The 4 most wacky Activities Done by G.B.S. Students Over April Vacation!

by Colin Brinkley

So, did everyone enjoy April vacation? What are somethings you did? Were they fun, exciting, sad (I hope not!), or even just plain out weird? Well, what this is all about, The 4 most interesting, wacky, weird, or silly things done by our local G.B.S. Students!

Number 4: Cameron Ibach called his friend, who lives all the way down in Illinois, that he met in a game called LittleBigPlanet! [Editor's note: Please see disclaimer at bottom of page!]

Number 3: Jamie Ammon played game called Narnia, based on the hit movie, with 7 other girls!

Number 2: Austin Stacy was watching daycare children. He said a word, and all of them kept on repeating it over and over!

And... what you have probably been waiting for... put your Bobcat paws together for...

Number 1: Jack Vance had seen a man on the street singing Frosty the Snowman!

If you did anything interesting, wacky, weird, or silly things that was not put here, I am sure your friends would love to here about them, if I did not put them in. But congratulations to the kids who are in here! You had SUCH a weird vacation!

*The Bobcat's Meow does not endorse calling strangers! Ask your parents before exchanging any personal info with people you meet online!

Football's Back!

By: Matthew C Davis

Football's back in 6th grade! On April 26th, at recess, we got the nice surprise of being able to play football. 

Mr. Ketchum was waiting for us to get outside. All the footballers met Mr. Ketchum in the new field for football. He explained all the new rules then we started playing.

Kevin Foley said, “Football's fun, but I dislike the new rules.”
The new rules for 6th grade football are pretty different.
1.No contact
2.Flags not 2-hand touch
3.Ten yards for one first down
4.Only five players on each team
5.Others will be subs
6.Subs go in after every four plays

The reason we lost football in the first place was because we played too hard and tackled. After that, some students met with Mr. Elder and Mr. West. They told Mrs. Ketchum to have students write out some new rules and she would show them at the teachers meeting.  The other 6th grade teachers accepted the rules. The next day in class Mrs. Ketchem told us that after the upcoming April vacation, we could play football at recess.
Eli Rokes said, “ It was worth the effort!” If we follow the rules, we can all keep playing.

To this day, I play football just like 10 to 20 others!

The All-State Music Festival

By Emmasae Hallen

Saturday, May 15, 2010, eleven lucky students were chosen to go to the All-State Music Festival. Unfortunately 4 student didn't go because of the funeral of the loving Bekah L. Warren.

So what is All-State? All-State is a concert that a few kids from band, chorus and orchestra in each school are chosen to go to. Each musical group will get kids from in the Southwest District in NH. Hundreds of students go and play the songs they are assigned. This year we have some GREAT musicians. Here are the students.....

Band: Ben Wescott (8), Baritone Sax
Tyler Aborn (8), Tenor Sax
Emmasae Hallen (8), Baritone Horn
Joe Edwards (8), Trumpet
Alternate:
Beth Cheaney (8), Alto Sax (didn't go)

Chorus: Sally Paquette (8), Soprano
Nicole Tatro (8), Soprano (didn't go)
Liz Durgin (8), Alto (didn't go)
Ty Doncaster (8), Bass
Joel Barwood (7), Bass

Orchestra: Timothy Hollingsworth (8), Violin (didn't go)

What does alternate mean? Beth Cheaney is the only alternate this year. An alternate is if a musician does not show up or if they can't go the alternate will go instead. Beth is doing this because she went last year as well. But, she didn't go anyway because of the funeral. Beth said, "I went last year and I had a good time, so I went to the funeral instead this year."

What music did they play? Each musical group plays different music.

Band- Grizzly Bear Rag, A Day at the Zoo, Normandy Beach
Chorus- Cantante Domino, Jubilant Song, As Long as I Have Music, United We Stand
Orchestra- Blue Fire Fiddles, Bossa Verde, Rondeau, Hungarian Dance No.5

They played for 6 hours on Saturday, then they had their concert! "I had so much fun that I didn't want to leave!" Joel Barwood said. They did an amazing job and they all had a blast! "They sounded awesome! I can't wait till next year to hear them play," said Ms. Moran. 

