The Country School

Eureka! 2009‐2010 The Country School 341 Opening Hill Road Madison, CT 06443 203.421.3113 www.thecountryschool.org Education that Lasts a Lifetime! This version of Eureka! is dedicated to Jim Storms, TCS English teacher from 1999‐2010. For many years, Mr. Storms prepared Eureka! for the TCS community. Thank you, Mr. Storms, for all you have done for your students and colleagues over the years. Tributes to Mr. Storms from two former students: Mr. Storms was the first English teacher I had who encouraged me to think outside the box. We approached poetry and literature with a critical eye, which has, for me, since developed into a deep and sincere love of writing. Mr. Storms inspired me to do my very best for the MacLane Poetry Competition after he heard me read Emily Dickinson in class. He said that hearing me read her poetry was like hearing the poet herself. I was so honored and touched by this sentiment that I have committed a significant amount of my college classes to the study of modern poetry. When I graduated from TCS, he gave me two of the most important books I have ever owned: my first copy of Strunk & White and the Complete Works of Shakespeare. No teacher could have ever given me more. His dedication to his students and love for his work are lasting impressions of one of the greatest teachers I have ever been so fortunate to know. Thank you, Mr. Storms. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart. ~ Elizabeth Walbridge ’03 The teachers at TCS have shaped how I look at the world. Mr. Storms taught me that if you have both feet, you will be perfectly fine, so stop complaining. I actually use that with everything I do now. I embarrass myself in front of my friends; at least I have both feet. I didn’t get the grade I want on a test; at least I have both feet. I lost I foot, I always have the other. As long as I have both feet, I can either fix the problem or find a way to make it better, no worries. So, Mr. Storms, whenever you say that I don’t care enough, I’ll have you know that I learned all of my go‐with‐
the‐flow‐ness from you. ~ Elyssa Davis ‘10 Eureka! is the literary magazine of The Country School. Our symbol and mascot is the owl Archimedes, famous for exclaiming “Eureka!” (I have found it!) when he discovered a method for determining the purity of gold. Many thanks to the students who submitted writing and artwork and to the teachers and parents who collected and typed it. Thank you as well to members of the ARTS COUNCIL for their help with production. Please note: We have made every effort to include each piece that was submitted for publication. Our apologies if anything was overlooked. If I Were a Bee Lila, Kindergarten If I were a bee, I would buzz around, make honey And sting you if you bother me, If I were a bee. Birds Alexander, Grade 2 There are brown birds, And black birds, Big birds and small. There are sea birds and tree birds, That no one can see at all. There are really a lot, That we cannot spot. If I Were a Cardinal Phineas, Kindergarten If I were a cardinal, I would fly in the sky, Eat insects and catch worms for my babies, If I were a cardinal. Gordie Gordie, Grade 2 Good person Outdoor person Runs a lot Does sports Informal kind of guy Egg eater Who Built Egypt? Emma, Grade 6 (This poem was written when Emma was in 5th Grade; It was published recently in Dig Magazine.) I did, exclaimed Persenet, For I honor good fortune And tell tales with my enticing movements. I bend over backward To welcome The annual harvest and the flood. My flowing linen costume Billows along behind me, My gold bracelets jingle like bells, My reed crown sways. I dance to mourn To speak To celebrate I am the dancer. Grade Two Emma, Grade 2 Good Place to be Reading everyday A lot to learn Doing Colonial Days Everyday we do math Terrific and fun With lots of friends One and only the best grade! My Gold Isabella, Grade 2 I am cold and I am bold for the gold that I sold to old Mrs. Control. Mrs. Control is making a gold mold. She rolled it and sold it to Mrs. Gold Mrs. Gold took the mold and made it into new Gold then she sold the gold to a troll Who sold it to me and now I am as happy as can be! President John F. Kennedy Matthew, Grade 3 John F. Kennedy is my favorite president. He shares a birthday with me, May 29th. He was the 35th president of the United States of America. He served from the year 1961 until he was assassinated in the year 1963 Two Sounds Apart Gabriel, Grade 8 The crowd just exploded At the sight of her stare Even if in truth They weren't even there Then the crowd gawked As the other one appeared Hand on violin Much tighter than she feared The ladies took their places And glanced to the right Where a table of judges Sat sternly in all white Their every finger twitching Their every muscle tensed The ladies were both waiting And then it all commenced The first one up was Lucy Graceful from the heart She tuned herself and plucked Before she got her start At last there was a swelling A lovely crescendo As Lucy played her instrument Quite deftly with her bow The piece that came from playing Was one they had not heard And the crowd kept looking Not daring say a word She flitted over chords and notes Rarely breaking stride The second lady watched and wondered By her other side Lucy's fiddle sang a tale And moaned of better days Where music was a noble job The work that ever pays Her mournful song concluded And she rose from her chair And sat back down wordlessly A silence in the air The other girl was Ella Just called El for short She sighed and then got ready For her musical retort The judges looked her over As she did a quiet hum At which the judges signaled And she began to strum A symphony of sound Rang out from her hand Surprising all around her For it was far from bland The tune was very eerie Yet the sadness here was gone It quickly morphed to soulful draws As Ella surged right on The audience was stunned and stunned With empathy they felt For this tiny spot of rhythm That made souls all but melt Lucy watched intently An edge to every breath El was reminiscing Silently of death The tune was done abruptly The silence now was banal As all attention slowly focused On the critics' panel The judges murmured solemnly And thought of who should win While the crowd was deathly quiet Over the hushed din Both violinists waited Guts tied up in knots Their anxiety was palpable Showering them like blots Each woman was more nervous About her music's tone As required in the contest They both did write their own The judges stopped their chatter And patience became thinner All around braced themselves For announcement of the winner A man came out and told them all Who won the final prize Once again the crowd exploded And both women hid their eyes For at this time of celebration El and Lucy felt poor It was decided that both Had written an equally beautiful score. If I Were a Dog Paige, Kindergarten If I were a dog I would beg for treats, run after friends, and Bark at the moon . . . If I were a dog. Colors Ava, Grade 2 Red and white, blue and yellow, Pink and purple Orange and green, like the color of a bean. There is black and brown, like the color of a town I left out gray, the color of a rainy day There are colors here, and colors there There are colors around us, Everywhere! Where I Come From Anna, Grade 4 I come from sheep that run away from you, Horses grazing in the pasture, And milking goats in the morning. I come from skiing down the Taos Mt. in New Mexico, Going into the woods for a black slope And back out into the open. I come from swimming in the pool with my sister and our friends, Racing underwater while holding our breath. I come from grooming, feeding, and mucking stalls, Having dogs run under my pony Blackberry’s feet while I ride him. Friendship Charlotte, Grade 2 Friendship is something You can’t hold, Friendship is something You are told, Friendship is something that Can’t be sold. Friendship is just like gold. Sometimes it can be easy to find, Just find a friend and you might just become BFF! Saturn Kevin, Grade 3 My report is about the planet Saturn. Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun. Saturn is 893,000,000 miles from the sun. Saturn’s neighbors are Jupiter and Uranus. Saturn has over 10,000 rings. Saturn’s diameter is 120,600 kilometers. Saturn is 1.4 billion miles away from the sun. Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system. Saturn has 52 satellites that orbit around Saturn. If you go by jet top Saturn it will take 150 years. If you go by rocket to Saturn it will take 3 years and 7 months. Saturn was named after a Greek god named Cronus. Saturn’s temperature is 170 degrees Celsius or 285 degrees F. Saturn’s rings are not solid. They are made of ice, dust and dirt. Saturn is one of the most beautiful planets in the solar system. Saturn is so light that if there was an ocean big enough, the planet could float in it. Saturn has 60 moons and Titan is the only moon that has air and clouds. Grover Cleveland Harrison, Grade 3 Grover Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837 and he died on June 24, 1908. He was the 22nd president of the United States. He was president from 1885‐1889. His vice president was Thomas A. Hendricks. He was the only president to be married in the White House. He had nine children. He was a very large man. Flowers Anna, Grade 2 Flowers are beautiful, Flowers are fine, But this one I’m talking about is really mine. Flowers are orange. Flowers are red. But I like purple or pink instead. Flowers are beautiful, but this fine flower of mine is wonderful!. If I Were an Owl Gavin, Kindergarten If I were an owl I would fly at night, sleep during the day, and Hunt for food … If I were an owl. The Best Mom Livi, Grade 2 You are cool, You are nice, You are so great because All you want is for me To be happy. That is a gift Of kindness You are everything I could ever want Because you are my mom And I will always Love you! Mom Robbie, Grade 2 Mothers are cool, Others are not, Mothers like you are cool! Sports Charlie, Grade 3 Soccer Pole vault Outstanding Running Tennis Super Soccer Dan, Grade 2 Soccer is nice Only in the game Crying is not good Caring is much better Every time you score a goal you cheer My Mom Spencer, Grade 2 Mom is awesome, Mom is cool, Everybody loves her Even when we’re in school! If I Were a Turtle Michael, Kindergarten If I were a turtle I would swim in a pond, play with my friends, and Sleep in my shell … If I were a turtle. She’s the Best …. Andre, Grade 2 Mother ever! Orange is her favorite color Thinks about not taking Cocoa out Her hair is pretty Eclairs are her favorite Recognized by Ciao Bella Polly Hannah, Grade 3 Once upon a time there was a polar bear named Polly and she loved to play the piano. She would play any song, easy or hard. One day there was a flier talking about a piano club. Polly singed up and went to the club Igloo. On the way to the Igloo, Polly hunted for food. When Polly arrived, there were big, mean polar bears who said that Polly could not come in, so Polly sadly started home. An hour passed but Polly could not find her igloo. Then she saw the piano igloo so she went inside again and they let her stay. Then after the club was over, they brought her home. Mom Alex, Grade 2 Mom is the best Outstanding Most wonderful person in the world Story Ashwin, Grade 6 It happened so suddenly. The black and white U.F.O. slowly came into sight. Inside, there were little four legged creatures, each with one eye, and bloodthirsty mouths. A woman walking down the street at that moment looked up and fainted. The U.F.O. opened up extending its dock. As the creatures scurried down the dock, they seemed to be talking in some strange sort of language. When they got to the bottom they looked around. One of them, clearly the boss, pointed a long, dirty, green, and slimy finger directly at me. Four aliens crept up to me and picked me up. Without thinking, I kicked one. He pulled out a tranquilizer gun and pulled the trigger. When I came to, I thought that I was at home in my warm and comfortable bed. I thought wrong. I crept out of the bed and found that I was in a rather nice place. There was a bell sitting next to my bed. As I closely inspected it there was something scribbled on it: I got up and slowly crept toward the door. As I rested my hand on the knob ready to open it, I felt scared for the first time in my life. I opened the door. A spear was pointed at my throat. I stood still, not daring to move. “What are you doing to me?” I asked. “Did you ring the bell?” they questioned. “Yes I did.” “Well you are not fit for the job, get out.” “Well where am I going to go? Will you take me back to my planet?” “Very well then,” the guard replied. The next day I came back to earth. 
If I Were an Owl Anthony, Kindergarten If I were an owl, I would hoot, Fly through the night and eat mice, If I were an owl. I Like That Book Sophie, Grade 2 I like that book, I like that book, It’s awesome, it’s fun. I like that book, I like that book, I like reading it in the sun! I like that book Because it’s mine I like that book It’s really fine! That book is cool, I read it in school. MY BOOK RULES!       
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I had no idea what this was so I rang it. Several aliens ran in with purple robes in hand. “Agus fios folios sda,” one alien said. “Say what?” I replied. “Sake aso akdd.” In walked a man, a human. He wore rags, torn and bloody. “Hello,” he croaked in a weak voice. “When you rang this bell, you made yourself king of this land,“ he continued. “What exactly is this land?” I asked him. “Zumbaga, a place full of unknown sorcery.” Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It was a loud knock as if the thing outside was very impatient. “Let me in,” a deep voice boomed. Several aliens fled to the back of the room terrified of this thing. “Aod sofsof aspf osfsdor oi ssif osf sof rdjd,” an alien said. The man translated: “The alien requests that you open the door because you are the king and must be brave.” If I Were a Monkey Maggie, Kindergarten If I were a monkey I would swing on the vines in the jungle, sit on a rock, and Eat bananas If I were a monkey. To Be Someone Robert, Grade 8 (lyrics to a song Robert wrote) what do you see when you look at me? just a smoky face in a storm of rain what do you see when you sleep? just so you know in a dream‐ everything’s not what it seems what do you know about my thoughts? nothing at all, nothing at all what do you know about me? just so you know what I mean ‐ what I say is not what it seems I’m the invisible man, I’m the invisible man if you can see me, catch me if you can I’m the invisible man, I’m an empty book fill my pages if you can Poems Joseph, Grade 3 A bear Eating At dawn In New Hampshire Because he is hungry. A snake Slithering At night In Arizona Because it wants to get somewhere. An Indian Hunting at noon In Montana Because he needs food. A fish swimming In the evening In the Pacific Ocean To get exercise. A horse Galloping In the afternoon In Texas Because someone’s riding it. Still Night Gabby, Grade 5 A bat swoops over head in the dark night sky. There are two or three stars out tonight. The night is peaceful and silent, except the cicadas and crickets chirping. It’s as if the whole world lies untouched. A lone firefly blinks in the calm night. Large nuts fall from the trees, momentarily disturbing the night before peace is restored once more. A single leaf drifts down in the chilled, soft night breeze. The trains whistle sounds, long, low and mournful in the stillness of the night. A New Planet Brendan, Grade 3 My name is John and I have one brother named Matthew. I am 12 years old and I love to read but my favorite books to read are books about space. I tried to make my parents buy me a telescope and they said maybe if I put some money in. My mom finally ordered a new telescope! I couldn’t wait! Two days later it came. After I put it together, I looked into the eyepiece but the sun was too bright and the clouds were out. The next day the clouds weren’t out and at night it was very dark except for the moon and the stars. The first thing I looked at was the moon. It had lots of craters and the second thing I looked at was Mars and the third thing was…I wasn’t sure what it was. I asked my mom. She didn’t know either. She said I could call NASA, so I dialed their number and they sent somebody to look at it. When he got here, he looked at it and said, “Oh, my!” I wondered what it was. Then he looked at me and said, “You have found a new planet!” I felt crazy and before I knew it, there were newspaper articles about it and the reporters started coming to my house and asking all kinds of questions and so I went from a normal boy to a famous planet finder! Mom Aidan, Grade 2 I love my MOM, and she loves me, We are the perfect family. If I Were a Cat Frances, Kindergarten If I were a cat, I would play with yarn, Purr and try to catch a bird, If I were a cat. Purple Skies Gabby, Grade 5 The sky is purple and red, beckoning to anyone who ventures outdoors. From the quiet trees, the final leaves of fall slip past in the breeze, unnoticed by human eyes. Yet the solemn creatures of the night, at last make their way into sight. Off in the distance an owl hoots, very faint, but firm. As he takes off on silent wings, he makes a rustling in the trees. As I sigh, I look up at the sky; it’s beckoning, beckoning to me. Ready for a hockey game? Anonymous, Grade 3 I got up in the morning at 5 AM and laced up my skates for a hockey game. The first few periods were oh so lame. The coach blew the whistle; I rushed and got the puck. I shoot and SCORE! GOAL! We all yell. We scored seven more times and won the game. We all start to yell and scream! In the locker room we all have a bad smell. “All that matters is that hockey is fun for us,” we all yell! Cold