Written by fifth and sixth graders The newspaper that talks

October Issue

A-Boght Times
Is the World Really Ending in 2012?
By: Katelynn P.

Bullying

By: Alayna A.

Picture found at: Grinch

Bullying... everyone has felt it! We can never get away from mean things. Well, NYS is sick of all the bullying. They made a new law called the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). This new law will help NYS be safe. This is how the bullying law works. Lets say you were bullied at school and you told a teacher, a principal, or trusted adult, they will talk with the bully, then the trusted adult will deal with him or her. If the bully keeps on bullying outside of school, then there could be consequences with the police, depending on how severe the bullying is. I know what you might be thinking. Thats really big for just bullying. I talked with a 4th grader and 6th grader on what they think about this. They said, I think its good to have the new bullying law, but I think the consequences are a little too harsh. Bullying is something we hear about all the time, good and bad! Bullying is very serious, so watch what you say, do, and type online!
Information from: DASA

Who predicted that the world is going to end in 2012? When the Mayans were alive, they made their own calendar. When you make a calendar, you cant go on and on and on with the dates and years. The Mayans just happened to end the calendar they created in the year 2012. People are now taking a look at the calendar and thinking that the world is going to end. However, the world is not going to end. I talked to a fifth grader at Boght Hills School and she said she does not believe the world will end either. She does think that the Mayans were very intelligent. She sometimes believes the world might end and at other times, she doesnt. I Katelynn, dont think the world is going to end. I dont think the world is going to end because of the research I did. People think the world is going to end just because of the Mayans calendar. We dont use that calendar, so we dont have to worry about a thing. After this article, if you still think the world is going to end, (which its not) relax and dont worry about what could happen, just worry about the present and everything will work itself out.
Picture found at: Mayans

Who Will YOU Vote For?

By: Angelica F.

Picture found at:

White House

Who do you want to win this years election, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? I want Barack Obama to win. Ill give you some reasons why. Barack Obama wants to raise taxes on the RICH! I repeat, the rich, not the middle class. If that happens, we will all pay the same amount of taxes so it will be fair. Mitt Romney wants to raise taxes on the middle class families like you and I, as well as cut taxes from the rich. Think about this. During summer vacation if Mitt Romney is president, youll say, Mom, I want to go to Disney Land! You wont be able to because Mitt Romney raised taxes on your mom and dad so they cant afford to do anything. President Obama wants to bring home troops in 2 years. On the other hand, Romney doesnt want to bring back troops. I find that unfair to the troops, their spouses, and if they have them, their children. Not seeing your mom or dad for a long time can be hard on children. President Obama also wants to help schools and lower the prices for colleges. While Mitt Romney wants to make college more affordable as well, he says the government should not be so involved in education. If hes president and thinks government should not be involved in education, then he could possibly decide to cut teaching jobs. If there are less teaching jobs, your (Rest of story continues on top right side of page 2)

EDUCATIONAL classes could be limited. Also, Mitt Romney is thinking about cutting jobs. If your parents vote for him and he becomes president, they could possibly be voting to get laid off. For those of you who dont know what the term LAID OFF means, Ill tell you. Laid off is a fancy term that means you no longer have that job. The difference between that and being fired is that if you get fired, you probably did something bad. When youre laid off, its because of budget cuts. As well as cutting jobs, he wants to cut small businesses, such as a family run business. Its not a chain store so small businesses are unique. Your favorite little cheap candy store will probably be gone. Do you really want Mitt Romney as our president? Hell be limiting your choices for fun, preventing us from seeing troops, and also limiting your education. Thats why I want Barack Obama to win. So go! Ask your parents who they are voting for!
Information from: Scholastic News Weekly Reader. Kids can vote here

YOUR

VOTE COUNTS!

Fun Facts About Cats.

By: Brady D.

