The Pilar and Maddy Show, Episode 2

by Pilar and Maddy, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s Class

I Don’t Think So Show, Episode 6

by Ellie, Mimi and Mira, Grade 5, Barbara’s Class

I Don’t Think So Show, Episode 5

by Mira, Mimi and Ellie, Grade 5, Barbara’s Class

The Pilar & Maddy Show, Episode 4

by Pilar and Maddy, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s Class

Goosebumps Be Careful What You Wish For

Review by Derek 4^th grader Monica’s class

Do you like creepy books? This book is creepy & strange. It’s about a girl who helps a lady get somewhere and the lady says, “I will grant you 3 wishes.” The girl makes her 1^st wish to be the strongest player on her ball team…. But then something strange happens….

This book is a good book & I recommend it. If you like creepy, strange or scary then read this book! This book is a 17 or 19 chapter long chapter book.  I rate this book 4 stars.

How to Train a Dragon

Hey, do you like books with a lot of action?  If you do you  should read this book!  It is about a boy that is not a very good Viking but is the heir of a  very good Pirate named Grimbierd the Ghastly. But they had to fight cannibal Vikings.This book is great. Read it. You won’t be sorry.by Patrick, Grade 4, Monica’s Class

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Do you like funny books? Well this one is!!! This story is about one kid that wants a journal. He asks his mom to buy him one so she goes out and buys him one with the words diary on it. He thinks that if he gets caught with it in middle school he is going to get punched. He has one mom, one dad, and 2 brothers (one big one small.)

Read it. You’ll laugh!

by Salman, Grade 4, Monica’s Class

Because Of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Reviewed by Jaida E. Emmons 4 grade Mrs. Monica

Have I told you about the book called Because of Winn-Dixie? It’s a book about a 10 year old girl named India Opal. She finds a dog at the Winn-Dixie grocery store. She brings him home but her father, The Preacher, says he needs another home. Later, India gets a job at Gertrude’s Pets. She sweeps the floor, takes out the trash, and helps take care of the store. The store was run by a girl named Gertrude. Now it is run by a man named Otis.

It’s a great book. Read it!

 

Ramona and her Mother

Do you like misbehaving? Ramona is a troublemaker. She always gets in trouble. She always does everything wrong. Her family loves her sometimes. Read this book!

by Scout, Grade 4, Monica’s Class

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

Review By TreVaughn, Grade 4, Monica’s Class.

Do you like Diary of a Wimpy Kid books? This one is about Greg’s Wimpy life. He has troubles in life. It is about a boy who has troubles in his school and at home and is waiting for school to end and summer to start. The whole concept of this story is that he is losing his best friend and is getting in big trouble in his life.

My Silly Grandma

One hot summer day my  grandma went to Clear Lake with her family. She didn’t want to go but they persuaded her to go.  They did a lot of things, like canoeing. Well, all of a sudden, she fell over and she was super mad.  She was so mad she fell in a hole.

By Cyntra, Grade 5, Ms. Barbara’s Class

Cupcake Diaries

This girl goes to a new middle school and nobody likes her. So she brings cupcakes. And everybody likes her.

by Lizzie, Grade 3, Rm.15

Dunk Under Pressure

Dunk Under Pressure is about a guy named Dunk. He is a new player on a basketball

team. He is new, but he is very good. He is better then the other players.

by Lizzie, Grade 3, Ms.Lisa’s Class

Interview with Ms. Lisa

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: I like yellow because it’s a happy color.

Q: What do you like about being a teacher?

A: I think children are honest and wise and I like to help children form their own thoughts and questions about the world. I think my job is part professional clown.

Q: What is your favorite kiddie book?

A: It’s a hard choice but I really like Because of  Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.

Q: Who is your favorite poet?

A: I like Audre Lorde and Adrienne Rich.

By Olivia Kai, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s class

My Name Is Not Angelica

My Name Is Not Angelica is a great book. It’s about a Rasha and she lives in a village near a river. One day 10 women come on boats and invite them to a banquette with the king. They think it is suspicious because most of them had never even seen the king but they go anyway. During the the middle of the night they get kidnapped. They get put on a boat with a lot of other slaves.

This is a very exciting book. I think you should read it!

by Ellie, 5th grade, Barbra’s class

The Girl Who Could Fly

“The Girl Who Could Fly” is about a girl named Piper McCloud who discovered she could fly. She accidentally reveals it to everyone else in Lowland County! So Piper gets sent to I.N.S.A.N.E, a secret facility for kids with powers like hers. She discovers that the facility is trying to destroy hers and everyone else that’s in the facility’s powers, so they try to escape. Read it to find out what happens!

“The Girl Who Could Fly” is a really amazing book, so if you find it anywhere, immediately start reading it (unless it’s in someone else hands). You never know, there might be a flying person in your neighborhood!

by Mira, 5th grade, Barbara’s class

Book Report: Maya Angelou

This book is about Maya Angelou’s life. She moved to Stamps Arkansas to live with her grandparents. When she was in high school she had a baby named Guy. Later on in the story Guy got into a accident and broke his neck. Maya said some famous speeches and now lives as a wonderful eighty-four year old.

