Colin Kaepernick is one of the many athletes either raising a fist, taking a knee, or just not standing during the national anthem. If you have heard of that protest, what is your opinion on it? My opinion on it is it very rude and disgraceful to the Star Spangled Banner. When they do that I feel that it is rude to the people that we have lost in terrorist attacks, shot outs ( between law enforcement and civilians ), and in war that we fought in. Yes I do understand his point of that the American government treats African-Americans and their communities wrong. There are many reasons why they should strand during the anthem but here are my reasons.

This is probably my most important reason. When they do take a stand they could get punished in a terrible way for them such as losing multi-million dollar deals, losing their medals in the Olympics, or being banished from their sport for years. One example of this is John Carlos and Tommie Smith. Both of them lost their medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics for raising a black gloved fist in the air during the The Star Spangled Banner. Also in 1967 Muhammad Ali ( boxer ) refused to fight in the Vietnam War because of that action he was banished from boxing for years. That information came for the paragraph Athletes In The 1960’s and Brave And Wise.

When I talked about the lives that we lost in the introduction that was one of my reasons. When you stand during the National Anthem it is like you are saluting to the people that we lost in the shot outs, wars, and terrorist attacks. So when you don’t stand it is like you don’t care that they have risked there lives and lost to fight for our freedoms, and safety. I really think that is super disrespectful on 9/11 when 100’s of people lost their lives to help save lives.

This is a scenario that could happen. The scenario is a very real one. Here it is. Someone is on a high school team and they don’t stand during the national anthem. Their coach could expel them. When they apply for college the colleges will see that and then they will not want them. That is why high school students should not participate in this.

Those are my reasons why I do not support this. By doing this it could end up very bad for some people. I hope those reasons helped you decide what side you are on. So what side are you on what are your reasons?

Kate

Dear President Obama,

Some people want to change how long a Supreme Court justice can work. They also want Supreme Court justices to work fewer years.
I disagree that justices should only be able to work 18 years. I believe that justices can stay on the court for as long as they want until they quit or die. It is their choice if they love their job and want to continue doing it. I think that it’s their decision.
Antonin Scalia died a month before his 80th birthday, and he died suddenly and unexpectedly. He had been working on the court for nearly 30 years and he had served longer than any other current justices. Antonin was an older man, but still was very good at his job, and worked for many hard years. He was a great justice.
I understand that if a justice is sloppy, lazy, and they can’t make a decision, then you don’t want them to serve any longer and you fire them. What I don’t believe in is that people want to tell a justice that they don’t want them to serve for a long time. Justices are very important, and if they are hardworking and good at their job, then they shouldn’t have to be told how long they can do their job. It’s not their decision, it is the justice’s decision.
No one has ever been able to limit the time a justice can serve, and then the Constitution would have to be changed. That is not an easy thing to do, and lawmakers would have to vote on any of the changes to it. That’s a big pain, and nobody wants to do that.
Some people say that another reason to shorten the time a justice can serve is because the justice may not of learned about computers or the Internet in school, and that could affect how they decide cases about technology. That’s true, but it’s only an issue when it is a case about technology. Otherwise, they’re fine.
Presidents also want it to be fair so that each time a new president gets elected, the new president can choose a new justice. President Jimmy Carter didn’t get to pick any new justices, but Ronald Regan became president and picked four new justices in the eight years he was in the White House. What does it matter, and it’s not really important that a new president should choose a new justice every time a president gets elected.
I strongly feel it is not right if people tell justices how long they can be a justice, and that’s not nice for any of the justices. Especially if they are hardworking. It’s not fair that justices should have a time line on how long they can do their job.

