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Kilmer Middle School’s
PAW PRINT
December 2012
Fresh Food
Lunch Programs
By Emma Kohm
Imagine this, it is lunchtime. On the
table sits a mushy loaf labeled “burrito”, a tiny
sweet potato, a slice of banana bread, and a
mini-carton of soy milk. “It’s not preferable,”
you think to yourself, “but at least it’s a healthy
lunch.” That healthy lunch has a thousand
calories and 35 grams of fat in it, almost the
same as two Big Macs. Choosing to poke at
it and then trash it, is no better. Lack of lunch
will result in headaches, fatigue, dehydration,
less energy for the brain, and a hungry
stomach. What a dilemma!
Fortunately, there is another option.
Schools across the U.S. have turned away
from the conventional lunch system and have
not looked back. Some school systems have
mini-farms complete with greenhouses, fish,
chickens, and orchards. In those schools, the
children prepare and eat healthy, homegrown
meals. Other schools have simply made
the choice to work a little organic into their
lunches. For any school, fresh food lunch
programs are the healthiest, tastiest option.
Jamie Oliver, a nationally known chef,
also decided that there needs to be a food
revolution. He claims that the main reason kids
are becoming obese is because they have easy
Hurricane Sandy
The Billion Dollar Storm
access to unhealthy foods. When fast food and
junk food surround them, they eat more of it
than they should. Oliver’s idea is to increase
the availability of good food, therefore
reversing that cycle. In order to do this, people
would need to make meals themselves. To
learn, they would attend classes at public
places, like community centers. There, they
would learn about fresh ingredients, nutrition,
healthy choices, and how to cook meals.
Basically, they would learn everything they
needed to know about providing home-cooked
meals for their families.
One specific example of this type of
learning institution is Huntington’s Kitchen. It
is located in Huntington West Virginia, hence
the name, and was founded by Jamie Oliver
with the support of local companies and health
organizations. The classes are designed to
improve the community’s eating habits. The
difference is that Huntington’s Kitchen is a
permanent building solely dedicated to these
classes, unlike a temporary setup in a gym or
community center.
Waves crash into a pier in Nags Head, N.C., Oct. 27, 2012.
(Gerry Broome/AP) http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/
sandy-hurricane-east-coast-nyc-forecast-142549538.html
continued on page 4
Genetically Modified Organisms
What Are They?
By Keerthi Puvvada
Genetically modified
organisms. They sound like the
stuff of science fiction… animals
that are created in a lab, made
from two different species.
What many people do not know,
however, is that these organisms
are real. In fact, they are found in
several of your favorite grocery
store aisles. What are genetically
modified organisms, and why are
they created?
Genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) are defined
as organisms where DNA from
two or more species is combined
to make a new or modified
organism. They can also be
defined as an organism where
the genetic material is altered
in a way that does not occur
naturally. Now, you may have
never heard about GMOs, but
according to the Human Genome
Project, 252 million acres worth
of genetically modified crops
were planted in 2006. Currently,
GM crops are being planted in
22 countries, with the amount
of crops increasing every year.
The concept of creating altered
organisms is not new, as ancient
farmers used to breed their best
animals to create new ones. Using
gene modification however,
is relatively new, and became
popular in the 1990’s.
The process for creating
GMOs is extensive and quite
complicated. It is done mostly
on plants like corn, soybean,
and potatoes. Recently however,
scientists have started to modify
bacteria and animals. Many of
the modifications scientists have
made to plants are very useful,
and solve many of the problems
associated with those foods. For
example, tomatoes used to be
picked when they were unripe,
and then sprayed with ethylene
gas to make them stay fresh and
mature. Now, scientists separate
a certain gene so they last
longer without using chemicals.
Also, some soybeans have been
altered to be immune to certain
pesticides. That way, when fields
are sprayed with pesticides, only
weeds and insects are killed, not
the plants.
One might wonder exactly
how scientists change foods
like this. One process is known
as gene identification, or gene
multiplication. Basically, genes
with wanted/desired traits are
separated from one organism,
and then added to replace a
gene in another plant. Using a
process called, “gene location
modification,” genes in a plant
are altered without taking from
another plant. These are only the
two most widely used methods of
modifying organisms.
continued on page 4
By Madhu Sriram
Hurricane Sandy has made
history causing billions of dollars in
damage. Although Virginia wasn’t
as severely impacted, Hurricane
Sandy ravaged parts of New York
and New Jersey. Millions of people
in the North and along the East coast
experienced power outages, but some
people lost the lives of loved ones. In
Virginia, two people died due to the
hurricane.
New York’s subway station was
forced to temporarily close because
it was overfilled with water. This
left New Yorkers in a devastating
situation since the subway is the
main type of transportation there.
They also confronted flooded homes,
businesses, and just a few days later,
about two inches of snow.
The hurricane made a small
curve toward southern Florida.
Usually Florida gets most of the
hurricanes, since it is near the
tropics. I used to live in Jacksonville,
Florida, where I encountered many
hurricanes. Our house would flood
and palm trees would fall down. It
was really sad and annoying because
many of the palm trees would die
due to the hurricane. We had to be
prepared at all times!
A lot of people experienced
power outages at some point during
the week of the hurricane. Although
my house didn’t lose power, the
lights flickered a few times. On
top of losing power, some places
got pummeled with snow. Several
parts of Virginia/ West Virginia got
a foot of snow! Even though this
“Frankenstorm” didn’t completely
cancel Halloween for our area,
the east coast will still remember
Hurricane Sandy and how she made a
mess of October.
