Blast from the Past

I think that I'll always be tied to Gulf Shores Middle, after all, I went to school there for three years, it's where I met my best friends, and became the person I am today. I will always look forward to the next time I get to go visit, and see my teachers again. Although at the time, they gave me homework, and took up my time, now, I'm thankful for everything they taught me. Now that I'm in high school, I look back and think about what I could have done differently in middle school, and think about the things I wish I knew, so to get you guys ahead of the game, I'm going to share some of this stuff with you.

I've only been in high school for half a year now, but I think that by now, I've gotten the hang of things, unlike the first semester. For me, it was like I went into high school, and along came all of the responsibilities! All of the sudden I had to keep up intense schedules, with volleyball, studying, church, and homework all the time! There wasn't a day I went without homework, and on top of that I had volleyball, and I had to find time in there to rest. On top of all this, I turned fifteen, so I got my permit and can now drive (with an adult over the age of 21 before sunset) which is another huge responsibility! I was completely overwhelmed and felt like I had no time to rest!

What I'm mainly getting at, is that high school for me was a giant wakeup call because I never kept my priorities straight. I cared more about sleep and sports than I did my grades. Honestly, I wasn't ready for what I got, I was taking honors history and honors biology which both classes (with the teachers I had) gave a lot of homework. Also, in biology, I sometimes had a test three times a week! By the end of the semester I had it straight, but my advice for athletes is to make sure that you keep academics on top of your list, because not studying has its costs, and they aren't good.

I remember the night before the first day of school, the main concern for me was my friends, and whether we were going to be torn apart with the transition into high school. I knew that because we only had four classes and there were two lunch waves, that there was a chance that we wouldn't be able to see each other all the time like we did in middle school. Well, that didn't happen because somehow we all had the same lunch wave, and I had at least one class with most of my best friends. As for other groups of friends I can't say the same. I watched as they were overwhelmed by the pressure of high school, and we grew apart. I'm lucky that my friends and I have a Christ-based strong friendship, and we rarely argue, which probably has something to do with us staying together.  Our relationships are the same, if not stronger!

I really wish I would have known when I was in middle school, to PAY ATTENTION! Sorry teachers, but honestly, I only paid attention when I had to, and I'm talking about in math, science, and history mainly. Without Mr. Tuggle, I wouldn't have passed biology, without Ms. Dumelow, I wouldn't have passed history, and without a doubt I wouldn't have passed algebra, or have a passing grade in geometry without The Reetz Man. Although right now these classes seem like a pain, you need them. They don't get you high school credits, but they help you get them in the long run.

My most important advice for you guys is this; be yourself, stand by what you believe in, and don't be afraid to take chances. The first ones ‘be yourself' and ‘stand by what you believe in ‘are probably the most important.In high school, all these opportunities will open up for you to go to parties, and if you do go, you will most likely be pressured to do something, and if you are, just don't do it. Even if it's the senior cheer captain, or the senior quarterback of the football team, just stand by what you believe in, and don't alter who you are to become popular. I've stood by what I believe in, and so far, I haven't made any life altering mistakes. So, just be yourself.

I hope that something, even if it was just one thing, that I've said, will help you with your own high school experience. I know that ours won't be the same, maybe they won't be close to the same, but you know what's coming, which is more than I did. So, I wish you luck, and I'll see you in high school.

By: Ashton Ray; GSMS journalist 2007-2009

We'll Miss you Mr. Baker

        On January 14, 2010, Mr. Steven Wayne Baker passed away. Mr. Baker was the much-loved principal of Orange Beach Elementary and loved seeing the faces of his students every day. Mr. Baker passed away after battling cancer for two years. Mr. Baker's favorite things to do were play golf and to go watch Auburn football games. His favorite animal was a buffalo!

        Mr. Baker had been the principal at Orange Beach Elementary since 2001. He also was an assistant principal at Gulf Shores Middle School and a teacher at Foley.  Mr. Baker knew every student and their names when they walked in the school. The students are the ones who kept a smile on his face during the day. The students and faculty new it was going to be a very tough time with him battling cancer.

         Mr. Baker is survived by his wife, Susan Baker and their two wonderful children; a daughter, Whitney Baker and a son, Steven "Rocky Baker". His older daughter Whitney graduated from Auburn and his son Rocky is in third grade. His wife has also had her own struggles with breast cancer. She struggled with breast cancer for over a year. They lived in Robertsdale and now live in Craft Farms in Gulf Shores.

