Congratulations to Mr. Reetz
for earning the Baldwin County Teacher of the Year
and Alabama District 1 Teacher of the Year! 
Good luck in the State Competition 

Schools Out, Lets Shout!!... Almost

Summer is the best time of year. It's also the hottest and best season ever. There are a whole lot of things to do in the summer like: spending time with family and friends, going to the beach, going shopping, and so much more. My favorite things about summer are that we have a long vacation out of school and I get more time to spend with family and friends. Some people like summer and some people dislike summer, but I like summer for a whole lot of different reasons.

One of the reasons I like summer is because I get to spend time with my family and friends. It's very fun to hang out with family because you get  closer and closer to them each time you visit. I also like to visit family because we always talk about the fun memories when the kids were little. I also like to visit old friends that I haven't seen in a long time. I like to go to the skating rink, shopping at the mall, and go to the movies with my friends. We always catch up on things that happened over the long period of time since the last time when we saw each other.

  During the summer I also enjoy going shopping. I love to shop for shoes, clothes, jewelry, and purses. I have a lot of shopping mottos, but one of my favorite mottos that I like to say is, "shop till you drop."  My friends  and I like to shop at Mobile's Colonial Bel Air Mall. There are a lot of things to do with your friends in the mall like: take pictures together, shop together, and go out to a restaurant in the mall together.

Another reason I like summer is because my birthday is in the summer and I like to have pool parties and it doesn't have to end so fast. Birthday parties are very fun and you get to spend time with your family and friends. You also get to take the first bite of the biggest cake ever and you get more ice cream than anybody else gets. Another reason birthdays are so special is because you get to be one year older. Sponsor's Note:  Someday you will reach an age when that isn't such a good thing anymore.   

 You also can go on vacation to places you've never been or to places you just like and you want to visit again. On vacation you can visit new stores, take pictures at different places, and meet new people. Going on vacation is one of the best things to do while you are on summer vacation.

By: Tasheena Keller: 7^th

 Dolphin Spirit, Dolphin Pride

                These past few weeks Gulf Shores High School (GSHS) had their cheerleading tryouts. Mrs. Treavie Ainsworth is the cheerleading coach and this is her second year. At the tryouts, contestants had to tumble, doing things like back flips and back-hand-springs. They also had to do a cheer and a little dance. Some people think that cheerleading is good exercise and so are most sports.

            Cheerleading started in 1898 when University of Minnesota student, Johnny Campbell stood up and got a crowd cheering "Rah-Rah-Rah! Sku-u-mar, Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Varsity, Minn-e-So-Tah!"  That made Johnny Campbell the first cheerleader. At first cheerleading had a "yell leader" now they have a cheer captain. In 1903 the first cheerleading fraternity which was Gamma Sigma was founded. Cheerleading started out as an all-male sport. Then in 1923, women began participating. At this time gymnastics, tumbling, and megaphone were included in the popular cheers. Around 97% of cheerleaders are female, but at the college level, about 50% of cheerleaders are male.  

            In 1948, Lawrence "Herkie" Herkimer, lived in Dallas, TX and was a former cheerleader at Southern Methodist University. He formed the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA). It was used to hold cheerleader clinics. In 1949, The NCA held its first clinic in Huntsville and 52 girls attended.

        Some of the 8th grade girls at Gulf Shores Middle School (GSMS) tried out for the GSHS team. Hannah Millson has been cheering for four years. She said, "The tryouts were fun and easy." Caroline White, a cheerleader since 7th grade, said, "I like cheerleading because it's good exercise and it's fun to learn something new." Rhiannon Mims, a cheerleader since age 3, said, "The tryouts were a little intimidating but not that hard." Morgan Lindsey has been cheering for one year and she said, "I like cheering because it's fun to get the crowd pumped and excited for the games or just getting them excited. The tryouts weren't that hard at all." 

        Congratulations to: Morgan Lindsey, Hannah Millson, Rhiannon Mims, Caroline White, and Kasey Workman for making the high school cheerleading team.  

