Student of the Month - Jacob Calles

Jacob is a great young man and our choice for student of the month. In addition to being a successful student Jacob has two other qualities that really stand out. First, he is willing to take risks. Not just risks like turning at cross country which was amazing, but also the risk of being nice to everyone, the risk of accepting others, and the risk of being a good person in every situation. The other quality that stands out with Jacob is his humility. He excels in so many different aspects of school from athletics to academics, and in every area Jacob shows true humbleness. You would never know how successful he is because he is soft spoken and humble. During an era when so many are about themselves it is nice to see a young man still concerned about others.

Ideas by 8th grade teachers, written by Mr. Gillespie

Dawn Bowker Award 2011

We present the Dawn Bowker award for two reasons: one to remember Dawn Bowker and two to honor students here at SMS that display some of the same characteristics as Ms. Bowker.

This year’s 8^th grade award winner shares the attribute of grace with Ms. Bowker.  We can look at grace in two ways. A person can show grace with people, and they can be graceful in difficult situations.  Dawn and this 8^th grader share such grace.

Both Ms. Bowker and this 8^th grader illustrate grace with people. Ms. Bowker became a teacher because she found joy in helping and seeing others succeed.  I have witnessed the same grace and encouragement with this 8^th grader. It was during practice. I was helping a student rewrite a paragraph while our new hero was sitting next to us listening in. I was going step by step through this student’s paragraph, and it was a great paragraph. It had a clear and interesting topic sentence, fantastic transitions, and convincing elaboration. As I was telling this student how wonderful his paragraph was, I could see out of the corner of my eye our hero at the very edge of his seat grinning from ear to ear. As I finished praising the paragraph and exclaiming excitingly about the genius of his closing sentence.  Our young hero sprang out of his chair and gave the other student a high five. He was so happy to see another student having success. His celebration in someone else’s success is grace.

But one can also have grace while handling difficult situations. Like some of you Dawn had to deal with difficult situations. She had to solve problems, overcome obstacles and face challenges.  How she handled those difficult times was grace. Ms. Bowker showed grace by overcoming obstacles with a positive attitude and hard work. Like Dawn, our 8^th grade recipient of the Dawn Bowker award faces difficult situations with grace. Like many of you he battles challenges, overcomes stumbling blocks, and is forced to solve problems that may not be fair for him to have to face, but he does face them, and he faces them with a smile. At the same time he does not simply believe that problems will simply go away; he meets them head on with perseverance. When classes get tough he volunteers to go into practice, when he is frustrated with a class assignment instead of giving up and becoming off task, he buckles down and systematically and strategically solves the problem and works harder. In class and in the halls he works hard to show grace in difficult situations.

Grace is not easy nor is it common to see such grace in an 8^th grader. “Everything good comes from grace, and grace is an art and art does not come easily.”  - Norman Maclean

It is my pleasure to present the 2011 Dawn Bowker award to Josh Gruber.

Kate's Poem

Always will I remember when I learned to pointe in ballet
Always a smile dancing upon my face
Always feeling the sharp ache of pain in my toes
My bun pulled so hard my head was bleeding with agony on the inside
Always will I remember that pain. The pain in my knotted stomach struck like lightening setting my heart on flames yet still I smiled with joy
Always will I remember the dizziness I felt. Spotting this corner and that my head couldn't catch up to my legs
Always will I remember how the music hit my ears the passion and grace deep within allowed my worries to disappear and my past to disintegrate
Always I will dance to calm my fears my worries my agony from before
Always I will remember the soothing pain from the traditional pointe or pirouettes

Sydney's never shall

Never shall I forget the first time I went on the After Shock at Silverwood.
Never shall I forget the line that stretched for a mile, with me at the caboose.
Never shall I forget the nauseating smell of popcorn and sweaty palms the hundred nervous bodies ahead of me.
Never shall I forget my wobbly knees and pounding heart.
Never shall I forget the wild screams, or my trembling hands, grasping tight to the railing.
Never shall I forget the dark night sky, lit up by magical colorful rides, illuminating with thrill and joy.
Never

Mady's First Day of Midde School

Never shall I forget my first day as being the 'Big Kids' in middle school.
Never shall I forget seeing the people I had known so well for such a long time with a new eighth grade 'look' like a rabbit that has turned from white to brown for the summer.
Never shall I forget the smell  of old books in just a regular old school.
Never shall I forget the screams and squeals  of everyone reuniting and getting to be with their friends once again.
Never shall I forget my friends tight squeeze from her arms around me as if I was a long lost relative.
Never shall I forget the day that I felt more than just a student, I felt like an eighth grader at Somers Middle School.
Never shall I forge the start of something new in my life.
Never.

