Passport“Engineering Our Future”

Vol. 17 Issue 4 May 2017

PASSPORT STAFFSydney Drozynski, Bri Farren, Colton Firster, Marie Fouche, Jacob Freshly, Virginia Fronk, Adelie Gifford, Anya Maschmeier, Logan McKinney, Alex Schulties, Ava Stewart, Alexis Terry,

Roy Tilton, Nico Town, Dorothy Vogel, Dylann Volz

Advisor: Mr. Levere

Inside this issue:

Chub and Flub and Table of Misfits Conclusions!

The exciting conclusion of the short story, K’Napped Elementary!

Historical look at school summer vacation…why is it the way it is?

Passport Staff Bios!

…and so much more!

Daring By Ava Stewart

Jackson was dared by the village bully to enter the Sulfur Caverns. When entering he then saw a

light, which was a hole that that led nowhere. He accidentally triggered a secret passage, and followed it to a great treasure room. There he took a jewel, but was discovered by a dragon named Topaz. After learning his story, she promised to help him get home. Jackson climbed on her back, and the unlikely pair set off on a course for Jackson's home.

I jolted awake from the light slumber I had on Topaz's back. I peered over her side as she glided across the land.

"Are we there?" I yawned. "Not yet," Topaz replied.I noticed that my belly felt

empty as a cave, and my mouth was as dry as stone. Then it let out a rumble. Topaz swung her head around to look at me.

"Do you want to eat?" She asked.

"Um, yes.""We'll land soon."She dove suddenly to the

ground. I yelped from the surprise as the wind whistled through my ears. I crouched down, and discovered I was in the leeway of the wind. I watched as her wings snapped open, and strained to stop the fall. As we neared the ground, she dropped. Her muscles smoothly absorbed the drop. She crouched down to let me slide off her back. Topaz then walked into the woods.

"What should I do?" I called after her.

"Wait there. Scout the land. I'm pretty sure we're close." She called over her shoulder.

"Close to what?" I muttered, staring after her.

I looked around to observe our surroundings. We were in a small forest clearing. A ring of oak and alder trees surrounded the small, grassy clearing. Small brown leaves littered the ground.

I looked and headed off into a random direction. It was hard going. Small gullies and rises caused me to stumble. Fallen branches and logs were scattered and hidden. Thick bushes blocked the way. Eventually the forest gave way to a small, strangely familiar green. I stretched my head to get a better view and peered around. A littles ways off, I saw a thin winding plume of smoke. I decided there was no better way to go. So I pushed through the scraggly bushes blocking my way. Ha! Take that bushes! I thought. Then I looked up. I stared with shock, then heard a rushing noise, and a curtain of blackness overtook me.

I stood at the door to my house. I stood there unsure of what to do. Then I thought, what am I doing, standing here like this? This is my house! I walked up, and boldly knocked on the door.

"Hello?" I called. "Is anyone home?"

My father came to the door. I peeked behind my dad's shoulders, and saw the shadow of my mom.

"Dad!" I cried. "I'm so happy to see you!"

"Who are you? What do you want?" He said.

"I’m your son!" I replied. "What do you mean what do I want?"

"I have no son," He gruffly replied. "He died in a fire years ago."

"No he didn't!" I argued. "I'm your son! I'm clearly alive!"

"Get out!" He shouted. "Stop torturing me and my wife!" He slammed the door on me. I stood there shocked. I turned away and sat down numb. A door creaked open behind me. I looked behind me to see my mom.

"Do you believe me?" I asked."No," She hissed. "Now leave!" I watched in paralyzing fear as

she lengthened and turned green. Before me was a colossal green snake that was my mom. She hissed and

slithered towards me. I was too scared to move, to breathe. She slithered around me, picking me up in her muscular coils, hissing all the while. She began to squeeze, drawing the life out of me. I thrashed, trying to scream, but I had was literally paralyzed. The last thing I saw was Harold, the village bully, looking at me, laughing, as I lost consciousness.

I awoke panting as I stared up at Topaz. Her fiery eyes gazed into mine. Topaz's face was etched with concern.

She asked gently, "Are you alright?"

"Yes," I whispered."I found you missing at the

clearing," Topaz explained. "So I followed your trail to here."

"Is this....?" I croaked, too afraid to go on.

"Yes," She replied, her voice heavy with pain. "It's your village."

I sat up, and gazed around at the destruction of my childhood home. Most houses were no longer houses, just piles of ash and scorched timber. The grass was black, and brittle underfoot. Embers glowed in the shadows. Fire flickered like distant stars piles of ash. I gazed numbly until I saw a familiar figure. My home. I walked slowly, as if in water towards it, shocked beyond thought. I looked back at Topaz. She clearly felt the pain and shock that I did, though her gaze was darkened with a smoldering spark of raging fury.

I bent down, and began searching the ashes for something, anything, when I heard a wheeze. I lifted my head wearily and another shock ran through me as I saw a still form in the ashes.

"Mom?!" I cried and ran over to her.

She gasped and whispered, "Jackson. You..... came."

"It's all right Mom." I murmured. "You'll be okay."

"No, I won't. Now listen to me. Your..... family is safe. We were attacked yesterday. It..... was sudden. There was a scream, and.... fire came raging. We panicked and..... your father grabbed your sister and ran. I.... ran to help a neighbor. We both got caught in a fire. I managed.... to get her over here, but she died. I stayed here.... until you came. But...," She broke off into coughing. "We were attacked by the emperor. You... must find your father. Please. I beg you."

"Shh. It's okay Mom." I whispered holding back tears.

"I love you." She mumbled. "Tell.... your family I love them."

"I love you too Mom," I murmured. "I always will."

I watched as she smiled, and then breathed no more. Topaz came over, and curled around me as I felt cool tears trickle down my cheeks.

I buried her with Topaz's help as light rain fell from the silver skies. I watched as moist dirt covered her, the rolled a pinkish stone to mark her grave.

I turned, then said with simmering anger to Topaz, "Why did it have to be this way! She didn't have to die! I hate him!"

"She wouldn't want you to be sad, little one. She would want you to be happy."

"How could I be happy! My mother is dead!" I screamed.

"The best way to help yourself, is to be calm, but grieve." Topaz said.

I watched as the boy paced the ground. It had been two months since his mother died, and now he felt raging anger. He wished to go after the emperor, but I had refused. But now, he was ready to vent his feelings.

"Jackson," I said to him. "We can go."

"Do you mean it, Topaz?" He asked hoarsely.

"Of course I mean it little one," I replied, smiling sadly at him.

Without a word, I bent down and he climbed on my back. I looked up, and took off into flight.

Excerpt from A History of Our Country

Many years ago, a boy named Jackson waged war on the current emperor. With the help of the villages the emperor had attacked, and the dragon Topaz, he managed to overthrow the emperor. Then Jackson swore an oath to protect his country as long as he lived over the years he succeeded again and again. He will always be remembered.

The Legend of the Table of Misfits

•FINALE•

By Sydney Drozynski

I don't think my identity matters. I don't think what the date is matters either. The only thing that matters is that The Table is mine. I live

here now. This journal I found on the ground.... it only holds the thoughts of Bob before he left. Nobody knows what happened to him and the rest of his patrol. Nobody knows what happened to the rest of The Table residents... except for me.