Great job All-State kids!

Independence Can Be Fun!!!

by Jt Clough

What is a independent study project? And where do you make them? Independent study project is a project that you work on by yourself or with an adult that you know. The independent project has to be very creative. Some of the projects already done are a sculpture out of cardboard and paper, a painting, collage and a bag made of CapriSun pouches!

The independent study projects are made in Ms. Bando's room. Students only make them in 7 and 8th grade.The independent study projects are really fun but they require a lot of work. Ms. Bando gives you ideas and supplies for your project. She encourages you to think outside the box. 

 

Ms. Bando said, “There is no common project, everything is different”. She says she loves seeing the potential in the kids. Ms. Bando gives the kids 8 weeks to do the project. Most of the kids get their projects done in 4 to 30 hours. One of the most creative things Ms. Bando has seen was a sculpture made out of gas cans. An 8^th grader, Emmasae Hallen said “ I liked them because they are challenging”. Another 8^th grader Liz Chase said, “ I liked them because it gives you a chance to make stuff you don't make in school”. 

 

Kids make all of these amazing things and they actually like doing this. They love making paintings, sculptures and everything in between. Now you know what an independent study project is.

Victory At Mount Monadnock

by Angela LaFave

Imagine trying to balance on the top of a mountain while 60-mph winds buffet you from all sides. Picture battling winds that can knock down a 200-pound grown man. That's exactly what happened on Thursday, April 29, when the eighth graders who stayed back from Washington DC had a memorable trip. We hiked Mt. Monadnock, which, at 3,165 feet tall, is the second most climbed mountain in the world.

The trail we took was called the White Dot Trail, which is shorter, yet steeper than its parallel trail, the White Cross Trail. There were many steep cliffs and walls we had to climb. Sometimes the cliffs were smooth from water runoff, and those were very difficult to scale.

As we neared the top, many were exhausted from carrying backpacks up the steep parts of the trail. Luckily, we had plenty of water and snacks to go around.
The terrain was getting rockier and much more slippery. Since it had snowed the previous day, there was a steady stream of water trickling slowly down from the summit, covering most of the footholds in cold water. We had to be careful not to slip as the climb grew steeper. A strong wind blew, which knocked some off balance. The wind was a dangerous enemy for those balancing precariously on narrow cliffs. Luckily nobody was hurt.

We were stopping to take a break when a man walked past, panting. The man was more than twice my weight. He said, “I was there for about a half hour but the wind was really throwing me around up there, so I came down.” This news caused most of the remaining hikers to turn back, leaving only me and my dad. We were exhausted after taking turns carrying the backpack, but we were determined with less than a mile to go. The wind knocked us over several times, and sometimes we accidentally stepped in small pools of water, unable to see the ground through the inch-thick blanket of pure white snow. However aggressive the traction on our shoes, it didn't matter because they were wet with slush.

We were supposed to turn back at 11:30, and it was 11:29. But the summit was in view, so near yet so far. Determined to reach it, we climbed faster up the steep rock face. Everyone who had made it was walking past. The “caboose” (Ms. Brown, guidance counselor) was right there in front, and you weren't supposed to go behind her.

This was it. We hadn't made it to the top. I turned around, defeated and exhausted.

Then Ms. Brown said, “Hey, the summit's right there if you want to keep going.”

When I heard those hopeful words, all the adrenaline rushed back and I sprinted for a few yards until I came to a steep chunk of rock with no footholds. It was surrounded by two walls of stone. With my back against one wall and my feet planted on the other, I crab-walked straight up the cliff.

Within minutes I was at the summit. I surveyed my surroundings, feeling triumphant. It was a beautiful view; the lavender mountains in the distance, the lush green of the golf courses, and the sparkling blue lakes. I could see every car on the highway below, and our school bus parked miles away – a tiny yellow line amongst thousands of miles of view. It was a beautiful day. The sky was blue, streaked with white clouds that were lined with golden sunlight. “Okay,” my dad said. “This has to be way better than DC.”

