mclean grade 5, haycock elementary school.connection.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/...dec 22,...

McLean Connection ❖ Children’s Connection ❖ 2014 - 2015 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com online at www.connectionnewspapers.comDecember 31, 2014 - January 6, 2015

McLeanMcLeanSkiing Fun by Valerie Li, of McLean,

grade 5, Haycock Elementary School.

ChildrenChildren’s Connection 2014s Connection 2014Children’s Connection 2014

2 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ Children’s Connection ❖ 2014 - 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

McLean Connection ❖ Children’s Connection ❖ 2014 - 2015 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Dear Readers:

This week, the McLean Con-nection turns over its pages tothe youth and students.

We asked principals and teachers fromarea schools to encourage students to con-tribute their words, pictures and photos forour annual Children’s Issue.

The response as always was enormous.While we were unable to publish every piecewe received, we did our best to put togethera paper with a fair sampling of the submit-ted stories, poems, drawings, paintings,photographs and other works of art.

We appreciate the extra effort made byschool staff to gather the materials duringtheir busy time leading up to the holidays.We’d also like to encourage both schools andparents to mark their 2015 calendars forearly December, the deadline for submis-sions for next year’s Children’s Connection.

Please keep us in mind as your childrencontinue to create spectacular works of artand inspiring pieces of writing in the com-ing year.

The children’s issue is only a part of ouryear-round commitment to cover educationand our local schools. As always, the Con-nection welcomes letters to the editor, storyideas, calendar listings and notices of localevents from our readers. Photos and othersubmissions about special events at schoolsare especially welcome for our weeklyschool pages.

Our preferred method for material is e-mail, which should be sent [email protected], butyou can reach us by mail at 1606 KingStreet, Alexandria, VA 22314 or call 703-778-9414 with any questions.

— Editor Kemal Kurspahic

Welcome

McLean Connection Editor

Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or

[email protected]

By Tamar Shrier, grade 5, The McLean School. By Kathryn Kim, grade 6, Spring Hill Elementary.

By Ayesha Javaid, McLean.

Nathan A. Pearce, kindergarten, Kent Gardens Elementary School.By Hannah Everette, grade 4, Chesterbrook Elementary.

Children’s Connection


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By Aurian Malhotra, grade 6,Spring Hill Elementary.

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FlowerBy Nadia Jo, 13, of McLean

Creating smilesEven in the darkest corner,The vivid colors and aromatic scentsCaptivating hearts.Whether rooted to the ground orCut for a bouquet,Its beauty creates wonders.Every hue is washed on its petals,Intricately arranged in a maze.Though its life is shortIts charm is infinite.

Last DanceBy Nadia Jo, 13, of McLean

It’s their last dance.The limelight is brighterThe stage is biggerThe audience is larger.The light envelops their bodiesShooting currents through every inchIt’s impossible not to dance.They are not graceful.Their moves are not choreographed.They areAgitated,Unrehearsed,And terrified.Yes, their six legs tremble in anguish.Their skin is scorched by the sunlight through the lens.The audience giggles.They enjoy burning ants.

By Haley Riggins, grade 4,Chesterbrook Elementary.

By Claire Touse, grade 3,Chesterbrook Elementary.


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An independent, locally owned weeklynewspaper delivered

to homes and businesses.Published by

Local Media Connection LLC

1606 King StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22314

Free digital edition delivered toyour email box. Go to

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NEWS DEPARTMENT:[email protected]

Kemal Kurspahic Editor ❖ 703-778-9414

[email protected]

Amna RehmatullaEditorial Assistant

703-778-9410 [email protected]

Reena SinghCommunity Reporter

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Jon RoetmanSports Editor ❖ 703-752-4013

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Debbie FunkNational Sales703-778-9444

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Editor & PublisherMary Kimm

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Editor in ChiefSteven Mauren

Managing EditorKemal KurspahicPhotography:

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10 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ Children’s Connection ❖ 2014 - 2015 McLean Connection ❖ Children’s Connection ❖ 2014 - 2015 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Children’s

Connection

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By Brandon Liao, grade 6, Spring Hill Elementary. By John Bradshaw, grade 6, Spring Hill Elementary.

