St. James’ EPISCOPAL

wintermagazines c h o o l

2010 - 2011

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Preschool Tigers“Through Their Eyes” – A Photo Gallery of What Preschool

Means to Us (photos taken by students)

Kendall Beffa

Sergio Chavez

James Cook Healy

Jack Grossman

Phillip Choi

Eve Epstein

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Fiona Kim Watson Laing

Finn McConaghy

Carl O’Toole

William Lee

Alex Morrison

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Satine StorerAudrey Tomlin

Bryce WareKiavash Vakili

Honor SelmanLily Sanchez

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Margaret Wise

Jared Yang

Whitney Wilcox

Harrison Woertink

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Preschool Dolphins“Why Are Trees Nice?” – Thoughts and Drawings from Students

A lake and apples. I eat apples at home.

Because Santa Claus is coming. I like apple trees.

My mommy is going to play with my brother and climb on the tree. I like picking apples from the tree.

I like my tree!See, it’s a tree!

I like apples.

It’s a tree. I’m climbing.

Because they have leaves and branches.

Because I like trees.

- Victoria Bessant

- Max Grossman

- Isabella McKinlay

- Amelia McKinlay- Vinicius Leus

- Troy Chung

- Adriana Landis

- Jude De Pastino

- Colette Lindy

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I like trees because they have apples and bananas.

- Weston McMullin

Trees with fruits and apples.

They are green and black. I have three trees.

A tree. Because food is there, like apples.

That’s my tree. I like Christmas trees. - Chloe Park

- Jenna Yeo- William Ryee - Matthew Tomlin

- Jasper Meyerson

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Preschool DolphinsBuilding Houses

Bennett MartinDiego Rogers

Henry Little

Oliver Barnes

Carter Dyson

Flynn Simmons

Conor Murphey

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KindergartenWinter Art from Mrs. Vermette’s Class

Kaiya Brown Gus Cohen

Jaime Cruz

Lucas George-Ghobrial

Ondine Corsmeier

Jionni Esposito

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Patrick Hindman Willa Jackson

Maximilian Kim

Patterson Laing

Ian Lee

Gavin Kahn Gardner

Ryan Kim

Eva Lauterbach

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Jiwon Lee Katie Lee

Audrey Perkins

Quinn Rath

Richemond Shin

Fiona Loughran

Kennedy Pullard

Cassidy Seitz

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Caitlin White Skylar Whitley

Nathaniel Williams

Mrs. Vodrey’s Class

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Tyler Ahn

June Chon

Asher Delman

Mia Barrientos

Cardosia Clifford

Roan Fraser

Violet Beuscher

Ava-Simone Davis-King

Grace Hutchins

Mrs. Vodrey’s Class

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Lily Juda Stella Kazanjian Arnold Kim

Colin Kneafsey

Lauren Meserve

Jamieson Park

Nicole Lee

Grace Nelson

Lyon Park

Louis McKinlay

Aiden Park

Alyssa-Naomi Pippins

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Lark Yoder-Hall

Julianna Savagian William Suh Henry Wolff

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Cat Stories from Mrs. Kammula’s Class

First Grade

My CatsI have two cats.One is mean and one is nice.My cats sleep together and run together.For lunch my cats eat cat food.Nora Bustos

My CatMy cat is very fat.My cat lays on a mat.I’m very glad that she’s my cat.My cat is very fat.Ella Carlson

I WishI wish I was a wildcat.I would live in a Laundromat.I would nap on a welcome mat.I wouldn’t play with copycats.Aaron Cho

CatsI have ten cats.The cats like to play with the doormat.They don’t like bats.They are black with white stripes.Kaelyn Choi

Cool CatI have a fat cat.I have an ugly cat.I have a cute cat.I have a cool cat.Aaron Chung

Cool CatI have a cool cat.I have a flying cat.I have a spy cat.I have a talking cat.Chris Chung

CherryCherry is my cat’s name.Her fur is the color white.Her eyes are green.Her fur is soft.Haley Colorado

Fluffy CatI have a fluffy cat.My fluffy cat has fluffy ears.He likes to chitchat.My fluffy cat’s name is Alex.Angus Gilchriest

Fat CatMy cat is fat.My cat likes to play.My cat sits on the mat.My cat smells a rat.Simone Herman

Alley Cat I’m an alley cat.I like to eat non-fat.I love running in the sun with my friends.We love not having an owner.Ava Horowitz

My Fat CatMy cat is fat.She likes to nap.She can hardly walk.She loves to eat.Elijah Hull

Cute CatThe cat is cute.He likes to chitchat.The cat is fluffy.The cat is cool.Mimi Kaewmanaprasert

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Cat PoemI have a spy cat.I have a talking cat.I have a cute cat.I have a stinky cat.Eric Lee

The CatThe cat sat on the mat.The cat eats ham.The cat is fluffy.The cat likes popcorn.Elizabeth Mansour

Fat CatI love my cat.My cat is so fat.My cat eats a mouse.My cat eats a rat.Glen March

My CatMy cat does not like dirty rats.My cat chitchats in my room.My cat plays on a welcome mat.My cat smells like me.My cat is a copycat.Elia Min

RoscoI once had a wildcat named Rosco.Rosco loved to chase string.Sometimes I still dream of Rosco.He was my wildcat.Jack Norland

My WildcatMy wildcat is fat.My wildcat sleeps on a mat.My wildcat’s name is Pat.He loves to chase rats.He is a fussy cat.He wears a small hat.I love my wildcat Pat.Shine Park

My Cat Is FatMy cat is fat.He’s too big to fit through the door.He’s too fat to stand.He’s too fat to fit in my room.Aris Rachevsky-Poros

Black CatI have a black cat.He likes to wear a hat.He likes to nap on my lap.His name is Gap, He is my cat.Alex Rice

Wild CatI’m a wild cat.Wild, wildcat.I eat things that cats don’t eat.I’m a wild cat indeed. Camille Roth

CatsI love cats.Cats are cool.Cats are cute.Cats are nice.Phoebe Tatton

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Christmas Drawings and Verse by Mrs. Leonard’s Class

Hank Bauer

Thea Davidson

Amaya Hassan-Scott

Tyler Beffa

Sofia Ellis

Eileen Jung

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Victor Kazhokin

Chaerim Kim-Worthington

Jedo Lee

Emmanuel Lewis

Santiago Kelly

Sofia Landis

Pilot Lee

Alice Massalsky

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Skye McDiarmid

Lulu O’Toole

Cire Portegies

Bellamy Ware

Frances McFetridge

Dylan Park

Lily Richardson

Malcolm Wood

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Onomatopoeia Drawings by Mr. Dar’s Class

Second Grade

Eleanor Berger

Gustavo Chavez

Audio Clayton

Jackson Brass

Jimmy Choi

Kaiya Dale

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Paulina Drautz

Fleurette Juda

Tiffany Lee

Brontë Norman

Chaiya Jeffries

Sterling Kim

Rufus Marcussen

Celine Park

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Marcel Pullard

Matthew Redford

Lilah Sitkevich

Rex Rath

Luke Riley

Yasmine Vakili

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Line Poetry by Ms. Payne’s Class

A: At the zooN: Nature is for everyoneI: Iguanas are greenM: Monkeys climb treesA: Alligators eat meatL: Lions run on the grassTate Ahn

S: Sweet and niceI: I am so happy to have a sisterS: She is my favorite sister in the worldT: Terrible when she is madE: Even sad sometimesR: Really cute and nice to meValeria Barrientos

A: Alligators are bigN: Narwhals are funI: Iguanas are my favoriteM: My dog’s name is GraerA: Ants crawl a lotL: Lions roar loudlySekai Beard Jordan

B: Best brother everR: Racing him fastO: Outstanding Lego builderT: Terrific videogame playerH: Helpful and kindE: Excited by new thingsR: Right about everything!Anton Becerra

R: Runs so fastA: A good petB: Babies are cuteB: Boys are the sameI: It is fuzzyT: Tons of funS: Sleeps every nightGrace Carrington

F: Fun to pickL: Late at nightO: Out of the houseW: With my momE: Every single dayR: Rake the petalsMorgan Collins

C: Cool at ChristmasH: High ChristmasR: Running in the snowI: Ice is on the groundS: Snow is here!T: Time is going byM: Many people go shoppingA: After, they go shoppingS: Singing on Christmas EveBrooke Crocker

B: Best in the worldR: Rios is his friendO: Odd sometimesT: Tall and strongH: He is so coolE: Extra fast sometimesR: Runs so fastMyles George-Ghobrial

S: So very very hotU: Use sunscreen dailyM: Maybe you’ll get a sunburnM: Morgan goes to the beach when it’s hotE: Even hotter than springR: Ringing bells are so hotJuliana Gillett

A: A good petN: Nests have eggs in itI: Iguanas are a type of lizardM: Monkeys eat ants and bananasA: Alligators have long teethL: Lizards are small sometimesWill Hill

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W: Warm and fluffyA: After you wake, you eat itF: For breakfast in the morningF: Fun to makeL: Like to eat with syrupE: Easy to makeRiley Hite

D: Dangerous, fire-breathing animalR: Ridon is a PokémonA: A good petG: Golam is a Pokémon tooO: Ogtalare is coolN: Nidoqueen is greatJoshua Kim

H: Hard because of candyA: And I also love it because it’s funL: Like it to be every dayL: Learning to be scaryO: Open wide and darkW: With spookiness all aroundE: Everyone is wearing costumesE: Even scary for adults sometimesN: Never eat my delicious candyAllison Kwon

D: Dangerous fire-breathing animalR: Ragon rhymes with dragonA: A dragon is a righteous animalG: Grand prize for dragon is the Zipple BlackO: Only one dragon is the meanestN: No one saw it but meMaclaren Laing

E: Electricity makes energyL: Lamps use electricityE: Electricity is dangerousC: Connected to wiresT: Takes the place for candlesR: Really dangerous to touchI: It is yellowC: Costs a lot of moneyBen Lee

P: Peaceful treatE: EdibleA: And good with saltN: Nuts taste good with chocolateU: Usually has salt on itT: Tastes very goodS: Sometimes I like nuts with saltElias Peter

P: Pokémon is so awesomeO: Orctma is a PokémonK: Kingra is a PokémonE: Everyone likes PokémonM: Monferno is a good PokémonO: Orctma is so powerfulN: Noto is a Pokémon friendHarry Robbins

B: Battle with my friendA: Action gameK: Kind of funU: Up in the sky goes BakuganG: Gorim the robot goes outA: Anas Bakugan goes all around the infinity coreN: Nagnit dragon has powerChase Tillman

B: Big and tall guyR: Really cool guyO: Outstanding personT: Terrific at mathH: Higher than my momE: Exciting guy to play war games withR: Rough and tough personThomas Ye

B: Batter upA: All year longS: Socks are bigE: Everybody runs at timesB: Boo! Yelled the crowdA: All of you love itL: Lots of you laughL: Low people sit by the fieldMatthew Yoder-Hall

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Third GradeThe Living Gallery by Mrs. Cregan’s Class

-Vittorio Ameen - Jimmy Choi - Janis Choi

- Adam Chun - Nicole Chun - Anna Cohen

- Evelina Corcos - Holly Fouche- Jordan Franklin

My favorite part was the presentation because I practiced really hard for it.

