Willow Lane News Update
3rd Edition (December)
5th Grade Chorus Concert
by Erin
Going back to the two students that helped with the choreography, that was my friend Katelyn and I. It took about an hour, but the time was all worth it. My friend and I got to teach all the 5th grade students, and I hope you enjoy it. When we perform on December 10th, watch the choreography for Here Comes The Snow, because that is the song that Katelyn and I help with!
Well, did that get you excited for this assembly? I am sure looking forward to this. We all need to give a huge thanks to the teacher who made this performance all possible, our wonderful music teacher, Mrs. Dry! She has worked tirelessly to make this performance a show to remember! Thank You Mrs. Dry! Also thank you to the 5th grade teachers, because they have also helped a lot.
Veteran’s Day
by Evan
Veteran’s Day is a very important holiday. Veteran’s Day is the day we honor our fighting veterans. First, I would like to introduce the five branches, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marines.
Do you remember the flag folding? Flag folding is very important. It is important because just the American flag gets folded. Do you recall the drummer playing the drums? That piece is from the Revolutionary War. That is important because it is for the war that won our independence. Do you remember the two veterans carrying the flags? It was very touching for veterans to carry the flags. This is touching because our very own veterans who fought in the war are carrying the American and Pennsylvania flag. I think all the songs we sang was honoring. I think it was honoring because we were singing the songs that belong to the branches. The veterans that remember that song will remember the time they served and what the did for the Country.
Next, I would like to introduce my very own great grandfather, Warren Strawsnyder. He was in the Navy in World War II. So, here is an interview. First, I asked him how long he served. He said 4 years. Next, I asked If he was scared when he went into his first battle.
At the Veteran’s Day assembly some people read awesome letters. One question I have is: how did they pick which letters to present? According to Erin O’Neil, they put all the letters on desks. Then, they put sticky notes on the ones they like. The four letters with the most sticky notes on them, will be picked. That’s how the letters were picked.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you liked it. Also, I hope you read my future articles!
What could students do while their parents conference with teachers?
The Book Fair
by Alexis
Every year Willow Lane has a book fair. We have a book fair because kids will have something to do while their parents are having conferences with their teachers.
The book fair is a store. In the store, they have posters, books, diaries, monster sticks, fun activities, and googly eye pens.
The person who is in charge of the book fair is our librarian, Mrs.Newton. Mrs.Newton has to start planning the book fair for 2 months and Mrs.Newton has to plan the book fair a year ahead of time. Mrs. Newton said that “the library aids, some students , and parents help me set up for the book fair”.
Mrs. Newton thought that the new "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book will be the best sold because of sales last year was very popular. Also, Mrs. Newton said that “ I can’t really control the books that they give me, but I can control the time of the book fair and the activities we plan."The book fair lasts one week. It starts on a Friday and ends on a Friday. The last day is for kids to go to during class time, so they get a chance to buy books at the book fair.
BARNES AND NOBLE NIGHT!!!!!
by Caroline and Maddie
Come on down to Barnes and Noble night! There is music, books, and Kushka the dog. Now, Barnes and Noble night has passed, but we can still share my experience. I’m Maddie, and this is Caroline. We are here to tell you about our experience! We went to Barnes and Noble night and here are some of the things that were there: teacher skit, author signing, face painting, and more.
Many people helped plan Barnes and Noble night, like Dr. Moyer. Here are some things Dr. Moyer had to say about Barnes and Noble night… We asked Dr. Moyer, “Why do you have Barnes and Noble night?”
He replied, ”It raises money for our school.”
Also, we asked him, “How long does it take to plan Barnes and Noble night?”
He said it takes 6 weeks.
THANKS FOR READING!!!!!!!!!
Has anyone wondered why there were large plants on the second and third floor of Willow Lane?
Mystery Plants
by Morgan
Plants are very important to our environment! They are beautiful and help us breath. A lot of people help take care of plants in sanctuaries, others keep plants in their house as decorations. I will write about how to take care of plants. we also have plants on the end of the hallway. Stay tuned and find out why!
How to take care of and have healthy plants!
Choose the pots!
Remember! Anything/material can be made into a pot! Depending on your preference, you may want one material as a pot more than another.
Make sure there are one or more holes in the pot so the water can flow in the soil of the plant.
