Panther Print
"What kind of person do you want to be today?"
1st Edition of the 2022-2023 BAMS Panther Print, Volume 16, Issue 1
There is a New Sheriff in Town!
By: Keren Tshimanga
Our administration is now modified! We have two new administrators. One is Dr. Wickman, our new Principal! Hopefully, some students have the chance to socialize with him this school year!
Q: What do you think about Bel Air Middle school so far?
A: “I love Bel Air Middle School. Believe it or not it's not my first time working here. I was a student teacher here in room 59 for social studies.”
Q: What schools have you worked at as a principal in the past?
A: “Only North Harford”
Q: How long have you been a principal?
A: “16 years”
Q: What do you like about your job?
A: “Spending time with the students and interacting with the kids. I like seeing you in the classrooms and seeing you guys in the cafeteria. I just like working with you guys.”
Q: What jobs did you have before becoming a principal?
A: “I used to be a store manager and a record store manager.”
Q: What are you looking forward to this school year?
A: “Continuing to learn about Bel Air Middle School and the Bel Air community. Also finding things to improve the experience for the students here.”
Q: What's another job you would like to have if you were not a principal?
A: “I would want to be that guy who sweeps the beach at night.”
Q: What's a hobby you enjoy outside of school?
A: “Music, I love music. I also love spending time with my grandkids!”
Q: What's your favorite holiday?
A: “Halloween”
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to the students of BAMS on being successful in middle school, what would it be?
A: “Be a lifelong learner. Education is the key that opens doors in life.”
Thank you, Dr. Wickman, for agreeing to do this interview! I hope you can have a positive impact on our school and hopefully you are having an ecstatic time at BAMS!
BAMS VIP Event!
Roll out the red carpet! SGA and NJHS are hosing a VIP EVENT! Our "Welcome to Hollywood" dance will be held on March 3rd from 6 - 8 p.m. in the front gym. This event is for BAMS students ONLY! Come dressed to impressed for the paparazzi! Admission is $5 and will be first come first serve. Only 450 tickets will be available for online purchase. E-Tickets are available for purchase from February 10th - March 1st on WWW.SCHOOLCASHONLINE.COM. Bring a few dollars for concessions, games, and party favors. Come dance the night away and check out our fabulous art gallery from our very own BAMS art students! Art Gallery admission is free and will be located in the front lobby and cafeteria. Parents can stroll through the Art Show. So don't delay... purchase your dance ticket today!
The Turkey Trot is Back!
By: Kimberly Mallon
Bel Air Middle School has not been able to do a Turkey Trot since 2019. Can you believe it has been a whole 3 years? We know we can’t believe that because of the way BAMS ran it didn’t look like they have missed a Turkey Trot in years. All the students did great this year, and I am proud to congratulate the top 25 for each grade.
Here are the results for each grade level:
6th Grade Top 3 Boys and Girls
From Left to right: Charlie Schubert, Macy Krout, Aubrie Edwards, Nolan Murphy, Caroline Wintz, Chase Priet
7th Grade Top 3 Boys and Girls
From Left to right: Finley Donahue, Owen Gordan, Ashlynn Eaton, Ben Molen, Jordyn Sears, Colton Schafer
8th Grade Top 3 Boys and Girls
What is Stress and Anxiety and How Do We Manage It?
By: Isabella Watson
You may have heard parents or friends talking about stress or anxiety, but what really is it? And how does it affect people's lives? And how can you deal with it? These are all questions that will be answered.
What is stress and anxiety? Even though some people use these words interchangeably they both have a big difference from one another. You see stress is something everyone will experience in their lives.
Stress is mostly caused by an external trigger such as due dates, being on time, fights with loved ones, or an assignment that’s due soon. But all of this passes in time because the assignment from earlier is going be turned in (or should). But anxiety is different.
Anxiety is something that lasts a lot longer. For example, let's say you fell off a balance beam and broke your arm. You may never want to walk on or even be near a balance beam because it makes you anxious. Now this may be a weird way of explaining this, but it can happen. So, let's just say Person A, a regular kid at the playground, was going on the balance beam. Usually they would have no fear, maybe a little but nothing drastic. Person B who fell off the balance beam if they were forced on would have a VERY different reaction.
