Thursday, March 11, 2010
Thank you, Friends of Valencia After School - we made it!
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SUSTAINING DONORS WHO HELPED US MAKE IT TO THE END OF THE YEAR!
Valencia School $1500
Valencia Home and School Club $1000
Anonymous Donor, Fresno, CA $1000
Anonymous Donor, Aptos, CA $500
G. Vuppuluri, $500
Chuck White $35
Anonymous Donor,Palo Alto, CA $100
Anonymous Valencia family $300
Anonymous Valencia family $125
Anonymous Valencia family $100
Click here to download our DONOR LETTER, thank you!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Six-Word Memoirs - 5th grade
Six-Word Memoirs activity excerpted/ inspired by the book:
Best American Non-Required Reading 2007, edited by Dave Eggers
These were hilarious!
Children were given examples:
"Wanted world, got world plus chocolate."
"Bad brakes discovered at high speed."
"Wasn't born a redhead; fixed that."
"Lucky in love, unlucky in metabolism."
"Never really finished anything except cake."
"I managed not to destroy anything."
____________________________________________________________________
And came up with..
____________________________________________________________________
"I dream of playing professional football." - Allan
"Cat died right before my birthday." - Margarita
"I watch TV but dream big." - Mariela
"Love for chocolate and watermelon lasts." - Daniela
"I like to go to Mexico." - Sofia
"Hit brothers, but I always win." - Andrea
"Still like to eat spaghetti noodles." - Uriel
"I like sushi and chocolate milk." - Adrian
"Can run as fast as you." - Patrick
Best American Non-Required Reading 2007, edited by Dave Eggers
These were hilarious!
Children were given examples:
"Wanted world, got world plus chocolate."
"Bad brakes discovered at high speed."
"Wasn't born a redhead; fixed that."
"Lucky in love, unlucky in metabolism."
"Never really finished anything except cake."
"I managed not to destroy anything."
____________________________________________________________________
And came up with..
____________________________________________________________________
"I dream of playing professional football." - Allan
"Cat died right before my birthday." - Margarita
"I watch TV but dream big." - Mariela
"Love for chocolate and watermelon lasts." - Daniela
"I like to go to Mexico." - Sofia
"Hit brothers, but I always win." - Andrea
"Still like to eat spaghetti noodles." - Uriel
"I like sushi and chocolate milk." - Adrian
"Can run as fast as you." - Patrick
Thanksgiving Day Celebrations With Our Families
I usually look forward to spending time with my family. I also dine with my Aunt Doris. My favorite food is the turkey. I will be in Los Angeles with my Aunt or at my Grandma's. It won't be the same without my Grandpa, he died at age 78. But I will be with my family and we will have fun.
My cousin Angelica comes over and we play and talk about BOYS! It's really fun until my two annoying little cousins come and ruin all the fun and then my mother starts yelling and saying, "You should play with them!" YEAH, RIGHT! Like I'd play with an eight year-old and a six year-old.
- Noemi, 5th grade
I make tamales and eat them, then we go with our friends to eat more tamales! I look forward to making the tamales because I make great tamales. My favorite thing to eat is turkey, chicken, and tamales. I might be at my Mom's friend's house and I will be with my family or my friends. Sometimes I am thankful for my friends, best friends and my nicest, best friend Angel.
During Thanksgiving I like to give parties because it's a fun thing to do, and I look forward to being able to be nice. My Mom brings the food; she and her friend buy the food ingredients at Mi Pueblo market.
- Kathie, 5th grade
On Thanksgiving, I go to Lake Shasta. I look forward to seeing Uncle Steve, Grandma Bev, Papa, Gamy, Kathy, Aunt Becca, Uncle Eddie, Devon, and maybe Jayden. My favorite food on Thanksgiving is the turkey. and I get to play with Devon, Papa, and Uncle Eddie. Oh, I forgot, I might get to see Great Grampa Tom, and Great Grandma Rosalie. My Grandpa usually cooks the food, and it is awesome.
- Matthew, 6th grade
For Thanksgiving Day, I buy a big turkey and see my friends and family. After they arrive, we all get cookin'! I make cookies or cupcakes and my mom makes a BIG FAT dessert dish! My Dad cooks the turkey while my big sis makes the stuffing. When the guests come, they either help cook or put something on for us to watch while they cook. Since the whole family cooks, you can imagine how big our kitchen is!
I mostly look forward to seeing my family and friends. I also look forward to seeing the huge turkey on the table. I think my dog looks forward to seeing the huge turkey on the table, he looks forward to all of our scraps. My older sis looks forward to sleeping on the couch after all that turkey that she consumes. I love eating turkey again at the end of the day.
