Westfield Schools

Shamrock Star
Volume 3 January/ Special points of interest: Movie Reviews Dear Catherine and Cara:

Grand Park
By: Ashley Harrison Grand Park is the new sports campus that is being built. The park is going to be about 350 acres big. This thoughtfullydesigned sports campus will feature a full-range of championship-level outdoor facilities. These facilities will include baseball, softball, and field games such as soccer, football, rugby, field hockey, and lacrosse. Surrounding the fields will be dining, retail and entertainment venues, all geared toward supporting and enhancing the family sports atmosphere and experience. More than 500,000 sports visitors are expected to participate in or attend events at the facility annually. Building on the state of Indianas long and storied sports tradition, Grand Park will be a premier location for athletes, visitors and the local community alike

Lovestruck
Continuation of Document X our short story feature Book Review: Harry Potter 7th grade Girls Basketball Valentines Day Survey NFL Playoffs Halo vs. Modern Warfare

Harry Potter: Awesome or Awful?

By: Megan Jones

You should know, or at least heard about, Harry Potter. You know the movies and the books, all of it. Some people love it, and some people hate it. I wanted to hear both sides of this debate thoroughly and tell all of you the reasons for these peoples opinions in a completely unbiased way. Lets start with the people who dont like Harry Potter, which was 25% of the people I asked believe it or not. Why didnt they like it? The main reasons that I got were because after awhile they said that the books got repetitive. You know a bad thing happens then this solved, bad thing happens again. And the other reason is some people simply dont like magic. Now, the other 75% of people loved Harry Potter. There are many reasons for this one. Lots of them simply said everything. Now, other people loved it because it was a n adventure in a whole other world, it has complex magic, no boring parts, it was a long series, the writing style, and simply because it was fun. I now see both sides points of veiws and I have shared them with you. Now I said I would give you these facts from an unbiased point of veiw so of course I can not say that I love Harry Potter, no matter how much it may be true, because that is unbiased. I also could not say that I think the people who hate Harry Potter just dont know what theyre talking about. See I did nt say those things and am therefore completely unbiased. Now, youve learned two things! Both sides of the Harry Potter debate, and what biased means!!!

Westfield: #48 out of 100 on Best Towns to Live in

Even though Westfield is about 20 miles away from the capital city of Indiana, Indianapolis, there is plenty of job options right in town; major employers like Indiana Mills & Manufacturing and Porter Engineering Systems. The schools are
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among the best in the state! Also, the high school students SAT scores rank in the top 10% in the United States. Westfield is also a good place to live, not only the schools and the community, but Westfield runs its own race. Its called the Grand Junction Derby. Its

basically the mini version of the Indianapolis 500. At this event, residents of Westfield race homemade soap-box cars. Not only is Westfield a great community, its getting larger and larger. More stores, banks, schools, and more residents. Soon, there
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Dear Cara and Catherine

Dear Cara and Catherine,
As you know Valentines is coming up soon. But I have no clue what to get my boyfriend! Any ideas?

Sincerely, Love Struck Girl

Dear Love Struck Girl, Some of the best things to get your girlfriend or boyfriend are something that you both share. Maybe you both share an important inside joke or a place that you go often. Lets say you both share an inside joke. A good idea is to get something that symbolizes that. Its funny, cute, and only you two will know what it means. Love, Cara and Catherine

SOPA and PIPA Trying to Censor

By: Connor Buckingham Do you like watching videos their sights in protest of the on YouTube with games as the SOPA Act. If the SOPA Act video? Well if President does go into affect people Obama would not be signs yes able to post any to SOPA trailers for they then you would get arIf President Obama signs yes to SOPA cant do rested for Copythen you cant do that anymore and it that anyright and also get will be illegal. more and sued by the comit will be pany who made illegal. the trailer. People Right at cant get big on the internet this moment Obama is from what they used to be dothinking about Vetoing ing. Do you say yes to SOPA the SOPA Act because censoring the internet. Interhe is all about jobs and net Websites like Google and this gives people jobs. Wikipedia and many more put Some people are going a Black Bar on their logo on to protest if he signs yes to SOPA because then they will be out of their own jobs and have to get leaving their home type of jobs. I think that Obama should veto the SOPA Act for I dont want to see a banner on a video because it has a copyrighted video or picture in the background. Do you think that Obama should

