WEST UNIVERSITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VOL. XIX ISSUE IV JANUARY 2019

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Monthly Mustang

We are excited to be performing in our second straight International Festival, coming up on January 24th. The International Festival is a yearly tradition at our school. We celebrate it so that students and their families can enjoy and learn about the rich cultures represented by our classmates who have come here from places all over the world.

La s t year we per formed the “ Da t u n Julud” (Hornbill Dance) from Malaysia, which is Corinne’s heritage country. This year we will be performing the “ Jarabe Tapatío” dance from Mexico, which is Valentina’s heritage country. “Jarabe” is a word that basically means mixture. In this case, it refers to a mixture of musical sounds and dance steps. “Tapatío” relates to the area of Guadalajara, Mexico where this dance originated. But it has grown to be so popular that it is now known as Mexico’s national dance, and it is famous even outside of Mexico!

Women dancing the “Jarabe Tapatío” wear traditional bright, flowing, dancing skirts (these make twirling the most enjoyable part of the

dance!), blouses with fancy flower embroidery, ribbons and floral hairpieces, and colorful shawls. Listen carefully and you’ll also hear how we wear “folkloric” dance shoes, which are a style of tap shoe where the sound is made by tiny nails on the sole of the shoe.

Participating in the International Festival is an awesome feeling! Our advice for anybody thinking about doing it in the future is that it’s a great way to experience another culture in a special way you cannot learn from a book. It is an honor to wear traditional clothing that has often been brought from faraway places especially for the show. It takes a lot of practice, but we’ve had a great time sharing, learning and performing these exquisite dances from each other’s heritage cultures.

The number of performances at the International Festival varies each year, but in this 2019 show there will be more than a dozen – including ours! We hope to see you there, and that you enjoy them.For more on the International Festival go to Page 4.

SAVE THE NEXT DANCE FOR US BY CORINNE LO AND VALENTINA MAYHLE

From left to right: Lena Beddar, Morayma Suarez-Lopez, Isabel Flores, Corinne, and Valentina).

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1. When did you start teaching?A. I started teaching in 2011.2.Where did you go to college?A. Texas A&M.3. Why did you choose to become a

teacher?A. I love watching kids learn.4. What is your favorite thing about

West U Elementary?A. My favorite thing is how everyone

is involved in making sure our school is the best.

5. What is your favorite thing about the children you teach?

A. I love to see how excited they get when they discover new things.

6. Did you have any jobs before you became a teacher?

A. No, I’ve always been a teacher.7. If you could choose any job besides

being a teacher, which job would you choose?

A. To be a stay at home mom.8. What was your favorite part about

elementary school when you were a child?

A.I loved music class, and projects where we got to build things.

9. Who influenced you the most?

A. My mom, because she taught me how to make good choices and make good friends.

10. If you could meet anyone in the universe, who would it be and why?

A. My grandparents, so that I could find out what life was like for my family long ago.

Let’s meet a new fifth grader from Spain!  This school year is Elena Lopez’s first and last at West University Elementary School (WUES).  She is adjusting to a transatlantic relocation away from her friends and family.  Next year, she will need to adapt to a new school yet again, when most WUES graduates enter sixth grade.

Q. Tell me about your home in Spain.A. I lived in the center of Madrid. It’s nice because all my

friends lived close and my school was nearby. My grandparents lived right across the street!

Q. How is American school different from school in Spain?A.In Spain, we had five classes each day and two recesses,

before and after lunch. All students were required to buy

lunch. We took math, science, social science, reading, English, PE, art, and music classes.

Q. Which school do you prefer?A. I like WUES better because we have switches, unlike in

Spain, where only the teachers switch and the kids stay in the same classrooms.  At WUES, we also have more holidays off and half days.  In Spain, we only have three days off during the holidays.

Q. Spain celebrates holidays not on the U.S. calendar, such as Hispanic Day, commemorating Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the New World. What is your favorite holiday?

A. Christmas is my favorite because I get together with my cousins. This year, they are coming to Houston for the first time to visit me!

Q. If you can have anything in the world, what would it be?A. I want peace… beginning with my brother and me, because

we are constantly fighting. My parents don’t like that.Q. What do you like to do on your free time?A. I like to read because even when I’m not physically on

vacation, I feel like that I’m traveling and exploring the books’ settings.

