Volume 4, Issue 2
THE FULL EDITION
December 2012/January 2013
A Newspaper by Children, of all Ages, from all Over the World
ECO
FEATURE
The Gazette Goes Green!
Green Tip 2.
by Aaron J. Cross, Age 15 Boca Raton, FL
The Circle Gazette is now in its fourth year of publication. This column will also be celebrating its third anniversary this December. Unfortunately, the funding has grown short and we can now only afford to print every other month, giving us only half the amount of printings a year. It is a sad way to celebrate our fourth year. While it is a shame this has happened, there are some green upsides. The process of making paper and printing it to make a
Good Rice, Bad Rice, White Rice, Brown Rice by Sara Cross, Age 12 Boca Raton, FL
book, magazine, or newspaper is harmful to the environment in a number of ways. The first step in printing a newspaper is the making of the paper itself, and is harmful because trees have to be cut down in order to collect the necessary materials. That one is a no-brainer and you have probably heard or thought of it before, but one aspect that most people don’t think about is the pollution released into the air from all the equipment used by logging companies. Next is the process of turning wood chips into paper. The paper mills,
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20th Century Fox and Dreamworks Release DVD for
Dragons: Riders of Berk
by Sarah Thompson, Age 14 Boynton Beach, FL How To Train Your Dragon was released in 2010 and received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and many other awards. It’s truly one of the most beloved animated films from that year, with a wide fan base ranging from kids to teenagers to adults. There are two sequels in the works; one to be released in 2014, and another scheduled for 2016. With so much popularity surrounding the franchise, I have to say, I was pretty surprised when I learned it was getting a spin-off TV series on Cartoon Network. It’s nothing new, of course - Dreamworks’ Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda franchises have also produced spin-off shows over at Nickelodeon. The disappointing thing is that those shows have definitely “dumbed down” the original plot and characters, and are somewhat ridiculous, baring little to no resemblance to the great movies they are loosely based on. I’m well aware of the movie industry’s love for cash, but I couldn’t imagine this particular franchise going down that same road. After all, How To Train Your Dragon is a movie full of heart, depth, and adventure, and is more intelligent than Madagascar or Panda. But I’m pleased to say that while Riders of Berk is not exactly groundbreaking, it is original and interesting, and does justice to the wonderful movie that inspired it. It’s really a breath of fresh air to see a spin-off series like this - one that actually has some effort and some people who don’t want to make a laughing stock of the franchise behind it. The animation is very good and almost exactly the same as the animation in the movie. It is bright, crisp, and detailed. I think by having such beautiful landscapes in each episode, it is easier for the viewers to immerse themselves in the adventure. It held my attention, as the animation truly feels movie-quality, not at all like a simple cartoon! Each of the 4 episodes I watched presented an entirely new adventure with new
Living Healthy
locations and new characters. I like the general idea behind it - a Viking village inhabited by dragons, Vikings and dragons attempting to get along and live together, a mixture of comedy and action - indeed, a plot that could provide plenty of new ideas for new episodes, and continue well into two, maybe even three, seasons. I was also impressed to see that most of the original cast reprised their roles. The fact that the actors were willing to come back and provide their voices is a good indication that the scripts they saw were not half bad, and hopefully that will continue on into the second season. I get the feeling that the people behind this series are really trying. I’m not saying the show is outstanding, but I can see where there is definitely a lot of effort going into it. This is not another cheesy spinoff where the writers are saying “eh, it is what it is” and airing any garbage they can come up with. This series is smart! This has good writing, good animation, and a talented cast! The people behind Riders of Berk want to create something intelligent for the viewers, they want to do justice to the original film and not just throw something together with the franchise’s name on it. I praise them for that. I have hope that this show will remain good and not crumble into the “it is what it is” category, like so many other spin-offs have. The Circle Gazette, in partnership with 20th Century Fox, is giving away 2 DVDs of this newly released TV Show! For a chance to win, enter the drawing at www. circlegazette.org or call 954-918-2541 before December 31, 2012.
Hi kids! And welcome to Living Healthy, a column that talks about how to keep your body healthy and energized. You might have heard in the news about the high levels of arsenic that have been found in rice. So what is arsenic? Arsenic is an element with the atomic number of 33. It is a metallic compound that is poisonous to humans, and any other multicellular life. Arsenic is a toxin; long-term exposure can lead to cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder, and kidneys. It has also been known to cause diseases of the blood vessels in the limbs. Arsenic poisoning has early symptoms of headaches, confusion, severe diarrhea and drowsiness. A recent study by Consumer Reports shows that high levels of arsenic can be found in rice grown in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas, which accounts for 76 percent of all rice grown in the United States. Rice is very nutritious, otherwise. Nutritional benefits include fiber, vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin) vitamin B3 (niacin), iron, and magnesium. Most of these nutrients are in the epidermis or outer skin of the rice kernel, the part that is filtered off white rice during processing. Brown rice actually may contain more arsenic than white because there is no filtering off of its outer skin.
Why does rice contain more arsenic than all other agriculture? Rice is the only plant that can be grown in flooding conditions. The water stirs up the ground, allowing the plants to absorb more arsenic through the roots. But how did the arsenic get into the ground in the first place? To answer this question, we must go back to the 1800s, to the southern Confederate states. The South was the world’s biggest supplier of cotton, and to protect against the destructive boll weevil beetle they sprayed lots of insecticide. The arsenic-rich insecticide leached into the ground, and still has not broken down even after almost two centuries. It has now infiltrated into the rice crops. Arsenic is very dangerous. You should still eat rice because it is very nutritious, but you should look on the package to see where it is grown. To reduce arsenic exposure, consider reducing your regular intake of rice. See image provided by Consumer Reports and based on findings by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Eat the right rice and I will see you in February!
Laureus “Team of the Year” Award Finalists to be announced: 6 US Teams in Contention by Ismail Ercan, Age 15 Coral Springs, FL In 1998, the Laureus Group was founded by South African Johann Rupert, the chairman of Swiss luxury goods company Richemont, to host an Oscar-like sports awards ceremony to celebrate and recognize the achievements of athletes around the world. The red carpet event, entitled the Laureus World Sport Awards, is similar to the American ESPY’s and has been hosted annually since 2000 in cities throughout the world. As his sporting award ceremony grew in popularity, Rupert soon realized that his new organization should not just stop at hosting a red carpet event, but also should benefit people, particularly underprivileged children around the world. Later in 2000, Laureus’s Sport for Good Foundation was born to “help less fortunate people enjoy a better life through the power of sport”. All the proceeds from the Laureus World Sport Awards go directly to financing the Sport for Good Foundation which in turn funds over 130 community projects worldwide.