Eric, Grade 4 Crisp cold air. On the Arctic plans. Looming in the air. Dripping with ice and snow. She’s number ONE, I’m number TWO, We are the perfect family! Sugar Hannah, Grade 3 Once upon a time there was a koala named Sugar and she loved sports, any sport she would play. It could be soccer, baseball, football or basketball. One day there was a flier talking about a sports club. Sugar signed up and went to the club treehouse. On the way to the treehouse, Sugar hunted for food. When Sugar arrived, there were big mean koalas who said that Sugar could not come in. So Sugar sadly started home. An hour passed but Sugar could not find her treehouse. Then she saw the sports treehouse so she went inside again and they let her stay. Then after the club was over, they brought her home. If I Were a Tadpole Wiley, Kindergarten If I were a tadpole I would swim in a pond, hide away from the great diving beetle, And grow into a frog … If I were a tadpole. If Tara, Grade 5 If I could be anything I pleased I would be nothing And everything I would be the birds that soar through the sky And the empty air through which they soar I would be the slithering snake moving through rushes And the space between the grass where it slides I would be the fish flipping through water And the nothing inside the bubbles it lets out I would be the nothing that is everything And the everything that is nothing In other words I would be something Falling Gabby, Grade 5 Gently through the clouds, Settling on the ground Making a white blanket of beauty filled with winter hopes. Hopes, small snowflakes, Christmas wishes. As they fall the fir trees stand tall and quiver in the chilled night breeze. If I Were a Ladybug Emily, Kindergarten If I were a ladybug I would fly in the sky, rest on a leaf, and Eat lots of aphids If I were a ladybug Water Lizzy, Grade 4 Crashing emerald waves Amazing wavy silver Sparkling water Story Tommy, Grade 3 Chapter 1 Once upon a time there was a boy named Tommy. Tommy loved baseball. He had a lot of baseball cards. One day Tommy went to the store to buy some baseball cards. When he got there he saw a Babe Ruth baseball card in a safe. He asked where the cashier got it. He said, “I got it from one of my friends at a baseball game.” Chapter 2 The Thief Tommy went to the store again. He saw that the Babe Ruth card was gone. Tommy looked to see if it was in anybody’s hands but it wasn’t so somebody must have broken in at night and stolen it. But then he saw a man running out of the store so Tommy bolted after him. He ran and ran so he could see where he lived but he ran to a dead end. So Tommy went back to the store to tell the cashier that the Babe Ruth baseball card was gone. The cashier asked how he knew this so Tommy explained how he came yesterday and saw the Babe Ruth card in the open safe. Then he explained how he saw the man take it and how he tracked him down until he got really tired. The cashier asked if he could get it back. If he did get it back, the cashier said he could keep the Babe Ruth card. Chapter 3 The Baseball Game Tommy figured out that the thief was going to the Red Sox game on Sunday. Tommy realized he was going to that game too. But Tommy needed to know what seat the thief was sitting in. He had an idea. Chapter 4 Tommy’s idea was that he was going to Boston where the game was and he was going to look for him with his dad because he told him about it and because he was going to the game with his dad. So they went. Chapter 5 When they got there, Tommy was searching frantically for him. Then he saw him and the baseball card too. Tommy and his dad ran after him. But he was too fast so they lost him. A couple hours later in the souvenir shop, they saw him and again they ran after him. Then the card fell out of his picket. Tommy dove for it and just barely got it. Then the mysterious person ran off. Tommy didn’t bother going after him because he got the card. Chapter 6 When Tommy got back he told the cashier that he got the card. If I Were a Bear Alex, Kindergarten If I were a bear, I would live in the forest, Eat fish and sleep all winter long, If I were a bear. Preschool stories We used a story starter to begin our stories….. Wow, I could be a pilot! I could fly anywhere that I wanted to go. Maybe I could go to the stables and then ride a horse. – Olivia Wow, I could be a pilot! I could fly anywhere that I wanted to go. Maybe I could go to Disney and then see Mickey, Julian, Hanna, Jacob, Goofy and Donald and have a tea party. – Caleb Wow, I could be a pilot! I could fly anywhere that I wanted to go. Maybe I could go to New York City and then sleep and play and drink and smell the flowers. – Gabby Wow, I could be a driver! I could drive anywhere that I wanted to go. Maybe I could go to Vermont and then play with the kittens, all the doggies, the pigs, the sheeps, the goats and the horsies. – Mila Wow, I could be a pilot! I could fly anywhere that I wanted to go. Maybe I could go to New York City and then play with Duplos and see a crazy dog. – Slade Wow, I could be a pilot! I could fly anywhere that I wanted to go. Maybe I could go to Chicago and then play with Julia. – Hanna Wow, I could be a pilot! I could fly anywhere that I wanted to go. Maybe I could go to Florida and then swim and have a diet coke and then go home. – Noah Wow, I could be a pilot! I could fly anywhere that I wanted to go. Maybe I could go to Disney World and then go to the bug playground and the moon bounce. – Julian The Hedgehog Garden Elana, Grade 3 Once upon a time, there was a girl named Gabriella. She was only five years old. Her mom had a big garden. One day she went to her mom’s garden. She was picking some flowers. Gabriella saw something spikey but she did not know what to do. So she went inside and told her mom. Gabriella’s mom went outside and took a look. All she saw was her garden. Gabriella’s mom said, “If there was something in my garden, I would know”. “I guess you are right mom.” Gabriella’s mom went inside. Gabriella still looked in the garden. Gabriella saw something come out of the garden: IT WAS A HEDGEHOG! Gabriella went inside to tell her mom what she saw. (The thing that Gabriella did not see was that the hedgehog had babies). Her mom believed Gabriella, but Gabriella could be lying. Gabriella’s mom said, “Do not get me again.” Gabriella still looked in the garden. Gabriella saw the hedgehogs come back. She went and got some gloves. Gabriella picked up a hedgehog. The hedgehog spiked up. Gabriella put the hedgehog down. Gabriella got on her bike and went for a ride in her neighborhood. She stopped at Maple’s house. Maple was Gabriella’s friend. Maple has a twin sister named Elana. Elana was friends with Gabriella too, but Maple hung out with Gabriella more. Gabriella went inside Maple’s house and had a snack. When Gabriella was done with her snack they went outside. Maple called her sister. “Elana,” called Maple. Elana came running. The three girls got on their bikes and went for a ride. They went to an ice cream store, and bought three ice creams. The three girls ate their ice creams and went back to Maple and Elana’s house. The three of them played up in the playroom. Gabriella soon went home. When she got home she had dinner. When Gabriella was done she went upstairs and went on her computer. The she went to bed. When Gabriella got up she went downstairs for breakfast. For breakfast Gabriella had pancakes. After breakfast Gabriella went outside. Gabriella went and got the gloves again. Gabriella looked at the garden to see if a hedgehog was coming in or coming out. Gabriella saw a hedgehog. Gabriella got on her knees. Gabriella touched the hedgehog. The hedgehog ran again when she touched it. Gabriella saw other hedgehogs. But then she saw a hedgehog walking weird. Gabriella called up Maple and Elana. Maple and Elana were at her house in two minutes. Gabriella put the weird‐walking hedgehog in a box. Gabriella went inside and got a book all about hedgehogs. Gabriella opened to the page that told you about blind hedgehogs. Gabriella didn’t really know how to read but she tried her best. She read that if a hedgehog is blind it will walk in the weird way. The blind hedgehog was happy in the box. So this was the chance Gabriella had to show her mom that there are hedgehogs in the garden. Gabriella went inside with her friends. Gabriella’s mom screamed when she saw the hedgehog in her house. Gabriella’s mom asked Gabriella where she got that hedgehog. Elana said, “She got it from your garden.” Gabriella’s mom was in shock. Gabriella went back outside to let the hedgehog go. Gabriella asked her mom if she could have a hedgehog. Gabriella’s mom said, “I will think about it.” Maple and Elana went home. Gabriella had dinner that night and asked, “Where is Dad?” Gabriella’s mom responded “I don’t know.” “I wish dad was here” groaned Gabriella. That night Gabriella had a dream that she had a hedgehog. In the morning Gabriella saw