Newspapers in Education

Aroostook Republican opens pages to student writers, artists

Newspapers can be found on people’s coffee tables, on store racks and, just as importantly, in the classrooms of most school systems.

In today’s ever-changing technological world, the staff at the Aroostook Republican & News feels that it is important for the younger generation to know more about the newspaper industry and the history that comes with holding a product in your hands, turning the pages, and cutting out photos and articles to hang on their parents’ refrigerators.

Once again, Aroostook Republican & News employees have teamed up with area schools to celebrate Newspapers in Education Week, by creating this special supplement. This year’s section marks the 13th anniversary of the project.

NIE is a cooperative effort between schools and newspapers to promote the use of newspapers as an educational resource. The international program, which began in 1955, also seeks to help improve the students’ reading, spelling and writing abilities, as well as their artistic talents.

Again this year, fifth-graders at Teague Park School in Caribou and Limestone Community School were asked to become newspaper advertising artists and copywriters as they created “advertisements” for about 66 willing sponsors.

In addition, fourth- through eighth-grade students from Caribou, Limestone, Van Buren, Caswell, Connor, New Sweden and Woodland schools provided wonderful essays, poems, short stories of fiction. Their efforts were done as part of the Young Author Institute, a program sponsored annually by Aroostook Right to Read, a group of Aroostook County dedicated teachers whose mission since 1978 has been “to promote literacy encompassing reading, writing, listening and speaking across the curriculum among students, educators, and parents.”

While Newspapers in Education is a weeklong event, the Aroostook Republican staff works with classrooms — students, teachers and administrators — throughout the year. Whether it be a school board meeting, a basketball game, spelling bee or a band concert, newspaper reporters are covering education on the front line.

Indeed, without news of our youth and their schools, our newspapers would be missing a very vital part of the communities in which we serve.

Having newspapers in the classroom is an exceptional supplement to textbooks and iPads. A newspaper in the classroom connects young people with their community, their nation and the world.

This supplement to our newspaper is the result of the Newspapers in Education exercise, and we hope you will enjoy the student-created newspaper advertisements and essays in this special booklet.

We also wish to thank the pupils, teachers and administrators who agreed to partner with us, as well as the businesses that provided the opportunity for the children to showcase their artistic abilities.

Idea to use newspapers as living textbook
originated in Maine 221 years ago

The value of using the newspaper as an educational tool was voiced more than 220 years ago by a wise newspaper publisher in Portland, Maine who wrote an editorial on the subject, published June 8, 1795. The message is just as relevant today:

“Much has been said and written on the utility of newspapers: but one principal advantage which might be derived from these publications has been neglected: we mean that of reading them in schools, and by the children in families.

“Try if for one session — Do you wish your child to improve in reading solely, give him a newspaper — it furnishes a variety, some parts of which must infallibly touch his fancy.

“Do you wish to instruct him in geography, nothing will so indelibly fix the relative situation of different places, as the stories and events published in the papers.

“In time, do you wish to have him acquainted with the manners of the country or city, the mode of doing business, public or private; or do you wish him to have a smattering of every kind of science useful and amusing, give him a newspaper — newspapers are plenty and cheap — the cheapest book that can be bought, and the more you buy the better for your children, because every part furnishes some new and valuable information.”

The New York Times initiated what was likely the first formal classroom program in 1932, known as the New York Times School and College Program.

In 1956, leaders in education and the newspaper industry met in Chicago to discuss the need for a national initiative to encourage the use of newspapers in schools. A result of this meeting was the commission of the study “Newspapers in the Classroom of a Free Society” by the International Circulation Managers Association.

The first national Newspaper in Education Week was celebrated in 1983, co-sponsored by the American Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation and the International Reading Association. Lesson plans were distributed to teachers through local newspapers and reading councils. The National Council for the Social Studies joined the project in 1988 and curriculum was created to represent all three partners.

Through the years, many other groups have endorsed NIE Week including the national associations of elementary, middle and secondary school principals and administrators and the National PTA. Some newspapers have enlarged the celebration to NIE Month, maneuvering around spring breaks and standardized testing, common during March.

 Editor’s Note: This information was compiled by Dawn Kitchell of the Missouri Press Association.

Voice of Democracy
By Corinne Corbin

What is America? Some would say it’s just a country that’s part of the planet Earth. I would say America is so much more than a country; it is a state of mind. America is more than its revolutionary war. It is so much more than the birthplace of a new political system that is a democratic republic. It is the philosophy that we are all equal and that we have the freedom to do things other countries cannot do such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech. It is the belief that we aren’t just one race or ethnicity but so much more than that. We are multiple races, cultures, ethnicities and we are mixed in this beautiful melting pot. In the future, when we look back at all of the great and terrible things, we will remember that we are forever united under this flag with stars and stripes. My vision for America is that we can be proud of what we have done; a new political system, uniting as one after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the first black president; and we can be enthusiastic for what we will do in the future; more technological advances, more presidents of different races/religions even of a different gender, uniting as one under any circumstance.

For eleven years, I have been learning about the history of the United States. I learned that in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. I learned who the pilgrims were, who the Native Americans were and what the Declaration of Independence is and what it stand for. I only started appreciating history class when I took AP US History of the United States. Instead of just learning about the Declaration of Independence, I understood what it means and what it stands for. I now understand the struggles we as a nation had to go through, and that our history had its dark periods; slavery, hostility towards Native Americans, and our struggle to remain as one which started the Civil War. I saw the passion my APUSH teacher had for history and I thought “everyone should have some of this passion”.

Although we have bickering parties that can’t seem to come to an agreement on anything, our country is remarkably powerful. Since the beginning of this nation, we have influenced other countries to abolish their monarchies, throw out their dictators, and start a democracy of their own. I understand there are many glitches in our political system but what I don’t understand is why some people are giving up on this country. The passion our forefathers and ancestors had for this country is slowly dwindling. We fail to remember the accomplishments this great nation has achieved. In today’s world, we highlight the age of slavery and segregation. We point out how bad our government is and how we can’t leave other countries alone and let them fight their own battles. But we fail to remember how free we are.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives, I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” I believe that this statement still stands true today. Those who are not proud of their country are unhappy. Those who are unhappy will never live their full life.

My vision for America is that we will become united as we were after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. That we as a nation will not be ashamed of being a citizen of the United States but we will again be proud of all of the good things we have done and that we will be proud to be citizens of America. My vision is that our patriotism grows stronger as we fix what needs  to be fixed, not sit back and complain about it. My vision is that America will go back to the pride the people once had but with more accepting and open minded people. My vision for America is this country advancing and growing but the people in it keep their American state of mind and that they maintain this unbelievable sense of pride, passion and patriotism.

Gas Price Rant
By Joshua McCormack

Anyone can go to a number of different gas stations in Aroostook County. Almost all as of right now are selling gas for $1.97 a gallon. To the average Joe this might be okay, or they might just blow it off, because gas is a “necessity.” I feel differently than they do, as I have looked into prices a little deeper, because I feel I am being cheated every time I pull up to the pump. One third of my weekly paycheck goes towards gas for my vehicle. I do only have a part time job, but that is a big chunk of hard earned money that is literally just being burned down the whole every week. “The world is already producing up to 2 million bpd more oil than it consumes” (CNBC, 2015). If this is so, and we have more than we need, why are the prices still so high?

As of right now, unrefined oil is being sold for $31.20 per 55 gallon barrel. Mind you that it does take some refining to make it into gas but it’s a quick process at the factory. If you do the math, that is .6738 cents per gallon of oil; it doesn’t take a brain scientist to realize that there is a huge price difference between what the factories are selling it for and the price at which we are buying it. Some producers have been trying to be tricky. They leave oil fields when there is still oil to be harvested to find more prosperous ones. “There are many, many millions of barrels to be produced out of the aging fields of Wyoming” (Alfano, 2005). Oil companies complaining about lack of oil should take another look, sometimes the grass isn’t greener on the other side.

