THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
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Volume 3, Issue 8
MAY 2012
A Newspaper by Children, of all Ages, from all Over the World Your Work can be Published too!
Who Will Win? NBA Playoffs 2012 Can the Miami Heat Deliver? eras visibly upset after losing the championship in game six. This year the rejuvenated Heat have looked very impressive There is a lot of pressure on overall and are looking to win the Miami Heat this year. As one the NBA championship to come might recall, the Heat’s season closer to LeBron James’ promise ended in disappointing fashion of winning, “not four, not fi ve, last year when they lost in the not six, not seven…” championNBA Finals against the Dallas ships. LeBron himself has looked Mavericks 4 games to 2. In their “clutch,” arguably having his best fi rst year playing with the “Big season yet in his career. He is the Three” (comprised of All-Stars premier candidate to receive the LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh) the Heat stormed league’s Most Valuable Player into the NBA fi nals in great form. Award along with Oklahoma City They had defeated Eastern con- Thunder’s Kevin Durant. Standference powerhouses Boston ing in the way of Heat’s goal of Celtics and the Chicago Bulls in winning a championship once easy fashion and were looking to again are the Chicago Bulls, the do the same to the Mavericks. Af- Boston Celtics, and the Oklahoter taking a 2 to 1 game lead in ma City Thunder, who are favorthe series, and leading by double ites from the Western Conference digits with less than 15 minutes to make it to the fi nals. Like last left in game 4, Miami was in the season, there is concern if Miami, driver’s seat. But Dallas showed (the favorite this year to win the some heart and battled back to championship) could end up loswin not only the game, but the ing in the early stages of the playnext two games and the series! offs (which begin in less than 3 LeBron James was viewed as weeks) due to unconvincing perthe major disappointment in the formances they have had against fi nals for failing in “clutch” mo- other playoff teams like Chicago ments in the series. He averaged and Boston. But this should not only 17.8 points per game and 7.1 even be discussed; last season rebounds a game, which was the Miami had losing records against largest drop off of points from both teams going into the playany player from the regular sea- offs and still emerged from the son to the NBA fi nals in NBA East unscathed. What should be history. LeBron was quoted at discussed is the pressure mounted the beginning of the year saying on the Heat’s shoulders to emerge that anything short of winning a as NBA champions at the end of championship would be viewed this season. as a failure by the club. Heat We shall have to see in the upplayers were shown by TV cam- coming games. by Ismail Ercan, Age 14 Coral Springs, FL
Chicago Bulls or Oklahoma Thunders? by Patrick and Robby Griswold, Ages 11 and 13 Paoli, PA The NBA play-offs have returned and with this time of year comes the glory of the NBA Championships and the adrenaline of heated rivalries. This year there are two teams that are the favorites to play in the NBA championship. The two favorites are, number one, the best team in wins and losses, the Chicago Bulls, and number two, the team with maybe the best one two punch of players in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both of these teams have the tools to do well in the NBA Playoffs. First up the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls last year made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Championship but lost to the Miami Heat. This year I think it will be different. With reigning Most Valuable Player, or MVP, Point Guard Derrick Rose who averages 22.8 Points Per Game (PPG) and 8 Assists Per Game at the helm, anyone could be championship contender, but the Bulls have two of the best supporting players in the NBA. Now both of these players I am about to mention could be stars on any other team, but with Derrick Rose casting a large shadow on them they are just supporting
Poll
For both the Heat and Marlins, the pressure is on. But who will succeed? Which Miami team has the greatest amount of pressure to win? Heat Marlins.
8.1 RPG. Two rebounds shy of players. The player that is proba- a double-double every game! bly the most important is All Star The two of this one-two punch Small Forward Luol Deng who is another All Star, Point Guard Averages 15.7 PPG and 6.5 Re- Russell Westbrook. Westbrook, bounds per game. This guy can just like Durant, is a scoring mado it all -- from 3 point shooting chine. He averages 24.2 PPG, to baskets underneath, he is ar- but most importantly sets up guably the best role player in the teammates Kevin Durant and NBA. Now the other guy is big James Harden to score with 5.4 man Joakim Noah whose fi ery APG. Now just like the Bulls personality gets the team going. this team has plenty of depth. The thing he brings to the team One of their best scorers is on is defense underneath the bas- their bench to start the game! ket. This guy is a beast! With 9.7 This guy is James Harden. He RPG and 5.6 Blocks per game averages 16.8 PPG and has a which is second in the league I .389 three point fi eld goal made think we can say he is dominat- percentage. Along with Harden ing. The only worrisome thing is a guy I like to call Serge Iblais that Derrick Rose has missed ka. His real name is Serge Ibaka, lots of games due to a groin in- but this guy is a block machine. jury, but if he can stay healthy, He averages a NBA leading 5.9 combined with the strengths of BPG. He is a monster on deDeng and Noah, the Bulls have fense. With this dynamic quartet a legitimate chance to win it all. of players, the Thunder have, I The next team is the Okla- think, the strongest chance to homa City Thunder. The Thun- bring Oklahoma City their fi rst der has one of the best one-two NBA Championship. We think this year is going to player punches in the League. The head of that punch is two make for some great action in time defending scoring cham- the playoffs and we predict that pion and 2012 All Star Game the Championship will be the MVP, Small Forward Kevin Du- Thunder versus the Bulls. We rant. This guy can do everything. both pick the Thunder to win the He can score, he can rebound, Championship because of one he can shoot threes, and he can big reason, Kevin Durant. I for play defense. What else can he one am excited to watch these do? He averages 27.6 PPG and two teams to battle it out in May.
At the NBA Playoffs, three strong teams will fight for the big prize. Which team will ultimately claim the 2012 NBA Championship title? Oklahoma Thunder Miami Heat Chicago Bulls Email your votes to info@enrichmentcircle.com
WHY I BELONG TO THE LIBRARY Aaron Organ, Age 13 Coral Springs, FL I belong to the library because I am a writer and love to learn. I write for a monthly newspaper that the library supports, the Circle Gazette. Among writing articles, I am also in the process of writing a novel. And because of that, the library is a great place to be. When you hear the word library, some would think of the building, but I think of a family. It’s a place where you can go when you are upset to calm down. A place that welcomes you with open arms. It supports the imagination of kids and supports it with all their might. It’s free to join and open every day. In the library, you can step
Miami Marlins by Ismail Ercan Page 8
through time. You can look up information on President Obama or the history of the dinosaurs. Take fl ight into a book about space exploration or dive deep and learn about planet Earth’s crazy phenomena. Check out what’s new with one of your favorite magazines or newspapers. They have all kinds and for all ages. One of my favorite magazines to read is Boys’ Life. You can even check out a movie. They have all kinds, from classics, modern and TV shows. One movie I just saw was The Transformers. Step into a world of fantasy with the Guardians of Ga’Hool series, or a book of biographies. It doesn’t matter. The library has a book for YOU! Do you love to write? Well the library offers a club where you
Flash Mobs for Funds by Daniela Gómez Page 7
can come and share your amazing stores. Even if you don’t like to write you can join one of the other extraordinary clubs like learning to play chess or speak another language. Don’t like clubs? Well on a hot day come chill out at the library and look something up on the internet. They even have information on Community events. I just recently went to a star gazing outing. I was able to use a telescope to see the planets Venus, Jupiter and Mars. If you want to fi nd out more about those planets, the library has books on that. Now do you know what building has the most stories? Well if you said the Sears tower in Chicago, Illinois, you’re wrong! It is defi nitely the LIBRARY!
by Ari Swift Page 6
This article by Aaron Organ was selected as the winner of the 2012 Broward County Northwest Regional Library Writing Contest. This contest was sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Picture: (from left to right) Melinda Brown from Friends of the Library, Aaron Organ and Kathy Walzer, Library Youth Services Supervisor.
New YAA Museum
by Alizdair Sebastien Ray
Page 6
Page 9
Ariadne and the
Jabberwocky by Sara Itka Cross
Page 11
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THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
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THE CIRCLE GAZETTE A Newspaper by Children for Children Monthly Independent 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 info@enrichmentcircle.com
Editor in Chief Patty Gómez
Serena Serrano
Patty Gómez
Editorial Board
Sandra Wolkov
Pedro Gómez Lee Bruno
Robyn Rader
Production
Sandra Wolkov
Serena Bruno
Christie Voss
Christie Voss
Graphic Designers & Prepress Dora Font
Christie Voss
Cartoonists and Illustrators Kate Maier
Sofia Serrano
Daniela Gómez
Emma Gómez
Arion Rashad
Regular Columnists Aaron J. Cross
Daniela Gómez
Bilal Amodu
Sara I. Cross
Sarah Thompson
Regular Contributors
Maria & Natalie Schlecht, Elizabeth Abrams, Daniela & Emma Gómez, Aaron J. & Sara I. Cross, Sofia Serrano, Danny & Andy Hernández, Alizdair Ray, Ismail Ercan, Shadya & Bilal Amodu, Nathalie Thelemaque, Kate Maier, Reagan Olenick, Sarah Thompson
Patty Gómez
Proof Readers
Sandra Wolkov
Serena Bruno
Christie Voss
Web Page Master Victoria Martinez
Subscriptions available 1 year subscription: $40/year/12 issues 6 months subscription: $24/year/6 issues Individual copies: $4/each With the purchase of each copy you are supporting the printing of future issues and through that, the creative work of young writers and artists!
