THE OMS CHRONICLE VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1
EDITORIAL TEAM
STAFF BIOS
WESLEY
SANDS
CATE HARPER
RHEA BREWER
Creative Director, Creative Writer, and Artist for The OMS Chronicle
5’5…
Uhm
I like to play instruments :)
And
play archery in my free time
Spends
most of the time reading manga, watching Netflix, playing bedwars with Skilla
MARSHELLE RODGERS
SKILLA
AGUILAR
EVAN HARRING
I’m Evan Harring. I’m 12 years old, and I’m the Creative Director of The OMS Chronicle. I play basketball and do AAU.
MRS.
EGAN
MESSAGE FROM THE FACULTY ADVISOR
Greetings
to the OMS Community!
I would like to let you know that our student journalists are among the most creative and passionate student leaders I have encountered in our school. The OMS Chronicle is their movement, a movement that they would like to share with the community. Guided by knowledge and search for truth, our student journalists will write about their opinions on issues that affect them, write stories about people that inspire them, and create original stories that will inspire you.
The OMS Chronicle is a student-led publication. We will publish monthly and expect these pages from the staff: editorial, opinion, creative writing corner, review of places and things, teacher of the month, student of the month, faculty spotlight, MVP, coach of the month, and humor section. We are planning to feature other sections as we grow the news magazine.
I hope you will enjoy our first issue. Our student journalists worked hard to bring the first issue into fruition.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Egan
EDITORIAL BY SKILLA AGUILAR
Student voice matters because we believe that
the youth can influence the world in a positive way. Adults generally have the most
impact in leading societies. Although we hear of youth leading their
communities, this is not common. Thus, through this publication, The OMS
Chronicle, we envision to express our ideas in order to change and influence
our community.
First, through this publication, we aim to sway
public opinion on issues that are important to us. By interviewing students on
their thoughts and ideas, we provide the community with stronger reasons to
listen to us. When the community pays attention to what we feel and think about
things, it will inspire us to be more open to the community. More importantly,
it will move us to action because our voices are being heard.
Furthermore, this publication will showcase
stories that are important to us. These stories are not just ordinary stories.
They express our insights on people who matter to us. Through the stories of
the people we are featuring in our student publication, we hope to ignite in our
readers that spark to follow their positive examples. Positivity is contagious,
and that is our mission.
Lastly, this publication is starting a
movement. A leader can be anyone who puts their mind to it. We, The OMS
Chronicle, will express that there are problems in society that need to be
resolved. We want to persuade you that these so called “problems” are not a
good thing, and we need to collaborate to solve these problems. To summarize, we
want to prove that students can be leaders.
In conclusion, The OMS Chronicle wants to give students a chance for their voice to be heard, share stories that are considered vital to us, and shine a light on student leaders.
OPINION: 4-MINUTE TIME ISSUES: WHY STUDENTS SAY IT ISN'T ENOUGHBYMARSHELLE RODGERS
Imagine you’ve just been dismissed from 6th period, and you’re racing through the halls before you’re counted tardy. You get a brief glance at the other students, who appear to be in the same predicament. Pushing yourself through the crowds of kids while making a poor attempt to stay to the right, you scramble to check your phone to see how much time you have left. The blinding white numbers read: 2:06 PM. A wave of panic overcomes you, and suddenly your legs are pumping like fire. Finally, your classmates come into view, and your adrenaline quickly drains from your body. The last of the group begins to close the door, but before they can slam it in your face, and leave you an underachiever, you jam your foot under the door. Throwing yourself into the classroom, you feel relieved but exhausted.
This is the obstacle many of our Oakland Middle School students face every day. Using all our energy to make it to class on time, instead of learning in class. The passing periods are four minutes exactly, and it has been proven to be challenging to be on time when coming from another building. Especially since it is one of the only times that students can use the restroom without using a hall-pass, which uses valuable learning time, pick up anything they may have forgotten, or needed from other classrooms, or briefly communicate with students who aren’t in the same classes. Since cafeteria periods are scheduled for 1st, or 2nd lunch, talking with friends may not be an option there either. 6th graders, 7th graders, and 8th graders here at OMS have voiced their opinions on the matter.
A student, who wanted to be addressed as Lia, answers, “I personally think it is very loud and pushy. Kids tend to drop their supplies from their backpacks also, making it even messier.” Another 6th grader, who wished to remain anonymous, suggests, “I think we should bump it up to 5 minutes.” Knox G. opposes many of our students. He says that “I think we do have a good amount of time to use the restroom, talk a little, and still get to class on time.” King B. adds that “Overall, the time is fine. It usually takes me 2 minutes max to transition.”
