Songs From Our Heart 2014 by St. Mary's School

SONGS FROM OUR HEART Inspired by WALL-E, 2013 - 2014

ST. MARY’S SCHOOL :: TURNING STUDENTS INTO CITIZENS

SONGS FROM OUR HEART Inspired by WALL-E 2013-2014

St. Mary’s is pleased to present the 15th edition of our annual production of Songs From Our Heart. On its pages are our students’ original work from the curent school year. Lower School students reflected upon the theme of the movie WALL-E: each of us can act to make our Earth a better place. We hope you are delighted and inspired by every page!

Cover: Fifth Grade student teams used a variety of recycled materials to create their own versions of “Old Glory,” the American flag. Creative spelling and language used by our K-2 students have been preserved as was written. Decoding, where necessary, is provided within [ ] brackets.

Kindergarten

WALLâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;E and Religion To hlep the earth I whil compost trash. Andrew Kirchoff, Kindergarten

I am resicling [recycling] a cesrapr [cheese wrapper] at lunch. Think you can be a good sitsin [citizen] by throwing your thach [trash]. A good sitsin mes [means] to floore [follow] keshins [directions] a thoreg are tash [and throw our trash] away. Emily Zimmerman, Kindergarten

Emily Zimmerman

Jenna Haggard

Eva fon [found] the pant [plant] yayo [yeah]! for Eva you are my fndeissyo [friend]. Lest [Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] go to rftf [Earth] ruit [right] now here we go on the sasspp [space ship]. Jenna Haggard, Kindergarten

God wans us to help ohthes becus it is helpful. Eva helpt the peple in the ship by geting the plant. Luke Friedl, Kindergarten

I m recycling. Isabella Hierro, Kindergarten 2

Nathan Hite

I em picen up miyy [my] chash [trash]. Nathan Hite, Kindergarten

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hlpen [helping] the urth [Earth] frm platon [planting] mor pans [plants]. Rowan Olsheim, Kindergarten Rowan Olsheim

Brianna Gorski

Eva was open myndid [minded] and she just wantid the plant. God wants us to be open myndid. Brianna Gorski, Kindergarten

Deer God I will pik up chrash [trash]. Tyler Tafreshi, Kindergarten Tyler Tafreshi

Eva was at the ship and she had a job and the world was filld with chrash [trash]. Eva went to the world to finde one thing. It was the plant. WALL-E showd the plant to Eva. Eva toc [took] it put it in her tummy then she gone ternd of [turned off] mode. Then WALL-E helpt Eva. The ship was back. Eva was in the ship and she was awake. Then she went to the captens ofis and opend her tummy and toc [took] it out. But it was gone. Eva look under WALL-E. The unther robot threw the plant away. WALL-E saved the plant. WALL-E put it in his little box and he was olmost died. He was in the garbig. Eva save WALL -E. Moe hangd on to WALL -E. WALL -E had the plant. They gaved it to the capten. They went back to Erth. They went fast. Eva went to WALL-E house and fixt WALL-E and WALL-E forgot hoo Eva was. Eva ternd him so WALL-E can reymember her. It toc a little wile. So like Eva was like the bird in Nowas Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] ark in the bible because she brot the plant. Olivia Le, Kindergarten

I want to help clen up trash end I want to help the earth. Blake Herman, Kindergarten

Olivia Le, Kindergarten

Do you know wot Eva wonid [wanted] to git from that thach [trash] lad [land]. She was locen [looking] for a sechl [special] thig. She was locen [looking] for a plat [plant]. Jost like nowus [Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] ork [ark] hd [had] to wat [wait] and wat and wat so he sat [sent] aot [out] a brd and he sat a brd aot a gin [again] and the brd brot [brought] a pes [piece] uv a log. So thn he know it was saf [safe] to go bak to rth [Earth]. Sienna Lawton, Kindergarten

Eva had to reetern [return] the plant to the spase shudel [space shuttle] so the pepel [people] ckood [could] retrn back to eaht [earth] and Nous [Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] berd [bird] reternd a branth [branch] so the pepel no [know] that its saf to git off. Deano Natale, Kindergarten

Kaylie Pederson

God wates [wants] us to lisin to ur perites [parents]. Kaylie Pederson, Kindergarten

First Grade

WALL-E and the Environment

Peyton Marsh

We should take care of our Earth so all of us and the animals can stay helfy. Are wrold is all we have. Peopel canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ouwas [always] live in spasse [space]. Peopel need ocsgin [oxygen] to breeth. We need Earth to srvive! To help Earth we need to pic up after ourselves so the invierment [environment] is good. Earth is all we have. Peyton Marsh, Grade 1

Dustrod Earth We shod [should] take care of the earth becuse then the planit wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be all dustrod [destroyed]. So look for trash cans pless. Then thro it away. And the Earth is rilly inportint becuse it gives us all life in a place to live. Jest like the rainforest. But if the Earth is dustrod then all the hosess [houses] and rainforest is too. So pless help the Earth. Kylie Foerster, Grade 1

Saveing Earth Evey single day of our lives we should take care of our Earth. Do not kut down trees because we will not have oscigon [oxygen]. Do not hurt plants because that hurts the invierment [environment] jest like saveing naturel resorses which helps the invierment so it is not that dry and bad. Put the garden inside so we can help the invierment I said. Grant Manahan, Grade 1

We can take care of our Earth by picking up trash. How we can take care of the Earth is by picking up trash. If we do not pick up trash the Earth will look dirty. Ryan Wagner, Grade 1

Jagger Leach

Why should we take care of our Earth? Well don’t leve chrash on the flror Becas litring is bad. WALL-E livd alon he stact chrash But stacing didn’t help then a robot came nam’e EVE then WALL-E wuss not alone then thay becam frends but then a space ship came to pic EVE up. Jagger Leach, Grade 1 10

Why should we take care of our Earth? And How? Well we kan resikle and go bak to why should we. So that our Earth is not a dump. Bikus uf our Earth is a dump we kant haf a hose [have a house] so we take kaer of our Earth. That’s uf our Earth is resiklde. That’s why. OK that’s why. So help resikle. OK. Now do that please. Kan you? Well trie. OK OK. Good job. I will to. OK OK. Sher. Thak you. Ya! For Sher. I did it Yaaaaaaaaaaaa! Super! OK. Well like I sad good job why bkus uf you do that than super! Thak you. And good job ugen. Tyler Olsen, Grade 1

We can take good care of the earth by recycleing, by putting trash in the trashcan. Even people can help rycecle trash everyone can help not just a little people everyone. Then it will be such a clean earth not a little clean sparkling clean. Mia Chen, Grade 1

We can help clean the earth. We can for the earth. We can help by cleaning afftr your self. If crash is on the ground you can pick it up. If a [can] is on the floor you make it into something else. Elizabeth Chan, Grade 1

Nathan McCowan

We can plant the earth. We can put chrash in a pile. We can plant food. We can plant vechtvles [vegetables]. Nathan McCowan, Grade 1

Filippo Vecchione

We should not throw trash. You shold pick up trash because are earth is inportent because you ned to protect it. When you see trash you can pick it up! Filippo Vecchione, Grade 1

Did you know that Earth is important becaus if we litter then the Earth then it will be gone! If we take kare of Earth then it will be here for us! In the movie WALL-E the people were not taking kare of our Earth. Do you know that you shold tell everyone take care of our Earth! Thomas Alspaugh, Grade 1 13

Second Grade

WALL-E and Relationships Relationships are when you have a sister or a friend and they be nice to you and you are like bff’s. Relationships give me friends but if right now I did not have relationships I would not have friends like WALL-E. WALL-E only had a friend Cricket. But then he saw someone new named Eva. WALL-E just wanted to hold Eva’s hand. So that’s like in real life. If I did not have my sister and my family, I would not go to this school. And I would not even be here. My sister and me have a real, real good relationship together. And I am so happy to have her in my life. I do not know what I would do without her. Evee Jewgieniew, Grade 2

Relationships are so special because in the movie WALL-E they looked out for each other and when Eva shot down, WALL-E took care of her. Relationships is friendship with someone you care for and love. I have a relationship with a grownup named Sandy because she was in my heart for a very, very long time. But one day she passed way and I was very sad. But I know that she still loves me and I still love her. She looked out for me and cared for me and even gave me a big hug when I was sad. I miss her a lot but I know she still loves me. Natalie Chapman, Grade 2

When someone is lonely say “can I be your friend and play?” Someone to play with. We need friendship. Someone to talk with. Someone to read with. Brainstorm with. To make us be comfortable with others. To make sure someone writing makes sense. To share with. Talking on bus when your class is going to a fieldtrip. The End. Michael Dominguez, Grade 2

We need a relationship because friends, and friends are like family. What if you didn’t have friends? You probably would be lonely. Family is also what you need. It’s almost the same as friends. When you have family and friends you now have a relationship. Lauren Cosgrove, Grade 2

