VIKING VOICE NOVEMBER 2015

VOL. 52 NO. 2

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

By: Kara DiNardo

Thanksgiving is a holiday on which people give thanks for what they have. It is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November, which is the 26th this year. Thanksgiving is filled with delicious entrees including turkey, sides including stuffing, and des-serts including pumpkin pie. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving treat? The night of and day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday. Black Friday is a day in which stores have enough sales and can lower their prices because of this success. It is an unoffi-cial holiday, but is very crucial to many. Black Friday is filled with stores giving discounts for the upcom-ing holiday shopping season. The stores that partici-pate in Black Friday open early, some even at 6p.m. on Thanksgiving day. Be on the look out for the Black Friday ads!

MOCKING JAY PART 2

Upcoming movie: Mocking Jay Part 2. President Snow is in war with Katniss and District 13. She goes on a mission with her friends Gale, Finnick, and Peeta. President Snow has become more and more obsessed with destroying Katniss. THE MOVIE COMES OUT IN NOV.20 See the back cover for a chance to win a Cinemark Theatres gift card!

Pumpkin Spice Latte DIY Pumpkin spice lattes are a worldwide favorite at Star-bucks, but I'm going to show you my favorite recipe for a DIY pumpkin spice latte! Ingredients: Pumpkin Spice Syrup: 1 ½ cups of water 1 ½ cups of sugar ⅓ cup of pumpkin puree 1 ½ tsp of cinnamon 1 tsp of nutmeg ½ tsp of cloves ½ tsp of ginger Add these ingredients into a different bowl Latte 8 oz (ounces) of milk 4 oz (ounces) of coffee (optional) 2 tbsp of Pumpkin spice syrup Whipped cream Pumpkin Pie Seasoning or cinnamon Instructions: 1. simmer water and sugar in a pan, medium heat, and stir until sugar dissolves. 2. Slowly pour your Pumpkin Spice Syrup into pan and continue to simmer for ten minutes, stirring it often. Remove from heat and strain through a strainer into a bowl. 3. Allow the syrup to cool, then refrigerate in a tight air container. 4. Heat milk in the microwave for 1 min. put syrup on the bottom of the cup and top that off with the latte, fi-nally add your whipped cream and cinnamon.

In this issue:

Mr. Toporski interview p. 2. See what he has to say

about this year’s musical!

Excited about the upcoming Wheel of Misfortune?

Read our exclusive interview with Mr. Clemens on

p. 3

Don’t want to fight through the angry where-is-the-

snowman-on-my-cup? crowds at Starbucks? Make

your own pumpkin spice latte (Recipe below)

The Wizard Of Oz

An Interview with Mr.Toporski By: Carmyn Catley

Q: How Did You Decide On The Wizard Of Oz?

A: A number of factors go into my consideration for which musical to produce. First and foremost, only a certain num-ber of “Junior” musicals adapted for young performers exist, so I start by browsing through the available licenses. While browsing, I start making a list of potentials based on my per-sonal preferences–I’m not going to produce a musical I can’t put my heart into–and casting needs. Last year’s decision of “Annie, Jr.” was somewhat of a shot in the dark, since I did-n’t have a clear idea of who would be trying out or how many kids would decide to join the cast. This year, I have a better grasp of the talent we will have and how those pieces could possibly fit together.

Once I have a list of potential shows, I start trimming down the options based on other details until I find one that fits the bill. I also consult with my fellow directors throughout this process. Not only do they have more combined experience than I do, but they can provide feedback from differing view-points that can help in the decision.

The final selection of “The Wizard of Oz” was made with all these things in mind. Hopefully it will be able to feature a number of different individuals as well as groups, and it’s a show that everyone loves, including me. I am excited to see what the auditions bring!

Q:When did you decide to do musicals for the jun-ior high?

A: A few years ago, after becoming involved with the high school productions, I decided that bringing back musicals for the junior high would be an exciting addition to the music program. It’s a wonderful opportunity for growth, and it cre-ates a type of feeder program for the high school. Plus, a lot of students had expressed interest in doing one.

Unfortunately, there were some obstacles which delayed the first show. The largest of these was my graduate degree. Trying to produce a musical while also teaching and going to college would have been too much to handle, so I had to wait until I completed my degree. After that, however, I was able to go full speed ahead on my plans.

Q; Is this job your dream career?

A: Five years ago, I would have given you a different an-swer to this question than today. Fifteen years ago would have even been more different. I always find it fascinating how life’s journey can take you down paths you never ex-pected or dreamed about.

I’ve always been a huge fan of musicals, and being pit con-ductor for the high school was indeed part of my dream as a music teacher. That being said, I never thought I’d find a find myself in the role of vocal director or even head director! While some might call me crazy–myself included–being part

of three shows a year is an amazing feeling of accomplish-ment. I love nothing more than to see my students grow as performers, find joy in their accomplishments, and build memories that they will share forever.

Q: Do You encourage students to join chorus or musical? Why or Why not?

A: Absolutely! Singing is something that anyone with a voice can do, no matter how scared they are to try. Music and theatre ed-ucation teaches us so many things that other subjects simply can’t hold a candle to. We not only learn unique skills, but we get to know our own selves and our personalities on lev-els that we never knew before. Furthermore, we get to ex-plore the worlds of creativity and emotion.

Henry Miller is quoted as saying, “Art teaches nothing, ex-cept the significance of life.” The arts are what make us hu-man, and they are how we tap into our very souls. Students should study and experience the humanities as much as they possibly can.

Q:Did you ever have a connection with music as a child?

