Wingspan

By Wingspan Staff-

Another school year has come and gone at Overlook Middle School. We wish the graduating 8th graders much success as they head to high school in the fall. A new group of incoming 6th graders will be joining the Eagles crew also as we get into the end of August. The Wingspan staff wish everyone a happy, healthy and (hopefully long) summer vacation! V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N in the summertime!

Photo Credit: homes.com

By Alumni Wingspan Staff Member Lucas LeGrand

Have you ever wondered why we take a day off at the end of May? Well, that day is called memorial day. You will learn more about memorial day in this article, but now, enjoy today's article!

Memorial is a federal holiday made by the U.S. government. What is a federal holiday? It is an important day where in the past, a special event happened to the U.S. or the whole world. Anyway, let’s talk a little bit more about Memorial day. Memorial day is about how we remember the soldiers who died protecting this country. The way we celebrate it is usually by having a cookout, or seeing family and friends, or if you're really tired, sleeping the whole day. But did you know that those traditions started in the late 1800s?

The year is 1865, and the civil war is at its final battle. There had been constant fighting since 1861, all around the whole country. The Battle of Appomattox Court House lasted approximately a few hours, but that was all. The Union won, and the war was over. Over 600,000 troops died during the war, and the population was only around 30 million. That is a lot of people to die during that time. So to remember them, people decorated their graves to remember them, and the gesture spread across the whole country. Memorial day was officially a national holiday in 1971, during the Vietnam War, and ever since 1865, we have celebrated the heroes who died to make this country what it is today.

God bless America.

By Wingspan Staff

Long time eighth grade ELA teacher Mrs. Tobia retired today from the AWRSD. Congratulations and thank you for all the students you have influenced positively and the dedication you have had for the Overlook.

By Wingspan Staff

With the school year wrapping up, the annual SOAR Day events will be taking place. This will include various activities such as prizes, an ice cream truck, and an assortment of fun events for students to enjoy. At 10:59am its all over and Summer 2024 begins!

By Wingspan Staff

Congratulations to our departing 8th graders as they embark on the next journey to high school, whether that is at Oakmont or Monty Tech. Best of luck and don't forget you will always be an Overlook Eagle!

By Wingspan Staff

Students were honored by staff and parents for their academic excellence over their three years at Overlook Middle School recently. We are very proud of these HIGHEST SOARING EAGLES!

By Wingspan Staff

Overlook students and staff were dazzled by various elements of the Oakmont Marching Spartans, Color Guard, Bands, and Chorus. The 45 minute production showcased their talents and was meant to excite middle school students to join and become part of the action.

By Avery Edgar

-Go Camping

- Get Ice cream

- Go to the beach

- Kayaking

- go on a bike ride

-Watch the sunset/ sunrise

- Play Volleyball

-Play outside

Canva Image Created by Audrianna Malloy

By Katherine Wetherbee

• Go to an amusement park

• Bake something

• Read outside

• Have a water balloon fight

• Water gun battle

• Have a friend over

• Watch a movie

• Go camping

• Have a campfire

• Go hiking

• Draw something

• Listen to music

• Ride a bike

• Type a short story

• Dress up

• Put on some makeup

• Call a friend

• Climb a tree

• Build a boat and see if it floats

• Build with Legos

• Do your chores

• Help your parents with something

• Make a Father’s Day gift

• Celebrate a birthday

By Gemma Bergeron-Wiglesworth

Caribbean

For the best prices and the best weather, keep this on your vacation list till the end of May

Central America - a tropical climate and great beaches are drawing increasing numbers of travelers to countries in Central America, particularly those with resorts in:

Belize - affordable accommodations on the beach and in the jungle rain forest

Costa Rica - spanning the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, this peaceable, bio diverse country offers both beach and mountain adventures

Panama - continuous development and the mechanical marvel of the canal

Honduras - few northerners visit here, but the amazing diving and laid-back attitude of Roatan island inspires underwater-adventure travelers to visit this particular destination

NORTH AMERICA, California

Stretching from the magnificent redwoods in the north down to the beautiful beaches in the south (and connected by ultra-scenic Highway One), California's a great place to vacation in May and June, especially if you've got a pair of hot wheels to transport you from place to place.

Northern California

San Francisco - if you've never been to the City by the Bay, you owe it to yourselves to experience this foodie mecca, ride the cable cars, and explore the many attractions

Calistoga - want to get down and dirty? Consider wallowing in a mud bath

Napa Valley - inside California Wine Country, Napa visitors can walk from tasting room to tasting room without needing a car

Mendocino - the best-known destination along the northern coast

Central California

Carmel-by-the-Sea - one of the prettiest and most charming spots along the Central California coast

Southern California

Los Angeles - if you can put up the traffic, it's worth seeing Hollywood and browsing the shops along Rodeo Drive

Palm Springs - a desert hideaway for California celebrities for generations, Palm Springs entrances with it wealth of Mid-century modern architecture

Catalina Island - a great place for a day trip by boat

EUROPE:

Visit Europe as early as you can in May or June to avoid the crowds. The weather should be perfect in these destinations that couples adore.