By: Lauren Williams; 7th  

St. Pattie's Day!

St. Pattie's Day is a shortened name for St. Patrick's Day, which is a holiday celebrated mostly by the Irish. St. Patrick's Day is most popular in Ireland but, many people in the U.S celebrate it today too. St. Patrick's Day exists because of a man by the name of Paliadius, the first bishop to believe in Jesus Christ in the year 424. Although, St. Patrick's Day got its name from a man named Saint Patrick. He was a man who was a patron saint and an apostle of Ireland. Saint Patrick was said to have scared snakes away from Ireland and every town and city living on Ireland. Since then, there are no snakes in Ireland and never will be, according to the myth.  St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th because of Paliadius's death in the fifth century.

St. Patrick's Day has been a holiday for more than 1,000 years. The holiday takes place during a Christian tradition called "Lent". Irish would celebrate later in the day, but go to church in the morning. On St. Patrick's Day, people eat cabbage, corned beef, and Irish bacon. There is always a St. Patrick's Day parade. The 1st parade was held in New York City in 1762 when the U.S English Military marched through it. New York and Boston are the most popular place to hold the parades. And let's not forget the myth behind the shamrock. If you find a four leafed clover, you get good luck.

The clover is a symbol of St. Patrick's Day because it means, "Rebirth of Spring". The shamrock might be more than good luck, it is also used to explain the Holy Trinity to the Christian Irish people.

Leprechauns are a belief of Celts. Celts believe they use their magic to conquer good and evil. Some people believe that green has always been the color of St. Patrick's Day, but that is not correct. When the holiday first began, the original color of Saint Patrick was blue. As the years went on, everyone started wearing the green shamrocks, green hats or green clothing. St. Patrick's Day is a growing and popular holiday all around the world.

By: Lauren Bowden; 7th

ARMT & SAT Testing Schedule

7:50
Students are released to go to their lockers. All books and bags must be placed in lockers; students should take a #2 pencil with them to homeroom.
7:57 - 8:10
Students should be in homeroom by 7:57. Attendance should be taken at 8:05. The last tardy is admitted at 8:20.

Monday, March 22: ARMT Reading
Tuesday, March 23: ARMT Math Schedule
Monday, March 29: SAT -reading vocabulary and comprehension
Tuesday, March 30: SAT-math procedure and problem
Wednesday, March 31: OLSAT Schedule

Focus on Sarah Beech

This week at Gulf Shores Middle School (GSMS) the focus is Sarah Beech. Her parents are Angela and Mike Beech and she has a twin sister, Audrey Beech. Sarah has four dogs two great Danes named Lexi and Gracie, one miniature grey hound named Ella, and a schnauzer named Zoey. Sarah and her family moved to Orange Beach from Dallas, Texas when she was in the 2nd grade.

Sarah likes to hang out with her friends and family in her free time. Her favorite place to hang out with her friends is at the Wharf, where she loves to walk around and just talk to her best friends. Her favorite sport is softball, which she has been playing since the 2nd grade and plays with her sister. Her favorite holiday is Christmas because she likes celebrating Jesus' birth and being with her family. Her friends say she is a wonderful person to talk to and will always be there if you need someone to talk to or hang out with. 

"Sarah is a hilarious dancer. She is quiet but at times is random funny and crazy . Once you get to know her she is not the quiet person you think she is in school and she is an amazing friend." says Anna Bishop. Audrey Beech, her sister was asked the same question and said, "I love my sister she is the best, and we get along so well. She is very funny and can always make you laugh. Sarah is not the quiet person everyone thinks she is I know the real side of her and she is so much fun to hang out with."

By: Savannah Wilkinson; 7th

Sarah Beech, G.S.M.S. focus of the week
Photo By: Sydney Ayers

Sarah Beech G.S.M.S.'s focus of the week.
Photo By: Sunny Bill

 Lets Ride 

On Sat. Mar. 13 some of the Gulf Shores Middle School students participated in the 9th Annual Bike-A-Thon. There were 36 students and about10 support parents. Every year 7^th grade math teacher, Mr. Roger Reetz holds this event to raise money for his class, while at the same time showing his students how much fun they can still have on their bikes.

