NBA star Kobe Bryant dies tragically at age of 41 - Freedom ...
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The Student Newspaper of Freedom Area Middle School
Volume 9, Issue 5 The Student Newspaper of Freedom Area Middle School February 2020
NBA star Kobe Bryant dies tragically at
age of 41
two, following her death. Gianna
Logan Bickerstaff was a point guard. She was coached
Grade 8 by her father. Gigi had three sisters.
Social Media Editor She was the second oldest child. Her
Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles other sisters are 17, 3, and 7 months
Lakers all-time star shooting guard, old.
passed away on Jan. 26, 2020. His The people of the world have
personal helicopter crashed in done many different things to
Calabasas, CA, on his way to his tribute to Kobe. Mikey Williams, the
daughter’s basketball practice. His number one player of the class of
daughter Gigi Bryant attended 2023, got a tattoo of the number
school at the Mamba Academy in eight and 24 on his forearm. His
Thousand Oaks, CA. They were team also wore warmup team shirts
22 minutes away from the school with the numbers eight and 24 with
when they crashed. Millions of Bryant on the back, the night of his
people were affected by his death, death. The LA Lakers canceled their
subsequently, the world has paid game the night of Bryant’s death,
their tributes in multiple ways. but their first game back, they put
Bryant walking off the court after
Bryant was an 18-time all-star, Bryant jerseys on the back of each
a 126-117 win against the New
five-time NBA champion, 12-time chair in the stadium.
York Knicks, after he had scored 61
defensive player, four-time all-star James played with Bryant
points.
MVP, two-time scoring champ, and multiple times and they had a
Photo used under Creative
he was the all-rookie for the 1996- very strong friendship. When the
Commons license
1997 season. Bryant was a shooting statements about Bryant’s death
guard and is the fourth leading NBA got started, and he also played with
number eight in Italy. He switched were released James released a
scorer of all time. Lebron James very emotional paragraph on his
had passed him the night before the to 24 because he wore this number
at his high school, Lower Merion. Instagram, with photos of him and
accident. Bryant played 20 seasons Bryant. His death did not just affect
with the Lakers. He wore number Kobe’s daughter, Gianna Maria- these people, it affected the entire
eight for the first ten years of his Onore Bryant, or Gigi, was born on basketball community and thousands
career and switched to 24 for the last May 1, 2006. She was 13 years old of people around the world.
ten. He was number eight because at the time of the crash. Her high
of the 143 Adidas camp, where he school retired her jersey, number
@bulldogbarker www.bulldogbarker.com
2 Bulldog Barker
Freedom students participate in PA
Chapter MathCounts competition
Dylan Scheel
Grade 8
Managing Editor
On Saturday, Feb. 1, the PA
Chapter MathCounts competition
took place at Penn State Beaver.
This event has been going on for
over 20 years. The competition
is a math competition where
students from 6-8 grade showcase
their intellect. This competition is
sponsored by Pennsylvania engineer
Dave McCoulough. More than a
million students countrywide take
part in Math Counts each year. This
year there were six total schools in
the Beaver County competition.
These schools included Freedom,
New Brighton, Saints Peter and
Paul, Beaver, Central Valley, and
Ambridge.
The competition includes
the first round which is the sprint
round, the second round, the target
round and the team round. After
these rounds, the top 10 individual
scorers from the previous rounds
participate in the countdown round
where the students compete head to
head to determine a winner. Then
the top four contestants make it to
the state competition in March. As
well as the top four contestants, the
top-scoring team also advances to
the state competition. This year’s
winner was Beaver.
Freedom team poses in front of MathCounts banner for a picture. (top)
Freedom team prepares to start the competition at Penn State Beaver on
the morning of Feb. 1. (bottom)
Photos by Mrs. McCanna
@bulldogbarker
Freedom Area Middle School 3
Coronavirus causes an uproar putting
the world in fright
Tyler Misencik
Grade 7
Photography Editor
Coronavirus is a respiratory
illness that can have very mild
symptoms to very extreme side-
effects. Coronavirus can be many
strings of different diseases but the
certain strand of coronavirus that is
currently spreading worldwide was
first detected in Wuhan City, China.