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By Cate Poliquin, grade 6,Spring Hill Elementary.


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Children’s

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BreakfastBy Min Kyung Lee,

grade 10, McLean High School

It’s a giftFrom a tiny, delightful roomWhere all the magic happensWith a grit of a knife, chop!With a heat of a toast, pop!With a crack of an egg, drop!It’s a joyWith all your loved onesWho make each day better.

I wonderBy Min Kyung Lee,


I wonderHow things changeLike the leaves that turn brightAnd the winds that freeze coldI wonderWhy things happenLike the rains that fallAnd the stars that sparkleI wonderWhen things comeLike the holidays we celebrateAnd school days that we dreadI wonderWhat will make things betterLike the smiles of children that shineAnd joyful songs of birds that lighten the worldI still wonderimagine, believe, and dreamand I am not afraid to ask.

Poetry Corner

DilemmaBy Jin Young Choi,


Oh words,Why do you do this?You give nightmares,You cause distress,You hurt people,Emotionally, mentally, physicallyTriple threat, neverthelessPeople must know you,Memorize you,Study you,Scrutinize you,Oh words,Why do you do this?When you crush one’s heart,Is it worth to know you?You, a mass-destructive weapon,But socially accepted,You befuddle me,You keep me up all night,You drive me insane,Irritably, miserably, hopelesslyOh words, you the most powerful weapon,That has inspired and tormented humanity.What would the world be without you?

By Trudy, grade 8, Our Ladyof Good Counsel.


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Kent Gardens Elementary Art Gallery

By Masaki Nakamizo, grade 1, Kent Gar-dens Elementary.

By Seyeon Park, grade 1, Kent GardensElementary.

By Kayla Park,grade 3, KentGardens El-ementary.

By CaralineLunter, grade6, Kent Gar-dens Elemen-tary.



SightsBy Emilie Kim

Grade 5, Churchill Road Elementary

It was a winter night, bone-chilly and the groundwas covered with milky white snow. A wavy, steepslope awaits the people who were going to go sled-ding or skiing the next day. At ten o’clock p.m, anyfive year old kid would be fast asleep, but not me. Iwas going to go animal watching with my father. Mystomach was filled with butterflies and they seemedto kick my stomach very harshly. My heart was thud-ding with an unusually fast pace. As I was wideawake, I waited as my father was coming in my room.We were going to go animal watching.

As my father and I stepped out into the moonlight,the grass crunched and made beautiful, rufflingsounds. I stared at the moon for a few seconds. En-chanted by its radiant light, I stepped forward. Themoon was magnificent and mysterious to me as Imoved closer and closer. The stars seemed to dancearound me as I glanced away from the moon. Mymisery had suddenly vanished. It was replaced withhope. I think it is from the amazing moon and stars.Then, I remembered why I was outside with my fa-ther. As a frightening cloud had stolen my moon, Isprinted across my yard and I leaped into my father’sawaiting arms after a quick glance at the shiningmoon and stars.

I grasped my dad’s navy blue shirt and I ran to oursmall, but pretty, stone pond. I gasped as I saw thatthe moon was on the pond.

My father said reassuringly, “It is just the moon’sreflection on the pond. The water acts like a mirror.”

I understood, and I went toward the pond. I wassilent as a shadow as I scurried across the lawn.Then,

a gust of wind blew me off course, and it took awaymy courage as it flew past me. I ran with all my mightto my father.

He asked, “Are you okay?”I nodded silently and we continued our sightseeing

for animals.My father and I were filled with joy as we saw

some animals as we walked away from our quiethouse. There were raccoons and squirrels along oursight. I heard a low hoot and I knew that we werenot alone in the darkness that gave me goosebumps.As we walked for miles it seemed, I dug my heelsinto the soft, amber-brown mud and my father wasconcerned. We were about to enter the woods.