The short version of the story: I needed a new home. I found a new home. I have a new home.

The long version: I confronted a patrol of Table residents. They were looking for more territory to claim. They seemed selfish and greedy, so, I admit what I did was wrong, but I needed to live SOMEWHERE, so I asked them where they lived, found their home, and eliminated them. All of them. I traveled on a long wire to the edge of a long wooden area overlooking The Table. The wire snapped and I swung through The Table. I threatened to remove the others if they didn’t worship me. I got what I wanted. Territory. A home. I now rein over The Table of Misfits.

What am I doing now? Well, since I took over so easily I decided to strengthen The Table residents just in case someone tries to overthrow us. I split them up into training groups and assigned each group a mentor. Only a few Table residents seemed trained in battle so it was hard to find trustworthy mentors who had experience.

I....I think after what I did.... I need help. I need to make up for what I've done to The Table residents. I must, and I don’t do this often, apologize.

I stood at the top of the wooden cliff, looking over The Table. I took a deep breath, then spoke.

"Citizens of The Table, after watching you work and train and live your lives for days, I have come to recognize something. I committed a foul and treacherous act. I destroyed you. I destroyed your families and friends. Your home. So chain me up. Don't let me free. I am a danger to all, and I can't control it."

Looks of sympathy swept through the crowd. Some ducked their heads, some were left awestruck. Lots of mouths gaped open in shock. No one spoke; complete silence.

"What will we do? You know, to.... you?" The Green Dino asked, breaking the silence.

"Well..." I began, glancing around. I spotted the wire that had swept through the kingdom. It had been put up as a bridge between a wood cliff and metal cliff in recent days. I also spotted a clear semi-circle and a black clip. "I must be restrained. Paper Turkey, grab that black clip over there. Orange Dino, grab that clear semi-circle. Red Robot, can you help them up the cliff? Good. Yes, yes. Now,

clip the black clip on the semi-circle. Thanks. I can take it from here." I slipped the semi-circle over my head and attached the clip to the green wire.

"Not saying your plan is bad or anything, but how will you watch over us?" The Orange Dino asked.

"I can swing between the two cliffs on this wire. I'm restrained, but I can still see you."

It's now a few days later. I watch over the citizens from my restraints, swinging between the cliffs.

This seems like a happy ending for The Table, so I will stop writing here. I may as well tell you who am. I am the Squared Squirrel. I am the new Table leader.

Well, I'm not done with The Table citizens yet...

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AUTHOR'S NOTEThe Table of Misfits

stories are based off of The Table of weird things in room 74. I hope the next generation of Passport writers continue their adventures as previous passport writers have. This was actually one of my favorite years for writing because of my ELA teacher, Mrs. Dietz. I hope you enjoyed my writings, and have a great summer! -Sydney Drozynski ♥☺♥

Tips to Survive 6th Grade

By Nicholas Town

1. Be Organized:

You will get many papers in sixth grade. If you aren't organized, you many lose important papers that you won't be able to get back. For example, what if you lose a study guide for a big quiz and your teacher doesn't have any more papers? This can ruin your grade if you don't know the information. Another example is what if you can't find a field trip permission form? If you aren't organized with where you put your papers, you could possibly lose the chance of going on the field trip.

2. Don't Procrastinate:

When you procrastinate, you waste valuable time that could help you in the end. In school, this can come back to haunt you. For example, what if you have a big project, but you wait till the last week to start it? This can ruin your grade, just like being unorganized. Another example of this is when you have missed work. If you don't do it soon enough, you might have to do it while also having to do a project. You might not do so well if that happens.

3. Write Assignments in Your Planner:

The school has given us the planner for one thing, to help us complete our assignments on time. What if you have a forgetful mind? If you don't write it down, you will forget that you have to do it. Because of not writing it down, you will most likely get a zero. That would surely put a hole through your grade. Another example of this is what if you come into class late and miss hearing part of the assignment? If you don't ask your teacher and write it down in your planner, you won't ever know what you are going to need to do.

4. Know Your Schedule:

In sixth grade, knowing your schedule will help you a lot throughout the day. What if you do extra activities like band, chorus, or strings? The rehearsals at A&E are easy to get to, but what about your lessons? If you don't know the time and plan it out with the teacher in the class that you are missing, that might get the extra activity teacher or that teacher mad. You might not know your schedule that good at the beginning of the school year, but you need to know it so you can get to the right places at the right time.

5. Get Your Homework Done as Soon as Possible:

Homework is probably the largest part of your grade at school. If you don't finish it, you won't have a good grade. For example, what if you go outside to play with friends but have a basketball game after that until late at night? If you did your homework before you go outside, you won't have to do the homework late at night. If you are too tired to do it when you come

home from the basketball game, you will have to do it the next morning, if you don't have it done by then, you will get a zero because you never completed it. This would not help your grade.

How to spot a "Bandwagon"

By Alex Schulties

It is the year of 2017. It seems as if being a bandwagon has become normal in sports. Teams like the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Blackhawks, and Boston Redsox have infected our hometowns. In Pittsburgh PA, I am seeing people with Golden State jerseys and Blackhawks jerseys, It is sickening. But, just because they have a jersey from another team that isn't from Pittsburgh doesn’t necessarily mean they are bandwagons. Here are things that will help you figure out if they are a bandwagon fan or a real fan.

Real Fan:

Test 1: A Browns fan?Let's face it, the Cleveland Browns have been the NFL'S laughingstock for the past 20 years. The last time they had a winning season was in 2007, they went 10-6. Their average winning percentage for the past 18 years is a horrible .305. Also, they have had 26 starting quarterbacks since 1999. If people are following this sports "franchise" then they are definitely not a bandwagon.

Test 2: They can name almost the whole team.I am a real Penguins fan. I can name almost the whole team. Ask your friends to name every player on their team. If they can name at least 75% of the team, they passed the test!

Test 3: They are from the city that their favorite team is from.

If they are from Houston and they like the Astro's and the Rockets, chances are they aren’t a bandwagon. Unless they just started liking the team. I will further explain.

Test 4: They grieve about their team when they lose.

Let's use the Edmonton Oilers as an example. In game 7 of the 2nd round they lost to the Anaheim Ducks. The next day they come into school looking

like they were in a fight. Also, they are depressed for the whole week. This salt comes extra with Canadian team fans. The last time a Canadian team has won the cup was in 1993. That was the Montreal Canadians. Back on point, a real fan should be upset when their team loses.

Bandwagon

Reason 1: A sudden new fan?

One day they have a Pittsburgh Pirates jersey on. Then they realize they are complete trash and are in the bottom of the division. AGAIN! They always talk about how they love the Pirates. But that was when they were decent. So, they walk into the classroom the next day with a Cubs jersey. Somebody say BANDWAGON!

Reason 2: Failing the test.If you are friends with a Warriors fan and they can only name Steph Curry and Kevin Durant then there is an issue. They should at least be able to name the majority of the team. That goes for any team, not just the warriors.

