Chaparral 5th Grade

Everything HORSES!

2010-03-09T21:12:00.000-08:00

Who said horse back riding was easy? This is the first year I have been surrounded by a group of talented and dedicated equestrians, who have a passion for all things "horses".

This section of our blog will be dedicated to them and their love of this graceful, yet powerful creature. Please join me in celebrating their hard work and writing, as we see the world through the eyes of an equestrian.

Best in Show

By: Jodie

Have you ever yearned for the thrill in riding in a horse show? I’m very lucky and able to compete at various shows often. A horse show is an event in which horses and ponies compete, whether jumping, modeling, or showing on the flat. When I say modeling, I mean when the rider takes off the horse’s saddle and wraps, and then trots the horse or pony into the ring to show off his or her conformation. The judge checks for health, shininess of its coat, and lots more. You do not ride in a model class. When you show on the flat, it means you go in the ring and walk, trot, and canter in both directions in front of the judge. In a flat class, there are usually 10-30 competitors… It just depends on the competition.

In the beginning of February, I took part in the HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) Thermal Desert Circuit Two. I didn’t go to school on Friday (sorry Mrs. Coro!!) and drove a little past Palm Springs where the showground was. It had been raining VERY hard on the day and the days before the show, and we were a little nervous that it would be too slippery to ride. We arrived at the show at about 2:00 P.M. and soon realized that my first class was in 15 minutes! I rushed to change and only had a few minutes to warm up! I might not have ridden, except I strongly felt that it would be good practice if I didn’t make the time frame. Soaked to the skin in my drenched riding jacket, my new velvet helmet getting matted down, the conditions weren’t great but it proved to be amazing! Show attire consists of show pants, a long, silky, specified show shirt, and a riding coat which is generally black or gray. You must tuck in your shirt with a belt. One of the most embarrassing things is when you forget to tuck it in and it makes you look sloppy.

It proved to be a good idea that I decided to take part of the competition of Friday, because I pulled away with a champion ribbon, two blue ribbons, some other places, and my name in a magazine! My champion was in the Schooling Pony Hunters. There are three major parts of Hunter/Jumper shows. There is the Hunter division, the Jumper division, and the equitation division. The hunter division is based on if your horse has impeccable conformation, immaculate grooming done, and the distance you choose to jump the jump. The Jumper division is not if your horse is pretty or not, it is judged on how many faults you pick up and your time. Equitation is based on if you have good form as a rider, if you have heavy or light hands, and your attire. Trust me, they do not judge easily! On Saturday, I was just ok. I picked up a couple of good ribbons, and I was proud of my perfect pony, Milka, that she didn’t go crazy that rain was pounding in her face and all over her. Practically everyone that was at the show was cramped under this little tent to prevent themselves from getting soaked! Sunday dawned cold and gloomy, but it was not raining! I showed in the USEF (United Stated Equestrian Federation) Pony Medal and won it! That qualifies me for the USEF Pony Medal Finals at the end of the show season. Also, during the show I qualified myself for the Pony Finals in Kentucky during the summer! I just have a feeling that I’m not going, but I’ll have to see.

I hope that it doesn’t sound like I’m bragging, and I also hope that you have learned a lot and have been motivated to start riding yourself! Thanks to my mom for making my show career happen!

Biographies: Women in History / Black History

2010-03-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

Throughout the months of February and March, Americans celebrate the contributions of African Americans and Women to our country's rich and unique history. Over the last month, students were asked to choose a notable individual, who we hadn't formally been studied, to research and report on.

Join our fifth grade, in a walk throughout history.

Clara Barton, Angel of the Battlefield

By: Ali

“I am compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can feed and nurse them.” Stated Clarissa “Clara” Barton. This strong woman from the mid 1800s became known as the Angel of the Battlefield for her work with the Civil War and for founding The American Red Cross.

Clara was born on December 25, 1821 to officer Stephen Barton and Mrs. Sarah Barton. Her brothers and sisters, David, Stephen, Sally and Sarah had a major impact on their youngest sister. When she was eleven, David, fell off the barn roof while repairing a hole in it. Clara never left his side and administered all his medicines including “the great loathsome crawling leeches”. In my opinion this is what inspired her to become a nurse.

Most of Clara Barton’s education was gained by her brothers’ and sisters’ knowledge. Her parents also insisted that she attend Colonel Richard School or the “Liberal Instruction”. With all the information she possessed, Barton became a teacher at age seventeen. After her lengthy teaching career, Miss Barton studied to become a battlefield nurse.

In 1861, when she was living in Washington D.C., working as secretary, the sixth regiment arrived. Clara immediately set up a relief program for the soldiers. Besides establishing many relief camps, she also nursed and cared for soldiers from both sides, the Confederates (south) and the Union (north).

Though this exemplary woman has had many accomplishments, she is most known for founding the American Red Cross. When Barton was visiting Europe, she heard about many countries having a Red Cross. Inspired by her experiences in Europe, Clara corresponded with the officials in Switzerland once she returned to the United States. Recognizing her leadership abilities, Switzerland helped her convince President James Garfield to sign the Geneva Treaty. Once the U.S. official’s successor, Chester Author, the American Red Cross was helping people all over the country. With Clara Barton at the head, the organization’s success was on its way.

Sadly, this beloved woman died on April 12, 1912 in Glen Echo, Maryland. “The door that nobody else will go in at, seems always to swing open widely for me.” Adored by many people, Clara Barton will always be remembered as the Angel of the Battlefield.

One Land, Many Trails...Theme 5

2010-03-04T12:13:00.000-08:00

"A Boy Called Slow"

In the story, A Boy Called Slow, Joseph Bruchac tells the story of a young boy named Slow who earns the name Sitting Bull after showing bravery in battle.

As the story begins, we are introduced to the Returns Again family of the Hunkapapa band of Lakota Sioux. We learn that it is a tradition to name a child according to how the child acted. Because our main character moved so "slowly" in everything he did, he was given the name Slow. It wasn't until after he behaved in a heroic manner, at the age of thirteen, that he was given the legendary title of Sitting Bull.

Blogging QUESTIONS:

Share with your classmates the following stories:

1. If you were named in the same manner as SLOW, what would your name have been? Why?

2. How did your parents arrive at your name? Did they pick it out of a book? Were you named after a relative?

3. Research Sitting Bull and tell us about his reputation throughout history.

World Outreach

2010-02-24T20:50:00.000-08:00

Pennies For Peace

By: Taylor

A few weeks ago, Chaparral finished doing the program called Pennies for Peace. It was a resounding success, making $669.50. Even though a penny does not buy anything in Calabasas, in the Middle East it can make a world of difference. One penny can buy a pencil, two an eraser, ten a notebook, the list goes on and on. Really, to comprehend the change that Chaparral students made, you have to hear the whole story.

After a failed attempt to try and climb K2, the second tallest mountain in the world, Greg Mortenson stumbled onto a remote mountain village in Central Pakistan. The inhabitants of this village nursed him back to health. Just before he was about to go home, Mr. Mortenson asked to see the place where the children studied. He saw all of the village's children sitting on the frigid dirt, writing with mud-covered stocks on slates, or more often, the ground. He found out that the children only had a teacher come to them a few times a week, because the village of a few hundred people could not afford the $1 a day to pay for their children's education. He decided to do something about that. He wrote around eight hundred letters to celebrities, earnestly pleading for money to help impoverished children half a world away. The only response that he got was from the newscaster Tom Brokaw, who donated the measly sum of $100, which would not get you far in building a whole school anywhere in the world. This is where Pennies for Peace comes in. Greg spoke to the school where his mother was principal about the children that he had come to care so much for. One boy said that he would donate his piggy bank, but Greg did not think too much of it. Pretty soon, more and more children were donating and the grand total was $623.45, which contributed quite a lot toward the $12,000 it would take to build a school. With the help of Jean Hoerni, Greg did manage to build a school, a bridge, and a foundation called the Central Asia Institute. This led to many more and made the Central Asia Institute and Pennies for Peace the organizations committed to promoting peace there today. More recently, the Central Asia Institute started building schools in war-ravaged Afghanistan. This helps fortify the idea that world peace will only be achieved if every citizen is educated and has the opportunity for a good, free life. As you can see, Chaparral students made a big difference by participating in Pennies for Peace.

Comment:

1. How do you feel about the Pennies for Peace Campaign?

2. How do you feel that ONE fifth grader at Chaparral has made an impact such a significant impact?

3. Has Taylor inspired you to help in your community?

Griffith Park Observatory Field Trip

2010-02-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

Griffith Park Observatory

THE PLANETARIUM:

The planetarium sky made me feel like I was flying.

Danielle Y

...it made me feel like I was laying down and looking at the stars

Jerry

It was gorgeous looking up at the stars, even though I got motion sickness.

Mikaela

It was so real, that I felt like we were moving in the sky.

Shana

The narrator's voice was inspirational.

Isabel

Looking at the constellations made me feel like I was in space.

Cameron

I felt like we were actually moving.

Rawmteen

We felt like we were in space when we were in the rocket ship.

Courtney

FAST FACTS:

There are underwater volcanoes on Jupiter's Moon.

Ali

The bigger the planet, the more you weigh.

The planet we weigh the most on is Jupiter, and the planet we weigh the least on is Mercury.

Sophie

On February 10th we were in the sea goat constellation

Rockey

Comets are made of water, carbon, sand, and amonia.

Shana

CHNOPS

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfer

(elements that appear in all living things)

Brian and Jerry

Two types of telescopes:

1. Reflecting

2. Refracting
Noah

Tesla Coil, created by Thomas Edison's competitor, Nikola Tesla was going to be used to transport electricity, but was rejected because of its loud noise and startling appearance.
Brian

Eight planets make up our solar system
Courtney

Life on earth requires: LIQUID WATER, ENERGY FROM THE SUN, and STABLE ENVIRONMENT

1 million EARTHS can fit INSIDE the sun

Foucault Pendulum

Grizzly Bear Family Book

2010-02-09T13:20:00.000-08:00

Exploring the Wild Alaskan Tundra with the Grizzly Bear

This week we read The Grizzly Bear Family Book by Michio Hoshino, a wilderness photographer and adventure enthusiast. In this expository story, Michio Hoshino spends nearly a year in the Alaskan wilderness capturing the lives of grizzly bears throughout the seasons.

After reading the story together in class, we learned many interesting facts about the grizzly bear, Alaskan tundra, and the changing seasons.

Blogging assignment for the week:

1. Please share 4 interesting facts that you learned after reading the story this week.

2. Did this story make you curious about grizzly bears? Alaska? Are there any other questions you have after reading?
3. Have you been to Alaska? What was it like? Did you see grizzly bears? Share your experience.
4. Make 4 generalizations (general statements) about grizzly bears after reading the story.

Challenge:

Create a HAIKU about ANYTHING mentioned in the story (bears, salmon, caribou, hibernation). Remember that a haiku should follow the following structure:

Title

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

World Math Day- March 3, 2010

2010-02-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

Can We Meet The Goal?

By: Emily

World Math Day is a website that began in 2007. In the 48 hours after it started, over 287,000 students from 98 countries took part in breaking the world record and answering 38,904,275 questions correctly. In 2009, the participation grew to 2 million students from 204 countries answering more than 400 million questions correctly. Can we beat that score this year?

Students on World Math Day play against other students around the world in live games that last 60 seconds each. Like any other activity, practice makes perfect. So, students practice daily with people from countries like India, Bermuda, Greece, and my favorite, Australia, to train for World Math Day. This year's World Math Day is on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. During World Math Day, students earn points for each correct answer. A recent poll on the website's blog shows that students think we can answer 1 billion questions correctly. So, its important that everybody logs on to www.worldmathday.com so we can reach our goal of 1 billion questions!

