Activists fast for a good cause

By Chrysta Friday

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian charity organization that was founded by Bob Pierce in 1950. The goal for World Vision is to help people all over the world. So far they have helped over 100 million people in over 100 countries. The millions of people they serve include earthquake and hurricane survivors, abandoned children, survivors of famine and civil war, refugees, and children and families in communities devastated by AIDS in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It is amazing how they help all these people.

However, they don’t do this alone. They get help from other people all over the world. Churches do the 30 Hour Famine and raise money to donate. The 30 Hour Famine is a part of World Vision. It is where kids from 6th to 12th grade starve themselves for 20-30 hours. Most of the time, the middle school students only do 20 hours because it is easier for them. Sometimes, though, they do 30. But later they end up regretting it. I have done the famine. I have starved. It was a life changing experience. Now I am doing it again. Now whenever my little brother or sister complains about being hungry, I give them the famine speech.

I asked Vik Scaaf what her church goal was. "We want to try and raise $10,000, and if we do that we will shave Collin’s (a 7th grader) head." I hope we break our goal and Collin gets to keep all of his hair (he is still debating whether to get rid of his hair). Westminster’s 30 Hour Famine for middle school was February 19th and 20th, and for high school it will be the weekend right after. This year things are a little different. Due to the earthquake in Haiti, 80% of the proceeds raised will be going to help the people in Haiti. The other 20% is going to be distributed all over the world. Wow. It is amazing how people in small towns can make a worldwide difference.

Students provide opinions about hot new video games

By Gavin Fowser

These days all you hear about how this game was fun or this game wasn’t. "I can’t wait to play this game when I get home today." So I decided to find out what games are fun what and are not. Then I wanted to know what the number
one suggested game is. I came up with these answers.

I learned that Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Mario games, and games on the Wii were the number one suggested games.

Then I asked around to find out what games were fun and they told me that
Grand Theft Auto, Mario Cart, and Super Mario Brothers, and the Legend of
Zelda were the best. Then I asked some more students if they agree with it.
They all said they liked them except they didn’t like Mario Cart as much.

Then I asked different students what games are not so fun. They said Lego
games for the Xbox 360, Kingdom Hearts for the Play Station, and Teen Age
Mutant Ninja Turtles, and some Wii games. Then I asked some more students
and they all agreed.

So, if you want to know what what games are fun or not then just look at this and
you can even play the number one suggested games by other students. Now I
would like to give thanks to these students for their help: Araceli, Taelor,
Crisol, Alesia, Teresita, Jack, Ely-ZA, Alvaro, Chance, Dakota, Lupita,
Curinne, Berenice, Heriberto, Jack, Cardenas, Franco, Lopez Soto, Guzman,
Corona, Lopez, Sandoval, Linnell, Cabanas Clarno, Reynolds, Matlock,
Roberts, and Hernandez Orozco.

Teacher shares perspectives on upcoming track season

By Giang Nguyen & Monserratt Castro

We interviewed Mr.Blommendahl, and we asked him some questions about track. He is not a track coach, but he does know about track. Track is coming up in spring again starting on March 29. Remember to join because it should be really fun!

Q: What do you guys usually do in track?

A: It depends. Short distance, long distance, relay races, long jump, high jump, and shot put.

Q: Is track fun?

A: Yes, it's a good way for preparing kids who would like to be athletes.

Q: How long does it take for practice?

A: Track practices are four days a week, Monday to Thursday after school.

Q: Do you have to train a lot?

A: It's about four days a week, and it takes whatever you need to practice to get better.

Q: Do a lot of kids join track?

A: More kids join track than any sport else at Waldo.

Look for an interview with Coach Swift and some of her track stars once the season has started at the end of March. Remember, track start soon so sign up if you want to participate!

Random questions and advice from Mustangs columnists

By Dabina Donley and Lupita Gonzalez

Are you having trouble with grades, friends, teachers, or other things in your life? We have advice for you (as well as some random information), and here are some thoughts that people at Waldo shared this week:

Q: How do you get your grades up?

A: Esmerelda: "By studying, and paying attention."

Q: What do you think about the teachers?

A: Esmerelda: "Some are nice and some are not."

Q: What do you think about the students in the school library?