There is only one real outcome to the price difference, and that is that someone’s wallet is getting fattened up for the cold Maine winters. When people have asked questions in the past to factory owners, like “why if the price per barrel is down are we paying such high prices at the pump,” the only response they get is, “we can’t lower prices because we will lose money.” That is kind of like saying that you can’t pee because you have pants on. Last year on average, Exxon was making 104 million dollars a day in profits! In another article by CNBC news, it explained that the rise in price was caused by “California and the greater Chicago area plants having trouble processing crude oil into gasoline, because of some damaged machinery” (Yang, 2015). So, two plants that are struggling are making the whole United States suffers? It’s understandable that they can’t just give gas away, but even if you factor in travel costs to get it this far up the east coast, there is still enough wiggle room for prices. If we could have prices where the consumer doesn’t have to give up his first born to get gas, and a producer can make enough money to feed his first born, people would have a more positive attitude when it comes time to make decisions with their money.

Point blank, if factories lowered gas prices, they wouldn’t make the money they want to make, only the money that they need make. Even with the lowered oil prices, BP profited $55.9 billion last year (Ahmed, 2015). While owners of these factories are making more money than they will ever be able to spend in their lifetimes, the average consumer is struggling to get by and survive with the money they have. In an article by Fox News, the idea of lifting the ban on exporting crude oil was tossed around in the government. It also explained that, “Lifting the ban on U.S. crude oil exports this year would create jobs in all 50 states and increase tax revenue upwards of $13.5 billion in 2020” (Ward, 2015). It would do nothing but good for America. So what I say is, instead of keeping quiet and paying the outrageously different gas price, why don’t we as American citizens express our 1st amendment right and stand up to big businesses. Without us little guys buying the gas, the big business guys will fall. It’s a time that we need to stand tall, or we will be forever getting walked over as we have been.

This is a Senior English research assignment by Josh McCormack where Caribou High School students rant about a topic they care about.

Tip for success: Get involved

Dear Freshmen,

Welcome to CHS! Caribou High School is a wonderful learning environment. All the teachers are very helpful. They are not there to be your parents, they are here to be a guidance and help you prepare for real life and they do a wonderful job. I am just about to graduate and I feel like I will be prepared for real life experiences.

Tips for success:

– Use your planner! This will be your best friend you want to put everything in it. Being organized is key because you may think the due date is really far away but it may be closer than it looks.

– Get involved! Do sports or other activities. This can motivate you to do better in your classes. Your coaches will be really good advocate for you.

– Go to the Transitions Center! It is a very good place to go and do your homework and get great help too. They have adult tutors, teachers and student tutors. The student tutors have taken the classes that you are and know exactly what the teacher wants. They can give you the right tools to help you. The Transitions Center is a really great place to go. I used their services and I don’t think I would have passed without them.

– Always check Powerschool! Teachers don’t always tell you what you missed, so it’s important to take responsibility for your attendance and work.

Lastly, just remember the staff are always here to help you. I am grateful for having gone to Caribou High School. Best of luck at CHS!

Sincerely,
Taylor St. Peter

High school’s not as scary as you think 

Dear Freshmen,

High school is not as scary as you think. I was scared once, but what I’ve learned is that if you do your work and pass it in on time, you will be fine. I know how it could be hard, but it isn’t if you believe in yourself. I have not had to do any courses over and you won’t either if you follow these tips.

If you have questions, ask them. It is easier for the teachers to help you without having to guess what you are thinking. Don’t be shy, it is not scary to talk to staff because they are just people too. They can help you find the answers. Don’t miss a lot of school because you will get behind in your work. Attendance is more than half your battle in all your classes! Be here! Get involved with sports and other extracurricular activities. There are over 20 different groups here, plenty to choose from … don’t be afraid!

Best of luck! Please, if you have any questions, be sure to ask. Time is going to go fast, one moment you’re a freshman and the next, you’re saying goodbye.

Sincerely,
Laura Doucette

The Bermuda Triangle

My friend and I won a trip on a yacht to the Bermuda Triangle for a week. We won it on the Price Is Right two days ago. We are supposed to be leaving in half an hour, so I guess I should get up. Luckily I had packed my bag the night before. My mom is supposed to drive me to the docks because I do not get my license for a month. On the way, we will pick up my friend, Arthur. The dock where we have to get on the yacht is only an hour away. When I get to Arthur’s house, he does not hear my truck pull in, so I have to go and get him. When we finally leave, my mom is now mad because she will be late for work after dropping us off. When we get there, Arthur and I find that the boat that we were supposed to be taking had been stolen the night before, and four of the dock night workers had been shot. This is both weird and good. It is weird because did somebody not want us to go, but it means we get to ride on one that is bigger and fancier.

We are not supposed to get to the Bermuda Triangle until tomorrow morning, so we started wandering around. We were given maps of the boat, which we ignored. Most of the rooms were just fancy rooms that had nothing to do in them. After a little while, we found a game room, which had a pool table in the middle, and on the sides there was also an air hockey game. In a small room, there was a little restaurant and bar. We decided to play pool for a little while until we got sick of that, so we went to go look for something else to do.

When we were on the bottom deck, it was different down there, but we could not quite say how it was different. Both of us could feel it. It was the kind of thing that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Throughout the rest of the boat there was hardwood flooring, but for some reason on this hallway, there was a large assortment of different throw rugs, which seemed weird. Once we got to the end of the corridor there is a steel door unlike all the rest, which are wood. On the front reads “Biohazard, Stay out.” Arthur suggested I should go in. After a minute he talked me into it. When I went to turn the knob, to my relief, it was locked which meant I did not have to go in. Above it there was a large series of locks to get in. You would probably need about five keys. While I was thinking, we heard something move in the room, so without even saying a word we both ran as fast as we could back to our rooms.

Later on that evening, we were talking about the room. We decided to go and ask the person who was in charge of the boat about that room. He just said that is where the cargo is held, but we had a feeling that he was lying. He told us that we were getting close to the Bermuda triangle. We had nothing better to do so we went to the top deck to look. We started seeing what looked almost like giant shark fins in a huge circle. I saw they were not sharks but more like giant teeth all in a circle. The boat was on the edge then it slowly started moving towards the middle. Then it all opened up into a huge funnel, draining all the water. The boat fell in, and we went down what was like a huge cave with pink walls. We slowed down, and it opened into a cavern full of water. It finally hit me. We were in the belly of the beast, a mythical creature that lives in the Bermuda triangle. I started hearing a loud beeping in the distance getting louder and louder. I woke up and it was all a dream. The beeping was my alarm.

John O’Meara, Grade 8
New Sweden School
Mrs. Spooner

Elephant Extravaganza

It was mid afternoon when they came. They just wandered in. Nobody seemed to care. This wasn’t the first time elephants had wandered through town. Lulu was used to it. These things happened in Botswana. Especially since they lived in such a rural area. But this wasn’t a normal visit. The herd of seven elephants just started charging at several different houses at once, demolishing three. One old man ran out of a gray house.

“What’s going on?” He screamed.

“They elephants just started charging for no reason. They weren’t provoked, they just attacked. I’ve never seen this happen before.”said a much younger man.

“Why would they do that?” questioned Lulu. They old man shrugged and ran for shelter. Lulu hid inside a barrel studying the elephant’s behavior. They were rummaging through all the wreckage. They seemed to be looking for something. They also seemed to be calling to each other by trumpeting through their horns.

“What are they looking for?” Lulu asked herself in a curious tone.” It must be something important.”

After several hours of destruction, they left. The townspeople didn’t know what to do, they were too distraught about what has happened. Someone decided that they should do a death count. The total came to about forty seven. They decided they were going to start rebuilding tomorrow.

“Why do you think they did that?” asked Lulu.

“Oh,” sighed one of the villages “I don’t know why they did that. We haven’t done anything recently to attract animals. Nobody provoked them.”

“That’s strange.”

A minute passed.

