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The Patriot Press

The publication by the Meads Mill Newspaper Staff since 2015.

06/21/17 Volume 2

Meads Ends the Year in a Flurry of Activities!

Meet Your

Fellow Patriots!

The Cursive

Debate~Should

schools still teach it?

Meads Mill Lights Up Blue

for Autism Awareness!

~Jude Louria, Staff Writer

Every year on April 2nd,

Autism Speaks celebrates the start

of its campaign, Light it Up Blue.

Throughout the month of April

Meads Mill students wore blue to

show their support for autism

awareness. Ms. Pascual and Ms.

Anderson held two fundraisers to

raise money for the LINKS pro-

gram. Many people made

donations in a popular competition

called Penny Wars, while others

supported the cause through the

purchase of a puzzle piece. In

fact, this fundraiser earned

$500.00, from which $250.00 was

donated to Autism Speaks and the

rest used to continue the Links

program here at Meads. Please

continue to support autism aware-

ness outside of school by wearing

blue as a kind gesture for people

with autism. You can also help

autism awareness by just taking a

selfie, a picture, or even making a

drawing! You might even con-

vince your parents to change some

of your light bulbs to blue! Every

bit helps, I hope you can show

your support for autism!

The DIA– AWAY rolls in-

to Meads!

~Nathan Wayne, Staff Writer

On April 18th and 19th, Meads

Mill was honored to welcome the

DIA Away program. The DIA

Away is a fully furnished 53 foot

truck that brings hands-on experi-

ences to schools, fairs, and events

in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb

counties. It is a free way to allow

students to visit the DIA without

having to leave the school! For

those of you that do not know, the

DIA stands for the Detroit Institute

of Arts, which is an art museum

located in downtown Detroit. The

DIA Away program has offered

hands-on experiences since 2014,

and allows visitors to be connected

with the artists. The activities help

visitors discover connections be-

tween themselves and the way art-

ists think and work. The visit was

arranged by Mrs. Jary for all 6th

grade Language and Literature

classes as it correlates with Com-

mon Core standards. In addition,

one of Mrs. Debien’s Spanish

classes was fortunate enough to

attend. The program was well re-

ceived by students, and because of

their positive feedback, another

visit has been arranged for next

year.

International Night is a

Success!

The 2nd annual International

Night was a huge success!

Many talented performers

graced the Meads Mill stage

with their special gifts and tal-

ents. The countries represented

included: India, China, Ireland,

Spain, and America.

In addition, many

parent volunteers helped their

children display the culture and

customs of their heritage.

Rocco Morales performing a

Spanish Classic!

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The Ask’n Atkinsons

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened!”

After 27 years of teaching, the beloved ELA teacher, Mrs. Lemke, is retiring. She has loved her time

here at Meads Mill working with wonderful students and staff members. Her fondest memories are of when she

witnessed students showing great manners, and kind acts and complements to fellow students. When the school

year is over she plans to move to Pray, Montana in Paradise Valley located twenty minutes from the north

entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Both she and her husband are building a house on eleven acres of land

and opening a bed and breakfast. They have designed the house to have a special guest suite for the bed and

breakfast guests. Mrs. Lemke will miss teaching, but one thing that she will not miss is checking

assignments. Now Mrs. Lemke will have time to do more of her favorite activities. Mrs. Lemke attended

Western Michigan for her undergrad degree and Oakland University for her graduate degree. She enjoys read-

ing and her favorite book is The Hunger Games. She is currently reading A Woman Of God by James

Patterson. An interesting fact about her is that she once lived in a teepee in Alaska

for an entire summer. Mrs. Lemke will be greatly missed, but the impression she

made on her students is everlasting. She will now have time to read more, and

serve her favorite ice cream, Moose Tracks, in her own bed and breakfast! Best

wishes in Montana! ~Lauren Atkinson, Staff Writer

One of our favorite paraprofessionals, Mrs. Thompson, is retiring this year after 19 years with North-

ville Public Schools. She is a graduate of The University of Toledo, “Go Rockets!!” Mrs. Thompson is mov-

ing to South Carolina where she will open a small antique booth and sell antiques. Hopefully, she will travel to

see the Northern Lights, something on her bucket list. Her favorite book is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and

her favorite movie is Once. She has been married to John for 34 years and has one child named Rachel, who is

26 years old. One of her many hobbies is listening to music and her favorite bands are The Rolling Stones and