Lily

Belle and the Prince still lived happily. Gaston found a lovely girl in the village. All of the silverware decided to stay in the castle because they felt most comfortable there.
Belle spent her time reading books like The Prince and the Frog, Untangled, The Seven Dwarfs, and Awaken Beauty. She was inspired by them. Sometimes she visited the village to get food for the silverware and sometimes she just visited her dad who is 84 years old now.
One day while Belle was reading Untangled she heard a crash. She closed her book and went downstairs to see if everything was alright. She asked all the silverware to see what was going on. “What’s going on?” Belle asked. One of the plates said “Go look in the Prince’s room.” She went to his room to see nothing was broken. First she thought that it was a trick but the she looked under the bed to see a BEAST!!! Belle was frightened, but then when she started at the beast she noticed that something was really familiar. She noticed that it was the prince! “What happened to you?!?” Belle asked “I was in town and I went to this market that I have never seen before. I was curious so I went in and I saw all of these potions. Like a love potion, sleep potion, and many more. Until I saw this one potion that really caught my eyes. I went to go see what the sign said. Then a woman bumped into me and the potion splashed on me! She was going to apologize but I ran out of the store and ran to the castle and went in my room. Sooner or later I noticed that I was a beast!” Belle ran to the library, and the beast followed her to see what she was doing. She was looking through the books to see a cure but she couldn’t find it so she went to the village to find the market that the prince went to. The beast was leading the way and the market wasn’t there! But there was a little note in the trash can near it saying “If you need me pass the dark forest then go to the lake of memories to find me” They went to the castle and got all of their friends that wanted to help. But one thing was that they didn’t know was where the dark forest was so again they looked in the library to find a map and they did in a book called “Maps of places” it said to go to the end of town. Literally the dark forest was right there. They went in and something felt familiar. She noticed that her dad went in that forest when he bumped into the castle. Belle and the Beast weren’t afraid because they had experience. They soon made it through and they made it to the lake. They went in the lake because there was nobody there near the lake. So that was the only option. They went in and they felt like their brain went back in time. They saw their memories. Belle didn’t see anything because it wasn’t her problem, it was the beast’s. On the other hand the beast saw another potion near the other potion the Beast ran into and it said “Healing potion” that was the potion he needed. It was made out of the Lotus flower. They soon ran out of breath and came up to the surface. The first thing the beast saw was a flower. Belle was clueless, but the beast didn’t know what kind of flower it was. But he sucked the nectar out of it and then right in front of her she saw the prince again. She was so relieved to see him back to normal. They went back to the dark forest to see the silverware still standing there shivering. “Prince your back!!!” They all said. “Let’s go back home guys.” And they went back home.

Minami 

Living in the time of 1899 must have been hard for many people, including kids! Especially kids that sold newspapers. Boys and girls sold newspapers on city streets and shouted the title of the newspapers, so people would be intrigued and buy the newspapers. That sounds easy, but it’s not!
William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer each own a major newspaper company in New York City. They depend on children to sell the newspapers to people for profit. The kids had a lot of hard work to do though. If a boy or girl didn’t sell all of the newspapers that were given, than they had to pay for the newspapers themselves. Then, newspaper sales slowed, so to continue getting the same profit, William and Joseph charged the newsies more for the newspapers.
One day, a boy and girl named Joanne Hargolph and Tom Suse decided to write a letter to William and Joseph to hopefully change things. Joanne told Tom, “I think we should write a letter to both companies. We’ll tell them why to change things and then hopefully they will change things. It can hopefully work out for the better.” “You’re right Joanne, if we change things, it will not only help us out, but everyone else too!” So that’s what they did!
Joanne and Tom composed a letter and it said,

Dear William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer,

Our names are Joanne Hargolph and Tome Suse. We are two children that sell your newspapers. We would appreciate it if you could make a few changes about your companies. It is unfair that we have to buy the newspapers, and then sell them, but if we hadn’t sold all of them, we would have to pay for the others that are left over. Then, newspaper sales slowed down, so you guys are charging us extra for the newspapers. Tom and I don’t like the new changes and we would love it if you would cooperate with us and change things.

Sincerely,
Tom Suse and Joanne Hargolph
Joanne and Tom mailed the letters to both companies. Then Joanne and Tom were talking. “What if the letter doesn’t change their minds. Maybe we should also form a union and then refuse to deliver newspapers until the price per paper is normal again,” Joanne said. “That’s actually not a bad idea. We can really help change things and it will be way easier and normal again for everyone!” “Yeah! Then we will be heroes and help out everyone else too!” Joanne and Tom came up with an idea that will help everyone out.
Later that day, Joanne and Tom talked to a bunch of newsies and formed a union. They refused to deliver newspapers until the price per newspaper was normal again. The strike lasted two weeks, but the public agreed with the children. The strike also spread to different states and changes also happened there! The owners of the companies began to lose money and then finally changed the newspaper prices. The newsies were also able to return any papers that were left over. The children won and then Joanne and Tom were heroes!

Lily B. 

For Spring Break I asked the students to create “Bucket Lists” of things they wanted to do or accomplish throughout the week. We are having so much fun seeing their pictures and hearing about their adventures. From trying new foods to writing their own books, the students did not disappoint. Enjoy these pictures of Felipe’s fictional character, Robinburger, who came to life and went bike riding on the boardwalk before hitting the beach! Looking forward to hearing more (there will be more updates on the class FB page.) Creativity is fun!