Image found at Cats

Tigers By: Noah S

Picture found at: Tiger

Cats have five toes on each foot, but only 4 show. Most cats dont have eyelashes. Cats rarely meow at other cats. Sir Isaac Newton invented the Cat Door.
Information found at:

Cats

The tiger, or Panthera Tigris, is an endangered species. An endangered species is a species that gets over hunted or their habitat gets destroyed. It is also the largest cat species. It can grow up to 11 feet and 670 pounds. The tiger population in South East Asia has dropped over 70 percent over the last ten years. The reason for the drop is that poachers are illegally hunting and deliberately killing them for their body parts and skin. Lets stop hunting tigers and keep them alive.
Information from: Tigers

A cone game

By: Trevor J.
I interviewed a fellow classmate about what his favorite game in gym is. TJ: What is your favorite game in gym? SB: Cone dodgeball TJ: How accurate is your throw? Good or bad? SB: First off, it is really good and second off, if i throw it fast, I can curve it a lot. If I throw it too weak, it doesnt hit anything. TJ: Would you use a gator ball or a fleece ball? SB: A gator ball. Plus TJ, I think we are playing it at gym today. TJ: I think we are SB. Tune in next issue to read about the debate on electronics in school.
Picture found at: dodgeball

About Myself By: Emily B.

Hi! My name is Emily and I joined the newspaper club because it sounded very interesting and because I have many ideas to share with you! I would like to tell you that my favorite colors are neon green, neon orange, and neon electric blue. My favorite sport is football and my favorite team is the New York Jets. My favorite things to do are... 1. Tap Dancing and Jazz Dancing 2. Being with my friends 3. Being with my family 4. Being in school My teacher is Mrs.Carbone and she is very funny! The newspaper club is off to a good start and I love it!

German: An Important Language By: Sam D.

Picture from: Map of Germany

Boght Hills Sixth Graders have a good opportunity: to study Foreign Languages. One of these is German. Why study German? In an interview with Frau (German for Mrs.) Reeves, the German teacher, she said that if you want a good job in technology, medicine, music, or psychology, Germany has many good jobs in these fields. You need to know how to speak German in most of them. Also, why study German even though most German people

Picture found at: Color Wheel

speak English? Frau Reeves answer to this is that most authentic German jobs are done in German. Three things she says everybody should know about Germany are that Germany has a great culture and even though it is small, it is quite powerful. Also, she says everybody should experience German culture at one point in their life. In German class, we study German culture and language. We get to learn great songs. Also, we will get to Skype with German students. We had a real German exchange student come and talk to us. All in all, German is a very important language to study and the sixth graders are lucky to be able to study it. Auf Wiedersehen!
Source: German class and Frau Reeves.

Still Remembering The Old

Bass: Smallmouth and Largemouth By: Eric J. By: Varun M. My Mom recently started taking Zumba lessons at an old North Colonie School, Maplewood. Since my babysitter had some last moment job, I had to accompany her at her first class. I was very excited because this was my old school. Maplewood was shut down in 2010 because of lack of funds. From there, I was shifted to Boght Hills. Even though I have enjoyed my time at Boght Hills, I was excited to go back and see the changes my old school, which I dearly loved, has gone through. When I was there, you would never find the halls and classrooms so empty and quiet. Now since the school is shut down, all corridors were empty. I went to my old classroom and looked around in my science lab. All I saw was some old memories hanging there. I was happy that they have made the building into a daycare center and kids still use it. The gym is still used for fitness classes, too. Though I still remember the old, I am enjoying the present in the amazing Boght Hills Elementary School!

Picture from Bass

What are bass? A bass is a type of fish that lives in both fresh and salt water. There are many types of bass. One type of bass is the Black Bass. They also have the largemouth and smallmouth bass. These types of bass are in the sunfish family. Bass are one of the most popular species of game fish. Bass can get really big. The biggest one I know is 22 pounds and 5 ounces. It was 29 inches long! Bass eat almost anything in the water that is big enough to fit in its mouth, such as snails, other fish, frogs or tadpoles, mice, salamanders, and snakes. Bass are usually found in slow moving water such as streams, lakes, and ponds. That doesnt mean they cant be found in rivers. If you want to catch a bass, you should go near fallen logs, weeds, or lily pads during the spring. You could also catch them during the winter in ice fishing. I have a big bass on the hook and I am reeling it in so I have to go, bye. I wonder if the bass on my hook will break the record!
Information found at: Types of Bass

Picture of: Maplewood School Building

Looking for a Good Movie?

Zzzzzzz...
By: Hibah V. By: Victoria S. If you are looking for some fun, you should see Hotel Transylvania! It is very funny and is a great Halloween movie for people who dont like very scary movies. The only scary part is when Dracula gets mad and his eyes turn red. The film is about when Draculas daughter, Mavis, turns one hundred eighteen. Dracula manages a hotel called Hotel Transylvania that is supposed to be human-free. One day, a human finds the hotel and Dracula has to pretend that the human is actually a monster so the hotel will remain popular. Soon, Mavis (voice actress: Selena Gomez) falls in love with the human. Mavis wants to see the human world, but because Dracula thinks humans are vicious, Dracula is ridiculously over-protective. After Mavis mom dies, Dracula has to take care of Mavis with a little help from his friends. This story is funny and will make you laugh out loud. I think this movie is a great pick and something you should definitely watch!

