Summit Wordworks 2017 by The Summit Country Day School

Wordworks

Literary Magazine Volume 1

Spring 2017

Brendan McEachern, Grade Six Language Arts

Graphic Design & Page Layout: Megan McGrath

Photography: David Mason

Special Thanks to the Following Faculty Members for Guiding Our Students in Writing & Art:

Hilary Carvitti, Fourth Grade Art

Meghan Cole, Fifth Grade Language Arts

Frances Keller, Fourth Grade Language Arts

Barb Sander, Fourth Grade Language Arts

Paul Serrianne, Sixth Grade Art

Paula Yarnell, Fifth Grade Art

Welcome to our first issue of Wordworks. This magazine contains one piece of writing from our students in grades four, five, and six. Each student is showcasing his or her writing ability in a variety of prompts ranging from the whimsical to introspective. In order to show the progression of writing in the grades, I have attempted to keep each writing piece as authentic as possible without major editorial changes. My goal in this magazine is to show the progression from the Lower School in fourth grade to the midpoint of the Middle School in sixth grade. It is truly a great time to experience growth in writing and watch the writing evolve in our Lower and Middle School grades.

Enjoy the first issue!

Brendan McEachern

Izzy Rawlings Pg. 17

Mercer Reynolds Pg. 25

Jack Riley Pg. 13, 46

Jack Robinson Pg. 38

Anna Grace Sanders Pg. 40, 42

Kyleigh Sandker Pg. 4

Patrick Schaaf Pg. 6

Madeline Schaefer Pg. 11, 44

Tommy Schaefer Pg. 38

Luke Schneider Pg. 39

David Schnitter Pg. 34, 43

Ryan Schnitter Pg. 9

Lilly Sievering Pg. 27

Madison Sievering Pg. 15

Kali Smith Pg. 16

Lyla Soper Pg. 26

Kate Stagnaro Pg. 8

Michael Stagnaro Pg. 20

Susie Stahl Pg. 13

Nicholas Stanis Pg. 20

Alek Stanisic Pg. 23

Sarah Stewart Pg. 36

Elena Stone Pg. 29

Maddie Sumnar Pg. 25, 45

Anna Toebben Pg. 23

Grace Tounge Pg. 4

Ethan Traiforis Pg. 39, 43

Allen Wang Pg. 35, 42

Ryka Woodruff Pg. 34

Drew Zins Pg. 19

Cover Art

Ali Burns, Untitled

Ann Miller, Goddess of the Sun

Brenden Hamilton, Stained Glass Window

Claire Lamarre, Stained Glass Window

Grace Kelly, Lion King

Jack Riley, Step into the Universe

Reagan Bricking, Spring Fling

Trey Joseph, Blue Moon Over New York

Tucker Hayes, Mustachioed Mask

Tyler Berry, Unique

Louis Armstrong showed much perseverance because his mom and dad basically left him after fifth grade. He has inspired many famous musicians throughout the years and even today.

Neil Armstrong - a capstone essay excerpt

Drew Hinton Gr. 6

Neil Armstrong demonstrated courage many times throughout his life. Armstrong had an interesting life and showed courage through many extraordinary experiences. He demonstrated courage by fighting in the Korean War. He showed courage by joining the Aerospace program, a new and dangerous program. He also showed courage by risking his life to travel to the moon. Another way he showed courage was being the first person to walk on the moon, facing all the unknown problems that could have happened. Neil Armstrong was very brave, and he was able to contribute to society because of his great courage.

Art – an excerpt

James Hinton Gr. 6

Students’ left side brain needs to relax more and use the right side of their brains by drawing! Drawing for kids tends to help them be more creative. Art can also improve language development with describing. Finally, art helps relieve stress and boost self-confidence. Kids should have more creative time in school to draw to help improve their school day.

Art tends to make kids more creative. Kids would become more creative by practicing specific forms of art. For example, practicing oil painting helps creativity. The National Endowment for the Arts made a study showing that young kids that draw tend to be more creative. When kids are creative they would be better thinkers in most of their subjects. In addition to being more creative, kids will have an easier time developing language.

Art can improve language development for all kids. Kids would become better describers by simply talking about what they draw. A study by National Endowment for the Arts says that talking about what they made. Being able to describe it can help them in Language Arts class. Besides helping language development, it also helps relieve stress.

Artist Frida Kahlo - The Two Fridas

Sophia Nery Gr. 4

The artist Frida Kahlo painted this extraordinary painting, The Two Fridas, in 1939. Its style is a double self-portrait. The two Fridas are sitting on a bench in the midst of a storm, holding hands. The one in the more western style dress is holding metal scissors that are clamping down on her vein, though some blood is escaping, and dripping on her beautiful white dress. Her heart looks hurt, almost decayed, and cut in half while the more traditional, Mexican Frida has a whole, healthy heart. Traditional, Mexican Frida is gingerly holding a miniature of Diego Rivera as a young boy. A vein winding around them from their hearts connects them both; I think the vein is supposed to symbolize their connection. I think that Frida was trying to show in the painting that she was torn. Torn between both sides of herself, one moving on, starting a new life, cutting all regret, while the other will not let go, it still remembers and will not completely go away, fighting the other side. I think this is why she put some dim colors, to show she was at war with herself, trying to decide if she should just move on or linger there. When you think of war, do you think of a bright, beautiful, sunny day? Do you think of a clear sky and the sweet aroma of flowers? No, you do not, you think of a gray/black sky, a storm, chaos. That is what you think when you think of war. I think she says through the painting, that she is at war.

Beautiful – a haiku

Joshua Clauder Gr. 5

Beautiful flowers

Birds soaring through the sky

Japanese maple

Being the Governor

Carlo Quintero Gr. 4

Being the governor of a state is a tough job. If you are the governor, you have many responsibilities. There are papers that you have to sign and documents you have to read. You also need to pick people to help you with all of your duties. Governors have to travel a lot for their job. They have to meet with people all over their state and listen to all of their problems and try to think of ways to fix them. You have to make all of the people that live in your state happy if you are the governor. If you do not, they will not want you to be governor for very long, and they will not vote for you again. If you are the governor, you never get to relax. You cannot even live in your own house. People are always watching you and listening to every word that you say. If you are at the movies or a restaurant, people can come up to you and want a picture or an autograph. If you are the governor, you cannot ever have a bad day.

I am almost one hundred percent sure that I will never be a governor. My dream job is to be an entrepreneur and starting my own company. The only thing that I think that being the governor might be good for is if you want to be the president someday. I do not think this is the job for me, but you never know, maybe someday it will happen.

The Best Day of My Life

Christina Francis Gr. 4

When I got to gym class I noticed something. My leg wasn’t hurting! We were in a unit called Futness (fun + fitness). In Futness we first did the fitness part: running for 10 minutes, jumping jacks, pushups, various other things. After fitness we did the fun part - any type of sports you could think of. Now what was special was I finally got to play! My leg would always hurt when I did exercise because I had a bruise, and if you couldn’t do the fitness you couldn’t do the fun. But… my leg wasn’t hurting, so I could do the fitness and the fun. It was special over all, but after that gym class my leg would not stop hurting for 2 months! I went up the stairs like a kindergartener which is one step at a time and I could NOT run. I’m so glad that is all in the past!

Binders

Addie Ransick Gr. 6

On a warm Saturday afternoon, I walked into Target. I was sad to see that all of the cool binders were gone. I asked a person that worked at Target if they had any in the back and he said, “We have a shipment coming tomorrow morning.” I thought why not stay at Target all night so I can buy all of the binders. I went to find a bed. I decided to make a toilet paper fort and sleep there. I got some popcorn, some pillows, and a TV. Then it was closing time. I went in my toilet paper fort, watched a movie and fell asleep. I guess I snored because when I woke up there was a security guard standing next to me. I ran and got all the cute binders. I paid for them, and the guard walked me out. I was banded from Target for three months, but I still got all the cute binders. Now they won’t get another shipment for three months.

Bird food – a Science Personal Inquiry project conclusion paragraph

Brett Maples Gr. 5

In this experiment I attempted to explore if birds like safflower seeds or mealworms better. My hypothesis is that birds will like mealworms better. My results supported my original hypothesis. Birds took meal worms 6 times and safflower seeds only 2 times. One limitation I faced was that I did not collect enough data to draw a reasonable claim. A question I had was that if the man wasn’t there would I get the same results.

