Halloween Dance, So Great it was SPOOKY!

By Andrew Hunt and Megan Titus

The first Great Brook school dance was on Friday October 30^th. There was a costume contest in honor of Halloween!

There were three people in each grade level who won a free drink with chips. Kids were so excited.

Not everyone was dressed up in a costume but there was a lot of costumes which meant a lot of competition. There were many great costumes in each grade level. There was a banana, a twister board, lots of goths and witches, many monsters, and a giant Domo. (see picture)

Many people danced along with the songs that were played. Drinks and snacks were sold at the dance. The drinks were $1.00 each and the chips were $0.50 each. There was also candy being sold for $0.75 each. The dance went from 2:30 to 4:00 and it was an all school dance so a lot of people came. You could almost say the gym was packed.

The dance was set up by the Student Congress and there will be many more dances in the future. Thank Student Congress for that!

Millie in 6th grade said, "I decided to wear a costume to the dance to feel the spirit." She agrees with the song choices but wants the price lowered by at least ten cents.

Click HERE to see a slideshow of pictures from the dance.

Turkey Trot

By Emmasae Hallen
“It was one of the best experiences of my life!” a fifth grader told The Bobcats Meow after running the GBS Turkey Trot. On November 19th GBS held their annual Turkey Trot. People watch kids for each grade run around the block. Hundreds of kids run and only 25 kids came in the finish line to win for their grade. Each grade had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner. Here are the winners.

Girls
1st
Taryn Wing 5th
Millie Weinreich 6th
Monica Pierson 7th
Shaina Langlois 8th
2nd
Jill Pierson 5th
Kylie Mitchell 6th
Maddie Zimmerman 7th
Selina Baldwin 8th
3rd
Sylive Holding 5th
Emma Kendall 6th
Kyler Mose& Meagan Stanley 7th
Megan Hardwick 8th

Boys
1st
Liam Baldwin 5th
Josh Fulton 6th
Andrew Hunt 7th
Malik Earl 8th
2nd
Jonathan Pape 5th
Kyle Nutter 6th
Nick Cheaney 7th
Mike Palozola 8th
3rd
William Flippo 5th
Devon Jacobsen 6th
Joel Barwood 7th
Campbell French 8th

First place gets a turkey and a shirt. Second place you get a box of cookies. And third place gets a lolly pop.
Timothy Hollingsworth said, “It was so exhausting and tiring. I feel like I am going to die right now.” This is a great experience. Next year there will be more winners and more fun!

Movie Review: Transformers 2 Rise of the Fallen

By JT Clough

Spoiler alert!!!

Did you see Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen? The Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen the movie was the best movie I have seen, it was the bomb! Most of the people thought it was awesome all of the action in the movie and all the twists and turns in the movie were good, too. Some of the twists and turns in the movie were that even though Megatron was at the bottom of the ocean, the Destructicons went and got him out and brought him back to life. That was really surprising.

There were so many more Decepticons then Autobots. The Autobots actually pulled through and won the battle. But they did not do it alone! The humans played a good part in the movie too. If it was not for them they would not have got Optimus Prime to the desert. The reason they were in the desert was because if the key that brought Optimus back to life.

The Decepticons plan was to activate a devise with the key to destroy the sun and the human race giving them a all power full power to the leader of the Decepticons. If it was not for the one human who called a air strike on the Destructicon, it would have got to the pyramid and the pyramid held the device.

The main character ( Shia Labeouf ) was a fantastic character along with Megan Fox. Bumble Bee was Sams ( Shia Labeoufs) Gaurdian for the movie Bumble Bee was a 2009 Camaro that had racing stripes on the top of the car. The reason they call him Bumble Bee is because he is yellow with black racing stripes. I thought the movie was great. My favorite Autobot was Bumble Bee. Why didn't he speak like the other Autobots what is the deal with that? Shia Labeouf really got into character, he was great in the movie. Megan Fox was amazing too she was Sam's ( Shia Labeoufs ) girlfriend in the movie.

The songs that they played definitely fit the movie. The theme song was the best it was by Linkin Park. Linkin Park has broke up they are no longer a band. They have to get back together so they can make a new transformers movie. They at least need a theme song.

Well they should make a new transformers movie that would be great. So if you haven't seen the movie go see it, it is out standing.

Birds of a Feather Stick Together

By Emma Kendall

Do you like the outdoors? Do you enjoy watching animals in their habitat? Have you ever wondered where all the birds come from in the spring and where they go in the winter? Birding, a new ELP activity, may be just for you.

When you sign up for birding you get to learn all about the local bird populations, feeding habits, go on field trips, take care of the bird feeders outside of GBS. Austin says he enjoys getting to interact with different birds sometimes. Several feeders are located right outside Ms. Cullinan’s window.

