Norup news & more.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

War in Space

War in Space
By Sydney B.

The new source of almost everything humans rely on nowadays lies in space. Satellites orbit around Earth and allow for communication, entertainment, business, monitoring and much more. They are so important that the US has spent over 5 billion dollars enhancing the space programs to keep them strong and secure.

Imagine the world with no communication: no way of calling someone miles away, no way of watching online videos. To some, this seems apocalyptic.

This is what could happen if countries start attacking each other via satellites, possibly knocking out vital sources for government, potentially forcing the country into chaos.

This is a definite possibility and is predicted to be the next “World War 3”. But, not having Netflix is not the biggest concern.

Space junk, one big problem, is sometimes caused by parts of space machines broken off or failed missile launch that may have destroyed satellites. This type of floating debris can end up damaging satellites, which would have a significant impact on a country’s economy and community.

There are also now satellites that are being designed to sabotage and inspect other satellites. This would be a main aggravator that could lead to a war in space.

Although this is concerning, there are measures being taken to slow down or even prevent this type of thing. Besides giving the issue finances, there has also been efforts to make treaties that would ban space weapons, although they still need work. There have also been efforts to clean up space.

Overall, a war in space would not be a surprise with today’s advancements and technologies. If that issue does come about, humans will have to deal with it in the safest way possible.

More info-


Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Spirit Week!

SPIRIT WEEK IS COMING SOON


Monday, May 22: Pajama Day


Tuesday, May 23: Black Out


Wednesday, May 24: Hawaiian Day


Thursday, May 25: Wacky Tacky Day


Friday, May 26: Grade Colors

  • 6th Grade- Red
  • 7th Grade- Blue
  • 8th Grade- White


Free The Whales

9:04 AM No comments

By Emily D.

In the small province of Vancouver, Canada, the park board held a vote that decided the future of many aquariums in the area: whether or not they may house whales and dolphins. After the Vancouver Aquarium announced that they were planning to build an extravagant beluga whale exhibit, some people looked into their "whale care". After two deaths of beluga whales in November and the lack of proof that the trainers/handlers could care properly for the animals, the ban was passed.
https://www.vanaqua.org/files/9213/1656/1357/belugas-aurora.jpg

Friday, May 12, 2017

March Miracles: Fun with a Purpose

By Morgan C. and Mia D. 

The ultimate basketball competition, March Miracles, is here! On the 23 of March, over a hundred people played a series of three-on-three basketball games against their fellow classmates. Our authors took on the task of interviewing the workers and players. In total, we interviewed 8 teams and 6 workers. Many teams from 6th to 8th grade competed, but only 6 teams could win in the highly-anticipated finals. The finals had guests, including CASA dancers, CASA's Encore, Norup’s school mascot, and the U of D mascot, Tommy Titan.

We asked the teams six questions: How they came up with their team name, how they expect to play, who their biggest competition will be, who they believe will win, the skill level of the team members, and if they would rather watch or play basketball. We found that Norup’s 3 on 3 basketball has a large variety of skill levels. On one girls team, The Pixie 6, only one of the six members has played on a basketball team, where the Sponge Ballers had three of five members with basketball experience. Many teams had low expectations for themselves, but ended up surpassing their expectations. The French Toast Mafia, an 8th grade girls team, hardly expected that they would make it to the finals; in fact, they originally planned to name their team The Losers. A majority of teams remained modest, but others were certain they would win. Hoops We Did It Again thought they would take victory, but they sadly did not make it to the finals. As for the boys game, there was high expectation for The Bape Ballers, because according to 5 Guys and a Fry, “They have Cody.” Unfortunately, The Bape Ballers suffered a fate similar to Hoops We Did It Again, and did not play in the finals. 