The Frames. She grew up in Monroe, Michigan and graduated from Monroe High School. Something that takes

up too much of her time is playing Candy Crush. Her favorite smell is baking brownies. If she was a crayon

color she would be a plaid crayon. Her first question after waking up from being cryogenically frozen for 100

years would be “Is my family safe?” She wishes she knew more about geometry. Some small things that make

her day better are being here at Meads Mill, taking walks to town, and having talks with her husband when he

isn't traveling. She is currently reading the book Drums of Autumn. Her favorite food is pot roast and when

asked the question summer or winter, she immediately choose “summer!” If

she had unlimited funds to build a house to live in for the rest of her life, the

finished house would be modest and the master bedroom would be on the

first floor. The house would have a hearth room for antiques, a walkout to a

screened-in porch, and no neighbors. Best of luck to you in your next

chapter, Mrs. Thompson! ~Charlotte Atkinson,Staff Writer

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and daughter, Rachel

3

Pro

Did you know that it is possible to find out

about a person’s personality just by looking at their

handwriting? The study of this is called graphology.

Sadly, this may soon be going out of practice. Many

school districts around the country have been dropping

the requirement due to increasing demands on

teachers’ time and the requirements of the Common

Core. With more teachers stopping the teaching of

cursive to focus on other things everyday, less and less

of America’s children can decipher the beautiful

script. Cursive is an art of its own and should be taught

even in this new age. The use of cursive is required on a

daily basis, the movements made in cursive can help with

the development of fine motor skills, and it can help stu-

dents with learning disabilities.

Although we do use other means of printing, cur-

sive pops up often in our everyday lives. We need to

sign our name in cursive for official documents and

letters to friends. Teachers and coworkers alike may

send instructions or notes in cursive. Reading

historical documents also requires knowledge of

cursive. With all these instances where an understand-

ing of cursive is necessary, it would be an oversight of

teachers to not teach it. Some people may say that they

can just print their name and figure out what notes in

cursive say, but they are wrong. Printed signatures are

actually easier to forge, so these kids are being put at

risk of identity theft. Cursive is very different from

print, and will confuse anyone not taught how to

decipher it. Cursive is necessary in our day to day

lives. Cursive helps children learn and understand

new concepts. It requires you to really look at it to

read it, and you can catch mistakes more easily. Writ-

ing things out instead of looking at a handout helps

people commit them to memory. Additionally, in a

2014 study, it was shown that kids who wrote ideas on

paper both were quicker and had more ideas than those

using computers. Cursive makes the idea and learning

process easier.

Cursive can improve experiences for students

with learning disabilities. Writing in cursive uses dif-

ferent brain networks than that of using print. People

with motor control difficulties in forming letters are

able to write more effectively in cursive, and it may

aid the reversal of letters. Kids with dyslexia have an

easier time forming words with the connected letters

cursive offers.

Cursive is an aesthetically pleasing script that

may be going extinct. It is helpful in our everyday life,

helps the development of fine motor skills, and helps

students with learning disabilities. It is baffling why

anyone would write something off with so many bene-

fits. Cursive should always be taught in schools.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/should-we-still-learn-

cursive_us_561ff614e4b050c6c4a4d544h-cursive-

Con

We’ve all learned how to write in cursive, but

does cursive have an actual use in society? Although

cursive is useful in signing our names and taking fast-

er notes, it’s become a lost art. Cursive isn't always

legible, can be easily forgotten, is not as valued as it

once was, and can take time away from other subjects,

like math and science. Cursive should no longer have

a place in the school curriculum because it’s difficult

to read, it isn’t helpful in the twenty first century, and

it takes valuable time away from core subjects.

Every year, many people across the nation

don’t understand this form of writing because it’s

easy to misunderstand and can look like a bunch of

garbled letters thrown onto paper. Part of the reason is

that it can be written quicker than printing the same

sentence. This can lead to a very sloppy form of cur-

sive that people cannot read.

Cursive used to be exquisite, fancy, and neces-

sary. However, in this new age of technology, we

have to move on, and leave this behind, along with

Greek and Latin. Although some believe cursive is a

lost art, it shouldn’t be brought back to society. There

are still times when cursive can be used, but these

times are less frequent and not as common. Now it is

more useful to be able to type than to write cursive.