Circulation
The Circle Gazette is available online and is distributed in paper via individual, classroom and library subscriptions. The Circle Gazette is distributed all over South Florida and has subscribers and contributors from Ohio, Tennessee, New Mexico, Texas, New York, Virginia, California, Kentucky, San Jose-Costa Rica and Caracas-Venezuela)
Free Copies Available at Community Partner Institutions
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The Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre The British School Caracas Arts Alive, Coral Springs
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TO SUBMIT WORK
The Circle Gazette is a publication available to public school, private school and homeschool students. Email a copy of your work, as a Word or text file, attach images as JPEG files, to info@enrichmentcircle.com or submit your work online at www.enrichmentcircle.com. All entries should be accompanied by the parent/guardian consent to print form found online.
Information to contributors
The Circle Gazette reserves the right to edit, accept and refuse articles in the interest of brevity, clarity and the appropriateness of subject matter. 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! YOUNG CHILDREN CAN PROVIDE A WEALTH OF WISDOM, FRESHNESS AND NEW PERSPECTIVES! The Circle Gazette is a one-of-a-kind publication because: It transcends one school/homeschool community. It goes beyond a state or a country. It’s about widening writer’s and reader’s horizons! It is addressed to children and the content is created by children It involves a multiage/multilevel group of contributors The editorial team keeps a holistic and nourishing quality on the selection of content and design It’s a high quality mix of a variety of styles and topics It offers valuable feedback to authors
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MAY 2012
ecipe for your best not bummer summer ever
Last summer after my daughter Kate read the book Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer, I took her to see the movie by the same name. Although the fl ick was a little too silly for my taste, I did admire 3rd grader Judy Moody for doing her best to avoid a bummer summer. Take it from me. Your parents dislike hearing those dreaded two words “I’m bored” just as much as you dislike being bored. Maybe even more so! I think Judy was on to something when she took matters into her own hands and created her very own list of thrill points. The best way to fi ght off summer boredom before it happens is to make a plan. You don’t need to attend a fancy camp or expensive classes to learn something new this summer. Learning a new recipe or a new craft can be as easy as a search on the internet or as inexpensive as borrowing a book from the library. Wait! Let’s talk about the library. When you are fresh out of good ideas for your list of thrill points, the library is the best place to go for inspiration. Not only can you get lost in all of those FREE books to borrow, but you can also enjoy a bevy of FREE summer programs and activities. We have seen magic shows, music shows (have you ever seen someone play a real didgeridoo live? I have!), puppet shows and everything in-between at our local library. Summer is also the perfect time for journaling. Get a notebook. Any notebook will do. Now write. Summarize your day at camp. Doodle a picture of your dog. Write about the weird dream you had last night. Jot down ideas for a short story. Compose a poem. Write about your lazy days of summer. One day when you are 40-years-old you’ll chuckle to know you bowled a 21 ½ when you were 6-yearsold. (In my defense those were in the days before gutter bumpers were invented.) Journaling is a creative way to add up some thrill points on those scorching hot or torrential downpour days. So back to your thrill points list … you don’t have
to create your list alone. Maybe your parents can help or, better yet, your whole family can contribute to one exciting family thrill points list. My list is still a work in progress: Write an entry in my journal every day of summer. Finish reading the rest of the Chronicles of Narnia series with Kate. And rent the movies once we’re done reading the books. Don’t forget popcorn and snacks. Visit the Young at Art museum at its new location in Davie. For each week of summer write and mail one letter to a friend or family member, because nothing beats getting a letter in the mail from someone who is thinking about you. Let my kids select a new recipe for dinner and help them make it. Try to schedule regular game days with our friends. Visit the Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek and the Long Key Nature Center in Davie. Help my kids build a kid-size cardboard box Viking ship that they have been so excited about building. (And try not to complain about it taking up half of my dining room once it is complete.) What do YOU want to do, learn and explore this summer? Get to work on that thrill points list and report back to us on your progress during the summer. We want to hear about the books you’ve read and the places you’ve visited. We want to read the poems you’ve written and see the artwork you’ve created. Submit your articles, reviews, artwork and poems to the Circle Gazette. Prepare to make this the best NOT bummer summer yet! Jean-Marie Maier, Guest Editor
from the editor: Aword ighlights of the Month
H
May brings great variety for our readers. Of course we couldn’t miss following the NBA Playoff season and sport writers Ismail Ercan, Bobby and Patrick Griswold walk us through the strongest teams battling for the championship. It’s still early so take our poll on the front page and let us know what you think. We are proud to have a publication that is informative, current and educational. We are happy that the Circle Gazette is entertaining and inspiring. Every month brings a new array of topics, lovely poetry and breathtaking art. This month you’ll fi nd a few reviews that will come handy if you want to go to the movies, read a book or play a video game. Sarah’s Cinema discusses the movie The Wrath of Titans, fi rst-time contributor Dmari Rashad shares with us his take on Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 video game and Ellie Gomez talks about the Lorax (movie and book). Don’t miss the great illustrations that go with the Lorax story! Our Green Page (P.3) includes Green Tip 2.0 where Aaron Cross puts in a good word for recycling, reusing and reducing the circulation of clothing items while keeping us updated about environmental campaigns in different business sectors, in this case the fashion industry. This page also includes the new installment of My Experiences with Wildlife by Emma Gómez in which she relates a fun interaction with a Cardinal near her home. If you are constantly on-the-run and want some tips on healthy snacks that can be easily found at grocery and convenience stores, check out Living Healthy on page 5 where Daniela Gómez shares a list some yummy options you can grab on hectic days. You’ll also fi nd an easy and gluten-free recipe for Crunchy Cookies, courtesy of Ms. Hebe Novich, a proud grandmother. If you live in South Florida you won’t want to miss the opening of the NEW Young At Art Museum this month. Find details from young reporter Alizdair Ray on page 6.
Get inspired: Follow through with your ideas while reading about Flash Mobs for Funds, an initiative of a middle school student in Boca Raton (P. 7). Relate to the happiness simple things and actions can bring when reading Poetry Central by Nathalie Thelemaque (P. 9) Smile as you get to know Jaquan and Ruben Brown through their biographical poems (P. 9). Enjoy the art and poems by Aidan and Bryce Gunning (P. 9). Laugh a little… with Arion’s comic strip, Marty vs. School on page 8. Stay safe: Ari Swift shares tips and recommendations to parents and kids on a topic that is always relevant and of great importance: Staying safe in public places, even near home (P. 6). A bit more of sports: Ismail Ercan reviews the potential of the Miami Marlins and discusses the latest about the team (P. 8). This issue turned out to be a “bird issue.” Sara Cross shares two of her best poems to date, Parrot (P. 9) and Flight (P. 10) and Elizabeth Abrams will make you smile with her story about Miss Blue Jay (P. 10). There are also two informative and educational articles about mechanical birds and the science of fl ying by Maxwell Dixon on page 6. Last but not least, culture, classic literature and mature writing skills shine through the fantastic fi ction piece by Sara Cross, Ariadne and the Jabberwocky (P. 11). This story is a great example of storytelling and clever plot development. Two thumbs up! In the fi ction section there is also a story about Super Cat, a new character by Alizdair Ray. To wrap it all up, we have sprinkles of great art all through the paper and of course our colorful Artbox is as vibrant as always, with contributions from artists of all ages, and from everywhere. Read a lot, laugh and play. Enjoy your summer. Patty Gómez, Editor-in-Chief
MAY 2012
THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
Green Tip 2.