Picture found at: Sleep at Desk Information found at: Getting Sleep

Are you getting enough sleep? A lot of students arent. Lack of sleep is making it hard to concentrate on students work and pay attention to the teacher. Sleep is more important than ever before. We do so many things throughout the day that we need rest. From schoolwork, to homework, after school activities, to sports practice, and rehearsals for other things, we need a break. We all need at least nine hours of sleep. Why do we need sleep? We need sleep to function properly. How are you supposed to figure out that math problem if you didnt get enough sleep? During tests and quizzes, we all need to do our best. How are you supposed to get an A+ if you cant remember anything you studied because of no sleep? Your brain needs to be fully functioning. Youll have a better performance in school and activities if you go to bed early. Itll also be easier to wake up in the morning. What happens when you dont get at least nine hours of sleep? If you dont get enough sleep, youll have a bad day. Some symptoms are that you might be in a bad mood, you might be wearier, or less alert, so be careful.
Picture found at: Hotel Transylvania

(rest of story at top of page 7) You know you havent gotten enough sleep if you wake up tired and unrefreshed. You dont want that to happen. Think about how much sleep you need, and plan your day accordingly. Youll do better in school and have a better performance with just one simple task: SLEEP!

All About Me About Me

By: Megan P.
By: Madeline B. Hi! My name is Madeline B. I am in Mrs. Goldbergs fifth grade class. I am ten and a half years old. I live with my mom, sister, and two brothers. My favorite hobbies are drawing, typing and playing on the computer, being with my family, and swimming. Would you like to read more about myself? If you said yes, pat yourself on your back for a job well done. I have a lot of favorite foods. If Id have to choose one of my favorite foods, it would have to be salad or pasta salad. My favorite things to do with my family are going to the Outer Banks (which is located in North Carolina) and spending time with them. My favorite book of all time is 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass. My favorite movie is Marley and me. I enjoy doing Newspaper Club because you get to let all of your creativity flow into your own newspaper article. I look forward to writing more articles for you!

Picture found at: Bear

My name is Megan. Im in the fifth grade and my teacher is Mr. McNamara. I was born in January and I am ten and a half years old. My favorite color is green. My favorite animal is a panda. Surprisingly, my favorite sport is football, but I also like soccer. My favorite NFL team is the New York Giants. My favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees. My favorite food is oranges. Im the youngest of four children. I have two brothers and one sister. I live with my mom and my two brothers. My dad and sister live in Long Island. I moved here when I was five and a half years

Picture found at: Peace

old. I look forward to writing more articles in the school newspaper!

Bella Thorne
Aliens By: Sean C. By: Alyssa L. Annabella Avery Thorne (Bella Thorne) was born on October 8, 1997 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She is 15 and her birthday just passed. She is a singer, dancer, model, and actress. She has three other siblings that are all older than her. Their names are Remy, Kaili, and Dani. Bella is 55 tall. She is a really good role model for people that love to sing, dance, or act. I have seen her dance before and I think she is really good. She is on the shows Shake It Up, Little Monk, and My Own Worst Enemy. Bella Thorne has dyslexia, but that doesnt stop her from being who she is. Dyslexia is when you have trouble reading words correctly. She serves as an inspiration to young girls all over the world.

Picture found at: Four Moons

Do you believe in aliens? First of all, what IS an alien? An alien is a being from a different area. Yes, the most common alien is a being from a different world. People say theyve seen aliens and UFOs. I doubt it. Anyway, if an alien could survive, I have some likely areas. A moon of Jupiter, Titan, is one of its largest moons. It doesnt have much oxygen, but has liquid hydrogen, something used in water. Thus, an alien could live here. Another moon, Europa, is much more likely for US to live on. For example, it has LIQUID SALTWATER under its icy crust. Thats water! An alien that comes here would probably need oxygen to survive! Do YOU believe aliens exist in Jupiter?

Picture found at: Bella Thorne Information found at: About Bella Thorne

Screen Capturing
By: Ryan H

How Can We Stop Global Warming?

By: Matthew V.

