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California Condors Soar in Arizona!
by Reporter James Chabin
Fruchthendler Elementary
Imagine walking up to the Grand Canyon for the first time ever. You see hundreds of small birds, when a huge, black shadow appears overhead. You look up and realize you've just seen a California condor!
The history of the California condor starts over 11,500 years ago, when the world got warmer and the Ice Age ended. Almost all big animals died, but the condor survived. In 1967, California condors were placed on the endangered list mostly because their food supply was poisoned with lead and the pesticide DDT, causing their numbers to fall fast. There were only 22 condors left when the Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park began captive breeding programs.
Today, there are around 160 California condors living in the wild. About 63 of these birds are flying high in the Grand Canyon area. All the condors have identification tags and transmitters attached to their wings so that biologists can track them and monitor their health and growth.
Condors are scavengers that feed mainly on the carrion of large, dead mammals. They have to search for dead animals to eat. One of their tactics is to watch where the turkey vultures circle, because they eat the same food.
Condors can have a 9 1/2-foot wingspan and can weigh up to 23 pounds! They are the largest land bird in all of North America. Under their wings, they have a blotchy white spot that's shaped like a triangle. California condors are most commonly found in the Grand Canyon area. They are larger than turkey vultures and have a smoother flying pattern.
I feel very lucky to have seen a California condor in the wild. Now that I've seen some and studied them, I want to do more to save them from extinction. Go to www.EHow.com and type in save endangered condors for some quick ideas of what you can do to make a difference. Next time you visit the Grand Canyon, keep your eyes open for condors!
Dean Flies a Different Kind of Bird!
by Reporter Jeffrey Northcutt
Ironwood Elementary
Mike Dean is not a police officer who drives a black-and-white car. His police vehicle is an 18,000-pound Black Hawk helicopter! Dean is a pilot for the U.S.Dept. of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations. He is assigned to the Tucson Air Branch.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was formed in 2003. Although CBP is a fairly new agency, it can trace its roots back to 1789, when the U.S. Customs Service was formed to collect taxes on imported goods. Today we have Customs and Border Protection to catch drug smugglers, terrorists, people and goods coming into the United States illegally. CBP also assists with security for special events like the Super Bowl and political conventions.
CPB offices can be found locally at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and across our country in all border states.
The full name of the Black Hawk is the UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter. UH stands for "utility helicopter," so named because it can perform numerous useful tasks.
Why does CBP need the Black Hawk? First of all, it can fly about 200 miles an hour, so it can get to where the action is in a matter of minutes! Helicopters also can get to many remote locations that other vehicles can't reach. For example, many people cross into our country from Mexico and travel by foot through very rugged desert areas that even a four-wheel drive truck can't reach.
Dean says a highly trained crew can get the Black Hawk into the air in just five minutes! It can hold up to nine crew members altogether, but usually carries two pilots and two agents.
Dean learned to fly airplanes in Seattle, Wash. and helicopters in the Army. If you want to be a pilot and fly cool helicopters, too, Dean says, "Stay in school and study hard."
Quick & Easy Hairstyle
by Reporter Jasmine Moran
Banks Elementary
Hey, girls-I want to help you with your hair, so I'm going to tell you about a 
cute hairstyle and how to create it!
You need a comb, a brush and barrettes (and if you wish, a curling iron).
1. Brush your hair until there are no knots and it is smooth.
2. Make a part on the left side of your head.
3. Make a low ponytail on the left side of your head.
4. Now it's your time to be creative and show your style by putting barrettes on. And if you wish, put some curls at the end of your ponytail.
I got this idea by interviewing a beauty student from the Tucson College of Beauty. Have fun learning this easy way to wear your hair!
Jonas Brothers Kick Things Off
by Reporters Brenna Aguilar &
Ilyanna Alvarez
Butterfield Elementary
We went to the free Jonas Brothers concert in the KRQ 93.7 parking lot on Jan. 31. The boys sang their songs "S.O.S.," "Year 3000" and "Hello Beautiful!"
While they were getting out of their car to enter the studio's back entrance, we got to within arm's length of them! There were only a few girls in the back because nobody knew they were coming through the back. We were lucky because we knew. They got out of a black 2007 Suburban and headed straight to us! They signed some autographs and then went inside.
Morning show hosts Johnjay, Rich and Carrie interviewed the Brothers about their new tour and how Tucson was the opening city for their tour.