We asked the workers only five questions: Why they chose choose to be a worker, why in that specific area of work, if they like to watch basketball, what sports they play and if they are just working to get out of class. From this set of questions, we concluded that many people were working because it was something they liked to do. The majority also do like watching basketball. One of the Hawk Headlines staff, Emily D, did photography of the players. She told us that she “likes to take pictures and it’s a good chance to help out the school.” Many of the six people we interviewed also played sports that were not only basketball. These include sports like archery, martial arts, figure skating, track, and soccer. These were all played by one very eccentric photographer, Brandon M. The last question we asked the workers, "Are you doing this just to get out of school?" drew out many laughs and "no" responses, but also some proud "yes"es. 

In the end, all involved in March Miracles-the teams, the staff, and even the people watching-had a great time. However, in the end, the true importance of this event is not the fun and games. The profits of this event go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Jack's Place for Autism, and over the years, March Miracles has raised tens of thousands of dollars for these wonderful organizations. Congratulations to all the winners from every grade and team, and thank you to everyone who made this event possible! 

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

What is Dark Matter?

By Sydney B.

Everyone has heard of the term dark matter at one point in their lives whether they knew what it meant or not. Although some people might just see it as a cool name for some stuff in space, it’s much more than that.

According to NASA, dark matter is a type of matter that makes up 27% of the universe, the rest being made of dark energy and normal matter. To actually define dark matter is a tough job because of what scientists know about it. They know more of what dark matter is not than what it is.


First of all, dark matter is not antimatter. Antimatter is a type of matter that does not exist in our universe. Scientists know this about dark matter because it does not have any of the distinct properties of dark matter, which includes gamma radiation being released when antimatter gets destroyed with normal matter. Scientists also know that dark matter isn’t anything that they can detect because of our lack of ability to detect it. One thing that they do know about dark matter, is that it’s dark.


Dark matter, however, should not be confused with dark energy. Dark energy makes up 68% of the universe and it is known as a property of space. The space that stretches outside of our galaxy and outside of all the galaxies surrounding it and even farther than this possesses dark energy. This theory was presented by Albert Einstein who said that as our universe expands and fills up space that contains the dark energy, that space will continue going out. Meaning our universe is never ending and will keep expanding.


Basically, dark matter and dark energy are mysterious and even scientists know hardly anything about it. Possibly getting closer to an explanation is exciting and worth the buzz of news.



Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Beauty and the Beast Review

By Charlotte C.

On March 17, 2017, Disney released a live action version of Beauty and the Beast. The "tale as old as time" stars Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as The Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, and Josh Gad as Lefou. The movie centers around a young women named Belle who lives in a small French village. Her father, an artist (even though he is an inventor in the original), gets lost on his way to the market and ends up at a mysterious castle with magical objects. He tries to take a rose from the castle's garden, but he ends up as a prisoner to the terrifying beast that lives there. Belle finds her father and takes his place, staying in the castle with the beast. Overtime, they develop a friendship, and–eventually–they fall in love.

I love this new version. I love the old one as well, but the new version adds more background to the story. I also love the new songs they added, such as "Evermore" and "Days in the Sun" that give more insight into the characters' emotions. I also enjoy the character changes that they made. Overall, I loved this and I enjoyed it very much  4.5/5 stars.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

LGBT+ Rights in Finland


By Morgan C

The world has become more aware and accepting of the LGBT+ community. More and more countries have been confirming the legalization of same-sex marriage. For example, on March 1st, 2017, the country of Finland legalized it with 27 out of 47 council members' approval. The Finnish government legalized not only same-sex marriage, but also the ability to change one’s gender (even though it is still difficult for people because it requires a surgery). This proves that the world is getting closer and closer to being more equal.

Twilight Saga Review

By Carly Spagnuolo

The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer is a very underrated book because of its plot line: a vampire falls for a human and she loves him back. However, there are variables to the story that do not just affect their love lives, but rather add complexity to other aspects of the story. In addition, the book is very well-written, so a person who doesn't like the plot can still enjoy the book's quality. One must not judge a book by its cover or by what others think of it since not all books are for everybody. Ultimately, how well-written the book is determines how much the reader will enjoy and appreciate it.

Tips to Stay Calm During Standardized Tests

By Maggie K.

