The Spire Crier St .
T ho ma s
Epi sc op al
Pari sh
Sc h ool
Spaghetti Dinner raises charity funds By Natalia Banuelos The Spaghetti Dinner was January 22 and all the food was awesome. The waiters were the 5th graders and, P.S., the desserts were the best there! There were so many leftovers from the school bake sale and they cost 25 cents and all the rest of the desserts cost 50 cents. The first job was the dessert station. There are two parts of that job, one part is you serve ice cream and the other part is serving all the baked goods. Another job the 5th graders did was they served the food to all the guests. The spoons that the 5th graders used were really hard to use to get the spaghetti on the spoon. The parents made the spaghetti not the 5th graders. The most popular job at the Spaghetti Dinner was when the 5th graders got to eat. Everyone loved the spaghetti and you can’t forget the meatballs. Anyways the food was the best that everyone had ever tasted. Another job was selling the raffle tickets and entry tickets. And the last job mostly nobody liked was clean-up and patrol. Clean-up and patrol was when the 5th graders took care of the little kids and asked the parents and the older kids if they wanted anything else to drink. The Spaghetti Dinner was a success. When the Spaghetti Dinner was over the 5th graders chose a partner, or decided to work individually, and everyone suggested a charity to give the money that was raised at the dinner. Once the 5th graders decided on a charity they had to do a PowerPoint on it. The 5th graders raised over $3,000 at the Spaghetti Dinner.
Volume 28 Issue 3 M arch 2016
Inside this issue:
Valentine’s Day Facts
2
Ask Tony and Tina 3 Student Fiction
4
Dear Diary
4-5
Student Fiction
6-8
Special points of interest:
More than 35 million boxes of chocolate are bought on Valentine’s Day in the U.S.
You can learn how to sew by watching tips on YouTube and Google.
The beaches are beautiful and the breezes are calm in Bermuda.
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The Spire Crier
Valentine’s Day started in the fifth century
Americans spent almost $19 billion on Valentine’s Day in 2016.
By Sofia Manguson Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 because of the soft kind-hearted saint, St. Valentine. Did you know that 61% of Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day by exchanging valentines, or giving candy, and other gifts? St. Valentine is somewhat secret and no one knows much about him. Guess what? Did you know there is more than one St. Valentine, and no one knows which saint the holiday was named after? Pope Gelasius declared February 14 Valentine’s Day at the end of the fifth century AD! But it was not until the year 1300 that the holiday was associated with love and romance. Some people believe that February 14 was the beginning of bird mating season too. The first Valentine greeting card appeared in the fifteenth century and by the seventeenth century Great Britain had begun the tradition of exchanging cards and letters. Valentine’s Day soon caught on in the U.S as well. The first massproduced card machine came out in the 1840s. Valentine’s Day soon became a major consumer holiday, and today an estimated one billion Valentine cards are sent each year. More cards are sent than on any other holiday except for Christmas. More than 35 million Valentine chocolate boxes are bought each year, and more than 22 million roses are produced for the holiday. This year, Americans spent $18.9 billion on Valentine’s Day. That’s an average of $142 per person! Candy and roses are the most popular gifts to give on Valentine's Day, but many people prefer to give jewelry. Americans spend more than $4 billion on romantic jewelry annually. People who prefer the ultimate romantic gesture are not alone because a recent survey showed that 6 million couples are likely to get engaged on February 14th. As you can see there is a long history as to why we celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Volume 28 Issue 3
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Ask for help from Tony and Tina Dear St. Thomas Students, Hello everyone, I’m Tina, the advice giver and this is my partner Tony! If you have any questions on life, ask us, Tina and Tony! Hey, I’m Tony and as you know, I’m Tina’s partner and we work as a team! We love St. Thomas and love its questions to be answered. All we need is people to read the Spire Crier and we need you to ask questions for us. You can ask the question without anyone knowing. All you have to do is go to the school office with a note with your question and put it in the box labeled Ask Tony and Tina. If you can’t find it ask the ladies in the office and they will help you find it. After that, voila! It is done. Then we will answer your question by printing it anonymously. Don't be embarrassed to ask. Please send true questions, so that we can help you as best we can. If you're worried about asking a question just use a nickname. Just get those questions in the box, and we will answer! Love, Tony and Tina Here are some examples of questions and our answers: Dear Tony and Tina, All my friends got invited to a sleepover, and I didn't! I thought that she was my friend. I feel really mad, but I don’t want to show my emotions. I don’t want her to say she doesn’t want to be my friend anymore. I am really confused, and don’t know what to do! Thanks, Lonelyheart 675 Dear Lonelyheart675, Don’t worry too much about it. Just try to take some deep breaths and then go to your trusted adult and talk to them about what you feel. You will be invited to many other sleepovers that she won’t be invited to. Don’t worry about this one so much. Many other sleepovers will occur. We hope this helps. Dear Tony and Tina, My friends got the new video game that just came out but I didn’t. They are all bragging in my face that they have it and I don’t. I’m too shy to go to the teacher. Please give me some advice. Thanks, Videogamelover 579 Dear Videogamelover 579, When something like this happens to you instead of talking back, do this: Don’t smile and just walk away. Another thing is if people say things that are not true about you, don’t believe them and say to yourself I am not those thing and I am better than that. At one time or another everyone has gotten bullied and if it keeps happening then go tell a trusted adult. Hope this helps!