First Antelope by Abi

Never shall I forget that day, that sunny October day, when I shot my first antelope
Never shall I forget that excitement
Never shall I forget the feeling of he soft prairie grass underneath me, as I layed down, my breath fogging my black Nikon scope
Never shall I forget that heart stopping moment when I touched the trigger, my life changed forever
Never shall I forget my fathers' face, covered in excitement, shock, and utter disbelief
Never shall I forget he smell of hose freshly shot bullets, and he smiling faces of those surrounding me
Never shall I forget my words of "I told you I could do it" while my excited friend and I raced up to the top of the mountain to see our true accomplishment
Never

I am Elie Weisel by Nichole

I Am

I am a caged in animal

I wonder if I'll make it out of here alive

I hear whispers gnawing at my head like a cold gust of wind

I see victims hiding under a silent night, a silent world

I want to be with my family once again and forget this hellish experience

I am a caged in animal

I pretend to feel ok and be brave

I feel broken like shattered glass

I touch my father’s rough cold hand so tightly

I worry about my sister and the way her golden locks surround her beautiful face

I cry when I think of losing them and dying without them

I am a caged in animal

I understand I have little chance of survival

I say never give up on hope on life

I dream we will be set free, and be able to glide through the skies like the majestic eagle

I try to stand tall like a tree

I hope I will not change

I am a caged in animal

Seabiscuit Vs. War Admiral by Eli

   Screams reverberated around the stadium, a thousand individual yells morphing into one magnificent roar, its decibals shaking the wooden stands, echoing into every mouse hole and knot in the wood, eminating from every available surface. It shook dust from the track, the dirt imprinted with the remnants of hundreds of races before, every footprint ingrained into the earth, scarring its detail into the hardened dirt. Beads of sweat dripped off the two jockeys faces, Seabiscut’s tamer in red, War Admiral’s version of the latter in black laced with gold, the two mounts exhibits of perfection in a racehorse, War Admiral’s acceleration and Seabiscut’s stamina two irreplaceable necessities. Necessities that would soon compete head to head. Their hooves clicked as the approached the starting line, the horses prancing with excitement, the Jockeys glaring with agitated anticipation and unparalleled concentration. The crowd stared down upon the circular peninsula of dusted earth, anxiously awaited the piercing ring of the starting bell. The two jockeys exchanged one more heated glance, the fire in their eyes burning with a passion that could not be replicated, their mounts rearing with utter exuberance , time ticking away before the beginning of the competition. A red flag appeared from the starters box, repersenting the matter of seconds before the bell as silence fell upon the arena. The clanging of the bell issued from the booth, crying out to every corner of the packed stadium, releasing a roar that shook the very earth itself, the roaring of mighty lion released from its cage to fight a armor strewn gladiator. Hooves pounded ruthlessly upon the dirt, their metal shoes relentlessly beating down, scarring the earth further, joining the thousands that were already immovably fixed in place as the two mounts rounded the first corner. The rail flashed by, the regularly placed pickets blending into one continues wall of white as the horses flew by, their strides in perfect sync, punching the earth with a pulse that could only be heard by the two mounts, as if both were matching the rhythm of a common metronome. Fans sprinted across the infield, rushing in masses towards the backstretch, determined to not miss a second of the historic feat. The crowd in the stands peered towards the far side of the ring of dust, stretching the ability of the human eye as they processed the information overload that was being hurled upon them. Flying down the straight away, Seabiscut pulled ahead by a full fur length, his stride swallowing up the earth and spitting it out behind him as he stretched to power himself down the field. Chunks of dirt separated from their orgin, flying into the air as if bewitched into earth by the metallic shoes of the two horses, personified by the momentum which the two half ton catapults possessed, whipping through the air at maximum velocity. As they aggressively galloped into the final turn, the crimson jockey eased back on the strips of leather in his hands, letting the mount’s stride tighten, enticing the horse that was just on his tail, showing him the opening. War Admiral sped up, slicing away at Seabiscuts lead, inching towards the exposed lead. Seabiscut was confident though, as this was all part of the prediscussed plan, for as soon as Seabiscuts dark hazel eyes saw the shimmering amber pupils of his opponent's he would not lose. It was not an option. The crowd screamed with horror as the Admiral caught his smaller competitor, their strides once again in a rhythmic sync, though Seabiscuts stride had to be longer, for his opponent was much larger. They hurled into the last stretch as Seabiscut caught the eye of his opponent. It was as if all the pressure was released. Seabiscuts stride lengthened, hooves pounded, breath panting, lead gaining. It was over. War Admiral sunk back as they flew acrossed the finish line. The crowd roared. The horse shook. They had won.