I love being creative and I loved working on the frame.

I had so much fun making the mobile.

I had fun seeing everyone else having fun and I got nice complements.

I got to teach everybody different things about Ferdinand Magellan.

It was hard work but it was still fun. I got to show my creativity.

Instead of writing, we did art so it was better!

I liked making the mobile since I got to be artistic.

I loved when I painted and drew.

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The Living Gallery by Mrs. Cregan’s Class

- Christine Hahn

- Jasper Johnson

- Yoohan Ko

- Madison Huggins

- Ethan Kim

- Nathan Lee

- Kate Hutchins

- Nicole Klar

- Catherine Malanga

I liked making it.

My favorite part of The Living Gallery was drawing pictures.

We got to paint at school and didn’t need to do it at home.

I got to use all kinds of things and paint. It was really cool.

I got to paint and draw, and I’ve always wanted to be an artist.

It was fun and every time I was bored, I could work on it.

I got to talk in front of people and also talk about other people’s lives.

I had a very good time laughing and doing art.

I like teaching people about famous people that are interesting.

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- Joshua Mira

- Oscar Youd

- George Phillips- Nicholas Worsoe

I liked the mobile because I got to use a lot of art materials.

I got to be the 16th president and now you can see my face on the penny.

I liked the Living Gallery because I did a really good job on it.

My favorite part was making the flow map because it was really fun and helped with the rest of the project.

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Winter Cinquain Poems by Mrs. Kuramoto’s Class

PresentsBig bows, ColorfulWrapping, Taping, GivingUnwrapping presentsHappy timeKennedy Andrews

Christmas TreeFun, ExcitingBright, Tall, GreenSometimes an EvergreenBigNicholas Chung

Hot ChocolateBrown, DeliciousDrinking, Stirring, EnjoyingGood to drinkHot CocoaKhalil Dodson

WinterCold, snowySledding, Cooking, SkiingAlways coldCold timesJulia Eschenasy

PresentsPaper, BowExciting, Surprising, ThinkingUnder a Christmas treeGiftsDominic Esposito

ChristmasTrees, WinterSnowing, Sleighing, SkiingMerry ChristmasHolidayPatrick Hastings

Candy CanesRed, YummyEating, Licking, ChewingAlways yummyCandyJahslyn Holloway

SnowmanWhite, ColdBuilding, Rolling, ShapingFun to makeA man made out of snowNico Houndalas

ReindeerFurry, Very bigFlying, Running, LandingHelps SantaShort tailKaylin Kim

PresentsToy, CoolOpening, Ripping, LookingThey are coolGiftsCollin Mackey

SnowballWhite, SnowMoving, Throwing, SplatteringAwesome to play inRound snowJames MacPherson

Cookies and MilkBrown, WhiteEating, Drinking, StuffingReally deliciousDessertOlivia McIntosh-Adams

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RudolphRed nose, BrownFlying, Running, SoaringAlways curiousReindeerLily Nelson

SnowmanCold, WhiteMelting, Freezing, SnowboardingFun to buildCold ManLiam Norrix

SnowballCold, RoundFreezing, Throwing, MeltingHaving funIrene Park

ElvesSmart, ActiveWorking, Helping, BuildingLikes to be helpfulMini SantasErika Reghanti

SnowmanCold, Big or smallMaking, Freezing, CoolingMade by snowSnowAlly Savagian

Christmas TreeBig, GreenStanding, Decorating, AddingAlways greenTreeChris Song

ChristmasFun, ExcitingOpening gifts, Eating, PlayingHaving funJesus’ birthdayMarkus Takei

Christmas TreePrickly, LeafyOozing maple, Bending, StayingAlways helping the airPine TreePenelope Thornton

Pine TreeGreen, BrownLighting, Chopping, Burning woodFun to climbEvergreenJack Wells

Fourth Grade

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Limericks and Verse Mrs. Castañares’ Class

GratitudeChe is a very special person.She is always eager to help.She is very smart.She cooks for me and makes me very happy.I am glad she is my grandma!Luka Becerra

UntitledJokers Haunted housesAwesome Night Awesome scaresCandy LollipopsKnights Lake monstersOrks OwlsLollipops WebsAcrobatic demons Everyday frightsNight frights ExtremeTalented ghosts Night scaresEverlasting scaresRolls of candyNightmaresCharlie Carrington

ZoolThere once was a ghost named ZoolWho ran and jumped in a pool. When he got wet He flew in a jetAnd somebody thought he was cool.Kameron Christian

Halloween NightOnce upon Halloween night

There was a wicked old witch in sight Her name was Izzy Who got too dizzyAnd fell off her fear of heights!Izzy De Mori

The BloodhoundThe bloodhound sucks blood at midnightWhen everyone’s sleeping so tight, So be careful, beware— And don’t have a scare.Just pet him and you’ll be all right!Luisa Drautz

Werewolves and VampiresWerewolves and vampires are scaryThey scare me so much that I’m hairy They suck you at night Better run for your lifeIf you don’t, you’ll soon be buried.Chanya Jeffries

ZombifiedThere once was a zombie named Paul,Who kept big black widows and small. The zombie looked scary, The widows were hairy,But I’m not afraid of him at all!Joseph Koo

Our Pumpkin Walk Was Awesome!Pumpkin, pumpkinWhere are you?Where are you when the sun goes down?Where are you today?I love you when you light upI love you when you’re carved upPumpkin, pumpkinWhere are you?Where are you when the sun goes down?Where are you today?Delana Lewis

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Black CatI found a small black catI screamed, which made it scat. It belonged to a witch, It made her twitch,She cursed me so I said, “Drat!”Edwin Nah

SurpriseI once found a little black cat.I noticed that it was a rat. The rat said, “Squeak!” And I said, “Eeek!”And then that rat hid in my hat!Emma Redford

Bad HeavenI’m writing a letter from Bad HeavenThe time is about half-past eleven So since I am dead, I can take off my head,And you’ll get it at quarter-past seven!Will Richter

Kettle of PitchThere once was a silly old witchWho saw a big ugly ditch. To make some muck To go with her luckShe cooked a kettle of pitch.Charlotte Roessel-Evans

WartsThe goblin’s black warts appear.They’re hairy and wicked, I fear. I hope it’s a dream I’ll get him some creamAnd make sure the warts disappear!Anonymous

I Am Thankful For...

I am grateful for family because you can always trust family. There is no one who puts up with you or cares about the little things you like more than your family. My family is usually helpful and caring, and my family is always nice. They like to hear what I have to say no matter what it is. That is why I love family.Cole Harris

I am grateful for my little baby brother. When I found out that I was having a baby brother, I didn’t like it because I wanted a baby sister to play girly stuff with. Now I love my little brother because he is cute, funny, and fun to play with. My little brother is very cute when he smiles at me and says “sister” in Korean. When I’m down he cheers me up with a funny face he makes. I love seeing his funny face! When we play dress up, we have such a fun time together. My little brother loves to dress up with my hats, clothes, and bags. He just looks so adorable! I just love playing cars with him, drawing pictures, and reading books with him. Without my little brother, I would be very lonely and bored. I love him very much, and I thank God for giving me a little brother.Abigail Park

I am most thankful for my parents. I am thankful for them because without them I would not have lived. I would never have gone to St. James’ School and met the wonderful people there. I am also thankful for them because without them I would not have a brother or sister. Also, I am thankful it was them and not any other parents.Jessica Lane

I am thankful for my dog Jingles because he is a great friend when you are lonely or sad. Jingles is also a great athlete and a great licker! I got Jingles for Christmas, and I knew he was just right for us. I am so happy that we got him. Before we got Jingles I really wanted a short-haired dachshund, but when we went to the pet store and found one, I didn’t really like him. Then I saw a long-haired dachshund! We got him!Angele Klein

I am grateful for my family, my friends, my dog, health, toys, imagination, fun games, and teachers. I am grateful for California, the ocean, sports, football, fishing, and for everything I have right now.JJ Mansour

I am thankful for life because life lets us live. Life lets us enjoy the wonders of family and friends. Life lets us get stuff from other people and give things to them. Life lets us worship God and keep our beliefs. Life is the ultimate source of happiness. Life is the source of life and death. Life is the balance of good and evil.

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I am thankful for life because it lets me cherish its wonders. Life is an amazing thing. We all should be grateful for life.Will Cook-Healy

I am thankful for my friends, my family, and my teacher. I am grateful for food, water, health, love, technology, Jesus, God, my pets, books, school, safety, happiness, art and babies!Ashley Garibay

I am thankful for my family. Your family is like your best friend. You can tell your family anything. Your family tells you what’s good or bad, and they help you with your choices. You might have a fight, but you still love them very much. I think families have the strongest relationships. I don’t think your family has to be related to you. I think your family can be a close person. That’s what I think family is.Maddie Kang

Bullying

At Pilgrim School, I learned about bullying. There is a bully, supporter, and target. The bully is the person who is being mean, and the supporter is the person who supports the target. The target is the person who is getting bullied. I also learned what to say to a bully. You say: “Time out,” “Stop,” “I do not like this,” or “I will tell the teacher.” The people who taught me were Fred the girl, and Matt the boy. They also said that the bully was a bully because they get no attention. I promise that I will be nice to my friends and will not be mean and will not bully anyone.Kenadi Kaewmanaprasert

Acting like a victim is actually a type of bullying. If you are pretending to be picked on to get others to give you attention, you’re actually being a bully. If you act sad when your friends don’t want to play your game, you’re a bully. Bullying can come in many different forms, and this is just one of them! Watch out all the time, because you might actually be a bully!Jack Riley

There are some times when getting help won’t work. When high school kids are bullying you and you get help, even if they get into real trouble, they can still come back and beat you up harder than the first time

because they’re really angry at you for tattling on them.Austin Lee

Telling secrets is also a type of bullying because if you keep a secret, some people might think that you’re keeping secrets from them. Excluding is also bad because if you exclude someone, then that person might be really lonely because they don’t have anything to do. I promise that I will not keep secrets or exclude anybody.Jonathan Chong

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Our Myths by Mr. Duggan’s Class

