The Student News Site of Clague Middle School

The Cougar Star
The Student News Site of Clague Middle School

The Cougar Star
The Student News Site of Clague Middle School

The Cougar Star
Annabella Mi

Annabella Mi, Website and Print Editor-in-Chief

Annabella is an eighth grader at Clague, and this is her third year in the Cougar Star! If missing, you could most likely find her on the couch online/window shopping, watching a cheesy rom-com (or her favorite movie, “Mr. Peabody and Sherman”), while biting into a crunchy snack.

All content by Annabella Mi

Holiday histories: Easter edition

Jay Tavane, Annabella Mi, Saanvi Kulkarni, and Sophia Alison Rustia
April 18, 2025
Clague will be hosting its inaugural poetry contest. Linchpin for the competition and Clague librarian Kim McLean recommends students to utilize the Poe-Tree: “There are resources the students can use for inspiration, trying to connect with it, write what they feel.”

Clague library holds its first poetry contest

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
April 17, 2025
Science teacher Jennifer Inaba teaching a class how particles move.

[Photo] Science teacher Jennifer Inaba leaves Clague

David Park, Staff Writer
April 16, 2025
Farmer's market

[Photo] Farmer’s Market: a must visit place in the heart of Ann Arbor

Jay Tavane, Editor-in-Chief
April 14, 2025
Left to right, seventh graders Pearl Keller, Emilía Thorsdottir and Luisa Casillas-Lopez during Drama Club rehearsal.

Clague Drama Club returns with ‘Matilda’ on April 26, April 27

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
April 11, 2025
Born in 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Iowa City, Thomas (Tom) Cech developed a love for science from a young age.

[Photo] ‘I knew I wanted to be a scientist’: Nobel Prize winner Thomas Cech and DNA

Aeda Baang and Medha Sangi
April 11, 2025
On the morning of March 17, neighboring the Thurston neighborhood and Clague, Plymouth Road flooded with water and ducks swimming on the surface.

School canceled from water main break on Plymouth Road

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
March 17, 2025
Shizune Ishizawa is an attending eighth grader at Clague who loves to skate on the rink.

Cougars of Clague: Shizune Ishizawa

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
March 10, 2025
Clague eighth graders and members of Academic Games (AG) David Fry (left) and Jason Lu (right) doing an activity.

[Photo] Academic Games competes in state tournament

Jessie Guo, Staff Writer
February 21, 2025
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Ugly Christmas sweater

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
December 25, 2024
On Jan. 15, 2015, the Food and Drug Administration banned Red Dye No. 3 nationally as it was proved to cause cancer.

FDA mandates Red Dye No. 3 ban: red warns consumers

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
February 12, 2025
At 6 p.m. on Jan. 9, Betzy McCarty began the fifth Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) meeting of the school year and first of the calendar year.

January PTSO meeting summary

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
January 10, 2025
School will be cancelled on Tuesday Jan. 21 due to frigid temperatures as low as negative 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cold day communicated for Tuesday Jan. 21, Wednesday Jan. 22

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-chief
January 20, 2025
On Dec. 12, it was announced school would be canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Ann Arbor Public Schools announces school canceled, Dec. 12

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
December 12, 2024
The Clague student council group gathered around the Ronald McDonald statue.

Student council traverses to Ronald McDonald House Charities: the warmth of a brick house

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
December 9, 2024
Through a Zoom link, the fourth PTSO meeting of the school year took place on Dec. 5 from 6 – 7 p.m.

December PTSO meeting summary

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
December 7, 2024
The last piece of the orchestra's repertoire was “The Octavator” by Michael Hopkins, a constituent and professor of Music Education at the University of Michigan. With formidable confidence, a G octave was the last note played in this vivacious piece. “I’m so proud of what the students have accomplished so far this year they’re on their way to great things,” Alwin said. “Beautiful playing, and they looked so happy on the stage.”

“Beautiful music” created by Clague ensembles on Nov. 21

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
November 22, 2024
The third PTSO meeting of the school year took place on Nov. 14, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. in the Clague Multimedia Center.

November PTSO meeting summary

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
November 14, 2024
Clague teachers Meredith Pelchat and Abby Ruehlmann share their pregnancies through Halloween shirts.

A Halloween surprise: the pregnancies of two Clague teachers

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
October 31, 2024
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Clague cross country competes at all-city meet

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
October 18, 2024
Former Ann Arbor teacher Lea Kotlinski’s old room has become Clague science teacher Jennifer Inaba’s new room.

[Photo] Science teacher Lea Kotlinski involuntarily moved

Saanvi Kulkarni, Staff Writer
October 1, 2024
Clague Middle School's sent out its 10th newsletter, The Cougar Connection, on Oct. 14, 2024.

Summary of The Cougar Connection

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
October 15, 2024
The second Clague PTSO meeting took place in the library on Oct. 3, 2024.

October PTSO meeting summary

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
October 11, 2024
“A Step From Heaven” by An Na, published in 2001, stars an immigrant girl from Korea and how she is taught resilience.