My favorite food is either my Mom's coconut cake or my Dad's turkey. My Mom is Brazilian so she makes the best cake ever!
- Dani, 5th grade
I usually go to my Aunt's house for Thanksgiving, but last Thanksgiving we had it at my Dad's house. This Thanksgiving I'm not really sure if we are going to have it at my Dad's house or at my Aunt's. I look forward to spending time with and etaing with my family. My favorite food at Thanksgiving used to be the turkey, but now since I am a Pescatarian it would be any vegetable that's on the table, or the bread, or the mashed potatoes.
- Sam, 6th grade
My cousin Angelica comes over and we play and talk about BOYS! It's really fun until my two annoying little cousins come and ruin all the fun and then my mother starts yelling and saying, "You should play with them!" YEAH, RIGHT! Like I'd play with an eight year-old and a six year-old.
- Noemi, 5th grade
I make tamales and eat them, then we go with our friends to eat more tamales! I look forward to making the tamales because I make great tamales. My favorite thing to eat is turkey, chicken, and tamales. I might be at my Mom's friend's house and I will be with my family or my friends. Sometimes I am thankful for my friends, best friends and my nicest, best friend Angel.
During Thanksgiving I like to give parties because it's a fun thing to do, and I look forward to being able to be nice. My Mom brings the food; she and her friend buy the food ingredients at Mi Pueblo market.
- Kathie, 5th grade
On Thanksgiving, I go to Lake Shasta. I look forward to seeing Uncle Steve, Grandma Bev, Papa, Gamy, Kathy, Aunt Becca, Uncle Eddie, Devon, and maybe Jayden. My favorite food on Thanksgiving is the turkey. and I get to play with Devon, Papa, and Uncle Eddie. Oh, I forgot, I might get to see Great Grampa Tom, and Great Grandma Rosalie. My Grandpa usually cooks the food, and it is awesome.
- Matthew, 6th grade
For Thanksgiving Day, I buy a big turkey and see my friends and family. After they arrive, we all get cookin'! I make cookies or cupcakes and my mom makes a BIG FAT dessert dish! My Dad cooks the turkey while my big sis makes the stuffing. When the guests come, they either help cook or put something on for us to watch while they cook. Since the whole family cooks, you can imagine how big our kitchen is!
I mostly look forward to seeing my family and friends. I also look forward to seeing the huge turkey on the table. I think my dog looks forward to seeing the huge turkey on the table, he looks forward to all of our scraps. My older sis looks forward to sleeping on the couch after all that turkey that she consumes. I love eating turkey again at the end of the day.
My favorite food is either my Mom's coconut cake or my Dad's turkey. My Mom is Brazilian so she makes the best cake ever!
- Dani, 5th grade
I usually go to my Aunt's house for Thanksgiving, but last Thanksgiving we had it at my Dad's house. This Thanksgiving I'm not really sure if we are going to have it at my Dad's house or at my Aunt's. I look forward to spending time with and etaing with my family. My favorite food at Thanksgiving used to be the turkey, but now since I am a Pescatarian it would be any vegetable that's on the table, or the bread, or the mashed potatoes.
- Sam, 6th grade
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Creative Writing 4-6th Graders
Rain
I think rainy seasons are very fun! I play board games, make forts, and eat popcorn. Even if it’s cloudy, ugly, and you can’t play outside, they can be very exciting. I would have to say that I like wintery weather better than summery weather because in the summer you get hot and stinky. But, however in the winter you can make snowmen if it snows where you live. If it doesn’t snow where you live, you can play inside and play bored games, build forts, and many more fun things. But in the summer you can swim, and if you swim all day it makes your breathing weird and at night and you get really sleepy. But you can still swim in the winter too if you go to an inside pool. Even though there are gray, ugly skies they could be fun and not a drag. These are some of my reasons why I love winter!!
By: Claire
Winter Break
This winter break I am going somewhere with my Grandpa and Grandma. I am going to go snowmobiling. First, I am going to Sierra California and I am going to a snow park called Hope Valley. Second, I am going to another snow park called Iron Mountain. I am going to stay there for a little while too. Lastly, I am going to Nevada and I am going into Carson. Once I am in Carson I am going to a hotel called Carson Valley Inn. After that I am going to go back home, maybe go over to one of my friends houses - but probably I am going to be playing my xbox360 all day on xbox360 Live. I might beat Halos and a few more games.
By Kevin
New Year
My goal for 2010 is to get more friends and to get more A’s on my grades. I will like to get a new backpack and to get to live with my real family like my dad that lives in Oregon and he visits me 5 days a month. I also want a phone and an Ipod and I also want some clothes. I also want to paint my hair with pink straps because pink is my favorite color.