Some of the side effects that
the CoronaVirus comes with
include very high fever, cough, and
shortness of breath. Unlike the
flu, CoronaVirus is yet to have a
cure. There have been 53 people
total to be confirmed to have this Christopher Denkovich, seventh grader, practices proper handwashing
CoronaVirus in the U.S. but many techniques inside 5th and 6th grade restroom on Feb. 26, 2020.
cases are still pending. As of Photo by Tyler Misencik
February 20, 2020, there have been
a total of 2,126 deaths due to the well as an immunization shot. but is still being carefully looked
virus but is expected to rise. According to Abc.go.com, into. Many doctors and researchers
“14,000 people have died and are trying to find a cure for the
There have been 53 confirmed
250,000 people have been virus. There are over 80 clinical
Coronavirus cases in the United
hospitalized during the 2019-2020 trials being launched in China to
States including ten in San Francisco
flu season, according to preliminary discover a treatment. Since there
alone. San Francisco has declared
estimates from the CDC.” “More have been around 48,000 cases of
a state of emergency due to
people die from the flu [than the the Coronavirus in China alone, the
Coronavirus and is even canceling
flights as a result of it. CoronaVirus] and more people with county is registering new drugs in
chronic health problems are more their pharmacies and the drugs are
In the U.S., many other
likely to get a virus than your average being tested on hundreds of people.
respiratory illnesses are current such Trials are still running and scientists
healthy person,” stated Bonnie
as the flu. The flu is a contagious are still testing to find the right
Adams, school nurse.
respiratory illness caused by viruses. treatment for the Coronavirus.
It can have very severe side effects Adams says that handwashing,
such as fever, cough, sore throat, not touching your face, and good
runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body hygiene can easily prevent spreading
aches, fatigue ness, diarrhea, and illnesses.
headaches. Unlike the CoronaVirus, As of February 21, 2020, there
there is a treatment for the flu as is no cure for the CoronaVirus
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4 Bulldog Barker
Macbeth scene earns honorable
mention in Shakespeare contest
Elizabeth Mooney,
Grade 5
Writer
The Shakespeare Monologue
and Scene Contest is held every year
at the O’Reilly Theater, which is in
Pittsburgh. This year it’s the 25th
anniversary. Since 110 (Which is
over 1,000 kids.) schools participate,
it lasts for two weeks, and our
school went on Monday for the
second week. The contest is for
fourth to 12th graders. Students
can either perform a scene from
one of Shakespeares’s plays, or a
monologue from one of his plays. Students prepare to perform at the Shakespeare Monologue and Scene
One of the popular ones are scenes contest in the lobby of the O’Reilly Theater on Feb. 10.
from Romeo and Juliet, which is Photo by Mrs. Miller
about two people who fall in love
but can’t be together.
No middle schooler from “I had lots of fun, and I thought or monologues that were from
Freedom has ever made it to the it was a cool experience to do a play Shakespeare, considering some
Showcase of Finalists, though one and hang out with your friends.” says people don’t even know who he is.”
group from middle school made Guandolo. Audrey Mooney states, “ Everyone seemed to have fun,
Honorable Mention this year. The I thought that everyone was focused and I am looking forward to next
group that made it for Honorable and Mrs. Miller did a very good job year, and I am excited to meet new
Mention performed the scene of helping us practise our parts. Overall people, as were Audrey and Lorenzo.