We need relationships because we need a friend because we don’t want to be lonely. Also we need someone to play games with. In the park, at home or anywhere. I think we all need to have someone to talk our ideas out. If a friend is feeling bad make them feel comfortable. If you make more friends you make more relationships. If you have more friends you will have more stuff to look forward to. The End. Eva Cole, Grade 2

I think we need relationships because you will have friends and buddys. Sometimes people feel lonely when they don’t have any friends because they haven’t made relationships. It makes us feel comfortable. If you make one relationship that’s pretty good but you can always make more than one. If you make more relationships you’ll have more friends to play with and tell them our thoughts and ideas. If we have friends we will have more things to do and things to look forward to. It makes a big difference in your life. Calvin Howard, Grade 2

Andrew Chang, Grade 6

Relationships are people that you really know. They share friendship, they are there for you. You laugh, play and share memories together. That’s what relationships are. Relationships are important to me because if we didn’t have relationships life would be boring with no people. A special relationship I have is with my friend Lila. She is my best friend and my first friend. When me and Lila were little, we lived in North Carolina. I was so excited when Lila came over to my house. We always played together. But then one day I had to move to California. I was very sad but I still visit her. I am so glad to have relationships with people. Gabriella Eifrig, Grade 2

Uncle Anthony Relationships are where two people meet and don’t want to leave each other. Relationships are important to me because if you did not have a relationship your life would be miserable. Relationships give me a better life because the people that I have relationships with love me, take care of me and they are special to me. A special relationship I have in my life is my Uncle Anthony. He loves me with all his heart and I love him with all my heart. I am very sad because Uncle Anthony is paralyzed. I wish he wasn’t but he is. I just want to reach out and pull him up because I love him. If I didn’t have these

relationships my life would be

miserable. My connection with WALL-E is WALL-E loved Eva and I love my Uncle Anthony. Gavin Purcell, Grade 2

Once there lived a family that had over trillion people in it. Half of them died so the other half was lonely because they didn’t know each other. But inside that colossal family there were tiny little families and also a billion of them. And a bunch of them had ladies. All different kinds of ladies. European ladies, Italian ladies, even Eskimo ladies! And ladies are special because they keep civilization going. And that helps make a family. Another thing that helps is relationships . . . love relationships and friend relationships. Because if a boy and a girl were friends, one of them could ask “do you want to go on a date” and if they like it they could get married. Eloise Kempik, Grade 2

Once upon a time there was a flower. This flower was very, very lonely. The flower could only see dirt. But one day the flower set off to find other flowers. So the journey began. The flower past a lot, a lot I’m telling you, a lot but the flower sat down and said I’ll never meet friend. A tear fell out of the flowers eye and it fell into the dirt. One flower grew and a lot more. The flower was happier than ever. The End. Sofia Di Cesare-Bystrowicz, Grade 2

Third Grade

WALL-E and a Healthy Lifestyle In the movie WALL-E there were people and those people were out of shape. They drank their food in a cup and always were on the internet. They were always moving on a car without wheels and if someone bumped into them they would fall off and robots would have to pick them up because they weighed too much to even stand up! This movie WALL-E may be warning us for the future, maybe we will forget to stay healthy and active. So stay healthy and active so this movie wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t become real! Emily Byde, Grade 3

Emily Byde, Grade 3

The Cat and the Mouse Hi, I’m Skylar and I’m here to tell you a story about a cat and a mouse and how the mouse got healthy so listen up this is gonna be good...

One lovely Spring morning Cat and Mouse were getting ready to play when the cat said “let’s watch a move instead of playing” but the mouse said “no that’s not good exercise we should go out and play.” “Who cares about exercise?” Cat said. “I want to watch a movie!” Then mouse said “No, no, no! We need to exercise. Come on let’s go and play tag.” “O.K., O.K. fine,” said Cat. “We’ll go play tag.” So they went outside to go play tag. Then Cat said “I’m hungry, I’m gonna get some popcorn.” “No, no, no!” said Mouse. “That’s not healthy! Go get something else like an apple.” So Cat did. 15 Years Later: “I’m so glad I listened to you when we were little” Cat said. “Now I’m strong and healthy.” “No problem,” said Mouse. Just don’t sweat. Just eat it.” And that’s the story of the Cat and the Mouse. Skylar Ensign, Grade 3 20

In WALL-E the humans were so fat from unhealthy foods that they use technology so much that everyone polluted the Earth. So they had to go to space and they got super fat and they had to go in floating wheel Austin Strohmeier

chairs that had Skype on them. Austin Strohmeier, Grade 3

In WALL-E the people polluted the Earth. It got so polluted that nobody could live there anymore. So they all went to space. We should eat good foods and not pollute the Earth. We need to eat good foods because we don’t want to be overweight. If we get overweight, we will not be able to do the things we like to do like playing sports. So we probably should not be overweight because it would not be fun sitting down in a chair all day, every day. We should not eat candy because that’s what can happen. We shouldn’t

pollute our Earth either

because if we pollute the Earth we will not be able to play outside or go to the parks and play on sport teams. Carson Green, Grade 3 21

You should exercise because it’s good for you. If you didn’t you would be very big and that’s not good. So you should exercise one, two, or three times a week. It’s good for you to exercise because it helps your muscles, bones, and body and you’re healthy for you. Why it’s good to exercise is that if your bones, muscles, and body don’t work, you are not healthy. So you should exercise a lot. Here are a few ways to exercise: You can play sports like basketball, baseball (softball), soccer, track, or at your house you could have an exercising room. Sometimes you think that you’re in perfect shape but maybe not? Audrey Blum, Grade 3

We need to exercise because we can get healthy and one way to get healthy is to stop eating junk food and start eating vegetables. Another way to get healthy is to do sit ups on a pull bar, run ten laps or lift five or ten pound weights up and down. Another way to get healthy is to stop relaxing and play

basketball or

play soccer or any kind of sport. Another way to get healthy is to run a whole block of your neighborhood or two laps around your neighborhood. Another way to get healthy is to always play outside and run, jump rope, soccer, football, baseball and basketball. Hailey Snyder, Grade 3 22

Exercise is good for your body. Exercise makes your body in shape. You can exercise by running, doing pull ups, swimming, pushups and sit ups. If you exercise you will be healthy. But if you don’t exercise you will not be healthy. And you will grow more if you exercise. Jake Gabrielian, Grade 3 Exercise is a thing you do when you sometimes gain weight. If you want to lose weight, exercise is the best thing for you. Kendall Kaese, Grade 3 How is exercise important? If you don’t exercise it is not good for you. If you do running, workout, or do sports it helps you stay hydrated, and it helps you stay alive. Exercise is fun and healthy for you. I play a sport called soccer and it is really fun. You have a soccer ball, and a soccer goal, and a person. That is exercising and fun. Shay Clark, Grade 3 Exercise is very important to people on Earth for health. If you watch TV all morning, or just sit there playing video games, right now you could be taking a walk, painting a

picture, or riding a bike! It is also

important to keep fit. I came up with some ways to be fit at home. While I’m reading I sit against the wall and lift my legs up. See if you can come up with ways yourself. When we exercise we get stronger. Eleni Engelbrecht, Grade 3 23

We need to exercise because you have to get enough energy to be healthy. We also need to exercise to be very strong. Exercise is very important and fun, also it is awesome for you. We can save exercise by telling the people around the universe that exercising is very fun and very, very important. We can also save exercising by telling people that you can be strong and healthy and have good energy. Alex Hairapetian, Grade 3 Exercise is good for you because you want to be healthy and exercise is a way to be healthy. Ways to exercise are going to the gym or going for a walk with your dog. Another way you can be healthy is with a good diet. Ways you can have a good diet are by eating vegetables and some meats. Gian Dhingra, Grade 3 Exercise is important because if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exercise in the

future we

could all be riding around in chairs that hover above the ground. Imagine never moving a muscle again. We should all start exercising so we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look like the people in WALL-E. If we exercise we could live longer! Some people run miles a day. Even walking your dog is exercising. Delaney Williams, Grade 3 24

B.A.S.H. If you’ve seen the movie WALL-E the people in the hover chairs were very fat and lazy. So I made up the acronym called B.A.S.H.: Be Active, Strong and Healthy (B.A.S.H.). Here’s what you can do to B.A.S.H. You can work out but if you’re a kid run or do jumping jacks at recess. Here’s another way to B.A.S.H., only eat fast food on special occasions. Try to eat more salad and fish. There’s also another way to B.A.S.H. Go to the park and build your upper body strength on the monkey bars or swing your legs on the swings. So those are some ways to B.A.S.H., unlike the huge lazy humans in WALL-E. So build-up those muscles, people. Because if you’ve seen my muscles you’ll be surprised. Whoops! I forgot to tell you what B.A.S.H. means. The ‘B’ means be all you can be. ‘A’ means active to run and jump. The ‘S’ means strong. Build-up your guns! ‘H’ means healthy. Stay healthy and you will live longer. That’s what B.A.S.H. means. Remember, stay healthy. Mason Corris, Grade 3 I think that we should get at least five minutes of exercise a day so that we don’t turn into the people in WALL-E. In WALL all-E, the people

pol-

luted the Earth so they had to move into space. After they moved into space they practically lived in flying chairs. The people drank hamburgers. We don’t want to live like that. We don’t want to have

robots do

everything for us! So if we exercise every day we can stay healthy and not turn into the people from WALL-E. Nick Augustini, Grade 3 25

