Down syndrome

             I have a younger brother Jackson, he is 5 years old, and he was born with Down syndrome also known as "Down's". Jackson is someone I look up to everyday even though he is younger than me. Some of the simplest things we do are harder for him. For example he has not fully developed talking and yet, he still smile's everyday like nothing is wrong.

One way the doctor's knew that he had Down's when he was born was his big toe and his second toe are very far apart and he has one crease on each hand going straight across. Also, when he was first born he had a heart murmur which is very common with Down syndrome children, but his heart murmur was nowhere near as bad as they usually are. He has daily challenges that most of us would take for granted. For example, it takes him longer to comprehend things he is taught at school. Also later on in life he won't be able to have a normal family, like most children.

Down syndrome occurs when you have an extra 21st chromosome.  Almost half the people born with Down syndrome are born with some kind of heart defect. Some cases are worst than others. Some ways to point out someone has DS (Down syndrome) is that there faces are flat, their ears are small and their eyes are slanted. There are some medical problems that sometimes occur when having Down's.  For example, many people with Down's have hearing and vision problems, such as hearing loss occurring with too much fluid in the ear. At the age of 30 a women has the risk of a 1 in 900 chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome. The odds increased to 1 in 350 by the age of 35, and by the age of 40 rise to about 1 in 100.

Children that are born with DS are the same size as any normal baby. But as they grow it takes a little longer compared to the peers. They develop muscle weakness but it gets better over time. It takes them longer to sit-up, crawl and walk. They learn how to do all those things just not at the same time. But the funny thing is that no matter what they always are going to have a smile on their face. There is more to Down syndrome than you would really think.
By: Sunny Bill, 7^th

Focus on Alex Linton

This week at Gulf Shores Middle School (GSMS), Alex Linton, a well known 7th grader, has taken the spotlight. She has very high grades and was on the "A" Honor Roll this year. She plans to continue to strive and make good grades throughout her remaining school years. She has played the clarinet in the GSMS school band for about two years now, and aside from playing the clarinet, she was also a member of GSMS' Scholar's Bowl team.

Alex was born in Fairhope, AL to Les and Nina Linton. She also has one brother, Aaron, whom is eight. She lived in Robertsdale, AL for about six or seven years, moved to Oxford, MS for about a year, and then moved to Gulf Shores in the summer of 2004. Alex said, "I liked and missed Oxford because some family lives there, but I love it here in Gulf Shores with all of my friends."

Alex is very family oriented and loves playing music and singing with her family. Alex also has one dog named Cookie, a cat named Elsie, and three Dumbo rats. In her free time, her hobbies include going to the movies, hanging out with friends and family, and just being her crazy self. Alex tries to live by the creed, "Live life to the fullest" and most that know her would say that she does. Her role model is her father because he has influenced the musical part of her and is always there for her and to make her laugh. 

Alex plans to attend college at Mississippi State and pursue a career as a veterinarian because she loves animals. While she's at college, she can also be close to some of her family. She has many goals for her future such as becoming a veterinarian and continuing to learn more about music and the instruments that she plays. She would also love to live in a beach house in Florida because she loves the beach.

If Alex could visit anywhere in the world, she would love to visit Brazil since she has always wanted to learn their language, and the food there is excellent. She said that if she could change anything about the world, it would to be to stop global warming and save the polar bears. Ashley Norris, a 7th grader at GSMS said, "Alex is a crazy and fun friend to hang out with. She's been one of my best friends for a while and now she's just like a sister to me." Camron Edelen, another 7th grader at GSMS said, "Alex is a wonderful, hilarious, kind friend. She has always been there for me, even when no one else is, and I love that about her." GSMS is lucky and proud to have such a great student like Alex.

By: Katelin Jones; 8th

Alex Lintin G.S.M.S.'s fantastic focus of the week
Photo By: Sydney Ayers

Let's Stop Relationship Abuse

     The Lighthouse Women's Shelter is a sanctuary to try to stop relationship abuse. Mrs. Jessika Brown is from the Lighthouse and has been speaking at Gulf Shores Middle School (GSMS) about how to stop it. The program is 6 days long, which included three days before Spring Break and three days after. The program helps young men and women who have been in a relationship and have been abused as well as giving skills to others to hopefully prevent them from putting themselves in that kind of situation.