Reason 3: They don't know any background about their favorite team.Ask any of your friends some questions about their team like.... Have they ever won a championship? If they did, what years? When were they created as a franchise? Who is their rival? The best one of all, ask about new player signings. Make something up like... * For Blackhawk bandwagons: Did you see that the Hawks signed Francisco Cervelli? *It can be any player, not just for the sport that they are a bandwagon for. Obviously, he plays for the Pirates! If they respond with yes for that player... BOOM! Bandwagon spotted!These are some tips and tricks to help spot a real fan, and a bandwagon! Next time you're on the streets of Pittsburgh and you see a Flyers fan, ask them these questions! Have fun spotting those bandwagons!

To all who can’t stand bandwagons: Please, if you're concerned about your friend becoming a bandwagon just stop them in their tracks. We can all work together to stop bandwagons!

Marvel Superheroes vs DC Superheroes

By Colton Firster and Jacob Freshly

Round 1: The Flash vs Quicksilver

Statistic 1: Speed (Colton) According to DC

Comics, the Flash can run 42,248,847,627,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 mph, 62 quintillion times the speed of light.

(Jacob) Impressive, as Quicksilver can only sprint 1,080,000 mph, far from that of Flash.

Point FlashStatistic 2: Fighting Skill

(Colton) It's important to note, Quicksilver was born with his powers. This suggests that he is used to his powers. He is also used to constant combat. His father (Magneto) trained him in since he was 12 years old.

(Jacob) Even though the Flash is very good in combat, he was just a regular man before he got his powers. This category has to go to Quicksilver.

Point QuicksilverFinal Statistic: Long Range Fighting

(Colton) I think this statistic should go to Flash because he can project/throw lightning. LIGHTNING!!!!!! THAT IS CRAZY!!!!!! This is why the Flash should win this battle.

(Jacob) That's true, and since Quicksilver can't battle at any range other than point blank(very close), the Flash wins this area.

And with a final score of 2-1, the Flash would win in a fight.

Round 2: The Green Arrow vs

Hawkeye

Statistic 1: Accuracy(Colton) While both are

amazingly accurate, there has only been one time in the comics where Hawkeye has missed, where it's not the same for Green Arrow.

(Jacob) I agree, and just for clarification, we are talking about completely missing, as in no interference with an enemy.

Point HawkeyeStatistic 2: Skill with Other Weapons

(Colton) I think there are plenty of examples of Green Arrow using weapons other than a bow and arrow very well.

(Jacob) Exactly, in this area, Green Arrow should win because there is no true proof of Hawkeye using any other weapons besides his bow.

Point Green ArrowStatistic 3: Trick Arrows

(Colton) I think Hawkeye should win this area because he has a vast amount of very specific special arrows. Plus, he not as dependent on them as Green Arrow is.

(Jacob) I agree, Green Arrow does have a varied amount of trick arrows, but not as big of a range as Hawkeye.

Point HawkeyeAnd with another score of 2-1,

Hawkeye wins this battle.

Final Matchup: Iron Man vs Cyborg

Statistic 1: Weapons(Colton) Iron Man has the slight

advantage in this area because of his arsenal. This includes lasers, missiles, etc.

(Jacob) I agree, although Cyborg has an overpowering laser on his hand, he can't match the incredible variability of Iron Man's arsenal.

Point Iron ManStatistic 2: Knowledge of Armor

(Colton) I think Iron Man wins this one because he built his armor and inspected every square inch of it.

(Jacob) Exactly, Cyborg got his alien armor out of nowhere, however he is learning about it, but there is still a lot to learn about it.

Point Iron ManFinal Statistic: Overall Intelligence

(Colton) This is obvious, I'll just let you explain it Jacob

(Jacob) It is shown throughout the comics that Tony Stark(Iron Man) is one of, if not the smartest person in the world. Cyborg is pretty smart, but he can't even compare to the level of Stark's intelligence.

Point Iron Man

And with a clean sweep of 3-0 Iron man would easily win this matchup.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? If you have the chance, tell us how you feel. Thank you for reading.

Meet the Writers

By Anya Maschmeier and Dorothy Vogel

You have read the articles and you know their names (or aliases) but how much do you actually know about the

Passport writer staff? In this article you can learn all about the people and what

they love about the Passport!

DorothyFull name: Dorothy VogelAge: 11Nickname: DotArticles: 3 Holiday Costumes, Movie review, Emoji Quiz, and Meet the Writers.What do you love about the Passport: “That you can write almost anything.”

AnyaFull name: Anya MaschmeierAge: 12Nickname: N/AArticles: Things to do with Confetti, 3 Holiday Costumes, Movie Review, Emoji Quiz, and Meet the Writers.What do you love about the Passport: “I love that I can write whatever I want and encourage others to do great on their articles”

VirginiaFull Name: Virginia FronkAge: 12Nickname: GinnyArticles: 15 Crazy Laws and The Chub and Flub TrilogyWhat do you love about the Passport: “It’s fun and there is always new stuff.”

JacobFull Name: Jacob FreshlyAge: 12Nickname: N/AArticles: K’Napped pt. 1, 2, 3, and 4 and DC vs. MarvelWhat do you love about the Passport: “I can write whatever I want”

AlexFull Name: Alexander SchultiesAge: 12Nickname: AlexArticles: Best Rollercoasters and Sports ComboWhat do you love about the Passport: “You can show your creativity to the school.”

LoganFull Name: Logan MckinneyAge: 11Nickname: N/AArticles: He can’t say it is classified info .What do you love about the Passport: “We can write about whatever we want.”

AlexisFull Name: Alexis TerryAge: 12Nickname: N/AArticles: The Chub and Flub TrilogyWhat do you love about the Passport: “I like how you can use creativity and write or draw anything.”

ColtonFull Name: Colton FirsterAge: 12Nickname: The MayorArticles: Pivotal Point, Predictions and Pure Guesses, Interview With the Teachers, and Marvel vs. DC.What do you love about the Passport: "I like the opportunities"

AdelieFull Name: Adelie GriffordAge: 12Nickname: Addy and AdsArticles: Cupcake vs. Cake, Cheesecake vs. Apple Crisp, and Popsicles vs. Ice CreamWhat do you love about the Passport: "You get to read and experience different styles of writing."

NicoFull Name: Nicholas TownAge: 12 Nickname: NicoArticles: K'napped, 25 Things You Didn't Know, and How to Survive 6th

and 7th gradeWhat do you love about the Passport: "I like to express my writing in the Passport."

RoyFull Name: Roy TiltonAge: 12Nickname: N/AArticles: Astonishing Facts, Global Warming Debate, and Mind Blow.What do you love about the Passport: "It is very creative."

AvaFull Name: Ava StewartAge: 12Nickname: N/AArticles: Daring (4 parts) Whispers of SpringWhat do you love about the Passport: "How many different articles there can

be, and how everyone makes something unique.

MarieFull Name: Marie FoucheAge: 11Nickname: MayriArticles: 20 Things to do With Confetti, Two Cool Things to do with iMovie, Things to do with 100 pennies and Why We Have Summer break.What do you love about the Passport: "You can do anything and share your ideas."