“There’s new guy who drove into town today. He was just planning on spending the night before heading back into the safari. He said he was some sort of biologist working on research for a university. Maybe he knows why the elephants did that? His tents over in that direction.” He pointed over to the right.

“Ok, I’ll go see if he knows anything.”

The walk to his tent took about five minutes. In those five minutes, she pondered over what she had seen earlier. The elephants seemed to be looking for something. The more she thought about it, the more she thought she was right.

When she arrived at the tent, he wasn’t there. She, being the curious person she is, started looking around. She wanted to know what kind of biologist he was. Inside his tent there was maps of several countries with several portions of the maps highlighted a bright red. I wonder what that’s for, she thought.

She then went to look at his car. It was a convertible jeep with the roof down so she had no trouble seeing what was inside. There were papers, binoculars, a laptop, and just other seemingly normal stuff. Then she looked in the back end. She saw some fairly large bullet shells.

“That’s a little strange.” She said in a soft tone, not wanting to be heard by the man if he was close by. If he had caught her searching through his jeep, she would have had a lot of explaining to do. But she continued to look.

This time she was looking thoroughly and she notice everything this time. She hadn’t noticed that there was a gun rack on the inside of the car or that there were clips everywhere. She went back in the tent to look back at the maps. They were where most elephants herd were located. She also located another map. This had several black dots on it. There were some notes on the bottom.

“Several clients want ivory. Needs to be in large portions,” she read “ Try to have minimal scratching and chipping. More money with the better conditions.” Her mind started to spiral but soon stopped because the man entered the tent.

“So why exactly are you in my tent?” he asked.

“One of my friends said you were a biologist,” she said “He said you might know why the elephant did what they did.”

“Oh. Well, I am. I ,uh, don’t really know why they did that. I’ve never heard of elephants, um, doing that.”

“Well, Ok. I figured I’d asked just in case, ya know.”

Lulu left out of the tent and ran back. She couldn’t believe it. He was a poacher. He killed endangered animals. She didn’t understand how someone could do that. She was just glad he was leaving in the morning.

When morning came, the poacher was beginning to pack up when they heard the trumpet of an elephant. The town went quiet and everyone hid. The poacher seemed oblivious to this and continued to pack. The elephants saw him and one immediately charged.

“Watch out!” Someone yelled. But it was too late. Once it hit him he was killed instantly. The elephant ran with so much force it flipped the jeep in the process. They walked up to him body, checked to make sure he was dead, and left.

“I wonder why they were after him, I mean, he was a poacher but how’d they know that?” Asked Lulu. She was talking to the old man again.

“Well, believe it or not. Elephants actually have extremely good memories. Experts say they never forget anything. He must have done something to make them mad.”

Emily Adler, grade 8
Caribou Middle School
Mrs. Knight

Adventure: Bryan’s Marathon

It was a rainy day in the small city of Caribou, Maine. Bryan Henderson was on his way to the gym to run with his buddy Michael Roberts. It was his first time training for the Boston Marathon Qualifier Race in Caribou. When he got to the Caribou Recreation Department Michael was doing his stretches up on the track. Bryan quickly put on his running shoes and did his stretches. It was the middle of September, so that gave them almost a year to train and practice.

The real marathon was 26.2 miles long, but they were going to start with just three miles. They started jogging and talking about football. They are both big Patriots fans. They finished their first mile and were watching some kids play basketball while listening to the steady pace of their own footsteps. Thump, thump, thump. Two laps to go Bryan said to himself. Thump, thump, thump. The finish line was up ahead. “Finally!” Bryan said as they crossed the finish line. He took a drink out of his water bottle and got ready to head home.

Just as he was pulling out of the Rec. Department parking lot, SMASH! A truck crashed into his Mini Cooper. He saw nothing, but heard sirens. He hurt all over. The next thing he knew, he was in the ER. He woke up with a nurse sitting beside his cot. She told him that he had a fractured patella (kneecap) and that it may take up to eight weeks to heal. He couldn’t take his mind off his kids and wife.

His wife Julie was at home at the time with their two children. Joey was eight and Nate was nine. When Julie got the call about Bryan’s accident, she frantically loaded her kids into the car and sped to the hospital.

It was approximately eight weeks later when Bryan went to his doctor to get his cast removed. It was freedom to Bryan to get his cast removed, but his doctor said it would take two to six months for him to do sports activities. Bryan couldn’t imagine what he would do not practicing for the race after work everyday.

It was six months later in early May when Bryan could finally do sports activities again. The first thing he did was go to the Caribou Rec. Department and jogged two miles. As he felt stronger, Bryan practiced running for the marathon three times a week every week. He became a better paced runner every week. He only had about three months left to practice.

It was late June and Bryan was running with Michael when Michael bet him $5 that he could beat Bryan to the next stop sign. Bryan was thinking in his head that he could never beat Michael in a race. Michael was the fastest guy Bryan had known. The stop sign was about a mile away down the straight narrow backroad they were running on. “Start!” Michael said and they took off running. Michael was in the lead, but not for long. Bryan sprinted as fast as he could way ahead of Michael. He jogged to the stop sign and waited for Michael to catch up. “I did it, I outran Michael!” He chanted to himself for the rest of the day. He told Michael he didn’t need to pay him the money.

Now, it was six a.m. on race day. BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! Bryan’s alarm clock was beeping and Bryan went to his room and turned it off. Bryan was already up and ready to go to the marathon. He had already eaten his breakfast, brushed his teeth and he was ready to go.

It was now eight a.m. race time. He was already at the starting line doing his stretches. The race was 26.2 miles long and was two 13.1 mile laps. Everyone that he was racing was there at the starting line even Michael. Boom! The starting gun went off, and the race had started. An hour had past and he was almost done his first lap. He passed the finish line 30 minutes later and was done his first lap. He took a drink out of his water bottle and started his next lap. He was really exhausted. Another hour and a half passed and he could see the finish line ahead. He sprinted ahead of the person in front of him to the finish line. His kids and wife were waiting for him at the finish line. He passed the finish line. A race official told him he came in second place and was going to Boston for the Boston Marathon. “We’re going to Boston!” he and his family all said at once.

James Cherrier, grade 5
Teague Park School
Mrs. Duncan

AROOSTOOK COUNTY HERITAGE

Survival Guide to Living in Northern Maine

Maine has been my home for my entire life. While I was born in the central part of the state, when I was four, we made the long trek up to Caribou, which is where we still reside today. I have always felt lucky to have had the experience of growing up here, but that isn’t to say that there aren’t a few challenges you must overcome (or more realistically, simply learn to live with) when living here. If you’ve recently moved to Northern Maine, or find yourself needing some guidance, this survival guide will be most helpful.

For one, it is very likely that you will catch your first glimpse of winter as early as October or November. The cold chill, and crisp icy breeze, reminds you that a long winter is ready to come your way. Though Maine is known for its vast crops and fields, they are all whisked away by the wintry gusts of wind that take your breath along with it. Since my family and I have lived in Northern Maine for most of our lives, we have learned to cope with the heavy dose of rain, ice, hail, and of course, snow. We have a good handle on how to bundle up for the seemingly endless winters. However, if you live, or have lived, in one of those cities where “cold” is 50 degrees, then you might want to pick up a scarf, hat, and some mittens from your local store. Either that, or you may want to only visit Northern Maine between June and mid-July.

Even though our winters are extremely lengthy up here, we still find ways to have fun during those limitless blizzards and winters. For example, people in Florida might not get to experience the exhilaration and wild feeling that you get when you hit a giant jump on the sledding hill. In mid-air, you feel a gust of the most chilling and bitter wind. It’s frightening, yet delightful, both at once. I live next to a golf course, which provides the perfect place to go tubing in the winter. I am not sure if I am too old to enjoy building snowmen and igloos in my backyard, but I still find it really fun when I put the final piece of the igloo on top, after working on it for the past two days. If you live, or want to live in Northern Maine, you have to be imaginative. Making up games and being able to make the tallest tower in that snowman-building contest is a big part of trying to survive the winter. Maybe our “super tunnel” never quite made it to the neighbor’s yard, but it was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon (not to mention the guarantee of hot chocolate when we return to the heated indoors).

