December 29, 2016 - January 4, 2017 Children Children’ s Connection 2016 s Connection 2016 Children’s Connection 2016 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com Springfield Franconia ❖Kingstowne ❖Newington Springfield Franconia ❖Kingstowne ❖Newington “Wild Thing” by Leila Marcantel, Grade 1, Sangster Elementary.
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Springfield Connection ❖ Children’s Connection ❖ 2016 - 2017 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.comDecember 29, 2016 - January 4, 2017
ChildrenChildren’s Connection 2016s Connection 2016Children’s Connection 2016online at www.connectionnewspapers.com
SpringfieldFranconia❖Kingstowne❖Newington
SpringfieldFranconia❖Kingstowne❖Newington
“Wild Thing” by Leila Marcantel,Grade 1, Sangster Elementary.
Dear Readers:This week, the Springfield/Franconia/
Kingstowne/Newington Connection turnsover its pages to the youth and students.
We asked principals and teachers fromarea schools to encourage students to con-tribute their words, pictures and photos forour annual Children’s Issue.
The response as always was enormous.While we were unable to publish every piecewe received, we did our best to put togethera paper with a fair sampling of the submit-ted stories, poems, drawings, paintings,photographs and other works of art.
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 2017 calendars forearly December, the deadline for submis-sions for next year’s Children’s Connection.
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 educationand our local schools. As always, the Con-nection welcomes letters to the editor, storyideas, calendar listings and notices of localevents from our readers. Photos and othersubmissions about special events at schoolsare especially welcome for our weeklyschool pages.
Our preferred method for material is e-mail, which should be sent [email protected], butyou can reach us by mail at 1606 KingStreet, Alexandria, VA 22314 or call 703-778-9414 with any questions.
Editor Kemal Kurspahic
Welcome
By Kai Wheeler, Grade 6, Orange Hunt Elementary
Watercolor, by Megna Ratnapuri, 13, of Springfield, Grade 9, Congres-sional School, Falls Church, Art Teacher: Mrs. Rula Brock.
“Community Map,” by Henry Wells, Grade 2, Keene Mill ES, Art Teacher:Deborah Ehlers.By Sarayu Kalarickal, age 5, Mrs. Druggan’s Kindergarten Class at
Accotink Academy Preschool in Springfield.
A Special Moment inTime figure paintingby Juliana Fernandes,Grade 4, ForestdaleElementary.
I’m ReadyI’m ready to swing my baseball bat.I’m ready to be struck out at that.I’m ready to pitch the ball into the glove.I’m ready for it to go high, high above.I’m ready to hit the ball.But I’m not ready to be the best at baseball.
—By Aiden Caza, 9, Springfield
Getting a DogI woke up at 7 a.m. to go to school. I had breakfast, math,
reading, lunch, recess, writing, music, and PE. At the end of theday, I went home on Bus 1. My mom and grandpa went to Mary-land that day to go to an animal shelter to look at dogs. But, I didnot know that, so when I got home, I saw a puppy! I asked, “Is itmine?” and my mom said, “yes.” My mom was recording me be-cause my dad is stationed in Qatar. That night, we had to go buya doggie bed, brush, food and choose a name. We named himMilo and I can still not believe he is mine.
—Annabella Vasquez, 9, Burke
I’m SorryI’m sorry for eating the cakeI’m sorry for taking a breakI’m sorry for not going to schoolI’m sorry for being such a foolI’m sorry for pulling your hairI’m sorry for sitting in your chairBut I’m definitely not sorry for being your daughter.(Dedicated: To Mom)
—Brianna Alcazar, 9, Burke
I’m SorryI’m sorry I hit your headI’m sorry I broke your bedI’m sorry I hit Mr. TedI’m sorry I broke Ned the fly.
I’m sorry for eating your cakeI’m sorry for messing up the lakeI’m sorry for taking your toolI’m sorry for being such a fool.