Why the Wolf Howls at the MoonCoyote was Wolf ’s enemy, and he made Wolf feel bad by howling in his face. When Wolf tried to join in on the fun with Coyote, and all the animals taunted him. So Wolf disappeared into the night and

sobbed to Mother Nature.Wolf pleaded to the spirits and asked them what he should do. The spirits suddenly appeared before Wolf, and he ran off. Wolf soon realized that he hadn’t gotten the solution from the spirits. So Wolf, an agile animal, ran back to the spot where he saw the spirits.The spirits appeared again, and this time Wolf did not run off. The spirits spoke again, gave some advice, and then they disappeared into a brilliant, bright light. When Wolf returned home, he thought deeply about the brilliant spirits and what they had told him.As Wolf wondered if he would ever be able to howl again, Coyote came up and stamped on his tail. Wolf sharply lifted up his head and howled at the moon, not caring what the other animals thought. That’s why wolves still howl at the moon. Wolf lived a joyful life after that.by Sebastian Ko & Ally Mollo

Why the Coyote Is in the DesertOnce Coyote lived in the forest with the other animals. All the animals absolutely despised him because he stole from them. They tried to catch him, but, unfortunately, he was hard to catch. One day, he went too far and started to threaten baby creatures.That day, Eagle brought Coyote to his nest. Then Coyote broke all of Eagle’s eggs. Outraged, Eagle picked him up by his talons. Eagle searched for five days and four nights for a lonely desert. Finally, he

found one and dropped Coyote there. Coyote fell, became unconscious, and forgot about the forest. Curious, he explored deep into the desert.Coyote decided he liked the heat. There was more than enough food, and it was an exceptionally

good temperature for him. Coyote decided to stay, and that’s why coyotes now live in the desert.by Matthew Hite & Sarah Wagner

How the Moon Came to BeOnce on one side of the world, there was a moon, but on the other side of the world, there was none. So one day the animals talked and decided to send their fastest bird, Eagle, to search for the brightness of the moon. He

searched everywhere until he came across a Chumash dog. Eagle asked him where he could get the moon. The dog said to go to the Moon Eagle. He would help him.So Eagle went to the Moon Eagle who asked him why he had come. Eagle explained his problem, and the Moon Eagle said that at night his friends on his side of the world also thought it was too dark. He said they needed the moon for the night. The Moon Eagle offered to hold up the moon for a time so both sides of the world could share its light. Though to do that,

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he would have to sacrifice his life, forever holding up the Moon so it would shine on some dark part of the world.So the Eagle went back to the village. The head animal, Wolf, thanked Eagle and thanked Moon Eagle as well. To give thanks, Wolf howled at the Moon Eagle. To this day, all wolves still howl to give thanks to the Moon Eagle whenever there is a full moon.by Dillon Kneafsey & Caylin March

Why Snakes Are LongA long time ago, Snake was stubby, but the animals were happy in the jungle. A few years later, the animals started to laugh at Snake because he was so short and fat. So Snake embarked on a journey to become longer and thinner

though he did not know how to do so.On his way, Snake met an old and very wise Tiger. Tiger told Snake about Crocodile. Tiger said that Crocodile might help Snake so Snake went to find Crocodile. Snake knew that Crocodile liked water, so Snake went to Scary Lake. Snake waited there for a long time. Finally, he got thirsty, and so Snake drank from the lake and went for a swim. Suddenly, Crocodile jumped out of the water and bit Snake from behind. Snake’s body was pulled and stretched, growing longer and thinner. Snake gave one last jerk to avoid being swallowed, and Crocodile let go. Snake swam out of the lake faster than Crocodile and hurried home.When the animals saw Snake they were surprised by how he had changed for now his body was long and thin. Snake became popular again, and the animals no longer laughed at him. by Joseph Lee & Leyla Zapata

Why the Thunder BoomsRuel, the son of the Sun, and Rome, the god of earthquakes, were angry at each other. This was because they both wanted to be king and rule the Skylands. The unfortunate thing was that they had no way to solve their problem because they lived on opposite sides of the world and could not communicate with each other. They couldn’t even fight to see which of them was more powerful! After a while, Ruel was getting tired of not being able to talk with his opponent. Because of this, he made thunder and lightning. He created lightning because of its flashing light. He knew that it would capture Rome’s attention. He created thunder because of its loud boom. Each of the different, loud, booming sounds of thunder represented different words.Ruel used his new thunder language to communicate with Rome. In this way, Ruel and Rome were able to talk and forget about their fight. They soon became great friends. Even today you can still hear them talking to each other whenever thunder booms.by Ashley Biggs & Katriana Galloway

How the Spider Makes Its WebOnce upon a time, spiders could not spin webs. At that time, spiders only had three legs, so it was hard for them to climb trees in order to begin to make their webs. Spiders could

not even walk well. The spiders were famished because without webs they couldn’t catch anything to eat. Indeed, the spiders were in crisis!The spiders had one fast and wise spider. The spiders sent him on a journey to find the Soul Dew. He trekked into the mountains for one hundred days. Finally, he made it to the Soul Dew Well. Into the Soul Dew Well, he put his dream of a world where spiders could spin their webs and catch their prey. Then the Soul Dew granted the spider’s dream. The Soul Dew

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gave the spider cloth to spin, webs to make, and five more legs.The spider sprinted across the mountains with its eight legs. He stopped every three hours for water, rest, and food. At night, he made a web that said, “Spiders See Hope.” Finally he arrived at the village. He passed all the cloth to make webs. Then the Soul Dew sent a magical spell so all spiders would have eight legs. With their new legs, spiders were no longer famished since they could spin their webs and catch their food.by Stephenie Cho & Joshua Lee

How Bat Got Its WingsOnce upon a time there were only two mice in the world. They were brothers. They were Mouse One and Mouse Two. Mouse One liked the ground, but Mouse Two was different. He was jealous of birds because the birds

had wings, and he didn’t.Mouse Two always tried to be like the birds. One day he even tried to fly. He sprinted toward a very high cliff and hurled himself off of it! He desperately tried to fly, but all he could do was flail his tiny little arms. He landed on his nose and smashed it in. (To this day, all bats have smashed noses.)When Mouse Two got home, it was late at night. Just then, he saw a bird out of the corner of his eye. It was swooping towards him! Just when the bird was about to claw his face, a low growl came from the bushes. All of a sudden, a tiger leapt out from the bushes and ate them both! Mouse Two was still alive, though, and wished he could get out of the tiger’s tummy. Just then, Mouse Two heard a loud swinging sound. Somehow the tiger split in half so that he could get out.But where was bird and where was tiger? Suddenly, Mouse Two realized that he had wings and jumped with surprise. His body was mixed up with bird’s wings and tiger’s fangs! He had turned into something new - a Brother Bat!When Bat went home, Mouse One teased him! One

night Bat flew away to a cave, and he has stayed there ever since. He lost all of bird’s handsome feathers, and his wings became pitch black. That is why all bats are like that today.by Sirus Wheaton & Olivia Wolff

How Ocean Came to BeThe Earth once looked like a big ball of land. It only contained sand, grass, and trees. Fish needed a better

home, and Cat needed food and water that wasn’t so contaminated.They decided to do something about it. They went to go to Sky-Land and asked Lightning and Rain for help. Rain said he’d make a big hole. Lightning said he’d fill it that night. They started to

make the hole. They made it bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger. When nightfall came, Rain filled the hole, and Lightning agitated the water. That is why there are waves in the ocean.In the morning, Fish and Cat woke up. Fish jumped into the water and spread salt. That is why the water is so insipidly salty. (Fish’s skin contained so much salt.) They all lived happily in the new, wet world that had been created.by Roxanne Cowan & Colin White

Find that Shell: The Adventures of Wolf and BeetleOnce, long ago, Beetle had no shell. Since Beetle had no shell, other animals such as Bear or Hawk would tease him. One day Beetle met a frisky brown wolf who was the only one to be nice to him. After some thinking and planning, they decided to go find Beetle a shell.When Bear heard of this, he was furious and started to chase the two all around the forest. Usually Bear would be enjoying a nice deer or badger in his den by now, so when he lost one of his sharpest claws, he decided it was too much and went home. When Bear left,

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Wolf and Beetle picked up the lost claw, hollowed it out with a rock, painted it with raspberry juice, and stuck in on Beetle with tree sap.When Beetle and Wolf returned home, everyone was surprised to see Beetle’s new shell and forgave

Wolf for helping him. Now Beetle had protection, and he and Wolf became lifelong friends.by Caleb Hansen & Mira Marlink

How the Sun Got in the SkyThe world was very dark and lonely, and nobody could see anyone. Everybody was dying of starvation because it was too dark to see or eat. Eagle and Tiger were the

only ones who could save the world. All of a sudden, light was coming from the north. Everybody accelerated to investigate the light. There was a hot ball of light in a faraway northern village, but the entrance was protected by guards.

Tiger had a great idea to take the ball of light in the sky from the village. He just wanted to run through the guards and steal the sun for himself. Tiger suggested that they put the sun in the sky. Indeed, Tiger was a very smart tiger, but he was also a white tiger. So Eagle just picked Tiger up and dropped him in the village where he blended into the background, and nobody could see him. The plan worked, and they got the ball of light out of there. Tiger carried the ball of light on his back. It burned him until he had orange skin with black stripes. Tiger jumped in the air screaming, and

he dropped the sun. That is why tigers are orange and black to this day. Meanwhile Eagle caught the falling sun and flew up in the air with it as high as the stars, and he left it there to shine down on all the animals. The sun had burned all the feathers off Eagle’s head, though. That’s why we now call Eagle the Bald Eagle. Once the sun was high in the sky, everybody could see again. Eagle and Tiger lived happily ever after.by Benjamin Chun & Khari Cousins

The Birth of the MoonOne day at noon, Eagle was at his forest lodge. Eagle wondered why it was always so dark at night. Without any light, he could not hunt for food to eat. Stork, Vulture, and Falcon shared Eagle’s problem.Eagle decided to

meet with his friends about this problem. Eagle asked them why it was always so dark at night. Falcon said he thought they should have a light in the sky at night too. Vulture said they should get a big piece of rock and hang it in the sky. Stork said then the light from the sun would reflect back from the piece of rock and send the light to Earth. So that was their plan for getting light in the night sky. They decided to leave at noon the next day to start.But Eagle’s friends became scared of the plan at first. When it was noon, they flew to an open area of land. They used their talons to scrape out a big piece of rock. With all their strength, they picked it up, flew up to the sky, and hung up the piece of rock.First the rock was tilting a little. Then the rock started falling from the sky. Vulture, Stork, and Falcon tried to catch the rock (now the moon), but it was no use. So Eagle tried, and he caught it with his head. Suddenly, the moon stood still. But poor Eagle died of a harsh headache. Before Eagle crashed to Earth, the sky god turned Eagle into a pattern of stars called “The Phoenix.” Eagle’s friends still remember how he put the moon in the night sky. by Jewoo Lee & Nolan Smith-Robinson

