December 2023
Welcome to the Clark Cubs Connection!
Welcome! Here at the Cubs Connection we strive for entertaining and informative articles for each and every Clark Cub. Our reporters and photographers work very hard to bring you articles monthly. We hope you enjoy our monthly articles below!
From editors, Gage Maxwell and Lucy Anderson
What is the Right Time to put up a Christmas Tree?
By: Harlow Champion, Reporter and Abby Mathe, Photographer
Writers Opinion:
Abby think’s that you should put a Christmas tree up during Thanksgiving.
Harlow thinks you should put up a Christmas tree during Thanksgiving also.
Since we both agreed with Thanksgiving Break, we interviewed some other people
Mrs. Kasprek:
Mrs. Kasprek thinks that you should put up a Christmas tree after Halloween because Christmas is her favorite holiday.
Mr. Shields
Mr. Shields thinks you should set up a Christmas tree during Thanksgiving break so you don’t skip any other holiday.
Coach Perry:
Coach Perry thinks you should put up a Christmas tree right after Halloween. He said, and I quote, “I’m a little weird.”
Mrs. Gibbs:
Mrs. Gibbs thinks you should put up a Christmas tree during Thanksgiving break because you have more than a month to have your tree up.
In conclusion, during Thanksgiving break is the best time to put up your Christmas tree. 4 out of 6 people agreed.
How Different People Celebrate the Holidays
By: Evelyn McIver, Reporter
Some people celebrate by having a Christmas feast. Elen, a fifth grader at Clark says “ Christmas isn't Christmas without cranberry sauce!” Other people say that watching Christmas movies and baking cookies are amazing too. So what is the best part of Christmas? How do you celebrate it? Let's ask Clark!
Some people argue that opening presents and buying them for each other are the best way to celebrate the holidays. Their argument is: A present can be anything from a song or poem or a lulu lemon gift card. The point is it shows you care.
Another thing people love to do around the holidays is go out of town. If you're like them you would love to go to your grandma's house and decorate cookies, listen to Christmas music, or have your grandparent read to you by the fire. Even if you don’t have grandparents, going out of town could still be fun! I mean who doesn't like a trip to Disneyland for Christmas break?
Finally some people do weird things you may not have heard of but they are traditions at that. Mckenzie (MK) Taver says she just stares at her brother and shakes him till he wakes up. She says when she wakes up it's time to open presents! Whereas Caybree Herbert isn't that gentle. Instead of shaking her parents she literally jumps on them! After they are awake they open presents and watch movies like it was all totally normal!
What is your opinion on the best way to celebrate? Mine is probably all of the things I listed! Have a happy Holidays!
What Month Should You Put Up Your Christmas Tree?
By: Leighton Jordan, Reporter
A big debate is when should you put up a Christmas tree. A lot of people have different opinions on it. Let's see what Clark thinks!
After walking around the school asking a lot of people I got many different answers! Majority said November or early December. Some said October or even earlier! Few people didn’t specify. Like Mrs. Jordan said after Thanksgiving when the turkey wears off! What do you think?
I also asked a follow up question of when you should take it down. Many people said late December or January. People even said later than that! But something strange is that people said never!
The real question is, how do you put up a Christmas tree if you never take it down? What do you think?
Pets of Clark, Holiday Edition!
By: Ivy Winn, Reporter and Molly Hamilton, Reporter
MILO the CRAZY cat
Milo, Milo, Milo. Milo is an interesting cat. Milo likes to walk under the sink and then let the water run down his back. Isn’t that crazy!!! He must have been feeling purr-plexed. Milo also likes to eat the wire cords. Ethan Taylor actually said that at one point Milo chewed through his charger for his watch. Let's just hope he doesn't get electro-cuted.(even though he already is so cute.) Milo is the definition of a fatty Mcfatty. The doctor said that on the fat scale, he ranked very high!! In Fact Milo’s owners call him a fat batt cat!!! Milo is always clawing things and when it comes to wet food he starts acting crazy. Milo sure is interesting but is definitely loved.