Finally, cursive takes time away from other

core subjects, like math, science, and English. Com-

mon Core Standards don’t require that teachers

educate students in the art of cursive. The creators of

the Common Core decided that students should, "Use

technology, including the Internet, to produce and

publish writing and to interact and collaborate with

others." Teachers can now spend extra time on core

subjects that will advance the future of their students.

For example, middle school students rarely need to

write cursive, since most assignments require students

to type.

Cursive is fading from society. We can sign

papers, write, communicate, and read without

it. Now, cursive is something that has a nostalgic

component, like Greek and Latin, but is no longer a

core subject and thus is less important. While

technology continues to advance, cursive will slowly disappear.

Ball, Philip. "Cursive Handwriting and Other Education Myths - Issue

40: Learning." Nautilus. N.p., 08 Sept. 2016. Web. 04 May 2017. 5 Reasons Cursive Writing Should be Taught in School." Concordia

University Portland Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2017. Why Don’t the Common Core Standards Include Cursive Writ-

ing? Education Week, 14 May 2017.

Can You Read This?

The Cursive Debate

Lauren Sprow Chethan Magnan

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Ben Cassin– 6th Maddy Bishoff-7th Nic Todorov-7th Rome Feizi -8th Patrick Dales–8th

What is the

most important

thing middle

school has

taught you?

That home-

work is really

stressful!

As you get

older, learning

becomes more

independent.

How to

breathe!

Procrastina-

tion is really

a bad idea!

Do every-

thing the

night before!

If you could

change one rule

at MM what

would it be?

I would allow

electronics at

lunch.

I would allow

kids to use

phones during

class.

I would get rid

of the no

electronics

rule.

Allow

access to

colored

printers

Let kids

bring back-

packs to 7th

hour.

What do you

think teachers

dream about?

All students

getting A+s

and getting a

raise!

Summer

vacation

Rainbows and

unicorns

Finals Week Mr. Chabot

dreams about

giving

zeroes.

Marvel, Disney

or Pixar?

Pixar Disney Marvel Disney Disney

Do you think

students should

be taught

cursive ?

(see Pro/Con )

No Yes No Yes Yes

5 by 5: Express Your Opinion!

Lana Ho and Hannah Campbell ~staff writers

Who are The Patriot Press Staff?

Editors and Writers: Ankith Allur i, Lauren Sprow, and Ellie White

Staff Writers: Charlotte Atkinson, Lauren Atkinson, Hannah Campbell, Laura Cencer , Chase Curr ie, Aaron

Daudert, Sophia Ehlers, Varun Ganeson, Mallory Hart, Elizabeth Hartigan, Lana Ho, Shawn Jayee, Jude Louria, Mihir

Maddali, Chethan Magnan, Rishika Neole, Sashider Rajesh, Nathan Wayne, Sasha Yazdi, and Audrey Zhang.

