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The Weekly HopliteMay 2, 2016 Volume I, Issue 2

The Middle School Dance Is this FRIDAY!!!!MS dance promises to be a blast!Joely MicekThe food, the drinks, the upbeat music. Nothing could beat the final dance of the year, which is happening this Friday. With a beachy summertime theme, the MS dance will get us all in the spirit of summer!.

Student Council has been working hard to make sure this dance is one to remember. I have a few insider details about the dance. There will be another photo booth, the DJ is Josh Getz, and there will be plenty of Sour Patch Kids. Details:

● Admission is $5.00● Bring extra money for raffles!● Donate slightly used shoes for

the Central PA Animal Alliance

● No bathing suits please!● The dance starts at 7:00 and

ends promptly at 9:30 PM! Please have your parents pick

you up ON TIME!

Current sixth graders enjoying last

Did You Know?Julia ToyerDid you know that baby carrot are made from…...UGLY CARROTS! There was a farmer who was throwing away a lot of carrots that were too bent to sell. He realized that by shaping them down he could create BABY CARROTS! Baby carrots are now a one billion dollar company.But do we really know what the carrots are made in? There was a rumor going around that they were soaked in chloride. It is partly true. The carrots are soaked in a water chloride solution. Do not worry the water solution only has 4 ppm chloride in it!

McCarthy, Sky. "The Truth behind Baby Carrots." Fox News. FOX News Network, 07 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.

Academy students help Syrian refugeesJulia Toyer Shawky Darwish, a ninth grader at the academy, is helping Syrian refugees. I had the privilege to ask him some questions.What made you think to start helping the Syrian Refugees?What really pushed me to start helping the refugees was to help show others that these refugees are people too. In today's society, they are often demonized, and I think we need to realize that they need our help. I tried to unite the Greater Harrisburg Area in helping people who really need it.

What do you personally do to help?In addition to organizing the charity event, I am beginning to start teaching these refugees English.

How can people at the Academy help?The best thing the people at the Academy can do to help is to donate and get the word out! Its really getting difficult for these refugees, and even donating something simple, such as a notebook can help. Also, everybody should tell their parents about what's going on and how we could help.

Why should people Help?I feel that people should help because something like this could happen to us at any moment. Imagine your home (continued on page 3)

2year’s final dance!

Hoplite discusses racismWhy is the word “racist” thrownAround so much?

Recently we’ve been asked this question, and we decided to make it

an entire article. We asked Ms. Virginia for some professional help. This is what she said.

1. What exactly is racism?

A belief that some kinds of people are better than other kinds of people justbecause of what they believe, where they come from and/or what they looklike. This belief is then used as an excuse or a reason to treat others unfairly and/or with cruelty.

2 .What are some actual examples of racist behavior?

Obviously some forms of racism are easy to recognize, like the absolute cruelty inflicted by the Nazi’s, or on the Native people of our country, or the enslavement of Africans, or the unfair and cruel treatment many minority groups face. It is sometimes harder to identify more subtle forms of racism or bias. Those can come in the form of making unfair assumptions about others based on their race, or telling jokes that make fun of people based on their race or the group to which they belong or identify.

3. Is racist to ask someone what race they are?

The simple answer is no, it is not. But

personal question that you do so in a respectful and sensitive manner. Talking about race and or heritage is one really great way to learn about one another.

4. Is it okay to refer to someone as “black” or “white”?

The easy answer is yes. But again, it is important to be respectful and be consistent. It should be a descriptive word, not a label. If one is telling a story about a group of people and only one of the individuals is described by the color of her skin, it implies that distinction means something and that they are different. Sometimes different can be interpreted as a put down or that they are separate and not a part of the rest of the group somehow. I follow the rule that if it is necessary to the conversation to make a distinction about someone’s color, then I make sure I use a label for everyone. Always remember that even the most commonly-used terms can feel like a put down if said with a mean inflection, so intent is as important as word choice.