A wild gust of wind came out of nowhere and knocked me flat on my back. I quickly stood back up and positioned myself so that the next gust of wind wouldn't do the same as the last one. When the next gust came, I stood my ground. Tiny chips of rock and glass struck my face. I stumbled over to a flat rock and crouched behind it, where the wind couldn't do any more damage. After a few quick snapshots my dad followed, along with Ms. Brown.

We were ready to climb back down. Panting, my dad said, “I think going back down is even more difficult than climbing up!” All the twisted ankles we endured on the way up came back at once when pressure was focused on them.

It took less time to get down, but it seemed like an eternity of pain and strained muscles. Finally we reached the spring, which was a meeting point for all of us. Everyone around me was exhausted, even the people who hadn't even reached the halfway point. I asked how far my friend had made it. “I was within 100 yards of the summit, and I am exhausted!!” she boasted. She told me where she stopped and turned around... which was more like a mile from the summit.

The next day, most people who climbed the mountain were absent. All the people who did go to school that day went around Antrim to pick up trash.

Out of 20 who stayed behind from DC, only 14 actually tried to climb the mountain. Out of 14 climbers, only 3 boys and 2 girls made it to the summit. So, congratulations to:
Corrine Frosch
Sean Campbell
Aaron Lakus
Storm England
and me.

Anybody who hasn't climbed Mt. Monadnock should at least try. It's a big challenge, a beautiful view, plus bragging rights!

FUN FACT: There are many people, young and old, who set aside time to climb the mountain every day!

Dragon Aid (the Play with the Fiery Kick)

by Arielle Garner &
Emma Kendall

Did you see the play Dragon Aid? What did you think of it? The play was about a prince who turned into a dragon. 16 years later, the sister finds out her older brother is the dragon and he's in cahoots with the fake knight who is trying to marry her!

There were about 35 people preforming the play. We started practicing it on March 17th then we performed the play at the town hall in Antrim on May 16th and May 17th. We felt very rushed but it turned out great. Kids from GBS in the script writing class had written the entire play. Another group of kids in the costume design class had made, bought, found and borrowed every thing that was needed to put all the costumes, including the big dragon. Here are some comments of what people thought of the play:

''Back stage was really fun and I liked hearing the audience cheer.” said Arielle Garner.


"It was exciting to be able to be a part of the play. It was awesome to be able get up on stage'' said Emma Kendall.

"I thought it was pretty fun. I liked performing in it'' said Brittany Labatt.

''I thought it was astounding! The actors where fantastic and the script writers and costume design did a great job'' said Mrs. Ketchum.

The play seemed to be a big hit! Everyone liked it. Everyone in the play enjoyed being a part of it as well. And the costume designers scriped writers did a fabulous job on evry thing.

Marching Band Is Marching on!

By Liz Chase

Marching band is when the concert band marches in different towns each year. The three towns we march in are Bennington, Antrim and Hancock. This years Memorial Day Parade is in Hancock. Mrs. Moncrief told us that we are going to get shirts that are red and we have to wear them with black shorts (if its hot out!).Also you need good marching shoes, and drink plenty of WATER and sun block and bug spray is required.!!!

What is marching band you ask?. Marching band is for all 6^th- 8^th concert band students. If you would like to do marching band you need a permission slip from Mrs. Moncrief and your lyre, a lyre is sheets that hold your music so it doesn't fall out while your marching. If you do not have a lyer you need to tell Mrs. Moncrief A.S.A.P! Because she is putting in orders for them very soon.

On Tuesday May 25^th there will be an after school rehearsal for marching band from 2:30-4:00. On May 3,1 for the Memorial Day Parade, all marching band students must be at the Hancock elementary school at 1:30 to warm up, then the parade will start at 2:00. Mrs. Moncrief says that, '' I have been doing this for years now, and I think that all the students will remember this for awhile.'' 8^th grader and flutist Daviana Penny says '' I love doing band and chorale''. Also 8^th grader flutist Katrina Manalouise says '' I like band, but sometimes it's really hard with the notes.'' I am a flutist myself and I have been doing marching band for three years now. So, a reminder, there is marching practice on Tuesday the 25^th. So come march with us, if it's too late, join next year.