It's M-Step time here at Norup, which can be very stressful.  Here are 3 tips to stay calm and focused during the weeks of M-Step:

1.  Get lots of sleep.  A well-rested mind is a sharp and focused mind. Go to bed at a reasonable time to prepare for the test.

2. Eat a healthy breakfast. You can't expect to do well on a test if you don't fuel your body and mind with the right nutrients.

3. Breathe. If you get overwhelmed and don't know the answer, inhale through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale through your mouth. Remember, you can always flag it and come back to it later.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Fearless Girl

By Charlotte Capuano

On March 7, 2016, the day before International Women's Day, the famous "Charging Bull" on Wall Street met a fierce opponent: a statue of a little girl. The girl appears to be staring down the bull, her ponytail swinging. This statue was sculpted by Kristen Visbal, and The State Street Global Advisers funded the project. The fifty-inch-tall statue symbolizes women and their struggle in the work place. The plaque at her feet reads, "Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference." Many tourists and people who work along Wall Street have taken pictures with the now famous "Fearless Girl." The statue has helped thousands of women and girls feel empowered. One little girl, Sankaribriya, said she wanted to pose with the girl "because I wanted to look at her and feel like her."

Though the statue is loved by most, some have vandalized and done some questioning things to the statue. Some are also mad that the statue was put in place at all. The statue is supposed to be taken down on April 2nd, 2017, but some politicians are calling for the statue to remain on Wall Street.

The statue will be forever in our hearts and minds, and reminds us to stay strong because "SHE can make a difference."

Friday, February 17, 2017

Norup's Hidden Heroes: The Custodial Staff

By Mia D.

There are many people who work in the background of our daily lives who are barely noticed but are extremely important. This is the case for many school employees including janitors, lunch-aids, and more.

For this issue, we’ve interviewed custodian Mr. James Patrick. Mr. Patrick was born in Detroit, and works very hard to keep Norup clean. On a daily basis, Mr. Patrick deals with cleaning up messes and “kids not listening.” He’s one of the reasons the school maintains working order.

During his job, Mr. Patrick listens to music on the radio to make the work go faster. At the end of the day, Mr. Patrick enjoys relaxing with a nice game of pool. Being a janitor is a busy job that–of course –requires snack breaks. He usually chooses chocolate-peanut-butter granola bars.

Everyone’s life is filled with hidden heroes like Mr. Patrick. We just have to take time to notice them.

Norup’s Hidden Heroes is a series of articles written by Mia D., based on the interviews of custodians, janitors, and other maintenance staff. It is is intended to explore the inner lives of people encountered daily but seldom noticed. Subscribe to the Hawk Headlines blog for more articles like this.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Norup Students Choose Kindness

By Abby C.

A few months ago, an anonymous person put up sticky notes around the top and side borders of the mirror in the upstairs girls’ bathroom. They said things like “beautiful,” “amazing,” and “wonderful.” A few hours later, there were five sticky notes added, filling in the rest of the border. These new ones said things like “don’t care what they say!” and “You’re incredible!” Between the five new sticky notes, there were two distinguishably different handwritings. Someone also had written the letters “ur” (meaning “you are” or “you’re”) before all of the original sticky notes which had featured adjectives without attaching them to a person. 

Then, on Friday, February 10th, they were all taken down. The most widely accepted explanation is that the janitor took them down to clean the mirror. Several girls responded by putting up more sticky notes on the wall surrounding the mirror, and by the end of the day on Monday, there were dozens of positive messages decorating the wall. However, several of these had also been taken down as of Tuesday, and they had all been removed by Wednesday. This raises the possibility that someone is purposely taking down the sticky notes.
Even though the movement of putting positive messages in the bathroom has faced a couple minor bumps in the road, Norup students continue to try to make others smile. This is a big difference from a neighboring school just ten minutes away where there was a noose put up in the bathroom and white students chanted “Build That Wall!” in the lunchroom in front of Latino students.

Norup students are reacting to the division in our country with love and support instead of hate, and that can make all the difference for our students.

