Summer, 2004
Page 1
Newsletter
Cool Links
Future Fun Stuff
Gabrielle's Grab Bag
Book Review: My Side of the
Mountain
Poetry Corner
Monthly Math Challenge
Pictures of our
Kitchen Remodel
Library Opening
Laws of Life Essay
On June 8th I watched the transit of Venus across the sun. My mom woke me up just before 5:00 in the morning because it would be happening at sunrise. We drove to one of the nearby colleges. To see the transit, we went up on the roof of one of the college buildings. The astronomy teacher had set up telescopes with solar filters on them. You could really see Venus moving across the sun! It was amazing! I was even able to see it without the telescope just using a special pair of solar filter glasses. I'm glad we got up early. There will be another transit in 8 years on June 6, 2012, and it will be happening while the sun is setting in North America. After that there won't be another transit until December 11, 2117!!
In June I started playing soccer again. I was on the Green Team. We only played from the last week of June until the end of July. I took it easy in June with school work. I turned in my portfolio with some of my school work to my local school district and I passed 4th grade! I read some good books like The City of Ember and The People of Sparks, both by Jeanne Duprau and Midnight Magic by Avi.
In July I attended Science in the Summer at our local library. This year's theme was biology. We had a chance to look at microscopic animals. They were cool! We also went to Family Camp again this year and I got to take my friend, Katherine with this year. We swam in the lake, took motor boat rides and stayed up late at the bonfire.
In August I got to go with just Gabrielle to stay at our grandparents. We went to a children's museum, the Yankee Candle shop where we dipped our own candles, and an indoor butterfly habitat where thousands of different butterflies fly around you. Some even landed on us! As soon as I got back from my grandparents, my dad and I went to Cub Scout Summer Camp. Even though it was pouring, thundering and lightening as we were packing to leave, the week turned out perfect! We had some rain during the night but we were able to do everything outside during the day. I learned archery and BB shooting. I also did leatherwork and metal work. My pack did a bunch of skits on stage for the other boys at night. I loved being up on stage. I even got up and told jokes during the skits.
I also started 5th grade in August. I am learning about some of the history of Europe especially the Middle Ages. I've been continuing to work on my French for our trip.
In September I found out that I was a finalist in an essay contest that I entered in April! I was asked to come to an award ceremony and read my essay. I read my essay in front of about 50 people, some of whom were principals and superintendents of schools. I found out that I had won 1st place in the Elementary School division. You can read my essay on page 4 of this issue.
I also had the honor of cutting the ribbon at the opening of the new library in our town. I had been at the ground breaking about 17 months ago and met one of the county commissioners. He invited me to do the honors. Both of my grandmas and my poppa were able to attend. Gabrielle and I even made it onto the evening news! The news anchor said my name on TV!! That was really cool! You can also read the newspaper story that appeared the next day on page 4.
Finally, I have also included some pictures from our almost finished kitchen. They are on page 3 of this issue. We haven't put the handles on the cabinets yet because we just finished making them. My mom took Gabrielle and I to a ceramics studio where we painted 25 round knobs and decorated them with flowers to match the kitchen colors. The studio put the knobs into a kiln to fire the glaze on them. We picked them up this week and they turned out great!
I just had my birthday, too! Now I'm 10 years old!! Our trip is part of my mom's and my birthday present. We are all very excited about our big trip to Europe. I'll take lots of pictures and I'm going to keep a journal. When we get back I'll write a big travel issue. It will probably come out some time near the beginning of November. Until then, I hope you had a wonderful summer and enjoy the fall!
http://www.info-france-usa.org/kids/
Check out this site from the U.S. embassy. It has cool facts about France, maps and some games and places to learn some words in French.
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com
This site can give you good ideas for science fair projects, experiments you can try at home plus answers to questions about the way things work!
There are events all week leading up to National Poetry Day. Check out this British website: National Poetry Day. This year's theme is food!! Maybe you could write some poems about popcorn or desserts!!
Popcorn is celebrated in October because that is the month it is harvested, mostly in the midwest. Check out this National site:
National Popcorn Poppin Month. It has games, info and features spokesman, Isiah Thomas.
This is a great day to celebrate! Have dessert after breakfast, lunch and dinner today! Or maybe you could convince your parents to give you dessert before your meal!
This summer, Gabrielle got a new bike with training wheels and a new bike helmet. She likes to ride around the block with Mom or Dad. She likes to practice playing soccer with me and also likes to play with the Bocci Ball game that we got our Dad for his birthday.
Gabrielle was so excited for the fireworks on the 4th of July! She was anxious for them to start. She saw some of them, but they started so late that she fell asleep while they were still going!!
This summer Gabrielle got her very long hair cut!! She and my mom cut their hair and donated it to Locks of Love an organization that makes special wigs for children who have lost their hair because of cancer or other illnesses. Gabrielle donated 12 inches of hair!!