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How the Rain CameOnce upon a time there was a porcupine named Steve. One day Steve went on a vacation to an island. The

next morning the duck that brought him left, so he was stuck there until the duck came back. It was so hot, and poor Steve did not have enough clean water. Steve felt sick and saw a mirage because of the hot weather. He saw a pelican in the sky, and it

was trying to help him.So pelican started to spit on him. Steve thought the falling liquid felt good. But when Steve looked up and saw pelican spitting on him, he started to chase the pelican away. The pelican excitedly flew into the clouds and started to spit into them, and the spit turned watery as it went through the clouds. The island soon cooled off, and Steve called the liquid “rain.”Steve lived happily ever after because of the pelican that was spitting in the clouds. After the pelican excitedly flew back to Steve, Steve thanked him. So the pelican flew Steve back to his real home. Steve thanked him one more time and then left. by August Roth & Aubrey White

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Fifth GradeHoliday Art by Mrs. Jeffries’ Class

Skylar Andrews

Hays Johnson

Kiana Conn Rachel Ferrera

Jordan Bedikian

Isabella Franco

Phelan Clifford

Ethan Fabricant

Brittany Hong

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Sora Lee

Steven Medrano

Hana Takei

John Kustin

Cameron March

Sung Hyuk Moon

Jordan Trester

James Lee

Kayleigh McDiarmid

Eunice Ra

Olivia White Perrin Williams

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Pumpkin Patch Stories by Mr. Krueger’s Class

On October 19 it was cold and windy. That day we were going to Cal Poly Pomona with our little Kindergarten buddies. My little buddies were Lauren and Mia.When we got to the pumpkin patch, Lauren, Mia and I were looking for three perfect pumpkins. There were thousands of pumpkins! We looked at them one by one, saying, “This one is too heavy! What about this one?”Finally, Mia found her perfect pumpkin and soon after I did too. We kept on looking for Lauren’s pumpkin and we found it. Then we put our names on them. It was such a fun experience.Hazel Berger

Roan and Grace are my little sisters. This is the story of how we got out pumpkins. First we went up a hill to look at some pumpkins, and then we went back down to look at some more. Roan went one way and Grace went the other. First I found Roan and then I found Grace. Roan went somewhere else again, so I went to find her. Then Grace picked out her pumpkin and then so did Roan. Last but not least, I picked out mine. And that’s how we got our pumpkins.Kaila Dodson

On October 19, 2010, I had one of the best times with my little buddies. We went to the pumpkin patch. It took a long time to get there, but after thirty minutes of talking to my buddies, we finally arrived at Cal Poly. First, we went to the pumpkin patch and got our pumpkins. We had to run around the whole field to find our pumpkins. After we got our pumpkins, we went to eat in the greenhouse. After we ate, we looked at the roses. The roses were beautiful, but we were all waiting to go to the corn maze. Everyone was just running around trying to look for the end. Finally, we had to come home. When we were on the bus, Cardosia, my buddy, fell asleep and Henry tried to fall asleep. When we got to St. James’, all of the Fifth Graders said goodbye to their little buddies and headed to class. Samuel Glicklich

On October 19, 2010, the Fifth Grade went on a field trip to Cal Poly, Pomona. We went to the pumpkin patch with our little Kindergarten buddies. My buddy’s name is Gracie. She was very shy in the beginning of the bus ride, but by the end I think she warmed up to me. Once we got there we searched for “the biggest pumpkin ever”. I talked her into getting a smaller one and, in the end, she was satisfied. On the bus ride back she slept on my lap. Overall, it was a ton of fun! I hope she thought so too.Addie Gruszynski

On October 19, 2010, my class and I went with our Kindergarten buddies to the pumpkin patch. My little buddy was Asher. When we got there, we went to find the biggest pumpkin in the field. I found my pumpkin and then looked for Asher’s. Asher was a little picky and didn’t want white stuff on it, but mostly all of the pumpkins had white spots on them. After we wrote our named on our pumpkins, we went on top of a haystack. There was a great view and it was relaxing. Then we went to the corn maze. It really was a maze. The walls were corn stalks. We got out easily and were ready to go home. We had fun.Andrew Hong

My day at the pumpkin patch was a lot of fun! We started off with riding a bus, which was very bumpy. Once we got our directions, we started picking pumpkins. It took Lily and I a long time before we found a pumpkin. Once we found some, we put our names on them. Next we went to the corn maze and it was fun. Then we ate lunch and looked at the roses in the greenhouse. Once we were on the bus again, Lily fell asleep on my shoulder. It was an awesome experience with our buddies. When we got back to school, we played with our buddies in the Kindergarten play area.Grace Johnson

My trip to the Pumpkin Patch was so much fun. We went to pick pumpkins, found our way through a corn maze and ate lunch at a beautiful rose greenhouse. My buddy, June, picked out a small peach pumpkin, and

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I picked out an orange one. We also had lots of fun in the corn maze because we were the first to find our way out. Then we had lunch in the greenhouse. The sights and smells of the roses were overwhelming. After our trip was over, we were very tired. We had a great time.Wylie Kasai

Our class went to the pumpkin patch with our Kindergarten buddies. We were all waiting for this moment. My buddy’s name is Stella. We were getting ready to go on the bus and we were going to sit in the back but her seatbelt was broken so I had to sit alone. We went to the pumpkin patch and picked out pumpkins. There were a million pumpkins there. I picked a small pumpkin and my buddy picked a giant one. Then we went to the greenhouse and ate lunch. It was awesome! Stella’s grandma got a thorn from a rose and licked the fat part and put it on Stella’s forehead! Then I tried. It was so cool! Then we went to the corn maze. We tried to have a race to the end of the maze but always ended up in the middle. Then it was time to go and we got to sit together. A lot of the Kindergartners were sleeping but my buddy wasn’t. I fell asleep instead!Tiffany Kim

When the whole Fifth Grade and Kindergarten class arrived, they did not know what to expect. First they went to the pumpkin patch to pick out their pumpkins. I was watching a Fifth Grader named Linda and her Kindergartner friend Nicole. Linda was trying to pick the smallest pumpkin for Nicole because Nicole wanted a cute pumpkin. Then they were all going to go to the corn maze. Nicole and Linda got stuck there but eventually got out. After, they went to eat lunch and when they were done with lunch it was time to go.Linda Krejci

The day started like this; we got our buddies and climbed onto the bus. We drove for an hour. From a distance the pumpkin patch looked like a bunch of orange flowers. As we got closer, we realized the hill was covered in pumpkins. There were big pumpkins and small ones. The air was brisk and clean. We started to pick our pumpkins. Of course the Kindergartners wanted the big pumpkins and I ended up carrying my buddy, his pumpkin and my pumpkin. We then headed to the corn maze. After the maze we went to the

green house for lunch. While I was eating, I saw many beautiful roses. Mr. Krueger told me that his friend bred new types of roses, and that the ones I was seeing were some of them. After we left the greenhouse we picked up our pumpkins and headed home. I had an enjoyable day at Cal Poly, Pomona.Tommy Lane

When my little sister, Alyssa, and I were about to enter the corn maze, she seemed very excited. Maybe it was because she had never been to one. It took us about a few minutes to get used to the surprises but when we realized we were stuck in a trap, I started to worry. Alyssa was still happy. We eventually found a way out and there was nothing to worry about. I had a great time and will never forget that day.Erin Lee

On October 19, 2010, the Fifth Graders and the Kindergartners went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch in Cal Poly, Pomona. In case you didn’t know, the Kindergartners are our buddies. My buddy is Lark. When it was time to pick the pumpkins, Lark went running around the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin with me. She wanted a really big pumpkin and she picked one. It was round, orange, and oh boy! It was heavy! It was the heaviest thing I’ve ever carried. She helped me pick a small pumpkin since I wanted a small one. Then she gave me the huge pumpkin to carry since it was my job. She and I had a wonderful trip back to school and we wished that we could go again.Jenny Lee

Our class went to a pumpkin patch with our Kindergarten buddies. We had tons of fun. As soon as we got there we went to go get our pumpkins. Lyon and I got the biggest, roundest and fattest pumpkins. Half of the fun was rolling the pumpkin to the bus. Lyon and I had a blast. After getting our pumpkins, the class went to eat lunch in the greenhouses. The roses were beautiful. There were tons of spiders though. The greenhouse had tons of flowers. There were daisies, roses and sunflowers filling the room. It was a beautiful sight. The last thing we did was the corn maze. There were miles of corn. Lyon and I made it our mission to make it to the hay pyramid. I had a great time. We completed our mission and then went home.Ty Mahar

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We had a field trip to a pumpkin patch on October 19, 2010. I went to the pumpkin patch with my buddy, Colin, and our classes. It was so fun. First it started to rain and we thought it would be like last year, but it stopped when we got there. We were supposed to eat lunch, but instead we got to pick our pumpkins. Colin picked a big round pumpkin and so did I. When everyone finished picking pumpkins, we entered the corn maze. The corn maze was really hard, but Colin and I made it out in the end. We ate lunch in a greenhouse. It was filled with beautiful roses. After we finished lunch, we entered the bus and went back home.William Paek

I had two buddies, William and Louis. We all had a great time, especially when we picked our pumpkins. We got off the bus at 9:00 a.m. and went to the pumpkin patch. We all had our pumpkins picked out but Louis couldn’t carry his so I had to carry both of our pumpkins (of course the biggest ones we could find). Later, William couldn’t carry his either. After I finally got on the bus, I was exhausted and so were my buddies. William was sleeping on Louis and Louis was sleeping on me.Gabriel Peter

“Wow!” I said as we were approaching Cal Poly Pomona’s Pumpkin Patch. There was a field of orange right in front of me. There must have been hundreds of pumpkins. My Kindergarten buddy, Julianna, was jumping up and down in the bus. We stepped out of the bus and immediately started choosing pumpkins. My buddy wanted a very large pumpkin so we began searching. Then we found the perfect pumpkin. It was large and bright orange. Then we went through the corn maze. It was huge and the corn was six feet tall! We finally made it out. Then we went into a greenhouse with some of the most beautiful roses I have ever seen. Later, we went back to the bus and my buddy fell asleep on my lap. I slept too. We were so tired!Corrie Phillips

When we arrived at the pumpkin patch the weather was overcast and we thought it was going to rain. My buddy Jamieson and I got off of the bus together and lined up outside. We had arrived a little bit earlier than

usual so we went to get our pumpkins. First we looked for Jamieson’s pumpkin. We searched far and wide. Once we found it, we found a big pumpkin for me as well. We labeled our pumpkins and I tossed a small pumpkin we found near the gazebo. It was a great day.David Rich

On October 19, 2010, I went to a pumpkin patch in Cal Poly, Pomona with my “little sisters”. Their names are Ava and Violet. The best part of the pumpkin patch was the corn maze. I was amazed that it was made of corn! It was kind of tricky because when we thought we were done we went in the wrong direction! We finally got out and I wanted to try again but we had to go to lunch.Michelle Seung

