Page 8
CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
Thursday, November 9, 2017
All The Things I Can Do by Finn Chandler, SCH 2nd Grade
“Flowers,� a collaboration by Norwood Fontbonne Academy Montessori students, grades 1-3.
I have done it all. I can fly. I can make a pie. I can jump. I can run. I can touch the sun. I can drive. I can high five. I am immune. I can walk on the moon. I can pop a balloon. I can do this and many, many more things!
It’s my birthday by Harper Zuercher, GFS, 7th Grade It’s my birthday, and no one knows. I walk the streets of the city, anxiously looking into each new face. But they are all busy people, darting this way and that with no notice of a tiny eleven-year-old girl in their midst. I was born into the world on this date. Pulled from sweet warm life to this cold desolate place, where people like me are ignored. No, not ignored. It is like we are not there. I brush past a young woman by accident. Our shoulders touch. I feel it; the brush of her flannel shirt and bony arm. “Sorry,� I murmur. She doesn’t even look my way, doesn’t even acknowledge the stranger she has bumped into. I don’t know what I am to her—a whisper of the wind, maybe, or a stray leaf falling on her sleeve—but I fall to the side and she marches past. I sigh and walk away, stopping at a corner store and resting my back against the cold stone wall. Soon my tired legs give out and I crumple, landing hard on the pavement, my back scraping the wall as I slide down to the ground. I try to make myself as small as I can, pulling my coat away from the kicking of busy feet. I drop my head to my knees and begin to cry, cold tears that I can feel on my cheeks, pressed between my face and the thin material of my coat. I think that maybe someone knows it’s my birthday. Like, maybe a choir some- where in a school across the country is doing a vocal warm-up, and singing “Happy Birthday�, and the teacher is letting them fill in whomever they want to complete the song. I close my eyes and whisper the song to myself, but put in my name instead, and try to imagine someone else is saying it. Maybe a little girl who could be my friend, or an old kind couple, but they would have a lovely smile and laughing eyes that would look right at me. I peek up over my coat. No one has even blinked an eye at the crying little homeless girl, all alone in the world. They walk past as if I am not there. “Happy birthday, Brianna,� I whisper to myself, but I know it’s not exactly true. For birthdays only celebrate the date of your birth. Not the date of your death.
Fall
C.D.KALLER INC. Since 1939 ROOFING SIDING • WINDOWS • MASONRY
10% Off Projects up to $5,000
15% Off
Emergency Repairs Lifetime Resident of Wyndmoor
Projects $5,000 - $15,000
215-659-3000 • www.cdkaller.com
20% Off
HOME IMPROVEMENTS & HISTORICAL RESTORATION DRY WALL & PLASTER REPAIRS • CARPENTRY POINTING • STUCCO • WATERPROOFING
Projects over $15,000
Expiration December 1 2017
MEMBER OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND BBB PA LIC# PA016580
Not to be combined w/ other discounts
"! ! ! ! ! .' , ( + +.- .*)(' + *
- &) -
( + - ,- & ! #
+ ' + ''& ! "
! .-,,+*)+('&-%+-(+$#"! ! + - ,- &( '
Thursday, November 9, 2017
CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
Walking in a Fall Wonderland by Avery Massanova, Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, 8th Grade “Be home before we have to leave for school!” my dad called after me as I snatched Basil’s leash and clipped it onto her collar. Slamming the back door, we sprinted down the short narrow street toward the bike path at the end of the block. Eventually our sprint slowed to a jog and relaxed into a comfortable walking pace. Crunching through piles of crisp leaves, I pulled up the hood of my sweatshirt and put my hands in my pockets. Fall is beautiful, I thought, “but I am so sad summer is over.” The once thick canopy of green leaves had already started to turn shades of red, orange, yellow and brown before they fell, making the path slippery in the morning dew. I became aware that, lost in thought, I had come to a stop. Head tilted, Basil sat down in front of me. “Change stinks, but it can be really beautiful sometimes, I guess”. I looked down and gave Basil a pat on the head before we turned around and headed toward home.
Every Leaf Has Fallen by Justin Eney, Norwood- Fontbonne Academy, 8th Grade Every leaf has fallen; the warm blowing air has turned into a chilly breeze; and people are starting to bundle up for the new season. Fall lifts the spirits of each and every one, bringing out their empathy and love for others. The new season connects us in a way that most of us don’t even realize. My most sentimental memories were created in fall such as jumping in a pile of leaves, sitting by the fire with a nice cup of hot chocolate, and watching the football games with my family. Fall has always been a delightful season to those who have embraced it and have love for it. It is a season for new beginnings and hope; therefore, making people hope that every leaf has truly fallen.
