Students will be out in the hallways in groups or by themselves, pacing, and nervously flicking through notecards. You may be wondering whats going on. Is there a big test? A performance? Actually, what is happening is a mixture of a test and a performance. This big occasion measures your confidence, intelligence, and poise. So, what really is this event that is so important to 7th and 8th grade?

This is a tradition that has been going on for many years at Punahou. It was started and funded by Samuel Damon for his son, Willie Damon, in 1872.

Willie Damon was an eloquent speaker who attended Punahou. Sadly, Willie died from a deadly disease called typhoid fever. In honor of his son, Samuel Damon donated a generous amount of money towards Punahous speech program, hence the Damon Speech was formed.

The Damon Speech you know today is much different from the Damon Speech when it first started.

Back in the day, people didnt write their own speeches. Instead, they would recite poems or excerpts from books or different pieces of writing. They would also have musical interludes between speeches.

In the 1920s the format changed to how it is today where students write their own speech and then present it.

Today, the multi-step process of the Damon Speech takes lots of hard work and weeks of time in English class and at home. 7th and 8th grade students choose a topic that they feel strongly about or think is interesting. They then research about that topic and find information to put into their speech, such as statistics or quotes from different people like professors or presidents. Many drafts will be made, many people will get frustrated, but in the end it is a beautiful piece of writing.

However, having a good speech is only half of the work. You must be able to present your speech fluently and confidently to judges and everyone in the 7th and 8th

grade. Dont worry though because youll have lots of practice by then. You must first present your speech to your classmates and get voted to go to the semi-finals where you present in front of your whole team.

The final two students get to move on to the final competition in Dillingham. Although a few get chosen to present their speech at Dillingham, the Damon Speech is a tradition that all 7th and 8th graders grow and learn from.

In this issue:Farmers Markets 4Dr. Who and His Companions 8March Madness 12St. Patricks Day Recipes 12

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Damon Speechby Eden Chun and Lindsay Kaback

Top Snowboarding

Resorts:

1. Park City Mountain Resort, USA.

Park City Mountain Resorts name speaks for itself. It is literally a Park City. With five Terrain Parks, Park City is a go-to place for some nice runs.

2. Whistler/Blackcomb, Canada.

Whistler is a world leader in parks and pipes and also has very good free riding. You can also go heli-boarding if youre good enough.

3. Davos, Switzerland.Davos has some pretty good parks and pipes but their free riding is formidable.

4. Mammoth Mountain, USA.

Mammoth Mountain has amazing parks and pipes but it is also a go-to place for being a beginner. It has very small hills with very little incline. If you are an advanced rider this place can be very fun too.

5. Vail Resort, USA.Vail is a good all around mountain. Vail has some good parks and pipes, but also has some good free riding spots.

6. Mount Bachelor, USA.Mount Bachelor is another good all around mountain. The only bad part about this resort is that they have three parks and only one halfpipe.

2014 Winter Olympics SnowboardingBy Austin Bryan

The 2014 Winter Olympics was held in Sochi, Russia. The games started on February 7, and ended on February 23. This year was the first time that Snowboarding Slopestyle was held in the Winter Olympic Games.

Snowboarding is a relatively new sport. It started in 1965 by Jake Burton Carpenter who made the first ever Snowboard.

Snowboarding Superpipe and Slopestyle was a tough battle this year. The favorites were: Shaun White the underdog, Danny Davis, Iouri Poladtchikov or I Pod, Sage Kotsenburg, the young gun from Park City, Utah Seamus OConnor, and the man with the last name which he would like to make a reality Taylor Gold.

In Mens Slopestyle, Sage Kotsenburg (USA) took gold, Stale Sandbech (NOR) took silver, and Mark McMorris (CAN) took bronze. In Womens Slopestyle, Jamie Anderson (USA) took gold, Enni Rukajarvi (FIN) took silver, and Jenny Jones (GBR) took bronze. In Mens Halfpipe, Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) took gold, Ayumu Hirano (JPN) took silver, and Taku Hiraoka (JPN) took bronze. Surprisingly Shaun White took fourth. In Womens Halfpipe Kaitlyn Farrington (USA) took gold, Torah Bright (AUS) took silver, and Kelly Clark (USA) took bronze.

The top three ranking countries in snowboarding Slopestyle and Halfpipe were the United States and Japan.

The 2018 Winter Olympic Games will be in PyeongChang, Korea. One thing to look forward to will be the possibility of quadruple corks. This year people were coming out with triple corks, but in four years, who knows what the possibilities are?

Sage Kotsenburg doing a Holy Crail at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Photo from darkroom.baltimoresun.com

Sochi Madnessby Ryan Park

There was a lot of bad press surrounding the Sochi games. When many journalists and other media first arrived in Sochi, they were greeted with unfinished hotel rooms and infrastructure. There were also threats of bombings and bad weather.

Lets see how these problems were dealt with.

Does the thought of a terrorist roaming the grounds of Olympic Park scare you? Despite all of the hype of possible terrorists slipping through security early, and toothpaste bombs (bomb materials like explosives can be smuggled through airport security in toothpaste containers), no major security incidents occurred.

Over 40,000 security guards and police officers were hired to protect this $45.4 billion Winter olympics (the costliest in history). All this commotion was stirred up due to two suicide bombings not far from Sochi.

Another problem was that Mother Nature was not cooperating during several events. Thick fog delayed the start of the mens biathlon and mens snowboardcross. Although the mens biathlon was scheduled to

start on Sunday the 16th in the evening, it was pushed back to Monday morning. However, the fog still would not move out, causing the event to be pushed back even further to Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The snowboard cross seeding runs were first delayed, then postponed, and finally scrapped altogether. Elimination runs were also pushed back.