On October 19, my buddy Aiden and I went on a field trip to the Cal Poly Pumpkin Patch. I was excited when we arrived. I picked a giant pumpkin for my buddy and ran around the field with it for thirty minutes. The corn maze was annoying because we were ahead until the checkpoint but then got lost. We had a good lunch and came back. The only bad thing that happened was that I slept on my buddy’s shoulder and he slept on mine, but I bumped into the emergency exit handle while I was sleeping.Andy Si

Stitches and ScarsMany scary things have happened to me, as to everyone else. However, I’m going to pick one thing that happened to me most recently. I’ll warn you–this story is very gruesome.On a hot summer’s day, I was going somewhere with my mom. As I closed the door, I slammed it on my finger. Not knowing what to do, I looked at it. I screamed and almost fell to the floor. My finger was bleeding so badly. I showed it to my mom and ran to the car. We went to the hospital. At the hospital a nurse put me in a room immediately. Soon a doctor came in with rubber gloves. He looked at my finger and left the room. He came back with brown, gooey cleaning stuff and needles to stitch up my hand.I had closed the door on my finger and the nail was about to come off. The doctor cleaned my finger thoroughly. He filled a needle with numbing medicine and injected it into my finger. Then he took a needle and attached a wire to it. He looked at my finger one last time and then pierced it with the needle. I only felt a little shock of pain because of the numbing medicine. I could not watch the doctor sew up my finger so I stared at the ceiling for the next twenty or so minutes, catching short glimpses of the process. Before I knew it, it was over.Then I was out the door. Boy was I glad! To this day I wear a bandage over my finger so people don’t have to look at it.Chloe Carrere

A Sad ExperienceEveryone’s life is full of different experiences. I have had sad experiences and happy experiences. One of my saddest experiences was when my brother moved out of the house to attend dental school.My brother and I are very close. If I had trouble with homework, I could always ask him for help or if I needed advice I could always count on him. If I was bored, I could play with him. I dreaded his leaving. As the weeks went by and it got closer and closer to his leaving, I worried more and more each day. When he

started packing his suitcases, I felt totally depressed. Everyone else was happy for him but I wanted him to change his mind and stay home. I started to feel bad about not being happy for him. After all, going to dental school was a great opportunity for my brother. Finally, moving day came. I hated watching my brother packing his suitcases in the trunk of the car. When he finished and was about to drive off, I was the only one who didn’t say goodbye. After several weeks, I visited him and was really glad I saw him again. Every month my family and I would go visit him. I realized that things were not as bad as I had thought. I still had my sister who I could help and get advice from. I would play with her often. I would talk to my brother on the phone and ask him how school was. He told me, “It’s tough.”Time flew and after four years he graduated from dental school. My family was excited for him. The graduation ceremony was like a big parade and I felt proud of my brother. When my brother left his apartment and returned to our house we had a big welcome back party for him. Everyone was happy and we were all one big, loving family again. Brian Chung

A Happy ExperienceThis past summer I was enrolled in a performing arts camp. My friends Eleanor, Butterfly and Jade were also participants. During the week we had fun doing improv games. Improv is acting without a script. One of my favorite games was when we all stood in a circle and we had to think on our feet. The object of the game was to come up with a word when the teacher touched our heads. Then we would have to come up with a story once we all said our words. All the games we played gave me valuable pointers on improv acting. We also learned the art of hip-hop dancing. Our dance teacher, Ms. Tessa, worked with us on a fun hip-hop number.On the final day of camp, we performed for our friends and family. Everyone in the camp had a role. The play was about a group of orphans being kicked

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Essays and Poems by Mrs. Dummett’s ClassSixth Grade

out of their home by a greedy real estate lady, who wanted to sell the house to a rich woman. What were they to do? Well, I’ll tell you. They came up with an ingenious plan to scare the rich woman and the real estate lady away. They decided to pretend that there were ghosts in the house and that it was haunted. The two women, believing this to be true, were so scared that they ran out of the door screaming and were never to be seen again. The orphans had a big celebration because the house was now theirs again. The play was a huge success and really fun to perform.Later that evening, Butterfly, Jade and I were invited to a sleepover at Eleanor’s house. We spent most of our time by the pool playing water games and diving. We ended the evening by sleeping in tents outside in the backyard. It turned out to be a glorious and fun day, one of the best in the summer. Kennedy Daniel

Red with PusIt was a pleasant sunny Monday afternoon as we returned from El Capitan. Then, I suddenly felt an itchy sensation on the skin of my abdomen. I looked down and saw a big red rash. After three days of scratching the rash, it became infected and turned into a pus-filled rash on my skin and I nearly fainted! It had spread to my back and legs too. When my parents saw the mysterious rash on my belly they immediately called the doctor. The next day, the doctor looked at it and said I had a serious medical condition and that I had to go to the hospital immediately. Since I was only eight years old at the time, I thought I was going to die. My dad checked me into the hospital and then I was sent to a room complete with a reclining chair and TV so it wasn’t so bad. I also got whatever food I wanted. But now to the scary part. Suddenly the nurses came in to give me shots–lots of shots. They also drew blood. I freaked out at the thought of somebody putting a needle into my bare skin, so the nurses had to hold me down.After the frightening shots of antibiotics I got to play any videogame I wanted! Then I watched TV, while some doctors came in to observe my wound. My own doctor even had an infectious disease doctor come in to see me.After some more dreadful thoughts I was free! Relief swept over me as fast as a racecar crossing the finish line. Later on, after the infection went away, they

realized that I just had poison oak! I will never forget this scary experience, all the shots and how I almost had a serious bacterial infection. John Hammond

My Worst ExperienceWhen my family and I were in Italy, I had the most exciting experience there. When I first got off the plane, I knew that I was going to have a blast. We first got onto a motorboat and rode to Venice. When we got there, we went through a canal that looked as if it had something very fat dying in it. After we got off the boat and checked into our hotel, we went to the Venice courtyard. When we got there, there was a big fight going on. I went to see but, of course, my mom pulled me out of the crowd and gave me a lecture on how I should not go near drunken people fighting (or any people fighting, for that matter). Then we walked around Venice and saw a lot of surprising things such as carpenters, merchants, tailors, a traditional pizza parlor and a boatload of other places, people and things. Afterward, we went to the hotel and didn’t get any sleep because it seemed like the people outside of our room were nocturnal.The next morning we went on another walk and I got to explore by myself. I found a bakery and couldn’t resist tasting their “homemade Italian sweetbread”. When I took the first bite, the taste was a sensation I had never dreamed of. I started thinking that I should save some for everyone else, but I happened to feel greedy at the moment and just ate it-hoping karma wouldn’t come after me. When I went back to the hotel, I realized that the rest of my family wasn’t there. After a while, I began to get worried. Just as I was about to grab my jacket and run all over Venice, everyone came in the door with chocolate all over his or her face. I turned off the lights and hid in the closet with my grandpa’s Swiss Army knife he gave to me because I didn’t know that it was my family. When they walked past the closet I was hiding in, I sprang out and pointed my knife at Monica, my sister. When my mom turned the lights on, she almost had a heart attack. Monica almost choked me because she said I looked like a burglar about to jump her. My parents took me into the bathroom and had a long chat with me about what would have happened if they were actually burglars or thought I was a burglar. When I asked what they had been doing, they said, “Why should we tell you?” They were so angry that we had to go home

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early. On our way to the plane, Monica, Mom and Dad shouted at me for attempting to jump Monica. I learned a valuable lesson: Never go anywhere with your grandpa’s Swiss army knife.When we got home, nobody talked to me for two days. I guess that was my punishment. It could have been worse. I never forgot about the time when I ate the sweetbread and decided not to share any with my family. I knew that karma would catch up with me sooner or later. The day after, it did. When I woke up, all my Lego sets were crushed and my computer crashed. Aside from that, nobody was talking to me so I couldn’t ask for help. Then, I started to get hungry. I walked into the kitchen to get breakfast, but there was nothing to eat except for some vegetables and garlic. I knew I couldn’t stand to have vegetables raw, so I improvised. I put the garlic into the veggies and tried to take a bite. Then something wonderful happened. It actually tasted good! Afterward, my mom even took that away. That was the worst experience I have ever had.Martin Haynesworth

Traveling to a Strange PlaceHave you ever gone to a place that you thought was strange? When you get there everything looks different from your native home. Everything is different; the way everybody is dressed, the kind of food they eat and even their homes. For you it may be strange, but for the people who live there it is not.I was waking up from my long and relaxing sleep when I heard my mom talking to someone about vacationing. I could not hear where we were traveling, but I got excited. A week after, I started to pack all of my clothes but my mom said that I just needed to take a little bit because we weren’t going to be away for a long time. I chose my best clothes and shoes for the trip. When the day arrived I was very excited to go on an airplane. We left home rapidly so we could get to the airport on time. We were going to be out of the city for a month. I asked my mom where we were going but I think she didn’t hear me and didn’t respond. After all of the things we went through we finally got on the airplane and were already in the sky. I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. Luckily, I slept through the whole flight. We met our family at El Salvador’s airport. I then realized that everything looked different and very unfamiliar. People were dressed differently, their houses

looked different from ours and the food looked and tasted different. It was the first time I was visiting my relatives in El Salvador.When we got to my aunt’s house, we unpacked and later took a walk so we could get to know people in the town. The next day we went to visit my mom’s friends and family. I soon made friends and played with them. We went out to eat several times and ate my favorite food, pupusas. Pupusas are tortillas stuffed with beans and cheese. I like pupusas because they are different from the food we eat in Los Angeles. Time passed so quickly that the time came when we had to leave and go back to Los Angeles. I didn’t want to leave because I was having so much fun. We said goodbye to everyone and finally left. It felt a little better on the way back home on the airplane. When we got back to our house I was exhausted because of the journey. After all, it was an awesome trip for me. I will never forget my first visit to El Salvador.Vanessa Herrera

My DogsI love dogs as much as many people do. They bring joy to life. This is the story of how my family and I got our two dogs, Taboo and Pickmee.When I was born, my parents had a Rottweiler named Jasper. When I was about two years old he got very sick and died. Since then, my sisters and I kept begging for a new dog. Then, we finally got one. One day, on the 19th of December, my parents came to pick us up from school. I was in Third Grade at Pilgrim. I hopped in the car and saw something in the passenger seat. I asked my dad, “Why is there a litter box in the passenger seat?”“It’s not a litter box. Come out here and see.” He said. I saw that the object was not a litter box but a kennel and in it was the cutest beagle. We named her Taboo. My parents explained how they had driven all the way to Fresno to get her. She had been born on November 4 and was only a little older than a month. Then, the summer of 2008, we decided to come to St. James’. We thought that Taboo might be lonely while we were at school so we looked for a playmate for her. Mr. Casey, the music teacher, told my mom about a dog he had found on Wilshire Boulevard. He had taken her to a shelter over by our house. We went to the shelter and she was adorable. We had to wait a few days to see if her owner would claim her but no one came. We adopted her and named her Pickmee because when