Halo vs. Modern Warfare

We all have heard of Halo and Modern Warfare, but do you know the consequences behind them? Out of a survey of 10 people, 7 played violent video games. Sure, a few games with bad influential things in it wouldnt be completely harmful, but there are some things that can be very bad to the human being. Some parents wont let their child go near games with guns in it or blood, etc. The reality is that it can harm people. Maybe not physically (but maybe so), but bad people could get more bad, harmful ideas. Some think that they are just fine to give to children; others are not. We all have heard of Halo and Modern Warfare, but do you know the consequences behind them?
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Out of a survey of 10 people 7 played violent video games. Sure, a few games with bad influential things in it wouldnt be completely harmful, but there are some things that can be very bad to the human being. Some parents wont let their child go near games with guns in it or blood, etc. The reality is that it can harm people. Maybe not physically (but maybe so), but bad people could get more bad, harmful ideas. Some think that they are just fine to give to children; others are completely opposed to even letting them go near them. I think its time to see/hear both sides of the story.

If your parents don't let you play violent games, youre not alone. 1/3 of parents nationwide don't let their kids play violent games either: but the question is-why? Most parents say that kids that play violent video games are more likely to: Tend to be more aggressive Are more prone to confrontation with their teachers May engage in fights with their peers See a decline in school achievements.
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Tiny Tower: Pixel People

Tiny Tower: Pixel People by: Nicky Robinson This app is fun and free! On this app you have your own little tower. If you keep at this game you could have your very own, mini skyscraper! This is what happens: You start with an apartment and a lobby. You have virtual pixel people. You buy floors with the money you make off your shops, restaurants, and the people who live in the apartments (aka the resident fee). Just like a real store, you have to buy and stock up your shops. You can buy up to three things for each store or restaurant. If you want to buy two different items to sell you need two people to work there. If you want to sell three things you need three people to work at the store or restaurant. You can also name your shops and apartments! There is more to this app. But I think you should check it out. This game can be addictive but it is fun and family friendly. I rate this app 4 out 5 stars. Bye for now!

WMS Girls 7th grade basketball Introducing the wonderful WestMads is February 22nd, and th field Middle School 7 Grade Alenas is April 18th. During the Girls Basketball players: Mad Untryouts, they said that it was derhill, Alora very challenging to Arnold, and make the team, and Alena Nusbaum! it was very intense. Alena is on the B In the future, they team, but the think the team will The A team works very well rest of them are be okay, not good, together. on the A team. nor bad. They say Aloras birthday that the A team is March 23rd, works very well to-

gether, but the B team just works okay together. The main thing that they work on in practice is dribbling and shooting. They dont work on that much passing. The first game was good, but they needed to work a little better on defense. All of them have the same favorite player; Cody Zeller. He plays for Indiana University.

Hunger Games: Is it worth it?

By: Megan Jones You may have read the Hunger games. Or you may have not. Well, whether you have or not, youll probably want to read this. If you like the Hunger Games youll want to see exactly how many people havent read or dont like the Hunger Games, so you can pester them about it and make them love it or simply realize what losers they are for not liking it. And if you dont like the Hunger Games you should read this simply to see how lonely you are and how you should change your opinion. Whichever one you find easier to do. Out of the people I interviewed, if youll believe it 50% havent read it. 7% of the people I interviewed didnt like it. They thought it was too mopey. The remaining 42% who have read the books loved them. They thought the books were well written, interesting adventure, hard to put down, depressingly addictive, and a good combination of different genres. Youve heard peoples opinions so now its time for mine. I love it. If you havent read it or hate it change your mind. If you love it good for you! And congratulations!!! Youve won yourself a car! Actually you havent but you should, shouldnt you?

Were number 1!
By Kaelyn Billstrand Westfield, Indiana best in the state and our is currently number 48 high schoolers' SAT out of the 100 best scores are in the top 10% places to live in the in the country! Many United States and numWestfield residents can ber 1 in Indiana. This is find jobs right in town. because our public Two major employers schools are some of the that are providing jobs in
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Westfield are Indiana Mills & Manufacturing and Porter Engineering Systems. Adding to the many things to do in Westfield, Indiana we have just started constructing a 300-acre
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Boys Wrestling
By Allyson McAtamney

The season is just starting for the wrestlers at Westfield Middle school! They are skilled wrestlers with a great record; five wins and only one loss. The season, so far, is going really well and the wrestlers are making great progress with every meet. The thing that they work on the most in practice is drilling and perfecting moves. There is a county tournament on Saturday, March 10th, here at Westfield! The Westfield Invite tournament is on February 25th. The other tournament is the conference tournament and it is sometime in March. The season is looking good, and we will see how Westfield will make it a great season!