What's your opinion?

1. Can we help meet the goal of answering 1 billion math questions?
2. What do you like about the World Math Day website?
3. Do you have a goal for the month of February, while you train for March 3rd?
4. What are some of the countries you've competed against during the World Math Day tournaments?

Spelling Bee 2010

2010-01-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

Chaparral SPELLS $12,000

Worth of Words for HAITI!

By Ava & Aden

         This year was the 3rd annual Chaparral Spelling Bee. The school decided to raised money for Haiti after the earthquake 2 weeks before. Each grade had their own spelling list, but I believe the fifth grade words were the most difficult. Here are a couple of the 5th grade spelling words: incomprehensible, contemptuous, lustrous, astonishment, and halfheartedly.
       Other than the 5th grade, every other grade participated. Parents, grandparents, neighbors, and others pledged money for every word or test the student got correct. Everybody took the test on Tuesday, January 26, 2010. Prizes and awards for grades 1-5 were given on Friday, January 29, 2010. Everyone with a perfect score of 100% had their picture taken for the year book. Awards for the children in kindergarten were handed out and announced on February 1st.
       Many students earned 100%, and the school raised $12,000.00 for Haiti. We are all proud and happy for raising money for such a great cause! This year's bee was a hit, and we hope to have an even better one next year!

5th Grade Spelling Bee Winners

Mrs. Coro's Class

Mrs. Shipow's Class

Mrs. Costantino's Class

Dear Mr. Henshaw

2010-01-25T13:31:00.000-08:00

Author of the Week!

This week we read the story Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. Our story is about a boy named Leigh who he has been corresponding with his favorite author for years because he dreams of being a writer. After winning Honorable Mentions in the school writing contest, Leigh is given an opportunity to meet a Famous Author. Although it's not Mr. Henshaw, Leigh is very excited to have lunch with a true writer!

Students are asked to share the following:

If given the opportunity to meet YOUR favorite author, who would you want to meet with and why? What 3 questions would you be interested in asking your favorite author?

Stock Market Project- Accelerated Math

2010-01-25T12:40:00.000-08:00

Investing In Our Future

By: Healy, Danielle C., Karin, and Mrs. Coro

This year Mrs. Coro's math class is doing a Stock Market Project. We hope to understand a little bit more about investing money, while using online resources, like Google documents & finance, to track our earnings.

The Process:

First, we have had to pick a group with a least 2-4 people, but the hardest thing to do was to make up our investment group's name. Most people came up with very creative and spectacular names. Then we had to pick which stocks we wanted to buy with $10,000. After we agreed on the ones we wanted to keep, all the groups made a spreadsheet using Google documents. On the spreadsheet we wrote the public name, corporation, cost, ticker, number of shares, total number of shares, and the money we made and lost. This is so great because all the students in a group can share a common document. We will be tracking our investments weekly in class using the Google finance tool.

BLOGGING:

Each week Investment Teams will be asked to blog about their stocks, whether they have made or lost money, and how the team expects to proceed in the upcoming week. Please check back regularly to see how our investment teams fair against the stock market.

Week 1:

In your first post, please follow the following format:
1. Introduce your Investment Group and the members involved (no last names).
2. What stocks did you invest in?
3. After the first week, what where the total gains or loss?
4. What are you enjoying most about this simulation..so far.
Week 2:
1. How did your stocks do this week?
2. Any surprises? Disappointments? Accomplishments?
3. What GOOGLE TOOL are you enjoying the most and why?
Documents? Finance? Spreadsheet? Blogger?
Week 3:
1. How did your investments do this week?

Next week will be week 4 of the stock market project, are there any stocks that you might like to sell? Why?
If you purchase a new stock next week, what stocks will you be following this week as a "test run"?

Week 4:

1. What stocks did you decide to sell? Why? How much had you lost?
2. What stocks did you decide to buy? Why?

Week 5:

1. CATCH UP!!! Make sure that your group has answered ALL FOUR BLOGS ASSIGNMENTS
2. Check your Google Spreadsheet to make sure you are caught up on your stock prices (there should be 5 weeks of data recorded- including this week)
3. We will start a Power Point presentation on our project in the upcoming weeks!

Heroic Individuals That Make An Impact II

2010-01-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

Part II- More essays.

Michael Jackson: The Superstar Hero
By: Noah

A hero to me is someone who has the same skills and personality that I have, that’s why I chose Michael Jackson. What makes up a hero is usually by them doing something you admire. For example, Michael Jackson is a famous dancer and sing, and that’s what I want to be when I’m older.

MJ, as his fans would call him, has black, stringy, medium length hair and brown eyes. He stands 5’10” and had plastic surgery on his face so his nose is small and sticking up.

Wacko Jacko, another nickname his friends call him, has inspired me ever since I’ve seen his famous music video for the song, Thriller. When I saw him dance I knew I had to learn some of his moves. I learned my favorite dance move from him, the moonwalk. He has a crazy personality, but I know he is a really nice person. Also, I first heard of him because when I was little my mom said I reminded her of Michael Jackson because we both had high-pitch voices. After many years of making amazing songs, he is known as the King of Pop. He is a world famous dancer, singer, and actor. Wacko Jacko appeared in the 2002 movie Men in Black II, The Wiz, Miss Castaway, and he even played a character named Leon Kompowsky on the Simpsons. I look up to him because he is what I want to be when I am older, a famous singer, dancer, and entertainer.

I admire him because he has really changed my life, by inspiring me to follow my dreams, and just keep trying, I know I’ll be a famous singer and dancer, I just have to never give up. Sadly, MJ died on June 25, 2009, because he misused medication. Billions of people worldwide are grieving over his death. Wacko Jacko is now officially known as The King of Pop.

Some may think that MJ isn’t much of a hero, just a famous singer. But I’ll disagree.

My Dad, My Hero

By: Ali

A hero to me is someone who is encouraging, inspiring, caring, firm, and loving. He or she is someone who helps people, who points them in the right direction. My dad Stephen Pfahler is a hero.

My dad has bright turquoise eyes and short light brown hair. He is fit with long legs and tan skin from coaching my two twin brothers and my sports teams. On hot days he usually wears black basketball shorts and USC (fight on, Trojans!) tee shirts, though on cold days you can find him in faded jeans and his Dallas Cowboys sweat shirt. No matter the weather or event is he is always wearing some type of hat like a college football hat or a West Valley Girls Softball (WVSB) and his black WWJD bracelet which stands for “What would Jesus do?” Another positive thing about him is his shimmering smile.

Some positive character traits that make my dad a hero are his amazing accomplishments. When he was a kid his parents never helped him do any schoolwork, but that did not stop him getting into one of the best colleges. He graduated from University of Southern California (USC). After that he went to law school and became a lawyer. A few years ago he was promoted to become a Superior Court Judge. My dad has inspired me and I hope to have as many accomplishments as he does when I am grown.

Whenever Steve (Stevie, his nick-name by my softball friends and Stephen, his full name) Pfahler is not pounding the gavel, he is at home encouraging me in every possible way. At night, he is helping me with subjects such as math and reading comprehension. During the daytime he enjoys pounding (when I say “pounding”, I mean pounding) me with every kind of softball and golf tip imaginable. He is also very encouraging during games and practices. Shouting at the players, he sprints along side them daring them to beat him to first base. No matter the occasion, he is helping others and making me the best I can be.

All in all, my dad is a wonderful example of a hero. He is an epitome when it comes to being the best at encouraging, inspiring, caring, firm, and loving. He is someone helps people, who points them in the right direction. A hero is, and always will be, my dad, Stephen Pfahler.

My Mom, My Hero

By: Athen

A hero is someone who helps animals, the less fortunate, strangers, and his or her family. In movies, plays, and comics heroes are people that save lives. My hero is my mom, her full name is Suzanne Yvette Pasillas.

My mother stands five feet two inches tall. With long silky smooth black hair and shiny chocolate brown eyes. She was born in 1971 in Los Angeles, California. She is now 38 years old. Her ethnicity is 100% Mexican. It looks like my mom went to the beach because she has golden brown skin. In 1997 Su married Christopher Alexander Roos. On November 26, 1998 she gave birth to her only child, me, Athena Amparo Roos.

Suzanne is not only my hero; she is my role model. Even though my mom has not saved a human life, she has saved many dogs, cats, horses, rabbits and birds. She helps animals that have been neglected or injured. That is one reason why she is my hero.

She joined an animal rescue group a few years ago so she could help more animals. I go with her to pet adoptions and to the shelters. I like that I get to help too.

My mom has a warm heart towards animals and people.

Excellent 18

By: Matt

If you ask me what a hero is, I would say that a hero is someone who inspires a person to do something. The hero that inspires me is the Indianapolis Colts superstar quarterback, number 18, Peyton Manning.

Part of what makes him such an amazing quarterback is his physical features.. He has a very strong arm and is a very athletic person. He is 6 feet, 5 inches tall, 33 years old, and weighs 230 pounds. He has short light blonde hair and blue eyes like his cobalt blue jersey.

Manning is one of the most famous quarterbacks in the NFL and has had many accomplishments. He is a second generation quarterback. His father, Archie Manning played on the New Orleans Saints. His brother Eli Manning also plays in the NFL for the New York Giants. Peyton is a four time MVP. Most recently he was also the 2009 and 2010 MVP of the year. He also won the 2006 Super Bowl playing with his best receiver, Reggie Wayne. Peyton Manning is very smart as well as athletic. He went to college at the University of Tennessee in 1995. In 1998, he became an NFL player when he joined the Indianapolis Colts.

Number 18 inspires me to do a lot of football related activities. Four things about Peyton Manning that inspire me are: he is a second generation quarterback (as I already mentioned); he has won four MVP awards; he has won the 2006 Super Bowl; and he is very accurate when throwing to a receiver who is covered by two or three men. All of these examples inspired me to play flag football and become a quarterback like him. Because of his accomplishments, I like to practice and play football whenever I have a chance.

In conclusion, this strong armed quarterback is a very athletic and smart player who inspires me. That is why Peyton Manning is my hero.

My Grandpa My Hero

By: Isabel

   What makes a person a hero? A hero to me is a person who inspires other people, helps others choose write from wrong, and is kind. My hero is my Grandpa Zadie Brown [His real name is Paul]. He’s the one who inspired me, helped me choose write from wrong, and taught me to be kind.

   My grandpa had gray thin hair that was bald on the top. Grandpa Zadie also had a grey tickle mustache that stoke straight out. He was tall man with a pale skin color. His eyes were the color of sweet Ghirardelli milk chocolate. He had an average body. Most of the time his style of clothing was wearing something green.

   Grandpa Zadie had many accomplishments [most of them I don’t know] such as having some paintings that he made put in an art gallery. One thing about his personality is that he was fun. My dad told me he loved to play with us when we toddlers and babies. But from all these things I most respected him by how he never gave up. When he was diagnosed with lung cancer he never gave trying to survive even though he didn’t. I think that is extraordinary.

   My grandpa, Zadie Brown, impact on me was that he introduced me to the arts. He taught me how to be courageous in anything I do like dance. I think if he wasn’t with me ever I wouldn’t be the child I am today. If he wasn’t there I wouldn’t want to draw and I wouldn’t want to dance. Grandpa Zadie was the person that made the person I was today.