BrielleFull Name: Brielle FarrenAge: 12Nickname: BriArticles: Crazy Words, Batman Movie Reviews, Batman Movie Reviews pt. 2What do you love about the Passport: "I like when people read my articles and tell me they like them."

DylannFull Name: Dylann Marie Evans Volz Age: 12Nickname: Dill PickleArticles: When Will it Be SummerWhat do you love about the Passport:" I like that you get to express your ideas."

SydneyFull Name: Sydney Drozynski Age: 12Nickname: Syd Articles: Table of Misfits 1, 2, 3 and Feelings Humans Experience but Seldom Notice.

What do you love about the Passport: "I can write whatever I want. Also, It can be however long, short, any font you want and size you want."

Batman Movie Reviews Pt. 2By Bri Farren

I didn't want to leave out any of the movies, so I'm back with part two of Batman Movie Reviews! Including the ones in my last article, I will have ten movie reviews and a TV show review. I hope that you enjoyed

reading all of my articles this year and enjoy this one too!

The Dark Knight(2008): This movie takes place after Batman Begins. Harvey Dent is the new District Attorney. Batman and Commissioner Gordon have to stop the Joker and Two-Face. I liked this movie and I thought the special effects that were used for Two-Face looked realistic.

The Dark Knight Rises(2012): Batman comes back to save Gotham City from Bane. He gets some help from the incredible cat burglar, Catwoman. Wayne Enterprises isn't very successful when Bruce goes missing. I also liked this movie and how they filmed the movie in Pittsburgh.

Batman vs. Superman(2016): Bruce Wayne goes to Metropolis to investigate Lex Luthor's house at a party. Superman and Batman were fighting each other. Wonder Woman helps them fight a monster that Lex created. I liked this one too.

Gotham(started 2014): This TV show is about Gotham City before Batman. Detective James Gordon is trying to figure out who killed Bruce Wayne's parents. It also has every character's back story. This is my favorite TV show.

Thanks for reading my article! I hope you all have an amazing summer vacation. Farewell Gothamites, until we meet again.

Best Hockey Players Ever

By Logan McKinneyHi, I’m reporting on the best NHL

players of all time. There are so many great hockey players out there, but I'm reporting on only the best of the best.

(In my opinion.)

1.Wayne Gretzky Position: CenterYears Played: 1978-1999All Teams: Edmonton Oilers, LA Kings, St. Louis Blues, NY Rangers Games played: 1695Goals: 1016Assists: 2223Points: 3239Awards: Stanley Cup(4), Hart Memorial Trophy(9), Lady Byng Memorial Trophy(5), Art Ross Trophy(10), Lester B. Pearson Trophy(5), Conn Smythe Trophy(3)

2.Mario Lemieux

Position: CenterYears Played: 1984-1997 and 2000-2006All Teams: Pittsburgh PenguinsGames: 1022Goals: 766Assists: 1129Points: 1895Awards: Calder Memorial Trophy(1), Lester B. Pearson Trophy(4), Art Ross Trophy (6), Hart Memorial Trophy (3), Conn Smythe Trophy (2) Stanley Cup(4)

3.Bobby OrrPosition: DefenseYears Played: 1962-1976, 1978All Teams: Boston Bruins, Chicago BlackhawksGames: 731Goals: 396 Assists: 711Points: 1007Awards: Calder Memorial Trophy(1), James Norris Trophy(8), Art Ross Trophy(2), Hart Memorial Trophy(3), Conn Smythe Trophy(2), Lester B. Pearson Trophy(1), Stanley Cup(2)

4.Gordie HowePosition: Right WingYears Played: 1945-1971, 1979All Teams: Detroit Red Wings, Hartford WhalersGames: 1954 Goals: 869Assists: 1141Points: 2010Awards: Art Ross Trophy(6), Hart Memorial Trophy(6), Stanley Cup(4)

5.Dominick HasekPosition: Goaltender Years Played: 1988-2011All Teams: Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red WingsGames: 735Wins: 389Awards: William M Jennings Trophy(3), Veniza Trophy(6), Lester B Pearson Trophy(2), Hart Memorial Trophy(2), Stanley Cup(2)

6.Nick LidstromPosition: DefenseYears Played: 1988-2012All Teams: Detroit Red WingsGames: 1827Goals: 318Assists: 1007Points: 1325Awards: James Norris Trophy(7), Conn Smythe Trophy(1), Stanley Cup(4)

7.Jaromir JagrPosition: Right WingYears Played: 1988-2017(still playing)All Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, NY Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars,

Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Florida PanthersGames: 2219Goals: 843Assists: 1272Points: 2115Awards: Art Ross Trophy(5), Hart Memorial Trophy(1), Lester B. Pearson Trophy(3), Bill Masterton Trophy (1),Stanley Cup(2)

8.Maurice "Rocket" Richard Position: Right WingYears Played:1941-1960All Teams: Montreal CanadiensGames:1111Goals: 626Assists: 465Points: 1091Awards: Hart Memorial Trophy(1), Stanley Cup(8)

9.Bobby HullPosition: Left WingYears Played: 1955-1980All Teams: Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets, Hartford WhalersGames: 1182Goals: 672Assists: 627Points: 1299Awards: Art Ross Trophy(3), Lady Byng Memorial Trophy(1), Hart Memorial Trophy(2), Stanley Cup(1)

10.Mark MessierPosition: CenterYears Played: 1976-2004All Teams: Edmonton Oilers, NY Rangers, Vancouver Canucks Games: 1990Goals: 803Assists: 1379Points: 2182 Awards: Hart Memorial Trophy(2), Lester B. Trophy(2), Conn Smythe Trophy(1), Stanley Cup(6)

Thank you for reading my last article! I hope you learned something. I hope

you keep reading the traditional Purpose Passport.

The End of the Chub and Flub Trilogy

By Virginia Fronk and Alexis Terry

Now as most of you know, this is our last article we can submit to The Passport. Before saying good-bye to Evans City Middle School, we decided that we should answer some of the following questions you could have about Chub and Flub for the upcoming Passport writers if you want to continue our story. Before we start, we just want to say thanks to everyone who read

our comic and submitted to last Passport’s comic contest. It’s been really cool seeing your comics and thoughts on ours. Q: What are your favorite colors? A: Chub’s favorite color is every single color (she has rainbow powers…) and Flub’s would be anything sparkly, especially silver and gold. Q: Where do you live? A: They live in Happyville, New York as you can see in our first comic where the setting is in a city with tall skyscrapers and before any of you ask… We know Spiderman lives in New York… They are close friends with Spiderman and sometimes they go on missions with him.