Then they took the stage for an acousticl performance. The crowd went crazy as they sang their songs. There were more than 1,000 people there. Everyone was dancing and singing along. There was a lot of screaming and cheering, too. When the Jonas boys finished, they got into their car and started driving, and everyone started chasing after them.
That evening, the Jonas Brothers kicked off their official tour at the TCC Music Hall. When they came on, everyone started screaming-I've never heard such noise! They sang all their songs off their self-titled album "Jonas." No one wanted the concert to end.
Adviser: Carolyn Risch
TRP Is a Thrill for All Ages!
by Reporter Austin Banghart
Arizona Virtual Academy
Are you a race fan? Recently, I went to Tucson Raceway Park-TRP for short. It's a 3/8-mile paved NASCAR-sanctioned race track over by the Pima County Fairgrounds.
There were lots of kids there having all sorts of fun. They were jumping in the jumping castle, getting their faces painted, playing in the grass and rolling around on Stomper Hill. Stomper Hill is fun because you can walk up one side and roll down the other, which is slightly steep. You also get to watch the race cars, which is a real thrill. And don't forget to grab a bite to eat from the snack bar! I liked the fresh hot-roasted peanuts and kettle corn.
After the races, everyone gets to go into the pits and talk to all the drivers and their crews. You can even get autographs, and if you are lucky, you might get to sit in a real race car. I interviewed two drivers-Scott Rueschenberg, driver of the #25 late model and Tom Mikla, driver of the #95 Factory Stock.
Rueschenberg started racing in go karts. He then moved to shifter carts and eventually made his way to late models. He plans on racing 20 races this year at TRP. When he's not racing, he sells orthopedic medical tools. He flies his own plane from Phoenix to Tucson to come to TRP.
Mikla was the feature winner for Factory Stocks when I went on March 15. He plans to attend every race this year at TRP. Before he started racing factory stocks, he enjoyed drag racing. He'd like to eventually move up to late models and also wants to race trucks. I also interviewed Dan Ruth, owner of TRP, and Dan Ryan, the track announcer. They told me about upcoming races at TRP. Ron Hornaday and Brandon Ash will race at TRP on May 3. Other upcoming events include ASA Trucks West Coast series and the Southwest Tour series. Tickets are normally $10 for adults, and kids under 8 are free. There will be coupons in Bear for the summer. Visit www.tucsonracewaypark.com for more info.
Adviser: Cinnamon Conrad
Local Teacher Honored;
Hear His Students at Mariachi Festival
by Reporter Gabriel Martin
Davis Bilingual Magnet School
I play mariachi guitar in the Aguilitas Mariachi Band at Davis Bilingual Elementary, where I'm a third-grade student. My music and mariachi teacher is Alfredo Valenzuela. We call him Mr. V. Everybody here at Davis appreciates his hard work and commitment to the students, but I want Bear's readers to know about this amazing man and to understand why we are so proud of him.
He has taught mariachi music to kids at Davis for 29 years and has worked as a classroom teacher in TUSD for 39 years. Recently, University of Arizona President Robert Shelton called Mr. V. to tell him that he would be awarded an honorary doctoral degree this May!
"He was chosen for this honor because in almost 30 years of teaching music in Tucson, he has made many contributions to Tucson's children, bringing together education and musical performance," Dr. Shelton tells me. "His community service through civic and church organizations represents all that we at The University of Arizona strive for-service, teaching and creative expression. And we are proud to recognize his dedication to his students."
With the Tucson International Mariachi Conference coming up April 24 to 26, Mr. V. will be busy mentoring students and leading the Aguilitas as we play for everyone to hear. It will be my first time performing there and I can't wait. At Davis we are thrilled to see Mr. V getting this recognition for all his years of dedication.
For more information about the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, see calendar listing on opposite page.
Adviser: Lisa Martin
'Snowbirds' Flock to Tucson
by Reporters Drema Harmon &
Derrick Ingram
Altar Valley Middle School
Snowbirds are people who choose to live in a warm climate for part of the year to escape the cold winters of their home states. There are snowbirds living on my street.
Dan and Carol Clark come to Tucson every year. The Clarks hail from Montana, where the winters get really cold. The temperature can drop to 230 below with 30-mile-per-hour winds. To get away from this kind of weather, the Clarks come to Arizona after Christmas each year. They have been snowbirding for 15 years. They have traveled all over the United States, but fell in love with Tucson. The Clarks train horses and cow dogs. Each year they bring their horse trailer. loaded with animals, to work with during the winter.