London - where the monarchy, culture, and live theater reign

Paris - where every romantic honeymoon starts

Venice - so beautiful and delicious

Dublin - begin your tour of Ireland here

Monaco - sun yourselves by day, gamble in the Monte Carlo casino by night

Santorini - is there any place more romantic than this Greek island

Scotland - start in Edinburgh but don't pass up the heather-filled countryside and Isle of Skye

Spain – sunny Barcelona on the water is a lover's paradise; just make sure you don't pass up the opportunity to see Seville as well

Japan - treat yourselves to a holiday in a traditional Japanese Ryokan, where bathing is an art

Tokyo - this crowded, dizzying city can get very hot in summer, so arrange your vacation here before summer arrives

By Ella Cerasuolo

May

Lot of Awareness like, Arthritis, mental health and better sleep

Babies that are born in May are called, Taureans

The month of May was named for Maia

The most famous day in May is May first

June

June’s birthstone is the pearl

Longest Day and more daylight

June 14th is Flag Day

June is the most common birthday

Cancer is the Zodiac sign for June

By Autumn Ellia

Triple Chocolate Birthday Cake

I should have asked you

Before I ate your leftover

Triple chocolate birthday cake

For you were probably saving it for after dinner.

You must have been devastated

When you opened the fridge

And saw only crumbs

In place of your delicious

Triple chocolate birthday cake.

Such a shame, you must have thought,

When you found me eating your delicious

Triple Chocolate Birthday Cake.

by Ella Cerasuolo

A girl named Julia was lying on her bed, dreaming, and thinking about how her birthday was coming soon and what she wanted for it. One thing she really wanted was a big toy horse farm. That had been her dream ever since she was four, but she already knew her mom, dad, and two older brothers would never go for it. But if they didn’t, her next dream was for a saxophone with a changeable mouthpiece, reeds, and a black neck strap, but all her wishes were too expensive. Her family didn’t really have a lot of money and Julia’s brothers barely did their chores everyday which was fine because even if they did their chores, mom would only pay them twenty-five cents when they did their chores and got paid, they spent their money right away like on lollipops, gum and pencils or any other junk they found for under a dollar. Even though Julia did all her chores, her mom only gave her a nickel because her mom thought she’s a girl and the youngest pay the hard-working girl.

Julia was still dreaming about impossible dreams. She was working on her birthday list. As soon as Julia finished with the list, she rushed downstairs to where she saw her family eating cold cereal (without milk), applesauce, and gum Julia’s brother bought. Julia thought they weren’t in the mood to talk so she quietly slipped the note onto the dinner table, then she ran away quickly into the kitchen. She tried to hear and listen to the family as they whispered about her list even though Julia only heard ‘umm,’ ‘yes,’ and ‘huh.’ Then Julia heard some noises creaking up the stairs. Julia panicked but took another way to her room and she made it there with two minutes to spare she took out a journal and a pen to pretend to write, then her family made it up. Julia made a confused face pretending not to know Mom pulled a chair and sat across from Julia’s dad just stood up and placed his hand on Mom's shoulder and the two boys stood on either side of their mother. Mom took a little breath and said, “Julia we can't I'm so sorry we barely have any money or food and even if we raised any money, we would spend it on food and bills.”

Julia frowned but she understood she had a great idea. She told everyone how she’d raise money. Her parents nodded slightly. Her dad agreed and told her to go ahead but her mom disagreed she exclaimed we barely know anyone in the neighborhood. Then said, “Maybe if one of your brothers will take you.”

Julia shrugged but responded, “If it will help the family.”

Mom got all teary eyed and smiled “I could get a job” Julia thought about it, maybe more hands the merrier. Mom kissed Julia and told her to get some rest, then she patted Julia on the head saying goodnight then left along with her two brothers who simultaneously said, “Night big meanie,” with their tongue sticking out then slammed the door shut. “Night,” Dad said reopening the door then shutting it again.

The next morning, Julia woke up late and found herself in the car with her older brother, Brock. Julia was puzzled but before she could talk Brock declared, “Me and you are going to work,” then he handed Julia a bright red plastic bucket with a gold strip.

Brock told Julia the bucket was for the money collecting. Brock got out and ran to the door Julia walked thinking how fun it might be. Brock knocking on the door and whispered to Julia, “now just stand there looking cute” when Brock knocked a woman came out asking what they needed Brock yelled, “Give us money!”

