Kids World News, Allegan County, May 2016

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May 2016

Cooper Elementary School March Was Reading Month - Reading is Your Passport to the World "Reading gives us a place to go when we have to stay where we are."

(Plainwell) The students at Cooper Elementary were busy filling their Reading Passports as they earned stamps by either accumulating Accelerated Reader points or writing a Travel Log to share the journeys they traveled while reading a book. The month consisted of many activities and we have highlighted a few.

A very special day consisted of a visit from author/illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw (Ellie McDoodle Diaries and Leopold the Lion). Ruth and her husband Charlie engaged the students in “McDoodle words”. During this creative exercise, the younger students made art out of letters and words while she showed the older students how to use art to improve spelling retention. The experience ended with a interactive "Story Creation" segment!

Book Exchange Students donated books and participated in a school wide Book Exchange!

Music Mrs Luegge, the music teacher, shared her passion of music through interactive and engaging books full of rhyme and rhythm during March is Reading Month. The repetition, rhyme and rhythm inherent in music is not only fun to dance and play along with but can benefit emerging readers!

Pastries with Parents Students were able to snuggle up and enjoy a good book with a parent or special person before school while enjoying a pastry! The morning concluded with special guest Erin Marsh from Ransom Public Library reading a story to students and their parents.

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May 2016, Page 2

The Chemical Called Caffeine Caffeine (pronounced kaf-een) is a common, natural chemical that’s found in tea leaves, coffee beans, cacao (used to make chocolate) and cola nuts (used to make cola drinks). It can be found in drinks and food we eat such as coffee, teas, hot cocoa, sodas, chocolate, cakes, cookies, ice cream, and even medicines.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system which makes a person feel more awake and alert. People who drink caffeine every day may start to depend on it.

Unfortunately, many kids drink more soda - in fact twice as much - than they did 20 years ago. In some households, soda is chosen over milk, so kids are not getting the proper amount of calcium they need. Caffeine can cause a reaction in your body, like making your heart to pump faster, your breathing to quicken, increase blood pressure and make you feel hyper. Too much caffeine can make a person feel nervous, shakey and have trouble falling asleep. It also can cause difficulty concentrating, especiailly in young children.

Caffeine moves through the body within a few hours and is passed through the urine. It is not stored in the body, but kids may feel its effects for up to six hours if they are sensitive to it.

Caffeine is not a requirement for your body like other nutrients. No one needs it, especially kids. Limiting the amount of caffeine you eat and drink is best for your body. Most soft drinks are also offered in a decaffeinated version. That means there is no caffeine in them.

You can look for that on the label the next time you choose a soft drink.

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(269)692-2100 Fax: 269-692-2101 115 W. Allegan St., Downtown Otsego (Next to Amish Oak - Rear parking and entrance are the most convenient)

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PLAINWELL AUTO SUPPLY 155 N. Main St., Plainwell • (269)685-5817 Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm, Sat. 8am-1pm, Closed Sunday

NAPA Auto Parts of Allegan 1513 M-40, Allegan • (269)673-3080 Mon.-Fri. 8am-5:30pm, Sat. 8am-1pm, Closed Sunday

NAPA Auto Parts of Wayland 201 Clark St., Wayland • (269)792-9385 Mon.-Fri. 8am-6:30pm, Sat. 8am-1pm, Closed Sunday

May 2016, Page 3

Coloring Corner April Showers Bring May Flowers

Spring is Here Spring is here! Spring is here!

Winter is gone and two flowers appear.

Three little robins begin to sing.

Four bicycle bells begin to ring.

Five children come out and jump the rope.

Spring is here now! I hope, I hope! ~ Author Unknown ~

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Dix Street Elementary On Arbor Day the Students at Dix Street Received a Special Gift!

(Otsego) –Appropriately, on Earth Day, third grade students at Dix Street Elementary also heard about Arbor Day and learned all about trees. Brenda Carl and Deb and Ron Beattie visited the classes; they are with the Chula Vista Garden Club. They go to local schools each year at this time to educate students on trees and Arbor Day and hand out trees for them to plant at home.

