Articles for TC Newspaper

Please enjoy the following entries that were submitted for the TC newspaper. I simply "cut-n-pasted" the articles that were e-mailed to me. I did not edit them or proofread them. (Whew! It would have taken me forever!) However, I did use abbreviations to protect identities.

The variety in the submissions was amazing! I believe you will find these entertaining and enjoyable to read! Way to go, class! I'm proud of you.

Why Everyone Should Like Thursday School

by: MB, grade 5

You may ask “why should I like Thursday School; it’s just school?" Well, I have gone around and asked people different grades things they like about Thursday School to get some reasons why. Let’s see what they had to say.
Jo Jo is in 2nd grade and her favorite class is P.E.. She likes P.E. because it is fun. Her favorite thing is to run around and play fun games. She likes Thursday school. Next is Maria, when asked what her favorite class was she said “all of them”. Her favorite thing to do during Thursday School is getting snacks in the break room. Her opinion of Thursday School?....she LOVES it. Now onto Benjamin. Benjamin is in 4th grade and his favorite class is Children’s Literature. He enjoys hanging out with his friends. Next is me. I think my favorite class would have to be Shurley English. Sure, it’s hard work but you get things done. My favorite thing about Thursday School is that you can have fun and be yourself. I like Thursday school. The next person I asked was Rachel. Rachel is in the 10th grade. She likes her history class because her teacher can make it fun. Her favorite thing about Thursday School is all the people. She likes Thursday School. Last we come to Jacob. He is in the 12th grade and his favorite class is Economics. Jacob says he likes Thursday School “good enough”.
So, the next time you ask “why should I like Thursday School?” those are some of the things you can think of. Remember, it’s not just school-it’s Thursday School.

Wasting, Passing, and Using Time
By: CF, grade 3

According to the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary, the definition of time is: the past, present, and future measured in days, hours, minutes and seconds. Once you spend time, you cannot go back. There is no such thing as a time machine. No magic formula can change the way we have chosen to use, pass, or waste time. Let’s examine just what it means to waste, pass, and use. The Scholastic Dictionary is an excellent resource for this. It says that wasting is when you use or spend something foolishly (not wise). Passing is to give up the opportunity to have or do something (I wish I had…). To use is to spend or consume by using. Nobody is perfect, there will be a minute now and then that we don’t use time as wisely as we should.
For now though, from the mind of an 8yr old, here are some uses of time that maybe you can put to use if you are bored.
There are four things you can do if you are bored, they are: spy on and scare a friend, play outside, pretend, and to play chess. There is also what I like to call a “fun scale” from 1-10. 1 is not so fun, 10 is really fun. First, what I think is the absolute best when I am bored is to spy on and scare a friend. I think spying is the best because I can have fun and be active at the same time. It makes me really laugh a lot. Mom says “laughter is the best medicine for a bored mind”. On the fun scale, it is a 10…that is REALLY FUN. I enjoy it a lot. The second thing my bored mind likes to do is play outside. Playing outside is enjoyable and fun. Riding a bike, playing lps (littlest pets), playing soccer, kickball and riding a scooter are all fun things to do outside. My fun scale for playing outside is 10. Third, if you are bored, I suggest playing pretend. I think you should pretend because you can use your imagination. Pretending is a way to be anyone you want to be, anywhere you want to be without leaving home. It is awesome fun!!! I give it a 10 on the fun scale. Finally, playing chess is a wise use of time. It is a strategy game that works your mind. When I play chess, my mind is busy keeping up with how I can capture the enemy king and not be captured. On the fun scale, playing chess is a 10. I know, they are all 10’s. Fun, fun, fun, what can I say (?)....I like it.
There are lots of things you can do if you are bored. I named four, can you name some more? That’s a rhyme, you can do that too. Write a poem if you like. Use your time, don’t waste it and don’t pass it. Trust me, I’ve done that before.

