Blogging In The Works!

Attention! Attention! Read all about it!

News stories never just happen, someone has to make it happen. Tuesday, November 18th, 2008, bloggers, which include editors and reporters, had a meeting from 2:45 to 4:00 in the cafeteria. The head editors are Jessica, Erin, Carley, Laura, and Renee. It was exciting because they told us all about Reporter Bucks and how we can earn them. They had some really cool stuff that you can buy with them like pens and candy.

After that, we were introduced to our editors. When the editors finished showing us how to get on to the TMS blog, the editors took us to the lab so some of us could get g-mail accounts for school. Then the editors gave us addresses to email them for questions and so they can edit your stories.

When everybody had an account we worked on stories , when you were done you would save it to the bloggers folder to be edited and send it to your editor to read. Then they will send you suggestions on how to make it better. It made me excited! Now I want to write more stories for the blog.

Reporter: Taylor M.
Photographer: The Head Editors
Editor: Renee A. Erin S. Carley L.

Through a Teacher's Eyes

When you see your teacher, you think they are just a person that gives you knowledge, but I have gotten a much coveted teacher's point of view. I interviewed Mrs. Kasper in 5th grade. She thinks teaching is much more than a job.

Mrs. Kasper thinks that the best thing about teaching kids is seeing kids reach new heights in education. Of course, there is always something that is very complicated to teach, so I asked her what that is, she said that it was finding a good way to teach the kids since we all have different styles of learning.

On the blue team, there are a lot of papers to be graded, but normally the blue team kids do the correcting instead of the teachers. We are really helpful and our teachers are thankful for us. We are officially Blue Team Brainiacs and helpers.

Reporter: Catherine C.

Editor: Renee A. Carley L.

An Awkward Combination

Do cats get along with ferrets? Some say yes, some say no. What do you think? My studies show that when you introduce a cat to a ferret, they don't get along. Yet, three days after introducing them to each other they just don't care.
There may be some clawing every now and then, but it's normally one or two spats and they're done. Luckily Addy (the cat) is getting declawed. Now Sally (the ferret), or anyone else, doesn't have to get hurt any more when she plays, fights, or tries to rip up carpets, clothes, furniture, ext.

Reporter: Anna S.

Editor: Carley L. and Jessica C. and Renee A.

Please Save Me!!!

Broken covers, ripped pages-- what will fall apart next? Can you guess? Okay I'll tell you: the library books! You need to start taking better care of these library books, or else we won't have much of a library.

Here are some things to remember:

• Keep your book in safe place, away from babies, pets, water, and weather, but not under your bed.
  
• Keep your book away from your practical-joking friends.
  
• If your book does happen to get "injured" let Mrs. Shaw and Mrs. Metzler fix it. They have special tools and supplies.
  

How can you get lost in an amazing adventure if the pages of the best part are ripped out? I know how. Stop abusing these books!
You can also help by putting the books you don't want on the reject cart. It makes it easier for poor Mrs. Metzler and Mrs. Shaw.

PLEASE save these books!

Reporters: Paige W. and Courtnie L.
Editors: Paige W., Renee A., Laura A., Jessica C. Carley L.
Note from Mrs. M: I did not put them up to this.

Happiness can come from Iraq

My brother is home! Well, not for long; he has to go back on November 27th because they only give them around 20 days for break before they have to go back until their stay there is done. He got home on November 8th, and his wife and child were there waiting for him. His child-to-come is due on November 14th. During his stay here he is going to see all the family members (which is more than I care to count), eat at all of his favorite places, celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, and spend as much time as he can with his children.

He has been in the army for around two years, and he is ranked as a Specialist. What does a Specialist do? Actually it depends on their classification. Right now he is a PAC Specialist. He makes sure everyone's paperwork is right, they fly where and when they're supposed to, they go to school, and things like that. He also is a mission tracker. When someone in his troop goes outside the boundaries or the safe area and he has to make sure that they go where they need to go for there mission.

But let's stop talking about the army for a second. My brothers name is Bryan James Shadley, but we call him B.J. because my dad's name is Brian also. He is 24 years old. He has been staying in Germany for a year or so now because he needed to get to the next step in training for the Army after boot camp. I hope that no one else know what it feels like to have your parents or other family members gone to Iraq, because it hurts really bad. Wondering if there OK, what there doing, how there doing, it just kills your heart.

Before Sunday, Nov. 9, I hadn't talked to my brother in I don't how long. Most of the time they don't have Internet, or phones, or anything. Can you imagine how hard that would be to be out in the desert? The way the heat gets in the day would be unbearable in a t-shirt and shorts, but they have to wear their uniforms all day, and sometimes body armor. Now I have to say, it gets cold in the winter and at night, but it gets into the 100's when we're only in the 60's most of the time.

Another happy thing that can come from Iraq is presents. My brother got me a scarf (shown in picture). Other things that come from Iraq are pottery, wood work, cloth, jewlery and other things you can think of.

Of course, the best thing to come from Iraq is my my brother, home at last, safe and sound.

Reporter: Erin S.

Photographer: Erin S.

Editor: Jessica C. Laura A.