My Job Helps Animals!
by Reporter Rachael Weinstein
Tucson Hebrew Academy
I might be only 10, but I still have a job. I work for my dad. My dad is a veterinarian, and I love animals so I started helping him out. Now I get paid!
My dad's office is the Oro Valley Pet Clinic. I answer the phones, make appointments, check people in, weigh the animals and invoice people out. I also entertain the owners and get to play with the animals. It's so cool to be able to learn and help.
I know that I want to be a veterinarian someday. I love what I do and I want to take over the practice someday!
Author Visits Fort Lowell School
by Reporters Alma Smith, Esperanza Mazon and
Tony Norzgaray Ornelas
Fort Lowell School
Children's author Jennifer Ward recently came to Fort Lowell School to kick off Love of Reading Week. She shared her books with everyone.
She is very nice, and it's exciting to talk to her about how she writes. Her books are bright and colorful and definitely fun to read.
Ward has always loved to write. She started writing stories when she was very young. She liked to make her own books with stories and pictures in them. She has loved animals and nature all her life, and that's why so many of her books are about plants and animals. She says the best thing about being an author is that she gets paid to do what she loves, which is write. She also gets to work at home.
She never writes at a desk because she likes to be comfortable. When she gets stuck, she might go for a walk or a run. She might read picture books by other authors or just put her writing away for a while. Ward says that every word in a picture book has to be perfect because picture books are meant to be read over and over and over again.
Ward used to be an elementary teacher. When children's author Byrd Baylor visited her school, she was inspired to try to get published. Her first book was "Way Out in the Desert." So far, she has written 10 books and is working on two more.
Ward's advice for any kid who wants to be an author is to read the kind of books you want to write. Good writers read a lot.
Adviser: Deborah Teece
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Nature Rocks at Phoenix Christian Academy
by Reporters Gabriel Castrillo and Mecca Neal
Phoenix Christian Academy
Students at the Phoenix Christian Academy had a rocky encounter with Shaughn Kelly in January.
It started with a trip to the car to unload slate tile, safety equipment and tools. Kelly, of Strata-RT, Tile and Granite Architectural Group, came to teach the class about different types of stone and rock and what they are like to work with.
He recently worked on a renovation of the Phoenix Art Museum that used over $11 million worth of stone.
Kelly explained that the top of the earth's crust is a tremendous resource, and that three types of rock come from there: sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. Geologists classify igneous rocks according to the depth at which they were formed in the earth's crust. Igneous rocks are divided into two categories: those formed beneath the earth's surface and those that formed at the surface.
Kelly takes different kinds of building stone and materials, granite being the most common and dense, and uses this for design in buildings.
"Stone has been used for thousands of years, even the Great Wall of China is made up of granite and limestone," Kelly says. "Marble was also used by the Roman and the Greek artists."
The class also learned about grout, levels and different types of floats for sealing and measuring. Then Kelly took a class member, Jacob Nasser, and lifted him on to the front table. Kelly put a safety hat and special eyeglasses on Jacob, along with knee pads and work gloves. After that, he loaded Jacob up with job-site equipment and tools.
After the lesson, the kindergarteners through fourth-graders headed to the playground to do a bit of field work. There was a table set up with a table saw, and the class measured and marked tile pieces so they could be cut. All the students got to use their math skills.
Kelly put on special glasses when he used the table saw because these saws are used with water to keep the blade from getting too hot.
The class is now prepared to make a special rock masterpiece of its own. Everyone had a lot of fun and learned how nature rocks!
For more information about rocks, call Kelly at (602) 435-4794.
Adviser: Stacey Lane
'World of Wheels' Rolls Through Town
by Reporter Kendra Lightburne
Navajo Elementary
The "World of Wheels" was in town in January.
At this show, there are all kinds of cars and motorcycles that have been built by people from all over Arizona. There were also some special interest entries, like Bumblebee from the movie "Transformers". It was the real one they used in the movie! Lightning McQueen from the movie "Cars" was there, too.
Custom motorcycles and some antique motorcycles were found in a separate room. The antique ones looked like bicycles that had motors. Some of the cars and bikes didn't look like they could be driven, and some of them didn't look like you would want to drive them. They were really neat!
