DT Feb 2022

Dragon Tales

INSIDE THIS “The only place where success
ISSUE: comes before work is in the
dictionary.”—Vince Lombardi
General
News ISSUE 226

All Around School

Sports

Just for Kids

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Entertainment

Horoscopes
Much More...

In The Benefits and Future of CT Scans
The Author: Maahishee M. Patel
CT images are when x-rays surround the human body to shoot beams of radiation through blood,
bones, and tissue. Different parts and materials absorb that light in different amounts. Then, the
computer system measures the amount of light each part of your body absorbs, and provides an
image of what’s inside your body and how much light was absorbed by different parts.
These CT images have provided doctors the ability to search for different tumors, heart diseases,
blood clots, and even fractures within the human body. This allows surgeons to better understand
what they will be facing inside their patient, guiding them treatment for many diseases and even
cancer. The CT scan is so accurate that surgeons say that each of the parts that they perform sur-
gery on look exactly like the CT scan shown before it, showing how much it can prepare surgeons
for what they will be handling. This CT scan was first used for the brain but then developed to be
used for the lungs and now, it is used for any parts in animals and humans.

N

E The good thing about CT scans is not only how much it helps surgeons with images within the
W body, but it also emits rays of light that are less harmful to the body. I don’t know if you know
S this, but the lights that are emitted from x-rays aren’t good for the skin or for the body. This is
why x-rays aren’t taken unless a doctor knows there is something wrong with the patient’s body.
The CT scans made the lights that it uses become less harmful for the body while still providing
clear images.
These scans are predicted to be used in the future but a problem is arising. Researchers believe
that physicians are using CT scans too much. By conducting extra CT scans, it can cause extra
findings that are useless at the moment, and cause stress because a new problem is discovered to
worry about. This may cause physicians to stray from their original purpose of the CT scan and
can disrupt their focus. But CT scans will not be banned or taken away because of their powerful
use in the medical field. CT scans are even used now to research and collect information about
COVID-19.

TEENAGER PHONE RELATIONSHIPS

Is your screen time obnoxiously high? Like 7+ hours daily?
It is common to see teens with high screen times, and
many adults have questioned why this is. Although the
reasons can vary from teen to teen, many have such an
attachment to their cellphones for emotional reasons. In
some cases, a teen may feel that online friends understand
them better than anyone else in their lives. In other cases,
the teen feels more understood on social media. Whatever
the reason, there should be no judgement towards the teen
if having a phone around helps ease the pressure on their
life. Teens having a higher screen time is something that
should be accepted.

By: Hailey Randall

Space used to be something that was out of reach, but now there are ways —if you have the money—to
explore and see the unknown. In the future, the plans are endless for your travels to space. By 2027, John
Blincow, with Orbital Assembly Corporation, is planning to open a luxury space hotel to the world. It is being
called a Voyager Station and will hold a maximum capacity of 280 guests and 112 crew members. This hotel will
look like a cruise ship that will float above the Earth’s atmosphere.

The rooms are in a modern time fashion with comfortable furniture and a great view of outer space.
People will be able to stay in it due to the simulation of gravity that the hotel is obtaining. But the price is deadly.
At a whopping $250,000 per person and trip! Now this is an adventure that will be unforgettable.
By:Payton Genco

IMPACT IN SCHOOL
By Jordan Anderson
It has become very evident over the years that school has a huge impact
on the mental health of students. At times, it is extremely stressful. I
think that almost everyone I know has had a hard time at some point in
their lives with school work. Assignments can be especially difficult to
finish when you procrastinate. It’s very challenging for people who pro-
crastinate to get their work done on time. They have to manage their
schedules very
specifically if they want to get things done before the day is over. Some-
times finishing assignments can result in tears because of either confu-
sion or lack of time. This is why it’s good to take breaks sometimes
when you’ve earned them. I know that staying home from school causes
you to miss work but sometimes a break is well needed. It’s also hard to
get homework completed when you want to do other things, but when
you finish, you feel so relieved. Even when you have other assignments
that need to be completed and you’re stuck on one of them. It can be
extremely frustrating and could potentially cause mental issues. I feel
that the most effective solution to too much school work is little vacations
to clear your mind.