Birds Talking

Nia Neal Gr. 4

Birds chase each other, Having some summer fun, They laugh and talk sing and play, Until the day is done. Birds talk just like humans, But in their own special way. Even though it may be quiet, They always have something to say.

Breakout – an excerpt

Kate Stagnaro Gr. 6

On a Friday afternoon two little chinchillas named Pepper and Midnight (Midnight is a little peevish) sat in their cage not knowing what to do. Pepper and Midnight are able to jump up to 4 feet high with their long ears and bushy tails. They noticed that their cage door was left open, so they had a sneaky idea of escaping. Midnight and Pepper wondered where to go, so they decided to travel to Mr. Lynam’s classroom to play the ukulele but then Pepper accidentally got stuck in the hole. Midnight took his sharp teeth and bit the strings, freeing Pepper. They decided they were finished playing around with the ukulele. After Pepper and Midnight went to Mr. Lynam’s room, they decided they wanted to play the trumpet. They were too scared to go down the stairs, so they had the brilliant idea of going in the vents. They started crawling and then there was a big slide so they decided to go down it. On the way down, the vent popped open and they slid down into Mr. Browning’s room. Lucky for them, the trumpet was available for them to play. Pepper and Midnight blew the trumpet and the noise went right into Midnight’s ear, and then they decided that was the last time they would play the trumpet. They decide that they are hungry, so they know just where to go. As they crawled through the chapel they were very quiet and went down the stairs too. Once they arrived in the cafeteria, they saw exactly what they wanted, ice cream!

Cardinals – a Personal Inquiry Science project - results/conclusion

Reagan Bricking Gr. 5

In this experiment I attempted to explore if cardinals prefer eating from a Pennington Window Feeder or from a Nature Anywhere Window Feeder. My hypothesis was that cardinals would eat more from the Nature Anywhere Feeders because cardinals like to eat in bigger, more open spaces. My results did not prove or disprove my hypothesis because no cardinals came to either feeder.

Carolina Chickadees – a Personal Inquiry Science project - results/conclusion

Ann Miller Gr. 5

In this experiment, I attempted to explore whether Carolina Chickadees preferred the Nature Anywhere feeder or the Pennington feeder. I hypothesized that Carolina Chickadees would prefer the Nature Anywhere feeder. My results did not support my hypothesis. One male House Finch came to the Nature Anywhere feeder. Two House Finches (1 male and 1 female) came to the Pennington feeder in total. No Carolina Chickadees visited either feeder during the experiment. Therefore…

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Test: Essay Response

T.J. McGrath Gr. 6

Aslan and the White Witch rule in different ways. Aslan rules with kindness, while the White Witch rules with fear. He is kind to people, and she is cruel to people. If Aslan wasn’t in LWW, then there would be no hope for Narnia except for the two Sons of Adam and the two Daughters of Eve. If the White Witch wasn’t in LWW, then the humans wouldn’t be needed, and all of Narnia would be happy. Those are facts about Aslan and the White Witch from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Edmund goes through many trials in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. One of them is the temptation of the Turkish Delights candy, which he falls for because he always wants more. Another one is the Betrayal of the Family, which he succeeds in, but the family escapes before the White Witch gets them. The Battle for Narnia is one, too, and he succeeds in it by breaking the White Witch’s wand. Those are a few of the trials Edmund goes through in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Winston Churchill – a capstone essay excerpt

Nick Bergeron Gr. 5

Winston Churchill had a very interesting life. On November 30, 1874, he was born. His father was Lord Randolph Churchill and his mother was Jeanette Jerome. He grew up in Dublin, Ireland. In 1888, Churchill was sent to a boarding school. Weeks later he joined The Harrow Rifle Corps putting him on a path to join the Military. Churchill rarely saw his parents while at boarding school, and his father died when Churchill was 21. He graduated 20th in a class of 130 students. Churchill was in the army for only 5 years, however he was in at the peak of British power. After he left the army he wrote about his experiences in a newspaper. Churchill married Clementine Hosier and became Britain’s Prime Minister in 1940, retired in 1945 and then became Prime Minister again in 1951. In 1955, Churchill suffered numerous strokes in his office and had to recuperate at his home. Then he suffered a severe stroke and died at the age of 90.

Class Pets Escape – an excerpt

Lavina Grzymajlo Gr. 6

One Friday night, Mrs. Rademacher leaves the cage of the class chinchillas open. Pepper, a gray white mix color, and Midnight, a dark black color, are free to escape. The chinchillas are from South America and have the softest fur in the world. When they see the cage is open they both peer out of the door, climb on top of their dust bath container, and jump out. They run over to the vending machines in the cafeteria and see if any food is available. Pepper and Midnight try and fit into the place where the food comes out, but they became stuck. They try and jump on the machine, but they fall down. Midnight says, “We can look for some loose change on the ground.” Pepper says, “Great idea.” They find some change and jump onto the machine to put it in the slot. They click C4 which is the number for the raisin box. The red raisin box falls out of the machine. Pepper and Midnight eat ten raisins each. At 8:00 p.m. they are lying on the floor stuffed from a sugar high.

The next morning, Pepper and Midnight wake up next to the vending machines. They decide they want to go to Kyte Theater. When they arrive at the theater, it is dark and empty. They run over to the light room. Pepper and Midnight hop on to the table and start messing with the lights. A few minutes later, the lights start sparking and then they all go out. Midnight and Pepper decide to scurry over to the stage. They jump on to the curtains and start swinging from them. They swing off the curtains and run over to the props. They try and make themselves look unique by dressing up. Finally, they go to the back room and tear everything up. Since they are really tired, they roll over to the chairs in the audience and take a nap.

Cold Mirabella Bosse Gr. 4

Dearest Aunt Ann,

There is so much snow on the ground, more than I have ever seen in my life. It keeps coming with no end in sight. The winds howl all night as storms continue to attack us. Ice covers the water in the harbor. It is cold enough to make our clothes stick to us. We are chilled to the bone, and keeping warm is a struggle. Building a fire is difficult, as we all have to live on the Mayflower. We worry about the ship catching fire, but we are so very cold.

We arrived too late in the year to build houses as winter had already begun. Father and the men spend the day working on building houses and common buildings. The work is slow due to the conditions and the lack of men that are able to work. So many of us are sick. The first building completed was a main common building. It is used to store goods, and when we finally are off the ship, it will be the meeting hall.

The days are long. We have very little to keep us busy. Some women are teaching us reading and writing. Another way we pass the time is singing hymns or listening to passages from the bible. I have some friends on the ship and we play games as well. If the weather is not too bad, we play tag. That is everyone’s favorite game.

Colors and Combinations in The Two Fridas

Madeline Schaefer Gr. 4

In this painting, The Two Fridas, are sitting next to each other connected by veins. Frida Kahlo painted this painting in 1939, the year she divorced Diego Rivera. The Frida on the right is holding a medical clamp connected to the vein. The medical clamp is trying to stop it bleeding. The Frida on the left is wearing a white dress just like a wedding dress. I think the dress was Frida Kahlo’s wedding dress. The Frida’s heart on the left is broken because she got a divorce from Diego Rivera. Her heart is also broken because she was in a bus accident when she was young. The Frida on the right is holding a miniature of Diego Rivera when he was younger. The beautiful Frida on the right is wearing a Mexican style dress. The unique colors on her dress draw my eyes to this version of Frida. I think Frida looks happier on the right, and I think she likes her Mexican side better. I think she likes her Mexican side more because her heart is not broken. I believe that the Frida on the left is younger and the one on the right is older. I think that she is trying to say that both of her selves are connected. I love the use of color and combinations Frida Kahlo used in this painting. The contrasting colors and the primary colors make the red hearts stand out. The stormy gray sky seems to be moving toward the two Fridas, ready to consume them. I think Frida Kahlo created this painting because she wanted to show both of the sides of herself linked even if they are at odds with each other, that she is not one without the other side.

Day in the Life of a Volcano

Alaric Jones Gr. 4

I feel sick, and I am about to burp. My belly hurts, and there is smoke coming out of my head. I feel like my head is about to explode. I need to hold it in, or I will destroy everything in my path, including the village and everyone living there.

