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Coast-to-Coast Horseback Ride Highlights Important Roles of African-Americans
by Reporters Drema Harmon & Derrick Ingram
Altar Valley Middle School
The Black Heritage Riders is a new organization trying to get more African-Americans involved in riding. The group was started by Miles Dean, an elementary teacher from New Jersey, who just finished a coast-to-coast journey riding on horseback!
He made his 4,000-mile-long trip to let people know about black cowboys and the importance of African- Americans in settling this country. He set out from New York City on Sept. 22 from the country’s largest African cemetery from colonial times.
Dean finished his long ride April 1 by reaching the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. Along the way, he stopped to give lectures at schools, trying to talk to as many children as possible. He says that the whole journey is for the children and he ended up talking to thousands of kids!
Dean along with his driver, Karen Trowers, visited us in Three Points as part of his cross-country ride. They spent a good part of the day with us. Dean talked about his journey and gave a hands-on lesson about the love and care of horses.
We think it’s so cool to have someone like Dean as a mentor. He might end up writing a book about his adventures.
A Huge High School Musical Surprise!
by Reporter Victoria Galaviz
Butterfield Elementary
Adviser: Carolyn Risch
Every year my family and I head to Disneyland for a vacation. This year we stayed at the Grand Californian, not knowing that the entire cast of “High School Musical” was staying in the same hotel.
One morning on the way to the theme park, my dad saw a teen on a cell phone. My dad was positive that it was Vanessa Hudgens, and it was!
I got to meet her, take a picture with her and hold her hand! That was just the start of my amazing, unbelievable day.
We had early admission to the park that morning. There were cameras and lighting equipment set up along with a stage in front of the castle. I had no idea that the High School Musical cast, along with singer Josh Groban was going to perform songs for ABC’s Christmas special. The performance was awesome—I was in the front row screaming my head off. It was like a free concert!
Later that day, we headed off to Tomorrowland to go on Space Mountain. Right as we were getting off, my older brother realized that Corbin Bleu was sitting in front of us. We got to meet him face to face. He bent down to give me a hug and threw in a kiss on the cheek. I just melted. It was awesome.
Don’t miss the ABC program airing on Christmas Day—you might catch a glimpse of me rockin’ to “What Time Is It? (Christmas Time).”
New Bear Web Site Is Quite a Site to See!
by Reporter Shane Weinstein
Tucson Hebrew Academy
After months of anticipation, Bear Essential finally launched its new Web site. And personally, I think it’s been worth the wait!
Go to www.bearessentialnews.com to check out the new and improved Web site. Visitors are greeted by everyone’s favorite polar bear, Boomer! On the home page, users can see this month’s cover and read top stories from the issue. My favorite part of the home page is the ticker with story ideas for Young Reporters like me.
The Young Reporters section is another important part of the site. By clicking on “Young Reporters,” you can navigate to all the current stories by kids or find the sign up forms you need to join the program. It’s all online—the forms, story ideas, helpful tips on organizing your story and fun activity sheets. So if you want to become a reporter, this is the place for you!
The new Web site offers things for teachers and parents, too! Teachers can order free work sheets and learn about classroom presentations by the Bear staff. Editors visit schools to talk about effective writing or the basics of reporting. Teachers also have access to Bear’s handy dandy Field Trip Guide.
Parents can get the information they need through Boomer’s handy Birthday Party and Summer Camp guides. Also, parents can get extra copies of articles that ran in the newspaper. Now friends and relatives of Young Reporters can enjoy the kids’ article, even if they don’t live in Arizona.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of Bear Essential News is the front cover seek ’n find each month. Those tiny hidden items sure can be hard to find. But online, you don’t have to strain your eyes—there’s a magic magnifying glass to help you find things! Click on the thumbnail of the cover you want (there are 13 months of your favorite covers) and put your cursor over the cover. The magnifying glass appears, and you can even adjust
the zoom.
So there you have it, your guide to Bear’s rockin’ new Web site! Although it took months to get up and running, it is better than ever. It was without a doubt worth the wait!
Summer Fun at the Library!
by Reporter Victoria Salcido
Banks Elementary
Kids—the summer reading program at the public library is about to start. I’ve done it for years. It’s fun and free!