   In conclusion, my grandpa is the best loyal, respectful, and courageous hero I ever had in my life.

A Trip to Haiti

2010-01-20T18:17:00.000-08:00

Interview with Dr. Jolie Pfahler about her future trip to Haiti

Ali and Jodie, in Mrs. Coro’s fifth grade class, interviewed Dr. Jolie Pfahler about her upcoming trip to Haiti. (interviewed Wednesday, January 20, 2010. Leaving on Saturday, January 23, 2010)

Q: Are you nervous about the trip to Haiti?

A: Yes. It is far away, and I am nervous. They just had a bad earthquake, and so there are some dangers.

Q: Why are you going?

A: I am going so that I can hopefully help injured people.

Q: What do you have to bring with you on the trip to Haiti?

A: Two different kinds of things: Things I need for myself, like my own food and water, only 3 pairs of clothes for 7 days. The second thing is medical supplies for the citizens of Haiti.

Q: How many bags can you take, and what size can they be?

A: I have to pack everything for myself, like all my food and clothes, in only a small carry-on bag. (a small backpack) It depends on what kind of plane we are taking for the amount of medical supplies I can bring.

Q: Have your friends and family supported you on this trip, and if so, what have they done?

A: My friends and family have been amazing. My family said, “Don’t worry about us.” My friends said that they would help take of my kids (Ali, Justin, and Ryan.) They also donated money and supplies.

Q: After the recent aftershock, a huge 6.1, are you nervous? Has that changed how much you want to go on this trip?

A: The aftershock has not made me more nervous, but I do wonder if I will have more aftershocks on the trip.

Q: Where will you staying, and are you going to be sleeping on the floor?

A: We are staying at an orphanage in Port Au Prince. We are going to sleep in tents on the ground.

Q: Where are you going to be working?

A: Mostly taking care of the kids in the orphanage, and hopefully going to other places. It depends on how much gas there is left in the truck.

Q: With whom are you going? Do you know who they are?

A: Some doctors and other people from my church, called Calvary, and a relief organization. I don’t know who anyone that I am going with.

Q: How long are you going to be gone?

A: A week.

Thank you for reading this article. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to ask Ali. She will ask her mom for you.

Dr. Jolie Pfahler will have all the remaining information, and keep your eyes open for more news and pictures about Haiti and the trip.

Powerfully Persuasive!

2010-01-20T17:59:00.001-08:00

In a persuasive essay, a writer attempts to convince a reader to something or think in a certain way. Our class started by writing a persuasive essay together, and as the week unfolds all students will be posting their own essays.

Lets see if fifth graders can "persuade" you to buy a certain pet, play a particular instrument, eat a special food, or read a book by their favorite author.

Milka

By: Jodi

Ever doubted that beautiful, graceful Milka isn’t the best 13.1 and 7/8 of a hand pony? Or any horse or pony at all? You’re wrong! After reading this essay, you will adore the adorable pony almost as much as me.

Milka, also known as Toblerone in the show world, is one of the friendliest ponies I know! If you give her a tantalizing, crunchy apple, sweet paddock cakes, (horse cookie) or any other treat, she will paw the ground in what I call, “Thanks.” Hugging me is common with the medium sized pony with a bulging heart. She’ll pretty much wrap her neck around you and rub her silky face on your shoulder. At only six years old, Milka is young and I usually fall off when I ride. That doesn’t mean I am a bad rider though! Once I have thudded to the ground, Milka will prance in circles around me to make sure I am not injured. Being green, or inexperienced, is helpful to the rider, because it teaches the rider how to ride, not sit in the saddle with an automatic pony and just point him in the direction of where to go!

Tail high in the air, galloping around the turnout, Milka looks stunning. Her stride is long and flowing. Even though she is a medium pony, she has the stride of an average horse! When you are riding her, she tries her best to obey all commands. If you sit deep in the saddle, her lead changes are almost automatic! One of my friends, Jillian, rides at my barn, and Milka cannot stay away from her pony, Peanut. Whenever I am riding with Jillian, Milka does her best to get me to fall off so that she can follow Peanut. I usually go with the flow, and fall. Her habits don’t make her a bad pony, just one that needs a rider that always is prepared for the worst, which I am not always prepared for. Her smooth, velvety canter stride is so gentle that it could make me fall asleep!

Do you still not believe me? Well, think about her age! She has only just turned six, and Milka is an amazing pony for her age! Velvety smooth stride, enormous heart, regal jump, friendly attitude, what else could you ask for? Think of it this way. She got an 85 out of a 100 in the West Coast Pony Finals, and got an overall result of fifth place. At age five!!! Think of when she is ten! Not only will she win the West Coast Pony Finals in Los Angeles, she will win the Pony Finals in Kentucky! Another factor to consider thing about her is that, not only is she young, she is a mare. Mares are known to be more feisty then geldings.

All in all, by now, I am sure that you are persuaded to go and gush over Milka. Her attitude, smoothness in the riding ring, young age, and being a mare, is a huge factor in her being the coolest pony in the world. If you are in the market for a new pony, I advise you to find one that is close to Milka. "Milka is a great pony!" Says equestrian Ali Pfahler. "People are happy when they are around her."

Why Books are Better Than TV

By: Brendan K.

Have you ever heard the phrase “just one more show”? Well how about changing it to “just one more chapter”? In this essay, you will find that television is perhaps not the best way to spend your free time after all. The benefits of reading books outweighs the benefits, if any, of watching television.

Reading books allows the readers to be more interactive. When someone is engrossed in a story, you can let your imagination soar and picture your characters physically as well as the story lines from the descriptions provided by the author. Whereas, with television, you are more passive because you are spoon-fed images and not allowed to exactly exercise your imagination. What you see is what you get.

Flipping through the pages of a book can also benefit your future growth. Studies have shown that kids who read more have larger vocabularies. When these kids grow up, with their dictionary-like vocabulary, they may be better communicators in society. Someday, their jobs may require them to write speeches and presentations and they will be well prepared. Perusing through books may become stepping-stones to learning words as long as “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis.” Being an avid reader while young can provide a large advantage for the future.

Another reason why books are more advantageous than television is that there would be less entertainment without books. Many movies, both on television and in theaters, are based on books. If author J.K. Rowling never wrote the Harry Potter series, there would not have been a series of blockbuster movies made based on this young wizard! Many of us would have missed out on the exciting adventures of Harry Potter! Also, even though watching the movie can provide much entertainment, you can do the same thing by just curling up with a good book!

With books, there are many genres to choose from. If you like watching action programs on TV, why not read an action book instead! Or if you like a good mystery movie, just bury yourself in a cliffhanging thriller! All these books can benefit you much more than being a couch potato!

Watch Monday Night Football

By: Matt

If you like to watch sports, why not watch the action-packed sport called football? It is a great way to spend time with family, and watch teams battle it out until the game is over, like the Colts and Chargers.

Imagine an announcer saying, “The ball is thrown and it is falling incomplete. But wait, the receiver dives and catches it!” Would that be great or what? Maybe they return a lengthy punt from the 20 yard line, or the quarterback throws an eighty yard pass and the receiver makes the catch. See why football is much better than basketball. In basketball all you do is run up and down a court and throw a ball into a basket. Sounds like a game the cavemen played.

Another reason to watch the NFL instead of basketball is, when you are bored on a Sunday, you can turn on some football instead of basketball which is only on at night, while football is on at every time. Also, try wearing a jersey, face paint, or if you want to be creative, wear a full uniform. Most people don’t go to houses to watch championships in basketball, but in football, most people in the United States go to a Super Bowl party. This year will be the Indianapolis Colts versus the New Orleans Saints.

“The ball is shot, it misses.” Why listen to that basketball stuff? Instead, listen to some lucky plays in football like this: “The fifty yard kick is going, in!” Listen to that instead of NBA. Maybe a team wins the Super Bowl or in the exact same game, a team wins on a long run and you are very excited.

In conclusion, I hope that you take my essay into mind and watch more football instead of basketball, soccer, or baseball.

Strike ONE!

By: Bryan

Crack! Boom! Which sport are you? I think baseball is the best sport ever. I prefer the holy game of baseball more than the game of basketball because of several qualities.

One reason baseball is better is because it is outdoors. Everybody can enjoy the calm, smooth breeze rush through their hair. The scenery of the ballpark is a relaxing thing for baseball players. Every stadium has their own special landscape or background. Utah has beautiful mountains and perfect weather in the summer. In New York, you can play baseball with enormous skyscrapers all around you. In basketball, competitive games are always inside of a boring gym.

In baseball, every player has their own position. I enjoy playing shortstop, pitcher, and centerfield. The shortstop needs to be quick and have good hands to catch tough line drives. A pitcher needs to have a strong throwing arm and good accuracy to strike batters out. The centerfielder requires speed and strength to gun a runner down at home. Sometimes, you may play different positions throughout the game, which guarantees that you will never get bored. In basketball, every player has the same job, which is to score baskets or you are on the bench.

The offensive part of baseball is much better than basketball. For example, baseball is a lot more strategic. When you are batting, you can hit to a certain place, bunt to advance runners, or draw a walk. But, in basketball, all you can do is pass or shoot. Another thing that is great about batting is that it is your own duel against the pitcher. Then, suddenly you see your ball going deep, deeper, and gone, flying over the fence for a homerun. The best reason batting is better is because of the feel of hitting the ball. Feeling the accelerating vibration is one of the best feelings you can have in your life. It feels as if somebody is tickling your palms. Then, you watch the ball soar through the air. In basketball, all you do is throw the ball up and hope it goes through the hoop.

In conclusion, if you are a young sports fan or becoming a sports fan I advise you to play and watch baseball. After reading this essay I hope you now know why baseball is definitely a better sport than basketball. Not only that, but I think it’s the best sport ever.

Tennis

By: Danielle

Run! Jump! Hit! If you are taking up an extracurricular activity, such as a sport, you should consider tennis. In my opinion, it is the best sport ever! There are many advantages in trying out this simple game. The competition, heat, and power make you like you’re on top of the world.

Beginning is a breeze, only two players are essential, but if you want you can have up to four players. Unlike dangerous football, there is little equipment necessary. A racket and a tennis ball is all you require, plus virtually every community center owns multiple tennis courts. Learning is uncomplicated because there are only three poses and the basic rules for the game.

Tennis is also a great way to get you in a pleasant mood. As enthusiasm fills your mind, you can’t turn down a delightful challenge. The dog-eat-dog tournaments make you feel powerful, like you can do anything. There is nothing similar to the victorious feeling of triumphing over your opponent.

Want to get in shape? Striking that tennis ball is only a portion of the exercise tennis provides you. The other parts come from running, chasing down that miniature sphere, or jumping up to smack down an overhead. Experts say that tennis makes people stronger and more flexible. The reason is, you are using large muscle groups in your body. It also improves balance because of all the twisting and lunging you do while you play.

Some people may disagree with me but those people have never felt the amazing feel of a racket in your hand and a green fuzzy ball sliding down the side. I truly think this activity is best! Because once you’ve mastered that perfect serve, you can slice those quick forehands and backhands.

The Best Pet

By: Athena

“Meow” or “Woof.” Witch would you like to hear when you get home from school? If I were you I’d pick a dog. There are so many different kinds of dog breads to choose from!

Dogs are great companions. Like my dog Jake they are most likely to be by your side at all times. Plus, Jake will always jump on me to lick my face with his coarse tongue when I am sad. They also go on walks and hikes with you whenever you want. At the end of the day, one of the best things is cuddling up in a blanket with your soft and fluffy canine.