Oh no! My throat is burning! I cannot hold it in any longer. I cannot stop it. It is coming out! This hot, steaming liquid is flowing too fast. It is rolling over my head and down my sides. The lava from inside me has engulfed the village. Everything has been destroyed. Where my lava covers land it will create new rocks and provide fertilizer for the soil in the future.

I feel so much better now. My belly has stopped rumbling and gurgling. It is no long hurting and causing me discomfort. Fortunately, the villagers knew that I was not feeling well, and they were able to get out of the path of my oozing lava. With all of the pressure released, I think that it is time for me to get some rest. A hundred year nap sounds pretty good.

Ree Drummond – an excerpt

Eva Pappano Gr. 6

Ree Drummond was born on January 6, 1969. Throughout her life, she has become an award winning blogger and an amazing cook. When Ree was little she lived with her family in the city. They lived in Oklahoma on the seventh fairway of a golf course. After high school, Ree went on to college in California. She went to the University of Southern California. After college, Ree got a great job. She wore very nice clothes and ate very interesting foods, while she still lived in the city.

Ree later went back to Oklahoma for a brief visit to meet her family. She fell in love with her current husband Ladd Drummond. They moved out to a huge farm in Oklahoma and had four children, Alex, Paige, Bryce, and Todd. Ree then went on to be an award winning blogger. She was a great author, photographer, cook and even wrote a few cook books. She now continues in her hit show “The Pioneer Women.” She loves her country life and enjoys cooking and hanging with her kids.

She went to a great college and got a great job. She is an award winning author and blogger. She has been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, The Bonnie Hunt Show, Ladies’ Home Journal, Women’s Day, Southern Living, and People. Her very first cook book was published in 2009. She makes great food and has great success on her show. Drummond also is an amazing photographer and uses her photos on many of her blogs and cook books. Ree has done so many great things so far in her life, and there are more to come.

Earth’s Spheres – a science test paragraph response

Owen Kohlhepp Gr. 5

The Earth’s spheres are interacting in many ways. People (biospheres) are interacting with the geosphere to build the dam (geosphere). The dam is blocking the water (hydrosphere). The hydrosphere interacts with the atmosphere to make the rain. This is how spheres can interact.

Ecosystem – a science poem

Susie Stahl Gr. 5

My family is like an ecosystem and you are like the flowers and the sun, whenever we see animals I have a lot of fun. Every day I spend with you going around outside, and when we go to the park I like to run and hide, in the sun and around the slide. The ecosystem is all around, in the sky and on the ground. But you’re the most important part, being my mother from the start.

Albert Einstein – a capstone speech

Jack Riley Gr. 5

Hello my name is Albert Einstein. I was born on Mark 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany. No one knew what I was capable of. I had a very hard childhood. Behind my back my family called me “the dopey one.” I had a temper and once I even threw a chair at my tutor. After I failed math I was expelled from high school. Then I had to go back and finish high school after college. After graduation I had a tough time finding a job. My research and theories changed the way we look at energy, matter, gravity, space, and time. My paper on the Theory of Relativity led the production of nuclear energy. I also proved that atoms and molecules exist. I would charge photographers for money and then give the money to help the poor. I died on April 14, 1955.

Renee Elise

Kathleen Fitzpatrick Gr. 6

Renee Elise was a prophet who lived from 2005 to 2100. She spoke out against labels and stereotypes. She believed that labels should be abolished. She believed that humans are humans, no matter their gender, race, appearance, income, and all the other labels that have been plastered, by humanity, onto each and every one of us. She said that stereotypes are a misconception that society has planted in our brains and watered by prejudice and hate. These misconceptions are not fact, and limit everyone they have been placed upon. People were shocked at how true her words were. Some felt attacked by the honesty and hated her. Others felt a sense of clarity and realization and changed their ways and spoke out against things they believed were immoral.

Escape - an excerpt

Darnell Baldwin Gr. 6

The sixth grade pet chinchillas called Midnight and Pepper’s cage has been left open. They thought of a way to escape. First, they looked out for the janitors. Midnight and Pepper had a good sense for seeing things. They didn’t see anybody, so they snuck out and went through a crack they found by the door. They heard a drone noise so they quickly got out of the school. Afterwards, they think about going to the café to get some treat in the school. Midnight and Pepper think about going to the café because they were very hungry. They walk there fast, and go and get some yogurt. Midnight’s favorite snack were the raisins. Midnight knew that he can only eat one raisin per day. Pepper’s favorite snack were the chicken nuggets. He couldn’t eat too much of them or he would get sick. Midnight next said that they should go to the gym to play some basketball and soccer.

They ran past the playground right to Holmes gym. They played basketball and soccer when they heard a drone noise. They quickly ran away, and the janitor was confused by who was making the noise with the balls. Midnight and Pepper were so relieved that they weren’t caught. They then wanted to go to the pond.

They then went to the pond, and were very careful of where they stepped. Midnight and Pepper liked watching the fish swim around in the pond. Then something bad happened. Midnight accidently bumped Pepper in the water! The janitor then ran outside to the pond, and dried off Pepper. Pepper had water trickling from his fur for three hours. The janitor immediately put them both in the cage and gave them food.

Extinction: Don’t Let Birds Leave – a birds in decline flyer in science

Gracey Kelly Gr. 5

Would you be surprised if I told you that 10% of all bird species are likely to be extinct by the year 2100! Well, don’t be because this could happen in reality, not just in your nightmares. According to researcher Cagan H. Sekercrioglu of the Stanford Center for Conservation Biology, he states that the main reason for bird extinction is due to disease, invasive species, habitat loss, and pollution. So how do dead birds affect you? Bird extinction can affect decomposition, pollination, and seed dispersal. Birds play an important role in seed dispersal. If birds go extinct you can for sure kiss a large portion of our national park trees or common plants goodbye. When birds brush by a plant or a tree, buds pop open and disperse seeds, so without birds this process can’t happen. Also with birds gone they can’t decompose. Decomposition is important for the grass to grow despite its bad smell. When birds decompose (poop) they help the grass grow by giving grass the nutrients to grow. Bird extinction does not just effect plants but also on human. Without plants to give us oxygen, breathing will become a privilege, not a need. Can you imagine a world without oxygen? This doesn’t mean just goodbye to humans; it means goodbye to all animals that need oxygen. Even if birds were not involved with seed dispersal we would just die of disease.

Good Feelings

William Bishop Gr. 4

Rewarding effort and participation is important. Children try hard in the activities that they are involved in, and rewarding them for their effort helps to increase their motivation to participate. Receiving a participation award makes children feel happy about what they have accomplished. It also makes them went to continue playing and not quit or give up.

Participation awards are important for young children. It keeps them excited about sports and activities. An example of this is track for younger kids where everyone gets a ribbon. This policy keeps kids motivated and interested. As children get older, the need to award them for participation decreases. If you come in last or second to last, you no longer receive awards. This is important because in life not all of you actions are rewarded.

Overall, I believe that participation awards serve a purpose in helping kids to feel proud of themselves and promoting interest in games and sports. They also help children to develop confidence. The positive effect of participation awards only lasts for so long though. Eventually, awards should only be given for the top participants.

Graceful Sounds

Kali Smith Gr. 4

Birds chirping

Tweet, tweet, tweet

Bees buzzing

Buzz, buzz, buzz

Water flowing

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh

Fish splashing

Split, splat, split

Sticks braking

Crack, crack, crack

Leaves rustling

Flutter, flutter, flutter

Soft sounds of nature.