A Seabiscuit Description by Mia

Astonishment swept over the crowd as the horses bolted at the ringing of the bell. Seabiscuit reached and clawed at the soil beneath him pulling it back as gained speed. War Admiral vigourously tore at the track, hurling ahead. Both horses legs curled and uncurled lunging them forward. Speed building and building. Seabiscuit forged ahead sweeping into the lead plowing forward. War Admiral shocked but not giving up, pouring his heart into the track. As they rounded the corner the crowd busted over the rail shreacking and earging the horses on. Woolf could feel Seabiscuit under him humming like an engine, the bobbing of his head ever so quetly, breathing very sligthly. Kurtsinger's jaw dropped, cleching his teeth, holding War Admiral back waiting for Seabiscuit to falter. The crowd realized something amazing. Seabiscuit was faster. Woolf watched the track fly behind him, pulling the soft leather through his fingers slowing Seabiscuit down. Kurtsinger saw the oppurtunity letting War Admiral burst forward.

Too be continued . . . when I can find the rest of it.

Seabiscuit Vs. War Admiral by Kodee

On November 1, 1938 Americans began pouring into the Pimlico race track. A match race between War Admiral and Seabiscuit was actively becoming something for everyone. Nearly all the stands were filled, plus some of the infield by 10:00 a.m. Families unwound themselves with smiles when they entered the track. Once the horses entered the damp, clumped dirt  the screaming grew more.

Seabiscuit and War Admiral came out one behind the other to set up for the race. War Admiral crimson ringed eyes glared out the track ready to leap out at the bell and leave behind his rival. The straining horses came precisely head and head at the starting rope. Both horses were ready and the bell cracked. War Admiral clawed at the race as Seabiscuit gradually accelerated, clinging to the first place. Rails flashed by as the horses came by at lighting speeds leaving an indistinct humming sound behind them, blending into the clouds of dust. War Admiral tried to stay with Seabiscuit sustaining a golden speed. Intensity was boiling over in the crowd once Charley and War Admiral caught Woolf and Seabiscuit, cutting the air like a sickle. Seabiscuit and War Admiral flashed by the infield glaring at each other down the homestretch. War Admiral's muscles bulging as he blazed up to Seabiscuit. Once War Admiral took the slightest lead, Seabiscuit pounced back into first place, and then made a dash for the finish. Woolf and Seabiscuit flew past the wire with a 4 length lead. Seabiscuit won the race. The crowd went wild and Seabiscuit took  the victory with George Woolf aboard.

A Seabiscuit Poem by Heavyn

War Admiral intensely concentrated on the track,
Flinging soil, adrenaline rising, exhilaration
Crowd screaming, neck in neck.
Everlasting rival, Seabiscuit winning
He cracked and ruthlessly clawed, aching.
A chance to be the one, lost forever in a dark abyss.

Rasping, blurring, hurling, lunging
Sounds of dying silence, ringing in the ears,
Precision, Snapping, bulging, shaking
Nervous roaring behind a binding gate of doubt.
Winning, losing, screaming, crying,
The race of the Century.

Seabiscuit cunningly positioning himself
Taking a tremendous lead
Taste of victory on his lengthy tongue
Astonishment among his gruel opponent,
Energy vigorously waking from deep depths
Soul champion, role model, winner.

A Seabiscuit Poem by Escher

Seabiscuit and the War Admiral trot to the rope.
Suddenly, the horses are off in a rush.
As they aggressively pulse, the track behind them is crushed.
It turns to mush, like a sickle, Seabiscuit rips through the air,
Giving the whole crowd a definite scare!
Fans screams roared! Fans tears poured!
War Admiral trailing, bulges and claws, trying for the lead.
He begins to catch up with one stretching heave.
The Admiral's body vented and ripped,
Seabiscuit and Woolf keep the lead.
They continue to speed and accelerate with ease.
Flicking the whip on War Admiral's hip.
Kurtsinger yells and screams.
Seabiscuit tears out, putting dirt in War Admiral's face.
One length, 2 lengths 3 lengths 4!
Cheering fan's eyes begin to pour.
Biscuit and Woolf have just won the race.
Admiral lost with a fair chase
in this war.

Seabiscuit Vs. War Admiral (runners up)