Club Penguin: The End of an Era

By Morgan C.

Over the last 12 years, Club Penguin has run the world by storm. In 2007, there were over 12 million users from ages of 6-14. Now in 2017, it is shutting down on March 29th. This has created chaos all around the world.

This may upset you and that is the usual response, but on the bright side, the Disney Company is creating a new server called “Club Penguin Island.” It is still unknown for how it differs from the original game. If you’re already a member you will not have to pay anymore and no new memberships can be purchased.

The 12 year old MMO or Massively Multiplayer Online server is definitely being replaced by its new and improved self. The beautiful MMO will be forever in our memories.  

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

February Entertainment Reviews


Stranger Things Review

By Charlotte C.

In 1983, Will Byers mysteriously vanishes; his mother Joyce Byers goes into full blown panic, launching a huge investigation. Will’s friends Dustin, Mike, and Lucas all go to find him one night and run into a usual girl, who might help them find Will. The locals, including Police chief Jim Hopper, Will’s brother Jonathan, Mike’s sister Nancy, Nancy’s friend Barb, and Nancy’s boyfriend Steve are all trying to find Will while dealing with the crazy ride called life.
This action packed supernatural thriller will cause you to sit at the edge of your seat. I couldn’t stop screaming, crying, and was in total suspense the whole time. I give this a 5/5 because it is probably my favorite show right now. I can’t wait for season two to come out on Halloween. The show is packed with 80s nostalgia, which had 80s kids going crazy. I love this show and I hope you watch it and enjoy it as much as I do.



Stranger Things Trailer 

By Maggie K. 

When the Super Bowl rolls around, many gather to watch and have fun.  Although it’s a sports event, many people tune in for the entertaining commercials, trailers, and half time show.  This year, many fans anticipated the first look at season two of a popular show: Stranger Things.  Watch the trailer here: Stranger Things Season 2 Trailer  Many fans of the show have already theorized events in the next season, based on the short clip.  There’s no way to tell what’s true until it is released on Halloween 2017.


The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes


Review by Carly S.


The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a wonderfully written novel about the FBI recruiting teens with special abilities. These teenagers do not have magical powers, but what they can do is just as helpful.  Throughout the book, they do mind-blowing things-but with a twist. This is not usually my type of book; however, the four-book series that The Naturals starts off is my new favorite.


What it Takes to be an Aspiring Author

By Sydney B.

With our population being past seven billion, the cold hard truth is one single person can have an extremely difficult time causing any sort of dent in our society. Many popular books that we know off the top of our heads such as The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling are the top goals of many young and adult authors. But, many people don’t know that many of these books that are “making it big” are ridiculously lucky.

Many times when publishing a book, authors have to submit and make revisions multiple times. Our beloved Harry Potter series had to go through many rejections before getting into print. J.K. Rowling got rejected by twelve companies before her book got excepted for publishing. To be an author, persistence, skill, and luck are needed more than anything.

Many publishing companies will turn someone down if they have any mistakes and/or “uninteresting” content. Even the process to get a book out to publishing companies can be rigorous and challenging. Most editing companies reject 99.5% of everything they see, which can seem scary to many aspiring authors.

If looking at more broad statistics, about 65,000 books are published every year. About two thirds of them are textbooks or professional books, leaving only about 12,000 left for other authors to publish. Only a few of these 12,000 can “make it big”. So, becoming an author requires knowledge, stubbornness, and pure luck. All authors should take this into consideration and make sure they are ready for the commitment.

Sources:

Dietrich, William. "The Writer's Odds Of Success". The Huffington Post, 2017, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-dietrich/the-writers-odds-of-succe_b_2806611.html.

Emmett, Rita. "Rita Emmett - What Are The Odds Of Getting Published?". Ritaemmett.Com, 2017, http://www.ritaemmett.com/articles/what-are-the-odds.htm.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

North Carolina Teacher Develops Special Relationship with his Students

By Grace U.