You may be asking how Sochi, a beach resort city, could host the Winter Olympics. The answer is that they used about 1,000 football fields worth of fake snow. Even the temperatures up in the mountains were sometimes not cool enough to produce snow. To keep the courses powdery with snow, the organizers of the Sochi games stored snows from previous winters (710,000 cubic yards in all), and put up four hundred snow cannons to keep the courses in rideable conditions.

Womens Ski Jumpingby Edlin Davis and Taylor Kealoha

Ski Jumping is one of the Olympics oldest competing categories, and was also in the first Winter Olympics (1924). There was only one flaw about this sport though, no women were allowed to compete in any ski jumping events. The Olympics only allowed men to compete because they thought that the sport was too dangerous for the gentler sex.

There were a few competitive ski jumpers like Jessica Jerome who disagreed with these allegations, and fought for womens rights to compete in the Winter Olympics. After a long 90 years of fighting their hard work ultimately led to womens right to compete in this years ski jumping event.

Germanys 22-year-old Carina Vogt, Austrias Daniela Iraschko-Stolz, and Frances Coline Mattel. Carina Vogt won the gold medal with an amazing jump of 103 meters, Daniela Iraschko-Stolz won the silver medal after scoring 1.2 points behind Carina Vogt, and Coline Mattel won the bronze medal with a jump of 99.5 meters.

Photo by Stacy St. CLair CNN Reporter

One of Sochis hotels unfiltered tap water .

Top: (left to right): Coline Mattel (BRONZE), Daniela Iraschko-Stolz (SILVER), and Carina Vogt (GOLD)

Photo from www.zimbo.com

Photo from 1.zetaboards.com

Left picture: Switzerland's Dominique Gisin and Slovenia's Tina Maze tied for women's downhill gold on Wednesday in a first for Olympic Alpine skiing.

Oahus Farmers MarketsBy Anna Bunn and Ming Cheng-Leever

Did you know that 80% of Hawaiis goods are mainland imports? Should we be this dependent on mainland resources? How can we get more of our produce on the island?

The first thing you can do is to buy locally grown foods from the supermarkets. For example, you can buy local produce at Whole Foods and Foodland Farms. Unfortunately, when you buy from big groceries, not all the money goes to the local businesses and farms.

The best thing is to visit your local Farmers Market! It is 100% local and all profits go straight to the vendors. Going to the Farmers Market is fun and it is a wonderful experience.

You can taste foods from new restaurants and taste the flavors of the season. You can buy local and organic produce. All of the produce at the Farmers Markets are grown locally and without any chemicals and pesticides.

Most of the fruits and vegetables from the mainland are picked early and they mature in the shipping crate, not on the tree. This affects their flavor and quality.

Photos by Anna Bunn and Ming Cheng-Leever

Melissa Newsham 19 hands out samples of pineapple for the Hawaii Pineapple Company

The Courier asked Mrs. Lake, the Home Economics/Sewing teacher, what she likes about the Farmers Market.

Mrs. Lake says, Supporting local farmers, and the food is fresher and cheaper.

Melissa Newsham 19 states, I enjoy working for the Hawaii Pineapple Company because its fun and I love to meet new people. I also like to try new foods at the Farmers Market.

Kakaako Farmers MarketWard Warehouse Parking lot along Auahi Street

Saturdays, 8 am 12pm

Kapiolani Community College Farmers Market 4303 Diamond Head Road

Saturdays, 7:30 11 am

North Shore Country

Market

59-360 Kamehameha Hwy

Saturdays, 8 am 2pm

Hawaii Kai Farmers Market (Makeke O Maunalua) Kaiser High School, 511 Lunalilo Home Road

Saturdays, 9 am 1 pm

Mahiku Farmers Market at

Kings Village

131 Kaiulani Ave

Fridays and Mondays, 4 -9 pm

Mahiku Farmers Market at

the International Market

Place

2330 Kalakaua Ave

Thursdays, 4 8 pm

Kailua Farmers Market

609 Kailua Rd

Thursdays, 5 7:30 pm

Honolulu Farmers Market

777 Ward Ave

Wednesdays, 4 7 pm

Royal Hawaiian Center

Farmers Market Tuesdays

on the Rooftop

Tuesdays, 4-7:30pm

Windward Mall Farmers

Market

46-056 Kamehameha Highway

Wednesdays, 2:30 pm 7:30 pm

Oahus Farmers Markets

Page design by Anna Bunn and Ming Cheng-Leever

Pack LightBy Stefani Sakamoto

It's almost spring break and lots of people will be going on trips. As they will pack their bags for a week long of fun with friends and family, people want to pack as light as possible. If you're like me, I usually over pack or I am not sure what to pack. So, how do we pack light?

For a week long vacation, you would only need to pack the essentials, which are five tops, three bottoms, and two dresses. You should pack two tank tops, two short sleeve tops, and one long sleeve button up top. The tops should be a synthetic fabric, quick to dry, and solid or simple prints. The classic cut shirts, long sleeve button up shirts, and tank tops can be worn under or over your dress for warmth. When packing your pants, you should pack travel pants, such as jeans, leggings, or cargo pants. You should pack maxi skirts or a convertible skirt/dress, theyre great when packing light. The dresses

should be a light fabric, solid vibrant color/print, neutral khaki, or a little black dress. A sundress is a good choice to bring because it is versatile (it can be used during the day, and dressed up at night).