I interviewed 5^th grader Courtney and she said her favorite thing is watching the birds. She also told me about all different feeders being used at GBS. Here is the type of feeders there are :suction cup feeders and hanging feeders and more.

Some of the birds you can see are, pigeons, blue jays, morning dove and more. If you have questions about birding you can talk to Austin Stacy in 7^th grade or Courtney, Mackenzie, Katie and Sylvie all in 5^th grade. Ms. Cullinan is also available to answer your questions. I had fun learning about birding and maybe next year I’ll join them.


Picture from
http://ineedfile.com/archive/birds/1-birds.jpg

Cheerleading

Cheerleading, what's it's about? Well, cheerleading is with Ms. B who is a teacher that works over at A.E.S. Cheerleading is Tuesday through Friday 2:30-4:00 because Ms. B has to watch her students.

On Friday we had tryouts and there were three judges and we had to show them our sideline cheers and the dance we all worked hard on. Ms. B said that we wouldn't go to the championship because Ms. B has to take care of her kid.

Also Cheerleading is very hard you have to practice and if you don't come to practice because you didn't feel like it you will be off the team. Remember that if you are sick and you go home early make sure if you come to practice the next day bring a note that says you were sick and went home, make sure you have your shoes and some shorts. Next week Ms. B says that the girls will probably get there uniforms and the coach also said that the girls will be cheering at basketball games.''all the girls did great'' said Ms. B.

I asked Ms. B why does she coach cheer leading and she said that she likes doing cheer leading with girls because all the girls remind Ms. B of herself when she did cheerleading and she said that she will continue doing cheer leading as longs as the girls want to make a commitment to there team.

Sally in 8^th grade said that she love cheer leading, Sydney in 7^th grade ''was a big help'' said Liz in 8^th. So, that is what cheerleading is all about.

Art Class with Ms. Bando

By Julia Cooper

Have you ever wondered what you will make next in art with Ms. Bando? Or is it you're wondering what one of your siblings will bring home next? Which ever it is I will help answer your question.

When you’re in 5^th grade you get to do lots of things! For insistence, “You learn to mix and use color, you choose a fresh water NH fish, (learn) different ways to work with water color, Japanese gyotaku - means fish - print textile inks on paper and on a shirt, learn about Japanese culture, clay project, and if time a small weaving.” Ms. Bando said.

When in 6^th grade “(you) work with texture pattern balance, shape and form, make a pattern for weaving, make weaving, clay; hand building techniques.”

Then once you’re in 7^th grade you have a “Independent study project ~ allows students to gain experience in a art form they would like to learn about, masks, making clay projects ~ slab method of building, patterns with Mantala.”

Last but not least, 8^th grade! In 8^th grade you do a“Independent study project ~ allows students to gain experience in a art form they would like to learn about (like in 7^th grade), lines, complete penid illustrations, molla, and print making”

Hope you will like being able to see what you will do next in art. Or maybe just remember what you did! Which ever, hope it helps!

Do Not Run In The Halls!

By Heather Brown

These photos are signs so all the students do not run in the hall. The teachers in Great Brook School made the signs and some of the students made some. So please DO NOT RUN IN THE HALL.

GBS Band Makes Beautiful Music!

by:Morgan Whitney

Have you ever thought about joining band? Mrs. Moncrief and Ellis music are letting students “rent to keep”(rent to keep is once you rent an instrument in fifth grade and keep it until eighth grade.)

Band has a lot of different groups depending on what you play. To join talk to Mrs. Moncrief in the red portable.

Mrs. Moncrief wants a really good concert band, (6^th 7^th 8^th grade) you can talk to Mrs. Moncrief at your recess or lunch. You should join band because there is a wide variety of instruments to choose from, and we play a lot of fun music.

You can choose brass, brass has a mouthpiece that you buzz your lips into. You can choose woodwinds, woodwinds have a reed that you put on your instrument. You can choose percussion, percussion instruments are like drums. You can also choose strings, string are violins and things like that. That is why you should join band.

The 2nd Assembly at GBS

By Morgan Whitney

GBS had an assembly on November 4^th first block in the gym!

The assembly is about safety in the hallways, Ben Aldrich says that “The hallways were chaotic last year, But this year is a lot better. I think that the hallway are better because the eighth graders are a lot less rowdy.”

They showed us a video of Bear Grylls from the T.V. Show Man Vs Wild. Bear was afraid of the halls in GBS because he heard a bunch of bad stuff like how the halls were so crowded and people hurting other people in the halls.(by the way they didn't really hurt each other.)