All you have to do is go to the school office with a note with your question and put it in the box labeled “Ask Tony and Tina.”
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The Spire Crier
Dear Diary: Everyone should learn how to sew By Natalia Banuelos
When you start sewing you will probably make some mistakes, but don’t worry. You will get better.
Dear Diary, Today I learned how to sew. I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I love it. Right now I am still learning, but I know a few tips to tell you if you ever get a sewing machine. First you have to get all your supplies. Then you choose a thread and set up the sewing machine. After that, get whatever fabric you want and choose whatever way you want a string to go. A picture of my sewing machine is here on the left so you get an idea of what it looks like. Once you get one then you will know what I am talking about. When you have your two fabrics then you start. If you have no idea how to sew then either look on YouTube or Google to figure out how to sew. When you start you will probably mess up but don’t worry because you will get better. I get really stressed out too but I don’t give up because I know I am still learning to sew. Don’t give up. Another thing you should know is that before you start on sewing things you don’t know if you will mess up. I suggest you do samples before you start your real thing. Those are some tips from me before you start to sew. Have fun learning to sew! Everyone should know how.
Student Fiction: Yesterday By James Furniss-Roe I can’t believe it! I tried talking to Julia, but not everything went as planned. It sort of went like this… At the end of class I went over to her locker and tried to stay calm. Julia is a very nice person, and she always gets good grades. Me? Not so much. I usually get okay grades like B’s. Or sometimes C’s. Mostly B’s. Anyway, I was ready. I took a deep breath, in and out. Then she came out of class, carrying her books in a neat stack. She came over to her locker, looking at me. I gulped and tried to speak, but my words came out like this: “I… Well…. My… Name is…. Uhhh…..” She looked at me curiously, and then went to Potions, our next class. At first I just stood there, not knowing what to do, then I followed, stumbling after her. Later on, after class, I decided to try and talk to her later, after messing up earlier. But she went home extremely early, during Language Studies. And she always stays for that class—It’s her favorite. So what was going on? To be continued in the next issue.
Volume 28 Issue 3
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Dear Diary: Bermuda’s beach is beautiful By Sofia Manguson Dear Diary, A couple of years ago I visited the pink sand beaches of Bermuda for the first time. The beach was quiet and the calm sea hitting the rocks was the only sound heard. I loved the feeling of the cool wind against my cheek, and the pink sand in between my toes. I walked farther into the ocean and closed my eyes as I felt the cold water tickling my toes. I swam through the freezing water deep into the ocean, and I saw many colorful fish and corals. Some corals were floating through the blue ocean, and some others were sitting on the deep ocean floor. I walked out of the ocean, as it was getting dark. The stars twinkled in the sky brightening it up with light. Suddenly everything was silent as the tide dropped low, and nothing was heard but a small dolphin in the distance. The beach was cold and damp since the tide had been very high for a few days. The temperature dropped in no time, and the wind grew. Many leaves flew off the tall, splendid trees, and the palm trees swayed making the sound of rustling leaves. I ran up the beach but my feet got stuck in the cold wet sand. As the beach calmed down I could hear the sound of a voice coming from the cliff. I climbed up the pointy, sharp rocks to the cliff full of grass and dry, powdery sand. I heard the sound once more coming from behind me. I turned to see my family signaling me it was time to leave. I was so sad about leaving and fell on my knees getting sand all over them. I pleaded with my Mom and Dad if we could stay longer but they refused to let me. I took my time as I took each little step enjoying the beauty of the sea. I watched the animals dive under the deep sea and the moon brightening and I made each step as if it wanted me not to leave. I sunk my toes in the sand, and made a sand angel. I walked to the car slowly keeping my eyes on the ocean. The car’s engine started, and I closed my door. As the car started moving I kept my eyes on the ocean until I couldn’t see the beach anymore.