Dog, Pig, Stinky
Alexia Klinker sure has a crazy dog. Cricket is a 6 month old Boston terrier, and I’m paws-itively sure Cricket is nuts, but I’ll let you be the judge of that. Cricket is always rolling around like a pig and farting. He also likes to jump on the other dog in the family Bella’s back and then roll off. Cricket must be having a ruff-day because he gets very aggressive and will do a double bark combination if someone tries to take his bone from him. Cricket also gets car sick very easily and will end up puking everywhere. Cricket definitely won’t be fur-gotten!
Striker the Snake
Striker is a lesser ball python. Striker is 2 years old and his birthday is July 14. He is about 1 and a half feet long! He eats once a week and usually has frozen mice. Striker has a water bowl and when he starts drinking it his whole head goes in the water so he ends up blowing bubbles. He likes to play outside and lays there in the sun, he also likes to spin around in circles. Striker loves new people and will lay on their neck, or lick their ear. He likes to take baths, and when he is done, he will wrap up in a towel. Strikers favorite color is green and black. Teagan McCarthy said that she tested that using rubber bands.
Penelope the Puppy
Penelope is a tiny little puppy who enjoys causing lots of mayhem. Penelope likes to eat her brother Furgie’s (he’s a dog) poop!!! Penelope deserves a round of a-paws because she has eaten two whole sticks of butter!!! Isn’t that crazy!?! Penelope is also an escape artist and is always trying to escape whenever she has the chance. Craziness must run in the family because her brother Furgie thinks that he is a snapping turtle. Penelope sure is special.
Slate
Slate is a Greyhuahua (part chihuahua and part Italian Greyhound).He turned 9 yrs old on Dec 10. He was rescued from an Animal shelter in Tomball when he was only 1 ½ years old. Then he discovered THE BLANKET. One of his favorite things to do is wait for his owners to lay out a blanket so he can just lay down on it. Another of his favorite things to do is ride in cars and boats.
People Around Clark's Favorite Christmas Song
By: Camila Baker, Reporter
Sienna’s favorite Christmas song is I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey!
Reagan’s favorite Christmas song is her choir song Holiday Road!
Lilia’s favorite Christmas song is All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey!
Brenden’s favorite Christmas song is You’re a Mean one Mr. Grinch.
Ella’s favorite Christmas song is All I Want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey!
Joelle’s favorite Christmas song is Jingle Bells!
Fabia’s favorite Christmas song is Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas tree!
Lealia’s favorite Christmas song is Rocking Around the Christmas Tree!
Madison’s favorite Christmas song is Jingle Bells!
Fernanda’s favorite Christmas song is Last Christmas I Gave you my Heart!
Melia’s favorite Christmas song is Jingle bells!
Olivia’s favorite Christmas song is Silent night!
Caroline’s favorite Christmas song is Run run Rudolph!
Kyndall V’s favorite Christmas song is What Beautiful Night!
Christmas Poem
By: Evelyn Mciver, Reporter
Candy canes, gingerbread, sugar cookies on the floor
Christmas time is here, it's not Thanksgiving anymore
Hot chocolate by the fireplace
While we carol amazing grace
Hopefully we,ve been good
cause Santa’s already in hollywood
My snowman smiles at me through the window
As he sits by the willow
Merry christmas to all I hear a voice say
I know saint Nick is on his way
I hurry fast up to my room
dreams fill my head as I drift
Sleep at last catches up to me
Ho ho ho…. I hear out my window
I dream about santa and a white winter snow
Christmas eve was such a blast
But tomorrow Christmas will bring a bigger splash!
Meanings of Christmas Songs
By: Delyse Hunter, Reporter
Christmas is a very appreciated holiday. The presents, food, and ambience. By ambience I mean the music. Music may not be an essential for Christmas, but songs really lighten the mood and it definitely lifts the Christmas spirit. And almost every Christmas song is a nice upbeat or slow song, but whenever you listen to the song do you ever think about what it might mean?