Symptom's of Stress and Anxiety:
Even though stress and anxiety are different things they have identical symptoms. Some symptoms are having trouble sleeping, being overwhelmed and feeling lots of emotion including anger, and digestive problems. Now, from my experience (a person who has stress and anxiety), some of my symptoms are nausea (feeling sick), feeling very overheated or hot, and having too many emotions for one person to handle. Sometimes it's so bad that you can have what's called a panic attack. Thankfully, I haven't had one in a long time, but they can happen. Sometimes when a person is so overwhelmed their body goes into react mode. Sometimes people hyperventilate, faint and vomit. And yes, your body can get so overwhelmed you can vomit or faint. Given that it's extremely unlikely to faint during a panic attack, vomiting is defiantly an option. Now, if you read this and you think, “I'm good. I don’t have this,” I'm positive you will experience this soon. Sometimes people’s symptoms aren't as drastic as some others so maybe you experienced it and just didn't realize.
It's okay to have stress and anxiety. Everyone has it. You're not alone, but if it's out of hand, tell a trusted adult, a guidance counselor, or if you have one, a therapist. Anxiety and stress is the type of thing anyone can talk about, so never feel guilty or sad that you're talking to someone. No one said managing your life was a crime. And if you still don’t want to that’s okay. I usually take a deep breath and count to 5 while saying something positive like, “I got this,” “You're going to do great,” and “Whatever happens I'm still happy with myself and how I did”. Then I breathe out for 7 saying something along those lines again. This breathing technique can also help with self-confidence or when you just need a break and take a moment to just breathe.
***If you are struggling with anxiety, please talk to your parents, school counselor, or a trusted adult.***
Rot Your Brain with These Video Games
By: Ayannah Ali
2022 has been quite the year. It’s had both its good and bad moments. Whether it be a bad movie that came out, or pop culture drama like Kim K and what she wore to the Met Gala, quite a few things have happened this year. Many, many games were released this past year, but there are two that really stick out to me, Stray and God of War: Ragnarök. They both have their difficulties, but are overall amazing games that I personally enjoyed. In this article, I will be giving an overview of each game, which will be based on overall game play, story, graphics, combat, style, duration, and price.
Stray:
To start off, we will be talking about Stray. Stray was released July 19, 2022, and developed by BlueTwelve Studio. It was published by Annapurna Interactive. The game follows a small orange cat, who was traveling with three other cats when it suddenly falls down a slope and ends up in a walled-up cyber city and must search for a way out. Along the way, you meet a robot companion, B-12 that follows you for the rest of the game like a guide. The cat comes across all kinds of companions and encounters lots of puzzles and challenges, along with many enemies. It's an overall fun and interesting game, with beautiful graphics and the sweetest story.
In the end, you can make it to the surface while helping the robots you meet. I won’t spoil the whole game for you, (in case you want to play it) but trust me when I say, almost everyone who plays the game ends up in tears. But overall, it’s a great game. The story is so interesting and there are so many things that you can interact with; it’s amazing! The style and graphics of the game are beautiful, I’ve never seen a game like it. It doesn’t have much combat - more so there is running and dodging obstacles. It isn’t very pricey for a game at all, especially now that it has been released for a while. At the end of the day, it’s a slightly shorter game, but just as good as any of the old classics and true beauty within the gaming world.
God of War: Ragnarök:
However, with God of War (GWR) Ragnarök, it is just as good, but quite different. GWR is developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game was released recently on November 9th, and is an action-adventure based game. You play as both Kratos and his son Atreus. Kratos comes from Sparta and is known as the God of Strength, as well as the God Killer. The game is based on ancient Greek mythology and has lots of story bases built into it. The game is honestly beautiful. It is compact with story, combat, and puzzles. The graphics of the game are just as beautiful as Stray’s. Through the story, you follow Kratos and Atreus along their journey as they try to stop the inevitable Ragnarök. They meet many characters along the way, Freya, Tyr, Mimir, Brok, Sindri, Odin, Thor, Thrud, Angrboða and many more. The game is so mystical and magical, full of beautiful scenery and combat. The combat is quite literally amazing. There are so many ways to defeat an enemy as well as a broad range of several types of enemies.
God of War is a multigame series, but Ragnarök is by far one of my favorites. It is still slightly high in the price range as it is relatively new, however, the amount of time it takes to really play the game is worth it. There are so many ways to upgrade your characters and weaponry, it’s insane.
Comparison + Conclusion:
Overall, the two games are vastly different from one another. They both have different combat skills, price ranges, story plots, characters, and themes. But, although the themes are different, they are slightly the same. Stray has a theme of heroism, freedom and helping others. GWR has a theme of love, along with that same heroism, freedom, and helping others concept. They are both truly amazing games and have so much meaning. It’s amazing how you can relate to some of these characters. Some want love, freedom, happiness, peace. As a player, you find yourself being so connected to the story and feeling all of the emotions you might think you would only experience with watching a movie.