I think it is important to exercise because if we don’t we will be like the people in WALL-E. We would need robots to do everything for us. Just imagine what it would be like! All you could probably do was eat, eat, eat! You can’t even get up. It would be like a world where you can’t do anything only EAT and talk but you couldn’t even turn your body. You couldn’t walk so you would have to sit in a chair that would take you places. This is why it is important to exercise. Nora Gamini, Grade 3 Many people say that “It’s good to take care of your body and get move’n” while other people stay in chairs all day eating junk food. This is what I say: Look around you. There is so much more to life than sitting on the couch and just ordering things like lemonade, ice cream and smoothies while you could be outside playing games and stuff. It’s good to eat a healthy lifestyle and be active. I think it’s always better to live your life and eat happy than just sitting down all day on the couch watching TV all your life. I think it’s time people watch what they are eating and go outside and play with friends. Shea Carter, Grade 3

Grant Kinsey, Grade 7

In WALL-E all the people were over sized. We do not want to be like that. We want to be in good shape. Here are some things you can do. Take a jog every morning. Go to the gym. Start on a diet. That means more fruit and

veggies. No more sugar! Go to a nice, sit down res-

taurant. No fast food! Try getting on a sports team! Hope you get in shape! Haley Kirchhoff, Grade 3

In WALL-E the people polluted the earth way too much so they had to move to space. In space they became too lazy to move so they got fat. The people used robots to do things for them. They sat in moving chairs and had to call other people instead of going to them. We should not let this happen to us! The captain of the ship in space saw some pictures of Earth and then he wanted to go back to Earth and clean up all of the trash. They did go back to Earth and cleaned it all up. We should not let this happen to us on Earth. We should exercise and not be like those people in WALL-E. Carrie Teichrow, Grade 3

Exercise is important because if you don’t exercise then you get all fat and you couldn’t walk or pick yourself up. My type of exercise is football, track and soccer. You also need exercise so your bones aren’t weak. Exercise is also fun. Harry Nenninger, Grade 3 27

The Importance of Staying Healthy In the future we don’t want to become like the people in WALL-E so one way we can do that is to stay in shape which means we can exercise. Like run once in a while. In WALL-E they were so fat they could not even move. We can also stay healthy by eating more fruits, veggies, meat and drink some smoothies. In WALL-E all they did was drink shakes and eat hamburgers at fast food restaurants. That’s what we don’t want to become in the future. The humans in WALL-E were so fat they had to sit in these floating chairs. They also had to Facetime each other because they could not move their heads. In life we don’t want to be 700 pounds so we can avoid this by staying in shape and eat healthy food and drink some smoothies. So live your life healthy and in shape! Thank you. Reagan Heslin, Grade 3

The Importance of Exercise We need to stay in shape if we don’t you won’t even be able to fetch your coffee! So to stay in shape I think we should go on a walk each week or run a lap. There are so many ways to keep in shape so that we don’t turn into a squashed hamburger like the people in WALL-E. So eat all your veggies at dinner or all your salad. So all you need is an apple a day to keep the doctor away! Grace Chapman, Grade 3 28

Don’t End Up Like That If you have ever seen the movie WALL-E, you saw the Earth was covered with garbage and the people had to go into space. They were in space for I think 700 years. While they were in space they got really fat. So fat that they couldn’t move. They had to lay on a hover chair. I don’t know why but they stopped eating, so they had to drink. Instead of normal drinks, they drank other things like a cupcake in a cup. Ew. If you don’t want to end up like that you should start by throwing away and recycling trash. If you start getting chubby, you should exercise. Maybe play more than one sport, eat healthy food, watch your weight all that stuff. And did you know that when you exercise it clears your mind to think? So there you have it. All the ways to stay healthy. Maxwell Chao, Grade 3

It is important to exercise, eat healthy and do physical movements. If we don’t take care of our body, planet, and community our brains won’t be fresh and our weight will go jumbo. For our planet and community too. If we don’t recycle our planet and community it will be full of trash. And that’s why we need to take care of our body, planet and community. Chloe Jewgieniew, Grade 3

In the movie WALL-E, they were giving us a warning to watch out about our health. The people in WALL-E had gone too long without having exercise, healthy food, or being active. These things are very important in our lives. Exercise is very important because it gets our body working and moving. Exercise can clear your mind, help you think and learn. If you go without exercise for too long, you probably wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to use your muscles anymore! Even going on a walk is good exercise for your muscles. Eating healthy is also very important for your health. In WALL-E, people ate non-healthy foods like milkshakes and hamburgers everyday. You should eat healthy things like fruits and vegetables all the time. Eating healthy is very important. Here are some ways you can stay healthy: You can join a sport. That will exercise your muscles. You can try to limit the amount of candy and sweets you eat or you can exercise daily. Those are some ways you can stay healthy. Being healthy is very important. Make sure to try to stay healthy and energized. Katrina Lattin, Grade 3 30

Now here are a couple ways to stay healthy! First of all you should always play sports like soccer and basketball! Second of all eat healthy things like kale, apples and carrots! Here is one other thing to stay healthy. I suggest you exercise every day like run a mile with your dog (if you have one). And, did you know that exercise clears your mind? I say keep a diet on sweets. Eat one every week at most or eat none! Vitamins help too and don’t eat the gummi ones they have way more sugar! Don’t stay lazy and watch TV all day. Go outside and play baseball or have a water fight. And that’s all you need to stay alive and stay healthy! Fritz Melchert, Grade 3 U.O.A. Up, Out, and Active Warning from WALL-E. WALL-E was telling us to stay fit and not fat. I made up the U.O.A. (Up, Out, and Active) to make sure people don’t sit around and watch TV. Eating Healthy: To make sure nobody grows up unhealthy I think you shouldn’t just eat cupcakes and ice-cream you should eat vegetables, fruit and protein. How much sugar you eat depends on how you eat healthy. You may eat one sweet per a week (maybe two for an occasion). Take care of your body. Working Out: You should work out a lot so you don’t get fat. Parents, go to the gym two or three times a week so you can blow off some calories. Kids you can play sports. Maybe one or two will do but three and four, WOW! You’re amazing! Help your body out. The U.O.A. stands for Up, Out and Active. Sophia Gabal, Grade 3 31

Being Healthy It is very important to stay healthy. There are a lot of ways to stay healthy, to exercise, to play sports, and eat healthy. Those were just a couple of them but there are a lot more than three. God is watching over you and if you eat lots of sweets he won’t really like that. My dad he wakes up at 5:00 in the morning to exercise and that I’m proud of.

It is very important to limit your sweets. I mean I love sweets but I try to not eat as much to stay strong and healthy. Here are some of the foods you should eat: vegetables, fruit, and protein. Here are some things you shouldn’t be eating: candy and diet coke. You know in the movie WALL-E how those people go up to space and they are all not eating right and they’re not doing things themselves. If we start eating sweets we will be them some day. That is why it’s very important to stay healthy. Thank you. Tawny Ensign, Grade 3

Joey Cha, Grade 6

Fourth Grade

WALL-E and Technology Technology is a want not a need. Technology is used every day for the people. They were using too much technology. They didn’t even walk they just were like moving in a chair. But it’s worse they didn’t get out of there and change their clothes they just pressed a button and their clothes automatically changed. There’s also a thing that’s like Facetime and they’re also like right next to each other and at the end their captain finally stands up and went to Earth. So the little kids and the adults teach the kids to grow plants. Well, first the Earth was all dirty but at the end the people went and cleaned it all up. David Harkins, Grade 4

Technology is a basic tool, want, and need of our everyday lives because we need it as transportation for emergencies. Technology can be used as a want for TV and game systems, and other stuff. In the movie WALL -E, technology was a need because people could not get around without technology. Another reason why technology was a need is because the ship did not have human janitors but the ship had robot janitors ecause the peoples bones disintegrated completely so they can’t do anything. Another reason why technology is a need is because the navigation system needs to have the system. There are many reasons why technology is a need. Thomas Muri, Grade 4

Technology is used in my life in many positive ways. I think technology is a tool. In my life it is used to listen to music because music inspires me. In the movie WALL-E technology is also used as a tool because technology made the people unhealthy. First of all the people in WALLE didn’t have to walk, they didn’t have to chew their food, they didn’t have to find their friends if they want to talk to them. I think in the movie WALL-E technology is a tool because they created a big ship to get away from Earth while WALL-E goes to Earth and tries to clean up the Earth. Technology can be used in many different ways, it can be a need for a tool because everyone uses technology every day of their lives. In the movie WALL-E it shows you what you can do with technology even though sometimes it can be bad. Sabrina Valum, Grade 4 Technology is a huge part of my life in many ways. One way that technology has took over my life as a tool is every day I take a car pretty much everywhere. In WALL-E the people used a moving bed sort of thing everywhere. Another reason technology has taken over my life is Skyping because I can talk to my family members from across the world. I can connect with WALL-E as technology being a tool to Skype because they only like to look at a digital screen to talk even when they’re right next to each other. Lastly, internet has been a huge part of my life because if I have any question at all I can look at the internet to tell me. These are some reasons technology has impacted my life. Rainie Clark, Grade 4