Gym – an excerpt

Tanner Berry Gr. 4

It was gym day, and my class rushed down the stairs to change our clothes. My class races to see who can get changed first, the boys or the girls. Everyone was out of the locker rooms except for one boy and one girl. The whole class cheered as the last boy exited the locker room. The boys won! When the final girl came out, we hurried up the stairs. Mr. Daniel asked everyone to get in our teams, and everyone scampered to find their teammates. Then Mr. Daniel told us that we were playing kickball. Everyone was really excited. My team was the first one up to kick, and I was the first kicker. Mr. Daniel pitched the ball to me, and I kicked it toward second base. I had kicked a single. It was time for the next kicker. He kicked right at the second base. I started running as fast as I could, but someone tagged me out. The next kick was a bad one, and it went straight up in the air. Mr. Daniel caught it, and my team suddenly had two outs. The entire team was cheering and going crazy. The next person up kicked the ball to the third base line, and the other team dropped the ball. We had a runner on first base…

Halloween - an excerpt

Wali Khan Gr. 6

One very unordinary night, six pumpkins were missing from the store. The father, the one who found six pumpkins on his door step, got to carve the biggest pumpkins. The kids carved the pumpkins, and made pumpkin pies out of the insides. They waited for the pumpkins to dry, so they could make jack-o-lanterns. The kids wanted their house to be the scariest on the block, so no one would come to them. They wanted the candy they bought. They put up fake cob webs, painted cracks on the stairs, and asked their parents to flicker the lights. The jack-o-lanterns were wired with the help of the brother. When someone got close, they would turn off, and all the light would go off in the house. Inside was a cache of food, so they could eat a healthy dinner when they came back…

Health – an excerpt

Izzy Rawlings Gr. 5

Of the three health types, one of the most important is Physical Health. Physical Health is the health of your body on the inside and outside. Examples of physical health behaviors are playing sports, staying active, and eating well. Physical Health is important because if you can be physically healthy you can live longer. If you have unhealthy physical health you will have a shorter life. If people are under or overweight they will get sick more. While you are keeping your body healthy, you also need to keep your mind healthy.

Healthy Eating – an excerpt

Beckett Holmes Gr. 5

What is Physical Health? Physical Health is you are being a healthy eater and getting enough exercise. How do you show healthy physical health? A person can show healthy physical behavior by watching what you eat or drink. Also get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. How do you have bad physical health? A person can sit on the couch and eat chips.

Houseplants – an Air Quality Letter in Science

Max Jambor Gr. 5

Mr. Johnson, I am writing because I would like you to get more houseplants in this building. To be more precise I would like you to get about 1 to 4 plants per room in this building to help increase all the houseplants in the entire building. According to the Agriculture University in Oslo, Norway, being around houseplants can lower the risk of getting common cold symptoms (dry irritated eyes, sneezing and a runny nose).

The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care says that if you are around houseplants the risk of being absent decreases by 40%.

I – a poem

Colleen Busher Gr. 5

Three words that describe me: intelligent, self-reliant, talented. Who enjoys playing basketball. Who is able to give a laugh. Who feels satisfied with life. Who wonders where do you go when you die. Who fears dying. Who cares about my family. Who dreams of becoming an engineer.

Peter Isaacson – a courage essay excerpt

Liam Girkin Gr. 5

Mr. Isaacson was also a very courageous man, aside from all his other amazing traits. He joined the army/ air force voluntarily at the age of 20 because of how the Germans treated Jews. Throughout all his years in the service, he never decided to quit, and became one of the most advanced bombers ever. On one of his missions, he was almost killed, but even as his plane was tumbling to the ground, he didn’t just sit around and wait to die. He saved his crew while they were falling in midair. He is very courageous because not many people knew him, but he still went against the odds, and started his own publishing company. Mr. Isaacson is very courageous because of his war efforts and his publishing career.

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole - an excerpt from the Biography Perseverance essay

Gwen Hellmann Gr. 6

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, otherwise known as “Iz”, brought joy to people’s ears all around the world, but he to, faced many setbacks. Iz started playing and performing the ukulele at the young age of ten. His family knew he was special. Later on in his life he encountered medical and family struggles. Iz continued to persevere and overcame many of those setbacks.

Early on, Iz was called, “the kid with the ukulele.” Israel was born on May 20, 1959 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He first started performing on steamboats where his father was a bouncer, and his mother was the manager. He met many musicians, and even spent time with Gabby Pahinui and The Sons of Hawaii. After he moved to the O’ahu’s Wai’anae Coast, he formed a band called Makaha Sons. After his successful run as a member of the band, he decided to venture out on his own. Later on in his solo career, almost all of his immediate family died.

Throughout most of his life, Iz was in and out of hospitals. He weighed almost 700 pounds. Iz got married in 1982 to a woman named Marlene and soon after had a daughter named, Ceslie-Ann “Wehi” Kamakawiwo’ole. He enjoyed every second ewith his family, knowing that he would have a brief life.

Michael

Jordan

Drew Zins Gr. 6

Many people think of Michael Jordan as the best basketball player of all time. He won six championships. He never lost in the finals. He had a 72-10 season which is second all-time behind the Warriors’ 73-9. He once averaged 30.12 points per game. Some of these records will never be broken.

Born February 17th, 1963 in Brooklyn, NY Michael Jordan always loved basketball. He only started to get interested in high school. He went to Lancey High School in North Carolina. In his sophomore year, he tried out for the varsity but was cut. He went home to his room and cried. He was accepted to the team in his senior year. Jordan was the 3rd overall pick in the NBA draft of 1984 and played for the Bulls. He was titled rookie of the year after his first season. Despite his skills he went 38-44 in his first season. They struggled the next few years and lost in the eastern finals twice in the semifinals once and in the first round three times. They overcame the hardship and Jordan led the to a NBA title.

Michael Jordan suffered through many heartbreaks for his first 6 seasons. He was called a bust for many years. After all the practice and additions to the Bulls, Michael Jordan won 3 championships, retired to try baseball, came back and won 3 more championships. He persevered when he was down 86-83 in his last finals. He took a game-winning jump shot and they were up 87-86 with 5 seconds left.

Michael Jordan is a basketball hero. He was the greatest of all time. He has won 88 awards. The young and the old look up to the phenomenal basketball star. He has one of the best legacies in the NBA. He will cement himself as one of the greatest athletes to ever play.

Eric Lamaze - an excerpt

Alaina Fisher Gr. 6

Eric Lamaze is an Olympic showjumper after suffering many years of difficulties. He had a hard childhood. He worked with horses from a young age. The more he worked, the better he became at horseback riding. Lamaze was born on April 17, 1968 in Montreal, Quebec. He overcame a disorderly childhood under care of his grandmother. At 15 years old, he dropped out of school. After dropping out, he worked in the horse industry under top trainers such as Roger Peslauriers, George Morris, Jay Hays, and Hugh Graham. With little financial banking, he was able to work his way to the top of the sport.

He began competing at the Grand Prix (top-level) competition in 1992. One year later, he was named to the Canadian Equestrian Team. In 1994, he represented Canada at the world equestrian games and finished second in the Canadian world cup league standings. During team trials, leading up to the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta, he tested positive for drug use and was banned for 4 years, but was reduced to 7 months. Lamaze earned a spot on the Canadian Olympic team in 2000. Again removed from the team when tested positive for banned substances. Lamaze was banned for life, but it was later overturned.

He persevered through difficulties through the years, but reached success. He went from being banned to one of the top-3 riders in the world. He has done much for this sport and made history. In conclusion, Eric Lamaze is a Canadian Olympic showjumper that had difficulties, but persevered.

Learning about Health – an excerpt

Carson Hall Gr. 5

Have you ever wondered “Am I a healthy person?” If not, then how can you become healthy? And, how can I learn about health? Well, if so, then this reading is for you. There are three different types of health, Mental/ Emotional, Family/Social, Importance, and Physical health (M.E.S.H.I.P. for short). If you want to learn more about M.E.S.H.I.P. then I will start off with Mental/Emotional Health…

Leonardo da Vinci

Kameron Givan Gr. 6

Leonardo da Vinci was born April 15, 1452 in Anchiano, Italy. Leonardo’s nickname was da Vinci. Leonardo was enrolled in an art school. Soon, he was taught to paint. Da Vinci became the best painter in the school. Leonardo had these journals which he wrote backward in. Leonardo designed the first flame thrower, and the army asked him to design all of their attack weapons. Soon, Michelangelo, another famous Renaissances artist, came and started painting. Leonardo and Michelangelo developed problems with each other over a period of time. Leonardo thought it was best to view dead people to draw their lungs and heart and then their bones and flesh in detail.

In the grand council chamber in Pitao Vessel in Florence, Italy, Leonardo was supposed to paint a huge mural. The mural was about the Battle of Onkiario. When Leonardo went to France, he had a stroke which left his right arm unsteady Leo’s left arm was unsteady. It was said that Leonardo died in the arms of King Frances on the 1st in the year of May 2, 1519.