Mrs. T

If you could drink from a magical spring and live forever, would you? Winnie Foster is a ten-year-old girl that lives with her parents and grandmother in a big house with a fence surrounding it. She is not allowed to go anywhere without supervision. On her property is a place called the “wood.” Winnie was thinking of running away and went into the wood alone one day. While she was there, she saw a boy move pebbles aside and drink from a small spring. He hadn’t seen Winnie there. Then, they started talking. His name was Jesse Tuck and he was really one hundred and four, but he told her he was seventeen. When Winnie asked if the water was good to drink, Jesse said, “No. It’s dirty.” Winnie said if it was fine for him, it would be fine for her. It’s her family’s wood, so it’s her spring. Jesse told her that it would be terrible if she drank it. Then his mom, Mae, and brother, Miles, showed up to get Jesse. The worst thing had happened. Someone found out about the spring. They had to seize Winnie and take her with them to their home and to Tuck. They never wanted to harm her in any way and they never did. They simply needed her to understand why she should never tell anyone about the spring and more importantly, why she should never drink from the spring. The family had drunk from the spring eighty-seven years ago and then realized after a few years that they weren’t aging. Tuck, the father, had even tried to kill himself by shooting himself in the heart. It didn’t even leave a mark. The rest of the family also had accidents in which they should have been very hurt, or dead, and yet they were fine. That’s when they knew for sure that they could never die. They needed to make Winnie understand that living forever is not a good thing. Things are supposed to grow and move and change. That’s how the world is meant to work. Dying is a part of life. You can’t pick out the pieces you like and leave the rest. Being part of the whole thing is the blessing. The Tucks feel like they are useless in this world and not really “living,” because you can’t live without dying. Tuck explains to Winnie that at first people would think having life everlasting is amazing and everyone would flock to the spring to drink from it. But they would be wrong. The world would continue to change, but the people would stay the same and they’d be sorry, but it would be too late. Winnie understands and enjoys her time with the Tuck’s.

A man in a yellow suit followed the Tucks back to their home and heard the conversation about the spring and how drinking from it will make you live forever. He wants the spring so he can get rich off it. Then, he stole their horse and rode to the Foster’s home and told them that if he could tell them where their daughter was, they would have to give him the “wood” in exchange. He then returns to the Tuck’s house and demands they give him Winnie to return to her home so he can be given the “wood.” Mae grabs Tuck’s shotgun and tells him to leave Winnie and he won’t, so Mae hits him with the shotgun and cracks his skull. The man dies. Mae is arrested, put in jail, and sentenced to hanging. Winnie was returned home. The problem is that Mae won’t die when she’s hung and people would find out their secret, so they have to break Mae out of jail. Winnie wants to help. So Jesse tells her the plan and gives her a small bottle of the magical water. He tells her that when she’s seventeen, she could drink the water, and come find him. They could get married and live together forever. Winnie didn’t know what she’d do.   They got Mae out by the window in her cell and sent Winnie in to take her place. In that time, the Tuck’s leave and never return. Winnie returns home and decides not to use the water on herself. She doesn’t want to live forever. She pours the water on a toad instead. Winnie gets married, has children, and lives her life. Years later, the Tuck’s return to find the wood is gone and they see Winnie’s grave. Her headstone let them know she lived a happy life.

Lily B. 

I think our mindset practices help us achieve goals throughout our lives because these mindset practices help us learn more in the future. It also helps us know what’s expected of us if we use the five growth mindset rules (Ready to Learn, Ready to Care, Ready to Try Again, Ready to Accept Help, and Ready to Lead)!

For example, in the article, Summit Success, Blind man Eric Weihenmayer climbed all seven original summits, and how do you think he did it? He did it by learning with his research and mistakes he made, his care for his equipment and summit team, when his research wasn’t helping or he couldn’t get up a certain summit, he just didn’t give up, he tried again! When he was stuck or going the wrong way, his team had to help him, and he had to accept help! And when his crew didn’t know what to do, he had to lead them! If you go ask him about these mindset rules, this might be what he might say about him and the rules!

The next article is A Courageous Climb, featuring a courageous climber who lost his legs, Colton Carlson! When he lost his legs, he had to learn how to walk with prosthetic legs! When he formed his climbing team of already wounded soldiers, he had to care for them as much as him. When he was learning how to walk with prosthetic legs, he had to keep on trying again every time he messed up! When his legs got blown up, he had to accept help from some paramedics and doctors! And when his wounded team didn’t know what to do, Colton had to lead them! I believe he would say the same!

