By: SorayaDo you ever have a moment that you have no one to play with and feel kinda lonely?
I have those moments a lot. Now I am one of the oldest kids on campus, I try to make as many friends as I can. I solve my loneliness problem by asking if I can play with someone. Just recently, I made friends with a first grader who has no friends. Now I feel proud of reaching out, helping somebody that has no friends, and making a new great friend! I have times when I feel like I am invisible, and have no one to play with. Now, I just solve my problem by simply joining somebody or asking! It's great to have as many friends as you can so that you're prepared for a lonely situation. Now that I have many more friends, I am not worried for a lonely situation. Do you ever have a time when you feel lonely and left out? If you do, how do you handle it? How do you make a new friend?
By: Rebecca On Sunday August 16, 2009, I had a gymnastics competition. I was really nervous, so nervous that I wish I could disappear! My coach said that being nervous is good, because it means you are ready! We first did beam, followed by floor, vault, and ended with bars. I didn't do floor, because I didn't have my round of back handspring yet. After we finished our events, we had awards. I got the 2nd place on beam out of all the level four 10 and 11 year olds. I didn't get anything else, except the 8th place in all around. However, I felt proud of myself, even though I didn't receive a very high score. Last came the team awards, and our level four team got the 1st place!! We were so excited that we screamed when we heard the great news! I am so glad I did not disappear earlier!! Have you ever been nervous right before a competition? How do you handle it? Does it bother you? Do you feel much better once you start doing it? Please share with us your tips to ease the fright!
Hi Room 24 and Room 19! Last year I got an award from CEEF (Cupertino Education Endowment Foundation)!! Take a look from the link http://www.ceefcares.org/epicwinners.html
Let me tell you about the guidelines, judging, and awards. You need to make a movie that is either a documentary, instructional video, or a film based on an original literary work. You need to make a 2-minute film for an original literary or instructional video, or a 4-minute film for documentary. After you submit your video, it is sent to the judges, who decide which films are selected for semifinalists, finalists, finalist award nominees, and award winners in eight categories. They are best elementary school documentary, best middle school documentary, best instructional video, best screenplay, most creative, best soundtrack, best cinematography, and best animation. I got the best elementary school documentary award. Semifinalists get a certificate and blue ribbon. Finalists get a certificate. Award winners get a certificate and an iPod!!
Are you thinking about it but don't know where to start? First, think of what type of movie you're going to make. You can make an instructional film (how to do), a documentary (example: All About Eagles), or a video based on a original literary work. You can get a CEEF signup sheet in the Thursday folder. Send it to the office and they'll give it to the CEEF people. You can also sign-up online and fax it to the CEEF office. Then shoot your movie in an iMovie or Quicktime format and submit it to the CEEf office next to the CUSD administration building. The CEEF festival is in April. They first show semi-finalist movies, then finalists. They then announce award nominees, and award winners.
I hope some people who read my post will consider participating in the film festival this year! Before I became a Rockhopper, Chinmaya from room 24 also won an award, and you can see his film on the older post in April, 2008. To all participants, good luck on your movies!!!!!! Send me your comment and question, and I will be glad to share my experience with you!
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?
By: IshanInstruments 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!!
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?).
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!!
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.
By: RebeccaHave 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!!