A Letter from a Pilgrim Child

Luke Pappano Gr. 4

My Dearest Uncle James, I hope this letter finds you in good health. How are you and Aunt Elizabeth doing? If you are wondering how I am, I am sad that we had to leave you and our family members in England. The boat is packed, and we have to stay down in the lower deck all day. Captain Jones has two cats to chase the mice, and sometimes they will allow us to chase the cats. I met a boy named James. We tell each other jokes and riddles. Our food is terrible. We eat salt horse and hardtack. Salt horse is salted beef, and hardtack is dried up biscuits. A few days ago, we heard a crack and the middle beam broke. We had to use a metal screw that we brought to make houses to hold the beam up. The sailors make us suck on limes, so we do not get scurvy. Most of us wear the same outfit for weeks and weeks. Many of the passengers have already gotten seasick or worse, and the doctor could not help them. When there are high winds, we cannot have a fire, so we would eat our food cold. If we are bored, we sing songs or read books like the bible. There are no bathrooms. Which is very unpleasant. Everyone is looking forward to arriving in our new home. We all grow weary of the trip.

Lewis and Clark – an excerpt Katelyn Bastos Gr. 4

In 1804, Merriweather Lewis and William Clark left St. Louis to explore the Louisiana Purchase. If I had the opportunity to join the expedition, I would have liked to be part of their exploration. It would have been amazing to travel through unexplored land and see the world. On the expedition, I would have seen America before it became developed. There would have been trees and animals everywhere. There would be no telephone poles or roads, no towns or buildings. I also would have met many Native Americans along the way, and I would have been able to see their culture and traditions. Being on the expedition would have been difficult. I would really miss my family, but I would still have taken part in the journey. Food might be scarce at times, and the Natives that we met might not always have liked us. These would have been difficult situations, but it would have been worth it for the experience of exploring the world.

Lions of Little Rock – essay test response excerpt

Trey Joseph Gr. 5

Throughout the story Marlee grew as a character in terms of her bravery. Marlee was first brave when she gave her presentation to the class without Liz. She was also brave when she stole dynamite from Red’s trunk. Lastly, she was brave when she stood up to Mr. Dalton and told him Red was guilty of blowing up Betty Jean’s living room. Those are the three ways Marlee showed her bravery.

Live Report from Washington D.C.

William Hartmann Gr. 4

Hi, this is William Hartmann of NBC News, and I am on the scene of a crime in Washington D.C. I am standing next to the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial. This statue has been repeatedly attacked by acid rain, and over time, this constant bombardment has started to change the statue’s color. The memorial is made of bronze on a white marble base. The once pearly white base is now stained with green. Crime scene investigators have discovered that the culprit of the discoloration is acid rain. The rain hits the statue and causes the bronze to disintegrate. This makes the color run down to the base.

Due to this being our nation’s capital, there are many vehicles on the road at all times causing pollution. This pollution mixes with rain creating harmful acid rain. There is also pollution created by factories in the Northeast. This also increases the amount of acid rain in the area.

The green stains cannot be removed, but conservationists are now waxing the bronze in order to protect the statue from further effects of acid rain. This is William Hartmann signing out from the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, Washington D. C.

Meaningless Trophies – an excerpt

Maggie Bissmeyer Gr. 4

I do not believe that everyone should receive a trophy because it does not prepare you for real life. I think that there is a possibility that some people may not try as hard if they know that there will be an award regardless of their effort. I feel overall, trophies for participation do not make anyone try their best. Another reason that I feel that awards and trophies should not be given for participation is that if every time you play a sport and receive a trophy it does not make the people who tried hard feel special. When everyone gets a trophy, it is bad because in reality you are not rewarded in life just for being there. You have to work and put forth effort to accomplish goals. Can you imagine everyone in the Olympics receiving some type of medal? That would take away from the importance of the whole event. The Grammy’s is another example of possibly going home with nothing. You may be nominated, but only one person receives the Grammy. There are no awards for participation. If there were, the honor would not be as meaningful for the winners.

Michelangelo

Nolan Miller Gr. 6

In Michelangelo’s life, he created many things, but when he was young that’s when he developed his artistic abilities. At the age of 6, he went to a grammar school but showed no interest. Also, his mother died of a sickness. At the age of 13, his father sent him to the artist Lorenzo de Medici to become his apprentice. At the age of 26, his master died but when Lorenzo died, it opened the door for Michelangelo’s art to shine. Between 1493 and 1494, he bought a block of marble but nobody knows what he did with it. In Bologna, he was commissioned to finish the shrine of St. Dominic.

In the Vatican, he was commissioned to sculpt a picture of Mary holding Jesus. In Florence, Michelangelo made the great statue of David. Michelangelo spent four years laying on his back painting the Sistine Chapel. He is remembered as one of the best painters and sculptors from the past. He has influenced many painters and sculptors today.

More Movement - a persuasive essay excerpt

Shannon Dennemann Gr. 6

I believe that children sit too much during class. Since kids sit so much they do not pay attention. Kids also need to move more to be healthier. Children will also remember information more. I believe teachers should incorporate more movement into their 70-minute bell.

More movement will help kids pay attention. Kids will not start to get antsy because they have not been sitting and doing work for 70 minutes. Kids are more likely to focus if they have physical activity and if they have physical activity before a hard task it will help the kids do better on the task. Kids can focus more if movement is incorporated.

Kids do not move enough in class. Since kids sit in a chair most of the school day most kids do not move enough. If kids are sitting taking notes, they are not moving enough. Kids need 60 minutes of physical activity and most of kids are not getting that 60 minutes. With phones and electronics kids are sitting most of the day. Teachers cannot control what their students do at home, but they can control what they do in their class.

More Recess - a persuasive essay

Conlan Daniel Gr. 6

I think all kids should have a 60 minutes of recess. Because more kids will get exercise. Then more kids will make better lunch decisions resulting in more health. After getting 60 minutes of recess they will be more energized for the rest of the day. Kids in this time era aren’t getting enough exercise. If we get 60 minutes of recess kids will be more excited to go to school. Then kids will try eating better so they don’t get a cramp during recess. Then we will then have a chance of being the healthiest school in Ohio.

There is a need that all kids get 60 minutes of exercise every day. Then if we get 60 minutes of recess then kids will love school. We could maybe take one class out of our schedule. If we take a class away, then we won’t be sitting on our butts all day. So then kids have a lot of fun.

If we had 60 minutes of recess then we would have more time to play games such as football, basketball, four square, and tag. So if that happens we will get our blood going for the last two classes of the day. Then teachers will get more attention when teaching. Just think.

So what I’m suggesting that we need more recess. It will benefit very much. Then we will be a happier school. All kids will love it even more at this school. So let’s try doing it.

My Favorite Things

Mercer Reynolds Gr. 4

My awesome family and my great elf, A catch in football and a swish in basketball, A pass in soccer and a crack in baseball, These are a few of my favorite things.

Cool toys at my house and bright Christmas lights, Cousins and friends on fun snowy nights, Harry Potter, and magic wands, These are a few of my favorite things.

Salty popcorn and cheddar, too, Rhinos and tigers that live in the zoo, Tasty cakes that melt in my mouth, These are a few of my favorite things.

My Lucky Narrative – an excerpt

Maddie Sumnar Gr. 5

After I finished breakfast my dad told me to get dressed. I got dressed and got in the car. My dad drove to one of his favorite places to have fun, Kings Island! First we got in line for the Diamondback. It was so much fun! You fly down the first slope at about 80 miles an hour. Next we went to the Banshee and Drop Tower. After that we went on The Beast and decided we were done. It was a long walk to the car but we talked about how fun all the rides are at Kings Island.

Steve Nash - an excerpt from the Biography Perseverance essay

Patrick McHugh Gr. 6

Steve Nash would not have had the success he had if it wasn’t for his tremendous perseverance. Steve wanted to go to a well-known division 1 school but was rejected. He took every single rejection letter and kept them. He used this as motivation to get better. When he was drafted in the NBA people didn’t believe in him. Critics said he was too short. Steve Nash let none of this get to his head which made him a great player. If it wasn’t for Steve Nash’s perseverance he would not have excelled to where he is today. If he would have let all 24 rejection letters get to him he wouldn’t have had the success he had. It was the work ethic that made him a great player. He worked so hard on his shot, and it payed off big time for him. Steve Nash is now considered one of the greatest shooters and the greatest free throw shooter of all time.

