Author: Shanpelle Bridges

January/February Issue

January/February Birthdays
Tempest Bailey 1/01
David Young 1/03
Destiny Daniels 1/07
Kenel Jackson 1/07
Dequayvious Dubose 1/10
Orlando Geiger 1/12
Marqui Olds 1/16
Ondre Decembre 1/18
Shakara Alceus 1/20
Destiny Gardner 1/28
Divion Mathews 1/28/
Damarrious Reed 1/29
Jada Ansley 2/03
Kayla Stegall 2/05
Fatoumata Kaba 2/14
JaMorris Ambles 1/15
Camron Hart 2/16
Shatavious Patrick 2/18
Samual Montes- Espericueta 2./19
Eunicia Neal 2/23
Derrick Thomas 2/28
Iyanla Rogers 2/29

News Letter Team:
Chyaunna White
Kenel Jackson
Mekhi McCoy
Shanpelle Bridges
Nakyah Spear

Dear Students and Parents,
We are in the middle of school year and its time for 8TH GRADE DUES ARE DUE!!! The 8th grade Team has many things planned for the 8th graders. The dues include:
8th Grade T-shirt $12.00
Fun Day $10.00
Breakfast $10.00
Year Book $40.00
8th Grade Dance $20.00
Dues all together will be $52.00 and with the year it will total to $92.00.
Thank-you parents and students,
Your 8th Grade Team

By: Shanpelle Bridges

It is now the end of basketball season for the guys. The boys basketball team gave their all every game and improved in skills with leadership, teamwork, and dignity with a record of 2-14. We look forward to next year! As the girls carried on and pursued to win against Stephenson on Saturday, January 31st, unfortunately their season ended. Say goodbye farewell, to the Mighty Colts, great year!!!
Welcome to track season! Now it’s time to lace up your running shoes and hit the track. For more information about the sport, see Coach Mickens. Practice has already begun come out and join your fellow classmates. Stay tuned for more information!

While the 8th Grade Students prepare for high school. We are happy to make the transition from middle school, smoothly. We are preparing for the Georgia Milestones by embarking on Saturday School, there will be total of six sessions the dates and times are February 7th, 21st March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. The time is: 8:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Transportation will be provided, as well as, breakfast. If you are interested, please see your homeroom teacher.

Future Ninth Graders
By: Nakyah Spear

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Valentines Day Quiz

1.What religious group originated Valentine’s Day?
Christian Saints
Jewish
Palestinians
2.What is another name for Valentine’s Day? (two answers)
Saint Patrick’s
Saint Valentine’s Day
Feast of Saint Valentines
3.Valentine’s Day started out as...
Liturgical celebration
Christian celebration
Romantic celebration

History:
Valentine’s Day , also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or Feast of Saint Valentine’s, is a holiday celebrated on February 14th. Although Valentine’s Day is not a holiday in some countries most countries around the world celebrate it. Valentine’s Day originally started as a Liturgical celebration and Christian Saints named it Valentinus. The holiday was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chavoer, the father of English Literature in the High Middle Ages. When the tradition of country love flourished in 18th Century England, Valentine’s Day became an occasion where lovers expressed love to each other by presenting flowers, sending greeting cards, and offering confectionery.

By: Chyaunna White

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Weird National Holidays
By: Shanpelle Bridges
January 31st, Saturday – Backwards Day is where everything that day is said or done backwards.
February 1st, Sunday – Decorate every thing with your favorite treat. This Holiday Is decorating with candy Day.
February 2nd, Monday – Hedge Hog Day these animals are honored on this day.
1. January 30, 2015- Honors Day Program– Students who received all A’s or A, B honor roll for the Fall Semester. Congrats!
2. January 31, 2015- DeKalb Hellen Ruffin Reading Bowl Competition- Team must arrive by 8:00 a.m. competition begins at 9:00 a.m. Located at Tucker High School. MMS Team did well!
February 1-28, 2015- Black History Celebration- Poetry Contest (start preparing now to enter… more information to come!) Theme: Diamond Awards (An award show)
February 11, 2015– Parent Teacher Conference
February 14, 2015– Valentine’s Day
February 17, 2015- Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition- Summit entries to your ELA teacher, must have a complete entry form completed.