Sometimes you only want a certain part of a picture or document. You may not know that you can take a certain part of a picture very easily. All you have to do is press: Apple+shift+4 and you can cut a picture to any size you want.

Picture found at: Global Warming

Talking Computer
You can make a computer talk. Its simple. You need to go to finder, then go to applications, then click on utilities, and then terminal. Then type: say ..... whatever you want the computer to say. Those are two interesting features that a computer has that some people may not know.
Picture found at: Keyboard

Global warming is a very serious problem today. If we keep on doing what were doing, the human race will end. That is why we have to stop it. One way we can stop it is by using bikes, carpooling, or by using public transportation. This will help use less gasoline, which is hurting our environment. Another thing we can do is recycle more. A gas called methane is released from landfills. Do all you can do to stop global warming. Like I said before, if we dont, it could mean the end of us.

The New Boston Celtics: What do you Think?

By: Josh P.
The Boston Celtics new roster contains Brandon Bass, Avery Bradley, Jason Collins, Micah Downs, Kevin Garnett, Jeff Green, Kris Joseph, Robert Kurz, Courtney Lee, Fab Melo, Darko Milicic, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger, Jason Terry, and Chris Wilcox. As you can see, its sad that Ray Allen isnt on the roster anymore. I interviewed a retired football coach to see how he thinks the Boston Celtics will do this year. (Rest of article directly below on page 10)

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern, NY

By: Molly L. The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern, NY is a place where people sort items for families in need (examples: food, health and beauty, and pet products). Families can work there by sorting items into boxes. As shelters and local food banks request products, they get sent out by trucks. You can volunteer weekly, monthly, or daily. Its a great way to teach kids to be grateful for what you have. (Rest of article directly below of page 10)

Me: What do you think about the new roster for the Boston Celtics? FB: I like their new roster and I think that Terry will be a good replacement for Ray Allen. He might be their new star shooter. Me: How do you think, based on Rajon Rondos stats from last year, he will do this year? FB: Rondos stats from last year will prove him to be very good. He has to improve his shot. Me: How do you think Kevin Garnett will do this year. FB: I think he keeps himself in good shape and will be a good leader. I also think he will get the rebounds he needs to. Me: How do you think Paul Pierce has improved over the years? FB: Paul Pierce needs to improve his shooting form, but he can shoot anywhere and sink it. He is great compared to the rookies. I think the Boston Celtics will do well this year, even without Ray Allen.

Sometimes you might find something open or wish you could keep it yourself. Other than that, its great. Its great because its something that anyone can do. You and your family can do it together. Some items that people need are food, health and beauty, pet products, water, hair products, and various other items. These needs can go to shelters and other places where families go when they are needy. My family goes monthly. Last time we went, we sorted water, home goods, and detergent. Be sure to wear older clothes because sometimes you will get messy. Last time my family was sorting detergent and some boxes were open. Our clothes got a little messy. My family and I enjoy sorting at the food bank and they need more people to help. I bet you will enjoy it too. Join today!!

Picture found at: Boston Celtics Picture found at: Food Bank

History of Halloween
By: Brianna M. Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Halloween? The ancient Celts, who lived over 2,000 years ago, celebrated their New Year on November 1. They believed that because the beginning of winter and colder days started in November, it was closely related to death. To keep the living from being affected by those of the dead who were evil, the Celts had a festival. This festival was called Samhain. On this day, they would sacrifice animals, vegetables, and fruit to the dead. (Rest of article directly below on page 11)

ELECTRONICS By: Hailie B. Do you think electronics should be allowed in school? We have people in this school district that say yes and and some that say no. One of the people that said no thinks that kids would be distracted and want to play on them. She also thinks that if you need to contact your parents that you could use the schools phone, and that kids need to focus on their work rather than their electronics. (Rest of article directly below on page 11) If you do have a phone in school, it can go off

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They would also light bonfires in honor of them. During this festival, the Celts wore costumes of animal skins and heads. Once the Celts were conquered by the Roman Empire, the Roman Empire declared that the festival of Samhain should become more Christian oriented. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV proclaimed November 1st as All Saints Day, which was also known as All Hallows Day. Halloween is a fun festival that we still celebrate today.

during the day. However, they can be good to have in school. They can be good to have because if you have a Kindle, it can help you with reading. You can also concentrate hard by doing schoolwork on it. If you need to contact your parents right away, you can if you have a cell phone with you. An iPad can help you study as well. Let the debate continue. Should electronics be allowed in schools?