The woods is a terrible nightmare, and darknesssurrounds you in that creepy place. I froze and I whis-pered that I would never go in that place. My fathernoticed that and he said that we weren’t going intothe woods. As my father was checking the time, Itumbled down a hill and I was terrified.I shut mybig golden brown eyes, and as soon as I landed, myeyes slowly blinked and then I opened my eyes outof curiosity. I stared at the place I had landed on. Myfather had followed me and started scolding me. Ishushed him and we both stared at the place I hadfallen. It was beautiful with a snow covered slopethat was filled with trees that were the color of anemeralds. The part I liked best was that there wereso many animals in my sight.

That was the most amazing thing that has hap-pened to me. I enjoy being around animals and evenwhen I was really young I loved to pet and see manydifferent animals. I always loved to sit down, andstare at birds or squirrels. This was an experiencethat brought me closer to animals.

Be a part of ourWellbeing pages,the first week ofevery month.

Delight in ourHomeLifeStylesections, thesecond week ofevery month.Peek at the topreal estate sales,glimpse over-the-top remodelingprojects, get prac-tical suggestionsfor your home.

Celebratestudents, camps,schools,enrichmentprograms,colleges andmore in ourA-plus:Education,Learning, Funpages, the thirdweek of everymonth.

Questions? [email protected] call703-778-9431


Thoughts of DecemberDecorating Christmas treesEnormous piles of snowChristmas cookies and candy canesExtra hot cocoaMistletoe hanging downBells jingling all aroundElves working through the nightReindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh out of sight.

— Sasha Schratwieser,

grade 3, Churchill Road Elementary School


Q&AQ: If you could give your

parents any gift that didn’tcost any money what wouldit be?

A: It would be a handmade giftlike a project from art class ormaybe I can learn to make coolRainbow Loom shape or a brace-let I can give because I am reallygood with those things.

Q: What are you lookingforward to in the upcomingyear?

A: Writing a 5 paragraph essay.We were supposed to write 5 para-graphs of something you feelstrongly about. When I looked atthe format of the essay, it lookedeasy to me. And I also think it willbe fun. So that’s why I look for-ward to it.

Q: What do you want to bewhen you grow up?

A: I really want to be the world’sbest soccer player. These are somereasons why. First, if you are re-ally good, the club owner will payyou a lot of money. Second, myleague (Great Falls soccer) is prob-ably the worst in the All Starsgroup. So If I train harder, that

you’ve ever given?A: I am not sure because I

haven’t gave that many gifts. I re-member giving gifts to Santa lastyear. Technically I put on a placewhere Santa would pass by. I alsoremember giving cards to my momon Mother's Day. I think the bestgift I’ve given to somebody was toSanta Claus.

— Youngmin Hong,

grade 4, Churchill Road

Elementary

hard training might help me be thebest.

Q: What makes a goodfriend?

A: I guess to be compassionateand always being nice like shar-ing and helping you when you arehurt or stuck on a question. And agood friend should not tease orhurt you by hitting you in someway.

Q: What is the best gift

The StormBy Cate Poliquin,

Spring Hill Elementary

In 2008 there was a hugesnowstorm in McLean. Thesnow measured up to be ashigh as 2 ft. tall. Playing inthe snow the next morningwas super fun but, staying upthrough the night turned outto be super scary for my fam-ily.

My family was having anice time watching thesnowfall, and listening toChristmas music. The firewas so warm, but we usedup a lot of wood. I watchedas the piles of snow growbigger and bigger.

Soon my dad became wor-ried. We had used up mostof our wood! Then one of theworst things happened, thepower went out. My dadsoon became super worried,because all we had to eat wascereal and cold food.

As time passed by, thehouse became colder andcolder. Then my parentshopes came true, the powercame back on! The nextmorning my sister and Iplayed in the snow all day.Now my family knows to beprepared for a snowstorm.

1616 Anderson Road • McLean, VA 22102

As You Make Your End-of-YearCharitable Donations…

Please consider children in need of medical and dentalcare right here in Fairfax County.

Each year, the Medical Care for Children Partnership(MCCP) Foundation provides care to thousands of children inlow-income working families right in our own community.These children do not qualify for government programs orprivate insurance, and without MCCP, they would havenowhere to go.

To learn more and todonate, please go towww.mccpfoundation.org orcall 703-286-0881.