2. Choose the potting mix!
Despite popular belief, do not use soil from your garden or your yard! The soil can be filled with weed seeds and bugs. EWWWW!!!
Instead of getting soil from the ground outside, get gardening soil from a garden store or Home Depot!
3. Prepare the pot!
Take the pot out of its nursery container, and if the pot is big, put it in its finale spot.
Put the water in the pot an hour before planting the plant.
4. Pot the plant.
Put a basket type coffee filler under the hole in the pot.
Support the top of the “Root and dirt ball” and by placing a finger on each side of the plants stem.
Drop the pot into the pot and then mix the “Root ball” with the soil from the store.
Then, Tada~ you're done! Make sure to read about the plant and see how much water and sun it needs! I hope you enjoy having a plant!
Now, on to something in Willow Lane. Why are there plants at the end of the hallways??? Well, they are Mrs. Parcel’s plants. I interviewed her, and here is what I have!
The FIRST question was: "How hard is it to take care of all your plants?"
She responded by saying: "Not hard at all. All a plant needs is water and sunlight."
The SECOND was: "Why do you have so many plants?"
"Some plants can’t survive the cold, so I bring them here in my class! In the summer the plants are on my patio!"
The THIRD was: "Why ARE THERE PLANTS AT THE END OF THE HALLWAY?"
Her answer was: “I was trying to beautify the school.”
Then the last question was: "Why did you start collecting plants?"
“I enjoy nature, and plants make me happy”
I thanked her for her time and left.
I hope you enjoyed this Entry of the paper! Have a great school day!
Trout in the Classroom
Terrible Trout Catastrophe
by Evan
If you have read some of the previous articles on Trout In The Classroom, you will know what this one will be about... Recently, in Trout In The Classroom, (TIC,) we are beginning to feed the striped fish. That’s right! They have stripes. Also, guck from old food has been growing on the bottom of the tank. It could kill fish. Also, the filter is “off and on” not working.
The Fish Saplings
As I say “fish saplings,” I don’t really mean the fish are saplings. If a sapling is a baby tree, then the fish are currently babies, and growing. Anyway, the fish now have stripes! Their stripes are brown and tan.
Currently, the fish are frys. Also, the fish have grown very big! They have fins and everything!Guck
If you have seen the fish tank lately, you probably saw this white stuff at the bottom of the tank. That “stuff” is old food and poop combined. We have been feeding the fish too much. And obviously, the fish are pooping.
I know, disgusting. Mrs. Durigan has contacted a lady from a shop called, “That Fish Place.” The lady told us that the guck is completely normal. But, she did tell us to try to get it out. If there is too much, it CAN kill the fish. Since the white guck is partially food, Mrs. Durigan instructed us to take a tiny tiny pinch to feed the fish.
Global Warming
As I say “global warming,” I don’t really mean global warming. I mean the fish tank is getting too warm! The temperature is supposed to be 52 degrees Fahrenheit, and the tank was 64 degrees Fahrenheit. To the fish, it probably feels like a furnace! If it continues being too warm, Mrs. Durigan is going to contact TIC people. They are hopefully going to fix it…
Poppity pop pop pop
Poppity pop pop pop is the sound the filter made. If it makes that sound, it means there is not enough power to power the filter. So, we predicted it was the Christmas trees. You know those lights! They are big and can take up too much power. But, it wasn't that. It was doing it the whole time I was testing… until… there was a complete silence. The filter stopped working. I was half way up the stairs and I still noticed it turned off. I stopped dead and listened. Next thing I know, the other people testing sprinted up the stairs, desperate to ask Mrs. Durigan what to do. I stopped one person and asked them what was going on. They said the filter had stopped working! I knew it, I thought. I began to run up the stairs with them. I waited outside. When people came out of the classroom to turn the filter off, I asked someone what to do. They said there is a lever to pull down to completely turn it off. I rushed down to the tank. There was a lot of levers! I did not know what to pull. Until Ryan stuck his hand in the water and pulled a lever in there! Yes, in the water! The filter turned off and it was all good. Now, the filter is fine, but I’m still worried...Lightning Logo Contest
by Jillian
The Willow Lane Lightning T shirt contest is already here! Although many kids are doing the contest, only 5 drawings were chosen to be voted on. The staff picked their 5 favorites. The drawing that received the most votes is the one that will be on the sweatshirts and T shirts. What the people have to draw is a picture of the school or lightning. I asked Dr.Moyer, who initiated the T shirt contest.