Red Carpet, Green Outfit by A. J. Cross, Age 14 Boca Raton, FL If this is your fi rst time seeing this column, then welcome to Green Tip 2.0! Upgraded from Green Tip of the Month, this column gives you news and tips about being environmentally aware and clean. This past February there was a contest for fashion designers to create a green dress for one of the contestants of the Oscars’ Best Actress of the Year award to wear. This outfi t was to have little or no waste and had to be made of sustainable fabric and accessories. The winning designer got to put his/her dress on one of the actresses. The Red Carpet Green Dress contest was fi rst founded in 2009 by Suzy Amis Cameron when she went to many Red Carpet events and saw how many fancy gowns were being worn. She knew that most of them would never be worn again, so she came up with this contest idea for fashion designers to engineer a sustainable piece of clothing. This year’s winner of the Red Carpet Green Dress contest was a fashion design student by the name of Valentina Delfi no. Born in Venezuela and based in Miami, FL, she was one of hundreds to submit an environmentally friendly dress for the contest. Her outfi t was made of peace silk (which is silk made from silkworm cocoons that have already hatched) and had very little waste material. The winning dress was worn by actress Missi Pyle who recently starred in the Academy Award winning movie The Artist. But, you do not have to be a movie star to wear sustainable clothes. There are plenty of things you can do at home to decrease your environmental impact in the fashion area of your life. Here are some tips to get you started... Get your clothes secondhand. Wearing clothes that have already been worn by someone else increases their life span and reduces waste. Donating your outgrown clothes to a second hand shop instead of throwing them away allows others to make use of your old clothes and is good for the same reason. Trading clothes with friends is also an option. Wear clothes that do not go out of style. For people who dress in whatever fashion trend is ‘in,’ the end of the season
This year’s winner of the Red Carpet Green Dress contest was a fashion design student by the name of Valentina Delfino. means a new wardrobe. Nothing can stay new forever and when the current style becomes old people throw away the old and bring in the new. This extremely shortens the use of the clothes and is obviously bad for the environment. Wearing clothes that do not go out of style such as blue jeans and regular T-shirts will reduce the number of clothes you will have to buy, thus decreasing waste and material usage. Buy clothes made with organic fabric. Supporting pesticide-free industries will create higher demand for those products and thus reduce the amount of industrial chemicals seeping into the environment. Shoes are also a part of dressing. They are a little harder to deal with than other clothes because, unless they have not been worn much, some people do not like previously worn shoes. Thrift stores will accept gently worn shoes. Fortunately, there are places that specialize in recycling shoes. Look for shoe drop bins when you go places and remember where they are for when you have old shoes that need to be thrown away. Society has declared clothing a necessary part of life and although we cannot go without it, there are many ways to reduce its environmental impact. Get together with friends and start a clothing drive at your school, religious organization, the park, or anywhere else it is possible to collect old clothing and donate it to a good cause. Also think up other ways to be environmentally sound. If the people who walk the Red Carpet can do it, so can you!
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My Experiences with Wildlife
Cardinal of the Season
by Emma Gómez, Age 8 Margate, FL
In March I traveled to New York and experienced cold weather, gray skies, bare trees and only squirrels and pigeons as wildlife company. When I came back to South Florida I was enjoying a full spring and getting used to all the birds singing up in the great blue sky and lizards running about my toes. I heard all the frogs croaking in the middle of the night and saw all the little ants hurrying in and out of their homes. Not at all to mention I liked the color of all the pollen that fell all around on cars and houses. All the leaves that had been tumbling down following the wind to a different fate were stopped when spring decided to poke around and suddenly the days grew hot and full of fl owers and laughter. Some days even felt very long because of the endless rain. On a clear morning, when I was getting ready to get in the car I felt a woooooooooooosh! of fresh air in my face. I forgot about it for about fi ve seconds until I received another longer woooooooooooosh! of fresh air. Except this time it was more like a burst of air. I looked up and froze. There right above me, in the live oak was a small red, glossy and perfectly black eyed bird which I recognized at once as a Cardinal. It took fl ight once more and this time a blackbird followed it and chased it for a while. After that, the Cardinal started to chase the blackbird and I lost him. I noticed them circling my neighbor’s house twice, then they went around half the neighborhood, came back to the tree and they were off a fourth time. I had been amazed at how much they could do in such little time. My mom came out at that very moment and I told her about the birds chasing each other, only to realize that the two of them had again disappeared. This time they hadn’t gone too far. They were sitting on the branch of a tree two houses down. My mother got to
“Northern Cardinal“ by Emma Gómez. Soft Pastels on paper. see the Cardinal and so did my sister Ellie, whom I had hoped would come before the birds would take their leave. The Cardinal let out a soft chirp that only I could hear. It sounded like he was calling out to me as if beckoning me toward him. Then he let out another even softer chirp, as if telling me that he would come back another day soon, and I trusted him. I gave him a nod as if promising that I would still be here. It was then that the black bird let a caw escape his beak so that the Cardinal turned to him and gave him a nod as if telling his friend, “in a second.” He turned back to me and bowed his head down and slightly to the side. The duo retreated to the sky and out of sight. I got into the car thinking about what he had promised. All the way to the gate I looked out the window, and fi nally saw a red, smooth bird with pointy wings and small black eyes staring at me from a distance. That was the last I saw of him and I have been waiting, hoping, knowing that he will be back some day. Since then, I have researched many facts about the cardinal. I found out that the bird I saw was a Northern Cardinal. This cardi-
nal can be found from Maine to Texas and all the way to Southern Mexico. It can also be found in Canada, in northern Guatemala and Belize. This bird was introduced to Bermuda in 1700 and it has also been introduced to Hawaii and southern California. Its usual habitat is woodlands, gardens, shrub lands, and swamps. I got to listen to the song of the Northern Cardinal and I loved the beautiful sound of his voice. His song reminded me of many good things that happen every day and of some sad things as well. The Northern Cardinal is a seed eater and favors sunfl ower seeds. My dad, my sister and I recently planted sunfl owers and carrots in the backyard. The sunfl ower plant is now in full bloom and it is taller than me. I think that our sunfl owers might have attracted the red bird into our yard. When you play outside you might want to keep a careful eye for different kinds of birds that are common to your area. Here in South Florida, common birds are the mockingbird, the blue jay, the blackbird, the grackle, and the mourning dove. I hope that you will be reading the Circle Gazette for the next issue of My Experiences with Wildlife.
Did You Know... … that the Cardinal, or red bird, is easy to identify? The species derives its name from the bright red color it features. Only the male birds have this bright red color, which helps them attract the opposite sex for mating. The females have a relatively dull appearance. Male and female cardinals sing, but females sing more complex melodies. These birds tend to gather in large flocks of around 70100 birds. Cardinals enjoy warmer climates, and unlike other birds, they do not migrate. They have an amazing ability to adapt in parks, suburban areas--even your backyard. The average life span of a cardinal is 15 years.
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THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
Movie and Story Review by Ellie Gómez, Age 6 Margate, FL Everything was fi ne and the Brown Barbaloots were happily playing and eating Truffula fruits under the trees. The SwomeeSwans were singing in the sky. The humming fi sh were humming while splashing around.
The Sad Lifted Lorax by Dmari Rashad, Age 10 One day, a man came in a horse-drawn carriage. This man was called the Once-ler. He wanted to become really rich. He wanted to make a thneed. A thneed is something that all people need. That’s what the Once-ler said. It could be a shirt, it could be a glove, and it could be a pillow or an umbrella. The thneed looked funny to me. To make the thneed he cut down a Truffula tree. The moment the Once-ler had fi nished making the thneed, someone popped out of the stump of the tree he had cut down. The creature that popped out was brownish in the book (and in the movie, he was orange). “I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees!” - he said. “What’s that thing you made out of my Truffula tree?”- the Lorax asked. The Once-ler said, “Look here Lorax. There is no cause for alarm, I just chopped one tree. I’m doing no harm. This thing
is thneed, a thneed is something that all people need! ” The Lorax was mad. He thought things were going to go wrong. The Once-ler wanted to sell thneed. A man came and liked it and happily bought it for $3.98. The Once-ler was excited and in no time at all he built a radiophone and he called all his family so they could come and help him cut down more trees faster, so he could make many, many more thneeds and become mighty rich. The Lorax came and knocked on the Once-ler’s new offi ce door and warned him to stop cutting the trees. He said that if there were no trees, the poor Barbaloots wouldn’t have enough food. The Once-ler did not listen and he kept chopping trees. The Lorax came many times to try to stop him but the Once-ler did not stop. One day, the forest was gone. The land was covered with stumps of trees, everything was black and grey. There was smog in the sky. The animals were gone. It all looked messy, dirty. Before it looked bright, colorful and beautiful and now it looked empty, dark and ugly. The Lorax appeared one last time and he left a pile of rocks with one word: UNLESS. Then he lifted himself by the seat of his pants and went away. In the movie, a little boy is trying to get a real tree. In his town everything is made out of plastic, even the trees. He meets the Once-ler. He is now old. He is sad. He is mad at himself. The Once-ler tells the boy about how he cut down the trees and about how all the animals went away. He tells him about the Lorax. “I’ll never forget the grim look on his face,” says the Once-ler to the boy. At the end the Once-ler says to the boy, “Wait, don’t go! Catch.” He throws the last Truffula seed to the boy and says:
“Treat it with care. Give it fresh water and feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. And the Lorax and all of his friends may come back.” The boy plants the seed in the middle of the plastic town with the help of his grandma and his friend. The seed starts to grow and all the people sing a song. “I say! Let it grow! Let it grow!” I have read this story many times and have watched the different movies including the newest one. I think that The Lorax tells us that we should take only what we need, one thing or two. Sometimes we take too much of the things we like and at the end
VIDEO GAME REVIEW
Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 by Dmari Rashad, Age 10 Pembroke Pines, FL
“Truffula Trees” by Caroline Abrams, Age 3 we don’t do anything with them. The birds and the squirrels need the trees as a home and other animals need them for food. We need the trees too but unless we “care a whole awful lot” nothing is going to get better.
