My friend Sandra

By Yessica Rodriguez

My friend Sandra has been at Waldo for about two years. We are both in the same grade, which is seventh grade. We hang out during lunch and I like talking with her.

Sandra likes Waldo because of all the nice teachers in the school and because of her friends. Sandra likes being in the seventh grade because she can do more things that she could as a sixth grader. For example, she can choose from different electives such as art.

Sandra's favorite teacher is Coach Ron because he is cool and nice. He is her coach on the volleyball team. She just started this fall.

Sandra's favorite color is red because that is her dad's favorite color and she likes her dad a lot. I'm lucky to have a friend who is as nice as Sandra. She is one of the first people who I met when I came from Houck. Waldo in a nicer place because I know that I'll see her here.

I am a Bully

By Deserie Balbaneda

I am a bully,
I sit on a high tower making everyone
Wish they could sit up here with me
Atop my tower, I laugh and mock you with glee
I shadow you in the halls hoping you will cry
I torture you with meanness while you think why?
I’ll tell you why…
I am a coward,
I sit on a high tower, but I sit alone with no sound
Wishing I was good enough to come down
Atop my tower I envy you, so I make myself feel better by
Making you feel worse.
But when I come home I am tortured with meanness… but why?

Shrek's adventure entertains all audiences

By Martin Ramirez

I am going to write about the movies of Shrek. I have seen all of the movies. The movies are funny, and they are for the whole family. This is what I know about the four movies.

Shrek has four movies and all of them are funny. They are for all types of families and for children. The main characters are Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and Puss in Boots. All the movies are about two or three hours long. The movies are called Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek The Third, and the last on is The Final Chapter. I like all of the movies. Shrek is a big green guy who tries to get back to his old home that is very far away, and his friends help him on the adventure.

I saw The Final Chapter in the theaters about three months ago. There are games and movies about Shrek. Some of the games are cool and some of them are boring. But the movies are cool.

This is what I know about Shrek. If you would like more information you should look for me. My name is Martin Ramirez.

How My Eyes See Me

By Danielle Garcia

When we look at ourselves we always find something wrong or something we can fix to make us look better. But when other people see you they often don't see anything wrong.

Many people think that if you don't like the way you look then no one will like the way you look. I interviewed a student here at Waldo that does not like the way she looks, and she thinks no one will talk to her if she is not pretty. She tries to keep herself away from everyone and tries to avoid everyone around her.

I asked her how she felt about herself she said, "I just really hate the way I look. I wish I could look in the mirror and just feel completely comfortable with the way I am, and the way I look. One day it'll hopefully happen. I just don't want people talking about me saying that I am ugly and saying there is some thing wrong. I'm just going to stay away from everyone to avoid this from happening."

This doesn't just happen to her. It happens to everyone. I think people shouldn't care what other people think about them. If people take to heart what others say then I think most everyone would feel bad about themself. They would be negative to themself and others. To me, everyone is special in their own way, and if other people don't like it then too bad. You are who you are it doesn't matter what others think.

Student teacher shares perspectives about Waldo

By Juan Avina

I interviewed Laura Fitzgerald, a student teacher in Waldo. I think that student teachers are interesting. She is a student at Western Oregon University, and here is what she shared.

Q: What are you studying in college?
A: Education to be a teacher.

Q: What do you like to do for fun?
A: I like to read for fun.

Q: Do you like being a student teacher?
A: Yes, because it's interesting.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a student teacher?
A: Getting to know the schools, teachers, and students.

Q: What is the least thing you like?
A: I don't have a least.

Q: When are you going to have your teacher's degree?
A: I am going to have my teacher's degree in a year, and it takes 5 years for a master's.

I enjoyed doing the interview. I think that I would rather be a police officer than a teacher, but it's always good to learn about new jobs.

Forever and Always

By Deserie Balbaneda

Forever and always I'll be there through your pain
For any mistakes or choices you make
I'll be there to guide you on the path that you take
Forever and always I'll follow only you
No matter where you go I'll find a way through
Of all the fire and pain that will cast
Always remember that it will pass
And if not then may the world be burnt into ash
And if I don’t seem to make it through
I'll always remember that I have you

This is a poem about following somebody that you love and care for in hard times. My family is always there for me in hard times, and I dedicate this poem to them.

