The Paw Print

Book Review
How Not To Be Popular

Written by Jennifer Ziegler

by Ashlyn Summerbell

Ms. Ziegler author of How Not to Be Popular visited our school and held several breakout sessions with aspiring 8th grade writers. She also spoke to selected groups of students about what inspires her to write for a middle school audience.

“The book has a thrilling effect on teenagers to keep making them read,” said Ms. Ziegler. Maggie moves from place to place and finally decides it’s time to stop. She makes herself into a dork to make her family move back. What will Maggie do to get her parents to stop relocating? Can she change her families’ minds?

“Well they say write what you know,” Ziegler said. “It’s hard to say if I was popular. I didn’t feel popular, but I was liked!”

Writing what you know well certainly helped the talented Ms. Ziegler. Her book is a top-rated book. Hold slips go out like hot cakes in libraries.

“I think there is a little of me in every character of my books,” Ziegler said. “Carter makes puns all the time and I love puns. Maggie isn’t me, but we both tend to avoid conflicts. I have a sardonic inner voice just like her though.”

by Darian

Loghan (7) Volleyball (A-Team)

HEIGHT

5’ 1”

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD PLAYLIST?

I have Pop-- Replay By Iyaz and Falling for You by Colbie

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE READ?

I read magazines because there is more gossip.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RADIO STATION AND PERSONALITY?

I listen to 96.7 Kiss FM, and I adore Bobby Bones’s personality because he is funny, and I could relate to him.

WHAT DO YOU DO AS ‘DOWN TIME’?

I play Volleyball or Basketball.

WHO'S YOUR HERO?

My hero is Brianna because she is a really good basketball player.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU 'GROW UP'?

I want to be a trainer.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VOLLEYBALL?

I love just hitting the ball as hard as I can.



Mandy (7) Volleyball (A-Team)

HEIGHT

I am 5ft. 3in.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD PLAYLIST?

Hip-hop pretty much

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE READ?

I don’t like to read, so I don’t have one.

WHAT RADIO STATION DO YOU LISTEN TO?

I listen to 93.3 and 96.7 FM.

WHAT DO YOU DO AS ‘DOWN TIME’?

I love hanging out with friends.

WHO IS YOUR HERO?

Bekkah is my hero!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?

I haven’t decided yet.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VOLLEYBALL?

I like digging for balls (diving for the volleyballs).



Julie (7) Volleyball (B-Team)

HEIGHT

I am 5’ 1” (the shortest middle blocker on the team)

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD PLAYLIST?

I have hip-hop and alternative punk (All Time Low and The Maine)

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO READ-MAGAZINE OR BOOK?

I read Teen Vogue. It comes in the mail.

WHAT RADIO STATION DO YOU LISTEN TO?

I listen to 96.7 Kiss FM, 93.3 FM, and 105.9.

WHO IS YOUR HERO?

My hero is Bob Marley, Darian and Clair. They are the best!”

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?

I want to be a photographer, a rapper or a professional Volleyball player.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VOLLEYBALL?

Serving, setting, blocking and the team. I love them all.

7th Grade Football
Press Release from Coach Walton

The 7th grade Jaguar football teams took on Canyon Vista Monday night at Dragon Stadium.

The B-team continued their winning streak by beating up on the Mustangs 26 to nothing. Offensively, Harrison K., Kolten H., Logan L, and Cameron C. scored for the Jags. On the defensive side, Adam T. Johnny H, and Luke C. had stand-out games. The B-team had a district record of 5 wins and 2 losses.

In the A-team game, Quintin L, Dean L, and Derien R. had touchdowns as Cedar Valley beat Canyon Vista 22 to 8. Dustin N. had two interceptions and Josh C. had a couple of sacks to lead the defense. The A-team has a district record of 6 wins and 1 loss.

Both 7th grades teams finished their seasons on November 9, at Stony Point 9th Grade Center against the Hopewell Hornets.

