Girls Basketball Starts!

by Aria H.

On October 20th, 2025, girls basketball officially tipped off at Yankton Middle School! Basketball is a fast-paced, teamwork-driven sport that requires skill, coordination, and dedication. It was first introduced to women in 1892 at Smith College—just one year after the sport itself was invented. No wonder so many young athletes are eager to join this season!

To learn more about the excitement surrounding this year’s team, I interviewed a few of the players.

First, I spoke with Jocelyn H.
I began by asking, “Are you excited for the season to start?”
She smiled and answered, “Yes, because it gives me something to do during the school year.”

I followed up with, “What do you think you’re best at in basketball?”
Without hesitation, Jocelyn replied, “I think I’m best at shooting!”

She also told me that she played last year — and when I asked why she decided to join again, Jocelyn said, “Because I played basketball last year and I enjoyed it!”
It’s always inspiring to see someone stick with something they truly love.

I then got the chance to talk with Nora B., one of the players on the seventh-grade basketball team. My first question for her was, “Are you excited for the season to start?” She grinned and said enthusiastically, “Yes!”

When I asked what she thought she was best at in basketball, Nora replied, “I think I’m best at shooting from the block.” She told me she also played basketball last year, so this isn’t her first season on the court.

Finally, I asked why she decided to sign up again this year. With a big smile, she said, “I signed up for basketball because it’s my favorite sport, and it’s the one I think I’m best at.”

After our chat, I thanked her for her time and headed off feeling excited for the season ahead too.

As the season gets underway, it’s clear that the Yankton Middle School girls’ basketball team is ready to give it their all. With teamwork, determination, and plenty of school spirit, these players are sure to make this season one to remember. Go Gazelles!

Happy Halloween from YMS!

 Peyton and Sofia have been hard at work interviewing teachers and staff about their Halloween decorations around YMS!

Part 1 = 

Part 2 = 

Spooooooky Story!: The Hot Dog Broom Retold

By Sydney S.

Before school on a very, very foggy Halloween day, my friends dared me to climb the tallest tree by our school. We all called it the Sky Touched Tree because it always seemed to touch the sky. On this particular day, it appeared extra menacing, but I could never turn down a dare. . . . . and I still had some time before school officially started. I mean, I really had no choice if you think about it.

I started to climb, and climb, and climb. I kept thinking the tree must end somewhere, and I must be getting close because I could almost touch the clouds, but it just didn’t stop, and I just kept climbing.

Then I saw it. Green, wicked-looking people standing on the clouds with brooms. At that moment, I had a quick thought- witches - and I knew I had to, just had to keep going. I was on the middle school's newspaper, and maybe the witch-like people would be okay with an interview?

Thinking that sounded like it made complete sense (even though it really didn’t), I started getting up off the tree and walking towards the great people. They didn’t seem to notice, then all of a sudden I saw a store! Almost like Ace or Walmart- except all I could see they were selling were hot dogs! What could anyone possibly do with so many hot dogs? It was wild, crazy, and unbelievable how many hot dogs there were as I started getting closer, and as I inched closer, I saw that those hot dogs were glowing green! A strange, bright, and terrifying green!

If I were really thinking about doing a newspaper article on this, I'd better ask some questions, I thought as I started walking to the witches - by that time, I was positive that they were real live witches. I walked closer and saw they were all wearing black as well. I suddenly ask, “Excuse me, but why are there so many hot dogs lying around?”

The smallest witch quietly answered, “Why, little one, these hot dogs are filled with the fuel that makes our brooms work!”

“And the fuel is very healthy, in fact, we eat it some days when we’re really hungry,” another witch put in.

“Umm . . . I don’t think that is very healthy. In fact, because you eat that bright green fuel, I think you turn green.” After I said that, a nearby witch spat out a piece of hot dog. Ooops. Maybe it just tasted really bad?

“What is your name, little miss know-it-all?” shrieked a witch.

“They call me none of your business. Thank you for wondering.”

All of the witches laugh, large laughs—maybe they aren’t evil? After my amazing ice breaker, the witches start telling me all kinds of cool, interesting facts, like did you know that clouds taste like hot dogs, not cotton candy? I even got to try it myself!

Anyway, I started to relax, and the witches all became my friends! I told them about the latest school drama (Clara McBarn drank milk too fast and it shot out of her nose), and I told them about my new chickens (Zoey, Eva, Evie, Cloud, Cotton Candy, Violet, and Bob).

As I am explaining how science works, the witches screamed and ran for their brooms. Did I really scare them that much with the fact of cells? No, that can’t be it. All of a sudden, I see the witch police! (You can tell they are the police because their brooms have blue and red flashing lights.) Someone must have tattled that I, a human, was here in the clouds! Maybe it was Lucy or the mean and rude Worm! Well, I guess I’ll never know, but I have to go right now!