        Mr. Phillip Fountain (GSMS Principal) is a very close family member to the Baker family. He is Mrs. Baker's first cousin. When Mr. and Mrs. Baker got married he was the ring bearer at their wedding. Even though Mr. Baker passed away, Mr. Fountain said he will always be close to his family. Mr. Steven Wayne Baker's funeral was on January 19, 2010 in Robertsdale. If you visit Orange Beach Elementary you will see roses on the fence around the school in his honor.  Even though he isn't physically seen, he will always be around to see his students do great every day.
By: Lauren Bowden and Abby Grimes; 7th Grade

 Sweet FCA Treats        

    The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) passed out some sweet treats in the hallway after school last Fri. Jan. 23. Every semester they do something for the school. Last semester they had a "Bless the Teachers" theme so they held a teacher's luncheon and all the members of FCA brought something in for the teachers.  This semester they had a "Bless the Students" theme, so they decided to pass out brownies and cookies. 

     Sam Story said, "FCA is awesome because you get to learn about God, and it is a good way to let you know God is with you!" Andrezza Faustino said, "It is necessary to have FCA and we are lucky to have it at our school." When Kristen House was asked, "What did you think about FCA passing out the treats?" She said, "It was very generous of them to pass out the treats and FCA is a good club for kids to express their religion." Caroline White said, "FCA is really fun and Mrs. Stringfield is a really awesome teacher and I think everyone should go to FCA."  Kelsey Boone said, "FCA is a good way to learn about God and everyone should go because it is fun."

    FCA is for students to be able to get to know God better. Every week they have different themes. Some of the themes they have had are Accountability, Challenge, and Seek week. They are always coming up with new ways to help around the school. They worked with Operation Christmas Child where people brought in boxes filled with toys and other things for children. That way children who normally wouldn't have a Christmas, can have one.

    They have meetings every Friday at 7:15 in the library. At times they even serve you breakfast. You don't have to be an athlete to be in FCA either. Anyone can come to the meetings! FCA is a club for anyone who wants to be active in the school and God.

By: Danielle Watts and Lauren Williams; 7th

Saying Farewell

    Saying goodbye is sometimes the hardest thing to do. This past week at Gulf Shores Middle School (GSMS) that is just what we had to do, say goodbye to fellow journalist, student, and friend, Sarah Jarrett. She is moving this weekend to TN., because her dad got promoted at his job and he is getting transferred.

Some people may know how hard it is to move to a new city, a new school, and for their parents, a new job. Sarah has only lived here in Gulf Shores for a little under two years now. She moved from Prattville, AL. for the same reason as she is moving now, her dads' job. Sarah said, "I am excited about moving because I will be closer to my family in north Alabama and my grandparents, but then again I'm not excited because I'm going to miss my close friends and living next to the beach. I'm very happy that my dad got promoted he really does deserve it."

    Moving to a new school is never easy but it's surprising how you can make some of your best friends feel when you move. We are all going to miss Sarah and we hope that she has a great time at her new school. Danielle Watts's,  GSMS journalist said, "I'm going miss Sarah. She is a really nice person and she is awesome, I am really going miss her". Jessica Metz added "I love Sarah to death and she is the best friend that anyone could have! I'm going miss her so much." Rebecca Holcomb, GSMS student, said, "When she told me she was moving I cried because one of my best friends was moving away. It's not easy saying goodbye to her, but I know that we are going to keep in touch and that she will be visiting us. I'm really going to miss her." Breanna Tew, GSMS student, said "Sarah is like family to me. I couldn't believe that she was moving at first, and I know I'm going to be upset for a long time, but we are still going to keep in touch so I know it's not like we're never going to see or talk to each other again. I am going to miss her so much!" 

By: Harlie Guy and Ginny Taylor 8^th grade  

Sarah Jarrett, G.S.M.S. student who is moving away to Tennessee
Photo By: Sydney Ayers

Sarah Jarrett one of many great students here at G.S.M.S.
who (unfortunately for us) is moving away
Photo By: Sunny Billion

Chocolate Cook Off!!

     Thursday February 4th in Mrs. Michele Carpenter's food lab, GSMS will be holding our Local Chocolate Cook Off. If you would like to join you can bring a food dish to Mrs. Carpenter's food lab Thursday morning. The 1st place winner will compete at the county level with their dish. The county chocolate cook off will be held at Spanish Fort Middle School February 10th at 4:00pm. The winners will be announced later that day.