“A Step from Heaven”: flickering the light on abuse, sacrifice, and heritage

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
September 30, 2024
From Sept. 24 to Oct. 24, the first drive of the school year will take place in collaboration with Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor.

Delivering a “home away from home”: The Ronald McDonald drive

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
September 24, 2024
On Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, an animal interacted with a DTE transformer, causing Clague to experience a power outage.

Power outage affects student learning on Sept. 3

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
September 3, 2024
Andrew Long is an attending Clague seventh grader.

Cougars of Clague: Andrew Long

Annabella Mi, Editor in Chief
May 22, 2024
23 Favorite Books of 2023

23 Favorite Books of 2023

Annabella Mi and Amelia Bai
April 11, 2024
A selection of students from Clague have had their artwork showcased in the windows of Blue Tractor BBQ.

[Photo] Clague students’ artwork showcased in downtown Ann Arbor

Saanvi Kulkarni, Staff Writer
April 6, 2024
Kalina Brose, attending Clague seventh grader, takes a photo of herself.

Cougars of Clague: Kalina Brose

Annabella Mi, Editor in Chief
March 22, 2024
Seventh grader Amorra Bailey defending the basket from Slauson.

Basketball game on Dec. 4 against Slauson

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
December 4, 2023
On April 19, Taylor Swift will be releasing her new album.

[Photo] Tortured Poets Department: Taylor Swift’s new album

Saanvi Kulkarni, Staff Writer
February 12, 2024
“39 Clues” is a series made up of 11 books written by numerous authors, like Roland Smith and Judy Blundell.

[Photo] 39 Clues Book Series Review

Edwin Liang, Staff Writer
February 14, 2024
Dear sixth graders, middle school is not the start of your demise.

Dear sixth graders: a personal narrative

Annabella Mi, Editor in Chief
February 10, 2024
Clague’s second Fun Night of the school year will be hosted on Feb. 9, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Valentines Fun Night on Feb. 9

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
February 6, 2024
Natalie is an attending 8th grader at Clague.

Cougars of Clague: Natalie Lu

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-chief
February 1, 2024
On Jan. 16, school will be closed due to inclement weather.

Ann Arbor public schools will be closed on Jan. 16 due to inclement weather

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
January 15, 2024
On Sept. 1, 2020, “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, hit the shelves, catching the attention of many people with its riveting plot and characters.

The Inheritance Games: a book review

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
January 4, 2024
On Sept. 1, 2020, “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, hit the shelves, catching the attention of many people with its riveting plot and characters.

Annamaria Riccardi is an attending 7th grader at Clague.

Cougars of Clague: Annamaria Riccardi

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
December 20, 2023
The Scholastic Book Fair returns the week of Dec. 11 as an opportunity for students to traverse through best-selling books or splurge on numerous school supplies.

Scholastic Book Fair arrives at Clague

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
December 13, 2023
On Dec. 2, 39 Clague students participated in HOSA regionals, at Bedford High School.

A successful day for HOSA Regionals

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
December 12, 2023
Since the end of November, as a way to battle the shortage of socks among numerous people, the Sock Drive reaches Clague.

The sock drive reaches Clague

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
December 8, 2023
Mean Girls is a movie released in 2004, directed by Mark Waters. This film stars Lindsay Lohan as Cady Heron, who navigates through the hostile environment of high school.

Mean Girls: a review

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
November 28, 2023
What most 8th graders look forward to is the field trip to Traverse City, but before navigating up north, accomplishing this starts with soda cans and plastic bottles.

Funding the 8th grade trip: soda cans and plastic bottles

Annabella Mi, Editor-in-Chief
November 16, 2023
Everything changed that summer. Is Belly still all for Conrad? Or is Jeremiah a new contender for her heart?

The Summer I Turned Pretty: Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad?

Annabella Mi and Amelia Bai
November 14, 2023
Veteran’s Day takes place on Saturday, Nov. 11., where the day dedicated to honoring Military personnel, First Responders, and Veterans.

Veteran’s Day approaches on Nov. 11, this Saturday

Annabella Mi, Editor-In-Chief
November 9, 2023
When walking around Clague you might see a board full of compliments: take one and leave one.

The compliment board: take one and leave one

Annabella Mi, Editor in Chief
November 4, 2023
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays might be normal days for most people —go home, eat dinner, and maybe finish some homework — but for 130 Clague students, they look a bit different. After the bell rings at 3:03 p.m., they rush to fill their water bottles and tie their shoelaces, in fear of doing 20 burpees if late: because Cross Country, of course, starts at 3:15 sharp. But it hasn’t always been this way, as this after-school activity started from humble beginnings of just seven runners. But momentum collected when Karen Yamada, one of the coaches, joined the Clague community. The teams started to grow, traditions were established, Michelle Machiele soon joined coach Yamada, and the warm-up run was created. Pictured: several students doing that run, and how far Cross Country has come since then.

Clague’s Cross Country team perseveres through the season

Annabella Mi, Editor
October 29, 2023
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