5. Is it wrong to assume racial stereotypes are true?

I guess it depends on what you are assuming! We all use stereotypes as a way of organizing and categorizing what we know about people. This is not unlike the chunking technique I taught in Study Skills class. Breaking down a large group into smaller groups as a way of distinguishing them from one another. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is very important that one remembers it is a grouping based on similarities, not a definition of the person, and not a reliable way of knowing very much about an individual. For example, it is a stereotype that medical doctors are good at chemistry. That is an assumption based on knowing what kind of education medical students have achieve to become a doctor. But to make that same assumption based on skin color

6. Why do you think students are misusing this word?

I think it is because by the end of 5th grade it is very common to start experimenting with new words and labeling. This is mostly a way of trying to understand things and figure out what how they are the same and how they are different from one another. There is also a bit of new found power with trying out new words and phrases; sometimes to see what kind of reaction they will get, sometimes because they think it will make others laugh, and sometimes because they just have not thought about it enough and are being impulsive. I think it really boils down to a lack of experience and reflection about how to talk about the differences and similarities that they are now more aware of in the group. The good news is, we can talk about it and learn more about what words mean and how powerful they can be, in good ways, and in bad.

7. What can we do to stop the word from being thrown around randomly?

Have discussions and practice!

If you have anymore questions about racism or any other important topic that you’d like to see discussed, please contact micek.j@hbgacademy.orgmann.j@hbgacademy.orgtoyer.j@hbgacademy.orgmendelsohn.z@hbgacademy.org

Or you can contact Ms.Virginia

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it is important to remember that when you are asking a new friend a

would be pretty silly.

(“Refugees,” continued from page 1)

country being the center of bombing and gunshots day and night. We have to sympathize with these people, no matter your political views.

Why are the Syrian people fleeing from their country?Being Egyptian, I know first-hand how a revolution or political uprising can lead to nation-wide poverty. In Syria, there are currently three opposing forces fighting each other. The first is the government, headed by Bashar al-Assad. Being an Alawite Muslim, he often oppresses other religions. The second group is ISIS and their supporters. ISIS is a terrorist group whose main goal is to reinstate the Muslim Caliph by means of violence. The third group is the US backed coalition, whose goal is to bring back peace and security. These three groups have turned the Syrian landscape into a war zone.

Why is it important to care about this topic?It is important to care about this topic because we have to sympathize with others! As I said before, this could happen to anyone at any time. We also have to realize that these people's homes have been destroyed. They did not choose to come here – they had to flee. .

Shawky Darwish displays the donation bins located in front of the library.

Do You Know That Teacher?Joely Micek

Her favorite ice cream flavors are mint chocolate chip and pistachio.

Her favorite color is Pistachio Green and Salmon Pink.

Her favorite restaurant to go to on Saturdays is Harvest Grill.

Her favorite subject in school was literature or reading.

Her favorite show is CBS Sunday Mornings.

The book she is currently reading is Wake Up Missing.

Who Is This Teacher?

Email us who you think it is atmicek.j@hbgacademy.org toyer.j@hbgacademy.org

Good Deed of the WeekJulia ToyerIf you would like to nominate someone to be featured in this section please contact Julia Toyer or Joely Micek at their school emails. You can also put a note in the mailbox. It can be anonymous or not.

“Dear Penelope” is an advice column for middle school students. Please submit anonymous questions to the mailbox outside of Mrs. Haywood’s room.

Dear Penelope,Why does everyone try to get up in people’s business?

I think people want to feel involved. If someone tries to get in your business try to include them next time!

Dear Penelope,Why do people talk behind other people's backs?

I think people do that because they are jealous or they want to be the center of attention. If somebody does that to you go talk to them and ask them to stop. Or talk to a responsible adult.

Coming Next Week…● New Principal!● Weird Days of

Celebration● International Night● Book Review● Baby Gecko

4Academy students have already made a number of donations for refugees.

Poetry and ArtPoetry Corner

Paths you takeBy Sondo YoonOn top of a treeOne nest, once aliveDelicate twigsThe one eggLeft aliveWithering in the windWith us besideWe feel the WindGently at firstTurn into A violent burstIt is comingClose behindYou can see it It has not much time

SwingsBy Adele HarrisI hear the children’s gigglesI see boys and girlsChasing after each otherSwingingAnd talkingAs I swing

Would you like to see your poetry and art in this section? Email it or drop it off in Mrs. Haywood’s room!

Artist Of The WeekReagan Starret

Colored By: Arielle Bunce

Send us your Art

Every week we will feature the artwork of Harrisburg Academy students. You can send your digital art to micek.j@hbgacademy.org or toyer.j@hbgacademy.org or you can drop off any art on paper at the mailbox outside of Mrs. Haywood’s room!

Email: Editors: Joely Micek, Julia ToyerWriters: Arielle Bunce, Jasleen Mann, Zoe MendelsohnPhotographers: Joely Micek, Arielle Bunce, Mrs. HaywoodAdvisor: Mrs. Haywood

Questions?