   The first people known to have made chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. We tend to think of chocolate as a sweet candy created during modern times. But actually, chocolate dates back to the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica who drank chocolate as a bitter beverage. For these people, chocolate wasn't just a favorite food it also played an important role in their religious and social lives. Until the 1500s, no one in Europe knew anything at all about the delicious drink that would later become a huge hit worldwide.

    Within 100 years, the love of chocolate spread throughout the rest of Europe. It is used in candy bars milk shakes, cookies, flavored coffee even cereal and medicine! Chocolate is a key ingredient in many foods. In fact, it ranks as the favorite flavor of most Americans. The story of chocolate spans more than 2,000 years and now circles the globe. The tale began in the tropical rain-forests of Central and South America where cacao first grew. Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree. 

    There are many types of chocolate but the major types are white chocolate, milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate, bittersweet chocolate and unsweetened chocolate. Producing and manufacturing these types are cheap because they are made mainly of cacao beans. Unsweetened and milk chocolate is the best type cooking and for eating.

     Students participating in the competition may have their own personal favorite chocolate and are open to use any of the types for the cook off. You can get more information about the chocolate cookout by seeing Ms. Carpenter in the FACS lab.  Good luck!

 By: Tasheena Keller and Savannah Wilkinson 7th and Olivia Helms 8th

Anne Frank           

     These past few weeks Mrs. Mindy Stringfield's 8^th grade literature classes have been reading The Diary of Anne Frank. After about two weeks of reading they finished the book but not with the holocaust. So the students would be more aware of what really went on in the holocaust, Mrs. Stringfield thought of a project.

     Anne and her family, which consisted of a sister Margot, a mother Edith, and her father Otto Frank, were all in confided in a small space with five other individuals for two long years before they were discovered. When they left the safety of their hiding place they were all sent to Westerbrok four days after their arrest. On Sep. 3 1944 they were transferred to Auschwitz; however on Jan. 6^th ,1945, Anne and her sister were transported to Bergen-Belsen, where she fought everyday for her life and the life of her sister.

      The project that Mrs. Stringfield created was to search through a list of websites. The websites contained information on things such as concentration camps, interviews with survivors, Adolph Hitler, and much more. With this information they could pick from a ten slide PowerPoint on a character from the play "Diary of Anne Frank", any WWII concentration or death camp, information on Adolph Hitler, or a timeline of the holocaust. The student could choose to do the project with or without a partner and they started presenting the 23^rd.

      The Diary of Anne Frank is about a girl named Anne and her Jewish family who has to go into hiding when the Nazi police come to take her and her family to a concentration camp. Anne writes her diary, named Kitty, about their times in hiding and a concentration camp.  The book brings awareness to students that this was not just happening to adults but children and even infants. Harliegh Wilson said, "the book was so inspirational to my learning ability, I am grateful for not living back then, and that my country is free!" Audrey Brown also had this to say "it was a Great way to learn about the Holocaust and how to use  PowerPoint".

By: Olivia Helms 8^th

TSA!

     This past week Coach Jeff Ostrowski, 7th and 8th grade Career teacher, has been getting for TSA! TSA stands for Technology Students Association. The TSA pertains to technology, of course, and it's a club affiliated with Coach O's curriculum at the school. The members will be competing against individuals in county, state or national level. Before the students can compete in State or National they must go through county first and then move on through those challenges. There are 20 different competitions. There is graphic design, flight, problem solving, structural challenge, marine challenge, transportation challenge and etc. 

    The members of the club will make creations such as bridges, stick airplanes, vehicles, graphic designs on computers, speed boats, hover crafts and much more. All of these creations and designs will be tested. The members compete against other middle school students in Baldwin County. The first Technical Competition will be Feb.10, and it will be held in Robertsdale at the South Baldwin Technical Center. A month afterward there will be another convention for the top competitors. That will be the National Convention, which will be held in June at Orlando Florida.

    When asked, "Do you enjoy these projects?" Coach O answered, "Yes, I enjoy it. I (sometimes) give the children ideas, but usually they come up with it themselves. While giving them ideas I also guide the students. All the work is done by the students. I usually buy all the supplies."

There are 20 members, nineteen seventh graders and one eighth grader. The seventh graders are Reed Pettit, Shamon Campbell, Deston Rayborn, Tanner Stewart, Kennedy White, Hannah Upchurch, Tristan Vogel, Melissa LaBorde, Cameron Whitfield, Tristan Weeter, Chad Brown, Elijah Alinder, Wesley Keith, Jon Lee, Avery Taylor, Nathan Childress, Michael Merryman, Brett Lane, Jamison Reid and the eighth grader is Sam Story.

By:Sarah Jarrett;8th