THE HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL

DO YOU KNOW YOUR TEACHERS? QUIZ

By SummerAnne Wadleigh

I know every Topanga Elementary student must have had an amazingtime at the 2015 annual Halloween Carnival! There were some new excitingevents that were held at the carnival this year.

They had the amazing Photo Booth where you could take lovely pictureswith your friends or family. They also had the wonderful helium balloons whereyou could buy awesome Halloween decorated balloons, and of course, thecutest pumpkin patch for all the little ones to go play in.

Now, don’t get me started on the delicious food. They sold pizza, adelightful pasta, and a very tasty salad. There was also a bake sale where they

sold yummy cookies, sweet cupcakes, anddelish rice crispy treats.

The whole school danced to tunes new andold played by fifth grade parent Piper Norwood.The Master of Ceremonies was Kristy Beauvais.She, along with Lisa Looney and ChryssaLightheart judged the fun contests throughoutthe night. There were fantastic costumes andgroovy dancers.

The Haunted House was a blast! Some ofthe fifth graders, along with some alumnistudents, helped scare people inside the maze.In the beginning of the maze it seemed likenothing was really scary, until my brother,Tristan Wadleigh, dressed as a spooky skeleton,jumped out at you from a corner and growled.After that, you turned a corner and entered aroom filled with arms, legs, and a zombie bride’shead. The next room had skeletons hangingfrom the ceiling. Then you entered the last roomin the maze. A wooden coffin sat in the corner

on the ground where Naomi Schneider, dressed as Dracula waited for hervictims. When you walked by, she would lift the lid and sit up and scream atyou.

There was also some fun entertainment. Thelocal band The Topanga Girls sang and did achoreographed number to “Calling All the Monsters.”Melanie Kareem’s belly dancing troop also put on awonderful show as always.

They also had really fun booths like Wheel ofMisfortune where you spun a big wheel and you couldspin and land on Rotten Teeth where you would get aLaffy Taffy, or Pick a Booger, where you would get agummy worm, #13 where you would get a glow stickbracelet, or you could land on JACKPOT! DanielleGhandee and Malena Stanley sure put together anawesome Halloween Carnival this year! Mr. Gediman,the schools new principal, commented on how creativeour school carnival was. He enjoyed it very much andlooks forward to the next one. K

Riley Connor tries her luck at the Wheel of Miss Fortune!

Addie Murray has a leg up on the competition!

Savanah Greenwood, Allison Gardnerand Hadley Wood enjoy the costumes.

Melanie Kareem’s Belly Dancing Beauties entertain the crowd.

1. Which teacher would love to travel to Europe to visitfriends in the Netherlands?a. Mrs. Weisberg b. Ms. Saporta c. Mrs. Bordier

2. Which teacher loves the color orange?a. Ms. Saporta b. Ms. Handler c. Mrs. Bordier

3. Which teacher’s lucky number is 16?a. Ms. Handler b. Ms. Weisberg c. Mr. Harrell

4. Which teacher owns a chinchilla?a. Ms. Batz b. Ms. Saporta c. Mr. Harrell

5. Which teacher dreams of to traveling to Australia?a. Ms. Saporta b. Mrs. Tapper c. Ms. Handler

6. Which teacher’s favorite color is teal?a. Mrs. Tapper b. Ms. Saporta c. Mrs. Bordier

7. Which teacher loves to eat burritos?a. Ms. Batz b. Mr.Harrell c. Ms. Weisberg

8. Which teacher thinks cheese pizza rocks?a. Ms. Saporta b. Mrs. Tapper c. Ms. Handler

ANSWERS: 1=a, 2-a, 3=a, 4=a, 5=b, 6=a, 7=a, 8=a

By Indigo Kale

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November, 20, 2014

TECHNOLOGY AT TOPANGA ELEMENTARYStory and Photos by Phoenix Rodan

Hi, I’m here with my first article on technology at Topanga CharterElementary. Planet Bravo is one of the new types of technology that TEP hasprovided this year. Planet Bravo is an exciting, educational program that helpsstudents of all ages learn about technology and the world that is trapped insidea computer.

