BETTYE MYERS MIDDLE SCHOOL

TITANS

NOVEMBER ISSUE 2014

MOVIE OF THE MONTH!! Maleficent

by: Destiny Simpson

If you are like me, sometimes you just don’t know what there is for a good

watch. You’ve seen everything twice. I guess three times wouldn’t hurt… but

WAIT!!! Go watch the new movie Maleficent!! Only been out for 6 months, it’s ac-

tually very new.

Maleficent wasn't always all horns and vitriol. She didn't spring from the womb flinging curses and bashing the nurses with her magic staff. In fact, she was pretty nice. As a girl, she fed the animals and played with her forest friends and soared over her magical moors with those nifty wings of hers. She was patient and kind and maybe even a little wise. When a young human boy from a neighboring (and often hostile) kingdom snuck into the moors, Maleficent didn't turn him into a beetle—not even when she learned that he'd pilfered a gem-like rock. She just made Stefan give it back. And then she, in turn, gave it back to the lake from whence it came.

If I'd known you were going to throw it away, I would've kept it," Stefan said. "I didn't throw it away," Maleficent corrected. "I took it home, as I'm going to do for you." See? Nary a curse thrown. And Stefan and Maleficent took that awkward beginning and turned it into an unlikely friendship. As they grew older, it became something more. They shared a kiss—a kiss, Stefan told her, of true love. But life has a way of bending us, fraying us, twisting us out of shape. Our disappointments mount, our hurts gather. Sometimes, something in us breaks. Tensions between Maleficent's strange little land and its neighboring kingdom continued to mount. Wars were started. Stefan stopped coming around. Then one day, there he was again—bringing a word of warning and a hand of friendship. And Maleficent was grateful. For an afternoon, it felt like she had her friend back. So secure she felt with her old pal that when he offered her a drink from his flask, she took it.

She fell asleep in his arms. When she awoke, her wings were gone, taken by the man she loved. Her body was broken. Her heart was crushed. And in the shards and fissures of her fractured soul, something else began to fill the spaces—a venomous mortar, cementing together a new, dark Maleficent. And by the time she casts a spell on Stefan's newborn daughter, Aurora—sentencing her to a deathlike sleep from the prick of a needle—those horns on her head had come to look oh so fitting.

For more information on the rating of this movie, go to www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/maleficent.aspx

The History of Thanksgiving

by: Leslie Espinoza

We all know what Thanksgiving is. There is a week off

from school, food, family, and friends. But how did we re-

ally get Thanksgiving?

It all started with the pilgrims. They started the whole

thing because they started thanking God and celebrated

the bountiful food of the Harvest one year. Well, they real-

ly liked it. They made it a tradition with the Native Ameri-

cans to have an annual celebration including feasting and

recreation. To these people of strong Christian faith, was

not merely a holiday; it was a joyous outpouring of grati-

tude for what they had in the New World.

Now, it is tradition that we thank the Lord for our food

on Thanksgiving. We make a reunion with our family and

friends as we celebrate and give thanks for the food and

blessings we have.

United Way Pep-Rally Hey Titans! We raised $5,000 for the United Way

Corporation! Mr. Harned made a bet that if we

raised $700, he would SHAVE HIS HEAD. Mr. Aris-

ta also said that if we raised $800, he would

SHAVE HIS HEAD!! Well, congratulations!! Both of

their heads are shaved!! Good job, Titans. Want to

know what your fund-raising went to? The issues

United Way offices focus on are determined by

local factors because every community is unique.

Mainly, United Way focuses on education,

income, and health.

At the pep-rally, we also had some inspirational

speeches from our football and volleyball players

on their success. Sadly, the season was already

coming to a close.

TEACHER OF THE MONTH by: Kerrigan, Audrey, Ashley, and Mrs. Hindman

This month, November, we chose Mrs. Wieper as the teach-

er of the month. Join us as we review the interview with

Mrs. Wieper and the Newspaper Team.

NT- How do you feel to be the teacher of the month?

I feel honored.

NT- What was your first mistake teaching?

Worksheets!!

NT- What’s your best strategy for teaching?

Learning with others.

NT- How long have you been teaching?

This is my 10th year.

NT- What was your favorite lesson you ever taught?

Teaching my students about physics through building a

car with a mousetrap.