Essay Excitment

Getting our awards

My school district had it's 50th anniversary! The school district had an essay contest for elementary students.  The topic was,"Write an essay about your favorite school memory." My sister Sarah and I both entered our essays in the contest by grade level and won! I wrote about the Ugandan Global Project walk that we completed when I was in Mrs. Yollis' third grade class.

Sarah wrote about a project she did when she was in  Mrs. Yollis' 3rd grade class called “Our World Our Stories.” Seven elementary classes collaborating on different school topics such as: hobbies, favorite foods, school games, and classroom environment.

Waiting to be called up

Alice C. Stelle and I at the reception

On Tuesday, 2 weeks after submitting our essays, there was an awards ceremony with the district board members, principles, congressman, and the city mayor. The ceremony began by the superintendent giving a speech of how the school district began.  In the speech, he recognized some people that helped and influenced the school district. One of those citizens, was Alice C. Stelle, who now has a middle school named after her. It was pretty incredible meeting the women with a school named after her. She is 91 years old and looked proud of all the work she had done for education. The next speech was made by a congressman and the mayor.  It was pretty amazing because how many times do you get recognized in front of such specials guests. The Acorn published an article about the celebration.

Dr. Steponosky presenting the award

When the speeches were over, they began to announce the awards.  They started with kindergartener and completed with fifth grade.  Sarah and I would like to thank Mrs. Yollis for the inspiration and for getting us involved in blogging. THANK YOU!

 Have you ever received a special award?

A Gorgeous Day At Idyllwild National Park

Getting on the trail

Over spring break we visited Idyllwild National Park.  Idyllwild is on top of a huge mountain so it took us a while to get to the top. We had to drive through a windy road through beautiful terrains.  When we finally arrived we decided to go to the visitor center.  In the park there are many tall rocks that you can stand on and see the view below you.  After walking for an hour, we decided to take a break.  While we rested, my brother Michael caught tiny green butterflies that were perched on the leaves.  We trekked to the top of the hill to the visitors center.  

1st butterfly Michael caught

There was a guide there with a Native American class, and he told us that we could tag along. What was so fascinating about this class was that their ancestors the Cahuilla Indians lived there.  At the beginning of the hike, we visited some holes that the Indians made to grind acorns in.  It took 100 years to dig one inch. Therefore one of the holes was 900 years old!  Wow!  These ancient holes have not been used for about 200 years.  

The beautiful green butterfly up close

Then we went on to look at a tree that had been struck by lightning more than one time in the same place.  The tree had perished and there is a big hole going through it so you could see the sky.  The next tree we saw was called Ponderosa Pine and the bark was scented like vanilla ice-cream.  After we finished the hike, we had to go all the way back to our car.  Still feeling jovial we sang many different songs.  It was the most gorgeous day you could ever imagine!

900 year old Cahuilla Indian hole

Ha Ha we're taller than you!

Taking a break

Do you like to hike?

Where is your favorite hiking spot?

 

Water slide Fun

Over spring break, my family and I went to Palm Springs with our family friends.  After an exhausting two hour drive through the Mohave desert, we finally arrived.  On the long trip we saw hundreds of thousands of gigantic windmills spinning alongside our car.  It was pretty amazing.  As we neared Palm Springs, the temperature rose and rose until it was 91 degrees while back where we live it was only 75 degrees.  We also passed by the Indian reservation. The Indians were kicked out of their own land when the settlers arrived and were given this piece of land where nothing could be grown, not many shops, and many rattle snakes and cacti.  It is sort of sad that the whites kicked them out of their land. 

As we drove in the parking lot, Sarah and I were already jumping up and down.  Our hotel was in front of a set of very rocky mountains.  We didn’t dawdle and quickly changed into our swimsuits because our dad told us they had some amazing waterslides. He was right!  As I climbed up the stairs to the slide, I felt the chills run down my spine. I could see the person who slide down before me get thrown forward into the water.  But excitement lured me to try the slide.  I got on the slide. and in the beginning it wasn’t fast, but a few seconds later the speed increased, and I by the end of the slide I was thrust into the immerse pool. Even though I was scared at the beginning, Sarah and I were laughing by the end.  Hannah and Michael weren’t allowed to go on the slide because they were too short.   We slid down the slide for a few hours until it closed relishing the experience.  By that time, darkness was coming and the temperature was cooler, so Sarah and I jumped into the Jacuzzi. 