By Tkiah, Grade 5, Room 13, Ms. Barbara

Disney Games Web Review

I  think  you  should  play  most  of  the  games  on  Disney  games. The  games  that you  could  play  are  awesome! I’ve   played  all  the  games  on  Disney  games.

By Miles, Grade  3,  Ms.  Lisa’ s Class

The Best Web!!

Helllllllo ladies and gentlemen! How would you like to know the best toy website around? It’s…(get ready) Amazon! It sells toys and other things for a good price and has both critical reviews and helpful reviews. You can use this website on our school website (Our schools name is Sequoia) And purchase items. Just click here and click on Amazon. Every time you use 100$ our school gets 4-5$. So go to the incredible Amazon.com!!!!

William, Grade 5, Room 13

Book Review: Madison Finn

The book series Madison Finn is about a girl who is in seventh grade and she has a bunch of files of her life and what happens every day. Like in the Madison Finn book I’m reading right now, she watches too much of the TV show Crime Time and finds out that there is a mystery at her school.

Madison has a key pal named Big Wheels and she lives in Washington DC. Madison has a dog named Phin, and her parents are divorced.Her friends are named Amie, Fiona, Lindsay, Egg, Hart, Drew and her enemy is Poison Ivy.

I think you should read this book because it is funny and it makes you feel like you are in the book!

By Mimi, 5th grade, Barbara’s Class

Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing Book Review

Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing is about this boy that goes to a party and wins a turtle. He names the turtle Dribble. This boy has a little brother that annoys him. His little brother has a birthday party and invites his friends. Something happens at the party.

Read it. You’ll like it!

Jason, Grade 5, Barbara’s Class

I Don’t Think So Episode 4

by Mimi, Mira and Ellie, Grade 5, Barbara’s Class

Zombie Channel Episode 2

by Olivia and Olivia, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s

The Pilar & Maddy Show Episode 1

Announcing a brand new podcast!

by Pilar and Maddy, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s

Tilden Park

Tilden Park is very nice. You get to learn about reptiles. There is also a park.

It is a little park. But you can still play in it. I like to play in it a lot.

by Elizabeth, Grade 3

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Have you ever wondered what a world of school subjects would be like? Say, there was a city called Dictionopolis and one called Digitopolis? And people named Rhyme and Reason? Well, you should read The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. It is all about a boy named Milo who drives through a tollbooth and goes to a magical place where he is expected to save the two princesses, Rhyme and Reason, from the Castle in the Air in the Mountains of Ignorance. On the way he meets the Humbug, Alec Bings, the Giant, and more. Finally, when he reaches the Mountains of Ignorance, he is sidetracked by evil demons and might not survive. Will Milo save the princesses? Will he stay alive? Will he go home?

I love this book because it is crazy and genius at the same time. I really recommend this book!!!

Eleanor, Grade Four, Mr. J’s class

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Do you love books where the author makes funny side comments about the story? Then read this book! A Tale Dark and Grimm is about the real, awesome version of Hansel and Gretel by the Grimm Brothers before it became a nice story. It’s about two kids named Hansel and Gretel whose heads get chopped off by their parents so they run away in search of nice parents. But it seems as if there are no nice parents since all the parents they meet have something bad about them (turning children into swallows, living in villages of warlocks, trying to eat them, gambling them to the devil, etc.). Finally, when they return home to forgive their parents, a dragon starts killing the villagers and they have to stop it! Will they defeat the dragon? Will they forgive their parents?

I love this book because I have read it many times but is still really awesome. It’s great how the author is always making sarcastic comments. Read this book! You’ll be sorry if you don’t!

Eleanor, Grade Four, Mr. J’s class

E.T.

A young boy named Elliot spots an extra terrestrial. At first Elliot is frightened but the E.T is more scared. Elliot takes pity and befriends him. He and E.T create a strong bond then E.T gets very sick. Will E.T get better? Will he get home?

Olivia Kai, grade 3

“I Don’t Think So,” Episode Three

by Mimi, Mira, and Ellie, Grade 5, Barbara’s Class

(with very special guest star, Ruby, Grade 5, Mr. Kim’s)

“I Don’t Think So,” Episode Two

OK, you figured it out…

by Ellie, Mimi and Mira, Grade 5, Barbara’s Class

The “I Don’t Think So” Show Episode One

Check it out!

by “Winnie Perry,” “Daffodil,” and “Lily,” Grade 5, Barbara’s Class

The Zombie Channel Episode 1

Please listen to our new show!

by Olivia and Olivia, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s Class

Amazing Optical Illusions

I recommend this book to a person who likes art and magic. When you open this book you will find tricks that will surprise your eyes. My favorite illusion is on page 17, a grumpy old and happy young man is on the same face. On page 24 there is a picture of men’s legs or women’s legs, which are they? Be careful how you read, the pictures may trick you.

by Lilly, Grade Three, Ms. Lisa’s Class

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?” That advertisment caught Reynie and his tutor’s eyes. It did the same with many other children, but after many hard tests only four are left. Reynie with his puzzle solving mind, Sticky with his, well, sticky mind, Kate with her gymnist skills, and Constance with… her grumpiness. These kids meet Mr. Benedict and he tells them of a evil plan that only they can stop. Will these kids beat the despicable Mr. Curtin or will he brain sweep the world?