Airsoft Positions

by: WP, grade 6

I have three favorite positions in an airsoft game. These positions are sniper, infantry, and S.A.W. (squad automatic weapon). First, I enjoy being a sniper even though they have a lot of pressure to get that one shot. I like to be far away from the enemy. Snipers do not usually stick with the group; they mostly move quietly and stalk their enemy until they single out someone to shoot.
Second, I like to be infantry. I like to be infantry since there is safety in numbers and their guns (M16) look cool. An infantry squad has to work as a team or else the enemy can easily pick them off with snipers or other infantry. Usually infantry are less feared than snipers or a S.A.W. unless there are a lot of them. In games of capture the flag I like to be infantry because you get to help take forts and bunkers which are not easy.
Third, I like to be a S.A.W. They usually have a box or drum magazine. A box or drum magazine holds more ammunition than a regular magazine. Both magazines hold around 2,500-5,000 BB’s. S.A.W.s are mostly large heavy weapons which have bipods and are not moved around a lot. S.A.W.s are fun weapons to use since they are intimidating and have seemingly endless ammo. In conclusion these are the most common positions in airsoft and will always be the best in an airsoft fight.

Reasons to Play Lego Indiana Jones

by: PN, grade 6

If someone asked me what my favorite game is, I would say Lego -Indiana Jones : The Original Adventures. I love it because of the great battles, awesome gameplay, and special characters. The very best part of the game is the many, varying battles one can replay in story or freeplay mode. As each battle and level is completed, the player gains more pieces to build his own unique characters. My next favorite part is the gameplay. My favorite parts of the gameplay are the levels to complete, the mini kits, and Young Indiana Jones levels you unlock when all the mini kits are found. Lastly, I like the characters, including eight Star Wars characters hidden in the levels. The various clothing, weapons, and abilities of the characters add to the fun by adding unique quirks to them. The battles, gameplay, and characters make a fun game, but combined, make the game eight times more fun then any other game I own.

My Dad, My Hero

by: JB, grade 6

War heroes and their families are right here at TC. My dad has fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom, (OIF), once for 18 months, been a border patrol agent in Mexico, and is currently serving his second tour in Iraq. My dad is my hero and, I believe, a hero for our country.
Osama Bin Laden and his followers are the enemy that America is battling. It all started on a peaceful September morning as passengers started boarding American Airlines, (A.A.), Flight 11 headed for California. After leaving Boston, 5 terrorists went to the cockpit of the plane with box-cutters and bombs. The terrorists took over control of the airplane and headed for New York City. At 8:46am Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. As the north tower was burning, everyone thought that this was a big accident. Then seventeen minutes later, 9:03am, United Airlines, (U.A.) Flight 175 crashes into the south tower. After this latest disaster everyone knew this was no accident.
My dad was away on a business trip in Texas as this was happening. My mom called him to let him know what was going on. Being the hero, he wanted to come home immediately to protect us. All flights had been grounded so he had to rent a car and drive. Cars were hard to find since everyone was renting them because they could not fly. He found one and headed home to be with us.
Firefighters from all around came to help people out of the buildings and to douse the flames. While this was happening A.A. Flight 77 leaving Washington D.C. gets turned around and headed straight for the heart of D.C. At 9:38am the flight crashes into the Pentagon. As everyone tries to recover from this epidemic, United Airlines Flight 93 leaving New Jersey headed for California gets hijacked by four terrorists and turns back headed for the east coast. The passengers, by this time, know what is going on. So they team up to get the plane back under control. At 10:05am the south tower collapses. Then at 10:10am Flight 93 crashes in a field in Pennsylvania. The north tower collapses at 10:28, ten minutes later. Over 3000 Americans lost their lives on that day.
My dad does what he does to prevent disasters like this from happening again. My dad has a pretty cool job and is a great dad too. President George W. Bush’s speech on the evening of September 11, 2001stated, “These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people have been moved to defend a great nation.” My dad is one of those people and I am proud of him.

