Disney on Ice a Cool Treat
When the show started, Mickey and Minnie did a little act with many of the characters from “Cars.” Donald Duck and Goofy were in it, too. The next “show” was “Little Mermaid.” Ariel’s tail really looked like a tail. There were bubbles coming down from the ceiling to make it look like we were really under the sea. 
But the statewide Geo Bee isn’t the only bee. In fact, there are four bees. The first is only school-wide. Then, the best students from each school will take a written test that will narrow down the number of contestants. Than another bee will narrow the field down to one contestant. That student will compete in Washington, D.C., against kids from each state and territory!
Some of you may have gone to the Reid Park Zoo in September to participate in the Ice Cream Safari. If you didn’t, I’ll tell you all about it. 
The baseball season is coming to an end! The New York Yankees are playing the Phillies (from Philadelphia) in the World Series, the final games of the season. 
Some pets are make-believe, like the unicorn and the dragon. There are about 170 different Webkinz made, but only a few of them are currently available for purchase. There’s always a “pet of the month.” In addition, there are about three pets that get “retired” each month, meaning the company quits making that type of Webkinz.
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‘Lightning Thief’ to Strike Theaters in February
by Reporter Kai FujitaNew Vistas Academy
Adviser: Stacey Trepanier
From the heavens of Zeus to the dreadful lair of Hades, get ready to explore Middle Earth in “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” coming to theaters Feb.12!
Troubled teen Percy Jackson comes alive from Rick Riordan’s heroic series, in which Percy learns he is the son of the sea god Poseidon. (The Lightning Thief” is the first of five books in the series.)
When he realizes he is a “half blood,” or demigod, Percy makes a dangerous journey to enchanted Half Blood Hill. On the way, he encounters unbearable tragedies, like losing his mother. On top of that, the gods falsely accuse him of theft, and he has to battle monsters and come face to face with death. In order to not be blasted to ashes, he must find Zeus’ master lightning bolt!
The movie, produced by 20th Century Fox, was made at Universal Studios. It was no easy task. How would you make the Empire State Building, a 103-story structure, transform into a 600-story building that opens onto the steps of Mount Olympus, home of the gods? Imagine a prodigious mountain in the sky—Wow! Think about falling off and through the clouds that support the heavens. (That’s a sneak peak to book five, “The Last Olympian.”)
Special effects and real people will make this amazing story come alive. It’ll be a thrill to watch!
Iranian Girls Share Message of Hope
by Reporter Sarah SakhaRancho Solano Greenway
TEHRAN, Iran—This past summer, I visited friends and family in Tehran. After 17 hours airborne, I reached my second “home away from home” (after school, of course!). Home to more than 8 million people, this is Iran’s capital. 
I had an agenda in mind, and it included more than just “mehmanis,” or Iranian family gatherings, and relishing “shishleek,” “kebab barg” and “kashk-e-bademjan” (traditional and tasty Persian cuisine).
Now that I am a teenager, I decided to take on a new sort of challenge. My mother’s uncle introduced me to a friend who ran a girls’ shelter. This housed children ages 5 and up who had faced abuse or abandonment. These girls could get a decent education (all the classes we typically have here, including music, technology, religion and English) and reside in a safe place until they departed for college. If they were fortunate, a family would adopt them before they turned 10. Oddly enough, adoption after age 10 is prohibited, so the older girls would just remain there until they were ready to confront the real world.
I was lucky enough to be a part of their lives for the duration of my two-week stay. I was to work with them on their English. (They all passed their midterms with flying colors, even the little ones!). However, as the days passed, I did more than that. Along with the pleasure of teaching them the “Soulja Boy” and “Thriller” dances, I also discovered more about their horrid pasts.
If you are ready to face the truth, then read the following paragraph. (If you would rather not, skip ahead, as this may be graphic.) One adolescent had had a father who had burned her with his cigarette stubs frequently, so she wound up here. However, he sought to regain custody. The law was on his side, for in Iran the father is regarded as the “patriarch” of the family.The orphanage staff was desperately fighting alongside lawyers to keep the girl there for her own well-being. 
Another girl had a kind of congenital dystrophy of the bones, but she only thought she had been in an accident. That particular girl also had a sister in a distant girls’ home, but neither had a clue the other existed. At first, she wasn’t eager to see her sister. However, after some psychotherapy on both parts, they were reunited in an emotional meeting. Another girl had her real sister with her at this girls’ home. (Fellow inhabitants call each other sisters because they practically do everything together, just like real siblings would!) Both were sweet as honey, charming everyone and making them smile with a joke or little dance!
The first day I met the girls, we all sat around a big table anticipating an English lesson. When I asked them what they wanted to talk about, one girl said, “Tell us about Obama.” I was stunned.
Another joined in and started interrogating me about the wondrous President Barack Obama. They were sick and tired of the political riots in Iran. All they wanted to talk about was Obama, Obama, and more Obama! For them, the name “Obama” signified hope, hard work and triumph—what they strove for in life.
Every Iranian I became acquainted with adores Obama, from my 83-year-old grandpa in Tehran to relatives living in Germany and France who were visiting us. That guy they call “Obama” is working towards change, not just for the U.S, but for all two hundred six countries across the globe. No wonder he just won a Nobel Peace Prize!
Harsh Winter Spurred First Thanksgiving
by Reporter Petra JaureguiGlenn F. Burton Elementary
As everyone knows, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. But not many know why or how it got started.
Did you know that the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth, Mass., and lasted about three days? It was celebrated sometime between Sept. 21 and Nov. 9, 1621. Pilgrims held the feast to thank God and the Native Americans for helping them survive a harsh winter. During the first Thanksgiving, they served foods like barley, corn and wild turkey.