Club Advisor: Mrs. Jary ~ Jaryma@northvilleschools.org

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I am located in Meads Mill's cafeteria, the most prominent structure there. I remain dormant behind closed curtains, while open curtains awaken me. Who - Er- what am I? Yes, I am the stage of the school. Since Meads Mill was established in 1975, I have been acting as the guardian of the cafeteria, the hub of Meads Mill students' lives. Kids enter at sixth grade and depart after eighth. All of you, I watch thrive; all of you, I consider my friends. Now, please behold my delights and pride while I reflect over the years I have spent with you. For more than four decades, I have been a most zealous spectator of your lunch break. Every late morning, I take the pleasure to inhale and savor the tantalizing aromas wafting around me: pizza with melt-ing cheese fresh from oven, meaty sausage inside hot dogs, and sour prickliness of pickled cucumber. Rainbow colors fill the grand hall: green lettuce, red tomatoes, and tawny and speckled burritos and quesadillas, all displayed in neat rows. Whether it be mouthwatering spicy chicken wings, delectable beef tacos, or sweet and sour General Tso's chicken, all the courses never fail to satisfy your taste buds. I ap-plaud the dedicated work of the chefs and the lunch ladies who prepare and serve the gourmet food to you! When the clock strikes 10:50 a.m, bursting into the cafeteria are the sixth grades, eager to sink you teeth into the food and satiate your grumbling stomachs. Then follows the seventh and eighth graders. Chatter and shrieks cut through the air, clashing and mingling into a great roar of cacophony (a harmony that I have grown accustomed to by now). And the gossip that travels around! News and secrets spring out of your busy mouths and into others' ears. Someone mumbled "Oh, look! Bob and Rosy!" Like a wave, the "Bob and Rosy" message instantly rippled through a large group of you, transformed into a "Brosy" whisper-ing before long and finally grew into a stifled laughter. As much as I am amused by your lunch break, may I offer you, my young friends, a piece of advice: when you toss food wrapper or banana peel into the trash can, aim better, so you will not miss it. That will save our janitor's toil in the cafeteria! For more than four decades, I have been the enthusiastic fan and supporter (literally) of the band con-certs that are performed on top of me. The curtains swish open. The cafeteria-converted auditorium stays pitch black except for the small brightly illuminated front section of me. You, all dressed in formal white shirt and black pants, bring up your instruments with flourish. Before you stands Ms. Taylor, regally attired all in black, flickering her conduction baton, keeping the entire band in synchrony. Little Shoppe of Horrors, the theme song of the classic horror movie, told the foreboding story in the silent air, spreading the terrors of the Audrey II plant. As the energetic melodies of Wizard of Oz sounded, I imagined Dorothy, wearing her red slippers, briskly skipping down the yellow brick road in the sylvan village. Bravo, talented young musi-cians! My heart swells with pride for you. Now, if there is anything that I can share with you, that is, maybe some of you could practice more. My sensitive ears wince when an instrument plays a wrong note and blemishes the music. For more than four decades, I have been the proud sponsor of the student-run super-stores. I await Christmas, Mother's Day, and other holidays, with alacrity. Volunteers set up tables and products to sell. They bustle around me, calling urgently to one another and hastily organize the trinkets into a flamboyant display, appealing to the eyes of all. The two long tables sporting the goods stand end to end. The cashiers accept money and return change in a professional manner. Meads Mill really turns herself into a prosper-ous market place. Customers eagerly bound onto me, cash in hand. Some of you stare at the fashionable merchandise for an interminably long time, just to feast their eyes. Most times though, you have already envisioned the perfect gifts for your beloved ones: a superhero mug for dad, a trendy purse for mom, and a Rubik’s Cube for a sibling. Everyone of you are so generous, spending your earnings from mowing the lawn or walking dogs for a neighbor, or allowance that you have saved for while, for the people you love. This simple fact makes me love you all the more! Over the years I have served as the guardian of Meads Mill, witnessing and participating in the excit-ing student life. Activities and liveliness surround me all year around. I appreciate being your stage. I look forward to sharing your happy life in years to come!

Photojournalist, Audrey Zhang has once again discovered mystery and

intrigue within the corridors of Meads Mill!

Through the Looking Glass of the Stage

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MEET YOUR FELLOW PATRIOTS!! Sasha Pastejov and Saket Kulkarni

Be Open-Minded and Try Something New! Elizabeth Hartigan and Laura Cencer– Staff Writers

Many kids dream of becoming a star athlete when they grow up. Sasha

Pastujov, our very own 8th grader, shares that dream as well. He moved to

Michigan to play hockey for his team in the U14 league that is sponsored by Belle

Tire. Sasha says he definitely wants to continue his career as a hockey player.

Sasha and his team have progressed greatly, and have gone on to win a world

championship. He and his team travel the entire world, and just returned from a

successful competition in France, placing third out of 22 competitive teams. Many

of his friends are on his team, many go to Hillside, and some are here at Meads

Mill. Sasha practices several times a week with many other 8th graders. Sasha

wasn’t always that good, in fact, he and his team had to work hard, through sweat and grime to achieve their

goals. At practice Sasha’s team practices many drills and often scrimmages. Sasha says he dreams of becom-

ing a professional hockey player, such as those in the NHL. After hearing about the amazing achievements of

Sasha Pastujov, it’s time to get out there! Work hard, and put effort into your dream, and maybe some day

you will accomplish it! ~Elizabeth Hartigan– Staff Writer

Did you know that Meads Mill has a Chess Club? Well, our school does have one and we have

Saket Kulkarni to thank for it! He started the Chess Club for players at all levels because his whole family

loves to played chess. Saket and his family wanted to teach more people about this strategic game! Saket, the

founder and leader of the Chess Club, learned to play chess when he was four years old! His family taught

him how to play this complicated game, which requires strategic thinking

and a high level of concentration. Saket has a lot of experience teaching

others how to play chess. He has attended over five hundred chess tour-

naments. Players can get a lot of points from these tournaments and be-

come a “Master”, “International Master,” or “Grand Master.” There are

also the classic first, second and third places. Saket has received many

trophies, awards, and occasionally gets first place! Although he receives

many awards, he considers himself a chess player that plays for enjoy-

ment.