Perfect vs. Underdog
Nerviously churnning and turning at the starting line
hoofbeats thumping and claping in time.
Biscuit takes the lead
followed by Kurtsinger on his trusty steed. (Will)
The two horses crammed in as close as they could to the track fence. Seabiscuit's muscles bulged out as he lunged across the track. Curving around the first turn. The two racers ripped the soil off the ground leaving it a cloud of dust behind them. (Ciana) George Woolf, who sat on Seabiscuit was focused on the course, visualizing every speck and turn. he had memorized the many tactics; Red Pollard had told him about the magnificent horse, Seabiscuit. The bell rang echoing across the stands. Seabiscuit and War Admiral dug their hooves into the track.(Juliet Savage) They scratch at the ground with precisiously the same pace. Then Seabiscuit snatches the lead with uncommon grace. with his eyes bulging greatly, War Admiral tries to catch up, but George Woolf knows what he's doing and doesn't let up. The corner comes on fast and Seabiscuit takes it with ease. (Lincoln Massie) Intently slowing down to be even with War Admiral. They go on. One will be ahead by a nose. Then the other.(Sarah Weber) The two horses were neck and neck again, and they had banked it around the corner superbly . The battle was joined, the grand stands were shaking. (Nicole Wall) While the jockeys are clinging to their noble steed, the horses end up side by side, while the rail unwinds and hums behind them. As the ears are cocked up, dirt is flicking intently behind the speedy horses. Closer and closer, the murmuring and shouting is intense when Woolf is pushing himself to go faster and faster than War Admiral and his anxious jockey.(Hailey Bicknell) It was time. Woolf let Seabiscuit loose leaving three words "so long, Charley!' and with that Seabisuit's slender, muscled body accelerated. The crowd was loosing control, screaming Seabiscuit's name.(Davis Hubb) But War Admiral wouldn't go down without a fight. He uncoiled his legs, floating over the soil, the rail humming under the body of the colt. His nose bulged out as the last exhale forced out. He was too late. (Josh McCracken) The announcer's voice was astonishingly high by now. They were on the home stretch by now, and War Admiral was failing as Seabiscuit's eyes bored into his. "Come on, Pops, yah". Woolf encouraged Seabiscuit forward. "Seabiscuit by one, two, three, Seabiscuit by three!" The announcer squealed in a high pitch.  (Brandon Caldbeck) In each increment of acceleration, Seabiscuit gained one length lead then two then three, then finally four as he passed the final pole, winning the race. (Janeigh Lowry) Commotion and excitement drifting through the air. Seabiscuit had beaten War Admiral. Seabisuit was no doubt, the fastest horse.(Mady Commers)

Seabiscuit Word Choice

Red holds on to Seabiscuit, grudgingly tempted to peel at the dirt covering his face, but he refuses, easing on, pouncing, speeding to the finish line. Davis Hubb

Seabiscuit and Indian Broom were in the lead of the pack. With their hooves plunging into the air, though neither of them got shoved to the rail. Treju Thompson

Seabiscuit bursted out of the gate at blistering speed, the crowd starts to dramatically cheer as the heart stopping race begins. Kodee Wagner

Perched on the top of Seabiscuit, while in the starting gate; Red Pollard exchanged a few angry words with the other riders. Lincoln Massie

Waiting, suspense building, the jockeys talked smack and start making bets. Janeigh Lowry

With rage in his eyes and revenge on his mind, Red and Seabiscuit with a burst of lightning speed, they rampage through the crowd of horses. Taylor Palmer

The race had begun, pounding of horse hooves hitting the ground came from all directions, as each jockey and horse worked together to plunge to the lead. Brenna Neater

Chunks of mud fly back as the pack of horses take off, boldly dashing down the endless track, forcefully fighting for the upper position. Sydney Miller

The powerful horses streamed around the circuit blending into the flash of color before the engrossed audience. Lindsay Wantaja

Waiting for the bell, Red’s mind screams with thoughts of victory. Kate Martin

Feeling the suspense in the air, the horses leap off the ground, their stride cadence quickening; horses and jockeys, calmly united, bounded forward all four feet churning, inching, gaining, increments against each other. Kendra Wilke

Seabiscuit plunging towards the finish line, blinding his sides with expectance, missing Rosemont’s incremental gain, in which muzzling Red’s mind; thoughts in the past, Red grins with anticipation, muting the crowd’s ears. Kate Martin

Student Essay

Adventure in the 1920’s

Amelia Earhart

By: Lindsay

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

A small, intelligent face was enveloped by bouncy red curls, which surround Amelia Earhart’s face.  She had a smile that lit up the world and a heart that warmed it.  Cameras clicked and last words of encouragement and goodbyes flew her way. Her slim, athletic body slipped into the cockpit of the small biplane and she turned to wave like the many times she had before, even though she didn’t know it was her last. The small engine roared to life as she prepared for takeoff. Speeding toward the horizon Amelia bounced again and again before the air pulled the “Canary” into the vast open sky, which held the dreams, goals, and fates of her life.  Flying toward her destiny the puffy, white clouds split and engulfed Amelia Earhart as she pushed toward her last challenge, last adventure, and last flight. During the 1920’s, Amelia Earhart was the “Queen of the Air” who had a background splashed with excitement, a flying career filled with adventure, and even after she was gone her inspiration and dreams lived on for future generations.