NUESTRO NUEVO ALUMNO DE ESPAÑA, ELENA LOPEZ BY RAQUEL ECHEVARRIA

10 QUESTIONS FOR MRS. SMITH BY YUTIA LI

Q: Is New Year’s your favorite holiday? A: No. Q: What is your favorite New Years tradition? A: Eating a big meal with my family. Q: What are other New Years traditions you

celebrate? A: I always stay up late to watch the ball drop in

New York City.

Q: Do you go on vacation for New Year’s? A: I do sometimes. My favorite was in New York. Q: Do you gather with family for New Year’s? A: Yes, I always spend New Year’s with my family

and friends. Q: What is your plan to celebrate this New Year’s? A: I will be in South Dakota at my grandmother’s

house. (Continued on page 3)

MS. MOEN’S NEW YEAR’S PLANS BY EMMA PIERCE

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The WUES Pug Club is not an ordinary club that just likes pugs. It is a group of kids who raise money for local Houston pet organizations. It all started when we heard that after Hurricane Harvey, there were pets being left on roads, porches, and sti l l attached to chains on abandoned houses that flooded. 

We were all so sad that these dogs and cats had to be left behind due to the safety of some families. To help these scared pets, the club decided to raise money by having bake sales.  The members did their part by baking delicious treats and selling them at suitable prices.  Last year the Pug Club raised over $200 selling treats

to WUES k ids a f te r school.

Last May, the Pug Club took a field trip to the loca l pet she l te r Houston Pets Alive to give them all the money raised. Houston Pets Alive is committed to saving lots of pets that were abandoned during Hurricane Harvey.  The Pug Club was so excited to give them money to help care for these abandoned dogs and cats.  They look forward to finding a new organization this year to support.

Every year, my family puts out a box full of treats for postmen who come by. My family started doing this a few years ago when my mom said we should put out treats for the postmen. The treats are for postmen and no one else! We put the box out because there are lots of holidays in

the winter and the postmen are very busy. We put the box outside our front door so it is easy for the deliverer to drop our mail in the mailbox and then just grab a treat. We give them the treats because the holidays make them work hard delivering presents and letters. A mail carrier recently said, “It’s the little things like this that make a difference!”

TREATS FOR THE POSTMEN BY TOBY YIP

Did you know how much kids need to exerc i se e ver y day? According to the Department of Health and Human Services, children need at least one hour of physical activities daily! Schools need to balance exercise and education to find the right mix for their students.Kids have a lot of energy, that means they can get restless in class and

additional recess time helps spend that energy. Also recess is time for kids to get together with friends, that’s really important in a big school like West U, where there are many different classes. Lastly, recess is tons of fun and

if you have a good time at school you will be able to learn more.

The main goal of school is learning and extra recess cuts into the time students have to study. With school ending at 2:50 pm, kids should have time to exercise after school and let school be a time for learning. Also, kids can get riled up during recess and not be able to sit still in class afterwards.

In my opinion we should have more recess at school. Spending extra energy helps you concentrate better in class, so more recess will help us be better students. According to Dr. Resman M.D. “Moderate or even light exercise improves cognition, reduces anxiety, elevates mood and helps with concentration”. So remember kids, exercise!

RECESS TIME BY YOSEF ELYASHKEVICH

Q: What were some of your favorite New Year’s celebrations in the past?

A: My favorite moment was in New York City with my best friend Haley at the ball drop.

Q: List three of your favorite things about a new year.

A: A fresh start, new possibilities, and spending time with family.

Q: Do you do any special activities (movies, amusement park, hiking) for New Year’s?

A: I like to have a special meal with my family.

Q: Do you do anything special for your classes for New Year’s?

A: Time will tell! Q: What are some of your future plans

for New Year’s? A: I think it would be fun to travel to

lots of different cities for future New Year’s.

MS. MOEN CONTINUED

Bryce Sabloff, Giuliana Gonzalez, Caitlin McGlamery, Gisella Gonzalez, Zoe Drake, Anna Senseman, Braeden Payne

WUES PUG CLUB BY ZOE DRAKE

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Over 200 fourth and fifth graders agree that there is a d i l emma on the back p layground . What i s the problem? In one word: swings.

In every grade, there is an average of about 200 kids. On

the back playground, only 1% of those kids can swing at a time during recess. Meanwhile, on the front playground, there are three sets of swings. That's three times more than third to fifth grade's swings. In our third year of the swing depression, we think it is time to make a change. But how do you make a change as big as that? One thing is for sure: a lot of people have to agree with your cause.

