Buccy Pride Press

Chili is at good Sycamore

adviser — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:39:20 +0000

On March 24^th, Mrs. Hosokawa hosted a chili cook-off. Four of Sycamore’s resident chefs, Mr. Bonales, Mr. Cavanagh, Mr. McQuerrey, and Mr. Wons provided their personal chili recipes and teams of students in Mrs. Hosokawa’s class attempted to cook them.

It was a themed event and each team decorated their tables and prepared side dishes and desserts to compliment the chili. At lunchtime, the four chef-teachers joined the students and ate their own chili. Everyone admired the table decorations. There were lots of interesting handmade paper decorations. The desserts ranged from ice cream to cake to pie. The students really challenged themselves to prepare a wonderful meal and present it beautifully.

The student teams and the four teachers also judged each of the chilies, the decorations and side dishes. At the end of the day, Mr. Bonales’ chili was voted number one, making him a two time winner of cooking competitions at Sycamore.

The Buccy Fast Pass

adviser — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:21:45 +0000

Here at Sycamore, it is a privilege to receive a Buccy Fast Pass. A Buccy Fast Pass allows students to advance to the front of the lunch line without having to wait. Buccy Fast Passes are awarded to students if they are caught doing something good such as cleaning up after themselves during lunch. Sometimes, teachers give them to students who participate in class. The students who receive a Buccy Fast Pass are allowed to take one friend along with them to the front of the line. Another good thing about receiving a Buccy Fast Pass is that you don’t have to worry about not getting your favorite food.

I asked people around the school what they thought about the Buccy Fast Passes. Mr. Garcia, a Sycamore teacher loves Buccy Fast Passes and said, “I think they are a great tool for rewarding students for doing great things.” Mr. Garcia also told me that he thought “it reinforces positive behavior with our students.” When asked if he’d noticed behavior changes, Mr. Garcia replied, “Yes, I have. I’ve seen students picking up trash and being polite.”

David Perez, a Sycamore student was asked about Buccy Fast Passes and said, “I think they are awesome because you get to cut in the line.”

Not everyone agreed with Mr. Garcia and David Perez some people had a very different opinion. Amairany Popoca thinks, “It’s unfair that you have to earn it, and that you only get to take one friend.”

Buccy fast passes are a privilege here at Sycamore Jr. High. As you can see, people have very different opinions about the passes. What do you think about them?

Sycamore cross county has good season

adviser — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:28:49 +0000

On your marks! Get set! Go! The seventh grade open race begins. Brookhurst takes the lead immediately and out from behind comes a Sycamore student. Who will win this epic race? The runners are making the final turn.
In first place, Dale, then comes Sycamore. The Sycamore seventh graders take second place. I got a word from Brian Reyes, “Cross country was fun and was also a great experience.” Sycamore is proud of these runners.
Next comes the eighth graders open race. The racers get ready to go. The starter gun is fired! The runners rush to the finish. The racers are at the final turn and Sycamore takes second again! Taking second place is our own Ivan Gutierrez.
Now starts the elite races. The elite races feature the faster runners in each grade, running a 2 mile race. First up is the girls’ seventh grade elite race. The girls get ready and bang! The girls are off. The crowd screams as Sycamore gets in the lead. Who will win?
Sycamore maintains its lead. They finish one mile but, there is still one mile to go. Sycamore is still in first place. The final turn is here and Sycamore takes first place! We got a word from Ms. Johnson, “I am proud of my girls for trying their best.”
Next up is the seventh grade boys’ elite runners. The boys are set. The starter gun is fired. Everybody runs as fast as they can. This is what the seventh grade runners have been training for. They finish one mile and after one more final turn, Dale had won. What a disappointment! I got a word from Joel Ortiz, “I had a fun time.”
Lining up in the starting line are the eighth grade girls’ elite runners. They get into starting positions and BANG! The starter gun is fired. The girls are off. Sycamore is in the lead. Oh no! Sycamore lost the lead. Our own Rachel Pauu is in third place. Who will win this race? The final turn and Sycamore finishes third place.
Next up are the boys’ eighth grade elite runners. This is what everybody has been waiting for. The boys get in position. The starter raises his gun. He shoots, and the boys are off. Immediately taking the lead is Dale with Sycamore’s Oscar Salas right behind them. He has been training for this for a long time. They pass the first mile mark. Oscar Salas maintains his lead. The final turn and Oscar Salas finishes in fifth. Finishing in the top ten were Oscar Salas and Erik SNot only did Oscar finishes in the top ten so also Erik Macedo.
Next up is the all important awards ceremony. Sycamore seventh grade girls take first place. After a lot of work, the eight grade boys take second place. This is quite an amazing victory.