The ten honors awarded at the gala are: Laureus Sportsman of the Year, Sportswomen of the Year, World Team of the Year, Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Action Sportsperson
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THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
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THE CIRCLE GAZETTE A Newspaper by Children for Children Independent print and online publication available to children of all ages. This publication is an initiative of THE ENRICHMENT CIRCLE, INC. A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization for the Advancement of Education 7551 Normande Ct. Margate FL 33063 Phone: 954-918-2541 circlegazette@enrichmentcircle.com info@circlegazette.org
Editor in Chief Patty Gómez
Editorial Team
Serena Serrano
Sandra Wolkov
Patty Gómez
Sandra Wolkov
Pedro Gómez Lee Bruno Bruno Lee
Production Lee Bruno
Robyn Rader
Christie Voss
Serena Bruno
Christie Voss
Graphic Designers & Pre-press Dora Font
Christie Voss
Cartoonists and Illustrators
Arion Rashad Kate Maier Sofia Serrano Daniela Gómez
Regular Columnists
Sarah Thompson Aaron J. Cross
Daniela Gómez Lydia Szakacs
Emma Gómez
Sara I. Cross
Emma Gómez
Regular Contributors
Ismail Ercan, Aaron J. & Sara I. Cross, Sarah Thompson, Sofia Serrano, Kate Maier, Alizddair Ray, Aaron Organ, Nathalie Thelemaque, Reagan Olenick, Danny & Andy Hernandez, Elizabeth Abrams, Emily Greenfield, Daniela, Emma & Ellie Gómez
Proof Readers
Sandra Wolkov
Serena Bruno
Christie Voss
Robyn Rader
Web Page Master Victoria Martinez
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The Circle Gazette is packed from cover to cover with the latest stories and creations of children as of all ages; about local affairs, the environment, art, sports, entertainment, stories, poems and puzzles that engage and inspire young minds!
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DEC 2012/JAN 2013
eaningful Holidays Word From The Editors
Children today don’t escape the infectious disease of overly crowded schedules. Actually, if anything, children might lead busier lives than most adults around them. Parents can count with very few fingers the number of activities in which they are engaged outside the home. Usually just work. Maybe, if they are lucky, they can manage a trip to the gym or to the movies or lunch with friends. Now why is it that most parents actually have to do 300 things every day? Drive to 20 different places and burn gallons and gallons of gas every week? They are busy. But they are busy mostly taking their children to their many obligations and activities. Besides school, there are 2 or 3 sports per week, piano, ballet, book clubs, concerts, study groups and of course playdates! Why this is like this and whether that’s good or bad will be the
topic for another article, but suffice it to say that every family arrives to this time of the year dragging themselves along, barely in the mood to decorate for the holidays, shop, cook and entertain. Our point in this article is about regaining composure and leaving behind the craziness to allow ourselves to enjoy the real meaning of family time. To enjoy the different festivities most people celebrate this time of year, among which we highlight Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year. What can you do? You are just a kid, right? Well here are some tips: Lend a hand in the house with chores and mealtime preparation, even when you are not asked. Remember to think about what others may need or want at this time of year, and not just your own wants. Make a point to enjoy the simple things and not be overly concerned about the presents you are expecting. Just enjoy the easy time. Maybe
it’s still a very busy time, but I’m sure your family will be busy doing different things than the usual. Embrace the difference. Rest. You’ll be happy you did once the holidays are over and the routine comes back to dominate the scene. Give. Remember the spirit of the season and seek out opportunities to give to others. Perhaps you can make breakfast for your family. Maybe you can promise a brother or sister help with their homework. Maybe an elderly neighbor needs their leaves raked. A local homeless shelter could sure use your help serving meals. Of course you enjoy receiving the gifts you’ve hoped for; but giving to others is a longer-lasting feeling and helps strengthen your family and community connections. Happy Holidays!
Serena Serrano Lee Bruno Christie Voss Patty Gómez
Money and Happiness by Madiha Ahmed, Age 17 Pembroke Pines, FL Today, the world has become so materialistic that many people think money has the power to buy anything, even happiness. But the wise still know there are some things that money cannot buy, and while there may be only a handful of those things in life, they are the most valuable of all. Without a doubt, money can buy every material object, be it necessities or luxuries, but ironically, real happiness does not lie amidst worldly possessions. One may buy an expensive cell phone of the latest trend and show it
off, but tomorrow there will be thousands of new ones on the market with even better features. It is a shame that money, with all its power, cannot buy some of the most important things in life, such as health, love and friends. There are many examples of people who, despite being rich, cannot find happiness. Money can, at times, be the cause of many problems. Wealthy people are often blackmailed, and their life is in danger all the time as there are many who have an evil eye constantly focused on their wealth. As a result they often need a bodyguard, which gives them limited freedom. In addition, the rich have
too much stress related to their money and social status. With so much danger and uncertainty surrounding them, “happiness” seems to be a dream they may have long forgotten. Money cannot buy a person relatives or friends. Rich people might seldom have friends who really like them, and that are not befriending them for some ulterior motives. Hence, it is a daunting task for the wealthy to deduce who their “real” friends are. I would now like to close my opinion by asserting that money cannot buy happiness or health and if this was not true, every rich person would be happy and healthy.