Dont forget about accessories such as shoes, jewelry, and makeup. You should pack two to three pairs of shoes. Some versatile shoes you should pack is a pair of slippers, flats, and walking/outdoor shoes. A belt, earrings, a ring, a necklace, and a bracelet can be used to dress up an outfit for a night outing. When packing makeup, you should go simple and pack things like mascara, eye liner, and multi-use stick.

These helpful tips can help you when youre packing. To find these light items, check out http://travelfashiongirl.com/shop-the-travel-essentials-packing-list/. Now that you know how to pack light, you wont need an overweight suitcase/carry on with you... Remember: pack light!

Photo from: http://travelfashiongirl.com/

travel-essentials-packing-list-spring-2013/

Vans LogoThe Vans logo is a simple black V extended to shelter the other letters of Vans. The logo represents the simplicity of vans, yet its unique style

Photo Courtesy: http://www.justmegawatt.com/images/imageassets/interesting/nowyouknow1/vans-logo-1.jpg

Fashion on FootBy Erica Sung

Vans have become ubiquitous in Case Middle School. Everyone from preppy girls to jocks are sporting them. Vans is a company in the United States that sells footwear, clothing and accessories. The goal of Vans is to make customers feel confident with them on. Vans want to be the original footwear company that represents style and youth.

Vans was founded in 1966 as the Van Doren Rubber Company. On the first day of selling, 12 people bought their custom made shoes. Vans quickly gained popularity among skateboarders, who liked the rugged and sticky sole. However, in 1983, the shoe company was forced to file bankruptcy because the clothing apparel used up the companys funding.

In 1988, new owners took over Vans and were successful by making Vans more developed with new creations. By 1994, the shoes were sold overseas. Vans has been recognized as Americas Best Small Company by Forbes.

Now, it has found itself as a major fashion item on our feet and is collaborating with Marc Jacobs. Jake Chouljian, 18, enthusiastically says, Vans is life! Ive been wearing Vans for four years now. I recommend them to all people because they is very stylish and comfortable.

You can even customize your own Vans online! There are six different shoe styles to choose from and several different designs. The majority of Vans are made from durable 100% cotton canvas or suede. The sole is made from mixture of carbon and rubber and the shoelaces are 100% cotton fabric. Gabrielle Pregana, 18, states, Vans are comfortable and fashionable, so they look good with any outfit. From 1988 to this day of fashion, Vans has found its unique place. They provide comfort and can be worn with most outfits, both casual and formal. Vans are not merely a footwear brand, but a way to add a splash of your personality.

Ming Cheng-Leever, 19

Vans is life! Ive been wearing Vans for four years now. I recommend them to

all people because they are very stylish and comfortable

-Jake Chouljian 18 Stefanie Fujita 18

Vans is very comfortable. I tried switching to Nike, but ended up going back to Vans because it was more stylish.

-David Vincent 18

Doctors Better Known Companions

1. Rose Tyler Meeting the Doctor in his 9th regeneration, she stays as his companion until the 10th regeneration, and then is sucked into a parallel universe.

2. Martha Jones A companion to the 10th Doctor, somewhere between the Doctors first meeting with Donna, and when she decides to sign off. She first meets him as a nurse, and later joins him on his journey. After leaving, she assumes an important position in the British military.

3. Donna Noble Companion of the 10th Doctor, known for giving the Doctor the most sass, she eventually absorbs the Doctors mind, having to erase him from ever being in her life.

4. Amy Pond Companion of the 11th Doctor, she meets him while still a child, when he tells her, Just five minutes. But messing up the times, he makes her wait for 12 years. After marrying Rory Williams, she ends up being transported back in time by a weeping angel, never to be rescued by the Doctor.

5. Rory Williams Husband of Amy, he is first convinced the Raggedy Man was something of Amys imagination, but after meeting the Doctor, travels with him and Amy until he is transported back in time, and Amy along with him.

6. Clara Oswald The latest addition to the companions, she is known as the Impossible Girl,only appearing to save the Doctor countless times in his history, Clara was scattered throughout time, creating different versions of herself. The current version of her is associated with the eleventh and twelfth regeneration of the Doctor.

Companions of the DoctorBy Abby Oshiro

Doctor Who is a series on British television first aired in 1963. Its a science fiction show that has aired for 50 years, based around a time traveling machine and its conductor, an alien from the another planet, known as The Doctor, who is older than he looks.

So far, in the entire series of the show, there has been 13 regenerations of this wonderful alien. But the more recent continuation of the show, has only featured three regenerations so far.

Usually the Doctors companions are written off by dying, being driven away, or not being able to take the pressure as the Doctor regenerates.

Almost everyone who has ever taken the time out of their day to

watch Doctor Who has felt excitement as a deep blue 1950s London police box comes in to view.

Almost out of nowhere, a strange British man of many faces immediately steps out of the police box to investigate where and when he has landed.

To the viewers of this sci-fi comedy show, this opening scene is one of the many fantasies dreamt up by the mind of a true fandom. The many children of time, known as Companions, seem to appear and fade as fast as they come into the timeline of the lovable main character known as The Doctor. Companions range from human to alien, but remain human most of the time.

There are some companions that are distant such as River Song, whose adventures with

the Doctor are never shown, but are acknowledged.

Even though the companions change and are lost over time, the memories over the seasons are kept alive by artists on the internet.

