Lets Play Some Ball!!!By  Paola  Loera

  Volleyball  tryouts  are  over  and  I  was  there  when  about  100  girls  were  there  to  tryout.  Out  of  all  the  girls,  about  15  girls  made  it.  During  that  time,  girls  I  saw  didn’t  seem  so  happy.    Most  girls  were  talking  about  having  volleyball  classes  where  a  coach  teaches  the  sport  instead  of    having  a  coach  who  watches  to  see  that  you  know  how  to    play.  What  surprised  me  more  was  that  boys  were  agreeing  with  the  girls  who  didn’t  make  it.  One  of  the  students  who  I  talked  to  said,  “I’m  tired  of  not  being  a  part  of  a  sport  and  always  being  kicked  out  because  I  don’t  know  how  to  play.  I  want  to  learn  and  not  be  judged  for  my  skills".    When  I  came  close  to  the  list  of  girls  who  made  it  on  the  team,  it  surprised  me  to  see  that  the  same  girls  from  last  year  who  were  in  the  volleyball  team  made  it  again.  The  coach  should  have  given  a  chance  to  the  rest  of  the  girls  who  were  not  on  the  team  last  year  and  to  the  girls  who  have  always  dreamed  about  being  on  the  team.  Can’t  the  coach  see  that  they  have  feelings  too?  I  asked  a  girl  who  has  never  played  volleyball  before  if  she  was  happy  to  have  made  the  team  and  she  said,  “I  made  it  on  the  team  and  I  am  very  happy  because  I’m  part  of  a  sport  I’ve  never  played  before.”  I  was  upset  to  know  that  a  person  who  had  never  played  volleyball  actually  made  it.  She  should  have  talked  to  the  coach  about  it.                             When  watching  the  team  play  volleyball,  it  makes  people  feel  amused  by  the  slams  and  moves  that  are  being  created.  Volleyball  has  been  a  beautiful  sport  for  years.  There  are  different  jobs  created  that  make  this  sport  stand  out.  The  spikes,  the  different  jumps,  the  slams,  and  other  moves.  Working  out  and  stretching  prepares  people  to  move  on  and  play  some  ball!  It  gives  a  workout  that  also  makes  your  body  slim  and  healthy.  So  not  only  is  it  a  sport  but  it  is  another  thing  on  the  list  of  different  workouts.                           People  on  the  team  are  trying  harder  and  harder  each  day  because    volleyball  games  are  just  around  the  corner.  The  whole  school  is  depending  on  them.  We  want  to  win  and  be  known  as  champions.  Kyle,  an  8th  grade  student  on  the  volleyball  team  said  to  me,  “We  have  to  keep  something  in  mind  too.  Even  if  we  don’t  win  we  will  always  be  winners.  It  is  always  good  to  have  a  positive  attitude  toward  this  sport  because  it  helps  to  move  along  and  continue  what  we  do,  play  and  do  our  best.”  I  agree  and  I  think  that  the  school  spirit  depends  on  a  positive  attitude  towards  volleyball  too.    Lets  play  some  ball!