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DEC 2012/JAN 2013
THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
Laureus “Team of the Year” Award Finalists to be announced: 6 US Teams in Contention Continued from page 1 by Ismail Ercan, Age 15 of the Year, Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, Laureus Sport for Good Award
Just recently, the first stage of the selection process began for the “Laureus World Team of the Year” category. Nominees from the US include the NBA champions Miami Heat, the NFL Super Bowl champions New
Spain’s soccer team is the front-runner of the selection, and is hoping to win their second Laureus award; they previously won in 2011. York Giants, the US Women’s Gold Medal Soccer Team, the US Men’s Gold Medal Basketball Team, the 3x Gold Medal volley ball team of Misty May Trainor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, and last year’s B.C.S. national champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide. One, possibly two, or even none of these teams will advance into the next stage of selection due to the stiff competition around in the world. Other favorites to win the “Team of the Year” award include Spain’s “invincible” Men’s Soccer Team (winners of the last three major soccer competitions), China’s Olympic Table Tennis Team (who swept the gold medals in table tennis), France’s Handball Team (repeat of gold medal in London), and the Mexican Olympic Soccer Team (winners of their first Olympic gold soccer medal over powerhouse Brazil). The six finalists of the American volleyball pair of Misty May “Team of the Trainor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, who Year” award will after winning their 3rd consecutive gold be announced on medal have announced they are splitting. December 13th in Rio. Spain’s socJack Nicklaus and Dan Marino, cer team is the front-runner vote by secret ballot to select of the selection, and is hoping the award winners in seven of to win their second Laureus the ten categories. The Laureus award; they previously won in Achievement, Sport for Good, 2011 after winning their first and Spirit of Sport Awards’ World Cup in South Africa. Not winners are selected by another far behind them lurks the American volleyball pair of Misty prestigious panel. Next year’s Laureus World May Trainor and Kerri Walsh Sport Awards ceremony is to be Jennings, who after winning held in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, their 3rd consecutive gold medal on March 11th, 2013. It seems as have announced they are splitif Rio has been selected to host ting due to Jennings’ retirement a good chunk of the world’s from the sport. Surely it could greatest events this decade, with be their year to win the award. the city also preparing to host In the meantime, we shall just the finals of the 2014 World have to wait and see which Cup and 2016 Olympic Sum- teams are selected for the next mer Games. round of selection. and the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award. Winners receive a 5 pound silver- and gold-laden “Laureus statuette” engraved with the continents of the world on the base of the statuette. The selection process for nominees of the award is broken down into a two-stage process and takes place in advance of the gala event. First, an international selection panel of the leading sports editors, writers, and broadcasters vote to narrow each of the categories’ nominees to six people. Then the 46 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, consisting of sporting legends like
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My Experiences with Wildlife
Ants are Persistent by Emma Gómez, Age 9 Margate, FL Did you ever have to run day and night around the house cleaning it from ants? Well, I have and it isn’t easy. One morning, I walked into the kitchen and saw a trail of black ants at my feet. The trail came from under the couch in the family room and toward the kitchen. It went on for about two feet and then it forked out into a line that climbed up to the counter and another that went to my dog’s food bowl. I hurried to my mom’s office and I stood in the doorway. Before I could say anything, I felt a tickle under my feet and then I realized I was standing on another group of ants that came from what seemed like a crack between the front door and a wall. I jumped back and I shook them away noisily. I told my mom about the ant invasion and she asked me to call my dad. Dad came downstairs and inspected the areas I pointed to. There were so many ants moving around and it looked so unusual that even dad was shaken. He got a broom and tried to sweep them away. For a few minutes they seemed to have disappeared but before we were able to forget about it, they were back as if nothing had happened. That afternoon, my mom and
“Sketch of an Ant”Pencil on paper by Ellie Gómez, Age 7, Margate, FL my little sister found more ants covering two or three walls of our home, carrying tiny white things along we assumed were eggs. It had been a very wet week. The ground outside was mushy and soaked. Ants and more ants were gathering their belongings and traveling to drier ground. Unfortunately, they found our home to be near and comfortable. Even though we like wildlife a lot and have nothing against ants, we had to make them find another refuge. We used wet towels and soap to clean the walls and we called a pest control expert to help us. They used environmentally friendly lures to get the ants out
and some not-so-friendly chemicals to defend the entries to our home. Right now, I am reading a book called The Time Warp Trio that tells the story about three boys who are able to travel back to King Arthur’s world. With that in mind, I can tell you the ants were our enemies. They were like Bleob and the dragon trying to destroy Arthur’s kingdom. Needless to say, I am Arthur and my sisters, mom and dad are my knights. We fought those ants bravely and finally, after three weeks, our enemies were defeated! Ants are persistent and you don’t want them invading your home.
Did You Know... … that ants are capable of carrying objects 50 times their own body weight with their mandibles? Ants use their diminutive size to their advantage. Relative to their size, their muscles are thicker than those of larger animals or even humans. This ratio enables them to produce more force and carry larger objects. If we had muscles in the proportions of ants, we’d be able to heave a car over our heads!
ECO
FEATURE
The Gazette Goes Green!
Green Tip 2.
Continued from page 1 by Aaron J. Cross, Age 15
at which this process is done, release huge amounts of hazardous gases into the air like nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide. Then there are the companies that turn the paper into books and newspapers that spit out even more pollution into the environment. In addition to all this, there are the shipping trucks and other vehicles that require large amounts of gasoline to operate. Overall it adds up to a lot of air pollution, and fewer trees are around to filter it out making things even worse for the environment. So with this in mind, here are a few things you can do to help: Reduce the amount of paper you use by performing simple tasks like printing and writing on both sides of the paper, and getting books from the library or e-book store instead of buying hard copies.
If you need to use paper for some reason, perhaps to print stuff from your computer, use recycled paper. Look for printer paper that says it is made from 100% recycled paper. This is available at most office supply stores. In fact, The Circle Gazette you are reading is printed on recycled paper. Make sure to recycle any paper that you can no longer use for anything. I am not saying to recycle every dirty tissue, but any scraps, old notebooks, or other recyclable paper you use certainly should be recycled. With the holidays coming up there will be an awful lot of wrapping paper that would normally get thrown away. So when you are wrapping gifts try to package them in reusable gift bags, and when you open your presents make sure to open them carefully and try not to tear the wrapping paper so you can use it again next year. If you cannot use the wrapping paper again, such as when a five year old just
rips it open in eagerness to get to the prize, you should recycle the shreds. But remember, it is always better to minimize the amount of paper you consume by using gift bags. Because the newspaper has been switched to every other month, our editors have started a weekly online newsletter. Every week our editors will send you an email full of exclusive content from our writers and artists. In the upcoming publications look for my new series “Green Tips and Thoughts” that I will publish whenever I have something to say about the environment. If you come across any environmental quote, image, or something that happened in your daily life, please send it to me at ‘heroicaajc@gmail.com’, and if I like it I will write up a Green Thought about it. To subscribe for the weekly newsletter visit www.circlegazette.org.
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Butterfly Festival by Malia Hallway, Age 9 Coral Springs, FL I went to the Butterfly Festival with my family and my best friend Carly’s family. We had to take two cars and in our car we played “I Spy” and “Rock, Paper, Scissors” on the way. When we arrived at the festival, it was so cool! There were rides such as a roller coaster, bungee jumping and super big rides that go up and down and left and right. First, we went on the mini roller coaster. It was fast and a little bit bumpy. Then, we went on the spinning barrels, bungee jumping and the Mega Slide that was the size of a two story house! We then went on a ride that made us fly at least one story off the ground. Next, we tried
the Ferris Wheel, the boat ride and the fun house. They were all AWESOME! There was only one more ride left. It was 50 feet tall and it was named Zero Gravity. Carly, Avari, Lily and I were standing in line for about 25 minutes. We finally got on and it took us 2 minutes to climb the stairs to get to the empty seats. The ride looked like a stopwatch if we looked at it from a long distance away. We finally got some places to sit. It felt weird getting my seatbelt on because it was one of those rides that if they spin very, very fast, we can’t get off. It’s like magnets. After everyone got their seatbelts on, the ride went up and up until it reached 50 feet high. It started to spin in all dif-
? o g o t e r e h W ferent directions. Everyone was screaming loudly except Carly and me. I tried to lift my head from the back of the seat to see what Carly’s reaction looked like, but we were going so fast that my head slammed back onto the wall. It was the best ride at the festival! When we got off, everyone was so dizzy that we kept banging into walls. When it got dark, a band came on that played music by the band Styx. The singer shook my hand! Then we watched fireworks! Afterwards, we headed back to the car to go home, wondering what we were going to do the next day. I can’t wait to go to this year’s Butterfly Festival in February!
Did You Know... … that Butterfly World is the largest butterfly park in the world with around 10,000 butterflies on display year-round? Most of the 150+ species of butterflies are bred at Butterfly World or at their nearby farms. About 50 species can be seen at any one time of the year. However some species of butterflies are imported from other butterfly breeders, farms or laboratories across the globe.
Eskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia, across Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, for the last 5000 years. Traditional Inuit clothing was made from animal skins and fur. Boots were also made from animal skins. Large, thick coats with big hoods called “parkas” were worn as an outer layer. Today the parka style of coat is worn in other places in the world and it is made of many other materials. Inuit people need thick hats/hoods to protect their heads and ears from the low temperatures of their homeland. This hats are usually integrated in their clothing. Caribou skin was the most common choice for clothing, because it provided good insulation and was relatively light.
DEC 2012/JAN 2013
Kennedy Space Center, Launch Pad to Space by Kate Maier, Age 9 Sunrise, FL On July 20, 1969, the first humans landed on the moon. That journey began here in the State
memorable experience. For the past thirty years the 456-feet tall Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) has been closed to visitors. Now that the space shuttle program has come to
I had lunch with NASA astronaut J.O. Creighton. He logged more than 400 hours in space, and flew on three space shuttle missions. of Florida at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The minute you walk into the Kennedy Space Center visitor complex, you are greeted by rockets and capsules that created America’s historic space program. I strolled through The Rocket Garden feeling amazed and inspired. This is where my journey began. One of the first stops on my adventure was the Apollo/Saturn V Center, a tribute to the people and machines behind the moon program. The machine that impressed me the most was the Saturn V rocket that hung over my head. The Saturn V rocket took 27 men to the moon and is the largest rocket ever made. It is 363 feet tall. That is 60 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty on its pedestal. The Saturn V is made up of 3.5 million parts and took 26,000 workers to assemble it. The exhibit also features treasures from the moon missions, including spacesuits and the Apollo 14 Kitty Hawk capsule. I even touched a real rock from the moon. Have you ever met someone who actually travelled into space? I have. I had lunch with NASA astronaut J.O. Creighton. He logged more than 400 hours in space, and flew on three space shuttle missions. He served as the pilot on his first mission and commander on his following two. He told us about astronaut training, travelling in space and the future of space travel. It was a
an end, NASA has opened the doors to this massive building for a limited time. This is the place where monstrous vehicles, like the Saturn V rocket and the Space Shuttle, were assembled for launch. Not only did I see this huge one-story building from the inside, but I also saw the Space Shuttle Atlantis. It was one of the last opportunities for people to see Atlantis up close before it was moved to its new home, the 90,000-square-foot interactive Atlantis exhibit scheduled to open July 2013. Always the first to get in line for the fastest, largest rollercoaster, I couldn’t leave Kennedy Space Center without visiting the Shuttle Launch Experience. This attraction simulates a real 17,500 mph shuttle launch. I strapped in and enjoyed all of the sensations included in the journey to low Earth orbit. If that is what space travel is really like, I am ready to start my training. It was exhilarating! Kennedy Space Center, with all of its tours, movies and exhibits, is a great place to learn about the U.S. space program. Nothing beats walking under a 363-feet tall rocket, having lunch with an astronaut or admiring the Space Shuttle Atlantis up close. I cannot wait to visit the new Atlantis exhibit when it opens next year or maybe even watching a real rocket launch some day in the near future.
“Eskimo Hat” by Alexander Watkis, Age 4, Welleby Elementary School
Did You Know... … that you can walk through a full-size replica of the Explorer Space Shuttle, where you can view the quarters that astronauts share in space and see close up the shuttle’s giant external fuel tank and rocket boosters? More than 1.5 million people visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex each year, making it one of Florida’s most popular tourist destinations.
Space Shuttle “Atlantis.“
DEC 2012/JAN 2013
THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
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A Monthly Movie Review by Sarah Thompson, Age 14 Boynton Beach, FL
Rise of the Guardians
Lydia’s Book Corner
Rated: PG
The plot: Four of childhood’s “Guardians” - Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and the Sandman - have been inspiring hope, imagination, and joy in the lives of their young believers for thousands of years. Together, their legends have helped children fight their fears. But all this is threatened when the Boogie Man - an eerie villain known as Pitch - plants doubt in the minds of the children by undoing the miracles performed by their heroes. As faith in the Guardians starts to weaken, a new Guardian is selected, in the form of Jack Frost, to help defeat Pitch and restore hope to the children of the world. The verdict: My only real “con” when it comes to this movie is the way it has been marketed. When I originally saw the advertisements for Rise of the Guardians, it looked downright juvenile. Any previews played on television probably show the cheesiest parts of this otherwise wonderful film. I can tell that Rise of the Guardians is being aimed at a very young audience, which in my opinion, is a mistake on the filmmakers’ part. For one thing, the animation is unimaginably beautiful. At times, I found myself distracted from the actual characters I was supposed to be focusing on, because a certain background was so magnificent! I was impressed with how unique each of the main characters looks. Not just the obvious factors, such as the fact that the Tooth Fairy is covered in feathers, and the Easter Bunny is huge and furry. But in their very expressions and mannerisms. The amount of detail that went into
by Lydia Szakacs, Age 10 Coral Springs, FL animating this movie was painstaking. If nothing else, Rise of the Guardians will definitely help Dreamworks become an animating force to be reckoned with. (Look out Pixar - this breathtaking animation is making WreckIt-Ralph look mediocre!) Animation this good will be appreciated by teenagers and adults, but for the under-7 crowd I’m afraid it will have the opposite effect. My second reason for thinking this movie is aimed at the wrong audience is the fact that some parts of Rise of the Guardians are just plain frightening. The Boogie Man, aka Pitch, is a tall, looming shadow with fangs. He appears in children’s bedrooms while they sleep and turns their pleasant dreams (courtesy of the Sandman) into disturbing nightmares. He calmly sends evil shadows, like rampaging ghost horses, after kids, and even uses these dark powers to (briefly) destroy one of the main Guardians. Pitch has the ability to disappear, then reappear in a new place, and “pitch” his creepy voice anywhere he pleases. While watch-
ing these scenes in the theatre, I could hear some of the little kids seated around me whimpering. I couldn’t help but think how freaked out I would have been, had I seen this movie at their age! Again, from the previews, I had no idea there was this kind of content, and clearly the parents of those toddlers didn’t either, or they wouldn’t have brought them! The last thing I hadn’t expected to find in this movie was some real heart-tugging, beautiful messages about faith, facing your fears, being brave, and finding your purpose. I literally felt chills during one of the last scenes, when the frightened children finally face their fear and stand up to the Boogie Man. He begins to lose his power, so he purrs “Do you believe in the Boogie Man?” But the kids are no longer afraid - the little boy Jamie replies, “I believe in you… I’m just not scared of you.” Really, I loved this movie. I’m disappointed, though, to think that a lot of people will miss out on it, assuming it’s too childish because of the misleading commercials.
