Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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December 27, 2018Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper
Children's & Teens'Gazette 2018
Children's & Teens'Gazette 2018
By KatieLydon,Grade 11,QuanderRoad School
Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Children’s & Teens’ Gazette
Dear Readers:This week, the Mount Vernon Gazette
turns over its pages to the youth and stu-dents.
We asked principals and teachers fromarea schools to encourage students tocontribute their words, pictures and pho-tos for our annual Children’s Issue.
The response, as always, was enor-mous. While we were unable to publishevery piece we received, we did our bestto put together a paper with a fair sam-pling of the submitted stories, poems,drawings, paintings, photographs andother works of art. Because of the re-
sponse, we will continue to publish moreartwork and writings in January.
We appreciate the extra effort made byschool staff to gather the materials duringtheir busy time leading up to the holidays.We’d also like to encourage both schools andparents to mark their 2019 calendars forearly December, the deadline for submis-sions for next year’s Children’s Gazette.Please keep us in mind as your childrencontinue to create spectacular works of artand inspiring pieces of writing in the com-ing year.
The children’s issue is only a part of ouryear-round commitment to cover education
and our local schools. As always, theGazette welcomes letters to the editor,story ideas, calendar listings and noticesof local events from our readers. Photosand other submissions about specialevents at schools are especially welcomefor our schools pages.
Our preferred method for material ise-mail, which should be sent [email protected],but you can reach us by mail at 1606King St., Alexandria, VA 22314 or call703-778-9415 with any questions.
— Editor Steven Mauren
WelcomeThe Mount Vernon
Children’s Gazetteis published by
Local Media Connection, LLC.
A digital version of this publication and 14sister publications
available at www.connectionnewpapers.com/documents
For information on advertising [email protected]
For information on local content [email protected]
By Norah Emery, Grade 6, Fort Hunt Elementary By Amelia Cole, 12, Grade 7, Homeschool
By Rachel Jurta, Grade 5, StratfordLanding Elementary
Christmas Quilt by Everly, 4,St. Aidan’s Episcopal Day School
Cubist Self-Portrait by AnnaLarson, 12, Grade 7, Alexandria,Browne Academy
4 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Children's & Teens'
ChristmasDecember 26, 1611
Dear Diary,Yesterday was my family’s very 1st
Christmas here in Jamestown. My fam-ily and I arrived in May, so it’s beenabout 8 months. Anyway, yesterday weall gathered around our town Christmastree and sang carols. After that, we wentback to our dwelling to receive presents.We each got 2 presents. I got a corn-husk doll and a warm blanket. I am theyoungest out of 6, so you can imaginemy presents weren’t the best. For din-ner, we had my favorite, something we
can only have once a year. We had ham.We shot a pig and roasted it over a fire3 months ago. We finally had it all — 6pieces each — yesterday on Christmas.So to all a Merry Christmas, and to all agood night.
Fondly,Elizabeth
— Eliza Anderson, 9,
from Alexandria
4th grade, Hollin Meadows
Elementary, Mrs. McVeigh
Friends in kindergarten by Isabel Anderson, 5, fromAlexandria, Kindergarten at Hollin Meadows Elementary,Ms. Wilson.
A Cinquain PoemDunkin’Slide, GlideTake a rideIt’s so easy inDunktown
— Peyton Cole, 8
Grade 2, Homeschool
Fairy TalesFairy tales are real, that’s for
sureIt’s the Big Bad Wolf from un-
der the floorIt’s the pitter patter of small feetWhen you just can’t get to sleep
Yes, there are fairiesYes, there is magicThey’ve just been doing the
wrong thingsAnd having the wrong habits
I’ll give you a tipOr two or threeKeep your head down and fol-
low me
— Molly Cole, 10
Grade 5, Homeschool
By Peter Scoma, 9, Grade4, Mr. Rathman’s class,Washington Mill Elemen-tary, Mount Vernon, incelebration of Romania’s100th Anniversary, atraditional Romaniancustom, “Painting onGlass,” Romanian Ortho-dox Christian.
“Whiskers, the Cat” byAlvin Scoma, 9, Grade 4,Mr. Rathman’s class,Washington Mill Elemen-tary, Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Season’s Greetings
During the Holiday Season,I find myself reflecting on the
past year and on those who have helped us shape our business.
Thank you for yourcontinued support.