Bob the Bobcat was at the assembly the whole time! Bob was trying to encourage people to do all the things the staff want us to do. The school staff wants to encourage people to: walk on the right, have quiet voices, to keep your hands to yourself, to stay on the right, “slow”, and “crossing”.On walls and ceilings there are parking places for each class. So that is what the assembly was like!!!

here is a link to our videos

Slideshow of Halloween Dance Pictures

We are experimenting with this slideshow format to see if it will be a good fit for our blog. Let us know what you think!

Here are some of the many students who danced the afternoon away at the Halloween Dance. The pictures were all taken by Bobcat's Meow staffers.

Rachel's Challenge and the First GBS Assembly of the Year

By Julia Cooper

Ever wondered what the first assembly was like on Monday October 5, 2009?

When you walked into the G.B.S gym, you heard the song “What I like about You” by The Romantics being played by Alex Murphy and Chris Heffernan and everyone cheering. After everyone got settled down the presidents of Student Congress introduced us to the rest of the Student Congress.

After we met Student Congress the eighth grade talked about Rachel’s Challenge. If you were not there, it is about a shooting on at Columbine High School, on April 20 1999. They also told us how Rachel was trying to do little acts of kindness (before she died) to help make the world a better place. The 8th grade also showed us a presentation that had the 5 steps Rachel hoped would/will make the world a better place. Here they are…

1. Eliminate prejudice by looking for the best in others.
2. Choose positive influences and role models in life.
3. Keep a daily journal or diary.
4. Look for little things that make a big difference.
5. Tell people how much you care about them.

After that the 8th graders went to there seats and then it was tine for the white card drawing. Someone from each grade won. After all that there was Tug-A-War between the four grades. After all that tugging and cheering (by those people who did not play tug-a-war) it ended up to be a tie. Then they started playing the music again. Almost everyone stood up and started dancing. Then the Assembly was over.

Opinion -- Where's Football?

By Megan Titus

Where has football gone? Football has been taken away from 6^th grade! I don't want to whine but that just is not fair! We are kids we need more variety of choice for sports we have over 80 kids in 6^th grade with so many likes and dislikes that we need all we can get. How can 5^th-7^th and 8^th have football but we cant don't you think we deserve to known why. We' r not even aloud to touch a football. I should know - me and my friends were playing with a football (just passing it) and a teacher stopped us.

Not to mention, I got the inside scoop from Mr. K that “ [the 6^th graders] just can't handle it.” Well, I'll assure you we can! Well, maybe. There was a hand to hand fight in soccer. I'm not saying that we can't handle anything but come on. All this from taking football away? So hear me out.

What was so bad? I think we deserve to know! So why did this have to happen? Why can't we put it aside? And kids, be more respectful to others and yourself, including teachers.

So what do you think? Will you bring football back?

New teachers

By Photos By Heather Brown

You might see these new teachers in the halls at GBS...

Mrs. Ketchum 6th grade math

Ms. Bell 8th grade math

Ms. Bigford 5th grade

Ms. Darling 8th grade language arts and Ms. Cullinan ELP

Ms. Ennis and Ms. Hunt

New Students in Great Brook School!

Photos by Heather Brown

There are lots of new faces at GBS this year. Here are some of them.

Check Out Who Has Been Working Here the Longest!

By Emma Kendall

Most of you know Industrial Technology teacher Mr. Sweeney. If you don’t you will soon. Did you know he has been working at Great Brook longer than any other teacher? I recently sat down with Mr. Sweeney and asked him a few questions. It was fun getting to know him better because IT is one of my favorite classes.

Mr. Sweeney went to RI College and Antioch University. He has been a teacher for 33 years as and industrial technology teacher. What he likes best about working at GBS is the kids, the other teachers and the nearby community.

I asked him what he would like to do for a career if he was not a teacher and he said he would be a metallurgist. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I know now it is the science of metal working.

I asked him if he could pick two people to past or present to have dinner with who it would be. He said “he would like to have dinner with his father and grandfather because he never had a chance to have and adult conversation with them”.

I also learned that his favorite color is burgundy. Mr. Sweeney is a really nice teacher with a good sense of humor.

The Smart Shopper's Guide To Spending Spare Bobcash!

By Angie LaFave

Great Brook School Breaking News – Teachers at Great Brook School have began giving kids Paw Prints for good behavior. These are little red cutouts of a bobcat's paw. You can earn them by showing that you are respectful, responsible, and safe.

Paw Prints turn into what's known as Bobcash once you turn them in to the office and get them stamped for approval. Then they are returned to you so you can spend them on whatever you want.

Lots of teachers have not yet decided what they want to put up for sale. Ms. Bando, the art teacher, said, “I should have people buy art supplies from me.” Ms. Bell, an eighth grade advisor and math teacher, is thinking about letting her advisory buy pencils, free time (instead of advisory time), or a seat in the special comfy chair.