Nature – a haiku

Lyla Soper Gr. 5

The birds are singing

The pond, lily pads, flowers

Crickets are chirping

Nature Is All Around – a haiku

Joaquin Beatty Gr. 5

Sun is shining down

Flowers, bushes, trees swaying

Nature is all around

Nature’s Song

Kwadwo Karikari Gr. 4

bubbling of water screaming of a bird tugging of the wind buzzing of bees squeaking of squirrels

dancing of leaves twirling of branches crunching of rock

Nature’s Symphony

Margaret Hobbins Gr. 4

Gurgling water falling over rocks

Tall trees swaying and rustling their tune

One small insect buzzing on blooms

Wind calmly whistling through leaves

Birds cheerfully singing a song

Squirrels scraping and scampering up a tree

The world of a living symphony

In one amazing score

With everything blending together

All of nature’s sounds creating a symphony

Old Art – an excerpt

Lilly Sievering Gr. 4

It was a bright and sunny day when, POW! Mrs. Wiesner said, “I have a surprise for you guys.” We all got really excited. She said that we had to wait until the end of class to find out about the surprise. We kept asking each other things like, “What could it be?” or “What do you think it is?” We could hardly wait for class to end. While everyone was talking, I noticed Mrs. Wiesner did not seem very hyped about anything. She actually seemed sad and somewhat depressed. I did not talk much. If she was not happy, it must not be a very good surprise. Everyone was so anxious about the surprise that we all kept looking at the clock and wondering when class would end. Finally, class was ending and everyone was smiling except for one person, Mrs. Wiesner. She had us all gather around and she said, “I am leaving The Summit Country Day School this year in order to become a full time artist.” Everyone’s mouth dropped…

Organ Donation – an excerpt

Millie Browner Gr. 6

What is organ donation? Well it’s when a person gives their transplantable organs to people who need them. One human can save up to 8 lives with their organs, some transplants may occur after someone’s death or while they are still alive. Transplants are common for liver, heart, kidney, bone, lungs and intestines disease. It’s such a great way to save lives.

Donating organs! Why is it important? Well the great thing about organ donation is that is it so easy to do. All you have to do it submit a little form online or mark a circle on your license then you can save multiply lives after you pass. Some people don’t like being organ donors because surgeons have to remove their valid organs from their body. Which is totally your choice or belief but to me if I got a chance to save a life I would do it in less than a heartbeat. There are few organs that you can donate while alive like half a liver, or a kidney. But wouldn’t you want to save lives?

Think about it! How exactly would you feel if you needed and organ? What if you couldn’t get it?

Well many people who need organs die waiting for a transplant because the lack of organ donors. 22 people on average die every day waiting for a transplant.

Over Rewarding – an excerpt

Elena Stone Gr. 4

I do not believe that everyone should receive an award or medal because kids have to learn that you do not always get what you want, and that you have to work for things that are important. I think kids have to experience what not getting what they would like all the time feels like. I believe that it sets a good example and sets children up for success later in life. It provides a good perspective on what to expect and not to expect. Some kids get everything they want when they ask for it, and I do not think that to get everything you want teaches good life skills. I believe that it is especially bad for older kids because that is when children start learning and developing more responsibility. I think kids should truly have to work hard to receive or earn something that would really like. After working hard, kids will have something to look forward to and be proud about. They will get a lot of satisfaction out of the award because they are aware of how much hard work was involved in getting to that point.

Jessie Owens - an excerpt from the Biography Perseverance essay

Jed Koenig Gr. 6

Jesse grew up in a poor family and never gave up on running which rewarded him later in being an Olympian. Jesse Owens became a great athlete in high school, and he kept getting better. His perseverance led him to be an outstanding athlete in the Olympics. This is how Jesse showed perseverance.

Jesse Owens life as a child was rather hard. He grew up in Oakville, Alabama. Then he moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Jesse was often sick of chronic bronchial congestion because for him and his family. To make money he had to pick 100 lbs. of cotton each day. At least Jesse thought that the school was better, and the school was a lot larger compared to his old one room school in Alabama. This shows Jesse’s hardship as a child and successes.

Jesse Owens was becoming a record breaking athlete in high school. When Jesse Owens was in his junior in high school he set some major milestones. He was recruited by many colleges but, he chose to go to Ohio State which was his dream growing up. Since Ohio State didn’t offer him a scholarship, he had to work a few jobs so he could pay tuition.

The Package - an excerpt Logan Miller Gr. 6

Today, I opened my door, and found something interesting. It was a small cardboard package, wrapped in a little red bow. I opened it up. The curiosity getting the best of me. It was a small loose leaf note that read two simple words, “You’re Next.” The rest of the day, I was more alert than ever, but nothing happened. Maybe it was for that giveaway I entered a month ago. I thought, trying, but failing, to satisfy my wondering mind.

I fell asleep after hours of unrest, and woke up to the sound of scratching on my window. I jumped up, running out of my bedroom, and cowering in the basement. I eventually built up the courage to see what was on the window, if it was still there. I looked out, and- what was that! I was shocked, but I then realized it was just a tree branch. Fatigued, I went back to sleep, and nothing else happened.

I woke up, still wondering about the mysterious note, but not caring much about it, thinking it was some stupid teenage prank. Suddenly, the doorbell rang again, and another package! There was another note inside, and it read, “This isn’t a prank.” More nervous than ever, I turned on the news to see if anyone else was experiencing the same things. The news confirmed it was a prank, but not before the door creaked open and a monster-like shadow slunk in...

Sister Paisley: Spreading God’s Goodness – an excerpt

Allison Burns Gr. 6

Today is September 1, 1840, which is my birthday. I am a sister in Namur, Belgium. I live in a large, beautiful convent with the other Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Today I’m turning twenty years old. The sisters and I had a party to celebrate my birthday. We ate chocolate cake and had a meal cooked for us. My life living in the convent in just like all of the other sisters’ lives. Every day we wake up early to prepare for the classes and children. I am a teacher there, and I teach second grade math. When we have free time at the convent we love to play volleyball outside with each other. I had been going to school at that same convent since I was five years old and I stayed there after I graduated and became a sister. I am very excited that I get to journey to America soon and to make a difference there.

We set sail on the Eliza Thornton. The Eliza Thornton is a large sail boat that we took from Belgium all the way to America. On the ship, the six weeks were fun spending time with everyone. I loved being able to travel with my very good friend Sister Susan, who became a sister at the same time that I did. Every day I would look out on the water and see so many sites. I saw water everywhere I looked, and I saw whales, fish, and dolphins. We passed many countries on the way because we traveled up the North Sea. We passed the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Participation Counts – an excerpt

Lennard Mellin Gr. 4

I believe that everyone get and award or trophy because everyone on the team is participating. Some people might be sad about not doing well in an event or game, and if they do not receive recognition, all they have is sadness. This can lead them to give up or quit the sport or activity. Last year in Boy Scouts, I received second place in the Pine Wood Derby. Everyone that participated got a trophy or badge. This did not make my trophy and second place finish less meaningful for me. I was happy that the other kids were recognized for participating. For the past two year, I have won the Raingutter Regatta, which is a boat race. In this event, awards were given out for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, as well as, participation. This policy makes all of the kids feel special and happy during the event. Some people may leave happier than others, but everyone enjoys the regatta and feels good about their effort.

Pepper and Midnight - Gr. 6 class pets- an excerpt Megan Ebken Gr. 6

On a Friday afternoon Pepper and Midnight were relaxing in their cage. Suddenly the bell rang, and the students left for the weekend. Mrs. Rademacher accidentally forgot to close the chinchilla’s cage when she left, and Pepper and Midnight exchanged mischievous looks.

The sun rose from the dark sky, it was Saturday, the day of Pepper and Midnight’s freedom! Midnight stepped out of his saw dust bed and hopped out of the cage on to the chilly tile floor. Midnight cried out, “Pepper get up!”

Pepper groaned, “It’s only 6:30 in the morning Midnight!”

“I know, but we are going on an adventure today!”

“Really?” asked Pepper. “Then what are we waiting for, let’s go!” As the two chinchillas scurried out of room 11 Midnight stopped. “What’s the matter? Why did you stop?” complained Pepper.