Anna R., a 7th grader at OMS, says “It’s okay, not too short, not too long.” Tristan G., comments that “It really depends on the classes, but it would be nice if it was like 7 minutes or so.” Armando Q. adds "It's a little short.” Haley D. says that “It really depends on the distance, but it's definitely harder to manage between exploratory classes.
Gianna Wiseley, an 8th grader, tells that, “Personally, I believe that the 4-minute period between classes isn’t manageable. Some students must travel from the annex to the main building, which is a longer trip. Students tend to be late to class due to hallway traffic, or accidentally leaving their things in a previous class. Extending the amount of time to change classes can help prevent students from being tardy.” Ava A. adds “I think it’s not enough time honestly, especially if you’re coming from the other side of the school. In fact, today I was late to my math class since I was coming from the annex all the way to the end of the 8th-grade hallway.” An 8th grade student, who wished to be addressed as Corvette, tells, “In my opinion, the 4 minutes we have between classes isn’t nearly enough. Teachers suggest we use that time to use the restroom or turn in books, but if we were to come in a few minutes after, it’s considered tardy, which isn’t quite fair. I feel we should maybe get about 5-8 minutes between classes to get everything that we need to get finished done. Especially for the students who want to be productive and complete all tasks.”
The OMS Chronicle Team thinks that it is too short, and the idea of chatting with friends in-person, or just taking a quick breather from class during these times, is simply unrealistic and unachievable.
LET'S GET TO KNOW THE OMS CHRONICLE'S TEACHER OF THE MONTH: MS. PAULA SASSER, 7th GradeINTERVIEW BYCATE HARPER
The OMS Chronicle's Criteria: prepared, holds high expectations, creative, fair, displays a personal touch, cultivates a sense of belonging, compassionate, has sense of humor, respects students, forgiving, and admits mistakes
Where are you from?
Mt. Juliet, TN
Where is your family from?
My mom grew up in Gallatin, and my dad grew up in Nashville.
What college did you attend to get your degree?
I received my undergraduate in Psychology from MTSU and my Masters in Special Education from Vanderbilt.
How did you get to teaching?
Accidentally. I really clicked with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and its applications for use with children on the Autism Spectrum while at MTSU. Vanderbilt had an ABA program, but I had to also earn a master's degree in a related field to be in that program. I chose Special Education because I was able to receive grant funding and get my degree (mostly) free.
How long have you been teaching?
This is my 5th year at OMS and 8th year in education.
How do you prepare for your classes?
For classes that I co-teach, I look over the Powerpoint of the week and gather any necessary materials. For those I teach myself, I usually test kids until they hate me just a little bit and pull together activities to target any skills gaps they have.
How do you nurture you relationship in the class room?
I do my very best to be open, authentic, honest, and compassionate. I sympathize and empathize with my students. I try to make sure everyone is heard and their specific strengths are nurtured. I value what everyone brings to the table, even if they are also annoying at times. I admit when I mess up. I call kids out when they act ignorant and encourage everyone to be kind.
How do you connect with your students?
I learn who they are and support them in whatever way I can.
How do the past students, peers, or administrators describe you?
Funny, silly, determined, loving, professional, innovative, creative, smart and weird.
What is the greatest success you've had with teaching?
I taught a 5th grader all about puns. I never had a lunch without laughter for the rest of the school year.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing students today?
Social media, lack of mental and emotional support, familial stress
What is the greatest challenge facing teachers today?
Covid 19, divisive politics, Karens, ignorance
What qualities make a great teacher?
Flexibility, resilience, determination, compassion, knowledgeable, being organized
Describe your worst teaching day. What did you learn from it?
My worst teaching day was when I had a student come in with a boot mark on his face from where his caregiver had stomped on him. The kid was one that was near and dear to my heart because he was so kind to others. We had to call DCS, and he was removed from his home. He came to school a few days later and used a bag of change to buy me an eraser and another small item that was on sale from the book fair. From this, I learned that no matter how unfair or unkind life is to you, you can still choose to be kind to others.
Any questions you would like to ask us that we did not ask?
None.
LET'S GET TO KNOW THE OMS CHRONICLE'S STUDENT OF THE MONTH: JOEL LUCAS, 7TH GRADEINTERVIEW BYCATE HARPER
The OMS Chronicle's Criteria: Academic performance, character, behavior, effort, social relationships, attendance
How do you study?