            Amelia Earhart was a unique gem ever since she was born; she was a woman ready for adventure and filled to the brim with ambition, even if she failed she took her failure as a challenge and tried again. To begin with Amelia Earhart’s background was jar of marbles; each marble you pulled out would be an event that would include one of the many adventures she experienced during her childhood. Amazing Amelia was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. She was a women with adventure painted across her face. The tall, slim, redhead was born to fly, yet when she glanced at an airplane the first comment that popped into her head was, “It was a thing of rusty wire and wood and looked not at all interesting.”(Amelia Earhart biography) Even if aviation didn’t interest Amelia Earhart at first sight, she soon lived for the day to actually fly one. By age twenty, her love for aviation only had grown more and her dream came true; on December 28, 1920 a man of the name Frank Hawks gave Amelia Earhart the ride of her life. Because of the ride her life was forever changed (Amelia Earhart biography). The air around Amelia seemed to come to a standstill. Birds tweeted in the distance and the whir of an airplane engine came closer and closer. Even Amelia’s breath ceased at this moment, for as the little red dot transformed into an airplane of full size swooping up and down, disappearing into the clouds and then finally soared over head and did circles. Round and round it went until Amelia and her friend beside her were dizzy, but it suddenly dived coming straight at them. Screaming, her friend ran off with the terror left behind her. But Amelia, her heart thumping like a bass drum stood her ground tall and proud. Seconds after Amelia stopped with her heart squeezing with fear and excitement, the red plane twisted and swept toward the horizon where it had come from. The evening sun had slunk off the end of the world long before, but the bright reds, pinks, and oranges streaking the sky left evidence of the same sun that had risen and set since the day she was born. Long after her bright eyes still lingered in the direction the small plane disappeared, for her dreams of becoming an aviator had exploded and her mind wandered to where she was a skilled hero, soaring over the open sky, always trying again. (Amelia Earhart Biography)  Earhart was a classified as a tomboy in her younger age. She loved suspense and the daring things to do outdoors. For example, She “belly-slammed” her sled to go downhill, hunted rats with a .22 rifle, and put together a scrapbook with successful women in the male-oriented field like law and advertising. She was always an abnormal teenager and was ready to take on about anything including a career in aviation.   Next, In Amelia Earhart’s days leading to her famous career in flying she attended and graduated many schools and prepared herself for her goal in aviation, which was spread out before her, leading her to her future. Earhart graduated Hyde Park High School in Chicago in 1915 and a year later she continued her schooling at Ognontz finishing school in October 1916 in Philadelphia. Amelia didn’t graduate from Ognontz because she became interested in helping with the war effort; soon after she went to college and a social worker at the Denison House in Boston. On January 3, 1921 Amelia Earhart started her first flying lessons with an instructor Neta Snook, “As soon as I left the ground, I knew I myself had to fly” Amelia Earhart (Library of Congress). All this time she was saving up for a biplane and after six months she purchased a yellow one nicknamed “Canary”. The warm, fall breeze whipped back Earhart’s red curly hair as she awaited the moment the wheels of her small biplane would carry into the sky, where the clouds formed shapes that decorated it. Small buttons were spread out before her, her hands hovering above them ready to keep control of her precious “Canary”. Her instructor sat beside her, intent eyes on the small boxed window in front and an open ear for when Amelia Earhart needed help. Butterflies flounced around in Earhart’s stomach as she lifted off the ground where her hands controlled her movements and her eyes were sharp and keen ready to do her daily route without a trouble. The open sky surrounded her, as she glided out of sight from the rest of the world, soaring toward the heavens with the steam from her biplane swirling out behind her. Determined to continue her career in aviation and be successful, Amelia Earhart was one of the few women to graduate from Curtiss school of aviation. Later in life as her flying career continued she decided to get married. George Putnam accompanied Earhart on some of her famous flights and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. On February 7, 1931 Amelia Earhart and George Putnam were married, yet Earhart looked at their marriage as a “partnership” with “duel control”. Even after the couple was married and her schooling was completed Earhart still excelled and succeeded even more in aviation.

Amelia Earhart was a woman of success from the start and all her life her love for aviation only grew as she began to train for her challenging, but famous flights, push the extra mile in other areas of business like medical, and prepare to set records that left the world’s jaw hanging open in awe. One way Amelia Earhart trained was experiencing the sky with her well known biplane. With a nervous smile splashed across Earhart’s rosy face, she jumped aboard her biplane and disappeared inside. Turning to wave; it would be Earhart’s last goodbye to her friends, fans, family, and flight career. Rumbling to life the roaring engine spit out black smoke, which coiled out like a snake from behind. Earhart sat before the puzzle of buttons with her earmuffs on, closing out the rest of the world, and ready for takeoff. Smash, thud, clunk the small plane bounced again and again before it escalated into the cloudy, late afternoon sky toward her last challenge, last dream, and last plane ride. The distant crackle of the radio buzzed in her ears as she pushed buttons left, right, up, and own to keep the plane upright. She zoomed through the sky following the invisible line where the worlds’ met. Wide, blue ocean surrounded her below as the dot of Howland Island appeared on the distant horizon (Amelia Earhart Biography). Amelia Earhart trained by practicing flying through the vast open sky to become a better pilot, because “practice makes perfect”. Also during the years in which Amelia Earhart trained, World War l was occurring and the wounded came by the hundreds. Amelia Earhart felt it was her need to go and help the wounded, crippled soldiers. She left in her second year of schooling and aviation training to become a nurse aide in Toronto, Canada at the Spadina Military Hospital.