8th Grade Football Results

Press Release from Coach Willis

The seventh grade team records were A-team 6-2-1 and B-team 5-4. The eighth grade record was as follows: A-team 6-1-1 and B-team was 7-1


The 8th grade A-team has won three district championships in a row and the 8th grade B-team has won SIX district championships IN A ROW.

Scorecards

September 15
Cedar Valley 40, Grisham 0 A Team
Cedar Valley 42, Grisham 6 B Team

September 23
Cedar Valley 0, Westview 0 A Team
Cedar Valley 14, Westview 8 B Team

September 29
Cedar Valley 46, CD Fulkes 0 A Team
Cedar Valley 28, CD Fulkes 6 B Team

October 6
Cedar Valley 36, Chisholm Trail 0 A Team
Cedar Valley 38, Chisholm Trail 8 B Team

October 14
Cedar Valley 20, Deerpark 0 A Team
Cedar Valley 38, Deerpark 6 B Team

October 21
Cedar Valley Walsh Game Cancelled-Lightning in Area A Team
Cedar Valley 32, Walsh 6, Game Cancelled 2nd Qtr. Lightning B Team

October 28
Cedar Valley 16, Ridgeview 12 A Team
Cedar Valley 8, Ridgeview 12 B Team

November 3
Cedar Valley 8, Canyon Vista 12 A Team
Cedar Valley 54, Canyon Vista 6 B Team

November 10
Cedar Valley 14, Hopewell 8 A Team
Cedar Valley 30, Hopewell 8 B Team

book review

by Mai-Lan

Many are discouraged by the size of this book—The City of Bones by Claire Cassandra. But this is one that once you start, you can’t put down. The plot of the story is heart racing and exciting. Clare Cassandra did an amazing job hooking the reader. Clary, the main character is a girl who most teenage girls can relate to. And Jace is what some girls dream about—in their boyfriends.

City of Bones is not your typical, sappy and predictable love story where the girl falls hard for a boy, has a mishap of problems and then gets her guy. You will find action packed between the covers and adventures of Shadowhunters, who are like fallen angels who protect mundane (humans) and exterminate Downworlders--were wolves, vampires and warlocks. Every page has you itching to read it to the finish. Adventure, suspense and the supernatural are weaved into each line.

And then there is the sequel! The City of Ashes is a continuation of the Mortal Instruments. The second book is just as well written as the first! Anyone who enjoyed the Twilight series will enjoy the Mortal Instruments Series. Although this series has more adventure than Twilight does, it makes it all the better! Stephenie Meyer—watch out! The Mortal Instruments Series might bump Twilight down on the readers’ favorite book list!

Think your life is complicated? Well ask Clary how complicated her life is, and you’ll be listening for a while! Clary was thrown into a world she never knew possible. Her new discoveries make her start questioning her mother’s foggy past and who she really is. What has her mother been hiding from her, all her life? What really happened to her father and who is he? What’s in the box her mother keeps and cries over each year? Clary is questioning everything she thought was true. When a hot mysterious guy walks into her life things only get more confusing. But Clary is set on getting her answers. Follow this determined red-head through her battles of love, life and questions.

by Emily

You know the typical dance routine. Mom drops you off, you meet your friends for laughs, joke around before you grab snacks and hang out near the gym hallway, gossip and then you enter the dimly lit gym with strobe lights moving every which direction. You begin to dance the night away as the DJ plays your favorite tunes. You enjoy yourself and make a dozen or so trips to the concession stand.

The latest hip-hop and rap music is blaring, chosen and clean cut, from our favorite DJ, and there is always some major teen drama behind the scenes.

But do you ever think about who gets the dance stage ready with decorations, who brings in the concession candy and drinks, how the tables get set up and who prices out the concessions list?

That’s where we, the Advanced Theatre and seventh grade classes, come in. The Theatre Troupe plays a huge role in preparing for three out of five dances. Being in Advanced Theatre and a top leader in the Theatre Arts class, “working the counter” and setting up for the dance are considered a top priority in my book. “Working the counter” isn’t exactly a bad way to rally up some NJHS hours either.