You earn prizes as you read. Prizes include: tickets to places like Breakers, the Desert Museum and the Sidewinders; a book; a bug jar; and other fun stuff. There are lots of free special library programs to attend this summer, too.
Children’s Librarian Mary Margaret Mercado comes to our school every year. She shares wonderful tales and explains the program. This year’s theme is “Catch the Reading Bug,” and the cover helps you keep track of all the reading you do. So catch the reading bug this summer at any public library. The program starts May 22 and runs through July 19.
Wildlife Museum Celebrates 20th
by Reporter Cassidy Cowell
Coyote Trail Elementary
The International Wildlife Museum (IWM) celebrated it’s 20th anniversary last month. To make the day a unique experience for visitors, the museum invited specials guests, planned fun crafts and even had live animals!
Since 1988, the IWM has been home to over 400 different species of insects, mammals and birds. Most of the animals in the museum are not alive, but on this day they had some live animals to see and touch. There was a real bearded dragon lizard, and it felt prickly! There also was a snake that felt smooth and slimy!
On this special day, the museum had fun crafts for kids to do, like an animal mask out of paper with holes in the top part for your eyes. Some people made snakes, tigers, hippos or butterflies. Another craft was a spiral snake made from a paper plate. Kids also had fun by making rubbings of a giraffe, lion or an elephant.
There were some special guests with interesting displays. The Arizona Game & Fish Department showed us different types of animal fur that we could touch. The staff had bobcat, fox, coyote and even javelina. Students from the University of Arizona Museum of Art helped kids make some of the crafts. Tucson Water had a cool experiment that showed how water comes from the ground.
Just because the special anniversary celebration is over, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of cool things to see and do there every day. In one room, there are beetles as big as your hand! In another room, you can learn about parts of an animal like teeth, skulls and fur. You can also compare eggs from 52 different species of birds, learn about predators and prey, and much more.
If you want to learn a lot and have fun at the same time, the IWM is a great place to go!
Military Robots Get ‘Smart’
by Reporter Matthew Ifflander
Casas Christian School
Adviser: Heidi Cowell
The military now has a special software program for its robots to help keep our troops safe. S.M.A.R.T., which stands for Sandia Modular Architecture for Robotics and Teleoperation, is supposed to help the military in combat. The program helps special bomb disposal robots (called “bomb bots”) not only retrieve bombs placed by the enemy, but will make them capable of taking out the detonator and disarming the bomb. The bomb bot is also able to place a mine next to the bomb to destroy it.
The program was launched in 2001. Phil Bennett, the project manager, says the robot control software could find battlefield applications as well.
With our advancements in technology, we will be able to do a lot more with robots. We might even be able to use them to take over some of the roles that our troops currently do in Iraq. That way, the troops would be safer.
Some people might ask about the big price tag of building such robots. But when it comes to saving the lives of troops, these robots could be priceless!
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Kids Debate Bills at State Capitol
by Reporter Yianni Laloudakis
New Vistas Academy
Adviser: Stacey Trepanier
The anticipation mounted to a fever pitch this winter for Stacey Trepanier’s and Leanne Fawcett’s students as their classes prepared for a field trip to Phoenix to visit the Arizona Capitol building!
The two classes were enthusiastic about the trip. Our teachers hoped to instill an understanding of the workings of our state government by having us attend this field trip.
By actually carrying out the lawmaking process, this academic field trip also became interactive.
The students of New Vistas Academy were split up into groups and asked to brainstorm bill ideas. The principal of New Vistas, Carol Elias, then picked four bills to be discussed at the Capitol. Thanks to connections with Republican Rep. Bob Robson, those four bills will be debated on the state legislature channel.
Furthermore, because of the efforts of Rep. Robson, the two classes will be able to debate their bills where the actual Arizona bills are debated.
The bills include two water conservation bills, one gas bill and one hydrogen car bill.
“This is a wonderful way for children to learn about the complex workings of our state government,” Trepanier says.
The field trip to the state Capitol educated the New Vistas students about the lawmaking process of our state.
Local Kids Support Troops in Iraq
by Reporter Drew Inness
JOY Christian School
The war in Iraq has lasted more than five years. And while most kids don’t think about the war every day, the kids at JOY Christian School do.