Page 2
December 2012
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Want a Better Burger?
Go to The Counter
in Reston Town Center
By Jessica York
With over 312,000 ways to build your own burger, The
Counter in Reston Town Center never gets old! Complete with a
modern atmosphere, sleek furniture, televisions, and great food,
The Counter is the place to eat a wonderful meal in a welcoming
setting. Outdoor seating is available for sunny days, and the
location is easy to get to – it’s right in the middle of the Town
Center. Friendly, smiling staff will greet you at the door, guide you
to a table, and hand you a clipboard on which you can choose your
type of burger, cheese, toppings, sauce, and bun. Now let’s take a
closer look at the menu!
With options like an English muffin bun, Danish bleu
cheese, and avocados, these burgers offer something for everyone!
Once you narrow down the choices, you will find a wide variety of
appealing ways to build YOUR burger. In addition, many people
order shakes – flavor choices include peanut butter, strawberry,
and cake batter. You even get to order your type of french fries
with options such as sweet potato, parmesan, and cheddar. Some
unique features of the menu are the signature “burger in a bowl,”
and the fifty-fifty fries which offer two different varieties on one
large plate. Although some might feel that burgers and fries are
not the healthiest foods, The Counter uses quality ingredients and
also offers veggies and veggie burgers for those looking for more
wholesome selections.
When past customers were interviewed, most were very
pleased with their experience. “Simple concept, yet delicious
burgers!” said Thompson Brownlee. The service is quick and the
employees are helpful. Given the quality of the food, the prices are
reasonable. I would recommend The Counter as a place to enjoy
a casual, delicious meal or to celebrate a special occasion with
family and friends.
An Awesome
New
Elective
What were you this past
Halloween?
Popular Costumes of 2012
By Ana Luta
The “Walking Dead” season premiered so close to Halloween;
it seemed likely zombies would rule Halloween this past year. What
was your costume? Witch? Ghost? Ghoul? With all the speculation
of the apocalypse, there was definitely a lot of inspiration for
costumes, as well as for Halloween Party themes. According to the
Today Show, the most popular Halloween costume of the year was
witches, followed by (no surprise here) political costumes of Mitt
Romney and President Obama.
Here were the Top 12 most-searched Halloween costumes of 2012:
1.Angry Birds
2. Black Swan
3. Hunger Games
4. Nicki Minaj
5. Smurfette
6. Wilfred
7. Monster High
8. Tron
9. Captain America
10. Pan Am
11. Charlie Sheen
12. Rapunzel
Kilmer students dressed up in cool costumes.
Should there be an age limit for trick-or-treating on
Halloween? With costumes and candy, Halloween is a fun holiday
for children. But, how old exactly, is too old, for trick-or-treating?
Should there be an age limit? In some states, trick-or-treating has
been banned if you are over a certain age. For instance, the age
limit in Indiana is 8th grade or 14 years old! So, have fun and enjoy
Halloween as long as you can, before you’re too old. Remember this
article next October!
Creative Writing
By Jessica Lewis
In the back of the school,
where the Health trailer was last
year, is a completely different
trailer. The door is painted
with a Cheshire Cat and Alice,
the windows are framed with
flowers, and the atmosphere
beckons, Come! Come in! The
students who have class in here
aren’t learning about the human
body and diseases; they learn
about the editing process and
poems. Welcome to this year’s
brand-new elective: Creative
Writing with Mrs. Appling!
Mrs. Appling, a former
7th-grade English teacher, has
started a new semester-length
elective this year. Creative
Writing focuses on fictional
writing, challenging the student’s
ability to create poems, memoirs,
short stories, and more.
Mrs. Appling also sprinkles
the curriculum with minilessons, including how to write
a title, the editing process, and
gathering ideas. The classroom
environment encourages
exploring your creative side,
giving the students breathing
room to write on any topic they
wish.
Creative Writing assists
in your other classes. The
valuable techniques you learn are
applicable to a science project,
English research paper, or history
essay. Pieces that are created in
the class can also be published,
using the many resources Mrs.
Appling makes available to her
students. While many students
will miss her as an English
teacher, those who are taking
Creative Writing are ecstatic the
class was created!
Page 3
December 2012
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A Whole New
American
Idol’s
Wars
Colton
Dixon
Returns
By Ayla Taffel
Many of you know Colton
Dixon from season 11 of American
Idol. He was eliminated and took
seventh place in the competition,
though, in my opinion, he was
worthy of winning.
I am delighted to say
that Colton has been signed to
Sparrow Records, a thriving
Christian record label. Many
famous Christian artists have been
signed to Sparrow Records, such as
Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and
Mandisa, a season five contestant
eliminated from American Idol
who had been in the top nine.
Colton’s first album is
expected to be released on January
29, 2013. He has already released
his first single, You Are. You Are
hit number one on the Christian
Music charts and when released,
went straight to 36. But his song
Never Gone is even better.
Never Gone was number
one for a week, the week it was
released. When I listen to Never
Gone, I think of John 20:11-16 in
the Bible, when Jesus is talking
to Mary Magdalene after Jesus
rose again. Read these verses,
then listen to Never Gone by
visiting http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=JRbWgiSPAcw. And
remember to look for Colton’s
album!
