Asian Pacific Islander
Asian Pacific Islander Club offers chance to study, eat, and visit Asian culture
by A. G.
The Asian Pacific Islander Club is a place students can go if they want to learn more about Asian culture. This club was started 5 years ago by former Day principal P.S.. and Coral Team teacher D. F. when they wanted a club for one of the less prominent cultures in the school. The club is open to any Asian or Pacific Islander student or any student who wants to learn more about Asian culture. This club meets every Thursday after school in Room 313.
Every year about 16 kids sign up for this club. They go on 2 or 3 field trips a year to sample Asian cuisine and to visit exhibits relevant to what they are learning. They research a topic and put on a display at the end of each year.
Right now, D.F. is the only advisor of the club, but she is looking for someone to help her. H. S. likes this club, "...because you learn about lots of Asian culteures, and you meet a lot of interesting people." Students who want to join this club should see D.F. in Room 313.
Black History
Black History Production Club seeks to inform
D.S., faculty advisor to the Black History Production Club, told THE DAYTIME what he likes about black history is that it shows the strength of black people and how they overcame obstacles of the past.
“We think of interesting and creative ways to inform the students and faculty about black history by putting on a show,” said D.S. According to D.S., it is important for kids to know about black history “...because Day Middle School has a decent amount of African-American students and I think it is important for them to learn about their past.”
D.S. also explained that “...in the interest of diversity, it’s a chance for students who aren’t black to learn about their peers.”
The Black History Production Club takes place in Room 211 every Thursday afternoon. Many kids came to the first meeting on Wednesday, September the 29th. This club has been around for at least 8 years. Anyone can join.
Chess
Chess club offers opportunities for strategy development and individual growth
by M.G. and M.G.
Every Monday in Room 304, the Copper Team science room, home to insects and chemicals, sports chess boards and players as well. Chess Club meets there from 2:35 to 4:15.
Anyone who is interested may participate and there are activities for players of all skill levels. For instance, novice players will be taught the rules and strategies by the club’s advisor, Copper Team science teacher, Censored. Meanwhile, the more experienced members will play each other for fun and to gain skill.
When asked if there were any special events for Chess Club in the year ahead, Censored replied : “No, none planned, but we will be having in-house tournaments within our own group.” Censored also noted that Chess Club will not play any other school in the upcoming year.
Signing up is still an option and will continue to be the whole year. See Censored in Room 304 with any questions about the game or about how to join Chess Club.
DAYTIME
Today’s DAYTIMERS are tomorrow’s journalists
by N.C. and G.C.
THE DAYTIME is one of the only electives at F. A. Day which has a prerequisite: it is open only to members of the WRITE WAY elective, a 3-year sequential program. It is also unconventional in that it meets as often as members need, which is constantly, and is self-sustaining by means of ad sales. THE DAYTIME buys its own equipment and pays its own way.
Currently 6th graders are working on their first stories while studying the text: SPRINGBOARD TO JOURNALISM. 7th graders are working on beats and preparing for their trip to Columbia University in March. The 8th graders are editing and managing the paper.
Senior advisor R.P. describes his goal as one “...to enable kids to publish the best middle school newspaper in America,” a reference to DAYTIME’s history of winning top prizes from the New England Scholastic Press Association (NESPA), the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), and the International Quill and Scroll Society at the University of Iowa.
Italian Theater
Italian Theatre Club showcases Day talent
by Z.G. and J.G.
The Italian Theater club gives students who are interested in Italian acting a chance to practice with others. The club is open to everyone, though previous acting experience may be helpful.
The 6th grade students will be doing mostly singing and dancing. The 7th grade students are reading Italian and interpreting. Finally, 8th grade students will be creating a news report according to Italian heritage. Students interested in joining should meet E.P. and J.B. in Room 325 on Thursdays. The club takes place after school from 2:35-4:10.
Student Council
Student Council conducts elections
by J.C. and M.D.-P.
The Day Student Council is one of the many exciting after school activities at Day. Students will participate in this activity with Platinum social studies teacher M.H. in Room 109. Representatives from every homeroom in the school will meet weekly on Monday afternoons to work on community service projects, fundraising, and spirit and social activities.
To 6th graders every thing is new at Day, but now the student government is a new thing for 7th and 8th graders too. Although there have been many student councils before, this one will be different, at least that is what parents were informed at last week’s P.T.O meeting.
Video
Video Club offers chance to film and produce movies
by A.L.
Video Club is a place students can go every Monday and Wednesday afternoon from 2:35 to 4:15 to make movies, animations, and multi-media projects. In Video Club, students learn about filming, acting and screenwriting. The club is open to all students and even teachers.
“The club will change depending on what the needs of the members are,” replied T.T., the advisor, after being asked what he will be doing this year in the club.
In the club, one can use programs such as Macromedia Flash and iMovie. Flash is a program in which one can take a cartoon drawing and put it into a real background and make the cartoon move. iMovie is a program where students are able to take video clips, sound files, still images and turn them into a seamless movie.
Every student who joins this club is guaranteed to have a great year of making movies.
W.O.R.D.
W. O. R. D. is a fun introduction to TV journalism
by E.A. and D.B.
W. O. R. D. is Day Middle School’s TV broadcasting program that airs every morning, during students’ homeroom. But there is more to it then just watching people read from a piece of paper. W. O. R. D. offers a variety of jobs with which students can involve themselves, whether it’s writing the script, directing cameras, controlling the switchboard, or being an announcer.
“W. O. R. D. is a voluntary army of students, who produce and write their own show every morning,” says T. T., the co-advisor of W. O. R. D. The student directors who run W. O. R. D. are two 8th grade students, both members of THE DAYTIME’s Editorial Board [W. O. R. D. is an offshoot of THE DAYTIME].
Every morning the W. O. R. D. staff arrives at school, in Room 204, THE DAYTIME’s base of operations, to begin the morning’s script. At the same time more staff members arrive at Room 104 to set up for the morning’s W. O. R. D. news broadcast. This show presents news to the public all over Newton about F. A. Day Middle School. The same show viewed in the morning at Day Middle School, is also aired on New-TV at 5:30 in the evening.
There are many jobs in which students can participate. For instance, script writers, open caption writers, video editors, switchboard operators, soundboard operators, anchors, and special feature writers, are some of the important jobs that contribute to W. O. R. D.
Every generation of Day students has always wondered for what W. O. R. D. actually stands. “The reality is W. O. R. D. is an unrealized acronym,” says T.T., its creator and senior advisor. “Perhaps one day we’ll have a contest to determine its meaning.”
“I think that W. O. R. D. reflects on how wonderful and diverse the Newton community is,” says T.T. proudly.