Behind the concession stand is an interesting way to help out my advanced class. I feel like I owe it to my teacher Mrs. Baker. She puts her faith in me by entrusting me with keys that unlock most doors in the school. Before the dance, we retrieve the coolers and set them up.

It’s my duty to solicit volunteers with jobs so they can assist me in setting up. More than once I have trusted the wrong person and had to personally fix the issue at hand; all part of the job. The work isn’t easy, but I prefer the challenge and staying busy.

Overseeing the decorations and food preparations also makes my job a difficult one. If a small detail is missed or not finished, it’s up to me to make it right. Prior to the dance, I write down the types of food, candy and soda that we sell. On an ordinary night, we sell soda products such as Coke, Sprite and Dr. Pepper. Candy includes Skittles, Fruit Punch Straws and various chocolates. Pizza is a main contribution to our concession stand. The price list varies from 50 cents to 1.50 for pizza.

Working the stand itself is more than enough work for anyone. I compare it to a fast food restaurant at rush hour. The first few minutes are slow and then, boom, it picks up and we are rushing about trying to fill orders and count out exact change quickly. If we have enough volunteers, we take shifts so no one gets too tired, and we can work through the night without problems. We even get a break so we can dance too.

Overall I relish the chance I have to prove I can do well under pressure and be responsible with a job. I hope Mrs. Baker will continue to trust me and ask for my help when the next dance rolls around. She needs a strong leader to assist her “behind the counter.”

than just the shoes off your feet

by Rebecca, Managing Editor

It might just be every kid’s dream to see their favorite band play live on stage. The Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival attracts teenagers that are dying to hear their favorite band by waiting in a long line for a wrist band and surviving the torrential rain that beat downtown Austin to a mud pie.

“I couldn’t even believe that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were playing live! “It was totally awesome,” commented a teenager at the festival.

The ACL Fest sets up stages and brings in international bands and songwriters to Zilker Park every late September or early October. The most popular bands were the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The B-52’s, Pearl Jam, Spearhead and Toadies.

One of the best parts of the festival is the lights! The sky is filled with a light show that can be seen from miles away. People of all ages dance and sing to the music. When the bands finish up, the crowds scramble out to the charter buses to head back to the parking lots.

“I was amazed at how many people actually got up and started dancing to the music,” said a cashier at a food booth. The second day of the ACL Fest was horrible! It rained and thundered all day creating loads of smelly mud because of the dillo dirt that paved the seating areas. If you were wearing flip-flops, you ended up bare-footed by the end of the night.

Sunday was the worst day to be at the festival—lots of trash left by inconsiderate concert seekers, half-eaten food, gnats and loads of muddy shoes. There was even a size 12 shoe covered in mud and lying in the trash bin.

“It was disgusting! I hope next time they look at the weather forecast,” said Larunce, a man who attended the ACL.

But don’t let the weather stop you from coming to an ACL Festival at least once. The best part is the music, which grips ACL fans every year.

Trick or Treat


by Julia

What is Halloween? Is it merely a holiday of candy and costumes? Some may think so, but Halloween is so much more than asking for a cavity and scaring little kids—it is a celebration.

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, celebrated their New Year on November 1, a time of year that was often associated with human death because of the dark, cold winter. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain—, when it it wwasas believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. Some religions refer to this as The Day of the Dead. The night before the nnew yyear, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became become blurred, and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.

The festival would frequently involve bonfires. It was believed that the fires attracted insects to the area which attracted bats to the area. In addition, masks and consumescostumes were worn (typically consisting of animal heads and skins) in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or appease them, and. The Celts also triedattempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires from the sacred bonfire , which they had extinguished earlier that evening, to help protect them during the coming winter.

Trick-or-treating may have developed in America independent of any Irish or British antecedent. There is little primary Halloween history documentation of masking or costuming on Halloween in Ireland, the UK, or America before 1900. The earliest known reference to ritual begging on Halloween in North America occurs occurred in 1911.