Q: How did Chub and Flub meet? A: Sorry to disappoint, it’s not that elaborate of a story. Chub and Flub are actually fraternal twins, but they were born on different days. Chub is slightly older than Flub, hence why her name comes first. They grew up playing together like best friends and even were in the same classes for a while. They were basically inseparable. Q: How did Chub and Flub get their superpowers? A: Again, we’re sorry to disappoint, but the story is not that cool either… Chub and Flub were just born with their powers. At first they had no idea how to control them, but eventually they got the hang of it. Their parents had troubles taking care of them with Flub shooting bubbles everywhere and Chub painting rainbows all over the rooms. Q: Are their real names Chub and Flub? A: No, Chub and Flub is just their secret identity. Every superhero has a secret identity. (Who names their children Chub and Flub?) Their actual names cannot be shared due to security reasons. Only a few people including us, know their real names. Q: Do Chub and Flub have any family? A: Yes, Chub and Flub have a gigantic family tree including Bub, Dub, Scrub, Gub, Wub, and Hub to name a few. Everyone in their family has superpowers and "ub" at the end of their names. Their family reunions consist of lots of bright colors, sparkles, bubbles, and chaos... Q: How did Chub and Flub become Superheroes? A: Their parents were superheroes, their grandparents were superheroes, their great grandparents were superheroes, and so forth, they just inherited the family business. Good luck to the upcoming Passport writers. Hopefully one of you will want to continue our story… Thank

you again to all who have supported the comics and we hope you all liked them.

ALL THE BEST HEROES ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO MAKE

THEMSELVES EXTRAORDINARY… ~GERARD WAY

Why do We Have Summer Break?

By Marie Fouche

It's commonly believed that summer break started in the 19th century due to kids helping their parents with farm work, but is that really true? NO IT ISN'T By that fifteen person

Currently, schools in the U.S are forced to have at least 180 days of school. Although the myth that I stated above may not be true, there is a real reason why we have a long break in the summer (besides that a bunch of people got together and just randomly decided that students would.)

This idea of a school schedule didn't start until late 1800s- early 1900s. Before this, schools in the city had around 250 days. It is a crazy difference, but many children did not attend all 250 days, since schooling was not mandatory until around the 1870s in most states. Endless lanes of brick and concrete transformed urban blocks into ovens. Bad attendance started making some people wonder if a 250 day or longer academic calendar was necessary. The same people also started thinking that if children actually went all of the days, they would burn out. Many physicians at the time argued that the brain was like a muscle, and school would strain their brains if they were used too much. This was of course, not true. City school officials started listening to these reformers. They gradually started shortening the school year. They could have made a long break in winter or spring, but they chose summer because the poorly-ventilated school buildings would be unbearable during summer months. Hot buildings would spread disease, and wealthy people would often vacation during the summer months.

Before the Civil War, farm kids never had summers off. They went to school during the hottest and coldest months and stayed home during the spring and fall, when crops needed to be planted and harvested. As the urban

areas started the summer break, rural areas soon adopted the schedule so they wouldn't fall behind.

So by the turn of the century, urban districts had managed to cut about 60 school days from the hot summer part of the year. Business folks obviously saw an opportunity here. The summer vacation business soon grew into what is now one of the country’s largest billion-dollar industries.

I hope you like my last article in the passport, because all of us 6th graders

are leaving this building next year! Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Error Coins: Benefitting From Other’s Mistakes 

Everyone makes mistakes. Believe it or not, the United States Mint makes mistakes too. The Mint is in charge of creating and distributing the tens of billions of coins made each year. Quite often in fact, coins come with small oddities, mistakes, or errors. These mistakes can be minor or major, with value usually corresponding. The smallest of errors sell for less than $0.50, while the most valued have sold for over $100,000. 

Before I begin talking about errors, I will first cover some basic vocabulary that will be mentioned several times in this article. Planchet: A blank circular piece of metal on which the coin is struck. Die: A large chunk of hardened steel which pounds the design of the coin onto the planchet. Mintmark: A small letter imprinted on the coin that signifies where the coin was made.

Error #1: Doubled Die: A doubled die coin has features (a feature is a part of the design, e.g. date, portrait, motto) that have simply been doubled. Some doubled die coins are very subtle, while some are visible with the naked eye. The coin shown to the right is a close-up image of the 2nd

most valuable doubled die coin in the U.S. This coin is a 1969 San Francisco Doubled die penny, which was sold for a whopping $126,500 on an online auction site.

Error #2: Multiple strikes: A coin that has multiple strikes is quite self-explanatory. This coin has two (or more!) completely separated images, on one coin. A multiple struck coin failed to completely leave the striking chamber before being struck again. The image shown is a 1981 penny that has been struck a total of 3 times.  

Error #3: Wrong planchet: A wrong-planchet coin is pretty self-explanatory. It has been struck on a planchet meant for another coin. (Such as a quarter being

struck on a dime planchet) the coin shown is a half dollar that was struck on a nickel planchet.  Error #4: Mismatched dies: A mismatched die coin is extremely rare to find. They occur whenever two dies were confused with each other, or mismatched, and then strike a coin with two dies meant for two different coins. This type of error is also sometimes called double-denomination and a ‘mule’ coin. The coin shown is a 1999 penny that was mismatched with a dime. This 1999 dime-penny coin was sold for $138,000 at auction.

Error #5: Struck Through: A coin is struck whenever two dies pound down onto a planchet. However, sometimes a foreign object (such as a wire, a thread,

grease, cloth, etc.) gets stuck in/on the

die. The planchet is then fed into the striking chamber, and the foreign object leaves an imprint on the resulting coin. The coin shown is a Lincoln Cent (no date visible) that was struck partially through cloth.

I don’t expect many of you to be remotely interested in this kind of thing. Still, I hope that whoever reads this article has learned something by doing so. If you are one of the few who is interested in this, I wish you luck on hunting for errors.

This is my last article in the Passport, and my last year in Evans City. I hope all of you enjoy reading this edition of the Passport, and I hope that a few of you will be writing future editions as well.   - Irregular Human, A.K.A: Roy.

Dessert Debate: Ice Cream vs. Popsicles

By Adelie Gifford

I have a very important question for you all and I would like you to think long and hard because this question may take some time to think about. The question is.........what do you prefer, ice cream or popsicles? What do you like better, the creamy, cold ice cream or the icy, tasty popsicle? I will be comparing two different ice cream flavors with two different popsicle flavors. These flavors include Jolly Rancher popsicles, Tropical Paradise popsicles, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream, and S'mores ice cream. I will be comparing the variety of flavors, amount you get in a package, nutrition facts, and more. Now let's get on with it.

First off, let's discuss the delicious pros and cons of Popsicle brand popsicles. There are around 22 different kinds of variety packs that all include many different flavors. As you can probably tell that means that there are even more flavors than there are variety packs. There can be either 8, 9, 12, 18, or 20 popsicles in one box.

Another perk is the amount of sugar that is inside each popsicle. The small measure of sugar is very beneficial for your health. The first flavor I will be talking about is the Jolly Rancher popsicle. In a single popsicle there are 40 calories, no fat, no sodium, no carbohydrates, no protein, and 7 grams of sugar. A serving size is one popsicle (49 grams). For the Tropical Paradise popsicles there are 70 calories, no fat, 5 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, no protein, and 7 grams of sugar. A serving size for this flavor is one popsicle (52 grams). Although, there are a wide variety in flavors and how many popsicles you get, you are not able to get a box of popsicles that only has one flavor. Now this may not apply to other brands, but for this one it does. Overall I think that popsicles are a great choice.