Most dogs are very easy to train, but not all. Some things you can train them to do is, to sit, stay, lie down, roll over, and fetch the ball. Another great thing that my dog loves to do is swim. When my mom goes on a hike she takes Jake. About half way through the hike she will let him off the leash, and he runs around like a wild animal. This is another thing I like about dogs, they are very playful and fun.

Some dog’s breads are known for being helpful like guide dogs, police dogs, and guard dogs. Whenever I am alone I can always look down to see my big black shaggy dog waiting to be pet. I will always feel safe when I am with Jake wherever I am. How do you have protection? I think that the best kind of security you can have a dog. Another reason Jake is helpful is because when I feel like going on a hike or jog he is always ready no matter what.

All in all, dogs will always be my favorite kind of animal. In conclusion my favorite fact about dogs are that if you are allergic to their hair you can still get one. That is because some dogs do not shed their hair.

New York! New York!

By: Isabel

   Sunny San Diego or beautiful New York, which would be you next destination? Mine would be New York. From beautiful lights in Time Square to quiet walks in Central Park, I think New York is the best place to vacation.
   One thing New York has to offer is the best entertainment you can get. Go and check out the awesome Broadway shows like Wicked. You can also go and have fun in the best music clubs in America. Also try going through the streets to see if you can see some great acts. Everyone should know that Time Square is entertainment itself! Just looking at the lights flashing brilliant colors is going to bring amazement to your eyes.
When you go to New York make sure you go to Central Park. Quiet walks are very peaceful. Mocking Birds sing and the fragrance of flowers are in the air. Also go to the playground. High monkey bars and wavy slides are really amusing. Climbing trees is really exhilarating and when you high up you get a superior view. Run around too, Central Park is an awesome place to race.
   Another thing New York has is that mostly everything is really enjoyable and busy which makes it come alive. Go to the malls and check out stylish clothes and magnificent sales. Also when you go there in Christmas, look at the famous Christmas windows. Last time I went the Christmas windows were so stunning. Did you know New York has one of the biggest “Toys R’ us” in America? I mean it has a Ferris wheel in it!
   I hope that you can go to New York some time in your life. It is a thrill of an adventure! Make sure, if you go, that you do some of the splendid things I wrote on here.

The Greatest Video Game of All Time
By: Jerry

Have you ever noticed how many video games there are? Do you have a hard time trying to choose one? Well I’m going to help you pick a game! First, there are genres to consider. The genres consist of action, adventure, action/adventure, first-person shooting, fighting, and educational. Second, there are ratings to consider. Those ratings are EC for Early Childhood, E for Everyone, E-10 for ages 10 and up, T for Teens, M for Mature and AO for Adults Only. Lastly, once you’ve chosen a genre and rating, you can choose a game. Some games that I like are, “The Legend of Zelda,” “Mario,” “Metroid Prime,” “Star Fox,” “Sonic,” “Fire Emblem” and “Kirby.” Don’t worry, I’m going to tell you about my favorite game ever: “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.”

One really sweet thing about this game is its history. ”Ocarina of Time” came out in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 game system, but you can get it on a collector’s disk for the Nintendo Game Cube. It was so successful that all other action/adventure games since then have tried to be like it. At the time, it had improved graphics, as was the first ever 3-D Legend of Zelda game. This allowed the player to explore Hyrule (where the game takes place) in a much more realistic manner. Link, the main character, was also given new abilities like time travel and playing an Ocarina (an instrument), as well as the ability to go on new adventures.

Another thing that I find interesting about “Ocarina of Time” is its storyline. Princess Zelda rules Hyrule. Wicked Ganondorf wants to take over the kingdom. Link is an adventurer whose mission is to stop Ganondorf from taking over Hyrule. In the “Ocarina of Time,” you follow Young Link as he collects the three Spirit Gems (Fire, Forest and Water). Once you (Link) have collected the three Gems, you have to go to the Temple of Time and get the Master Sword. When you pull the Master Sword out of its pedestal, Link travels seven years forward in time. Now Link is an adult and Ganondorf has taken over Hyrule. To stop Ganondorf, you have to awaken the Seven Sages (Light, Forest, Fire, Water, Spirit and Shadow). After awakened, Link travels to Ganondorf’s castle and brawls against him. He uses all the stuff he has collected to help him in battle.

The last thing that I find awesome about “Ocarina of Time” is the price, it’s OUTSTANDING! At Game Stop the game only costs $27.75 (collectors’ disk). Why the price is outstanding is that it has four games on one disk! “The Legend of Zelda,” “The Adventure of Link,” “Ocarina of Time,” and “Majora’s Mask” are the games on the disk. An appropriate comparison would be the new Super Mario Galaxy 2, which you can pre-order at Game Stop for $50.00. Why would you pay $50.00 for one game when you can pay $27.75 for four?

As you can tell, I really recommend “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” It is exciting, original, and inexpensive… and even my mom likes it. So, after all that I’ve told you about “Ocarina of Time,” why wouldn’t you go out and buy it?

Man (and Woman’s) Best Friend

By: Mrs. Coro's Class

“Woof, Woof!” “Meow, Meow!” What is the sound you want to hear when you open your front door? We think a dog is the best pet to have, and this paper will convince you to agree with us.

Dogs make great companions, whether they are sleeping beside you, strolling through the park, or at your side licking your face with their coarse and slippery tongue. On a cold winter’s night, there is nothing better than curling up with a mystery book and your fluffy canine snuggling next to you. After a long day at school, taking a puppy out for a walk can be very calming and relaxing. Whenever you’re feeling down and blue, an endearing lick on your cheek will turn your frown upside-down.

In addition to dogs being great companions, they are also entertaining and effortless to train. Imagine a perfect lazy Sunday morning where your energetic dog anxiously scurries for the morning paper, and picks up your warm slippers on the way back to your room. Once your dog has learned creative tricks like rolling over, playing dead, and fetching a ball at the park, you’ll never have another boring afternoon. Lastly, a well-trained dog makes your life easier by doing their “business” outside. Now, if we could only train them to pick-up after themselves!

Canines are also great helpful friends by providing safety and security in all types of situation. In the blind community, dogs are specially trained to lead the seeing impaired through everyday obstacles. From walking across busy city streets to maneuvering around a quiet neighborhood, guide dogs provide security, stability, and independence. Staying at home alone at night might also be a lot scarier without our protective guardians by our side. A loud, “Grrrrr!” can terrify a burglar and calm our nerves all at the same time. Exercise is more exciting when a leash is pulling you the extra distance. Not only do you have a built-in running buddy, you also have someone to talk to you and encourage you when you are getting tired. All in all, dogs are helpful in many different situations.

Whether you like pugs, German shepherds, golden retrievers, or boxers, a dog is an amazing pet to own. They are supportive companions, easy to train, and helpful animals that bring a smile to your face and a lot of love to your heart.

The Band that Changed Music

By: Brian

Music today would not be the same without The Beatles. They changed rock and other genres through the decade they were together.

In 1956, in Liverpool, John Lennon started a band with his friends from school called The Quarrymen. Later, other members quit because of schoolwork and eventually John was the only original member there. Then he met Paul McCartney and George Harrison, who joined the band. After other members left, and it was only John, Paul, and George, they acquired Pete Best, their drummer, in a club and named themselves the Beatles. John, Paul, and George didn’t think he was skilled enough and was replaced by Richard Starkey, better known as Ringo Starr, who quit his old group, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes.

The Beatles went on to become the most successful band in history. They appeared on the “Ed Sullivan Show” several times, played the first stadium concert ever, in 1965, and played on the rooftop of their recording company, Apple, in 1969. Not to mention playing concerts internationally.

If you like a type of music other than rock, chances are the Beatles have the genre you’re looking for. Each Beatle usually writes songs that are their favorite types, which proves they have a wide variety of music. All The Beatles play rock, but John alone made songs about peace and some where the lyrics don’t make any sense at all. Paul writes soft and very hard rock, while George wrote mystic Indian music, usually on a sitar. Ringo wrote only two songs with The Beatles and barely sang any other songs because he didn’t enjoy being the main man. When he sings his songs, they are country-pop.

The Beatles got more people to listen to and play more rock music. They changed music by practically creating today’s rock, and just music in general.

Dogs And Cats

By: Courtney

“Woof Woof!” “Meow Meow!” What is the sound you want to hear when you open your front door? I think a dog is the best pet to have, and this paper will get you to agree with me.

Dogs make great companions, whether they are sleeping beside you, strolling through the park, or at your side licking your face with their warm and slippery tongue. On a chilly winter’s night, there is nothing better than snuggling up with your fluffy canine and watching TV. After a tough day at school, taking a puppy out for a walk can be very soothing. Whenever you’re feeling down, a warm slimy lick on your cheek will make you feel happy and joyful.

In addition, to dogs being great companions, they are also graceful to train. Imagine a perfectly lazy Saturday morning where your playful dog runs for the morning newspaper, and picks up your fuzzy socks on the way back to your room. Once your dog has learned amazing tricks like rolling over, playing dead, and tug-a-war, you’ll never have another mind-numbing day. Lastly, a trained dog makes your life a lot easier by doing their “business” outside.

Canines are also great helpful friends by providing safety and security in all types of conditions. In the blind society, dogs are specifically trained to lead the seeing impaired through many obstacles. From walking across crowded streets to walking around a silent neighborhood, guide dogs provide security, safety, and independence. Staying at home alone at night might also be a lot scarier without our protective guard dogs by our side. A loud, “Grrrrr!” can terrify a robber and calm our nerves all at once. Exercise is more thrilling when a leash is pulling you the extra mile. Not only do you have running buddy, you also have someone to talk to you and bark at you when you are getting tired. All in all, dogs are supportive in many different ways.

Whether you like Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, or a Pug, a dog is a graceful pet to own. They are calm, sweet, and helpful animals that bring a big grin to your face and a lot of love and care to your heart.

South Korea

By: Jae won

      Korea is called the “Polite Country of East”. It shows how polite people are. Korea has 4 distinct seasons so we can enjoy spring, summer, fall, and winter. Korean food is mainly comprised healthy food.
      In Korea we bow as a greeting to adults. We also have formal greetings like “jal mug ut sup nee da” used when we finish eating. It means “thank you for the meal.” This is said to person who made the food. When children speak to an adult to show respect, they add either “da” or “yo” at the end of the word. Another way, children respect adults is by serving them first. Korea has days for children and parents. On Children’s day, children get to do whatever they want and usually buy gifts for them. On Parent’s day, parents do whatever they want to do and children usually give them letters or buy them a gift.
        Koreans enjoy four distinct seasons. During winter, we can play snowball fight and make snowmen. During summer, it gets really hot so we enjoy swimming and eat many kinds of fruit like watermelon, oranges, and strawberries. An activity that we enjoy is going to the river and play in the water to cool off. This is usually a family trip. During spring, the weather is very nice. There is a cherry blossom festival. During fall, it gets cold, and the tree leaves change colors to many different shades of red. It is a beautiful site.
       Kimchee is a Korean traditional side dish. Koreans love kimchee. It is a spicy cabbage side dish that is served with every meal. They love kimchee so much that they even have a museum for it. Like kimchee, Korean food consists mostly of vegetables. Fundamentally, every menu will have vegetables, and takes up most space on the table. Because every meal consists of vegetables, it is considered healthy food. Korean food also has many different flavors.

Korea is the best country.

"Woof! Woof!"