It was normal for the smaller children to go to the street visiting shops and neighbors and to be rewarded with nuts and candies for their rhymes and songs. The "trick" part of "trick or treat" is a threat to play a trick on the homeowner or his property if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating is one of the main traditions of Halloween. It does not seem to have become a widespread practice until the 1930’s.

It has become socially expected that if one lives in a neighborhood with children, one should purchase candies in preparation for trick-or-treaters, but the horses don’t want to be left out either!.

Mrs. Dowd said, “I love Halloween because you can act like a kid. I don’t ever want to grow up. I went to a kid’s Halloween party and watched my grandson act like a Wild Thing while his baby brother, Everett, who was dressed as Max, sipped on his bottle. Everett is two months. Graham also loved watching his best friend who was dressed as Cinderella. She wore shoes that lit up.”

Halloween is a time for families, fun, and laughing at the kids as they hunt for the best house with candy and carved pumpkins.

by Kayla


Have you ever read a really good book and then had the sudden dream to write your own novel someday? Most kids have, and thanks to a program called NaNoWriMo, kids of all ages can set goals of writing during the month of November.


NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. November is the national month for writing, so NaNoWriMo gives kids all over the world a creative outlet to simply write, write, write! Before November, the participants decide what their novel will be about, design their plot and characters and set their word count goal, which can be anywhere from one hundred words to fifty-thousand words. October is all pre-planning and is not part of the actual writing, so it’s “illegal” to write during October, according to the NaNoWriMo rules. But once November comes, you’d better get started!!!


NaNoWriMo has two official programs—one for adults (ages thirteen and up) and the Young Writers Program, which is for kids under thirteen and their mentors. Mr. Esquivel is the mentor at our school, and we have 14 kids in the program this year, three of which are from other schools.


NaNoWriMo officially starts on November 1, at 12:00 a.m. and officially ends at 11:59 p.m. on November 30. Any writing before or after these times is not permitted. To help kids over the anxiety (and in some cases, happiness) of not writing until November, the official website of NaNoWriMo has ongoing forums and pages where kids can write summaries of their stories or get other kids’ opinions on their ideas. Once the writing starts, there are also places on the site where kids can record their stories, give excerpts and get their word count. There are also cool prizes at the end of the month for anyone who made their goal and participation badges for those who didn’t.


Most kids, given the opportunity, can come up with very original ideas for stories. Start looking at the bookshelves more closely, because sometime in the near future, you might see a book up there with your BFF’s name on it!

Uniforms make their way into schools

by Emily J.
Summer is wrapping up with only one more week left—to stay up late, hang out with friends and take cool dips in your pool. Before you know it August breezes in and school is in full swing—homework becomes a daily routine, pools close and your tan disappears. Your parents are probably nagging you about money.You earned the big bucks babysitting or mowing lawns, but spent it on movies, candy and clothes.

Students browse the latest fashion magazines looking for that perfect first day of school outfit. Sometimes the best styles can be found at the budget stores like Target—everyone’s fav. But for a lot of kids the newest rage in fashions—from flip flops to skinny jeans and designer tops costs parents a pay check. The latest trends with bright colors, bling it on jewelry and Lucky Jeans can add up at the register at Macy’s. Costs can range anywhere from $60 to $200 for a pair of Lucky Jeans. A Coach bag can cost as much as $400 dollars on sale! A Hollister hoodie can run anywhere from $30 to $60!

Private schools and some public and charter schools across the US are moving to a different trend. The kids at these schools wear khaki shorts or skirts with a tucked in polo shirt. They wear penny loafers or tennis shoes and flip flops and jeans are not allowed. These schools require kids to wear uniforms that are purchased through a local vendor. The kids don’t have to worry or waste time searching for the perfect outfit each morning. They have four or five polos and plenty of khakis—they just pull one off a hanger each morning and get dressed. They have time to spend with their dog in the morning before school instead of rushing off with a bagel and forgetting their homework.