Original Doctor Who fan artEleventh Regeneration of Doctor Who by Abby Oshiro

Photo from deviantart.com

Donna Noble is the companion of the 10th Doctor

Divergentby Edlin Davis and Taylor Kealoha

Divergent is a dystopian novel by Veronica Roth. In 2011, its first year published, it won the Goodreads Choices Favorite Book award, ranked number one in the Teens Top Ten Vote, and won the Sakura Medal Contest. However, many fans of the The Hunger Games trilogy (a.k.a. Tributes) claim that Divergent copied many scenes from it.

Divergent in some ways resembles The Hunger Games with its romance and action. Tris and Four from Divergent are similar to Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games, not to mention that in Divergent, the

society is split into multiple parts, known as factions, just like how The Hunger Games is split into districts, says Saylor Brainard 19.

In the Divergent society, the citizens of Chicago are split into 5 factions, known as Abnegation, for the selfless, Dauntless, for the brave, Candor, for the honest, Erudite, for the wise, and Amity, for the kind-hearted. The novel tells the story of a sixteen-year old citizen, Beatrice Prior, who finds her factions expectations hard to fulfill.

Throughout the introduction of the book, Beatrice, among several other sixteen-year-olds takes an aptitude test, which is a yearly assessment that helps indicate which faction she is best suited for. This is to prepare her for the Choosing Ceremony, which will allow Beatrice to choose which faction she wants to belong to for the rest of her life. Beatrice feels she doesnt belong in her faction, Abnegation, and is proven somewhat right when she gets her results of her aptitude test. She has aptitudes for Abnegation, but also aptitudes for Dauntless and Erudite. This means Beatrice qualifies as what the modern of society call Divergent, and she is warned never to tell anyone. With inconclusive test results, Beatrice is left with uncertainty as to which faction she should choose to uphold.

Should she choose to risk her familys good name, her friends, and her safety, for a desire of something new? With her little secret riding on her shoulders though, Beatrice has to play things smart, for if she doesnt, she may make a mistake that leads to her ultimate destruction.Thanks to Veronica Roth, its

intriguing story plot has allowed

the Divergent series to make a name for itself with over 10 million sold copies as of January 1st, and has had the privilege, with the help of Neil Norman Burger, to be transformed into its very own movie. With Shailene Woodley from the movie The Descendants playing Beatrice, Theo James from the movie Underworld: Awakening playing Four, and a handful of other talented actors and actresses, Neil Norman Burger has all of America excited for the movies premiere on March 21, 2014.

Divergent looks exciting and the trailer makes me really want to watch the movie. I just hope that its going to be better than the Hunger Games, says Remy Fung 19.

I hope they put the train jumping scene in because that scene was really intriguing, and I want to see how it looks on screen, says Lindsay Kaback 19.

I am very excited. I am looking forward to seeing the movie with other fans of the book. That would be a lot of fun, says Mrs. Teske, 7W math teacher.

Cast:Beatrice (Shailene Woodley)

Four (Theo James)

Jeanine (Kate Winslet)

Peter (Miles Teller)

Christina (Zo Kravitz) Caleb (Ansel Elgort)

Eric (Jai Courtney)

Andrew (Tony Goldwyn)

Natalie (Ashley Judd)

Al (Christian Madsen)

Will (Ben Lloyd-Hughes)

Claire (Casimere Jollette)

I dont want to just be one thing. I want to be brave, and selfless, and intelligent, and honest and kind...

To find out who says this, read the book or check out the trailers online!

Photo by novapopp.com

CMS Happenings and EventsThe 8th graders are giving the kindergarteners an Alphabetical Inspiration as iBook Buddies.

Chloe Laughridge, Keely Smith, Carter Chun, and Dalen Miura completed the Kahoolawe game and have solved the puzzle.

6th Graders sketching the Hokulea.

William Finnegan, writer for New Yorker shares how he writes news stories to aspiring writers.

An eighth grader with a kindergartener for the iBook buddies.

Jamie Shimamoto playing Knock Out at the 7th Grade canteen.

Page layout by Tiare Tuimavave

The Carnival That Never Sleeps

The Carnival That Never Sleeps

Each year Punahou School has a wonderful tradition. The Punahou

Carnival has been a family attraction for years. Students look

forward to this event that they hope will create an enjoyable and

long-lasting memory. People from all ages come not only to enjoy

the rides but the signature foods served here such as the

malasadas and the burgers. The Punahou Carnival legacy will

continue for years to come.

Katrina Trifonavitch, Misha Tasaka, Sydnie Maiava, and Rachel Stoller are taking a rest after the long walk at the Carnival.

Alina Stephenson, and Paulo Tuimavave also got a cute face paint to show off at the Carnival.

Two Girls enjoying the Carnival eating candy apples while posing their face paints.

The Swing at Punahou CarnivalLauren Mukaigawa is getting her arm painted at Carnival.

March MadnessBy Brandon Char

March Madness is a tournament where college teams face off against each other to try and win a national title. This tournament is almost here and it is time to choose what teams will go on your March Madness bracket. It is fun to try and guess what teams will make the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, and the Championship Game. When choosing your bracket, there are lots of teams to consider but here is a list that narrows it down to the top 8.

Kansas Jayhawks

Tetsuto Nagashima19 says, I think Kansas will win the tournament because they

are better as a team. The Kansas Jayhawks have been playing well this year, but lost a few games that they shouldnt have like against Kansas State. However, their rim protecting defense and their win against Iowa State shows their Final Four potential and their ability to win the national title.

Arizona Wildcats

Arizona has been playing a good season by winning some tough road games. Also, with their exceptional

offense (No.20) and great defense (No.5), it puts this team in a tough position to beat.