Each grade has a different theme forthe year, such as for Pre-K“COORDINATION – Finding Our Wayon Computers,” right up until 5th“PRESENTATION - Research andAnalysis with Computers.”I didn’t know much about thisprogram, so I sat down with ourteacher Mr. Cortez. Here is ourinterview.

When was Planet Bravo firstintroduced? They started teaching atabout six years ago.

What are some cool websites for studentsof all ages? PBs Kids, scratch.edu, Co.orgif you are interested in coding.

What is Planet Bravo’s main goal? To help kids grow with technology in funand stimulating ways.

Who started Planet Bravo? Danny Peseta started it in about 2003.

What is your inspiration? Anyone who uses technology in their job - videoand website designers, moviemakers engineers and other creative people.

How do you come up with the lesson plans for each grade level? Who doesit? Danny and his assistant Andy do the lesson plans based off of theirexperience as teachers. Also Common Core.

How many schools use it? 27 schools.

Are you only in California Yes.

What makes Planet Bravo different from other schools computer education?They use more tools. Like how to make video games, apps and websites.

What would be one thing that would make education better? To focus moreon things that spark an interest in technology like coding and making yourown websites.

If you’re a teacher or parent and want some websites to use in class orat home here are some that may interest you: Kahn academy, Brain Pop, andSocrative.

Now that we have exploredthat world of Planet Bravo, let’s enterthe land of Edmodo.

Edmodo is a website that allowsteachers to post their assignments andstudents can see what they’re learningand what they have been assigned. Ithelps conserve paper, and parents cancommunicate with teachers if theyhave questions or do not understandthe lesson.

Here is my 5th Grade teacherMs. Saporta on Edmodo:

How does Edmodo benefitstudents? You can always haveaccess to assignments so if you lose your paper it’s always there.

How does this help with assignments? You can save paper and time by nothaving to print copies for each student.

Do you like having the new technology? A lot! It makes it easier to sharestudent work and take pictures and project them on the screen.

How did you find out about Edmodo? A teacher meeting.

Do other teachers use Edmodo? Can you communicate with other teachersabout lesson plans? Other teachers do use it. Teachers can join groups,and ask and answer questions.

How could the technology be improved? I don’t think that anyimprovements are needed. All I need is to learn a little more about how touse it!

Would you recommend Edmodo to teachers at different schools? Why?Yes, because it makes communicating easier.

Do you intend to use other websites like Edmodo? I’m willing to tryanything that comes my way.

What would be one thing that would make education better to you? Some more professional development on technology.

That’s it from your intrepid tech reporter. Until next time…. K

THE AMAZING ART TREK

Mr Cortez, Planet BravoTechnology teacher.

Ms Saporta, Topanga CharterElementry 5th Grade teacher.

By Ena Bronstien

One of my favorite things to do at school is Art Trek. It is aspecial time set aside every month that every student gets to justfocus on their imagination and put down what they feel onto paper.You never know what the project will be or whatmaterials you will use buy you know that you’regoing to have fun.

Art Trek began in 1992 with Nancy Young andGerri Wendel in Newberry Park. Nancy’s daughterhad MS and, since she connected with art, Nancywanted to find a way to bring art to everyone inschool. It has been 15 years and it has grown toserve over 20,000 students. Here at TopangaElementary, we are lucky to be able to afford theprogram and have parents to help out. Everymonth, parent volunteers are taught a certain projectby Art Trek staff and then they teach that project tothe students in the classrooms.

One of the best parts of Art Trek is that theycarry the program to people who are less fortunateor are “at risk.” Our very own Topanga parent,Debra Demontreaux, who used to coordinate theparents at Topanga Elementary School for sevenyears, now volunteers her time teaching indowntown L.A. Debra said that her favorite part iswhen the whole class is assigned a certain themebut each piece looks so different in their own way.

