I learned that I love being behind the camera and just how much work being a Photojournalist is! ( missed my second break because of the work! XD) it was super fun, I enjoyed it and I have to say my favorite part would be when I was making the commercials for everyone and then recording the interview!  Working the camera is just so much fun when I don’t have to say anything or be in front of it! XD ( I know, miss antisocial will soon get herself hurt because she cant speak up very well.) if I were to change anything, it would be the amount of time people get for breaks and that they have their breaks written down and carried with them, that way they don’t miss them. and if they did miss them, they would get to trade breaks with someone else. ( I was sad that I had missed my second breaks!)

Ok, so I will admit that I haven’t even finished the book yet, but I know its going to be good because I read the book Party and it didn’t let me down, and it was written in the same style as Seedfolks.  Seedfolks, for those of you who have no idea what it’s about, is about this girl with a broken home who starts a garden in an abandoned and trashed lot. As the girl does this, she has no idea that there are others watching her and soon pitching in. so it’s from everyone of the people’s perspectives, but they all tie into the garden that the girl had started, later on to have it grow into something beautiful, which changes a trashed and abandoned lot into something amazing. Party does the same thing, show everyone’s personal points of view, but it’s not a garden that ties them together, it’s a party. It’s about high school kids, so I expected no less. ( taught me many things though about right and wrong and big things about drugs and alcohol and other things that could turn my life upside down. Great life lessons to be learned through that book.) as for the activities we did for Seedfolks, I have to say they were fun. ( just would have prefered doing more things that didn’t make my cat want to eat them. such as the plant activity with my choir class. My darling kitten, Asia, ate the worm and the plant. =_=) but they were fun and really good. The “big idea” of the story I would have to say would be ( again haven’t finished the book.) that just something so simple can make everyone’s life better, fun and even turn something beautiful. And my fave character as of yet? That’s a tough one because I haven’t met all of them yet. But I would have to say it would be the kid with the uncle who doesn’t speak English and no one can understand what he says because he speaks a different language than his family and everyone else. I like this character because he’s spunky, and gets a smart attitude that makes you hate him so much that you love him. ( I know, weird right?!) my fave activity was probably the music one in my band class because it was fun to try and guess which songs went with which country and person. ( even if I missed a ton of them! XD)  

For my humanities project I have chosen the Great Wall of China and used the guided question of Why Was The Great Wall of China built? I am super nervous about this assignment as well because I’m not sure how good my board Is, how much of the Information I have Is right, If I have answered my guided question correctly and many other things. one BIG thing for me Is If I will be able to answer people's questions without stammering and stumbling like an Idiot. My project was hard to do (cut myself seven times just trying to make the Great Wall of China model out of foam blocks.) but It's fun and looks way cool.

Well, the disection of a chicken wing wasn't all that bad. I had fun when I did it and thought it was the coolest thing ever. I wasn't afraid to touch it and I used bare hands instead of gloves, which everyone in my team thought was the grossest thing ever. But to feel it in your hands and to move it was the coolst thing ever. to see what the muscles looked like, how they connected and everything was just so epic. i wouldn't mind disecting something else, as long as I know it's dead and can not come back and bite me. I thought that the disection did teach me what it was supposed to teach me because I got to see how it worked, what caused it to work and stuff like that, which is what we were supposed to learn. and besides, I got to have fun while doing it. 

Blame game

You know it didn’t happen that way

But you still want to play.

The Blame Game is easy.

But to you, it might sound cheesy.

Just do something wrong.

And point the blame to someone else, you’ll feel real strong.

Hit the x on someone else

Maybe Libby, or maybe Chelse.

You know it didn’t happen that way,

But keep playing, it’s ok.

But let me be the one to say.

There will be a day when you pay.

Not every game ends well.

And not every game is swell.

There is a price

When you live with mice.

It just can’t go any other way.

Fast approaches does that day.

You know things didn’t end like that.

But they are the mice, and you are the cat.

Just make a mess.

And don’t confess.

This game is simply the best.

Before you choose to play,

Are you ready for the price you’ll pay?

For things still can turn around.

And one day you will be found.

By Kacie

Grade 7

well, we all know how the blame game works, right? never do it. it turns back on you like a wild dog. at first it's all sweet and then it gets all mean and bites you. perfect game isn't it?

I sat there in my closet,

Crying at what I couldn’t have.