    Mrs. Brown is married and has two kids. She has been teaching about the lighthouse for 1 1/2. The Lighthouse is a sanctuary for people who have been in an abusive relationship, and provides them a safe place to talk about it. The Lighthouse helps people get through tough relationships and it tells them that they deserve better than that.

        The Lighthouse is a good program that informs students about issues that are going on. The issues are so bad, they should be stopped. The abusive relationships don't just affect the adults or teenagers, it also affects children. The other person may even try to isolate the victim from anybody else. They may even threaten someone. The person may say that he/she will change but no one should take a chance. The person may say that they can't live without the other person, but the abuser will get what they want if that person stays. 

        Morgan Jenkins, 8th grade, said, "Out of this program I learned to never stay in an abusive relationship."  Nick Russo, an 8th grader, said, "I will never abuse my girlfriend or my wife." Carolina Braga, 8th grade, said, "Mrs. Brown was very nice and she taught us that abuse is very bad and it should be stopped."

        GSMS would like to thank Mrs. Brown for coming and teaching us about relationship abuse. If you know someone that is in an abusive relationship tell them to try to get more information on the Lighthouse. There website is www.abeacon.org and there hotline number is 251-947-6008 or 1-800-650-6522

By: Lauren Williams; 7th

Jessika Brown, representative for the Lighthouse in Robertsdale
Photo By: Harlie Guy

Recycling with Mr. Tuggle

    The week before spring break, April 5th - 9th, at Gulf Shores Middle School, Mr. Wil Tuggle had Lisa Miles from the Baldwin County Extension Office come in and talk to the students of his fifth period class about how important it is to recycle. Mr. Tuggle's fifth period class has been working around the school this year to make it better by recycling. Ms. Miles told the students that it takes a long time for something to decompose so it would be hurting our planet to just throw it away.  Instead, she told the students how it would heal our planet if more people would recycle. They also discussed the many different ways recycling could help our community and they talked about how recycling is not the only way to help.
       Instead of recycling, people could turn off lights and unplug their phone chargers when they're not being used, or they can conserve water. They talked about how people can make a huge difference if they just commit to living smarter or even just choosing to recycle instead of tossing everything in the trash can. 
    The students in Mr. Tuggle's fifth period class feel very strongly about the matter Kali Templeton, an 8th grader in Mr. Tuggle's fifth period class said, "The lady taught us so much about recycling and fit it into only two days I learned so much more about recycling and the many other ways to help our community and our planet. I believe that we could all help out in the littlest things we do every day. I'm glad and proud to say I was able to help our school with all the projects we have done in Mr. Tuggle's class. " Shelby Parker added, " The information that she gave us was helpful, but it was so much to learn in two days." Savannah Kichler said, "She taught us about how much we put into the ground trash and that some of it will be there forever. She made us think about what we really do with our trash". 

By: Ginny Taylor, 8th grade

Lisa Miles from the Baldwin County Extension Office
informs Mr. Tuggle's 5th period agricultural class
 about energy conservation and recycling
Photo By: Mr. William Tuggle

Mr. Tuggle's guest speaker informs his 5th period agricultural class
Lisa Miles from the Baldwin County Extension Office
informs Mr. Tuggle's 5th period agricultural class
 about energy conservation and recycling
Photo By: Mr. William Tuggle

The Last Song

The Last Song is a great book. It is very descriptive and has a lot to do with what people go through in life. The main character is Ronnie, a girl from New York, who's father left her, her mom (Kim) and her 10 year old brother ( Jonah ). After 3 years of not seeing or talking to her dad (Steve), Ronnie is forced to go to Manhattan to stay with him for the whole summer vacation. At first Ronnie and her dad didn't get along at all, but when she realized he was really nice and she liked having a dad in her life and they became very close. While there, she meets some friends and soon finds out they are not the ones she should hang out with when they do something to get Ronnie in a lot of trouble.

When she thought she would never have friends in Manhattan she meets a boy named Will. Ronnie soon finds out that Will is the first love of her life. After a tragic thing happened to her father Ronnie and her little brother went back to New York where she realizes the friends she had there were not too great either and soon finds a better way to live her life. 