10 WAYS TO HELP ANXIOUS STUDENTS
By Paige Hamidy

7.1 percent of children from ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with anxiety! With
symptoms such as trouble concentrating, an upset stomach, or sleeplessness,
anxiety can be one of the most challenging things a kid could go through. Although
with practice, kids can learn to slow down their anxious brains, and we can learn to
help them. These 10 things will help lessen your anxiety:

• Practice deep breathing
• Take a break and go outside
• Talk openly about anxiety
• Get kids moving
• Try walking and talking
• Focus on the positive by having students keep a

gratitude journal
• Remind kids to eat healthy and stay well
• Share a story with your students.
• Create a space where kids can express their anxiety
• Offer individual accommodations

Video Games Sharpen Focus
By Jordan Anderson
Humans have a tendency to constantly think the worst of technology and that
isn’t true. Technology has so many benefits that some people are too blind to see. For
example, video games can help people with their ability to focus, almost like chess. It
sounds weird to say that video games are helpful because of how much hate they
receive but they have so much potential. When you’re playing video games you tend
to zone everything out and focus on your main objective. When you play a game
where you need to shoot, aim is key. Therefore, all you’re worried about is making
sure that your shots are lined up perfectly. In a game I play called Overwatch, a char-
acter named Widowmaker requires great aim because she’s a sniper. After a bunch of
practice, I’ve improved with my ability to focus on her aim. Games that require good
aim could potentially lead to advancing your skills on focusing. In some video games,
there are puzzles that you have to solve. For example, Human Fall Flat is a game that
forces you to use your brain to advance to the next stage. The little puzzles will force
you to think. This can really help people who struggle with focusing on things such as
school work. The only thing you need to think about before playing video games is
keeping control of how much time you play them. Some people only see the bad and
don’t understand that these games are beneficial for your mental skills, especially your
focus.

Mr. Boss from Seabrook, Mrs. Davis from Moore, and Mrs.
Mazza from Woodruff all got their classes together for an
afternoon of Valentine's Day fun. They had stations that the
students rotated around from shooting "Cupid's arrow"
taped to a balloon, building a marshmallow tower, or using
conversation hearts as dominoes. This is the third time that
the classes got together. They also get together for a Thanks-
giving feast and Christmas cookie decorating.

The month of February is nationally recognized as Black History Month, a
month dedicated to exploring the stories and accomplishments of
African Americans throughout U.S. history. Mr. Weist’s 8th grade
students acknowledged all the individuals who made a difference in
world by researching, documenting, and making posters.

Slope Design
By: Patrick Haley

In Mr. Riskie’s class, the students represent their learning by drawing or
printing excellent slope projects. The projects had to have the following to
receive credit: a title to spark up your thinking and identification of all 4
types of slope on a graph. The types of slope are the following: positive,
negative, undefined, and zero. The next part of the assignment was to in-
clude a catchy phrase to go with the name of each type of slope. The com-
pleted picture needed to be colored and go with the theme. Lastly, the stu-
dents had to write a paragraph on the back of the picture. The paragraph
had to contain answers to the following questions:

What is a slope?
What are the 4 types of slope?
What does each type of slope look like?
What are 2 different ways to find your slope?
These requirements didn’t restrain the students' creativity, in fact they
pushed it to an extreme. It was amazing to see how different each project
was.

Done By: Jackson Sherry Done By: Cameron Brown

Done By: Lizzy Chu Done By: Chloe Guzman

Disney just released Encanto. For those of you that don’t know, the word encanto
means “charm” and this movie was just that—Charming. Children and adults fell in
love with songs, characters, and the story's plot. It’s a beautiful movie about self-
worth.
Blessed to live in a secret, enchanted haven, the exceptional Madrigal family has
found shelter in a secured, mountainous kingdom in Colombia beaming with color
and kindness. However, as the mystical power of an unnoticed artifact gives its resi-
dents supernatural gifts, Mirabel has yet to receive her distinct talent. But when an
unpredictable, terrible crisis puts the future of the community in jeopardy, it is up to
Mirabel to step up and try to save the day.
All-in-all, the movie is amazing and you should definitely watch it at least once.