There is a special group of Marines fighting in Iraq right now. This group is special to us because we were able to meet them before they left for Iraq. They call themselves the Peacemakers. The Peacemakers are made up of 12 men from all over the country. One of them is from the Phoenix area, and he is in charge of the group. His wife is my brother’s teacher, and his two children go to our school. They are my good friends.
Our school has made a commitment to support this group all year. We pray for them every day, write them letters, make pictures, and send food and snacks. We also have sent balls and toys for the Marines to share with Iraqi children. Recently, the first-graders decorated pillowcases and sent pillows for the soldiers. All of our classrooms have a picture of the Peacemakers in them. Not a day goes by that you don’t hear someone talk about them.
The Peacemakers are helping to protect our country and make Iraq a better place to live.
There are lots of other troops in Iraq who could use your support. It means a lot to the troops who are so far away from their family and friends. I challenge you to write a letter to our troops and be thankful that they help to keep our country great.
AZ Needs $300 Million to Teach Kids English
by Reporter Tiffany Lam
Vistancia Elementary
In January, the Arizona School Administrators concluded that the state must spend an additional $300 million a year on the education of kids in Arizona’s schools who need to learn English.
This is a result of Arizona being under a court order to improve our state’s strategy in teaching children struggling to learn English. It all started with a lawsuit 15 years ago. The extra money is needed to comply with a federal law that requires equal educational opportunities.
Even though being able to teach more kids English would be a plus, there are plenty of problems with the plan. These include hiring new second-language teachers, buying additional books and finding the space in schools. Many schools in Arizona are overflowing with the number of students they have; some schools even resort to holding class in the cafeteria during lunch! So where would schools find room to hold yet another class?
There are 140,000 students in Arizona who are not fluent in English. To be able to thrive in the United States, it will be vital for them to learn English.
However, a lot of conflict surrounds the issue of the state paying out $300 million. Some people agree with this estimate, while other officials say they have seen other plans that are much cheaper and just as efficient.
Learning at Lake Pleasant
by Reporter Javier Gutierrez
Rosefield Charter School
Advisers: Carrie Oatis and Elizabeth Schultz
In February, fourth graders from Rosefield Charter School went to Lake Pleasant. It was a really fun field trip and we learned a lot.
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We got to hike, look closely at the water with microscopes and play Navajo games. My favorite game was where you have to get hoops through some sticks. I am sure some kids were scared that they might hit each other in the face with the metal hoop. You can chip off a tooth if you hit yourself in the right place!
Hiking at Lake Pleasant is really cool because you get to see a nice view of the lake. You can see crater rocks and cactuses everywhere. One type of cactus had fruit on the top. You can get that and eat it, but you have to check for microscopic spines. You can eat the inside of it though, because there are no spines. When you go to Lake Pleasant, have a good time and take all that you learned from this article with you!
Friendly Vet Cares for Valley Pets
by Reporter Sahej Samra
Rancho Solano Private School
Adviser: Stacey Lane
Does your pet have a problem or disease? I highly recommend going to see Dr. Amrit Rai, a friendly and very skilled veterinarian.
Recently, a seriously mangled labrador retriever was brought to Dr. Rai. In a matter of weeks, the dog was healthy, playful and ready to go.
“I love working with animals,” Rai says. Even as a young girl living in India, Rai was fascinated by animals. Rai, her two sisters and her mother adopted two dogs named Sandy and Jolly, a Pomeranian and Irish Setter respectively.
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Rai bought the Sugarloaf clinic from the previous owner, Dr. Guy Lockwood, in 2006. She purchased the clinic to experience ownership and to help more people and animals. Overall, Rai is very excited to be in Phoenix owning her own clinic and helping dogs and cats around the city.Her specialty is treating and working with dogs and cats.
Rai sells various products such as chew toys, medicines, snack treats, care manuals and much more at the clinic. She also provides extensive surgical care and dental care.
Sugarloaf has donated to many charities, and the clinic also posts pictures of lost pets. The employees there are warm and friendly.
Ranbir Samra, Rai's husband, helps out at the hospital. He is a computer technician who solves problems on the computer. He says he also enjoys the joyful experience at the hospital.
