newspaper again at SVMS is a great chance to have students showcase their writing, and have it published, she said.

We are proud to announce the return of the Seneca Valley Middle School Newspaper, The Seneca Chief! First published when our school opened in 1971, students wore bell bot- toms and shirts with polka dots. The school was buzzing with 7^th, 8^th, and even 9^th graders. When the school opened, it was decided that they were going to publish a school newspaper. Mrs. Jo Lower, a reading teach- er at the time, was the first advi- sor for the newspaper. The newspaper had a large staff of about 30 students, but they still faced a large problem: what was going to be the paper’s name? The entire middle school voted upon a name, and The Seneca Chief was born.

Over the years, about 10 advi- sors have led the newspaper in-

to greatness. In fact, the news- paper won several Keystone Awards (think gold medals) over the years. Being an advi- sor wasn’t exactly simple, ei- ther. Between teachers having to deal with family and teach- ing assignments, the paper was left without an advisor. Now, after six years, it’s back on the map and ready to go. Our beloved librarian, Ms. Ennis, was kind enough to give us the amazing history of the newspaper. Being a for- mer student reporter as a stu- dent and later the co-advisor of The Seneca Chief, she was able to give us some great in- formation. “Publishing a newspaper again at SVMS is a great chance to have students showcase their writing, and have it published”, she said. All of you great writers out there should feel free to join the Newspaper Club. The new student staff is eager to please

THE SENECA CHIEF

Blast from the Past: The Seneca Chief Returns

By: Krist Munoz

T h e O f f i c i a l N e w s p a p e r o f S V M S

our SVMS readers with news, features, and other interesting items. Photogra- phers and editors may also join.

STEM Fems: Mission

Makeup ³

Annie: An Inside Look 3-4

After School Activities: It’s Not Too Late to Join

5

Huddle Up: With Mrs. Lizewski

5

Out With the Old, In With the PINK®

6

Reviews 7

Another Nightmare Bryce Advice

8 10 Inside this issue: Find us on the web!

Follow these easy steps: 1. Go to www.svsd.net 2. Select the 7/8 Middle

School

3. Click The Seneca Chief link under headlines

Page 2

Vote SVMS: Show

your Support for the

Expressive

Arts Pro-

gram!

The Seneca Valley Middle School has been Selected as one of 30 finalists for NBC’s ‘SMASH’ Make a Musical! If we win, our district will be awarded a $3,000 gift card from Low- e’s. Imagine how much that would help our Expressive Arts Program! So, you ask, how do we win? You have to vote! You can vote once a day! All votes must be re- ceived before 5 p.m. on Wednes-

day, April 10.

Scan the QR code or follow t h e s e e a s y steps:

1. Go to makeamusical.org 2. Click on ‘Time to Vote’ 3. Scroll down to find Sene-

ca Valley Middle School and vote

Look for The Seneca Chief boxes around the school to submit items to be published in our next edition! See page 9 for more details!

What do you think of BYOT?

“I think BYOT is awe- some because it ena- bles us to use our own electronics!” -Reed Kuntz

“I think BYOT is good be- cause it combines fun and technology with learning!”

-Shannon Romano

STEM Fems: Mis-

sion

Makeup

By Carley Wei- gel

On February

13, eighty

SVMS girls who partici-

pated in STEM were

learning the science of

make-up. They learned

how to apply make-up

and how to make lip

gloss, masks and scrubs.

STEM stands for Science,

Technology, Engineering,

and Medicine. This

group started in Decem-

ber, and according to the

website, “provides hands-

on, minds-on after-school

activities and guest

speakers to introduce

girls to STEM and STEM

careers.” Read more at

Seventh and eighth grade

girls met Jen Albertini, a

local independent con-

sultant from Mary Kay

Cosmetics. She taught

them how to exfoliate

their lips. They prepared

different lip glosses,

scented stones, and face

scrubs. Every girl went

home with a bright pink

STEM T-shirt, make-up

tips, and the recipes of

everything they had

made. The next STEM

meeting is March 27 af-

ter school for girls only.