All in all, they are truly both amazing games, and some of the most played games released this past year. Were there other amazing games to discuss? Of course, but it was these two that will stick out in the gaming world for years to come.
Can You Find Walter?
By: Abby Marx
Have you ever wondered what Ms. Walter's favorite meal in the BAMS café is? What about her hobbies? What is her favorite part about her job? Read this interview to learn more!
Q: What inspired you to become an assistant Principal?
A: “I love helping people and working with kids so I knew in order to make a difference in the lives of students and adults, taking on the role of an assistant principal would help me make a larger impact.”
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
A: “To be able to work with kids and help them be the best version of themselves.”
Q: What are some of your favorite hobbies?
A: “Reading, playing with my sons, having dinner with friends and playing with my dogs.”
Q: What did you do before becoming an assistant principal?
A: “language arts teacher and then a mentor teacher”
Q: What other schools have you been an assistant principal?
A: “Edgewood High School, Joppatowne High School, Magnolia Middle School”
Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
A: “Still working as an assistant principal”
Q: What is your favorite meal in the BAMS café?
A: “I have never eaten at the BAMS café.”
Q: What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?
A: “My strength is my ability to build relationships. My weakness is I care too much. When I hear about a problem, I feel that I must take care of it right away.”
Q: Have you ever thought about a different career? If so, what would it be?
A: “I wanted to work with athletes and go into sports medicine. I actually never wanted to be a teacher. I fell into teaching because of my love of reading.”
Q: Do you have any pets? If so, how many and what kind?
A: “Pug-Lola and Boston Terrier Pug Mix-Murphy"
Q: Is middle school your favorite age group? Explain.
A: “Yes. Kids change so much over three years that it’s great to watch them grow and change.”
Q: What was your favorite subject when you were in middle school?
A: “Language arts.”
Sports Buzz with Max and Chance
By: Max Cullison and Chance Block
Washington Nationals
By: Max Cullison
National Stadium
5th 55-117
Opening Day: March 30th, 2023 vs Atlanta Braves (Home)
Listen Nationals fans, you might just want to skip over this one. The Nationals were BAD, REALLY BAD. Ever since they won the world series in 2019, they have been going downhill. Not only did they sell a lot of their stars, but they don’t have the same young core that other rebuilding teams have or had. When we look north at the Orioles, they were bad for multiple years but at least had an exciting farm system with guys like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Kyle Stowers. Not to mention two of the best pitching prospects we have seen in a long time in Greyson Rodrigez and DL Hall. At the trade deadline, this season the Nat’s were big-time sellers and boy did they sell! Trading their Franchise cornerstone Juan Soto as well as first baseman Josh Bell. They have signed some bad contracts as well, including Patrick Corbin (who hasn’t been good at all since the world series run) and Stephen Strasburg (who has been hurt for the past two years by making a few bad starts here and there) who are both making well over $100,000,000. But there are some upsides, like two great young talents in C.J. Abrams and Victor Robles and they get a fully healthy Strasburg. But in all, this team is about five years at least from contending for a championship again.
Washington Nationals Websites:
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/washington/
https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationals
Baltimore Orioles
By: Chance Block
Camden Yards
4th 83-79
Opening Day: March 30th, 2023, at Boston Red Sox
Hey O’s fans, kudos to the Orioles for an amazing season. We were unstoppable in May/June/ July. A lot of players had a hot bat, and we went 3 ½ games with a complete game going from Jordan Lyles, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kreamer. The Orioles had a ton of great games and a ton of great walk-offs (Especially by 2B #12 Rougned Odor 3). I want to let you take this in as a O’s fan. If we get back John Means and bring up Grayson Rodriguez, our pitching would be unstoppable and with Hays and Mullins having a comeback year, our defense and offense would be great. Our bullpen was 2nd most used this year in American league. I want to thank ALL the O’s fans for being there for the team this year through the goods (June/July/August) and the Bads (April/September). I think that yes, next year we are in the race and yes, our money will hopefully be spent.
Baltimore Orioles Websites
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal/
Studying 101
By: Samantha Foley
Do you ever feel like your study habits aren’t cutting it? Do you feel as if you could be performing better in any of your classes? If you answered yes to either of those questions, I have tips and tricks to help you.
The first thing to know when you are studying is reading is not studying. This is a mistake multiple students make. Simply just reading notes or a text will not help you remember what you need to remember. Studying requires you to actively engage with the material at task. A huge part of studying is repetition with quality notes. Quality notes are a priority for studying. A note taking strategy to use is to be highly organized. At times notes will be read over, and you will not understand them. You want to define categories; this helps you pinpoint where all your different bullets and notes are.
