Kids World News, Clinton & Ionia Counties, Dec. 2015

December 2015 Clinton/Ionia County Edition

FREE

For Kids To Enjoy!

Look For Our Coloring Contest Winners On Page 6

Happy Holidays!

We Welcome You to Check Out 0ur Website

www.kidsworldnews.org

Just For Kids!

Kids’ World News

www.kidsworldnews.org

Volume 9, Issue 4, December 2015

Lease This New

2016 Cruize LT $ only

165

/mo.*

$0 Due at Signing

We Have The Vehicle To Fit Your Family’s Needs At The Right Price!

Lease This New

2016 Equinox $

only

275

/mo.*

Come Visit Us At Our New Used Car Center!

Lease This New

2016 Traverse $

Lease This New

2016 Malibu LT $ only

225

only

299

/mo.*

/mo.*

$0 Due at Signing

Large Selection of New & Used Vehicles Plus A Quality Service Department

632 American Dr., Lansing • 394-0330 or 1-866-724-6706 • www.shaheenchevrolet.com Must have GM employee discount (GMS) if not payments are slightly higher, LeaseLoyalty may apply, based on 24 months and 10k per year. Subject to lender approval, see dealer for details.

5301 N. US 27, 989-224-8874 us27motorsports.com St. Johns

BLUNDY-HOPPES TIRE & AUTO CLINIC, INC.

3765 S. State Rd., Ionia Auto • Truck • RV • Farm Service Center

616-527-0670 www.blundyhoppes.com

Rural Gas & Appliances 3354 S. State St., Ionia

888-527-2050

12900 S. US 27, #7, DeWitt Mitchell R. Dobrzelewski, O.D. 517-669-4411 www.visionsource-dewittoptometrypc.com Locally Owned & Operated For 10 Years

KP Auto Body & Towing (989) 224-7066 Your Automotive Specialist!

4129 S. US 27, St. Johns www.kpautotowingllc.com

Thanks!

To All Of Our Sponsors Who Are Helping Us To Provide Great Information To Kids And Parents

Hi Kids!

It’s A Great Day At Kids’ World News!

Have youweather, noticed the leaves changing colors? beautiful time and in Michigan when this The Snowy jingle bells, twinkling lights, It’s anda candy canes are all signs thathappens.

December weather is getting colder and soon winter will be upon us. Fall brings about some great moments. Events arrived! the last month ofand the marshmallows year and there isfavorites. certainly a feeling of anticipation in the likehas football, TrickIt’s or Treating, bonfires are air.

People are busy making plans and preparing for the also known as entry the “hustle October kicks off Kids’ World News 9th Annual Coloring Contest! holidays, The official coloring page is on page of the holiday season!

Hanukkah and Kwanzaa all holidays celebratthis paper.

All YOU have to do is Christmas, color the picture and send it directly to usare or our delivery drivers will pick 3 of bustle” them your schoolwhere office when they deliver the November edition! official below.

Be sure edup in at December, songs, decorations, candles and givingSee giftsthe are part rules of their beautiful to enter your picture! traditions.

The Staff of Kids’ World News

Kids and teachers are especially excited to have time off from school this month.

Kids’ World News 9thgoing Annual Contest Rules What are you to doColoring over your break?

The coloring contest rules are as follows: Enter the contest by coloring the picture provided on page 3.

There will World be a first placewishes winner you fromthe each grade - kindergarten, 1st December, grade, 2nd grade, grade, 4th grade, Kids’ News happiest of holidays this and a3rd wonderful time 5th grade and 6th grade.

The winner will receive prizes including a Kids’ World News T-shirt and certificate. sharing the joy of the season with your family and friends!

The entries must be received by Kids’ World News by November 13, 2015. They can be mailed in to Kids’ World News, 5747 North Otto Road, Charlotte, Michigan 48813 or taken to your school office by November Happy Holidays to all!

9th for our delivery drivers to pick up. The winners will be announced in the December edition of Kids’ World News.

if you would like to see Kids’ World News at your school or if you would like to be one of our proud sponsors, please call 517-202-2365 (e-mail: rich@kidsworldnews.net). If you would like to submit an article from your school (limit 150 words), e-mail: debi@kidsworldnews.net Kids’ World News is designed to give exposure to all area schools, recognition of students and staff members. We welcome imput from all our area schools. We do however, reserve the right to edit.