By: Karine

“ Woof! Woof!” “ Meow! Meow!” whichever pet comes to mind, we think a dog is the best pet to have, whether it’s big or small, a sweet boxer, a playful golden retriever, or a tiny pug, this sweet animal is helpful, able to be trained, and make great companions.

Companionship is one of the greatest qualities about a dog. When you come home from a long day of school, and need someone to play with, your loving dog is sitting by the door waiting to play catch, give you a big slobbery kiss, or snuggle up in bed by your side and watch a movie with you. Taking walks with your canine is always a great way for both you and your dog to stay healthy and in shape.

Another great quality about a dog is that they are very helpful in many different ways. One way dogs are helpful are is that they are guide dogs and help blind people travel. Second, they make great guard dogs. When something outside makes a sound your dog responds right away with a loud and sometimes terrifying "WOOF!" to scare off intruders. Lastly, they can help the issue of loneliness in America by keeping you company and playing with you.

Being able to be trained is another great quality about a dog. When a dog is trained, he or she knows to do their "stuff" outside. Also, they know when to jump, sit, run, stay, roll over, or speak.

In conclusion, dogs are obviously a great pet to have. Companionship, being able to be trained, and that they are very helpful, give the dog it's known name, "Man's Best Friend"

The Perfect Companion

By: Morgan

“Woof, woof!” “Meow, Meow!” What is the jingle you want to listen to when you open your front door? I think a dog is the finest pet to have. He or she is a helpful, trainable, and loving companion.

In my opinion golden retrievers are the easiest dogs to train to go fetch a pair of fuzzy, cozy slippers or go pick up your newspaper on a lazy Sunday morning. Learning to coach your pet to sit, stay, and come are effortless. Now educating them to play games like tug-a-war or fetch, are a little harder, but it will payoff. A bunch of cat owners have to live with a foul horrendous litter box that they have to clear out by themselves. I am not going next to that, no way. With dogs you can just instruct them to do their business exterior. See easy.

Another opinion I have to donate to you is a shi-tzu is the finest dog to keep you company. What is more superior to having a slobbery kiss on your face when you’re disappointed on a math grade or spelling test? Dogs have the cleanest tongues out of all living beings, so I think it is ok to get a moist smooch. Just imagine staying home by yourself and you hear footsteps in your mom’s room and you get terrified. If you hug a shi-tzu I promise your fear will disappear in the blink of an eye. Taking your dog for a stroll can be truly relaxing because you can talk to your dog and get the painful stress of your back.

For all of you that have cat allergies, dogs can be an enormous help because canines just LOVE to tear up cats from outside in. Did you know a German Sheppard’s are trained to look friendly, but at times can slay that’s why the police men use them? Also you can get exercise just by taking your dog to the park and just fool around with a Frisbee for a couple hours.

In conclusion, those are the reasons dogs are better than cats. Next time you go shopping for a new pet, recall these reasons.

Kinged in My Mind

By: Ali

What do you want to do when you get home from a grueling day of school? Would you rather gallop gorgeous pony through a lush field or watch TV in your family room? An amazing pony named Checkers has a soothing, energetic, and encouraging effect on many people. I hope after this essay that you will no longer doubt that he is the best pony.

Gazing at Checkers you can make-out vast muscles under his gleaming light bay coat. Prancing and Pawing the ground, Checkers’ enormous hazel eyes sets riders into a trance when he turns his athletic- looking body in your direction. Placid in appearance, the large pony has a cream colored star on his forehead and four white socks on his legs. With his black name rippling in the wind and a shining Dover saddle on his back, Checkers gives the impression that he is ready to conquer any obstacle.

Though through the description of his appearance, Checkers may seem like a conceited show pony but he has a lively and positive personality. Whenever I hear his nicker when I am around the corner of the barn, I quicken my pace and hurry towards the crossties. As I turn the bend to the walkway that heads towards tack room and then jog towards the bench were I usually meet the rest of the riders in my lesson I stare in awe at Checkers. His presence always makes me feel enlightened and contented. “Horses are great to talk to, the calm ones always make people feel more jovial.” Says pony finalist Jodie Camberg. I happen to agree with her.

Most people wonder how a horse can be encouraging but Checkers is more human than he is horse. When I am riding him I settle into Checkers’ long stride and bouncy trot. He knows when to take off for each jump and when to go faster because sometimes I make mistakes when I read (survey in horse talk) the coarse. Whenever one of the other horses misbehaves, such as when my friend, Honor, horse Solomon bucks, Checkers can feel my nerves and I do not know how but he is always on his best behavior for the rest of the ride.

All in all, Checkers is a marvelous pony and I hope this essay has convinced you of that. He is soothing, energetic, and encouraging. There may be many ponies on planet earth but Checkers is clearly the blue ribbon of them all.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

By: Lee Zlicha

         Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Can you imagine if you knew the world will end in a year? What if I told you that YOU can change that. Conserving and recycling won’t only save the earth, it will save you money,make you healthier, and you can breath in cleaner air. After you read this essay I hope you start thinking about the right choices.
    Some of the reasons we should recycle is to save trees, and reduce trash which causes pollution. If you want to throw a paper away you should recycle it instead of throwing it away in the trash. When you recycle paper you can use it over and over again. Every time somebody recycles they save trees, which is good because trees give us many things among oxygen. We can also recycle anything that is plastic and other various objects.
    There are currently worldwide droughts that are leading to extinction of plants and animals. This will be loss of food, leading to world hunger. We all must fight this and try to conserve water. Conserving water is a huge part of saving the earth. First, you can conserve water by taking short baths or showers. Second, brush your teeth, but don’t leave the sink on to long. Lastly, when watering your plants you should not leave your hose on for a long time.
    Go and live your life outdoors , don’t sit there like a couch potato. Stop watching T.V. and stop spending time on your computer. You’re wasting electricity. When you are not in the room, turn off your lights. That’s saving electricity. Have fun! Instead of staying indoors and wasting electricity, go outside or be with your friends.
    All in all, if we follow these little tips we can make a huge difference. So I hope you learned that cleaning and helping the earth is really important. You’ve been informed, you decide!

Bubbles, “Barks,” or “Meows”

By: Gabrielle

     “Bubbles, bubbles, blub, blub,” if you are in the market for an easy, talented, portable pet then a fish is the pet for you. If you are thinking about buying a cat or dog then this essay will change your mind.
        If you don’t want to pick up the poop from your dog or clean the litter box of your cat, then get a fish. You only have to clean the tank once a month unless he has a filter than it is once every two months. Feed him in the morning and at night. Except my fish that eats six times a day. Don’t do this if you do and your fish doesn’t need it he will die. Don’t forget the most important thing is if you are sad and in a slump you could always talk to your scaly little friend.
           A fish is a very trainable pet. You can teach it to follow your finger or to go in circles. The most important trick you can teach a fish is to pick up rocks and drop them from the top of her tank and drop it to make a loud noise when you have to feed him. Trust me that will get your attention.
One of the best things about fishes is that they are portable. Have you ever tried to take a dog on a trip that’s right you don’t because they squirm way to much, but a fish would not bother you it has to stay in its tank to live so the one thing you have to do is buy a tank with a lid. They can also adapt to a very small tank or a really big tank. If you need to clean your bathtub before you do just add your fish drops and plop in your fish. Your fish will love you forever.
         So, whether you have a Goldfish, Bata, or a Coy you will always love your fish. Have I persuaded you well I certainly tried?

The Pet That's Right for You

By: Sadaf

         Would you rather have a crazy screeching cat than a cute calm dog? I think a dog is the best pet to have because they are great companions, do fantastic tricks, and is easy to train.
         Dogs make terrific companions whether they’re sleeping beside you, going on walks, or showing their affection by licking your face. If you ever get lonely when you’re sleeping, nothing is better than to have a nice, soft canine snuggling at your feet. When you’re feeling sad or blue, you’ll always have a dog to cheer you up by licking your face with their slobbery, but satisfying kisses. After a long and educational day at school, strolling with your dog can be soothing and relaxing.
          Along with being great companions, dogs can do fantastic tricks. Although you and your pet will have to go through training, they’ll eventually learn how to do entertaining and play amusing tricks such as: rolling over, playing fetch, or practicing how to dead.
          When it comes to training canines, you’ll need to train them step-by-step. Making your bundle of joy obey you may be difficult, because you will need to teach the pet various things such as: peeing outside, not to ruin clothing, furniture, or toys, and to interact properly with other animals and humans.
          As you can see, this essay should encourage you to adopt a dog today.

Dogs

By: David

    “Woof , “Woof”! “Meow”, “Meow’! What is the sound you want to hear when you open your front door? We think a dog is the best pet to have and this paper will convince you to agree with us.

    The good thing about a dog is that they make your unhappiness go good. If u like to work out then take your dog on a walk or on a run. Also a better is that they love to lick you when you’re upset.

A better thing about dogs than cats is that dogs can fetch your slippers and the morning newspaper. You can play catch with your dog when you’re in the mood fore an exercise. Also you can train your dog to poop and pee outside.

    The other best thing about a dog is that they can protect you from impostor. Do you need help going to position to position I would go out right now and buy a dog guide right now.

    All in at the moment you now the differences between a dog and a cat. So now if I were you I would go out right now and get a dog hope you changed your mind of staying with a cat.

SWISH

Tariq Qayum

If you are taking up a new sport give basketball

a try. Basketball is a very superb sport that’s why I think basketball is the best sport in the world, better than baseball, football, golf, and exc. Now I will tell you some important facts about basketball.

Basketball is an remarkable and active sport.

In basketball there is a 29.5 basketball, a 10ft hoop, and there is a pro league league called the NBA (National Basketball Associations). In the NBA there are 10 to 15 players on a team but 5 players on each team are on the court at a time.

One very important thin in basketball that

A lot of people don’t follow is to stretch before you play. Some side affects are cracking your leg when you jump or falling on the ground because you lost your balance.

One thing in basketball

Is that you have to practice a lot. If you practice, most likely you will make your shots, also since in basketball you run a lot its good for your body. But if you don’t practice and you will miss your layups and outside shots you will get humiliated.

Lastly,

In the passionate sport basketball you always have to have excellent health. Every time before and after you play you should wash your hands. If you are really ill you should not play. But most likely you will not get sick if you play your sport A LOT. You will probably not get sick easily because as all sports basketball is good for you immune system which is the system that fights of illness and other things.

In conclusion,

I think that everyone who is taking up a sport should give basketball a try instead of any other outdoor sports, and I am sure you will after this SA.

Movie Magic!

By Ian Reiter

Do you like to watch a lot of movies? Well, I do. Movies are like places to go. A good movie can pull you into the story. If you think you will not really like a certain movie, you should at least watch part of it and see if you start to like it. Also, if you know you like a certain genre, such as action films, then watch an action film. If you are ever tired, watch a scary movie, that will wake you up. Movies are awesome.

There are many different types of movies, such as action, comedies, and science fiction. I highly recommend “King Kong” and “The Nutty Professor”. I am very excited about several movies that are coming out. “Spiderman 4”, and “The Wolfman”. I love to watch movies and so should you.

If you do not have anything to do, you should pick one out from your collection at home. If you do not own a lot of movies, you can always go to Netflix.com and rent a movie. If you do not want to watch a movie and would rather read, well read a book about a movie or the making of a movie. Sometimes, finding out what happens during the making of a movie can be so interesting. I love relaxing at home and watching a good movie with my family.

Next time when you get bored, kick back and watch a movie. It does not matter what kind of movie you choose, just choose one. They are all good. The most recent movie I saw was “The Tooth Fairy”. It was a hilarious movie. I saw it with my brother and my dad. They both thought it was funny.