Another helpful tip is to have a nice clean environment. When you have an unorganized studying area it could make you very distracted and lead to procrastination. You want to avoid procrastination. A nice environment can lead to excellent studying and less procrastination. Furthermore, study a little every night instead of cramming into one sitting. A good night’s sleep helps. Bleary eyes and a tired body do not.
To conclude it is great to set a positive mindset for completing studying. Starting good study habits now will help you later in life. It does take more effort to study and to become organized; however, academic success will make you feel distinguished about yourself. This is why it is important to practice or include quality studies.
How Well do you Know your BAMS Teachers? Guess the Teacher Contest
By: Christina Nguyen and Summer Schickedanz
How well do you know your teachers? This is your chance to test your knowledge on the BAMS teachers! Underneath this passage, you will find a paragraph about a teacher here at BAMS.
This teacher went to Millersville University and has been teaching for 19 years but has only been teaching at BAMS for 2 years. They are currently teaching 8th grade history but have taught 6th and 7th grade history as well. This teacher previously taught at Havre de Grace Middle School and has a relative that also works at BAMS. Their favorite sport is baseball, and they are in the central hallway.
Think you know the teacher we just described? Place your guess in the Guess the Teacher Contest box in the front lobby. Be sure to include your name, grade, homeroom, and guess on the slip of paper outside the box. The Guess the Teacher Contest will take place from February 13-16. A winner will be randomly selected from the correct guesses and will earn a prize! The winner will be announced on morning announcements on Tuesday, February 21st. So, be sure to get your guess in today!
Book Review – The Thief of Always
By: Eirabella Tapia
Greetings, BAMS! Recently I have read the book “The Thief of Always” by Clive Barker and I believe it is a great book. It was interesting and fun to read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a fantasy novel about a boy named Harvey who is bored at home and wishes to have some fun. He meets a man named Rictus, who takes Harvey to the Holiday House, a special place where all wishes come true. There is a holiday every day, a nice old lady named Mrs. Griffin and her three cats, the siblings Rictus, Jive, Maud, and Carna, and two kids named Lucy and Wendell. And of course, Mr. Hood himself, who owns the Holiday House. As the days pass, Harvey realizes something is wrong with the House and manages to escape to the outside. When he realizes what Hood has stolen from him, he immediately regrets what he has done. The ending was very unexpected and surprising, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I rate this book 5 stars because it was an action-filled book full of adventure and surprises that taught the value of spending your time wisely with family and friends. I did not find anything I would change about this book- I enjoyed it that much! I won’t spoil the book for you, but I suggest you check it out! I would highly recommend you read this wonderful book, and if you enjoy it as well, tell your friends! Please note that this is only my opinion and that others may think differently about this book than I do. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did, and I wish you happy reading!
TEACHER ALERT! TEACHER ALERT! A New Teacher has arrived at BAMS!
By: Alexis Tabafunda
On November 22 ,2022 I interviewed the newest member of BAMS who teaches Math on 7Red... Please welcome Mrs. Mace!! She is very excited to be here at BAMS and was very pleasant to talk too. Here are some of the questions I asked her and some interesting facts about her as well...
Q: What is one thing you like about BAMS so far?
A: “I would definitely say that the staff and the teachers are the best at BAMS and treat me well... And the students are very friendly too.”
Q: Why did you choose to become a math teacher?
A: “It was when I was a kid, my favorite subject was math, and I really liked the whole concept of math too. I love that you can solve problems more than one way and still get the correct answer. The students can show each other how they solved something so they can learn from each other. Also, a lot of kids struggle with math, and I feel like I can explain things pretty clearly in order to help them realize that they can be successful!”
Q: Do you like teaching math so far?
A: “I do. It’s challenging but rewarding when you are able to teach kids new things.”
Q: Math is a difficult subject for most students in BAMS. How do you plan to deal with this problem?
A: “By making sure that I explain things more than one way and always being available for students when they need extra help.”
Q: Before working at BAMS, where did you work?
A: “I was at Youths Benefit Elementary School, and I taught 3rd and 5th grade.”
Q: What college did you go to?
A: “I went to Western Maryland College, which is now called McDaniel college.”
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: “Well, I coach high school basketball at Harford Tech which keeps me very busy. But when I do have free time, I love spending time with my family.”
Q: What is one interesting fact that no one knows about you?
A: “Hmm... this one's hard... well, I have lived in Harford County my whole life but not sure how interesting that is. I did get to meet Bret Michaels a few years ago and got a picture with him. He is the lead singer of the 80’s band Poison, but most middle schoolers probably don’t know him... lol!”
