BY LOGAN SCHLOSSER

STAFF WRITER

Hello to all of you wonderful people at home! Now I know this is not normally a thing I would talk about, but I thought it would be a fun way to spice up my articles. Today we will be talking about one of MSA’s newest additions to its theatre department: The Competitive One Acts, COA for shortening purposes. Now that I have thoroughly thrown you all a curveball, let’s get right into it!

Continue reading “MSA Competitive One Acts: The Great Pandemonium” →

BY MAYA CRANDALL

COMMUNICATIONS EDITOR

Many of us have had to find loopholes around doing the activities we love with COVID-19, and MSA Theatre is no exception. As they say, the show must go on…And it did. Broadcast will be premiering this Friday, November 20th, MSA’s first ever virtual fall play performance! Not to mention, it was written from the ground up by the cast members—all students of MSA. I had the opportunity to interview Karen Biedermann, director of the show, and Ethan Semler, one of the producers. Broadcast explores the intricate history and development of the radio, and seeing as it is a time where we are all trying to find ways to stay connected and tuned in to the world, I think it is an excellent opportunity to explore. 

This show was written completely by MSA students from start to finish. Cast members were split into smaller groups that researched and explored the radio in a specified time period. The cast met as a large group once in a while to discuss the direction of the script and what they wanted to dive into storywise, as well as make edit suggestions together. Once finished with the script, the cast rehearsed via Zoom to find the best way to deliver lines, move within a limited space, and react to others during a scene. Costumes were also an important factor to integrate into the final product, as the show takes place throughout many different decades! Finally, everyone was ready to begin filming. After this, with the help of a group of talented producers and editors, the show was tied together.

“I am so incredibly proud of our students, and the work they have put in to make this show happen!” says Karen. “Not only are you seeing the students work on screen, but it is their research, their writing, their artwork, and their editing. They truly took ownership of what you see in this production, and that has been really inspiring.” Tickets are available on ShowTix4U and will be available to stream from Friday, November 20th through Sunday, November 22nd on the same device the tickets were purchased from. Described as “surprising, heartwarming, and thoughtful,” Broadcast will be a unique experience you won’t want to miss!

Photo Credit: Maya Dalal

BY XUYING LEE AND PRANU VEDERE

STAFF WRITERS

MSA is holding its First Annual Science Fair! It is for students in grades 6-8. It is hosted by the MSA Science Club on Thursday, April 9th, 2020 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm.  Participants shall perform an experiment and present their projects to judges and parents, as well as share some interesting science topics with the MSA community. This is a great opportunity to work with friends and show off some astonishing pieces of art. If you are looking to participate, complete the following form to receive more information: https://forms.gle/4U3e7ZKYikUFxkFJ7

Image Source: https://medium.com/machine-learning-world/best-popular-science-youtube-channels-767a73add30a

BY ZACH BARNABY AND BELLA TRINKO
STAFF WRITERS

Homecoming is an incredible event which happens each year. This year was a massive success with music, concessions, and dancing. The entire event was done by the hard work of student council who planned, set up, and took down homecoming. When you first walked in you would get your ID checked and (hopefully) would buy some concessions. After that, you could get your picture taken by Ethan Semler or listen to Sam Wurdemann play music on the piano in the room to the right, or you could go out into the great hall and do some dancing. Overall, homecoming 2019 was a massive success of fun and enjoyment for all who came. 

BY MAYA CRANDALL

COMMUNICATIONS EDITOR IN-TRAINING

The 2019 school year introduced not only new students, but new teachers as well! Mr. Leonhardi, formerly a middle school math teacher at Mounds View School District, is one of the new additions and teaches Algebra II and Pre-Calculus. This year, he is most looking forward to “getting to know students and [understanding] how students learn best.” Mr. Leonhardi decided to become a math teacher after learning from a college professor who guided him towards a math education profession. 

“[I love] learning how students think and talk about math and learning about what is important to students besides math,” Mr. Leonhardi says. “Students are kind and helpful to one another!”

When not teaching, Mr. Leonhardi can be found going on bike rides, watching sports, or playing board games. Let’s make him feel welcome! We already know Mr. Leonhardi was a good choice for a new math teacher. 

Image Link: https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/sites/edtechmagazine.com.k12/files/styles/cdw_hero/public/articles/EdTech/201708/9george_math.jpg?itok=2HKdsRtP

BY AALA RASHID

STAFF WRITER

This year, 2019-2020 school year, Math and Science Academy announced a new Yearbook Class run by Ms. Nordstrom! Yearbook is not new to MSA as it has always been a club. However, with not many members attending, MSA decided to add it as a class to increase the interest. So far, it has been a success! With over twenty members helping out with the yearbook, it is without a doubt going to turn out amazing!

Everyday the yearbook members are assigned different pages to work on. They earn a point for the day if they use their work time carefully. The yearbook members work together to create the grade pages, front cover, and club pages. The MSA yearbook is designed online. This year the class was introduced to a brand-new app, so even though the editors have been in yearbook for three years, it is also new to them. 

There are four yearbook editors that meet together on Thursday mornings to go over the yearbook. Usually they talk about the next week and what the yearbook members need to do to stay on track. 

If anyone is interested in yearbook, make sure to keep an eye out to add it to your schedule next year! This is a great way to be a part of MSA! 

Image Link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/asset.treering.com/wp-content/uploads/20171019185743/yearbook-design-ideas-portrait-pages-garrett-675×525.jpg

BY XUYING LEE AND BELLA TRINKO

STAFF WRITERS

This year, MSA’s fall play production is A Midsummer Nights’ Dream! This classic Shakespearean play features a peculiarly interesting love square, a play, and a beacon into the twistedly magical realm of fairies. This production will be performed on November 8th at 7:00 p.m. and November 9th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m in Building B in the gym! Along with seeing your friends in a fantastic play, there will also be concessions! So bring a group of friends and come along! It will surely be a great production with our great director, Karen Biedermann, and our awesome choreographer, as well as costume designer, Beth Dempsey.  It will certainly be enjoyable for people of all ages! We hope to see you there!!

Image from: https://news.csudh.edu/a-midsummer-nights-dream/

BY KAIA KARPE

STAFF WRITER

On September 28th from 11:30 to 1:30 there was an event going on in the Cheers for Volunteers Club called Feed My Starving Children, and the people that went made 32,184 meals for Feed My Starving Children. Another Feed My Starving Children event will be held on October 19th from 2:00 to 4:00. Also, the Cheers For Volunteers Club is going to raise money so we can buy the materials to make fleece blankets. We are going to make fleece blankets and give them to hospitals to help people in need. Cheers For Volunteers has many more events throughout the year. Also, there is an event called Forever Pawsibilities Dog Walk where you get to walk dogs and hand out water. It is on October 27th. So, if you want to stop by and get more information, go to 201B to get more information on events, donate, and just help out. Cheers For Volunteers meets on Thursdays from 8:15 to 9:00.

Image from: https://www.fmsc.org/about-us/resources