The woman freaked out she ran back inside and came out with her change purse and dropped twenty-five cents into Julia’s bucket then ran back in her house slamming the door. Brock smiled proudly, “Huh, that's how you are going to make some money, sis!”

Julia nodded but she thought what if Brock is teaching how to demand? She still thought it would be fun. But that's what her brother kept doing all day, demand, demand, demand, but at least they made twenty-six dollars, and Julia thought since her mom was working, they'd make millions, but when they got home, they saw their mom sitting on a beat-up wooden chair crying into her hands. Julia frowned and gave her bucket to Brock full of money Julia walked swiftly toward Mom. Julia quietly asked Mom what happened.

Mom looked up and told Julia she couldn't keep her job as a shelter person Julia frowned but told Mom it would be OK. Brock stepped in holding the bucket of money, walked closely to Mom and Julia while mumbling “we raised twenty-six dollars and surprisingly, I never spent it all!” Mom did a soft chuckle Julia nodded in agreement but whispered, Not the right time brother and she pushed him away, then faced Mom.

“Don’t worry Mom! I will think up a perfect job for. You!”

After a few hours thinking about jobs, Julia finally found one. “Housemaid!” exclaimed Julia. Mom perked up. She stood and said, “I do really like working in the house,” while she was rearranging fake flowers. She pushed Julia out of the way and kicked dad out of the family car driving to a village to find work. Julia went into her room, waiting for Mom to return.

Later that night, Mom approached to check up on Brock and Calvin, and finally Julia. Julia was studying for a big test at school. Mom watched Julia as she was practicing the state capitals and adding fractions. As Julia packed up her math and science books her mom interrupted, “Nice working honey.” Julia slowly put her pen and pencils down and turned to Mom.

“Oh, hey Mom. How much money did you make?” Julia questioned. Mom smiled. Julia got out of her chair and looked in her mother’s hand. Julia started counting, starting with the greater dollars then coins. Julia whispered, “You only made six dollars and fifty-four cents?”

“Yes,” Mom sighed. “But I’m not giving up.” She then hugged Julia tightly and put the money in Julia’s money bucket. Mom proclaimed, “You’re our money taker.” Mom dug through her pocket to see if had extra money. She just had 2 pennies, a nickel, and a dime and plopped the money into Julia’s bucket. She then patted Julia on the back.

“You make me so proud,” she whispered.

Julia smiled and sat on her creaky wooden bed, holding her bucket of money, and sighed repeatedly. Mom shut the door, sighing as well. She checked on Brock and Calvin once again. The two boys were wrestling, and mom paused them. She told them that Julia was under a lot of stress and that those two could not bully her anymore. They just continued wrestling and stuck out their tongues. Mom tried to get out of the way, pushing them, she finally had to break them up and asked them to go to bed.

Early the next morning, while it was still dark out, Julia got up to get a drink of water. She went into the kitchen but then when she got to her room to put the glass of water on her nightstand she found a sticky note from Mom. It read:

“Hello sweetie. I’m at work now. It’s amazing like you. I left out some eggs and small pancake batter. Have fun. Love you. -Love Mom.”

Julia thought this was great, but it was only 5 in the morning. Julia yawned and when she started to wake up a bit, she started breakfast. The boys never got up this early. As Julia hummed cracking an egg, she saw Dad fixing his tie in the hallway, yawning, “Morning Julia, I must go to work now. You going to be, okay?” Julia nodded as Dad opened his eyes. He saw Julia in his apron, cooking breakfast.

“Why are you cooking? And why are you in my apron?”

“I’m cooking breakfast and I need you apron so I don’t get my clothes dirty,” Julia replied as she cracked the eggs.

“What’s with this bucket?” Dad pointed to the bucket on the floor.

Julia rolled her eyes. “It’s money dad. We’re raising money.” She ran over to the cardboard cabinet, grabbing plastic forks and knives along with paper plates. She set the wooden, rusty table then ran over to the bucket.

“Care to donate?”

“Uh, sure.”

Dad rummaged through his pocket. “Will one quarter and three pennies do?”

“Yes, thanks Dad,” Julia hugged her father

“Okay, I got to get to work now,” Dad said.

As he left, Brock and Calvin woke up. They were in shock at how their sister prepared breakfast.

“Dig in!” Julia shouted.

Calvin and Brock raced to the table only to get stopped by Julia. “Boys, in order to get in here – money please!” Julia shook the bucket.

“Fine,” Brock complained as put in a nickel and a penny. Calvin put in 2 dollars and a quarter.

When they finished breakfast Brock asked Julia if she wanted to work again. Julia nodded as she put away the last dish in the trash. Julia got on her pink roller skates and Brock got out his red skateboard. Julia held the bucket in her arms. Brock and Julia skated left, and Calvin cycled to the right.