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

December 2015, Page 2

This page proudly sponsored by:

Preuss Pets

1127 N. Cedar Old Town Lansing 517-339-1762 www.preusspets.com **Teachers - we do fieldtrips!** Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

Coupon

FREE

Live animal presentation for an in-store

Birthday Party M-F parties, a $25 value Limit Limit one one per per customer. customer.

Book Book before before January January 15, 15, 2015 2016

Feed the fish in our indoor river!

Get up close and personal with our cool koi.

Limitone oneper percustomer. customer.

Limit Limitedamount amountof offood foodper perday. day.

Limited Useby byJanuary January15, 15,2016 2015 Use

December 2015, Page 3

Can You Spot The 10 Differences?

How Many Words Can You Make From HAPPY HOLIDAYS _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

PFCU’s Youth Promotion for December!

WIN an Apple iPad mini!

Open a NEW savings account or deposit into your current PFCU account and you are instantly entered for a chance to win! *For ages 13 to 17 Federally Insured by the NCUA

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

,RQLD &RXQW\ RI¿FHV LQ

Portland Ionia /DNH 2GHVVD 517-647-7571

616-527-6600 616-374-0100

See www.pfcu4me.com for all branches

December 2015, Page 4

Dr. Sandra L. Hanson

Dr. C. Patrick Gray

e v o L We s!

Kid

+HUELVRQ :RRGV (OHPHQWDU\ 1HZV

Veterans Day Wall of Honor: Students at Herbison Woods created a “Wall of Honor” for Veterans Day. Students were given the opportunity to decorate a star to honor a Veteran. If students have a close connection to a Veteran, like a family member or friend, they wrote that Veterans name on the star. Over one hundred stars were displayed in the cafeteria on the Wall of Honor.

The Meemic Foundation, part of Meemic Insurance, partnered with Scholastic Book Fairs to offer teachers the opportunity to receive a $100 grant for books. Mrs. Wineland applied for and received a grant!

Recently Mr. Kingsley of the Kingsley Insurance Group presented the grant to Mrs. Wineland at Herbison Woods.

Mrs. Wineland and her students “are thrilled” to receive the grant and will be purchasing new books for their classroom very soon. Thank you Meemic for giving back to our school and community!

Mrs. Sherry Dreasky, from the Dart Foundation, presented sixth grade teacher Mrs. Maxwell with a check for $4,400! Mrs. Maxwell will use this grant money to start a Robotics club for sixth graders at Herbison Woods. The Robotics Club will be using the latest technology from Lego Mindstorms. The funds will purchase eight kits and allow for sixteen students to participate; eight teams of two. The club is scheduled to start in January 2016.

Participants will present to the school and or classrooms at the end of the school year to display the skills and learning that they gained through their experience.

Mrs. Vicky Milner, principal of Herbison Woods School, has been presented the Administrator of the Year Award by the Michigan School Counselor Association (MSCA).

The award is given annually to an administrator who demonstrates, understands and supports the work of school counselors and their work with young people. Mrs. Milner was honored at the MSCA Fall 2015 Conference in Ann Arbor on November 16th. Mrs. Milner was joined in the celebration by DPS Superintendent Dr. John Deiter, Curriculum Director Lori Webb, HW Counselor Terri Severy and her husband Scott Milner. This was a big surprise for Mrs. Milner and a well deserved honor.

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

Pictured left to right: Dr. John Deiter, Superintendent DeWitt Public Schools, Vicky Milner, Principal Herbison Woods School, Lori Webb, Curriculum Director DeWitt Public Schools, Terri Severy, Counselor Herbison Woods School

December 2015, Page 5

&RORULQJ &RQWHVW :LQQHUV

Brooke Fleming Kindergarten - St. Mary`s School

Joseph Schrauben Leslie Bernal-Ponce 1st Grade - St. Joseph School

2nd Grade - Pewamo Elementary

Hadyn Louchart

Cadin Heinbokel

Katelyn Kramer

4th Grade - Westwood Elementary

5th Grade - Westwood Elementary

6th Grade - St. Mary`s School

Taylor Fox 3rd Grade - St. Joseph School

Great Job To All Who Entered The Contest This Year!

• 100% State Assistance for Child Care tuition.

• 4 Stars with great start to quality.