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we saw her in the shelter she kept jumping up and down as if she wanted us to pick her. She is the cutest yorkie-terrier mix ever.They are so adorable and add so much joy to our family. They love to play and jump and love it when you rub their bellies. Pickmee is small but she is our guard dog. If she doesn’t know you she will bark at you. Taboo is bigger and calmer than Pickmee. They both like to bark at squirrels and raccoons rather than people. They both have different personalities but make excellent playmates. Having Pickmee and Taboo is one of the happiest experiences of my life so far. Chasia Jeffries

The Scary DreamThere are many people on Earth that have had a scary experience. I have had many scary things happen to me, but this one is the scariest. It was so scary that I cannot get it out of my head.In the year 2007, I was about seven or eight years old. At 9:00 p.m. I went to bed. I started dreaming that I was outside of my old house. As I pictured it, it was sunny and the house had a lot of trees. My friends were there too. We were outside having fresh lemonade. Then, I realized that I did not have any shoes on, so I went inside to get them.When I got inside I saw a zombie in my house. I screamed and it chased after me. I ran outside and saw my friends lying on the ground. Then the zombie said, “Ha ha ha. I killed your friends!” What the zombie said was true.I was crying so hard and I didn’t know what to do. My parents couldn’t do anything because they were on vacation in my dream.The zombie kept chasing after me. Instead of walking like the ones in cartoons, it ran. I didn’t expect it to run so fast. I climbed on roofs and trees and it still chased after me. I tripped and fell down. The zombie was there in front of me and I had no other choice but to give up. This was the end of my life.While I was on the ground, the zombie took out a knife. It was so sharp that I thought I was surely going to die. Just as the zombie was going to kill me, I woke up from my dream. I was breathing so hard that I cried and then I got a glass of water to calm me down. It was the scariest dream ever. Hopefully I will forget about it soon.Priscilla Kang

The Rattling MonsterWhen I was about five years old, I lived with my family on the top of a hill in a city called Calabasas. There were many things to do around our house, mostly outdoor activities. Since I could only spend a limited amount of time with my dad, due to his busy schedule, I tended to spend most of my weekends with him. Whenever I did spend time with him, he always told me as many times as he could to watch out for wild animals, especially snakes. He reminded me many times, but this comment never scared me. I was always with my dad and he was with me. There weren’t any snakes dwelling in the quaint city I lived in–at least that’s what I had thought. Then one morning I was out in the yard helping my dad beautify our garden. As time passed by we started to slowly drift away from each other.Then, all of a sudden, I heard my dad calling my name. I started running to him. It was a soft, yet assertive voice. From the one of his voice I could tell he had found something interesting for me to see. This made me run even faster. With my tiny legs at full speed I accidently passed my dad but he quickly grabbed my wrist, forcing me to a gentle halt. He pointed to the broom in his hand. Then I saw, in the corner of my eye, a monstrous snake that rattled. My dad started to walk slowly towards the snake with a broom in his right hand and a stick in his left. I pulled his shirt to restrain him.“No Daddy, I’m scared.” I said with a small voice.I accidently let go and watched in horror as my dad tried to put the snake into a bin. For the next ten minutes, which seemed like an eternity, he continued to direct the snake to the trashcan and finally he got it in. My dad quickly turned the trashcan upright, using his stick and broom, and closed it with the lid. I had seen many animals in books, on the news and in the zoo, however I had never seen a snake so close before. We called the animal control and they came out within a couple of hours. The animal controller told use that they would release the snake where it couldn’t endanger people’s lives.After that experience, my father told me that when you find one snake there are probably more, hiding. Just in case, we had gardeners put snake barriers around the yard. Tiffany Kim

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The MazeAt Astrocamp, the scariest thing happened to me. It was when I was in the middle of the maze. I couldn’t find the exit. I was gasping. I was so worried that I might be trapped there for the whole day. Five minutes past, I was still stuck. I yelled for help. I called three times, but it was no use. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to find a friend who could help me, but no one came.I was waiting for seven minutes. I felt hot tears on my hands. I was crying because I was homesick. I started to think about my family in my house and my big, beautiful room with the puffy bed and pillows. I wanted to get out of this place. I wanted to go home.Then I heard someone crawling. I called out, excitedly, “Who is it?”The person replied, “Who are you?”I said, “I’m Ellie!”She called back, “I’m Tiffany!”“Tiffany, can you come here and help me find the way out?” I said.She yelled, “Sure!”I thanked her. Tiffany came over to me and showed me the way out. We crawled to the exit. There, the instructor, Brian, smiled at us and said, “You made it! Congratulations!”Tiffany and I replied together, “Thank you!” I thanked Tiffany for the whole day. I thought about the maze. I was afraid then but now I think it’s fun.Ellie Kim

A Happy ExperienceEveryone has had happy memories, and everyone is special in his or her own way. I have had many happy moments, but out of all of them, one of them sticks in my mind like glue.I attend a dramatic arts academy, called YADA (Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts). I have done many plays there, such as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Fame. In those plays I acted and sang. Last week, I had an audition to go into a higher level for the musical Annie. The level I was auditioning for was called “Jr. Master”. I had to memorize a one-minute long monologue and a song. I decided to do a monologue from Alice in Wonderland and sing Tomorrow from Annie. I practiced whenever I could. Everyday that led up to my audition day was a day that would make a difference in my acting and voice. I have performed in front of audiences before but, nevertheless, I was extremely

nervous. When the audition day came, I could feel my heart beating like the flapping of a hummingbird’s wings. As I sat in my chair, waiting for my turn, I could feel my body trembling. I was holding the piano sheet music for Tomorrow. I went over the lyrics and sang softly to myself. I took some deep, slow, controlled breaths and tried to stay calm. In a few minutes the directors were calling my name. I grinned at my mother and slowly walked into the audition room.There was a table and piano in front of me. The table was long and almost all of the directors were sitting behind it. The one director who was not sitting behind the table was in front of the piano. I recited my monologue first. I tried to do it just as I had practiced it at home. After my monologue, the director turned toward the piano and started to play from my sheet music. After my audition, all the directors and choreographers clapped for me. How nervous I had been, standing in front of eight adults. I sighed with relief. They said that my acting and singing had improved. They told me that they were impressed. The days that followed my audition were hard to manage because I could not stop thinking about my audition. Would they think I was good enough? Would they think I was not as good as other Jr. Master performers? Questions were buzzing through my head as my parents and I waited for a call from YADA to tell us the results.Two days had passed when I was getting into my mom’s car after school when she said, “Lynn, you’re a Jr. Master!” I was excited and surprised. I was talking and talking the whole way home. I could not wait for my first Annie class. This magnificent experience is a special, unforgettable one. I still cannot believe I am in a Jr. Master class. After this experience, I know I will probably have many more experiences like this one, and now I know that as long as I practice, have confidence and try my best I will be able to succeed. Remember, practice makes perfect!Lynn Kim

How Music Makes Me HappyPlaying the clarinet has been an essential part of my life. Although I enjoy playing the guitar, the clarinet is my main instrument and I exert most of my time and effort playing it. In the past, I have

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competed in the Southwestern Youth Music Festival, one of the most well known annual competitions for aspiring young musicians. Students from all over the southwestern region of the United States come and compete in many different categories for different instruments. Although it was laborious preparing for these competitions, it was gratifying to be part of this event. I vividly remember the moment when I found out that I placed first at SYMF. This was among the happiest moments of my life.The year before that I had worked very hard on a concerto called Rondo by Hoffmeister. I worked very diligently for a year with my clarinet teacher, Dr. Wellwood, and my dad. It was tedious and hard work. It took sacrifice, as I had to practice while other kids were playing. When the day of the SYMF came, I was extremely anxious and nervous. However, I played smoothly, without any errors. I was waiting for the result, feeling confident and proud. However, to my surprise, I placed second. I was shocked and dismayed. Needless to say, I was not prepared to accept being in second place. I knew that sulking and being disappointed would be of no use for the upcoming competition. I became resilient and quickly got back to work. My teacher picked a very difficult and intricate piece called Arabesque by Paul Jeanjean. When he first showed it to me, I didn’t believe I could learn and perform it for the next SYMF. It looked so hard initially that I was somewhat intimidated and felt discouraged. I was afraid that I would fail. The first month I felt like I was being tortured, as I had to learn it note by note. I kept making mistakes and it seemed as if I would never master it. After another month I began to see the music in a different light. It no longer felt like a punishment. With time and effort it became a more fun and gratifying. With more diligent practice and help from my teacher and my dad, I was able to master it. I knew the piece inside and out and felt as if playing it was second nature. Despite this long preparation, when the day of the SYMF came, I was still very anxious and apprehensive. When my name was called, I stepped confidently onto the stage and played my piece. I was very excited, knowing that I had done well. I was taken to the room where they held the award ceremony. They called our name one by one, starting with the third place. When they got to the first place they announced my name. I

was in a state of bliss and couldn’t hold my excitement. I played the optional recital in front of an audience and went home feeling proud and happy. The competition was important because it showed my resiliency and my ability to bounce back after a setback. I practiced diligently and weathered through all the disappointments at a time when I didn’t want to proceed. However, in the end, I can truly say it was worth it. Brennan Lee

A Happy ExperienceSaturday, September 18 was the most exciting day I can remember. It all began at 2:00 p.m. Guests started to arrive as my mom put the finishing touches on our tiki birthday party. My brother and I were turning twelve and we could hardly wait for our Hawaiian party to begin. When our friends started to arrive, we went outside immediately. We started jumping on our trampoline. It was so funny we kept falling and laughing at each other. We decided when everyone arrived we would go swimming. It took forever for everyone to change! It was worth the wait. We had a great volleyball match and we also played keep away.Everyone got out of the pool to eat pizza. It was delicious! Then the girls all sang along with the DJ. That was one of my favorite moments of the party. We danced and sang the whole time. Kennedy and I requested the song Billionaire at least three times throughout the evening.Everyone sang happy birthday to my brother and me. We had a cupcake cake. It was red velvet, chocolate, and vanilla. My mom organized some games for us to play. We played hula relay and it was lots of fun watching everyone put on hula skirts and hats for the relay. My team won! We got great prizes.Everyone ate popcorn and s’mores while we watched Fred, the movie. I was so tired! I finally went to sleep at 11:00 p.m. I slept the entire night, and when I woke up in the morning I was sad that my party had ended. It was the best birthday I have ever had!Halston McMurray

My Happiest MomentIt’s common knowledge that practice makes perfect and, after my first visit to the Culver City skate park, I hoped this was true. On my first visit, I was trying to do a trick called an Ollie. An Ollie is when you make