After the pool, my sisters and friends walked around the hotel.  After walking around the hotel, we were tempted again to jump into the pool before it closed for the night.  We all had an exciting first day at the pool.  But this week wasn’t finished, we were going to hike at Joshua park the next day.  


Here is a video of us sliding down.

Have you ever been on a water slide?

Mother's Day Surprise

On Mother's Day, Sarah, Hannah, Michael, and I woke up at five in the morning.  We had to get ready for our big surprise. We were putting on a play with live music and actors.  After hours of coloring and designing the scenery, it was time to make costumes.  The play was about dolphins rescuing two children who fall into the ocean.  Sarah and I made tails and dolphin fins for the two dolphins, Hannah and Michael to wear.  After working for about an hour, everything and everyone was ready.

Below is the Program for our show which we printed out for our parents. 
 

Thunder and Lightning

Performed by: Miriam, Sarah, Michael, and Hannah

Written and Narrated by: Miriam

Piano written and played by: Sarah

Acted and performed by: Hannah and Michael

Scenery designed by: Miriam and Sarah

A Little Bit About the Play

After thinking about what to give to our mother for Mother’s Day, Miriam and Sarah decided to combine everyone’s talents into one big performance.  As I was writing the skit, I kept wondering what is wonderful animal that saves people and is sweet and friendly.  I found that out after our trip to Sea World and that was where our lovable dolphins Hannah and Michael came from.  After preparing for a little bit over a month, everything was set except practicing the skit together.  We never were able to find the time until the last minute.  Everyone was extremely hectic, but with teamwork we had one amazing performance.

We hope you enjoyed it!

 Here is the story in case it was hard to hear on the video:

On a tired and old fishing boat, two children named Hannah and Michael went on a fishing trip with their father.  Their poor mother had died 2 years ago and this has been the first time they were going to have fun with their father in a long time.  As they took off from shore, the clouds were coming in and it looked as if there was going to be a gigantic thunderstorm, but it was too late.  The boat had already taken off.  But these children weren’t going to let anything ruin their day.  Their father was lazily rowing the boat and not paying very much attention to the Hannah and Michael.   Then he took a long drink of his beer and started to get really drowsy. 

But by that time thunder and lightning began to crack, and the boat began to rock until the children were scared to death and didn’t know what to do.  They called to their father, but he was too drunk to here.  He was now leading them into a whirl pool.  The boat began to turn and the children starting screaming, but there was nothing they could do.  Then, there was a heavy lurch and the boat toppled over sending the children over boat.  They started yelling, but nobody heard.  Their cries were useless and even swimming to shore wasn’t going to work in the force of the water.  The foam started surrounding the two helpless children until they almost suffocated.  They got tired of swimming and their arms hurt and they felt as if they were going to have to give up and let the hungry ocean eat them alive.  They were saying there last good-byes to each other knowing they weren’t going to be seen from the light house. 

Waves knocked Hannah and Michael over and over and when they were so tired of yelling and had a hoarse throat, were too tired to swim any longer, and were too cold to move, they let the hungry ocean eat them whole.  But as soon as they gave up hope, dolphins splashed beside them.  They waved their flippers in there directions, signaling them to come and gave them a friendly noise that told them it was okay to get on. 

Hannah and Michael grabbed the dolphin’s fins as the dolphins took them to safety.  They jumped over waves and dove under water and took them so close that they now could see the shoreline.  Where the sand met the water, there was a crowd of search and rescue crews standing with the children’s beloved Aunt Elana and Uncle Lloyd. 

As soon as the dolphins couldn’t swim any closer to shore, they knocked there riders of board, and let Hannah and Michael swim to shore.  The brave and shivering brother and sister, walked hand in hand to their Aunt and Uncle who told them they would now live with them.  The dolphins made their last flip in the water and swam away.  Hannah and Michael never saw those brave dolphins, but the tale has been passed down through many generations.

Happy Mother's Day!

 
What did you do for your mother?

Friends Forever

Custom Glitter Text

Elite and I

Happy Birthday!  One of my very good friend from Israel has just turned 12 years old.  We have been friends ever since my mom and her mom met at the park playground when I was still very little.  Ever since then, our parents and us kids have been close friends even though we now live far apart. Her family moved to Israel 3 years ago and recently came back for a visit for a few weeks. Once they moved to Israel, we have been communicating by email, Skype, and telephone. While they were here, we all went  together on vacation to Palm Springs.  While in Palm Springs, we hiked, swam and caught up on each other's lives. 