Q: Do you have any children or pets? If so, how many and what are their names?
A: “I have a 20-year-old daughter who is in college, a 16-year-old daughter who is in high school, and we also have two dogs.”
Q: What is one piece of advice to give to your 7th grade students as they move on to 8th grade?
A: “Always put forth your best effort and make sure to ask questions. And don’t be afraid to be yourself.”
If You Have the Need to Read...
By: Addison Kuester
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that kids my age don’t have much interest in reading anymore. Reading may be boring to some, but that’s probably just because you haven’t found the right book for you yet. And that’s okay. There are so many books and so little time and that can make it hard to find a favorite. This is why I decided to share a few of my favorite books with all of you since I read so much. Reading is a great way to help you escape into another world and maybe find some other things to talk about with your family at dinner other than video games.
If you are a fan of history, World War II specifically, one of my personal favorites is All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. The story of two children is told up close and personal. One character is a German orphan boy with extraordinary engineering skills and the other is a blind French girl who enjoys reading and occasionally ventures outside the safety of her uncle's home, where she is cooped up while trying to avoid the Nazis during World War II. It’s truly an indulging experience and I highly recommend it.
The heartbreaking tale of Joseph, a thirteen-year-old father who has never met his daughter Jupiter, is told by Gary D. Schmidt. After a brief stay in a juvenile facility, he is assigned to a foster home in a rural area of Maine. If that sounds interesting to you then check out Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt. I’ve read this book over and over at least a hundred times. It’s so good.
My last recommendation is going to be one of the greatest trilogies of all time in my opinion. The Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver. In the Delirium Trilogy, a teenage girl named Lena is followed as she engages in adventures and conflicts with a government that considers love to be a disease. Once you turn 18, you must have surgery to "cure" you of the Love Disease, also known as amor deliria nervosa. This is truly an amazing series; each book will always have you on the edge of your seat. It’s full of twists and turns and great characters.
I hope one of these sparks your interest. It took me a while to be able to pick out my favorites. I hope someone can find interest in one of these or even find something similar. I know a lot of kids now don’t like to read, but I hope this article can change that!
Presents and Puzzles – A Holiday Word Search
By: Eirabella Tapia
Hello, BAMS! I am proud to present to you today a holiday-themed word search to celebrate the Christmas season. It was a time of celebration and bonding with family and friends, a wonderful time indeed. I’m sure we were all excited for the break from school, the festive foods, and of course, the presents. If you’re ever bored, try your hand at this word search and see how many words you can find!
Why is Sleep Important?
By: Christina Nguyen and Summer Schickedanz
Now let us be honest here, we middle schoolers do not go to sleep at 8:30 p.m. Some of us do, but that would be extremely rare coming from our perspective. Yes, yes, we say we will sleep in 5 minutes which turns into 10. Then we say we will sleep in 10 minutes which then turns into 20 which eventually becomes a pattern that we repeat every night and becomes embedded into our sleeping schedule. We will not lie, it is difficult to establish a stable sleeping schedule, but in this article, we will provide some persuasive information from our own experiences through middle school and research from reliable sources that may get you motivated to get to sleep earlier.
Sleep can be helpful in many ways. For example, if you need to remember something for the next day, a good night’s sleep can replenish your energy and strengthen memories you have acquired through the day. It can help you with tests that you have studied for the previous night and can help you remember crucial information your brain has picked up. If you are trying to prevent weight gain, getting sleep can be greatly beneficial to your weight loss routine. If your body does not get enough sleep, it produces a hormone called ghrelin which boosts your appetite, allowing your body to feel the need to consume more food. Your productivity also depends on sleep. It improves your concentration during your stressful day at school and improves your cognitive function (Mental ability). One of the most important things sleeps can help with are your memories. Your memories also depend on how much sleep you get each night. Every night, as you sleep, your mind is working to process your memories from the day’s activities.
Throughout my years of middle school, I truly regret staying up so late at night. It impacted my mood, and my ability to complete schoolwork. I am currently in 8th grade, forcing myself to adapt to a better sleep schedule before I head to high school. My biggest piece of advice would be to adapt to a reasonable sleep schedule, so you can keep your head up all day without caffeine. It is the most mindful thing to do especially because we are still young, meaning we need a lot more sleep than we may assume. The average amount of sleep middle schoolers gets each night is around 6-7 hours of sleep. The amount of sleep we should get is around 8 hours of sleep, which is rare due to most of us procrastinating our work or using nighttime as our time to relax. Just remember that a change now in our sleeping habits will better prepare us for our demanding high school years yet to come.