Thank you for joining yourneighbors in supporting thiscause so that all our localchildren can go to school ingood health!

Special Thanks to The Connection Newspapers



By Michael Hanchao Wang,grade 3, Churchill RoadElementary School,McLean.

"Bruce" by Maddie Rizzo,16, McLean.

By ClaireChang, grade4, Spring HillElementary.


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Children’s

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By Michaela A.Pearce, grade3, ChurchillRoad Elemen-tary School.

By Jack Crippen, grade 4,Churchill Road Elementary.

“I am thankfulfor mymommy” byJainaFitzpatrick,kindergarten,Churchill RoadElementary.

First grade students at Churchill Road Elementary visitMount Vernon Plantation as part of their study of GeneralGeorge Washington. Clara Aikman drew a picture of her-self and her friend Emily New in front of Mount Vernon.


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The biggestthings arealways the

easiest to dobecause there isno competition.

-William Van Horne

If I wanted to rationalize the benefit ofdelaying my heretofore every-three-weekchemotherapy infusion from three weeks tofour and now on to five, possibly six – andthat’s dependent on improved results froma second/maybe even third retest upcom-ing (this retest a bit more involved thandrawing blood) – I would say it’s only fittingthat I should have a break/brake; after all, itis the holiday season when all good things;yada, yada, yada. If only it were thatsimple.

But simple is the last thing that a cancerpatient’s life can be characterized as being;whether they have been “prognosed” as“terminal” as I was, or are at the beginning(diagnosis), middle (under treatment andsurviving under circumstances too numer-ous and varied to list) or end of theircancer-affected life. And so for me toexpect smooth sailing at any time duringthis process is totally and entirely unreason-able – and mostly, I haven’t. I’m just luckyto be in a boat with a few provisions stillleft in it. Ergo, this column is not a com-plaint, just an update, as the previous fewcolumns had sort of led you regular readerson a bit of a walk in my shoes, althoughone likely without the neuropathy nearlysix years of non-stop chemotherapy canexact. Still, I am mostly upright, up andabout and able to handle any and all activi-ties, especially those relating to daily living.However, right now I worry that after twoconsecutive three-week-interval, pre-che-motherapy lab results specifically measur-ing my cretanine levels (which reflects kid-ney function), and a second retest as well,all indicated too high/abnormal (a first-timeoccurrence), thereby preventing my regu-larly scheduled Alimta infusions – twice – ifI have indeed crossed the Rubicon, so tospeak. Obviously, it serves no particularpurpose for me to invoke history, especiallyhistory with which I have very little familiar-ity. However, if some of what I’ve read con-cerning this historical event is true – theevent’s significance notwithstanding, it haspartially led to the creation-and-then-acceptance of a word’s/phrase’s figurativemeaning – then I sure hope my die has notbeen cast.

But who knows, really? And eventhough this cancer stuff is all very personal– and my circumstances are unique to meas a cancer patient – I try not to take it per-sonally, if that makes any sense? Somehow,I try to minimize the negative effect of anyof it, mentally, that is. As concerns me andmy treatments (starts, stops and fits), it hasalways been about what happens next.Until there’s no more next, there’s alwayswhat’s next. Now I have a third round oflab work next week and a 24-hour creati-nine clearance collection in the interim tomeasure my levels as accurately as possibleto help determine what happens next.Hopefully, levels will reduce, and more ofthe same treatment which has resulted inmy unexpectedly long life expectancy andmost recent “shrinkage,” can continue. Butof course, there are no guarantees either.Oh, there is one: this process isexcruciating.

Nevertheless, somehow the patient (orat least this patient) has to be patient andlife has to be lived. Otherwise the cancerwins. And to quote Brian Dennehy, a/k/aSheriff Cobb, from the movie “Silverado,”completely out of context: “We can’t behaving any of that now, can we?”

Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

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26 Antiques 26 Antiques

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➣ Speed up Slow Computers➣ Troubleshooting➣ Virus Removal➣ Computer Setup

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101 Computers 101 Computers

26 Antiques

We pay top $ for STERLING, MEN'S WATCHES,

JEWELRY, COSTUME JEWELRY, FURNITURE,

PAINTINGS AND CLOCKS.Schefer Antiques

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Do what you can, with

what you have,where you are.