“Truffula Trees” by Abigail Abrams, Age 5
SARAH’S CINEMA A Monthly Movie Review by Sarah Thompson, Age 13 Boynton Beach, FL Movie: Wrath of the Titans Rated: PG-13 The plot: Wrath of the Titans is the sequel to Clash of the Titans, which came out in 2010. It’s ten years after Perseus defeated the Kraken. Perseus now has a son and is attempting to lead a normal life as a fi sherman, free of gods, titans, and the stardom he won after defeating the Kraken. But this doesn’t last long, because now Perseus must travel to the Underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, who is being held captive there. The verdict: I am very interested in Greek Mythology and enjoy learning about the different Gods and the myths behind them. That interest is the main reason I liked Clash of the Titans. Sadly, Wrath was a huge disappointment. Just in the fi rst four or fi ve minutes, the action begins. And it never stops. The entire fi lm is made of battles. Battles between humans and monsters. Battles between gods and monsters. Battles between demigods and monsters. Battles between gods and demigods. Basically, the whole movie is battles. It’s diffi cult to root for anyone in these battles, because there is never enough downtime to actually get to know the char-
MAY 2012
acters. The constant action and fi ghting feels pointless, because there’s really no plot behind it. The movie is jarring, intense, and bloody. It lacks any heart or purpose and leaves you feeling very unnerved from the constant fi ghting. I assume the only reason this movie was made at all was because of the success of Clash. It wasn’t made because there was a good story to tell. I always try and fi nd something positive about a movie, even when I really don’t like it. In the case of Wrath, I would like to mention that there were some very good performances by Sam Worthington (Perseus) and Rosamund Pike (Andromeda). If only there had been enough breaks in between battles for them to actually perform.
As a little brother, it’s fun every now and then to annoy my older brother -- you know bug him to the point of frustration, and then back off just before he clobbers me. Maybe that’s what the game programmers had in mind when they released Sonic the Hedgehog 2006. Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game character who was born with out-of-thisworld speed. One of the reasons why Sonic is so beloved is for his total disregard for anything except speed. Imagine a thrill seeking adrenaline junky amped up on coffee and energy drinks, that’s Sonic! Being a huge fan of Sonic as both a video game and comic book character, I expected nothing but the best he had to offer in the 2006 release of the game on X-Box 360. Instead, I got a dose of what it must be like being my big bother. Here are a couple of bugs that I found almost immediately: Bug number 1: I hate to think the game programmers were playing some sort of sick prank, but every time you do a traditional homing attack, it looks as if Sonic is riding a skateboard and doing skateboard kick-flip. Bug number 2: Pressing the X button on the game controller will land Sonic completely out the game space when all you were really trying to do is a simple kick swirl.
I could go on and on here, but at the risk of “bugging” you, I’ll sum it up by saying that this is a badly programmed game. Now that I have that off my chest, it’s time for me to bug my brother one more time. You see, all the bugs and glitches in this game still can’t keep me from playing it; I love the game even more. It’s fun fi nding the bugs! Most people, like my big brother, will probably hate this game. From what I’ve read online, there are even more problems with Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 on the PlayStation console. So for all you video gamers out there, save your money and buy another game that doesn’t have so many programming glitches and bugs, unless of course you’re a little brother who’s got a thing for bugs!
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Living Healthy
Crunchy Cookies Gluten Free
by Hebe Novich Caracas, Venezuela
What snacks can be found quickly in Publix and aren’t unhealthy? The answer is… Daniela Gómez, Age 12 South Florida Hi kids! And welcome to Living Healthy, a column that talks about how to keep your body healthy and energized. Last month, the focus was on the importance of sleep. For this issue, we are discussing some healthy snacks that can be found at places like CVS or Publix and aren’t extremely greasy or full of fat. When you need something to munch on and have nothing, you can just stop by one of these places and get something that is actually decently healthy, as well as fast and cheap. Here are some recommended snacks that can be found on-the-go. These snacks will be split into three categories: granola bars, nuts/trail mixes, and crackers/chips. Granola Bars: When you are in an emergency situation or hungry before/ after sports, these are the snacks to try to get. • Kashi Granola Bars- They are very tasty and easy to eat quickly in emergency situations or in times when you can’t eat too much such as right before sports. • TLC Oatmeal Raisin Flax Cookies- These cookies might not look like chocolate chip cookies but they are just as
tasty and many times healthier. It’s good to have these on hand when you want something to munch on. • Clif Bars- These taste very similar to the TLC cookies and are just as good for your body. They are good to eat before/after being involved in sports. They come in many flavors such as Carrot Cake and Chocolate Chip. There’s also Clif Kids and they are also tasty and healthy. • Nature’s Valley Granola BarsThey are the perfect snack when you are in a grab-and-go situation and they are good to have on hand when you are involved in any sports activity. There are many varieties to choose from such as the Sweet n’ Salty ones or the Protein Chewy Bars. Nuts/Trail Mixes:
They are the handiest snacks for “on-the-go” situations or when you just need something to eat. • Sunflower seeds- These seeds are well-liked and they’re good to have when you feel like munching on something. • Almonds and Peanuts- These snacks are good when you just want something to chew on absentmindedly. • Planters Dried Fruit & Nut Trail Mix- Trails mixes and dried fruits are a great healthy snack and are great when you’re somewhere unfamiliar and you don’t know where to find a place to buy any other food. Crackers/Chips: These snacks are the “junk food substitutes” and they are just as tasty as a bag of greasy chips. • Lance Whole Grain Crackers- These crackers are good for any time when you need a snack. • Melba Toast- They are good when you are at home and have only a small amount of time to eat and need to cram something in your mouth quickly. • Kettle Brand Baked Potato Chips 65% Less Fat Lightly Salted Dippers- They are the absolute potato chip substitutes, being potato chips themselves. Of course, they are good for the times in which
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Ingredients ½ cup softened butter 4 yolk eggs ¾ cup sugar 2 cups white rice flour
you feel like having potato chips. • Triscuit Rye Crackers with Caraway Seeds- These are good snacks when you are hungry and unable to get any other food. • Wheat Thins/WheatablesThese crackers are good for any situation involving snacks. They go well with pretty much anything and are also very tasty alone. This list contains some snacks that you should consider substituting for snacks like regular Doritos. Just because this list is showing the snacks you should try to eat more often, it doesn’t mean that having a bag of Cheetos every now and then is a terrible crime; however, if you eat junk food on a daily basis, then that isn’t good for your body. Maybe there is a snack that you know of that isn’t mentioned in the list above. If that snack is healthy and tastes good to you, eat it! This list is a starting point to show you some healthy snacks so you can pick one or two you like! Eat healthy snacks, try to avoid junk food as best you can, and we will see you in June for an article to start off the summer fun!
Preparation Preheat oven to 325º F. Beat butter and yolks until you get a cream. Add sugar, beating continually. Slowly incorporate white rice flour. Form little balls and put them on a tray with silicone or covered with butter and flour. Press any of them with a fork, to get stripes marks. Bake for 20 minutes until they get a slight brown color. Hebe Novich is a Medical Doctor graduated from the School of Medicine of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Though an ophthalmologist by specialty, Ms. Novich has taken advanced classes at the Normal and Pathologic Nutrition Institute and the Mucho Gusto Academy of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ms. Novich is the proud grandmother of Andy and Danny Hernández, regular contributors of the Circle Gazette.
A Unique Summer Experience for Your Child
Summer
C.A.M.P.