1009 James, Belding E-Mail us at: yourkidsworld@gmail.com

• Food Program • Certified Teachers • Sibling Discount available.

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

December 2015, Page 6

Coloring Corner Happy Holidays To You! Write about one of the traditions that your family celebrates this holiday season. __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ Protect your child’s future with an Auto-Owners Life Insurance Policy Save for your child’s future with an Auto-Owners Annuity

517-321-4600 www.davidchapmanagency.com

Protect your family with Home, Auto, Farm and Business Insurance

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

December 2015, Page 7

Safe, Local, Reliable

Don’t be left in the COLD this winter! Call AmeriGas for a HOT deal today!

Call the Eaton Rapids Location To Start Saving Now!

1005 JP Sullivan, Eaton Rapids 517-663-1100

0RVW +RO\ 7ULQLW\ (OHPHQWDU\ 1HZV This year marked the 15th Annual Veterans Day Celebration hosted by MHT School. Approximately 150 veterans, their spouses, and auxiliary members from Fowler and surrounding areas were in attendance.

The event began with Mass and was followed by a breakfast prepared by volunteer parents and staff and then served by the 7th and 8th grade stuGHQWV $IWHU EUHDNIDVW D ÀDJ FHUemony was conducted followed

by student entertainment. This year each class sang a patriotic song. As an additional token of appreciation for their many sacULÂżFHV HYHU\ \HDU WKH VWXGHQWV work hard on a small keepsake for the Veterans to take home.

God Bless our Veterans and thank you for your many years of service!

Pictured are a few of the 1st and 2nd grade students performing their song.

Kristin Phillips, from the DNR ,came in to talk to the 1st-4th graders about all things deer. She played a game with the kids called “Oh Deer� where the kids actively learned about deer habitat and their essentials (food, water and shelter). The kids discussed with her why animals have fur and the different parts of the deer. She came equipped with a deer hide, antlers and a skull for the kids to pass around to touch and inspect. Thank you Mrs. Phillips for coming in and sharing your passion for the natural resources in Michigan.

Open 11am til 5pm, Closed Wed. & Sun. 3036 Bagley (US27) Ithaca (5 miles north of M-57 on US 27 Email: northstarsolidoak@casair.net www.northstaramish.com

6W -RVHSK 6W -RKQV (OHPHQWDU\ 1HZV Our 5th Grade students completed a Social Studies Unit on Early Native American Cultures.

They each submitted AWESOME recreations of habitats for the time period and location.

The kids also presented them in front of their classmates and displayed them in the front hallway of the school for everyone to appreciate.

QUALITY NEW & USED FURNITURE & CLOTHING

50% OFF SELECT CLOTHING

334 W. Main Street, Ionia • 616 523 6500 Tues. Fri. 10 6, Sat. 10 3

“CONTINUING AN OVER 90 YEAR TRADITION OF QUALITY�

324 West Main • Ionia, MI 48846

616-527-4480

:DOGURQ (OHPHQWDU\ 1HZV Leaf Warriors!

Eighth graders at Waldron Middle School picked up their rakes, and with bags in hand, headed out into the surrounding areas to rake up leaves for people in the community of Fowler. The 8th grade class is reading the book Pay it Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde. In this story, 12 year old Trevor is given an extra credit project to “Think about an idea for world change and put it into action.â€? He devises a plan to help 3 people in a big way with the agreement that they in turn will help 3 other people‌thus creating a chain of people helping others in order to make the world a better place.

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

We decided that this story would lead in nicely with doing a service project. Students wrote various proposals for ideas that they felt would help to make the world a nicer place.

These were then discussed and voted on by the students. Raking leaves was the winning proposal for this year.

Students braved the rain, took to the streets, and helped to clear away debris from various lawns in the neighborhood. When asked if they would like to postpone this activity for a nicer day, the overwhelming response was NO! “We want to build memories, after all, who rakes leaves in the rain?�

Apparently the 8th graders at Waldron do. They had an awesome time helping others in their community.

December 2015, Page 8

The Water Cycle If you get a clear glass of tap water and look closely at it, can you guess how old it is? The water in your glass may have fallen from the sky as rain just last week, but the water itself has been around almost as long as the earth has! Our earth has a limited amount of water and that water keeps cycling around and around. That’s what we call “the water cycle.”