Dates To Remember!
By: Kenel Jackson

Young Women’s Leadership Program!
Applications due by
February 13, 2015 to your ELA Teacher

FYI: Early Morning Tutorial will Start Soon…
See Ms. Hannah and Ms. Womack

Black History Month
Cinema Festival
Tuesday, February 3 & February 10, 2015 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Gresham Library 2418 Gresham Road, Atlanta, GA 30316

The Black History Month Parade
Historic MLK/ Sweet Auburn District on
Auburn Avenue Downtown
Atlanta, Georgia USA
February 28, 2015
12:00pm - 5:00pm

Black History By: Shanpelle Bridges

Many know about the great men and women who contributed to the black community. These people such as Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Madam CJ. Walker made great effort to change.
Nelson Mandela was a great pursuer in life. He accomplished much even before and after being imprisoned. He has won over 250 prizes from all over the world. Mr. Mandela stood firm and took his country from the extremes of the apartheid (was a system of racial segregation in South Africa). For which he won a Nobel Piece Prize in 1993.
Dr. Martin Luther King was another advocate contributing to Black history. He wanted peace and equality throughout the nation. At the age of 25 Dr. King became a pastor in 1954. On December 1, 1955, the same day Rosa Parks was arrested In Montgomery for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus that was also led by Dr. King. He also served as the first president of SCLC ( Southern Christian Leadership Conference) in 1957. The organization for coordinate mass protest, voters registration drives and fought for economic equality for Blacks in American Society.
Madam C.J. Walker was the first Black women millionaire , developed hair products. Her childhood was different from many because she was orphaned at age 7, became a servant at 10, and married at 14. She now has a stamp in her honor, made in 1998.
These great leaders made it possible for the black community to be leaders. They fought for our justice that we now have.

Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Reflection
By Reading Bowl Team 2014-15

The students arrived at Tucker High School with enough time to chit—chat with other students from the surrounding area. All teams had to compete with a competitor in 6 Rounds. In Round I, MMS Team gained a win over Druid Hills M.S. The 2nd Round was a lost, we did not gain any points. However, the Team redeemed themselves by rounds 3, 4, 5, and 6. Three rounds were tied and another round was a win. However, we did not gain enough points to place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. We would like to congratulate Tapestry M.S. for 3rd place, Chamblee M.S. for 2nd place, and Henderson M.S. for 1st place.
We had a wonderful time and enjoyed competing with the schools. Now we are experienced and ready to train the team(s) for next year!
Team Members: Shakara Alceus, Kathy Romero, Taniya Scott, Tempest Bailey, Fatoumatta Drammeh, and Jaylin Simmons Coach: Mrs. Jack Mentor: Mrs. Clark

STAR Reading/ Math
Congrats on the growth 8th grade. Keep it up!
By: Kenel Jackson

Congrats! To A/B Honor Roll Recipients:
Kamari Baldwin Adrian Starks
Briana Clemon Shakara Alceus
Desiray Coulter-Cobin Jada Ansley
Darius George Shanpelle Bridges
Arianna Harrell Nala Cody
Jimeisha Hughey Kenel Jackson
Darrius Johnson Mekhi McCoy
Mario Rodriquez-Rodriquez Kathy Romero
Jaylin Simmons Taniya Scott
Zaleithia Sorrells Josiah Snaggs
B. Samael Montes-Espericueta Nakyah Spear
Iyona Brooks Chyaunna White
Bianca Bell Jeniyah George
Kyron Fisher Ciara Green
Donquavias James Jamal Anderson
Isaiah McClary Aleese Gibbs
Ja’Quisheona Washington Ricardo Ramirez
Kianna Kellog

Georgia Milestones is Coming!!
Take the STEPS Needed!!
RAP your constructed response questions and RACE your extended response analysis!!
Restate Restate
Answer Answer ALL Parts
Prove Cite Evidence from text
Explain or Elaborate

8th Grade	Before GE	After GE	Growth	Decline	Neutral/No Change
Hannah	5.8	7.1	+1.3
Womack	5.3	5.4	+.10
Gilstrap	3.36	3.76	+.40

8th Grade	Before GE	After GE	Growth	Decline	Neutral/NO Change
Bishop	4.7	5.3	+.60
Jack	5.7	5.9	+.20
Shakoor	2.9	2.4		-.50