“You have to love animals to commit to this job,” says Sugarloaf employee Amanda Hinkle.
“But you have to take the good with the bad,” says Sarah Abbot. The employees say they would recommend this job to any animal lover. To become an employee, you have to have certified training. For example, one of the employees, Julie Becker, went to Arizona State University.
The clinic is located on Thunderbird and Cave Creek roads. To learn more about the about the climbing. go to www.sugarloafanimalclinic.com.
Discovering the Giant Squid
by Reporter Thomas Abshire
Homeschool
Have you ever wondered if there is a sea monster? Well there is!
It’s called a giant squid. After whales, the giant squid is the third longest animal in the sea. The giant squid has suckers on its eight arms and two tentacles that can leave deep scars on other animals.
The giant squid’s eyes are the largest of any animal. Each eye is bigger than a person’s head.
Today, live giant squid are being discovered and filmed! Since 2005, when Japanese scientists used bait to lure a giant squid toward their cameras, more live giant squid continue to be photographed.
Zoomation Spells Fun at the Phoenix Zoo
by Reporter Jamie Dorer
Navajo Elementary
Adviser: Linda Boudreau
Zoomation is an event where the Phoenix Zoo is open at night and you learn about nature in music and art!
Different stations are open throughout the zoo such as tile scratching, making music from different types of instruments, making paper flowers, chalk art and theater!
You do tile scratching by getting a clean white tile and painting the whole thing with one color: blue, black, green or brown. Then you take a bamboo stick or a sharp metal tool and scratch nature designs on the tile, like flowers or animals. The tiles are going to be assembled into one huge collage and displayed at the zoo for everyone to see!
There were several music stations, too. There was one with drums, an instrument that sounds like a frog, tambourines and some that sounded like thunder and lightning. Some of the instruments were carved out of wood, and some were made with dried gourds and beans. There were two people playing guitars and one playing the banjo. They all came together and sang, and they even danced!
There was a flower station where you are shown how to make a paper flower, step-by-step. We got five pieces of tissue paper and folded then like a fan. Then, we took a pipe cleaner and wrapped it around the middle. After that, we peeled the paper apart, and “ta-da,” a flower!
There was also a chalk station. It had a plastic tablecloth over a big table. We got to write or draw anything we wanted to on it!
On a video screen, there was an artist dancing to music. While he was dancing, he looked like he was just throwing paint on a canvas with two large paintbrushes in both hands. It ended up being a drawing of a gorilla! While he was working, he listened to the song sung by King Louie in “The Jungle Book.”
Next there was an acting workshop with a stage. People were picked out of the crowd. I was so excited because my brother and I were picked along with four other kids. We had to act like animals, do a warm up exercise and so much more. They even had us dress up in costumes. I was a mouse!
Last but not least, there was a green screen. When it was your turn in front of the screen, you were given a green blanket. If you put the blanket over your head, you looked headless on the screen! There was even a background of swimming dolphins, so it looked like we were swimming with the dolphins!
Zoomation was a great event, and if you want to go, keep an eye open next spring for more information! Visit www.phoenixzoo.org/ to learn more about the Phoenix Zoo.
Junior Achievement Day a Success for All
by Reporter Caleb Wento
Washington Elementary
Another spectacular visit to Washington Elementary School by the people at American Express!
First, it was the backpack drive; then the “Christmas Spread the Joy.” Now this: Junior Achievement Day.
When I first arrived to school on April 18, I knew it was Junior Achievement Day, but I did not know it was going to be like this.
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The American Express people behaved like pros in the teaching business. They came to our school to teach us about business. What better speakers to talk about business than people that do business? They taught every grade level from kindergarten through sixth grade.
When I went to the classes to take photos, some of the American Express employees taught like they had been teachers before. They did their one-day lessons very well, and they seemed very organized and calm. James Unti taught us some really important things about the business world.
About 50 employees came to our school that day and gave teachers a break by taking over the classes. American Express basically used their day to give the kids at Washington Elementary School a day to learn about business. It may have been Junior Achievement Day, but I think the employees achieved a lot, too.