Secondly, let's now review the delectable pros and cons of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. There are about 51 different flavors of ice cream that come in a pint size. There are different sizes including pints, pint slices, quarts, scoops, and mini cups. ½ cup of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream has 280 calories, 15 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of sugar, 32 grams of carbohydrates, and 4 grams of protein. A serving size is a half of a cup and there are 104 grams of ice cream in a single pint. In a ½ cup of S'mores ice cream there are 310 calories, 16 grams of fat, 110 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of sugar, 36 grams of carbohydrates, and 4 grams of protein. A serving size for this flavor is also a half of a cup and there are 106 grams of ice cream in a pint. Although, the nutrition facts of the ice cream compared to the popsicles may seem bad, when eaten every once in a while Ben and Jerry's ice cream can be a great treat. One thing that I do not like is that not all flavors come in each size. In general, ice cream is also an amazing contender.

To conclude, both ice cream and popsicles are both amazing treats for the summer. Neither of them are good to eat every day but as I said before. eating one every once in a while is good.

K'Napped Elementary(As printed in previous

Passports)

By Jacob Freshly and Nico TownChapter 1

October 20, 2017

So, this is a Diary. You might think it’s ridiculous that an eleven year old boy is using an old diary that he dug out of his rotting attic. I just need something to put down what's happening. Life is changing. Something is going on and I'm going to find out.

I'm James, my best friend is Michael and I have another friend named Caroline. You might think it is pretty weird that I have a friend that is a girl. But there is a reason we’re friends. We created a friendship about a year ago, when it started to get suspicious. I needed someone that would understand me. Someone that would understand it. Anyways, I met Michael back in second grade when I moved into this town. Big mistake in my opinion. Caroline also has three sisters, but you could never tell they were related.

Riley wears ripped khakis, scratchy cotton shirts, glasses, overalls, and spiky hair stuck up by sweat and spit. May not seem so, but she is one of the smartest kids in our grade. She got a ninety-seven percent on her state exam and went to nationals on a chemistry course. She normally doesn't even go out to recess, one of the only things I enjoy at this school. She probably just stays in to study for a test. Like she needs to study.

Then there is Liz, she's one of the most athletic girls in the grade and often participates in softball and soccer tournaments. I hear that she is the best player on her school team for both sports. Caroline says that she has lots of golden glove and hitting titles in her room. Liz is tall and has blond curly hair. She always wears her softball jackets to school, while the rest of the players on her team wear jackets of famous baseball players like Jackie Robinson or Roberto Clemente. She must be afraid to take it off because she wears her softball jackets during the dry summer months. I mean those leather jackets may look beast but how can you stand ninety- five degree weather wearing something like that? Another thing is, they become really itchy when you get sweaty. Oh, on to another topic. Liz is one of the most popular girls in the grade. Other than one, which ironically happens to be her sister, Morgan.

Morgan is probably the least complicated of the lot, and only has one talent. She's a cheerleader. And I don’t really know what else to say about her._____________________________________________________________________________________

CarolineOctober 31st

The first thing you feel when you walk through the gates of Harmen Elementary is a breeze of terror, a breath of harm, you feel unsafe. I have nothing to prove these things could happen but I get a shiver when the loud speaker announces the date, it's Halloween. The "best" day of the year. I just don't get the point. All we do is dress up as random things and steal candy from houses. I'm only going to put on a costume because I don't want to be the outcast in the school. People will think you’re weird if you don't do it. James says that he'll be a werewolf. It is early in the morning so I haven't seen his costume yet. I don't ride his bus, I only met him because we are in the same class. He is kind of funny, I guess. I am friends with him because we understand each other and that he is not one of those gross annoying boys. At the beginning of the year we started thinking that something was off. Most of the girls think I'm crazy because I have conspiracy theories about the school and that I have a friend that is a boy.

November 1I knew it! Halloween was a

sign. Landry McGoy went missing last night and the principal is getting a lot of heat. McGoy's parents came into the building screaming at people and asking if they had seen their son. I don't know if there will be another attack, but I'm going to find out who did it before then. I know I can't do it alone, so I'll ask James to help and maybe even his friend Michael.

Anyways, I better go call James, this is serious.__________________________________________________________________________

JamesNovember 2

Caroline called me last night and told me about the attack. Like I don’t already know about it. I'll try my best to remember what happened, here we go. I was laying down on my bed in the dark, waiting for the call, I knew it was coming. Then there it was, I picked up the phone and told her modestly what I thought about the attacks. I don’t think Caroline was up to hearing me blabber, so she just said

goodnight and left. And I wasn't mad in the least.

November 4I thought the drama of the last

few days would be over, but I guess I was wrong. All anyone did during math class was stare at the desk where Landry once sat.

"Come on guys, this is ridiculous!" I announced from my desk, not knowing any other way to stop this madness.

"What's ridiculous!" Howard beamed from the other side of the room.

"All of this! We can’t let one problem mess up our lives!"

"Someone was kidnapped! This isn't just a problem. This is life changing. And until someone solves this, we are going to stare all class long for an idea to pop into our heads."

"Now boys that is quite enough!" Mrs. Maccarmi puffed. "Now return to your seats and open up to page 57, Finding Volume Textbook."

Now I could have argued all day, but I'm thankful Mrs. Maccarmi broke us up. Caroline is going to get a piece of this. But before I tell her I better write this down, it’s a possible clue._____________________________________________________________________________________

CarolineNovember 9th

I'm sick for a week and James gets into a fight. Michael could have done something to help me out. You know what, I'll just call him back and say this to his face. Man I'm a wreck!

I got it! I got it! Landry went missing on the 31, which is a holiday, so maybe someone will go missing on Thanksgiving!

"Pick up! Pick up! Come on James!" I told the phone. "Man I'm good!" I thought to myself._____________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 2James

November 17

"Are you ready? Lets go."Did I tell you I was a perfect

student, well I might be risking my flawless record. Caroline and I are breaking into the school. I can’t believe Caroline agreed to do this. Landry went missing at the Halloween party. We'll be there to protect, at the Thanksgiving parade.

"James." Caroline called. "Let’s go."

" Okay! I can't wait to see what we'll find!"

Caroline came over and gave me a hard smack to the face.

" This is serious you know!" she said forcefully.

I rubbed my face and squatted down. We crawled through the grass, inhaling dust with each breath. Normal Thursday night.

We slipped through a third story window and crept down to the main lobby. The yellowish brick made the lobby even creepier. The banner of our school had an odd shine to it. We dodged a few chairs and headed for the 2nd grade hallway. We prepared for anything, equipped with band-aids, binoculars, and water blasters. As we were walking through the long dark hallway, a scream pierced the air. Everything suddenly went dark. Caroline disappeared from her still pose and vanished into the darkness. I was all alone.