Her work was voluntary, but she still did all she could to help the many British and French pilots that fought every day in ferocious pain basking away the last days of their lives. Blood stained clothes laid sprawled across the room, the bad scent of medicine hung in the air and the hurting soldiers lay in distress on the blinding white cots. Mumbles and murmurs were heard from the bed laden men from the service, but the nurses whisked around and hushed them. Bring them medicine to ease the pain, dry, clean clothes, warm food them fulfilled their hungry stomach, and drinks to wash it all down. As hard as the nurses and doctors tried, the wounded kept coming and the nurses kept feeding and cleaning the blood and dirt stained men. They did everything they could to keep these helpful men in comfort while they were in such a sorry state because they knew they were out there in the war, risking their lives to save our country (History Net. com). As the war raged on Earhart and her friends would watch in amazement, as the pilots twisted and turned overhead training at the Royal Flying Cross. In November 1918 the war finally ended, but this day was not forgotten and is remembered as Armistice Day. Later, after Amelia Earhart’s voluntary work was finished she began to set records one after another. Her first record was in 1922 when she became the first women to fly to an altitude of 14, 000 feet. Next, in 1928 Amelia Earhart flew as the first women passenger over the Atlantic Ocean. After that Earhart placed third in a woman’s air derby later called the “Powder Puff Derby”. Later she was soon questioned if she wanted to attempt flying over the Atlantic Ocean as a solo she replied, “Yes!” (Biography Amelia Earhart). On May 30, 1932 Earhart took off from a small airport with the goal of reaching Paris flashing in her mind. When she reached home again the media surrounded her; cameras flashing and people yelling. The empty farm yard turned into a memorable event. Laughing and yelling her fans screamed words of encouragement and approval. Stepping out of her trusty biplane, Amelia Earhart flashed a smile that screamed thanks to her audience. Before long, Amelia Earhart received the Medal of Honor by the known President, Herbert Hoover. Even after Earhart crossed the Atlantic she continued to set more records, yet she was known for inspiration toward everyone who knew about her to do what you want to do most even if it seems impossible, Amelia Earhart “Inspired others to follow dreams” (Library of Congress) Amelia Earhart was a perfect picture hero most of her life for her aviation records and inspiration, but even after she was gone her legacy lived on for the future generations.

            During the last few months of Amelia Earhart’s life she still continued to do what she loved, flying, but when one of her challenges leads to death, she is not forgotten and her legacy still thrives today.  First, “Queen of the Air” Amelia Earhart was on for her final, monumental challenge in 1937; her mission was to fly around the world with Fred Noonan as her navigator. Over the years Earhart trusted her small biplane, but it soon would die, yet according to Amelia Earhart “I have a feeling that there is one more good flight left in its system” (Amelia Earhart-Biography). It took many weeks of planning and preparing for the trip ahead of them, but they took all concerns and hazards into consideration and encouraged themselves that they could do it. “Please know I am aware of the hazards. I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be a challenge to others” (Amelia Earhart). On July 2, 1937 Earhart and Noonan left Miami with the goal of making it to New Guinea for gas then on to Howland Island in the Pacific for gas again. Second, somewhere along the line their planning faulted and they were cast into the deep blue sea, never to be found or evidence of them anywhere again, even still today many scientists are trying to uncover the mystery of Earhart and Noonan’s sudden disappearance.  The Coast Guard lost contact with Earhart’s radio; “We must be on you, but we cannot see you, fuel is running low.” “We are running North and South” (Amelia Earhart Biography). These were Amelia Earhart’s last words before she disappeared. Her dates of death is July 2, 1937, but know one can be sure because of their lack of evidence and facts about what ever happened to her. The search for Earhart started immediately and the most extensive sea and air search in history over the 29,000 miles that Earhart had covered. Two weeks later the operation was called off, but Earhart was not forgotten. Third, later on Amelia Earhart was being recognized in many ways. In 1938, a light house was constructed on Howland Island in memory of Amelia Earhart.

Streets, schools, and airports across the country were named after Earhart, and awards are given in her name. Although Amelia has passed on, her courage, visions, and ground-breaking achievements in women and aviation shine like diamonds. “Amelia Earhart has inspired generations of women to do things that had never been done by women before” (America’s Stories America’s Library).  Earhart was a leader by trying new challenges and inspiring others to do the same. Dreams of achievement and success lead Amelia Earhart to her heroism, and on her path there, she encouraged others to follow. Amelia Earhart was a woman of challenges. Amelia Earhart was a woman of following dreams. Amelia Earhart was a woman of adventure.

            Back in the 1920’s people became heroes because of adventure. Amelia Earhart was only one of the many hero’s who lived for adventure. Pushing forward and trying her best she excelled in her schooling and in aviation. Soon after her motto became to live and fly because her life simply revolved around the thrill of flying; soaring through the open sky leaving all your cares in the world behind and living in the moment. Years after she passed away Amelia Earhart stilled sparkled in American History as a hero; a women who made a difference in a women’s society and aviation.  Her challenging goals and dreams didn’t stop Earhart to inspire others, even when her legacy was the only thing left of her.