Some amazing things I’ve learned from ArtTrek are how to explore with paints, creating

receding landscapes, and still life studies. Thanks to Art Trekstudents get to see famous art works and learn differenttechniques. And thanks to TEP and all the parent volunteers frombringing the great program to us. There’s no such thing as toomuch art. K

CAT COMIC by Lily Keep

Topanga Elementary Mini Messeger Newspaper Page 2

November, 20, 2014

BOOK REVIEWBY EVA SALAS

5th Grade1. HATCHET

Listen to the author weave tale of ayoung man plane-wrecked in a forestwith nothing but a jacket and a hatchet.

2.FROM THE MIXED UP FILES OF MS. BASIL E.FRANKWEILER

Watch this story unfold as a brotherand sister run away from home to live ina museum.

3. SAVVYRead this book about a 13 year old

girl named Mibs learning to control hermagical talent — her savvy.

4th Grade1.HOLES

An interesting book, about a boy who goesto a camp for juvenile delinquents and learnsthat it is so much more than that.

2. MS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMHA nerve racking classic about a mouse

who's son is sick and who must movebefore a plow kills them all.

3.THE IRON TRIALA true piece of artwork, about a magical

academy, a disabled boy, and his friends.

3rd Grade1.THE MAZE OF BONES

A fun book about a brother andsister who go on a quest to get the 39clues.

2.THE TWITSOne of my personal favorites about

two twits named, you guessed it, Mr.and Mrs. Twit and the horrible thingsthey do to each other.

3.THE LAST DRAGONIn this story an elf meets the

world’s last dragon and discovers he ispart of a magical prophecy.

2nd grade1. FROG AND TOAD TOGETHER

A five story book about twofriends, frog and toad.

2. DIARY OF A WORMA fun picture book about the

escapades of a very funny worm.

3. THE ABSENT AUTHOR (A TO Z MYSTERIES)Dink is supposed to met his favorite

author, but when the time comes, theauthor is nowhere be found…

1st grade1. MISS NELSON IS MISSING

Room 207s teacher is missing andthe class couldn’t care less. until theymeet Miss Viola Swamp… *

2. MADELINESet in picturesque Paris, this tale of

a brave little girl's trip to the hospitalcouldn’t be more entertaining.

3. HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYONA funny book about the imagination of

an adorable child.

Kindergarten1. THE LITTLE GREENWITCH (read to)

A cute story about a witch who’s friendswon’t help her…

2. CHICA CHICA BOOM BOOMA spunky tale about an A, a B, and a C

who want to go to the top of the coconuttree.

3. MISS BINDERGARTEN GETS READY FORKINDERGARTEN

Miss Bindergarten is hard at workgetting reedy for kindergarten while herstudents get ready for school. K

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT TOPANGA ELEMENTARY

Skeleton Cartoon Str ip

By Leon Unter Ecker

On the topic of physical education at school, this week Iinterviewed Mr. Avila, Topanga Elementary School's coach.

What is your name? Harold Avila

How long have you been working as a coach? I have beenworking for about ten years now, at Topanga Elementary, I'veworked seven.

Have you always liked sports as a kid growing up? InElementary, I didn't really think much of it, my real love forsports started at middle school.

Do you think having a strong P.E. program at our school isbeneficial for the academic success of the students? Yes, ofcourse I do, definitely! I think that having the kids indoors allday, it's especially fun to finally, release yourself outdoors.

How would you improve our P.E. program, if at all?Personally, I think that it would be really cool if we could geta league, to play other elementary schools, like a footballgame against another school, other than that, we could usesome spare equipment but at the time being, it's not a majorproblem.

Do you think the lack of strong P.E. programs at schoolcould be one of the causes for the growing obesity trendin America? Well obesity isn't really a problem here inTopanga, when you look around you don't really see aproblem, it's mostly thin and healthy children, so no.

Outdoor physical activity is an extra feel-good factor onschool days. And it looks like Topanga kids are keepingpretty healthy. Thank you to coach Avila for the chat.