Two hours later they regrouped at a special oak tree. Julia and Brock told Calvin that they made twenty-four dollars and fifty cents. Julia smiled. Calvin got eleven dollars and two nickels. When Brock, Julia, and Calvin got back to the house, (which was falling apart) they all did their own thing. Brock ate chips while watching TV. Calvin hung out with his friends. Julia was in her room counting the money. So far, they had one hundred, twenty-two dollars. Julia smiled and thought that since her mom was working there would be trillions. But she knew that her parents had to spend it on fixing the house and paying the bills. She frowned. She then looked back on her old list that she wrote and came up with a new one.

Julia smiled. She knew this was affordable. Then she heard her mother walking up the stairs. She quickly hid the list under her bed. Mom proudly said, “Here honey!” She added fifteen dollars and twenty-five cents into the money bucket. Now they had a lot.

Two days later and it was two more days that she had to wait for her birthday. Every day Julia was finding bits of coins and balloons everywhere. On the day before her birthday, everybody was sitting on the sofa. She called a family meeting, but she told everyone to wait. Julia ran upstairs to grab her list and then ran back downstairs nearly falling.

Julia cleared her throat while standing before her family and said, “I don’t care about a great gift. All I want from you guys is…” Mom was about to speak but Julia stopped her. And she resumed. “All I want from you guys is all of you.”

Mom cried and smiled. “We can do that,” she said smiling and looking at the boys. Mom started a group hug and squeezed so hard Julia got out of that group hug so she could start berating again. Mom asked, “Where are you going?”

“Back upstairs,” Julia answered.

“Of course,” Mom chuckled. Julia looked at Mom as she walked up the stairs.

Julia closed the door leading into her room and she began writing for real this time, Mom looked up at the stairs and whispered to Dad and the brothers. They all whispered and agreed it was the perfect plan.

Next bright morning Julia yawned. She was very happy. She rushed downstairs expecting the whole family, but instead found a sticky note that read:

“Julia we will be out for a while. I think we will be back at 12. Happy Birthday! Love you! Signed -Mom, Dad, Brock, and Calvin.”

Julia thought they were raising money, so Julia did her part. She was very happy. Julia was giggling all the way. When she got back at 12, Julia just realized that she had hit nine houses in all. She looked in her hand and she saw that she made fifty-two dollars and thirty dimes. Julia threw her roller skates onto the ground and opened the door to the house. Julia found a wonderful surprise.

“SURPRISE!” Mom, Dad, and the brothers shouted. Julia gasped. Brock stool wiggled when he shouted surprise. Brock lost his balance and quickly fell. The decorations that Brock was hanging up fell with him. Julia picked him up and rushed him to the hospital. After he got the x-rays, the doctor said he had a broken his leg and would need a cast and crutches.

When the family came home, Julia opened her gifts, one at a time. She got three gifts in all but took a long time to admire each one of them. The first gift was markers. The second one was gel pens, and Julia couldn’t believe what else. She yelled out, “A saxophone?” Mom nodded and cried.

“And we paid for your lessons already.”

Julia smiled as she put her saxophone together and gave it a loud toot. She smiled again but questioned, “How could you guys ever afford this?”

“Well, we all raised enough money this morning along with the two weeks with you,” Dad said.

“Then,” Brock added while struggling with his crutches, “together we made this morning twenty-five dollars and Mom also working today we made a total of forty-eight dollars. After we snuck back into the house to get the bucket, we went to Money Bank Inc., the bank on Main Street near Dunkin’ Donuts, which we deposited into a new bank account.”

Calvin exclaimed excitedly, “We gave one hundred, twenty-two dollars to save!

“After that we kind of went a little crazy with the money for stuff we needed and toys and books for you kids,” Mom said, hugging Julia. That made Julia kind of laugh. “After we bought that stuff we needed, we had enough for a saxophone.”

Julia smiled and told them she raised money too. Mom sighed, “All of us worked so hard, especially Julia!”

Julia was so proud of herself and her family. She shouted, “Best birthday ever!” She hugged each family member individually.

And then after, everything worked out. Mom was able to pay for bills as well as Brock’s cast and crutches. Calvin got a job and was now a newspaper boy. Julia practiced her saxophone and got better every day. Brock practiced on his crutches and did the same.

Two months went by, and Julia was a prodigy on the saxophone. She smiled and hugged her family as she was about to get up and perform. “Thanks Mom and Dad. Now I won’t have any wild dreams.” As Julia got up on stage Mom cried.

“You’re the best Julia.”

Email: bduncan@awrsd.org
Website: https://oms.awrsd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1761296&type=d&pREC_ID=2077881
Location: 10 Oakmont Drive, Ashburnham, MA, USA
Phone: 978-827-1425