"The Last Song is one of the best books I've ever read It is very enjoyable and I think everyone should read the book." said Anna Bishop. Marleigh Julain says, "The Last Song is a very interesting book." Audrey Beech says ,"The Last Song is awesome and I read it again in the same week." "The Last Song is a great book and once you start reading you can't put it down," said Sarah Beech. 

Savannah Wilkinson; 7th 

Sai Patel and Parker Mason enjoying a book in the glorious
beams of the sunlight
Photo By: Sydney Ayers

Spring Break 2010, Great Memories!!!

Every student was waiting for April 9, 2010 at 3:05 to leave for Spring Break 2010, when the Baldwin County students got out for a whole week. Most students said this year's Spring Break was the best Spring Break ever and can't wait till next year's. Spring Break is a break from school, work, and drama. It's a time to relax and enjoy family, friends, and fun.

On the downside, a few students had a rough time, like Austin Smith. Austin, a 7th grader had strep throat, but had a great time fishing, going to the beach, and boating with friends. Baylee Rigsby, also a 7th grader had a great time in Sarasota, Florida with a friend, Justine Lenz. They had five days of golf cart riding, swimming, the beach, shopping, and a whole lot of sunburns. Baylee said, "It was the best Spring Break yet!" Ben Taylor, an 8th grader, went Deep Sea fishing with some friends, enjoyed beautiful beaches, and tubing.

The weather here on the Gulf Coast was beautiful everyday that school was out. Living at the beach provides a lot of outside activities. Some students were going out of town, staying home or even go on cruises. Everyone was so excited to get a break from school. Spring Break is all about having fun, but don't get yourself in trouble. Brooke Cooley an 8th grader went on a cruise to Mexico for her Spring Break. "Even though cruises are rocky and make your stomach turn upside down, it was very fun." 

Kylie Damron, a 7^th grader, said "The beaches were so crowded during Spring Break that it was hard to find a spot to sit and get a tan." Her favorite things she did last week was tubing, kayaking and going surfing. Some students went to where it was snowing and had to pack winter clothes instead of spring or summer clothes. Roger Strict, a 7th grader said, "I had a blast hanging out with my friends. I went to Orlando with my family and went boating." Hopefully all the students had a great Spring Break 2010 and can't wait until next year!!!

By: Abby Grimes and Lauren Bowden 7th Grade

Talent Is Everywhere

The Duke Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) was founded in 1980. They had their first talent search in 1981 which only had about 8,700 participants. In 2005 they had over 81,000. The purpose of the Duke Talent search is to provide resources to help develop students' academic gifts. Often students need activities more advanced than what is being offered at school, either because the school does not have the resources or staff to do so. Duke TIP has a wide range of activities to help meet each students needs.  It also allows students to become part of a network of gifted students and their families. "It wasn't very hard, I enjoy the challenges." said Joseph Callaway. Morgan McLain, Maddie Cribbs, and Baylee Rigsby agreed, "We are all so proud that our friends got into Duke TIP."

Many gifted children do not reach their full potential. Some students tend to hide their talents, don't try hard, or have behavior problems. The Duke Talent Search is used to find out how advanced a student truly is. At times, the testing they give at schools cannot test the true abilities of these gifted children. For the Duke Talent Search students take an above-level testing, which is at least two years above the student's current grade, to understand where the child is truly gifted.

 To enroll in the Duke Talent Search, students must have scored 95% or higher on a grade-level standardized test or have scored at or above 125 on an IQ test.  All students who participate receive a certificate, and students with outstanding scores are honored at special recognition ceremonies. "I'm so glad I was accepted. I work my hardest in everything." said Margaret Lloyd.

Recently 15 students from Gulf Shores Middle School took the ACT or SAT.  Joseph Callaway, Seth Clark, Ryan McIntosh, and Emily Taylor qualified for State Recognition. Students who qualified for Academy are Holly Blair, Seth Clark, and Margaret Lloyd.  Joseph Callaway qualified for Center. 

By: Danielle Watts and Ashton Walther; 7th

Joseph Callaway, Ryan McIntosh, Seth Clark,Emily Taylor, Holly Blair, Margaret Lloyd were chosen
 to be in the Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program) program
Photo By: Sydney Ayers