A perfect life with nothing to fear,

But this was something I could never have.

I cried and broke my heart many times over.

I was trying not to blow my cover.

I wanted it all the end,

The hardship, pain and suffering.

So I came up with the perfect plan,

Of this there was no bluffing.

I would sit there in the snow,

Until my tears begun to froze.

I would sit there forever,

Till I couldn’t feel my toes.

I would end it all in a quiet snow,

It seemed something nice to do.

But then, as I sat there crying,

There came along you.

You looked me in the eyes,

And held out your hand.

You smiled and you nodded,

Giving me a friendly command.

“Get up and walk again” you said

“ there is nothing to fear.

Sit her any longer

And you’ll never know who was really near.

“ you may be sad and frustrated,

Over things that you can not have.

But these are things that are impossible,

But they are something everyone had to have.”

As I sat there is the snow,

Listening to you.

I came to realize,

That what you said was true.

But still I could not walk again,

I wasn’t strong enough.

I wasn’t ready to face my fears,

Not when I knew I’d have if rough.

“ I will help you in what you need to do,

But please stand up and walk again.

For  you life is much to precious to you.”

I shook my head and sat there,

Not wanting a scene 2.

I just sat there is the snow,

Watching to see what you might do.

You did not walk away,

You just sat there with me.

“we all do not wish to go on,

In some point in our lives.

But we all must remember,

That people do not want us gone.

We hit a fork in the road,

But it’s easy to turn back.

when you build a tower of worries,

it becomes a leaning stack.

So please get up and walk again,

For life is not so bad.

Get up and walk again,

And realize what you never knew you had.”

I nodded and stood up, wobbling at first.

And I thought it was a miracle.

I had gotten up and walked again, and I didn’t feel worse.

But you were no longer there,

Just a figment in the snow.

I wanted to call out to you,

Wondering where you could possibly go.

You never came back,

And I kept on walking.

You never showed up,

But I missed you and your talking.

But I will always remember,

If I hit the fork in the road.

To get up and start walking,

For that is what I have been told.

By Kacie

Grade 7

And yet another picture that I drew. I have to say that this is one of the pictures that I am pretty proud of. as I have said before, drawing is a way of expressing my feelings and emotions. iu tend to draw better when I have an emotion inside me. and if you say anything about the picture and starting calling me out on it, I will be very mad, not totally angry, but mad and hurt because of it. I don't feel like this everyday, so no calling me out on it ok?

Ok, so I have started reading a new book from Patrick Carmen and it is called Trackers.  It is the coolest book I have read so far.  The book is pretty much like an interview with the main character and some person names H.Ganz.  The story is about how the main character, Adam Henderson, is being interviewed because I guess he was suspected for committing a crime of some sort, they were a little shaky on the details.  Anyway, he's telling this H.Ganz guy about how he formed a group called Trackers and how he created all these gadgets and stuff.  The book is very cool because it lets you watch videos that go along with the book.  The book gives you passwords and you type them in and get to see the videos, get new locations, play the game called Glyph master and see his gadgets.  It's awesome!  The website is http://trackersinterface.com/ and even if I give you the first password, I won't be giving much away because it's not giving what happens in the book away.  However, I advise you to read this book and watch the videos.  span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Type that in and watch the sample of what the Trackers do.  I just had to share this because its awesome news and I can't help it.

I saw this video on Mr. G's class blog and I just had to share it. there is nothing more creepy and awesome like an octapus moving in a Korean dish. This is something people actually eat, no joke.

http://youtu.be/irpArZtAut4

I know what your thinking. gross right? well, that's what I said too.

So, we're writing about good books we have read. well, most of the books that  have been reading are various Manga books- Japanese comic books that are read from back to front- and they are hard to describe or distinguish from good or bad. so, I’ll tell you about two books that I haven't finished yet that do not fit into the Manga category. the two books are City Of Fallen Angels and The Clockwork Prince. both books were written by my favorite author, Cassandra Clare, and are both the next books in two of my favorite series. City Of Fallen Angels is  the 4th books in The Mortal Instruments Series and The Clockwork Prince is the 2nd book in The Infernal Devices. I like these two books because of the humor and how Clare makes them seem real and really leaves you wanting more of the story. Not to mention, The Clockwork Prince is part of the prequel to the series that the City Of Fallen Angels book is in and it takes place in Old England where as COFA (City Of Fallen Angels) takes place in what seems like present day New York.  I really recommend these two books. and, if anyone who knows me really well doesn't already know, my favorite characters in these two books have many things in common, such as humor. my favorite character in TCP ( The Clockwork Prince) is Will Harrandale because he had a big sense of humor, knows how to use sarcasm at all the right times, and he can do al this while hiding the secret of his life. my favorite character in COFA (City Of Fallen Angels) would be José Lightwood, because he knows how to use sarcasm as well, and has a sense of humor. he also is, like most guys, not one to show when he's scared and doesn't want to admit that he needs help. he battles with his feelings, and I think that's another thing that I like about him is how he does it because I know I do it a to too, but I don't think I do it very well and I am curious to see how that works out for him. These books are just so interesting.

