First Day of School

First Day Of School By Jeffrey School has started! Our textbooks are here, we all have new classmates, and homework is in our minds. There is also a bright side, though. We will all make new friends(especially the 4th graders and Sabrina), and we can all get with the nicest teacher of Rockhopper: Mrs. Yu!!! YAAAAAAAY! Usually, when school starts, we will get a million questions in our brain such as: Are we going to get a lot of homework? When is our first field trip? When is our village play?. When it is the first day of school, we will usually get them all answered. 4th graders: Do you think 4th grade is going to be this easy the whole year or is it going to get harder? 5th graders: How do you feel being one of the oldest ones(or leaders) of the school?

Instruments!

By: Ishan Instruments create music and harmony around the world! Instruments and the music they create lighten up our lives every day! If you are ever bored, you can try to practice by playing different songs, make up some songs of your own or with a band, or just fool around with your instrument! I have tried the clarinet and various other instruments but I like the drums the best! The reason I like it is because you can make numerous beats and bang around! After a while, I organized a band with a few friends and we had performed at the Portal's talent show! Our band name is: 9-1-1! Some people might think it’s strange but I like it! There are many types of music a band can make, but our band plays rock. Whenever I get bored (or need a break from the computer), I go to my drums and start banging around! I try to make up some new cool beats! I go to drum classes every Sunday and practice often. If you want to play an instrument well, it takes lots of dedication and constant practice! Don’t worry, after you work hard, it’ll all pay off! So what are my favorite bands you say? I like “Queen” (my band played We Will Rock You by the band Queen) and I like AC/DC! My favorite songs are from queen: “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You.” My favorite songs from AC/DC are: “TNT”, “Thunderstruck”, “Back in Black”, “Shoot to Thrill”, “Black Ice”, “Let There Be Rock”…and these are just my top 6!!! I have many other favorite songs! I’m like a hard rock to heavy metal person. Basically, if its not hard rock through heavy metal, it’s not for me! So what instrument or instruments do you play? How long have you been playing it? What is your favorite band or bands?? What type of music do you like best? (rock, jazz, pop, etc.) What are your favorite songs? If you know any good songs (especially rock), feel free to post them, and inform me if it's a rock!!

Where In The World Are You?

If you are a 5th grader moving into middle school, enjoy your eight-weeks summer!! If you are a 4th grader moving into the 5th, enjoy your last short summer of six-and-a-half-weeks summer!! If you are a teacher teaching at Portal (like Mrs. Yu), six weeks is all we have for summer. By now, two weeks are gone. What have you done or where have you been? Anything interesting to share with us? Chinmaya's family has moved back to India, and he would like to hi to all of us. After two weeks of cleaning the classroom and my house, I flew back to Taiwan on 7/4 after 13 hours flight. Okay, I already miss the cool and dry weather in San Jose, because it's 92 degrees and humid here everyday! The food is great, but walking outside is not. What would you want to do if you have to live here for three weeks? Any guess? How about a haircut? Yes, your teacher is back to short hair again! In a few days, I am taking a trip with my family to Yunan, a southwestern province in China. We hope to visit some beautiful sites and some native tribes there. How about you? Come share with us your experience for this summer! It does not have to be a place you plan to visit. It could be the braces you are going to be wearing for the next two years (like Auboni?).

Count Down Time!!

Can you believe we only have five days left from the end of this school year? As we practice the song of Shooting Star, what would you like to say to your classmates? I hope all my students will always be cheerful and optimistic like you are in our latest classroom picture. You are so vibrant and full of energy!! Come share your nice compliment to your classmates, whether it's a good-bye to the 5th graders, a message to the 4th graders, or a last minute message to your teachers. Let's hear you!!

Swine Flu

Swine Flu

By: Sanjana Everyone is getting freaked of the swine flu also known as H1N1 Influenza A. The swine flew started off with a little boy. After he recovered tons of other people had already gotten the flu. The swine flu is spreading quickly in Mexico, and because Mexico borders California it started spreading here too. One medical report said that adults are recovering faster then children. This flu is being caused by germs. If you would like to stay away from the swine flu you should be washing your hands after you touch some thing dirty of before eating any meal.If you think that pork could be affected too that is wrong. By not buying pork you are just torturing farmers. People are over acting by this flu. It is just like any other flu but it is just a newly discovered one. People think it is a big disaster because it is new and they don't know how to handle or cure it yet. The good thing is that now the flu is going away and people are getting better. You can stop worrying that much now. Just remember to wash your hands. Do you think that people should still be over acting? Why or why not. Note down any other thoughts you have about the swine flu.

Are You Proud of Yourself?

By: Rebecca Have you ever done something that you were proud of? Well, I have been proud of many things I have done such as doing a race, being in the newspaper, and being able to read fluently. Once I participated in a triathlon, which is a multi-sport endurance event consisting of swimming, cycling, and running. Guess what? I got in the 12th place which was very exciting! My younger sister is proud of being able to read at her age. You could also be proud for having a hobby such as art, soccer, biking, or even an unusual hobby. In a race, you don’t need to be the first to be proud of yourself as long as you display good sportsmanship. Please share with us your experience that made you proud of yourself!!

Sacramento

By Shivani Sacramento was totally awesome!!! I think that everyone feels that way. I had a lot of fun. I think the best part of going to Sacramento was going to the Railroad Museum. There were huge trains and small trains. We even got to see inside some of the trains. They were really cool. Another thing I liked seeing was the California Natural History Museum. The wall in the courtyard was HUGE!!! It was amazing to see how the artist created the wall so that every year the wall might look different. Did you know that the wall was about 100 feet wide by about 95 feet tall. I had to strain my neck to see the very top. That's how tall it was!! My favorite part was going to the State Capitol Building. I had heard about it, and we studied it in Social Studies, but I had never seen it in real life. It was a great experience for me. What was your favorite part of going to Sacramento and why?

Rascal

A story about a boy who raised a baby raccoon which he named Rascal. Send in your Deeper Thinking Questions and connections to share with your group. Calling out to Mihir, William, Richard, and Omkar!!

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

What is the story of Claudia Kincaid, a precocious 11 year old girl who feels underappreciated by her parents? Send in your Deeper Thinking Questions and connections to share with your group. Calling out to Bhavana, Nikhila, Soraya, Rupa, Sanjana, and Kaelyn!!

Double Fudge

Fudge is back, and he's discovered money in a big way. Send in your Deeper Thinking Questions and connections to share with your group. Calling out to Wesley, Ishan, Chinmaya, Aditya, Shreyas, and Jonathan!!