Volleyball teams brace for new season

By Cristal Lopez and Kathy Estrada

Spiking, bumping, and setting were among the many skills that coaches looked at during Waldo's volleyball tryouts two weeks ago. About 50 girls showed up to try for spots on the four teams. Just 12 girls were selected for each team. The first game will be today, Tuesday, Nov. 16. Some games will be here and some will be at Leslie. We interviewed some of the players after tryouts to learn how they did and what tryouts were like.

How were your tryouts?
It was cool, but kind of boring at the begining. (Griselda)
It was cool, but it made me nervous. (Monse)
It was cool and hard at the same time. (Kathy)

Do you think trying out is hard?
No I don't, because I already know some of the things. - G
A little bit. - M
A little. - K

Would you work hard to be in one of the teams? Why or why not?
Yeah, I'm already made the team. - G
Yes, I would because I want to be in a good team. - M
Yeah, because I want to be in A-team. - K

What team did you make?
B1 - G
B1 - M
A - K

Are you happy with the team you're in?
Yeah, because it's 2nd best team. - G
Yes, it's 2nd best. - M
Yeah, I am happy. -K

The season will last about one month, and teams will play other middle schools throughout Salem and Keizer. Games start at 3:45 p.m. or 4:45 p.m. and they're on different days of the week. Talk to one of our coaches or players to find out about the games and come support your Waldo Mustangs volleyball teams!

Halloween Dance made some money

By Gabriel Gutierrez and Martin Ramirez

Did you go to the dance? The Halloween dance was cool, says Gabriel. Students were dancing and break dancing and so was I. I saw a lot of friends at the dance.

We interviewed, Ms. Kiracofe to see about the dance and this is what she told us.
Q: The was dance cool?
A: Yes, she said, yes it was cool.
Q: Did it make money?
A: It did make money. It was more than $1,000.
Q: Did you go to the dance?
A: Yes, I did.
Q: Did you dance?
A: Yes, I did.
Q: When is the next dance?
A: She said it is doing to be in December.

If you want to go to the dance, then get ready for the next chance in December. It will be a winter theme. Have fun! Hope to see you there!

How to Write a Poem

By Deserie Balbaneda

As you stare at the blank page before you
And don’t know what to write
Just think of all that happened
And how you live your life
Think of your sadness that you hide
Think of your love that is spread so wide
Bring out your imagination and let it soar upon the page
So that now you are no longer locked inside that cage,
The cage that holds you in so you can’t show any emotion
To how you write and live with such devotion
Finally you see the key as you unlock yourself to be free
You let out everything in your head as it swarms around you
In beautiful colors that are no longer dead
Then you stop and look down at what you thought was blank
To see a page full of words woven with such swank

Halloween Dance provides fun for everyone

By Alejandra Ochoa

Every year Waldo Middle School has a dance the last Friday of October. This dance is called the Waldo Halloween dance. In the Halloween dance you can wear a costume, but you can’t do face paint or wear a mask!

At the dance they play different types of music genres like hip-hop, rock and roll, and many other types of music. I interviewed some students from Waldo and asked them some simple questions about the Waldo Halloween dance.

Q: Have you ever gone to Waldo’s Halloween dance?

Abi’s response: “No, I have never gone to a Halloween dance, and I’ve also never gone to any of Waldo’s dances.”

Q: Do you like going to Waldo’s Halloween dance?

Lvina’s answer: “Yes, I do, because they are fun to go to, and I have a chance to spend more time with my friends.”

Q: Do you think it’s too expensive for a dance ticket? If yes, then how much would you want them to cost?

Cheyenne’s response: “No, it’s not expensive. It's fine the way they are. Unfortunately for some people, it seems expensive compared to last year’s price.”

Q: Would you wear a costume to the dance? Why or why not?

