Roadrunner News: Holiday Edition December 20, 2013 A Season of Giving

“Letters to Santa” essay contest winners

We asked Riverside students to write just how much they are appreciated. and inspiration for future stu- letters to Santa telling him their most But finding the perfect is not al- dents, as well as providing mem- important wishes. We ways easy. Teachers, like most peo- ories providing memories of a were so impressed by the thoughtful- ple, often have too much clutter, so particular class. The reason I ness and generosity of our students. when considering what to buy think she deserves it is because… Here are the top two writers chosen for them at the end of the year, I nor- 1: She took over our classroom by the Roadrunner News staff. Con- mally think about purchasing some- as a full time teacher after Mr. gratulations! thing useful, helpful, or geared to- Donahoo left to a new school in ward a teacher’s hobbies. Gift certifi- 1st place winner Chico cates make great teacher gifts. These Dear Santa, can be for a local educational supply 2: For someone who hasn't even been a teacher for the full two Hi my name is Marina Dokos. This store, an office supply store, or for Trimesters, she can take on the year I would like to give a gift to my companies that offer a number of class like a pro. best friend, Emily Cuff. The gift choices. Since teachers frequently would be a picture frame with her need to dip into their own pockets to 3: She impresses me on how well and I hugging each other like best fund supplies for classrooms, such she can deal with a class friends do. gift certificates are both useful and (knowing that our class is very helpful. Another type of gift certifi- sociable) The picture frame should be teal, her cate that makes a great gift is one favorite color, with our names on top Most reason of all: Ms. Sub- that will help the teacher pursue her and there would be a saying on the hkaram is a very good model to hobbies. A teacher like Ms. Sub- bottom. The saying would say anybody else whoever wants to hkaram (who I choose as the one I “Friends are family you meet along be a teacher. She is and awesome would give a gift to Give a gift to) the way.” I know Emily would love teacher! deserves certificates for things that it fore sure. will promote relaxation, like a day By: Eemani Monoarfa A gift doesn't have to be a toy. A gift spa, or to the local movie theater or a should be something that means nice restaurant. Teachers usually also something to you. I want it to mean have a class library, and often cannot Runners-up: something to Emily because I’m not afford to stock that library with the *Diamond heart earrings for going to this school next year and I latest books. A set of popular, like Mrs. Garceau, from Brielle want her to have this to remember the Harry Potter or the Narnia series, Finch me by. may make perfect teacher gifts if they are age appropriate for the class- *A reindeer for Mr. Cruz, from Sincerely, Marina Dokos room. Some parents like to give gifts Shawn Lu 2nd place winner to teachers to have a more personal *Time spent with family: Noah I love the holidays, it fills me with touch, but they can still be useful . A Martinez, Eemani Monoarfa, the spirit of giving and affords me the well bound collection of poems writ- and Jared Albano ten for the teacher by the students perfect opportunity to present my *A bell for Mrs. Milgate, from teachers with a gift to let them know can also make for classroom reading Richie Hinton

1 Roadrunner News December 20, 2013

New Years, A Brand New Start!

On New Year’s Eve we celebrate the start of a brand new start. When we do this we stay up until 12 to make new year resolutions and to watch the ball drop. When we count down to watch the ball drop we are entertained by pop stars and celebrities. On New Year’s Eve the ball drop is put in the mid- dle of Times Square for everyone to see. Once the time comes we all stand and count down from ten. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! It is the beginning of 2014 and more to come. 2013 went by so fast and 2014 will be even better. Make sure you accomplish your goals this year because this year will go by in a flash!

Upcoming Events Student Government’s First Meeting!

Dec 19 Winter Band Concert Dec 20 School Rally Dec 20 Minimum Day: 12:30 release Dec 21-Jan 11 Winter Break Jan 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No School Jan 24 2nd Trimester progress reports Jan 29- 31 Parent-teacher conferences: Minimum Day 12:30: release

2 Roadrunner News December 19, 2013 ’Twas The Night Before Christmas www.teenink.com ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the A bracelet engraved with my wife’s mall name Thousands of shoppers roamed the wide halls It was then I noticed the twinkle in The stores had their sales out in full force his eye From blazers to iPads to a toy rocking horse The grin on his mouth, oh how so sly The people were testing the Sleep-Number beds It popped in my mind and it popped all too quick While the dread of wrapping paper danced in their The jolly old man must be Saint Nick heads “There’s a gift wrapping kiosk on level three Choosing two colors provoked quite some talking Ask for the girl who’s named Tiffany Among all the shoppers, hastily walking She does the best bows in all of the mall When out from the food court arose such a clatter From the biggest of big to the smallest of small.” I rushed with my bags to see what was the matter A struggling woman, her coat was a puffer In all my shock, I could only nod With Subway gift cards to be used as stocking stuffers To the man standing next to me – so different! So odd! I took the gifts and thanked him with praise And stumbled away, mind clouded and dazed

The moon shone through the glass-paneled ceiling But as he moved through the lumbering crowd I was filled with a somewhat worried-type feeling He pulled over his head, a crimson red shroud The mall closed in less than a very short hour And I just might have lost him, I think I had blinked And all I had was a poinsettia flower The man disappeared as quick as a wink! I ran after him, but to no avail “Now Abercrombie for Sally, The jolly old man hadn’t left so much as a trail Gamestop for Billy Arms filled with bags, I went to level Ann Taylor for the wife three She needs a coat, it’s quite chilly.” Already waiting was the girl Tiffany

