I have been learning about the stock market for a few weeks now. I learned a lot about it, and want to share my information. So, lots of companies can open there business to the public with public stocks. If they only have private stocks, members of the public cannot invest. To invest in a company means to own a small part of that company. A lot of companies with public stocks are a part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Once the public knows they can choose to buy a share in the company, they can invest. It is always a good idea to diversify within your stock portfolio; this means that instead of investing in stocks that are all in the technology area, invest in technology, healthcare, and consumer goods as well. Another good tip is that you can just use the ticker symbol for your stocks instead of writing out their names because they are technically known by these anyway. The bear market and the bull market are terms that describe whether or nt the prices in the stock market are rising. If they are, we call it a bull market, but, if they drop, it is called a bear market. In addition to the money you have in stocks, you have assets, which accounts for all of your money, both in the stock market and out. For more information on how the stock market works, click here. I hope my information was helpful for future stock investments!

Today was a very sad day for me; I have just seen my dear friend Gemma Galgani go to be with the Lord. I am replaying the memories over and over again in my head. I remember the first day I met Gemma. We were students together. Oh, let me tell you about Gemma Galgani; I want her story to be known!

I remember Gemma told me her birthday was March 12, 1878. She was born in Camigliano, a small town outside of Lucca, Italy. I lived in Lucca so I did not know her yet. Gemma had developed a love for prayer at a young age. On her Confirmation day, Gemma's mother was very sick. While Gemma was praying, the Lord asked her if He could take her mother to be with Him. Gemma asked then if she could go, too, but the Lord answered her, telling her He just wanted her mother now. Gemma agreed, and so, on Gemma's Confirmation day, her mother died.

After her mother's death, Gemma's father sent her to a Catholic half-boarding school run by the Sisters of Zita. This is where I met my beloved friend. Gemma taught me how to have a strong relationship with God, like her. She made her First Communion on June 20, 1887, at age nine, which was earlier than most children did, including myself. I remember what she told me that day. “It is impossible to explain what then passed between Jesus and me. He made Himself felt, oh so strongly, in my soul.”

Gemma's father died in 1897. She had to care for her younger siblings, and quit her studies. This was also due to her becoming very sick around the same time. She had developed meningitis. Gemma's condition just grew worse. I visited her a few times, what an unpleasant sight. I thought her end was near. Little did I know, she was praying devotedly to Venerable Gabriel Possenti of the Sorrowful Mother. He cured her miraculously. She went on with her life, in good health.

Gemma had always wanted to be a consecrated nun. However, this was not in God's plan for her. Gemma told me the Lord came to her after receiving Communion on June 8, 1899. He told her she was not to become a nun. Then Gemma went home that evening, praying wholeheartedly. Then came the stigmata. Gemma had received the wounds of Christ. Each Thursday evening, the bleeding would start again. It would continue through Friday. Then, it would abruptly stop and she was left with whitish marks on skin over the wounds. This continued until the last three years of her life, though the whitish marks remained until today.

During this time, Gemma remained faithful to God. She went to Mass twice a day, while receiving communion once. She always said the rosary in the evening, and then she would go to vespers. I would join her at vespers sometimes, and we would sing joyfully together. She also maintained a friendship with her guardian angel. She talked to her angel daily, sometimes aloud. People misunderstood her because of this, but she still kept her guardian angel close.

In January 1903, Gemma was diagnosed with tuberculosis. I cried that day. Gemma didn't lose hope, though the devil was tempting her. He made her illness so dreadful, trying to make Gemma think the Lord had abandoned her. She remained prayerful, and then, today, April 11, 1903, Gemma Galgani left the earth, with a smile on her face. And so, now you know Gemma's story. It isn't just a story, though. I know my dear friend would want the world to realize that her life is an example of never losing faith in God, something I think I have now learned, though Gemma Galgani is gone.

 My name is JP and I am an 8th grade student. I chose Saint Gemma Galgani as the Saint for whom I would like to emulate and take the name of on my Confirmation day. She did many great things but I really admirehow she persevered during her hard times and did not lose faith. Gemma is also the Patron Saint of Students, so I can ask her to guide me. She loved school, and I really like learning, too. She is truly an inspiration to me and I want to have her name with me always.

The above image is a picture of St. Gemma. 