The obvious choice for most kids in middle school is to be able to wear whatever the latest trend is and for girls, to look cute for their weekly crush. But just think about how simple your life would be if you didn’t have to worry about what people thought about your color combo or that favorite dress you begged for at Anthropology and your mom actually bought it for you because you promised you’d wear it.

Kids and adults argue how uniforms take away from the individuality of kids and that’s how they express themselves, but that is the lamest excuse ever! The most ironic part of it all is that most kids don’t even express themselves with what they wear. They follow the “cool crowd” and wear what they say you should wear—which is currently Hollister, Abercrombie and American Eagle. If you don’t wear those brands you can kiss your cool rep goodbye. Kids have lots of ways to express themselves –they have music, friends, after hour hangouts—a pizza parlor, the mall or the neighborhood park.

There are twenty six students in my 7 and 8 grade art class. 76% of the class thought school uniforms were the wrong way to go. The other 28% of them agreed that the new trend hitting the fashion magazines should be school uniforms.

“The old school I went to required uniforms. They were terrible, and I didn’t like it at all. On Fridays there was an exception to wear jeans. That was the craziest we ever got,” said Caroline (7).

Margie (8) said, “I think uniforms would be a good idea because you wouldn’t have to spend so much time in the morning thinking of what to wear. If we had to wear uniforms I’d like to wear a plaid skirt with a white button up shirt.”

She also mentioned that kids are being judged by what they wear and uniforms would prevent this. I mean really, school is for learning. It’s not a fashion show. That’s what my dad has taught me!

Animes, Mangas and Pocky?

by Michelle

Anime Art Club had its first official meeting on Tuesday, October 13, in Mr. Osborne’s room. Members will meet every Friday from 3:30 to 4:00. In December the meetings will move to Tuesdays.

Anime is a form of Japanese animated films (i.e. Death Note, Bleach, Naruto, etc.). Manga,is a Japanese comic book read from back to front.

During the meetings, club members draw and discuss different Animes and Mangas, and debate over which ones are better all while eating chocolate covered pretzel sticks called Pocky. During the school year members may watch Anime films. The club runs by parliamentary procedure and a president, vice-president, historian and internalist are elected. Election day was October 16. Our president, Helen (8), and vice-president, Courtney (8) will plan events such as meeting days, parties, contests and other activities. The historian, Jessica (8), takes pictures and records what we do over the course of the year. We hope to create a history of our year by creating an end-of-the-year ‘yearbook.’ The internalist, Patrick (8), designs the club’s web page and manages it throughout the year.

“The Game,” said club member Helen (8), “is a favorite of mine.”

It is often played by Anime Club members, so don’t be surprised if you hear someone yell, “I LOST THE GAME!” at the top of their lungs. Inside jokes and games are common among members—words only obvious if you attend the meetings.

If Japanese art is of interest to you or simply hanging out with fun, outgoing people, you should head on down to Mr. Osborne’s class every Friday after school. We welcome newcomers from every grade.

book review

by Kayla

If you’re looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend Unwind by Neal Shusterman. This science fiction thriller is set in the future. The story is about unwinding kids between the ages of 13 and 18. It is legal and perfectly common for parents to unwind their kids, some as a part of their religion, others just for space and costs. Unwinding isn't seen as killing because the teenagers live—but in a divided state.

The story is centered around three potential unwinds who escape and race to survive until their 18th birthday. They are brought together by chance and held together by desperation. These three kids accomplish tasks unimaginable in their journey to evade humanity. They hide in schools, disguise themselves as bombers and  even grab a baby along the way! The world is in chaos—the Storking Law allows you to give your baby away as long as you aren’t caught and unwinding your kid.
The unwinding of children happens at housing places called harvest camps. The kids are sent there, given an orientation and then disturbingly kept conscious throughout the process! Their blood is extracted from their body and replaced with air—then they are spoken to while their body parts are cut off and taken away, until the very last moment when they can see no more.
Unwind is full of suspense, romance and action. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction and likes reading action-packed novels. It is a futuristic book, so who knows what might happen if a sequel is written.  I think almost anyone will enjoy it. Unwind is also on the Lone Star Book List, so grab a copy in the library!