Recipe: To make your

own chocolate lip gloss,

follow these steps. You

need 2 teaspoons of pe-

troleum jelly, 1/8 tea-

spoon of honey, 1/8 tea-

spoon of vegetable

shortening, and 4 choco-

late chips. You also

need some measuring

spoons, a small bowl, a

spoon, a hot plate, and a

small container with a

lid. What you do is mix

the 2 teaspoons of petro-

leum jelly, the 1/8 t hon-

ey, the 1/8 t vegetable

shortening, and the 4

chocolate chips together

in the small bowl with

the spoon. Melt the in-

gredients on the hot

plate stirring constantly

with the spoon. Next,

Annie: An Inside

Look

By: Arushi Subba

Every

year the

Seneca

Valley

High

School

puts on a fantastic

musical. The musical

features acting, danc-

ing, and singing. An-

nie, the musical cho-

sen this year, was a

fun family feature.

The make-up was fan-

tastic and the cos-

tumes were exquisite.

I had the opportunity

to interview one of the

cast members, Siona

Sharma.

Q: What was it like

to audition?

A: I was nervous at

pour the mixture in-

to a small container.

Lastly, let it cool.

Your lip gloss is

ready to use!

Photo Contest:

Want to show off your photography skills? This is your chance! Enter your photo in The Seneca Chief April Photography Challenge!

The winner will be featured in the next issue of The Seneca Chief!!!!

Drop off your photo in The Seneca Chief box near room 242 (Art Wing), or outside of the cafeteria.

All submissions must be re- ceived by Friday, April 5th.

first but everyone made

me feel comfortable

when we were about to

try out. I had to sing part

of a song, act out a few

lines, and learn a small

dance. We performed

this for the judges.

Q: What is your favor-

ite part of the musi-

cal?

A: My favorite part

would have to be the end

of the musical during

“New Deal for Christ-

mas.” Everyone is on

stage singing, dancing,

passing presents, and

having a good time. It’s a

fun way to wrap up the

show!

Q: What’s your role in

the musical?

A: I am one of the five

high school orphans in

the musical

Q: What are practices

like?

A: Rehearsal is a lot of

commitment, but it’s so

much fun! At first it’s

pretty casual, you just

get know people. The

weeks before the show, it

gets to be a good time!

When you aren’t re-

hearsing, you have lots

of time to mingle and

enjoy yourself with eve-

ryone!

Q: Would you recom-

mend this experience

to upcoming high

school students?

A: Yes, I would. People

may think of it as a

waste of time, but in the

end, no one has regrets.

Even if acting isn’t your

thing, There are many

other jobs you could do.

You could join the stage

crew, the loft band, or

other crews that contrib-

ute to making the musi-

cal what it is. At the end

of it all, we’re family. It

is an experience no one

should be deprived of.

Artwork by: Sean M.

Artwork by: Alec B. Artwork by: Mitchell B. Page 4

After School Activities: It’s

Not Too Late to Join!

By: Joe Demeis

The two types of

extra-curricular ac-

tivities offered at

SVMS are sports

and clubs. Spring

sports have already

started, but you

can still join an afterschool activity!

If you’re curious about a sport or

club, check the complete list at

visit the office for a flyer. The link

for more details about athletic

teams and forms to join is found at

UPCOMING HOME EVENTS

FOR SVMS SPRING SPORTS

3/27 Girls’ MS Volleyball

3/27 Girls’ Softball at Zelienople

Park

3/28 Boys’ Volleyball

HUDDLE UP: With Mrs.

Lizewski

By:Joe Demeis

Q

:What do you coach?

A:Track and field.

Q:Why do you like this sport?

A:As a teenager, I was a member of

the Seneca Valley Track and Field

team. The love of fitness has stayed

with me, and I enjoy sharing my en-

thusiasm.

Q:What are your hopes for the

season?

A:My hopes for the season include

having the kids improve in their abil-

ity and their understanding of the

sport. Also, as a team, I would like to

see us continue to grow the program-

not so much in numbers (we have

great numbers)-more in level of com-

petiveness.

Q:Why do we, students, want to

participate in your sport?

A:We provide students with an excit-

ing and lively atmosphere while

teaching them the discipline neces-

sary to being a strong athlete and in-

dividual.

Track and Field members practice sprinting after school

Meet Deuce Alvino- Deemer. Deuce is the be- loved dog of Mrs. Alvino- Deemer.