My point to all of this is, give different kinds of movies a chance. Sometimes you may hear what a certain movie is about and that it was not very good. Well, that is just that person’s opinion. You may feel the exact opposite about the film. Watch something you normally would not, like maybe you do not like horror films because they scare you. Well, some horror films are actually comedy’s and will make you laugh. I try to give all movies a chance and so should you. Except for the romance genre.

Celebrating Heritage

2010-01-19T15:14:00.000-08:00

This week our class read Yang the Second and Her Secret Admirer about a young girl who is uninterested in American culture after her family moves from China. Because she spends so much time focused on her heritage, customs, and traditions, she is unable to appreciate the new culture around her. Her brother and sister plot to change her mind through a scheme that proves you can appreciate your past, while embracing your future.

Students are asked to share their personal customs and traditions through their comments.
Use the following prompts to share your thoughts:

1. What tradition does your family celebrate?
2. Why is it important to you and your family?
3. Does participating in these traditions make you feel more in touch with your cultural background?

Heroic Individuals That Make An Impact

2010-01-13T10:59:00.000-08:00

Heroes take on many different forms. Although everyone recognizes a superhero that sports a cape with superhuman powers, we believe that everyday heroes touch our lives daily.

Our 5th grade class started the new year by recognizing people who inspire them to be better people themselves. Often we take for granted the people that touch our lives daily. Fortunately, we took a few moments to recognize their accomplishments and celebrate their impact on our lives.

My Super Woman

By Danielle

To me, a hero is a person who inspires you because they always do the right thing. Someone who encourages you be a better person, someone like my mom, Laura Sarah Younai. I look up to her for many distinct reasons.

At age 42, my beautiful mom has clear bluish green eyes like the saline ocean. She stands at a normal 5 feet and 4 inches when she is not wearing high heels, which she sports a lot. Dirty Blonde is the color of her straight hair now, but she used to have dark brown wavy hair. Her congenial laugh and giant smile illuminate a large room. She is a Caucasian woman who dresses in jeans, a t-shirt, and usually designer sunglasses for work practically every day.

I look up to my mom in numerous ways. Because she is so intelligent and such a hard worker, she was accepted into the College of San Mateo. An example of her hard work is that one time she stayed in her silent and viciously cold office until 10:00 pm when everybody had left at 5:00 pm. Promotions are just one of the many little things she is excellent at earning, and she achieves most of her goals. Homework is not a crisis; she'll offer to help even if she knows I will refuse it. Her amazing cooking is delicious, and because she is more religious than anybody in our unspiritual family, it is mostly kosher. Mango is not a food she would eat since she is allergic, but she still likes it anyway. This guardian is extremely candid and considerate, so she makes sure she volunteers us to a less fortunate charity every few months. The best part about my mother is that she stands up for what she believes in, and doesn't take no for an answer.

Not only does she demonstrate how grand she is, but she makes an impact on my life as well as others. She persuades me to put all my effort into my schoolwork, and to succeed in earning superior grades. Unlike others in my family including my dad, elder sister, and younger brother, my mom is constantly raising her hand when I need help. Whether it’s projects, homework, etc., she is always there. Although she wants to lend a hand, she knows when I must to do things myself, which makes me more independent. I can count on her to support my ideas, or congratulate me when I achieve. The only person who listens to me when I want to speak is my mom. Mom makes me more verbal so I'm not shy when I talk to people I just met.

My Mom, Laura Younai, is the most ambitious, charitable, and honest individual I have ever met. I am proud that she is my mother, and I love her with all my heart.

My Awesome Mom

By: Healy

A hero to me is someone who cares about you, is helpful, and kind. That’s why I chose my mom, Janet Cho, as my hero, since she has all of these.

My mom’s physical appearance is midnight black hair and dark chocolate eyes. She has freckles that show up in her cheeks. Being a petite person, she is at 5’4’.

Some of my mom’s life’s achievements inspire me a lot. After she graduated from college, she got a job at an international clothing business company. Because of this, she got to go on business trips around the world, which made me want to travel too when I grow up.

There are other things that make my mom a hero. Not just her achievements, but also her advice. She would give me any advice, from homework to school life. And my mother mostly would go to the movies when I want to.

I’m glad that I chose my mom as my hero. Without her, I would have had a terrible life and that’s why I chose my mom.

The Hero That is Number Two

By: Bryan

What is a hero? A hero is someone who inspires you. Sometimes that’s what you want to be when you are older. They can also help their community. For instance, someone who you think of as a role model might be your hero. My committed and driven hero is an all star baseball player, named Derek Jeter.

My hero has half brown half green eyes, with dark brown hair that is short on top and buzz cut on the side. He is very strong and is a towering 6 feet 4 inches tall, with brilliant athletic skills. His mom is white and his dad is African American, so he is half African American and half white.

What makes this special person a hero is that he has many accomplishments, his personality, his talents, and his awards. An early achievement was winning the Rookie of the Year award. Derek Jeter has the most Yankee hits (2,747). He has eight Gold Gloves and All Star Game appearances. What inspires me about Derek is that he is on the New York Yankees, which is the MLB baseball team I want to be on. Derek Jeter is the New York Yankees captin, and sets good choices and impacts on his team. The number two on his jersey is special because the Yankee’s organization expects a lot from you if your number is below ten.

Derek has many charitable impacts on his country. He gives back to charity, signs autographs, has a fundraiser, and helps kids play baseball at the Upper Deck club/camp. His most benevolent activity is his own fundraiser called the Derek Jeter Turn Two. This helps kids from any age turn down drugs or alcohol. He also signs autographs at this program too.

In conclusion, this is why my hero is the ambitious Derek Jeter. For giving back and being a good role model of who I want to be when I grow up. I think you should do a report like this of your hero.

My Real Life Superhero

By: Brendan

I believe that a hero is someone you look up to; someone who inspires you to do your best. When something is tough and unbearable they can always try to make the best of things. My hero fits inside all of these guidelines. He is my Uncle Eddie Park!

My uncle is Korean just like me so we obviously share similar physical traits. His hair is sleek and jet-black which suits him well. His eyes are dark brown, but his vision is not perfect, so he is forced to wear glasses and contact lenses. At six feet tall, he is towering, and he is 38 years old. When I grow up, I hope I am as tall and charismatic as my uncle.

Despite our 28-year age difference, I can relate to my uncle because of his great way with children. He has a child-like sense of humor that can always bring a big grin to my face. Sometimes, he tapes his nose upward like a pig and makes us laugh with his goofy expressions. He shares my love of collecting comic books and playing video games. Boxes of comic books fill my uncle’s room along with five shelves packed with video games. When I become an adult, I want to retain my childhood as well and continue to have fun.

Ever since I was old enough to interact with my Uncle Eddie, he has had a humongous influence on my life. Without him, I might not be the same humorous and empathetic person I am today. I think he taught me these characteristics, which soon became part of my personality because I often display these traits at my school. Among my friends, I am known as one of the funniest kids. I also feel like I have a lot of empathy for my friends who are less fortunate as well. If it weren’t for my uncle, I would be a very different person today because I wouldn’t have had these traits as part of my personality.

There were many people that I could have chosen to be my hero, but I chose my uncle Eddie because I feel I can easily relate to him. With his never-ending humor and wealth of child-like attributes, my uncle Eddie has had the most influence on my life so far. For these reasons, I have chosen my uncle as my real life superhero.

Not Just a Disney Star

By: Sadaf

A hero to me is a person that helps save our community while donating money for charities or volunteering their time to help people. My hero is Selena Gomez.

My environmentalist hero has wide chestnut brown eyes, midnight black hair, is about 5 feet tall, thin and slick, and wears cute, stylish clothes. She is 16 years old, has a beautiful, stunning, and gorgeous smile that lightens a room, and of course…..a girl!

What makes Selena a hero is that she is a big supporter of recycling. For example, she is a member of Disney’s Friends for Change program, whom helps save water, recycle, and heal the earth. One of her accomplishments was that she would encourage people to save water, such as, instead of wasting water in the shower for 10 minutes, run the water for a shorter period of time.

Selena Gomez inspires me to make a difference and be more attentive about cleaning and recycling in my community and school. She inspires me to take action because she’s compassionate to others and the earth.

All in all, Selena Gomez is truly my hero.

A Heroic Author

By: Brian

My hero is J. K. Rowling, whose full name is Joanne Kathleen Rowling. Her books inspire me to write and her life inspires me to do my best.

At age 44, and British with straight, medium-length, blonde hair, she’s married and has one daughter. She was born near Bristol, England and loved reading fantasy/adventure books as a child. J. K. also enjoyed writing stories and putting on plays.

One day in 1999, on a delayed commuter train, she thought of Harry Potter for the first time. Within four years, she lived in Scotland and became poor. Finally, she decided to start writing the first Harry Potter story. Two years later, she sold her first copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which later became … Sorcerer’s Stone in America. From there to 2007, she’s been writing books. The seven-book series is one of the best selling of all time, and my favorite. It has become so popular, Warner Bros. is making 8 movies (2 for the last book.)

She writes books that are exciting and has an engaging storyline which makes it hard to put them down. Those books inspire me to read and write more, and now, I find school writing assignments more enjoyable. Her life story inspires me to do my best on tasks even if they’re minor.

All in all, J. K. Rowling’s focus, determination, and literature have a positive effect on me.

My Teacher, My Hero

By: Gabrielle

I think it is sad how many heroes we don’t notice, but mine is a hero almost everyone will have at some point. A hero to me is someone that always does the right thing. That is why my hero is my teacher Mrs. Coro.

Alina is a woman who stands at five foot two. Her eyes are as warm as a fresh baked brownie and she wears a pair of rectangle glasses. Mrs. Coro’s skin is a tan color. She has short silky chestnut colored hair and her body is all together quite normal.

Mrs. Coro has a lot of accomplishments like being able teach [one of my dream jobs] and having a son. She went to college at the University of San Diego. I look up to her because she is selfless, amazing, comical, and because she always does the right thing. Also, because she is taller than me.

My teacher helps and supports me in a lot of ways. Like when I got a bad grade on a test she went over it with me to help me understand it. She can cause a lot of impact on me because if she loses her temper we all have to write standards. Her ways of teaching are really good like when she plays games to calm us down which is brilliant. I think I am getting better grades than ever. That is the way she makes such an impact on me and my life.

In conclusion, my hero Alina Coro is the most amazing 5th grade teacher in the world. That is why my hero is a comical, athletic, intelligent, and a smart human being.

My Hero, My Mom

By Morgan

A hero to me is someone you look up to, like a role model. Someone you want to be like when you grow up. My hero is my mom, Anita Ellen Trejo (I know, cool name, but she doesn’t like it).

My mom has light chestnut eyes, and her hair color is naturally chocolate, but she colors it blonde. She is petite and in really amazing shape. She stands at five feet, four inches tall. Lastly, as all parents her age is classified.

She attended Simi High School and was quite an athlete with accomplishments. She was on the track team and made the varsity soccer team. This impressed me and made me want to play club soccer, which I am in now. My mom is a hero because she continues to push herself to do better. She stays active and still runs around Warner Center Park and she makes me run around with her to get in shape (which is fun). She is also very trustworthy, because if I tell her a secret she will keep it a secret. I want to be loyal and honest like her.

My hero is also a forgiving person. Like, when she gets mad at me, she will forgive me very quickly and will forget about it. My Mommy is also gifted for being her.

In conclusion, some day I hope to become a mother and have all the same qualities that my mom has. All in all, my mom is just a great role model.