I turned to the voice that had startled me so On my way home, in the cold snowy night And what to my eyes, a few inches below Driving away from the mall’s glowing lights A jolly old man with a snowy-white beard I looked through the sunroof, and what An ancient red sweater with tiny reindeer did I see

But a sleigh in the sky, the driver smiling at And he pulled out from what me Sally was thrilled, and so was young Billy The seemed like thin air bracelet made my wife oh-so-giddy We A silver CHI straightener for Sally’s watched “Rudolph” on the new HDTV blonde hair For Billy, the newest Super Mario With piles of wrapping paper under the tree. game

3 Roadrunner News December 19, 2013 Art club Christmas ATS Announcement

Art Club got off to a great start this year! Sign- Announcement: up began in August with a complimentary chocolate The Academic Talent Search (ATS) Qualifying chip cookie for all students who were interested in being Exam will be offered at Riverside Meadows on a member and a few faculty members who simply just February 12, at 10:30. Students who take this love cookies. Election of Art Club Officers was held in test automatically qualify for the ATS Summer late September and Art Club t-shirts were ordered for Program at Sacramento State. There is no obli- each student who joined Art Club! In October Art Club gation to apply; taking the test simply gives stu- students got busy creating amphorae and Chinese pago- dents the opportunity to attend unique, fun, and das that can be seen on the school’s web site! In No- fast-paced courses. vember, Art Club took a much needed break and cele- ATS is a non-profit program that offers 4th-9th brated with a that included a myri- grade students (grade level as of Jan. 1, 2014) ad of delicious treats including our signature art club exciting classes designed to accelerate learning cake! In December Art Club began spreading holiday in subject areas they enjoy. Fourth and fifth cheer by decorating the Art Club wall with our first ever graders attend classes together and have the Christmas bulletin board. chance to expand their knowledge of interesting topics and meet new friends who share their en- thusiasm for learning! Current 6th-9th graders can challenge themselves in traditional and non- traditional subjects, and gain self-confidence and independence while experiencing a colle- giate environment.

The first step toward participating in ATS is to take the Qualifying Exam. No preparation is required since there is no pass or fail! For more information about test details, please check out the website at http://rsm.plusd.org/ or email Cookie Molina [email protected]. Financial aid information (over $59,000 in financial sup- port was granted in 2013), program details, and sample test questions can be found on the ATS website at edweb.csus.edu/ats.

Reminder from the office: Please label all coats, sweatshirts, lunch boxes, and backpacks to help

prevent student loss. Merry Christmas from Art Club!!!! Thank you!

4 Roadrunner News December 19, 2013

Holiday Fun

Red Nosed Reindeer: www.allrecipes.com

Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 (10 ounce) package regular marshmallows 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal or Kellogg's® Cocoa Krispies® cereal Canned frosting or decorating gel Food coloring 12 regular pretzel twists 12 red gum drops Directions 1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. 2. Add Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal. Stir until well coated. 3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper, evenly press mixture into 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray cut twelve 2 1/2-inch circles and twelve 1 1/2-inch cir- cles. Frost the tops of the 1 1/2-inch circles. 4. For each reindeer use frosting to attach one 1 1/2-inch circle, frosting side up, to each 2 1/2-inch circle. Use scraps of the cereal mixture to shape into twenty-four ears. Use frosting to attach ears to each reindeer. Break pretzel twists into pieces. Push two pretzel pieces into each for antlers. Decorate with frosting and gum drops.

Best if served the same day.

Christmas Wish list Here are some ideas on what to get for your friends and family.

For Girls: For Boys: Gift card to clothing store Football Clothes Skateboard Shoes Clothes Jewelry Sock Perfume (Bath & Body Works) Videogames Hair Tools Xbox One Nail Polish iTunes Card Makeup Phone Laptop Shoes Chocolate Basketball

5 Roadrunner News December 19, 2013 Gold's Holiday House

Every year for the past forever our house gets decorated for Christmas and it grows and grows. We had about 20,000 lights last year, we counted. We even made some of our own decorations. Come see our amazing house on Sheridan Ranch Circle. By: Maddy Gold

Giving Back

Care Packages for the Troops Holiday letters to the Troops December 2nd-6th Riverside Mead- ows collected items to send to our troops stationed overseas for the holidays. Stu- dents, families, and staff members donated hun- dreds of toiletries and single-sized snacks, which are items of luxury for soldiers stationed outside the U.S. We also collected miniature toys to send for local children who live around military bases The Leadership class sent over 200 letters to sol- in Afghanistan. Thank you so much to all stu- dents and families who donated. We would like diers from Beale Air Force Base who will be sta- to thank Nick Stewart, Tristan Lauer, and the tioned away from home during the holidays. The Blue Star Moms of Beale Air Force Base who cards will go to six locations across the globe. A helped to fund the special thanks to Ramneek Sanghera, Destiny shipment of these Shafer, and Jordyn Dedini, who were the commit- items. A big thanks also goes out to Sean- tee leaders and to Mrs. Jennifer Young from Beale na Scott and her fam- Air Force Base, who sent us the names and ar- ily who gave us the ranged delivery. idea and helped us organize!

6 Roadrunner News December 19, 2013

Leadership wishes you Happy Holidays!

Leadership Class enjoying their ThanksgivingFeast!

Vanessa, Maddie, and the RR News working hard as ever!

Items collected for Care Packages for the Troops Roadrunner News Staff

Editor: Student Editors:

Mrs. Markusen Maddie Meder Vanessa Tran Austin Gaylord Head Staff Writer: Staff Writers & Photographers:

Kiley Gray Marlana Gaston Belle Dushane

7 Roadrunner News December 19, 2013 Fun Friday!

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