“We want them to understand the benefits of trees,” says Carl. They also want them to take away the importance of conserving and preserving the environment and what planting trees have to do with the environment.

At the end of the presentation, each student was given a Concolor Fir Tree that will grow to be 125-150 feet tall. They also took great questions from the students about where to plant the tree, how and when to water it, how long it will live (200 years) and how quickly it will grow. This one will grow 1-2 feet each year.

Gina Watson is the Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Teacher of the Year for Otsego “I am humbled by the thought of my school district and administration appreciating me in such high regards,” says Gina Watson, who was named the Education Professional of the Year for Otsego Public Schools. The Otsego/Plainwell Chamber of Commerce presented her with the award on Tuesday, March 29, at their annual recognition dinner. Watson is a 20-year veteran of Otsego Public Schools and is currently a 1st grade teacher at Dix Street Elementary.

“She is a leader, a mentor and steadfast supporter of building and district initiatives that help students succeed and grow,” says Dix Street Principal Mark Rollandini.

Watson is an Otsego graduate and her children currently attend Otsego, as well. She serves on the K-12 Vertical Team for English Language Arts (ELA) and served on the Building & Site Sinking Fund Steering Committee. She has also served on Literacy Leaders through the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency (AAESA), Daily 5 Allegan County Literacy Group, Summer Reading Programs and attended multiple MRA conferences.

Steeby Elementary Nikol Yanakieva Takes 1st in a Creative Writing Contest (Wayland) – Nikol Yanakieva, a student in Mrs. Howell’s 3rd grade classroom at Steeby Elementary in Wayland, recently won first place in the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance 2016 Go Green Youth Challenge Creative Writing Contest. Students were given a list of questions to think about and were asked to use their imaginations and tell the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance: “What would happen if trees were in charge?” Nikol submitted her entry and was notified on April 6th that she was a winner and that her prizes would be coming to her through the mail. Below is Nikol’s entry for you to enjoy. One of her prizes is a tree to plant at Steeby. Specifications with that are currently taking place.

Congratulations, Nikol!

Dear people,

to be we think we are going ting this letter because n`t give wo We ke. stri We, the trees, are wri on ng goi so many of us. We are e cut. We extinct. You are cutting e for each one you hav tre a nt pla to rt sta you il unt it . Some fru cut re mo you e any tre you for each Actually plant two trees s. ute min t need to keep a balance. jus you but to cut a tree it takes of us grow very slowly, We cut more of us for paper. re. You do not need to that w kno you Did s.

Also, start to recycle mo ook g e-b ng to help us, like makin Tree, are happy to see you tryi and sisters? The Lumber rs the bro l cia spe and e rar ely y rem ver e ext d som e nee we hav baobab. They and the Grandidier`s Dragon`s blood tree, . y leave in unique places special care because the will be too. We give you t if we become extinct you tha you need ind rem to nt We wa an. Don`t forget that we athe. Please keep it cle m. the the oxygen air you bre poison grow. Do your best to not clean soil and water to like you need us. g us more! We need you pin hel rt sta l wil you e We hop From, Trees

Kids’ World News

CONGRATULATIONS TO ROBBY ROOKUS - STAR 105.7 MORNING WEATHER GUEST Congratulations to Robby Rookus, a student in Mrs. Zondervan's 3rd grade classroom at Steeby Elementary in Wayland, who was a guest weatherman for STAR 105.7 radio station on the morning of April 27th. Robby was nominated by his 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Neely, and selected to be a guest weatherman for the station. Robby was selected due to his intense interest in the weather. He and Mrs. Neely rode in a limo, supplied by the station, to and from the radio station on the morning of the 27th. You can hear Robby's weather report by going to the school web site at www.waylandunion.org, click on the School tab, select Steeby Elementary and click on the read more option under News and Announcements.

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May 2016, Page 5

Dominican Republic Did you know that the Dominican Republic is the only country in the world to have the image of the Bible on its flag?