All money earned will go to purchase new technology and supplies for Mr. Reetz ‘s math classes and the school. Students earned awards based on how much money they raised. Along with all the awards at different levels, Mr. Reetz gave away one "Specialized" Mountain Bike to the student who raised the most money. The winner of the bike was Mckenzie King.  It took a lot of effort and support for the students to ride 20 miles. After about 5 miles the students finally got to the nasty, dirty mud hole. Despite their best efforts, nobody had the strength or skill to get through the two foot deep mud bog. Mr. Reetz even fell in this year, his first time ever to take the plunge. 

Makenzie King said, "It was very fun hanging out with my friends and it took a lot of effort to ride."  Jr. Yang said, "It was very muddy and I got thrown in the mud a few times." Very few students had to get picked up in the meat wagon. The meat wagon is for holding supplies or carring riders and bikes that can't make it back. Every 20 to 25 minutes or so Mr. Reetz would stop and take count to see everybody was there and didn't get injured. It was cold but it got warmer throughout the day and the wind was very strong so it made it tough to ride in. We raised over $3000 for Mr. Reetz class. Students keep saying "I can't wait till the 10th annual Fall Bike-A-Thon."

A special thank you goes to the Orange Beach Fire department for letting two firemen come out and help,  the Orange Police department for hosting lunch for the students, and the GSMS PTSO for providing the food for lunch.

By: Abby Grimes 7th grade

2010 Bike-a-Thon rider, Faith Freeman riding her bike through the Orange Beach mud whole.
Photo By: Roger Reetz


2010 Bike-a-Thon riders; Samantha Goodsell, Jillian Chance and Tristan Hazebrook
as they are coming back from the mud whole.
Photo By: Roger Reetz


2010 Bike-a-Thon riders.

The Lighting Thief

If you have seen the recently released movie, "Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief" and enjoyed it, chances are you will enjoy reading the book even more. If you haven't seen the movie, take it from someone who has done both and read the book. The first book in the Percy Jackson series, the Lighting Thief combines adventure and Greek mythology in a humorous tale about a young boy named Percy and his friends, Annabeth and Grover. Percy who has ADHD has had to attend a different school every year because of his disruptive behavior. In the 6th grade Percy learns that he is a demigod and that having ADHD is an advantage. Having discovered that his father is the Greek god, Poseidon, the god of sea, Percy's life takes a turn as he and his friends set out to prove that he did not steal Zeus's Lighting Bolt.  

Percy is one rare demigod. His father, Poseidon, is one of the big three. The big three is a group of gods who are not allowed to have children because they are afraid their powers will be so strong they could destroy earth, or even start wars. Percy discovers many powers he didn't know he had on his exciting adventure with his friends. They run into a lot of monsters and problems on this journey. They even got stuck in a problem with Hades, god of underworld, who also wanted the lightning bolt. He told Percy he would trade his mother's life for the bolt.

This is one amazing book that will keep you wanting more and more. "I loved this book! I stayed up late reading for hours just to finish it!" said Michael Merryman. To find out if Percy is innocent and how his journey went you have to read the book.

By: Ashton Walther and Danielle Watts; 7th

Kimberley Ewing sits in the hallway and reads a good book
Photo By: Sydney Ayers

   (From left to right) Laura Ashley, Peyton Bidwell and Mr. Phillip Fountain.
Photo By: Roger Reetz
 

Peyton Bidwell, recieved a 2,000 dollar scholarship to the University of Mobile on Tuesday. He was the Red Ribbon Week Leadership Award winner at Gulf Shores Middle School for the 2009-2010 school year. He is holding a memorial golf tournament in honor of his father. The proceeds of the tournament go to the DARE program where his father was an officer.
By: Sydney Ayers; 8th and Sunny Bill; 7th 

Peyton Bidwell and Laura Ashley, from The University of Mobile.
Photo By: Roger Reetz