Cristal’s answer: “No, I would not wear a costume to the dance, because I would be embarrassed.”

Q: What kind of treats do you think they are going to be selling at the dance?

Lily’s response: “I think they are going to be selling candy, soda, water, juice, chips, and cookies at the dance.”

These were all the responses I got from the questions asked to the students. Some people have gone to Waldo’s dances and some haven’t. Most people like going to dances, and some people think it’s too expensive for school dances. Every person has their own opinion. You must have been interested in going to a dance, and some of you have gone but some haven't. I went to last month's dance and I thought it was fun. I spent time with friends and talked with them. The next dance is right before winter break, so stop by to check it out!

Students share comments about Christmas traditions

By Efrasia Afonin

Everyone has a different way of celebrating Christmas. Our family goes to church, then we go home and have a big breakfast. Later we open presents. I decided to ask some of my friends what they do on Christmas.

Do you celebrate Christmas?
Cynthia: Ya.
Daisy: Yes, I do.
Margarita: Ya, because my birthday is on Christmas so I celebrate both.

What's your favorite part of Christmas?
Cynthia: Getting presents.
Daisy: When we eat food.
Margarita: My favorite part is getting presents.

What do you and your family do on Christmas?
Cynthia: We eat tamales.
Daisy: We eat food and watch novelas (a type of television show).
Margarita: We sometimes watch movies and eat tamales.

So these are some of the things that some people like to do on Christmas. Ohter things that some people might do would include spending time with family, singing songs, or providing food for the poor. What kind of things do you like to do on Christmas?

Three Varied Poems

By Novalynn Bodda

I’m Alone

I feel alone
And depressed
I feel like something bad will happen
I’m worried
I feel on edge
I feel like I’m going to start crying
Any minute now
I’ll feel self-conscious
Because they make fun of me
Because my friends left me by myself
I feel like a loner
I feel alone
Because I am alone
All alone

Feelings

What are feelings?
Why do we have them?
Feelings are…
Mad
Sad
Angry
Depressed
Happy
Glad
We have them to express ourselves
Feelings make connections
Feelings are everything

Books

It starts with a thought
Then a paper and pen
There’s the typewriter
Queue the rewrite
Do more paragraphs
Pay the publisher
Make the book
Sell the book
Buy the book
Read the book
Put it on the shelf
Leave it there for a month
Never read it again

Silly Bandz create fun when used responsibly

By Nathan Ciriano

As you might know, Silly Bandz are a new fad at Waldo Middle School. However, there are also some problems with them. Writing about Silly Bands seemed kind of interesting, because alot of people wear them, including a few teachers. I interviewed Haris Khan about his opinion of Silly Bands.

Q: Do you collect Silly Bandz?

A: Yes.

Q: Is there a reason why you collect them?

A: I think they are cool, and I can exchange them with friends.

Q: Is there a certain Silly Band that you are looking for?'

A: A green colored electric guitar.

Q: When did you first hear about Silly Bandz?

A: I saw them in school.

Q: Do you think there is a problem with Silly Bandz?

A: Yes, because people fold paper up and shoot it, and sometimes it hurts.

I also interviewed Mr. Conwell about his opinion on Silly Bandz.

Q: Do you think there is a problem with Silly Bandz?

A: When they are used as weapons and not wardrobes.

Q: Do you have a lot of problems with Silly Bandz?

A: Not problems, but when students use them to shoot paper it's an issue.

Q: So you don't allow them in your class?

A: I allow them in my class, but not as weapons. Only as bracelets.

My own opinion is that Silly Bandz are cool to collect, but if they're used improperly they should be taken away. Often I do see people using them to shoot paper. If they are seen doing this, the bands should be confiscated. My favorite silly band is a blue ninja. I'm looking for it, so if you see one then please let me know.

Soccer season underway at Waldo

By Juan Avina

Soccer season is happening now at Waldo, so I wanted to write about a player and a coach from our school I interviewed Omar Cordova, an eighth grader, and Jorge Figueroa, an instructional assistant and soccer coach. Here is what they had to say.

Q: Who is your favorite soccer team?