By: Hannah Smith

Encanto has a vibrant soundtrack that became a viral phenomenon. The film’s open-
ing song, “The Family Madrigal,” is a buoyant introduction to the Madrigals and their
magical gifts. The songs pull from traditional and contemporary influences. The
soundtrack celebrates Colombia’s rich and diverse musical traditions while also fea-
turing its brightest starts performing the hits.
Even Tik Tok can’t get enough. Encanto has found its own platform to discuss
character theories, dance numbers, and connect with characters. With that said,
#ENCANTO has been viewed more than 8.9 billion times on the social media plat-
form.

Woodruff’s Dragons have had a long season for both boys and girls, and here are
the highlights of the season. The boys had a trying season but worked hard. They
ended with a 3-7 record overall. Their most memorable team moments were inter-
esting. Joshua Bodine stated, “Pace launched the ball to Trevor for a three pointer
with only three seconds left”, while both Jaden Pierce and Deshawn Williams ex-
pressed, “Khalif’s half court shot.” I personally believe that the best moment came
from Yadiel Casano and Aden Pace who stated, “First team win against Myron
Powell.”
Meanwhile, the female Dragons had an almost flawless season with a final record
of 8-2. The entire team could agree that their most memorable moment was Addi-
son Weist's thirty point game. Their greatest margin of win was 20 with a final
score of 38-18.
Even though the girls dominated the boys this season, both teams tried their best
and had fun and that’s all that really matters.

By: Kamiya Gibson



What did you believe when you were

“That the little piggy that went to the market
was not going shopping”

Mrs. Anderson

“When I was a little girl and would get into
mischief my parents would tell me that they
were going to trade me in for a new model.
I believed that there was a little kid trading
store where parents could get newer kids if
they wanted to”

Mrs. Metzger

“I believed as a kid that if I ate the seeds of
an apple, that an apple tree would start
growing inside of me.”

Mr. Van Dongen

a child that turned out to not be true ?

As an inexperienced youth, my parents brain-
washed me into thinking that going to college and
getting a degree was the primary way to be
"successful" in life. Now, as an adult, I see that you
can earn more money and have more self-
fulfillment by skipping university study, opting for
trade school. Had I known this when I was young-
er, I may have become a carpenter or electrician to
help people with their homes. That way, I could
charge whatever I want and have happy clients. Oh
well, you live, you learn.

Mr. Zappasodi

“I always thought the word ‘what’ was a
curse word growing up. When I would re-
spond to my mom and say this word, she
would yell at me and say—’Don’t you ever
say that word to me!! Over the years, I find
myself not liking that word either.”

Ms. Lawson

“My sisters used to tell me that if I ate too
many potato chips I would get worms in
my stomach. It wasn’t till later I realized
that they just wanted the potato chips
for themselves.” Mr. Frio

The Benefits of Reading

The art of reading is a complex subject that every human learns and masters. Reading has been proven to
help the brain in multiple ways. The list is long and goes back to B.C times but here's just a few:

1– Stimulates brain development. This pattern builds pathways in the brain and transforms into language,
literacy, and social-emotional skills that have life long benefits.

2. Reading to infants and toddlers has been proven to encourage babies to look, touch, and to ask questions.
This helps build social and thinking skills.

3. Reading to a fetus in the womb promotes brain activity.

4. Reading has also been proven to help mental health.

5. Helps build vocabulary

6, Helps minimize stress Written by: Kamiya Gibson

Should people be able to ban the classics?