This water cycle is made up of four main parts.

Evaporation: Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, and the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the river, lakes and ocean and goes into the air. With evaporation, we also have transpiration.

What is that? Plants transpire.

Transpiration is the way by which plants lose water out of their leaves. Transpiration gives evaporation a bit of a hand in getting the water vapor back up into the air.

1. Evaporation

Condensation: Water vapor in the air gets cold and changes back into liquid, forming clouds.

This is called condensation.

You can see the same sort of thing at home... pour a glass of cold water on a hot day and watch what happens. Water forms on the outside of the glass. That water didn’t somehow leak through the glass! It acutally came from the air.

Water vapor in the warm air, turns back into liquid when it touches the cold glass!

COLOR ME!

3. Precipitation

Precipitation: Precipitation occurs when so much water has condensed that the air cannot hold it anymore. The clouds get heavy and water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow.

2. Condensation

Law Offices Of

DANIEL K. TEMPLIN Attorney at Law 321 W. Main St., Ionia Office 410 S. Clinton, Grand Ledge Office

(616) 527-1750

Collection: When water falls back to earth as precipitation, it may fall back into the oceans, lakes and rivers, or it may end up on land. When it ends up on land, it will either soak into the earth and become part of the “ground water” that plants and animals use to drink or it may run over the soil and collect in the oceans, lakes and rivers where the cycle starts all over again.

Kristi M. Washbourn Indie Author, The Jack O’Rourke Series New Tween Age Saga, 5 Star Rating kristiwashbourn@yahoo.com

616-902-6600 Books available through Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobel.com and at Second Beginnings in Downtown Ionia

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

4. Collection

REED INSURANCE AGENCY “Voted Favorite Insurance Company For 14 Years”

bjoslyn@reedinsuranceagency.net

DeWitt

www.reedinsuranceagency.net

BRUCE W. JOSLYN President

517-669-2911 December 2015, Page 9

6W -RVHSK 3HZDPR (OHPHQWDU\ 1HZV

The St. Joseph School of Pewamo Spiritual Student Council participated in Halloween-themed Minute to Win It games in front of the student body Friday, October 30th. Even staff members completed one of the games to the amusement of the students.

During the month of November, students and staff of St. Joseph School in Pewamo have been collecting nonperishable items for the Zion Food Pantry.

Fr. Charlon Mason blessed the food at a school mass on November 25.

The First Grade class at St. Joseph School in Pewamo enjoyed learning DERXW 3DLQWHG /DG\ %XWWHUĂ€LHV :H carefully watched them change from the tiny egg stage, to the larva stage, WR SXSD DQG ÂżQDOO\ DGXOW EXWWHUĂ€\

St. Joseph School of Pewamo’s First through Fifth Grade classes enjoyed their trip to Klackle Orchard in Greenville in October. They learned about apple and pumpkin seeds and enjoyed the wagon ride to pick their apples and pumpkins and had great fun on the playground.

2YLG /HRQDUG (OHPHQWDU\ 1HZV Leonard Kindergarten Classroom is Awarded 2014’s Youth Action Committee Mini Grant from Capital Region Community Foundation entitled, “Bunches of Buddies.� “Our project was to have a place to make a buddy.� After seeing a snippet regarding the Buddy Bench on TV, then seeing an advertisement for it in a teaching magazine, and then seeing a student who needed the buddy bench one winter day last year at recess, kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Marcy Westenberg knew there had to be a way to get a Buddy Bench at Leonard Elementary. “A bench is the perfect place to make or meet a buddy!

If we had a buddy bench, then we can go there if we are lonely and need a buddy to talk to. Or we can make a new buddy there. Or we can meet our buddies there. This would make a positive learning environment because no one would be lonely. Everyone could have a buddy. Having a special place to meet a buddy would be really cool.

This buddy bench could last forever!� These were all comPHQWV ÀLWWHULQJ LQ WKH DLU ODVW \HDU ZKHQ 0UV :HVWHQEHUJ and her students talked about the Buddy Bench. Everyone was indeed excited about the prospects.

Mrs. Westenberg, and the custodial staff at Leonard helped by assembling the bench. Finding a place to put

We wrote many interesting facts DERXW WKHVH EHDXWLIXO EXWWHUĂ€LHV LQ RXU science journals before we set them free on a nice, sunny day in October.

the bench was another endeavor.) However, the bench was to look really cool (inviting) and would match our school colors. As part of the grant, we wanted a bench very durable and made from recycled things so it would be Earth friendly. The Foundation funded a bench, the “Buddy Bench,� from recycled plastics.