Something you don’t get in the large crowded cities, is the chance to get to know everyone in your town. I can’t remember the last time that I went with my mom or dad to the grocery store (or any store for that matter), and they did not stop and talk to at least two or three people that we know. The promise of a “quick trip” for just a few items often turns into a lengthy parent-teacher conference or a high school reunion with a parent’s old classmate. One time, we were at the store and someone came up to us and said “Hi Alaina. I haven’t seen you since you were a tiny baby!” So just to be polite, because I have no idea who this person was, I said back “Hi! I know, it has been forever!” Apparently, this older woman was my mothers neighbor when she was seven years old. That’s what you get when your parents grew up in the little Northern Maine town that you live in. You know EVERYONE.

Living in Northern Maine can be both a blessing and a curse. For me, it’s the best place to grow up, and there are far more perks than drawbacks. Sure our winters are long, and maybe you can’t go much further than your own front door without running into people you know, but with warm clothes, a good attitude, and a great imagination, you too can survive living in Northern Maine.

Alaina Quinlan, grade 7
Caribou Middle School
Ms. Dow

Animal Tales: It All Started When I Painted My Cat 

Dear BFF,

It all started when l painted my white cat blue. l got in trouble. Then I blamed it on my brother, but I had blue paint on my hands. So, I got grounded for nothing! Okay, maybe one or two things. Not all of it’s my fault!

Next, I had to say sorry to my brother for blaming it on him. I don’t know why. He blames a lot of stuff on me. After that, I had to wash my cat, and that turned out badly. I got a lot of scratches! Then I got so mad and threw a fit. My mom took my Ipod away. That made     me even madder so, I chucked my phone at the wall.

Mom said I had to pay for my phone myself, so I opened a lemonade stand to pay for a new one. One cup of lemonade for 300 bucks if you want one. No one else bought one. I don’t know why. If you want two that’s 600 bucks.

Finally, I truly said sorry to my mom. Then I painted my dog red. That’s why I can’t come to your house.

Love,
Delaney
Delaney Crouch, grade 4
Woodland Consolidated School/Mrs. Landeen

Animal Tales: The Starfish

One wonderful day in Hawaii, a little girl named Anna and her older sister went to the beach. Once they got there, they went swimming. Then Anna saw a starfish. It looked like it was hurt. She picked it up and put it in a bucket so it would stay alive.

They brought it to the Wildlife Center and they said,” We can’t do anything. The best you can do is put it back in the ocean, and hopefully it stays alive.”

That night, they put the starfish in their saltwater aquarium, so it would feel like home.

The next day, it looked like the wound on the starfish was healing. After a couple of weeks, the starfish was healed. Then Anna and her older sister took the starfish to Star Fish Island where starfish live. No one swims there.

People that go there are mostly scientists. They come to see how the starfish live and what their habitats are.

One day, Anna and her sister went back to the beach. Anna saw that same starfish. It was pink and it had beautiful ruffles in the middle of the starfish. It was very pretty. Anna put her goggles on and dove down to see how it was doing.

The starfish was completely fine! Anna was very happy.

After a couple of years, Anna started to love the starfish so much. She even took a picture to remember it when she gets older. She would then be able to picture it in her head. And so she did.

Madison Harris, grade 5
New Sweden School/Mrs. Ross

Fantasy & other Fiction

The New Elemental Warrior 

One sunny day in Elesville, four friends named Bella, Ethan, Carrie, and Zach were at the park discussing their science project for their science class at Elesville Junior High School. “Guys, can you guess what Derek’s and my project is going to be this year?,” asks Zach.

“Let me guess,” Carrie starts. “Is it that volcano that you have been trying to do for a science project since you were in fifth grade? Which you had tried, but failed to do it?” Carrie finishes.

“Wrong,” says Zach. “It’s actually a windmill.”

Ethan starts to laugh, “That’s a really good idea for an eighth grade student.”

“Well, that’s the only idea we had,” says Zach.

“Next time try to think better,” says Ethan. Suddenly, it starts to rain. “Oh man,” says Zach, “Come let’s go to my house.”

“We went to yours last time,” says Ethan. “It’s my turn anyway. Let’s pack up and go.” The four friends pack up and head up to Ethan’s house. When they get there they notice a new looking car in Ethan’s driveway. “I didn’t know mom was having a visitor over today.” The rain unexpectedly stops. “Weird, that never happened before,” says Ethan. Then they finally head inside.

“Oh, hi you guys, meet Miss Ellie,” says Ethan’s mom.

“Well, hello children. Boy, do I have something for you. I have these necklaces. Put them on and you will see something amazing.”

The four friends take the necklaces from Miss Ellie and thank her. She then leaves.

“I wonder what’s going to happen,” says Ethan. “Well, whatever it is your parents are on their way.”

While they wait, they have a snack. Bella’s mom arrives to pick up the girls and they leave with her. The boys finish their snacks. After they clean up, they go upstairs. The boys head into Ethan’s room.

“Wow!” says Zach. “This is the first time I’ve seen your room neat.”

“That’s very true,” says Ethan. “My mom says I have to clean my room everyday now. I am planning not to.”

“Well, duh… cause you’re a boy,” says Zach.

A half hour later, Ethan’s mom calls upstairs. “Boys, I am going out to do some shopping. I am leaving you guys behind. Keep an ear out for the phone. Zach, your mom might call.”

“I am thirsty,” says Ethan. The two boys head down stairs to get a drink. They each get their glass of water, and they sit down. The boys drink in silence until something amazing happens.

“Ugh, too warm,” says Zach.

“I will put ice in it then,” says Ethan. But just as he touches the glass, the water freezes up. Ethan looks at the glass and screams.

“Ethan, calm down,” says Zach. “I think I know why it’s frozen.” Zach starts, “But don’t scream. I think the necklaces Miss Ellie gave us have powers and you have the power of ice,” says Zach.

Ethan says, “Well, if that’s true, IT’S AWESOME!” Soon the weather clears up. The boys get dressed and head outside.

Ethan says, “Want to play spin tag? You’re it.” Zach agrees and as he starts to spin, Ethan starts running, but then he stops when he hears a loud whoosh.

“AH” screams Ethan. “Zach, you have the power of storm because you’re like a tornado,” shouts Ethan. “Really?” shouts Zach. Zach stops spinning all of a sudden. Zach says “we’ve got to call the girls.” The boys run inside to the phone.

“I get to call them” says Ethan. Carrie answers the phone. “Hi,” says Ethan over the phone, “we have a surprise.”

“What is it?” asks Carrie. “The necklaces Miss Ellie gave us…” starts Ethan. “Well, they have powers,” says Ethan.

“AWESOME, ” says Carrie. “Let me tell Bella, okay.” A few seconds later Carrie is back on the phone and asks, “Well, what powers do you guys have?”

Ethan says, “I have ice and Zach has storm.”

“Well, Bella and I are going to find our powers now. Bye!” says Carrie.

“I am so excited,” Bella says. “I am getting cold; let’s make a fire.”

When the girls get to the living room Carrie says, “You go get more wood while I will stay here and wait.”

While Bella leaves to get the wood, Carrie sits down and waits. Carrie goes over to the fireplace. There were just coals left without much heat. Carrie rubs her hands over the coals. Just then a spark falls from her hands and a fire starts. Carrie screams, “I HAVE FIRE POWER.”

“Now let’s find my power,” says Bella.

“I think it’s warm enough; let’s go outside,” suggests Carrie.

When they get outside, Bella says, “Wow, it’s beautiful right now, but it would be more beautiful with flowers…” All of a sudden flowers grow. “I can’t believe it!” says Bella, ”I have the power of earth.”

Carrie’s mom calls saying, “Girls, we are going to Ethan’s house. Miss Ellie wants to talk to you guys.”