We use technology every day in our lives. Technology is a tool because we use it for transportation. Every day I get in my car and my mom drives me to school. In WALL-E they use transportation as a tool because to get around they use the chairs that float on the spaceship. Another way we use technology is for games. I play games on my iPad and

listen to music every day. In WALL-E they use technology

when they are watching TV all the time on the space ship and all the robots do everything. A way we use technology as a need is in an emergency to call 911 or a hospital. In WALL-E they use technology as a need to live because they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live on Earth so they have to live on a space ship. A way that technology is a tool and a need is because it is used in hospitals and doctor offices. It is used in hospitals and doctor offices when they keep track of the medicine we are taking and all of their tools, for example, x-ray machines, blood pressures and cat scans. I think technology is used as a tool in WALL-E. Using technology has greatly changed our lives. Allison Baldwin, Grade 4

Technology is a tool in our everyday lives. One example is that people want technology all the time. Like music players, phones to text and call, games and even more little gadgets. Also people think they need these technology gadgets. A way that connects to WALL-E is the humans in the spaceship where the people are the people in these robotic chairs because the people can’t walk so they all need these chairs to move around. Also the people there, when they played golf they used remote controlled robots to hit the ball for them because they couldn’t move at all. Another thing they did was when they went in the pool they didn’t go in, they usually just dipped their feet in the water. People should try not to use so much technology. Adam Boserup, Grade 4 Technology is a tool because we don’t need it to live. Some people don’t have technology and they’re fine. A long time ago, people didn’t even have technology, but they were still fine! The difference between a need and a tool is that tools help you, but you’re fine without them. A need is something you can’t live without, like food or water. Technology is a useful tool because you can use it to program robots, 3D print things, help doctors, and communicate with people across long distances. We don’t need technology, but the world definitely relies on it for a lot of things, and whether you use it for texting, games, or work, the world would be a lot different without it. Leyton Breese, Grade 4 36

In our lives, technology is a huge helper. Technology gives us jobs, health, products and even food. But today, I will talk to you about how it is a need, more than a want. First, let’s go back to the first years of technology, the years when fire and the making of tools were discovered. From that time onward, the world of technology would change forever. Next, we head thousands of years into the future when Thomas Edison creates the light bulb. Finally, we can turn on a light instead of going through the hard process of making wax and burning a candle. Ever since then, we have been developing the light bulb, making it able to run on solar power, wind power, and hydro power. Now, let’s get to why technology is a need. First, if you have a life threatening disease, tech-

nology can save your life, with the help of x-rays, cat scans, and

even medicine and shots. Second, technology can give our armed forces defenses, like safe army wear, missiles, army ships, army planes, and updated underground bunkers. Third, many people in our world are disabled whether it is that they can’t talk or they can’t move their legs. But,

technology has helped these people by creating things like electric

wheel chairs, hearing aids, robotic and mechanical arms and legs, or even basic tools to teach the human mind. Finally, technology is a need because to find food and hunt food we need rifles, traps, nets and 37 sometimes it can involve tranquilizer darts. Technology has greatly changed my life because now that I have a computer, I can play Minecraft with my brother all the time. It has made me connect with him and has made us become great friends. Bridget Phillips, Grade 4 37

In WALL-E technology was used in many ways some good, some bad. For the humans, technology was pretty much a need. The people couldn’t live without it. Technology was a way to travel, communicate, and robots were even people’s servants! Though people used technology for needs like to travel and never walk, the captain took some dirt from WALL-E and put it on a machine and discovered what Earth was. The captain tried to make the robots bring the spaceship back to Earth, but they wouldn’t. Also the captain didn’t know that there was trash covering the Earth. Down on Earth, WALL-E was the last robot of his kind! He was used to build towers out of compressed trash! Technology was used in good and bad ways in WALL-E. Amelia Kang, Grade 4

Cole Williams, Grade 7

In WALL-E humans polluted the Earth because we started not caring about our land and started not recycling and throwing recyclables in the ordinary landfill trash can. That movie WALL-E should teach us to reuse things and recycle more often and keep our earth clean and it’s our responsibility to keep this place clean. The world can’t clean itself. Look back and think of technology and how it was used. Because of technology our world was being taken over and the Earth was so polluted the whole human race was forced to leave and live on a spaceship for who knows how long maybe 100 years. And WALL-E was down on Earth cleaning for us. That movie shows us who we are in the future. Therefore, we should take care of this world. Kerrigan Stewart, Grade 4

I think technology is a tool. First, it is just helpful with email instead of post mail, etc. Second, you don’t need anything but food, water, family, love and happiness. Third, people lived before technology, didn’t they? So I think technology is a tool. Chloe Vautrin, Grade 4 39

In the future of WALL-E everyone went to space because there was too much trash. Then they sent down robots to see if it’ was safe to come back to Earth if there was a plant. They also made rovers that can help clean up Earth. But then all of them died except one. The rovers used solar power instead of a battery. In the future people used little chairs that go by themselves so the humans don’t have to walk. Technology was used a lot in WALL-E. Jon Salmi, Grade 4

WALL-E was based about 2,110 – 100 years from now and it is about how we use technology. WALL-E is a solar powered robot. Every morning he goes on top of his house and his solar charge goes up and he is ready for work. The people in the movie are forgetting how to be themselves because they are getting so caught up in technology. An example is when WALL-E is in the ship and a guy is talking with another guy who is right next to him when he could just turn and talk to him. So we need to use our technology wisely or we will turn into the movie – WALL-E. Genevieve Masson, Grade 4

WALL-E is not the new reality. For starters people are already trying to make Earth greener. Also, in the movie, WALL-E, it showed a picture of Earth from space and it was covered in old satellites. There is no way NASA or space companies can build that many satellites in the period of time that Earth might be done. Another reason why WALL-E is not the new reality is because in the movie there is a giant space ship that they put all of the people on Earth onto. NASA or space companies cannot make a giant space ship that quickly because the average amount of time to build a regular space ship is four to five years, so it will take about eighty years to build this space ship. Plus, it will take a much longer time to trash the Earth as much as Earth is trashed in WALL-E. In WALL-E these people are huge. Today people really care about how big they are and their health. One last reason is that there are always the people that are curious about a world without technology. WALL-E is not the new reality, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep up. Lily Matteson, Grade 4 Sameer Ghai, Grade 7

WALL-E is not the new reality. First, people care too much about the Earth to let it get ruined and second, people care too much about themselves. People are trying to help the environment more and more every day. We are recycling, composting, planting trees, and saving energy. And even though people are polluting Earth at least one person is

going to care and go green. The Earth is also really big, so

it would take a very, very long time to pollute Earth as much as it was polluted in WALL-E. Even our school St. Mary’s is recycling and picking up trash more and more every day. People care too much about themselves to get unhealthy and to let technology rule and take over their lives. Most people are always trying to eat more healthy to stay healthy. And most parents are trying to limit the video games for their children to be healthy. That is why I don’t think WALL-E is the new reality. Jillian Duarte, Grade 4

Technology is a definite need. First, it’s completely better than sending messages through mail. With technology you can text or email whenever you want and wherever you are, and it pops right up on your friend’s phone. If you’re in an emergency you can reach 911 in a blink of an eye. Secondly, technology saves more than enough time. If you can’t run to the mall, just pull up your phone and order it online.