All right, for the assighment to write about anything, I'm going to be sharing a story I wrote in either 4th or 5th grade, but I don't remember which so don't ask me which one it was.  Anyway, if your fans of the TV show Bakugan Battle Brawlers, then your probably going to ike this.  If not, then whatever. I feel like sharing it. so, here it is.

The boys are at it again!

http://www.pimpmyspace.org/comments/code/4326000/

“Vroom. Vroom.” Shun   said zooming his Octo man action figure around in the air. Play time outside in the park was always quiet, that is until Dan runs down the sidewalk screaming and yelling.

“Ah yeah! I’m gonna play on the swings and jump off the jungle gym!” Dan screams then stops as he sees the nifty Octo man action figure in Shun’s hands.

“Is that an Octo man action figure?” Dan asks running over to Shun.

“Yeah, why?” Shun asks putting the action figure down on the dirty ground.

“Can I see it?” Dan asks reaching for it.

“No! It’s my action figure!” Shun   screams pulling the toy away from Dan’s greasy hands. He had obviously finished eating a hamburger from McDonalds.

“Come on Shun I just want to see it.” Dan says making another attempt to get the action figure.

“No!” Shun screams getting up off the ground.

Dan springs up and grabs the action figure. Shun pulls it back. Dan tackles Shun to the ground “let me see your action figure!” Dan screams wrestling with Shun as he kicks and pulls on the action figure.

“No! It’s my action figure! You can’t see it!” Shun screams back kicking Dan in the knees.

“Just let me see it!” Dan screams and reaches for the toy for the third time.

“No!” Shun screamed again.

 Dan grabs Shun’s arm and sinks his teeth into Shun’s skin.

“Owwww! Mommy! Mommy! Help me! Owwww! Get off!” Shun screeches.

Dan doesn’t let go, instead he sinks his teeth in farther. Now blood is running off of Shun’s arm and dripping on the ground. Dan and Shun’s mother run over. Dan’s mom grabs Dan and pulls him off of Shun. Shun gets up and runs to his mom, tears running down his cheeks.

“Daniel kuso! What are you doing!” Dan’s mom asks him, but Dan was not giving up. He wanted to see that action figure and he was going to do it even if it meant the rest of the day in the time-out corner. He was determined to get a look at that action figure. He lunged toward Shun.  Shun shrank into a protective hug from his mom.  Dan grabs the arm with the action figure and tugs. Shun   screams and then turns around and tackles Dan to the ground. His mother immediately pulls him off of Dan and then pulls him back. Dan’s mom picks Dan up and pulls him back. Shun is hugging his mom.

“Daniel, give me an answer now or its two hours in the time out corner!”

“Let me see your action figure Shun!” Dan screamed completely ignoring his mom.

“Dan is that what this is all about! Come on I’ll get you an Octo man action figure tomorrow. Now come on mister!”

Dan wasn’t moving, instead he made a third attempt and lunged at Shun. He lunged and grabbed him pulling the action figure out of Shun’s hands. Shun   grabbed it back. Something fell onto the floor and Shun looked down. It was the head of his Octo man action figure. Dan didn’t waste anytime. He gabbed the action figure from Shun’s hand and looked at it triumphantly only to find the head gone.

“You broke my action figure!” Shun screamed at Dan

“Where did the head go?” Dan asked, looking around.

“It’s on the floor! Thanks a lot Daniel! You owe me a new one!” Shun   cried out grabbing the beheaded action figure from Dan as he picked up the head before running off. He ran right past his mother and straight for home. Dan stared at his feet, dumbfounded. Dan’s mom grabbed Dan by the arm and walked off with Dan sniffling behind her. He was in trouble now. He knew it. He was getting it big time.