When they get to Ethan’s house, they see the boys and Miss Ellie waiting for them.

Miss Ellie says, “You know how you said you had the necklaces and you discovered they had special powers. That’s because you’re the next generation of the Elemental Warriors.”

“Really?” the friends say all at the same time.

“Yes. Surprise!” says Miss Ellie. “Now you must keep your powers a secret and never reveal them.”

“We understand,” the friends say. “we will only use our powers to defeat evil.”

Morgan Dube, grade 7
New Sweden School
Mrs. Spooner

Family and Friends

Better Place

It’s all my fault. I should have been there. I should have told her not to do it. It’s all because of me. I sit, staring at my fingers, trying not to cry. I’m zoning out, but I can still hear the pastor talking. Talking about how she was loved, and how she was a good student. Then I hear my name.

I froze. My heart pounding, my hands sweating. I slowly stand up, not making eye contact with anyone. I make my way to the podium and start.

“Um, I’ve known Rachel for a long time. She was the first one I connected with when I first moved here,” I say fumbling on my words. “She was the best friend I could ever hope for. She, she…” I started crying. “I’m sorry,” I say, and bolted toward the bathroom.

I lock the door and slide my back against the wall to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Why did it have to be her? Why not me? She could have stayed, be loved, maybe not from everyone,but from me, that’s all that matters!” I say while slamming my fist on the floor.

I hear a knock on the door.

“Kenzie, KENZIE! Come out here. The funeral is over. We are going home,” my mom said.

I walk out slowly. Wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. As we walk to the car my mom looks at me and sighs.

“Sweetheart, it’s going to be okay. You will get through this,” she told me sympathetically.

I look at her. Her smiling face. But I know on the inside she wants to cry as much as I do. I put my hand on the handle of the car.

“Thanks mom,” I say opening the door and climbing in. Most of the ride was silent besides a few sniffles from my mom.

We arrive in our driveway. I climb out and go inside into my bedroom. I look around. I never noticed how many pictures I had of her in here, well until she wasn’t here. I toss my bag on my bed. I grab my phone and go through my pictures. As I look through, I see the latest picture I took with her. He dark red hair blowing in the wind, her emerald eyes glistening in the sun. She didn’t think she was beautiful, but I knew she was. I kept staring at the picture, for how long, I don’t know.

“Kenzie, mom has been telling you to get ready for bed for like five minutes. Geez, open up your ears,” my older brother yelled at me. He thinks he can yell at me because he is older.

“I am! Gosh, just go back downstairs or something,” I told him while pointing downstairs. I shut my door and make my way to the dresser. I grab a pair of p.j. shorts and a sweatshirt. I change and put my clothes in my hamper.

I prepare myself for bed and pick up my bag, almost everything fell out. As I was putting things back in bag, I discover the speech I was supposed to say at Rachel’s funeral. I read it over and over. I can feel the warm tears running down my face. I wipe my eyes with the sleeve of my sweatshirt and place the the paper on my nightstand. I see the plush cat I was going to put with her, in the coffin before she was buried.

She is going to get that plush cat. I plug in my phone, and turn off my light. Tomorrow, I think to myself. She will get it tomorrow.

I wake up to the barking of my dog, Marley. Probably barking at the TV again. I get out of bed, take a shower and do my morning routine. I grab my phone and the plush cat and head down stairs.

“Good morning sweetheart,” my mom said to me while sliding a plate of pancakes in front of me. I eat my breakfast and put my plate in the dishwasher.

“Hey mom,” “Yes sweetie,” “Can we go to Rachel’s grave today?” I asked. My mom got silent. “Uh, sure. Go put on your shoes,” she told me.

I put on my sandals and walked out to the car. There wasn’t really any talking. Just soft muffling from the radio. When we got there, my mom was starting to get out of the car.

“No mom, it’s okay. I can go by myself,” I told her. I got out of the car and walked to her grave. I guess her family already put down some flowers. I breathe slowly, trying not to start bawling. I put down the stuffed cat in the middle of some flowers. I put my hand in my pocket and take out my speech from the funeral. I never got to finish it. I place it down also and put the plush cat on top so it won’t fly away.

I turn around and slowly walk back to car. I know it’s hard without her, but I know she is in a better place now, I hope.

Ceairra Orr, grade 8
Van Buren
Elementary School
Mrs. Berube

Eleven

Great, I’m already late. Of course the first day of college there has to be a traffic jam. Why are there so many cars and why are they going so slow! Don’t they know that some people need to be places! I passed exit 10 and remembered that I’m supposed to take the next exit, 11. My body started to feel funny and tingle but I just assumed that I was nervous. I merged to the right because my exit was coming up and I looked at the clock and it was 11:11. Then I looked up and saw exit 11. All of the sudden my heart dropped. I knew it was more than just being nervous. Something was wrong. I jerked the wheel to the right and pulled over. I grabbed my phone and dialed 911. The pain just got worse and worse like I was slowly being punctured and my body began to become numb.

“911 what’s your emergency?” the operator asked in a friendly voice.

“I need help,” I yelped. “I think I’m having a heart attack and I’m having terrible chest pains!”

“It’s going to be okay. Just take deep breaths,” she replied. “I need you too stay on the line and tell me your location.”

I explained where I was and I bursted into tears. This could be the end. The operator knew I was in trouble and she tried to keep me calm. Everything was blurry and all I could see was the time 11:11 and the exit 11 flicker in my mind.

I only remember bits and pieces of what happened. I saw a man bring me on a stretcher into an ambulance. Then I remember being in the hospital and my parents saying, “it’s gonna be alright Riley.”

I finally woke up and I felt numb. They had given me some kind of medicine to help the pain in my chest and it helped a lot. I had oxygen tubes in my nose which helped my breathing but it still felt like I was breathing through a straw. They were doing many tests on me and when the doctor got the results, his eyes widened. My parents and I were immediately nervous.

“We need immediate heart surgery,” the doctor said in an urgent voice. “Quick! Someone go grab Dr. Pentalli!”

A minute later surgeons filled the room and I saw my parents being shoved out. I turned to my left and saw a man suited up in a doctors uniform put a shot into my arm. That was the last thing I could remember.

I saw a bright shining light. I felt myself gravitating toward it. Everything seemed like a sci-fi movie and I had no idea where I was. I hear a voice in my head saying “clear!” Then I start falling and falling for what seemed like forever.

I woke up with a jerk breathing heavily and the first thing I saw was the clock that said 11:11. I realized the voice saying “clear” was the doctor reviving me. I understood what had happened.

The doctors said that I was lucky to live. I had some rare heart disease and I was the only survivor. All of the other victims of the disease had died when the heart surgery failed and I was free of the disease now, although, I did die for 11 seconds. It was said to be a miracle and it was all over the news. What I didn’t understand was all the 11’s I had seen over the course of the day. It was 11:11 as I was turning on to exit 11 when I had a heart attack. I died for 11 seconds and came back to life at 11:11. It all was unreal to me but I never forgot that day. I started to live my life to the fullest because I realized that you aren’t ever guaranteed life tomorrow.

Sophie Rioux, grade 7
Van Buren Elementary School
Mrs. Berube

People and Places

One day Lola White, a middle school girl, was walking to school with Kate Williams. The two girls often took way too long to get to school. Kate a rather sassy girl and was kind of mean to Lola.

Lola knew a boy named Jason. Lola really liked him, but Kate always talked about it.

“So, Lola are you going to the dance with Jason?” asked Kate.

“Stop Kate.”

“Are you?”

“You know I like him and I just wish you were not so up in my face about it!” Lola replied.

“Fine then I’ll just ask him for you Lola!”

“Kate I’m done putting up with your attitude! Good day Miss Williams!” yelled Lola.

The two girls took two different routes to get to school. During school the girls stayed away from each other.

Everyone was gathered around Kate. Lola went to ask Georgia Wilson, one of Lola’s friends what was going on.

“Kate is moving next week to New Jersey. I thought you would know?” said Georgia. Lola told her what happened.