My Three Favorite Classes at TC

by:JC, grade 5

My three favorite classes at TC are Mind Movers and Mysteries, Shurley Grammar, and Mad Science. Mind Movers and Mysteries is my favorite class. It is very fun, in class my friends and I get to solve mysteries together. When I solve a mystery I have a choice of a piece of candy or a point. I usually choose points, at the end of the year my teacher, Mrs. B will give out the super sleuth award to the person who has the most points.
Shurley Grammar is my next favorite class. My teacher, Mrs. B makes writing and grammar exciting! She has taught my class how to label sentences. Now that I understand how to label sentences correctly I can wiz through my work. Every week I have eight vocabulary words that I have to look up in the dictionary. I enjoy learning the meanings of new words.
Mad Science is my third favorite class. Every class I get to do fun science experiments that my mom probably wouldn’t let me do at home. So far, my favorite experiments were the bubble bomb and making green slimy goo. I wasn’t interested in science until I took this class, now it’s my favorite subject that I do at home! I’m thankful for all of my teachers at TC, however these classes rank in my top three favorites for this semester.

Three Favorite Foods I Recommend

by: JC, grade 4

If I must say so myself I enjoy eating some pretty strange foods. I believe everyone should at least try my three favorite foods: sushi, tomato pie, and refried beans. The sushi roll that I would recommend for beginner sushi eaters is a California roll. In a California roll there is crab, avocado, and cucumber wrapped in seaweed and rice. To complete the sushi roll top it with a little wasabi and soy sauce. I promise that it will melt in your mouth like a cookie right out of the oven.
Tomato pie, you might be thinking, “pie with tomatoes, GROSS!” Where I lived in upstate New York tomato pie was a hit. It’s much like pizza only it’s made in a rectangular pan and topped with sauce and parmesan cheese. It is then baked and served cold. If you ever get the chance to visit Utica, New York you have to try this amazing pizza.
Last but not least I recommend everyone try refried beans. Although, people say that these beans look and smell like cat food, they taste much better, although I have never tried cat food. My favorite way to eat refried beans is to top them with salsa, cheese, and sour cream. I like to eat my beans with tortilla chips. I enjoy dipping my chips into mounds of beans; it’s like a piece of heaven! If your favorite food is macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets you need to put some spice into your life!! Just one little bite of sushi, tomato pie, or refried beans could change your ideas of what good food is.

My Favorite Books

by MS, grade 4

I have two favorite kinds of books. The first book is a series. They are The Little House on the Prairie Books. My other favorite book is The Phantom-Toll Booth.
I think that the Laura Ingalls Wilder series is really interesting. It talks about a little girl named Laura Ingalls growing up. All the books talk about Laura except for the one I'm reading right now. It talks about Laura's future husband.
I also like the Phantom-Toll Booth because if you like fantasy, that's what the whole book is about. The book is about a little boy named Milo who is looking for an adventure when he goes on a jurney to try to find two princess called Rhyme and Reason in the air castel. But on their way they go through many different obstacles.

Three Field Trips Everyone Should Take

by: TP, grade 6

There are three field trips that I think everyone should take. The first is Bodies The Exhibition. It is an exhibit that travels around the world showcasing real human bodies. It is beyond your imagination. You get to see what real bodies look like on the inside in all kinds of stages. Some are healthy and some are not so healthy. They will be showing the exhibit in Atlanta starting this month. Their website is: www.bodiestheexhibition.com. I think everyone should go see Bodies The Exhibition because you get to see the stages of life right before your eyes. It's very cool! The second field trip that I think everyone should take is to The Lost Sea. It is America's largest underground lake. It is located in Sweetwater, TN. You get to explore caverns and ride a boat that you can see through the bottom. It is very interesting. It is not really a sea but still a good exploration. Their website is: www.thelostsea.com. It is open year round. The third field trip that I think everyone should take is Appalachian Caverns. It has lots of fascinating history behind it. It is located in Blountville, TN. It is a bat sanctuary home to seven species of bats within its caverns. It now also has a gem mine. Their website is: www.appalachiancaverns.com. You should really consider some of these awesome places for your next adventure.
That's the three field trips everyone should take and they're awesome!

9 Reasons Why Recycling is Important

by: ET, grade

There are 9 different reasons why recycling is important.
The first reason is recycling always saves trees.
The second reason is recycling protects wildlife habitat and biodiversity.
The third reason is recycling lowers the use of toxic chemicals.
The fourth reason is recycling helps curb global warming.
The fifth reason is recycling stems the flow of water pollution.
The sixth reason is recycling reduces the need for landfills.
The seventh reason is recycling reduces the need for incinerators.
The eighth reason is recycling creates jobs and promotes economic development.
The final reason is buying recycled products contributes to the demand for more recycled products.
There are so many reasons to recycle but I would encourage you to recycle.