Six years later…

“Hey grandpa I’m going to the park!” Shun called down from his room. Before he left he looked over at his dresser. On top of it was a beheaded action figure which Dan broke the head off when they were 5. Shun looked at his arm. The scar was still there. He was beginning to wonder whether it would be there forever.

“Your not going any where until you finish your ninja training!” Shun’s grandfather called up shaking Shun from his thoughts. Would he ever get some time to himself? Would he ever get some time away from ninja training or was he stuck with it? He was with his grandfather now and the old kook would pester him for the rest of his life about ninja training. That was final.

“Fine, but afterwards I’m going to the park grandpa.” Shun said zooming down the stairs. He had his bakugan holder strapped to his belt. He slipped off his shoes and placed the holder into one of his shoes.  He faced his grandfather letting him know that he was ready.

Ninja training lasted for an hour or so. Shun grabbed his shoes and strapped his holder, with a bakugan in each slot, onto his belt and ran out the door.  He practically flew to the park.

"What's up Dan?  Are you ready to be defeated for the 12th time?  You’re going down." Shun challenged Dan.

"Oh yeah Shun?  We'll just see about that!"  Dan challenged back

Shun and Dan pulled out a card and held it up "field open!" they shouted in chorus.  A stadium opened up and the sky turned into bright vibrant colors of reds, blues, greens, and blacks. "Gate card set!" they sang again together. “BAKUGAN BRAWL!” they screamed throwing one of their three bakugan down.

“Ventas Ravenoied stand!” Shun  screamed releasing a raven like creature with a body the color of teal blue or was it teal green?

“Pyres Saurus stand!” Dan screamed unleashing his warrior dinosaur like creature with a body of red and yellow.

“Battle begin!” they shouted forgetting the real words because of their excitement that was building. If Dan beat Shun in this battle he would move up at least five spots higher than he was now. If Shun won this battle then it would prove to Dan that he could, well, beat almost anyone at bakugan and was truly number one. He was on the ball once again and it felt good. He had let it go for two days and he had slipped lower than first place.

“Ability activate! Wind storm!” Shun  cried out. He blew back Dan’s backugan. The battle went on quickly like this with Shun in the lead.

“Face it Dan! Your toast and I’m number one!” Shun   called out hoping Dan would give up. No chances of that though. Dan was very challenging when it came to things like a bakugan battle. This is the time I need to use my ninja mind control powers! I will make Dan eat 5 needles and then pick his nose and eat it! Then I will make him bite his tongue. Oh thank you grandfather for this useful lesson! Shun pushed into Dan’s mind and concentrated hard. Dan reached into his pocket and pulled out five needles, which came out of no where, and put them in his mouth, swallowed them, bit his tongue, and picked a really large, snot covered burger from his nose and shoved it in his mouth. He then screamed out something that Shun was surprised at “Thank you grandfather! I love you AND I LOVE YOU SKYRESS! BABY I’M HOME!” Dan practically shouted it. Skyress heard this and then popped out of her spot in Shun’s holder.

“Shun did you do what I think you did?” she asked Shun with scorn in her voice. Shun wasn’t listening, instead he stood wide eyed and Dan began coughing up blood. The needles had scared or cut his throat. Either way it was bad. Dan fainted and had left a pool of blood around him. Skyress turned to the mess.

“Apparently my question is answered. Shun what have I told you about that kind of power? I told you that you could seriously hurt some one and what have you done? You have seriously hurt some one! Why don’t you listen to me?” skyress nagged, which wasn’t like her.

 Shun never did answer her questions and completely ignored her nagging, instead he stood there dumbfounded at the fact that he could have possibly killed Dan, his best frienemy. Skyress didn’t like the idea of him ignoring her so she summoned up all of her strength, that she had cooped up in her ball form, and then pushed Shun forward only a centimeter, but even that got him moving “Dan! Dan, are you all right? Dan!”

“Oh, so now you care!” Skyress screamed at him as he ran to Dan.  shun, shocked and teary eyed, if any one knew he had killed a 9 year old he would be sent to juvey and that was just some place he didn’t feel like going to at the age of 10. It was some place he never wanted to go; at any particular age, If he thought about it.