Now, for the third article of this piece, No Summit Out of Sight, with a climber who climbed all 8 summits, Jordan Romero! Before he ever wanted to climb these summits or start climbing in the first place, Jordan had to learn about the summits with research.When Jordan was climbing some regular mountains and getting some creatures on the way up, he had to care for the animals, so he doesn’t hurt them. When Jordan had to convince his parents to let him climb the 8 summits and his parents wouldn’t say yes, he had to keep on trying again! When his parents finally said yes, but said he can’t go alone, Jordan had to accept help from his parents! And when his parents were stuck, confused, or lost, Jordan had to lead his parents! I’m really sure that Jordan would agree with me on this one!

And now, for our final article, this one is called Ready for Everest, with a brave 12 year old boy named Tyler Armstrong! Before Tyler climbed a real summit, he had to learn how to climb carefully, so he doesn’t severely injure himself! When he was learning how to climb, he had to care for his teacher(s). When he was climbing the tallest summits of Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, Africa, Mount Elbrus, in Russia, Europe, and Aconcagua, in Argentina, South America, he had to try again, since he would mess up a little bit! So he doesn’t severely get injured, Tyler needed to accept help from teachers, who could help Tyler with his climbing skills. And, when he is almost to the top of a summit, he had to lead himself up that summit, to the tippy top of the summit, and yell to the world, ” I DID THE IMPOSSIBLE!!!” Tyler Armstrong would be so happy to hear this!!!

And now that you know how the school rules apply with the life’s of Eric Weihenmayer, Colton Carlson, Jordan Romero, and Tyler Armstrong, you can follow them! They showed that it doesn’t matter about what the actual challenge is, but what you want to follow, because everything, no matter how many times you failed, will someday, someday, succeed.

Future WWE wrestler,
ZyKai 

The Presidential Election is right around the corner and for most Americans, the question is looming around: “Who will be the next President of America?” The author of “The Road to the White House” wrote an article explaining five things you need to know as America prepares to pick its next president. The author’s decisions of the type of text and text structures formed a perfect understanding of his or her points.

In my opinion, this type of text is suitable for expository. I believe this because the article gives facts and information about the election as well as using bold words, pictures, captions, and headings. For example, to be president you have to be at least 35 years old, have lived in the United States for at least 14 years, and that the first of many caucuses was held in Iowa on February 1st. Also on page 5 of the Scholastic News, there are pictures with captions, bold words, and headings. As for the text structures, I think that the author used compare and contrast and description. The author compared and contrasted primaries and caucuses, what happens in Iowa and New Hampshire, Republican candidates and Democratic candidates, and the two political parties. The author described who can and can’t be president, parties that have nothing to do with balloons or cake, what a primary and a caucus is, why Iowa and New Hampshire are so important during February, and that there are a lot of people wanting to become the next president.

I think that the author made the decisions about the text types and the text structures because narrative, technical, persuasive, sequence, problem and solution, and cause and effect do not flow with this article, but expository, compare and contrast, and description do. I also believe this because the author may have wanted to inform the reader about the events that take place during the election and what to expect. The author’s decisions affected my understanding of the text because if it was not expository, I may have thought that the author was taking the piece in a whole different direction, such as persuading me to take a side on an argument or informing me on events that take place during the election. Lastly, if Lauren Tarshis had written this article, I think that she would have written the article differently than Joe Bubar, the author of “The Road to the White House”, which means that she would have probably included different information. I can draw this conclusion because Lauren usually uses the narrative format. In the I Survived series and “Mountain of Fire”, she uses a narrative text type to tell a story in her piece. In “Mountain of Fire”, she even interviewed a family from their point-of-view. If Lauren wrote this article, she may have interviewed a candidate or a voter who feels strongly about whom they are voting for. If she didn’t interview anybody, she most likely would have done LOADS of research because to have a good piece, most writers do research.

In conclusion, I found this article very interesting and intriguing. I learned many, many things about the presidential election that I may never learn in my whole entire life. Who knew there was so much to know about the election?

Lily M. 

Shooting Kabul was about how a family being ruled by the Taliban were forced to flee to the U.S but in the middle of fleeing, a loved one gets lost. When they get there they experience 911 and they realize everyone thinks it’s their fault. They are labeled terrorists which is ironic because that is why they were in CA in the first place. Struggling mentally, can the person who lost the loved one get her back? Read the book to find out.

Thomas

Ten year old Bud is on the lam and finds out that running through Michigan to find his dad is not the easiest thing to do (especially if he gets caught by the police!) Will Bud find his dad or will he travel all that way to be let down and find out that it was all a misunderstanding?
Find out when you read Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis!

Alyssa