(Creative Arts, Music and Performance) Weekly Sessions: June 11–29 & July 9–July 27 Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before-Care and After-Care Available / Ages 6–13 Ask About Multiple Week & Sibling Discounts
Now Enrolling for Summer
K C I U Q RT STA &
Piano
Violin
Two Weeks of Accelerated Sessions* Provide a “Quick Start” on a New Instrument * One daily 45-minute class session for 10 consecutive weekdays
Ask about Quick Start for other instruments
Cypress Wood Plaza, 10450 W. Atlantic Blvd., Coral Springs ArtsAlive.biz / (954) 372-7878 / Find us on Facebook
Ask About Southeast Musical Theatre Intensive
Pre-Professional Musical Theatre Program for Teens & Pre-Teens One Session: July 30–August 10, Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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MAY 2012
The Wright Brothers The Opening of the New Young -The Flyer at Art Children’s Museum by Maxwell Dixon, Age 8 Hollywood, FL
The Wright Brothers were the first men to invent, build and successfully fly an airplane. They called the airplane “The Flyer.” When Wilbur and Orville Wright were younger they were each given a toy airplane. It made them think about making a bigger airplane and how that bigger airplane would fly. This was when their fascination with flight began and they were determined to solve its mysteries. They flew kites and watched birds in flight. These things gave them an idea of how they would be able to make the wings for an airplane. They realized that curved wings fly better than flat ones. This discovery would be important for them later on. The next question that they needed to answer was, how could a person control his flight once he was in the air? When they were older they opened a bicycle shop and their experience with bicycles helped them to figure out how the wings should move and how to steer an airplane. They realized
that in the air and on a bicycle a pilot/rider can turn left or right. This is called yaw and would be the key to building an airplane. They also needed to build a motor and a propeller for their airplane. No one made engines for airplanes at that time so, they had to design and build it themselves. After several failed attempts on December 17, 1903 at 10:35 a.m., The Flyer was ready for its first flight. Orville would be the first man to pilot the airplane. This first flight lasted a total of 12 seconds. The airplane sustained some damage which was repaired and then it was Wilbur’s turn. His flight lasted for 15 seconds and he flew for a total of 175 feet. They finally did it! The Flyer took off from level ground and moved through the air using its own power and then landed .The Wright brothers worked hard to build their airplane. They experienced a lot of setbacks but with perseverance and hard work they were able to reach their goal. This amazing feat helped to change the course of history and flight.
by Alizdair Sebastien Ray, Age 8 Davie, FL The opening of the new Young at Art Museum is on May 5, 2012. The new location is not far from the old one at 112th Avenue and I-595 in Davie, Florida. It will have a new arts & education complex. The best part will be a new county library. My family has had a membership there since 2006 and the fun for me was every time we went there. The drop-in classes in the mornings was where I fell in love with geography. I got
to know all my continents and where to point at them on the map. I appreciate art because of Young at Art Museum and I love to paint, draw and take pictures. I have met true friends there. There were 7 kids that were picked to be the poster kids for the campaign for the new museum. I happened to be one of them and it was fun doing the photo shoot. The staff is awesome and they really care about everybody. After researching, I learned that Young at Art
opened in 1987, and it has made new ground in the education field, integrating art, math, vocabulary, geography, language, and multi-cultural understanding to educate more than one million children, teens and educators. Young at Art Children’s Museum has been recognized at regional and national levels. Please mark your calendar for the opening and go there with your family. I will be there with my family and hope to see you.
The Science of Flight by Maxwell Dixon, Age 8 Hollywood, FL How is it possible that heavy airplanes can fly high above the ground? Bernoulli’s principle helps to explain the lift of an airplane in motion. The Free Dictionary defines Bernoulli’s principle as follows: “as the speed of the plane increases, air flows faster over the curved top of the wing than underneath. The upward pressure exerted by the air under the wing is thus greater than the pressure exerted downward above the wing, resulting in a net upward force, or lift.” The most important thing that makes an airplane different from any other type of transportation is its wing. This is one of the reasons why an airplane can fly. The wings on an airplane help to generate lift, one of the four forces needed for an airplane to actually fly. The wings are also known as airfoils because of their streamlined shape. They are curved on the top and flatter on the bottom. The curved shape on top helps the air to move faster over the top side of the wings causing a lower pressure than that experienced on the
bottom of the wings. This difference in top and bottom wing air speed and pressure creates lift. Another force that affects an airplane’s ability to stay in the air is weight, which is a force caused by gravity. Just like when you jump up into the air, your weight or gravity will force you back to the ground. You have lift pushing the airplane up into the air and gravity pulling the airplane down. To have a level flight lift and weight have to balance each other out. Thrust is another force that helps to move an airplane. Thrust is produced by an airplane’s engine. This force helps move the airplane forward to generate lift. If an airplane does not keep moving then the air would stop moving over and under the wings and there would be no lift. Which means the airplane would come back to the ground. The last force that is necessary for an airplane to fly is drag. Drag is the force that tries to slow down a moving airplane. This is caused by air resistance. If an airplane is going to stay in the air the thrust has to be greater than drag and lift needs to be greater than weight/gravity.
NEWSROOM MEETING
The next Newsroom Meeting will be June 3 at 12.30 p.m. at Arts Alive in Coral Springs. Please RSVP by May 25. Thank you.
“Mark your calendar for the opening and go there with your family.”
Did You Know... … that the NEW Young at Art Museum is opening its new 55,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Davie the weekend of May 5 and 6 from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.? This groundbreaking model for museums nationwide bridges the gap between an adult art museum and a children’s museum, transforming the way children and families use art to learn, share experiences and shape a community. Spectacular inflatable art sculptures by Giants in the City, an outdoor graffiti garden--where visitors can stencil or paint on a special wall with artist Atomik, silk screening with Squeegee Science, dance and musical performances, and puppet shows are just some of the festivities that will celebrate the spectacular grand opening weekend of the NEW Young At Art Museum and Broward County Library. The new facility is located at 751 SW 121 Avenue, Davie, Fl 33324. Details at (954) 424-0085.
by Ari Swift, Age 14 Boca Raton, FL Just this past week or two, someone tried kidnapping a young girl in my neighborhood - on my street corner! She had been properly educated, so when the guys pulled up and said “get in the car,” she said “NO!” and ran away to safety. This can happen HERE, right under our noses, in your local grocery store, on your street corner and even in front of your house. My little brother was playing with his friends when they noticed a car was going around and around the block and slowed down near the kids, specifically, my little brother. They all realized, ran inside and told their parents. The parents went outside and asked the couple if they could help them. The couple bolted as fast as possible. If you want to actively do something to protect yourself and family then follow these tips: Kids (1) Always know where you and others with you are. (2) Never ever go anywhere with anyone you
don’t know, no matter what they say, offer or threaten. (3) If someone grabs you, hit as hard as you can, run and scream. Hit them in the nose, the eyes, the solar plexus, the back of the hand, any part where there is bone right under the skin. (4) Learn some basic techniques to get out of someone’s grip. (5) Practice with your parents and friends.
Parents
(1) Always know where your kids are. If they are going to their friend’s house make sure they let you know. My mom does this and it drives me crazy, but, it’s safe. (2) Make sure to set up a code of some type with your kids so that, if you have to send someone they don’t know in an emergency, they know you sent them. (3) Make sure your kids know where and how to hit someone if they are grabbed. (4) Make sure your kids know how to break grips. (5) Practice with your kids until it becomes second nature. The ability to think clearly is reduced by adrenaline. If children can reactively protect themselves, they have a better chance of staying safe.
By following these tips kids will be a lot safer.
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Early Childhood Coalition Flash Mobs for Funds Early Learning Coalition. She has been working for the ELC for four and a half years, and says that she “always wanted to work in an organization that supported children, especially very young children. The reason being that at a very young age, what is established then, will help the children in future years of school…. Really setting a foundation in the early years is very important.” For all the parents and older siblings out there reading this, there are things that you can do at home. According to the ELC, the more you talk to your preschool kids, the more their vocabulary develops. In fact, talking to your young children could mean your kid knowing 12,000 more words than if you did not, by the time he/she reaches kindergarten! The Early Learning Coalition offers a great service to kids. According to Mrs. Robinson, “It is a critical age. It is the age where a lot of your brain is developing to really set your foundation. So for me it is very important that we have programs that are educationally based for very young
children so that they are ready for school when they get to kindergarten.” There are thirtyone Early Learning Coalitions across the state of Florida. The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties is a non-profi t organization. To help support this fabulous cause, either volunteer your time and talents, or mail a donation. For the donation slip and address, go to www.elcmdm. org/help/mail-in_donation2.pdf. For more information on enrollment, or if you have any questions about the program, go to www.elcmdm.org. I think that this program is just what every pre-Kindergarten child needs. The people that I met were really nice and I would be glad to work with them again. I want to give thanks to Blythe Robinson, who took the time to talk to me, and answer all my questions about the ELC. I want to also thank Jennifer Herrera, who invited me to have this wonderful experience. It was a pleasure to meet them all and I hope to have the opportunity again sometime in the future.
