Editor:

Mrs. Annie Mathews

Spring, 2017

Page 1

Union School,

359 Union Avenue,

Rutherford, NJ 07070

2 0 1 - 438 - 7 67 5

Choices By: Mr. Blanchard

There is an old Cherokee story of a grandfather and his grandson. The old man tells the boy the story of two wolves that are at odds with each oth-er. These wolves are representative of the inner turmoil with which we all struggle. He says that one wolf is EVIL: anger, envy, sorrow, regret, fearful thinking, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resent-ment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego are all part of this wolf. The other wolf is GOOD: joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith are all part of this wolf. The boy turns to his grandfather and asks him which wolf wins. The response is simple, but pro-found: The one you feed.

Remember: If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!

Do you want to write for the Union School Newsletter?

Please contact

Mrs. Mathews at <annie.nj99@gmail.com>

Snow in March?!?

By Elizabeth Mathews, Grade 8

A lot of people are becoming more and more un-settled with the inclement weather in so called 'spring months'. However, it has become a pattern now - warm Decembers and cold Aprils. Songs like 'White Christmas' will have no meaning to fu-ture generations, and the rhyme 'April Showers Bring May Flowers' may not always be the case. We may even need to change season names in the future- or just spend millions of dollars to change the definitions of spring, summer, winter, and fall in every dictionary.

Photograph by Elizabeth M - Catskills, NY

Editor:

Mrs. Annie Mathews

Spring, 2017

Page 2

Union School,

359 Union Avenue,

Rutherford, NJ 07070

2 0 1 - 438 - 7 67 5

Do you want to write for the Union School Newsletter?

Please contact

Mrs. Mathews at <annie.nj99@gmail.com>

Notes from Ms. Nadia Alvarado’s French class:

French students completed their Podcasts this marking period. They got a chance to be fashion critics as part of the clothing lesson. They chose a celebrity, wrote a biography for them including: personal and family life, clothing they were wearing, where the items were bought and a detailed critique of the outfit. They used previously learned and pre-sent vocabulary and grammar structures to create their script. We then headed on to the computer lab to create the podcasts. Some students got even more creative and put to-gether vodcasts. We have a lot of talent in the 8th grade French classes! Notre classe est toujours à la mode!

Notes from Ms. Klubeck’s Art class:

Did you know March is Youth Art Month? YAM is a celebration of the visual arts for grades K-12! It is observed in March, with thousands of schools in America participating in school and community art exhibitions. Select students from Ms. Klubeck's art classes had their artwork displayed in the Bergen County show! Students received certificates and Union School was honored by the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders for participating. Congratulations to all!

Students in pictures: 1st picture: Abigail Schmitt- Grade 7

2nd picture: Sophie Austin- Grade 7

Editor:

Mrs. Annie Mathews

Spring, 2017

Page 3

Union School,

359 Union Avenue,

Rutherford, NJ 07070

2 0 1 - 438 - 7 67 5

Hate By: Sheila Djurkovic

Hate is a Monday morning

Very unwanted

Always occurring

Negatively looked upon

Though they are both negative

We strive all the time

To deal with them

And not let it bring us down

Do you want to write for the Union School Newsletter?

Please contact

Mrs. Mathews at <annie.nj99@gmail.com>

Vintage Camera By: Bridget Sullivan

SNAP! My vintage camera captures my perfect

picture.

I release my head to the left of the camera, and

look out at the cool, riverside.

I adjust my fingers, feeling the leather sensation

of the camera.

Letting the cool, crisp air, slap my face.

SNAP! Once again, I capture the perfect image.

The picture slides out, collapsing onto my hand.

I let my hair dance in the wind, as I take out my

journal from my suede satchel.

The sun kisses my cheeks.

I write down the perfect memory, as I place my

vintage camera back into my bag.

I look back, back into the fields. With roaming

horses, and Buttercup’s bloomed everywhere.

I walk away, as the pebbles of the dirt road

crunch in every step, knowing I’ll definitely be

back.

Oil

The Best One By: Stephanie Rettenberger

No one compares to my favorite person

for you taught me a lesson

You have no choice

You’re stuck with me your whole life We can be free

Words can’t describe how much you mean

to me You’re a beautiful queen

You’re amazing

in ways that can’t be explained Me and you

We are chained

I can’t love anyone this much

I can feel it with just one touch

No one loves you as much as I do

it’s just not possible When it comes to us two

Best friends

are hard to find because the best one

is already mine

Ode to the Moon By: Paige Holman

My Moon My truest companion

Comforting me when the sun abandons me You light up the darkness

Like a light bulb flickering on inside a dark room But each night that goes by

Your brightness fades Shrinking smaller and smaller

Until you are nothing A dark spot left in the sky where you should be

An emptiness in my heart But you come back

Growing and Growing Until you are full

Smiling your brilliant smile I smile back

Knowing that in the morning Even though I will not see you You will still be there for me

Editor:

Mrs. Annie Mathews

Spring, 2017

Page 4

Union School,

359 Union Avenue,

Rutherford, NJ 07070

2 0 1 - 438 - 7 67 5

Home

By: Gabriells Rodriguez

Can I go back home,

back to a place called Rutherford

where there's a bulldog on his jersey,

where the sun is always bright and the sky is al-

ways blue

where the water is pure not as salty as the sandy

shore.

Do you want to write for the Union School Newsletter?

Please contact

Mrs. Mathews at <annie.nj99@gmail.com>

Anxiety By: Juan Dominguez

Anxiety is a student who doesn’t know what to

write,

panicking to find a topic.

The student can’t think of anything;

all he knows is gone.

He starts to regret coming to school,

but then breathes slowly and begins to remember

where he is;

he now has an idea.

Oil

Super

Ode to Spring By: Aida Feza

I jump in the air

Breeze brushing my face

And the flowers burst with color

Spring rushes in like waves crashing

As I fall back down

The warmth of the sun kisses my back

This weather can only mean

Spring

Chaos By: Sophia Surdovel

Chaos is war

Constantly around us

Always there, but

Always changing

Chaos is a brain

It is constantly

Twisting and turning

And always coming up with new problems

Chaos is like a clock

Ticking, ticking, ticking

Then boom

Everything I thought I knew is gone

Imagination By: Meghan Litchenberger

Imagination is time

It’s constant

It never runs out

Imagination is a colored pencil

It fills in blank spaces

Imagination is oxygen

You need it to live

You need it to get through life

Imagination is a necessity

It’s needed for all people

Young or old

Kindness By: Sarah Dzurillay

Kindness is like the presents on Christmas morn-

ing.

This season brings you happiness,

But more importantly, it puts a smile on your face

As well as make the people

Around you feel the love that you give them

Kindness is the sun

Peeking out from behind the

Clouds of gray.

It’s always there,

You just have to find it.

Super

Union School,

359 Union Avenue,

Rutherford, NJ 07070

2 0 1 - 438 - 7 67 5

Editor:

Mrs. Annie Mathews

Spring, 2017

Page 5

Do you want to write for the Union School Newsletter?

Please contact

Mrs. Mathews at <annie.nj99@gmail.com>

Figure this ! Math challenges for families

Answer to the Winter issue(Math Puzzle # 7— Double or Not): If you are working the entire week, the doubling method earns you more money.

Reflections By: Isabella Vega

She sat on the towering mountain

The music playing in the distance

And a pile of books made it feel like a sanctuary to her

She gazed into the sky

Watching the clouds caress her like a large furry blanket

Feeling the soft blades of grass brush against her

In the distance the sun began to crawl down

The girl closed her eyes as warm tears ran down her

cheeks

This is where she wanted to stay….

Away from the hateful world