One song that has an interesting meaning is “I’ll be Home for Christmas” by the Rascal Flatts. “I’ll be Home for Christmas” was released in 2008 and since then there have been many remakes, but the original one was made by Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra on Decca which was released in 1943. The song “I’ll be Home for Christmas” is sung from the point of view of a soldier stationed overseas in World War ll, writing a letter to his family. In the message of the song, he tells his family he will be coming home and to prepare the holiday for him, and requests snow, mistletoe, and presents under the tree. The song ends on a melancholy note, with the soldier saying, "I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.” The song has a deep meaning but a wholesome one. There are many Christmas songs that have a lot of meanings to them and this is just one. Maybe you can research some songs and now you can finally enjoy the Christmas songs with the key meaning behind it.
Christmas Trees Around Clark
By: Echo Korab, Photographer and Milena Spitsyna, Photographer
Here at Clark we have some very decorative and unique Christmas trees. Let's take a look!
School Entrance Tree
School Library Tree
Mrs. Houge's Tree
Mrs. Alford and Mrs. Carter's Tree
Mrs. Potter's Tree
Mr. Winchester's Tree
Mrs. Doctoroff’s Tree
Mrs. Pope’s Tree
Mr. Norwood’s Tree
How Are Christmas Trees Grown?
By: Lucas Marsan, Reporter
We start a year before the beautiful trees are born. The air and water quality have to be just right, and all of the very bad weeds need to be plucked and pulled out of the soil. On top of all of that, not a single pest can take a step on the land that the trees will grow on. The tree growers need to make sure that these conditions are right for years before the trees’ lives. The fall before the trees are grown, grass is planted. The next spring, it’ll be time for the trees to grow.
Now that the environment is just right for the trees, they can be grown. A sapling is planted, and it’ll be fully grown in 6-8 years. While the trees are growing, they’ll go through a process called shearing. When the trees grow to about three feet tall, a long, sharp knife is used to help the trees grow into that iconic Christmas tree shape. This process will be repeated throughout the trees’ lives until they’re ready to be harvested and sold.
By: Aria Stronks, Reporter and Nikhil Siva, Reporter
This month for Humans of Clark we interviewed Mrs. Myer and Mrs. Mason. We asked them about their job and what they think of Clark. These are the responses:
Mrs. Meyer:
Q: What do you do here at Clark?
A: I am the secretary, and kind of like the assistant principals ‘people’. I help with the staff, I help with field trips, I deal with money, I check people in and out of the building, and I also help students.”
Q: What is your favorite day at Clark?
A: House Sorting Day
Q: Are there any negatives about your job?
A: No negatives!
Mrs. Mason:
Q: What do you do here at Clark?
A: I do behind the scenes work, I’m the head of hospitality, I supply the classrooms, and I deal with the money.
Q: What is your favorite day at Clark?
A: The last day of school (Nik agrees)
Q: Are there any negatives about your job?
A: I do not get to spend as much time with the kids
Q:What is your favorite time of the day?
A:Lunch duty because I like spending time with 5th graders
As you can see, Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Mason are really important in running Clark.
Favorite Holidays Poll
By: Aria Stronks, Reporter and Nikhil Siva, Reporter
We went around the school and interviewed about 50 students and teachers around the school. We asked them what their favorite holiday was out of Christmas, Halloween, Easter and Thanksgiving.
We had three Halloween, one Thanksgiving, two Easter, and of course, the majority vote was Christmas. Mr. Norwood said all of them, so that adds another point to each. One very important vote was Mr. Shields who voted for Christmas. Christmas wins!
Birnham Woods Teachers
By: Eli Allison, Reporter
Our first teacher we will talk about is Mrs. Turner: The first thing is her reason why she left Birnham Woods is because she wanted to be with more responsible older kids. She likes the house system and not a lot of traffic, and she is not planning on leaving Clark any time soon. The next person is Mrs. Meyer the reason why she left is because Clark offered to move her up while also giving more money. She also likes Clark more because she gets to watch little kids she knows grow up over time, and she is not leaving even if she got a better offer.