But the highlight of my trip to "World of Wheels" was having the opportunity to meet and talk to Jason Earls from Disney's television series "Hannah Montana." Earls plays the part of Jackson, Miley's older brother. I found out a few things about Earls. His favorite color is blue and his favorite foods are Chinese and Mexican. I asked him what his favorite thing about being on TV was, and he said, "I like to make people laugh." Well, he certainly does that!
We also talked about one of his favorite episodes on the show. Jackson came out of the bathroom wearing Miley's bathrobe, and he scratched his bottom in it. He thought that was a fun scene to make. That was the best part of "World of Wheels"!
Adviser: Linda Boudreau
Crooning Canine Contest Held in Arizona
by Reporter Caitlin Chavez
North Ranch Elementary
A band. Howling dogs. And more than 2,000 people. What else does a park need?
That's why Indian Steel Park was a good place to be in March. That is where Target Presents Music In the Park! was held.
One of the activities that day was a dog-howling contest, where dogs sing (or howl) a song! The contest was judged by the Target dog, Bullseye, who barked loudest for the winner.
There were quite a few canine contestants: Riley the golden retriever, Henry the poodle, Cha-chi the chihuahua and more! Cha-chi won the howling contest by singing opera-"La Traviata." He went home with a $100 gift card and a crown, after being named Crooning Canine of the year!
"It is such an honor to win," says Michael Cooper, Cha-chi's owner.
Jack, the second place winner, or as he likes to be called "Captain Jack and the Ripper," did a ter-ruff-ic preformance and sang "Witchy Woman" by the Eagles.
All in all, it was a great day with fire works at the end!
Pitching in for Earth Day: What Kids Can Do to Help
by Reporter Morgan Bannard
Madison Heights
Picking up trash is really good because it helps the environment grow and be healthy.
You might think that sounds weird, but it can actually be really fun. For example, you can make games out of it or do activities with trash. You can get soda cans, or whatever you can find, and set them up like in a bowling alley and play a game.
Picking up trash is also a fun thing to do with your parents and your brothers and sisters. Or you can try getting a group of friends together to pick up litter.
It also helps keep our neighborhoods looking nice and shows that you respect your community. Plus, trash could be bad for animals in our desert, including the ducks and fish in some of our parks.
It's not that hard to help out. All you have to do if you see a piece of trash is pick it up and put it in a trash can, and you've helped the environment. I invite you to make it one of the activities you do this Earth Day!
And check out the wildlife around you, too. You can visit Earth Day at the Garden on April 20 at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. It's free, and you'll get to check out the butterfly exhibit, see some really cool birds and do some eco-fun crafts!
Phoenix Boys Choir Celebrates 60 Years
by Reporter Max Fathauer
New Vistas Academy
Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do. This is just a basic scale that my fellow choir members and I sing at the Phoenix Boys Choir.
The Phoenix Boys Choir is a non-profit organization that teaches boys how to sing, learn intervals, find pitch and much more. The Phoenix Boys Choir has four different levels.
Boys ages 7 to 14 start at the training level. That is when the boys learn the fundamentals-finding pitch, the scales and everything they need to know to move up to cadet.
A boy may move into cadet if he does well in training and during progress checks. These are held after all winter and spring concerts. If the choir director thinks that boy has excelled in training, a new challenge awaits him. Cadet is like advanced training. Using basic fundamentals, boys learn more advanced skills such as key signatures and intervals. Being a cadet means more rehearsals, more concerts and more work. In cadet, boys break into two parts: soprano and alto. After the cadet level comes one of the largest jumps in difficulty: town.
Town is the level I am presently in. Town is when boys learn specifics in music such as "sforzandos" and legatos with staccatos. Choir members have a new director when in town, and though he may seem strict, he actually cares about the boys. In town, members travel the United States to sing to people all over the country.
After town comes the final stage: tour. Tour is the most complicated stage of the Phoenix Boys Choir. In tour, members tour internationally every other year, normally going to Europe. Tour is when boys learn the most complicated terms in music. In tour, sometimes members split into four parts.
If a boy's voice lowers or he turns 14, he must graduate from the Boys Choir. But don't worry, there is always the Mens Choir, which is for graduates of the boys choir.
This year just happens to be the 60th anniversary of the Phoenix Boys Choir. The choir celebrated its anniversary with the "Festival of Choirs." We sang with the Tucson Boys Chorus, The Cincinnati Boys Choir and the Orpheus Mal Chorus.