“I’m so sorry Lola.”

“Thanks G.”

That night Lola told her parents what happened.

“I’m so sorry honey.” Lola’s parents said together.

Two weeks went by fast, Kate was gone and Lola felt sorry for herself. Now it was close to the Christmas Dance.

“Honey, do you want to call Kate and ask her how things are going and tell her about you and Jason.” Mom said.

“I guess so, but I’m not telling her about Jason. That is the reason we got into a fight.”

“Here’s the phone.”

“Hello, this is Lola, Lola White. May I speak to Kate?”

“Hey Kate, how’s it going there? Look I’m sorry about the fight.”

“It’s OK. Tomorrow I’m going to go to the park with Don, my new boyfriend.”

“Cool.” Lola hung up.

Two days later an emergency call came in. “Lola, this Kate’s mom. Honey, Kate is in the hospital with cancer and she wants you to come down and see her. May I talk to your mom?”

“Sure.” A half an hour later Lola was on her way to see Kate.

“Hi Lola, Kate will be gone, in the morning.” Kate’s dad said.

“You mean out of this place, or passed away gone?” Lola said.

“Honey we mean passed away gone.”

Lola ran in to see Kate.

“Hi, thank you for being the best friend ever. When we had the fight I was trying to tell you I was moving and I wanted to give you these earrings …” Those were her last words.

“No! Please come back, please, please. I am sorry I never listened to you!” Lola cried feeling sorry for herself.

“Honey, we are so sorry. She won’t come back.” Mrs. Williams said

“Let’s go get some ice cream.” said Lola’s mom. Lola did not want ice cream, she wanted Kate.

Years passed and Lola felt more sorry for herself. “I miss you, now I will be with you again “ Lola said before she passed away of cancer also.

The moral of this story is never underestimate your friends, for they could surprise you.

Phoebe Solomon, grade 4
New Sweden
Mrs. Ross

Who Would Win?

Once there was a girl who did not like her family. She didn’t like her family because they were very silly. She would like a book to read when they were messing around. She had brown hair when their hair was crazily colored. Her name was Sue, while their names were very crazy like Peanut, her brother. The only similarity with her family was their eye color. Sue had one best friend, Emily. Emily had a crush on Joey the coolest guy in school.

One day Emily said, “Why are you so different from your family Sue?”

“I don’t know, “Sue replied, “But now I have one more difference, I need glasses!”

Emily giggled, “I think you would look good in glasses.”

“What else would you say, you have glasses yourself,” Sue replied.

When they got to school Emily looked around nervously like any moment they would get scared. Emily was doing this because there was a school bully! The bully liked to bully Sue the most because of how she talked. When the bully, Luke, saw Emily he jumped out at her and scared her. Emily screamed! Luke said, “Sue, if you joined a pirate crew they would make you walk the plank because you can’t say arr! “Well, that would not be a concern because I can swim,” Sue replied. Luke made a big smirk. “Well,” Luke said, “Bet you can’t beat me in a fight!” Sue paused, she thought, then she said, “Ok I accept the challenge!” Luke smiled, “Good see you after school on the basketball court.”

After school Sue and Emily were walking to the schools bus. “Hey Emily, how are you going to get to the court? Sue asked. “Well my parents are cool with everything isn’t that cool?” “Sort of,” Sue explained, “Would they be cool with you asking to jump off a bridge?” Emily replied to her when they were on the bus, “First of all I’m too pretty to die and second of all that’s crazy!” “Ok, ok your prettiness,“Sue giggled. Later we got to Sue’s house, “Well bye.” Sue said, then she left. Sue waved at the school bus while it was leaving. When the bus left Sue rushed into her house, her brother, Peanut, saw her and asked, “Where are you going?” “None of your business” Sue said harshly, then she ran upstairs. Sue did feel bad doing that, but knew that her brother could not take anything seriously. Sue was getting ready for the fight, when she was ready she ran down the stairs and out of the house.

Sue finally arrived at the court. Emily and Luke were already there. “Ok,“Luke said, “Let’s settle this.” Sue got on the court. “Oh and Sue” Luke said, “I brought a friend with me.” Joey the coolest guy in school appeared. Sue saw Emily faint out of the corner of her eye. She had just enough time to catch her. When Sue caught Emily she laid her on the bench, then Joey sat next to Emily.

Sue turned back to Luke and said, “Let’s just get this over with.” Luke replied, “Ladies go first.” Sue questioned him, “Are you sure you want to do that?” Luke responded, “That would be the polite thing to do.” In the middle of polite Sue hit Luke in the gut! Luke had no time to react.

Finally Luke surrendered, “You win, I surrender you were right.” Sue smiled and went over to Emily and she said, “What happened, did you win?” Then Emily saw Joey again. Joey caught her in time because she fainted again!

Finally Joey, Sue and Emily all became friends. Emily and Joey, well that’s another story.

Jazmine Robinson, grade 5
Teague Park Elementary
Mrs. LeVasseur 

SMILE

When you look at a friend

you see a smile like no other,

a smile only a good person would understand.

You have your own smile

like no other to love and cherish,

something you will never lose.

When you smile I see gratefulness and joy.

I hope you never lose your prize smile.

Emma Christie, grade 4
Teague Park School
Mrs. Theriault

In the Blink of an Eye

I was six the first time I ever had a bloody nose. I know this because I remember laying down in bed that night and waking up in the morning with blood on my pillow. My mother told me I had ran into a doorknob, but I knew for a fact that wasn’t the case. For my eighth birthday my cake tasted kinda funky. I know this because I went to bed that night feeling a little off. My mom told me it was probably just a headache. But I knew that wasn’t the case. My mother was a liar. She’d lie her way through anything. If I was injured and it had been her fault she’d lie and say it wasn’t. At the age of ten I was pulled out of class because of my behavior.

“Charlie,” my teacher asked me. “Are you depressed?”

I had no idea what “depressed” was at the age of ten so I asked.

“Umm, Mrs. Jackie, what’s ‘depressed’?”

“Charlie, are you sad?” I thought long and hard on why she would ask if I was sad. I figured maybe she heard me crying in the bathroom that day because I didn’t understand how to multiply, or maybe it was because she knew I liked the girl a grade above me and would write her love notes but never actually give them to her.

“Mrs. Jackie! Why would I be sad? I am so happy! Can’t you tell?” I told my teacher with a huge open mouthed smile on my face. I didn’t think about this day until I turned fourteen. My mom left cigarettes in my bedroom one morning and I figured she had just accidentally left them there. But they were set out on my dresser with a lighter set next to them. I went out into the hallway which had had bottles, cigarette butts, and clothing spread across the floor, to see where my parents were. They didn’t seem to be home so I ran back to my bedroom and sat near the cigarettes. It felt like my mother had left them there for me, but I wasn’t the type of kid to make bad choices. I had once learned in school that you could die from smoking a single cigarette. That’s what all the students would say anyway. So I didn’t smoke it. Instead, I went for a short walk downtown. We lived in a small neighborhood but it didn’t take long to get downtown so I always just walked. Almost everyday I’d pass a garden. And almost everyday there was the same girl in that garden, Annabelle. I knew that was her name because I overheard it one day walking by.

“Hello Charlie,” Annabelle said tugging me into the garden.

“Excuse me? How do you know me?”

“You walk by here basically everyday. So, I asked some people about you.” I don’t know why I’d ask how she knew me because I knew her as well. When you see someone every day you get curious about them. Annabelle and I talked for while and she told me why she was always at the garden. She said it was her happy place. That’s when she got sad, she came here and admired all the flowers and different kind of plants. I thought it was quite beautiful actually. Most people these days would play video games or break into buildings to get their mind away from sadness.

As weeks went on she would tug me away into the garden if I had walked by. We’d sit in that garden and talk for hours. The flowers were her distraction. And she was my distraction. We started opening up to each other, telling awesome and not so awesome childhood stories. She explained how when she was seven her mom chose drugs over her and sadly, I could relate. Although my mother never physically left me, she definitely did mentally. Annabelle told me she was depressed. I again thought back to the time my teacher had asked me if I was depressed. Annabelle explained her depression in a creative way. She said how you can change being depressed if you have motivation. Annabelle and I became really close and we started to consider each other best friends.