North Carolina teacher Barry White Jr. has found an creative way to make his 40 fifth grade students feel special and welcome - he has given each their own personalized handshake. According to Mr. White, “The most critical component is the relationship, the rapport you build with your students because sometimes it can go underrated or overlooked… Before I’m able to deliver a substantial amount of content to them they have to invest in the teacher." He has also noted that he got the idea when he found out that Lebron James has special handshakes for each of his teammates. One of his students, Denise Hart, told reporters that he teaches his students to “do good” and appreciates having her own handshake because he has a “good relationship” with his students and he knows them on a personal level.

According to his LinkedIn, Mr. White has been teaching at Ashley Park Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina for the past year and ten months. He has a degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from Claflin University and is currently working on his Masters of Business Administration so he can go into Educational Administration.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Betsy DeVos: What Will the Future of Education Hold?

By Charlotte C.


On February 7, 2017, Betsy DeVos was confirmed to serve as Secretary of Education. Some think she is very qualified and is fit for the job; however, many think she is not, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders who both grilled Mrs. DeVos during her hearing on January 17, 2017.

Senator Warren sent DeVos a 16 page letter telling her how she is unqualified for the position of Secretary of Education. DeVos has said that she wants to get rid of public schools several times.

During the hearing most of the people there were appalled that she was okay with guns in schools and not knowing the basic things about education. Mrs. DeVos or her children have never attended public schools and have attended private school their whole education. Mrs. DeVos has a degree in business, so many are wondering why we are trusting her with the position of being in charge of our country’s and children's future.

She has been involved with education in Michigan as a Republican chairwoman and chair of the group American Federation for Children. Many educators in Michigan are very angry with some of the decisions that DeVos has made over her time in Michigan.

Education is what saves people from poverty and gives people the better skill set to work, so many people are concerned about letting this person, who knows nothing about education, run our country's schools?

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Kitten Dumped in Trash Gets a Second Chance At Life

By Mia D.

According to the ASPCA, 3.4 million cats walk into shelters each year, and even more die before they can get rescued. Luckily, a little kitten was found and given another opportunity at life by a good samaritan, named James Ryan.

The residential service driver James Ryan from Hunterdon County was simply starting his route at 4 in the morning. At the  transfer station, the loader operator met him with an abnormal question, “You like cats, right James?”

Earlier in the morning, a driver had found a kitten hidden in the trash can. James was known as a cat lover by his employees, so there was no question that he was going to rescue the little kitten.

When James went to rescue the animal, it let out an agonizing screech, that James says that he, “never wants to hear out of kitten for the rest of my life. My heart was breaking.” James proceeded to take the kitten to Tabby’s Place Cat Sanctuary in Ringoes, New Jersey. There, she was lovingly nicknamed Grace, and is on her way to a world class veterinary hospital to treat her leg. She is expected to make a full recovery.  Grace’s story has a happy ending  thanks to a man’s good deed.

This article originally appeared in Volume 3, Issue 2 of Hawk Headlines.


Tuesday, January 31, 2017

16-Year-Old Creates App to Promote Inclusive School Lunches


By Abby C., Web Editor

In every country, in every town, in each and every school, there are kids who feel left out at lunchtime. That led to 16-year-old Natalie Hampton creating a new app called “Sit with Us.” It allows kids to create a “Sit with Us Club” at lunchtime. This creates a private chatroom that kids looking for a table can join. By joining, the kid asks to sit with that “club,” or table.

A table of people you don’t know is intimidating, and asking to join them not only opens up the possibility of rejection, but it often seems like you might as well just label yourself as an outcast. But these issues disappear with the “Sit With Us”  app. “This way it’s very private. It’s through the phone. No one else has to know. And you know you’re not going to be rejected once you get to the table,” Natalie explains.

School lunch times, universally known as a hard time for many people, can now be transformed by a single app. Kids looking for new friends can now be confident, happy,  and included at lunchtime. Try out the “Sit With Us” app today!

Click here for more information from www.goodnewsnetwork.org

This article originally appeared in Volume 3, Issue 2 of Hawk Headlines.