Working to Save the Black-Footed Ferrets
by Reporter Zane Martin
Homeschool
Did you know black-footed ferrets are one of the rarest endangered species in North America?
This is because much of their western prairie habitat was changed to farmland, and many prairie dogs, which are their main prey, were poisoned because they were considered pests.
Today, many organizations are trying to help this species recover, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Arizona Game & Fish Department and the Phoenix Zoo.
I am a member of the Phoenix Zoo Crew 4-H, and I learned that the zoo has done a great job in helping the ferrets. In its captive breeding facility, 325 kits have been born in the last 15 years.
Ferrets have to be preconditioned before they are reintroduced into the wild. An interesting speaker from one of the release sites located in Aubrey Valley, Ariz., told us about monitoring ferrets by using spotlights after dark, which make the ferrets’ eyes glow bright green.
As a result of the hard work done by a lot of people, the black-footed ferrets are increasing in numbers in the wild!
Omega 3: What it is?
by Reporter Omar Eltohamy
Kyrene Middle School
Adviser: Stacey Trepanier
On a shopping trip with my mother, I was perplexed by the ingredients that some of the products I saw contain.
Suddenly, I came across the ingredient omega 3. After looking through more nutrient labels, I discovered that everything I looked at contains omega 3. Is it a virus? Are aliens deliberately adding perplexing ingredients to trick and doom us all?
Omega 3 is an essentially healthy ingredient that your body needs. Today, products are being stacked on shelves with the new, healthy omega 3, which could change how we eat, and what we eat.
Omega 3, the new rage in healthy diets, is a polyunsaturated fat that can be usually obtained by consuming flaxseed oil or fish oil. Omega 3 is formed when there is a carbon-carbon double bond.
Recent studies have shown it increasingly strengthens the body’s immune system and lowers the risk of cancer and coronary heart disease. If you’ve ever injured your ankle trying a new wicked move on your skateboard, omega 3 is believed to enhance the healing rate of sprains and bruises. Omega 3 has also been shown to increase your absorption of calcium, reduce the risks of asthma attacks and relieve the symptoms of diabetes.
These days, everything seems to contain omega 3. This healthy substance can improve people’s live and rev up your body to the max!
Taking the Trip of a Lifetime
by Reporter TJ Hodges
Rancho Solano Private School
Adviser: Stacey Lane
In Februrary, the sixth-graders of Rancho Solano Private Schools Greenway Campus spent three days and two nights on a very adventurous trip to Huachuca Oaks near Tucson to learn about the world around them.
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The students boarded the bus at 7 a.m. for a drive to one of the most famous caverns in the United States: Kartchner Caverns State Park. They learned about the amazing history and operation of the caverns.
Then they rode for another half hour to a wild animal rescue center—but they were notified that the weather was too strong to visit the center.
The instructor, Fred Stahl, told the kids that they were going to Huachuca Oaks, the camp they would be eating and sleeping at for three days. That afternoon, the wild animal rescue center came and taught the sixth-graders about snakes—what they do and how they help the environment.
On the second day, the campers had a short, optional run around the camp with Stahl and then ate breakfast. The groups then drove down to the Coronado Caves to hike up a one-mile trail and then explore the dead cave within. While in the cave, the students learned about how the Indians used the cave as an escape route from the Spanish.
After the fantastic trip to the Coronado Caves, the sixth-graders went to a picnic area for lunch. They then split up into two groups. The first half went on a mining tour and learned about how men mined in the early 1900s in Bisbee. The other group went to a mining dump where they dug to see if they could find anything valuable. The two groups met up a hour later for a tour of the historic mining town of Bisbee.
The last stop of the trip, on the third day, was at the Ramsey Wild Life Preserve, where some students got to within 3 feet of a wild deer!
War of the Worlds: A World-Famous Broadcast
by Reporter Alexandria Bucknell
Florence K–8
What happened at 8 p.m. on Oct. 30, 1938? It was the night of the world’s most famous radio broadcast. With all the stories about that fateful night, what really happened?
The star broadcaster announced himself, then played the Ramon Roquello Orchestra. An announcer claimed the orchestra was playing at the New York Park Plaza Hotel.
The playing stopped and another announcer read that an astronomer had seen a bright explosion on Mars. He reported that blue fire was charging toward Earth. The orchestra played once more, leaving citizens of the United States in gasping silence.