This book is amazing. Trenton Lee Stewart had me reading this over and over and over again just so I could catch all the details. I give this book 5 stars!!

by Ruby

5th grade, Mr. Kim

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

Ever wonder who built the atomic bomb? And where they built it? This book has answers. No, it isn’t Non-Fiction, but actually a wonderfully told story of two 11 year old girls whose parents are working on the “gadget”. Both of the girls are very different. Dewey Kerrigan, is a crippled genius and Suze Gordon is daring and outspoken. But both of the girls are outsiders to the normal 1940′s girl but each deal with it diffrently. Despite them being close in that way, the girls aren’t friends. But when the unthinkable happens, will the girls become friends?

This is a great book. Ellen Klages really makes the charcters come alive. But don’t take it from me. GO READ IT YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Ruby

5th grade, Mr. Kim

Super Marios Bros. Tips

Youa wanna knowa howa to get ze cannon ofa world 1na?! (do yo want to know how to get to the world 1 cannon?!) So, you go on level 1-3 & do your regular mustachio moves & when you get to the fire breathing piranha plant, there are these hills and this top part. There is this secret place for getting the star coin. Right next to it- oh, yeah! you need a yoshi!, hold the A button & you’ll go on the roof and should see your self under a piranha plant & go through the warp zone super MARIO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous, Grade Something, Mr./Ms. Whosit

(You forgot your name! Please leave a comment with your name or this post will be deleted in two weeks!)

AddictingGames Web Review

Do you like action, strategy and racing games? The AddictingGames is your site! I think it is the best website in the world! The games are fun, so quit asking!

Tavis, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s Class

Jack and Jill Movie Review

Do you want to watch the funniest and saddest movie of all? Well it is time to watch Jack and Jill!!!! It is finally here and I just watched it 11/19/11. It is about this man named Jack. He is a commercial director but on the Thanksgiving weekend. Jill is a twin with Jack. Jack is always saying that Jill is annoying but after he says that Jill is annoying Jill always runs and cries.

This movie is awesome and funny. Sometimes it is sad. Most of the parts are funny. The funniest part was when Jill punched someone. That is all I have to say about the movie.

Jason, Grade 5, Barbara’s Class

Junonia by Kevin Henkes

Alice, a nine year-old girl who goes on vacation to a cottage named Scallop, loves the sea. She knows all the shell names and recognizes them by her little guidebook that she usually takes on her walks with her. She (as always) will spend her birthday here but, this time, she will be turning ten! Double digits! She thinks that this will be the best birthday ever. It will be like one huge family dinner (except for the fact that she is an only child but that does not matter to her). Her biggest hope for her birthday is finding one of those rare junonia shells. Everthing will be perfect if it goes Alice’s way, but will it go Alice’s way?

This book is amazing at getting you in Alice’s place. You feel her emotions and understand the plot a little better. You will love this book if you like other novels by Kevin Henkes such as:

• Bird Lake Moon
• Olive’s Ocean
• The Birthday Room
• Sun and Spoon
• Protecting Marie
• Words of Stone
• The Zebra Wall
• Two Under Par
• Return to Sender

I love this book and I hope you will too.

-Maya

Grade 4

Mr. J’s class

Grooveshark Web Review

Do you like music? Do you love music??? If so, you’ll love this website. Grooveshark is a free online radio so you can pick your favorite songs, organize them in your playlist and play them at whatever time you want. Grooveshark has (almost) all the songs in the universe!! They have music from opera to the jazzy type.They also have holiday songs. Grooveshark is the best!!!

I really recommend this website to you.

by Olivia Kai

Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s

How to Leave a Comment

Our Sequoia Times writers are not paid in cash. They are paid by your nice comments, telling them what you appreciate about their work, or if you agree with their review, or if you have something to add. Please take the time, every now and then, to leave a comment for a schoolmate!

Here’s what you do. Simply read a post. If you like it, click on the blue link, “Leave a Comment” (sometimes it says something like, “3 Comments” but you can still click on it). Where it asks for your email, don’t put your real email, as you might get all sorts of junkmail/spam sent to you. Instead, please put your first name @nil.com. If you just make up an email address, it can cause problems for the web site because it will test it and say, “Hey, that’s not real!” So, this is the safest way. If your name is Bob, you put bob@nil.com. If your name is Cindy you put cindy@nil.com.

Get it? Got it? Good!

For name, just put your first name.

For web site, just leave that blank.

Then you post your comment. After an editor checks it out to make sure it’s full of wonderful positive words, it will be published in a day or two.

Thank you so much for supporting your schoolmates!

Family and friends are also encouraged to leave comments! Thanks, Grandma!

Magic Tree House 12

This is a very interesting book. It is about polar bears. This girl and boy go on an adventure to the north pole. It is very wild and crazy. They have to wear animal skin to keep warm. It looked nasty. They went to a cave. It is a very cool book.

by Author Unknown

(if you wrote this, please click “Leave a Comment” and tell us!)

Web Review: Fun Brain

Have you ever been on FunBrain before? What, you have never been on there? Well on FunBrain there are Math games, Reading, and you can just have fun. So think about going on there after you read this!

Tkiah

Grade 5

Barbara’s Class

Ling and the Magic Paintbrush Book Review

Hey kids , there is  this wonderful book called Ling and the Magic Paintbrush I think you should read it. The book is about a boy named Ling and he really wants to paint but he do not have a paint brush. One day his friend gave him a paint brush and said use it wisely . Wonder what happens next?