Wishing you and yoursa Happy Season and
a New Year filled withPeace and Prosperity
Rex and Doris Reiley, Liz Reiley,Kelly Palmer, and Jay Hutton
Fort Hunt ElementaryNeighborhood Friends Drawingsfrom Fort Hunt’s 2nd Grade.
ByKeiraPhillips
By Anna Kate Leeth
By Henry Foote
By Havana Chapman-Edwards
By Benyjah Sutton
By Kyana Canizalez By Banays Alemayehu
6 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Fort Hunt ElementarySubmitted by Andrew Green on behalf ofFort Hunt’s Kindergarten and 1st Grade.
Family Member Portrait byBen Henry, Grade 1
Self-portrait by BrendanHolmes, Kindergarten
Family Member Portrait byDaphne Zingerline, Grade 1
Family Member Portrait byDelilah Hill, Grade 1
Self-portrait byIsadora Cabrera-Catacora,Kindergarten
Family Member Portraitby Josselyn Moran-Moran,Grade 1
Family Member Portraitby Leila Espinosa Luna,Grade 1
Family Member Portrait byTessa Bennet, Grade 1
Family Member Portrait byTommy Curry, Grade 1
Family Member Portrait byTori Allen, Grade 1
By EllieKim
By ElsaLewis
By PetraAdonteng
By ThomasGranieri
By Alex Rodriguez By Devin Stanco By Isabella Wheeler By Natnael WassihunBy Norah Emery, Grade 6,Fort Hunt Elementary
Cultural Identity Self-Portraits from Fort Hunt’s 3rd Grade.
Silhouette Drawings from Fort Hunt’s 6th Grade.
8 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
2 pm - Midnight • Old Town Alexandria, VA
Entertainment. Fireworks. Family- Friendly. Safe & Fun. Affordable.
For Tickets & Information: www. FirstNightAlexandria.org
Another Community Partner
Fort Hunt Elementary
Giraffe by Lilah Goel, 8, Grade 2at Fort Hunt Elementary, Mrs.Holland.
Seasons by Luke Goel, 6, Grade 1at Fort Hunt Elementary,Srta. Marrer
Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
CONGRATULATIONS STUDENTS ON YOUR IMPRESSIVE WORK!
119 South Royal Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
703.535.8151 • fontainecaffe.com
Come in and try our Bistro Burger and check out our NEW MENU
in the New Year!
Fort Hunt Elementary
Still Life Drawing by Ben Briede Design for the FutureArchitecture Drawingby Eli Briede
Design for the Future ArchitectureDrawing by Cassidy Cooper Still Life Drawing by Danielle Dixon
Design for the Future ArchitectureDrawing by Estella Mayhew
Still Life Drawing by Katerina Kavaljian
Still Life Drawing by Marisela Martinez Still Life Drawing by Shatoya Stewart
10 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Stratford Landing Elementary
By Ethan Dwyer, Grade 2 By Jude Dauer, Kindergarten By Matthew Brannon, Grade 3
By Emma Scully, Kindergarten Kent Mitchell, Grade 3 By Han Le, Grade 4
By Foster Marchand, Grade 1 By Gwynne Letcher, Grade 4 By Sariah Carter, Grade 1 By Rory Sheehan, Grade 3
By Lilly Brady, Grade 4 By Sabine O’Shea, Grade 5 By Avery Garr, Grade 5 By Jack Letcher, Grade 6 By Nate Brennell, Grade 6
Submitted by Julia Schickel, Art Teacher.
Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Stratford Landing ElementarySubmitted by Julia Schickel, Art Teacher.
By Abbie Bachmore, Grade 4
By Rush Swanson, Grade 5
By Francis Ngo, Grade 6
By Adam Pedigo, Grade 6
Submitted by Sharon Burke, Art Teacher.
By Maria Chintillova, Grade 1 By Cyrus Fakhori,Kindergarten
By Grave Barrett, Grade 3 By Kaitlyn Hoewing, Grade 2
By Noura Barka, Grade 3 By Nolan Tunyavongs, Grade 3 By Norah Crowley, Grade 3
By Marcus Rusten, Grade 3 By Maria Blaylock, Grade 3By Katelyn Soriano,Grade 5
12 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Quander Road SchoolSubmitted by art teacher Anne Lewis.