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The Mystery of Mary Surratt: The Plot to Kill President Lincoln by Rebecca C. Jones This nonfiction book is helpful and interesting. There is a lot of information about the plot to kill President Lincoln and the book
language of the British to make it interesting. I would rate this book a 9 out of 10 stars because you can infer how serious the preparation for the War of 1812 was. The historical information on the back helps to separate the truth from fiction in this story.
uses people and events that really happened at the time. I like that the book includes photographs taken of the people involved, and that they are real photos and not paintings. The book gives all the facts and lets the reader decide if Mary Surratt really did know about the plot to kill Lincoln. I would say this book is an easy read but does include many characters to follow. I would rate this book a 9 out of 10 stars because it has great facts and an interesting story about this important event of American history. The Boy Who Saved the Town by Brenda Seabrooke Illustrated by Howard M. Burns This historical fiction book is about a true event, the War of 1812. There are real characters and some fictitious characters. In this story a young boy’s idea makes a difference. Barnaby’s hobby of climbing trees gives him a great idea. I liked the way the author uses the old-fashioned
Big Billy And The Ice Cream Truck That Wouldn’t Stop by Joe Consiglio Illustrated by Joe Simko
This fiction book is spectacular. It is one of my favorite books. I love the illustrations and the font. The changing of the font makes it more fun to read. The illustrations go along amazingly well with the writing. I love the illustrations on the cover and they make the reader want to read the book. There are just too many good things to say about this book. I rate this book, 10 stars out of 10. It met all of my standards. It had great illustrations and is very exciting. It makes you keep turning the pages. Keep writing books like this - I want to read more!
Did You Know... … that Mary Surratt was the first cousin once removed of Edward Fitzgerald, the Maryland-born father of Francis Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)? Her husband John had been the second cousin of the famous writer ’s namesake, Francis Scott Key (1779-1843), who penned the lyrics of the American national anthem.
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I met the President! by Bryce Gunning, Age 8 Boca Raton, FL When my teacher gave me a letter saying we would welcome Barack Obama to Delray Beach,
dren that were waving to him! We met him in the tennis center. He shook my hand and he asked me how old I was. He also spoke to the entire class and took pictures with us. He said we must always
DEC 2012/JAN 2013
End of Year Trip by Samile Daiha, Age 12 Miramar, FL In December, my family and I will spend winter break in North Carolina. It will be so exciting, and we will have lots of fun! After 4 hours of travelling by car, we will stop in Savannah, Georgia, for about an hour. Then it will be back in the car, all the way to North Carolina. In total it is supposed to be a full 11 hour drive! There are many places in North Carolina that we can visit, such as the Battleship North Carolina, the
Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Grandfather Mountain, and much more! But we’ll only have 5 days to have as much fun as possible! When we arrive in North Carolina, we will get together with a bunch of our friends who are also going. In North Carolina we will be doing many fun activities including skiing, sight-seeing, and, of course, building Frosty the Snowman. I can’t wait to feel the cold
air, drink the warm hot chocolate and get in the Christmas spirit. My friends and I will be having as much fun as possible and taking a bunch of pictures! I want to wake up in the morning, go outside and fall on the chilly Christmas snow. I also want to make a bunch of snow angels with my mom. It is going to be so much fun! I will be counting down how many days until Christmas the whole time I’m there. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday and this year I will be spending it in North Carolina. It will be the best Christmas I have had in years, and I can’t wait until it’s finally here. Remember, the joy of giving and receiving presents, staying with your family and always having fun is what makes it Christmas!
Did You Know... I will never forget meeting the President of the United States! I was thrilled! I was thrilled because it said we would see the President of the United States riding in his limousine. We stood outside and waved at his limousine as he passed by. But then something else happened. He said he wanted to meet all of the chil-
work hard, especially when we get into higher grades. He was very nice and funny. He had white hair and a big smile. It was exciting to meet him because everyone was yelling and screaming and very happy. I will never forget meeting the President of the United States!
My Interview with Ms. Karen, a Front Manager at Target by Alizdair Sebastien Ray, Age 9 Hope Mills, NC I interviewed Ms. Karen at the Fayetteville, NC, Target. She showed me everything that was going to be on sale on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Alizdair: How crowded is it at Target on Black Friday? Ms. Karen: Very crowded! Alizdair: What time does Target open on Black Friday? Ms. Karen: Target opens 9
… that, on average, it takes five trips to the mall to complete all holiday shopping. In the United States, the average holiday shopper spends $107.50 on themselves!
Did You Know... … that Black Friday was not originally named after the time that retailers get “in the black” in terms of profit, although it has come to be promoted as such? The earliest documented reference to the moniker was in January 1966, when Bonnie Taylor-Black of the American Dialect Society wrote: «›Black Friday› is the name which the Philadelphia Police Department has given to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. It is not a term of endearment to them. ‹Black Friday› officially opens the Christmas shopping season in center city, and it usually brings massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks as the downtown stores are mobbed from opening to closing.»
a.m. and the people who work at Target arrive at 7 a.m. Alizdair: What do people usually buy on Black Friday? Ms. Karen: People buy toys and electronics. Ms. Karen has been working at Target for five years. Target prepares for Black Friday at the end of the summer. The Target in Fayetteville, NC, hires 30 sales people and 50 cashiers especially for Black Friday. I had a fantastic experience interviewing Ms. Karen!
SUDOKU Young reporter Alizdair Ray (L) and Karen, Front Manager at Target, Fayetteville, NC.
Did You Know... … that Target was founded in 1902 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In January 2013, Target celebrates an important milestone: giving more than $3 million per week to the development of local communities. This December, Target opened up one of the first-ever PopUp stores with a Target Boat at Chelsea Pier in New York City. In 2009 Target opened its first stores in Hawaii.