By Conny
I think rainy seasons are very fun! I play board games, make forts, and eat popcorn. Even if it’s cloudy, ugly, and you can’t play outside, they can be very exciting. I would have to say that I like wintery weather better than summery weather because in the summer you get hot and stinky. But, however in the winter you can make snowmen if it snows where you live. If it doesn’t snow where you live, you can play inside and play bored games, build forts, and many more fun things. But in the summer you can swim, and if you swim all day it makes your breathing weird and at night and you get really sleepy. But you can still swim in the winter too if you go to an inside pool. Even though there are gray, ugly skies they could be fun and not a drag. These are some of my reasons why I love winter!!
By: Claire
Winter Break
This winter break I am going somewhere with my Grandpa and Grandma. I am going to go snowmobiling. First, I am going to Sierra California and I am going to a snow park called Hope Valley. Second, I am going to another snow park called Iron Mountain. I am going to stay there for a little while too. Lastly, I am going to Nevada and I am going into Carson. Once I am in Carson I am going to a hotel called Carson Valley Inn. After that I am going to go back home, maybe go over to one of my friends houses - but probably I am going to be playing my xbox360 all day on xbox360 Live. I might beat Halos and a few more games.
By Kevin
New Year
My goal for 2010 is to get more friends and to get more A’s on my grades. I will like to get a new backpack and to get to live with my real family like my dad that lives in Oregon and he visits me 5 days a month. I also want a phone and an Ipod and I also want some clothes. I also want to paint my hair with pink straps because pink is my favorite color.
By Conny
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Creative Writing One-Liner Prompts - 3rd grade
One-line prompts were followed to create stories:
"It is starting like this."
by Lars
It is starting like this. "I go to the mall, you don't-- that is how it goes," my Mom said to me. "No way," I said. She told me to go to my room and I said, "Ok, Mom." She said to stay in there until she got back. I said "Ok". I stayed in my room and that is how this story ends.
"I was made to rebel."
by Connor and Jenny
I was made to rebel. In my house whenever we eat we have to wash the dishes. I hate washing dishes! Whenever my room is a mess I have to clean it up. I hate that. I hate homework but I always have to do it...
I love to run, and we can't run in the classroom. I wish I could get on top of the monkey bars but we can't get on them. I hate that!
It's mean, because we want it our way.
"At home, I'd get up early."
by Christian and Josh
At home I'd get up early, when the sisters were still asleep and head to the ancient Chinese man's store and get a teacup and a Chinese clock. And a table, and then I leave.
"A child wants to see."
by Luis and Angel
A child wants to see the dog. The dog has big red feet, and looks like a lion. One day the dog left the neighborhood on those big feet.
"It is starting like this."
by Lars
It is starting like this. "I go to the mall, you don't-- that is how it goes," my Mom said to me. "No way," I said. She told me to go to my room and I said, "Ok, Mom." She said to stay in there until she got back. I said "Ok". I stayed in my room and that is how this story ends.
"I was made to rebel."
by Connor and Jenny
I was made to rebel. In my house whenever we eat we have to wash the dishes. I hate washing dishes! Whenever my room is a mess I have to clean it up. I hate that. I hate homework but I always have to do it...
I love to run, and we can't run in the classroom. I wish I could get on top of the monkey bars but we can't get on them. I hate that!
It's mean, because we want it our way.
"At home, I'd get up early."
by Christian and Josh
At home I'd get up early, when the sisters were still asleep and head to the ancient Chinese man's store and get a teacup and a Chinese clock. And a table, and then I leave.
"A child wants to see."
by Luis and Angel
A child wants to see the dog. The dog has big red feet, and looks like a lion. One day the dog left the neighborhood on those big feet.
It's all in a Name- 5th grade
Students use a name acronym to describe themselves:
Musical
Awesome
Respectful
Intelligent
Emotional
Love
Adorable
Marvelous
Awesome
Right all the time!
Great
Active
Radiant
I love trees
Talented
Actress
Awesome
Dread
Run
Important
Apple
Nectarine
Knight
Extra cool
Vince is one of my best friends
Is fun
New
Musical
Awesome
Respectful
Intelligent
Emotional
Love
Adorable
Marvelous
Awesome
Right all the time!
Great
Active
Radiant
I love trees
Talented
Actress
Awesome
Dread
Run
Important
Apple
Nectarine
Knight
Extra cool
Vince is one of my best friends
Is fun
New
5th Grade Earthweek Article follow-ups
Students responded to an article from Earthweek Diary, true news of the wierd on planet Earth.