“How are your parents Charlie?” I had talked to Annabelle about my parents before but never much. I had thought that a lot of people have had bad home lives, and I was just in the mixture.

“They’re fine. I don’t see them much really. They’re always out at parties or passed out drunk on the couch.” Annabelle felt bad. She hugged me for awhile and told me things would be okay. Annabelle gave me purpose. I had always felt meaningless and as if I was nothing until I met her. She had taught me all the names of flowers. Iris, freesia, aster, chrysanthemum, gerbera, statice, quince, rose spray. She made me fall in love with flowers. Everything about flowers.

Months went on and it seemed she was coming to the garden less and less.

“Charlie,” Annabelle said in a sort of whisper. “we need to talk.”.

“Yes Annabelle?”

“I’m not going to be coming here anymore.”

“Why?” I instantly became worried.

“My father wants to move to a big city. Wants me to see things before I go.”

“Annabelle, you can’t just leave.” I was yelling at this point. “You can’t just leave me. And what do you mean ‘before you go’? Please explain!”

“Charlie, goodbye.” I was more confused than anything at this point. She glanced at me once more, and with a blink of an eye she was gone. I went back home filling my brain with all kinds of thoughts. And from there, the days were just days again. I visited the garden daily, but it was just so different.

I was sitting in my bedroom one day as my father walked in with the phone. He handed it to me and I put it to my ear.

“Hello …”

“Yes, Charlie. I am very sorry to inform you that Annabelle has passed away. Her funeral will be held just South of Boston, Massachusetts. We will send a postcard in the mail for direct directions if you do wish to attend.” I sat there in shock. I couldn’t believe it. It was incredibly hard with her moving out of nowhere. But my best friend … gone! Actually gone. I couldn’t breathe at this point. I was drowning in my own tears. And for a single moment I had thought about what she would want me to do. She would want me to go to the garden. To learn a new flower. To find happy things, and continue to be happy. So that’s what I did.

I went to the garden every single day and wouldn’t let not even a second in the garden be dull. I pictured her with me with that bright smile of hers and the way she scrunched her nose when she’d laugh. I loved her. And although it’d be hard to move on from something so tragic, I wouldn’t let it ruin me because she wouldn’t let it ruin me either.

Haley Melanson, grade 8
Caribou Middle School
Mrs. Knight

Fantasy & other Fiction

The Elevator – Chapter I

“Was it just a dream? That one dreadful day….’’

I looked up to see Carol with her long stringy braid blowing into her face as she looked up at the substantial hotel, booming with laughter and conversation. Jane opened the trunk only to find clothes scattered everywhere. “Really Josh, you can’t even pack a bag!” she sneered. Once we had gathered Josh’s stuff we entered the hotel.

It had a nice lobby with very high ceilings and a huge chandelier. “They claimed it was crystal, but as cheap as we got our room, I really doubt anything in this place is crystal,” Jane mumbled as she handed the rude girl at the front desk her credit card.

Jane walked into the elevator as Carol trotted behind her. Of course, Josh ran behind them tumbling into the elevator on top of Carol, Carol pushed him off of her, and the back of his head hit the button panel. “Did you even click the right button?” Carol said sarcastically.

“I didn’t click anything, I was pushed!” Josh sneered.

“Uh guys…” Josh and Carol looked over to see Jane mumbling th-th-thirteen to herself as she pointed a weary finger at the 13th button lit up on the button panel. She stopped cold as she sank down to the floor and sobbed.

“I knew she was superstitious but I didn’t know she would cry,” James whispered. As the elevator started at a tremendous speed, Jane cried even harder and I struggled not to puke. Carol was screaming and it felt like my head was going to explode!

After what felt like a never-ending horror movie, it stopped. The elevator doors were no longer the glassy silver metal they were before. They were now antique gold doors that resembled chain-link fence filled with cobwebs.

We left the elevator. I now wish we hadn’t because the only thing we could see now was darkness – just darkness. We finally saw a light and heard laughter. We had no choice but to go, the wall behind us was literally pushing us closer and closer to the laughter… closer to the unknown. We got so close I could see the markings on the door, a circle with a triangle inside it, the points just poking through the circle’s edges. I thought I would be crushed just as the door swung open and a pale hand with a lab coat sleeve pulled me in. I entered the room with a blinding white light.

I don’t know where I am, but I do know I am all-alone now, my brother and sister are nowhere to be found, and I must escape from the man in the lab coat.

Jessica Leavitt, grade 6
Connor School
Mrs. Lugdon

Billy Bob Buckaroo

Billy Bob Buckaroo, a cowboy, was on his tractor plowing the fields. He saw his front door open. He drove to his house. Nothing was there. He wanted to know what was there, but he couldn’t find anything. He heard footsteps. He got his bat and looked around the house.

Suddenly he heard someone drive away. He chased after him. He had Billy’s truck. He called the cops on the guy. The guy got pulled over and went to jail for stealing a car the year before. He stole Billy’s truck!

The cops chased him to the lake. He got on a boat with a hole in it, so that boat was getting filled with water in the middle of the lake. Billy got on another boat to go out and try to Satan, but Billy had a hole in his boat too. They both try to get back to shore, but only Billy made it. The bad guy got saved by a lifeboat.

Billy went back to his farm to feed his animals and plant more crops to have potatoes and corn for his family and dogs. He got back on his tractor and went back home to go to sleep. This time he will take the keys out of his truck.

Jesse Taggett, grade 5
Woodland
Consolidated School
Mrs. Davis

Werewolf at the Door

One day as I was walking home from my friend’s house I heard a slight howl. I thought it was just the wind.

When I got home my parents and siblings were watching the news. That time we all heard it except it did not stop. Everyone had a quizzical look on their face. It just got louder and louder until it stopped. Then we heard a loud knock on the door. After one minute, we heard a slam of the door hitting the floor. We all hid under the couch.

I could see that the creature was a Werewolf. He had russet brown fur with a few spots of pearly white. In a low rough voice he said, “Come out, come out wherever you are.” Then the Werewolf lifted the couch. We screamed. He howled for some reason. We all ran, but he was faster. So we all jumped and did a 360 spiral kick. We defeated the Werewolf.

For a month after that I carried a knife with me. The day after I gave up the knife I got attacked again. Luckily I had a secret knife. So I stabbed him and killed him. No Werewolf ever bothered me, nor my family again.

Lilly Johnson Roy, grade 5
Connor School
Mrs. Lugdon

The MonsterUnder My Bed

There was once a boy who had a monster under his bed. This boy would feed the monster garbage and cake every night before he went to bed. This way the monster would gobble that up instead of eating him. But alas the monster stopped craving garbage and cake. On occasion he desired meat and bones. The boy would raid the fridge looking for steak to feed the monster.

After a while, the monster grew tired of living under the boy’s bed. The monster vacated the bed and moved to the closet. Then the monster started eating the boy’s shirts because it was craving a new food source. The monster continued to watch the boy sleep at night.

The boy began to have enough of the scary monster eating his clothes and scaring him so he told his parents the events that had happened with the monster. The parents did not believe the boy. However, they were upset about the trash under their child’s bed. The scent of rotten eggs and meat filled the child’s room. This made the parents mad. The boy began to explain why he was stuffing garbage under his bed. It was to keep the monster away. However, his persuasive argument did not work.

The boy’s parents had decided to take the garbage away. They left it outside for the garbage man to pick up. The boy was now frantically looking for something else to feed the monster. He found a bin of old baby toys in one of the corners of his room. He crossed his fingers and hoped that the monster would accept the new food and not eat him.