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the board go up in the air and then you land on it. I would practice this trick all the time. I tried to Ollie down the stairs. I tripped and hit my knee on the ground. It hurt a lot and I wasn’t able to skateboard any more than day. I decided I would try and practice again on another day.A few weeks later I went to the skate park at Venice Beach. The park had a lot of ramps, bowls and stairs. I didn’t want to go immediately to the stairs so I practiced going up and down the ramps. After the ramps, I felt more confident and went to tackle the stairs. I tried doing an Ollie off the stairs. Unfortunately, when I tried I just fell. I was so upset I quit skateboarding.A few months later I went to my grandmother’s house. She asked me if I wanted to go to the skate park. I said no because I would be very rusty at it since I hadn’t skated in a few months. I went outside and started practicing and got the hang of it again. I told my grandmother I was ready and went to the Long Beach skate park. On the day I just had a feeling I was going to land an Ollie, so I immediately went to the stairs and tried.On the first try I fell and cut myself but, like they say, no pain, no gain. I tried again. On the second try I did an Ollie but I didn’t have enough speed to jump off the stairs. On the third try I went as fast as I could and hit my arm on the floor. I gave it one last try. I went as fast as I could, rushed down the stairs on my board and was in the air in a matter of seconds. I could see myself in the air as I passed the stairs. It was the moment of truth! I knew I was going to land the trick and BAM! I did. I felt proud of myself and, to this day, can still Ollie. It was one of my happiest moments. Dorien Meilleur

A Time When I Was Very HappyIt was Christmas Eve, 2006. I was only seven at the time. It wasn’t snowing, which is unusual for England at Christmas time. It was cold, even still, and I was waiting at the window to see who would get there first. I had just come over from America with my mom, dad and little brother. The rest of my family was coming up to my grandma’s house, where we were staying.My grandma’s house is a big, four bedroom house in the county of Rutland; a very rural area. There is a big garden with a field and a pond, which had frozen over. There was plenty of room for everyone. I was waiting for my Aunty Katie, Uncle Glen and my

cousins James and Leah. They live in London and were driving up. My Great Aunt Margaret and my great grandmother had already arrived. The person I was most excited to see was my Uncle Roger, because he is the funniest man I know (apart from Daddy)!The Christmas tree was sparkling and there was a fire in the fireplace. Suddenly, everyone arrived at once. The dogs were barking and everyone had presents in their arms. I was so happy because it was the first and last time when everyone was together.Christmas day was chaotic. Dogs were snapping at pieces of wrapping paper. Everyone was shouting about presents and the smell of Christmas dinner was in the air. It was the best time I have ever had in my life. Tom Norland

My Thriller in the SnowI was in a car, bored to death even though there was a perfectly good movie on. My friends Nathan, his brother, and Austin were watching it with eager eyes, so I decided to take a peek out the window. I turned around and saw a place that looked delicate and beautiful. There were trees by the road, some as huge as skyscrapers and some as small as a man. The snowflakes fell gently, looking like small white raindrops, quiet as mice. The path was winding and our bodies were rocking from side to side, and I noticed that I was the only one marveling at the outside. It suddenly became loud, full of shouts and hollering. I saw a big parking lot full of cards and trucks and knew we had reached our destination: the ski park. People were getting out of their cars, dressed in proper snow attire. My friends got out of their trance and started getting dressed and we headed out to the ticket booth.After we got our tickets, we waited for the rest of our group to meet us. I saw my classmates Jackie, Erica, her sister Tiffany, my friend Noella and our parents. After we were all reunited from the long drive, we headed for the slopes. We decided to warm up so we headed for an easy slope. My friends and I rode down to the ski lift on our snowboards and after a short wait we got on. I looked down and saw fluffy snow that looked like clouds. I saw trees on both sides, tall and small. When we got off the ski lift, I strapped into my snowboard and, after everyone was ready, we went down the slope.I found myself laughing and having fun. I was switching from the two edges of my snowboard carefully and got in the rhythm of it. I thought to

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myself that I had improved since last winter. After a while, the slope started to level out until it was a perfect 180 degrees.I quickly unstrapped myself so I could proceed to the next slope. I waved goodbye to the smaller kids because they could not handle the harder slopes. Austin, Nathan, Jackie, Erica and I were the only ones left and we rode down to the ski lift that would take us to the mountaintop. I slowly started to see the end of the lift: two diamonds, a symbol of advanced terrain, were planted at the end. I soon saw the ramp at the end and slid down.I was enjoying myself because I got into the rhythm. Every time I switched from each edge of the board, a spray of snow trailed behind me. I finally was in the perfect rhythm; switching sides was like second nature to me. Then I saw a lump, big enough to get me off balance.Crash. I fell to the ground and my face connected with the hard snow. I quickly got back up and told myself it didn’t hurt that badly, and that now I had a story to tell. I soon went back to enjoying myself, and when the sun finally started to change into the moon, I told my friends we should leave.We finally got back in the car with a soothing cup of hot chocolate. The movie flickered on the small television screen. I didn’t watch. I was watching the snow fall, and I knew I had a story to tell.Jay Park, Jr.

The Soccer Game I’ll Never ForgetI have had many experiences: good ones, bad ones, surprising ones and happy ones. Last summer, in the middle of July, my mom, Pavlina, my sister, Maya, and my mom’s friend, Alena, and I decided to go to Spain. The day before going to Spain, my mom told us that the World Cup finale was Spain vs. Holland. I was very excited. I couldn’t wait to get to Spain. The next day, we arrived. We were in Madrid but traveled to Malaga. The World Cup Finale was three days later. My mom planned to watch the game in Marbella, close to Malaga. That night we rode to Marbella. Every single restaurant on the promenade had its television on. Every seat was taken and all the restaurants were packed. Luckily, we found the perfect table. The four of us ordered paella, a typical Spanish rice dish with seafood. As we were watching the game I looked around and saw many people: Spanish people, tourists and Holland

supporters. We were all nervous and excited. The game took two hours. Every time Spain got close to scoring a goal the whole street went crazy.When the game was almost over, people were saying it was going to be a tie, but I had a feeling Spain was going to score. My mom told me that if Spain won she would get me an ice cream. Suddenly, boom! Andres Iniesta, a soccer player on the Spanish team, kicked the ball directly into the net. The whole city went wild. Everyone was screaming. People were jumping into fountains, dancing in the streets, waving Spanish flags. I was happy and really thankful because I knew I would get my ice cream. After the game we walked through the streets of Marbella and then got in our car and drove to the hotel. The roads were very busy so it took a long time to get out of the city. Alena stuck her hand out of the window and started waving the flag. When we got to our hotel, we had a little celebration and then went to sleep. The next day we drove back to Madrid and departed Spain. That was the best experience ever and I will never forget. Camille Solo

Preschool FugitiveIt was a midsummer’s day, the wind was blowing, it was nice and warm, and everything was serene. Then, something happened. Everyone was quiet in their classrooms, the playground was eerily silent, and even the teachers felt a tingling feeling crawling up their backs. Someone had been spanked.That poor child let out a bloodcurdling cry as the brown, heavy ruler connected to his tender hands. Feeling the sting of the ruler, he started to cry. He was then spanked some more for crying. After about two more minutes of this merciless torture, he was sent back to his classroom with red, raw hand. He had hot tears running down his tanned, chubby cheeks. Unfortunately, I was the next victim of this cruel rehabilitation routine. With only seconds to spare, I stealthily snuck out of the place of torture and under a large, brown table. I was able to hide there for a long time with nothing to do but watch my seeker’s walking by my place of concealment. Finally, a tall teenage brunette found me and told the head of the preschool where I was. I was caught and put under arrest. I was then flung into the waiting room. I could feel my own pulse beating away in my neck. All I could think about was the imminent pain and

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throbbing that would occur in my soft, small hands. I looked into the security camera screens, not knowing whether or not it would be the last thing I would lay my eyes on. Then, as all hope seemed to disappear, I saw my parents’ car pulling into the school’s driveway. Just as my family reached the door, my persecutor picked up her weapon of choice; a stiff Office Depot yardstick. I was executed seconds before my family reached and opened the door. David Wagner

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Poems by Ms. Munro’s Class

World War TwoThe third of September- the gruesome, depressingWorld War Two was established.The blustering street alarms going on at the strangest of times.The unpleasant smell of all the ashescollapsing through the air.I remember the loud crowds and the stinkyshelter in the middle of the streets.Also the awful, puny Anderson Shelterswith no clean water whatsoeverI remember all the fear people hadin those horrible sheltersHaving to be evacuatedwas terrible.Everyone had to wear tags on their coatsas if they were pets.I remember the miserable feeling ofhaving to be evacuated.Traveling sometimes took daysbut other times it took hours.I recall the huge farm house andall the freedom the kids had.Plenty of things were different fromthe home I lived in before.I have memories that in the mornings Iwould hear the wonderful sound of nature.Every night I hoped that one dayI would happily return to my parents.If you were put into my shoes,how would you have felt?Heaven Corona

Three TearsGetting on the train,People chattering along,Oceans of beings waiting outside.My mother cried, trying to look away.Three tears streamed down my cheeks,I let them fall to the ground,they hit the dirty floor silently.I pressed my nose against the barrierbetween me and herand waved out the window,as my sister yelled goodbye.

A soft cool breeze on my shoulders,it was chilly in the midst of winter.My gas mask jiggled at my side as the train started up.I waved to my mother for the last time.Would I ever see her again?The train chugged along,I liked the countryside,but not right now.My toes hit the top of my shoes,the faded, navy Mary Janes were too small.Perhaps I’ll get new ones.Hours passed andthe chatters silenced.I sob quietly.I remember the bombs falling,Killing everything underneath.I remember the Anderson shelters,the creepy bugs scampering across the ground.I remember the sirens screeching.Such an awful, scary noise.I clutched my sister’s hand.I didn’t want us to be separated.Would we be?Eleanor Hammond

Goodbye PeterThe cold station, the loud peoplemy poor, darling little Petershivering from the cold and windwe were parting, Peter and Ihim going to a far off land in the countryme, staying here in this warthis bloody, filthy warI saw Peter wave as the train lurched forward,I waved back, savoring these momentsthe moment where I see my Peter’s facewishing he would stay herethe last of the train moved pastwas out of sightgoodbye PeterI will always love you,always miss youEva Hilton

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My TearsI cry when bombs fallIn the Anderson shelters we hideI’ll miss you mom and dadNot like the city fresh air and treesThe smell of air I loveSounds of birds chirping is like music to my earsThe fear of people I despiseLeaving behind my hopes and dreamsMy hope is returning homeMy dream for survivalBut what will happen to me?John Kim

Bombs FallingTears fell along my faceas bombs fell in the skythe whistling bombs screamed in my earbuildings exploded in flamespeople yelling in painRushing out of housespiles of rubble everywheredark, sweaty holeslong nightsno sleep for hoursFinally, light and daybuildings flattenedpeople missing, no more happinesswhen will it all stop?Conor Kneafsey

EvacuationSounds, murder my room.Smells, drinking the air.Legs, brainwashed and confused.Embraced by fear, not bed sheets.Wet and warm.Small and stuffed,As if it were a prison,Secluded from all I loved.My hands, unwilling to let goTears, stopping me from a farewellTripping over unfamiliar stepsOne last look after another,Each one more distant.Seeing children, so unfamiliar.But familiar in a wayGreetings, wicked greetings.