Image Citation: Gemma Galgani by Philippe Plet under CC license

The first post I write for you during the 2011-2012 school year is very important. I want all of my blog's readers to be informed of the Millennium Development Goals. These goals were set in 1990 by the world's leading countries. They are set to be accomplished by 2015! It is almost 2012 already so I think it's about time the whole world came together to meet these 8 important goals.

 

I hadn't written during the summer, so I thought I'd write up a brief post. Now, I'm in seventh grade, and its going good so far. My summer was really fun. My family and I went to Long Beach Island, and stayed at my favorite place in the whole world! You see, every year, the second week of July, we go to the same beach, the same hotel, and the same hotel room! We've been doing that since I was a really little, and my parents have for even longer since they started the tradition before I was born. It's so much fun there! I had a great time! Please comment and tell me how your summer was!

This is my glog on feudal life. Glogging is a very fun, easy to learn, and efficient way of displaying information virtually. I think one day all posters will be virtual, like glogs. Glogster supplies useful graphics, text boxes, backgrounds, and frames. By using glogster I was able to create a cool project about my assigned topic- feudal life. Try glogging!! It's even more fun than blogging!!

We've learned a lot about internet safety. Here are my top 10 need-to-know facts:

1. If you have a page on a social networking site, never share personal info, such as your last name, e-mail address, usernames, or passwords.

2. When IMing, never meet with people you don't know besides on the internet.

3. If someone cyberbullies you, show it to an adult and use "print screen" to save what was being said.

4. If you get an e-mail wanting you to go to a site and buy things, never click on the link, but go directly to the site by typing in the address.

5. If you are shopping online, never put in credit card or social security numbers unless you are POSITIVE the site is legitimate. 

6. Don't put pictures or words on the internet that you will regret. Nothing can be permanently taken back!

7. When IMing, never have a screen name that reveals your gender, where you live, where you go to school, or your telephone number.

8. If something pops up saying you've won, like, a million dollars, I can pretty much guarantee that you didn't - it's just a scam, so ignore it!

9. Even if they're your friends, don't tell them your usernames or passwords.

10. If you have social networking site, make sure that only your friends can access it! 

Please follow these rules to stay safe and have fun on the internet!

omg.... I only read the first one in the series and am already hooked! My friends had read most of them, so I decided to read the first one- one of the best books ever! "The Lightning Thief" is also gonna be a movie on Feb. 12! I'm, like, counting the days till it comes out! The whole series is called "Percy Jackson and the Olympians". In order the five book titles are: "The Lightning Thief", "The Sea of Monsters", "The Titan's Curse", "The Battle of the Labyrinth", and "The Last Olympian".  They're about a boy, Percy Jackson, who discovers he is a "half-blood", meaning he is the child of a Greek god. He is the son of Poseidon, the sea god. When they're are troubles amongst the gods, he is sent out on different quests with his friends. Overall, I'd give the first book a 9.9 out of 10!!!!

There are so many awesome things at my school! I guess I'll have to narrow them down to three...  One of my favorites is how many fun "minor" subjects we have once a week- gym, health, library, art, computer, Spanish, and music! They are all a lot of fun and they give us the opportunity to learn a variety of different things. The hot lunch program is really cool, too. There's a variety of great food every day! All the meals are healthy and delicious. We also have before the bell rings, 20 min. of recess, and at the end of the day to talk with our friends. Those are the three best things about my school!

I found a neat fourth grade class blog!  They are in Irwin, PA. Though the students haven't written much, their teacher, Mrs. Evans, certainly keeps you updated. She often writes the HW fot that night, too. So, I think it is interesting to see what different classes in different grades in different schools are up to. The class is also friends with many other class blogs, which are listed on the left sidebar. I checked them out, too, and, let's just say that's another thing that makes Mrs. Evan's' class blog cool;)

For blogging challenge 8, I have visited three blog pages:

1. I went toRoom 227's Blog. They are in Bangkok. The teacher is Mrs. Bulza. The students are in fifth grade. 2. From there I went to a student's blog called Jona's Blog. Jona wrote about many interesting things, but what caught my eye wasn't an article- it was a game of Pac-Man on his sidebar! 3. From Jona's Blog, I went toPatrick's Blog, where I intend to comment on his post entitled "Holidays and Vacations". In this post, Patrick recalls his trip to Disneyland at age 6. My comment to Patrick on "Holidays and Vacations" would be: Wow, Patrick! It sounds like you had a lot of fun in Disney. I've always wanted to go to a Disney park, too!

So, check out these blogs, because they're AWESOME!