One way to spread the word and show how many people want the change is a petition. Petitions are documents that people sign to show their support of your mission. With a certain amount of signatures, the people you need to convince will see that there is enthusiasm for the idea.

We typed a letter for the teachers, principal, and PTO and attached blank papers to it. Then, at recess, we told others about the problem. Around 140 fifth graders signed our sheets. Close to 70 fourth graders also signed. Now, if we just get enough third graders to sign, we will turn it in and see what happens.

That's enough about swings. Think about your house, school, and the rest of your world. Do you think it needs a change? If so, write a petition. Who knows, maybe it will change the world.

The International Festival is a time for people from all different countries and continents to come together to try different foods and learn about different heritages. This festival is on January 24, in the MPR and cafeteria. There will be dishes from many countries to try and the cafeteria will be selling food. This year will be a bit different because there will be videos to introduce each continent and performances representing each continent. In previous years there was a wide variety of dances, talent shows, fashion shows,

and Kung Fu demonstrations. There will be a parade of many countries. This year’s festival will have a different set up and decorations. Everything will be in one room, not divided.

My favorite part is learning about different countries but most of all trying different foods. I would like to give a huge thank you to the festival’s leaders, Mrs. Selin Salerian & Mrs. Enrica Vagliani, for letting me interview them and to Mrs. Natesha Madison, also an organizer. Adios!

Dear Mia, I am falling behind on my work and I don’t feel like there is enough time before the holidays to get it done! My teachers are going to start a new unit when we get back from winter break. Help me!

- Stressed Out

Dear Stressed Out, You might not like this – but you should go to study hall during recess to try to finish. If this fails, then try asking for more time. - Mia Dear Mia, I have a big project coming up and I am a little scared that I will get a bad grade. How can I know that I will get a good grade? - Worried

Dear Worried, You can’t know for sure if you are going to get a good grade, but you can try to. You could review your project, check the rubric, search for better word choice, or add more pictures. There is no pressure on you. Just do your best! - Mia Dear Mia, I let a friend borrow a library book and now she cannot find it again! What should I do? - Bookworm

Dear Bookworm, Well, you should not have let her borrow that library book because they might lose it and then you have to pay the fine. Don’t do it again in the future. Get your parents involved and maybe you could earn it with allowance. - Mia

Send your questions for Mia to westuelementary@gmail.com

THE SOUPER BOWL OF CARING BY MADELEINE TEJTEL

This January all of West U will have the chance to participate in West U’s annual Souper Bowl of Caring. All of the food we donate will go to the Houston Food Bank.

Every year there are two winners. One class is the winner is for how many pounds you donate, and the other is for how many protein points you get. Last year the winners were Ms. Durham’s 5th grade class with 5,396 pounds of

food and Ms. Hoffman’s class with 1,629 protein points. The whole school donated 31,569 pounds of food. That provided food for 26,000 Houstonians.

This year the Souper Bowl of Caring will be January 28, – February 1. I hope everybody will participate and help raise food for the school’s food drive so we can help hungry Houstonians!

THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL BY LULU SHATTO

Mrs. Enrica Vagliani, Mrs. Natesha Madison and Mrs. Selin Salerian.

DEAR MIA BYMIA GOVERNALI

GIVE US SWINGS! BY CAROLINE THOMPSON, RAQUEL ECHEVARRIA, AND AMELIA NUCKLES

Mrs. McClintock’s class last year during the Souper Bowl of Caring.

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Do you like building things? If yes, then you should plan to visit Legoland. The closest Legoland to us is located in Dallas. It is around 4 to 5 hours drive from Houston.

I was excited when my parents told me about our planned trip. I have always dreamt of visiting Legoland. When we entered the place, a friendly guide gave us a brief historical background about Lego company. It was very interesting.

There are quite a few attractions inside for the entire family to enjoy. We started with Kingdom Quest. We hopped onto our chariot and set on a mission to rescue the

captured Princess. We had to shoot some creepy spiders, sneaky skeletons, and other beastly trolls. It was so much fun. After taking few other different rides, we started on my favorite activity: building Lego models. My dad and I made a Lego car then we competed with others on the racing track to see whose car was the fastest. It was so cool! We also made a castle and spaceships.

We headed for a 4D movie experience. It was simply awesome. The best attraction was Mini-land. They had built the entire

Downtown Dallas with Lego br icks ! I was amazed, a s wel l a s inspired by a l l the creativity.By the end of the day, we were tired and grabbed some bites in the cafe inside. All in all, it was a great experience. I highly

recommend a visit when you get a chance.