On May 2, we will be singing "Favorites From 60 Years" at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix. The Orpheum Theater is located at 203 W. Adams St., and the concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. With the blinding lights and the cheering of the crowds, who could ask for anything more?
Overall, the Phoenix Boys Choir is an amazing choir with more than 200 members. The choir teaches us truly how to be gentlemen and how to sing. Our motto really speaks for itself, "Boy, they can sing."
Adviser: Stacey Trepanier
Local Teen Girls on a Musical Mission
by Reporter Lexi Ramirez
Ashland Ranch
Jonnie and Brookie. Two sisters. One band for kids.
Jonnie and Brookie are two sisters who play their guitars and sing for kids in concerts around the United States. Jonnie is 15 and Brookie is 13. The two started singing at the ages of 3 and 5, about the same time they started their lessons.
They're doing something pretty cool, too! Whenever they go on concerts or tours, they are also collecting canned food for the hungry in the United States. Their goal is to reach 100,000 cans, and they are currently at 72,000 cans! You go girls! The tour is called Kids CAN Make A Difference, which they started in 2005 in California.
They are trying to show kids that even if they are small or even just a kid, they can make a difference in today's world. They say they will be doing concerts for as long as they can. The girls also say they think that performing is "pretty cool." Jonnie goes to Williams Field High School, and Brookie goes to Highland Junior High. They both go to school in the morning, and then they go to their guitar, piano and singing lessons. The two live in Gilbert, Ariz., and they love being sisters.
If you would like to know more about their upcoming concerts or just more about them, visit www.jonnieandbrookie.com.
'College Road Trip' Worth a Trip to the Theater
by Reporter Gianna Pesognelli
Desert Trails Elementary
Raven-Symoné and Martin Lawrence star in the family comedy "College Road Trip."
Symoné plays a high school senior named Melanie Porter, and she desperately wants to go to college at Georgetown University. Her father, Police Chief James Porter (Lawrence), wants her to go to Northwestern University because it is only 40 miles away from home. Melanie can't wait to get away from her overprotective father, and this movie is about a father letting go of his daughter.
One humorous moment in the film is when the Porters' pet pig, Albert, crashes a wedding. Another is when James and Melanie travel by skydiving and golf cart racing!
"College Road Trip" is a great family comedy for people of all ages. People should see this film because it is very funny, and yet it's also a touching story about a daughter and her father.
Pitching in for Earth Day: What Kids Can Do to Help the Planet
By Reporter Deyanira Vasquez
Mesa Junior High
Did you know that Earth Day is April 22?
Even if you did, you may have no idea how to help the environment.
You could follow what celebrities are doing now like:
- Picking up garbage.
- Planting gardens.
- Turning off electricity when you're not using it.
- Not wasting water.
- Cutting the six-pack plastic rings from soda cans.
- Buying a reusable water bottle instead of plastic ones.
- Using a reusable lunch bag instead of paper lunch bags.
- Using the reusable shopping. bags when you go to the store.
- Walking instead of wasting gas by driving.
- Picking up trash, even if it is not yours.
- Recycling wherever you can: at home, at school or even at the park.
Even some stores are helping the Earth. When you buy Becky Bone sneakers, 25 percent goes to grassroots campaigns. At Build-a-Bear Workshop, you can make a cheetah stuffed animal, and all the money goes to help support endangered animals everywhere.
With these suggestions we can help Mother Earth live even longer, stronger and better.
Visit www.earthday.gov to find more tips.
Volunteering at the Humane Society
by Reporter Tiffani Sollars
Sun Valley Elementary
You can see the excitement in the eyes of each volunteer from the minute you walk into the Arizona Humane Society.
The people are very nice and glad to see you come to choose a pet. It is obvious that the volunteers and the animals love to see people.
I visited the Humane Society in Phoenix on a busy Saturday morning. I was able to talk to two volunteers.
Liz is a volunteer in the dog center. She is a first-grade teacher, and she helps homeless animals. Liz, who moved here from Michigan, says she chose to volunteer because she missed having pets. She can't have pets in her home. By volunteering, she can spend time with the animals-keeping them company and playing with them. Liz also talked about a couple of dogs that tried to escape by jumping the fence. They didn't get very far, but they tried.