Works Cited
ColtonDixonMusic. “Colton Dixon
- “Never Gone” (Official Lyric Video).” YouTube. YouTube, 24
Sept. 2012. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=JRbWgiSPAcw>.
ColtonDixonMusic. “Colton Dixon
- Big Announcements!” YouTube. YouTube, 04 Sept. 2012. Web. 09
Nov. 2012. <http://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=CRbg8dOQiQc>
7th Grade Terror
Daria Zahalsky
Most people would agree that elementary school is easier
then middle school. Every day of the summer before 7th grade
started, I would think about how hard middle school would be.
Some of my friends were going to Thoreau Middle School, so I
would have less backup if something bad happened to me. I was
also worried about having a locker. (At the time, I still didn’t know
how to open one.) The final thing I was worried about was 8th
graders. Apparently, they didn’t get the memo that they were only
ONE YEAR older than 7th graders Many people were telling me
that 8th graders would shove us into lockers. Did you get shoved
into any lockers?
Locker night was the second scariest moment of my life.
(The first day of middle school was the scariest!) I was pretty
sure that none of my friends would have classes with me, and I
didn’t expect to be able to open my locker that night. After I got
my schedule and found my best friend, I realized we actually had
3 classes together! Also, my other friend’s locker was one locker
away from mine. My stress level went down a lot after I realized I
could actually open a locker.
Now this is where the scariest moment of my life comes
in. I hadn’t even seen any 8th graders yet. I was hoping that they
would stay as far away from me as possible. Thankfully, the people
who told me the eighth graders would go after “sevies” were
wrong. Lots of my teachers were very nice, and the whole 7th
grade year was pleasant. The only thing I did not like, strike that,
I mean do NOT like, is getting up at 6:45 in the morning. To all
those 7th graders out there, you will survive.
by
By Jake Biderman
“Luke, I am your father.” Jedi costumes on Halloween….
Darth Vader impressions everywhere…. Almost every teen or adult
with access to a TV has watched Star Wars. This movie enjoys a welldeserved reputation as one of the best science fiction movie series
ever. The original trilogy came out in the late 1970s to the mid-1980s,
and the prequel came out just about a decade ago. And that was itsix movies. Right?
Turns out… no!
But don’t get too excited, Star Wars fans. LucasFilm Ltd. isn’t
making Star Wars VII, because LucasFilm was just bought by… wait
for it… wait for it… Disney.
Disney, as in Walt Disney, Disneyworld, and the Disney
Channel. For $4.05 billion dollars, Walt Disney Company bought out
all of LucasFilm—including the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series—
on October 31. George Lucas, who is now 68, will get half of those
four billion dollars in cash, and the rest in stock of the Walt Disney
Company.
At the announcement of the purchase of LucasFilm, Disney
also announced that Star Wars VII will come out in 2015, using the
same actors who played Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess
Leia in the orginial movies: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie
Fisher. The movie will be in 3D, and, in case you happened to read
the graphic novels, I need to warn you, the new movie won’t follow
the same storyline.
So, we have a new Star Wars film coming out, made by
Disney, with older forms of the same actors. The question is, will it
be any good? The answer is, maybe.
In the past, Disney has bought out plenty of companies.
They bought out Pixar, Marvel, and now LucasFilm. And if you
take a look, Disney is pretty good at movies produced by bought-out
companies. Did you enjoy Marvel’s the Avengers? Well, that was
made by collaboration between Disney and Marvel, as were Iron Man
2, Thor, Captain America, and the new The Amazing Spider-Man.
Disney made a host of good Pixar films, too: Ratatouille, WALL-E,
and Up, as well as all of the Toy Story and Cars films.
So, do you think you can trust Disney to create a good Star
Wars VII, the way they made all of those other films? You decide.
Check out these websites:
*http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-30/disney-agrees-tobuy-lucasfilm-for-4-dot-05-billion-in-cash-stock
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Episode_VII
*http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/disneysmarvel-like-lucasfilm-deal-sees-many-avengers-realmanda/2012/11/01/00976218-243b-11e2-92f8-7f9c4daf276a_story.
html
Page 4
December 2012
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Sanitizers:
Becoming the Enemy?
By Isabelle Maricar
Do you come home every day and wash
your hands? Do you constantly use hand sanitizers
after touching the dog or playing out in a dirty
field? Many Americans are concerned that the
over-use of sanitizers, wipes, and lotions may
be causing new health concerns. Dr. Nancy
Snyderman reported on NBC Nightly News that
sometimes it is okay to get a virus or germs in
your system; germs can actually save a child from
the possible allergens lurking around.
Scientists and researchers discovered that
kids who were exposed to pollen and pet dander
can have a lower risk of developing an allergy or
sensitivity to allergens. In June, a study was in
the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
analyzed Amish Children who were raised on
farms with no such sanitation items. The results
showed: these children were less likely to have
allergies and develop asthma than those with
greater sanitation. But why would being exposed
to the enemy help us?
By exposing our bodies to outside
bacteria, it allows our immune system to prevent
allergies. Our body systems are like military bases,
protecting our bodies from harmful and possibly
deadly bacteria. By introducing new bacteria,
the body is able to find a way of “defeating” the
bacteria actually allowing the body’s immune
system to become familiar with the germ and
easily destroying it in the future. By adding
sanitizers, your body becomes too sensitive to the
irritants, and in response, may develop an allergic
reaction more easily. It may also kill some of the
good bacteria in your system, weakening your
body’s “military defenses”.