Newsies, I can't wait!

I love the Newsies unit. It is not the great songs that get stuck in my head.It is not that the main character in the movie  is Christian Bale (Batman).  It is not all the great dance moves in the movie. It is not the fact that kids worked together to change the world for the better, although that is inspirational and impressive. It is not even  the feel good, fun movie. It is not that we actually read real newspaper articles about the newsboys from 1899 (which is pretty cool and took an amazing amount of work,  New York phone calls and letters of request). It is not that we have a lot of fun in class acting out Newsies scenes from those newspaper articles even though that is pretty fun.

It is because 8th graders go into the Newsies unit like a caterpillar and come out like a butterfly. I could call it the cocoon unit. You crawl into the unit writing well and strong and feed. (Caterpillars eat a lot before they turn into butterflies according The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. 8th graders are figuratively feed because you are in writing shape and you have good organization and paragraph structure.) Any way in the Newsies unit you will  get in a cocoon, work hard, learn a lot and BAM you will break free and your writing will be beautiful, strong and you can fly.

Newsies I can't wait,
Mr. Johnson

My Goals

Dear Students,

Here are my goals for this year in the classroom as a teacher. I am sharing them with you so that you can keep me accountable, and so that you know that I am striving to be a better teacher the same way you are trying to become a better writer.

1. Movement: I really want you to move about every 20 minutes. I want you to move to wake you and your brain up so that you learn more. Here are some ways I hope to reach this goal.

1. Moving games integrated with writing like the musical chairs game.
2. Moving seats and sitting in different groups.
3. Simply standing and stretching.
4. Writing on big paper
5. Brainstorming activities like the airplane game

2. Communication with your parents: I really want to be able to communicate with your parents more for a few reasons. One to tell them how great you are doing. Two so that your parents can help you be accountable at school. Three so your parents can support you and help you in school; we all need a little help. Finally, just because they want to know what is going on in your lives. Here are a few ways we can keep your parents in touch.

1. Use your planner and share with your parents
2. This blog
3. Parent letters between units
4. Show your parents your packets
5. I would like to e-mail your parents if I have their e-mails

3. Feedback: I want to make sure that I give you plenty of meaningful feedback to tell you how well you are doing and help you fix mistakes before they become a habit. I hope to do this for you in the following ways.

1. Read some of your writing almost everyday and give you meaningful written feedback on it. (not a grade)
2. Verbal feedback
3. Differentiated instruction - put you in groups and give you group feedback and tasks to help you clean up any mistakes
4. Sticky notes or electronic notes

4. I hope to be a positive role model: I hope I live a life and teach in a way that you can look up to me. I hope do do this in some of the following ways.

1. By simply smiling 
2. By working hard at being a better teacher and giving teaching 110% everyday.
3. By showing you how much a really care about you as a person and a student.

Thanks for helping me reach these goals by being a great student,

Mr. Johnson

Q and A

Questions and answers from student inventory

(My favorite) Besides teaching what are your other hobbies?
What I love about this question: This question implies that in the first day this student not only saw that I take teaching seriously, but that it is a hobby not a job. The fact is teaching is not only a job for me, or a hobby for me, it is a passion. I LOVE IT.

(Another favorite) Are you awesome?
Well that depends on how you define awesome.
If awesome means: Do I strike awe in some people then no.
If awesome means,  do I make some people say awe, then also no, that is a dentist.
But if awesome means: That I am awe-kward some times, then yes.

What types of books will we read?
I have 4-6 book options for each unit. Most are historical fiction that go with what you are learning in history, So most are historical fiction but not all. I try to pick good books, some classics, some easy, some for boys, some for girls, some short, some themed on relationships and some on action. I am always looking for more books and I buy new ones to add every year.

My favorite and kids favorite books by the unit:
Immigration: my favorite Ashes of Roses  - kids The crossing
Great Depression: my favorite Seabiscuit  - kids Of mice and men
Holocaust: my favorite Until We Meet Again and Book Thief - kids the same
Civil Rights - no book
Montana Literature: my favorite A River Runs Through It - Kids The Big Burn and A River Runs Through It

How long have you been rock climbing?
7 years

What is the farthest you have swam?
9 miles, the length of Lake McDonald in Glacier
I have also swam:
Whitefish Lake 6 miles
Width of Flathead Lake 8 miles
Logging Lake 6 miles with a 17 mile run
Two Medicine 2 miles with a 16 mile run
Foys 1 mile (lots of times)
Old Man .5 miles (very, very cold)
Dickie Lake down and back 4 miles
Finger Lake down in back 1.5 miles
Bowman 7 miles
Next Kintla Lake 6 miles

Are you a triathlete?
Sometimes

How old are you?
34 most of the time

Do we do projects?
Yes, we do a lot of writing projects and a really big Montana Museum Project at the end of the year.