Certainly, technology improves the field of medicine, like in

hospitals they sometimes use robotic surgery. The world without technology would not be fun. Cyrus Shirangi, Grade 4 42

When you are walking down the street or driving your car, you see a whole lot of people texting, calling, gaming, emailing and so much more. We should face the fact that WALL-E is our new reality. Technology is taking over our lives. Have you seen the line at Apple for the new iPhone 5c or the 5s? Crazy, right? We should use technology, it is good for us. We learn new things, talk with friends, play games or even search anything you can imagine on Google. Too much technology can be controlling. Moving toward advanced technology can be good and bad. In WALL-E people couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t walk or eat without a robot or an automatic moving chair helping them! That is an example of how technology could ruin our lives. On the other hand, cars are technology. They help us get places faster. Even though technology has its advantages, slowly it takes over our lives! We should try not to have WALL-E be our reality because in the end it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do us any good at all. Ally Taylor, Grade 4

Caden McMackin, Grade 6

I believe that WALL-E is not the new reality. I think this because people are realizing what Earth will be like in 10 years if we don’t recycle and people are trying to help. I also think that people wouldn’t let technology run their lives, people would stay healthy and exercise. I also think that people don’t want to leave the planet they spent their whole life on. Earth has been a home to humans for forever, and people wouldn’t leave it that easily. I think people wouldn’t let the Earth go that easily. I believe that in the future, people will start to recycle a lot more, and to save gas and energy. People are already trying to do this with solar power and electric cars. I think in the big picture, people will stand up for themselves and save the planet! Jack Paroly, Grade 4

Technology is a want and a need. First, we need technology for quicker communications, like in case of emergencies. If we didn’t have technology and a house was on fire, we would have to go by foot to the fire department and it usually isn’t that close. Second, we also need technology because if we go online shopping, it saves time and gas. Third, technology is not only a need it is a want too. People want technology for entertainment, like facebook, instagram and texting. They also want it to play games. Finally, people want it to get information off the internet instead of looking in a book or going to the library. Now you can see that technology is a want and a need. Skylar Rooney, Grade 4

Technology is a really big part in your life. Technology is used as a tool every day. Technology can entertain you with TV and iPhone. Technology is also used for transportation like cars and those chairs from WALL-E. Technology is also used as a need, for example, a phone to call 911. You can use technology in hospitals with the heart machines and everything. It helps people to be safe, like airbags. You can also use technology in sports to help players heal faster and x-ray machines. But we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use technology like in WALL-E. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even stand. Another tool of technology is Skyping and Facetime. In WALL-E the people would be right next to each other and they will call each other on their screen. We also use computers and iPhones for learning games. You can use computers and other devices for research on the internet. Brad Orcutt, Grade 4

Technology is a big part in my life. I use it when I want to play games, to cook my food, and when I get home from school every day. But most importantly, I use it for my hearing aids. I put them in every morning and take them out every night before I go to bed. I can use technology as a want, a need, and a tool. In the movie WALL-E, the people use technology as a tool for electronic chairs, TV, changing and even chewing their food. WALL-E uses technology as a need because he takes trash and shapes it into a block. We use technology everyday: computers, phones, television, and iPads. Technology has greatly changed our lives. Phoebe Principale, Grade 4 45

Technology is a need and a want. It is a need because it helps the field of medicine. For instance, laser and robotic surgery. It saves time and resources, like time online shopping and resources, gasoline for your car. Quicker communication, like call and text, and also if there is an emergency you could call 911. It is also a need because of smoke alarms and detectors. It is a want because you could use candles instead of light-bulbs, and it is also an enjoyment like video games and TV.

It is also just a social thing like instagram, facebook,

and snapchat, and all those other things. Zach Harris, Grade 4

Technology is definitely a want. First of all, do we really need video games or TV? No, we don’t. What do you think people in the past did? They played outside. Second, technology is just for people’s enjoyment. I’ve got roller skates. What’s better than that? Last, technology is not a human need. It is not food, water, air, or shelter. And if we didn’t have that we wouldn’t be here right how. So, put on some shoes and go play outside. But, remember we don’t need technology. Britton Purcell, Grade 4 46

To me, technology can be both a need and a want. First, technology can be a need for modern day medicine. You can use it for robotic surgeries if you have a disease or laser dental care for your teeth. It can also be used for quicker communication. These days if there is an emergency you can just pick up the phone and dial 911. I think that would be better than walking to the fire department on foot and letting your house burn down. Then, technology can be a want for entertainment. Maybe on the weekends you can play Xbox or watch TV. Most people find those very entertaining. You can use technology for social hours on the phone. I don’t know about you, but I find instagram very entertaining and humorous. Clearly, you can see why I think technology is both a want and need. Ryan Khouri, Grade 4

Technology is a tool because you don’t need technology to live. Lots of people use technology but you don’t really need it. A need is like shelter, water and food. So technology is a tool. You only use technology to watch videos and play games. Davis Rogers, Grade 4 47

Technology is a want. Sure it is a good thing to have around, and is used for emergencies but we still don’t need it. First, the people who were here before us didn’t need it. Humans’ three main needs are food, water and air. Second, it is used for making money, we definitely find other ways to make money. Third, technology is used for our enjoyment and entertainment. For example, apps, music, movies, information, communication and more. We can surely find another way to be entertained. Sure technology is a good thing to have around but do we really need it? So make sure you don’t make your face the screen. Sarah Zacharias, Grade 4

Technology is definitely a want. First, everyone just uses it for pure enjoyment such as T.V. and video games! Second, humans have survived when technology was not invented, so why do we need it now? All we need is water, food, and shelter. Third, most people use it for social networks like instagram, Facebook, and texting. Everyone just uses it to connect with friends when they can go next door to talk to their friends. Fourth, we just use it for information when we can go to a book. We don’t need Google and Internet Explorer. As you can see, technology is a want not a need. Maya Vanek, Grade 4

FIFTH GRADE

WALL-E’s Call to Action Yes, WALL-E is a reality and it will happen to us at the rate Earth is going. We can stop it from happening by saving water, even turning off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth can make a huge difference. All the water on the planet in WALL-E was brown, that means it is polluted, so is the air in most countries on Earth now. We can make a huge difference by changing cars to electric and not throwing our trash into the ocean. We also need to recycle our plastic, metal, and paper scraps. Just by everyone recycling for a month, we can stop hundreds and thousands of trees from being cut down just for paper. Even if we do or don’t recycle we need to keep Earth alive by planting trees and vegetation all around the world. Did you see any animals in the movie? Well I certainly did not. It could be for numerous reasons. But all I know is that there were none and we need to try and stop them from possibly being extinct. Just try and stop it in every way you know of because they take a role in a very important part in our lives that people might never realize. In the movie I noticed nobody did things themselves. They had technology do it for them. In one part of the movie there was a room filled with broken robots, that could happen to anything and we will never see it coming. Lastly, all the people in the movie were very, very big and that will happen to us if we don’t exercise and keep our bones and muscles strong and healthy. They said in the movie that because of everyone sitting on the hover chairs and not walking to keep their bones healthy and strong. They showed a diagram of their bones getting weaker and smaller, that’s why they couldn’t get up or walk. So we need to save our Earth so that WALL-E will not become a reality. Aiden Aval, Grade 5 49

WALL-E may not be a reality as long as we recycle, compost and save electricity. Also we should save water, trees and rain forests. The movie WALL-E is about Earth getting destroyed and everyone has to go on something like a spaceship. The only thing that lives on Earth is a robot named WALL-E. WALL-E collects the things from the humans that he thinks are interesting. Then WALL-E meets a robot named Eve. Then they go on an adventure in outer space because WALL-E has a plant so they think it’s safe to go back to Earth. But the robots on the ship don’t want them to go back to the planet they once lived on and want the people on the ship to stay. So it’s kind of like technology is running the ship. So WALL-E and Eve go on an adventure then everybody goes back on Earth. Then the movie is over. Carrie Cvar, Grade 5

Is WALL-E a reality? It could possibly be. But there is a way to stop it. The way to stop it is by first eating healthy, staying active, and getting off the electronics. We can also keep the world clean by throwing away waste, recycling, don’t smoke, and turn off the car more and walk to close places instead of driving. If we follow these steps WALL-E will not be a reality and the world will fall with friends. But if we don’t then we will make WALL-E a reality, have to leave Earth, and the world will fall, disgusting and lonely. Michael Pearce, Grade 5 50

Do you think that littering is helping our planet? Well there’s a law for a reason. STOP LITTERING. Eventually you’ll have to have a world in space. Have you seen the movie Elisium? Well, if you have that’s what we’re going to be. Earth will basically be a trashcan. Do you want to have robots helping us live? If we do have to live in space there will be no going outside. Do you want to eat space food? Well I don’t. I can’t stand the taste. Even their dessert. Oh yea, and about going outside you’ll float because of gravity. I think that WALL-E is a possible reality. Even though it would take some time to make Earth extinct. Jack Wharrie, Grade 5

Much like anything else, trash builds up over time, only to be left there for eternity. The world is becoming polluted, flowing with garbage, and no one seems to be doing anything big or extravagant to stop this. The future of our world is in the hands of you, one million begins with one. The world that once was filled with nature can become hill and mountains of trash. Just imagine a world with bland colors, dust clouds forming in the wind. There’s only one way to stop this. Spread the word! Tell your friends and family Earth can’t become uninhabitable. As you leave here today, think, how can you make an impact on our world? Jonathan Truong, Grade 5 51

Is WALL-E a reality? In some

Shelley Teichrow, Grade 6

parts of WALL-E is reality, but not all of it. The part of WALL-E that was reality was that we are not taking care of Earth. We are not taking care of Earth because of pollution. The pollution is affecting us because we are not going to breathe clean air. It also affects our animals too. Lastly it affects our plants as well. What we can do to help our Earth is that we can give good care of our plants and animals. Also what we can do is not litter and instead of driving cars for a short distance, ride a bike, scooter, skateboard or anything else (besides a car). Also what we can do is clean up the trash in the ocean because sooner or later the trash on the shore is going to be in the ocean and taking away the sea creatures homes. Just think, you can make a difference. You can start off as the leader and everyone can follow you. It just takes one step at a time. You can make a difference! Yvonne Ajaltouni, Grade 5 52