I am sure you have heard about the advantages of sleep, but have you ever heard of all the life-threatening things that happen to your body when you do not have enough sleep? Your body has an internal clock called the circadian clock; it is an internal clock that runs for 24 hours or sometimes longer and resets everyday according to the suns light and dark cycle. When you sleep 6 hours or less, regular damage to your circadian clock can occur. When you sleep less than 6 hours your body cannot replenish your cells and that can lead to several types of degenerative diseases. A lack of proper sleep can affect things like your immune system, weight, mood and more. As stated in the BBC article, body clock alters immune systems. Professor Erol Fikrig, who conducted the study at Yale University, said they had found a "direct molecular link between circadian rhythms and the immune system", which could have "important implications for the prevention and treatment of disease". This really shows how important sleep is. Sleep can even affect your immune system. So, the next time you are sitting in bed and your eyes feel heavy, do you think it is more important to watch one more tiktok which turns into 10 minutes which then turn into 20 minutes? Remember how much sleep affects your body and the negative outcomes you will experience.
Not sleeping enough can have long term effects of feeling tired and moodiness. I can say for myself that sleep is always important. I have seen that in my schoolwork and how I feel throughout my day, and I am sure you have as well. Not having enough sleep affects your mood and how you act through the day and how you act towards others. I know when I do not have enough sleep I come to school in a bad mood and do not always want to put in my best effort. Many kids in middle school come to school and are in a bad mood, and we do not want to do our work, and our grades get affected too. This is another example of how important sleep is. It can affect our attitudes, get us in trouble more and affect our grades. The truth is we benefit from more sleep, and it is vital to our success.
As you have seen through our individual experiences and the advantages and disadvantages of sleep, there is a lot of extremely important things in your life, but sleep Is one of the most important things you can do to be happy and successful in life. It can affect you by having a better mood and a better day but most of all it can help protect you from sickness. Sleep is something you have control over and something that can change your life, so make getting a good night’s sleep a lifetime habit that sets you up for success.
***If you are struggling with sleep, you should talk to your parents, the school nurse, your counselor, or a trusted adult.***
There’s a New Artist in Town!
By: Sydney Lam and Abby Marx
Have you seen any fresh faces at BAMS lately? Well, that might have been Mrs. Hansrote, our new art teacher! We had the honor to meet and interview Mrs. Hansrote and learn more about her. This article is for the curious students who want to get to know Mrs. Hansrote as well!
Q: What inspired you to become an art teacher?
A: “Growing up I always loved to be creative. My mom taught me how to draw and shade when I was really young. I loved watching her draw at our dining table and was amazed at what she could create. Before I became a teacher, I subbed for an art teacher, and I loved it. That’s what made me love to be a teacher. I also think it’s very important to give people opportunities to be creative, especially as they grow older.”
Q: Do you have any children or pets? If so, how many children do you have? How many pets do you have?
A: “I have a daughter named Adalyn who is almost four, a pit bull named Porter, and we have a fish.”
Q: What is your favorite unit of art to teach?
A: “My favorite unit to teach would be sculpture because students get really excited working 3D.”
Q: What college did you attend?
A: “I originally went to school for art at an art institute in Pennsylvania, and then I got my teaching degree through Western Governors University, and then I got my masters at Goucher.”
Q: What are some of your hobbies aside from art?
A: “I love reading, playing board games with my family, and being outdoors with my family.”
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: “I love tacos.”
Q: How long have you been teaching for?
A: “Nine years.”
Q: How do you like BAMS so far?
A: “I love it. The students have been so wonderful, and everyone has been so nice and accepting of me as a teacher here. It's been great.”
Q: Where did you teach before coming to BAMS?
A: “I’ve taught at Havre De Grace High School, Edgewood High School, and Bo Manor High School.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching middle school art?
A: “My favorite thing about middle school art is that the students are more open to being creative sometimes compared to high school students. This time in a student’s life is when they decide if they really like art, so I hope that I can influence some to give it another shot!”
The NHL? What's That?
By: Kimberly Mallon
Not a lot of people like to recognize the National Hockey League. People think that ice hockey is a boring sport and find no interest in it, but there are some people that enjoy it a lot. Personally, I think that hockey is an awesome sport, and not just playing hockey but watching it too. The NHL stadiums that I have watched games in are awesome. In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about the teams that play in the NHL, like my favorite team, the Vegas Golden Knights! The order of the teams are the standings.