Colleen is a volunteer in the cat center. Colleen says she volunteers because she really loves cats and caring for them. She also volunteers at the Phoenix Zoo in the monkey center. She has three cats of her own. She has been a volunteer at the Humane Society for eight years. Colleen was a foster mom for a sick cat that she ended up keeping. She had some funny stories about the cats that live there. One funny story is that the cats like to try and run through the kennel door when the volunteers open them, but they don't get very far, either. Just like the dogs, the cats are soon returned to their kennels so they can be seen by people who are looking for a new pet.
I learned a lot from the volunteers I interviewed. For example, did you know that you have to be 16 or older to volunteer? But if you are younger, you can be a foster parent for animals. That means you can take some of the animals to your home so they can learn to socialize with other animals and learn to trust people.
If you want to help with the animals, and can't adopt or have them in your home, you can still help. If you are not quite 16, you can volunteer with a parent.
If you want to become a volunteer or a foster parent, you will have to complete some training in order to begin your service. It takes about 24 hours of training to be ready. They teach you how to handle the animals and the basic rules at the Humane Society.
As I walked through the adoption center for the dogs and cats, it was clear that these animals were well taken care of. This is because of the volunteers who love to help out. Both volunteers, pretty much said the same thing when asked how people can help-be a responsible pet owner. What does it mean to be a responsible pet owner? It means not only taking care of your animals, but making sure they don't have any unwanted babies by neutering or spaying them. You also have to make sure you are ready to commit to take care of the animal for its entire life. Dogs can live to be about 15 or older, and cats can live to be about 15 or more years.
The Humane Society gets a lot of animals in the spring and around the weeks after Christmas because people get pets when they are puppies or kittens, and then decide they don't want them.
After having visited all the cats and dogs that day, I really wanted to take them all home with me, but I couldn't. I really hope they all get good homes because it made my heart ache to see so many homeless animals. I know each animal there has a lot of love and friendship to give to people.
If you would like to have a pet, and would like to do a good thing by saving an animal, you can find your new best friend at the Humane Society. It only costs about $60 to adopt a dog and $45 to adopt a cat. That is a great price for an animal. And so, if you want to adopt a pet, please go save the animals at the Humane Society. They need a second chance in life at a new home, plus they're all really cute!
Great Things About Spring Training in Arizona
by Reporter Drew Inness
JOY Christian School
When I was 4 years old, I went to my first spring training game. Mark Kotsay, who was playing with the San Diego Padres, threw me a ball from center field. I have been a baseball fan ever since then.
There are currently 14 Major League Baseball teams that train in Arizona during the spring getting ready for the official season that started on March 31. These 14 teams make up the Cactus League of spring training. The Cactus League teams train at nine different locations in Arizona. There are seven in the Phoenix area and two in Tucson. Some teams share a stadium, so it is convenient to find a game being played on the day you want to attend.
Spring training games are a great outing for a family. The admission is cheaper than a regular season MLB game. Also, the stadium allows you to bring food and coolers in, but check with the stadium you plan on attending for details.
When we go as a family, we like to sit on the lawn. The lawn seats are great because you can put down a blanket and play ball with your friends. After each inning, the players usually throw balls out to kids in the lawn area. The players also talk to you during the game if you go by the bullpen. Sometimes they sign autographs after the game.
When watching a spring training game, it makes you feel like you're part of the action. Besides being a great family activity, spring training is good for the Valley of the Sun. It brings a lot of money into our economy. The Arizona Office of Tourism estimated that spring training fans spent $311 million last season.
If you did not get a chance to watch a spring training game this year, put it on your schedule for next year. After all this spring training, the players are ready to "PLAY BALL" as Major League Baseball gets underway.
Rosefield School Holds Annual Multicultural Day
by Reporter Javier Gutierrez
Rosefield Charter School
Every year in February, Rosefield Charter School holds a special event for the whole school: Multicultural Day.
On that day, every class in school goes to other classrooms that have presentations about different cultures. My favorite presentation was about China. The Chinese dragon really caught my eye.
As soon as the school heard that Multicultural Day was in two weeks, everybody started working. We all worked on their props and research. Some people even made Cultural food.
Everyone at Rosefield worked really hard. Colonial America had a very good diorama. It was a good classroom, and the students did not leave one detail out.
"I think Multicultural Day is great!" says Carrie Oatis, a fourth-grade teacher.