This book can teach you some really good lessons .

Madeline

Grade 3

Ms. Lisa

Book Review: The Night Fairy

The Night Fairy is about a night fairy  that lost her wings and needed a home. She found a home and a new friend named Skuggle. Skuggle  lived in a plum tree. The fairy had an amazing adventure.

This story is an interesting book. It is so interesting that it would feel like you are in the book.

Olivia

Grade 3

Ms. Lisa’s Class

Monster Blood Book Review

This book was about a kid who had a can of monster blood. He used it on his friend & didn’t turn out the way he expected it to. He turned into a mega kid. He started destroying everything!!!!

I love this book!!!! It’s out of this world! If you like this book (monster-mania) then read this Goosebumps series! Now its time to get those bumps selling!

Miles, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s

William, Grade 5, Ms. Barbara’s

 

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

It is probably rated: 4th grade. It is about a boy that survived the killing curse made by Lord Voldemort [Tom Riddle.] This boy named Harry Potter had some powers transfered into him by Lord Voldemort. They became super enemies. There are 7 books in the series. Should you read these books? Yes you should so quit asking.

by Zachary, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s

by Tavis, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s

Book Review: Magic Kitten

The book Magic Kitten is about a kitten that is found by a girl and she figured out that the kitten is magic. The girl wants to tell her family and friends about the kitten, but the kitten says, “No, my enemies will find me!” And so the girl hides the kitten. But one day the girl has to let go of the kitten. She said she would never forget him, and she never did.

By Pilar, 3rd grade, Mrs. Lisa’s Class

And Mimi, 5th grade, Barbara’s Class

 

Little Women

Little Women is my favorite book because it’s about four girls. Their father went out to war. It is a classic and is very well written. Meg is sixteen and is vain. Beth is shy but sweet. Little Amy is youngest and is probably nine years old.  Jo is a tomboy and wants to be like her father and go out to war. This book is about adventure and tragedy.

by Olivia Kai, Grade 3, Ms. Lisa’s

by Mira, Grade 5, Ms. Barbara’s

Junie B. Jones Party Animals

Do you like Junie B. Jones, well I do. She is funny, wild, and silly. Party Animals is about her and her friend go to their rich friends house. But they only go to persuade her nana for a dog. While they were begging, they also  were misbehaving. I bet you will love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                                                                                                                                                                                            Cyntra                                                                                                                                                           Grade 5                                                                                                                                                        Barbara

Book Review of Goosebumps: the shocker on shock street

This story is about two robot kids who think they’re real kids they get to go on this awesome behind the scene creepy amusement park! On their little mini tram they have these laser guns (toy gun) so they can shoot the insane monsters (very similar to Lego land CA.).  But suddenly there tram breaks down! they got off even there ‘father’ said very sternly,”don’t you dare get off the tram!” (there circuits probably over heated). But then something seems to be going wrong- very wrong… Stay tuned for our next ABC news review! at www.blah blah.com! We highly recommend for you to throw your electronics away; with every thrown away electronic thrown away we will give you a 12-month member ship to any book store in The U.S.A you’d like! So start reading  & stop playing!

William

Grade 5

Barbara

Mississppi Bridge: Mildred D. Taylor

I bet if you read Mildred D. Taylor books you would really like them. The first time I read Mississippi Bridge I was curious   why did the black man who got kicked off the bus help save the white people from dying in the river? First let me tell you how this happened. One black man was going to ride the bus to get somewhere. He got on the bus , and they made a stop to let other people get on.It was a white family getting on the bus so he had to get off because there was no other seats left. So he got off. Right after he got off , the bus was going into Lake Rosa Lee. It went in there because it was a bad storm. After that he tried to save the people in the lake. So I really want you to read this, I bet you will love it.

Tkiah

Grade 5

Barbara

Book Review of The Well

 

The Well is about these two black boys that hit a white teenager. But it isn’t actually two boys, it was one. The two boys were named Hammer and David. Hammer was the one that punched the white teenager. He hit him so hard that the white teenager fell back, hit a rock and fainted, then fell in a ditch.

This book is awesome there is tons of action. There is also some funny parts and I think there were some sad parts but this is a great book. So stop playing that game Black Ops and get this book at the library.

Jason

Grade 5

Ms. Barbara

Song of the Tree

Song of the Tree is a great book!!!!  It’s about the Logan family who are black. A caucasian man and his slave come for permission to cut down all the trees the kid’s mom says ok, because they are willing to pay money. Cassie, Little man, and Stacey don’t want them to, so they try to stop them. You should definitely should read this book it’s awesome!!!

Ellie

Grade 5

Barbra

The Adventures of Aliens and Robots

Once upon a time there was an egg from Mars, and a robot from Saturn. The robot very often touched the egg. One day the egg hatched and an enormous amount of steam came out. The robot stood terrified*  while an alien life form came out. When the alien saw the robot it cowered and made a pathetic noise mee meee mmmeeeeeee!** The robot saw that the robot was afraid of him, so the alien and the robot became friends. That is only the beginning of the adventures of aliens and robots.