**STANDINGS AND STATS ARE AS OF MIDNIGHT ON JANUARY 21st**
Boston Bruins: The Bruins joined the league in the 1924-25 season. Their record was 6-24-0. 6 wins? They only used to play 30 games in one season, now we are playing around 90 games. They did not qualify that year. They have won 6 Stanley Cups, winning their first in the 1928-29 season. Their current stats are 36-5-4. In their last game played against the Rangers, they won 3-1.
Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes joined the league in the 1979-80 season as the Hartford Whalers. Their record was 27-34-19 in their first season. They made the playoffs that year, but lost in the PRLM round. They have won one Stanley Cup. They won their first in the 2005-06 season. Their current stats are 29-9-8. In their last game played against the Islanders, they won 5-3.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs joined the league in the 1917-18 season. Their record was 13-9-0. They won the Stanley Cup during the playoffs that year. Their current stats are 28-11-8. In their last game played against the Canadians, they lost 3-2.
Dallas Stars: The Stars joined the league in the 1967-68 season as the Minnesota North Stars. Their record was 27-32-15. They did make the playoffs that year. They lost in the semi-final round. They won one Stanley Cup in the 1998-99 season. Their current stats are 28-13-6. In their last game played against the Coyotes, they won 4-0.
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets joined the league in the 1999-00 season as the Atlanta Thrashers. Their record was 14-57-7. They did not make the playoffs that year and have never won a Stanley cup. Their current record is 30-16-1. They won their last game 5-1 against the Senators.
New Jersey Devils: The Devils joined the league in the 1974-75 season as the Kansas City Scouts until 1976, when they changed to the Colorado Rockies. They have been the New Jersey Devils since 1982. Their record was 5-54-11. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won 3 Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 1994-95 season. Their current stats are 29-12-4. In their last game played against the Kraken, they lost 4-0.
Vegas Golden Knights: Vegas Golden Knights started as an expansion team in the 2017-18 season. Vegas made it to the Stanley Cup Final in their first year and had a very unfortunate loss to the Washington Capitals in game 7. In 2017 when Vegas started as an expansion team, their record was 51-24-7. They scored 272 goals and had 228 goals against. Their current stats are 29-16-2. In their last game played against the Washington Capitals, they won 6-2.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning joined the league in the 1992-93 season. Their record was 23-54-7. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won three Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 2003-04 season. Their current stats are 29-15-1. In their last game played against the Flames, they lost 6-3.
Seattle Kraken: The Kraken joined the league in the 2021-22 season. Their record was 27-49-6. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won zero Stanley Cups. Their current stats are 27-14-5. In their last game played against the Avalanche, they lost 2-1.
New York Rangers: The Rangers joined the league in the 1926-27 season. Their record was 25-39-13. They lost in the semifinals of the playoffs that year. They have won four Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 1927-28 season. Their current stats are 25-14-7. In their last game played against the Bruins, they lost 3-1.
Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers joined the league in the 1979-80 season. Their record was 28-39-15. They made the playoffs that year, but lost in the PRLM round. They have won five Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 1983-84 season. Their current stats are 28-11-8. In their last game played against the Canucks, they won 4-2.
LA Kings: The Kings joined the league in the 1967-68 season. Their record was 31-33-10. They lost in the quarter finals of the playoffs that year. They have won two Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 2011-12 season. Their current stats are 25-17-6. In their last game played against the Predators, they lost 5-3.
Washington Capitals: The Washington Capitals joined the league in the 1974-75 season with a record or 8-67-5. Only 8 wins! That is the record for the fewest wins in one season in their first NHL. They did not qualify for the playoffs and are actually the team that took the longest to make it into the playoffs. They finally made the playoffs in their 9th season, 1984-85, losing in the division semi-final game to the New York Islanders. Many people know that Ovechkin has a great goal record and has carried his team to the Stanley cup final in the 2017-18 season and won. That is the only Stanley Cup that the team has under their name. Their current stats are 25-18-6. In their last game played against the Vegas Golden Knights, they lost 6-2.
Minnesota Wild: The Wild joined the league in the 2000-01 season. Their record was 25-39-13. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won zero Stanley Cups. Their current stats are 25-16-4. In their last game played against the Panthers, they lost 3-1.
Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche joined the league in the 1979-80 season as the Quebec Nordiques. Their record was 25-44-11. They did not make the playoffs that year. They have won 3 Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 1995-96 season. They also won last season. Their current stats are25-17-3. In their last game played against the Kraken, they won 2-1.