Spreading the word about the club wasn’t the easiest thing in the world. Saket talked about it in his

classes and on the morning announcements. He was able to convince eleven kids to join the club! The Chess

Club meets every Thursday in the Media Center. Saket enjoys running the club and he plans on running the

club through eighth grade. His plan is to pass the leadership torch to another devoted chess player before

graduation. Saket hopes that next year the chess club will invite other schools’ Chess Clubs to Meads Mill for

tournaments.

If you are feeling adventurous or you want to try something new and fun, join the other chess

enthusiasts in the Meads Mill Chess Club!

~Laura Cencer– Staff Writer

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I decided to write about Mrs.Frisby and the Rats of NIMH for

my last book review. In this book, Mrs. Frisby is a proud mother

whose home is about to be destroyed. She first seeks consolation

with a wise old owl, who although cannot solve her problems, tells

her to speak with the Rats. Following the Owl’s advice, Mrs.

Frisby meets the Rats of NIMH, or the Rats of The National

Institute of Mental Health. At first, she is ignored until they learn

her name is Mrs. Frisby, the last name her deceased husband Jona-

than, a friend of the Rats. The Rats explain how they learned to

read, escape, and how they set up their base, in a series of back-

flashes. These Rats have lived off of others and have decided to

leave and live independently. However, they face three problems:

Mrs. Frisby’s house is about to be destroyed, the cat, the

exterminators and scientists from NIMH, and a loss of materials,

water, and electricity. Will the Rats of NIMH save Mrs. Frisby's

house and escape to a quiet life of the mountains? Or will the rats

be captured and tested on once again? Read Mrs.Frisby and the

Rats of NIMH to find out!

I read a book entitled Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John

David Anderson. In this book, three boys, Topher, Steve and

Brand all share their own special bond with their sixth grade

teacher, Ms. Bixby. When Ms. Bixby reveals that she has duc-

tal adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that attacks the pancreas,

she explains that she will not be able to finish the school

year. Mrs. Bixby plans to end the year on Friday the following

week with a special celebration in her honor. Ms. Bixby could-

n’t finish off the week, because of her illness, and decided to

stay home and rest a few extra days . When the boys heard of

this, they decided to visit Ms. Bixby at the hospital for one final

goodbye before being transferred to another facility in Boston.

Their plan entails that they skip school and travel around town

by bus to purchase Ms. Bixby’s favorite things. I would recom-

mend this to anyone who likes an easy-read that is more on the

serious side. I really enjoyed this book and I really hope you

consider this title when choosing your next book.

Book Reviews:

Judging for your Enjoyment

By: Chethan Magnan and Chase Currie

The Literature Chronicles Our sincere thanks for those who took a risk and let us publish their literary work in The Patriot Press!

We will not continue this tradition in the fall of 2017. Please check in with us and look for

something new and exciting. Thank you to those who participated over the past two years.

Children of Summer

When the last of the snow fades away, and the early buds unfurl from the branches, the trees will once

again shine with the light of the sun. The bees will travel to their next destination, a flower of unknown color.

And the grass will be green as ever, bearing the weight of many a child’s footsteps and to be defeated only by the

blade of a lawn tool. The clouds will be white with serenity, thinning into their very own shapes and being peace-

fully blown by the winds of summer. The family of mice seeks refuge from the proud eagles and the blaring sun

in the deep burrows under tree roots of thick winding shade. Not to forget the waves of the ocean, swallowing the

shore and washing it away only to reveal the best sea shells for the children, innocent creatures who climb the

dunes and pull on reeds to help them climb. But alas, the day has come when the summer sun sets, and the chil-

dren of summer know the next dawn will be the first of September. The world will hold their breath for that first

day of summer, when they can truly feel the sun on their faces and forget their busy lives for a while.