Thanksgiving was first declared a national celebration in 1775. In 1863, two national days of Thanksgiving were declared. One celebrated the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. The other created the Thanksgiving holiday we still celebrate today. It became an official federal holiday in 1941. Every president since Harry Truman has pardoned a turkey at Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a day to be grateful to all the people around you. So remember to say thanks!
Careful with Candy
by Reporter Grace CallesenNew Vistas Academy
Adviser: Stacey Trepanier
Halloween came and went last month, and some children may choose to take all the candy they got trick-or-treating and gorge themselves. But is candy just a yummy treat for kids? Or is it a health issue?
Candy can be a health issue for kids. It has a lot of calories from sugar, carbohydrates and fat, so it can contribute to obesity. If kids eat too much candy, they can get sick. They can develop diseases like diabetes. And some studies show that too much sugar can make kids hyperactive.
Gorge on candy or eat in moderation? The choice is yours. I know my choice.
Be a Spelling Bee Champ
by Reporters Lisbet Jauregui, Marcos Jauregui and Petra Jauregui,Glenn F. Burton Elementary
In January, Glenn F. Burton held its annual spelling bee to determine who of all the students would represent the school in the District 40 bee. There were 14 competitors, including us, each representing his or her classroom.
The competition starts in the classroom. If you win your classroom spelling bee, you continue on to the school spelling bee. If you win that, you go on to the district bee. Next, you move on to state, where you represent your district; and finally, if you win state you move on to the National Spelling Bee, where you represent your community, state, district and school!
Although it seems difficult, if you are really determined you can win! Some of the words we had to spell were not so hard. Here’s a tip—Don’t get nervous! Some of our best spellers lost because they were nervous. You have to control your reaction to being in front of people while you are spelling words. Some of the words we got were: totem, frolic and hustle.
We would like to congratulate all the competitors at Glenn F. Burton who competed. Even if you did not win, you still won in your class and proved you are a spelling bee champ!
Pet Cat Is Purrrfectly Wild
by Reporter Thomas Rainer,Rancho Solano Missouri
Adviser: Stacey Lane
I have a cat. My parents and I think there is some bobcat and Maine coon in him. (A Maine coon is a large cat that lives in Maine and hunts raccoons.)
If not, there’s definitely something wild in there. Our “bobcat” is named Seal.
I also have two other cats—Katie and Maggie. The bobcat is very furry and loves to be petted. My parents and I always comment on his “fluffy, pretty tail.” Hey, it’s true! Seal has a very pretty tail. He is about the size of a normal cat, and he is only 8 or 9 months old!
When we first got him, he was a wee little thing. My mom drove up with this two-week-old kitten in her hands. When I held him in my palms, he looked up at me and tried to meow. He looked small and delicate; I was afraid to breath for fear I’d hurt him. When we got him home, we made a last-minute shelter for him in a bathtub. The other two cats weren’t impressed. We quickly gathered all our close friends in the neighborhood to ask for names and to let them see him. One of my friends had recently read a book from the point of view of a cat named Seal, so we officially named him after the cat in the book. My friend never told me what the book was called.
We have two ferrets that Seal loves to play with: an albino female named Samantha, or Sami for short, and a raccoon faced male named Rikki Tikki Tavi, or Rikkers. These three get along so well. Seal will chase Sami up and down the hall and will scare Rikki under an object.
Seal does not get along with the two diva cats, Katie and Maggie. Sometimes they’ll be tolerant, but he’ll bat at them, and they’ll get all mad.
Seal may be cute, but since he’s still young, he’s not that bright. He’s very curious. When Bunyip, my lizard, escaped from his cage and hung at the top, Seal sat there and howled at him. It was hysterical.
Prevention Key to Health
by Reporter Hassan Hlayhel,New Vistas Academy
Adviser: Stacey Trepanier
Around the world, diseases and maladies are spread from one person to another. If the disease is deadly, the results are not pretty.
Preventing diseases is the key to public health. Vaccination is one thing that can save tons of lives. It prevents infectious diseases like chicken pox, measles, whooping cough, polio and H1N1. If you’re wondering if you’ve been vaccinated and protected from all these diseases, ask your parents if you’ve had all your shots. You might shiver at the mention of this word, but shots are an important way to protect your body from many dangerous and deadly diseases.
Babies have an immunization system that helps them get through the first couple months of their lives. Nevertheless, they need vaccination later on to help their bodies surpass these diseases. Before vaccines were invented, tons of people died because of numerous diseases like the ones mentioned above. The reason we do not see many deadly diseases today is because of vaccines. Vaccines don’t eliminate the actual germ that causes the sickness, but they prevent you from catching them.
Immunization is an important thing in our society, so you should make sure your shots are all up to date. If you want to stay healthy, don’t forget that vaccination is one of the keys to do so. You don’t want to end up stuck in bed with the chicken pox! Remember, it’s better to prevent than treat.
State Made by Its History
by Reporter Thomas Abshire,Homeschool
Like in Arizona, there are a lot of state parks in Massachusetts. There are coyotes, deer and raccoons in both states. Each state has its birthday in February. And the population of each is about 6 million.
Unlike Arizona, Massachusetts is more than 200 years old. The Boston Tea Party happened there on Dec. 16, 1773. Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride was on April 18, 1775. This occurred the night before American patriots fired the “shot that was heard around the world,” which began the Revolutionary War.
The name Massachusetts means great hill. The state flag depicts a Native American holding a bow and arrow. The arrow’s tip points down, symbolizing peace; but the state’s motto, “ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem,” warns “by the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.”
Massachusetts ended slavery on June 15, 1780. It became the sixth state in the United States of America on Feb. 6,1788.