Books of any subject shouldn’t be banned. Books help kids develop basic language skills, as well as communica-
tion. It may even sometimes help kids “escape” from reality. Books contain imagination and fantasy that helps
with children’s stress, and contains facts that help better the reader’s knowledge. This also applies to the classi-
cal books. They are no different from any other book that provides knowledge, imagination, and freedom. Clas-
sical books provide very deep moral stories, and provide the future as well as current kids with the knowledge
of the past. Not only do they hold the past, but also words of meaning and inspiration.
Different organizations, including the American Library association, are the ones that decide the bans of books.
After many debates and discussion, they are thinking of banning some of the great classical books. The most
known reason as to why they are banning most classical books is because of their profanity, as well as inappro-
priate language and/or scenes. This I can not agree with. There are many movies, comic books, adult and young
adult books that contain inappropriate language as well as disturbing scenes. According to Publishing Crawl,
there are many Young Adult books that contain inappropriate scenes, yet they are not the ones being banned.
There are movies and books that have disturbing content yet they choose to ban just classical books even though
classical books hold more meaning! It sounds absurd. The reason as to the ban of classical books makes no sense
as the content and words that they ban them for are also used in many other genres of books. Not only that, but
if classical books don’t want to be seen by younger children because of it’s content, then they shouldn’t ban it
entirely but restrict it for young adults instead.
Banning classical books is too extreme, it holds knowledge of the past, as well as great wisdom that should be
spread, especially during the present.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Here is a list of the classics:

• How to Kill a Mockingbird- Use of the N-word and other racial statements plus sexual content
How to kill a mockingbird teaches you respect for the elderly, confrontation and teaches you about the
past. Besides how relatable this book is, it also can teach you some life lessons as well as reasons for the
world’s actions.

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- language and depiction of African Americans
This great novel explores the morals and situations of the main character, teaching the reader of tensions
in racism, inequality, as well as hardships. It also harbors some of the morals that have evolved today,
showing the different changes and similarities we have gone through.

• Of Mice and Men- use of profanity
This book holds great importance as it shows the dangers of believing in dreams, having a more realistic
approach, helping teach the readers that not all dreams can be achieved. It also teaches the values of
friendship and companionship, so it isn’t entirely such an obscene book, as it does contain some positive
influence.

• The Catcher in the Rye- citing a plot that is based around ‘negative actions’
This book inspires young readers to read more after reading this interesting book. Not only that but it
also portrays to struggles of growing up and how you may be able to handle them. Reading the struggles
of another man helps teach lessons to the reader.

Article and explanations by: Maahishee.M.Patel

The new craze is the online word game
called Wordle.

Wordle was invented by a developer from
Brooklyn for his sweetheart. The creator’s
last name was Wardle, so the game was
named after him.

Wordle looks a lot like classic code-
breaking, color-coded board games like
Mastermind, but it is even easier to play.
Sponsored by The New York Times, every
day a new mysterious five-letter word must
be guessed. You have six chances to get
the word but strategies are used to make
that happen.

Nerdle is the math version of Wordle. Nerdle is a numbers-based game in which players ar-
range different series of numbers to complete the puzzle.

The game was created in the UK by Richard Mann after discussing the abundance of read-
ing games vs. the absence of creative math ones. After developing Nerdle, his son worked
out the 17,723 valid solutions.

If you are a math fan, you may want to put your brain to work and try Nerdle. It is complex
and very thought provoking but you will love it.

Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies:

To make these delicious walnut cookies, preheat the
oven to 350 degrees. Mix together 1 cup of softened butter, 1 cup
of white sugar, 1 cup of packed brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2
teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons
of hot water, ½ teaspoon of salt, 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 2
cups semisweet chocolate chips, and 1 cup of walnuts. Spoon on-
to a cookie sheets small balls. Lastly, bake them in the oven for 10
minutes until the edges are a light brown. There you have it, a perfect treat!

Homemade Potato Chips:

Homemade potato chips are an easy 4 step snack. First, wash
and peel your potatoes, however many you please. Second,
slice the potatoes thinly and put them on a plate. Then add salt.
Lastly, microwave them then for 3-5 minutes depending on how
crispy you want them to be. Now you have a delicious and
satisfying snack!

Vanilla Funfetti Mug Cake:

To make this mouth watering mug cake, mix together all-purpose
flour, white sugar, baking powder, a dash of salt, butter, milk,
vanilla, and sprinkles. Put mixture in a mug, then microwave it
for 70-90 seconds.