Wisconsin Badgers

Switch Arizonas offense and defense and you have the Wisconsin Badgers. Kevin Lee18 states, I think the Wisconsin Badgers are

going to win because they have great offense and defense. I think the Wisconsin

Badgers are going to win because I like badgers, also states Michael Tabe18. They have one of the top 5 offenses (No.5) and a great defense to go along with it (No.12). They also have great guards who run the best ball-control and three-pointer offense in the nation.

Syracuse Orange

Syracuse has almost the same profile as Wisconsin

with a high-powered offense (No.6) and an elite defense to match (No.14). However, Syracuse plays zone while Wisconsin only plays man-to-man. They have much longer players that prevent opponents from shooting threes, while Wisconsin tries to allow them.

Kentucky Wildcats

The Kentucky Wildcats are not playing

that great right now, losing some tough games, but if their players can make gains in the next few months, it will rise Kentucky far into the tournament. They also have Willie Cauley-Stein as an elite rim protector and important offensive force.

Florida Gators

The Gators havent been playing at full health

lately, so their profile on offense (No.24) and defense (No.19) isnt that remarkable. But at full-health, the Florida Gators have the best combination of a superior offense and NCAA tournament experience.

Iowa State Cyclones

The Iowa State

Cyclones have really grown from last year. Their defense has really improved to match their quality offense. If they keep their defense where it is now, they have a team that could win the national title.

Michigan State Spartans

Just like the Gators, the Michigan State Spartans haven't been playing at

full health lately. They fall behind Arizona, Syracuse and Wisconsin in efficiency (ranking No.27 in offense and No.11 on defense.) However, Vegas thinks that this team has the best combination of elite point-guard play and experience in NCAA tournaments.

March Madness is a great tournament to watch your favorite teams face off against each other. There are always good games and bad upsets that almost nobody can predict. It could end up being very happy or very sad, but either way, it will be very fun. So, make your perfect bracket and have fun during March Madness!

image from themajor.net

image from according2sources.com

image fron plus.google.com

image from hoopniks.com

image by mkalty.org

image from sportsgeekery.com

image from ticketmaster.com

image from hoopniks.com

Classic Peanut Butter CookiesMakes 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

- 1 cup unsalted butter- 1 cup crunchy peanut butter- 1 cup white sugar- 1 cup packed brown sugar- 2 eggs- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour- 1 teaspoon baking powder- 1/2 teaspoon salt- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Instructions:

1. Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs.

2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into batter. Put batter in refrigerator for 1 hour.

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Roll into 1 inch balls and put on baking sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern. Bake for about 10 minutes or until cookies start to brown.

Recipe from allrecipes.com

National Peanut MonthBy Zoe Payne

If I asked you to think of a symbol for March, what would you come up with? Probably a four-leaf clover or a dancing leprechaun. You most likely wouldnt think of a peanut. Its a little-known fact that March is National Peanut Month. March 1st is also National Peanut Butter Lovers Day. (Not to be confused with January 24th, which is National Peanut Butter Day, or November, which is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month.)

National Peanut Month was actually created as National Peanut Week in 1941. It was later expanded to become National Peanut Month in 1974. But why would we even create a month devoted to peanuts in the first place? Surprisingly, the answer couldnt be found. So here are some of the possibilities:

It may be to keep peanuts in consumers minds. Two-thirds of all snack nuts are peanuts. Americans consume 1.5 million pounds of peanuts and peanut products, like peanut butter, every year. And cookie bakers for the Girl Scouts use 230,000 pounds of peanut butter a week in order to bake Tagalongs and Do-si-dos. Peanuts contribute more than $4 billion to the economy each year.

National Peanut Month is a good way to promote health, too. Peanuts are often thought of as fatty and unhealthy. However, peanuts contain plenty of essential vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients (Phytonutrients are natural chemicals that help fight disease and generally keep up your health), and antioxidants. They are also cholesterol-free.

Even after considering all of this, it still seems pretty weird to have a month devoted to peanuts. Here are some ideas: Michele Okamura 19 said, I think that it was probably created to either promote a well-known and loved food or possibly just to help those in the peanut industry, like Georgia and Gambia. Maya Ricardo 19 said, I think it is about people who like peanuts because they harvest peanuts. Also because everyone planted peanuts and made peanut butter.

So now you know. March is National Peanut Month, a celebration in honor of the healthy and well-loved nuts. This is a good time to try out some peanutty recipes like the one in the sidebar. (Apologies to the 1.3% of the population who cant eat peanuts.) Maybe next March, we should have a peanut festival. Or is that just nuts?

Photo by Zoe Payne

Photo by Zoe Payne

Peanuts are not actually nuts--they are legumes.

Make sure to flatten the cookies correctly.

Being HappyBy Sara Cerda

What do you want to be when you grow up? I get asked that question a lot. I dont know what I want to be when I grow up. But I do have a answer that would apply to whatever I choose to be. Happy. This is something that youd think you would already be. But the reality is that many people are not happy. Some of the things they are not happy with are life, their parents, their friends. But most of all people are not happy with themselves. There are options that can help a person feel good about themselves.

According to action for happiness website (http://www.actionforhappiness.org) there are ten key ways to be happier. They are: giving or sharing something to someone, relating something to others, exercising, giving gratitude, trying something new, having a sense of direction, being resilience, having a positive attitude, accepting people for who they are, and having meaning in your life.

Another way to be happy is being in our dream world. Our dream world might include our favorite movies, favorite books, favorite sport, or our favorite memory. We feel if we can escape the reality of our life by having endless fun in our own world. This type of world will never end because you are constantly changing favorites so we can add more to our world. Lorraine Sim 19 said, she would have rainbows and be able to relax and have no homework. Alexis Lowery 19 said she would live in Enquestria and be a pony.