By Julian

Grade 5

Barbara

Book Review: Dragon’ s Egg

If you’re interested in dragon books, you’d love Dragon’s Egg! It’s about a 12 year old girl named Mella who finds a dragon egg, but she doesn’t know it’s a dragon egg. But boy, is she suprised when she finds out “the stone” is a dragon egg. After the father of the egg dies, she and her friend Roger must deliver the egg to the to the hatching grounds. If you’re interested in reading Dragon’s Egg, you can check it out in the school library!

Mira

5th grade

Barbara’s class

Book Review: Eleven

Eleven is a book about a girl named Winnie Perry who is in fifth grade and  about to graduate to middle school. She has some problems with her best friend  and finds out that they are not like each other at all. But meanwhile Winnie has a secret friend that everybody picks on! She may be weird but she is very nice.  I think you should read this book if your eleven or in the mood for a satisfying book.

Mimi

Fifth grade

Barbara’s class

Click here for the link

Andres’ Radio Show

Episode One

Web review of Animal Quiz

Animal Quiz

Animal Quiz is one of the best websites I’ve ever been on! When you get on to this website it will give you an awesome quiz on animals. Some of the questions are harder than others, but the whole point of it is that some are hard! What I think is really cool is that if you don’t like the answer you put down you can change your answer to a different one. You can’t do that on other quizzes!

-Mina

room 14

Mr.J

Review of Wacky Web Tales

Wacky Web Tales

Want some kooky fun? You should pick Wacky Web Tales. It has funny stories and when you add the wacky words. It’s even funnier!!!

When you get on the site, you get a list of stories to fill the words into. I recommend “New Kids in School” and “I Love the Fall.” Those ones are SUPER DUPER AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Wacky Web Tales. It’s so funny but it’s educational, too.  I could play on it for hours and not get bored. There’s funny story after funny story.  It’s a great website and you really should visit it.

by Ruby

Grade 5

Mr. Kim

Wordle Review by Maya

http://www.wordle.net/

This is an awesome website for birthday cards, fun, and much more. All you have to do is click on create and type a bunch of words into the box and click go.

Wordle tips

• The more that you type in a word, the more it appears
• You have to put 2 word words together or else they will separate

example: SanFrancisco

This is the website you could be on for hours and never stop, so I really recommend this website!

-  Maya

Rm.14

Mr.J’s class

Web Review of Google

Google

Are you boys and girls looking for a website where you can search for stuff ? Isn’t it hard to find the perfect website? You should visit Google. They will help you find something in a flash! If you are looking for something and you can’t find it, you just go to Google.com and type in what you need and they will get you to the best websites they know.

Use Google!!!

By Alycia

Grade 4

Mr. Jeung

Web Review of Wikipedia

Wikipedia

Do you ever have questions about anything? Do you ever wonder about how everything got created? Then Wikipedia is the site for you. Wikipedia is basically a online encyclopedia. (It even calls itself one!) There’s a search bar at the top of the home page. Whenever you type something in the bar (for example peanut butter) there’s an entire page about peanut butter!! There’s pages about celebrities, places, things, EVERYTHING!!

If you wonder about stuff, go to Wikipedia!!! (link above!)

Andres

Grade 5

Mr. Kim’s class

Website Review: wordsmith.org/anagram/

Anagram

If you like interesting things, wordsmith.org/anagram is the website for you! Wordsmith.org/anagram gives you anagrams for any word. An anagram is a word that the letters can be switched around in order to make a word. For example, marshmallows can be changed into harm mallows. They may not make sense, but that’s okay! This website also tells you how many anagrams your word makes!

Now what are you waiting for? Go check it out!

by Eleanor

Grade 4

Mr. J

Web Review Of Defenders Animal Quiz by Serina and Karina

Defenders Animals Quiz

You should go to the website because you will know a lot about these animals with your technology. It is also a very fun game to play, it also takes a lot of animal knowledge. When you get confused/don’t know the answers, don’t click check answer yet, use all your braincells first then you’ll have MY PERMISSION to check the answer! Also when you use too many braincells, don’t blame me, they will probably grow again. If you love it and play it too many times it also use some of the space in your brain because you are learning more!

By Karina and Serina

Room 11

Mr. Kim

Sequoia School Mascot

Have you ever seen those flyers about the Sequoia School Mascot search but didn’t know what to enter? Well I’ve got the perfect suggestion  for you,

Introducing

The Sequoia Squirrels!

It may sound funny but I really think that it is a great idea.I really hope that you will consider changing your vote. If this post does not change your vote, perhaps you will now realize that there are other people who have different ideas about the Sequoia School Mascot Search, as we are aware.

-Maya

Rm 14

Mr. J’s class

Book Review: Holes

When I first started reading Holes I thought it was just another really long book. But once I started to get into it, my thoughts completely changed. Since I like this book I am going to write a review about it. The main plot of the story is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats who gets framed for something he didn’t do. He gets sent to Camp Green Lake where he has to dig 1 hole each day. Every one of them has to be 5 feet deep and 5 feet long. He learns along the way that behind all that sun and dirt they call a lake, something amazing hides…..

This book is amazing because each page has you on the edge of your seat. Also this book can teach you a lot of lessons. If you read this book you will die from how amazing it is!!!!!

by Andres

Grade 5

Mr. Kim’s class

Review of No Cream Puffs!