So, yeah. when I was in elementary school, I was randomly surfing the google images of Bakugan, and found a picture like this and then got to wondering what it was like for them when they were kids, causing me to write this story. I do watch the show, but not a lot. I like the action and the plotline. So, this is my little spin on things. I have no idea what to call it, maybe a fan fiction or something. Anyway, yeah. Oh, and for those of you who are liking Calm Waters so far, I will be posting another story called Diaries of Jane. So, keep checking for it, although I don't know when it will post.

-Kacie-

-Beat-

“No!  No!  GO AWAY!  GO AWAY!  You left me!”  I screamed, shaking the bars of the Iron Gate in the front as I watched my brother walk up to the gate toward me.  I must have been screaming aloud, because I heard my friends trying to shake me awake.  I wanted to wake up, but I couldn’t open my eyes.

“Beat!  Beat!”  I heard Lucca whisper in my ear.  I felt the hands of Storm on my shoulder, trying to shake me awake.  I couldn’t wake up.

“GO AWAY!”  I cried, my hands gripping the iron bars and my head leaning on the space between the two.

“Beat!”  Lucca whispered again.  I opened my eyes, tears streaking down my cheeks.  I whipped them away quickly.  I’ve had horror dreams like this since I was a little kid.  Every time I would scream and cry in my sleep, my parents would shake me awake and try to calm me down.  The dream itself wouldn’t be what makes me cry or freak out, I could deal with the dreams.  The reason I’d freak out is because my dreams become reality.  I can basically predict or change the future through my dreams.  What just happened in my dream has actually just happened.  My brother was at that gate now, the gate had been shaken, but I wasn’t seen and I wasn’t there now.

“Beat!  Are you alright?”  Lucca asked.  She brushed my bangs away from my face, just like any sister would.

“I’m fine.”  I mumbled, looking away from her.  It was embarrassing to be cry in front of anyone, let alone Lucca.  I felt the tears keep coming, non-stop even after I was awake.  My whole body was shaking; I could not calm myself down at all.

“Why were you screaming?”  Storm asked me.

“Oh?  I was screaming.  I’m sorry.  I had a dream that my brother was at the gate and I didn’t want him here.  I said, groggily and a little nervous.  Storm then dashed out of the room.  Maybe he knew my secret.  That was ok with me, as long as no one else knew.

                                                -Storm-

As I dashed down the corridor and out into the front walkway, leading me up to the gate.  Sure enough, beat’s brother, duke, was there at the gate, looking dazed.  The gatekeeper there looked shocked at something, maybe the sight of Duke at the gate.  I walked up to the gatekeeper on duty, nervous at what would happen since I wasn’t at my post.

“Hey!”  I said, coming up behind him.

“You’re supposed to be on duty, Storm.”  He said.

“The queen needed to talk to me.  What happened here?  You seem shocked and frazzled.”  I said.

“Someone was trying to get past the gate, but I couldn’t see anyone.”

“An invisible person, huh?  Maybe he was trying to get in. he has mind powers you know.”  I said, picking on Beat’s brother just to see his face.  I didn’t like Duke either.  He was mainly the cause of Beat’s gloomy and antisocial personality.  No one could make him smile or laugh, no matter how hard they tried.

“Why the heck am I here?”  Duke asked, bewildered at how he had somehow woken up here.

“Well, I think you have a bad case of sleepwalking on your hands.  Is this the first time you’ve woken up in a different place?”  I asked.  He shook his head.  I nodded.

“ what about your post, Storm?” the gatekeeper on duty asked, pointing out that this probably was the only time I hadn’t been on my post when  I was supposed to.  I couldn’t help it if Lucca had dragged me to beat’s room when I was on duty.

“I’ll get to that in a second.  Hey, duke, I have a game.  It’s called ‘run from here before Beat sees you’.  Doesn’t that sound fun?”  I sounded like an adult that is annoyed with their kid.

“I already know that game, and there is no way I would play it.  And it’s Sonic, not Duke.”  Snobby little kid.

“Whatever, just go back to wherever you came from.  I think Kyler might be worried about you.” I said, giving him my best ‘so what’ look. He turned and then walked off. The gatekeeper gave me a look that told me to get to my post and get to work.

Ok, so I got this idea from Jamiem in Mr. G’s class in Washington. She started a story with pictures, so here is mine.  Or, my character profile at least.

Kyler:

I'm creative, but I don't like people analyzing me at all. I ike to listen to claissical music, but sometims I listen to modern music. My sister is too annoying for me sometimes. I'm 13 and I don't live with my parents.