How Much Meaning Can a Single Leaf Have? by Olivia Cook Norwood- Fontbonne Academy 8th Grade When someone says fall, I think about leaves changing colors then falling off the trees. Red, green, yellow, and orange are the wonderful colors that bring fall to life and give fall its name and meaning. When leaves change to red, the meaning is significant. The red leaves symbolize a red heart which means to bring love to things such as family, friends, and traditions. Red leaves help encourage people to find what they love and bring enthusiasm to in life. An orange leaf is associated with joy and sunshine. The purpose of an orange leaf is to bring brightness to people and help them think positively. Green immediately makes me think about “being green.” A green leaf helps remind people of the importance of keeping our world clean and green and always recycling. Yellow leaves help warm people's souls and welcome them to the world. All the colorful and vibrant leaves we see on trees in the fall have meanings in life. Looking at the trees during fall, I always remember the importance each one of these leaves brings to our loving and caring earth and environment.
$ave
Subscribe to the Local
Family Dentistry DANIEL M. MELE, D.M.D. • Bonding/Veneers • Gum Treatment • Extractions • Root Canals • Crowns • Bridges Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
New Patients Welcome 40 WEST EVERGREEN, SUITE 111
215-242-9411 EMERGENCIES WELCOME MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED
Dylan Gary, Junior - Level Montessori, NFA.
Page 9
Page 10
CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
Thursday, November 9, 2017
My Dinnertime Enemy by Jayden Martinez, SCH, 6th Grade Mushrooms I hate them, Taste like the bottom of someone's shoe. Mushrooms, Every one else should hate them too. Mushrooms, Look like badly cooked fudge. Mushrooms, They make me hold a grudge. Even though my mom keeps trying to push me, I don’t want to because they feel so mushy. If my mom keeps forcing I am going to die, Because it tastes like burritos mixed with a pie. I hope this poem tells her not to, But I bet that at dinner she will tell me I’ve got to.
Isabella Chauarria, NFA, 5th Grade.
Ode to Trees by Joey Trotter, SCH, 5th Grade Like a colossal statue, rooted in one wet spot, cold wind wrestles, tussles, and teases it, but still it stands. Rain slips, drips, and falls to the ground, but still it stands. Small animals climb, peck, and scratch it, but still it stands. Leaves tumble, fumble, and wobble to the ground, but still it stands. Through winter, spring, summer,and fall, the giant structure doesnot fail. The wooden skyscraper still stands tall. Vexed by birds and squirrels nesting in its long arms, bitten and beaten by the wind, but still it stands.
Fall Into Fall by Seamus Leonard, Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, 8th Grade
The Beauty of Fall by Shawn Fuchs, Norwood- Fontbonne Academy, 8th Grade The beautiful and colorful leaves of fall mix so well with the cool and refreshing air that feels so good after the scorching heat of the summer. Chills are in the air as the fiery sun beams down on us. Trees begin to shed their colorful leaves as the seeds and nuts fall along with them. The plants scattered across the ground begin to wither but the beauty stays. All of the animals, weary from the heated summer, begin to gather their food for the winter. We will all be sad as the beauty of fall begins to drain from the land as the winter snow begins to fall.
Leaves falling. Wind swirling. Fall is a time of good food, good friends, and family. Every single season brings a different mindset. Fall, for example, brings the mindset of togetherness and intimacy. I believe that at fall we start to feel the warmth and compassion from others because as the weather gets colder it requires us to stay inside with our families more often. My fondest memories have been from fall. Some memories that I have are making leaf piles, smelling the delicious turkey roasting in the kitchen, and bundling up by the warm fire with a piping hot chocolate in my hands. Thanksgiving teaches us to be passionate, cordial, and benevolent. Fall is by far my favorite season because it can bring out the best in everybody.
Big Blue Marble Bookstore A neighborhood bookstore for Mt. Airy and beyond
Eagles Storytime! Sat., Nov. 25 @ 10:30 am “Football Freddie: Gameday in Philadelphia” 551 Carpenter Lane • Phila, PA 19119 215-844-1870 • info@bigbluemarblebooks.com
violins, cellos, violas and bows sales, rentals, restorations and repairs lessons
www.bigbluemarblebooks.com
ehu1sdCy0HovNmbN1 A0EI T7
A Bundle of Fall By Isabella Devine, Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, 8th Grade As I’m walking, I notice that beautiful trees spread all throughout with vibrant colored leaves being seen by every eye. With a silent thump, a leaf hits the ground. My eyes watch as another leaf follows behind and then there is a continuous fall of more leaves. Trees are starting to look bare as their leaves keep falling off one by one. The trees quiver as a crisp cool breeze blows over them and the temperature starts to drop. As the chilly breeze passes by, it leaves a curious scent. That soft, warm, and delicious scent seems of something that I have smelled before. Then I realize, that's the smell of fall. I notice that the colors red, orange, yellow, and green can be spotted everywhere I look. I walk in contentment as I observe the beautiful scenery around me.