I study when it’s quiet and watching anime.
How do you prioritize school and extracurricular activities?
I take school as one of my main goals.
Valuable lesson you’ve learned as a student you would like to share?
Homework makes up for a lot of my grades.
Any advice for your peers?
Don’t be afraid of anything. Be the best that you can be.
What project or assignment challenged you the most as a student?
A biomes project that has to do with an animal.
Most useful math equation or theory you learned this year?
Absolute value.
What was the longest paper you have written as a student at OMS? Who was it for? What was it about?
Telling versus showing in ELA
If you could conduct any science experiment in a class, what would it be? Do you have a hypothesis ready to go?
Elephant toothpaste and what a plant looks like without and with sun.
What was the most enjoyable book you read for school this year?
Glich which is a comic book.
Which subject do you think prepares you for after high school? Why?
Math because it helps with counting money, how much of something you need, and a whole lot of other things.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: DR. JAMIE BROWN, 8TH GRADEINTERVIEW BYEVAN HARRING, CATE HARPER, AND RHEA BREWER
Where are you from
I'm from California, and then I did high school and college in Tennessee. I moved to Smithville which is in Dekalb County. In the last five years, my husband and I and my daughter lived in Omaha, Nebraska. We're all from California, every single one of us. And we go back at least twice a year and visit and hang out, but all the rest of my family members are in California except me, my husband, and my parents. We all live here.
What college or colleges did you attend?
So I have three degrees technically. Lipscomb University is where my bachelor's is from, University of Nebraska is where my master's is from, and Liberty University is where my doctorate is from.
How did you get into teaching?
Oh, so I got to teaching through the pathway of coaching. So, I went to college to be a doctor. I was pre-med until my junior year of college. And I did that because I loved science. I loved my chemistry teacher in high school. I always coached. I coached little kids cheerleading. I coached gymnastics all through college. And then I've coached cheer as well. And so from there, I realized I didn't want to be a doctor. I don't like blood, and I love science; so, I decided that since I love coaching and I love kids, I might as well just teach science because that's the best of both worlds.
How long have you been teaching?
This is my fourth year, first year in middle school, my first three years in high school.
How do you prepare for your classes?
Praying. I'm just kidding. No, I guess since I work with my PLC a lot, all eighth grade science teachers, we all get together, and we kind of decide how we want to go about things. But a lot of times, I try to get students’ experiences and interests, and then see how I can use that to describe the content that we have to teach.
How do you nurture relationships in the classroom?
I try to build a case or build a relationship with my students before I try to teach them. So, the first week of school is always trying to make them laugh, make them smile, because then they feel comfortable in my classroom, and then from there I try to teach them.
How do you connect with your students?
These are deep questions. Um, I guess from a personality standpoint, I mean I've already made you guys laugh and giggle. But yeah, I try to make them laugh. I try to get them to let their guard down. And then, I'm not, I'm not their friend by any means, but I do try to have a friendly atmosphere in my class.
How do your past students, peers or administrators describe you?
Outgoing and hardworking. Sometimes a little blunt.
What is the greatest success you've had with teaching?
Probably just any kind of lightbulb moment. Like where all of a sudden, you're trying to explain something and you just see that one student that was maybe staring at the floor and then all of a sudden they're like, “Oh yeah! Oh, I get that.” That's that lightbulb moment. There's multiple of them but you can never put your finger on it, just that one kid that all of a sudden is like, I've never gotten that.
What is the greatest challenge facing teachers?
I would say technology. It's positive and negative. But what I found is a lot of my students they have a difficult time spelling simple words, and I think it's because they're so used to autocorrect on their phones. And I really think that's going to become an issue when they try to get to high school, especially I teach eighth grade so that's going to be a big issue when they get to high school and they need to start writing or I had someone yesterday that said they just didn't feel comfortable writing.
CREATIVE WRITING FEATURING ORIGINAL STORIESWhat happens at your home while you are at school if you have pets?BY WES SANDS
SLAM! Well, that was a rude way to start the day. BTW, I’m a dog, and my name is Charles. I’m going to go wake up my owner... Hey! Where is my owner? Where did they go? Now I’m going to start barking, “Bark, bark, bark, bark.”
“What’s going on?” yip my siblings, Hershey and Lucky.
For your information, Hershey is a chocolate lab, also my brother, and Lucky is my sister, who is a beagle, and I am a white lab. I reply, “Our owners are gone.”
“Lies!” They both say, “We don’t believe you for a second.”