Tracy:

Hi! I'm Tracy. I'm Kyler's younger sister. He says I'm too annoying to handle. I'm too cute not too handle! I like to look my best, even though it's not always that easy. I'm 12 years old and spunky.

Lucca:

I'm Lucca. I'm one of the warrors at Calm Waters. There is nothing that makes me angrier than somone trying to 'take care of their job' on my territory. their 'job' is to get rid of the queen of Calm Waters. What part of Calm do they not understand? I'm not afraid to fight if need be.

Duke:

Hi, I'm Duke. My nickname is Sonic because I like to run fast. I like to try and make people laugh, even if my jokes aren't funny. My friends are Kyler and Tracy. my brother gets on my nerve, so he is now in Calm Waters. I'm 14 years old and live on my own.

Beat:

I'm Beat. my brother, Sonic, left me here in Calm Waters. It's supposed to be a place for kids who have no one to care for them, but it's far from it. It's this crazy place with gaurds and warriors and people without faces. I'm 13 and antisocial. The only friends I have so far are Lucca and Storm. Try and get me to smile, I dare you.

Storm:

What's up? I'm Storm, one of the gate keepers of Calm Waters. I make sure no one gets past the gates, unless they have permission to enter. There have only been a few incidents when people have gotten past the gate, but they don't happen often. I am calm and know how to keep my head when I'm under pressure.

I got all my pictures from http://www.pimpmyspace.org/search?q=anime&t=comments and yes I made sure that I could use them. These pictures are useable and I'm sure I won't get in trouble. So, tell me  how you like my pictures and I'll try to do my story. Kacie signing off! Oh, and if the pictures don't show up, please let me know and I'll try to fix it somehow.

Forget about all the things that we can’t be thankful for, like the fact that life isn’t always fare when we want it to be. Forget the fact that ypu don’t like your life whenever you get mad at the fact that something didn’t go your way. This month is the month for giving thanks. I have three special things to be thankful for. 1. I’m thankful for the fact that I have the ability to speak my mind when the time comes, although not all people think it’s for the best. I’m thankful for these because I stand up for myself and others when I speak my mind, and I don’t care if you disagree with me if I spoke my mind for the best. 2. I’m thankful for my ability to write as well as I do. I’m thankful for this because I can write things that change people, make people laugh or just plane entertain people. I set words in stone and I write the life of people who don’t exist but feel as if they do. Who knows, maybe my characters might exist and I don’t even know it! 3. I’m thankful for the fact that I have people who love me, even though they don’t sometimes feel as if they do. I might have fights with them some days and tell them that their mean and I don't like them and everything else. I know they love me and I have that to be thankful for because I know that not very many people have that in their lives.I feel for people like that. So for this thanksgiving, try to forget the things that you can’t be thankful for and think only of the things that you CAN be thankful for.

The most recent mystery story I have read is The Séance by Joan Lowery Nixon. The book has won the Edgar Allen Poe award and is about a séance gone wrong.

I had just done a writing prompt for the mystery unit and I think it might have made an awesome mystery story! I have even been told that it was traumatizing. Hope you like it. A Never Ending Circle By Kacie Piper hadn’t wanted to do it, in fact she didn’t even mean too. But the feeling inside her mind had made her do it. She had to have that darn necklace. Isis, her best friend in the world, had said words that rang throughout Piper’s head before she died. “Lies are a never ending circle.” She had said. Piper’s heart ached at the thought of Isis. It wasn’t her fault! It was her darn selfish side, the one that always got to her and took control of her whenever it wanted something. The necklace that she had wanted was extremely magnificent and she wanted it, no questions asked.

Tender hearts, river of tears.

Tender hearts are everywhere you look. Even in the criminals that line the streets or the people who have no homes and are fighting for survival.

Not everyone is born perfect.

Not every life is easy.

I believe that if we step our game up we can change everyone’s life.

I believe that the good, tender hearts can be freed.

I believe that the river of tears, that everyone has been crying, can finally be dried and barely used again, not because of fear, but because of happiness and stress and loss.

Crime will not happen as often as they do now, if we free the tender hearts.

Less people will be fighting to survive and will have a home, if we free the tender hearts.

More people will be having second thoughts about death and will choose to let the living live and let themselves live as well.

Love will overrule the hatred and put out the fire that hatred and racism have started.