Pro Tip: Buy your tickets online to save some money to spend in Lego store. Interesting fact: Did you know that Lego name is taken from the first two letters of the Danish words Le Go meaning play well!

I was out at recess one afternoon and heard two friends arguing over whether Chuy’s or Pappasitos had the best Tex-Mex food. I had already eaten at

Pappasitos and knew it was delicious, but had never even heard of Chuy’s so I decided I needed to eat there as soon as possible and end this debate myself.

Before I ate at Chuy’s, I did some research on the restaurant’s history.

Chuy’s was founded in 1982 in Austin, Texas. It currently has 102 locations in 19 states.

Chuy’s has a cool atmosphere with lots of Elvis memorabilia. The inside is very colorful with some unique decorations. One unique decoration was a screen in the fireplace playing a simulation of fish swimming in an aquarium.

Another thing I like about Chuy’s is the t-shirts. Chuy’s had several funny and cool t-shirts for sale. Most

were around $10 to purchase. But the main thing I was interested in was Chuy’s food. Chuy’s tacos and burritos were similar to Pappasitos, but what really stood out to me was the queso and the creamy jalapeño dip for the tortilla chips and the sopapillas. The dips were spicy, but not too spicy. The sopapillas were light, fluffy, and covered in powdered sugar.

After eating at both Pappasitos and Chuy’s, I prefer Chuy’s more than Pappasito’s because I think it has better tasting food.

CHUY’S RESTAURANT REVIEWED BY J ASHER JOHNSON

Tex Mex food is my favorite! Enchiladas, guacamole, queso… I love it all! That’s why Cyclone Anaya’s is where I like to eat. This popular restaurant has a location very close to West University. The atmosphere is fun and festive and it is great for a family night out! I always start

with plenty of chips and salsa (don’t worry, its not too spicy!) and then order the crispy tacos. They are delicious! The menu offers all kinds of other Tex Mex favorites, so you will definitely find something that you will enjoy! If you are looking for a family friendly restaurant to try, Cylcone Anaya’s should top your list!

CYCLONE ANAYA’S REVIEWED BY WILL DUDLEY

VISIT TO LEGOLAND BY DHVANI KUNDALIA

Do you know the second fastest animal on the planet? You guessed it! The Proghorn! The Cheetah is the fastest animal in the world. Proghorns live in North America and Africa. Proghorns are a type of antelope. They are reddish brown, black and white. They have backward curving horns, and these horns split to

form forward pointing prongs that are more than a foot long. Proghorns are speedy herbivores. Their top speed is 60 mph, but they normally run 53 mph. Most animals run half that speed! They also have a lot of stamina. Unique to the Proghorn is its foot-bone. It is actually part of the Proghorn’s leg. The hoof is basically the toe

THE PROGHORN, ONE OF THE FASTEST ANIMALS IN THE WORLD BY JOVAN HEBBAR

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Have you read The Bicycle Spy? It is on this year’s Bluebonnet reading list? It is about a young boy, Marcel who loves nothing more than riding his bike and dreams of the Tour de France, which has been suspended as Nazis have occupied France during World War II. Marcel helps his parents by delivering bread from their bakery. Marcel is fascinated by a new classmate, Delphine as

she is faster on a bike than him or any of his friends. She knows a lot about bicycles and the Tour De France. Marcel becomes good friends

with Delphine. One day, Marcel accidentally discovers that his parents work for the French Resistance. Soon after, gendarmes visit the school and question the teacher and students about Delphine, who is absent. Marcel meets Delphine and discovers that she and her family are in great danger because they are Jewish. Marcel talks to his parents and they come up with a plan to save Delphine and her family.

Marcel is not the biggest, fastest or smartest kid in his class. But he tries to stand up to bullies in his class, do the right thing and help his family and friends. Will Marcel succeed in his efforts to help Delphine and her family, escape the Nazis? Read this awesome book to find out!

The Burning Maze is the third book in the Trials of Apollo series. In this book, Apollo must battle a powerful emperor. Apollo finds himself in a challenging stone maze where he encounters a witch and the emperor,

who both want to defeat him and steal his godly powers. The battle is intense and Apollo will be lucky to survive. Find out what happens to him in The Burning Maze. It is a must read for people who love adventure!