“It’s……It’s a big stick thing with a fluffy bottom?”

“You mean a mop!” exclaimed Pepper.

“Oh yeah, a mop! Look and adjacent to the mop is a big yellow swimming pool!”

“Let’s dive in!” said Pepper. “CANNONBALL!”

Pie

Mason Butler Gr. 4

Pie is wonderful and sweet,

Pie is nice and very yummy,

Pie is round and very neat,

Pie is great in your tummy,

Pie is a delicious treat to eat,

Pie is also good for your mummy.

Pie is warm not cold,

Pie is better than bars of gold,

But, pie is bad when there is mold!

Pilgrim Child - A Letter From One

Claire Lamarre Gr. 4

Dear Constance, the trip on the Mayflower was indeed very rough, but my family and I made it through the harsh winter and it is now spring. There are not very many Pilgrims living in the village. The houses are wooden boards and covered in in wattle and daub. The floors are mostly made of hard packed dirt or clay, but sometimes they are made of wood. Inside our home, it is very dark like most of the homes, and the fireplace is the only source of heat and light. Our windows are mostly made of cloth some are made of paper. The tables and chairs are just barrels with wood boards on the top of them. The first few months we had to sleep on the ground or a mattress. It was very uncomfortable. Instead of going school, this is how are days are spent. We learn everything we need to learn from our parents. I do chores like pick the corn, milk goats, cook, wash, and make soap and candles. The first Native American that we met was Samoset. He greeted us in English. Samoset is Chief of the Abnaki tribe, I asked him why he came, and he said he was visiting another chief named, Massasoit. Massasoit is chief of a nearby tribe called the Wampanoag. Samoset returned many times and brought other with other tribe members with him. Squanto was one of the visitors. Squanto was from a tribe called the Pawtuxet. Squanto helped us in many ways. He helped write an agreement with Massasoit. The Wampanoag tribe live close by, so it was important to be friends not enemies. Squanto also has taught about growing crops and fertilizing the soil. I fear what would have happened to us without his help.

Possibilities - a Power of the Pencil prompt

Camille Nicholson Gr. 6

When I picked up the pencil I felt a twitch in my hand. I was suddenly transported into a trampoline park full of foam squares. Each one represents my thoughts. When I jump into the pit my thoughts go flooding onto a piece of paper. When I write I can be whoever I want and do whatever I want. I can be a superhero saving the city, a horse trudging through the forest, an actor preforming on the stage, and anything I can imagine. The possibilities are endless. When I write I feel happy because I am able to release my thoughts, not just keep them to myself. The pencil makes me feel powerful. With this pencil I can create something amazing.

Power of the Pencil

Ryan Kenter Gr. 6

I feel like I have some power. I can go to a place of writing. I can be a great writer. I can write, think, imagine, and do almost anything. I feel like my imagination is free. I feel like possibilities are endless. Writing can help me. I feel like my handwriting is legible. I feel like my writing skills will improve.

Pugs - a Power of the Pencil prompt

Katie Conway Gr. 6

If I could make a national holiday I would make a National Pug Day. I would celebrate pugs and how cute they are. I would get some of my friends to put pug pictures on social media so the world sees it. I love pugs, and I know many people do as well so I chose this national day to honor them and their cuteness. I would also spread it by telling people that we need to save them because pugs do not live as long as other dogs because they have a more pushed in face which makes it hard to breathe. We need to recognize them for their cuteness! Make National Pug Day happen!

Recess

Caroline Burns Gr. 6

I think we should have longer recess periods. We should at least get 60 minutes of recess every day. Research says that recess helps boost cognition in students. It also helps us to stay fit.

Besides more exercise, we wouldn’t have as much energy in the classroom if we had longer recess. We would have focus for afternoon classes. Research found positive associations between physical activity and ability to concentrate in class. Besides concentrating, we have to sit in a classroom.

We have to sit in a classroom for 70 minutes. We have to sit there for a very long time. Research has found that recess helps improve mental function and academic function. Recess should be longer. It helps improve school function. It helps with focus so teachers won’t get upset with their students if they don’t focus. In conclusion, we should have longer recess.

Jose Felix Ribas – a capstone excerpt

Jonathan James Gr. 5

Jose Felix Ribas was very courageous. Ribas fought the battle of Urica even though he knew he would lose and he did because he was outnumbered 5,000 to 2,000. Ribas stood up for what’s right, even against Spain. Ribas died rather than to tell his plans. Ribas fought two thousand to five thousand enemies. Ribas was very courageous.

Emily Roche

Sophie Anderson Gr. 6

Emily Roche has been cooking since 5. She shows her creativity through cooking. Emily Roche is a 12 year old who has a strong interest in cooking even though she is challenged by her peanut and tree nut allergies. She has continued her love for cooking.

“Nobody likes the chopping block,” Emily stated. One of Emily’s favorite things that she made was her own recipe, a satsuma-pepper jelly glazed salmon with brussel sprouts. Emily thinks shrimp is a challenge ingredient. Though on Chopped Junior, she thought it was an advantage. Emily has been enrolled in culinary kids in Mandeville for four years.

While on Chopped Junior, Emily stated that her dish was just tossed on the plate. Emily needs to work on time management when cooking. For example, in the 2nd round of Chopped Junior, she didn’t have enough time to add parmesan cheese to her entrée.

Emily had to use perseverance while cooking on Chopped Junior. Emily had to use perseverance when she received the basket of ingredients. For example, Emily received quail. She had never cooked this type of bird.

Self Portraits in The Two Fridas

George Baker Gr. 4

In The Two Fridas, I see two self-portraits of Frida Kahlo. Both images of Frida are sitting on a bench. It looks like their hearts are connected by a vein. The vein goes from one heart to another, but then it goes behind one of the Frida’s backs and comes back down her arm. It appears that she cuts it off, and the blood flows down her dress. The other vein wraps around Frida’s arm ending by wrapping around a miniature of her husband, Diego Rivera. The heart on the left looks unhealthy, but the heart the right looks heathier.

I see that the Frida on left is wearing a more traditional German dress, and the other Frida is wearing a more traditional Mexican dress. I think the background is kind of gloomy, sad, and lonely with all of the dark clouds. They are sitting on a tan bench with brown carpeting. I like this painting because it shows a lot of feeling and it says a lot about Frida’s life.

Sister Katherine - a creative writing excerpt

Chloe Lane Gr. 6

September 1, 1840 Namur, Belgium

Hello, my name is Katherine. I am a Sister of Notre Dame. My town looks like any other small town would look like, multiple tiny houses, and there’s the convent. The convent is filled with happy nuns, well most of the nuns are happy except for Lucy. Every day I take care of the pets. Some nuns have their very own dogs. I am the youngest nun in the convent, and today is my 20 birthday. You need to be 20 to be a nun. I am already missing my family, I spent my whole life with then and have never lived without them. I am friends with Meredith and Margret. I play many games with them. (They are also 20 and today is their birthday too). The ship that I sailed on was called the Eliza Thorton. The ship looks like a giant sail boat. I am traveling with my friends Meredith and Margret. This is only the second week out of six on this ship. It was the worst time I traveled in my entire life…

Smile

Heidi Crowther Gr. 4

The book, Smile, by Raina Telgemeier is a fantastic. It is a graphic novel, so it is very easy to read and understand. The book follows the events in the life a sixth grader named, Raina. She is a typical sixth grade girl until one day. Raina and another girl decide to race after a Girl Scouts’ meeting. Everything was fine until Raina tripped. She fell on concrete and seriously injured her front two teeth. She had to go to the orthodontist to get them fixed. Some might think that they could be repaired quickly. Well, that is not the case. It took years to correct the damage. Raina had to have braces twice, headgear, surgery, and a retainer with fake teeth. In addition to dealing with her teeth, Raina has all the other worries of being in middle school, like being a 7th grader and being asked by a 6th grader to the Valentine’s Dance. Smile, deals with the issues and problems that kids have just being kids. The book makes the reader think about how events can change your life, and the things that you should look for in your friends. I would recommend Smile to everyone. It is a great story.

Sounds

Allen Wang Gr. 4

The world will always be full of sounds, Just listen closely and look around.

Barking, chirping, and so much more, You just have to go outside your door.