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

The movie Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is an intense, action-packed, and comedic movie. It is filled with tragedy and hilarious comedy. It stars Tom Cruise, as the hard-working Ethan Hunt. He is part of the IMF that is shut down due to exposure. The team then has to work together secretly without support from the government. The team includes Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, the technology behind the group. It also includes Paula Patton as Jane Carter, the heartbroken, tough girl of the group. Lastly, the new member is William Brandt played by Jeremy Renner. His boss is killed in a car ambush and has to join the group to survive. Michael Nyqvist plays Kurt Hendricks, the bad guy who is out to get the IMF. Samuli Edelmann plays Wistrom who is a key target for the group. He is using codes to launch nuclear missiles on New York City. The team goes all over the world to catch them. This film deserves 2 thumbs up or 5 stars.

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Boys Wrestling
well and the wrestlers are making great progress with every meet. The thing that they The season is work on the most in just starting for the wrestlers at Westfield practice is drilling and Middle school! They perfecting moves. There is a county tourare skilled wrestlers nament on Saturday, with a great record; th five wins and only one March 10 , here at Westfield! The Westloss. The season, so field Invite tournafar, is going really
By Allyson McAtamney

ment is on February 25th. The other tournament is the conference tournament and it is sometime in March. The season is looking good, and we will see how Westfield will make it a great season!

Valentines Day History

The story of Valentines Day is not widely known. One story suggests that Valentine was a priest in the time of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius believed that single men made better soldiers. He outlawed marriage of young soldiers. Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages in secret. Claudius had Valentine sentenced to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for helping Christian prisoners to escape harsh Roman prisons. An imprisoned Valentine fell in love with the jailors daughter who visited him while he was confined to his cell. The legend states that he wrote her a letter signed From your Valentine. Valentines Day actually originated from a pagan fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. The festival was called Lupercalia. Lupercalia was declared unchristian at

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Valentines Day Statistics Thoughts on Valentine's Day

Mixed Feelings 15% Love it! I'm always single Wait what's that? Finally Have someone to spend it with? HATE IT! 23% 23%

7%

23%

7%

Heart and Soul Clinic

By Kaelyn Billstrand and Cassidy White

The heart and Soul Clinic is a nonprofit organization that has free healthcare and it is open on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. It is in need of donations to help to take care of people. The items that the clinic needs are named on the website. The websites URL is http://www.heartandsoulclinic.org/ and it tells you everything that they need. If you want to help in another way you can to child care, help fill out forms, check in, and some people can help as a doctor and nurse practioner. You can also help outside of the clinic in a committee. You can help with the fashion show and silent auction on April 21st. It is at the East Street Studios from two oclock to four oclock. For more information call (317) 374-5804. You can always help whether it is from donations or volunteering.

NFL Playoff Picture

AFC Patriots vs. Ravens Baltimore Ravens plays the New England Patriots. One of them have to go to the Super Bowl, Brady vs. Flacon in a clash for a spot in the Super Bowl, the last time the Ravens have never played Patriots the in the playoffs.. NFC Giants vs 49ers Giants play the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers and the Giants have both been in this position before. The 49ers have actually been better than other team I think they are better than the Saints or the Packers. The 49ers havent been to the Playoffs for 11yrs. Its unbelievable that the 49ers went 0-16 8 years ago.

Halo vs. Modern Warfare Continued

But why do video games have the effects on kids? The answer is in the brain. In a study, a group of kids played "Medal of Honor". After 30 minutes, the group was then given MRIs to scan their brain activity. The results? Kids that play violent video games have a high activity in the part if the brain responsible for emotional sensitivity. This doesnt mean youll go on a shooting rampage after playing "Call of Duty," but it does mean it affects your brain. The study was done for only measured after thirty minutes. What about the hundreds of hours some kids play? That affect could be permanent.