Elite is the oldest girl of three.  She has 2 younger sisters, Yasmine, who is 9 and Ileana who is 5.  Elite was born in Israel, but her sisters were born in the US.  They returned to Israel when Hannah, Michael, and Ileana were still small so the younger kids didn't remember each other. However, they quickly became reacquainted.  Right before their departure back to Israel, Elite gave me half of a friendship necklace heart.  We agreed to wear it all the time.  We had a fantastic time together, and I wish it didn't have to end.  I hope to see them again very soon!

All of us resting after a hike in Idyllwild

Playing Pick up Sticks

Elite

In downtown Palm Springs

Behind a tall rock

Hannah and Ileana at Joshua Tree

Outdoor Education Trip

We just stepped outside of our bunk and boy was it cold!

My counselor Elle and I

Last week, I went to a sleep away camp with all of the fifth grade classes.  The camp was called Outdoor Ed, and we were able to learn about many different plants and animals.  The camp was part of the Santa Monica Mountain Range in Southern California.  During the five day trip, we saw many animals such as mule-deer, red tailed hawks, gopher snakes, cooper hawks, and many ground squirrels.  We were divided into different trail groups, and we had a naturalist names Lisa that explained to us about the plants and animals that we spotted.  We also had a counselor named Elle who was a senior in high school. Elle cared for us so much and even decorated my bunk room on my birthday. On the first day of the week, I dressed in shorts and a t-shirt with no sweater.  I literally froze that day because as soon as the wind picked up, the air temperature dropped.  I learned my lesson to always dress in layers! 

Resting at a creek after a long hike

One of my favorite days of the week was Tuesday when we did an all day, 7 hour hike.  We were the only group that saw a family of mule-deer. We also saw some gees and a beautiful landscape.   While on the hike, we crosses a creek with fish swimming in the water.  I missed a step on one of the rocks in the creek and fell right in.  I had to suffer the rest of the hike in cold wet socks and shoes.  Although, that was a pretty bad misfortune, I still had a good time.  At the end, we went to a rock pool to journal about the day.  Walking back, everyone was pretty tired, and we sang some songs to make the time pass by   It was a tiring but beautiful day. 

Mule deer

Building a shelter. I am glad it didn't rain!

We also had a Chumash lesson where we made necklaces out of abalone shells, tried to make fire, saw different animal furs, and saw a live gopher snake.  I was very surprised about how hard it is to start a fire by spinning the stick. We all tried and tried as a group, but we only got a little bit of smoke.  We saw animal furs from coyote, skunk, rabbit and dear. All of these animals died in nature.  The coyote skull was also pretty incredible. I thought the best part of the whole Chumash lesson was  building shelter.  Imagine being stuck in the mountains with nothing but tress, sticks, ants, string, and rags. We had to learn to build a small night shelter with what was available to us.  I was in charge of gathering the sticks because everyone else was scared of ants. How would you have made the shelter?

So soft! (Racoon)

Smelly Skunk (the skin is actually very soft and does NOT smell)

Have you seen any of these animals?

Have you ever gone to sleep away camp? 
How was it?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you spent time to give someone your love.  I made my mom a special Valentine because she cares about me.  A few days ago, my teacher assigned us to write a few Valentine poems.  I hope you enjoy them.

Even animals show their love!

“Valentine’s Day”

I am so sick today

That I can’t go to school

But it’s Valentine’s Day.

 My face is all green

 And my stomach is gurgling.

I’m itching all over

With sweat running down me

And I do look atrocious

 But it’s Valentine’s Day

 And my love is waiting

  For me to give her

My special Valentine.

“Hours, and Hours”

Hours and Hours my valentine took

I just couldn’t figure out what kind of book.

My teacher had told us to give someone a present

But I just couldn’t figure out what to give.

I finally decided on a book

 But what kind of a book

A frog, dog, cat, person, soldiers, or a duke book.

Valentine’s Day is in an hour

But what do I pick maybe a flower?

The story was as bright as the flower I had found last night,

I just hope that my valentine is all right.

   

“Flunked”

Today at school I flunked a test,

And now I would be in trouble.

But Valentine ’s Day is coming up

And I still don’t have a present.

But now that I have flunked a test,

I don’t think it will matter,

I guess I’ll just flunk fifth grade

And then not have to think about

My secret Valentine.  

Did you do anything special for Valentine's Day? 

Can you write a verse or poem for Valentines Day?