~Anonymous Author

~Sophia Ehlers– Staff Writer

8

It’s the Way of the World with Rishika and Aaron

Delectable Delicacies ~Rishika Neole– Staff Writer

With over seven billion people around the world in hundreds of countries, it’s hard to imagine

how different life would be “on the other side.” These accustomed traits relate to how and where a per-

son grew up. The type of music, clothing, and lifestyle shapes you as a person. At this age, many experi-

ment with new things like sports, clubs, and other activities. Why not give cuisine try? China represents

the Century Egg (which is exactly what it sounds like), Cambodia serves up A-Ping, a dish made with

arachnids. While Greece is credited to the creation of the watermelon based heavenly dessert called

Karpouzopita.

With the Century Egg becoming an internet sensation with the help of YouTuber’s filming and

posting videos of people who could eat this whole egg, many people have heard about it. The Century

Egg is pretty close to what the name suggests. The egg, usually a duck, chicken or quail egg is usually

preserved in clay, ash, salt, quicklime, or rice bulls for months. After several the months are over, the

once regular egg when peeled takes on a brownish outside with a putrid green jelly-like center. Since

this dish is a Chinese delicacy, it is eaten during birthday parties or weddings. Though this dish wouldn't

probably taste the best, it would be something to cross off of a bucket list.

Traveling south from China to the beaches of the Indian Ocean in Cambodia, you will find a

most peculiar specialty: A-Ping. This dish is a fried seasoned tarantula, regularly eaten as a street food.

The Cambodian citizens would season the spider using salt and pepper with paprika. Then, the spider is

served whole to willing consumers. Many suffer from arachnophobia and this is a excellent way to

“consume” the fear.

Gallivanting northwest to the Aegean Sea, we stumble upon Greece and its perfectly crafted

Karpouzopita. Watermelon pie is a traditional Greek dessert which is made with small watermelon, a

subtle honey sweetness, sesame seeds and cinnamon to add a kick of flavor. The pie is generally served

with a pudding to balance out the sweetness. This is a great pie to try at any occasion.

These foods are unique to their location and culture. For the western palate, these foods are

seemingly bizarre. Even though they may seem strange to the population of Meads Mill Middle School,

keep in mind that these are some of the most popular delicacies around the world. https://1historyofgreekfood.wordpress.com/

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/2672216

http://www.worldhum.com/features/how-to/how-to-eat-fried-tarantulas-in-cambodia-20091201/

Governments ~Aaron Daudert– Staff Writer

Citizens of the USA possess many freedoms and liberties, which are all attributed to a

Democracy. Some of the other forms of government include: monarchy, communism, and theocracy.

A monarchy is a type of government where one leader inherits their position from a bloodline. Mon-

archs usually rule until they die or resign. A monarchy is one of the oldest kinds of governments. Examples

of famous monarchs are the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Queen Elizabeth the Second.

Communism is a type of government where everyone tries to share everything equally. Some

countries that have a Communist government system are Cuba, North Korea, China, and Vietnam. Most of

these countries have only become a Communist country in the past Century.

Theocracy is where religion plays a dominant role in citizens’ lives. Examples of countries that have

a theocracy are Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iran, and many other Middle Eastern countries. These countries devel-

op all their laws around Islamic law. People who live there must follow the laws even if they do not follow

that religion.

"Theocracy." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Encyclopedia.com, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.

Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.

"Monarchy." Monarchy Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.

"Communism Facts." Math. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.

9

Meads Mill Track

~Shawn Jayee, Staff Writer

Meads Mill’s track team continues to build on its history of successful and productive seasons. The

first track meet ended with the boys narrowly winning 71-70, with Jonathan Jackson coming in third place in

the 200 dash by 8 hundredths of a second! This was the nail biting, last event and the Patriots just barely won

eeked out a win. Jalen Crawford and Zach Helnar both placed in all three of their events, gaining many crucial

points for Meads to win. The girls’ team dominated over Stevenson 87 to 50. Many of the 7th graders placed

in their events contributing greatly in the meet. They consisted of Gina Couyoumjian, Ella Blackmore, Mela

Salah, Emma Munro, and Caroline Behm.

In the second meet, the boys were dominated by the Livonia Holmes Hawks. Regardless, Nathan

Hayes first place taking the 1600. He also anchored the 3200 relay and won the 3200 run. In the 3200 run he

broke the school record getting a time 10:52. The girls also lost their second meet against Livo-

nia. Nevertheless, Mela Salah, Grace Neafsey, Angel McCray, Kiera Murphy, Emma Munro, and Emily

Gordon all finished in 1st place. Emily Gordon won the 3200 and beat the school record with a time of

12:18. Even with this loss, Meads Mill continues to break past individual records setting a positive tone for

the rest of the season. The third track meet against Westland Franklin was a great success!