When you are happy everyone around you is happy too. So take it upon yourself to find out what makes you happy and maybe I gave you a few ideas to start your journey to happiness.

Catching KindnessBy Jaime Tamashiro and Kelsey Ou

Collins birthday was coming up, and he didnt want a birthday party since he didnt have any friends. His mom just wanted him to have a great

birthday, so she started a Facebook page asking for people to send him birthday messages. It ended up getting 40,000 likes, and 18,000 birthday wishes. What prompted all these people to give Collin birthday wishes?

You may not know, but being kind to others also comes with many benefits. One of them includes producing Serotonin. According to, Life Vest Inside, an organization in New York City, The Science of Kindness (Life Vest Inside) proved that not only does the giver produce Serotonin, but the receiver, and even the witnesses produce Serotonin. Serotonin makes you happy, heals wounds, and calms you down. Scientific evidence showed that kindness and happiness can lead to success, slows down aging, gives you social happiness, and kills pain through Endorphin, the brains natural pain killer. What can you do to show kindness in your life? That depends on your personal situation. It can be something as simple as smiling at someone having a bad day. It may also be a deep, complicated thing such as buying gifts for someone you know that is going through hard times. Clarise Huang 19 said, Just saying a simple thank you to someone is enough to make them happy. Kindness spreads from one person to another. Its like a domino effect. Kindness influences one person to be kind, then influences more people to be kind kind of like a disease.

If kindness is so good for you and others, then why dont we show it more often? Well, sometimes it is our inabilities to see someones situation. Other times it is us being afraid of a persons reaction to kindness being shown to someone. When was the last time when you knew someone was having a bad day, and you didnt say anything to help them. Anything such as Hi, how is your day? or, Are you doing ok today? an anonymous contributor stated. It is not a matter in which kindness is hard to show, it is a matter in which we need to find the courage to take the right steps to help that person.

In team 7W, the students are doing a Kindness Challenge, doing what they think is right through small actions. Always think about how you can add kindness into someones day, as you both may benefit. Every little thing can make a big difference.

TLCs (Therapeutic

Lifestyle Changes)

1. Exerciseexercising is a great way to get in shape and feel good about it because you are doing something good for you body. Do something that is fun and good for you at the same time.

2. Diet and NutritionHaving a diet and nutrition is not so bad because there ways to eat something you love and make it healthy.

3. Time in NatureSpend some times outdoor like going to the park or to the beach. It is good for you and it is a great way to see a lot of things.

4. Contribution and serviceVolunteer for community service. It can be anything like taking care of animals or planting trees too.

5. RelationshipsHaving a heathy relationship is good for you. Like a best friend they can cheer you up when you feel sad. Make sure to have a good relationship with them and youll have a friend for life.

6. RecreationDo an activity when you are not busy it can be card games or just going bike riding in the neighborhood.

7. Relaxation and Stress ManagementEvery few minuets take a break and relax. Watch TV, read a book, or draw this helps with relieving from stress.

8. Religious and Spiritualremember the Labyrinth try that it helps so to be more connected with your mind and it is relaxing too.

Study Tips For

Middle Schoolers

By Megan Buras

1. OrganizationStay organized by dedicated a certain space in your bag to different subjects so you know where each book or paper is when you need it.

2. Planner A planner is most useful when you write assignments, due dates, quizzes, and other things in it (rather than making pretty doodles and sketches).

3. Make a Study GuideWhen studying for quizzes, making study guides is a great way to remember and memorize things. A great way to study is by using flash cards.

4. Are you struggling with anything?If you are having trouble with something in any of your classes, I highly suggest you talk to your teacher. In fact, it is part of their job to help you learn things.

Time Management By Darren Zhou

I stay up until 10 pm to do my homework. I usually start around 5 pm, so I do about 4 hours of homework every day. I take a 45 minute break for dinner, says Zoe Payne 19. Sometimes I stay up even later, because I have Street Dance and I dont get home until really late, so I dont get started on homework until 7:30, which means I have to do some of homework in the car on the way to school or before class, she adds.

How do you balance your time between homework and extra-curricular activities?

One way is prioritizing your weekly schedule. Do your most important things first. Arrange assignment according to due date. Focusing on the immediate assignments alleviates stress.

Write homework due dates on your planner. Use the Google calendar to plan out your homework time. It can also set reminders for due dates. The alert notifications will remind you of due dates.

According to http://www.wikihow.com/Manage-School-Work-in-Middle-School, doing work from hardest to easiest will help your stamina. As you grow more tired, youll want to spend less time and rush through your work. When youre tired, doing your harder homework last may cause you to rush.

Do your hardest homework first while your stamina is up."I usually do the work thats due the next day, or otherwise I do the hardest ones first. If there happens to be a time when I don't want to do my homework then I just time myself for 15 minutes and see how much I can get done, then I take a 15 minute break. Otherwise I do as much as I can in study hall or if absolutely necessary during lunch," replied Rinka Shimizu 18.Sidney Lum '18 answered, " I do what the homework of the class I have first on the next day. Anything that I don't finish is done in study hall time. Whenever I get assigned projects I usually start working on them

a week before the due date especially on the weekends when I have more time."" I always do my most time-consuming homework (math) first so I can get it over with and finish my other homework pretty quickly. If I have a test tomorrow and I have extra time then I study for that test so both my tests and homework grades are high. Though it has rarely happened to me if I forget to do my homework of a class that I have first then I try to complete it before class," Samantha Downing '18 replied.Balance your homework and extracurricular activities by prioritizing, planning and focusing. Once you get the work out of the way, you can play.

