MathCounts - Dorothea O.

Sonia takes at most three tests on any one school day and at most seven tests in any five consecutive school days. (A Friday and the following Monday are considered consecutive school days.) What is the least number of consecutive school days in which Sonia could take 20 tests?

This is a sample question from the 2008 National Mathcounts competition. Our Westmont team practices on Mondays and Wednesdays after school until four o’clock. Mr. Papcun, the coach, gives the students practice problems and helps them develop their math skills. In addition to the four-person team, the math club consists of around 10 kids, who practice in a noncompetitive environment.

The Mathcounts team competed at the state level on March 20th and 21st, after winning the regional round on February 14th. They did not win states, but hope to return next year. All seventh and eighth graders interested in learning about math may attend next year. For more information and practice problems, visit www.mathcounts.org or talk to Mr. Papcun.

(In case you’re wondering about the above problem, the answer is twelve days.)

Disney Rides - Natalie F.

This is a list of the most well known rides in Disney history! Now, I haven’t counted but there must be at least 3,000 rides in all of Disney! I'm sure you’re thinking "How that is possible? You can’t just narrow it down to ten!" Well think again because, if you have been there more than five times you get to the point where you can pick the good from the bad. So, don’t get too overwhelmed with what I about to share with you. I hope you enjoy this factual list of the best rides in all the land.
In this article you will see me use the term “Fast Pass.” Fast Passes are tickets you get at the entrance of a ride with your park pass from your hotel. You insert your park pass and get this little paper ticket that says something like: Magic Kingdom ride: Peter Pan. Time report to ride 12:30-2:00. So these passes permit you between the time of 12:30-2 o’clock to cut line. The only downside is that you can only get 3 passes per park. These are free passes, but only 150 people get a pass per time frame. It’s very confusing, but once you get there you’ll understand.

Here are the best rides in order from least scary to most scary:

1. Thunder Mountain; this ride is like a railroad with fun ups and downs, this is in Frontierland in the one, the only Magic Kingdom! This ride is usually packed so I suggest fast passes which are always located at the entrance. The longest wait for this ride can be up to 165 minutes, so always bring something to do.

2. Kali River Rapids; this ride is for hot days only, so put on your swimsuit you about to get soaked! This ride is located in animal kingdom, this ride is like sitting in a huge inner tube and you get wet by going through waterfalls and big drops.

3. Haunted Mansion; this one only gets scary in the grave yard and hearing other people shriek! If you closely while you are waiting in line the gravestones move, make sure you watch the one with the face, she’ll be watching you. This ride is located in Fantasyland, Magic kingdom.

4. Test Track; by far my favorite, it kind of like a driving test, but having Jeff Gordon drive you through a wall! In this ride the “car company” is using you as there test dummies, this has tests you go through in a navigated car. At the very end of the ride you break through a wall and go 80 miles per hour in a convertible! This ride is located in Epcot. It is completely safe the car has 22 wheels, but you can only see four with your eyes. I suggest fast passes this line could get up to 400 minutes.

5. Splash Mountain; The biggest eye opener drop in all the kingdom, and you so get wet! This is also located in Frontier land, right next to Thunder Mountain. This ride is based on the story of Brer Rabbit going to his happy place, trying to run away from Brer Fox. The plunge in 6 STORIES HIGH!!!! WARNING YOU GET WET.

6. Space Mountain; in the dark! This ride is an indoor roller coaster that is kind of like the wild mouse but more on the swirly side. The biggest drop is about 44 feet. This is one of the most intense indoor rides in Magic Kingdom. Always get fast passes or get to the park early this ride gets packed!

7. Mission: Space; is now also Mission: Mars. You can go to either place and there are two levels. Orange is way intense training they so call it. Then there is green level which is for first time riders. If you don’t want to ride you can wait inside where they have huge video game stations!!!!! This ride I couldn’t even handle, in fact I was afraid of the ghost of that five year old boy from Pennsylvania died on this ride on April 14, 2005.

8. Soarin’; the best ride that takes you through the valleys of California and you can smell the fresh oranges, Warning if you are afraid of heights this is not your ride! On this ride it is indoors and you sit in this giant ski lift and it takes you 40 feet off the ground and places you in front of a huge screen. This screen takes you through California, and ends you in Disney Land CL. This ride is located in Epcot’s the Land Pavilion. (Always get fast passes, this rides can have lines that are at least half a mile long!)

9. Expedition Everest; this one is a must for all you rollercoaster fans, but beware of the Yeti once you get to the top there is no escape! This ride is about 11 minutes long and the biggest drop is going backwards down the mountain at 44 feet high. Some of this ride my be in the dark and yes there is a Yeti, and yes IT IS BIG and real looking. This ride is located in animal kingdom, if you get there early fast passes aren’t necessary.

10. Rockin Roller Coaster; this one has loops and loud music making your eardrums bleed! WARNING, May make you THROW UP! This ride has the highest drop up to 48 feet. This ride is located in what is now called Hollywood studios, it use to be MGM. This ride always has really, really, really long lines. This ride is indoors and in the dark. But inside there is a lot of glow in the dark neon signs. The longest ride for this line is about 290 minutes. During your rollercoaster experience they blast Aerosmith music all throughout the ride!

Current Events Team - Jill C.

Have you ever felt out of the loop – in world news that is. Have you ever felt lost in a class when it comes to current events? Well, if you want to enter the news circle, I suggest you join the National Current Events team. Every week you are assigned to look in the newspaper, recent news magazines, the Internet – however you can get articles on recent news events within a week’s time. You have to summarize three national (US news) and international (world-wide) articles, one arts and entertainment, one science and health, one business and finance, and one sports article. (Note: No articles can be local news. For example, write about something that probably would be found in a Californian newspaper, too. In other words, don’t write about anything from the local sections of the newspaper.) You have to turn your completed current events paper into Miss K on Mondays unless told otherwise. That is your ticket to the Current Events meeting on Fridays during first period for seventh and eighth graders, but you also have to get a pass from Miss K on Friday morning which is also a vital pass. Current Events for fifth and sixth graders is with Mrs. Terndrup.

Being a member of the Current Events team really makes you aware of your surroundings. It also helps you better understand the material studied in Geography class (grade 7) or Civics class (grade 8) when you talk or debate about certain topics relating to recent events and history. For example, near the end of year we study the Middle Eastern countries and territories which are Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine (territory), Golan Heights (territory), United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Israel, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen, Oman, and Qatar in Geography class with Mrs. Bassi.

Being a member of the Current Events team can really helped you understand pretty much anything - well, except for algebra. You’re on your own for that. You can learn so much more than by just reading the newspaper alone. Current Events is awesome, and you should join now!