THE WILSON GAZETTE

Born to be Wild

by Annika Sundsted

 

 

Everyone always thinks of the school mascot as an enthusiastic animal or symbol of their school. That is true, but there is a lot more behind the Wilson Wildcat. Before the mascot was named the Wilson Wildcat, the mascot was actually called the Wilson Warrior.

 

 

Mr. Carney chooses the mascot based on who talks with him, has good grades, and is a great citizen to the Wilson community. The costume is stored in Mr. Carney’s office, locked away with the identity of this hard working mascot.

 

 

"This energetic, outgoing mascot makes the crowd go wild and spreads magic throughout the school!" says a 6th grader on Team Romans. "I love when the mascot does the Sprinkler, Jazz Hands and the Robot ... even though he or she is a Wildcat.”

 

 

An 8th grader added, “It’s also fun to try to figure out the student behind the mask. It could be the person sitting next to me in math class and I would not even know it.”

 

 

I met up with the Wilson Wildcat before Wildcat Night to ask a few questions:

 

 

Q: Why did you want to become the school mascot?

A: To make people happy.

 

 

Q: What are your favorite moves?

A: I really like doing the Robot and the Shuffle.

 

 

Q: How do you raise your enthusiasm?

A: The crowd gets me excited. When I listen to them, I hear the roar and it gets me cheered up.

 

 

Q: When do they pick the person to be the mascot?

A: At the end of the year in seventh-grade.

 

As the school year comes to a close, so will the reign of this year's Wilson Wildat. We thank this year's Wilson Wildcat for their part in the Wilson community and welcome the next one next year. Roar!

 

 

Check out the following videos put together by the Wilson News Club at the Wildcat game this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VAP Offers Intriguing Option for Students

By Ally Eld

 

 

V.A.P is another option for Specials that students have in seventh and eighth grade besides band or chorus. The first part of V.A.P. is video, the second part is art, and the third part is performance.

 

Video

 

In the video portion of V.A.P., the students create a public service announcement, according to the teacher, Ms. Olivieri. The students pick a message like no smoking, or don’t litter. With this public service announcement, they create a video.

 

Art

 

In the art portion of vap, the students in seventh grade create a landscape painting, creating the landscape of their choice. Ms. Neel, one of the art teachers, also says that in eighth grade, the students create Chinese scroll paintings.

 

Performance

 

In the performance portion of vap, the seventh graders learn the basic chords on the guitar. They will also learn a few simple songs. In eighth grade, the students take a music production course.

Additional Information

 

V.A.P. is a fun and interesting class for students. Seventh grader, Domenico Manago,  says that V.A.P. is very interesting and fun. Also, he says that there is a lot of freedom. Each trimester of the year you will spend doing one component of V.A.P. Overall, V.A.P. is an enjoyable class for students in seventh and eighth grade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offering After School Assistance

Check out Staff Writer Fiona Zokou's interviews with a few people involved with ASAP, the after school program at Wilson. 

 

Ms. Fitz, ASAP Supervisor

 

How do you get your kid(s) enrolled in ASAP?
They enroll online. It’s online registration and they do it though the ASAP office with the director of the program.

 

 

What activities do you do at ASAP?

We have a lot of clubs like the garden club, the nail polish club, the cooking club, games, sports, and arts and crafts.

 

What kind of snacks do you have at ASAP?

We have a lot of choices for snack like goldfish, nutritious bars, and Scooby snacks.

 

 

How long does ASAP go for?

ASAP runs from dismissal at 2:05 until 6:00 p.m.

 

 

How do you come up with the activities for ASAP?

We look online, a lot are rolled over from previous years, and we make an activity calendar every month. We also ask the kids what thing they want to do.

 

 

How do you hire people for ASAP?

All the hiring is done through the office through our director and assistant director.

 

 

What are the rules at ASAP?

We follow the same rules Wilson does and follow a behavior rubric.

 

 

How is ASAP beneficial for Wilson?

ASAP helps to keep students involved in extracurricular activities and gives a safe space for students after school that parents can rely on.

 

 

 

Interview with Mr. Blaney, support staff at ASAP. 

 

How do you get your kid(s) enrolled in ASAP?

There is an online registration program that parents can do in March for the following year in order to register for the program.

 

 

What activities do you do at ASAP?

We do games in the gym, sports, and other activities like arts and crafts, the nail polish club, cooking club, Karaoke Fridays, and homework help--that’s the big one.

 

What kind of snacks do you have at ASAP?

Generally individually packed chips and crackers, applesauce, fruit, and pizza on half days.

 

How long does ASAP go for?

ASAP runs from 2-6 p.m. everyday.

 

How do you come up with the activities for ASAP?

The supervisors poll students to ask them what activities they would like to do and then we take those activities and make a calendar for the month. 

 

 

What are the rules at ASAP?

We have similar rules as the students do in school. Respect for one another, make sure you tell adults where you are, we keep the magnet board so students can say where they are going to be around the school outside of the cafeteria.

 

 

What are the consequences if the rules are not followed?

First we run on a point system. If you do good things you get positive points, bad things lead to negative points. Really bad behavior can lead to getting written up and notes can be sent home, much like a yellow slip during the school day.

 

 

How is ASAP beneficial for Wilson?

It gives students who wouldn’t normally have somewhere to go after school somewhere to go, and they can get homework done, have some fun and interact with other kids before their parents can come and pick them up.

 

 

 

Questions for ASAP sixth grader Samantha Grant

 

What are your favorite activities at ASAP?

 “The courtyard is the best--you can play with the football, soccer ball, pretty much anything. You can do anything you want in the courtyard. Also, the gym-you can play kick ball, or punt the soccer ball. I like when it hits the ceiling!

 

 

How is ASAP beneficial to you and other students at Wilson? 

ASAP is beneficial to me and other students because when we can’t go home after school, ASAP will provide a safe enviorment for us after school where we can have fun and hang out with our friends until our parents pick us up.