“Oh yeah?” I say, “Go check our owner’s bed.”
Thirty frustrating minutes later...
I’m going to have breakfast. I eat it in about thirty seconds. Now I don’t feel so good. I need to barf.
“BLEECH!”
I just barfed on the carpet. No worries. I’ll just eat it again. NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM
2 (Dog) days later...
“I’m so bored,” I bark.
“I agree,” whines Chocolate.
We both say, “What will we do?”
I wonder where Lucky is. Maybe I don’t want to know. I think she is posting videos on dog tiktok. I am going to see. When I walk up the stairs, I hear Lucky talking to someone.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Oh, just inviting everyone in the neighborhood to our house for a party.”
Yes! My sister is a genius! That is the most useful my sister has ever been! I must tell my brother about this! I tell him the great news.
“Finally!” Chocolate barks, “Lucky has been useful other than posting us on dog tiktok.”
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK .
The guests are here. I open the door to find the party animals. They’re here. And double points for Reesey being here. (Reesey is my girlfriend, and Chocolate’s ex-girlfriend.) The dangerous dog next door (aka Barty) blows up the pantry with two pounds of dynamite. Why Barty is called the dangerous dog next door is because he is so insane; he is dangerous. Now the real fun has begun! Even though it hurt my fragile ears. With all the food on the floor, we have an eating contest. The winner is a dog named Hangry (I did not know that was a name for a dog!). I turn on the moving yet still box (better known as a TV). “Accidentally” put it at maximum volume, and we watch it for hours, and shed on all the furniture. I think Sprite (another dog) has to go to the bathroom. Yup. And he pees on the leather couch, no worries our owner will clean it up.
“What’s the time?” yells bald face.
“2:00,” barks Fang.
“Oh no!” I say, “Our owners should be here sometime around here!”
“Really?” says every dog at the party.
Twenty minutes later, everyone left the house.
“I’m tired,” I bark.
“So are we,” agree Chocolate and Lucky.
We sleep for a long time, then...
Rumble Rumble Rumble Rumble.
“What was that?”
“No idea.”
Creak.
He’s home! Oh boy, I’m going to jump on him! And lick him some.
“Okay, that’s enough” he says.
Ding-Dong!
That can only mean trouble...
CREATIVE WRITING FEATURING ORIGINAL STORIESAN ORIGINAL SERIES BY SKILLA AGUILAR AND RHEA BREWERPrologue (How the war started...)
OMS is divided into three nations - Viribus, Honoris, and Animo - each represented by a natural element for which the tribe leaders are named. Each house can control and manipulate the element from their tribe… Long ago, the three nations lived in harmony. Then everything changed when they started competing. Only one man himself, master of all three houses, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished.
Val, meaning power and strong, leader of the Viribus Kingdom, the land between the valleys.
Honora, meaning honor, leader of the Honoris Kingdom, ruler of the skies.
Art, meaning courageous, ruler of the Animo Kingdom, preserving the jungles glory.
Their trust among each other fell apart tragically. Sadly, the one man who kept them sane vanished without a trace, leaving the houses in desolation and despair. This resulted in upcoming wars, critically changing the way the houses used to think of one another.
Val, ruler of the Viribus Kingdom is a very clumsy yet organized person. They can be awkward but in a funny way and tend to have a love-hate relationship towards people they meet. They have Sapphire hair with eyes the color of an ocean. They also tend to have bruise marks from being so terribly clumsy. They are Canadian and are non-binary, meaning they don’t identify as male nor female. They can control earth and its beautiful nature along with their people.
Honora, ruler of the skies tends to keep to themselves. Of course, he will speak up and share information when asked to or is needed to. Out of all the houses, they tend to be the mother of the group (in this case father), keeping everyone under control. Honora has beautiful obsidian hair with sunflower eyes. They tend to rely on their technology for combat or even defense situations. He is Egyptian and is a male. He can control wind and its freedom of weight along with his people.
Art, ruler of the jungle and its glory, can be a very outgoing yet brave person. They can and will get attitude towards people they don’t typically like. They can be a bit childish meaning they will tend to mock people if irritated. She has blond/brown hair and eyes the color of rubies with hints of gold in them. She is Mexican and is a female. She can control fire along with her tribe.
Will the houses ever find peace? Will we ever find out who this man is, and will he come to our rescue and restore peace among the houses?
Only one can hope...
JOKE TIME CORNERBACK2SCHOOL EDITIONBYWES SANDS
REVIEW: HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, BOOK AND MOVIEBY SKILLA AGUILAR
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