Madison, an amazing baseball player, is the first girl to get picked to be in the little league of her town. Expected to be a failure, Madison proves them wrong with her awesome pitching. But besides being a star pitcher she has a lot more going on.  She’s grounded, experiencing extreme friend troubles, is the only tom-boy for miles, and is keeping a secret so huge her town (and her neighbor) might blow up if she told.

I love this book. Madison is funny and the author, Karen Day, did a great job making the characters come alive. You get sucked into the book and Madison’s town.  Read this book (or else)!

By Ruby

Grade 5

Mr. Kim’s Class

Movie Review: Whip It

Hey Kids, do you like rollerskating? Be sure to check out the movie Whip it! Whip It is a very funny, high action movie. It is about a teenager named Bliss whose mom is obsessed with beauty pageants but Bliss really loves rollerskating. One day Bliss enrolls herself in a women’s rollerskating team but if her mom finds out she will be in BIG trouble! Will Bliss make it to the rollerskating championship or will her mom find out? Seriously, you have to see this movie!

I liked this movie because it was really funny and the story was amazing. It takes your breath away!

by Eleanor

Grade 4

Mr. J’s Class

Book Review: Chasing Vermeer

Chasing Vermeer is an interesting mystery involving two characters named Petra and Calder. Petra and Calder meet because of a book called Lo! that makes them wonder many things and learn about the not-so-famous artist Vermeer, who has no traces left of him. While they are wondering this, Petra and Calder’s favorite Vermeer painting, A Lady Writing, gets stolen and the only way to get it back is by finding the truth about Vermeer or the painting will be destroyed! Will they find the truth or the truth before it is too late? Read the book to find out!

I liked this book because it kept me in suspense. There were some times when I had no idea what would happen next!

by Eleanor

Grade 4

Mr. J

Ida B by Katherine Hannigan Review

Have you ever listened to  your own backyard? This book is about Ida B, a girl, speaking to the apple trees in her orchard and the brook running through the yard. When tragedy strikes their family, she is worried life will never be the same.

This is the book that will knock your brains out if  you want fun, emotion and creativity . As Kate DiCamillo said, “I feel a deep gratitude that Ida B exists.” You will be thankful too, once you read Ida B.

by Maya

Rm.14, Mr. J’s class

Grade 4

Book Talk on Stink and the Guinea Pig Express

The Third Graders of Room 15 had a great book talk today! Check it out.

Stink and the Guinea Pig Express Book Talk

Shop for Sequoia

Next time you buy something online through Amazon.com (only try this at home, kids, with your parents, kids), make sure to get there by clicking on the Sequoia Amazon link. If you do, our school gets money when you shop!

When you access Amazon.com via our school link, Amazon will donate 4% of your purchase to the Sequoia Dads Club in support of vital enrichment programs for our students. You pay nothing extra!

You can click HERE for now, or look over on the right side of the Sequoia Times and you’ll see a link in the blogroll box.

Pancakes and Praise

Sequoia was recently covered in the local newspaper, The Montclarion! Here’s what they said about us:

Dad’s Club fundraiser raises money,
builds school community

By J.M. Brown
Correspondent

Armed with a metal spatula, new recruit Martin Bond assumed his duties gladly.

As one of the newest members of the 70-year-old Dads’ Club, the Hawaiian-shirt clad Bond tended to the crispy bacon and sizzling sausage accompanying the hot cakes and scrambled eggs that help fund art and garden classes for his son, Miles, and 350 other students at Oakland’s Sequoia Elementary.

Even though it meant a spending a sweaty, grease-laden Sunday morning in front of a steaming grill, the club’s annual Pancake Breakfast and Rummage Sale is exactly the kind of opportunity Bond and his wife sought when choosing the Dimond District school instead of one closer to their neighborhood near Mills College.

“An important reason we chose Sequoia is the active parents’ club,” said Bond, who is among a quarter of the school’s parent population that lives outside its attendance area.

Many parents at last weekend’s event said the high amount of parent involvement is what draws them to Sequoia. Established in 1939, the Dads’ Club is the oldest parent organization at the Lincoln Street school, which itself turned 100 this year. While the group’s name indicates all-male membership, there are plenty of women who take part.

The Dads’ Club has worked with the school’s other key organization, the Friends of Sequoia School, to raise a combined goal of $30,000 annually for the arts, library, garden and other enrichment programs that are often the first to be slashed when public schools suffer deep state funding cuts like those seen this year.At least 270 people gobbled up 700-plus pancakes on May 3, raising more than $1,100. Parents and community members also bought more than $2,000 in books, clothes and other items at the rummage sale, which started Saturday and continued Sunday.

“We try to do the most good for the most number of students,” said breakfast organizer Scott Wikstrom, whose daughters, Clarisse and Eleanor are in the fourth and first grades, respectively.

Attendance at the breakfast has doubled in recent years, and there also has been a steady increase in the Dads’ Club membership, Wikstrom said. He believes a key reason is that parents from the neighborhood are more willing now than in years past to explore the benefits of public school.

Besides fundraising for the school, events like the breakfast are also key social opportunities for parents, who are ethnically and economically diverse, to get to know each other and the school staff.