HARLEM CHARADE BY NATASHA TARPLEY REVIEWED BY EVELYN PARK

THE BICYCLE SPY BY ZONA YELDIS MCDONOUGH REVIEW BY SWAMI NATHAN 

Slider by Pete Hautman is a 2018 Bluebonnet Book. It was a fantastic novel with moments that get you on your toes. I enjoyed this exciting page-turner.

David can eat a 16-inch pizza in 4 minutes and 36 seconds. He loves eating and eating contests, and his role model, Jooky Garafalo, does, too. In the Nathan’s

Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, Jooky lost to Joey Chestnut by half a hot dog. One day, David sees that half hot dog on BuyBuy, a bidding website. He really wants that hot dog, so he uses his mom’s credit card without permission. He sets Auto-Buy for $20 and goes to wash the dishes. When he comes back he realizes he incorrectly placed

a decimal and accidentally bought the hot dog for $2,000! David needs to earn the money back, and fast, too, because he needs the money before the Visa bill arrives.

Pete Hautman wrote a great book. Slider is thrilling, funny, and a page-turner. I loved it and I think you will, too! I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

SLIDER BY PETE HAUTMAN REVIEWED BY SAM FAULK

One sunny afternoon, while running errands with my mom, a creative idea leapt into my mind. I started jotting my idea down and the Other Side of the Moon was born. A

few months later, I put my idea into action. I worked with my writing teacher, Mr. Mark Price, and started my rough draft of the book. Each Thursday I saw my teacher, and between our sessions I wrote more and more of my story. I learned that as important as

imagining and writing the story was, it is just as important to edit and polish the writing many times to make it just right. After a year of writing and rewriting, and imagining and re-imagining, I finally finished my book. Next I designed the cover which was illustrated by a professional artist. My manuscript and the entire book was edited for publication and on November 24, my book and was published on Amazon!

The story’s setting is on the moon, where an astronaut, named Daniel, sees a trail of rocks and follows them until he realized he is lost. He meets a creature that leads him

through a mysterious portal and into an exciting adventure. The mission co-pilots of the ship, Lily and Buzz, who set out to find Daniel, quickly find themselves pulled into the action. There are many surprises awaiting readers on the on the other side of the moon.

Writing is very important to me and so is helping other people. I am donating the proceeds from my book to the Star of Hope, an organization supporting the homeless. I highly recommend buying this for a family member or friend, both to enjoy a great read, and to support those less fortunate.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON BY PRISHA SHIVANI

Do you like mystery stories? What about a day full of adventure and actions? If you do, this is a perfect book for you. The story begins with a girl named Jin who lives with a grandma and grandpa. One day at home, she was watching the news that said that a boy had found an ancient painting that was buried in mud. Jin met a girl named Alexandra, while walking to school after the news, who would always wear a black coat. Jin and Alexandra became a

school project partner and they got to know each other. Alex said to meet her outside for the project. When Jin went outside, she found her partner talking to a boy named Elvin who told the girls that he had nowhere to live and his grandfather is in the hospital in coma. Elvin had no idea how his grandpa got hurt. So Elvin, Alexandra, and Jin decided to find out who attacked his grandfather. When they were on the search, the kids heard three bad people thinking

about stealing the old and rare painting which was shown in the news. And then…

D o y o u t h i n k E l v i n , Alexandra, and Jin will be able to prevent the bad guys from stealing the precious art? Do you think they will be able to find out who attacked Elvin’s grandfather? What will happen with Elvin’s grandpa? Read Harlem Charade to find out!

THE BURNING MAZE BY RICK RIORDAN REVIEWED BY WILL DUDLEY

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CIVIL RIGHTS CROSSWORDBy Oliver Tsao

Across 2. Forced separation of racial groups6. President responsible for abolishing slavery8. Dr. MLK, Jr. was awarded the Nobel _______ Prize10. Month Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is celebrated11. Indian Civil Rights leader Mahatma _____12. State where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born13. Someone who is owned by another personDown 1. "I have a __________"3. Slavery was made illegal by the ___ amendment4. The 19th amendment gave _____ the right to vote5. Rights of citizens to freedom and equality7. First African American US President Barack ____9. She refused to give up her bus seat

The Un Happy New Year By Shasyah Mavligit

1 HOUR LATER

WEST UNIVERSITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VOL. XIX ISSUE IV JANUARY 2019

Thank you to our new sponsor: The West U PTO!