Yet, understanding this situation does not
mean we can throw away the soaps and mops. We
still have a responsibility to protect our bodies
generally, just do not go overboard. We commonly
use sanitizers to prevent germs into forming
bacteria that destroy our immune system. But by
overusing the sanitation items we have, this can
also destroy our immune system easily.
Works Cited
Carroll, Linda, and Nancy Synderman. “Is It
Possible to Be Too Clean? Researchers Say
Yes.” Vitals. NBCNews.com, 8 Oct. 2012. Web.
16 Oct. 2012. <http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_
news/2012/10/08/14301214-is-it-possible-to-betoo-clean-researchers-say-yes?lite>.
Who Wants Fresh
For Lunch?
continued from front page
Maryland’s Jane Lawton Farm-toSchool Program is similar in concept. A
portion of the ingredients used in school
lunches is from local Maryland farms.
This seems to be a win-win situation. The
students receive better, fresh foods while
the farmers get business. The farmers’
money is then pumped right back into the
economy, strengthening local business.
Meanwhile, the students get to learn about
where the food comes from, how it is
produced, and why it is an essential part of
a healthy diet.
Some schools have their own
gardens. In the article Backyard gardening:
Grow your own food, improve your health,
Dr. Helen Delichatsios (qtd. in Godman:
N.pag.) says, “Backyard gardening can
inspire you to take an interest in the origins
of your food and make better choices
about what you put on your plate.” Food
fresh from the garden has fewer chemicals.
On many industrial farms, the produce is
sprayed with fertilizer, bug spray, weed
spray, and more. A little of that residue
ends up inside the food we eat. Fresh food
also has more nutrients. When something
is picked before it is ready, than artificially
ripened, it isn’t as developed as the ones
left on the vine for another week.
In school we learn about making
good choices. We learn that we need to
care for the environment, and then we
move on. We learn that we need to eat well
and that fast food and possessed food is
bad, then we head off for a cafeteria lunch
that has sacrificed quality in order to make
Food
things cheap. Schools with fresh food lunch
programs are different. There, they learn
about helping the environment then go out
and grow plants. They learn about healthy
eating then use fresh ingredients to make a
meal. This is why Kilmer and other schools
should all have a fresh food lunch program.
It’s the healthy choice, the “green” choice,
and the right choice.
Works Cited
“Backyard Gardening: Grow Your Own
Food, Improve Your Health.” Harvard
Health Publications. Ed. Heidi Godman.
Harvard Medical School, 29 June 2012.
Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://www.health.
harvard.edu/blog/backyard-gardeninggrow-your-own-food-improve-yourhealth-201206294984>.
Callahan, Rob. “The Effects of Skipping
Meals.” LIVESTRONG.COM. N.p., 23
June 2011. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://
www.livestrong.com/article/499684-theeffects-of-skipping-meals/>.
“Huntington’s Kitchen.” Jamie Oliver’s
Food Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept.
2012. <http://www.jamieoliver.com/
us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/
huntington>.
McDonald’s USA Nutrition Facts for
Popular Menu Items. McDonalds, 12 Sept.
2012. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.
nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/
Are YOU Eating a GMO?
continued from front page
Several people have been questioning
why genetically modified foods are being
produced, and if they actually are beneficial.
The people that create these organisms and
foods strongly believe in the supposed benefits
of GMO. First of all, they are supposed to be
cheaper than conventional food. The money
it takes for research and development is quite
a lot; however, in the grand scheme of things,
they are cheaper to produce.
Another advantage is that crops
can be modified to have stronger immune
systems and resistance to the environment
and pesticides. By mixing plant genes with
the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, plants
develop improved resistance to insects. GM
crops can also be created with useful traits.
Some examples are: bananas that produce
vaccines, fish that mature faster (and contain
more omega-3 acids), and plants that produce
new plastic. Some benefits of GM foods
include: enhanced taste, shorter growing time,
resistance to diseases, healthier animals, and
increased food production.
On the other hand, some of the
disadvantages that come with genetic
modification are: loss of biodiversity, violation
of ethics, unknown effects and safety issues,
and tampering with nature.
Genetically modified organisms
(GMO) are found in so many of the foods
we eat. They are part of our lives, yet many
people do not even know they exist. They are
defined as organisms created by mixing the
DNA of multiple species, in ways that do not
occur naturally. In recent years, the topic of
GMO has sparked several debates. Some argue
that it is unnatural, yet others say that they
provide benefits and possibilities that were
not available before. I believe that genetically
modified food has great potential, but I also
believe that it could be easily abused.
Works Cited
U.S. Department of Energy. “Genetically
Modified Foods and Organisms.” Genetically
Modified Foods and Organisms --HGP Ethical,
Legal, and Social Issues. U.S. Department of
Energy, 17 May 2012. Web. 27 Sept. 2012.
<http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/
Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml>.
Page 5
December 2012
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The Battle for the iCustomer
By Thompson Brownlee
The new and improved
design of the iPhone 5 is not the
only thing that sets it apart from
the others. Its speed and adapter
have changed as well. The
lightning adapter versus the 30pin
adapter (the chord that plugs into
your computer) is a factor that
influences the customer’s decision
about whether or not to buy the
iPhone 5. The Apple Company
has come up with the brilliant idea
to make the 30pin adapter work
for the iPhone 5. There is now an
accessory (sold separately) that
allows you to insert your 30pin
adapter into the lightning adapter
and then it is compatible with
iPhone 5.