By Brendan Dietz, Grade 12
By Johnathan Salgado,Grade 12
By NoahPhuong,Grade 12
By Katie Lydon, Grade 11
By Noah Phuong,Grade 12
By Bennett Smith, Grade 10
Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 ❖ 13www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Hollin Meadows Elementary
Lucas Gabriel, Connor O’Neill, Rodrick Byrd and Gavin Gilley
Project Based LearningThe class completed a PBL (Project Based Learning) in
which their mission was to create an interactive ancient Egyp-tian museum where guests can fully experience what ancientEgypt was like. Their driving question was: How can you, asan ancient Egypt museum curator, convince people to visityour museum.
Their final product: Students used all the information thatthey researched and worked on in both art class (10 hours)and in their classroom, that convinces potential customers tovisit their museum. They had to research the geography ofancient Egypt; decide on a logo (in hieroglyphics) for theirmuseum; choose a museum tour guide by researching the godsand goddesses of ancient Egypt and deciding on one of thoseguides; create a restaurant menu consisting of foods that theancient Egyptians ate; research the inventions such as paper(papyrus), 365-day calendar and much more.
The outcome is students gain life-long problem solvingskills, develop a growth mindset, experience a real world oc-cupation, critically and creatively develop a new ideas,collaborate with peers, communicate their solution, work onbeing goal oriented with a due date and timeline, and stilllearn core content.
Serinity Bokini (Cleopatra)Parents were invited, along with many staff members and
other third grade classes, to view student’s commercials.— Debi Sita, 3rd grade AAP teacher
Hollin Meadows Elementary School
SerinityBokini,CarysSchiffer,LaaibahMajid andJordanDillard-Scott
SofieWerthmann,Emi Martinand LennonSchiffer
14 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Day School
See Browne Academy, Page 18
Photos of student artworksubmitted by Suzanne Odom.
Triangle Tree by Ford, 3 Triangle Tree by Grady, 2 Nativity watercolor by Layah, 5 Christmas Quilt by Sean, 4
Alexandria Country Day School
By Reeves Versaggi, Grade 7 By Astrid Ellehuus, Grade 5 By Brooke Dunton, Grade 7
By Lauren Oehler, Grade 8 By Steven Peguero, Grade 7 By Andrew Talay, Grade 4 By Marshall Rhodes, Grade 1
ChristmasSnow coming down,The sky,People singing,Tree and houses all decorated.Christmas is here, a beautiful holiday.People eating treats,And skating, sledding.Everybody meeting each other.What a great holiday!The best thing is whenYou find presents under your tree.A sign of Christmas is when it gets cold.On December 25th
All of this beautiful stuff happensAt night all full with lightsComing dark early.
— Ilaria Locatelli, 8, Alexandria
Grade 3, Ms. Laha
WinterWinter.Winter, winter, falling snow.I go wherever you go.Winter, winter, take me but where.Oh! Oh! I know!Take me where the wind blows.
Carols, carols in the air.— Jackie Jones, 8, Alexandria
Grade 3, Ms. Laha
Final DescriptiveParagraph
I visited the magical Universal Studios, Orlando,Florida in the summer of 2017. One thing thatmade it magical was the Harry Potter virtual real-ity ride. It’s magical because you have to wearspecial 3D glasses to see the characters come to life.The glasses made me feel like I was in the movie. Ifelt like I was actually traveling with Harry Potter,and there were moments when I would fly with
Browne Academy
The SeasonsWinter, winter, falling snow.Spring, spring, flowers grow.Summer, summer, hot and humid.Autumn, autumn, cool and windy.Winter, summer, fall and spring,Altogether they make the seasons.
— Piper Guy, 8, Alexandria
Grade 3, Ms. Laha
Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 ❖ 15www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
ALEXANDRIA’S NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT • SINCE 1904
734 North St. Asaph Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
703-548-1616RoyalRestaurantVA.com
Food fit for a kingon a family budget
Monday - 1/2 Price Burger NightTuesday - Kids 12 & under Eat Free
with accompanying adult. 1 child per adult.
Wednesday - Roast Turkey SpecialThursday - Lasagna Night
Friday - Fish FrySaturday & Sunday - Full Brunch Buffet
with Omelette Station
DAILY FEATURES FOR EVERYONE!
Gallery
Acryllic paintingby Sophia Webster,13, Grade 7 at CarlSandburg MiddleSchool. Dedicatedin loving Memoryof cousin, AlexMcCrone, 11.
Snowmanby Ben-jaminWebster,Grade 3,Fort HuntElemen-tary.
Reindeer byMichaelWebster,Grade 5,StratfordLandingElementary.
Manger by OliviaWebster, Grade 1,Fort Hunt Elementary.
16 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Ceramic Mask by OliviaShort, 14, Grade 8, FortWashington, Md.
