One of my hobbies is marching band. I just started this school year and I already love it. I’ve met a ton of new people and made a whole lot of new friends: including seniors, juniors, freshmen and other sophomores. I have a love for performing with my band. Even though there are days when we are not on our game and we mess up, it’s still fun. We love to watch other bands march, but of course, we will always think that we are number one. 

 I like marching band because it promotes school pride – which I used to lack. I haven’t owned a blue and yellow shirt since I started middle school and now I own three and wear them proudly.

I do plan on continuing marching band in college – at Georgia Tech. when I watch GT football games and watch the marching band in the stands, I think to myself, “That’ll be me one day!”

Dear Chicago teachers,

             
It has come to our attention that you are striking against the new policies. Some of the new policies are: if a student doesn’t perform well on a standardized test a teacher can possibly lose their job, classes will be larger, and the principal has the authority to fire a teacher is he or she isn’t at best terms with the teacher. We understand tat you feel the need to strike for what you believe in. However, striking for two weeks during the school year is unacceptable. This provides us with information, to show how two weeks of valuable school time has been
mistreated.  The strike is building onto what others may think, mainly parents. How do the parents feel about this situation? If I were a parent I would be highly disappointed in the way the strike has been conducted. The strike creates numerous problems, such as, higher dropout rates, residents relocating, more violence among students, you yourself as teacher will not be paid, and learning being hindered. Striking against the new policies is doing the opposite of bettering the situation. Statistics have shown that you are one of the least appreciated people far as
career. By striking, you are only raising the statistics higher. With that said, return to the elementary, middle, and high schools, to show how you should be highly appreciated!


           
We could ask anyone a simple question, “how is the United States economy?” The answer itself is known. Our economy has waned, therefore our economy sucks! The economy has a relationship to the policy of the amount of teachers. Over a period of time the number of teachers has decreased. School boards can no longer afford to pay as many teachers. Approximately ten years ago, the school board would be able to pay every teacher without any problems. With that being said, it brings us to the issue concerning standardized test on how they have a relation with teachers. As teachers you must stress the importance of these tests. Do everything in your power to make the students excel on the standardized test. We have experienced teachers who only focus on the standardized test four to five months before. Doing such is a main concern. Every child is not a brilliant test taker, that’s why you practice. Give the students practiced standardized test from the beginning of the year and until the actual test must
be taken. A key to success would be to make sure after a unit, that the tests are similar to the actual standardized test. Preparing the way we mentioned above is a form of being proactive. Starting early will have the students well
prepared, and by the time the test approaches, they will indeed be able to say, “Been there. Done that.”


           
Classes being larger can alternate the way you teach, but not until a point where a child is struggling in your class. How do you set order in your classroom? How you define order in your classroom contrasts to the teaching of your lesson. Are you a teacher who has no control of the class? Chamblee High School, our school; we have experienced teachers who are known as pushovers, meaning anything can be done in the classroom, because the student knows the teacher will not react. A pushover teacher would struggle with a larger class. However, if you know, that you have authority in your class there shouldn’t be a huge concern of a large class. Less individual time should not be a large concern. If a child knows that they are falling behind, it’s their duty to contact the teacher for extra help.


           
There is always a reason for something. We believe there is additional information that was not given for the last policy we stated. Why would a principal fire a teacher if he or she dislikes him? We came up with a supportive reason why a principal would do such. You could be fired by the way your appearance is at school and how your attitude is at school. Attitude and appearance are by far the most important in the world. Everyone  judges another by those two factors. Do you respect the children and teachers? Children and other teachers always have the opportunity to give an evaluation on you. When they approach the principal are bad or good comments said about you?


           
We commend you for striking for your rights. However is the strike necessary towards the complaints you have? This strike is creating new possibilities that are not good. In the future we believe that the next strike will feature dropout rates increasing, residents relocating, learning being hindered, and more violence among the students. Ask yourself do you want to start a controversy about the following stated before. If this strike goes on any longer, it’s the problem you will be facing.


Sincerely,


Jazz Ross & Kianna Jackson-Small

Think about the athletes you saw at the Olympics. How do they take care of their health? What are some things you do or eat that they would not?