There is also a built-in
rechargeable lithium-ion battery
that has battery life up to 8 hours
on the 3G network and 10 hours
while connected to Wi-Fi (same
as the iPhone 4s.) This new
iPhone is very eco-friendly, it is
mercury-free, and it has an LED
backlit display. Its power adapter
outperforms the strictest global
energy efficiency standards as well.
It also contains an arsenic-free
glass display, and it now has a 4
inch (diagonal) widescreen multitouch display. This longer size
allows one more row of apps on
your home screen.
Unfortunately, there are
some areas of disappointment with
the iPhone 5. One is the camera
quality hasn’t improved at all. The
camera lens remains unchanged.
Critics are saying the iPhone 5 is
slightly better than the iPhone 4s in
this area, but not enough to change
a buyer’s mind. The battery life
is also something that truly hasn’t
changed. Overall, the reviews say
the iPhone 5 and
iPhone 4s are tied in this area.
A huge area of disappointment,
that could change the mind of a
consumer, would be the price. So
far, the iPhone 4s is winning the
price battle against the iPhone 5.
Considering the iPhone 4s has less
expensive accessories (adapters,
cases, wall and car chargers, etc.),
it is definitely less expensive. The
phone itself, being an older model,
is not as expensive as the latest
piece of technology. However,
according to gadgetreview.com
the overall winner is the iPhone 5.
For more information go to www.
gadgetreview.com and look at the
iPhone 5 versus iPhone 4s for a
more in depth comparison.
Works Cited
“iPhone 5 VS. iPhone 4s (comparison).” Gadget Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.gadgetreview.
com/2012/09/iphone-5-vs-iphone4s.html>.
“iPhone 5 Vs. iPhone 4S SideBy-Side Performance Tests.”
tech crunch. N.p., n.d. Web. 29
Oct. 2012. <http://techcrunch.
com/2012/09/24/video-iphone5-vs-iphone-4s-side-by-sideperformance-tests/>.
iPhone 5 Vs. iPhone 4S SideBy-Side Performance Tests.
Tech Crunch. N.p., n.d. Web. 29
Oct. 2012. <http://techcrunch.
com/2012/09/24/video-iphone5-vs-iphone-4s-side-by-sideperformance-tests/>.
“IPhone Tech Specs.” Apple. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://
www.apple.com/iphone/specs.
McDonald’s Food: How Unhealthy Is it?
By Molly Stegman
“I will take a Big Mac, a
large fries, a McFlurry, and a large
coke.” Little does this kid know
or little does he care what he is
putting in his body. Most people go
to McDonald’s because the food is
cheap and yummy, but people don’t
realize exactly what they are eating,
a high sodium, calorie packed, fatty
meal. This report will explain the
health and effect of McDonald’s on
everybody.
McDonald’s food has very
little nutrition. A Big Mac has 500
calories, 29 grams of fat, and 1000
mg of sodium. A Mc. Rib has 500
calories, 26 grams of fat, and 980
mg of sodium. A serving of large
french fries has 500 calories, 26
grams of fat, and 350 mg of salt. A
McFlurry has 650 calories, 26 grams
of fat, and 180 mg of sodium. A
large Coke has 310 calories, 3.2 mg
of salt, and 0 fat. Although there is
no fat, there are 86 grams of sugar;
that is almost 22 sugar cubes. A
healthy amount of calories is 2000,
65 grams of fat, and 2300 mg of salt.
If someone orders a Big Mac, a large
french fries, a Coke, and a McFlurry
then they have gone over their fat
amount by 13 grams. T hey should
only eat 40 more calories that day,
and they have only 866.80mg of salt
left to eat. That was only lunch, so
there is no way to have been healthy
that day.
When people eat
McDonald’s too much they start
to get really unhealthy. In the
documentary Super Size Me, a man
eats McDonald’s three times a day
for one month, but there are rules.
He must eat everything on the menu
at least once, he must say yes when
asked to supersize his meal, he must
not exercise, and walk only the
average amount. In the beginning
he weighed 185 pounds. In the first
5 days he was up to 195, soon after
he was 203 pounds, and in the end
he was 228 pounds. That means
he gained 25 pounds in only one
month. Now imagine doing that
every month for a year; you would
gain 300 pounds. You would not stay
alive eating like that. This man was
examined after the month was over
and he had high cholesterol levels, a
permanently damaged liver, and he
was tired and depressed all the time.
Everyone eats at
McDonald’s, even kids. A common
attraction at McDonald’s is the
Happy Meal. A Happy Meal is a
meal for kids which contains a milk,
juice, or soda, a tiny burger, apple
slices, and junior fries. Happy Meal
sales have been decreasing greatly
since 2007; moms are switching to
the dollar menu because it is much
cheaper. This has a great effect on
McDonald’s because 10 percent of
their proceeds is due to happy meals.
McDonald’s makes 30,000,000,000
dollars a year, so that means Happy
Meals bring in 3,000,000,000 dollars
a year.