WALL-E could be a reality if we continue to take care of our Earth this way. Since there has been so much smog or pollution in the air from factories and power plants, some citizens must wear gas masks in their home or town. Right now our school St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is trying all they can to make Earth a better environment to live on by recycling and reducing the amount of electricity being used in our school. As you can see, we are doing all we can to keep our Earth safe to live on so we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to leave our planet one day. Riley Kerrigan, Grade 5 Right now WALL-E is not a reality. But if our world keeps on being polluted and littered on it will be a reality. My opinion is that our government has to do something and we can speak up by not wasting power and turning the lights off when no one is in a room. Also if you see someone litter or throw something in the ocean tell them or pick it up. Recycling is another way because we reuse that product and keep Earth running with natural power and gas. Our fossil fuels are running out and take billions of years to fuel back up. To stop polluting people should start getting electric cars such as Tesla, Toyota, and Kia, and many more. Speak up, tell a friend and WALL-E will not be a reality. Joseph Purcell, Grade 5

As you all know WALL-E is not a world we want to live in. But is it reality or is it not? WALL-E’s world is a messy, messy place with stuff everywhere. Some people believe that is what will happen to Earth if we don’t keep it clean. Others like in WALL-E believe Earth is one big trash can. I personally don’t want to live in a big trash can and never be active for my whole life. In WALL-E the people live on a spaceship in space, where they do nothing except eat and sleep. As a wise teacher once said “We will resume the search for other planets after we secure the future of our own.” I think that is a very important quote because it’s true. Of course we can send rovers into space, no one’s saying you can’t, but before that we should make sure Earth is a safe, clean environment. Dani Valdez, Grade 5

I believe that WALL-E could be a reality someday. If everyone littered and didn’t respect Earth, this could be our future! Also, one day we could have robots help us do things. I believe there will even be robots who could do a lot more like robotic doctors, house keepers, gardeners and more. With the way technology is going, “Curiosity” exploring space, WALL-E may be the next big thing. I liked the movie because it teaches everyone what could happen if people abandon Earth and do not take care of it. This would be very sad and scary, we would all die of pollution in the air. Everyone should help do their job by recycling, composting and doing trash clean ups. Alyssa Antoci, Grade 5 54

As you blast off, you look down at your filthy, brown Earth. Wow, you think. Did I do this to my home? This isn’t a reality. Yet, what have we as humans done to this world? What have we done to this place we call home? God created beautiful things for us. Nature, waters, animals. He hopes we will take care of these wonders, not trash them. Animals will perish, plants won’t grow and waters will become dirty and brown if we don’t do our part in taking care of our home. We need to start now. Here’s what you can do to help our world. Throw away your trash. Help others with their trash. If you see trash lying on the ground, help by picking it up. Little by little, our world will become a better place to live. One person can make a difference. That one person can be you. Clara Cherney, Grade 5 Farrah Fuerst, Grade 6

Hello, St. Mary’s students, teachers, and parents. I am Morgan Horvath and I am in Miss Zulanas’s 5th grade class. This year we have been talking a lot about the movie WALL-E. I have been asked to write about, “Is WALL-E a reality and how can we stop it.” Well, I believe that is a future reality. How many of you have seen piles of trash floating around on the streets? Yes, trash is all over the streets and even in the oceans. If people keep throwing trash everywhere, it will start to pile up and up. By now I bet that some of you are wondering about, “How can we stop this from happening?” Well, it’s very simple, you can volunteer at the local center to help on trash duty, you can pick up pieces of trash when you are walking on the beach or the streets, with gloves of course. You can even help right inside your house. Start labeling trash cans like what we are doing right here at our very school. Take part in something big, something incredible . . . . help save our amazing Earth, because if you take part in something amazing to help, you will be feeling something amazing inside. Thanks for your time and for listening. Morgan Horvath, Grade 5 56

Is WALL-E really a reality? I think it is, or at least almost is. In WALL-E, technology took over our world and Earth was too polluted to live on. The whole planet was a landfill. That’s gradually happening to us now. Instead of going to the library, we go on our computers. Instead of playing outside, we play on our phones. We barely even recycle! We need to prevent this before it is too late. When you look at those beautiful images of Earth from space, don’t you think “The world is so pretty, let’s keep it the same.” People should take care of the environment, read a book, or even just play outside. We can take care of the environment by: recycling, not littering, and maybe just planting a tree or something. This is important because we don’t want a WALL-E world, do we? Wilson Cunningham, Grade 5

I believe WALL-E could turn into a reality. There is trash everywhere. Even on the cleanest streets. There are paper cups on the floor and there is paper flying in the streets. To make this stop I think we have to encourage people to throw away trash. Also, we need more trash bins. I think it would be a good idea to put some recycling bins too. Another reason why WALL-E could be a reality is pollution. When I drive home from school I can see the yellow pollution in the air. Also people are throwing toxins into the ocean. Furthermore, in Beijing the pollution is so bad that they have to build domes for the kids so they can play outside. To help out with this problem don’t throw liquids into the ocean. Also, I think 57

we have enough factories in this world. They cause a lot of pollution. WALL-E could become a reality. Let’s not make it one. Elena Mota, Grade 5 Suzie Cullen, Grade 6

Do you ever notice how different the WALL-E world is compared to our world? In the WALL-E world there is pollution filling up the whole world. There is trash piled on the ground everywhere. Not one single person is there to fix it. Nobody cares. Nobody bothers to clean it up except for… WALL-E. There are no trees to provide oxygen for humans. That is why the only thing that lives there is a robot. I really want to fix this problem and make a big difference. Don’t you want to help keep the world safe and clean? We can all make a difference in our community. If you do something good to the environment, somebody will see the great things you are doing and will start cleaning the

environment. Eventually every-

body will start caring about the environment. If you see litter on the ground, pick it up. If this happens there will be no pollution and less endangered animals. Let’s all try to make a difference in our world. Mira Gandhi, Grade 5 58

Sixth Grade Poem of Apollo I am the son of Zeus and Leto, My sister Artemis is my twin. We were born on the island of Delos Since then I always win. I I I I

am the god of the sun, pull my chariot across the sky. am the god of truth, can never tell a lie.

I am the god of music, My instrument is a lyre of gold. I am the god of prophecy, The future I have foretold. I am the god of healing, No injury is too great. I am a master archer And my bow will seal your fate. If love is my weakness Then let it be so The charms of the nymphs Distract me to and fro. I am an Olympian god, Known for my youthful good looks. My myth is timeless and Will be discussed in 6th grade books. My symbol is a staff with two snakes, It lasts until this day. A symbol of medicine That will forever stay. Alex Lindborg, Grade 6 59

On the Hike

In the night, on hikes Waiting for the stars to shine At last, there they are! Kalista Cowden, Grade 6

Waterproof

First time snorkeling There goes my waterproof watch Not so â&#x20AC;&#x153;waterproofâ&#x20AC;? Sam Tullis, Grade 6 Red Sweatshirt Sea of red In the stands Go Mater Dei I keep you warm And represent Go Mater Dei I am your red sweatshirt. Go Mater Dei Ooh! You spilled hot chocolate!

Sam Tullis

Derrick Adams, Grade 6 60

Sweatshirt All buds have turned into flowers And summer is gone, All leaves have fallen. Now the winds blow hard and it is dark. Outside lightning crashes and thunder bangs. But I am guarded by my sweatshirt. Josette Odgers, Grade 6 Puppy A new Family To love me Valerie Kramer, Grade 6 My Little Sweatshirt You are my little sweatshirt You come out when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chilly or when I am silly You warm me when I am cold You will be there till Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m old You may not fit me but you fit into my heart You are my little sweatshirt You are, you are Taylor Silver, Grade 6 61

Parson’s Landing Beach Dolphins are swimming They are jumping and racing The sea is their home Parson’s Landing Beach Waves are crashing and splashing Finding amethyst Matthew Orihuela, Grade 6

Nathan Hwang, Grade 6

Sweatshirt All summer long shoved away until winter, Waiting, waiting, waiting. When will you need me? When is it cold? Waiting, waiting, waiting. It’s winter time! Come and get me!