her mom standing there with a smile on her face. Gabriella asked her mom what was for breakfast. Gabriella’s mom said “hedgehog finding.” Gabriella was so shocked that she could not speak. They went into the garden. They looked and looked for some hedgehogs. Hedgehogs do not come out when people are there. So Gabriella’s mom put food out in a basket so the hedgehogs would eat it in the basket and it would take a little longer to get out. They both went inside to have breakfast. When they were having breakfast they were looking for a hedgehog to go into the basket. When Gabriella put her spoon in her bowl she saw a hedgehog go into the basket. Gabriella put her bowl down and got the gloves and went outside. She pinned the hedgehog down in the basket so it could not escape. Gabriella’s mom got into the car and went to the vet. When they got to the vet Gabriella took the hedgehog and the basket into the vet. Gabriella’s mom went up to the counter to tell the doctor to come out and check if the hedgehog does not have a disease. The doctor came out a minute later. The hedgehog that they got was good to be a pet but it needed a shot. “Oh and it is pregnant” said the doctor. “How many babies are there?” asked Gabriella. “About 5 hedgehogs” replied the doctor. Gabriella and her mom went home with their mouth open. Before they went home, they stopped off at the pet shop to get stuff for the hedgehog. They got pink stuff because the hedgehog is a girl. When they got home, they made a room for the hedgehog. The room had in it a wheel for the hedgehog to run, a bed, a tunnel that goes underground, a food and water bowls, and other things. They put the hedgehog in the room and put food and water in its bowls. Gabriella stayed and had a dream that there were 6 hedgehogs in the cage. Gabriella went into the kitchen to get a snack. After she got a snack, Gabriella went to the phone to call her friends Elana and Maple. They were there in two minutes. When Maple and Elana came, Gabriella showed them the hedgehog. Gabriella told them that the hedgehog was pregnant with five babies. Gabriella took the hedgehog outside to play with it. The hedgehog ran around like it had slept for two days and needed to run. After it ran, Gabriella put the hedgehog in its cage and Gabriella went on a bike ride with her friends. Gabriella got her money to buy ice cream. When they got to the ice cream store, they went to the counter to tell the person there what they wanted. When they got their ice cream, they sat down. They ate their ice cream. Gabriella was talking about the hedgehogs. The hedgehogs were almost born. “They are supposed to be born tomorrow but we do not know if they are going to be born exactly tomorrow,” she said. That night the hedgehogs were born. If I Were a Turtle A.J., Kindergarten If I were a turtle, I would swim in a pond, Sunbathe on a log and move very slowly, If I were a turtle. Mario Kart Acrostic Graham, Grade 3 M y favorite character is Birdo A fun game R osalina I have unlocked everything O ff roader K arts and bikes A wesome R aces T oadette Dogs and Cats Julia, Grade 4 Dogs Cute, furry Playing, eating, sleeping Toys, collars, whiskers, paws Scratching, hiding, purring Playful, curious Cats The Night I Shall Never Forget Annabella, Grade 4 I’ve seen almost all the winds, And spoke to some of its creatures, And I found this place oh not so long ago. As I edged around the golden light Within the within, I found the forest I dreamt of long ago. I found myself surrounded by bracken and tall trees, And I watched the moonlight growing as it rose. It was like a spotlight on a woman oh so near, She was as beautiful as the sunset and as gentle as a deer. I found myself edging closer to her as the moonlight got brighter, She started asking me lots of questions, so I threw them right back at her. When I found out she was good, I went through the forest with her, And climbed the tallest tree in the wood. It was the great Beech, with branches like a staircase, And when we got to the top on swaying leaves, we stood. We jumped into the moonlight to the leaf bough house, And I found myself there sleeping on a pine bough couch. That night I shall never forget, it was the favorite of all my life. And now I sit here sewing on leaves to an autumn dress oh so precise. If I Were a Dragon Noah, Kindergarten If I were a dragon I would live in a cave, take treasure from other people, and Fly fast through the sky … If I were a dragon. Crayons Susanne, Grade 4 Crayons are great fun I love to draw with them In different colors Paul Revere Christian, Grade 3 Paul Revere was famous for his midnight ride in 1775 in Boston that warned people that the British were coming. Paul Revere was born in Boston in 1734. Paul Revere had one younger brother, a mom and a dad. He was a silversmith apprentice at age 13 to his dad. When his dad died, his mom took over the business. When he got old enough, he took over the business. Paul Revere joined the army at age 21. Paul Revere was mostly famous for the midnight ride. The midnight ride was where Paul Revere watched the church tower. If there was one light, it meant the British soldiers were marching over Boston. If there were two lights in the church tower, the British soldiers were going to cross the Charles River. Paul revere saw two lights, so Paul Revere rode across town yelling, “The Regulars are coming!” He warned Sam Adams and John Hancock. Paul Revere also got other patriots to ride with him. Paul Revere was at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, which lasted eight years. He couldn’t open his silversmith shop because people didn’t have enough money to buy silver. After the war he opened a hardware store in Concord, Massachusetts. He made a bell for the Cockrel Church because their old bell cracked.. He also made hardware for the ship, the Constitution. Paul Revere died in 1818. He died from old age. The Oregon Trail Caitlin,, Grade 3 Hi, my name is Emma. The year is 1849. My family and I are heading west to Oregon. We are going to Oregon for free land. I have two sisters. One is 13 and her name is Elizabeth. The other sister is 7 and her name is Eliza. I am 10 years old. We left from Missouri yesterday. Crossing rivers is hard. Today we had to cross two rivers. I just made a friend named Victoria. She is one year older than I am. I haven’t written in a long time. We have been traveling for about three months. We are about half way there. My favorite part of the day is at night. The children go out to collect buffalo dung (we call buffalo dung buffalo chips) and we make a big fire. We sometimes sing songs such as Oh, Susanna! Or the parents tell us stories. Sometimes when the nights get really cold, the fire feels so good. In the morning we have to get up about 4:30. The morning is my least favorite part of the day. Today we saw a tribe of Indians coming up a hill toward us. The men got out their guns and the woman and children hid inside the wagons. All the Indians wanted for us to get off their territory. So we left. Today we were crossing a river and Victoria’s brother almost died. He was sitting in front of the wagon and he fell off. A few men jumped in and saved him just in time. Right now I think we are somewhere in Wyoming. Today we saw a hug geyser. We watched it erupt. There was a lot of steam. We also saw lots of springs. Tonight is the first night I get to sleep with Elizabeth, Eliza and Victoria. Usually I have to sleep with my father and Eliza. My birthday is coming up. I’m going to be 11 years old. Today is August 10, 1849. My birthday is August 20th. Today Elizabeth met a boy named Ben. Ben is Elizabeth’s age. Today Ben asked Elizabeth to marry him. Elizabeth said, “Yes.” Their wedding is on my birthday. Yesterday Eliza met a little girl named Grace. Gracie sleeps in our tent now. Elizabeth sleeps with Ben. Today is my birthday. My mother gave me a hat with a flower on it. She brought it with her when we left home because she knew that we would celebrate my birthday on the trail. Today my mother got a rattlesnake bite! She sits in the wagon and rests all day. Tonight we heard the story of Hiram Scott. It’s about a man and some friends and the man got sick. They were somewhere along the Oregon Trail and his friends decided to leave him alone. So they said they were going to pick berries and they went away. The next year they came back and they found Hiram Scott’s body sixty miles away from where they left him. Today we crossed the Snake River. Two men drowned. It was the hardest river to cross so far. We are almost in Oregon. Today we arrived in Oregon! We had a big celebration. People are starting to build houses. It took a long time to get to Oregon and I had to leave my friends behind but it’s nice in Oregon. Where I Come From Jack, Grade 4 I come from the mountains I come from the sounds of ferryboats leaving the harbor and the smell of the salty sea. I come from small, cold pellets hitting my face and the sound of the ski lift I come from the fireworks on Nantucket in summer I come from a wonderful family and a good school Downhill Skiing Graham, Grade 3 I made it to the Olympics! I am going to be the youngest to win gold in downhill skiing! I hope!! My friends Matt and Samy are going too. Brendan Kish is the announcer, Time for downhill skiing. Ready! Start! Samy rushes down the mountain. Ooh! That’s fast! 101.54. Matt’s turn….fooosh! 