—Breeanna Heyungs, 9, Burke
My GardenMy garden is grassy greenMy garden has pinto beansMy garden is niceMy garden has peppers and spiceMy garden bursts with beautiful flowersMy garden showers with red, white, blue flowersMy garden has bunniesMy garden is sunnyMy garden has a swingMy garden and me singMy garden has a pondMy garden has a nature song.
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I like to work with animals. Animals aresooo cute. When I am a vet I will go toAfrica, Asia, Australia and maybe SouthAmerica. When I travel I will help andlearn about other animals. I can’t waitto be a vet!
— Annette McGrath,
grade 2
Send notes to the Connection [email protected] or call703-778-9416. Deadline is Friday. Datedannouncements should be submitted atleast two weeks prior to the event.
Vocal musicians from 12Fairfax County public schools havebeen named to the Virginia HonorsChoir for 2016. This select choir is openonly to the top 125 singers from aroundthe Commonwealth of Virginia, and isthe highest honor a choir student canattain during his or her high school ca-reer. Thirty-one Fairfax County PublicSchools (FCPS) students were selectedfor the choir, and five students werenamed as alternates. The choir will per-form at the Virginia Music EducatorsAssociation (VMEA) convention to beheld at the Omni Homestead Resort inHot Springs, Nov. 17-19. FCPS studentsnamed to the 2016 Virginia HonorsChoir include the following studentsfrom our area schools: Woodson HighSchool: Megan Humes, Caroline Grass,Jacob Lamb, Lucas Valdes, and MarcManaloto and Hayfield SecondarySchool: Jessica Pressley.
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By Chris Kernan, Senior
West Springfield High School
As a young boy I always hada sense of childlike wonder. I questioned every-
thing, from “why the microwavebeeped,” to “why birds fly,” but theone person I asked the most ques-tions towards was my Dad.
As he would leave for work ev-ery morning, I would stand on topof the stairs and ask, “Where areyou going?” or, “When are youcoming back?”
To which he’d always replysoftly, and with confidence, “I’mgoing to work buddy, see you be-fore dinner.” His confidence gaveme confidence that he would al-ways come back. I mean, whywould he not? He was my dad af-ter all.
Years passed and I grew up.Through the tough breakups andbad grades he would always be bymy side, like a loyal fan, cheeringme on until the finish line. When-ever I had a question, as silly orserious as it may have been, he had
the answers. Soon I lost that senseof childlike wonder, but he neverstopped being there for me. How-ever now, as I sit next to him onhis death bed years later, I feel thatsense of childlike wonder comingback, this time with a bitter tasteto it.
I ask him with a tear gently cas-cading down my cheek, “Whereare you going now, Dad?”
He looks at me with sorrow inhis eyes, I can see the tears form-ing.
“I don’t know,” he says plainly,but I can tell he’s holding back.
For once in my life, he didn’thave all the answers, nor did I feelthe confidence I once felt as achild. As I watch him pass, I startto realize that my loyal fan is leav-ing the stands.
Still to this day, as I walk up thestairs, I turn my back to the doorand imagine my father walkingout into the morning sunlight.Though I know he won’t stepthrough the door again, I can stillhear him cheering me on fromabove.
A Special Moment in Time,by Rayyon Ghozi, Grade 4.
Clay figure sculpture, by Star Sey, Grade 6.At Play With Architecture 3-D paper sculpture, byJoel Guevara, Grade 5. Woven and cut paper picnic collage, by Winter Talde, Grade 3.
At Play With Architecture 3-D papersculpture, by Kaitlyn Duong, Grade 5.
Orange Hunt Elementary Art Gallery
Zoe Herring, Grade 1.
Ryan Medgyessy, Grade 2.Carly Ogden, Grade 2.Megan Glenn, Grade 2.
“My Family” byAngie NavasOliva, age 4. Sheis a student atForestdaleElementarySchool FECEP/Head Startprogram inSpringfield.
Veronica
Franconia Elementary Art Gallery
Abigail
Katie
Santa’s TechnologySanta has no technology. It is pecsy dust.