The Three Witches of Macbeth, Act it was a really fun experience and
4, Scene 1, and the kids were Audrey it was as fun as a field trip!” I also
Mooney, Elizabeth Mooney, and enjoyed the trip, and I got to hang
Lorenzo Guandolo, all fifth graders. out with my friends, so basically
Guandolo was witch 1, Audrey was all of us agreed. I especially liked
witch 2, and Elizabeth was witch 3. the fact that we were doing scenes
For additional news, pictures, and more,,
visit our website!!
www.bulldogbarker.com
@bulldogbarker
Freedom Area Middle School 5
Features
Fitness Room benefits students, but is
ready for an update
Lucas Evans,
Grade 5
Writer
The fitness room is located near
the gym. It has exercise equipment
in it but is it too dangerous because
it seems the treadmills are attacking
people. What this means is that
people are falling on the treadmills
and they will rip skin and could
be much worse if kids set speeds
higher than what they are used to.
Some things in the fitness room are
treadmills, Wii, elliptical, total gym The equipment in the fitness room includes treadmills, ellipticals and
pullup, body rowers, dumbbells, and rowers. Photo by Lucas Evans
medicine balls.
them be physical and active, but can treadmill and fell. He then used the
The fitness room has been be dangerous if the students use cord to make his way back up to his
open for ten years and moved it improperly, such as setting the feet.
from different rooms in the past, treadmill at high speeds or fooling “I would still use all of the
according to Mr. Matsook, physical around. equipment in the fitness room
education teacher. The equipment
This is what happened with except the treadmill.” said Burkett.
is about ten years old, but there
Devlin Burkett, fifth grader, when At the end this is a good bit of
are plans to replace it within the
using the treadmill. He was going at information for how the Fitness
next five years. The fitness room
a speed that he wasn’t used to on the Room gives a benefit to all.
benefits all students by helping
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6 Bulldog Barker
Facebook has most users of social media
Chloe Lundy, Grade 5
Writer
This is a chart explaining how
many users each social media app
has currently. These are the top
seven most used social media apps
in the world. Facebook is the most
popular social media app. They own
most of the apps in the social world.
WhatsApp has almost as many
users as Facebook, but is still not as
popular. QQ is kind of like omegle
time, but it is more like messaging
not video chats. The app Omegle
time takes random people and puts
them on one on one video chats to Infographic by Chloe Lundy
meet new people. QQ is a messaging app is different which makes them unique.
app not a video chat app. Each
VSCO: overload or awesome?
Bryson Deal, flasks, and many oversize shirts.”
Grade 6 exclaimed Hayden.
Writer On the other hand, some
people hate VSCO. “ I think
Have you heard of a VSCO
it’s ridiculous because if you try
Girl? Chances are you probably have.
to help the ocean or believe in
VSCOs are taking over! You can’t
climate change everyone thinks
walk down the hallways anymore
that you are a VSCO. They need
without someone dropping a hydro
to stop categorizing!” exclaimed
flask or saying “sksksksksks”.
Helena Buli. Some people also are
You love them, hate them, or are
somewhere in the middle. They
somewhere in the middle.
neither hate it or enjoy it.
VSCO started on the popular
“I am not a VSCO! Sometimes
app TikTok and then went viral.
Ariella Hayden with Hydro Flask they are enthusiastic to the point
A VSCO is someone who enjoys
and Scrunchie demonstrates being where it’s annoying, but sometimes
conserving the Earth by using metal
a VSCO. it’s alright. I am more of a sports
water bottles and straws. They are
Photo by Bryson Deal person and not as girly.” said Brianne
also known for wearing scrunchies, a
Casto.
type of hair tie. VSCO is a very large and it gets annoying.” stated Ariella
trend that has been going on for Hayden. “ I consider myself a There are many different
quite awhile. VSCO because I have 50 scrunchies, opinions about VSCO at our school.
17 metal straws, a variety of hydro So what is your opinion?