I run towards the tree and start climbing down as fast as I can. I hear the local fire engine. That’s weird, maybe a cat ran up a tree. Oh no! They’re here for me! Oh gosh, I’m going to be in soooo much trouble! As I jump down the last bit of the tree, my mom comes running and hugs me. My friends look like they’ve been crying. Maybe they thought I got hurt? Anyway, I didn’t have to go to school that day because of my awesome time on top of the tree—so I found a way to skip middle school for an entire day! I should write a story about this! I’m going to call it . . . . . The Hot Dog Broom!!!

Meet Ms. Cwach

story and photo by Addie E.

I interviewed a new teacher recently, Ms. Cwach! It is her first year actually teaching. She teaches 6th grade math and also coaches cheer. She thinks “It can be hard to time manage both at the same time.” Her story of how she became a teacher starts when she was 8 years old. She had a teacher who she thought made a difference so she wanted to be a teacher. Since it was a math teacher she wanted to be a math teacher and make a difference, and she loved math! 

Ms. Cwach says she likes to teach kids because she thinks they are fun. Especially middle school kids! Ms. Cwach says she loves to teach kids. The reason is because she loves interacting, and joking with kids. One final comment from a new teacher Ms. Cwach is “ Teachers want to have fun too! So that is all you need to know about Ms. Cwach.

March to the Meridian

by Aubrey H.

On October 14, 2025, I interviewed Aria H, who is in 7th grade, asking her how she thought the March to the Meridian was. Aria is a part of the color guard. So she was holding a flag the whole time. Some of these questions were about how they liked it, if they were nervous about marching, and what they did not like about the March to the Meridian. There are many more questions I asked. 

The first question was, “How did you feel going into the March to the Meridian?” Aria answered that she was nervous but really excited. The second question was whether she enjoyed it. She said, “Yes, but we could have done better.” She just thought that everybody was rushing and just wanted to be done with it. Another question was about your favorite part of March and why. Aria answered that her favorite part of March was hanging out with band friends and making music. 

Another question I asked was what did you not like about Marching. Aria answered that she didn’t like it because the bridge was really narrow and hard to walk. She also thought people weren’t on beat and everybody was just rushing. 

The second to last question was why did you choose to do color guard other than march. Aria answered with, “you cannot play oboe, which is my main instrument and I was struggling with the other instruments since I haven’t played them in awhile. 

The last question I asked Aria was if it was easy to walk when you're holding/throwing a flag. Aria answered that on the bridge it was difficult and rough and really slim, but off it was pretty easy. 

The second person I interviewed was Hadley B and I interviewed her on October 20, 2025. Now Hadley played an instrument in the march so now we get a different perspective. I asked the same questions I asked Aria except that instead of color guard I changed it to marching with an instrument. 

The first question was how did you feel going in March. Hadley answered that she felt good, not nervous about it at all. The second question was if she enjoyed marching. She said yes because it was really fun. 

Another question I asked was what was your favorite part. Hadley said that her favorite part was marching across the bridge because it seemed really cool, and something she had never done before. The fourth question was what did you not like about marching. Hadley answered with, it started raining while we were on the bridge, and it was cold. 

The second to last question I asked was what is your instrument and why did you choose it. Hadley said that she plays the alto saxophone because my dad played the saxophone when he was in my grade. My last question I asked was if it was easy marching with your instrument. She answered yes, because we have a neck strap. This basically wraps up on what happened at the march to the meridian. 

I hope you guys enjoyed having both perspectives on marching with a flag and marching with an instrument.

Cartoon: 150

cartoon by Quelby B. 

 

What is it like to be a hero?

story and photo by Catherine H.

Officer Olson, the school resource officer, is a hero many people don’t think of. Whether his job is not the first thing you think about, it certainly is an important one. School officers are one of the most important. In my opinion, without them, school shootings would happen a lot more often. But with Officer Olson it has become a lot safer in school today.

School officers are also very valuable people if you need help finding something. Officers have even hosted fun events, such as Officer Olson. He hosted a car show at the school. Sometimes Officer Olson and all school officers are very helpful people, and we are lucky to have them. Officer Olson and School officers also try not to take days off unless it’s Christmas break, when they even have work. Officers sacrifice vacations sometimes just to protect their school or the county.

Yankton is lucky to be one of the first big schools that had 2 cops. School Officers enjoy their time here and love meeting the kids; we should help make that stay here at Yankton. So if you see a school resource officer, don’t forget to say, “Hi,” and wave.