Way to go Meads Mill track team!

Model U.N.

~Ankith Alluri, Editor and Staff Writer

Whether you want to be a model or a policeman, a skillset that is crucial to getting to where you want

to be is effective communication. This is exactly what Model UN aims to develop. Model UN (or MUN) is an

extracurricular activity that fosters students’ problem-solving abilities, while developing their appreciation for

what is going on around them. Essentially, Model UN involves an array of committees that deal with a variety

issues, which can range from Illegal Arms Trades to the Refugee crisis. Students are assigned to a committee

and choose a country afterwards, through extensive research, they must represent their country’s opinion/

interests in committee. Then the group works towards a common goal with other delegates that represent

other countries. Meads Mill has finished with a first at the RCMUN conference at MSU, with multiple awards

from several committees.

I asked Secretary General of Meads Mill MUN, Max Valenti, a few questions on Model UN, and what

it teaches. First, I asked him what the most notable part of Model UN was and the experience and knowledge

it provided. He said that he had learned many new skillsets in terms of speaking publicly, as well as making

new friends in different committees every year. The skillsets that he learned were: impromptu speaking,

parliamentary procedure, education on world issues, as well as the skills to handle other people.

I asked him to elaborate on the skillsets and what they provided in real life. He said that Model UN

participants learn how to use synergy and compromise to work toward a common solution. He added that you

have to use a steady tone of voice, as well as presenting your ideas in an organized fashion.

If you are interested in learning about new issues, solving and collaborating with other people, and

learning from multiple unique experiences, join Model UN in the fall!

10

Messages to a Friend Thank you for those who supported our efforts to self-fund the printing of the Patriot Press.

6th Grade:

Thanks for being the best teacher, Mrs. Jary. ( Do I get extra credit?) Charlie Green

You’re the best friend I ever had. Hailey

Saket, Rithik, and Tanmay, thanks for being great friends! Srihari Hebbar

This is a shout out to all of my teachers! Thanks so much ! Laura Cencer

You’re lit BOI Riley

You be Lit Boi-Even wit stitches Caleb

7th Grade:

Rishika made me do this, so there, Rishika– Ha!! Nora B.

Subscribe to the Boss Orca! I love you! Brian Cho

Hi Olivia! Marie

Everyone better like my mom! Mallory Hart

Pay Gap Illegal since 1963 Anonymous

#PGN #Aarmau for life bruh XD Aphmau Lover

John C., what is better aarmau or tablemau or garrance:3 Your Demon Butler

8th Grade:

You are my light, my life, my love, Amanda. Anonymous

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky/Michael Scott Sasha Yazdi

Thanks Clare Maginley for being a great Clarebear and Jenna Montemayor for being Jelly bean!

Anonymous

Contact NORTHEYES ON TARGET Phillip Bernwanger

BJA 2020 Anonymous

Staff:

Thank you for a wonderful year! You have been kind, sweet, smart, challenging, frustrating, and oh so many other things, but you have never been boring. This year you have kept me on my toes and made me think, laugh, and some-times cry. As you move on, remember to live up to your ability. Don’t sell yourself short! Mrs. Mroz

Thank you for a marvelous time here at Meads Mill. We have awesome students and a great staff! Bye, Bye, Michigan and hello South Carolina! Mrs. Thompson

Jan, Cindy, and Amanda, We will miss you!! Think of us next year and smile, or laugh! Mrs. Jary

I’m so happy I was able to be a student teacher here at Meads Mill! Thank you all for making my time here amazing!

Ms. Dawson

Dear Mr. Balagna, Thank you for fearlessly leading us. Let’s do it again next year! ELA

Congratulations Patriots! What a great year. 7th and 6th grade see you next year. 8th graders , good luck next year!

Come back and visit! Peace and Love Ms. Debien

You don’t want to look back and know you could have done better! Stay positive, work hard, and make it happen!

Mrs. Masi

Shout out to the amazing Meads Mill Staff… Go Green!!! Mrs. Howells

8th Graders, It’s been a pleasure! Good luck next year! Mr. Balagna

11

Mead’s Musings

By: Mallory Hart

Thank you for your loyal following! Look for another edition of the

Patriot Press in May 2017!

Have a great Spring Break!!