“The hate can be too much
@bulldogbarker
Freedom Area Middle School 7
Eighth grade sonnet winners
When I Played Ball Me and the Boys
Jaden Winterhalter Dylan Scheel , Tyler Glass
Cody Patterson Chase Grable
Grade 8 Grade 8
I wanted to get to the hall Me and the boys
But I was always getting booed We love each other
Even with these new shoes I stick with him cause that’s my brother
These guys were all like brick walls We play 2k and make that noise
I could only shoot twos We never ever play with toys
I was always getting bruised We always hang out with each other
When I played ball I hang with the boys instead of my lover
Now I was hitting threes Me and the boys
I’m cleaning up all my dirt We always wanna hang with a bro
now I was hitting all greens I hang with Timmy Joe and Chad
For Once nothing hurt When they ask I never say no
But now I only heard screams My favorite is Bobby he’s my dad
An everyone was getting burnt When we are done with 2k we play MLB the Show
I dawg in 2k cause they are bad
Scary Brothers Bowling
Ashley Swab, Madison Shiring Brenna McIlvain, Maddy Meyer
Blake Neely, Imani Knighton Logan Bickerstaff
Grade 8 Grade 8
My older brother be pretty scary Baden Bowl is the place to go.
They come out at night Knock down the pins.
And give me a fright The highest score wins.
It’s not my fault they look like a berry We even go when there’s snow.
Their stomach can be very hairy Even though the lanes may blow.
Sometimes im afraid they might bite Brenna will beat all yinz.
Because clearly they are not very bright Nobody can compete, not even Linz.
All night they scare me because they look like bloody We love the owner Joe.
mary
They think they can rap The food there isn’t yummy.
But they look like a rat The ball hits the pins with a loud bang.
And their songs sound like crap It may hurt your tummy.
Sometimes i jus want to hit them with a bat You know you can’t hang.
They need to go back to the zoo in their natural Don’t be a dummy.
habitat We are the Freedom bowling gang!
I swear they are the biggest brat
www.bulldogbarker.com
8 Bulldog Barker
Sports
Girls Volleyball starts new season
Sara Harp,
Grade 7
Writer
The seventh and eighth grade
girls’ volleyball season started on
Jan. 27 with their first practice, and
the first match was on Feb. 3. This
year the eighth grade team has a new
coach, Mr. George Bellinger. He is
also the high school volleyball team’s
coach. The seventh grade coach is
Ms. Dawn Patosky, the ninth and
tenth-grade biology teacher.
Patosky has been coaching for
a total of five years and hopes for
the team to “come together as a Eighth grade volleyball team warms up before their game.
cohesive force to work together Photo courtesy of FMS Yearbook Staff
against the opponent, and expects from my usual sports.” said winning more.”, and, “My sister
everyone to work together, be a Guandolo, which are soccer, played and I really liked watching her
positive influence, and improve.” basketball, and track. so I thought it would be fun to play.”
Bellinger has been coaching “Get better at it, and chant on So far the season is going OK,
for 30 years and says, “What I bus rides to away games.” Lisanti the junior varsity’s record is 3-6, and
want is for players to learn the said when asked what she is excited the varsity’s record is 1-6.
skills they need to be successful for, she also said she wants to play
as a high schooler.” When asked because “My sister plays and it looks
why he started coaching volleyball, like fun.”
Bellinger said, “ I played volleyball
and walleyball in college and really Morgan Keller and Jenna Haskey
enjoyed it, I thought it would be fun are both playing for their second
to coach. year and are in eighth grade. Keller
is excited for, “ Playing with the
Gianna Guandolo and Sarah seventh graders and getting to be the
Lisanti, both seventh grade, are new big kids now.” She decided to start
to the volleyball team. Guandolo playing because, “I thought it would
says she was most excited to play be fun, I had never played before,
Keystone Oaks. and I really liked it.”
“It is a good change of pace Haskey says, “ I am excited for
@bulldogbarker
Freedom Area Middle School 9
Freedom Voices
Is Valentine’s Day necessary?