 Favorite treats: any- thing that tastes like peanut butter

 Has been attacked by a porcupine

Teacher’s Pet

Do you need a cool back- pack? Well, you are just in time for the semester’s hottest trend! At the beginning of the school year, PINK® backpacks came in with a bang. No matter what grade you are in or what team you are on, it is guaranteed that you will spot one of these bags in the hallway. Coming in a wide variety of colors, you rarely see the same back- pack twice: neon, stripes, glitter, animal prints – so many choices! No need to worry about being able to fit all of your things in a tiny bag either because PINK® bags are not only stylish, but they are prac- tical, too! These bags are the perfect size for text- books and binders. They also have small pockets to keep your phone and mon- ey safe. It doesn’t matter what your style is; you will be able to find a PINK backpack that is perfect for you! The price of these

bad boys can be discourag- ing, but if you save your money, you can get this trending bag. You better say goodbye to your cur- rent backpack because PINK® book bags are here to stay!

Out with the Old, In with the PINK®

By: Maggie Holl

Comic

By: Carley Weigel

Page 6

Learning new words is never a waste of time! The SVMS Word of the Week is dedicated to introducing new terms that are commonly found on the SATs. Make it a point to use our featured words correctly and increase your vocabulary.

a c e r b i t y - n . sharpness in speech or manner.

Capitol, the sorrowful dis- tricts, and the thrilling Hunger Games.

So why wait? Go to the SVMS library today and get your copy!

I give this book five chiefs! In the Hunger Games

trilogy, author Suzanne Collins has created an ex- hilarating world of danger, death, and secrets. This first book, and the entire trilogy, keeps your mind fly- ing and has you reading many pages of spine- tingling twists and turns. Stay on the edge of your seat as you read about the reaping, Katniss’ stay in the

Capitol, and her adventures in the arena.

As you venture through the life of sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, you will be rolling in a sea of emo- tions. You will want to cry and laugh as you bury your- self in this book. Cover-to- cover, Collins spins an amazing tale of the society of Panem, the breathtaking Being a true fan of the Die

Hard series of movies, I was excited to find out that a fifth movie was being made. The main character, John McLane, (Bruce Willis), goes to Moscow to save his CIA agent son from Russian gangsters who intend on assassinating Russia’s De- fense Minister.

Now, granted this is an action movie, I will say it’s no- where near realistic. The plot was decent, but it was filled with cheesy lines and cliché moments. In the end though, what could a die-hard (no pun intended) movie fan like me expect?

In my opinion, the charac- ter of John McLane wasn’t presented well in this movie. He wasn’t witty, he didn’t have many good lines; he was-

n’t the John McLane from previous Die Hard movies. His son, Jack McLane, was a good charac- ter; he was more of a do-things-by-the- book kind of guy, w h e r e a s J o h n McLane just wanted to go in and shoot

everyone, hoping that he did not get shot first.

Overall, A Good Day to Die Hard was an ok action movie, but not a good Die Hard movie. It could have been better, but it was still an enjoyable film.

A Good Day to Die Hard Movie Review

By: Tommy Conroy

The Hunger Games Book Review

By: Sofia Salgado

I give this movie two chiefs!

Artwork By: Cassie Sprung

Artwork By: Ryan Ross

Artwork By: Matthew Ehret

Another Nightmare

By: Sydney Long Page 8

The girl shrieked at the sight in front of her. Hands shaking, she brought them up to her pale, clammy neck. She gulped as the beast began to approach. She ran, fleeing from the creature behind her.

The walls of the ancient house, with its peeling wallpaper reach-

ing out, seemed to herd the girl deeper into the maze of halls. She

bumped into a tall figure as she rounded another corner. Her heart pound- ed a frantic rhythm in her chest. The person scooped her up in its arms. The light in this place was horrible at best, so the mysterious person who carried her was masked in darkness. Still, this stranger was her savior.

A strange feeling

of doubt poisoned her thoughts, but was quickly forgotten. A scream lodged itself in her throat as her rescuer crashed through a window. The arms tightened around her. The leap of her sav- ior was brought to a halt by the ground below.

They practically flew across the field of a yard in front of the decrepit mansion. Dead plants crunched under the large feet of the he- roic stranger. The moonlight revealed that the person carrying her was a man disguised by a mask. His crimson eyes glistened with determi- nation. A shiver ran down her spine as their pursuer let out an eerie cry. She clenched her eyes shut as she and the man stumbled into the forest at the end of the field. Branches whipped her face, cutting her skin and letting loose ver- million blood.

Her hands covered her face in an at-

tempt to shelter it, but now red flowed from the flesh of her hands.

Suddenly, she was launched from her savior’s arms. With a thump, she landed in the backseat of a dark car. He slid in beside her and slammed the door shut. Apparently, that was the cue for the driver to floor it and race off on the gravel road, away from the crippled old

house. The girl wailed as she was thrown against the door, her head hitting the hard metal surface. The monster let out another blood-curdling howl behind them.