One thing that keeps Happy
Meals in business is the toys. Kids
beg their parents to bring them
to McDonald’s for the toys in the
Happy Meals. This has caused
many unhealthy kids in the world so
someone in San Francisco decided
to bring it to court. They claimed
that toys lure kids into buying the
junk food and then the parents
end up eating it too. They won the
case and it became illegal in San
Francisco to sell Happy Meals
with toys. McDonald’s knew they
couldn’t just lose all these customers
because of the law, so they started
selling the toys separately and you
could only buy them if you bought a
happy meal. They sold them for 10
cents each and donated all the toy
proceeds to a charity.
In summary, McDonald’s is
extremely unhealthy and can cause
major health issues; it is luring
many people with many tricks and
gimmicks. The health of the next
generation is being majorly affected.
People need to consider their health
before they order McDonald’s food.
Works Cited
“Full Menu Explorer.” ::
McDonalds.com. N.p., n.d.
Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
“Plot Summary for Super Size
Me.” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d.
Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
“Happy Meals.” :: McDonalds.
com. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct.
2012.
“McDonald’s toy sale skirts
Happy Meal restrictions.”
Reuters Health e-Line 2 Dec.
2011. Gale Student Resources
In Context. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
Page 6
December 2012
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Participate in Kilmer Drama
By Will Spencer
There are many drama
opportunities this year at
Kilmer. The Talent Show has
already finished but there is
still much to come. Voices
of Now is a special program
that is being run this year, and
there is Drama Club which is
a fun acting club after school.
Klee is a singing and dancing
performance at Kilmer. Here
is some more information on
them all.
Drama Club is a
club after school where the
students play fun improv
(improvisation) and drama
games. This club is after
school on Wednesdays from
2:50-4:00 in the cafeteria for
the first semester. This club
is great for anyone who likes
to have fun using their whole
body to play games or to
just have fun. I recommend
coming at least one time after
school to try it out. You do not
need to sign up.
Klee is Kilmer’s
version of the TV show Glee.
This will be a show very
similar to Glee where you
will be singing and dancing
to contemporary hits and
broadway musical selections.
This is the theatrical program
that goes on this year instead
of the musical because of
Voices of Now. The audition
dates are in late January, and
30-50 students will be chosen.
More information will be
coming soon.
Voices of Now is a
program coming to Kilmer,
part of four schools in Fairfax
County. If you sign up for
one of the workshop sets
and attend them all, you can
audition. This program focuses
on writing, theatre, and most
of all, collaboration. The
twenty students who make it
in will write their own original
play with the help of experts
and perform it at Kilmer and
Arena Stage!
In a nutshell, the
Kilmer Drama Activities
are as follows: Drama ClubFirst Semester; Kilmer’s
Got Talent- Fall; Voices of
Now- All Year; Klee- Spring
(Kilmer’s Version of Glee);
KTV- All Year through
Advanced Drama; NYC TripSpring through Advanced
Drama. Check out the Drama
Page through the Kilmer
Website/ Activities/ Kilmer
Drama. It has dates and
information there about the
drama program.
Make sure to try and
join one of the drama activities
because they will all be a lot
of fun. Of course, remember,
if you can’t participate in the
drama, you can always watch
the drama to get your creative
fix! Go Drama!
Love that
Lava Yogurt
By Yashna Verma
Have you been to
the restaurant Lava Yogurt?
Well, I have! You may not
have noticed, but it is in
Falls Church near the public
library and Trader Joe’s.
I went there last weekend
and I had a fabulous time.
It was super neat and a very
welcoming place. There is
a self-serve system and you
can choose anything you like
but it just has to be within a
certain amount of weight.
First, you choose a
cup from a variety of sizes.
Second, you can choose
a bottom which includes
brownies, cake, cookies,
waffle bowls, and assorted
pie fillings. Third, you can
also choose from many
different flavors of frozen
yogurt. There is chocolate,
peanut butter, cappuccino,
pumpkin, cake batter, vanilla,
thin mint cookie, red velvet
cake, pistachio, coconut,
cheesecake, Dulce de Leche
(caramel), strawberry
banana, original tart, peach
mango tart, and Pomegranate
Raspberry Sorbet. Lastly,
don’t forget the topping!
There is everything from
sprinkles to fruit to sauces
and sweets.
On my way to Lava
Yogurt, I was really excited
because it was my first time.
The Bliss in Music
By Isabelle Maricar
I had been playing piano for
about six or seven years, and never
in my life had I ever disliked my
playing. Whichever competition I
would go to, the thought of playing
musically would come naturally. It
was my strong emotions that could
withstand the difficult melodies that
would ease out of the piano. My piano
classes were not just covering the
pieces arranged for festivals, but the
techniques and skills such as Russian
pattern scales, arpeggios, chords,
broken octaves, etc. Every year, my
teacher would have one of the finest
musicians to test her students on our
piano skills: Mr. Alexander Peskanov.
It was not a competition,
but what Mr. Peskanov called Piano
Olympics. It was a way for him to
critic on our strengths and weaknesses
of basic fundamentals, helping us
complete tasks per level. His tender
way of urging the students to become
better was something I would always
keep for the rest of my life: “Don’t
play music like scales. Play scales
like music.” Such fine words made
my music come to life with emotions
I would never have encountered.
Not only was it a benefit to my
musicianship, but a route to more
confidence. I was, from then on, never
afraid to play louder than what I could
do. His teachings in the basics were
the building blocks of what I could
later become. It is a mystery to find
out what you can possibly achieve.
No one can discover the hidden secret
unless you find it first.
A ceremony was held for my
teacher and Mr. Peskanov to hand
each student a certificate and medal
as a sign of completing the levels.