Why is Track Your Type of Sport?By  Ana  Estrada

  ‘’Lets  keep  it  running!’’  Karen  is  a  friend  of  mine  and  we  were  talking  about  track.  I  had  asked  her  questions  in  the  school  P.E  room.  It  was  on  a  Tuesday  afternoon.  I  wanted  to  know  what  she  knew  about  track.  With    answers  to  these  questions  she  gave  me  a  lot  of  information  on  what  I  wanted  to  know.   ‘’Rico  is  my  favorite  track  runner  because  we  always  play  around  in  track  practice,’’  Karen  said.  She  began  to  run  in  track  three  years  ago  and  most  of  her  friends  joined  track  as  well.  Competing  against  other  schools  is  an  easy  job  for  Karen.  Since  she’s  with  her  friends  they  show  her  many  running  techniques.     ‘‘I  like  Running  because  I’ve  been  running  for  three  years  and  I  have  improved!’’  Karen  said  joyfully,  when  I  asked  her  what  she  was  good  at.  Karen  has  the  opportunity  to  compete  against  people.  Some  people  wish  they  could  compete  with  other  schools.  Her  hobby  is  running  as  well  so  she  gets  to  practice  for  a  track  race  too.  Pretty  awesome  what  she  does,  isn’t  it?     ‘’No,  because  I  run  in  the  competition  as  well,’’  Karen  answered  when  I  asked  her  if  she  likes  to  see  people  compete.    ‘’Watching  other  people  run  is  the  audience’s  job,  not  mine,  ‘’  she  said.  Obviously,  when  Karen  runs  she  doesn’t  watch.  The  awesome  feeling  that  Karen  experiences  is  when  she  runs  and  the  wind  blows  her  hair  back.   ‘’Made  it  to  the  Xinish  line!’’Even  though  Karen  loves  running,  she  also  enjoys  being  with  her  friends.  All  the  running  makes  Karen  tired,  but  that  doesn’t  keep  her  away  from  it.  Running  is  part  of  Karen’s  life.  I  think  if  you’re  good  at  a  sport  you  should  show  that  talent.  Everybody  is  good  at  something.  Giving  up  on  something  you  want  to  learn  isn’t  a  great  idea.  All  you  need  is  inspiration  and  you  will  be  able  to  succeed.  

Helping at the

Animal Shelter By Adriana Valencia

When you hear the phrase "Help at your local shelter," what do you think about? You don't need any kind of special license to volunteer. There are many different ways you can help. There are also many reasons why you should help.

One way to help is to call or go down to your local shelter and ask if any help is needed. If they say yes it is because they have lots of animals to take care of. You can help by feeding, cleaning their cages, and helping them in the front office with paperwork. If you have a Facebook page, you can help by posting an animal that needs a home on your status so you “friends” can see. Every little bit helps.

You’re probably thinking, “Why should I help?” Well, did you know four million cats and dogs are put down in U.S. shelters each year? Another reason is that animals help people with disabilities. They also protect you sometimes. They also can keep you company once and awhile.

I hope you help an animal shelter after what you have read. I think if everyone that reads this helps just a little bit it will make a big difference. By helping animals you make it possible for them to help you and other people.

DESERT SANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL

THE SCORPION TIMESQUARTER 1 ISSUE NO. 1

Football: An Amazing SportBy  Jessica  CatanoWow!  Football  is  an  amazing  

sport!  That  is  why  I  chose  this  topic  to  interview  people  about.  The  people  I  interviewed  were  Alyssa,  Amber,  Evelyn,  and  Desiree.  Interviewing  people  about  football  is  so  much  fun,  I  wish  I  could  do  it  again.

“It  is  fun  to  see  people  get  hurt!”  said  Evelyn  and  Desiree  when  I  interviewed  them.  In  football,  lots  of  people  get  hurt.  It  is  very  common.  Many  people  enjoy  watching  the  athletes  get  hurt  in  football.  Although,  some  people  hate  when  they  get  tackled  or  injured.

“I  love  the  Cardinals  because  they  are  awesome!”  Amber  said  with  excitement.  Amber,  Alyssa,  and  Desiree  all  agree  that  the  Cardinals  are  their  favorite  team.  Some  people  love  the  Cardinals  but  some  people  hate  them.  There  are  more  teams  such  as  the  Forty-­‐Niners,  Steelers,  Giants,  and  many  more.

“My  opinion  is  that  the  NFL  is  better  than  college  or  from  our  school,  because  they  have  bigger  stadiums  and  more  people,  ”  said  Alyssa.  I  did  not  even  Xinish  my  sentence  before  Alyssa  said  “NFL”.  NFL,  college,  high  school,  and  from  your  school  are  all  great.  In  my  opinion  most  people  like  NFL.

“I  like  football  because  it  is  a  fun  and  interesting  sport!”  said  Amber.  I  agree  with  her.  Football  is  as  fun  as  hanging  out  with  friends.