Pittsburg Penguins: The Pittsburg Penguins joined the league in 1967-68 season with Ab McDonald as their captain. Their record was 27-34-13 and they did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs that year. They have won the Stanley Cup five times, winning their first and second back to back in the 1990-91 and the 1991-92 seasons. They previously had Marc Andre Fleury as their goalie before he got traded to the Vegas Golden Knights when he took them to the Stanley Cup Finals. Their current stats are 23-15-7. In their last game played against the Senators, they won 4-1.
Calgary Flames: The Flames joined the league as the Atlanta Flames during the 1972-73 season. Their stats for their first season was 25-38-15. They did not make the playoffs that year. They have won one Stanley Cup and that was in the 1988-89 season. Their current stats are 21-16-9. In their last game played against the Lightning, they ended up winning 6-3.
Florida Panthers: The Panthers joined the league in the 1993-94 season. Their record was 53-34-17. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won zero Stanley Cups. Their current stats are 20-24-3. In their last game played against the Wild, they won 5-3.
New York Islanders: The Islanders joined the league in the 1971-73 season. Their record was 12-60-6. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won four Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 1979-80 season. Their current stats are 23-20-5. In their last game played against the Hurricanes, they lost 5-2.
Nashville Predators: The Predators joined the league in the 1998-99 season. Their record was 28-47-7. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won zero Stanley Cups. Their current stats are 22-18-6. In their last game played against the Kings, they lost 5-3.
Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres joined the league in the 1970-71 season. Their first season stats were 24-39-15. They did not make the playoffs that year. They have also never won a Stanley Cup. Their current stats are. 23-19-3. In their last game played against the Ducks, they won 6-3.
St. Louis Blues: The Blues joined the league in the 1967-68 season. Their record was 27-31-16. They lost in the Stanley Cup Final of the playoffs that year. They have won one Stanley Cup. They won their first in the 2018-19 season. Their current stats are 23-21-3. In their last game played against the Blackhawks, they lost 5-3.
Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers joined the league in the 1967-68 season. Their record was 31-32-7. They lost in the QF during the playoffs that year. They have won two Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 1973-74 season. Their current stats are 20-20-6. In their last game played against the Red Wings, they won 2-1.
Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings joined the league in the 1926-27 season as the Detroit Cougars. From 1930 to 1932, they changed their name to the Detroit Falcons. Their record was 12-28-4. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won 11 Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 1935-36 season. Their current stats are 19-18-8. In their last game played against the Flyers, they lost 2-1.
Ottawa Senators: The Senators joined the league in the 1992-93 season. Their record was 10-70-4. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won zero Stanley Cups. Their current stats are 20-23-3. In their last game played against the Jets, they lost 5-1.
Montreal Canadians: The Canadians joined the league in the 1917-18 season. Their record was 13-9-0. They lost in the NHLF round of the playoffs that year. They have won 25 Stanley Cups, which is the most in the NHL. They won their first in the 1918-19 season. Their current stats are 20-24-3. In their last game played against the Leafs, they won 3-2.
Vancouver Canucks: The Canucks joined the league in the 1970-71 season. Their record was 24-48-6. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won zero Stanley Cups. Their current stats are 18-25-3. In their last game played against the Oilers, they lost 4-2.
San Jose Sharks: The Sharks joined the league in the 1991-92 season. Their record was 17-58-5. They did not qualify for the playoffs that year. They have won zero Stanley Cups. Their current stats are 14-24-9. In their last game played against the Blue Jackets, they lost 5-3
Arizona Coyotes: The Coyotes joined the league in the 1979-80 season as the Winnipeg Jets. They later renamed to the Pheonix Coyotes, until becoming what we know today as the Arizona Coyotes. They had a record of 20-49-11 in their first season, not qualifying for the playoffs. They have never made it to a Stanley Cup Final game, therefore never winning a Stanley Cup. Their current stats are 23-19-5. In their last game played against the Hurricanes, they lost 5-2.
Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks joined the league in the 1926-27 season. Their record was 19-22-3. They made the playoffs that year but lost in the quarter final. They have won 5 Stanley Cups. They won their first in the 1933-34 season. Their current stats are 14-26-4. In their last game played against the Blues, they won 5-3.
Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks joined the league in the 1993-94 season with Troy Loney as their captain. FUN FACT: The team was founded in 1993 by the Walt Disney Company as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, a name based on the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks. They did not qualify for the Playoffs in the 1993-94 season. They won one Stanley Cup in the 2006-07 season. Their current stats are 13-29-5. In their last game played against the Sabres, they lost 6-3.
Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets joined the league in the 2000-01 season. Their record was 28-39-9. They did not make the playoffs that year. They have never won a Stanley Cup. Their current stats are 14-30-1. In their last game played against the Flames, they lost 4-3 in overtime.