Picture done by : Chloe Guzman

Sagittarius- Nov.22- Dec.20: Money magic is on the cards, there is a

flow of abundance around you and helping you create the life you have always
imagined for yourself. So, stay committed to your goals and show up for what you
love even on the days you’re not feeling the flow.

Capricorn- Dec. 22-Jan. 19: Beating around the bush is so last sea-

son. This chapter of your life requires you to be the most honest and authentic
version of yourself with yourself and others. So, express your desires freely.

Aquarius- Jan. 20- Feb. 18: An enhanced feeling of determination

could motivate you today. Finish the things that aren't complete and make some
plans for this evening. Don't hesitate to take on something that feels complicated
or big. Chances are you'll be able to handle most anything and it will feel great
when it's finished. Enjoy your day by making the most of opportunity.

Pisces- Feb. 19- Mar. 20: If your lifestyle is considerably different than

that of others, resist feeling self-conscience about it today, Pisces. Try to remem-
ber that you chose the life you have for specific reasons. Even if you've come to a
point where you’re considering a change, there’s no need to feel badly, ashamed,
or embarrassed about where you are now. Everyone has to make his or her own
way. If this conforms to the norm, that's fine. If it doesn't, that's fine, too.

Aries- Mar. 21-Apr. 19: Dare to be different. It can be so easy to fall into a

drill. Sleeping at the same time, eating at the same time, wearing the same style,
and going about work the same way day after day. Before you know it, you feel
like you're in a rut. The only way to get away from this is to make a decision to
break free by doing something unique.

Taurus– Apr. 20-May 20: Feeling the effects of today's energies? Take

heart if this is the case, because the end of the tunnel isn't as far away as it
seems. Do your best to take things one step at a time and see about making some
plans for a little fun this evening. Get together with friends or take in a movie.

Gemini- May 21-June 20: Consider making some plans for a vacation or

short getaway. Looking forward to something fun can make even the toughest of days
far easier to handle. You'll be amazed how much you can manage when there's an end
in plain sight. Your entire attitude can lighten. So take the bull by the horns and create
an incentive for yourself.

Cancer- June 21-July 22: See about using your good relationships with

friends and loved ones today to get some group activities going. Chances are you'll feel
pretty good and the idea of socializing will appeal to you. Do whatever it takes to have
some fun and get some fresh air today.

Leo- July 24-Aug. 23: Friends seeking advice or a shoulder to cry on could be

plentiful today. You're one of best people to give them the support and care they need.
Just be sure that you don't give so much to others that you don't have anything left for
yourself.

Virgo-Aug. 24-Sep. 22: Getting through today shouldn't pose too big a problem

for you, Virgo. You may feel a huge second wind that can give you the drive and deter-
mination to see your chores and projects through. Make some plans for this evening,
such as getting together with friends or taking in an event that really intrigues you. Un-
til then, go about your tasks bit by bit. You'll get things finished before you know it.

Libra- Sept. 23-Oct. 22: Love matters may seem to be far worse than they real-

ly are, Libra. Emotion runs high as your current love interest seems preoccupied and
uncommunicative; however, it wouldn't be a good idea to let your insecurities get the
best of you and lash out. Bite your tongue, be patient, and hang in there.

Scorpio- Oct. 23-Nov. 21: Is your imagination brimming over with ideas for

new projects? Are you drawing upon old memories for inspiration? Your past can be a
very good resource; however, today you may find that some of these recollections
make you feel more emotional than you should. Let them all go. This is a necessary re-
lease. Channeling your feelings into creative work could prove cathartic. By the end of
the day you should feel great. Go with the flow.

Drawing Done By: Mohagany Spencer

Jordan Anderson Peyton Genco

Kamiya Gibson Chloe Guzman
Patrick Haley Paige Hamidy
Molly McGuigan Maahishee Patel
Hailey Randall Mohagany Spencer
Hannah Smith

Congratulations to our nurse, Mrs. Steiner, on her retirement. Thank
you for everything that you have done for our district and continue to
do daily for our students. You will be greatly missed.

Just a reminder of important dates:

March 16 Book Fair
March 17 Happy St. Patrick’s Day
March 25 Career Day!!

April 1 April Fool’s Day
April 14, 15, 18 Spring Break