses Franzen.
Some students said that Franzen did not give them enough opportunities to join before or after school activities, other than band and chorus.
At Franzen, they only had gym class twice a week. Everyone interviewed said that they like having gym class every day. Some of the reasons for this were that they liked sports and it was their favorite class.
Also, they liked having gym at the end of the day because it was a good way to release all of their energy. A lot of people are joining cross-country and basketball.
Overall, the new sixth graders were optimistic about really enjoying their first year in middle school.
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