The Happy Sunshine Gang
Musings of our Madness!
no. 2
Sorry
We have now decided to tell you what you think (we did say that we would, so don’t say we didn’t warn you!). The FPS article with the last issue was not very good (according to most of our reader(s)), and was rejected by the wielders of the knowledge of the Communist Arts (Evil Comrades). Also, the serial from the last issue was great. Now, to make up for the awful article, here is the completely new one.
FPS: More than Solving Problems
Have you ever thought about the problems with our oceans, cities, or the effects genetic testing would have on our society? This is what we do in Future Problem Solvers, or FPS. FPS is a fun co-curricular activity in which we research unique topics and come up with challenges with them and solutions to those challenges. When we have researched the topic enough, we will receive (in a meeting) a future scene based on the topic that we have studied. After reading through the future scene, we go through a specific problem solving process. This process guides students through solving the problems they find in the future scene. The process is only a guide for us, as we are free to throw in any ideas we have, providing that they follow the process and aren’t too extreme. Though this imposes a limit on the ideas students can generate, it keeps them thinking realistically, which can really help. The future scene doesn’t even provide the problems for the student(s) to solve, but they get to find them within the future scene, enabling them to be even more creative.
A neat aspect of FPS is that for each FPS booklet, the students get to learn about a new topic that they wouldn’t normally get to learn about. They get to see new sides to the things they normally think about. The knowledge (especially the vocabulary) they gain can really help get them ahead in class, if those topics ever come up.
FPS helps students learn to be independent. Though there are meetings, the student(s) must commit time outside of them to researching the topic and practicing the problem solving process. They are motivated to do this by the affiliate bowl.
The affiliate bowl, or state bowl (It’s called an affiliate bowl because FPS is really an international program called FPSPI, or Future Problem Solvers Program International. There are people from Russia to Wyoming to Singapore who are in the program, now headed by the former middle/high school coach from Waunakee), is a very fun time for FPS students. It lets them meet other students who participate in FPS, and to see more of how the program works, as well as letting them problem solve competitively. Students attending the state bowl get to create a banner for their team or school, attend a ‘Zippy Challenge’ mixer, and participate in a swap meet, as well as write an FPS booklet and then create a skit out of it to show to other students within their level of FPS (Junior, Middle, or Senior). You know it has to be great when students say “I hope I don’t get stuck in an elevator again!”
The FPS problem solving process is a very helpful process that can be used in real life. It can help when applied to business, economics, government, and the environment. Even the very format of the FPS booklets (how to write them, the acronyms, etc) can prove helpful when writing.
FPS goes from the intermediate school to the high school. Students can join when they are a senior, or try it out for their first year in 6th grade and choose not to continue. Many students do choose to continue, including Bella Hanes. “It looks good on college applications, and state bowl is pretty fun.” A new student this year, Libby Walther, says “I chose to join FPS to stretch my mind.”
FPS is a very fun activity that can help in many ways, and no matter what way it helps you, it is always fun.
The Four D’s of the Happy Sunshine Gang
Depressed
No one in Happy Sunshine Gang is emotionally stable. No one.
Demented
We aren’t your typical people.
Deranged
You wouldn’t want to see us in a dark alley.
Demonic
Everyone in the Happy Sunshine Gang is evil to some degree.
The Four N’s of Society
Normal
So ho-hum.
Nonsensical
What a waste. Very redundant.
Neurotic
Absolutely insane, following and listening to anything said to them.
Narcissistic.
Greedy, selfish, self-centered...
While we may sound more critical of ourselves than society, we still hate society and are glad not to have to call ourselves a part of it.
Knowledge corner
“Trust no one. Trust us. Don’t trust what people say about us.”
-The Book of Truth, verses 1, 1.1,& 1.1.1
Advice
Don’t take away people’s rock, which they use to either keep the door open or closed during the summertime. If they can’t keep their door closed, the wild boars (essentially bacon) will get in and eat them, and being eaten by bacon, which is both a food and a lifestyle, is rather insulting.
Random fact
The federal reserve isn’t even a part of the government.
Quote
“A pessimist is merely an optimist with experience.”
Creativity Corner
The Happy Sunshine Gang will start a ‘Creativity Corner’ with writings from... outsiders... (*shudder*). You may submit your musings or drawings to Hannah Nies, our creative works editor. Please, if it is a short story, keep it to a minimum. This section will start in two weeks.
Contest
We want your creative works. We do, oh yes, we want... so much... You can submit a drawing, poem, or short story. This will be to kick off our creativity corner. There aren’t many guidelines, just stick to the theme, which is deadlines and ‘Hermworm’ (homework). There will be two published in the next issue. There is no limit to entries submitted. The prize is pride (and maybe a mint). Great, isn’t it?
Serial
Just to clarify, you all think the serial from last week was great. Here is the second installment.
Please Don’t Knock on the Walls
Part II
The guest raised one gloved hand and knocked quietly on Abramovich's door. The door swung open, almost as if it were expecting a guest. A nondescript man in a black tuxedo with small black beard sat in front of a huge mirror, brushing powder on his face. He looked up arrogantly at the guest.
“Yes?” He dragged the word out, seemingly relishing in it. He returned his attention to the powder, a smirk on his face. The guest unwound the long black scarf from around his face, then hung it over the back of a chair.
“Mr. Abramovich, I am so very glad to finally make your acquaintance. My employer has told me so much about you, and it seems that we are going to be spending a very long time together.” The words came out, all consonants and vowels intact, but with slight Hungarian accent.
“And who, may I ask, is your employer?” Abramovich glanced sharply at the man, a spark of curiosity in his eyes.
“The Devil.” This piece of information elicited a reaction from Abramovich. He dropped his powder brush, white dust now covering his shoes.
Opinion(s)
Reader(s)! You may submit your opinions/suggestions/questions/concerns about/for the Happy Sunshine Gang. Just write a memo to our creative works editor, Hannah Nies. Do it for the fame; you may get published!
Notice
There will be no Happy Sunshine Gang next week due to Spring Break. I’m not sure how you will live without us, but you should at least try, if only to see us in our next issue.
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