Ms. Blair, the CFS teacher, has popcorn for sale. For two Paw Prints, you get a snack size. For four Paws, you can get a regular size.

Ms. Cullinan, the ELP teacher, has popcorn too, along with many other special treats. You can ask her personally for access to a “treasure box.” This contains items with prices from one Paw Print to four Paw Prints. For one Paw Print, you can either have a pencil or a pencil top eraser. You can also have Ms. Cullinan do a somersault just for you for one Paw also. For members of ELP, you can pay one Paw for the opportunity to bring in a school-appropriate CD for your ELP class to listen to while they work. ELP class can also spend three Paws (from one person or from several people combined) to buy the popcorn mentioned above – for the whole class! Or, if you aren't in ELP, you can buy them popcorn out of the goodness of your heart. Last but not least for ELP prizes is the chance to have lunch and tea with Ms. Cullinan and three friends in her room.

There are raffles and auctions to put Paw Prints toward as well!

Are you in Ms. Shea's fifth grade class? Lucky you! People in this class get to put their Paws together for class pizza parties and extra recess! For sixty Paw Prints, your whole class gets to go outside. For one hundred, the class gets a fun pizza party. Yum! Or, if you want to keep your Paws to yourself, you can get a homework pass of your very own.

Ms. Sittig can offer a water bottle for seven Paw Prints. Imagine, never getting thirsty again! At least until the water runs out. Or, if you'd rather be a fashion guru, you can buy a fancy dog tag for five Paws. What a deal!

Ms. Rice lets her sixth grade class buy VIP access to the very front of the line for a meager price of one Paw Print! That could really help out in the lunch rush. Speaking of lunch, she also lets you eat outside for two Paws. One Paw gets you time on the computer. It's like a GBS Wal-Mart!

Ms. Kebler is the health teacher here at GBS. She has some really great deals on exotic items you've never heard of such as...

iPod-shaped erasers! Going for five Paw Prints! They look really cool.

Crayons! Need an extra one to complete your crayon box? They cost three Paws.

Bouncy balls for three paw prints as well.

You could also get a little eraser or a pencil for one Paw. No more borrowing pencils!

A slinky, the object of wonder since a very long time ago. They climb down stairs.

That's it for Ms. Kebler's room! Check again every now and again for updates!

Still don't see anything you like? Don't worry! There are plenty more opportunities to blow your money in other classrooms. Just look around! Some teachers haven't thought of a good selection of merchandise yet, but will have items up for sale soon. Happy shopping!

Cook's Corner: Chocolate chip cookies

By Andrew

You bored? Try this recipe that will wake your taste buds up because these are the best chocolate cookies around.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then mix these ingredients together in a large bowl with a mixer.

2 ½ cups of flour, 1 ½ sticks of butter, 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ cup sugar, 2 eggs,
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, chocolate chips.

Cook for 23 minutes if your cooking the batter all at once but if your cooking round cookies cook them for 10 minutes each then let it cool for approximately 10 minutes on a cooling tray.

This recipe is delicious! Once you've taken a bite out of them you can't stop. They'll be gone within a day if not less. Then everyone who ate them will want more.

Info about our principal, Mr.West

By Andrew

Hello everyone who is reading this interview. This is a special interview because the one whose being interviewed is Mr. West!

Mr. West has been the principal at G.B.S for three years and has started his fourth. He has never had another position at Great Brook School and he likes his job as principal. His favorite teacher was Mr. Rouga who taught 10^th grade English and Mr. Wests dream job is to be an English teacher. He graduated from New England college and he went to University of Connecticut.

The sports Mr. West played was soccer and tennis. His favorite sport was tennis and his least favorite sport was football.

Mr. West has never dyed his hair pink but would do it for a good cause. If he had a choice of color to dye his hair he would dye it orange.

Thank you for looking at the first ever Interview for the Bobcats Meow. We will have more interviews in the future so keep on looking at our site.

Basketball with Mr. K and Mr. Baldwin!

Basketball is for kids in 6^th- 8^th grade and basketball will be after school. Basketball is a sport that involves a ball that you bounce, 1to try to get points by shooting the ball into the hoop. When basketball will start is sometime next week and will be with Mr. K and Mr. Baldwin in the gym.

Mr. K and Mr. Baldwin are doing basketball because they love doing sports with kids. They think that sports are good for you. Mr. K and Mr. B have been doing basketball ever since I came to G.B.S .

I think basketball is cool because you stay active and have fun. Also a reminder cheerleading is starting the 1^st or 2^nd week of November so keep listing at the announcements in the morning. Anyway back to basketball, Mr. K and Mr. Baldwin are getting uniforms ready for next week and the week after that. So keep listening for information about these upcoming events.