Skaters OpinionsBy  Juan  Reyes              

  Baker,  SpitXire,  Shake  Junt,  Girl  and  Plan-­‐B  are    many  brands  for  skating.  I  interviewed  Michael  and  Martin.  I  interviewed  them  about  skating.  It  is  important  to  interview  students  because  lots  of  students  like  to  skate.                      “If  I  was  to  meet  my  favorite  skater,  I  would  ask  him  questions,”  said  Michael.  Lots  of  people  like  to  skate.  They  have  a  favorite  skater.  Most  of  the  people  that  I  interviewed  liked  P.Rod.                          “I  like  to  wear  Nikes  6.0  and  Dgk.  When  people  skate  they  like  to  wear  their  favorite  brands.  They  like  to  wear  Girl,  Plan-­‐B,  Creature,  and  other  brands.  Also,  there  are  other  brands  that  they  can  use  and  are  comfortable.                          “If  you  could  ask  your  favorite  skater  three  questions,  what  would  they  be?”  They  would  be  if  you  take  a  photo  with  me,  if  he  could  help  to  get  me  sponsored,  and  my  last  question  would  be  if  he  could  do  a  360  Xlip.  In  my  opinion  these  are  the  most  important  questions  to  ask.                    “My  favorite  skater  is  P.Rod  and  Gary  Myers,”  said  Martin  and  Michael.  People  should  care  about  skating  because  some  people  are  lazy  and  this  can  make  them  active,  and  then  they  would  not  have  to  be  obese.  

What  Kind  of  Music  Do  You  Listen  to?

By  Monique  Gibson   “Lets  get  this  music  pumping!”  Brisa  is  a   person   that   loves   to   listen   to  music.   She   says  she   is   inspired   by  it.   There   are   lots   of   lessons  you  can  get  from   listening  to  music.  You  can  also  relate  to  the  lyrics  of  the  music.   “I   grew   up   listening   to   it,”   Brisa   said.  When   I  was   little   my  parents  always  had   Little  Wayne  CDs.  There  are  over  15  genres  of  music.  I  have  only  listened  to  5  genres  my  whole  life!     “I   can  totally  dance   to  it,”   stated  Brisa.  Music  is  something  we  use  in  every  day  life.  You  can   dance   to   any   genre   you  want   to.   The   most  common   genre   people   dance   to   is   hip   hop.  People  dance   to  hip-­‐hop  because   you   can   dance  however  you  want  to.   “Music   affects   people,”   she   added.  Sometimes   music   inspires   you   to   do   better  things   in   life.     I   think  that   John   Lennon’s  music  encourages   you   to  make   good   decisions   in   life.    Iveth   Melenedez   says,   “Music   helps   her   be   at  peace”.   “Music   is  everything.   ”Music   is  a   great  way  to   learn  about  lessons  in   life.  It  is  the  most  common   thing   people   use   to   help   them   calm  down.  People  really  need  music  in  their  life.  

The DebateBy Perla Ordonez

! Embarrassment, excitement, and embarrassment again, was all I could think of during my shoe brand interview assignment! Anyway everything went great! First of all, I interviewed two people named Tim and Masheala. I interviewed them and asked them questions about the topic of which shoe brand is better between Converse and Vans. Surprisingly, they both thought that Vans were better than Converse! It was as weird as a cat wanting to shower.! To begin with, me and my peers had a really easy and kind of embarrassing assignment of having to interview people. First of all, we had to choose a topic of what to talk about when interviewing. Furthermore, we had to organize our questions. And finally when all that was finished, we were all set and ready to get it going!! In addition, the least number of people we could interview were 2 people. But I went to the extreme and interviewed 6! But then I just lowered it down to 2 people honestly. First, I interviewed a boy named Tim. He was intriguing. He answered all my questions with really good details and he was polite. Next, I went to a friend of mine named Masheala. She was not what I had expected. Anyway, she met the standard that I created! Thatʼs all that counts. To sum it up, the two people I picked to write about were really good choices.! Last but not least, to sum up all my experiences of interviewing, it was terrific! I really enjoyed interviewing people because I got to meet new people. I also got the chance to be friends with them! Certainly I would definitely want to do these types of assignments again! I would be proactive.! In conclusion, my interview assignment went through the roof! By this I mean, it was awesome. In addition, I mean that I got a super cool class, I got a good assignment finished, and that everything went as planned! This opportunity of interviewing people was as cool as the North Pole. Just kidding.