No longer just an idea…
coastal and marine ecosystems through research, education, by Sara I. Cross, Age 11 preservation and conservation.” Boca Raton, FL Gumbo Limbo has a sea turtle It was an idea, at fi rst, a gerehabilitation center and a lot of nius idea. Christian Catanese, a “To promote high-quality their programs have to do with sixth grader at Pine Crest Prepasea turtles. Catanese set a goal school readiness… with a priorratory School started it. He has for himself and his team: to raise ity toward the ages before birth been working with a few friends $500 by the end of April through through age fi ve.” This has been to make this idea become reala fl ash mob. He would give the the mission of the Early Learning ity. At www.fl ashmobsforfunds. money to Gumbo Limbo to help Coalitions (ELC) since the year yolasite.com, the work of one of save these endangered reptiles. 2000 when they were founded. Catanese’s friends, who manEvery month, Flash Mobs for I visited the Early Learning ages the site, can be noted. The Funds supports a different charneat effect that the site gives off Coalition of Miami-Dade and ity. Last month, it was sea turtle attracts the eye with its simple Monroe counties. They believe conservation, and this month, it way of explaining things in only that all children are capable of is the Animal Welfare Institute a few words. They have already getting a good education if they to help stop terrible cruelty such made a few surveys and videos are prepared correctly. The ELC as whaling and shark-fi nning. that can be found on their site goes from preschool to preIn April, Flash Mobs for Funds and have planned a flash mob in chose the song Glad You Came school helping to teach kids and May. Their idea might soon be from The Wanted as the song make it easier for them to learn. morphing from non-existence they were going to dance to. “By placing children fi rst in all to recognition. Kids are invited to get together we do, children in Miami-Dade When Catanese came up with and dance to the chosen tune. and Monroe Counties will enter Flash Mobs for Funds, he didn’t They’ll have fun and at the school ready to learn and sucknow which charity to support event and will be able to make ceed in life.” fi rst. His friend was doing a projcontributions to the charity of I wanted to learn more about ect about saving sea turtles and the month. It is not yet known that was when Catanese decided this wonderful organization, what they will be dancing to that he would try to raise money so I talked to Blythe Robinson, this month. for Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, the Senior Vice President and It was an idea, at fi rst, a genius a nature center whose mission is: Chief Programs Offi cer for the idea. But having smart, genius “to increase public awareness of ideas makes no difference until such ideas are put into action. Catanese and his team made Did You Know... their thought a real movement. … that sea turtles are one of the Earth’s most ancient creatures? The seven species that can be Flash Mobs for Funds is no lonfound today have been around for 110 million years- since the time of the dinosaurs. Sea turtles can ger just an idea… For more information on Flash be found in all oceans except in the Polar Regions. The sea turtle’s shell, or “carapace” is streamlined Mobs for Funds, go to www. for swimming through the water. Unlike other turtles, sea turtles cannot retract their legs and head into fl ashmobsforfunds.yolasite.com. their shells. Their color varies between yellow, greenish and black depending on the species. by Daniela Gómez, Age 12 Margate, FL
• Birthday Parties • After-School Programs • Kidz Night Out • School Field Trips • Summer Camps • Mommy & Me Classes
6280 W. Sample Rd, Ste. 202, Coral Springs (just a few stores down from Publix)
• 954-255-5233 • www.bricks4kidz.com •
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MAY 2012
Great Expectations for the Miami Marlins by Ismail Ercan, Age 14 Coral Springs, FL There is a lot of pressure on not one, but two Miami sports teams this year: the Miami Heat and the Miami Marlins. (Articles about the Heat on Page 1) The new look Miami Marlins have also been in the limelight as baseball’s most talked about team this offseason. The Marlins have been all the hype lately in
Miami’s sports community for good and bad things. They recently changed their franchise name from the Florida Marlins to the Miami Marlins and acquired their own half-a-billion-dollar ballpark, along with several noteworthy players and a new manager too. With so much newly gained talent, there has already been talk about getting deep into the playoffs or possibly getting to the World Series, but the Marlin’s unimpressive start has cooled
down those talks. They just got their first home win on Friday, April 13, when Miami native Gabby Sánchez hit an RBI walkoff double to win the game for the Marlins against the Houston Astros in the eleventh inning. The Marlins were without manager Ozzie Guillén who was suspended for 5 games due to his comments about former Cuban President Fidel Castro in an interview with Time Magazine. (He said that he “respected Fidel Castro.”)
And while the 1st Amendment in the Bill of Rights allows for freedom of speech, many in the South Florida Cuban community did not take the comment lightly with some protesting for Guillén to be fired immediately from his position as Marlins manager. Several local Spanish news channels interviewed local citizens who confirmed their bad feelings against Guillén. Guillén, a native Spanish speaker admitted that he screwed up. “I was thinking in
Spanish and said the wrong thing in English.” he told reporters. So far, the Marlins are a .500 team and are struggling to find some sort of form. Of course, the MLB season is greater than 150 games and so far only fifteen games have been played this season. In the famous World Series winning year in 2003 season, the Marlin started 16-22 but still ended up winning the World Series against the New York Yankees.
Did You Know... ... that the Miami Marlins are a professional baseball franchise based in Miami, Florida? Miami Marlins is currently a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball (MLB’s) National League. Their home park is Marlins Park. Their manager is Ozzie Guillén.The Miami Marlins began play in the 1993 season as the Florida Marlins. The Marlins have won World Series championships in 1997 and 2003 — both times as the National League wild card team.
Did You Know... ... that Ozzie Guillen, born in Venezuela has played on four Major League Baseball teams? He played with the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Guillen played most of his career as Short Stop. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. In 2005, he became the first Latino manager in major league history to win a World Series. Today, he is the manager for the Florida Marlins.
Did You Know... … that “Jak Jerboa” is the latest comic book by Arion Rashad? Rashad is the author of MiiToons, a collection of comic books. All the characters in his stories are based on people he knows -- family members, classmates, teachers, even bullies. Most of them asked Arion to be a part of the books which is what makes these comics so different. Find more information at www.miitoons.com. Arion Rashad is the author of Marty vs. School, a comic strip exclusive to the Circle Gazette.
Did You Know... … that Free Comic Book Day is on the First Saturday of May? The Free Comic Book Day is an annual promotion by the North American comic book industry designed to bring new readers into independent comic book stores. Free Comic Book Day started in 2002, coordinated by the industry’s single large distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors. This year’s event will be on May 5, 2012, where participating comic book store retailers will give away specially printed copies of free comic books. In addition to comic books, some stores also give away other items, including mini posters for liveaction superhero movies, key-chains, and other promo items. Visit www.freecomicbookday.com to find a location near you.
THE CIRCLE GAZETTE
MAY 2012
POETRY CENTRAL
ABC for Peace and Happiness by Nathalie Thelemaque, Age 13 Coral Springs, FL
“Cat meowing a soft tune” Illustration by Ana Federica Wallis, Rebecca Cohen and Rachel Cohen. Caracas, Venezuela
All About Me by Jaquan Brown, Age 10 Coral Springs, FL
Jaquan: Friendly, tall, handsome and smart Son of Jamora and Ruben Sr., brother of Ruben Jr. Lover of the Lord, my family, basketball and football. I feel strong when I eat healthy. I feel sad when someone breaks into a family member’s house. I feel mad when someone tries to hurt my family. Who has been to a park, Who has been to a football field, Who has been to Boomers. Who needs food, Who needs to have a dog, and Who needs to do his homework. Who fears the dark and alligators. Who fears scary movies. Who would someday like to be a professional basketball player. Who would someday like to be a dancer. Who would someday like to be President. Resident of Earth, Florida and Coral Springs. Brown.
A flower that stands straight and tall Bees humming in unison Cats meowing a soft tune Daisies being picked by small little children Everyone is so happy and calm Forgetting all worries and despairs Grinning from ear to ear Hatred is now forgotten Innocence taking its place Jokes being tossed around freely Kites being flown in the blue sky Laughing family sitting down at the park Making each other chortle with silly faces Not a frown in sight Orange sun shining on their faces Perfect examples of peace Quarrels nowhere in view Respect from child to child, parent to parent Smiles as contagious as the flu Talking to each other, even complete strangers Under the setting sun they sit, Very happy and cheerful Wishing the moment would never end, Xenophobic behaviors slowly disappearing Yet there lingers the feel of Zestful jubilation.
by Bryce Gunning, Age 7 Boca Raton, FL
People Wild, Calm Wanting, Living, Playing People are very warm. Mammals
A Haiku Poem
“People” by Bryce Gunning. Pastels on paper.