The pecsy dust makes the raindeers go.Santa never runs out of pecsy dust. I don’tknow how Santa does not run out of pecsydust. Without the raindeers Santa could notfinish his job.
—Arianna Haidari
Santa’s technology is unknown eventhough there are some interesting theories.One theory is that Santa uses rockets to getaround the world so fast because usuallyshooting stars are seen. Another is whatappear to be planes is acttually Rudolf’snose. The last one is that sometimes youcan hear faint bell noises.
—Jules Jaffe
The Best Gift I EverReceived
One Christmas I got a lego set! It was socool! I waited till all the other presents wereopened then I started building. It was hardat first but then it got a little easier. Once Ifinished I saw it was a batplane from BatMan. I played with it till my brother Ryvenbroke it! I tried to find the parts to make itbut I only found two, so ya. It wasn’t thatbig of a deal but really you got a presentand then lost a present.
—Landen Matis
SnowThere are sports you can only do in the winter
if it snows.Snow is beautiful when it blows.
It has to snow to make a snowman.But, it will make trouble for planes to land.
—Tyler Stewart
Snow falls in theNight sky when the lights areOff and you’re sleepingWinter is here now
—Wyatt Davis
Snow days are theNumber 1 days to have funOutside there’s aWinter Wonderland!
—Zachary Norris
Four Things I CouldDo to Help Others
During the holidays I could give some-one a present that they can’t afford one.
During the holidays if someone does nothave a friend I could try to be their friend.
During the holidays when someone is cry-ing or lost a loved one I can give them ahug.
When someone loves this toy but theydon’t have it I can get it and give it to himor her.
—Max Maneno
Writing by students in Ann Spring’s second grade class.
I want to be a marine biologistwhen I grow up because I can goin submarines. I could find undis-covered plants or animals. I mightbe in newspapers, science, andhistory lessons. I could look atsome of my all-time favorite ani-mals such as sea turtles andseahorses. I will get to wear coolscuba gear, ride in awesome sub-marines, and use complicatedtechnology. The last reason is I’llsee coral reefs and the amazing lifewithin the coral reefs. That is whyI would like to be a marine biolo-gist when I grow up.
—Calvin Yee, Grade 5,
Franconia Elementary
I want to be a robotics engineer.Then I can make things to help theearth. I can build a robot that picksup trash to help the environment,or it can help take care of animals.Also, building robots can help bydoing chores, taking in groceries,making food, and robots can domany more things. It might evenbe able to read stories to children
and help them with their home-work. Another reason is that ro-bots can help armed forces keepthis country safe cause robots cango under cover. That’s why I wantto be a robotics engineer.—Joshua Baskin, Grade 5,
Franconia Elementary
What Are YouLooking For?
I am looking forward to goingon the field trip to the NationalAquarium and Baltimore ScienceMuseum. I’m excited to go becauseit would be amazing to see marinelife animals up close and learnmore about them, especially thedolphins and seahorses. When wego to the museum it’s going to beinteresting that we’re basicallygoing through everything welearned about the ocean. It’s greatbecause we’ll learn more informa-tion to add on to what we havelearned.
Abby Tzeggai, Grade 5,
Franconia Elementary
I am looking forward to my tripto Egypt. It is so far from the USA.There is so much to explore there.It is a place I have studied and wish
to go to and now I am! I am goingto see the Nile river and the pyra-mids. It will be so much fun! Therewill be so many new people tomeet and new foods to try! I re-ally want to see a museum aboutthe life of cats. The best part aboutthis trip is that I will spend it withmy family!
—Taviana Schleich, Grade
4, Franconia Elementary
My BirthdayWhen I was turning 6 I had a
camping birthday party. We set upmy tent in my front yard. All ofmy friends came. Maddie came,Isabella’s brothers came becauseIsabella was sick. Also Kiara’sfriend Laya and her sister Umacame over. We had smores. My dadmade a campfire and we roastedthe marshmallows. We played inthe tent and had food.
Then we had cake! The cake wasshaped into a unicorn. Its horn wasan ice cream cone.
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