I slowly regained my vision, still worrying about Caroline. I thought nothing could get worse, but I was wrong. The principal came running down the hallway straight at me. I quickly jumped sideways to avoid colliding with him. As I landed, the whiplash got to my head. I just laid on the ground until the buzz in my ears went away. I slowly got up. Where was Caroline? I looked down the hallway, nothing but an open door. I walked towards it, maybe Caroline went to investigate in the classroom. I grabbed the doorknob as it flew open. All I saw was myself getting thrown off my feet and plummeting to the ground. As I fell, I caught a short glimpse of Landry McGoy. Why would he be here? Wasn't he missing, or did he never leave? When I stood up, the door was closed and the school was still. Caroline had still not returned, nor left any sign of coming back. I continued down the hallway looking through the small window in each locked door to find any clues. I couldn't spot anything that was out of the ordinary. The only clue I had to work with was a small glimpse of a short brown haired boy, Landry. The sound of trombones and snare drums withered away, sending one more attack I have to deal with, loneliness.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Caroline November 17th

I can't believe that James ran off like that. I told him that the second grade hallway wasn't a very good place to look for clues. Boys these days. Now I'm in the fifth grade hallway alone.

Who would want to do that? Me, to solve why Landry McGoy went missing on Halloween. The fifth grade hallway is about the worst place in this school. It was so filthy that the janitor stopped cleaning it. Dust has caked into the old limestone bricks. And at night, all this trash makes the place seem even more creepy. I slowly walked down with my flickering flashlight, trying to find anything that was possibly related with Landry's absence. All I found was a couple of candy wrappers. I continued my search further down the hallway, peering into classrooms while shining my flashlight into them. In room sixty-two I thought I could see the outline of a person, but that was really hard to tell. I moved on to room sixty-four passing the bathrooms. The darkness of the bathrooms was overwhelming. I just had to move on and try to not think of something popping out of one of them. I peered into room sixty-four, all I could see was the teacher's desk and some student desks. I quickly checked the rest of the rooms, there was nothing suspicious. I walked down the hallway and stairs quickly. Glancing back to see if anything was following me. Nothing was, thankfully. I walked down the stairs and into the next everlasting corridor, soon turning towards the second grade hallway. That was my best guess on where James was. I started hearing footsteps. The sound was happening more often and was getting quicker. I started to run straight into the entrance to the hallway. Before I could look to see what made those footstep noises, a huge amount of force took me off my feet. After I hit the ground I looked around to see who or what had hit me. It was James. He reached his hand out to help me up.

"Sorry about that," he said as he pulled me up off of the ground.

"It's okay, but I did think that you were some creep sneaking around the school," I replied

"I think I caught a glimpse of Landry! Sadly, it was only for a split second."

"That’s fine. We learned something, that Landry never left school."

"Let's go home, we should get some sleep for tomorrow."

And so he said goodbye, left the school, and went home._____________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 3e

Today is Thanksgiving, and we have school? This is a holiday, we are supposed to

have a great time with our family and the stupendous feast. Once again, I think this is irregular.

When I got on the bus, all I could hear was moaning about what they could have been doing instead of going to school. All we have to do is have a parade. I was upset, but I had something to do today, protect the school. There is someone that is doing something very wrong. We are supposed to stop any more students from going missing.

" Hey Caroline, what part do you have in the school's Thanksgiving parade?" Susie asked me, surprisingly excited.

" You enjoy the parade? You wear sweaty costumes and walk unenthusiastically down Main Street!" I tried to calm down, "Sorry about that, I'm the turkey in the parade."

Susie turned back to her seat and whispered something to her friend. I overheard what it was; "She's so weird." I don't care about what people say about me. It doesn't matter. All that matters at this school is making sure to protect our fellow students. I just don't get many people right now. Only James and my crazy sisters. Why doesn't anyone notice that something weird is happening at this school?

After an everlasting bus ride of gossip about me, we finally arrived at school. As we got off the bus, I rushed to go meet James. We would have to discuss some things. I met him about halfway to our classroom.

"What's up?" He asked as soon as he saw me.

"You know what is," I said smiling in his direction, "It's Thanksgiving, we have to stop what is about to happen."

"That's right."We entered the classroom."Look who it is, it's conspiracy

girl!" Ethan said, blocking me from getting into the room. He was just another one of those bullies who didn't scare me.

"Move!" I said holding my position.

"Ethan, get away from the door and get ready for class!" A stern voice yelled from behind me. I turned to see Mrs. Maccarmi. Ethan immediately moved from the door and bolted to his

seat in fear. "The next person I catch bullying will go straight to the principal's office, understood?"

"Yes Mrs. Maccarmi." The class mumbled. I headed towards my desk and James followed.

"Good thing she said that, or it would have been a long wait for the bell!"

"Right."James went to his desk and got

out a sheet of lined paper. He started to write down something.

"Alright class, we all know why we are here..."

I raised my hand. "Yes, Caroline?"

"Can I use the restroom?""Surely."I walked out of the room. I

didn't need to use the restroom, I needed to go somewhere. I ran up the stairs into the upper fifth grade hallway. Thankfully, no one was in the hall. I stared into the glass window of room sixty-two. It was just Mr. Baker teaching his class. I then checked room sixty four, the next room on that side of the hall. Just normal boring class time. I had to check though. I ran back down the stairs and opened the door to the classroom as quickly as I could. Then I acted as normal as possible, just sitting down at my seat.

"In a couple of minutes, at nine-fifty, we will go down to the gym to prepare for the parade." Mrs. Maccarmi announced.

I looked down. There was a piece of paper sticking out of my desk. I know that I didn't put it there. I pulled it out and read:

Meet me just before the parade. You know where to go.

-James. I have to admit, James is pretty clever. Even I didn’t remember to meet in the abandoned storage room in the fourth grade basement. Room 48 will be difficult to get to, but if we do, we might be able to find Landry.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

James November 22nd,2017

I'm back to the diary now, writing this as it happens. The good thing is, she got my message. The bad thing is, it's going to be hard to make it work. Today, there will be someone almost everywhere. It is so frantic because people still have to do so much for the parade. Speaking of the parade, I brought my camera. I told my parents it was so I could relive an inside experience of the parade. It is

for that, but also for seeing if anything odd happens. If I miss something with my own eyes, the camera will still catch that exact moment so I can see the same thing over and over again. I talked to Caroline about this and she said it was a good idea. I went to the "secret" spot, which was just an open classroom that was unoccupied for the day. I found this place this morning while walking into school. In a couple of minutes, Caroline arrived at the room.

"Do you have it?" She asked immediately.

"I already put the camera on the costume, so I don't have it on me right now."

"That's fine.""Are you using a camera as

well?""No.""We could have used two. We

would be able to see more.""That is true, sorry about that.""You should go get your

costume on.""So should you, James."Caroline walked out of the

room, leaving it in an unsettling silence. I left shortly after, so we didn't cause any suspicion. I went to the changing room and put on my costume. I was a bowl of gravy. I retightened the straps for my camera, which was on the top of the pile of gravy. It was time for the parade. I quickly shuffled over to the line of people in my sweaty costume. I got in my position, and pressed the switch on the camera. We were recording. I looked up at the front of the line, spotting my principal doing the final check. She gave us the thumbs up, and we started marching. I couldn't touch the camera one more time, I moved closer to the door, and soon I was next. The principal stared down at me and patted my costume to tell me to go out. I pushed the doors open and felt the chilly fall breeze. Here goes nothing._____________________________________________________________________________________

Caroline November 22nd, 2017

I am about in the middle of the parade. I saw James go through the double doors already, but now it was my turn. I march and march until I've arrived at the Main Street cross section. I halt, feel a quick joint of pain and then feel more relaxed than ever. Everything slowly goes black, and I see Landry.

