CONGRATULATIONS MRS. DEAN!
FINNEGAN JAMES DEAN WAS BORN ON JANUARY 25, 2009!
Welcome to the brand new, online home for the Durham Paw Print Paperless Paper.
Durham Paw Print Newspaper
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“Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.” –Robert Frost
It’s undeniable that life is one big rollercoaster. When you think things are going great, they can take a turn for the worse. And sometimes, we’ll do just about anything to make ourselves happy. Many of us have pretty busy lifestyles, so whenever there’s a spare moment, we cram as much big, “that sounds fun” kind of things into our lives to try and find that “break” from the world as we can. People mark happiness with different tags, and many tend to think of fun as some kind of large, extravagant experience. But, when you look further into it, our smiles are defined by the smaller things.
When I first sat down to write this piece, I had a bit of a hard time figuring out what to write about. I wanted to illustrate more than just your average “fluff” writing, but it needed to relate to everyone (students, teachers, younger kids, etc.). So I tried to think about what everyone liked to read about, and that would mean something that everyone could be interested in at one point or another. There’s no telling how many things I scratched out, topic wise. And I knew from experience, that a person’s mood when they write, greatly effects the [mood, quality, word for “the stuff” of the paper] of their paper. I wanted to be happy, and inspired in a way, when I wrote this, and so I decided to just wait for the right moment. Of course, soon my time was winding down, and I still had no idea what to write. Sitting in my room, desperately looking for an interesting topic, I glanced down at my dog, Cooper. My eyes lingered there for a moment, finding joy watching the little dog play with a chew-toy. Then it occurred to me that happiness is one of those things that everyone wants or strives to accomplish. Now all I had to do was try and define what makes that great feeling so great. Well, for one thing, THAT’S NOT EASY! For another, each person thinks of happiness in a different way. So thinking back to Cooper, I thought about what usually makes me happy, and those happy times that stick out in my mind are almost always small, yet amazing little moments that can make me smile. The little pebbles in the sand, the subtle ocean breeze, those little brightly colored flowers floating down small streams, and even butterflies. They’re all small things, but can perhaps have the strongest impact on our minds.
To be happy, you only truly need the basics. If you try to base your happiness on superficial ideas, you can’t get very far. Being happy isn’t going to be in effect every second of every day, but those hard times make you appreciate the little, happy moments. Yes, you’re going to have to work, and yes, not everything will be happy. But we have got to remember that just because it’s big, it’s social, and it’s been advertised by very happy people, doesn’t mean it’s the only form of happy. Besides, it’s human nature to be drawn to the natural world. What sounds better to you – lightning bugs or light bulbs? Blue skies or skyscrapers? Oceans or offices? Sure, big, bold experiences are exhilarating and fun. Must we not forget, however, that it’s often worth the extra effort looking for the small things.
All the Small Things 4*28*08
Lean forward. Lean forward to listen.
Push forward to hear. Hear the wind whistle.
Ask yourself simply. What is life?
Take it in slowly. Moments in time.
Allow your mind. To save or be saved?
Surrender to the sea. Ocean’s waves.
Believe to the highest degree. Believe.
Take your breaths into your mind. Breathe.
Do not define. Trust. Follow.
Smile with your eyes. True. Let it show.
Take a moment. Consider details. Consider dreams.
What makes life worth living? All the small things.
Soften your heart. Sharpen you mind.
Discover the unknown. Find.
Be unique. Give. Receive.
Make a difference. Lead.
Take big steps. Value small things.
Have faith. Cherish what each day brings.
Run faster. Run faster to get.
Sprint faster to see. See the sunset.
Lean forward. Lean forward to listen.
Push forward to hear. Hear the wind whistle.
For the smallest thing.
Makes life worth living.
And to us it shall bring.
The happiest thing.
Jessica
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Now a special front page article by Mallory!
Front Page: Del Edwards Memorial Garden
By: Mallory Widdis
Mr. Edwards: we all may have not known him, but those who did knew him as an optimistic and fun-loving man who only wanted the best for students. This man was a very athletic PE teacher at Durham Middle School for quite some time. He developed our much loved Durham Olympics and the Anti-bullying Program. He didn’t want school just to be a place to learn, but a place you can have fun. He wanted the best for us and strived to make Durham a place for every child to build in character and attitude. His death in 2007 marked the beginning of a very somber time, but we all know that it was not what he would have wanted. Because of the positive man he was, we have decided to honor him by building the Del Edwards Memorial Garden to not only remember him as a person, but to view him as a role model for the entire student body.
Mrs. Bitler, a social studies teacher for team 7-1, was a very close friend and fellow employee of Mr. Edwards. She initially thought of the whole project. “When I saw the tree planted for Mr. Sterling, I was inspired to step it up for Mr. Edwards,” she stated. The garden is planned to take up about a fourth of the area outside the media center where this Gandhi quote will be located: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” It is planned to be used as an outdoor classroom where students can study, have classes, or even hold concerts. “It will have a pavilion, benches, a brick wall, a rock garden…but not many plants for its design is for students to sit anywhere and not have to worry about flowers being crushed or stepped on,” she replied when asked what its features would include. She would also like to include a legacy walk including specialized bricks you can purchase. “The bricks are not intended as a tribute to him as a person, but for what he did to make Durham a better place for all of us. Families who never even knew him can buy bricks to leave an honor of Durham as a school.” Mrs. Bitler mentioned.
Mrs. Bitler needs our help! When you buy a brick for Mr. Edward’s legacy walk, you will be giving to a great cause. Many students have already become involved in this project and Mrs. Young has played a big role in setting up fundraisers. By participating in these fundraisers, such as Hat Day, buying bricks, and donating any money, we as a student body can help honor Mr. Edwards. Go to www.bricksrus.com/order/edwardsgarden or find the link of Durham’s webpage to donate bricks. Right now, Mrs. Bitler has $7,000 out of the $60,000 she would like to raise. Help your school and donate today.
Mr. Edwards was a great man and should never be forgotten. He helped make what Durham is today become what it is: a positive place for not only learning, but for having fun. “He wove together a positive attitude for the whole school,” Mrs. Bitler acknowledged, “I have always wanted to be just like him.”
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