100.89! Wooooah! He is sooooooooooooooo fast. Personally, I don’t think Graham will beat him but any medal he gets is a sweep for USA! It looks like a gold for Matt! OK Time for Graham. Zooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom! Graham in the green by .01! Oooh, in the red coming to the line. HE WINS!!! GOLD MEDAL FOR GRAHAM KEATING!! His time 100.88, one one hundredth of a second! A sweep for America. Graham – Gold, Matt – Silver, Samy – bronze! Wolverines Joshua, Grade 4 Wild creatures with Ominous teeth. Living an amazing world with Vicious animals. Everything forest and snow. Ruining everything In their way with Nasty eating habits. Easy life in their world with Silent kills If I Were a Ladybug Ana, Kindergarten If I were a ladybug, I would eat grass, Fly to my ladybug friends and sit in the sun, If I were a ladybug Curly Fries Maggie, Grade 4 Cute, little fries Under piles of Red ketchup. I Love eating them! Yummy, yummy Fries! Really great with burgers In the hot summer sun; Eating fries is So much fun! The Horse Sophie, Grade 3 Once upon a time there was a girl. Her name was Katie. She lived in New York in her house with her mom, dad, little sister Emily and her older brother John. Katie went to school and came home, did homework and ate dinner and went to bed. Katie was nine years old. She was in the 4th Grade. Her brother John was in 7th Grade and her little sister Emily was in 2nd Grade. Katie had always wanted a horse but her parents always said NO. Katie had a best friend Maple and she wanted a horse too. But her parents said NO! Katie and her family and her friend Maple and her family were gong on vacation to a farm. Her brother John hated farms. Katie and Maple loved them and Emily too! It took four hours to get there. On the way, Katie and Maple were drawing horses. Finally they got there. It was cool and they ran to the barn to see if there was a horse but there wasn’t. All there was was chickens, a cow, pig, and that was it. Katie and Maple went inside and went upstairs to pick rooms. They chose the pink one with horse bedding. Emily had a small purple room. Then they hopped on their bikes to go to the barn down the street. When they got there, there was a cow, pig, chickens and rooster but no horse. Katie and Maple were so sad about how there was no horse. So they hopped on their bikes and headed home. But Katie and Maple didn’t know which way to go because there were three paths. And they didn’t know which way to go so they just took the first one and hoped it was the right one. And they got to a farm but it wasn’t the farm they were staying at. So they put their bikes on the grass and ran in. They saw a stable and they were thinking that maybe horses were in there. About three minutes later, a girl came out. Katie and Maple asked the girl, “Where are we and what’s your name?” The girl said, “My name is Sophie and you are at Sunshine Farms.” Katie said, “Hi, Sophie. Do you know how to get back to Old River Farms?” Sophie said they needed to go to the end of the path and go on the first path. “That’s the way back to Old River Farms.” Katie said to Sophie, “Thanks.” One other thing – do you have horses?” “Yes, we have five. My dad wants to give one away.” Katie and Maple hopped on their bikes and went back. When they got back, their parents were so worried. They ate dinner and went to bed.. The next day they played outside and at 2 p.m. Katie and Maple went to Sophie’s house to play. When they go there, Sophie said, “We are going to be riding horses.” Katie and Maple looked so happy. They went horseback riding for four hours. When they got back from the trail, Katie and Maple said, “Thank you” and hopped on their bikes and went back to the farm. When they got back it was time to go back to New York. They hopped in the car to go back to New York and hoped to come back again. If I Were an Armadillo Meryl, Kindergarten If I were an armadillo I would eat lots of grass, curl up in my aromor, and Sit in the sun … If I were an armadillo. Tears Tara, Grade 5 Like tiny drops of dew Fallen from a rippling blade of grass In the hateful wind of woe Showing you again and again The land of sorrow. A deep gash In your rainbow of happiness. Light torn away Replaced by darkness And an ache coming from deep in your heart Where anger or greed can never touch But doors are thrown wide open to sadness. And where sadness rushes in Like a bucket of water on flame. Now more tears ‐ Little drops of sorrow ‐ Come rolling down Rolling, rolling and dropping, dropping And with it, with that glass bead of woe, There, too, goes your sorrow. The Sea Sarah, Grade 4 Wide and graceful Covering the shimmering shells and coral underneath its beautiful waves of crystal turquoise water that glitters in the vast sun light of the sea. Many things that you will find above the seas divine climb, like sea gulls soaring from above and fisherman catching some flounder and puffy clouds above your bow while you float your boat up to the shore in the moonless night with fish galore . Why Me? Rob, Grade 4 Why me that has to get kicked out of the bus? Why me that is treated differently Because of my skin color? Why me that has to be a slave? Why me that has to be looked at Differently because of my skin color? Why me that has to ride in the back Of the bus? Why me? Where I’m From Emma, Grade 4 I’m from two kittens, purring and licking. I’m from summer, swimming, and drinking lemonade. I’m from dancing with Logan on the trampoline. I’m from sadness over animals I have loved and lost. I’m from autism, its ups and downs I’m from making the deep sounds of a cello. I’m from letting arrows fly through the air. I’m from gaining speed as I ski down the mountain. Memories, that’s where I’m from! If I Were a Horse Leila, Kindergarten If I were a horse I would gallop in the meadow, eat lots of grass, and Rest under a Cherry tree … If I were a horse. Anne‐Sophie Alexander, Grade 4 Kind blue eyes Laughing all the time Playing jokes on mom with me How are you such a good sister? Laughing all the time Hanging out with me How are you such a good sister? Long brown hair Hanging out with me Talking to each other Long brown hair How are you so funny? Talking to each other Playing jokes on mom with me How are you so funny? Kind blue eyes. If I Were an Alligator Andrew, Kindergarten If I were an alligator I would swim in the water all day, walk on the grass, and Eat lots of fish … If I were an alligator. Where I Come From Luke, Grade 4 I come from the hot sun of California and A small town where sports are great. I come from a small school with a lot of friends I come from a family with three older sisters and two great parents I come from the crack of a baseball bat the swish of a basketball net and the big hits of football I come from the warm sun of Arizona Dad Cecelia, Grade 4 Brown eyes, black hair Skiing Playing together Will it always be like that? Skiing Watching me ski Will it always be like that? Tall with a nice smile Watching me ski Bowling with me Tall with a nice smile Who’s a better dad? Bowling with me Playing together Who’s a better dad? Brown eyes, black hair A Sea of Thoughts Nina, Grade 4 I look out to the red horizon, And see the sun floating On a sea of thoughts. While I watch the glowing orb sink, I ponder the world of literature. Words, such fascinating things, To put together Every single thing written Poetry, also words But going much deeper into feeling A book, How can it bring so much joy? All these things rise In a sea of thoughts. A sea is endless, and changes every day “So does my imagination,” I say, just to myself Looking up, I silently watch Every idea pass by on a wave, Each a perfectly new idea, In a sea of thoughts. Where I Come From Gaby, Grade 4 I come from the freedom of doing sports and playing games. I come from exploring the world with my family and the wide open country. I come from having the whole world to myself. I come from gourmet meals and great restaurants. I come from the warm, hot sun of Colombia. I come from the small town of Deep River and a great school in Madison. If I Were a Bunny Ava, Kindergarten If I were a bunny I would eat lots of carrots, bounce around my burrow, and Sleep all winter … If I were a bunny. Mercury Andrew, Grade 3 My report is on the planet Mercury. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It is 43,000,000 miles from the sun. You would think it would be the hottest planet but it is not! Mercury’s neighbors are Venus and the sun. Mercury is known as the morning star. Mercury is much smaller than Earth. The surface of Mercury is covered with craters. Mercury is made of iron. Mercury has no rings. There can’t be any life on Mercury because it is too hot or too cold. The amazing thing about Mercury is one year is 88 Earth days and one day is 58 Earth days. The coldest it has ever gotten is 320 degrees below zero. It would take ten years to get to Mercury in a jet. Mercury is named after the Greek god, Apollo. Where I’m From Chase, Grade 4 I’m from Florida Hot weather all year long I’m from my pool Cold water splashing in my face I’m from Disney World Roller coasters and screams I’m from hockey Taking that slap shot on the ice I’m from school My friends and my teachers I’m from home My warm bed at night This is where I’m from I Am Cecilia, Grade 4 I am kind and caring I wonder how old the world is? I hear Pink calling me I see me with a gold medal I am kind and caring I pretend to win a Nobel Prize I feel the clouds I touch angels I worry about really sick people I cry when people die I am kind and caring I understand life I say pink is the best color I dream to meet Shaun White I try to work hard I hope to grow up and help people I am kind and caring Mommy Victoria, Grade 4 Beautiful dirty blond hair Listening to the Rolling Stones Singing and laughing with you How did you become such a great mom? Listening to The Rolling Stones Cooking every day How did you become such a great mom? A smile on your face all day long Cooking every day Reading books with you Singing and laughing with you How are your eyes so brown? Reading books with you Singing and laughing with you How are your eyes so brown? Beautiful dirty blond hair If I Were a Butterfly Maria, Kindergarten If I were a butterfly, I would fly through the seasons, Sip nectar and make friends, If I were a butterfly. If I Were a Sloth Charlie, Kindergarten If I were a sloth I would hang upside down, move very, very slowly, and Sleep a lot … If I were a sloth. Haikus Caleb, Grade 4 I. Haikus can be weird They are unusually strange Hippopotamus II. Haikus are so weird I mean, look at its pattern! It’s five, seven, five Blueberry Muffins Chris Arrandale, Grade 4 Blueberry muffins are Located in the pan Under the foil Elephants don’t eat them Be careful ‐ don’t waste them Eating them Really fast Ready to be eaten at any time Yes, they’re good… Make them and turn your frown Upside down Fun for your taste buds – no need to Force it Inside your mouth Not raspberry but BLUEBERRY Singing Janey, Grade 1 The singer sung “The Little Fairy.” The singer’s name was Lilly. She said, “I want to sing another song.” Lilly thought of another song. The song was, “The Little Apples in a Tree.” Lilly sang it in a concert. She loved singing very much. Where I Am From Jack, Grade 4 I am from hitting the ball into the outfield. I am from the heart of the band (the drums). I am from stories of different lands. I am from traveling to different states and countries. I am from the warm breeze and the warm sun and tubing with my friends on the Long Island Sound. I am from Italy and Ireland (it’s in my blood). I am from cooking for my mom on Wednesdays. I am from making different things with Lego. I am from a great and loving family and friends. Coconut Mikaela, Grade 4 Cute little fruit On a very tall tree Can be sipped on with a straw Often hair grows on it – It is kind of like a Nut and a bowling ball Unusually tan – it’s a Tropical fruit. If I Were a Snowflake Graham, Grade 3 If I were a snowflake, what would I do? I'd carefully float down to you And when I melt I'd rise as water vapor And get caught on black paper. Where I’m From Oliver, Grade 4 I’m from warm sunrays on my face The sound of chords on my guitar And the swoosh of a basketball when I make a shot In a whole different world when I’m reading a book Feeling the water’s smooth coldness on my body and Waiting for the buzzer signaling me to go Strolling down the silent hallways of school Hearing the bells ring Walking through my summer house, listening to the floors creek and the doors slam Sitting on the porch feeling the roughness on my feet Being a sibling for two other brothers I’m from all of the sounds of the world Agents to the Rescue Markus, Grade 1 Agents went to the rescue. They got there by a rope with a hook. They rescued a house that was on fire. The Big Fire Evan, Grade 1 Once there was a fire and everyone ran in circles. Then a big helicopter full with fireman came and put the fire out. If I Were a Whale George, Kindergarten If I were a whale I would swim all around, eat lots of sish, and Make big splashes … If I were a whale. Catch Jake, Grade 1 There once was a soccer game. Red Scorpion won against the Bombers. During their next big game the goalie blocked the ball! “Man, I am good!” said the goalie. The Soccer Game Jason, Grade 1 One day there was a soccer game. Oakwood beat South Central. It was the championship game The Magic Carpet Jacqueline, Grade 3 One day I was in my room and I heard wind. The wind was coming from beneath my bed. I looked and there was a magic carpet. I got on it and went out! I went out to a wonderful world. I came back just in time to go to school. The Origami Man Sean, Grade 1 Once upon a time there was a man who was so good at origami that he made a plane out of paper. Then he flew away. Invaded Sonny, Grade 6 Ever since I started sprouting, I’ve loved my home. All my brothers and sisters, Close by. I woke up. Something was patting me. It was not another tree, What was it? It did not have a trunk, Like me. It did not have roots, Like me. It had two short stumps, That came together into a fat trunk. It had wide flat roots That were very short. A few days later, There were more of them. They kept on coming. They kept moving in. They started building walls, All around me. They brought in animals, Sheep, pigs, and goats. They brought in Big, loud things. They rode on them All across the land. They scraped my roots. They had four big, round, turning limbs And the worst part about them, They breathed dirty air. The next morning They were hauling Big planks of wood, One after another. It made me sad, To see all my friends butchered. Why did they need to take the lives. Of so many good trees? It is hard to think, That someday, I will be cut up too. Like my friends. It has been about 100 years. They are still moving in. And that day, that I dreaded, Has come. They are going to cut me down. If they knew How long I had been there, They would have never taken me down. Now I realize how lucky I am. I am still close to my family and friends Now I am just shorter. But I am still home. If I Were a Dragonfly Soleil, Kindergarten If I were a dragonfly, I would fly fast, Look for little creatures and Make friends with other dragonflies. If I were a dragonfly. The Little Penguin Maia, Grade 1 Once there was a little penguin that lived in Antarctica. One day the little penguin got lost and then his mom and dad went looking after him. They found him in the water. He was okay. Christmas Cole, Grade 1 Once Santa went down a chimney. When he got down he saw a yellow table and the table had cookies and carrots. Neptune Alexandros, Grade 3 The solar system is a galaxy called the Milky Way. There are eight planets in it: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and a star called the sun. The name of the planet I am researching is Neptune. Neptune is the eighth planet in our Solar System. Neptune’s neighbors are Uranus and the Kuiper Belt. Neptune is a planet made up of gases. It is blue in color. It is a big, cold, stormy planet. Neptune is 2.8 billion miles from the sun. A day on Neptune is 16 hours long. The temperature on Neptune is a freezing cold 353 degrees below zero. Neptune has five rings and many moons. The moons that have names are: Proteus, Triton, Nereid, Naiad, Thalassaides, and Despina. The Agent Harrison, Grade 1 Once there was an agent. He was in a helicopter. He saw an abandoned boat. He jumped in the boat. No one was there. The Princess Hope, Grade 3 Once upon a time there lived a princess who didn’t want to be married to someone she didn’t know. Her father was making her. She loved someone else who she couldn’t marry because he was a commoner and she was not allowed to marry a commoner because he wasn’t royalty but she knew she was going to find a way so that commoners and royalty could marry. But how? She had to think of a plan. “Hmmmmmm, I’ve got it, I’ll runaway and hide and then the wedding will be cancelled and I’ll come back and say I want to marry a commoner. I’ll have to fight for the justice to marry him! The prince is coming tomorrow so I have to escape tonight into the woods and take a sack of food and water and bedding. I will come back in a week. Each night I will come through the woods to the palace with the key and go in and get something I want and the next week I will come back and say I want to marry a commoner. I will