Why Valentine’s Day is Why we should keep
an unnecessary holiday Valentine’s Day
Sara Harp, Christopher
Grade 7 Denkovich, Grade 7
Writer Features Editor
Valentine’s Day is the Valentine’s Day is by far
least important holiday on the one of the most important days
calendar. Yes, it is sweet to buy on the calendar. Valentine’s
chocolates and stuffed animals Day is a great way for couples
for your significant other, but new and old to share their
you also have an anniversary appreciation of one another.
which is much more special On Valentine’s Day it is
to you and your partner. Valentine’s Day is a day of customary to buy your significant other a gift such as
pressure for young or new couples, and that does not a stuffed animal, flowers, or chocolates but sometimes
need to be a holiday. If you really love someone, you making a gift can be just as or more special than a store-
don’t need one specific day to celebrate them, you bought gift. Valentine’s Day is a special day because it
should celebrate them every day of the year. is one day a year that is specifically devoted to showing
Because Valentine’s Day is in winter, we cannot grow how much you care about your partner.
flowers in many places in America. This means that we Valentines Day was originally called the Lupercalia
import them from South America. The number of cargo festival, The festival was celebrated in the middle of
jets coming to Miami from Colombia and Ecuador in February. During the festival, they would have a lottery
the month before Valentine’s Day keeps rising until pulled at random that decides who they would get the
there are hundreds of flights weekly. Because of the right to marry. At the end of the 5th century, Pope
abundance of cargo flights, Valentine’s Day leaves a Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day.
huge carbon footprint on the U.S. The amount of plastic St. Valentine was a Roman priest and physician who was
used for wrapping candies and bouquets also adds on killed for announcing his religious beliefs during the
top of that footprint. persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II
Valentine’s Day is killing the earth and it is useless. Gothicus. Valentine’s Day has been important to society
since the 14th century and is a holiday we will celebrate
for centuries to come.
www.bulldogbarker.com
10 Bulldog Barker
Students switching Rec Time classes
causes problems
Lorenzo Guandolo this period.
Grade 5 “I like being able to get to know
Photography Editor the students on another level, but
with thirty kids in a room, it gets
At the start of the second nine
hard to get library stuff done.” said
weeks, kids in fifth and sixth grade
Heiman, librarian and one of the
switched their fourth period teacher,
Rec Time teachers. Heiman said that
for a period known as Rec Time. Rec
she thinks Rec Time is good because
Time is a period where kids can get
it allows kids to let off some steam,
their extra work done, or have recess.
but when everyone is outside, kids
In this period the things you can do
get fired up and cause problems.
can vary from class to class. One
of the similarities is that when it is This problem can happen inside
above thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit, too, mainly in Matsook’s class. Kids
the class has the option to go are allowed to run and play gym
outside. This lowers the chances of games in Matsook’s fourth period.
getting work done during Rec Time Because of this, some kids who got
fourth period, but you could just get randomly selected into this class
that work done ninth period during (who do not like this type of energy)
academic support. But for example, This is a photo of the fifth and sixth would like to switch. But, on the
in Ms. Heiman’s class, kids have the grade schedule. A ninth period other hand, kids who got into other
option to play on computers or build was added to include the Rec Time classes may have thought a class was
with K’nex, where in Mr. Matsook’s period for fifth and sixth grade this one way, but ended up not being
class, you can play gym games. year. how they thought. Which causes a
Photo by Lorenzo V. Guandolo cycle of kids who want to switch
“We knew there would be
in their current Rec Time. This bigger and bigger.
some problems, but we are trying
to solve them. But we cannot do switching took place at the end of A solution to this problem
anything about the kids who want the second nine weeks when all the could possibly be having an option
to switch because we need to always fifth and sixth graders choose who to switch again at the end of this
know where they are,” said Mr. they want to switch to. However, a nine weeks. Let’s just hope that this
Smith, middle school principal. “We lot of kids switched their Rec Time problem gets solved sooner or later.
looked at our previous schedule and teacher and ended up not liking who
wondered how we could improve. they chose, and wanted to switch
So we added the extra period to back. This is a problem because
maximize productivity.” some people have been wanting to
There is a lot of variety when switch back to a Rec Time with too
it comes to stuff to do during Rec many people in it already.