Target Katie Crowther Gr. 6

On a warm Saturday afternoon, I walked into Target. I was upset to see that the store was out of birthday cake flavored gum. I couldn’t believe that target would do this to me. I went to the manager’s office. I walked in seeing the manager eating the last pack of gum. I was furious so I took the phone and called the President of the United States to tell him what happened. He didn’t answer so I took the gum pack and ran away. The manager called security, and they started to chase me! I ran through the clothes aisle then to the makeup through the back to school supplies and into the women’s bathroom. I went out to the shipping area and saw some people eating donuts. I ran through the door, and they called the police. I was arrested for stealing a pack of gum.

Testing – a persuasive essay excerpt

Freya Kindel Gr. 6

I think that it is very important to limit the number of test given in the middle school. It is important that we are able to focus on one test a week because otherwise it creates stress for students and even teachers. A survey of a large district has shown that there has been a number of 113 standardized tests between preschool and 12th grade. I think that it is very important to make this minor adjustment. It is very important that have time to study for tests. I think that teachers should warn about tests at least a week before the tests. According to UCLA, it takes kids 6-7 hours to study for tests. Teachers should also give students study guides that cover the test. I know that it takes kids a really long time to study, which is why I support this claim.

I think that kids should have more time to do activities in class instead of taking the tests. If we decrease the amount of tests, then students will be able to do other activities in class. Some kids would be able to do their homework. It takes more than half the class to take a test, sometimes it takes the whole class period. It would also be helpful to teachers so their students don’t get behind in class.

To Whom it May Concern

Lily de Lacy Gr. 4

Is homework necessary? Some people think that you should have it because it’s a review of what you learned in class. Some people think it helps us be more responsible by having it due by a specific time. Some people think it helps our study habits. Some people think that if you have homework you can tell if the students have been paying attention in class, or need more help. What about not having homework. That would be a change! People say that it takes time away from family time because the students just lock themselves in their rooms and have to work on it for hours. Some people say it wastes paper. Some people say that kids, tweens, or teens already go to school for about 6 hours so why do they have to do another 1 to 3 hours of homework. Some scientists say that it doesn’t even improve test scores or grades. I don’t know, but my opinion is that we shouldn’t have homework. I think this because of all these reasons I’ve stated, and because I have experienced all these reasons. Sometimes when my cousins and grandparents are here, all I want to do is play with them, but no, I cannot, because I need to do my homework. I hope this letter will help you all decide if homework is necessary, or not.

Tufted Titmouse: Eat from feeders with flowers on them or without? – an excerpt

CC Chavez Gr. 5

The purpose of this inquiry was to explore whether the Tufted titmouse prefers to eat from feeders with or without a flower taped to it. Data was collected by counting how many Tufted Titmice came to each of the feeders. The result was that two birds visited the feeder without a flower whereas three visited the feeder with a flower. I did not collect enough data to reasonably answer my research question.

Desmond Tutu – a capstone essay introduction

Henry Howard Gr. 5

Well hello, my name is Desmond Tutu. I was born in a town called Klerksdorp, South Africa in 1931. I contributed to society by helping to end apartheid. Apartheid is when only one race is allowed in government. I was courageous when I was speaking out. I lost my passport, went to jail, and was harassed by state security guards. Right now I am still alive.

The Two Fridas – an excerpt

Kira Njegovan Gr. 4

The Two Fridas is a double self-portrait oil painting. Combining folk art with surrealism, Frida Kahlo created this painting in 1939. This also was the year Frida Kahlo divorced Diego Rivera. I believe the artist is showing that her two nationalities, personalities, true heart and soul cannot be disconnected. Frida is trying to speak of her lost and undying affection for Diego Rivera by clutching a miniature of him when he was a small boy. A vein leading from her healthy heart encloses the miniature. The veins wrap and twist around the two Fridas’ hearts and bodies demonstrating her commitment never to detach her two selves. On the other Frida, her hand holds a medical clamp attempting to stop the blood from flooding out of her veins. This Frida’s heart looks almost bisected and sick and is much different from the other Frida’s heart. This represents her heartbreak and sadness at the loss of Diego.

This painting uses many techniques to draw in the viewer. The use of color with the contrast of red and white and the primary colors of her blouse frame the burst of red in her two hearts. The lines that she uses to create a triangle through the clasped hands further draw the viewer into the painting…

Unemployment - an excerpt

Jack Robinson Gr. 6

As more major corporations grow outside of the United States, the number of unemployed people inside the United States also grows. Many of these corporations have factories abroad, and this constantly deteriorates our economy. Too many Americans are affected by this, and it causes the large unemployment rate in the US. Therefore, all major corporations based in the United States, should have all manufacturing in the United States of America. This will lead to an economic revolution.

According to the US Department of Labor, 9.7 percent of the US are either not or under employment. It would very much improve the happiness of our citizens by bringing back just some of our jobs. Also, it would boost our markets quite bit. Our markets are currently very uncertain and it’s time to improve them. For the workers, it’s also a burden. In China and other manufacturing cities, quality is much lower that the United States…

Unlimited - a Power of the Pencil prompt

Tommy Schaefer Gr. 6

As I hold my fresh new pencil in my hand, I think of the power I control with this utensil. The pencil could jot down a make believe land full of dragons, fairies, or travel to the far future. Lives are at stake. A single word means life or death. Cherish or despair. Freedom may be rained upon a kingdom, or a plague upon an empire. Buildings can fall, lives can be ended. A single word, sentence, paragraph, or page. The movement of the item gracefully dances across the page. A mistake made, a mistake erased. A single writing can make a man famous, rich, into a world of his dreams. All by this simple item, producing literature. With time as the only limit, is there no stopping? No hardship? No law? For when you write it’s your decision. Yes, a pencil can write, but what can it write? The simple letters of the alphabet, a sentence, a page. That page can take you away, into a mindscape, painting a beautiful painting in the reader’s mind. Who will read this? A reader of course. A man or a woman. Then they can read my ramble on this simple object. Simple writing. It could be in French, Spanish, Latin, English or any language possible. You can see that anything is possible, even out of plausibility, can happen with a pencil.

Out of the Wardrobe – a Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe prompt Owen McEachern Gr. 6

Lucy then stepped out of the wardrobe. Snow covered the ground and the evergreen trees. Lucy glanced at her surroundings. Out of the corner of her eye, Lucy saw a faun! The faun carried a snow frosted umbrella and wore a cherry-red muffler frosted from the cold. The faun stood in the cold by the dimly lit lamp post wondering if he was hallucinating from the cold. Lucy moved forward to shake his hand but suddenly the faun came to his wits and fainted.

The Warrior Goes On!

Anna Grace Sanders Gr. 4

I was in gym class when something special happened. The soccer game we were having became really intense. Then, I got hit when our team was trying to score a goal. A teammate passed it to me so hard that the ball flew up and hit me in the chest. I said I was fine even though I had the wind knocked out of me. Later in the game, the other team tried to score a goal. Our goalie was the same kid who hit me earlier. He got the ball and passed it to me, but it hit me in the back this time. Someone asked if I was ok. My teacher said, “She’s fine, she’s a warrior.” That made me feel proud!

Water Flowing - a nature poem

Esmé Gonyo Gr. 4

Water flowing quickly over rocks, a sweet call of a bird in the trees, the wind blowing against my face, as nature surrounds me.

Bees buzzing in search of nectar, fish swimming and splashing in the sun, twigs breaking under my feet, as nature surrounds me.

Hummingbirds zooming from flower to flower, grass waving in the afternoon breeze, pollen covering my face, making me want to sneeze. As nature calms me.

Weekend Homework – an excerpt

Joseph Federle Gr. 6

There should not be any weekend homework because, weekends should be filled with fun. My parents say that the weekend is for relaxation and play, not homework. When kids have a lot of energy, they will tend to rush through their homework. Less homework means more time to learn a new activity such as sports, games, and video games. Our school should decrease the homework load because it decreases relaxation and free time.

Less homework on the weekend means, that kids can learn new activities such as, sports and games. If you learn how to play new games, this means you will have something fun to do at school and with your friends. Kids love to learn new things, but they don’t like to review the same thing over and over again because, it just gets boring. Kids would love to do fun activities for homework but, most of the time they do really boring homework such as reports on a topic. I think kids, would love to learn if they had fun activities to help them learn.