fight for the justice to marry him and I hope it works.” It has been a week. I am coming back. I was telling my parents that I want to marry John Marshell and they were mad. I ran away and didn’t just talk to them. The good thing is I can marry John Marshell. I am so happy. I will go tell him and we will live happily ever after! Friends Madeline, Grade 1 There is a girl who is six year old. She’s my sister. My sister’s name is Nika and I like her. She is my friend. My other sister is named Catie and my name is Maddie. We play outside together. We like to play tag. We have fun together. If I Were a Beaver T.J., Kindergarten If I were a beaver I would eat wood, Swim in water and live in a dam, If I were a beaver. The Basketball Team E.J., Grade 1 Once upon a time there was a basketball team. They were the winners because the score was 10 to 8. They went to the championships and they were the winners of that game, too. So they were the best players in the state of the U.S.A. There was another team and they were trying to catch up with them. They did not catch up. They were the second best team in the U.S.A. Snowdrops Hunter, Grade 3 I drop. But not like the rain. I grow. White is the color I grow. I'm beautifully white in color. I'm snow. Not the snow you think of. I'm beautifully white like snow. My stem is perfectly green. My leaves are perfectly green. My stem and leaves are beautiful. I drop, I grow, I'm beautiful. I'm snowdrops. Dogs Alice, Grade 3 Doggies are so cute. There are different kinds. They can be small too! The Lacrosse Game Kaylee, Grade 1 Once there was a lacrosse team against the Bullfrogs. It was two to three. It was a long game. The Bullfrogs had one more shot. At the end the Bullfrogs won and they got to the finals. They won the trophy. The Windy Mountain Alice, Grade 3 The wind was blowing. The mountain had snow on it. I was very cold. The Jewel Michael, Grade 1 There was a secret spy. He was sent on a mission to get a stolen jewel from the store. The people were looking for the jewel. They wanted to get it back to the store. The spy got it back and the people were happy. The Great Snail Isabella, Grade 1 One day a snail found a rocket ship. It was a toy. One day he found a door on the rocket ship and he went into it. He started the rocket ship and he went to outer space. When he got there he made friends. Then he went back to earth. The Puppy Nika, Grade 1 There was a puppy. Her name was Frenchy. She was the cutest puppy of all. Her owner is named Nika. They lived with each other. They loved each other a lot. They were good friends. Frenchy was a good dog. Her owner is a good person. And they lived happily ever after. China Anna, Grade 3 This Summer I went to China with my cousins and my aunt and my uncle. The plane ride was fifteen hours long but luckily we were in first class. When we got there it was six o’clock. In the morning we went on a tour of China City. The city was huge and the only thing you could eat there was dumplings, rice and chicken. The hotel we stayed at was so good the service was awesome and the rooms were big and nice. We stayed in China for a month. The special thing was on the last day we were there we got to go on a tour of Japan and it was beautiful. Then we went to the airport and got on the plane at 7:30 and we got in the air at 8:00 pm. Then we got back at 11 am. We picked up our luggage, had lunch, left and started to go home. Who Built Egypt? Henry, Grade 6 (This poem was written when Henry was in 5th Grade and was recently published in Calliope Magazine) I did, proclaimed Aahkerpekale Seneb, The High Priest. I nourished the kos of deceased nobles. I worshipped the great gods of our Superlative civilization… I am the highest ranking priest In all of the land of the Nile. I am adorned in the skin of The Leopard! I am the high priest of Egypt! I built Egypt! The Ship Jacob, Grade 1 Once upon a time there was a ship. It was cool. When the people saw it they got scared. They hid but then they realized that the ship was cool. But then it ran aground. The captain didn’t notice that the ship had run aground. Then he did and he called for help. The help came and he went back to sea. If I Were a Bunny Kristin, Kindergarten If I were a bunny, I would hop in the forest, Eat carrots and go in people’s gardens, If I were a bunny. Poetry Hides In … th
The 4 Grade Class Poetry hides in An open door Peacock's feathers The deepest secrets A mermaid's scale The forbidding tip of an arrow in flight The fog A soccer ball The clouds A beating heart A singer's voice Friendship A teardrop A picture The moon The mist The sun The sound of music Space A ski slope The deepest ocean The stars The spray of mist The snow
The end of a rainbow.
The Night The Moon Slept In
Mrs. Kelly’s 5th Grade Class A waning moon remained in bed one night,
Nestled beneath a dense, wooly blanket,
Concealed behind stark, frail trees,
Neglecting to reveal its cratered face,
Leaving lonely stars astray
In search of their lost lunar friend.
A weak quarter crescent on the edge of the earth
Longs to be hoisted into the inky midnight sky.
The eerie glow from my flashlight illuminates my ghostly breath,
Stirring the sleeping orb from its deep slumber.
The Girl, the Puppy and the Fairy Zoe, Grade 1 Once upon a time there was a girl and a puppy. They were walking and they didn’t see a fairy castle. The fairy castle was so beautiful and the fairy loved it. The fairies liked to play in it and outside. They decorated it. After they decorated it looked so beautiful. They also decorated the hill. The castle was magic. It could appear and disappear and that’s why they loved it. One day the girl and the puppy saw the castle when the castle hadn’t disappeared. The fairy was there! Flower of the Sky Mrs. Sullivan’s 5th Grade Class A bright gold medal burns through a veil of morning mist, A glowing globe of light fights its way through the wispy grey clouds. Although the wind whispers, "Winter's near," I still sense hope in the melody of blue birds singing And the tender and gentle blooming embrace of the sun. Who Built Egypt? Noah, Grade 6 (This poem was written when Noah was in 5th Grade and was recently published in Calliope Magazine) I did, announced Tutu I am the goldsmith of Egypt My gold is mined from Nubia My tools are a punch, hammer, and crucible … I make the gold items such as a throne found in Tutankhamen’s tomb Only the best of my profession Are sent to work on tombs My work is mostly for the dead. I am the goldsmith of Egypt. If I Were a Frog By Viraj, Kindergarten If I were a frog, I would hop around a pond, Eat flies and swim If I were a frog. Once Upon A Time Stories By the PreKindergarten Class ”Once upon a time there was a mama penguin and then the next day she had her two baby penguins. Then Mama went out for food and the daddy stayed to baby‐sit for them and then one day they grew up and went off on their own.” The End ~ Mia “Once upon a time there was a big humpback whale and a little humpback whale and they were swimming in the water looking for food. They swam deep in the water and they found food.” The End. ~ Millan “Once upon a time there were two sister baby elephants and their mother was killed by a hunter and their dad married a new mother elephant and they had more kids. Then they lived happily ever after and then after that they were grown‐ups and had their own husbands. Then they were still sisters.” The End ~ Rebecca “Once upon a time two baby lions went across the ice and they broke through the ice and they got wet. Then they got across and they were soaking wet. Then they went to the highest mountain and got dry from the sun.” The End ~ Andrew “Once upon a time there was a golden finch sitting on a flower and he went to the flower garden to find food and he found a spider and said, “Do you want to play with me, Spider?” and the spider said, “Yes.” So they played and they were best friends and then they went home.” The End ~ Jackson “Once upon a time there was a leopard in a tree trying to get down but he couldn’t. Then there was a friendly lion who helped him down and they both played together and then they went to sleep.” The End ~ Kiran “Once upon a time there was a sea star who came and didn’t kill the flowers and then he saw flowers in the sea and they looked beautiful so he stayed there forever and he lived happily ever after.” The End ~ Kai “Once upon a time there was a red fox and he was hunting for some food and he found a mushroom – a poisonous mushroom and then he ate it and got a little sick and then he got better by eating some other mushrooms that were not poisonous and he lived happily ever after.” The End ~ Scout “Once upon a time there was a mama grizzly bear and when it was winter she made a little den and then she went to sleep. Then in the middle of winter she had her bear cubs and then she went back to sleep and then it was spring and her bear cubs played near the forest and lived happily ever