Time. This is why some kids wanted The teachers that have Rec Time
to switch their Rec Time teacher, are Ms. Heiman, Mr. Matsook, Mrs.
either to be with their friends or Smithmyer, Mrs. Malarik and Mr.
to do something they don’t have Gregg. Mrs. Newman also teaches
fifth and sixth grade chorus during
@bulldogbarkerFreedom Area Middle School 11
School dances are losing popularity
Helena Buli the popularity of dances even more.
Grade 6 “I usually have hockey, so I don’t
Writer go to dances. If they had a better
music system, and if the dances
School dances have been
were better advertised more students
occurring for a long time, and
would show up. I’ve seen students
aren’t that popular, judging from
show what they’re doing at school
the number of students that go
dances on TikTok, and it’s mostly
to dances and how many students
socializing.” Chloe Lundy, fifth
we have in our middle school.
grade, states.
Social media has been affecting the
popularity of school dances for the Another fifth grade student,
last few years. Elizabeth Harmon, adds “I think
how much students enjoy the
“School dances need more
school dances depends on how
incentives for students to go to
they act. I believe students who act
them,” commented Mr. Smith,
Annie Martin, sixth grader, poses in inappropriately in school should
middle school principal. “Most times
front of the gymnasium bleachers. not be allowed to school dances.
our school dances don’t receive
She is alone to represent how many More rules and supervision would
much advertisement except for a few
people don’t go to school dances. make the school dances better, even
posters in the hallways. If they had
Photo by Helena Buli though I think a decent amount of
more advertisements, especially on
people show up to them already.”
social media, school dances would the expectations to lower, and those
have a chance to be revived.” wanting a formal dance stopped Some students believe that
showing up. Anyone else who didn’t the school dances are okay as it is
Another problem with school
care as much about the more casual and others believe there is a lot of
dances is the expectations of how
dances felt less inclined to go to room to improve. Hopefully one
to dress. Those less fortunate may
them because of how many people day school dances will be popular
not be able to show up in a suit and
stopped going, and that dwindled once again, and every student enjoys
tie or a formal dress. This caused
them!
District Band
Congratulations to the following
students who were selected to
participate in the Junior High
District Band at Mercer High School
on April 7.
Josie Brenckle
Jesse Reinhardt
Hailey Stinar
www.bulldogbarker.comFMS Bulldog Barker 12
Freedom Funnies
Original Artwork Submitted by
Lucas Evans, Grade 5 Freedom Area Middle School
1702 School Street
Freedom, PA 15042
724-775-7641
Bulldog Barker Staff
Alexa Davis Lilly Burgess
Editor-in-Chief Sara Harp
Alexa Hudak
Christopher Samantha Young
Denkovich 7th/8th Grade
Features Editor Writers
Tyler Misencik
Helena Buli
Photography Editor
Bryson Deal
Dylan Scheel Katelyn Clawson
Managing Editor Lucas Evans
Lorenzo Guandolo
Logan Larrick Chloe Lundy
Dylan Scheel Nicholas Metzger
Website Editors Audrey Mooney
Elizabeth Mooney
Pogue Regan Olivia VanDeCar
Copy Editor 5th/6th Grade
Writers
Logan Bickerstaff
Social Media Editor
Mrs. Miller
Faculty Adviser
Pogue Regan
Maddie Richards
Layout Editors
Bulldog Barker is the student news publication
of Freedom Area Middle School.
The opinions expressed in this publication are
Submit your artwork!
the sole opinions of the student writers and
do not reflect the views of the faculty, staff or
administration of the Freedom Area School
The Bulldog Barker accepts submissions of District. All Freedom Area Middle School
original artwork to be published in our Freedom students are invited to submit content to the
Funnies. Artwork must include the artist’s name Bulldog Barker for publication at the discretion
of the editorial staff and adviser.
and grade. Pen and ink is preferred but all forms Issues are published monthly at the end of each
of artwork are accepted. month.
To submit questions or comments,
Email your art to bulldogbarker@freedomarea.org please email bulldogbarker@freedomarea.org.
or turn it in to room D105 - Mrs. Miller’s room.
@bulldogbarker www.bulldogbarker.comYou can also read