They read an article and described what happened thereafter.
Article 1: Mosquitoes
Theme: Mosquitoes in Athens, Greece reported which have evolved to be uber-smart, indefatigable and pesky.
"Mosquitoes", by Kevin
Mosquitoes are not even funny. They make me mad! Another place they are found thriving is in the Sierra Mountains in California. They are most active from two hours before sunrise 'til sunrise. They sometimes sit on top of the water.
You never want to walk into a crowd of mosquitoes. Trust me, it really hurts! If you wear repellant, you will most likely not get poked.
Don't try to keep them as a pet! That's all for now, folks.
"Mosquitoes", by Patrick
If a mosquito bites your nose, it gets larger and larger. Clothes designers are upset because people who get bit on their rear end can't fit into their clothes and they lose sales. And, the people have stopped buying sweatshirts because when they sweat, mosquitoes bite them.
Article 2: Fish from Heaven
Theme: In a village called Manna in India, a live rainstorm of flying fish descend upon a village, providing food for many people. Due to to deep sea currents, this phenomenon has happened in the past but rarely is there a live storm.
"Fish From Heaven" by Margarita
"I can't believe the weather today," said the weather forecaster, Ms. Holland. "Ma'am, Ma'am, get on wth this forecast, we don't have much time," the producer yelled. Crash. Crash. Boom. The windows cracked and all the windows shattered as fish fell through them, and slipped down the hall. One even fell on the weather girl's head.
"Fish IN Heaven" by Allan
One day, a fish was at home in its' pond. The pond became polluted and it died. The fish went to heaven, and it met the fish god. Then it lived in a gold house.
Article 3: The Monster Rabbit
Theme: An enormous rabbit has been reported about in England which is about three feet tall and terrorizes people's gardens. A documented case of a giant rabbit exists in captivity and this may be a wild counterpart.
"Monster Rabbit" by Andrea, Uriel, and Mariela
The rabbit came back and guards tried to kill it. The guards failed, the rabbit won- and he went and destroyed the garden. Then the monster rabbit ate all the crops and he got fat. After he ate all the crops he went to a sumo wrestling match. In that match he played against a giant bear. Finally, the bear won and the monster rabbit just gave up. Then the British town gave the giant bear a big award. They never saw the Monster Rabbit again.
They read an article and described what happened thereafter.
Article 1: Mosquitoes
Theme: Mosquitoes in Athens, Greece reported which have evolved to be uber-smart, indefatigable and pesky.
"Mosquitoes", by Kevin
Mosquitoes are not even funny. They make me mad! Another place they are found thriving is in the Sierra Mountains in California. They are most active from two hours before sunrise 'til sunrise. They sometimes sit on top of the water.
You never want to walk into a crowd of mosquitoes. Trust me, it really hurts! If you wear repellant, you will most likely not get poked.
Don't try to keep them as a pet! That's all for now, folks.
"Mosquitoes", by Patrick
If a mosquito bites your nose, it gets larger and larger. Clothes designers are upset because people who get bit on their rear end can't fit into their clothes and they lose sales. And, the people have stopped buying sweatshirts because when they sweat, mosquitoes bite them.
Article 2: Fish from Heaven
Theme: In a village called Manna in India, a live rainstorm of flying fish descend upon a village, providing food for many people. Due to to deep sea currents, this phenomenon has happened in the past but rarely is there a live storm.
"Fish From Heaven" by Margarita
"I can't believe the weather today," said the weather forecaster, Ms. Holland. "Ma'am, Ma'am, get on wth this forecast, we don't have much time," the producer yelled. Crash. Crash. Boom. The windows cracked and all the windows shattered as fish fell through them, and slipped down the hall. One even fell on the weather girl's head.
"Fish IN Heaven" by Allan
One day, a fish was at home in its' pond. The pond became polluted and it died. The fish went to heaven, and it met the fish god. Then it lived in a gold house.
Article 3: The Monster Rabbit
Theme: An enormous rabbit has been reported about in England which is about three feet tall and terrorizes people's gardens. A documented case of a giant rabbit exists in captivity and this may be a wild counterpart.
"Monster Rabbit" by Andrea, Uriel, and Mariela
The rabbit came back and guards tried to kill it. The guards failed, the rabbit won- and he went and destroyed the garden. Then the monster rabbit ate all the crops and he got fat. After he ate all the crops he went to a sumo wrestling match. In that match he played against a giant bear. Finally, the bear won and the monster rabbit just gave up. Then the British town gave the giant bear a big award. They never saw the Monster Rabbit again.
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