I sunk my toes in the sand, and made a sand angel.
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The Spire Crier
Student Fiction: An Interesting Cruise By Edward Whipple Hi. My name is Edward. I have a lot of pets—three dogs, two cats, two birds and 10 fish. I am going on a cruise. I am going on the trip with my pets. I personally think that I am an inventor. I am planning on building a drone or maybe a dinghy. I have all the supplies to build one. Here we go. I just arrived at my cabin and it is huge. I forgot to mention I have a little brother and a big sister. The kids’ room has a triple-decker bunk bed! I brought my laptop and I’m planning to code my own game. Someone is knocking on the door. Room service! No, it’s my friend Edward! He brought a laptop too. We both coded a game called Future Solider. We spent the day coding. Today I did tennis on the cruise. There are tennis lessons. I started building the dinghy but didn’t finish it. My drone is completed! Edward said he brought friends and Nerf guns. I think I know where he is going with this. My instincts tell me that we are doing a Nerf war. I am ready with my drone. Just need to attach a camera. I actually brought a few surprises of my own like supplies for my Nerf gun. I have an ammo vest too. So if they try to sneak up I will be ready. I just need war paint. I am going to wait right here and try to set up base. I made an auto turret and set up my little toy. I placed my drone down and placed the camera on it. In a second it started flying. I flew it through the halls. Right as I turned around the corner there they were firing. My next-door neighbor rushed out of the door and flew a jet with two Nerf guns on it and covered me. He had toy of his own. Next thing we saw was a white flag. After that I went to play tennis. I am good at tennis. I beat everyone in the tennis tournament. After tennis I went to finish my dinghy. I finished! I want to go and explore the islands near the cruiseship. I just need extra fuel and my pets to come with me. I also forgot to inflate the dinghy. After that my dogs, birds and fish were on the boat. I put the fish in the water and started to go on an adventure. I landed on the shore of an island, got my metal detector out, and roamed the beach. My dogs sniffed around and my fish went “blub.” I found something. I started digging and saw a metal spike. I finished digging and saw dragonhead armor. I also found a saddle for the dragon. Well, I haven’t found the dragon yet. I got a drone and picked up the armor and carried it to the ship. I called Edward to carry it back to the room. I went to the next island. I saw a gnome on the island. I walked back and got my Nerf gun. I saw the gnome walking around. Freaked out and hit the gnome’s belly. I think the gnome felt a fist, sort of. He started throwing up, rainbows!? Then he looked back and started shouting at me. Sorry! I freaked out. “What’s your name?” “Blinky,” he said. “The name’s Blinky.” He followed me around the forest. Then I saw a downed dragon. I walked up to it and poked it. It snorted fire. I went back to the boat to get fish. I fed the dragon and healed him. He didn’t attack me. I brought the saddle and mounted him. I started flying him! He was black and red and had horns. In the forest from above I saw castles, dragons, tree forts and gnome caves. I thought I was hallucinating. I wasn’t. I had to name my dragon. I decided to call him Aithne, Greek for fire. I went wandering in the forest. I found the tree forts and I went in and saw Ewoks. They were sleeping in the little huts. I saw Wicket, an Ewok. He came with me on the adventure. Next stop was an elves’ castle. I think they weren’t used to dragons and they called in the cavalry. I said to stop and tell them he is tame. I spent the night there. And the next day I spent the day working on improvements for Aithne. I fed the animals, well the elves did. I added more saddles and the dogs went in a terrarium that is attached to the dragon. I trained the dragon. And we were ready for more journeying. The elf stopped us (continued on page 8)
Volume 28 Issue 3
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The Hobbit Guide and A Prelude By John Lucas Turner-Smith This prelude is about The Hobbit. This will, depending on how you look at it, either briefly or verbosely explain the beginning of the adventure of Bilbo Baggins in fascinating detail. “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” And the hobbit that lived in the hole in the hill was named Bilbo Baggins. He lived in his hobbit-hole that he named Bag End. Bag End was in Hobbiton and Hobbiton is in the Shire. Hobbits are peaceful, restful, and most of all small creatures. They are shy to other creatures and don’t like machinery more complicated than a watermill. One day Bilbo was sitting in his garden, on his wooden bench, and a man clad in a grey cloak and a dull blue hat came up to Bilbo and Bilbo said “Good morning.” The man said in return, "What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?" "All of them at once, I suppose," said Bilbo. That man’s name was Gandalf, Gandalf the Grey. In fact it was a very unusual visit not just with the fact that there were not a lot of visitors in