The announcer reported that a fiery object had fallen from the skies in Grovers Mill, N.J.—a yellow ship had landed! Voices of the frightened people could be heard over the radio.
Orson Welles reported what was happening as it happened. He claimed the top was opening! A bear-sized, shiny, wet-skin red creature walked out! It had a “V”-shaped mouth with big, black eyes.
Concerned listeners called CBS. Some were frightened, angry and curious. Some even thought it was a joke, but they didn't think it was funny. Many were wondering how to protect themselves.
Reporters claimed the Martians had already killed 40 humans and were taking over Earth! More ships landed throughout New Jersey and the United States.
In Newark, N.J., 20 scared families ran from their homes. Many people put handkerchiefs over their mouths and towels over their heads. Two hundred people ran to any transportation out of the city. People called electric companies to shut off their power because they didn’t want the aliens to see them. Reports of destruction and death filled the radios. Heat rays and giant feet killed hundreds.
Welles described tragic scenes. In a loud voice, he announced that the world was being overtaken by Martians! At the end of that horrible hour though, Welles announced that the story was a “holiday offering.” The holiday was Halloween. Welles claimed the story was a radio play.
He got the idea from an 1897 science fiction book by H.G. Wells, “The War of the Worlds.” Wells gave the book to Howard Koch, then Koch made it into a radio play. The original story takes place in the late 1800s in England. They changed the setting to 1930 in the United States. To pick the place where the aliens would land, Koch pointed to a spot on the map! Although the Mercury Theater told viewers more than three times that the broadcast was fake, half the nation fell for it! Ramon Roquello and his orchestra and the New York Park Plaza don’t even exist!
CASAs Stand Up for Abused Children
by Reporter Tiffani Sollars
Sun Valley Elementary
I have always thought it would be cool to work with kids when I grow up. I am especially interested in helping kids that need it the most. I want to help kids that have been abused and ignored by people.
I learned about a group of people who volunteer just to help kids in need. Let me tell you about a group of volunteers called CASAs. A CASA is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for kids who are in foster care. They are people who are appointed by a judge to speak up for kids in need. The volunteers for the CASA program are people who care about kids and want to help keep them safe. This program began in 1985 when a judge realized he needed help deciding what is right for these kids.
I was able to interview Bonnie Marcus with the CASA Program at the Arizona Supreme Court. I learned a lot of interesting facts about these volunteers from Bonnie. For instance, did you know that all of the volunteers that work with the kids in foster care have to be fingerprinted, go through a background check and have about 30 hours of training before they can begin to help the kids? This is because the kids who are in foster care have been through some kind of abuse, and in order to keep them safe it is important that anyone who spends a lot of time with them isn’t someone who could hurt them. CASAs help the kids learn to trust adults, and they stand up for kids when it seems like no other adult cares.
Marcus said that she started working as a CASA because she really loves kids. If the other CASAs are anything like her, I can see where kids would really open up. This program is really important for kids. I want to become a CASA, but I will have to wait until I turn 21. There is no limit to how long you can volunteer.
The state government decided to make April “Child Abuse Awareness” month in 1983. This awareness month began because people need to become more aware of abused children. I asked Marcus what kinds of things kids like me can do. Guess what? We can help!
Kids can start by just by being nice to kids we know are having a rough time at home or who are in foster care. We can also ask if our teachers and schools can have a fund raiser to raise money to help the kids that are in foster care or shelters.
I am currently working on a toy drive because I want to collect gently used or new toys and books for kids that are in foster care. Marcus told me that most of these kids have had to leave their toys and books at home while they are in foster care.
If I were a foster kid, I think it would be nice if someone gave me some books or toys. I want to do something nice for these kids because I think they need someone to be nice to them.
I also want to organize a neighborhood lemonade stand and donate the money to the CASA program. Because the CASAs are volunteers, they don't get paid. They do it for the love of the kids, and obviously not the money. That is why I want to do what I can to help the children and volunteers.
The CASAs also have a “Go Blue with CASA” program. They asked people to wear blue during the month of April to show their support for abused children. I think this is a very good idea because it makes people think about the kids that need help.