 School Opinions  By  Lauro  Vasquez  &    Paola  Loera

             ‘’What  do  you  like  about  school?’’    People  have  different  opinions  about  school  and  I  think  its  great  that  people  are  considering  school  as  a  big  part  of  life.  As  teenagers  we  should  think  about  the  way  our  future  will  be  formed.  “I  think  that  the  only  way  I  will  be  getting  a  job  is  by  Xinishing  school  and  moving  on  into  a  life  that  I  will  have  to  take  care  of  myself.”                  “Don’t  drop  out,  its  not  worth  it,”  says  an  eighth  grade  student  here  at  Desert  Sands  Middle  School.  Dropping  out  is  one  of  the  saddest  things  that  a  student  can  do.  Problems  start  to  appear  and  life  turns  into  a  disaster.  Without  knowledge  there  are  no  answers  to  the  difXicult  questions  in  life.  But  there  is  an  answer  to  a  question  which  is    “why  don’t  I  have  a  job?”  Well  it’s  obviously  because  there  is  no  knowledge  involved  in  your  life.  It  is  sad  to  think  about  all  of  the  people  who  give  up  on  something  that  would  make  life  so  much  easier.                  School  is  not  fun  and  games  anymore.  We  have  to  make  the  best  of  this  and  know  how  to  make  good  choices.  We  are  not  in  kindergarten  anymore  and  now  that  we  are  in  the  point  of  entering  high  school,  lets  start  to  take  things  more  seriously.  “Don’t  give  up,  keep  up  the  good  job  in  school  and  have  the  best  time  out  of  your  future.”  

What  I  Know  About  TrackBy  Leslie  Santillan  Ocampo  

                What  do  you  know  about  track?  I  really  don’t  now  anything  about  track,  so  I  decided  to  interview  Alyssa,  Rodney,  and  Paola.  They  gave  me  information  about  track.  “Bruce  Jenner  was  a  great  runner,”  said  Alyssa  and  Rodney,  that  is  how  my  research  began.   In  addition  to  track  you  have  to  stretch  before  running.  If  you  run  a  mile  everyday  you  will  get  better,  and  run  even  more  day-­‐by-­‐day.  People  stretch  their  legs  so  that  you  would  not  get  cramps  during  practice  time.  Furthermore,  focus  on  the  time  to  run  or  else  you  will  not  run  well.     Exercising  a  lot  will  help  you  with  running.  For  example,  going  to  practice  before  school  starts  everyday  will  increase  your  energy.  Do  not  run  too  much  or  else  you  will  be  in  a  lot  of  pain,  which  is  no  good  if  you  are  in  a  track  competition.     “Time  to  get  your  lungs  pumping  along  with  your  heart!”  said  Paola.  To  keep  your  heart  pumping  you  will  have  to  get  healthy.  A  way  to  get  healthy  is  to  eat  nutritional  food.  For  example  fruit.  Eating  fruit  actually  gives  you  a  lot  of  energy  to  run  an  extra  mile  in  track.  So  eating  healthy  and  running  is  a  great  choice.   When  running  in  track,  people  push  themselves  to  move  forward.  I  have  seen  it  when  people  are  smiling  and  running.  Their  mind  seems  to  focus  on  peaceful  things  by  the  expression  on  their  faces.  Now  I  know  that  track  also  changes  the  way  people  think  and  feel.  

Track  is  the  best  sport.  You  would  actually  get  better  at  running  through  this  sport.  Running  allows  you  to  forget  about  problems  and  worries.  You  should  try  out  for  your  school  sports,  especially  track,  because  its  really  fun  and  you  would  actually  get  into  shape.