Picture and information from: Halloween

Picture found at: Cell Phones

Last Minute Halloween Costumes!

By: Genny D.
Links to all pictures used: lumberjack ninja nerd girl

nerd boy

If youre going trick-or-treating this year (I know I am), then you should choose a comfortable costume that suits the weather that night. Unlike the itchy and overpriced costumes you buy from the stores, you could make your own comfortable costume for a lot less. (Rest of article directly below on page 11) Along with that, all of them are easy! The first costume is a LUMBERJACK.

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First of all, you need a pair of jeans. Itd be best if the jeans you use are faded blue jeans with holes in the knees. Lumberjacks dont have time to buy a new pair of jeans every time their older jeans get scratched by a hazardous tree as he/she screams TIMBER!!!. Second of all, you need a plaid, long-sleeved shirt. Your plaid shirt shouldnt be too colorful. Stereotypical lumberjacks are all about work and food, not pretty colors. Your shirt should also be somewhat loose and fuzzy. Also, wear a winter hat, gloves, and heavy boots. If you want, you could buy a fake beard or use something dark to make a beard. You will need to wear overalls to add more personality to your costume. Your lumberjack costume should look something

The black socks and shoes, black leggings/ skinny jeans, and black, fitted long-sleeved shirt are pretty explanatory. The other black shirt, however, may have caused you to think WHY DO YOU NEED ANOTHER SHIRT!?!. Its okay, youre probably not alone. The other black shirt is to cover up your head. If your other black shirt has writing on it, then simply turn it inside out. Tuck your shirt into your high waisted pants/shorts. Either before or after you do that, tie your hair up if you have long hair. Then, gently place the shirt on over your head with the head hole over your head. Once thats done, take the sleeves and tie them together behind your head. Manipulate your shirt to look more like a ninja head, then YOURE DONE! If you want to get fancy, you could (with permission from parents and/or you teacher/principal) bring a plastic sword around with you on Halloween night while looking super cool. This costume would be peachy on a cold night. If youre claustrophobic, then you should probably be a nerd instead. Being a NERD for Halloween is pretty simple. All you need is big square glasses, high-waisted, nerdy looking pants/shorts depending on the weather, a button-up collared shirt OR a long sleeved shirt and a sweater-vest, hair gel if youre a boy, and two hair ties if youre a girl. To make the nerd glasses, you need either movie theater glasses (the square ones), or you can get cheap square sunglasses from a dollar store near you. Once you have hold of your glasses, pop out the lenses (with parents help). Then, if you really want to, you can wrap any tape of your choice around the center part of your now nerdy glasses. Tuck your shirt into your high waisted pants/shorts. (rest of article on left side of page 13)

like this: If you dont think a lumberjack costume would suit you, then maybe a ninja would. To look like a NINJA, all you need is black socks and shoes, black leggings/skinny jeans, a black, fitted long-sleeved shirt, and another black shirt. In the end, it should look something like this:

(Rest of article above on page 12) If youre a boy, then take a big clump of your gooey

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hair gel, and rub it into your hair. Before it dries, you should use a comb and comb your hair back. If youre a girl, then get your hair messy and put it into high pigtails. In the end, your nerd costume

Rachels Challenge: are we up to it? By: Raneen R.

We all know about Rachels Challenge, but do we know what it really is. We students talk about it all the time. Rachel was a very kind person and she always stood up for others and what she believed in. A great motto to live by is, Treat others the way you want to be treated. Rachel did just that. Rachel died at the very young age of 17. That didnt stop her from leaving her message to all of us as we carry our kindness, compassion, and respect to others. Now there is a nationwide program called Rachels Challenge. This is a program that many schools all over the United States, including our school participate in. For every act of kindness, we add a link to our chain. The goal of the program is to get everyone to be kind to everyone else. So far at Boght Hills, Rachels challenge works. Are you a part of Rachels Challenge?

should look something like this: or kind of like this:

Picture found at: Rachel's Challenge

I hope that you manage to find your dream costume and that I helped a little bit. Make your choice scream out your name and face. Make it your own, and have a very HAPPY

HALLOWEEN!!!!

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A-Boght Times is a newspaper created by fifth and sixth grade students. We met twice a month to write, edit, and format the articles in this edition. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future articles, please contact the editor, Mr. Pacelli, at shanepacelli@ncolonie.org. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and passed on to the students! Thank you for taking the time to read A-Boght Times!

Picture found at: Boght Hills Elementary School

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