Jillian: Why change the willow lane T-shirt design?
Dr. Moyer: So that there are more kids that make the design, and so that there are different shirts to wear.
Jillian: Who designed the previous logos?
Dr. Moyer: Mr.Cooper made the idea of the T shirt contest.
Jillian: How is the contest being conducted?
Dr. Moyer: Mr. Kirk had kids vote for the shirts.
Jillian: Why is there a contest at all?
Dr. Moyer: To update what students wear.
Jillian: Who are drawing the pictures?
Dr. Moyer: Anyone can do it, but the staff votes on the ones that we will vote on.
This contest is a very fun contest for the people that are drawing the pictures. Once we all vote on the shirt, the one liked most will be printed on T shirts and sweatshirts. You can get the T shirt or sweatshirt at school. Make sure you look at the shirt, and make sure you get it for school spirit wear day.
Submissions from Willow Lane Students
The second of these two stories is a "Continuation Story": it is not over. Ariana may add to it and/or some other inspired student may wish to contribute to the mysterious and beautifully crafted descriptive writing of a 5th grade student whose messy room has kept her awake. I hope that you enjoy the stories as much as I have. And, thank you, Giana and Ariana, for sharing.
Thanks for reading,
Mr. Weimann
Mystery of the Roaming Gnome
By Giana Pistoria, a fourth grader
Can Emma find out where the gnome goes at night? Or better yet, who moves the gnome?
It was Saturday morning. Emma Spencer woke up to see a flashlight in her face, blinding her.
“Wake up, sleepy!” Her best friend, Claire, had slept over Emma’s house to solve the mystery. Except, they had both fallen asleep at one o’clock AM.
“Where is he? Did he come out? I want to see your footage!” Emma shouted at Claire.
“I didn’t get any footage, I fell asleep at the exact same time as you, silly!” Claire bounced up and down from all the candy and soda they ate last night. “B-u-u-u-u-t, I did see something in the backyard moving around the second before I closed my eyes!” Emma squealed in delight.
“Oooooooooh! But are you absolutely-positively-crazy-super-duper sure it was a gnome?”
As much as Emma knew that the gnome moved, each night, to a different location, but there, here, she had her doubts that it wasn’t just the Spencers' dog, Lilac, a chocolate lab.
Emma’s dad called up the stairs.
“Pancakes, anyone?” Emma and Claire cooed back down to him. “Yes, Please!” The smiled at each other, and then started jumping up and down, for some reason. Suddenly her door opened, and Lilac stepped in.
Who’s a good girl?! Who’s a good girl?!” Emma asked Lilac, even though there was no response, since Lilac was a dog.
After breakfast, Claire headed home. Emma went out to investigate. It had snowed last week, and the weather had been below freezing, and with no sun, it had a while till it melted. Sure enough, Emma saw dog prints in the soft white blanket inside the fenced-in backyard. She looked for the gnome. Finally, she saw him: he was perched on one of the snowy white branches of an oak tree. There were teeth marks on the gnomes big, tall red hat. Thats it! Emma thought. I need to call Claire! I know who is taking the gnome, and where he’s going! Do you know what happens to the gnome?
The dog takes the gnome and chews on him in the doghouse!
Can't Get to Sleep! A Continuation Story
Ariana Kompa
12/17/14
“Brrrrrrrr,” I said while I was crunching up my feet. The socks I had on were definitely not very good at keeping my feet warm. Under the cold sheets I lay thinking, filled with excitement for the next day. Then out of the blue I heard a loud scratching noise. I frantically sat up on my pillow looking around. I looked to my left and saw my hamster running wildly on her wheel. Relieved, I pushed the huge pile of blankets off and got out of bed, slowly. Unfortunately, I stepped on my Barbie car’s sharp broken windshield which literally sent me straight into the air. Jumping and holding my foot in pain, I tried to resume to what I was doing, but this time I was careful and pushed the toys out of the way. Boy I need to clean my room! I knelt down next to Hammy’s cage…
Willow Lane Newspaper Club
Additional contributors: Ariana Kompa and Giana Pistoria
Email: mweimann@Eastpennsd.org
Website: http://new.eastpennsd.org/willow/