At the end of last school year, the buddy bench had still not been placed outdoors, but rather sat very happily in our VFKRRO OREE\ :LWK UHFRQÂżJXUDWLRQ RI WKH VFKRRO EXLOGLQJV looming in the air and classrooms being moved, the buddy bench still did its job. Many students, parents, and grandparents, even without knowing its intent, began using the Buddy Bench to cheer one another up, or have a serious conversations, or just to take a load off in our school lobby.

When the dust had settled, classrooms had moved, and EXLOGLQJV ZHUH UHFRQÂżJXUHG WKH /HRQDUG %XGG\ %HQFK Âżnally did make it outdoors. It was installed recently near the blacktop, under a tree, overlooking the playground. So year-round, with or without snow pants or boots, the Leonard Buddy Bench will await all who come over to make a buddy.

There were some unexpected outcomes of this project.

The Leonard Buddy Bench was originally housed indoors.

Since the Buddy Bench temporarily was placed inside, many miss it in as a sentinel in our lobby. It had gotten a lot of use and because it says “Leonard Buddy Bench� on it, it had become a great place for everyone to sit and chat; building relationships all day long. It is my hope, that perhaps we will receive an additional grant this year to include one indoors. What a blessing that would be!

Article submitted by Mrs. Marcy Westenberg

$500 OFF ANY PRE-OWNED VEHICLE - BOTH LOCATIONS! 2003 Hummer H2

2002 Chevy Avalanche

Limited Edition, Loaded, Lots Of Extras!

ANYTHING OF VALUE TAKEN ON TRADE! 5226 N. Grand River • Lansing

517-323-7400

Loaded!

Auto Sales & Service Open Mon. - Fri. 9 to 8, Sat. 9 to 7 www.rpmautosales.com

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

FINANCING AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE! 5436 S. Cedar • Lansing

517-882-2961

December 2015, Page 10

I Love To Play The Piano!

The piano is a very important part of music. Many musical notes do not seem possible without it and many notes sound better on the piano. The piano can play all types of music from classical to rock and roll. It can also be played solo or with other instruments, so it is very versatile.

There is some disagreement on when the first modern style piano was built. Most say the modern style piano (or piano et forte, meaning soft and loud) was probably built by the Italian, Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1709. It was described as a harpsichord with both soft and loud!

The difference between the harpsichords that came before and the piano, was the way the strings were sounded. In-

side the piano the strings are tightened into tune. A grand piano, for instance, looks like a harp when on it’s side. Modern style pianos use hammers to pluck the string. So when you touch the keyboard, the hammer hits the string which affects the sound of the note. If you stroke the key gently, the sound will be soft. If you use a heavy touch on the key, the sound will be much louder!

PIANO FACTS: • The average medium sized piano has about 230 strings.

Each string has about 165 pounds of tension. With the combined pull of all the strings, that equals approximately eighteen tons! • There are over 10 million pianos in American homes, businesses and institutions. • Yamaha, established in 1887, was the first piano manufacturer in Japan. • The world’s largest piano is a Challen Concert Grand Piano. This piano is eleven feet long and has a total string tension of over 30 tons. This piano weighs more than a ton! • The working section of the piano is called the acion. There are about 7500 parts in there. They all play a role in sending the hammers against the strings when the keys are struck.

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

New - Preowned - Restored Pianos Over 60 On Display!

Open Mon. - Thurs. 9 to 6, Fri. 9 to 4, Sun. 1 to 6, Closed Sat.

Reeder Pianos Inc.

Restoration Center and Showroom

Serving You Over 40 Years

5660 W. Grand River, Lansing • 1-800-225-8641 • 517-886-9447 www.reederpianos.com • jmr@reederpianos.com

December 2015, Page 11

Fun With Fractions!

Color In The Correct Answer!

5 8

2 4

3 8

2 5

3 5

7 8

1 4

2 3

3 4

1 2

1 3

7 9

4 6

5 9

2 4

4 5

Kids’ World News • 1-877-570-3340 • www.kidsworldnews.org

December 2015, Page 12