Wingspan
January 2024
Winter Finally Arrives
Cold and Snow Blanket the Region
By Wingspan Staff
The snow and cold we come to expect each year around this time finally arrived this month. Despite a few milder days, the overall feel of January was cold and unsettled. Combinations of cold snow, rain, and sleet greeted us on many days this month. Chilly winds that caused damage to trees and power infrastructure also occurred. While winter is now firmly locked in place be sure to enjoy activities such as skating, skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. In New England we all know that it could be 70 and sunny next week, so don't blink!
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
His Message is Still Heard Today
By-Avery Edgar
In January we celebrate a very important day. On the third Monday of January we celebrate Martin Luther King Junior Day. Dr King was an African American man who fought for civil rights. He is most known for his contributions to the American civil rights movement. Dr.King was very determined and outspoken about the civil rights movement. Dr. King was loved by so many people. On August 28, 1963 Martin gave a speech that over 250,000 people attended in Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial. That speech changed many lives. The speech was called I have a Dream speech. The most famous line is:
"Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plain of dignity and discipline.”
Sadly on April 4, 1968 Dr. King was assassinated by a gun. He was at a hotel and was outside on the balcony when James Earl Ray shot him. Dr. King was a role model to many people and will forever go down in history as one of the most influential people. Martin was missed by many. The way he protested to get equal rights is amazing and set the bar for today. Martin never gave up no matter what!
JOIN WINGSPAN !
Make 2024 The Year You Become A Wingspan Staff Member
We would love to have some additional staff members to join our team. There are many ways you can contribute on a monthly basis. We have after school meetings (however, you can easily work remotely). Whether its creative writing, current events, photography, comic making, You Tube video creating, opinion polls, interviews, or art, we can feature it in an online format which is publish both at Overlook and is now featured on the Oakmont publication known as the Oakmonitor. Many students go on to join the high school staff after experience with Wingspan.
Come join us. Contact Mr. Duncan at bduncan@awrsd.org or stop by room 121.
Annual Food Drive
Overlook Shows Continued Generosity To those In Need
By- Wingspan Staff
To start January, Student Council ran a food drive for the local food pantries of Ashburnham and Westminster. Overall, the OMS community brought in over 1000 items. StuCo members counted and divided them and provided the local pantries with a large donation. We thank all the families who participated to help others in our community. If your family needs assistance, visit the Westminster Congregational Church on Thursday evenings and the Ashburnham Community Church on Wednesday evenings.
STUDENT RECIPES
Recipes by Gemma
January Poem
By-Anonymous
January is the start of a new year
Along with many other things
New year new you
But first you have to figure out you
Listen close for the count down
It counts the most
So take the step
One way or another
Step on the right path
Or whichever
For this is a new beginning
Princess Snow
By-Brooke Newcomb
He woke up to Princess Snow shaking him awake. Princess said “Prince Blue lets get out of here and go back to your kingdom” Prince Blue was still a little unconscious but he managed to get up and Princess Snow helped him walk. They got to the end of the kingdom and made it all the way to Arch Owl castle And King Cyan and queen magenta ran out to help the Princess. When they ran out, they ran up to Princess Snow who was just about to collapse because of the prince of shadow Garmadon casting spells on her and she walked all the way here when KIng Cyan took Prince Blue. The Princess Fell to the ground and fell unconscious and she didn’t wake up for days. Days turned into Weeks, Weeks turned into months. Then it turned into One year. Prince Blue woke up an hour after Princess Snow went unconscious he asked his father where she was and King Cyan said “Why do you want to know she doesn’t need to wake up at all” little did Prince Blue know his father was working for the shadow kingdom. Princess Snow woke up and Prince Blue was right next to her jumped up and into Blue’s lap startled him he wrapped his arm around her she snuggled her head in his neck and just stayed like that until Queen Magenta walked in and cleared her throat they jumped and stopped hugging and said hi to Magenta and they all talked about how KIng Cyan didn’t know if She was going to wake up for her.