Parrot by Sara I. Cross, Age 11 Boca Raton, FL
by Aidan Gunning, Age 7 Boca Raton, FL
One day I saw a parrot go by, Above the trees, but below the sky, The bird just flapped his wings, Colorful, pretty things, I smiled as I watched him fly high.
This animal hops He is so very furry No one is faster
He flew away, I waved him goodbye, Then he let out a musical cry, He perched on an oak tree, And he peered down at me, I looked up at him with a great sigh.
I AM RUBEN by Ruben Brown, Age 9 Coral Springs, FL
Ruben, Nice, awesome, cool and tall. Son of Ruben and Jamora, brother of Jaquan.
The Hungry Spider by Abigail Abrams, Age 5 Fort Lauderdale, FL
A grey white spider Was building her web When she got hungry.
I sighed in wonder, and disbelief, As my parrot pecked another leaf, He gave a high-pitched call, As rain began to fall, Then it was wet as a coral reef. Took off my jacket, put on a branch, As rain came down like an avalanche, And my bird flew to me, To stay dry as can be, As he flew back and forth in a trance. We sat as the rain slowed to a stop, Rapidly stopping going plip plip plop, He then followed me home, Don’t now live alone, He sits on his perch on the rooftop.
But when the spider came down There were no bugs to eat for breakfast.
Lover of Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma and family. Who feels aggravated when his sister bothers him, sad when he has to leave his Dad, happy when it is only him with his Mom and Dad. Who has been to a football game, a baseball game, to the beach, and the pool. Who needs to do his chores, take out the trash, and clean his room. Who fears the dark, bad people, and when someone screams at him. Who would someday like to be on a TV show. Resident of the USA. Brown.
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People
Kangaroo
“Kangaroo” by Aidan Gunning. Pastels on paper.
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Did You Know... … that a Haiku, pronounced “hy-koo,” is an unrhymed Japanese poetic form? It consists of a total of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, respectively. The form expresses much and suggests more in the fewest possible words. Most haiku are written about nature. Haiku remains Japan’s most popular poetic form and is widely used in English and other languages.
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The Adventures of Super Cat by Alizdair Sebastien Ray, Age 8 Davie, FL named himself Super Cat, Once there was a cat who and bought a hat. The hat was a hero. One day in Super was askew. Super Cat was City the cat had nothing to on the 7 News that night. The do, but eat fish. The cat saw next morning the City Bank an old lady crossing a road, was robbed. Super Cat heard but a car was coming. The cat about it, and ran and stopped was appalled and saved the the robber. Super Cat was in old lady before the car came. the paper that morning. Super The old lady said thank you Cat became the well known reverently. After that the cat super hero of Super City.
MAY 2012
F L I G H T by Sara I. Cross, Age 11 Boca Raton, FL
The cold wind blew, What else to do? The small blackbird flew, Cross the sky so blue, Has no piece of a clue, Where he is going to, Very sad but very true, Nothing much better to do, His flight course is not at all new, Flying for a mile or two, Meets some animals, a kangaroo, A giraffe, cougar, and cockatoo, And tell me why this silly thing he do? He made this whole flight, so he could meet you!
Illustration by author. Pencil on paper.
Miss Blue Jay by Elizabeth Abrams, Age 8, Fort Lauderdale, FL It was a nice warm morning in March, and Miss Blue Jay was sleeping perched in her tree. The sun was turning pinkish yellow in the sky when Miss Blue Jay opened her eyes to the morning sunshine streaming into her nest. Miss Blue Jay’s feathers were blue and white with a black shiny necklace. Her home was made of bunches of flowers, leaves, sticks, twigs, grass, cat hairs, and pieces of bark. It was a pleasant, homey nest, and Miss Blue Jay was very proud of it. She had put a lot of effort into making the nest. Miss Blue Jay fluttered out of bed very quickly and quietly and flew to the top of the tree and shouted out her morning song to all the other birds. Her song sounded like a short, loud alarm that woke up and startled the animals in the tree. When all the birds were up, and were picking for worms, Miss Blue Jay turned to her storage of seeds, nuts, berries, and roots and took a big mouthful for breakfast. While she was munching, Miss Blue Jay heard something that frightened her. She heard paws creeping on the soft earth and whiskers swishing the leaves. It was not at all a nice sound to Miss Blue Jay, and she thought, “Oh no, it might be a big monstrous cat or dog!” Miss Blue Jay felt worms wriggling in her tummy which was not good at all
and meant that danger was coming. Then out of the bushes came what she was scared of: the cat Cali!!! The monstrous beast to all the little animals who lived near the humans’ house next to Miss Blue Jay’s tree. Miss Blue Jay felt like Jello. Cali was the humans’ cat and a great hunter for bats, mice, lizards, and . . . birds. The cat was black, orange, and white. Her teeth were sharp, crunchy and pointy. Her claws were spiky like a dinner knife. Her yellow eyes were terrifying. Cali was heading right for Miss Blue Jay’s nest and coming quickly! The other birds were still eating breakfast and didn’t hear Cali coming. Cali was now only a few feet away. Miss Blue Jay felt stiff and frozen. Suddenly, the cat sprang out at Miss Blue Jay and caught her by the leg with her mouth. Miss Blue Jay hurt terribly because Cali’s teeth were digging into her leg and the cat’s jaws were squeezing her. Cali started strolling to her cat flap which was a little hole in the wall in the side of the humans’ house with an electric door that opened and shut when Cali went in and out. When they had gotten to the cat flap, Cali pressed her collar to it and it opened up right before Miss Blue Jay’s eyes. Miss Blue Jay was trying to gasp for breath. She was petrified. The cat flap looked to Miss Blue Jay as if it were a gigantic cat mouth opening and shutting.
Cali dragged Miss Blue Jay through the flap and into the humans’ house. This happened too fast for Miss Blue Jay to even glance at anything around her but she felt that she was in a humongous place. Cali dragged her up stairs which to Miss Blue Jay looked like gigantic tree trunks all laid stacked together. While she was being pulled up the stairs, she saw the towering walls. She saw just a bit of walls and stairs because Cali was taking her so fast. Miss Blue Jay thought it all had no end. She felt horrified to be in Cali’s mouth. She knew that cats liked to catch birds and eat them. Miss Blue Jay knew she had to shriek to get help. She opened her beak, tried to take a deep breath, and shrilled! The cat jumped with surprise and Miss Blue Jay toppled to the floor. Miss Blue Jay felt relieved but hurt. Suddenly a gigantic human hand sprang out at Miss Blue Jay and took her by her whole body. She remembered what an ant had told her a few years before, that humans would step on bugs and squash them dead. Now she knew she was really going to die. She quickly gave a prayer. Then she felt confused. Why was the human’s hand bringing her down the stairs? Soon they were at the door. The human opened the door. He stuck his hands out into the warm and shiny day and opened his fingers. Miss Blue Jay was too stunned to move.
“Miss Blue Jay” by Elizabeth Abrams, Age 8 The human set her down on the soft earth outside the house, and stepped back. Miss Blue Jay felt her heart surprisingly beating. Was she imagining it or was the human really letting her go? She didn’t want to sit around and think about it and she absolutely wanted to get away from Cali. So Miss Blue Jay puffed up her feathers, and tried to limp. After she realized that her legs were working, she fluttered her wings,
reached them up to the sky, and started flying away from the house. She flew high up into the air and thought to herself, “I’ve been saved!!!” She felt wonderful, like she was in paradise. When Miss Blue Jay was high enough, she looked down at the house, and made sure the coast was clear. Then she glided down to a high branch in her tree that Cali could not have reached even if she had a ladder. She began building a new nest . . .
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Ariadne and the Jabberwocky by Sara Itka Cross, Age 11 Boca Raton, FL
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. I lay on my bed, letting my wings cover me like a blanket. I was reading my favorite book, Myths From Around the World, when Mother knocked on the door to my bedroom. Oh! Before I continue, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ariadne, Princess of the Kingdom Cingundu, only daughter of King Oberon and Queen Titania, and slayer of the Jabberwocky. Wait, I haven’t gotten to that part yet. Before I confuse you more, let me get back to the story. Mother came in and sat down next to me. She gave me a hug and told me that Father wanted to talk to me. She led me out of the room and told me to meet her in the Dining Hall for breakfast.