DEC 2012/JAN 2013
THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
McKenzie Westmore, Actress
Activist Against Bullying
by Sarah Thompson, Age 14 Boynton Beach, FL McKenzie Westmore is the host of Face Off, a reality competition show on the SyFy network. Before Face Off, she also had roles on shows like All My Children and Passions. She is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist, and also the mother of a young son. Her father is Michael Westmore, an Academy Awardwinning makeup artist. When one looks at pictures of McKenzie, or sees her hosting her television show, she stands tall and with confidence. She is well-spoken. She was a joy to interview, as she was nice, polite, and had good insight on different topics. It is hard to imagine why anyone would have mean things to say about her… but that is just how bullying works. McKenzie is an activist against bullying, not only because she experienced bullying herself, but because her son has been bullied at school as well. When I asked McKenzie: What was your experience with bullying as a teen? she replied that actually she faced more bullying “in elementary and middle school. When I was ten to twelve, I was chubby and had a bad haircut. I was an outcast.” McKenzie’s classmates called her “whale” and “fatso,” but the cruel bullying she received at school was not limited to just name-calling. The girls also assaulted her with mean pranks. “They pushed me into walls. They used to braid the hair on my arms…You know, you’re going through a time when you
“McKenzie has experienced both sides of being a bullying victim, from overcoming her own experience to helping her son with his experiences.” have hair in places you didn’t before! I would come home and have to cut it out. It really hurt!” To deal with her suffering, Westmore says “I turned to my mom.” As an actress, have you ever felt like you were being bullied by the media? I asked. McKenzie’s answer took me a bit by surprise - she says that “it was more the fans” than actual media who were writing mean things about her. “There were moments when I was heavier and when I was pregnant,” says McKenzie, who took the most abuse from fans on message boards. “They were writing things like ‘She’s so fat’ and ‘I wonder how many cheeseburgers she puts down a day.’” As both an activist against bullying and the mother of a child who has faced bullying himself, I asked her What are you doing to help kids overcome bullying? “Well, it’s kind of a new venture for me,” McKenzie says. She hopes that by telling her own story and her son’s, she can raise awareness about how serious the issue is. She feels that for parents, one of the most important things is “listening to your child, no matter how young. They should be able to express themselves.” In dealing with her son’s bullying experience, she says that the two always talk
McKenzie Westmore
about what goes on at school to decipher what is just teasing and what is serious. “I’m helping him see the fine line between messing around and bullying.” What do you see as the most effective way to stop bullying? I asked. Westmore replied that bullying becomes extremely dangerous “when it becomes a secret.” She emphasizes the importance of communication. McKenzie has experienced both sides of being a bullying victim, from overcoming her own experience to helping her son with his experiences. This led me to ask, Do you think bullying is more of a problem with boys or girls, or do you think it’s equal? “Back in time, it would have been boys, but now it’s flipped. Girls are worse than boys.” she replies. Westmore shared me with a story about meeting with the head of her son’s preschool, and being surprised to learn that even at such a young age, the preschool girls were displaying bully behaviors! I closed the interview by asking You’re also an advocate for health and fitness. Have you always been health-conscious, or is it something you developed later in life? Westmore answers honestly, “I grew up the chubby kid” and says when she was twelve or thirteen, her interest in nutrition developed through a nutrition book she received at school. This was followed by further studying and participating in training groups in her 20s. McKenzie adds proudly, “I’ve been a certified nutritionist and trainer for 10 years now.” On raising her son to live a healthy lifestyle, McKenzie says he already enjoys joining her for push-ups, sit-ups, and yoga. However… “Vegetables - just not happening.” She says they enjoy dessert once a week as a “treat” and she doesn’t believe in denying children anything, but instead letting them decide “what’s the better choice.” McKenzie says that as hard as her bullying experience was as a kid, she feels sorry for the kids of today, who face even greater challenges with the internet as a prime source for bullying. “They are faceless, and can change their name.” she says of those who write mean comments online. Westmore closed with saying earnestly that she hopes she can use her celebrity status to “be a voice in this world and do everything I possibly can to stop bullying and help kids gain self-esteem.” I think it is wonderful that McKenzie has chosen to speak out about the issue of bullying and raise awareness. I think she will be a great example and will help encourage kids who are facing bullying everyday. She is proof that while bullying is painful and heartbreaking, it does not have to stay with you forever. You can overcome the experience, and grow into someone stronger and more confident than you were before.
Did You Know... … that success or failure during the 9th grade year often sets the tone for a student’s entire high school career? If a student is successful during 9th grade, there is a higher likelihood the student will graduate and enjoy the high school experience.
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Jane Eyre: A Book Review by Daniela Gómez, Age 12 Margate, FL I needed a book for a school project that required the students to choose a “classic” book, read it, take a special test on it, and do a certain project on it. My original choice was A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare, but unfortunately it was not in the library, so I chose Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Before I give my personal opinion on this classic tale, here is a bit of information on the book. Charlotte Brontë wrote Jane Eyre under the pen name “Currer Bell.” It was first published in England in 1847 and published in the United States for the first time the next year. It is a love story with many other elements included, many of which were possible occurrences of the time period. Brontë wrote Jane Eyre after her publishing company rejected a previous book she had written called The Professor, but with very encouraging comments. The plot is of a young English woman who has no family except her abusive aunt and cousins. She attends a school where no one is treated fairly and leads a sad childhood. For most of the story, she is an eighteen- to nineteen-year-old young woman who, at first, only wants a good job and a simple life. Her luck turns from great to awful, and her life changes drastically again and again. I was somewhat disappointed in what I believe is a very warped plot in which the author, Brontë, does not seem to know what she wants the end of the story to be like. I feel she wrote the book because she had to say something, not because she had something to say. In other words, she had to make up a plot as she went along, without an original plan. I’ll explain why. There are many scenes, parts, and chapters of the story that could have been edited out and it would not have changed the storyline “one whit,” as Jane Eyre would say it. Instead, these parts were left in and Brontë succeeded in nothing but making the story more tedious and much, much longer. I think Brontë could have fit the same story and plot into a book with less than half of the amount of pages than the ones she actually used. Along with a prolonged and everchanging plot, the story also has some points I strongly disagree with. I think Brontë was trying to write a book that had feelings girls could relate to. Of course, in that time, girls and other people had different points of view than the ones we hold today, and I understand that. Even so, I don’t think I would actually do many of the things Jane Eyre did. I found some of her decisions badly thought through. I think that she was manipulated by many people and let herself be manipulated, even knowing that she was being controlled. And that was con-
High School by Yasmin Daiha, Age 14 Miramar, FL When middle school ends, some students are trying to get into the best private high schools and searching for a school that will offer them many opportunities. High school is the place where you will try to find what you want to do when you graduate, so you have to pick a school that will help you. You have four years of different classes and deep consideration about professions. Going to a private or magnet program high school may seem fun, but there are also some difficult things you need to accomplish beforehand, like getting through the application process. Depending on what high school you want to
Young Jane argues with her guardian Mrs. Reed of Gateshead. Illustration by F. H. Townsend. sidered rebellious in those days? Perhaps the worst part, or at least the part I disliked the most about Jane Eyre, is the horror element. I thought, as I was reading this particular part of the book, that I had picked up a horror story with bittersweet love mixed in. Jane Eyre is no horror story, but I guarantee if you read it, you will think so at some point. I must give credit to Brontë for very good descriptions of the characters and amazing imagery. However, in the scariest, saddest, most heart-wrenching moments, the imagery seems overdone to an extreme level. Would I recommend this book to the readers out there? That’s a tough question. It all depends on the types of books you like to read. This book is what I like to think of as a “way-back-when soap opera/horror story” and if you enjoy the modern versions of these genres, this is a good book for you. But be prepared for a long, heavy read, a depressing setting and elements of horror. I would not recommend this book to you if you are a reader who enjoys fast-paced books, because this is not one; the introduction alone is as thick as some books I’ve read. This is a love story, so if that isn’t your favorite theme, don’t read this book at all. If you like love stories, be warned: this isn’t your typical love story, either. Jane Eyre is the story of a woman who is trying to find love and has to really struggle to get it, fighting against injustice and mentally ill people. It is not just about two people who meet that were meant for each other; although that is part of the plot. This book takes a while to read, and maybe a little more time to fully understand, and by that time, you might not ever want to look at it again. So, if you’re prepared for that, and want to plunge into that adventure, go ahead and read Jane Eyre. go to, it can either be easy or hard to get through this. Achieving the best possible grades and writing essays can be tough, but all that hard work will pay off when you are accepted into the high school you have chosen. I am now applying for high school myself. I am in 8th grade and searching for the best high school to match my needs. So far, I am applying to American Heritage. This school offers its students many opportunities that I would like to take advantage of. I am gathering letters of recommendation from my teachers, writing essays, and getting my grades up so I can be accepted. I will also apply for a scholarship. I am really trying hard to learn as much as I can to prepare for the admission test, because it’s something that you really can’t study for. Wish me luck as I prepare for this important step toward my future.