My Brother, My Hero

By: Jodie

There are many people in the world that make a great influence on me, but there is one person in the world that I can look up to for advice, compassion, help when I am playing basketball, and can always crack a joke in the hardest of times. He, my brother, Jonah Camberg, is my hero. When I am looking for a hero, I look for compassion, warmth, and if they are athletic. I love when people have a sense of humor.
Jonah Camberg has been nicknamed “Corky” and “Camberger” and “Pigellet.” There are reasons he has these names. Corky is because he is very tall and sticks up like a cork. . Camberger is because of his last name, and Pigellet is because he called Ali “Winnie the Pooh.” Yes, in the real story it is “Piglet,” but Jonah deserves things a little fancier. His physical appearance appears of hazel eyes, and coarse, brownish black hair. His tall, lanky, 5’7 foot body helps him out while thundering down the basketball court. Jonah will be 12 years old on January 21. His clothes consist of always wearing a basketball jersey. Wearing basketball jerseys, and basketball shorts, it would be hart to mistake him for anything but a basketball player. The only time he sometimes wears a jacket is if it is raining hard. His favorite basketball team is the Houston Rockets, with the Los Angeles Clippers coming close in second. On his gangly wrist bears a yellow Livestrong bracelet, which represents a cancer organization.

Talents are easy to spot when you look at Jonah Camberg. Swishing his three pointers, it is pretty easy to tell his talents in basketball. When he writes essays or stories, you can see the humor, thought, and efforts he puts into it. When he tries hard, his writing is unique, witty, and thoughtful. In fifth grade, a class assignment was to write a “Letter to Obama.” It would be submitted in a competition to be published in a book. Jonah won, and his writing was finally shown to the public. When he went to Outdoor Ed, he accidentally (???) pushed his friend, Evan, into a lake. Camberger wrote a story about what happened, and it made me laugh. Not many things make me laugh, you know. In the sport baseball, he throws amazing pitches, so fast and accurate, that it makes me jealous. Baseball isn’t his favorite sport. Jonah Camberg is an all-around pretty athletic guy!

Corky makes an important impact on me. A quote that we both like is this: “Nobody is perfect. I am nobody. Therefore, I am perfect.” It matches Jonah’s personality. He influences me to try my hardest, and likes telling me stories about middle school. “Middle School is not hard!” Jonah determinedly says over and over again. “Teachers just stress over it!” Since Jonah is my hero, I believe him. When Jonah says something funny, I try to remember it to make somebody laugh. One thing he says is when my mom says something like; “I had to walk two miles every day to get to school.” She usually says this when we are complaining about taking the bus to school. After the lecture, Jonah says this in a comical voice, “When I was a young boy…” This is he “attempting” to quote my mom.

After reading this essay, you should be able to detect that I respect my brother. I feel jealous about some things, like his sense of humor, but that just makes him more special. Without my brother my life would be…. nothing. My days would be boring and every day would be the same. Get up in the morning, go to school, go home, do homework. If something bad happens at riding, like lately I have been falling off a lot, he always can make a joke about it. He comments that we just got back from the Pony Finals, and had a perfect first round and an awful second round. That held us from winning. Jonah decided that Milka, the pony, is just disappointed and will not be good until our next show.

Gene, My Hero
By: Karin

    A hero is someone who you look up to, someone who inspires you, someone who is kind, caring, and thoughtful. My hero is my dad, Gene.

    My father is 43 years old, has short light brown hair, and sparkly blue green eyes. He is 6 feet tall, and is very handsome. Glasses in the shape of a square, add to his rough face.

    In addition to being very handsome, my dad used to be a professional goalie in soccer. He has many trophies that I have seen and some that I have not seen, but he shows endurance and perseverance. He drives me to school, gym, and on the weekends, he takes me somewhere special. What makes my dad a hero to me is that he always helps me with my homework, and helps me in times of need, like when I am sick, or when I am hurt.

    I look up to him because he is hilarious and very energetic; he also shows bravery when he kills the big bugs in my room. My dad is a very kind person because he is an immigration lawyer, which means, he helps people come to America. He also encourages me to follow my dreams and to always try my best.

    All in all, my dad is a true hero to me, showing kindness, and very loving, my dad is also a great role model and inspires me in many ways.

Heroic Mother
By: Payvand

To me a hero has to have the qualities of a brave, intelligent, and helpful person. Also, they should be kind and inspiring. These are the exact qualities of my hero and mother, Rozy Natanzi.

My mom is a gorgeous lady, who has chestnut brown eyes. Her eyes are as shiny as a mirror. She is 5 feet and 2 inches tall. Her hair is naturally curly and brown as dark as a freshly baked scrumptious brownie.

My mother has accomplished numerous things throughout her life. Her accomplishments include graduating university of Tel Aviv, earning her degree in book keeping. She reads, writes, and speaks Farsi, English, Hebrew, and Spanish. My mom used to manage a dental office. She also has a license to take x-rays. Rozy’s accomplishments inspired me so much she made me a harder worker and to believe in myself so I can accomplish whatever I desire.

My mom influences me because she gives me advice, helps me, and supports me by telling me the right thing to do. My mother also impacts me by being a great role model. She is a very caring mother. For example, she helps me with my homework and teaches me something new everyday.

My mother has taught me numerous things throughout my life. She also is a great influence. I hope one day to be just like my mom.

Super Dad
By: Lee

A hero to me is a role model, a fun person, a person with intelligence, and a person who is talented. Which is exactly like my dad Meni Zlicha.

My dad is 38 years old, and has short grayish hair. My dad also has hazel green eyes that shine like the moonlight. His skin color is tan; he is 6’1 and weighs 178 pounds. He has a pleasing smile that can cheer anybody up. Other than his handsomeness, you can also tell that my dad has a slight Hebrew accent. Lastly his birthday is on Feb. 3, 1971.

My dad served in the army in the Special Forces when he was younger, which makes him more than only MY hero. He attended a university in Israel, and today he owns a land development company that builds homes, which includes ours. My dad likes to keep himself in tip-top shape, by eating healthy and staying active. Some of the activities he does to stay healthy is jogging, hiking, and playing basketball with my brothers. Although, he works long hours, my dad makes room to go on trips with our family. Some of the places we go with him are: lakes that we go with our jet skis, amusement parks and during the winter we go to the Snow. My father teaches me that being strong is not only in body, but also in mind.

My father’s impact on the way I live my life and the way I see my future is to never give up! Give your best at everything that you do. Believe in yourself and work hard to achieve your goals. My dad will not let any obstacle stand in his way. Every year he gives a portion of his earnings to the less fortunate. Which teaches me that as much as we’ve got we need to give.

All in all, I learn something new each day from my dad. Now that’s a true hero to me!!!!

My Wonderful Dad

By: Shana

A hero is someone who inspires you, helps you, and changes your life. My hero is my dad, Reza Roostaie. He changes my life from rough things to wonderful things. And he also helps me not to think about them either.

My dad has midnight black hair and brown eyes the color of fresh brownies that just came out of the oven. He is mid-aged and he stands, he is about 5”11’. Reza was born in Iran and he is a very athletic person. For example, he loves to bicycle ride at the beach and hike on the mountains.

My dad is a hero because whenever I’m depressed or sad, he always says a few sentences that comfort me and I’m better. I look up to him because he is older, happy, and a very successful person in many ways. His accomplishments are very important in his life. One is when he was in Elementary School and University, he was honor student. He is also very calm and has a heap of experience.

My dad helps me and supports me by telling me to do the right thing. For example, he tells me to go on the right websites. He inspires me by how smart he is and how fast he can solve a math problem in his head. He affects me by studying more for math so I can be like him one day. When I go to University, I want to earn my degree in math.

My dad is my hero because he helps me solve all my problems when I’m sad, he is smart and very helpful, and lastly, he is a happy and successful person that helps me in many different ways.

Terrific Tracy

By: Mikeala

A hero to me is a person who is admired or idealized. I admire a person who is pretty, charitable, accomplished, mature, and inspirational. My hero is my super terrific mom, Tracy.

My mom’s physical appearance is gorgeous. She has long flowing locks of light brown hair that wave in the wind when she walks. My mom has shiny bright green and brown eyes that never darken, even when she is sad. She also has a strong athletic body. My mom has a smile as bright as the sun on a hot day. Although she dresses appropriately for work, I always want to give her a make over and have her wear more jewelry and dresses.

My mom is my hero because she is really thoughtful and sends a charitable amount of money to shelters and soup kitchens. After working really hard in school, she proudly achieved her Ph.D. My mother was athletic, too. As a young girl, she was on the National Vaulting Team and almost went to the Olympics, but the country boycotted the competition that year. In addition to vaulting, my mother was an excellent equestrian and was consistently placed in the top ten on the west coast. Currently, she is the best riding coach a girl could have. In addition to being an amazing equestrian she is a cook to me and my family. Even though her chef talents are not the best, she does make a mean sneaky soup that is chalk full of fresh organic vegetables. You don’t even know they are there!

I look up to my mom because she is very mature and is always looking out for other children. She taught me to admit my mistakes and take responsibility for my actions. Although she may get mad at me sometimes, she tries not to yell. Her tantrums rarely include kicking and screaming. If anyone is hurt, she will come to the rescue as super mom. She keeps her lazer eyes open for hurt children. My mom introduced me to a charity called Kids Helping Kids, and now I have earned over $500 for the charity.

My hero has influenced me in a number of ways. If my mom had not chosen to ride horses, I might not have been inspired to be an equestrian. By making me healthy, I have learned how to take care of my body. Tracy tries to teach me to be the best student I can be. I focus on trying my hardest and finishing all of my homework. As a child, my mom was very shy. I wanted to be different, so I chose to wear wacky clothing to school everyday.

Today, my mom works as a psychologist while I am in school, and afterwards she takes all three of us to all of our special after-school activities. All in all, I think my mom is the sweetest, most talented person ever in the galaxy of the cream puff universe.

Victoria’s Val

By: Sophie

A hero to me is someone who inspires me, someone makes me want to accomplish more. My hero is my grandma. Her heroic name is Grandma Val.

My grandma has short, blonde, curly hair with locks of brown underneath, and has big brown innocent eyes. Grandma also has petite rectangular glasses. She’s not very towering, but has a bulging heart. The last time I saw her, I saw her thin lips smile at me and at that point on I knew she was the glorious woman I wanted to look up to.

The reason why I picked my grandma is because she’s the person I rely on. She is the person who travels the world just for her family. Grandma Val has been through a lot like divorce, even though she has so much family she makes time to visit them, and loves them all. My grandma has to have a lot of responsibility such as, taking care of grandchildren, her pet Harry, and herself.

Grandma Val has a good impact on me for many reasons. The first reason why she has effect on me is because every time she accomplishes some thing, like singing at opera concerts she really impresses me. Another reason why is that when I came to visit she made sure that I got to see all of my family, including her ex. The last reason why she has impact on me, is when she had this lovable dog named Bobby that I really loved, he passed away and everyone was very sad but, Victoria’s Val got another that was exactly like it, being an English Spaniel with black and white, also being the same size.

Grandma Val is old but mighty and will stay like that forever on. I love my grandma and that is the main reason she is my hero.

A Hero Dressed in Everyday Clothes

By: Cameron

A hero to me is someone that inspires me to set my goals and have the patience and perseverance to accomplish them. A hero is a strong role model. One who is an example of accomplishment, strength, courage, honesty, integrity and selflessness. My mother Bita is my hero.