Home Schooling Earns a “Thumbs Up”

by: FB, grade 4

Have you ever wondered if going to public school would be better
than home schooling? I have done both and there are several reasons I think home schooling is the best choice.
Home schooling allows flexibility. I’m able to start earlier in the year than public schools. I also get to go on field trips and special trips with my parents. I wouldn’t travel with them if I enrolled in public school.
Another reason I like home schooling better is that I can eat lunch with my mom and my brothers. Lunchtime in public school was disgusting. Everyone chewed with their mouths open! Gross! Also, the unappetizing cafeteria food made my stomach feel lumpy. House food is much better.
I love home schooling because it’s not only fun, but I get to enjoy my family everyday. We play games and take walks together in the morning. If it is someone’s birthday, we’re able to celebrate all day long. Everyone is kind to one another. In public school, not everyone was nice. It’s refreshing to be with my family.

TC’s Top Three

by: WB, grade 3

TC offers some incredible classes for kids. The classes here are fun and informative. However, my three favorite classes at Thursday Connection are Astronomy, Medievel History and Amusing Math.
My first favorite class is Astronomy. Astronomy pleases me because we perform many Science experiments. We have colored radar sticks, and dropped rocks into flour for meteorites. One day we went outside and lined up the planets on toilet paper. I also enjoy Astronomy because my mom teaches it.
My second favorite class is Medievel History. I like Medievel History because I like learning about knights. I’ve learned that Knights have something on their shield to identify them. Mrs. H also taught us that people became knights at age twenty-one. Learning about knights has been fun.
My third favorite class is Amusing Math. I love Amusing Math because my favorite subject in school is math. In class, we get to play fun and fascinating games like Bingo, Connect Four, Roll-n-Subtract and Roll-n-Add. The games help us learn. We also talk about fractions, count money, and practice adding and subtracting. Amusing Math is a fun class where I learn about my favorite subject.
There are many terrific classes at TC. However, Astronomy, Medievel History, and Amusing Math are my favorites.

Identical Titles with Differing Stories

by: MB, grade 6

An amazing fantasy novel, Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis would definitely be one of the top ten books I would recommend to others. Recently, Prince Caspian also hit theaters and was a massive hit. Although the book and movie share the same title, they do not share the same story line.
You are probably wondering why a kid like me would write an article about this subject. To make a long story short… it was a school assignment for Thursday Connection. That fits well in the school newspaper, doesn’t it?
To get to the point, my review is on the book and movie Prince Caspian.
The novel Prince Caspian is very exciting. It is a gripping story about “a prince denied his rightful throne.” He must assemble an army “in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. In the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.”
The book did contain a very tiny bit of inappropriate language. Although it is very minimal, it doesn’t make it acceptable. Perhaps, this one word is in the book because in the author’s lifetime, a_s was an acceptable word. C.S. Lewis could have chosen a more satisfactory word.
Also, I think C.S. Lewis could have used better description in a few places. He provided exquisite detail, but there were three or four places where he could have used more descriptive language to give the reader a better vision of what was happening or what something looked like.
Prince Caspian is a splendid novel. However, for the reasons stated above, I would rate the book at “4 ½.” (Scale: 1 = It stinks! Horrible! 5 =Worth the time! Excellent!) Prince Caspian is a must-read!
Grudgingly, the movie only achieves a “3” for it’s rating. It did not obtain a “4” because it was nothing like the book. PERIOD! I was very disappointed by the repulsive replication of the book. If you have not read Prince Caspian then this would be an awesome movie.
Viewing this movie after reading the book reminded me of seeing Eragon after reading the book. I was very angry.
One credible factor about the movie is the producers removed the word I was talking about earlier in this article. At least there is one good thing about the movie!
One suggestion, if you want to watch the movie then read the book first. The reason I suggest this is because if you watch the movie first you will find no point in reading the book. Also I think viewers need to see how much the movie crew altered the story line of the book. You will be surprised at how much the two differ.