A: I don’t think I could imagine my life without music. My mother told me that as a child I would march around my bedroom to the music of John Philip Sousa. In third grade I started learning the viola; after fourth grade I started learn-ing the French horn; and in fifth grade I started singing in chorus. I even learned to play trombone for the junior high jazz band.

My first musical performance was in a sixth grade show called “The Castaways.” When I got to junior high in seventh grade, I played French horn in the pit orchestra for “The Wiz-ard of Oz” and then “Bye Bye Birdie.” After that point, I de-cided to go up onto the stage as a cast member, and from ninth grade until graduation, I performed in “Hello, Dolly!”, “How to Succeed in Business,” “Sugar,” and “Carnival.” And of course I continued to perform with the school band, or-chestra, and chorus.

I can’t thank my parents enough for encouraging me to be-come involved with music. It has obviously changed my life in so many ways, and all of them for the better.

Mr. Toporski with the other musical direc-

tors, Mrs. Doria (left) and Miss Beley

Video Game Review

Super Smash Bros. for Wii u and 3ds

By: Kai Swan

Smash 4 is a great game with new additions since the last one seven years ago, with all new charac-ters such as villager, duck hunt trio, shulk, and many more. If you didn’t know, smash 4 is a fighting game with no story, other than you just fight. The objective is to knock of your opponent off the stage and don’t let them back on, by beating them, and letting them fall to death, or go to the moon. There is also no health bar, just percent, the higher the percent, the more you get thrown back from at-tacks. Some cons to this game are online mode, Filled with sweaty tryhards and lag on both versions of the game, and the smash tour game mode, nobody likes smash tour.

Both versions of the game are nearly the same, but just different stages, and limitations.

This game gets a 5/5, worth buying a Wii u or a 3ds for it.

Wheel of Misfortune Interview By: Hailey Padron

Your host Mr.Clemens: I always wanted to be a Game Show host-my dream job would be the host of THE PRICE IS RIGHT!

What made you do this event?

Last year we helped 50 families with our Hopewell toy drive. We wanted to raise more money to help as many families as possible, so myself and Ms. Grafton came up with the Wheel of Misfortune.

Are you going to get a teacher?

(Are you going to get tickets for them) I already planned on pieing Mr.Vallecorsa in the face with a pie. He demanded a coconut cream pie from Eat and Park and he will get his wish.

What is your goal for how much money you want to raise?

We would like to raise between 400-500 dollars. There will also be a few other surprises at the event.

TURKEY ON THE LOOSE!

Have you seen him? A very fast, very large, and very naughty turkey has been seen zipping

through the halls here at the Hopewell Junior High School. Who is this turkey? What is he

doing here? What does he want with us? While I’m looking forward to turkey time, this guy

makes me a little uneasy. I can’t help but feeling like somebody

should catch him and find out what he wants! Look out!

Viking Voice

R E P O R T E R S :

Carmyn Catley

Kara DiNardo

Nick Marti

Josh Martin

Hailey Padron

Payton Schnorr

SPONSOR:

Mrs. April Pollick

With the newest movie installment of The Hunger

Games series coming out and the cold weather set-

tling in, it is a great time to go to a movie. Fill in the

form below for a chance to win a $20 movie gift

card for Cinemark theaters! Correctly answer the

question about features from our October issue of

the Viking Voice, fill in the information about your-

self, and cut out and place this entry form in the Vi-

king Voice Newspaper box located on the table out-

side of the cafeteria.

What two local Halloween events/activities did we

feature in the October Viking Voice?

A. Freddie’s Haunts and Windmill’s haunted mini

golf

B. Windmill’s mini golf and Hozak Farm’s Pump-

kin Patch

C. Windmill’s haunted mini golf and Janoski

Farm’s Pumpkin Patch

D. Janoski Farm’s Pumpkin Patch and Ken-

nywood’s Phantom Fright Nights

Your answer: ________

Your name: ________________________________

Your homeroom: _________________________

THANKSGIVING WORD SEARCH By: Josh Martin

AUTUMN

CORN

FEAST

HARVEST

NOVEMBER

PUMPKIN PIE

STUFFING

VETERAN’S DAY

BREAD

CRANBERRY SAUCE

LEAVES

PILGRIMS

SALAD

THANKSGIVING

FALL

TURKEY

NATIVE AMERICANS

PUMPKIN

SQUASH

GRAVY

R D C K N E K C I H C R M T T

M S A U Q C V V C V W P F U X

Z B O L C U Y R Q M J I E R F

S U J F A A G B O B U L O K Z

T H A N K S G I V I N G V E H

H R E O Q Y A H S V M R E Y G

S N A C I R E M A E V I T A N

A I T H A R V E S T Z M E U I

U K S V Y E Y V A R G S R T F

Q P A V O B L E A V E S A U F

S M E I P N I K P M U P N M U

J U F U D A E R B F K R S N T

Y P X M X R F A L L O H D Z S

T R R Z X C W G C C J I A Q T

F U N N N O V E M B E R Y M W

POEMS BY CARMYN CATLEY

All Eyes

Just look into my eyes, you never do, no wonder I am mistaken, you haven’t read my story, all eyes have a story, they are just the hardest to read, why is it so hard?

that's easy, it’s like asking someone all of their secrets, they won’t answer you, so try to look into someone’s eyes, read their story, it’s important to know.

Wild

I’m going home, you wear me down, I see you smile, that means your plan worked out, and it’s just the beginning of the week, soon it’s over I will drown, and i’m such a fool, cause you drive me wild, and I let you, you won’t calm down, i’m going insane, you drive me wild.