Bita is a petite brunette in her forties with dark long hair and olive skin. She is very well poised and carries herself tall while being considerably short. Bita exuberates confidence and optimism by maintaining a strong demeanor despite her small stature.

Bita has earnestly pursued her career in the legal profession while being a mother to me and my siblings. She worked valorously during her pregnancies with all three of us. During the early stages of her career, she earnestly pursued cases that were only handled by more experienced lawyers. She is passionate, forthright and gracious. Bita ingeniously managed to raise us while diligently continuing to work as a lawyer so that she could set a virtuous example of tenacity and dedication. I look up to her because she demonstrates that one can maintain a career while being dedicated to his/her family.

Bita inspires me in a multitude of ways. She raises a significant level of consciousness in me with regards to academic standards. I have become cognizant of my abilities and that cognizance has tremendously contributed to my accomplishments. By way of example, I have learned that my brain is like a muscle and the more I exercise my brain, the more I can derive from it. I have come to appreciate courage towards my day-to-day tasks and, not just my long term goals. Bita has taught me to listen to the little voice at the end of the day that says: “I will do it again tomorrow”. Through Bita’s life, I have learned to never lose sight of my dreams because through hard work and effort, merely the sky can be my limit.

Through her life, my mother Bita has proved that multitasking and diversifying does not compromise the quality of life. She highlights the significance of family and the integrity of parenthood. Specifically, Bita has displayed dedication and compromise by working all day and still making the time to help us stay on task academically, socially and athletically.

SUPERHERO- Samantha

By: Courtney

What is a hero? A hero is someone who inspires and encourages you in many ways. My hero is my sister Samantha Shapiro.

My sister is 15 years old, has long shiny chocolate brown hair, which shimmers in the sunlight. She is 5’8 and has dazzling brown eyes with green dots and a green rim. She is very thin and outstandingly gorgeous. Sammi, or Sam is what her friends and family call her.

What makes my sister a hero is that she is helpful, funny and an amazing athlete. She is helpful because she babysits and helps out at the Concern Foundation, which raises money for children and adults that have cancer. Sam makes me laugh when she makes fun of my dad and especially when she runs out of the room screaming because she sees a spider on the wall. Sammi amazes me every time she plays volleyball because she makes it look so fun and energetic. Someday I would like play volleyball and play the whole front row, just like her.

Samantha supports me when I have trouble making decisions and always tells me to do the right things. She is also very helpful when I have trouble doing or understanding my homework by explaining it to me until I do understand it. From all the charity work she does, Sammi inspires me to help others.

In my eyes, She is helpful, kind, and loving and that is why love her. Sammi is truly my hero.

Hero Time

By: Tariq

A hero is a person who inspires someone, encourages someone, and is someone who helps you in rough times.

Standing at 5’9” my awesome brother Iqbal Qayum. Iqbal is 12 years old and he is a huge basketball fan. My brother has beautiful brown eyes, short black hair, so his hair doesn’t get into his eyes when he is playing basketball and finally my brother is over 100lb but he looks much skinnier than he really is. He is a really funny guy and he’s really friendly. My enthusiastic brothers’ favorite foods consist on oranges, taco, pizza, and his most favorite is orange chicken.

My hero is my hero because he inspires me to do new things, get good grades, also he helps me on my math homework sometimes, and finally my encouraging brother helps me develop my basketball skills fast and easily. My amazing brother also limits my time on the computer so I have time for my homework and to play basketball with him.

Iqbal’s impact is a huge part of my life. His impact is huge on me because if he didn’t do what he does right now I wouldn’t be the same Tariq you know today. Iqbal and I are a lot alike except for the part that he’s 10 inches taller than me.

My brother Iqbal is a very nice, funny, spectacular, and impressive hero that’s why I love him so much. Iqbal wants to go to ucla then after that he wants to try to get in NBA, (National Basketball Association).

In conclusion, Iqbal has been a terrific and a wonderful hero and I will always look up to him. That’s why my amazing, cool, and awesome brother Iqbal Qayum is my hero and I hope to be like him one day.

My Dad, My Manager, My Hero

By: Michael

To me a hero is someone who has made an extremely positive impact on my life. My hero is my dad, Lee Gibson Lipscomb.

My dad has neatly groomed, shiny hair the color of the clouds just before it begins to rain. Standing 5’ 11” tall, he has sparkling hazelnut eyes. Due to working out in our family gym and drinking protein shakes frequently, he is very muscular for his age.

My father is very compassionate but sometimes isn’t as sweet as apple pie or a fuzzy puppy in your lap. He has endured many hard times in his life such as law school, leaving home and having to lie about his age to get into a logging camp to get money for his family, and serving in the military. My father is my hero because has many talents such as being an extremely hard worker, hard-core body builder, big-game hunter, and he always has a never-give-up attitude.

My hero has helped me through many hard times (emotionally and physically) and was my karate manager and helped me achieve my black belt. He has been my inspiration my whole life. I admire him because of his win-win attitude, his ability to get through anything, and his devotion to family.

My dad is my role model and has had the biggest impact on my life, which is why he truly is my dad, my manager, and my hero.

Excellent 18

By: Matt

If you asked me what a hero is, I would say that a hero is somebody who inspires you to do something. My hero you inspires me is the Indianapolis Colts superstar quarterback number 18, Peyton Manning.

Besides being a quarterback, he also has some different physical appearances. He has short light blonde hair and blue eyes like his darkish blue jersey. He has a very strong arm and a very athletic person. He is also 6 foot 5 inches tall, 33 years old, and 230 lb.

Manning is one of the most famous quarterbacks in the NFL. He is a second generation quarterback with his brother Eli on the New York Giants and his father, Archie Manning who played on the New Orleans Saints.

Peyton was also the 2009 MVP of the year and recently won the 2010 MVP. He also won the 2006 Super Bowl with his best receiver, Reggie Wayne. The superstar also went to college at Tennessee in 1995 and became a Volunteer. He graduated in 1998 and became an NFL player.

Number 18 inspires me to do a lot of things football. 4 things that he does to inspire me are being a second generation quarter back that I also mentioned, winning 4 MVP of the year awards and 2006 Super Bowl winner, and is very accurate when throwing to a receiver covered by 2 or 3 men. All of those examples made me play Flag Football, become a quarterback like him, and practice whenever I have a chance.

In conclusion, this strong-armed quarterback is a very athletic, smart, and inspires me. That is why Peyton Manning is my hero.

A Teaching Hero

By: JaeWon

My hero is Mr. Ross. He is a teacher who’s very kind, funny and helpful.

He has brown color hair, he is tall, and he is a 32 years old man.

Mr. Ross makes people laugh and he’s very active. He cares for the students’ well being. He makes the students run every morning so they will be healthy.

I used to hate USA because I didn’t understand anything but Mr. Ross helped me understand. So now I like USA more. When I didn’t understand something, Mr. Ross helped me in Language art and Reading.

Mr. Ross is my hero because he’s fun, helpful, and he was the best teacher I’ve ever had.

What Is A Hero?

By: Jerry

I think a hero is someone who inspires, and does kind things. They also help you in the roughest of times. Why I chose my older brother, shall be explained in the following essay.

A 14 year old boy with smooth brown hair and deep brown eyes as dark as the midnight sky, is also known as my older brother Paul. His muscular body is tan, 5 feet 10 inches tall, and wears size 11 Vans shoes. When I need a boost somewhere high, his wide smile flashes and he gets right on it.

What makes Paul a hero is very distinct. Personality wise, Paul is very exuberant and cheers me up when I’m feeling down. Comical and entertaining, he is very enjoyable to be around and his enthusiasm is contagious. Paul is really good at helping me with my homework because he got 1^st place in his 5^th grade Geography Bee. Hobbies of Paul’s consist of playing baseball at Knapp Ranch Park and making videos.

Paul’s heroic impact on me is very large. Since Paul got 1^st place in his 5^th grade Geography Bee, he’s encouraged me to try and get in 1^st just like him. Very diligent and forthright, Paul helps me when I’m going to do something bad and tells me to do something else. I don’t always like it, but deep down I know he is just trying to help. Also, Paul has a love of learning. He is always happy to help me with my homework and studying if I don’t understand something.

In conclusion, a hero to me someone has to be kind, diligent, forthright, comical, and supportive. Paul has all these qualities, plus . . . he is my brother.

An Exemplary Football Player

By: David

A hero to me is a person who inspires me to do something good. JaMarcus Russell inspires me to play football and play fair.

His physical appearance to me is that he has dark skin like chocolate fudge and his eyes are dark as thick warm chocolate brownies. He also has a six pack like a professional body builder. JaMarcus height is 6 feet 6 inches he is one of the tallest football players there is and he is 24 years old and a male gender.

JaMarcus is a hero to me because I play like he does like when I play football I play hard and play fair. His talent to me is how he plays the game of football hard and professionally. That to me is the good way of playing football.

Russell has inspired me to play football. Like most of the time I play QB at school and he plays QB in his games. He also inspired me to exercise and be healthy. The way he plays is the way I play at school hard and fair.

All in all now you know who my hero and my favorite football player is so thank you for listening to my story.

Brad Dourif- A Horror of a Hero

By: Ian

A hero to me is someone who has accomplished something special, something that few people have done. Also, someone who is nice and you look up to.

My hero is Brad Dourif the actor. He has blond hair, is 6’2 and is 59 years old. Brad was born in Virginia on March 18, 1950. Brad Dourif is a hero because he made me like horror more and more. I look up to him because he introduced me to many horror characters including Chucky. Also, Brad Dourif supports me because he played horror movie characters that I like, such as Halloween, Childs Play, and Seed of Chucky. He was also in Lord of the Rings 2. Brad Dourif is one of the coolest people on earth.

When Brad Dourif was three years old, his father died. After that his mother married Bill Campbell, a champion golfer, who helped raise Brad, his brother and four sisters. From 1963 to 1965, Dourif attended Aiken Preparatory school in Aiken, South Carolina. While there, he pursued his interests in art and acting. Starting in school productions, he progressed to community theater, joining up with the Hunnington Community Players, while attending Marshall University of Hunnington. At age 19, he quit his hometown college and headed to New York City, where he worked with the Repertory Company. His high-strung style also served him well in a number of horror films, especially as the voice of the evil doll Chucky in Childs Play and its sequels.

I respect Brad Dourif because he is a successful actor. He has been able to make a living by portraying interesting characters in film and television, he was even nominated for an Academy Award for his roll as Billy Bibbit in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest. Although Brad Dourif did not win the Academy Award, he did win a Golden Globe and a British Academy Award for the same roll. Dourif is a divorced father of two daughters, Kristina and Fiona. Brad Dourif is my hero because I too would like to be an actor/director. I think it would be a great thing to make money doing what you love and what you are good at.

Brad Dourif

A hero to me is someone who has accomplished something special, something that few people have done. Also, someone who is nice and you look up to.

My Dad, My Hero

By: Ali

A hero to me is someone who is encouraging, inspiring, caring, firm, and loving. He or she is someone who helps people, who points them in the right direction. My dad Stephen Pfahler is a hero.

Whenever Steve (Stevie, his nick-name by my softball friends and Stephen, his full name) Pfahler is not pounding the

gavel, he is at home encouraging me in every possible way. At night, he is helping me with subjects such as math and reading comprehension. During the daytime he enjoys pounding (when I say “pounding”, I mean pounding) me with every kind of softball and golf tip imaginable. He is also very encouraging during games and practices. Shouting at the players, he sprints along side them daring them to beat him to first base. No matter the occasion, he is helping others and making me the best I can be.