In fact, the reputation of Sequoia’s staff is a big draw, said parent Leila Abu-Saba, whose son Jacob is a second-grader. Like Bond, Abu-Saba lives closer to another school but chose Sequoia for its teachers.

“We love this school,” she said as she sifted through children’s T-shirts at the rummage sale. “There is not a single teacher you wouldn’t want your student to study with.”

Abu-Saba said she also appreciates the school’s mission to teach nonviolent conflict resolution and nurture a well-developed sense of parental community. Indeed, parent engagement is critical to a school’s success, said Amy Colt, who lives in the neighborhood and teaches at nearby Bret Harte Middle School.

“It’s very, very big,” Colt said of parent fundraising efforts. “They can reach out to many parts of the community, like homeowners who are going to stay here.” At the rummage sale’s crowded clothing table, Colt loaded her arms with shirts and pants for students at her school who have to wear uniforms but can’t afford a bunch of new clothes.

Several feet away, prospective Sequoia parent Kathie Rhodes also rummaged through the piles, hoping to find a bargain.

She and husband Roger King, who live just around the corner, plan to send their two children, now ages 1 and 3, to Sequoia when they are old enough.

“It’s a great fundraiser to bring the neighborhood together,” Rhodes said , adding that she heard Sequoia’s principal, Kyla Trammell, and the teachers are wonderful.

“It’s exciting to have a high-quality school in our neighborhood.”

The school will have another opportunity to raise funds from 5-9 p.m. May 12-14. Red Boy Pizza, 1500 Leimert Blvd., will host Dine Out for Sequoia. The restaurant will donate 15 percent of proceeds from diners who present a flier that can be downloaded at the school’s site, www.sequoiaschool.net.

SPECIAL MISSION

HELP! The Silver Kooks need your help to pick a song for graduation(promotion). Stop lying around and

GO TO:

Silver Kooks Survey

WAIT. almost forgot. listen to the songs at your favorite music and then choose  by clicking the link

Silver Kooks Exclusive Interview

All About Germs by Khayree

Warning! This slide show you are about to see is so top secret that the president can’t even look at it. Every bacteria you see is MINE all MINE, so don’t steal it from me. This show will make your head erupt. I got so smart that I know every single word in the germ dictionary. 

Can you please rate this at the link: All About Germs!

MLK Rap

Congratulations to our very own Anthony, Victor and Michael, who took Second Place for the entire Oakland Unified School District at the MLK Oratorical Fest!!!

Here is the rap they wrote and performed:

Las Vegas by Laitsuen

I went to Las Vegas with my family. I was playing games there. There was a casino there. It was fun there. I slept in a motel with lots of cool things in it. There was alot of games there.

People were gambling there. My parents were at the slots. I went to a casino that was very weird. I did not like the weird casino because it was inappropriate for kids. The ceiling had women on it. Laitsuen Wu 2/11/09

When It’s Okay To Scream by Frank(Izabella)

Don’t you get annoyed when people scream for no reason whatsoever? Esp in your ear? Well this will tell you if they have a reason so you don’t get in trouble for yelling your head off at them and shove them off of a building? Well you probably haven’t shoved someone off a building, but you get the idea…                            

If you fall off of a really tall chair when you’re not expecting it you can scream, while if you see a tiny spider, not one of those ones with fangs bigger than your arm, but a jumping spider for instance, and its not doing ANYTHING, then its NOT okay to scream and if you do you’ll get pushed off a building. The ones with fangs bigger than your arm (and also poisonous spiders) are en exception. Now if your house blows up or something or yours blows up (including yourself) you can scream. As long as it’s something of YOURS like your car or your house or your dog. If you see something like an airplane blow up on the news, WHY would you scream? WHO in their right mind would scream? Anyway, You’re going to get shoved off a bridge if you do.

Anyway, that gives you a good idea about when you can yell at someone or shove them off a bridge or building (just kidding about the bridge thing)

 

By Frank (Izabella)

Grade 4

EVIL THINGIES by Fred (Clarisse)

You know how you call people mean, right? Well I like to call them EVIL. I can give you many examples of evil people. Like my sister for instance. She’s evil because evil sisters can get very evil. Evil is also one of my very favorite words.

In different places there are different evil things. Like in Joshua Tree there are alot of evil spiky plants that you have to make sure they don’t poke your butt. There are some evil animals in the world, too. Pretend you are in a rainforest and you happen to bump into an evil, evil, fat, scary hippo that wants to eat you! That would be very evil.

by Fred grade 4

La taza de Cafe by Camille grade 4

La taza de  Cafe is one of the best cuban restrunts in the world. There might be other good ones, but this is great!

 The restrunt is near the Grande lake theater. And sort of near the rose garden I think.  Well if you go there you have to get the Sandwich cubano. It is the greatist. Well any ways I think you should go.

      by camille

Ballet By Julia-Rose

Hello. I am going to tell you about ballet. I love going to ballet it is very fun. We do all sorts of streches. Then we dance at the bars. After we dance on the floor. Later we travel around the room. It is fantastic. After ballet I feel very nice.

When  you dance you are not really thinking about anything. It just helps you relax. A lot of people think balllet is just for girls, but that is not at all true. Boys: please do not think that ballet is a girly thing because it is’nt.

Ballet is very helpful in school because it helps your brain work. ballet is a great way to exersize. So if you are ever  low on exersize ballet is the thing to do.