Why do you ride your bike to school sometimes?
It saves on gas, I get exercise, and it wakes me up better then coffee. I also swim a lot of mornings before school. I use to get to school after a swim and people would say, "you look really tired." I finally figured out that I looked really tired because of the impression the goggles left on my eyes. So if I look really tired, with bags under my eyes it may just be that I just got out of the pool, or my daughters had nightmares, got sick or otherwise could not sleep, which also happens. Then I look tired because I am actually tired.

Why do you wear ties?
I wear a tie to remind me of my job as a teacher. I take this job very seriously, and when I put on the tie it reminds me that I am a professional and that this job is one of the most important things I can be doing in my life, because I am a role model for you.

Is this class going to be hard?
hmmm, It is going to be one of the hardest classes you have ever had, and I am going to try to make it seem easy.

What is your favorite sport?
Any game or challenge that involves moving and thinking
Team: soccer and track
Otherwise: lake swim races

What annoys you most?
The sound of the pencil sharpener. I have thrown several annoying pencil sharpeners away.

Do you like complete sentences?
Yes, I like complete sentences, unless a student is brainstorming. But I like complete paragraphs more.

When did you start your teaching career?
I started teaching at Somers eight years ago. Before teaching here, I was an aid in a school in Bozeman during the day, while I went to college at night for three years.

How many books do we read?
At least 6 but many will read up to 20.

What writing activities are planned?
Thousands, more then I could possibly list or even name, but here are a couple highlights.
Ghost stories, Faith in Humanity Essay, Montana Museum Project, Memoir Scrapbook

We write for three purposes.
1. To convey experiences (narratives, fiction, nonfiction and personal)
2. To inform
3. To entertain
4. To think
I have a hard time counting sometimes.

Are we going to have a good year?
That is up to you. I am strongly leaning toward YES!

What is your favorite movie and actor?
I don't have a TV and I do not watch many movies, but my favorite movie is probably "Lord of the Rings" I can only think of about 5 actors, my favorite maybe Tom Hanks. (I know I am old)

Tips on how to finish your novel by the due date

Dear Students,

Every year some students have a hard time finishing their novels. Here is some helpful advice. 

1. Take your book everywhere you go. You only have two weeks to read your book, so take it everywhere. Read on the bus, read in the car, read during down time in other classes, read while your sister is at dance class, read instead of watching TV.

2. Be consistent. Read everyday for the 15 days you have to read it. That way you only have to read a little bit at a time. 

3. Read before bed. Get in the habit of reading before bed. It helps you get to sleep, you will remember more of what you have read, and you will have a better chance of finishing the book on time.

4. Listen to the audiobook. This is controversial, but there is research to back up the importance of listening to audiobooks. It improves vocbualry, it improves fluency, it improves writing fluency, and if you read along with the novel it greatly improves reading skills. Many of the novels I offer are downloadable on www.montanalibrary2go.org, and some are on tape or CD in our school library. 

5. Check out a book for your parent. Have your mom or dad read the book while you are reading it and talk about the book with them. 

6. Set daily goals. Set a 15 page a day goal or 20 minutes a day goal. 

Usually it really only takes a desire to make finishing your novel a priority,  you can do it, make it happen. 

Week One - Welcome to English and Literature

Dear New 8th Graders,

What a week!
Some things I learned from the first week of school:
1. I am out of teaching shape. My feet hurt, my legs hurt and my brain is a little sore.
2. Every class is different, but something about lunch gets every third block I have ever had some energy (awesome)
3. Deep down I think 8th graders still like school.
4. I miss last year's class more than I thought I would, but I am super excited to get to know this years class.
5. Finally, I learned that this class can really write. (great job on the paragraph pretest)

You guys and gals did a great job this week. It was awesome to have every student at school everyday; I know it was only three days, but it makes a difference. It was also really fun to slowly get to know everyone this week. Day one, classes were quiet, careful and a little apprehensive, but by day three personalities where starting to show through one by one. As a class, you guys did great on the paragraph pretest. Your writing showed care, effort, organization and clarity. I could not ask for more.

A couple of highlights for me were reaching some goals and taking some risks. One goal I have this year is to  make sure students are moving at least every 20 minutes. I hope I did a good job at this with the musical chairs and other movement things. Another goal I had for the first week is to go through classroom procedures enough that students know what to do, but not enough to bore them with it. I hope I reached a happy medium there. I also took some risks. For example, I was a little nervous about the "By Far the Worst Pupil at Long Point School" skit. I got all kinds of looks from the audience, from big smiles and some chuckles to wide eyes and raised eye brows, like this guy is weird, to some appreciation and applause. I hope you guys and gals feel as good about the first week as I do.

Sincerely,
Mr. Johnson