Wildlife Wednesday: The Icy Truth About Warmth

Mary Cope

As many of you have realized, it is still quite chilly outside, the polar opposite of the temperatures we had this time last year. I realize that the majority of us, including me, are unhappy about this, but the snow and freezing temperatures are actually doing unseen good!

Last year’s sudden warm front, as pleasurable as it was, tricked many organisms into thinking that it was later in the year. Plants germinated early, and some started to open their buds, not knowing that it was still March. Once the snow came back after the week of warm weather, all of these organisms froze. The high temperatures also caused damage to a certain special New York crop. How many of you enjoy genuine maple syrup, from real trees? Well, if you do, then you should rejoice about the cold, because it means that there will be a good harvest, this year. Last year, however, maple producers had a very rough year and did not harvest much maple at all, so prices went up. This year, I have been told, the harvest is good, thanks to these cold fronts, so there will be no maple shortages!

Plants weren’t the only organisms to suffer from the warm week. Insects were also tricked into coming out too early! They, too, died when the sudden cold front came through. I saw many dead honey bees from our local hive lying about in the snow around the hive.

Although we may not enjoy the snow and cold, it is a part of living in Central New York and we must accept it. The frigid temperatures ensure that the proper organisms awake when they can thrive. Soon the weather will warm, but for now, be patient with Mother Nature; she is just doing her job.

Nada es Imposible

Sarah Willsey

           Puerto Rican singer, Ennio Emmanuel, stopped by the Homer Bonné Auditorium on Monday, March 25, 2013 to share his inspiring message and music. After several years of teaching the importance of Spanish, and a second language in general, to students around the country, Justo Lamas passed his mission on to the young and kind-hearted Ennio. Students welcomed Ennio with signs, smiles, and loud cheering. The junior high and high school were joined by a handful of schools from nearby, who were all grateful to be in his presence.

​            Ennio shared songs from his new album, Ojalá, and invited everyone to sing along. One of the favorites of the day was "Nada Es Imposible," or "Nothing is Impossible." He invited many students up on stage, including two junior high students, Kelsey and Jake, who joined him for the song "Confiar En Mi" ("Count On Me"). He gathered a group of students from each school, including Adam, Dean, Sophie, and Tighe from the high school, to assist him in the performance of Magdalena. He held a contest called Tongue Twister, which challenged students to speak fast and clear Spanish; Alfón won by a landslide, receiving a free CD as her prize. Kasey and Ashley were the “angels” of the show, as Ennio sang his song, "Manda Un Ángel" ("Send An Angel"), to the lucky girls. He then shared the stage one last time with a group of talented junior high dancers.

​            
Before closing the concert, Ennio made a point to thank the teachers for all that they do. He emphasized that second languages, including Spanish, are extremely beneficial and will help many to succeed. After the concert, he stayed to sign posters, t-shirts, and CDs, and he stood with excited students for pictures. Many thanks go out to Ennio for the motivating performance. Thank you to Mrs. Passigli and everyone else who brought to us this wonderful opportunity. ​​​​​​​​​​

Ag Lit Day

Julia Fouts

On Friday, March 22, 2013, three Homer FFA members traveled to the elementary school to read to second graders. National Ag Literacy Week lasted from March 17th through March 23rd. FFA members read the book, The Beeman, to younger students. The book talked about the work and care that goes into beekeeping while explaining the honey-making process.

Along with their FFA advisor, Kathy Pratt, three high school students, McKenzie Brown, Matt Dewitt, and Julia Fouts,  participated in the event. The students met with a Farm Bureau member, Heather Birdsall, at Homer Elementary to educate young minds on bees and work to the maintain the continuous awareness of agriculture. The students split to different classrooms and read The Beeman, played activities with the students, and gave each child a sample of honey sticks. Through reading and teaching younger students, FFA members were able to share their knowledge of agriculture.

Square Dancing Competition

Jared Pace

On Wednesday, March 20th, Homer High School’s Physical Education Department held a square dancing competition. This unit tied into the PE dance unit, which students have been studying for the past few weeks.

Anyone who was interested was asked to create a team of eight individuals to compete. This year, the contest consisted of three teams: The Flying Squares, Twinkie and the Ho, Ho, Ho’s, and The Squarewolves. The competition included three rounds total, each with a different song containing different moves. Everyone danced with enthusiasm and delight, but there could be only one winning team. Twinkie and the Ho Ho Ho’s placed third, The Flying Squares placed second, and the Squarewolves placed first!

Congratulations to all who participated, and thank you to the staff members who judged the event!

Read to Lead: Book Collection!