A: Omar said, "CHIVAS!!! Who doesn’t like them?”

Q: What do you do for practice?

A: Omar said, “Push-ups, sit-ups, drills, you know, soccer stuff.”

Q: Are you planning to play soccer in highs school?

A: Omar said, "Maybe, maybe not. It depends if I keep up my grades.”

Q: Who is the best soccer player in your team?

A: Omar said, "Me, of course!”

Q: How long have you coached soccer?

A: Mr. Figueroa said, "For three years.”

Q: Did you play soccer when you were a student?

A: Mr. Figueroa said, "Yes, I played in middle school, high school and in college.”

Q: How many students joined this year?

A: Mr. Figueroa said, "About 25 kids.”

Q: Do you see yourself coaching five years from now?

A: He said, "Yes, I do."

I played soccer in elementary school just for fun. My favorite position to play is defense because I like to block goals. If you're looking for a great way to get excerise, then give soccer a try.

Two Somber Poems

By Deserie Balbaneda

We Are

We are the things your mom and dad tell you to stay away from
We are the things they teach you to say no to in school
We are the things that sound so cool no matter the consequence
We are the things that will ruin your life with one drink or puff
We are the things that you can’t get enough of and want more
We are the things that are addicting fun and cool
We are the things that can kill you if you have too much
We are drugs, cigarettes, alcohol and more

Don’t we sound good?
We are the things they warned you about, but you ignored
We are the things that took your life slowly and cruelly
We are the things that tricked you and killed you
Looks like they were right.

The Pond of Sorrow

In the pond of sorrow you will be blinded by pain
In the pond of sorrow you will be drained
Of all the happiness,
The memories and thoughts
They will be replaced with pain and rocks,
Rocks so heavy they pull you down
As you go deeper and sink to the ground
You will remember the things you pushed away
And all the love that ended with pain.
Your imagination will go flat
Because you now know you can’t turn back
Then as your back hits the floor
You know that it’s over and you will fight no more
So take this warning as a serious threat
So you won’t have to go through this hate and regret
Now you know you should never enter the pond of sorrow
For then you too will have the curse that will follow.

Computer access issues addressed

By Novalynn Bodda and Lauren Johnson

We wanted to do this interview to see what the students of Waldo thought about some of the websites we aren’t allowed on. Our own opinion is that we should be allowed onto whatever websites we want as long as it's not during class.

Q. Do you think we should be allowed onto Facebook and MySpace? Why?
A. Sabrina Lesky said, "No, kids will want to be on it all the time.”
Q. Should we be allowed onto YouTube? Why?
A. Mr. Gamble said, “No, there’s other things to teach and learn at school.”
Q. Do you think it would be better if we were allowed onto the computers during lunch? Why?
A. Ajesh Saini said, “Yes, it’s better than walking around the halls.”
Q. Does it make sense to not be allowed on Facebook and MySpace? Why?
A. Martin Collins said, “ No, you should be able to.”
Q. Should we be allowed to play games on the computer in our computer classes whenever we want? Why?
A. Ms. Ferdig said, “No, because it's a class and not a time to goof off.”

The results we got shocked us, because we thought that the students would like to be on the computers and other websites more often. Apparently we were wrong. Students complain about not being on the computers more often most of the time, so we thought the students would answer ‘yes’ to these questions, but they did not. People may complain, but in the end what they say they want may not really be what they want.

Students, staff reflect on first six weeks

By Abi Martinez

These first six weeks of the school year have passed. Students impressed their teachers with their grades and knowledge. This was their first impression on their teachers and a way to show how responsible they are.

I asked some of the students how their first grading period went. Here’s what they answered: Student questions -

Q: How were your first six weeks?

AJ’s answer: My first six weeks were good. I think I got pretty good grades.

Q:Do you think your grades were fair?

Darlei’s answer: Yes, I think they were fair because I got mostly As.

Q:How are you going to help your grades improve or stay good?

Jenifer’s answer: I’m going to take notes to help me on my work.

Q: Do you still like your teachers?