Ceramic Mask by DanteCalandra, 14, Grade 8,Alexandria
Ceramic Mask by CarynGardner, 14, Grade 8,Arlington
Cubist Self-Portrait byBrennan Wise, 13, Grade 7,Alexandria
Cubist Self-Portrait by AlexNorth, 12, Grade 7, Alexan-dria
Cubist Self-Portrait byIsabella Bloom, 12, Grade7, Alexandria
Browne Academy
Matisse Goldfish by CarterMarch, 6, Grade 1, Alexan-dria
Cupcakes by Emme Guy, 4,Junior Kindergarten, Alex-andria
Winter sunset by Grace Laha, 9, Grade 4, Alexandria
Burgundy Farm Country Day School
Name: Tabitha Richey-AllenGrade: Kindergarten
Name: Ash UttamGrade: Kindergarten
Name: Caleb CoatesGrade: Kindergarten
Name: Eva AlbarelliGrade: Kindergarten
Name: Tessa ChandlerGrade: KindergartenName: Rosie Beggs, Grade: Kindergarten
Name: Elsa MurchisonGrade: Kindergarten
Name: Pippa AshtonGrade: Kindergarten
Name: Sam HoleGrade: Kindergarten
Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 ❖ 17www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Dali’s Horseman by Dean McDonnell,Grade 7 at Carl Sandburg Middle School.
“Leonardo the Scientist”We all know Leonardo da Vinci…or do we?
Leonardo da Vinci did a lot of things. He painted theMona Lisa and a lot of famous paintings but,Leonardo did not just paint. Leonardo was also an
Pen and Ink byRuth Bekele, 11
Leonardo da Vinci, intellectualinventor or artistic mastermind?It’s time to explore the truth! Ibelieve Leonardo da Vinci is a sci-entist. You may think he is an art-ist, but really deep down he is aninventor, and inventors are scien-tists. Leonardo da Vinci was bornin Vinci, Italy on April 15, 1452.Leonardo’s father was of royaltyas for his mother, she was a com-moner. As a kid, Leonardo was anoutcast. Because he had nofriends, Leonardo spent hours ei-ther drawing or sketching inven-tions in his journals. Science in-fluenced all of his artistic sketch-ing and paintings. Science is re-quired in art to draw lines, mix col-ors and so much more!
Later on in Leonardo’s life, hestarted really getting interested inthe human body. He wonderedpeculiar things that most peopledidn’t think about. He wonderedabout how things worked and why.He wondered why the humanbody can do such amazing things.
Leonardo da Vinci – The TruthLeonardo got more and more in-terested in the human body, somuch so that he had the courageto risk his reputation and dig updead bodies. He spent a lot of timestudying cadavers. Because of hisfascination with biological sciencehe dissected frogs and other deadorganisms too. Leonardo may havemade some risky choices but heneeded to satisfy his curiosity.
Leonardo loved to invent. He in-vented lots of things we use today.Leonardo da Vinci created the firsthelicopter to actually fly! He alsomade the hydraulic press, whichis used in a roller coaster to shootyou up the first hill. Leonardo in-vented other things we use in oureveryday lives such as the bike, thescrew, an anemometer and evenhumanoid automatons (robots).
Leonardo da Vinci became a fa-mous person because of his suc-cessful inventions in science. Heand his inventions were and arerevolutionary. Leonardo da Vincireally had an impact on our lives.
He still impacts our future in manyways. Without Leonardo da Vinciwe may not have all of these amaz-ing things in life that we have to-day. Leonardo da Vinci was a re-ally superior SCIENTIST who hadvery big ideas that made revolu-tionary inventions.
— Lauren Gordon,
Grade 6
Stratford Landing Elementary
Pen and Ink byJude Pena, 12
inventor and a scientist. Inmy opinion, Leonardo was ascientist because scientistsinvent things. They drawand even paint. He is obvi-ously a scientist because hedid everything a scientistwould do. He drew, hepainted, and he invented! Allof this is a part of the scien-tific process.
Leonardo da Vinci wasborn in Italy on April 15,1452. His father, Sir Piero,was a fine business man
while his mother was a poor peasant girl. His par-ents didn’t show much affection for him. His fatherleft Leonardo and his mother to join a more respect-ful family. Later on, his mother left as well, and gaveLeonardo to his grandparents. They did not showmuch affection for him either. Leonardo’s uncle wasthe only one that showed some affection towardshim. They would often take walks in the hills cov-ered with olive trees, and talk about life and enjoyeach other’s company.