         
        Do you have stacks and stacks of children’s books at home? Would you like to donate them to a charitable cause? Youth and Government is collecting children’s books for its 2013 service learning project, Read to Lead. Through the end of March, you can drop off your children’s books in Mrs. Giordano’s room, room 124. Members of the club will be putting a handmade bookmark in each book, telling children of the importance of reading. Then, Youth and Government will send these personalized books to the areas that were hit by Hurricane Sandy. The goal of this project is to replenish lost book collections in these areas and to spread the joy of reading to young children! Help the club reach as many children as possible by donating your children’s books!

Somewhat Blind; Leadership: Honorable Mention - Poetry

Rachel McNeil

Somewhat Blind

At my Sabbath table I prayed with purpose
My family humble and kind,
No one thought that they could hurt us,
We were so innocent and somewhat blind.

For the evil men came to our home
With weapons and waving claims
They said “Don’t worry you’ll be back soon”
But they lied all the same.

With just our most precious things,
Among ovoid jewels and pearls,
We made our way through words that sting
To a cramped dark train, us boys and girls.

Days and nights we wondered and hoped
Until ashy daylight was poured upon us.
Out we stepped to read a sign ever so sloped
That called our destination Auschwitz.

Sorted and separated we timidly walked
They enabled us to clean our skin
Instant death came to those who talked
Our possessions were all rudely taken.

Striped clothes and a number
In return for our worldly goods
Coyness and bravery swept down under
Our heads shaved equally, cautiously
understood.

Assigned horrid games to play
Endowing us with numbered breaths.
Crumbs of bread our only pay
Besides the livid gift of quicker death.

What on earth was our objective?
Who could have let this happen?
Look and see from our blanched
perspective.
The oblong routine never broken.

Only so long ago we slept
In peaceful demureness and passion
Our prayers and rituals were always kept,
In sight, our dreams and aspirations

Now Satan would be happier
Taking that long fall from heaven.
For this is a brutal hell I am sure
Bloody hands stuck in slow motion.

Will I see my brother again?
If ever, let it be soon!
In darkness I call out to heaven.
To the lonely elliptical moon.

Hardly can we remember our hopes.
Our beliefs have been torn and melted.
The crematorium, the pain, and forgotten soap
Investments gone and mounded.

Today we do not cry out to Yaweh.
Too weak to work they herd us like sheep
To the chambers of no return I boldly walk.
Eminent death is to finally mine to claim.

Leadership

This morning awakened many, to their troubles and from their dreams.
Some stretch with pride and confidence, while others denature at the seams.

Each individual arises, different and unique their routines and thoughts.
A spiral of ideas and questions, tied together in endless knots.

The day goes on and one by one, the people live their lives.
Some quiet their tongues of gold, to let others speak their minds.

Each day brings something new yet eerily the same.
Malevolently, the same fears will grip the quietly insane.

For belligerently their minds will fight for silence and for speech,
A strong-willed leader yet somewhat buried is only just out of reach.

Discarded adulation, forgotten and lost at sea,
The minds of seagulls flying away, so foreign to you and me.

The majority smiles and rewards the strong with astounding deification,
Even the silenced must admit that confidence grabs your attention.

It is only when the idolatry wears off that the quiet bring their words to life.
What silent, powerful control they have that perseveres through change and strife.

Inspired and revived, the people stand in admiration for the speaker.
They marvel at the ideas portrayed with the talent of a leader.

Seagulls fly with unquestioning certainty, with no reason for alarm.
The open ocean a welcome sight bringing peace and unknown harm.

Not to be galvanized all stand on edge in undying anticipation.
They wait for their leaders, both strong and weak, to try and lead their nation.

Shame is fiercely doffed from their plumage of feathers.
Clustered wealth and greedy hands not worthy in this kind of weather.

The tortoise wins the race while the mighty hare sits aside.
Hope is ruthlessly abandoned in a tuft of worthless pride.

The night greets everyone once again, their dreams calling them to sleep.
But today the quiet have spoken their minds and the ink will continue to seep.

Academic Challenge Quiz Team

Ali Jenkins

On March 4th, six students from Homer High School traveled to Tompkins Cortland Community College to take part in the High School Challenge. Seniors Jasminique Harris, Sarah Medhi, and Liam Whalen returned for their second year, while juniors Erik Gustafson, Ali Jenkins, and Lukas Pizzola participated for the first time. The students were coached by Mrs. Stokoe and Mr. Patriarco.

The Quiz Team faced three other high schools from Central New York. Through a series of formatted rounds, the teams each strove to earn the most points. Questions spanned across a broad range of topics, including sciences, mathematics, languages, art, literature, history, and pop culture. The Homer Quiz Team won two out of three matches on the first day, earning enough points to advance to the next level of competition. Returning to TC3 on March 12th, the Homer Quiz Team faced the highest ranked team and, after a well-played game, was eliminated from the competition.

Congratulations to these students for their success in the competition, and thank you to Mrs. Stokoe and Mr. Patriarco!