A: Mrs. Nelson: "I love the students that come into the library!"

Q: How many students come into the library?

A: Mrs. Nelson: "A lot, we are a very busy library."

Q: How do you make friends?

A: Alejandro Valenzuela: "I become friends with people by talking a lot with them."

Q: How do you make friends?

A #1: Andrea: "I talk to them, and my first impression."

A #2:Elizabeth: "I don't make friends, they just talk to me...!!"

A #3: Magdelana: "I ask, 'Do you wanna be friends?'"

A #4: Dianna: "Talking to them."

If you have questions or thoughts to share for this column, then please contact Dabina at dabinadonley@yahoo.com

Hope for Haiti thrives at Waldo

By Alyssa Brown and Thomas Larson

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have your nation destroyed by one very harsh disaster? The people of Haiti do, and some are suffering of painful injuries. Many are dying or they are already dead. At this point more than 200,000 are dead. So what can we do as a school to help Haiti?

How would you try to help Haiti?

"Waldo Middle School is doing a penny drive and we figured that since an elementary school donated over $1,000, why can't we?" asked Mrs. Renfro. "Our Haiti Penny drive has kicked off," she added. "After one day we have already collected half of a huge jar of change."

Q: Do you think that a Haiti dance would raise money?

A: "Yes, because they usually raise more money than anything." -Taylor Kelsey

Today is a day that we can own; we make those other middle schools regret doubting us.
So, don’t be a jerk, have a heart. Don’t be a Haiti hater!

Students and staff share enthusiasm for soccer

By Heriberto Padilla and Jake Odom

SOCCER IS A POPULAR SPORT IN OREGON AND ALL AROUND THE WORLD. THE FIRST TIME I PLAYED SOCCER WAS WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS OLD. EVER SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE LIKED SOCCER. I NEVER PLAYED ON A SOCCER TEAM BUT I HAVE PLAYED WITH MY FRIENDS. MY FAVORITE TEAM AT THAT TIME WAS PUMAS DEL U.N.A.M. THE BEST GAME I HAVE SEEN FROM PUMAS WAS THE PUMAS VS. VERACRUZ GAME. PUMAS WON BY 8-0. - Heriberto

The first time I played soccer was when I was 8 years old at school. Now I am 13 years old and I play soccer all the time with my friends . My favorite team is America . Soccer is one of my favorite sports. - Jake

Here are some questions and answers:

Q: Who do you think is the best soccer player?

A: "Diego Armando Maradona , and Ronaldo I," said Mr.Figueroa.

Q: What is your favorite team?

A: "America is my favorite," said Alejandro Garfias, a 6th grader.

Q: What international team do you think is the best ?

A"I think Brazil," said Erik Lopez, a 7th grader.

Q: If you were ever on a team, what team would you like to be on?

A: Esmeralda Ramirez, a 7th grader, said, "Chivas!"

Q: What position do you like to be in?

A: "Forward," said Jorge Carlos Guzman, a 6th grader.

Q: What do you have to do to be a good soccer player?

A: Maria Mota, a 7th grader, said, "Practice!"

Social Responsibility shows students how to help out

By Corinne Van Lier & Berenice Garcia

We wanted to know more about Social Responsibility, so we decided to ask Mrs. Renfro about the elective class she is teaching. We asked her a few questions about the class, and this is what we came up with:

Q: What is Social Responsibility?

A: A class where students can find ways to help others, the community, and the world.

Q: What activities do you do?

A: We visit the retirement center and the elementary school kids and read to them. We have cleaned Lansing Avenue. We have also shared about family culture.

Q: How much time do you spend helping the community?

A: We help clean up the street about four times a year. We visit the retirement center about one time every mouth.

Q: What made you think of doing this class?

A: Most kids take for granted what they get, so this is a class where they can pay back the community.

Q: Have any students complained about doing work for the community?

A: No, because I tell then to find a different class if they want to complain.

Q: What has been the funniest thing teaching this class?

A: At the retirement center an elderly person called the boys a jerk when they were all being nice.

If you’d like to learn more about Social Responsibility, then you could maybe talk to Mrs. Renfro about the class. I think that Social Responsibility is a good class that helps people realize that helping others isn’t always that hard, and that you make a difference. –Berenice Garcia