Afterwards, he performed some
pieces that included the skills we had
learned. Everyone was shocked on
As soon as I entered, I was
amazed by how clean it was.
Then I went to go pick a
flavor but I couldn’t decide.
You are allowed to try flavors
before choosing one so that
helped get me down to one.
Finally, I picked pistachio,
but I really thought a lot of
the flavors were good. Then
I picked my toppings which
were M&M’S and Oreo
cookies. The yogurt was
way too good. The yogurt
melted as soon as it touched
my mouth. The coldness
also was very delighting. I
wanted more as soon as I was
finished. Go to Lava Yogurt;
you will love it!
such sound he presented as well as
the fine tuned skills flying all over his
pieces. The speed, articulation, and
grasp of the notes were extraordinary
that it was not possible for my eyes to
catch his hands.
But, after one of his broad,
“show off” moments, he introduced
a piece he wrote himself. This piece
was not like his other booming
effects, but a mellow, solemn piece
called Clouds. He wrote this piece
for his first new born child, Rachel
Alexandra. It was a piece that related
to his difficult history during the
Cold War as a child and his escape
for freedom. The piece makes him
remember sitting at his window
gazing at the puffy clouds that gently
roamed the skies. They had such a
freedom that he did not have; they
gave him a sense of peacefulness. The
tone he expressed erased his booming
personality, giving me a connection
with his strong emotions toward this
heartfelt piece. At the end, my teacher
stated that this man, even with a broad
personality, had a side where he could
express his emotions hidden inside.
I’ve always felt that the
reason why I have a deep love for
piano is because of my shy and timid
emotions. It was in music in which
I could express my hidden emotions
through a proud sense of confidence.
Like Mr. Peskanov, I was now able to
express both sides of my emotions.
It wouldn’t matter where I was or
if the time was right. Music was a
whole other world I could travel to
spontaneously without letting reality
separate me from this gift. I was the
passionate bird that kept silent until I
reached the nest to present the bliss of
music.
Eighth graders relaxing during lunch time.
Page 7
December 2012
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Take a Trip to India
By Madhu Sriram
This summer I went to India
for about a month. The plane ride
seemed very long, especially since I
was awake the whole time.
When I finally landed there with
my mom and my brother, my uncle
was there to pick us up. But I was
shocked to see the way people were
driving their cars. There were NO
traffic lights, and no one was expected
to wear seatbelts, but I was to find
that everyone managed to go on daily
without any accidents! The whole time
I was there, I was scared to get in the
car, since I wasn’t really comfortable
with the way people drove their cars.
Cars, bikes, and autos (a type of
public transportation in India similar
to a taxi) were honking every second
which kept the street alive.
When I reached “home” I was
overwhelmed to see my aunt and my
cousins. They were really friendly and
showed me around. My cousins gave
me a tour. There were stranded dogs
everywhere. The dogs weren’t on a
leash, yet they didn’t chase people
around. We went to a store, which
had no doors. Many stores often
didn’t have any doors unless it was
a very big grocery store. I learned
you have to ask for what you want
instead grabbing it since there were
no machine to scan the items. I had a
hard time communicating so my mom
or my cousins would usually do the
talking. I wanted chocolate but I didn’t
know what to say. So my cousin asked
for it in Hindi (an Indian language).
What I liked about India is that
chocolate there was about 5 rupees
(Indian Currency) so it would cost
about 10 cents there. But Hershey’s is
better anytime.
We went to the beach there,
and it was nothing similar to the
beaches here. No one would actually
swim in the water, because everyone
was scared that a big tide would
lure them into the ocean, which
has happened before. But instead,
everyone stood just close enough that
the water could barely touch their
feet. The sand is not as soft and silky
as it is in a beach in Florida (I lived
in Florida so I know!). There were so
many crabs so I wasn’t a really big fan
of the Indian beach. What I thought
was cool was that there were mini
rides, and balloon shooting, etc. The
beach was like a mini carnival without
any prizes. I had a nice time with my
family.
I also loved going in an auto
since it was open on one side and
partially open on the other. My mom,
my aunt, cousin, and my brother
including me would all sit in one auto.
My brother would sit on my mom’s
lap. I took my chances with the side
bar on the auto. It was highly risky,
because as mentioned before there are
no traffic patterns and no seatbelts.
I gripped on to the pole of the auto
tightly and tried not to sleep (it was
11:00 pm). Fortunately, I managed to
stay alive and awake. Overall, my trip
to India wasn’t the best, but I enjoyed
visiting my cousins.
From Dreary to Cheery,
Wear these Sensational Styles
Now that we’ve covered what to wear on top, the remaining question is what do you
wear as bottoms? With another three easy tips, you can figure out what to wear.
1. Super skinny jeans- You don’t have
to be super skinny to wear super skinny
jeans. Super skinny jeans always stay
in style because they are flattering on
everyone. These look great matched with
high heels, ankle boots, sneakers, or flats.
FUN Fall Fashion
By Rebecca Canfield
Fall is no time for dreary colors and sweatpants. Try
a couple of these tips and you are guaranteed to get many
compliments.Even though it’s cold, that doesn’t mean you must
wear sweatpants or a puffy parka. Instead, you should try the
following fun fashions.
1. Denim Jackets (with a twist) Try a denim jacket with an ‘80s
style puffed shoulder. This may
seem crazy, but the style has
appeared on the runway and on
several celebrities. This look can
be paired with a simple shirt and
skinny jeans. Or, for or a dressier
look, you could pair the jacket
with a pencil skirt of any color.