WARNING: SOME MATERIAL IN THIS BOOK MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

H1N1 arrives with fall
by Heeyoung


In late April of 2009, the first cases of the H1N1 virus infection appeared in the United States. The virus is a contagious airborne disease similar to the seasonal flu. The virus has thousands of different kinds of strains, and H1N1 is just a new, different strain. That’s exactly why it’s feared so much—because it’s new and unknown and people don’t know what to expect from it. When you feel sick and are scared because you think you might have H1N1, just remember that it’s only another type of the seasonal flu people get every year. You’re most likely not going to be pushing up daisies any time soon.

It is true that the H1N1 virus seems to be widespread, though. On Monday, September 21, it was recorded that in our school district, 2,889 students out of 42,737 were absent from school, not just from the flu, but also general illnesses or otherwise. That’s about 6.76% of our school district.

Keep in mind, however, that students are returning to school relatively quickly, and the cases of H1N1 reported have only been mild to moderate. Neither the H1N1 influenza nor the seasonal flu has been called an epidemic in Round Rock by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the government. Therefore, nobody can claim it’s an epidemic.

There isn’t a vaccine out for the H1N1 virus specifically yet, but it’s expected to be available to the public by early October. That’s no reason not to protect yourself from seasonal flu. If you can’t afford the $20-$30 vaccine, the district is offering plenty of programs where students can get their shot for free. Still, keep in mind that no vaccine can offer 100% protection.

Some symptoms parents should look for in their children that complain of flu like symptoms include fever, coughing, sore throat, headaches and/or body aches and fatigue, to name a few. Sounds sort of familiar, doesn’t it? Yes, H1N1 symptoms are very similar to symptoms for the seasonal flu. The only difference is some vomiting and diarrhea. If you have any of the symptoms listed, you should pay your doctor a visit, just in case. Parents should not send their children to school if they are not feeling well and have a fever. Keep students home until they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without the help of fever-reducing medicine.

While parents are worrying about their children’s health, kids who get sick are worrying about making up all the schoolwork they missed. Students who are ill can now rest without anxiety because there will be plenty of opportunities to make up that school work; the school board is doing everything they can to make sure everyone can catch up and no child is left behind.

If you haven’t contracted the flu, you can stay healthy and control the spread of germs with some common sense! Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and most importantly, wash your hands as often as you can with soap and water.

The bottom line is nobody likes to feel sick, just like nobody likes bad breath or being stuck at work when the air conditioning’s down. Do your part and make sure you’re not the reason students are home sick.

“Everyone can do their part in trying to limit the amount of germs we come in contact with,” Round Rock ISD's Director of Community Relations JoyLynn Occhiuzzi said. “If you have a fever, you really need to stay at home. We are asking parents, students and staff to honor that request.”

Now that's something we can all agree is a necessity.

FACE OFF



by Paige

book review
by Kaitlin

Do you like adventure books? How about fantasy or even romance? The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the perfect book for any type of reader. It is set in the distant future. A deadly televised game has been invented, The Hunger Games.

Every year two people from each district are chosen—One girl and one boy. They must join all the other “champions” to battle in an arena, until only one champion remains. This is the Hunger Games. When Katniss volunteers to step up and take her sister’s place in these deadly games, everyone is astonished by her amazing kindness, but kindness won’t win this game.

A mix of adventure, fantasy, and some romance… this book is perfect for anyone. Suzanne Collins has made it impossible to stop reading this intriguing page-turner. Better yet, The Hunger Games is a Lonestar book! Head down to the library right now and ask for a copy of The Hunger Games—you won’t be disappointed!!