The athletes at the Olympics have different techniques to stay healthy and in shape. Most runners get massaged hourly to keep their muscles from getting tense. I also know that swimmers in particular sit in hot tubs while waiting. This is to keep warm and the hot tub has the same massaging effect.

Michael Phelps eats chicken nuggets from McDonald's (even though he endorses Subway) while Usain Bolt eats home cooked Jamaican meals and natural drinks (even though he endorses Gatorade). Yohan Blake eats 16 bananas in 24 hour periods. This is to replenish the thousands of calories burned during training, practice, and the main event: the Olympics.

I am quite lazy and on weekends prefer to watch television than to do something physical. I'd much rather be on the internet. I could eat ice cream and Papa John's pizza every day. I think that if athletes ate the way I wanted to, then our athletes would be 400 more pounds.

      Ashley stared at the fruit, so long in amazement, she didn't comment on its size. The oranges, apples, pears. Oh my! Even the grapes were gigantic. As she wondered how her father grew them so large, she heard a noise. Before she went to investigate the farm, she wanted to arm herself, just in case. Ashley searched for the family's ax, no luck. She instead sought out her baseball bat. she found it under her bed, threw it over her shoulder, and onto the pumpkin patch she wandered.
      Ashley, a now very terrified girl, searched and investigated. The corn field, ready for harvest, was desolate. The grape vines were also vacant. Laughing at herself, Ashley walked back into the house. She thought, "How paranoid can I be?" She made herself a snack and strolled into the living room, the most comfortable room in the house. She plopped onto the couch and turned on the television. It was midday, so nothing good was being aired. She watched the news for 5 minutes, then, like an old light bulb, she was out. 
      Awakening by another loud noise half an hour later, Ashley, a disheveled wreck, jumped up and grabbed her bat, which was handily left at her side. She knew she heard it this time. With her bat ready for assault, she was a ninja as she tiptoed into the kitchen. Seeing a person creeping around, she ran in to attack. Ashley was a maniac! She beat the intruder until he yelled, "Ash! Stop! It's me!!" Ashley stopped, backed away, and glowered at the intruder, her big brother, Aaron. 
      Ashley exclaimed, "Aaron! My goodness! Why on earth would you do that?" 
      "Ashley! Oh my God! Why would YOU do THAT?" Aaron replied.
      "What?" Ashley smirked, "nearly beat you to death?" 
      "No. Bake me cookies." sarcastically responded Aaron.
      "Maybe because you tried to give me a heart attack, Ronnie!"
      Ashley and Aaron were very pugnacious although Ashley was more inclement. Ashley was used to Aaron pranking her and Aaron was used to Ashley beating him up after he did, but this time was more serious. The two siblings usually made up immediately after fighting, but on this occasion, they didn't bury the hatchet. Instead, they went to their rooms and shut their doors.
      Hours passed and Ashley and Aaron were still upset with each other, but that was about to change. There was a banging noise around. Ashley went to Aaron's room.
      "What are you doing in here? Building a birdhouse?"
      "No. What are you even talking about?"
      "That banging noise Aaron."
      "That's not you? I thought you were in there dancing or something."
      "What! Do you think I'm a million pounds or something?"
      "Ash, chill. I was only kidding." eased Aaron.
      "So if it wasn't you and it wasn't me, then who or what is it?"
      Aaron shrugged and continued playing his guitar.
      "Ronnie, I'm scared." Ashley said.
      "Hey. Hey now. Don't be. You've got your big bro right here," consoled Aaron, "I've got you. You're okay."
      Ashley and Aaron were thinking the same thing: he was a good big brother.
      They heard the noise again. Aaron told Ashley that he would go and check it out. Ashley agreed. After five minutes, Ashley went downstairs to see what was happening. She actually startled Aaron when she appeared beside him.
      "Gotcha." she smiled.
      Ashley was prepared for another intruder. She brought her bat and her brother's bat. They both heard the noise at the side door. The brother-sister duo prepared themselves for the worst. 
      Aaron slowly opened the door and...
      There were Aaron and Ashley's friends dressed as the characters from Barney! Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Ashley and Aaron's parents) contacted their friends and told them that they knew Aaron would go back to scare Ashley, so they wanted to scare the both of their kids. Aaron and Ashley were both annoyed and tickled by their behavior. They realized that no matter how much they fight and argue, they turn to each other first- even before they call the police. The end.