the Shire, but also that he was a wizard. They had a talk and Gandalf told him his name and then Bilbo went back into his hole, shut the door, and made himself some nice, hot tea. Gandalf however did not leave. He went up to the door and used a nail at the bottom of his staff to carve a Rune into the door. Soon night fell and Bilbo was setting the table for dinner. When he heard a knock on the door, he went to the door and opened it. To his surprise he saw a strong-faced dwarf wearing a thick fur cloak, who introduced himself as Dwalin. He walked in and sat directly at the table, and started eating Bilbo’s fish (and potatoes)! Bilbo was just about to get him out, when he heard another knock at the door. He thought to himself “What now?” but even so he opened the door. Not to his enjoyment he saw another dwarf who walked in, and said his name was Balin. He said hello to the other dwarf and started eating next to him. They asked Bilbo for more food. Just after they demanded more helpings, there was another knock on the door. By that time he was sick of dwarves. But even so, he reluctantly went toward the door, opened it and there were eleven dwarves and Gandalf. They all came in and went straight to the pantry and started grabbing food and putting it on the table. When they had their meal they pulled out a map of a beautiful mountain, The Lonely Mountain. The map showed the ancient, dwarf kingdom of Erebor. The dwarves needed a burglar to go and steal the heart of the mountain, the Arkenstone. Smaug, the terrible dragon, had hidden the stone somewhere in Erebor. A (continued on page 8)
Bilbo Baggins (Hobbit)
Gandalf (Maia)
Thorin (Dwarf)
You can read the book or watch the three movies. They are called: Book: The Hobbit Movie 1: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Movie 2: The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Movie 3: The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies
The Spire Crier
St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School 5692 North Kendall Drive Coral Gables, FL 33156 305-665-4851
W E’ RE ON THE WEB AT S TEPSMIA. ORG
The Spire Crier is published by the fifth grade reporters in the Enrichment Journalism class at St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School. Reporters: Natalia Banuelos, Colin Ehrling, James Furniss-Roe, Sofia Manguson, Melanie Pozo, Matthew Rodriguez, Malena Tewari, John Lucas Turner-Smith, Edward Whipple Journalism Advisor: Ms. Christina Mayo Class Aide: Allison “Miss Alli” Williams
(An Interesting Cruise, continued from page 6) and gave us a magical sword. He told us it shot arrows, fire and lightning. We set off on the journey. Blinky asked where we were going to go. We settled down at the bay. We saw pixies, mermaids and sea monsters. We built a cabin and made a fire. I also made a bed. And then we settled down. Thank gosh the cruise anchored for one week for activities. If you are wondering about the pets, the dogs were lying down and the birds rested on a post I made. The fish stayed in their tank. Then I blew out the fire. And then we all went to sleep. I brought the armor back from the cruise and put it on. It’s so beast. It was pretty windy today. Something didn’t seem right. I saw a page on the ground and I picked it up and saw the illuminati. I ran inside locked the doors and hid. The wind got intense and I put all my animals in the terrariums hooked to the dragon and flew off to the elves’ kingdom. We told them about the disaster and showed them the paper. They casted a spell and made a force field. They said the sword is useful for this occasion. I pulled out the sword and followed the elf and went to the armory where there were armor, swords, and unicorns. I picked out dragon armor made from dragon scales and I told Wicket to get all the Ewoks inside the force field. When I walked out I saw Ewoks all around the plaza. We gave the armor and swords to the Ewoks; the elves dressed in golden armor. We saw the illuminati above the shield and he easily disabled the shield. We all opened fire on the illuminati. It was going down fast. Next thing we know we saw Eragon come out of who knows where firing five star arrows at a time. Then the illuminati were falling. To be continued in the next issue. (The Hobbit Guide and A Prelude, continued from page 7) hobbit would be a great burglar for this task – they move around quietly, if they choose to, and Bilbo was a perfect fit. Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month and yet, after a hundred years, they can still surprise you. All they needed was to have Bilbo sign the contract. Balin said, “It’s just the usual. Summary of out of pocket expenses, time required, funeral arrangements, so forth.” “Funeral arrangements?” Then Bilbo started reading it to himself. He was about half way done reading it and he read out loud “incinerated?” Bilbo did not understand what this meant so he said it with question in his voice. Another dwarf responded, “Oh, aye it will melt the flesh off your bones quicker than the blink of an eye. Think furnace with wings. Flash of light, searing pain and then poof. You’re nothing more than ash.” Right after, Bilbo said, “yep, that’s it” and he fainted. To be continued in the next issue.