Why can’t my dreams, of a better world, come true?

Why does every problem have to turn into a fight?

Why can’t we live in peace instead of fear?

Why can’t we look at the world through the eyes of peace instead of the eyes of hatred?

I want and hope to see a world living in peace and not fear and hatred, before I die or after I die.

Please do it for the sake of the world and the new generation.

By Kacie

Believe it or not, this was actually supposed to be a poem, a random clarity of my imagination, yadda, yadda, yadda. When I wrote the title, I knew I wanted it to be a poem. Problem was, I couldn’t think of a poem or anything poetic! So I just started writing something that went based on the title a little and BAM! I got this. Interesting isn’t it?

The best book I have read so far? That’ a hard one! I would have to say it would be the book Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri. It’s about these five kids who wanted something really badly that they thought would make life better… and then suddenly went missing. They later learn, after living with their governess Madame Vileroy for 15 years, that they didn’t really need those things. I haven’t finished it yet, so I’m really interested to see how it ends, but I know that there is a lot of conflict and mystery and even suspense. The rating is for 14+ but it’s a really good book and I recommend it to those who love mystery, suspense, conflict and trickery. If any of you have read it, which I doubt any of you have, then please don’t tell me how it ends, although I’m almost done with it since I am listening to it on CD( I know bad me.). I have never heard of these authors, until I found this book, but so far, I like them. If any of you have any book suggestions, please let me know which books you recommend!

Choices
Inspired by the book If I Stay by Gayle Forman
What if I had the choice?
What if I had the voice?
Would I live or would I die?
Are the prices way too high?
What would I gain?
What would I lose?
I have the right to choose.
If I stay or if I go.
I am the only one to know.
What would I choose?
What would I lose?
What would it take,
To make this choice I have to make?
What if I had the choice?
What if I had the voice?

By Kacie
Grade 6

Yes I wrote this in 6th grade, but when I heard about this assignment, I just had to choose one of my poems and when I saw this one… well I just had to use it. I have made some 7th grade poems, about three of them in fact, but I didn’t want to share them because they are sorrowful, sort of, and I just thought this one was good. Hope you like it and please do not take this poem. I know how copy and paste works, and since none of my poems are published, yet, except one from 5th grade, I would like to keep my poems as my creation, if you don’t mind.

I would have to say the best part was the lake observation because you got to see little creatures and enjoy a quiet time by the lake. I like calm moments by water, like lakes or the creek by my house. The activity that I enjoyed the most would be the Oh Deer one. I liked that because I thought it was fun. What I learned from the WHOLE field trip is that nature is pretty and it had to go through a whole lot more trouble to survive than we do. I also learned that the outdoors are a great place to be when you need some inspiration or quiet time. It’s also a good place for a field trip!   

The dumbest, scariest and most embaressing thing I have done is playing the game we elementary kids at my old school made up. You had to stand at the far end of the swings and wait until the person on the swing in front of you left an opening to run through. Then you had to go and dash to the space between the two swings, the one you ran through and next one coming up. The object of the game was to get to the other side of the swing set WITHOUT getting hit by the person on the swing. I, however, wasn’t so lucky and got smacked in the face twice by the swingers.

I’m a Rachel’s challenge member and have been since 6th grade. I think the presentation is needed. Tragic things happen in this world, but it’s amazing how she changed her school and other people before she died. I think it’s needed because, from personal experience, I know what it feels like when people don’t treat you the way you want to be treated and that it doesn’t feel good when you treat someone else bad because they treated you badly. It hurts. No one likes a bully and no one likes to be bullied. I know, and so do four of my friends, some teachers and the councilor, that I took a lot away from that presentation. I cried hard because I knew that I needed to change. I had taken my fear and my little bubble of solitude that I had built in elementary school with me to middle school because I was scared of being picked on. I don’t want to be scared anymore and I don’t want to be mad at my life or people that treated me badly anymore. That is what I took away from the presentation, the fact that I need to change and speak up when I am scared. I don’t think that we should change anything about the presentation. Whether it was effective is a different story. I’m not sure if it was effective. Not that it isn’t, it’s just that I haven’t seen it yet. I do think that it will be effective, however. It has touched me and effected me and I am sure it will effect others. Yes it was worthwhile. We need that little extra push in our lives and I wish I had actually had that push in elementary school. Rachel’s challenge is the best thing about my life.