Another class was about Hawaii. The shark they had in a glass was real, and it came from Hawaii. It may have been small, but every shark comes in its own size.
I think Multicultural Day is a great way to learn something new about a different culture.
Advisers: Carrie Oatis and Elizabeth Schultz
Orchestra With Kids and Adults Brings Music to Anthem
by Reporter Sophie Welsh
Diamond Canyon Elementary
Do you like music and stories? Have you ever heard a story set to music?
You can hear some musical stories at the next concert by ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra (PMAZ) in May. The concert is titled "Family Fun Fables and Tall Tales" and features "Peter and the Wolf." This is an orchestra piece that tells the story of a boy who saves his animal friends from a big bad wolf. In the music, every character is represented by an instrument. The story will be narrated as the orchestra plays. It is a great way to become familiar with the different sounds of individual instruments in the orchestra. Plus, it is fun to hear the story!
I am an eighth- grader and play the cello in ProMusica Arizona. PMAZ is a volunteer, community-based orchestra and chorale group of about 100 people. The unique thing about PMAZ is the wide range of members' ages and backgrounds-from elementary school students to senior citizens!
It is wonderful to be in an orchestra. Members share the same passion for music, improve their musicianship and also learn teamwork. This is great training because we learn from other members with years of experience.
I asked two other young members to share their feelings about playing in PMAZ. Marcie Kolacki, an 11-year-old cellist, says she enjoys being in the group because it gives her training and experience. Eleven-year-old second violinist Anthony McNeal likes it because he enjoys the music and meets friends every time. Marcie started playing after hearing a cellist play in church, and Anthony's reasons for playing are that "music soothes the soul" and "works the brain cells." Marcie, who plays in two other orchestras, says that PMAZ is different because the adult members help her.
Being an orchestra member takes commitment. Marcie and Anthony live far away from Anthem, where the rehearsals are held, and are busy with other activities, such as sports and music. Coming to rehearsals is time consuming. Practice takes lots of focus, too. For example, when we are rehearsing, we have to count, watch the conductor and listen to the rest of the orchestra in order to stay together and know when to come in. But Marcie, Anthony and I all agree that the hard work pays off.
Performing in front of hundreds of people is exciting to us because that is what we practice for, and it is the only time to play for an audience. Anthony, who plays baseball, feels that the excitement of teamwork is also present in any group activity.
The "Family Fun Fables and Tall Tales" concert will be held at Boulder Creek High School, 40404 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy. in Anthem, Ariz. The performances will be held on May 16 at 7:30 p.m. and on May 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Besides "Peter and the Wolf," titles include "Aesop's Fables," "Jabberwocky," "Paul Bunyan". I am sure you know some of the stories. I hope to see you there in May!
Iraq Refugee Dog Arrives in U.S.
by Reporter Tiffany Lam
Vistancia Elementary
This Valentine's day, Charlie fell in love with Lady Liberty.
Charlie is a 9-month-old mutt who became the first beneficiary of SPCA's Operation Baghdad Pups program. U.S. servicemen based at a Baghdad outpost, identified as Charlie Company, rescued Charlie when he was still a flea-infested pup. By military rules, soldiers cannot keep pets, but they just couldn't resist him! The Charlie Company sent a plea to SPCA International about the border collie mix. Five months later, the company's beloved Charlie was sent to the United States.
Even though a path had been set for Charlie, there were far more preparations before he could leave Iraq. Rabies and distemper vaccines were shipped to Baghdad. There, a veterinarian from the Ministry of Agriculture administered them. However, since soldiers are not allowed to have pets, the soldiers needed a "mission" as a reason to visit the Ministry. Charlie was also quarantined for 30 days.
After arriving in Washington, D.C., and after a little hesitation, Charlie marched like a soldier toward the reporters waiting for him. After meeting the press and a 13-hour flight, Charlie was introduced to Cinnamon, an Afghanistan dog refugee, and the two fell asleep on a row of seats.
After waking from his nap, he took a walk along the National Mall. He got to see many other sights, too, and he even visited a dog spa. When Sgt. Watson, one of the men from Charlie Company returns, Charlie will live with him here in Phoenix. There's more good news too; more preparations are being made to rescue 11 other dogs and two cats.
Snowbirds are people who choose to live in a warm climate for part of the year to escape the cold winters of their home states. There are snowbirds living on my street.