Danger around me,And I, standing, unarmed.Is it prophesied that I should be torn from home?Deborah Lee

Dreadful LifeBed feels strangely sweet and warm.It had to be this particular day that the horrifying alarm had to ring.Sleepily climbing out of the bed feeling lazy and tired.And off we go to save our lives.Under the pitch-black earth, waiting.Waiting for the next alarm.Terrified, wondering if our house was bombed.Loud explosions.Foul, ashy stench.5 a.m.Finally the “all clear” rings.Rushing, running back home.Terrified to see the fiery buildings and burnt articles.Hoping our house was still alive.Our house.The fire.Burning our innocent house.Heartbroken.Jackie Lee

No Going BackSirens crying all aroundLike babies wanting milkI hurry to the sheltersOnly to stumble and fall again and againBombs exploding all around meI feel the shake of the groundBuildings crashing to the earthOnly to be bombed againFinally I get to the sheltersCreepy crawlies that I’ve always likedFrighten me as they scurry across my toesI shake with cold and fearMy teeth chattering and my heart racingI’m afraid of what’s going to happenMy toes are getting numbFrom the lack of warmth in the sheltersEverything stopsIt’s finally overI guess now I’m moving to the countryA warm, tender hugThat I won’t feel again until…who knows?

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One last look That I’ll keep with me foreverA single waveUntil I can bare it no longerMy heart ripping apartFor leaving my life behindHoping to see my family againIn fear they’ll be gone when I come backNothing to do but waitUntil I arrive at my new homeWe’re hereAll I see is green grass everywhereEvery glance I take in any directionAll I smell is country smellsFlowers, soil and freshly mown grassAll I hear are animalsDogs, cats and birdsNo truck horns blaringThe sound I’ve gotten so used toNo car doors being shutThe noise I’ve grown quite fond ofNo voices yapping at each otherI’d never think I’d miss themMost of all, no parents’ voices to soothe meI loved their voices and the way they talked Nothing I’m used to is hereIt’s all so differentJane Lee

Separated Away From HomeLast evening, with my parents, cuddled up.Last night, a soft bed, warm night.Today, being evacuatedOne of a thousand people.No soft bed.No parents.No friends.Today, taken away to strangers.Terrified of what’s going to happen.Today, my heart is breaking.Tomorrow, another day without my parents.Tomorrow, a new danger.My life is unreliable.Heartbroken.Scared.Depressed.Rachel Lee

Hoping HelplessThe piercing sirens blaring relentlesslyI shudder as bombs fall like GodcryingLost in a sea of people rushing to the undergroundWe hurry to the hot pitbelowPeople talk and play music without endSomething unknown scurries across my feetPeople of all sorts, rich and poor, together to hope for the bestMany are quiet with sorrowI worry about the fate of my homeWill I have a bed to sleep in tomorrow night?Tears creep down my cheeks soundlesslyI see wet, red eyes of many others in the dim lightMy home is still standing tall and proud Stores that I knew are gone, leaving their owners helplessFriends’ homes were flattenedWill mine be going tomorrow?Sloane Leipzig

Evacuee PoemI hear it,That terrifying noise.Sirens are sounding.Immediately rushing into Anderson Shelter,I listen,I try to think about…Bombs crashing break my thoughts.Then I begin to worry.My home, familiar faces…Have they all been crushed?Gloom,Slowly creeping between us.Dark, cold, no smiles.Something slimy scampers across my muddy shoes.My friend and parents,Only comforting me slightly.The adults are discussing something.I don’t understand their conversation.I will soon find out what’s happening…Misty eyes are everywhere,Again, smiles are nowhere to be seen.I am leaving home.The train station,Filled with crying children.We walk,

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My parents stop,But I must go on.Entering the train,The overcrowded train,I press my face against the window.Until I see my loved ones only in my mind.Wondering about my new family,Until I fall into a deep, peaceful sleep…Brakes, screeching to a stop.Jolting awake, thinking I am dreaming.I see a strange place.Walking off the train, something catches my eye.My friend!I run to her,Our eyes explore out destination.Beautiful hillsides, trees, a nice smell,That nice country smell…Cities, dark, smelly, busy cities,Not seeming so great now.Horses,I see horses!Shoved onto a group of people,At least I’m with my friend.We walk to houses,My friend is taken in.A family,A nice-looking pulled-together family.Luckily I am chosen.Life isn’t so bad so far,My friend, horses,All so close to me.The only thing is…My familyWhen will I see them again?Katie MacPherson

On My OwnHorrific sights of crushed buildings,And the scent of ash filling the air,Slowly surround me as I’m trappedMy ears pierced by booming screams of agonyHuge crowds plowing over meI am truly lost in an ocean of strangersDepression quickly sinks into my heartHard times of war just around the cornerI know this is just the beginningMy dad’s harsh voices forces me into the shelterThere is nowhere else to hidePitch-blackness,

I feel damp wallsAnd I smell fresh dirt under my feetI feel scared like a lost puppyTold to leave my family behind,My eyes filled with tearsNot knowing where I am going,Not knowing when I will see my parents next,I am bewilderedThe hard, dry feeling of thirst grips my throat firmlyStarting to travel far,Pushed to keep movingParched and starvedCommanded to wear a tag like some filthy dogThe harsh mistreatment enrages meI am exhaustedI long to return homeArriving at the countrysideEverything is differentSeems a peaceful and relaxing environmentMakes me scaredI feel alone I am an outsider hereThere is no one to comfort meSomething feels differentThere is a hole in my heartPart of me is missingWill I ever see my home again?Paxton McMurray

The BombingThe bombing is horribleWorse than I thoughtThe ash made my eyes waterThe weather was really hotThe smoke clogged my throat“I’m choking,” I said.When I got to the shelters, I felt more safeBut the screaming and yelling was agonizing.The drunks acting crazy and the babies crying.At least I kept myself together ‘til after the bombing.The rush to the trains and sad goodbyesAnd all the adults onboard were very little.I walked to the train, it was so overcrowded.Off we went, “to the country!” I shouted.When we arrived, it looked so clean.The kids lining up to get picked in front of the smoking train.It smelled so fresh, no ash and smoke.I finally get picked to go to a home.

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I hope they’re good family.Then I nervously walked up…Kameron Nelson

Hello, New LifeRed eyes, they’re red tooTrembling hands, of mine and my brothersFaint yelps, my dogFrustrated voices of my mom and dadA small bag, a gas maskNothing but the slightest memories of home packed in a suitcaseA siren goes off,I’m not sure what it isMy brother grabs my wrist and pulls me with himWe go into the shelterCold and muddySmells like gasBut what kind?I hear screams,Mostly babiesBombsI can hear them,But do I want to?I’ve seen many things brokenBut nothing like what I’m seeing nowConcrete cracked, buildings shatteredThe day, the dreaded day has comeI’m leavingI say my last goodbyesThey come out as a stutterI look at my dog,Trying to memorize his face, for the long journey aheadI hug him, he tries to squirm outI say goodbye to my parents, my house, my lifeCaroline Somes

LeavingMy father writes my name on a nametagThe one that will be on my coat in the morning.A single tear runs down my cheek.I do not want to leave my home.A small, pink dress, a small coat on a trunk in my room.My mother loops the nametag onto the coat.The room becomes blurred, my face is wet.I do not want to leave my home.My sister cries, she understands.We are falling apart.

The air fills with smoke.The trains come near.My face is wet again.My life is changing right before me.Into the smoke I disappear.I have just left my home.Alex Tandon

Evacuation Scared, shivering with fearGoosebumps over my body like hillsScreaming childrenAdults runningAshes in the air,Where do I go next?Damp, cold, it’s 2:00 a.m.Puddles of water,Smells of fear,Sirens are wailing through the mist of the morning“Going to the Anderson shelters”The train whistles byA nametag on me like I was a piece of luggageA last glimpse of my mother as she fades into the fogGentle and steady tears run down my faceFeeling the bodies in the compartment of the trainThe richest and poorest are on the right and left of meI look through the window, gloomWhere am I going?Jade Taylor

Evacuee PoemSister’s washing, mother’s dyingI’m packing, father’s forging a nametagSuddenly wailing shrieks of sirens fill the airRunning down to AndersonBeads of perspiration running down my faceI slap hands over ears to discourage sounds of bombs enteringI scream agonizingly at the bombs and they roar backWe leave the shelterThe night is as gloomy as my heartFire ravages neighbors’ houses.The train station is packedFeeling hot, salty tears running down my face as the train departsPassing by town after townClickety clack pssss the train stopsI get off.Picked up by a plump woman

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She takes me to a cottageShe feeds me, makes me at home.Luke Trester

Gone In A SwoopHearing the siren screamRunning to the shelterFeeling coldFeeling scaredSeeing nothingBut darknessGoing outsideFeeling coldFeeling scaredNo more candy shopNo more old candy manSoft voice behind meIt’ll be okayBut I know it won’tAt the train stationFeeling coldFeeling scaredLeaving homeLeaving friendsLeaving mom and dadI’m given a nametagTo be hung around my neckHot tears run down my cheekMomma looks awaySo much cryingSo suddenThey’re goneHopping off the trainFeeling coldFeeling scaredLined up with other childrenMost I don’t knowA man with white hairWhite skinWhite beardComes to meSays we are going homeWhere’s home?Waking upFeeling coldFeeling scaredAnd feeling griefThis is itThis is home

Was rich back homeNow unbelievably poorGoing insideStill coldStill scaredFloors crackFood is blandSmelling raw fishScreams of beatingsBombs go offStill coldMore scaredMore griefSudden darknessAm I alive?Are my parents alive?Quentin Wise

Please Don’t Make Me Leave!Sweat streaming down my face.Tears are now bonding together with perspiration.I get my last look at my mother,Gone.When will I see her again?Maybe never.Rage burned up inside of me.I was being separated from my mother,All because of the war!I lived in a small cottage,Three meals a day.One snack.The perfect life for a ten-year-old boy.Living with a stranger?It sent me chills.Where am I going to end up?Will they be niceOr evil?The train arrived on the countryside.I burst into tears.I am homesick already.No.I can’t do this!It is far too last.Oh dear.Maxwell Zucker

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Art with Mr. Danenberg

Sofia Landis, First Grade

Aiden Park, Kindergarten

Celine Park, First Grade

Louis McKinlay, Kindergarten

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Brontë Norman, First Grade Gus Cohen, Kindergarten

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St. James’ Episcopal School

W E B w w w . s j s l a . o r g625 S. St. Andrews Place

P H O N E (213) 382-2315