I’ll keep you warm and cozy. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Here you come. Put me on. No more waiting. Sydney Querner, Grade 6

SEVENTH GRADE Personification of an Abstract Topic, as inspired by Jack Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Call of the Wild Survival Survival is the man who will do anything to stay alive in the harsh conditions of nature. He will sacrifice others so he can live, thrive, and conquer Mother Nature. Only he is the man that comes back to inspire and give others hope. He scavenges around inside you, picking up the leftovers that other qualities have left. The scavenger is the one that changes you forever, allowing you to experience things you have never experienced before. Although Survival is a demon, he is an angel. He will be the voice that is somewhere inside you, even if you think he is not there, telling you to never give up and to always be strong. Survival will push you all the way and make sure you never take your last breath. Katelyn Murphy, Grade 7 Dominance Dominance is overpowering, a no-nonsense man with bulging muscles and veins. Dominance is controlling, and what he says goes. He dictates everything you say, do, or even think. His slaves cower in fear, chronically petrified that their master is peering over their shoulder, poised to strike. Dominance employs these fear tactics to keep his subjects at bay and quell any absurd whims of rebellion. Grant Kinsey, Grade 7 63

Trust Trust is the kind of person you can count on. He will not let you drown, even if you feel like you are battling the rapid currents of a large river, strong and fierce. He is friends with Leadership. Together they pull a team of exasperated sled dogs across the icy tundra, cocooned in brumal sleep. They guide an Olympic swimmer to victory. As he reaches his goal, triumphant, he is thankful to them. Trust makes you feel secure, snuggled beneath a soft, fuzzy blanket by the calming fire, drifting off into a deep, dream-filled slumber. Best of all, Trust is there to catch you when you fall, or take that leap of faith. When you are with him, you know everything will be ok. Ashkaan Mahjoob, Grade 7 Loyalty Loyalty is the man who treats his dog like a friend and will never leave his side. He reminds those people around him that he will protect them at any cost. Loyalty is a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friendship with his dog that may bend, but will never break. He is that cool breeze you feel in the night that gives you the feeling someone is always there; you just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always see them. Alex Audette, Grade 7 64

Leadership Leadership is the captain of a ship on watch at midnight while his crew sleeps. He is ready to work and constantly alert. He’s the one you look to for guidance when you are lost. Most of the time he is calm, but if his people are in danger he is the first to act, like a mother bear protecting her cubs. When at work, Leadership keeps everyone organized and on task, but he recognizes their need for rest and relaxation. When challenged by disharmony or fear, he strives to build harmony and confidence. He is an actor with many masks and costumes, thoughtfully selected, for the many roles he is expected to play. Ryan Harding, Grade 7

Riley Orcutt, Grade 6

Folly Folly is the man who wouldn’t hesitate to light a fire in a cavern of ice. He pushes past common sense, bringing you with him. He is a nagging person that shouldn’t be listened to. Folly creates, for himself and those around him, a bad reputation. Jackson Hilbert, Grade 7 65

Survival Survival is a woman, strong and brave, who is willing to endure anything to stay alive and thrive. She latches on to people, calling on their nature and instincts to help them fight back. Survival helps others have a stronger endurance, and she assists them in adapting to their unique situation. She is one with Nature, and is always willing to fight. She is that soft, soothing whisper in your ear that orders you to try harder, to do better, and become the best that you can be. Miranda deBruyne, Grade 7 Taylor Silver, Grade 6

Loyalty Loyalty is glued to your side and you’re stuck with him forever. You’d risk everything for each other, even your lives. You would willingly put one thousand pounds on your back and carry it across the world if he asked you to. Loyalty is your best friend; the only one who you can trust with anything and everything. He loves you unconditionally and you’re constantly on his mind. He’ll be with you forever and always. But if you truly wish for Loyalty to leave, he will, just to show you how much he really cares. Brianna Jahangiri, Grade 7 66

Instinct Instinct is immortal and innate. He has had no training and no prior experience. He encourages us to trust in ourselves and to go with our first thought. Instinct has led people to greatness, whispering silently in their ear to go out on a limb and take their chances because he knows that they will survive and prosper. Instinct warns when something isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t right. Some listen, some donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, but throughout history you see great men and women that have lived and died by Instinct. Instinct triumphs by placing survival as the most important goal. He lives on, for Instinct is past, present, and future. John Grayson, Grade 7 Greetings from Language B: French

Michael Cullen, Grade 7

Lauren Glass, Grade 7

Andrei Dumitrescu, Grade 7

Skylar Strickland, Grade 7

Lauren Barry, Grade 7

Greetings from Language B: Chinese

Dear Teacher, Hello. I am in China. I rode an airplane to China. I went to China with my mom and younger sister. I like the food in China. But I do not want to get food poisoning. Daniel Gamini, Grade 7

Teacher, Hello. I am in Taiwan. I came to Taiwan by plane. I went with my dad, mom and younger brother to Taiwan. I enjoyed Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food. I did not enjoy Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very crowded cities. Emily Ho, Grade 7

Dear Teacher, Hello. I am in Shanghai. I took an airplane to Shanghai. I went with my mom, older sister and little brother to Shanghai. I like the garden in Shanghai. I dislike how many people there are. Ava Chao, Grade 7

Hong Kong by Jasmine Chang, Grade 7

Eighth Grade Contemplating the Videotaped Testimony of Zelda Gordon, Holocaust Survivor Numb I close my eyes and stare ahead the screen it plays a movie in my head. I hope for peace but again it seems my mind is filled with hopeless dreams. I drift away; the cold air invites me, the reality of Majdanek bites me. At a distance I can hear them yell the Nazis, the creatures from hell. “Wach auf!” they scream; “Schnell!” they shout. “Its 4 a.m., no time to pout!” I touch my pocket; and surely its there My comb, has more use than just for hair. My only hope; its pointed and hard, the wooden handle is perfectly carved. I hid it away for me later to find I’m lucky enough, it has stayed mine. I experienced six death camps and a horrid Ghetto, so many memories, I wish I could let go. My journey was filled with destruction and fear, I cannot believe that I am still here. All the memories turn me to ice, they freeze my toes and feet for nights. I don’t know where this cold comes from, but its like my memories make me numb. By Rudy Buttlar, Grade 8 72

Listen and Learn Watching and evaluating testimonies is one of the best ways for my generation to learn and connect with the survivors of the Holocaust. Not only was watching Zelda Gordon’s testimony interesting, but it helped me connectwith the events that she had to endure. Her description of the camps she went to created a picture in my head that was worth a thousand words and every sentence revealed another memory. One of the best ways that I can really relate to the survivors’ feelings and experiences is by connecting them to my own memories and recollections of events.

A connection made with stories and events like this is one of the few ways that we can actually embody the emotion that they were feeling during that time. I can connect to this story because I was put in a very scary situation that is embedded in my memory for the rest of my life. Even though my event does not even compare to the risk of Zelda’s, I only have this to connect with. I was at the beach with friends, and it was starting to get dark. As I swam out to dive under my last wave of the day, I noticed that everyone was waiting out of the water. I started to paddle back when suddenly I felt the currents become stronger against me. Not only was I unable to swim safety back to shore but I was getting pulled out to sea. I fought and fought, but when I turned around it was too late. I was engulfed by a wave much bigger than the others and as I inhaled salt water I started to tumble. It reminded me of when I was little and so fragile that every wave would send me into a spin like this. The sand was in my eyes and I had no air for what seemed like a lifetime. When I finally washed ashore I staggered onto the soft sand gasping for air. My friend helped me to reach the dry sand out of the ocean’s way. When I had my bearings we slowly proceeded to our beach house. I never went to the beach again for the rest of the summer, let alone get into one of the most powerful forces on this planet, the forces of the unforgiving oceans. 73

My story symbolizes the many hardships that Zelda and all the rest of the Jewish population had to endure. The waves were first just like a normal life, calm and peaceful. But when the Nazi’s came to her town it all changed. When the wave came towards the beach it changed my perspective on the forces of the ocean. Like Zelda, I did not know of the wave for some time. She did not know at first that this was going on everywhere and that she was in grave danger. But it was too late to flee by the time she was taken. We both tried to get away from the all-powerful force that was creeping up on us, but we were too late. The Nazi’s turned her life into a bad dream, like how the wave ruined my time at the beach. She was in their camps for years and years, cut off from the entire world. But finally help came when the English came to help seize the power of the Nazi soldiers. When she finally got away, she never returned, for she did not want to go back to that unforgiving place she once called home. Two great and strong forces, forever to be remembered, caused change.

How can we discover the truth about the past? Simply by reading their thoughts, memories, only to know what they said, only what they told. To really understand the memories others have had we must connect with them, relate it to our own thoughts. By watching Zelda’s testimony, not only did it teach me what it was like during that time, but also it made me connect with her, really grasp all of her thoughts. But even though I may think I know what feelings she had, how will I be able to know for sure? As I watched the ending of her testimony, the only thing I could ask myself was “What if this happened to me?”

By Kaylin Martin, Grade 8

A Flickering Light As the demons of hell are unleashed unto a nation of

innocent

people, The Gordon family grasps the last sliver of pure hope

and joy.

They pray for the relentless darkness to not tear them apart, Wishing only for peace to prevail above all, For good to overcome evil.

In terror, Zelda watches as her loved ones are taken away before her very eyes, Vanishing in an instant, Separated within seconds. After stepping off the train, the exiled men and women

reluctantly

march ahead one by one Not knowing of the horrors to come.

Zelda watches mothers weep, as their beautiful children are ripped from their arms And placed into the hands of the devil. The light of the world slowly fades away. Zelda and those who remain wonder if this flickering light of hope will ever shine again. With only crumbled pieces of her shattered life left to

hold onto.