-TheodoreRoosevelt

EmploymentEmploymentBUSINESS OPP

NATIONAL CHILDRENS CENTERNo sell! Salary + Bonus + Benefits!

Weekdays 9-4

TELEPHONE

☎☎301-333-1900

A great opportunity toWORK AT HOME!

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BUSINESS OPP

NATIONAL CHILDRENS CENTERNo sell! Salary + Bonus + Benefits!

Weekdays 9-4

TELEPHONE

☎☎301-333-1900

A great opportunity toWORK AT HOME!

☎☎

CLASSIFIEDDEADLINESZones 1, 5, 6............................Mon @ noonZones 2, 3, 4 ...........................Tues @ noon

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or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411

EMPLOYMENTDEADLINESZones 1, 5, 6............................Mon @ noonZones 2, 3, 4 ...........................Tues @ noon

E-mail ad with zone choices to:[email protected] or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411

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HOW TO SUBMIT ADS TO

DesireBy Emily S., grade 7,

Our Lady of Good Counsel School

The aching desires of the few,include the necessities for me and you,but the vast majority want the new,they want the luxury and they lust,because they must,they need the future in the past,they need products that must last,for as long as they want them to.What happened to this world, what must we do?release the greed,make a creed,and find the greatness in giving and not wanting,loving not taunting,and fulfill the deserved desires of peace, nourishment, and fair

treatment for others,for the fathers, children, brothers, sisters, and mothers.

The Substance of LifeSylesh S., grade 8,


Time, the substance of lifeAppears to be rifeBut passes byIn a blink of an eyeEach moment that we wasteIs forever erasedEvery second well-spentWill make us contentLife is a dreamIn which time reigns supremeMake the best use of timeMake each moment sublime

TimeBen M., grade 8,


They say time is never ending,but is that really truethey say the end is impending,like the damp morning dewBut have you a cluewhat’s coming for youa hurricane of sadnessa whirlpool of despairunnecessary illnesseven though it isn’t fairbut maybe life is just unfinished business,and happiness is just around the chair.

“A Fleeting Glance at the Past”Sofia F., grade 8,


When one finds oneself longing for a certain time,Remember that the time we have now is ephemeral,And even though it’s an uphill climb,The here and now must be treated like an emerald.In the words of Penn,“Time is what we want most, but what we use the worst”So remember now and then,To remind yourselves that time can’t be reversed.And though now we may trudge along,Recall dear cohorts,That though the days are long,The years are short.

TattoosBy Julia K., grade 8, Our Lady of Good Counsel

All the inkthat covers my bodyare all the stories

I could never tellSecrets I always keptEvery confession I never madeTons of memoriesmade into drawingswill stay with me foreverAll the things that have hit me so hardAre now visibleYou look at me and you might judgeBut I am coveredWith the stories of my life

PaperBy Tommy F., grade 7,


It looks like a magic carpet floating in the windpaper is a tree that was once skinnedIt was recently the stem of a treethere are two sides of paper, not threeand as you may overlook this piece of artit has lots of history and the idea is smartIn China paper was made out of bambooand that’s about it, as I think it throughIt started as papyrus in Egyptthey were smart and strategicpapyrus was a good-sized plantbut not used by Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant used something else, I thinkmaybe he used parchment, pens, and inkBut now it’s just paper and a ballpoint penpaper is pushed to its limits by menSo paper could be a very useful thingso don’t overlook it as you overlook string

NatureBy Donald W., grade 7,


The crisp wind blows,The ocean’s limits no one knows,The fields of grass,Green with grace,Nature fills all,Earth and Space,The clouds,A wisp of white,They’re in the air,Until night,The sky the sky,Filled at night,With gleaming stars,That shine so bright,Until day,We wait in fright,The sun has risen,It beholds such light,It shines all day,With all its might,Until it goes down,Out of sight

By Dave, grade 3, Our Lady of Good Counsel


mclean grade 5, haycock elementary school.connection.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/...dec 22,...

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