Although estranged, Leonardo’s father noticed histalent for art and sent him to be an apprentice forVerrocchio. Soon Verrocchio recognized Leonardo’stalent for art and asked him to draw an angel onVerecchio’s painting. Leonardo drew an amazingangel with so much detail it is said that Verrocchionever picked-up a paint brush again. Verecchio hadan artist’s guild that only his masters could join. Soon,Leonardo became a master himself and joined theguild. Leonardo stayed with the guild and even stayedbeing a Master for Verecchio for several years.
Leonardo left the guild later in life and being amaster for Verecchio. He went on to paint some ofhis own paintings like the Last Supper, and the MonaLisa. While Leonardo was painting things he was also
inventing things like the armored car (the tank aswe call it today), the parachute, or even the firstmovie-type projector. Or he was investigating by do-ing things like dissecting a bird or a human, to seehow a bird can fly or how a human walks. Leonardosoon fled Florence and headed to Milan. The duke ofMilan liked to give big parties and had a passion forart but he was looking for someone to build him aweapon. Despite his gentleness, Leonardo took thejob.
Leonardo made mortar cannons that shot huge can-nonballs into the air. Leonardo had ideas he justcouldn’t contain. He was going to make a huge bronzehorse statue—the biggest in the world. But when theFrench invaded Milan they used his clay horse sculp-ture for target practice before it was cast. On May 2,1519 Leonardo died feeling accomplished and proud.Leonardo da Vinci helped shape the world.
— Liam Kerr, Grade 6
Carl Sandburg Middle School
18 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
Back to Abnormal
From Page 14
Browne Academy
Harry Potter. While in the air my heart was pound-ing with fear and my hands were sweating. It wassuper exciting! Then we rode the Mummy ride. Itwas the scariest ride I had ever been on because itwas dark and as fast as a racecar. The coaster shotup, and it surprised me when it went upside down!I did not even feel myself go upside down. It wasso much fun though that I went on it twice! At theend of the day, I knew it had been an epic day.Universal Studios is the place to be. It was unbe-lievable!
— Logan Brooks
Mr. Smith, English 6A
TreeThe tree was full of glee.The ornaments hung,I took a knee in front to the tree full of glee.
— Sam Biggins, 8, Alexandria
Grade 3, Ms. Laha
Introduction to ArtI ask them to draw somethingTo reach inside their minds,grab something,and throw it onto the paper.
I say let your mind go freeTo let it run to wherever it pleasesfind what it’s looking for,grab it by the hand,and bring it to reality.
I want them to find color,wandering in the darkness of their minds,and to bring it to the light of the canvas;to take what doesn’t seem rightand to welcome it into open arms.
But all they want to dois to worry about the little imperfectionswith what they’ve found.
They scrub away at its existenceover and over,until all that’s leftare the faded marks of mistakes,and the disappointmentfrom their failure to make it perfect.
— Sophie Atkisson,13
Grade 8, Danielle Gerber,
English Teacher
Bentley’s StoryHi!, my name is bentley, and I love food. I’m new
to this world and I’m not sure what everything is.I think I see blue in the air with white blotches thatmy new family calls a sky, something green on thefloor that my new family calls grass, a big yellowcircle in the sky that my family calls the sun, wa-ter, and food. My family are my people. In myfamily someone is called Mom, another is calleddad, the other two people are called Liv and Lilah.I protect my family from people I don’t know, andthey protect me from people who have lines in theirhands that have smoke coming out of them that myowners call cigarettes, they also protect me fromsomething my owners call fires.
I think I’m cute. On second thought, I don’t thinkI’m cute. I know I’m cute! My paws, my face, mybody, the places I sleep, and everything I do is cute!You can’t blame me. I’m just so cute, like reallycute. Cute as in cuter than a newborn animal orbaby.
I like playing this game with my bright, bouncything that my owners call my red ball. When myowners go up, then I go up (by the way, it is reallyfun). When my owners go down I play with my redball. I like sleeping with my owners. I like playingoutside. I like everything except being at home withno one but my brother, Winston. And I hate rain.Boy, when I say I hate rain, I mean I really haterain. Rain is like wet stuff coming from the skywhen the sky is grey. My owners say that God iscrying.
— Olivia Ross, 10
Grade 5, Mr. Smith
Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ Children’s & Teens’ Connection 2018-2019 ❖ 19www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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