To think of losing oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family, the unconditional love that was there from birth Is something unfathomable. 75

My heart breaks for Zelda, knowing that my life would cease to exist for me. The bond that protects me and comforts me, is the essence of who I am. It is impossible to comprehend how one could move on.

This memory is one that will never fade away, forever etched into stone, Cast into the minds of the survivors like the brave Zelda Gordon, Who are forever witnesses of events that changed the course of history. While the flickering light fights to battle tyranny, In a world that will never forget. By Colin Ballantyne, Grade 8

Kate Knollenberg, Grade 8

Miracles Miracles, they appear in the most desperate of times whether they are instigated by destiny or they just happen miracles save whether they are in the form of our subtle instincts or they are meant to be the feeling telling her to push to the back of the line to death at the crematorium at Treblinka being spared because of the burden of sickness and having her life tested for the sake of others walking into what seemed like the trap of death being saved by a needle and thread leaving Midonic extraordinary miracles such as these are not ascribable to the laws of nature or reality Zelda Gordon experienced what I would think of as nightmare every day the drained souls she saw fade into the shadow of tragic death the moans and groans of misery she heard in all of the camps the two second decisions she had to make that decided the fate of her life I will never witness the exact accounts the Holocaust supplied although I see people fight their demons and give in

to themselves day to day I hear pain in othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; voices

there will be times in my life when I will have to make choices with lasting impacts

I can only wish that I can one day acquire Zeldaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bravery and astuteness so that in turn my actions will be deserving of a miracle just as the courageous ones of Zelda Gordon

Zelda has taught me that the most important of faint instincts are distinct courage inspires and leads to similar desires the kindness of strangers does the opposite of danger and that fear fades and miracles save

By Lauren Lemieux, Grade 8

Sophia Lindborg, Grade 8

Zelda’s Story Zelda had plans to go to college and find a career, while The Nazis plotted to annihilate her race in a cruel genocide With the Third Reich in power, everything she knew was Ripped away Her name, her family, her religion, everything Was gone She was merely a number, not a person, to the evil Nazis. At the brutal camps: Treblinka, Majdanek, BergenBelsen, Auschwitz Zelda came down with typhoid, and was almost sure to die, But her enduring courage made her survive Zelda’s typhoid weakened her, but she fought through it, as Her initial disease became her ultimate savior, when the doctors released her to tempt fate While the same debilitating disease destroyed the Nazi forces She is a symbol of strength, and A reason why the Holocaust can never, and will never, be forgotten She reminds our generation of how to be strong Through the words that she speaks Our hearts are forever touched and inspired by the story of Zelda Jackson Odgers, Grade 8

Evan O’Neill, Grade 8

Changes I used to feel the sun, hear the birds, and watch the butterflies in a blink of an eye it all changed the mood was gloomy there was no more no joy or light just loneliness Zelda lost her brother I could not imagine losing mine soon everyone was fighting in the battlefield of life just to survive, a moment at a time starvation was creeping in tragedies were happening every day and the people died like flies we wished to go back to the happy times even if no one realized the thought of hope was hidden inside

by Katrina Adams, Grade 8 80

Little Did She Know Zelda believed that she would live an acceptable life. She believed that she could practice her religion, without being judged or discriminated against. She believed that there could be diversity, then the Nazis came. She believed that they were being merciless, to not only her but all Jews. She believed they could live if they banded together, but she believed that wouldn’t happen. She believed that not everyone her age had to run away in fear of being shot. She believed she would be captured, and gassed like the rest of them in the ghetto. She believed her boots saved her life. She believed the last steps in this world were going to be

towards a

chamber. She believed her family was dead. She believed that everyone would be gone in a matter of hours. She didn’t believe she would survive, but at this point in Zelda’s life, she wasn’t sure of anything. But little did she know, her charisma will change what I believe forever. 81

I believe people havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realized that the survivors are the bravest people in the world. I believe Zelda lived through something nobody should have to experience. She watched friends and family die of starvation and dehydration. The little things we take for granted killed millions of people only about 85 years ago. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe this actually happened. by Marriott Hoffman, Grade 8

Kylie Sharron, Grade 82 8

Kylie Sharron, Grade 8

The Memories Live On Zelda was tormented inside her camp The people were numbers, given a stamp She had an intuition that helped saved her life The words of the persecutor cut like a knife Through hunger, filth, sickness, and pain She managed to live on and sustain Memory spoken can be a huge, thick wall The branch to memory heard can be quite small The meeting between these is a thin line The connection made with the assistance of time Zelda Gordon broke down the walls to save her life Knocking them down with anger and strife Through the experiences of others we are able to learn Hopefully giving the future a turn The treatment of these people was inhumane and rotten Their struggle and lives shall never be forgotten The memories of the Holocaust shall never be lost By Isa Odgers, Grade 8

Stefan Kitts, Grade 8

The Power of One Person Burning inside from guilt because they told Zelda it was her fault The gas of torment surrounds you with anguish Depression stalks Zelda as though it was the lethal men with guns The feeling of isolation and emptiness streams throughout your body Confusion is a dark shadow that never leaves like the threat of a rock from above Nobody knew of the coldhearted punishments displayed upon the Jews Destroying any faint thoughts of hope and replacing them with the contemplation of fatality They took away every last thing they had and gave them torture instead There is no way that I can feel what she felt Impossible What she had to cope with is far from just I will never feel that pain Being shipped out and sent away hoping that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lead to your execution But I can make sure it never happens again I am the next generation

I am the creator of the future And I will make sure this never happens again By Sean Byrne, Grade 8 84

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & ARTISTS A

Shay Clark

Nora Gamini

Derrick Adams

Eva Cole

Mira Gandhi

Katrina Adams

Mason Corris

Sameer Ghai

Yvonne Ajaltouni

Lauren Cosgrove

Lauren Glass

Thomas Alspaugh

Kalista Cowden

Brianna Gorski

Alyssa Antoci

Michael Cullen

John Grayson

Alex Audette

Suzie Cullen

Carson Green

Nick Augustini

Wilson Cunningham

Aiden Aval

Carrie Cvar

H Jenna Haggard

Alex Hairapetian

Miranda deBruyne

Ryan Harding

Gian Dhingra

David Harkins

Audrey Blum

Sofia DiCesareBystrowicz

Zach Harris

Adam Boserup

Michael Dominguez

Leyton Breese

Jillian Duarte

Rudy Buttlar

Andrei Dumitrescu

Allison Baldwin Colin Ballantyne Lauren Barry

Emily Byde Sean Byrne

Blake Herman Reagan Heslin Isabella Hierro Jackson Hilbert Nathan Hite

E Gabriella Eifrig

Eleni Engelbrecht

Shea Carter

Skylar Ensign

Joey Cha

Tawny Ensign

Elizabeth Chan

Emily Ho Marriott Hoffmann Morgan Horvath Calvin Howard Nathan Hwang

Andrew Chang

Jasmine Chang

Kylie Foerster

Brianna Jahangiri

Ava Chao

Luke Friedl

Chloe Jewgieniew

Maxwell Chao

Farrah Fuerst

Evee Jewgieniew

Natalie Chapman

Mia Chen

Sophia Gabal

Kendall Kaese

Clara Cherney

Jake Gabrielian

Amelia Kang

Rainie Clark

Daniel Gamini

Eloise Kempik

Grace Chapman

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & ARTISTS Riley Kerrigan

Kerrigan Stewart

Ryan Khouri

Isa Odgers

Skylar Strickland

Grant Kinsey

Jackson Odgers

Austin Strohmeier

Andrew Kirchhoff

Josette Odgers

Haley Kirchhoff

Tyler Olsen

Stefan Kitts

Rowan Olsheim

Tyler Tafreshi

Kate Knollenberg

Evan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill

Ally Taylor

Valerie Kramer

Brad Orcutt

Carrie Teichrow

Riley Orcutt

Shelley Teichrow

Matthew Orihuela

Jonathan Truong

L Katrina Lattin Sienna Lawton Olivia Le

Sam Tullis P Jack Paroly

Michael Pearce

Dani Valdez

Kaylie Pederson

Sabrina Valum

Bridget Phillips

Maya Vanek

Phoebe Principale

Chloe Vautrin

Britton Purcell

Filippo Vecchione

Ashkaan Mahjoob

Gavin Purcell

Grant Manahan

Joseph Purcell

Jagger Leach Lauren Lemieux Alex Lindborg Sophia Lindborg

W Ryan Wagner

Peyton Marsh Kaylin Martin

Jack Wharrie

Genevieve Masson

Sydney Querner

Cole Williams

Delaney Williams

Lily Matteson Nathan McCowan

Caden McMackin

Davis Rogers

Fritz Melchert

Skylar Rooney

Sarah Zacharias Emily Zimmerman

Elena Mota Thomas Muri

Katelyn Murphy

Jon Salmi Kylie Sharron

Cyrus Shirangi

Deano Natale

Taylor Silver

Harry Nenninger

Hailey Snyder