College week a learning experience

adviser — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:49:22 +0000

March 15 to 19 was college week. During PE classes, students learned about colleges and universities. AVID did activities during lunch, and seventh period classes decorated their doors with college themed items. Students wore college T-Shirts, but only if they wore a college bracelet that said, “I am going to college.”
Friday was the best day of college week. Students from AVID and Gear-Up came to our school to show how their school is the best college or universities of the state. In the gym, students watched setting up pan flits, talking, and watching a video about college. They were setting up boards of many different colleges.

At the end of the day, judges of the door-decorating contest chose the winning doors. AVID was going to give a pizza party for the winning class for the decorating contest.

Sycamore Drumline one of the best, again?

adviser — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:22:14 +0000

Congratulations to Sycamore’s Drum Line for another great competition season. Their theme this year was the “Golden Spud”, a scene from Indiana Jones. The battery members were dressed as mummies and an artistic plot in the performance mad the judges go wild.

Mr. Gordon, the drum line teacher, composed and taught them their music. The students believe they are so successful because they put a lot of work and practice hours in. They practice from 2:45 to 4:45 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They often put in Saturday practice time as well.

The drum line had two competitions in March. On March 20^th, they traveled Mission Hills High School in San Marcos. They competed against seven other junior high schools and finished in 1^st place with 84.6 points. On March 27^th they traveled to Riverside and again finished with a 1^st place win, scoring 85.7 points.

On April 24^th, Sycamore’s Drum Line again traveled to Mission Hills High School for the American Drum Line Association’s Championship competition. They competed against eleven other junior high schools and finished in second place with 87.6 points. Go Sycamore Drum Line!!

For more information about our drum line, visit the website, www.sycamoredrumline.com.

Daniel Hankin-Adviser

adviser — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:34:42 +0000

Mr. Hankin the adviser to the Buccy Pride Press has been teaching at Sycamore for 6 years. This is his first year as the newspaper and yearbook adviser. Hankin spent 20 years a news photographer prior to becoming a teacher. He also coaches high school baseball.

Positive Music Movement

adviser — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:52:23 +0000

Title: Positive Music Movement
Location: Lunch Area
Description: The AVID/ELA students and Dance students will be part of a special project called the Positive Music Movement on Feb. 12th during both lunches. We’ll be raffling off CD’s of positive music, displaying our PMM projects, playing music, and showing signs throughout the student body about listening to positive music. The dance students are going to perform during that time as well.
Date: 2010-02-12

Alejandro Wences-Staff

adviser — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:24:53 +0000

Alejandro Wences, a seventh grader, went to the same school from kindergarten thru 4^th grade and then attended Horace Mann. . He likes to play handball, typing, and watch TV. He remembers working for his grandfather on a farm in Mexico. He also remembers taking what seemed like a very long car trip to Utah.

Alejandro Valdez-Staff

adviser — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:22:09 +0000

Alejandro Valdez is a seventh grader and he likes to play video games with his brothers and cousins. He also plays with friends and enjoys tech decks. He has been to the hospital to have his appendix removed. His favorite food is pizza. Next year he would like to be in Sycamore’s advanced band. Valdez is looking forward to going to college.

Brian Ortiz-Staff

adviser — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:17:19 +0000