2. Leather JacketsLeather jackets can be
feminine with a flirty
floral dress or edgier with
a striped top and jeans.
Fur embellishments and
zippers are fun to wear
on leather jackets too.
3. Bomber jackets- Bomber jackets are very retro, but at
the same time, practical. They are lightweight and most
are waterproof, making them great for any type of weather.
They are also great for a casual look paired with dark wash
jeans or leggings. For a dressier look, they can be paired
with a simple black dress or a fun lace top and our good
old friend, the pencil skirt. For a funky look try a pair of
colorful, chunky earrings.
2. High-waisted jeans- These jeans are
form-fitting right above your waist line
so they are comfortable and hide that
last piece of cake you ate. They are often
worn with a loose fitting top and some
type of chunky, vintage jewelry.
3. Printed Pants- Printed jeans can seem like
a fashion risk, especially some of the crazier
prints like zebra. They are a fun, end-ofsummer party look or just something fun to
wear. They come in all different shades- grey
and black ones are not as crazy- and a general
rule is to have the rest of your outfit low-key.
continued on page 8
Page 8
December 2012
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Prints and Patterns
continued from page 7
Now that we’ve gone over what to wear on the
top and the bottom, we are left to worry about prints and
patterns. The last three tips are sure to get you through the
wintry days when everyone is wearing grey and black.
1. Tribal prints- Tribal prints
look great on the runway and on
fashionita stars like Beyoncé. You
can duplicate the outfits(with some
adjustments) to make them work
for you. Try a printed top with a
denim vest or jacket for a casual
look or a printed tunic dress with
leggings for a glamorous twist.
2. Floral Prints- Just because the
weather cools down it doesn’t
mean you must submit to the
boring colors the winter days
bring. Try colors such as, light
pink, bright blue, or even a
cheerful yellow. Give a flirty floral
dress an edgier look with a leather
jacket or a preppier look with a
blazer. Another tip to remember is
that floral has a slimming effect so
it is fun and cute to wear.
3. Patchwork- If you’re
sporting a patchwork dress,
give it a vintage vibe by
adding bright tights and
any color Converse. Thick
patchwork headbands are
also great for bad hair days.
The Perfect Shot
By Will Morrison
Running against the rough walls, running against time.
Skidding onto asphalt, burning with sensation.
Everything stings, but it is worth it.
The glory, the sacrifice; it all comes down to this shot.
I step up to the line.
I’m shaking from all of the nerves taking over my body.
My breath is heavy, thick, and full of apprehension.
The sweat perspiring from my face,
It oozes
Every drop more resonant than the last.
Pound, pound, pound, the ball smashes against the court.
All eyes are on me.
Perfect form
Perfect step
Perfect aim
Perfect shot
Paw Print writers and editors busy at work.
Hopefully, you will use all of these tips to create a
more sophisticated, casual, and fun wardrobe!
Works Cited
Seventeen. Hearst Communications, 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.seventeen.com/fashion/tips/ back-to-school-fashion#/
category2>.
PICTURE 1: Etsy. Etsy, 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://www.
etsy.com/listing/93549590/ vintage-90s-womens-denim-jacketwith>.
PICTURE 2: MTV Style. Viacom International, 2012. Web. 30
Oct. 2012.
PICTURE 3: PieWay. PieWay, 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://
www.pieway.com/dress/jackets-for-girls-20-must-see-designs/>.
PICTURE 4: Amazon. Amazon.com, 1996. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
http://www.amazon.com/Levis-Womens-Modern-Curve-Skinny/
dp/B004YI05VS/ref=pd_sbs_a_2#>.
PICTURE 5: Acess Hollywood. NBC Universal, 2012. Web. 30
Oct. 2012. <http://www.accesshollywood.com/stars-in-high-waisted-jeans_gallery_1744/image_84706>.
PICTURE 6: Teen.com. Alloy Media, 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.teen.com/2012/04/25/style/trendspotting/celebritieswearing-printed-pants-trend/attachment/nbc-universal-winterpress-tour2-070112/>.
PICTURE 7: Seventeen. Hearst Communications, 2012. Web. 30
Oct. 2012. <http://www.seventeen.com/fashion/tips/celebs-intribal-print-trend#slide-1>.
PICTURE 8: dELiA*s. dELiA*s, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://
store.delias.com/product/open+back+floral+dress+303737.do?cm
pid=22491S406976110&cseid=22491S406976110>.
PICTURE 9: Kohl’s. Kohl’s Illinois, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1061811/eyelash-patchworkmock-layer-dress-juniors-plus.jsp>.
Paw Print Staff
2012-2013
Shaazia Ahmed
Jake Biderman
Thompson Brownlee
Rebecca Canfield
Gracie Feuchter
Nadia N. Hamad
Emma Kohm
Jessica Lewis
Ana Luta
Isabelle Maricar
Will Morrison
Sidharth Muralidhar
Keerthi Puvvada
Lia Rodriguez
Salim Roustom
Mrinal Save
Victoria Sova
Will Spencer
Madhu Sriram
Molly Stegman
Ayla Taffel
Sakshi Thakar
Yashna Verma
Jessica York
Daria Zahalsky
*Advisor: Mrs. Folk
Thank you, PTA, for
making this publication
possible!