Students of Excellence

By: Matt Davis

At 7:30 AM on Friday, April 2^nd there was an assembly. There were a couple things that happened at that assembly. I'm writing about the students of excellence portion. 

 

Students of Excellence is a way of pointing out the students the excel in academics. Mrs. Ketchum keeps track of it. She has all the lists of previous assemblies. You can earn a excellence certificate from showing craftsmanship, academic achievement or citizenship. Each grade has a teacher who selects 5 or 6 students from there grade. The fifth grade teacher is Mrs. Bigford, sixth is Mrs. Ketchum. For 7^th grade it's Ms. Leclerc and Ms. Darling for eighth. There is even a teacher for specials. That's is Mrs. Moran.

For this assembly's Students of Excellence there was a couple kids from each grade. Here's a list of the names:

Fifth grade – Dexter Ingalls, Michael Belliveau, Joshua Fowler and John Hardwick.

Sixth grade – Allison Fife, Michael Whitney, Courtney Lowe, Chance Brekka, Makenzie Christiansen, Russell Warren and Jordan Robertson.

Seventh grade – Jamie Ammon, Shauna Myers, Dominique Tarr, Matt Metzemaekers and Shauna Driscoll.

Eighth grade – Shania Langlois, Daviana Penny, Kelsea Colburn and Jesse Edwards.

That's all the students of excellence from April 2^nd!

GBS Play This Weekend!

Come see Dragon-Aid, The Flavor with the Fiery Kick! this Sunday, May 16th @ 2pm at the Antrim Town Hall!

It stars some of our own journalists, as well as many other GBS students

Costumes, set crew and scriptwriting done by our own GBS students as well!

Exchange City

By Julia Cooper

Exchange City finally came for the 6^th graders on May 12, 2010. 6^th graders had to learn a lot of things before they go to Exchange City. For example how you interviewed for a job – everyone looks at a list with all of the jobs on it and choose your 3 favorite, then you interview for them. Some of the jobs are Policeman / Policewoman, DJ, Reporter, Mayor, Judge, Health Care person and others. You pretend you are a towns person and try things to make items sell for your business.

Some items are ‘hot’ so they sell faster because everyone wants it. ‘Not hot’ items sell slower because no one wants it. You might try to lower your price so that people will buy it. Because of that you have to choose a good price for things so you make a profit and sell the item.

You also learn how to make a check, deposit money, endorse a check, ands how to write all of this down in your checking account. You can only go to Exchange City one day in 6^th grade. Exchange City is on 25 Granite Street in Portsmouth NH. When the 6^th graders go to Exchange City they will get paid for the job they do in Exchange City money. You will get paid twice and be able to have a time to shop around and buy things from other shops.

According to the Exchange City Website, “Students will: Create job resumes and job applications, Have real job interviews, Become part of a business team, Develop a business plan, Develop a marketing plan, Make materials purchases, Produce real products, Price real products and services, Market real products and services, Calculate payroll expenses, Take on business accounting services, Use a personal checkbook, Make bank or credit union deposits and Make bank or credit union withdrawals.”

“Students and their businesses also: Fill out a business loan application, Take out a business bank loan, Write radio advertisements, Write newspaper advertisements, Design business signs and logos, Create business slogans, Pay taxes, Pay utilities, Pay rent, Repay commercial bank loans, and Make payroll.”

I talked to a few people in 6^th grade to see how they felt about Exchange City.

“[It] is really an incredible hand’s on experience [and] is one of the best ways for kids to learn about economics” Ms. Rice said.

“My favorite part [of Exchange City] is to watch students to do their jobs and to shine in ways they do not in the class room,” Ms. Rice stated. “I love [Exchange City] but it is a long and exhausting day [for the students],” Ms. Rice added.

“I think it’s was fun because we acted like adults. It think it also help us understand economics better. I hope every 6^th grade gets to do this it, was so fun! ” Anonymous exclaimed.

“I thought that it was a lot of fun because we got work/act like adults for a day. Now I know what its like to be a adult.” Another anonymous person announced.

I hope all the 6^th graders had fun!!