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DEC 2012/JAN 2013
Happy Holidays from The Circle Gazette
“We should live every day like it is a holiday, being thankful and spending time with family, and looking hopefully to the future.”
Image courtesy of ©2006-2012 ~princesspeach0221
“Something for Everyone at the Circle Gazette” by Arion Rashad, Age 14 Illustrator and creator of MiiToons.com Pembroke Pines, FL
DEC 2012/JAN 2013
THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
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The Big Bad Wolf by Ellie Gómez, Age 7 Margate, FL
Chapter I He wasn’t really bad. He had a cold; that’s why he huffed and puffed.
out of the cold water and grabbed a big palm tree leaf to wrap around himself. Two of the pigs’ homes fell down with the earthquake, the straw one and the stick one. Only the brick house did not fall down. The two little pigs who lost their houses quickly rushed to their brother’s home. Just then the wolf came knocking and said, “Let me in! Can you please let me in? I’m scared, trees are falling. Please let me in! I’m sick” The piggies answered: “No! No! No! Go away” And that’s when the wolf sneezed on the house. Chapter II He wasn’t really bad. Little Red Riding Hood wasn’t afraid of wolves. She wanted a pet and she
It was a Monday and the wolf was going to the river to get a drink of water. The river was close to the pigs’ neighborhood so he went farther away to quench his thirst. The wolf didn’t like to go near those pigs because they were mean. They called him names, they said he was ugly and they threw rocks at him every time the wolf did something funny. When he was happily drinking his water, he didn’t notice the three little piggies walking up to him. The pigs had big silent hooves and got up behind the wolf. The eldest one whispered, “On three we push him in.” He said “One,” the middle pig said “two,” and the youngest said “three!” They gave the wolf a big push and into the cold river the wolf fell. The wolf was shivering and quite sad. At that moment, the earth began to shake and they all felt a strong earthquake coming. The three little pigs ran to their houses and the wolf quickly got
had enough money for a big collar and leash. She ran to the store, found the perfect set of leash and collar and bought it. She went back to the woods to try to capture the wolf. She said to herself: “This is what I am going to do: I’ll hide behind the bushes ,I’ll surprise the wolf and trap him. I’ll take him home and make him leave with me.” The young wolf came by and stopped by the bushes to pick flowers for his mother’s birthday. Little Red jumped at him with the collar and tried to snap it close around his neck. He turned around and saw Little Red. The
“A wolf attacked me and tried to eat me,” the girl shouted. Her mother looked angrily at her.
wolf howled and felt scared. The wolf didn’t want to leave the woods or leave his pack. His father came and saved him. Little Red ran after them but her legs were getting tired. She stopped to rest and she promised herself she would catch the young wolf next time. When Little Red got home, her mother saw leaves in her hair, grass on her dress, mud on her knees and noticed the big collar and leash. “What were you doing in the woods Little Red,” yelled her mother, “and what are you doing with that leash and collar?” “Nothing,” lied Little Red.
Chapter III He wasn’t really bad. You all know the story about the boy who cried wolf. One day, a boy came to town looking for a job. He finally found a job as a shepherd. He was happy and proud. On his first day of work, he found that his job was very boring. “There aren’t any wolves” complained the boy. All he could do was sit, sit, sit. He looked down below to the town and he had an idea. He said to himself, “how funny would it be if I played a trick on the townspeople and yelled out Wolf!” And that’s exactly what the boy did. He held his breath and blew it out yelling “Wolf!” The townspeople heard and came rushing up with fear. When they got to the top of the hill, they found the boy laughing and rolling. The people were upset and grumbled on their way down when they realized it wasn’t true. There was no wolf. A few weeks later, the boy thought about his trick and did it again. After that he tried his joke a few more times and all those times the townspeople believed him. One day, one of those weak and boring days for the shepherd boy, he spied a wolf coming out of the bushes. The boy felt scared as the wolf walked toward him: “So,” said the wolf, “we’ve been having a little bit of fun around here these days, haven’t we?” “W-w-
well,” stammered the boy. “You’ve been annoying the people and no one will believe you if I attack your sheep,” said the wolf. “I’m not going to eat your sheep today, but I will give you a big scare.” The wolf chased the boy all around the hill. He pounced at the boy, jumped at the boy and then
when the boy was tired of running and yelling and rolled down the hill in pain, the wolf walked back to his home feeling good about teaching the boy a lesson.
Did You Know...
Her mother didn’t believe her. “Little Red, tell the truth,” demanded the mother.
… that wolves usually live in family groups? Wolf pups are born after a 60-day gestation period. By Isabel Elena Toledo, Age 8, Coral Springs, FL
Art | Basel in Miami is Hot, Hot, Hot! Eleven Years and Still Going Strong by Robyn S. Rader Editor Were you one of the 50,000 visitors, who attended the 11th annual Art Basel in Miami? If not, here is a re-cap of some of this year’s events that will make you want to mark your calendar now for next year’s Art Basel, slated for December 5 - 8, 2013 in Miami. Did you know that more than 250 leading galleries representing 31 countries from North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia presented their work at the show? It all happened December 5 through the 8 at many locations all over Miami-Dade, among which stand out the Miami Beach Convention Center, Fairchild, Wynwood, the Design District, MiMo, Brickell, Downtown, Midtown, North Beach and South Beach. Every year Art Basel attracts a greater number of art collectors, artists, dealers, curators, critics and art enthusiasts from around the world that participate. Art Basel Miami has become
a favorite winter meeting place for the international art world. But don’t be intimidated by the caliber of art aficionados who attend Art Basel, this show is for everyone -- including kids. In fact, all children under the age of 16 are admitted free with an accompanying adult. While some artwork may not be intended for the eyes of children—nudity, provocative photos and profanity may be seen, most of the pieces, including sculptures, photography, statement art, illumination art and film will open anyone’s eyes to imagination at its peak. Each piece seems to speak to you, drawing you closer, and the closer you get, the more you see. I stopped to look at a reddish, pink sphere that protruded from the wall. As I approached this piece, I noticed that the sphere was made of red and pink pencils. It was like an optical illusion that came into focus as you approached. Another piece called out to me. Up close I saw pieces of town newspaper scraps that were placed on top
Hello Kitty Art Exhibition – curated by Roger Gastman and Zio Fulcher of R. Rock Enterprises, this group exhibition is the cornerstone of Small Gift Miami. of one another in a collage. But as I backed away, an image of a woman’s profile slowly appeared, who was wearing a large dangling earring. It was if I was looking through a lense that was coming into focus. In addition to stellar art, there were unusual ways of displaying art. There was an exhibition of 40 iPads that were displayed on a single piece of metal. Each iPad represented an artist from a
country whose photographic images (taken with an iphone), were displayed and changed images every few seconds. And every few seconds a new image from that artist appeared. All 40 ipads were changing images at different times. It was a very clever way of display of photography taken from an iphone, called iphoneography, the new craze for creating stunning images. Simple and everyday objects
were used to create images, like buttons, shoelaces, electrical cords, bullet casings, string, mirror scraps, glitter, etc. Artists make something out of “nothing.” And nothing is impossible to these artists who cleverly, not only create beautiful designs, images and abstract art, but convey a message—they have something to say. What you hear is up to you. I believe exposing children to Art Basel will awaken the creative juices that exist within them and will free their creative spirit. Exposing children to art gives them permission to express themselves instead of feeling repressed. Artists bare their sole, and they are applauded for it. Shouldn’t children be encouraged to do the same? Shouldn’t we? It is hard to view these exhibitions and not feel inspired to run home and create some magic of your own. Art Basel opens the door and invites you in. Go in. Explore the diversity. Art is just a form of expressing who we are, and what we want to say.