Not Easy Being a Free Bird by Nino Zappala, SCH 6th Grade Even humans harassing their natural habitat.
The bird Musical wings Sing - song chirp Tiny clawed talons Feathers everywhere That allow it to steal the skies And most of all The bird is free.
But this does not stop him From taunting the clouds,
Master of the skies Daring anything to stop him From being free. Though he is challenged by the many other birds These being much bigger Stronger Faster Smarter More aggressive. And it’s not only other birds It’s land animals Snakes slithering silently in the grass Racoons racing around reaching for an unfortunate bird Cars crashing through and careening around corners
Daring them to catch him, And eventually, The clouds get annoyed And push the bird away Weigh him down with r aindrops Diving at him Like anvils are strapped to his wings Strike him with the element that defies flight electricity Before they have a chance to react. The bird Musical wings Sing - song chirp Tiny clawed talons Feathers everywhere That allow him to steal the skies And most of all The bird is free.
Martian by Noa Leifer, SCH 5th Grade My name is Kayla. I am a normal girl who lives in a normal town well, kinda. The normal town is not on a normal planet. I live on Mars. NASA set up a program letting people go to Mars when my mom was pregnant. My parents decided it would be fun. Little did they know that it was a life-long trip. We have to live in a glass dome to keep oxygen in the air. When I’m in the dome I feel trapped. When we leave the dome, I feel free even though we have to have helmets on like astronauts so we can breathe. There is a space between the two doors at the exit so no oxygen leaves the dome and there are plants everywhere. My favorite spot in the dome is a small man-made cave hidden by branches and leaves. I go there when somethings makes me sad or angers me. I’ve never been to earth before, but I dream of the clean water, animals, and lush green forests. My parents promised me we would move to earth one day… one day. That one day hasn’t come yet. I always ask when that one day is, but everyday all my parents say is that it will one day. To be continued...
An Afternoon of Color by Madeline Eiser, Norwood-Fontbonne Academy,
5th Grade The golden sun begins its descent as I make my way home. I take a shortcut through the park and watch the trees, mostly bare, shed the few leaves they have left. The leaves are brilliant colors: scarlet, fiery orange, golden yellow, and warm brown. As I walk, they crunch under my feet with a satisfying crackling sound. The once bright green grass has started to turn dry and brown, staying with the color palette of autumn. A breath of cool wind brushes past me, ruffling the leaves on the ground and causing me to pull my soft sweater tighter around me. The sun has now almost reached the horizon, casting a gleaming, rich, orange glow over the town. Joyous shouts resonate from the boys playing at the other end of the park. I reach the edge of the park and step onto the cold sidewalk, continuing on my way home.
The Poem of Winter by Molly Buddee The snow falls from the trees The cold wind stings my feet Frosty air bites my face My fingers turn to ice My jacket is wet with snow It’s gone, the grass I used to mow Gone are the chipmunks Gone are the skunks So now winter is here Winter is here
r a 9SeHUe a 2LL LOr , L
PCgN TT
The Turkey That Wasn’t by Charlotte Hodgson, Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, 8th Grade Turkey, the roasted and tender bird that we look forward to eating every fall, possibly wasn’t even on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Mussels, lobsters, clams, oysters, and bass were unquestionably all part of the celebration that Americans have now turned into a turkey festival. So why aren’t these mouthwatering seafood delicacies on our dining room tables? The first official Thanksgiving on November 26, 1863, helped to introduce turkey as the main course on this special day. However, it wasn’t until the early 19th century that these gargantuan birds became staples at our dinner
tables. The turkey represented an established American bird and so as immigrants were coming in, it was a way to try to introduce them to America. Also the average American consumes about 193 pounds of meat every year including beef, chicken, or pork and only 15.8 pounds of seafood. The main reason for this is because of the lack of availability of seafood in supermarkets across the Midwest and other non-waterfront regions.However, with eating our underwater friends on the rise we could see adjustments in the near future. Will you be eating seafood this Thanksgiving?
Fall Daydreams by Nora Furletti , Norwood- Fontbonne Academy, 8th Grade As I walk outside after a long day at school, I stop and breath the fresh air. I take a minute to enjoy the scenery when I realize, fall is here! The leaves are dancing in the wind, brushing past my face. T he trees bend back and forth, swaying in the breeze. I feel the cold ground beneath my feet. I hear cars pass by in the busy streets, and I see people with warm fuzzy coats. I can smell a cinnamon scent floating by from a bakery across the street. When I hear my bus coming, I snap out of my fall daydreams and remember my busy night ahead of me.
Look us up on Facebook and