• The Dominican Republic in the West Indies occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. Its area equals that of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.

• There are many small offshore islands and cays that are part of the Dominican territory. A cay is a low elevation sandy island that is formed on the surface of coral reefs. The two largest islands are Saona and Beata.

• The Domican Republic contains the highest mountain range in the West Indies called the Cordillera Central. Duarte Peak, at 10,417 feet, is the highest point in the West Indies.

• The Dominican Republic was explored and claimed by Cristopher Columbus on his first voyage in 1492. He named it La Española, and his son, Diego, was its first viceroy (a royal official that runs the country).

• The capital and largest city is Santo Domingo. It was founded in 1496 and is the oldest European settlement in the Western Hemisphere. Santo Domingo claims the oldest university in the New World as well as the oldest house, hospital, street and cathedral. The cathedral’s first stone was laid in 1514 by Diego Columbus, Christopher Columbus’ son.

• The government is currently a representative democracy.

• The Llano Costero del Caribe is the largest of the plains in the Dominican Republic. Stretching north and east of Santo Domingo, it contains many sugar plantations in the savannahs that are common there.

• Between the Central and Northern mountain ranges lies the rich and fertile Cibao valley. This major valley is home to the city of Santiago and most of the farming areas in the nation.

• The Yaque del Norte is the longest and most important Dominican river. It carries excess water down from the Cibao Valley and empties into Monte Cristi Bay.

FUN FACT...

The average car has about 30,000 parts

• The country experiences a tropical climate with seasonal changes in temperature.

Rainfall varies according to seasons. The Dominican Republic lies at the heart of a hurricane belt and this makes it extremely susceptible to storms from June to October.

• Spanish is the official language.

• Independance Day is the National Holiday. It takes place on February 27. In 1844, the country received its independance from Haiti.

• Agriculture: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas, cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef and eggs.

• Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement and tobacco.

• Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver.

• The largest lake is Enriquillo, a salt lake at 131 feet below sea level, the lowest point in the Caribbean.

• Dominican folk music features instruments such as the maracas, tambora (small drum), accordion and the guirra (a percussion instrument scraped with a metal rod). The national dance is the méringue.

• Dominicans love baseball. Many professional players in the United States come from the Dominican Republic like Albert Pujols, David Ortiz and Ubaldo Jimenez.

The Cathedral of Santa María la Menor in Santo Domingo is the oldest cathedral in the Americas, begun in 1514 and completed in 1540

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May 2016, Page 6

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May 2016, Page 7

Have Fun Learning Golf!

Playing golf is a great way to stay healthy, get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors, spend time with your family, and have fun all at the same time!

Golf is not an easy game to master, but children are never too young to begin playing. The earlier you start there is a better chance that bad habits will not develop. Learning golf the proper way, not only leads to better play but a more enjoyable experience.

It’s good idea is to take some lessons. Many golf courses offer instruction for kids. Also, some driving ranges will have a professional on staff that will give lessons for children. For older children, golf is a recognized sport in school and many high schools have golf teams.

Learning the basics of golfing includes having a good grip, the importance of alignment, good posture and the rules of golf itself. Golf takes a lot of dedication and practice to continue to improve your game.

Golf Facts COLOR ME!

► The first game of golf was played at Bruntsfield links in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1456 AD. ► Golf is played within the area of land that is designated by a golf course. The course is between 5000 to 7000 yards in length. ► Each hole has a guideline for how many times it should take a golfer to hit the ball (known as stroke) to get it in the hole. This is called par. At the end of the course, golfers compare their scores on each hole. ► Players carry many types of golf clubs during the game. There are three types of clubs that are called irons, woods and putters.

► At the end of the game the golfer who has the least number of strokes or is the closest to or under par overall wins. ► Each hole is divided into three primary areas; a tee box (where you begin), a fairway and a putting green. ► A round basically consists of 9 or 18 holes that are played in the order which is determined by the course layout.

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May 2016, Page 8