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THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
The Song of the Moon by Maya Salah, Age 9 Coconut Creek, FL
When the sun goes down to sleep, The moon comes up to see If someone is awake. He throws his sleeping glitter And people close their eyes. While they are all asleep The moon wakes up his stars. They dance throughout the night On the velvet carpet of the sky.
The Coral and The Small Fish by Carly Shulman, Age 11 Coral Springs, FL
All these fish pass by my colorful arms But none come in to stay. I stay here for fish to lay. I wait here stiff but no one ever comes. If only they knew I was Coral. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We can never seem to find a home. Oh! We wish we could! But that was before we met our friend Coral who let us small fish stay. Ever since we lost our school we’ve been Oh! so lost. But not anymore, thanks to Coral.
When the stars are finally tired The moon will sing a lullaby. The song, like a feather, Will sail down to earth And land on our pillows To give us sweet dreams.
Sunlight
Snowmen by Gabby Lusskin, Age 9 Coral Springs, FL
a Haiku
by Kate Maier, age 8 Sunrise, FL
Raindrops falling down People waiting for sunlight Maybe tomorrow
Snowmen hate the Sun, The Sun makes them melt. One day a child made a snowman; The next day it was gone.
DEC 2012/JAN 2013
Pinchy People by Jennae Katic, Age 10 Pompano Beach, FL
A crab is a consumer With a very hard shell, Who lives in the bottom of bays And has very sharp claws, as well. Crabs are omnivores; They eat mollusks and worms too. Bacteria, fungi and algae Not for me or you! Crabs walk side to side And use their shell in which to hide. They find shelter in their shell And use their claws to fight as well. Jellyfish and sea turtles Are their biggest enemies. But endangered they are not, Because many live in the deep blue sea.
The child made another. Illustrations by Gabby Luskin, Age 9 and by Alizdair Sebastien Ray, Age 9. Pencil on paper.
Did You Know... … that the only real name for the Earth’s Moon is “the Moon.” When the Moon was given its name, astronomers didn’t know that there were moons orbiting other planets. And so they just called it the Moon. Now that we know there are other moons, it all comes down to the capitalization. The Earth’s moon is referred as “the Moon,” with a capital “M.” Other moons are given a lowercase “m” to show the difference.
Illustration by author. Pencil on paper.
THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
DEC 2012/JAN 2013
Starfish
by Kate Maier, age 8 Sunrise, FL
Everyone walks on me Without picking me up. Now I’m under the sand With no one to care for me. Maybe they run away Because I’m always bright red. Do they think I’m mad, At everything they say? I can also be smooth With a lot of suction cups; And I like my form Of a five point star.
Who am I? by Britney Magallanes, Age 9 Coral springs, FL
I spy many different things beneath me. I am very big and lonely; I’m sad because I have no one to talk to, except for the sea. She doesn’t like me because we are opposites: I’m up, she’s down. I am hot, she is cold. Guess who I am, if you can.
FRIENDS
Listen! Do you hear … The drip-drop, drip-drop Of the water falling from the sky? The splish-splosh, splish-splosh Of the boy’s sneakers walking his dog? The shhhhh, shhhhh Of the water rushing down the street gutter? The woooosshhhh, woooosshhhh Of the car’s tires gliding down the street? The wooooop, wooooop Of the blaring alarm to warn us of the lightning strike? It’s raining outside.
Laugh by Daniela Gómez, Age 12 Margate, FL
Leaves good moods And sometimes tears Up and down goes the sound Giggling, chuckling, snorting, chortling Happiness packed in a single motion.
Complicated Friendship
by Bradley Magallanes, Age 12 Coral Springs, FL
by Ashley Strachan, Age 9 Coral Springs, FL
I wish I had friends On this boring island. I wish I had friends To invite to my land.
When I first met a friend it Was on the first day of June. I’m a boy with a baboon friend. He is a very red baboon!
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Raining
by Malia Hallway, Age 9 Coral Springs, FL
If I had friends We could have parties all day. We could celebrate my birthday On the 22nd of May.
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Image courtesy of National Geographic book Complete Birds of North America, 2006
Birds
I’m the great white cloud and I am friendly. I’m the cloud’s friend. I’m the great wind and I am very tired of traveling so much. I am very excited to have a friend like you, added the cloud. I am happy, too, but the only problem is That I have to push you too much, cloud! And I’m tired of doing so, said the wind.
by Malia Hallway, Age 9 Coral Springs, FL
I love how I have wings To fly sky high. I never want them to go Because I just might die. I always feel happy With all my friends to fly with All day, To explore new worlds. I’m black, And I can’t blend in with day. I think I do better when night finally comes. I love being a beautiful crow.
The Basement by Kate Maier, age 8 Sunrise, FL
Open the door slowly. Don’t want to wake up the spirits. Tiptoe silently down the stairs. Hope they don’t hear my breathing. Quick! Grab my backpack and Run, Run, Run!
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THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
JUNE 2012
“Dinosaur” by Tanner Gunning, Age 5 Boca Raton, FL “Potted Plant” Watercolors on paper by Kate Maier, Age 9 Sunrise, FL
“Sunset in Paradise” Acrylics and sand on canvas by Lindsey Sauer, Age 15 Coral Springs, FL
“Butterfly” Multimedia. by Ellie Gómez, Age 7 Margate, FL “Flower” Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s work Watercolors on paper by Kate Maier, Age 9 Sunrise, FL
“The House” Acrylics on canvas by Jadzia Escoto, Age 11 Coral Springs, FL
“Snail” Pencil on paper Alan Young, Age 10 Coral Springs, FL