I wanted to do my part by getting my class involved. I started by sharing the information that Marcus and Melissa Dunlap gave me about “Go Blue.” I want to try to let people know that not everyone has a good home and that there are people out there who want to help: people like the CASAs and kids just like you and me. I think that even if it gets just one person to think about abused kids, then that is one more person who can help.
If you want to help, you can start by raising money. Try a bake sale, lemonade stand or anything else you can think of that your parents agree to. Then, donate that money to shelters that help keep these kids safe. You don’t have to donate a lot of money to make a difference. No matter how small the gesture, it all can help make a difference by just letting people know that someone cares.
Coast-to-Coast Horseback Ride Highlights Important Roles of African-Americans
by Reporters Drema Harmon & Derrick Ingram
Altar Valley Middle School
The Black Heritage Riders is a new organization trying to get more African-Americans involved in riding. The group was started by Miles Dean, an elementary teacher from New Jersey, who just finished a coast-to-coast journey riding on horseback!
He made his 4,000-mile-long trip to let people know about black cowboys and the importance of African- Americans in settling this country. He set out from New York City on Sept. 22 from the country’s largest African cemetery from colonial times.
Dean finished his long ride April 1 by reaching the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. Along the way, he stopped to give lectures at schools, trying to talk to as many children as possible. He says that the whole journey is for the children and he ended up talking to thousands of kids!
Dean along with his driver, Karen Trowers, visited us in Three Points as part of his cross-country ride. They spent a good part of the day with us. Dean talked about his journey and gave a hands-on lesson about the love and care of horses.
We think it’s so cool to have someone like Dean as a mentor. He might end up writing a book about his adventures.
Learning at Lake Pleasant
by Reporter Javier Gutierrez
Rosefield Charter School
Advisers: Carrie Oatis and Elizabeth Schultz
In February, fourth-graders from Rosefield Charter School went to Lake Pleasant. It was a fantastic field trip.
We got to hike, look closely at the water with microscopes and play Navajo games. My favorite game was where you have to get hoops through some sticks. Some kids were scared that they might hit each other in the face with the metal hoop, which could end up chipping a tooth!
Hiking at Lake Pleasant is really cool because of all the nice views of the lake. You can see crater rocks and cacti everywhere. One type of cactus had fruit on the top. You can get that and eat it, but you have to check for tiny spines. But there are no spines on the inside of it. Have a great time at Lake Pleasant!
New Bear Web Site Is Quite a Site to See!
by Reporter Shane Weinstein
Tucson Hebrew Academy
After months of anticipation, Bear Essential finally launched its new Web site. And personally, I think it’s been worth the wait!
Go to www.bearessentialnews.com to check out the new and improved Web site. Visitors are greeted by everyone’s favorite polar bear, Boomer! On the home page, users can see this month’s cover and read top stories from the issue. My favorite part of the home page is the ticker with story ideas for Young Reporters like me.
The Young Reporters section is another important part of the site. By clicking on “Young Reporters,” you can navigate to all the current stories by kids or find the sign up forms you need to join the program. It’s all online—the forms, story ideas, helpful tips on organizing your story and fun activity sheets. So if you want to become a reporter, this is the place for you!
The new Web site offers things for teachers and parents, too! Teachers can order free work sheets and learn about classroom presentations by the Bear staff. Editors visit schools to talk about effective writing or the basics of reporting. Teachers also have access to Bear’s handy dandy Field Trip Guide.
Parents can get the information they need through Boomer’s handy Birthday Party and Summer Camp guides. Also, parents can get extra copies of articles that ran in the newspaper. Now friends and relatives of Young Reporters can enjoy the kids’ article, even if they don’t live in Arizona.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of Bear Essential News is the front cover seek ’n find each month. Those tiny hidden items sure can be hard to find. But online, you don’t have to strain your eyes—there’s a magic magnifying glass to help you find things! Click on the thumbnail of the cover you want (there are 13 months of your favorite covers) and put your cursor over the cover. The magnifying glass appears, and you can even adjust
the zoom.
So there you have it, your guide to Bear’s rockin’ new Web site! Although it took months to get up and running, it is better than ever. It was without a doubt worth the wait!