Fire Battle- Chapter 2
By Ava Buckley
The last couple days I have been in my room, sitting in my bed staring at the wall. I felt like what happened was my fault. I just wanted to curl up and die but I knew that wasn’t an option. I begged my dad to skip school but he said that my mom would want me to have an education. Today I took the bus. I think my dad just wanted the house to himself so he could cry and mope around all day.
At school everyone was looking at me like they knew what happened. I looked like I was a robot. Like I had no emotions. Then Renay came up to me. “Hi. I am really sorry about yesterday. I never meant to make you feel like I didn’t care. But to make it up to you I did something so that you would feel more comfortable.” She showed me a poster of me crying and underneath was a message saying that my mom died so people should feel bad for me. “Renay!!!! How could you!!!” Then Zac came running over. But for once I was so mad I couldn’t look at him. “Hey Renay. That was a little mean of you. What if someone did that to you when your mom died.” “ She yelled at me when I was just trying to make her feel better.” Then she whispered something in his ear. I could hear what it was. Then Zac hugged Renay and walked away. “You are the worst person in the history of the world!” “ Aren't I.” I ran away and didn’t talk to her for the rest of the day.
That night I had a tough time falling asleep because I was so mad but then I finally dozed off. In my dream I was at school and my mom was there. Everyone from the Green Witch Meetings were there. We were all on one side of the hall. Then on the other side where it seemed to be fire witches. And then all the fire witches started to line up, and we did the same. I was in the middle. There were 12 people on one side and there were another 12 on my other side. It looked like I was the leader. I wanted to see who was the leader on the fire witches side. I squinted and I couldn't believe what I saw. It was Renay! Then I woke up from my very annoying alarm. My mom told me when I was little, that when you turn 17 that’s when you get your special power that’s only yours. So I prayed that seeing the future isn’t my power. That day at school I wanted to try to make Renay apologize. I went up to her and said “Listen this can all be resolved with two words.” “Yes they can” “Sooo is there anything you would like to say?” “ummm no you got mad at me because I was too cheerful.” I couldn’t believe her. “You put a bunch of pictures of me crying all around school! And my mom died!” Then of course Zac has to run over again. “Hey guys, you are best friends, do you have to fight?” Then she was whispering something in his ear. But this time…I saw her eyes go red. RENAY WAS A FIRE WITCH!
Well…it was Sunday again and I just found out that my best friend was a fire witch. I called my witch friend Lexi. “Hey Lexi.” “Hi, are you excited for the meeting this afternoon!” “umm yeah but I have a question first.” “ok what is it?” “Can you and your mom come pick me up on your way to the meeting and bring me there?” “Yeah, but just so you know it will be my aunt who's going to pick you up, because my mom spent the night at her X-boyfriends house and she’s still there. And also, if you mind me asking, why?” “Be prepared to be a little upset.” “You know I don’t cry.” I didn’t want to embarrass her but she had to know the truth. “Well…my mom died a couple days ago.” There was a long pause. Lexis mom isn’t the greatest witch or person in general. My mom was as close to her as she was to me. Then I finally heard “I…I’m so sorry” she said in a small voice. “Of course we can pick you up.” I could tell she was holding in her tears. I felt really bad for her. She has a much harder life than me and now this. “Let me call my aunt to see if we can.” Her voice cracked on the last word. She was having a hard time keeping it in.
Of course her aunt said yes and they came to pick me up at 1:00 and we got there at 1:45. The leader of the Fire witches, Helda stood up. Helda is my grandma since my mom died the next in line to be leader is me. “Listen up everybody, I have an announcement and a crisis. Now the announcement is…I am sorry to say that…my daughter has died. She got into a car accident.” Lexi's aunt started rubbing my back. But I had something else on my mind. I thought that would be the crisis. ”The crisis is that there has been a fire witch invasion.” I heard a lot of gasps “We have to take a member from each family. But we also need a leader and I am too old to fight. My powers are weakening. We can worry about that later. I need people who are going to fight to line up in front of me.” My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. Was I going to have to be the leader? I didn’t even want to fight and now I have to teach a bunch of people how to. I am not cut out for this.