"A sound mind in a sound body", roger that! K

By Savannah Greenwood

Topanga Elementary Mini Messeger Newspaper Page 3

November, 20, 2014

Things You Didn’t KnowAbout Mr. Gediman

An Interview With Mrs. Shaw About Music for All

by Viola Kitchings

Mr. Gediman is not justTopanga Elementary’s principal butalso a very interesting person. Iinterviewed Mr. Gediman duringlunch and here’s what he had to say.

V: What do you like to do in yourfree time?M.G: I enjoy hiking, spending timewith my family, and listing to oldrecords.

V: What do you like about topangaelementary?

M.G: What’s not to like,but seriously it is the kidsand their families.

V: are you married?M.G: Yes I have a wife anda son.

V: What did you do overthe summer?M.G: Over the summer Iwent to Alaska with myfamily. We hiked a glacier,we even drank from it!

V: do you have anypets?M.G: I have one catnamed Vinny.

V: Where did you growup?M.G: I grew up in NorthHollywood.

V: What’s your favoritegenre of music?M.G: Jazz.

V: What did you like to do as achild?M.G: Same thing now but driving.

V: What’s your favorite color? M.G: Blue because it is my son’sfavorite color.

V: What’s your favorite type offood.M.G: Italian and Mexican.

And that’s just a little bit aboutMr. Gediman you may have notknown. K

Mr.gediman, principal of topanga elementary.

front row: Viola Kitchings, Lily Keep, Mia Mahoney. Second row: Summeranne Wadleigh, phoenix rodan, Leonunter-ecker. third row: ena bronstein, eva Salas, indigo Kale, allisongardner, Savannah greenwood. back row: amy Weisberg, teacher/co-Sponsor, Stevegediman, principal, Sondra tapper, teacher/co-Sponsor.

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TOPANGA ELEMENTARYNEWSPAPER CLUB

by Mia Mahoney

Hello my name is Mia Mahoney. I go to Topanga Elementary School and Iinterviewed our own Topanga Canyon resident and music teacher, Mrs. Shaw.

“how old were you when you first picked up an instrument? I was nineyears old when I first picked up the violin. You could begin instrumental musicclass in the fourth grade at my elementary school in San Diego. I couldn’t wait.I watched the next door neighbor girl Terri, she was a year older than me, carryher clarinet to school for a whole year before it was my turn. Her first impressionwas opening the violin case and smelling the “rosin”.

“What is the best age to start?” The best age to start is when you are readyto focus and concentrate. We are very lucky that our school, TopangaElementary, gives us the opportunity to start music in the first grade.

“Should a grown up start to learn? is it ever to late?” I always encouragegrown ups to learn to play an instrument. My philosophy is “why should the kidshave all the fun?” It is never too late to learn. One of my friends was in herseventies when she began to study cello.

“Who encouraged you to play an instrument?” My parents encouraged meto play but I always loved practicing my violin. Different teachers encouraged mea lot to.

“What is the most common instrument in an orchestra?” The most commoninstrument in the Topanga school orchestra is the violin.

“What is the most uncommon instrument in an orchestra?” The mostuncommon instrument in an orchestra is the Didgeridoo.

“What is the strangest instrument you have ever heard or seen?” Thestrangest instrument I have ever seen is the musical saw. I’ve only heard oneplayed, but I would like to try it. The bow hold looks a lot different from the one Iuse to play the violin.

“in one sentence what would be your best advice for beginner musicians?”If something is difficult to play at first, keep trying, have faith that with deliberatepractice your playing will improve. Listen to advice from your practice buddies(your parents) they can help you a lot.

So that about sums it up folks. Grab an instrument and let the learningbegin! K

Advertising Opportunities!

The Topanga Elementary School NewspaperClub will be taking advertis ing sponsorshipsto fund the Spring edition of our paper.

If you would like to place a business card sizead for $25 dollars, please contact AmyWeisberg at amyweisberg@gmail.com. Subjectline: Messenger Newspaper Ad.

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November, 20, 2014