I was able to let out a whisper before I fell, "Save me James, please."

(To be Continued)

(Next time for the conclusion of K'Napped Elementary)

Concluding Chapter: K’Napped Elementary

By Nico Town and Jacob Freshly

Chapter 4James

November 23rd, 2017

I think this is the end. No one is left. Landry, Caroline, everyone, they're all gone. I was studying the halls near Caroline's disappearance and found rope marks. Caroline must have been kidnapped. Everyone must have been kidnapped. I headed back to room 48, in hopes of finding something and got pretty lucky. I found a passage leading to room 62, Mr. Baker's room. I found many clues from there, more rope and a broken chair or two. There was also a newspaper clipping lying on the ground. It read: Criminal Missing! Hue Weber, who was accused of stealing a car, has escaped from his sentence in prison. His whereabouts are unknown at this time. I looked at the picture of Hue, a bald man in his early forties. Then I noticed the wall. There was a desk in the way, but you could clearly see something was behind it. I used all of my strength to move the desk. Using "I can't let Caroline down", as my motivation. After I pushed the desk, I saw what it had revealed, a dark passageway that went through the thick wall of cinder block. I pulled out a flashlight that I had in my bag. My phone rattled in my pocket. It was time to find out the truth. As I stepped in, the atmosphere felt like it drastically changed. It became damp and musky. I could hear water dripping up ahead. It wasn't a new tunnel, like it was here for many years. I crept further into the darkness thinking about this discovery. How would Mr. Baker not notice the hole in his wall? Or did he already know about it? These questions stuck to my brain as I went down deeper into the tunnel. Then I saw a bit of light. I started shuffling over to it until my eyes were blinded by the sudden light. Another classroom. But no ordinary classroom. This was room seventy-four. The room had been shut down by the school for unknown reasons. I think this is why the school closed this room down. It had another hole, which was at the back of the room this time. As I walked closer to the hole, I started hearing voices. It had to be coming from the bottom of the tunnel. I walked into the tunnel, and the air became cold. As I moved further down, the

voices became louder. I continued down the passageway trying to be as quiet as possible. Someone was down there, someone who had the answer to all of my questions. It was time to reveal the truth about what was happening to this school. Now the passageway was starting to get more visible. I was almost at the bottom. As I finally entered a dim room, I could see Caroline, tied to a chair. Next to her, a dark figure stood over her, smiling. Because of the low light, I couldn't identify who it was. Then I saw a shorter figure. I could see who it was, it was Landry. I wanted to run out of this spot and put a stop to it, but I couldn't. I was helpless, all I could do was watch.

"Our plan is almost complete," The taller figure said as he or she looked down at Caroline. What would Caroline have to do with this?

"Some people have gotten a little too curious," He added. He was obviously talking about Caroline and me. Eventually, the sound of their talking faded away. I remembered I had my phone in my pocket. I dialed 911.

"911, what is your emergency?"

"There is this person in the basement of Harmen Elementary School," I whispered into the phone. "He has kidnapped most of the students and put them in the basement!"

"We will be there immediately," The phone recipient answered. After the call ended, I ran over to Caroline to free her. I loosened the knots until I was startled by a deep voice. I turned to see the principal, Henry Wager.

"Hello James," Henry glared down at me, "Guess you wanted to save your little friend a little too much."

Every movement I made, dust flew up around me. I had to cough but I knew if I made a sound I wouldn’t see daylight again.

"It was my plan all along, with the help of McGoy over here," Henry quickly eyed Landry. "His grades weren't holding up, so I gave him a chance to raise them. He has done an excellent job, so he will be rewarded." I gave a glance at Landry, he looked down in shame.

"Landry, why don't you guard the exit while I have a little chat with James," Landry did as Henry said, without looking me in the eye. I remembered that I had my phone in my pocket. I pressed the record button on my phone. He wouldn't be getting away with this.

"Also, James, you haven't really met me yet. I will have to introduce myself," Henry grabbed his hair and it came right off! He was wearing a wig.

"I am Hue Weber," he said laughing.

I was shocked, and I knew it was risky, but I responded, "I know, you were the guy who escaped from prison after stealing a car!"

"You are more observant than I thought!" he said, looking shocked, "But after this is all over, I will have a perfect hideout."

"You won't get away with this!" I said, pulling out my phone, "I have video evidence!" I got a shot of Hue and pressed the stop button on my phone.

"You won't be making it out now!" Hue yelled, charging at me. Hue pushed me against the wall, holding down my left hand as he reached for the phone in my right. Every second he was getting closer and closer to getting my phone.

"Stop it right there Hue Weber!" A voice echoed throughout the room.

It was Riley, Liz, Morgan and 3 policemen.

Caroline was thrilled, I was out of breath.

"How did you find us?" Caroline asked before she was completely untied.

"I have a tracker of all our phones, and it was a little weird to see your icon go below the school." Riley answered.

"And we bumped into the police on our way here. We just joined them and tracked your phone here." Morgan added.

Liz was sweating, she must have came from a practice. I guess Riley wanted as much help as she could get. We all started untying prisoners and tried to put everything together. I think I get it, and from now on, I'll keep my guard up if Caroline says something weird is going on. Caroline, Riley, Liz, Morgan and I all watched Hue leave the school for the last time.

"So, what now?" I asked Caroline as we watched Hue get into the police car.

"Guess we have an early Christmas Break," She said slightly laughing. I joined in.

"No, Seriously, what are we going to do now?"

"Don't ask me, I'm not in charge here," Caroline said as the superintendent got out of her car and walked over to us.

"Thank you so much for solving this, what can I possibly do for you guys?" The superintendent asked.

"Could we start Christmas break now?" I asked not hoping for a "Yes."

"Well that will happen. Until we get a new principal, we can't run this

school very well. Do you want to ask of anything else?"

"I think I'm good," Caroline and I said in unison.

"Well see you around," I said, starting to walk away from the school.

"You too," Caroline replied as we both started walking home.

When will it be Summer?

By Dylann Volz

Gazing out the window

Looking at the blue sky and rich green grass,

The beautiful flowers sprouting from the grass

Wishing it was summer

Sitting in math class learning about ratios.

Then you think to yourself,

"It's already May, school should be done."

But you know there's still books on the shelves.

You have been waiting for this time of year

And now it's finally here!

You imagine yourself sitting

Ice cream cone in hand,

Listening to the slush of the chlorine water coming from the pool.

Wearing your new floral patterned swim suit.

Smelling the fresh, crisp summer air,

Feeling the humid, but comforting breeze,

The warm summer sun on your back, *Sigh

When will it be summer?

Editor’s Note:

Please check out Mr.

Levere’s teacher

website to view the

online edition of

Evans City Middle

School’s newspaper,

The Passport, as well

as past editions.

Have a great summer

everyone!