Kiani Dwight 19 Uses her study-hall to work on her Damon speech.

Accordion folders are a great way to stay organized.

Planners help with remembering when assignments are due.

Photos by Megan Buras

A Freezing WinterBy Clarise Huang

Record-breaking temperatures, 21 cold-related deaths, and over 4,000 flights canceled. All because of the polar vortex. You may have heard of the polar vortex before, as it has been mentioned in the media often.

The polar vortex is usually around the Arctic Circle, but because of the movement, even

weve been affected as its been colder, windier, and much rainier. But, Europe and the eastern part of the US, have been much colder. Why?

Last winter, the U.S. was the coldest it had ever been in two decades.

Parts of Europe have also been very cold, receiving snowstorms as well. The reason the polar vortex moved, was because of the Greenland Block. The Greenland Block is high temperatures that come from Greenland. The Greenland Block

keeps Canadian wind from blowing to the Atlantic Ocean, so instead, it pushes the wind to the eastern part of the U.S.

The polar vortex is usually around Canadas Baffin Island to northeast Siberia. This winter, it stayed in this area, but also stretched to the eastern part of the U.S. The circulation of the polar vortex goes counterclockwise, and the strong winds that come from this usually surround the

north pole. These winds keep the cold air of the polar vortex locked in the northern Arctic regions. The intensity of these winds change from time to time, and the decrease of intensity can possibly distort these winds,

causing it to move south, which makes its new position, a lot

colder. The western part of Europe was also affected, as it was much colder than usual, and they also received storms mainly in the British Isles. These storms come from a persistent pattern of a jetstream found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This jetstream is causing storms in Europe is also the reason why the US and Canada colder

than usual. For example, the 118-year-record was broken in New York Citys Central Park when the temperature dropped to 4 degrees. It was not much less than the record before, which was 6 degrees since 1896.

This past winter has been a very cold one for many. Even in Hawaii, we feel small effect, as it has been colder than usual. But this winter has been much colder for others; the coldest many have seen for a very long

time. The polar vortex made a big impact on the recent weather, and hopefully, it wont occur again for a while.

Photo from thewatchers.adorraeli.com

Photo Credit: whattalking.com

Photo Credit: ibitimes.com

Dr. SeussBy Izzy Leyshon

When I was little, my favorite picture book was Green Eggs and Ham. I could even recite the whole story by heart when I was two, even though I couldnt read yet! Dr. Seuss is a beloved childrens author, adored by generations. He is so popular that we celebrate his birthday in March with Read Across America Day.

Theodor Seuss [pronounced: Zoise] Giesel born March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts was the author/illustrator of 44 childrens books. You may know some of his most popular books such as The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, The Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Yertle the Turtle, Hop on Pop, and Ten Apples on Top. Some of these books have also been turned into movies, the Lorax, Horton Hears a Who, the Cat in the Hat, and the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

When, Dr. Seuss was a little boy, he enjoyed going to the park with his father and looking at the animals. Then, when little Ted got home, he would draw the animal and write a poem about it. Actually, his first book To Think I saw it on Mulberry Street. was inspired by the rhythm of a hum of a cruise ship. Even

the simplest things could inspire Dr. Seuss to write and illustrate.

It wasnt always smooth sailing for Dr. Seuss. He went to Oxford to please his father and study English. In college, he got voted least likely to succeed and got in trouble for drinking and was put on probation. When on probation, he made comics under different names, such as Seuss or T. Seuss. Later, when he tried to get his PhD, he failed because he mostly doodled and daydreamed. Despite his troubles, he still pursued his dreams of being an author/ illustrator.

As a magazine cartoonist, he began signing his work under the mock-scholarly title of Dr. Theophrastus Seuss in 1927. He shortened that to Dr. Seuss in 1928. In acquiring his professional authors name, he also gained a new pronunciation. Most Americans pronounce the name Soose, and not Zoice. And thats how Ted Geisel became Dr. Seuss.

You may also be familiar with books such as Ten Apples Up on Top and The Eye Book. These books written by Theo LeSeig (Giesel spelled backwards). These books for early readers were written by Dr. Seuss, but not illustrated by him.

So, even if he did go through

some rough patches, he never gave up and he persevered to the end. And quite like a wise man once said, Be who you are and say what you mean because those who mind dont matter and those who matter dont mind.

Photo from www.pictospin.com

Photos by Kaya Lee

St. Patricks Treats!By Caroline Chan

Are you ready for March 14? How are you celebrating St. Patricks Day? Whats your favorite part? The green, the leprechauns and their gold, the four leaf clovers and their luck, pinching someone if they dont wear green? How about the delicious food to eat? If this is your favorite part, then this is the article for you!

Here are some traditional food recipes to eat and enjoy! Thank you to http://www.foodnetwork.com for these recipes.

Irish StewIngredients: 4 pounds lamb shoulder, cubed1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1/4 cup vegetable oil24 pearl onions, peeled, root end trimmed2 medium carrots, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces1/2 cup dried pearl barley3 cups chicken stock or water2 cups stout1 bay leaf1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves12 new potatoes, cut in half1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives, for garnish

Directions: Special equipment: a 12-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Heat pot over medium high heat and add the vegetable oil. Working in small batches, saute the lamb until golden brown in color. Set aside. Add the onion, carrots, and barley to the pot. Stir to coat, about 1 minute. Add the chicken stock, stout, bay leaf, and thyme to the pot. Return the lamb to the pot, place the potatoes on top and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the lamb is fork tender. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with the parsley and chives. Serve with Irish Soda Bread.Total time - 2 hr 45 min.