after.” The End ~ Elke “Once upon a time the white wolf was looking for something to eat and then he saw something to eat and he tried to chase after it but he couldn’t catch it because it was too fast. Then he saw something else that he really liked to eat but it was too fast too, so he didn’t want to catch it so he looked for something else and then he saw a polar bear but it swam away. Then he wanted to catch fish but he couldn’t find any and then he was hungry.” The End ~ Jacob “Once upon a time there were three red – eyed tree frogs and they were hungry so they tried to catch some insects but they couldn’t find any so they saw a tree and climbed it where they could have some shut eye and after their sleep they saw some more insects so they tried to catch them and they caught them with their long tongues.” The End ~ Nola “Once upon a time there was a baby gorilla. He was climbing a bamboo tree and trying to get something that was up high. He reached the banana that was up in the tree and then he ate it.” The End ~ Chase If I Were a Dog Matthew, Kindergarten If I were a dog, I would catch Frisbees, And I would chase squirrels, If I were a dog. Articles for a Renaissance Newspaper by 7th Grade History Students Seventh Graders studied the people, politics, lifestyle, and new ideas of the Renaissance period. History teacher Sarah Barber asked students to pick some aspect of Renaissance life and write an article that might appear in print in the 1400 ‐ 1500s. As Mrs. Barber says, “The results were so apt. Nothing has changed much in all these years.” Renaissance Advice Column Hannah, Grade 7 Dear Awesome Italian, I can’t afford fancy art or contribute to public building projects, give to charity or have time to participate in office! Humanism is among us, but how can I partake in it if I can’t afford it? From, Penelope Patriella Penelope, don’t fret! There are many ways to engage in humanism without paying for it. Talk to people around you and spread the word of humanism. Expressing your ideas, asking queries, and exchanging opinions are great ways to engage yourself in humanism. From, Awesome Italian Dear Awesome Italian, I love the Bible, but I’ve never been able to read it. Now that moveable type is out, the Bible is being translated. I’ve always wondered what wondrous things lay beneath that confusing language. Should I buy a translated Bible? It could expose me to things I want to argue and think about. But I’ve heard that the Church excommunicates people who read the translated Bible. I don’t know why but I really want one. What should I do? From, Paolo Orazio Dear Paolo Orazio, I think you should buy a translated Bible! It would be a great thing to do. I advocate not telling people that you have it. Keep in mind the consequence. Discuss your views with your own family; but keep your opinions “on the down low” ‐ it’s safer that way. From, Awesome Italian Bitter Riots in Florence Ethan, Grade 7 May 3, 1546 This morning the trade district was treated to the sounds of fighting. The Auditore family and the Altair family have yet again found a way to spark anew the fight for power over trade. It started at dawn when young Ezio Auditore walked up to Angelo Altair and told him to “get out of the Auditore marketplace.” Angelo responded by saying that this was now under the control of the Altair family. Apparently this didn’t bode well with Ezio because he grabbed Angelo by his collar and told him if he didn’t leave he would kill him. At that moment, Rafael Altair appeared with a dagger and brandished it at Ezio. The Auditore simply hit Rafael’s dagger away and kicked him in the stomach. From there, more and more family members appeared to defend their marketplace. Finally, four hours into the fighting, the city guards came to halt the riot. The result was that the Auditore family kept their market but at the cost of many broken bones and bloodied faces. So next time someone wants to pick a fight with the Auditores, think twice. Major Guild Gives Money to Artists Chris, Grade 7 Florence June 15, 1346 Some of the major guilds, controlled by the Medici Family, donated very, very large amounts of money to the artists and scholars of the city‐state, Winstonberg. With this money, some of the artists will create beautiful sculptures and paintings. Some will be placed in the city square and others placed in the beautiful halls of the Medici family’s palace. When the head of the family, Markdy, was asked where exactly he got the money from he said, “The money came from this family’s hard work and effort.” Or maybe it came from the many workers that are members of the guilds that the Medici family controls? Or maybe he simply stole it, or maybe he blackmailed people to give him the money. But at least he did it for a good cause. Some might say, “What does this do for me?” A couple of things, actually. One is that it will beautify the city. Second, it will make the lower classes richer to do other things. And last, it will make us and our citizens more educated and more interested in the arts. So, if I were you I would be very excited to see what beautiful things come from this! The Renaissance Times Will, Grade 7 Grand Duke of Tuscany Murdered: Who and How? On October 1, 1587, Grand Duke of Tuscany Francesco de Medici and Bianca Medici received some disease or poison that would haunt him for the next 11 days. Delirious restlessness and horrible pains were some of the symptoms that Francesco suffered. Cardinal Ferdinando de Medici took charge of taking care of his brother and cared for him. However, after the death of Francesco, Ferdinando immediately ordered an autopsy. Some say that he was acting suspicious, and that he was vying for power. However, Ferdinando actually killed the second wife’s, Bianca’s, husband by accident. For revenge, Bianca could have put poison in Ferdinando’s cup, which he refused. Then, Francesco came forward and drank it generously. In an act of desperation, Bianca poisoned herself to follow him in his fate. But after the autopsy, it was determined that it was malaria and no poison was used in the murder. But could it have been done? The world may never know. A Hero Falls Proud: 1535 Kelsey, Grade 7 Instant news! The highly respected Sir Thomas More has just been executed by none other than King Henry himself. He was executed for refusing to help the king divorce his wife after long years with no son being born. More refused to help Henry because the church did not support the divorce. When I asked More a few questions before his execution he did not seem too sad about dying. He said to me, “I am proud to be who I am, and I am proud of my decisions. I would rather die like a man than live like a fool for my choices.” Before his execution, I also read his highly respected book, Utopia. It truly helped me understand life and equality better. After reading this book I asked More, “In your book, one passage says that ‘the second rule of nature is to lead a life as free of anxiety and as full of joy as possible and to help all one’s fellow men toward that end.’ How did you help Henry lead a life full of joy?” He answered, “It says lead a life as full of joy as possible. I gave Henry all the possible joy because he will still get his divorce, but I will also get joy because I did the right thing.” It took me a minute to find words to respond to that, but then I finally said, “Well, Sir More, you are a hero.” He merely smiled. Sir Thomas More will be remembered by many, especially me, not because of his achievements but because of his lessons he gives to many. Although Henry still got his divorce, More still was satisfied because he showed Henry that doing the right thing, no matter how hard it is, is always better than power and money. That was all Thomas wanted to do: make a difference in the world, toward a better society and better characters. Sir Thomas More will always be respected by all people in the Renaissance, and his words will always be with us in our pockets, in his beloved book of lessons. ‐ Frederico Shmowzers Artwork by Maria, Kindergarten Eureka!: A TCS Tradition The Country School has had a literary magazine since its earliest days. We have been unable to find the first issue in our archives, but we do have a copy of the second issue of the TCS literary magazine, then called The Owl. An editorial, dated February 1957, reads: Here is our second issue of the Owl with big wise eyes and carefully preened feathers, representing much effort and school spirit. Those whose writing is not represented this time may feel disappointed or discouraged, but we can all feel, as in the story of Abraham Lincoln’s life, that failure need not be fatal. If we can learn from failure, and persevere, we win out, as Lincoln did. The editorial is signed K. De F. The initials stand for Katherine DeFrancis, who was the school’s first teacher when TCS opened its doors in 1955 with 13 students. A collaborative painting by TCS students, 2010