Jaime’s answer: Yes, I still like my teachers because they’re nice to me.

Q: Sixth grader, do you still think middle school is easy?

Jose's answer: No, the classes definitely got harder because I got more homework and classwork.

Teacher Questions -

Q: How do you think your students did these first six weeks?

Mrs.Renfros’s answer: Overall, I think my students did good. I only had to assign homework lunch to a couple of kids. The only thing they need to work on is turning their work in on time.

Q: How are you going to help your students keep their good grades or improve their grades?Mr.Sullivan's answer: I'm going to give them the opportunity to come in after school and finish their work.

According to my interviews, the students first six weeks went good. Except for some rough patches here and there, students were successful, but the students stuck to their work and got through it. Teachers are proud of their students effort, and offer to help them in their school work. Students keep up the good work so the rest of the school year can be good. If you need extra help in classes, speak with your counselor about getting a study buddy. They can assist you in achieving success.

Six Poems

By Novalynn Bodda

Rain
I shower the world with my brilliance
I bring life to dying plants
Because of some people on earth I am deadly
To the plants when I am sick
When I become sick I am acid rain and pour
So I’m not sick anymore
I love the earth so I do what I can to make it better
The earth is your home so I try to keep it clean
The trees help you live
So I help them live
Rain is what I am
Rain is what I do

October

I’m the month of the chill
I hold surprise within the days
The end of my month is the time the kids like best
That is their favorite time because of the holiday
The adults put out decorations
They have bowls of candy in their houses
The children go to the doors and ask for candy
The adults hand it out
Kids eat it up
I am the month many kids enjoy
I am the month of October
I am the month of Halloween

Pictures
People say you can’t stop time
I don’t believe that
Because I freeze one moment
And one memory for one instant in time
I’m put on computers
I can be colored
I can be black and white
I bring back memories
I bring back happiness
People love me
People cherish me
I believe that if you have the right stuff you can do anything

Teeth
I can be sharp
I can be smooth
I can be jagged
I can be deadly
I am eaten by bugs in your mouth
I am brushed to keep clean
I chew the food of humans
And catch the food of predators
Eventually I wear down
Only after a life of success
Teeth
They provide so much

Happiness is…
Happy
Happiness is what everyone wants out of life
True happiness is very rare
Happiness is your friends
Happiness is your family
Happiness is doing what you love
Happiness is being with who you love
Happiness is being you
True happiness is very valuable
True happiness is like true love…
You never want to let go of it
Happiness is…

What everyone wants
Everyone wants love
Everyone wants something to love
Everyone wants happiness
Everyone wants a good life
Everyone wants to do what they want
Everyone wants to have fun
Everyone wants money
Everyone wants to have a family
Everyone wants a place to call home
Everyone wants everything
Everyone wants to be something else
Everyone wants what they can’t have

Halloween traditions explored

By Maya Kersnowski and Beaunyle Lang

Did you know Halloween is one of the world’s oldest holidays? It is also one of the most popular and most celebrated holidays after Christmas. A lot of people see Halloween as a time for fun, dressing up and trick-or-treating with friends and family.

Ever wondered what some of your classmates might have done for Halloween? Beaunyle and I did, so we decided to interview people that go to our school and ask them a couple of questions. Here is how it went.

The first person we interviewed on this subject was Cheyenne Nibler. “How does your family celebrate Halloween?” we asked her. “Trick-or-treating,” she answered. The next question we asked her was what she did for Halloween. "I tried to get as much candy as possible,” was her reply.

The next person we interviewed was Alesia Kraemer. “How did you celebrate Halloween?” we asked her. “Well, I planned on hanging out with some friends and maybe going trick-or-treating." What’s your favorite candy? “My favorite candy would be a Kit-Kat. I love Kit-Kats!"

Then we interviewed Sonia Lemus. “What did you do for Halloween?” “Sit at home,” was her answer. We then asked her what she was for Halloween but she said she didn’t dress up. “How much candy did you get?" “A whole bag full of candy.”

What did you do for Halloween? We went trick-or-treating with friends and we had a blast!