The cold grip of fear wrapped its icy fingers around her chest, leaving her gasping for air. A warm sensation fought through the terror. The girl looked up to find the man’s hand on her shoulder. He was staring at her with his disturbing eyes. She

reached up to touch his mask, the metal frigid beneath her fingertips; cold like fear.

Once again, she was terrified. The girl tore her hand away from her masked “hero.” The man who saved her reached for his mask. He unbuckled the straps that held it to his face. It fell away, revealing his features. The mon- ster forgotten, the girl shrieked.

She woke with a jacket wrapped around her. The familiar padded walls of her room com- forted the girl and slowed her heavy breathing. The usual lady in blue came in the check on her. As always, there was no sound that

reached her. She shivered at the memory of the beast’s wild call.

It was just another dream… Just anoth- er nightmare….

Illustration by: Julia Milo

SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING TO BE PUBLISHED:

Short story- typed, 175-250 words

Photographs

Original Poems

Original Artwork

Original Comics

It’s simple to submit your work! Just follow these

easy steps:

1. Pick up a your page. Submission form from room 242 during home-

room or print this and use the one at the bottom of the page.

2. Fill the form out COMPLETELY.

3. Staple/paperclip a copy of your work to the form.

4. Drop it off in the Seneca Valley Chief box outside of room 242

(Performing Arts room) or outside of the cafeteria.

All submissions MUST be school appropriate

Hey, I’m Bryce, but you can call me… Bryce. I am here to ease your concerns and answer your questions. There weren’t many people who sent in questions, and I’m hoping this isn’t because it “isn’t cool” to ask questions. Asking questions is the only way to receive answers, people! Some famous dude said that. Con- fucius, maybe? Anyway, let us begin!

Dear Seneca Chief,

I need help! I have been struggling with studying, and as a result, I have been getting REALLY low grades! Please advise! -Low-Average Lucy*

Dear LAL,

Yikes! This can really affect you! Studying is a huge part of grades, and your future! I had a problem with this in 5^th grade, so I have some experience. Do you have a long bus ride? Use this to study your history notes. Use a day without homework (if that exists for your team) to spend 10-15 minutes studying your vocab words. Studies show that cramming for an hour the day before rarely helps. If you study 10 minutes a day starting the day the test is announced, you’re bound to succeed. Even though, studying may not be fun, it is fun getting an A. Use flashcards, if that helps. Those saved my life on my geography test in Spanish! Hope this helps!

Helpfully yours, Bryce

Dear Seneca Chief,

My BFF has a boyfriend, and ignores me now. What do you suggest? -Lost in the Love

Dear L.i.n.L,

Wow. That must hurt. Um, ask your friend (let’s call her Be- atrice*) to do something fun with you, JUST YOU. It might help you to spend a day with Beatrice hanging out WITHOUT her boyfriend. You will bond, and as a result, have private jokes to break the ice whenever you are feeling left out. I don’t know your personality, but if you are brave enough to, it might good to subtly slip in how you feel. Otherwise, private jokes break any ice that could be frosting over your relationship. If you do any/all of this, and need a next step, write again to me! Hope this helps

Helpfully yours, Bryce

***Please note that these names have been made up, and have nothing to do with actual names.

Shout-Outs!

Want to say “Happy Birthday” to your closest friends? Want to give a great teacher a plain ol’ Shout- Out? Do it Here! Complete a “Shout-Out” form and put it in The Seneca Chief box outside of the cafeteria or the Performing Arts room (242).

 Tyler B. gives Mrs. Kappeler a shout-out “for being the best teacher!”

 Reed K. gives Gabby P. and Stone a shout-out!

 Michael Z. gives Craig V. a shout-out for “being such a great friend!”

 Kaylee M. gives Gabby P. a shout-out, “I love you!”

 Kiara C. gives Gracie C. a shout-out “because you are my best friend!”

 Kaileen, Emma, Isabel, Krist, Trey, & Jess give Tabby L. a

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” shout- out!

 Ashley M. gives Joe D. a shout- out, “Chop-Chop!”

Bryce Advice

WANTED: Sports Writers

Do you enjoy watching sports? Why not become a Sports Writer for The Seneca Chief?

See Mrs. Alvino-Deemer for details!

By Bryce Corrigan