The boy lived to see another day and found out that monsters eat toys. Sometimes at night when the boy fed the monster a hard plastic toy it would make a horrible crunching noise. The boy was getting sick and tired of the monster living in his house. So he started searching for ways to poison the monster. He began to put toxic things in it’s food. One night the boy left a pie with bleach in it for the monster. The monster died a few days after eating the bleach. The boy was shocked that cleaning products had killed the monster. After the monster died, the boy promised to keep his room nice and tidy forever.

Colby Poitras, grade 5
Limestone
Community School
Mrs. McGough

Feelings, Dreams and Reflections

How to Survive Divorced Parents

If you are reading this you probably have divorced parents, or your parents are divorcing. Divorce can be harder on some compared to others. Usually it will take you a few weeks to gather all your thoughts about what is going on. But, the most important thing is always remembering you are not alone in this, there are counselors, friends, family, and others willing to help you get through it. This guide will give you some tips to help you survive your parents divorce.

Remember it is not your fault that your parents got divorced. I thought is was my fault for a year after my parents got divorced. There were other reasons, and things that happened when you were not around. After a while it will be easier to realize it wasn’t your fault, but for the other reasons. Sometimes it may seem easier if your parents actually tell you the reason, but they probably won’t until you’re old enough to understand what happened behind closed doors. Just remember it is not your fault your parents got divorced.

Privacy you’re going to want a lot of it when your parents first get divorced, just a tip I’d invest in a journal or notebook to write your thoughts and feelings, let them pour out into that book. While you want all the privacy you can get remember your parents are there to talk to whenever you need them to talk to or to lend a shoulder to cry on.

After the divorce is final you most likely will have to have a schedule which maps out when you will be with your mom and when you will be with your dad. When you are with your mom you will live where she lives, and when you are with your dad you will live where your dad is. At first it may seem terrible, but eventually you will get into the swing of things and get used to it. It’s very hard at first but after awhile you will probably enjoy switching back and forth.

Your parents may tell you they will never get married or fall in love again. But, eventually they will and then you will end up with step-parents. They really aren’t that bad, you may feel that it’s not right that someone is replacing your real parents. But after a while it’s nice to have a mom and dad at both homes even though they aren’t your real parents. Sometimes you get unlucky and not get along, or like your step-parents but if you give it a chance you might love them like a mom or dad, and they will love you like you are their own child.

With step-parents sometimes comes step-brothers and/or step-sisters. If you are an only child, it’s always nice to have other kids around. You may end up living with your step-siblings at some point, and in time you will warm up to each other, and make amazing memories. You will even argue with them like real siblings.

Holidays, like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter are going to be different but there are some advantages to this. For example, at Christmas you will get presents from your step-parents, and your real parents, so it’s like double the presents. The holiday seasons were very hard for me at first, I was really upset that both my parents weren’t there. On my first Christmas my parents did Christmas together, which made things easier for me. Now having a parent missing at holidays feels normal to me. The other part of the Holidays with divorced parents is sometimes you have to eat two holiday dinners, remember to eat light at both places, so you don’t hurt anyone’s feelings.

In conclusion, divorced parents are hard but I think that if you follow these tips it will help you at least a little bit to get through it. Just remember you’re not alone there are people all around you to help, your family, friends, and others who have been through it and know what you are going through.

Kacie Haney, grade 7
Caribou Middle School
Ms. Dow

Claire’s Journey

Once upon a time, a white, glistening reindeer named Claire was born at the North Pole. She lived there with her mother and her father. Their names were Snowflake and Prince. It was the 13th of December — the day that Claire was born. Claire slept, as the snow danced across the gray sky. A chill was in the air. Soon, after a few minutes, Claire opened one eye. Then she opened the other eye. She finally stood up.

“Hi, Mommy!” she said cheerfully. She burst out of her warm home! She ran out to her father.

“Hi, Daddy!” she yelled.

“Hi, Claire”, he answered.

“I’m going to play, but I’ll be back later”, she called to her Dad, as she was leaving. She strolled out into the beautiful snowy day.“La, la, la, la”, Claire sang. Soon, she happened upon a flying contest. Claire waited her turn in the line behind some of the other reindeer. When it was her turn, she soared into the sky, farther and faster than any of the others.

“Whoa!” they all shouted. Claire beamed with pride at what she had done.

“Good job, Claire!!” agreed Santa. “I’ll be sure to put you on our sleigh team,” he said. Claire flew off with a WHOOSH!

Time passed and soon it was Christmas Eve. “Oh, no!!” cried one of the elves. “There’s a horrible wind and terrifying mist in our way. What are we going to do?” shouted the elf.

Suddenly, there was a beam of light that shone right next to Claire.

“Rudolph!” yelled Claire. Claire and Rudolph had met earlier at the flying competition. They were friends and hugged each other.

Santa smiled. “That’s it!!” he bellowed. “Claire and Rudolph will will lead the team this year. We need a bright light – so that’s Rudolph, and we need a strong, fast flyer – so that is Claire. Elves, get the sleigh and the reindeer prepared. We have some delivering to do!!”

In about five hours, Santa and his crew had been busy and delivered every present all over the world. On that Christmas day, they had a big party at the North Pole in honor of Rudolph and Claire. It was the best day ever for them! Many years later, Claire and Rudolph got married and had a baby. They named their baby Caramel. Their daughter had a pink, glowing nose, and flew REALLY fast!! She led all of the other reindeer that year. Claire, Rudolph, and Caramel lived happily ever after.

Cianna Butler, grade 4
Limestone
Community School
Mrs. King

The Smallest Coffin 

 The smallest coffins are the heaviest. Most think the opposite literally, but I know it’s true. Nothing is as heart breaking as the sight of a young life who is no more. Children that never really had the chance to live their lives to the fullest. Never had the chance to grow up, go to college, fall in love. The sight of those coffins are sickening, to think of all the wonderful things that young mind could have done. Maybe they would have become an amazing teacher or even the next president of the United States. Now we will never know.

If there’s such a thing as God why would he take these sweet, innocent children away from their loving families. Leaving the child’s parents heartbroken knowing that they will never get to see their child’s smile, hear their laugh again, or see what a great person they could have become. They will never know because that life is gone forever. Just like my little sister.

She was four years old and was just like any other little girl. She was excited, energetic, and most of all happy. It happened on just another ordinary day. I woke up at seven a.m. to go to school. My father always drives me, and my little sister Jillian (I call her Jilly) loves to ride along and hug me goodbye as I get out of the car. We made it to school, the last day before summer vacation. The day was completely normal, until second period when I was called down to the office. I believed that it was no big deal, I hadn’t done anything wrong, I was a straight A student. But when I saw my mother sitting in the office crying, my heart sunk. I knew something terrible had happened.

It was a car crash. Of all the things it could have been, it was a car crash. After I had walked into the school that morning my dad started the drive home. My house was only five minutes away from the school. On the way back though a car with a drunk driver swerved into the side of our car completely crushing the back seats, which was exactly where Jillian was sitting. The ambulance attendant said her body was so mutilated that it was unidentifiable. My dad survived the crash and lost his memory but Jilly didn’t, and now she’s gone … forever.

So now you know what happened to Jillian. I only have one question for you. Why couldn’t it have been me instead? A four-year-old little girl is dead because she wanted to give her big sister a hug goodbye as she left for school. How is that right? Jilly was a happy girl. She was kind to everyone she ever met, and always tried to cheer someone up with a hug when they were crying. Now I’m crying and I don’t have her hugs to make me smile.

Kerri Triplett, grade 8
Limestone
Community School
Mrs. Keaton

Veteran

Venture out into unknown areas, unaware if they’ll return

Everyday is a mystery, if you’ll get to see your family again, unknown

The battles are harsh, and the pain unbearable

Every step takes them closer to battle, every breath closer to their last

Rights. That’s why they have fought, and when they are fighting, and why they will fight

Army bases filled with weapons and bombs, ready to be used

Never to know if they will make it home, never to know if their family is okay, never to know if they will win the battle.

Emma Burby, grade 8
Caribou Middle School
Ms. Dow