Prep - 45 min. Cook - 2 hr.Makes 6 servings.

Irish Soda BreadIngredients: 4 cups all-purpose

flour, plus extra for currants4 tablespoons sugar1 teaspoon baking soda1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten1 teaspoon grated orange zest1 cup dried currants - They are 1. Seedless, dried zante grapes or2. A tiny berry related to gooseberry

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.

With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound. Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Shepherds Pie Ingredients: For the potatoes:1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes1/4 cup half-and-half2 ounces unsalted butter3/4 teaspoon kosher salt1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1 egg yolk

For the meat filling: 2 tablespoons canola oil1 cup chopped onion2 carrots, peeled and diced small2 cloves garlic, minced1 1/2 pounds ground lamb1 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper2 tablespoons all-purpose flour2 teaspoons tomato paste

Photos from foodnetwork.com

1 cup chicken broth1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary leaves1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels1/2 cup fresh or frozen English peas

Directions: Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the canola oil into a 12-inch saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the lamb, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through,

approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to

combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly. Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and

smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.Total time - 1 hr 30 min. Prep: 45 min. Cook: 45 min.Makes 8 servings

Corned Beef and Cabbage Another dish, Corned Beef and Cabbage, is very common and popular that youve probably eaten before. I got this recipe from my Aunty, who says she just follows the directions on the package. I think that its delicious and I hope you do too. Ms. Mazzullo loves this dish and says, I love to eat corned beef

and cabbage because it reminds me of celebrating St. Patties Day in New York. Brendon Wong 18 says, Im going to eat corned beef and cabbage.

Here is what you need to do:Purchase corned beef brisket.

Ingredients: Corned Beef Brisket6 Potatoes2 Onions3 Carrots1 Round Cabbage

Directions:1. Rinse Corned Beef2. Place fat side down in large pot3. Add water to fully cover brisket4. Add spice packet5. Boil on Medium according to package directions (Usually 2-3 hours)6. Add carrots, onions, potatoes (Cut into 1-2 inch pieces)7. Add cabbage (Cut into 1x1-2 pieces)Enjoy with mustard, ketchup, horseradish and/or wasabi. A lot of you out there who dont usually eat traditional food on St. Patricks Day can probably still relate to these people and what they eat on St. Patricks Day. Scott Nakaoka 18 says, Candy. Cuyler Yafuso 18 says, I like to eat turkey. Something a little more St. Patricks Day is chocolate. Harrison Lyckman 18 says he likes to eat the chocolate golden coins. I hope you enjoyed these recipes. You can make modifications to the recipes to make it more to your liking. Have a Happy St. Patricks Day!

Photo from Internet

Photo from Internet

10 Questions with Ms. Kealohi Reppun1. What made you want to become a teacher?In pursuing a lifestyle of lifelong learning, I found teaching and fell in love with the kind of learning that happens when Im doing that work.

2. Where were you born and raised? Did you enjoy life there?I was born in Waianu, Waihole, Koolaupoko, Oahu. I enjoyed life there on the farm, and still do. Waianu is a unique place, a hidden treasure of sorts the kind of place people dont think still exists on Oahu. Its where my family is, its where I am constantly inspired and challenged to be and do better.

3. What are some things you like to do when you are not teaching?When I am not teaching I enjoy sleeping in. If Im lucky I get to sleep in til 9am. I also love spending time with family. I enjoy working on the farm with my family-learning from my parents and having long discussions together. I also enjoy watching movies. 4. What songs are in your playlist?Hawaiian music greats -old- Johnny Almeida, Kawai Cockett, Bill Aliiloa Lincoln, and -new- The Brothers Cazimero, Manu Boyd, Kainani Kahaunaele, Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole, to name a few.Ive always loved Hawaiian music, maybe it came from my grandparents, maybe from my parents, however everyone in my family enjoys listening to various genres of music so Im not sure my taste is so exclusive.

5. What is your favorite food?Moms homemade spaghetti.My mom always cooks with attention to detail and lots of passion - an artist in the kitchen. Everything she cooks is delicious, be it a tried-and-true recipe or a new creation. She makes dinner at our house exciting, something to look forward to, and the spaghetti is but one of my favorite dishes.

6. What is your favorite animal?Dragonfly.Initially I was drawn to dragonflies when I learned that they only live for 24 hours. The idea of only existing for a day immediately became a metaphor for my life, constantly reminding me to ponder my actions and the work I do in the context of a day. As I learned more about dragonflies I connected them with many more metaphors and have come to enjoy their complexity on many levels.

7. Do you have any pets?Not right now. I have had pets, most recently a maltese named Haunuu.

8. Do you speak any other languages?Hawaiian

Who taught you how to speak Hawaiian?Many people taught me how to speak Hawaiian. A number of professors at UH Hilo: two of my closest mentors were the late Haunani Bernardino and Hiapo Perreira, and my students at Ke Kula O Nwahokalanipuu school in Keaau, Hawaii where I worked for the last 9 years.

9. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?Narnia :-) If you went to Narnia what would you like to be?A cloud in the sky with a birdseye view of everyone and everything magical that exists there.

10. What was the last book you read?The Lorax by Dr. Seuss I love the moral of the story and the way in which the story is told makes is trulyeducational while it serves to entertain its audience. Dr. Seuss is a genius!