I set off to Father’s bedroom. Sadly, Father is sick, so he spends these days in bed with a cup of tea. He is old, and contrary to all the stories, fairies do not live forever. I sat down on the edge of the bed. He told me to open a chest on his dresser. I did as he asked. Inside was a smooth black sword with a curved blade. The handle was covered in black cloth, embroidered with gold thread. When I picked it up, it refl ected the light back at me. Father brought me back to the real world, surprising me by breaking the silence. “That is The Vorpal Blade, my daughter,” he said. “And it is now yours.” I could not believe that this beautiful sword was all mine, and even more so, that the very sword in my hand was the same sword in the poem by Lewis Carroll, one of my favorite authors of all Time. And believe me, Time will get very upset if you talk about just some of him. He gets of-
Ramblewood Middle School Drama Department Presents
May 25th and 26th 7:00 pm in the JP Taravella Auditorium 10600 Riverside Drive, Coral Springs, Fl 33071 Tickets: $5 Students $10 Adults Tickets will be sold at the door one hour prior to the show. Advanced tickets available online at
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fended very easily. Oh, now I am wasting him! Back to the story. I turned around to face Father. “Are you serious?!!” I exclaimed. Father nodded. “You need to take that on a mission.” I could feel the excitement build up inside me at the mention of a mission. I had gone on many an adventure, each one more exciting than the next. “Where Father, where?” I cried happily. “Cecil knows,” was his only reply. Cecil is my dear pet monarch butterfl y, even though he is more of a best friend to me than a pet. I kissed Father on the forehead and skipped off to my room to get Cecil for breakfast. Mother, Cecil, and I all sat in the dining hall. Mother delicately placed bite-size pieces of her poached butterfl y eggs in her mouth, Cecil nibbled on some sunfl ower seeds, and I ate French toast. We all sipped periwinkle nectar out of tulip cups. “When are we going?” Cecil asked. Mother choked on her nectar. “Excuse me? How about where are you going?” she said with a questioning look on her face. “After breakfast Cecil,” I answered. “Tell me, where exactly do you two think you are going?” Mother looked at me. “Ask Father,” I replied as I grabbed my backpack. My backpack held everything that I could possibly need for an adventure. A canteen, a blanket, three pieces of French toast, four packets of sunfl ower seeds, a rainbowbridge generator for quick transportation, a change of clothes, and my cell phone. I kissed Mother goodbye and Cecil and I were out the door. We were fl ying as fast as our wings could carry us when I stopped short. Cecil slammed into me. “Why did you stop?” I stood there with a stricken look. “The sword!!!!” I turned around and started running back home. I did not even bother fl ying, but it barely mattered. Mother was waiting at the door holding the Vorpal Blade in her gloved hands. “I do not agree with your father about sending you on this mission, but you are going to need this if you have any chance at all.” Mother does not like me going on any mission. She says that it is too dangerous for me at my age. She also says that it is inappropriate for a girl. Then of course whenever she brings it up to Father, he answers with the always proverbial ‘you could have given birth to a boy!’ Sorry, I think I got sidetracked again. Speaking of sidetracked, I had a feeling that we were on the side of the track as Cecil led me though the forest. We fi nally reached a cave. Not knowing what was
in the cave, I hesitated to go in. Then I realized that to be a true hero, I could not be afraid of anything. So I took a deep breath, and stepped inside the cave. It soon turned out to be a tunnel, leading me to who knows where. I found myself outside, on a grassy plain. I shuddered. In front of me was the biggest leg I had ever seen. “The Jabberwocky!” The Jabberwocky is so colossal that if you ever see it you will see only one leg. The other three legs are so far apart, you cannot even see them. Anything above the leg is covered by clouds. All the pictures of it in books are just the leg, or drawings that are what people think it might look like whole. I have always loved the poem of the Jabberwocky, I must have read it about thirty times. Oh boy, I must have gotten off-topic about thirty times, and I am almost out of time to tell this story. Let me skip to the end. At the top of the leg I found a hole. It was not part of an animal, it was just a walking leg! I leaned in and saw a ladder down the side. Someone lived in there! I tucked the Vorpal Blade into my belt loop, and dived down the hole. Inside was a little chamber with clear walls. It had to be magical, for you could see out, but not in. I looked around the room. Inside the indent that was the big toe was a man, about an inch taller than me. He rotated a steering wheel, causing the leg to turn around. “Ahhhhh!” I screamed. The man whirled around. Oops, so much for my surprise attack. I got up and withdrew the Vorpal Blade. His eyes widened as he withdrew his own sword. “You have that?” He stared at my hand with the sword. “Yes,’ I said, looking at him in the eye. “And I know how to use it too.” A major duel broke out between him and me. Our swords sliced through the air, clashed together, you get the picture. I ripped the sword out of his hand and held the two swords to his neck. “Who are you?” I asked him. He did not answer. I repeated my question. He looked at me in the eye. He looked terrifi ed. “I am a forest sprite,” the man said. “My name is Hermes.” “Why are you here?” I asked. “I do not know,” he began, with a new found interest in his shoes. “I feel like I do not have a choice. This is what my father did, and his father before him. It is my heritage. But now that you found my hideaway, I do not have anything to do. My time of peace is over!” Hermes started to shake all over. I moved the swords from him and tucked them into my belt loops. “Have you considered trying out landscaping?” I said as I helped him to his feet. “You might
enjoy it, lots of forest sprites do.” A big grin spread across his face. “That is a wonderful idea! I will be on my way.” The sprite sprinted towards the ladder leading up through the hole. He stopped suddenly at the base of the ladder. He turned around to face me. “If I leave,” he began. “What?” He smiled. “Will you take care of my Jabberwocky?” “Yeah, sure, of course. WHAT?!” I looked at him. “Fantastic!” he shouted, and he was gone, up the ladder and out. I explored the foot. In the little toe I found a little cardboard box. I opened it up. Inside was a little dragon like creature. On the side of the box was a single word: Jabberwocky. The little animal was a baby Jabberwocky! That must have been what Hermes meant. Oh, he was so cute! I took him out of the box and cuddled him up to my chest. He was fuzzy, as well as scaly, and his claws were not quite sharp yet. He looked at me with eyes that said ‘take me home, I want to be yours.’ I looked outside at Cecil still perched on the tree. He had been there since I left the forest. I thought he would like a friend. I put the JabberPup back into the box and carried it over to the shaft in the middle of the ceiling. I stretched out my wings and fl ew back up through the leg, ready for a breath of fresh air. When I reached the top, I did a cannonball dive, pretending that there was a pool under me. I landed on my feet and ran over to Cecil. He screeched excitedly and fl ew onto my shoulder. I jumped up and grabbed a tree branch. I swung around and grabbed onto another one. I went from branch to branch as I fi lled Cecil in about what had happened. I ended by telling him about the cardboard box, but I refused to tell him what was in it. That would wait for when we got home. Epilogue I sat in Father’s bedroom with the cardboard box. Cecil was perched on the arm of the chair I was sitting in, while Mother stood next to Father’s bed. I slowly spilled out the whole story. When I got to the part about the Jabberwocky being just a leg, I had to laugh. It was so funny that every fairy’s biggest fear was just the moving home of a forest sprite that had nothing else to do with his life. When I recalled opening the box, I opened it, and I reenacted the scene of me finding the baby Jabberwocky. “Ariadne,” Mother eyed the JabberPup in my arms. “You don’t really think that it is going to stay this size, do you?” I looked at her. “I did not quite think that far ahead.” Mother sighed and shook her head in disappointment.
Did You Know... … that “Jabberwocky” is a nonsense verse poem written by Lewis Carroll in his 1872 novel Through the LookingGlass, and What Alice Found There, a sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. “Jabberwocky” is considered one of the greatest nonsense poems written in English. In Through the Looking-Glass, the character of Humpty Dumpty, in response to Alice’s request, explains to her the nonsense words from the first stanza of the poem. Image: The Jabberwock, as illustrated by John Tenniel.
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“Basketball” Crayons on paper by Andrew Maier, Age 4 Sunrise, FL
“Raindrops” Finger paint on paper by Tanner Gunning, Age 5 Boca Raton, FL
“Hibiscus Bloom” Soft Pastels on paper by Roksanna, Age 7 Coral Springs, FL “Cartoon Animals” Pencil on paper by Ana Federica Wallis, Rachel Cohen and Rebecca Cohen, Caracas, Venezuela “Arabian Beauty” Pencil sketch on paper by Roksanna, Age 7 Coral Springs, FL
“Prehistoric Volcano” Watercolors by Kate Maier, Age 8 Sunrise, FL
“Skippito Friskito” Multimedia Collage by Emma Gómez, Age 8 Margate, FL “Triceratops” Watercolors on paper by Kate Maier, Age 8 Sunrise, FL
“Spring Arrives” Crayons on paper by Abigail Griswold, Age 8 Paoli, PA “Cartoon Animals” Pencil on paper by Ana Federica Wallis, Rachel Cohen and Rebecca Cohen Caracas, Venezuela