By Julia-Rose

Music by Kierra

Hi kids , I am here to discuss music!  Now there’s all diffrent kinds of  music  Rap, Hip hop, Pop, Rockn’ Roll, Jazz etc.

Now my  favorite type of music is hip hop and rap. I also kinda like pop but not that much.  I really  don’t like Jazz and Rockn’ Roll, But somepeople do .  Bye Bye Hasta la Vista!

hometown buffet by Khayree

Hometown Buffet food is really good. This kind of restaurant is the kind when you go there and eat for about two hours. But when I go there I take the whole family. I mostly eat all the fried chicken up.

When it is dessert time .I get alot of ice cream. And i get some brownies . sometimes i get brain freezes . When it is somebody’s birthday we stay there for three hours eating desert .

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid 3!!! By Alycia

    

    Hey do you not like reading? Well now you do!!! I want to tell you about a great book called Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3. It came out on January 13. It is green and AWESOME!!! If you are a fan of Diary of a Wimpy Kid 1 and 2 you will love this one, but if you have not read the others then you should read this one!!!

  It looks like you are reading a real diary. The words are not nice and neat. They look like it is someone’s hand writing!!! This one is about him thinking this is the LAST straw. It is really funny and a great book.

By Alycia 

GRADE  4

Sushi by Kelly

     Have you taste sushi? Its really Good! Sushi is made out of  alot of things . like ……………… rice, seaweed , fish, cucomber, and etc. ………………. u can dip your sushi in soy sauce, wasabi, and etc……… 

     this are the stuff u can put on your sushi: ginger, um um,…..i dont know what u put on your sushi. wellllllllll …… bye…  

                                                                                                                                by KelLy

                                                                                                      gRaDe 4th

WALL-E review

WALL-E takes place 3,000 years in the future. WALL-E is the last robot on Earth. Then when a robot named EVE comes to Earth, WALL-E falls in love. All the people left Earth on a big space ship called the Axiom. WALL-E follows EVE into space and has an adventure.

You will like this movie. I give this movie 4.5 stars.Out on DVD and Blu-ray now. So save up your money and buy it. I think it costs $20. So buy it or ask for it on your birthday or christmas or you can rent it. So go get it!!!

by Alex grade 4

Cheese By Julia-Rose

• Hi kids! I love cheese and I want to give you some advice on cheese. When you eat cheese make sure you don’t buy the orange cheddar because that has die and that isn’t healthy.  If you get to choose your own cheese a very delicious kind is sharp cheddar. There is one  kind that is very good, but I can’t remember the name of it. I would recommend a raw cheese.  Those are rather yummy.
• People all over the world eat cheese. Cheese is very useful. We use cheese for sandwiches, pasta, salad (sometimes), crackers, burgers, and a lot of other things. I am very fond of cheese. Cheese was invented in Greece I think. There are milllions of people who love cheese.
• When you eat cheese make sure you savor the moment. It may not be every day you eat that great cheese.
• By Julia-Rose, grade 4

Rain Forest Cafe Review By Camille

There is this GREAT cafe in San Francisco. It is called the Rain Forest Cafe. I’ve gone there for about eight years. Mostly just for my birthday. But I have gone there for other events.

I don’t want to tell you a lot about the Rain Forest Cafe but there is one thing that I do want to tell you. In different times there are basically storms. There are some elephants and rain forest type of stuff. Well I hope I see you there.

by Camille

Grade 4

Elephant Bar by Brigette

Elephant Bar is the greatest  restaurant . It has good food. We usually order chicken, fish, teriyaki bowl, salmon and other kinds of food. The thing I like the best at dinner is desert time! We order double fudge chocolate brownies!

by Brigette

Grade 4

jOSHuA trEe by fRed(ClArissE)

 YOU SHOULD REALLY GO TO JOSHUA TREE!!! but DON’T bring winter clothes or you will DIE of the heat! There is also a very very very long long hike with an anthill. There are maybe too many SPIKY plants!!! there are no evil animals so you can go there and (maybe) have a lot of fun!!!

Spring break is a great time to go to joshua tree. In the winter it would be very very cold. So don’t go in the winter.

by Fred
grade 4

Book Talk with Anthony

Book Talk with Jerome

Book Talk with Ebony

Book Talk is back with some brand new episodes!

The Crazy Show Episode One

Here is a new show by Na Auni!

J & D Experiences Episode One

A new podcast from Jerome and Devon about the WWE!

Victor and Anthony’s Animal Geese Down

i AM STUCK BY ALLISON

do u ever have a time in your life when you were stuck? I mean like you dont know what to do and your options are out… well that is whats happening to me… i am stuck,l i am stuck… do u know what.. i am stuck. no not smuck.. stuck.. thank you and this is a stuck production..

 

Allison grade 5

100 People Who Changed America review by Tiffany

If enjoy history than you should read the book 100 People Who Changed America. Even if you don’t enjoy history than you should still read this book because it might supise you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It talks about inventors, first people to………., fantastic athletic people, and alot more!!!!!!!!! This is one of my favorite books!!!!!!!!!! I think you would enjoyit to. You won’t want to put it down.

I think you will love this book so much that I think you should go right down to the library and check out this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You will love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tiffany

5th grade