WEST UNIVERSITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VOL. XIV ISSUE III DECEMBER 2013 Monthly Mustang

Students om Mrs. McClintock’s class created cards of encouragement for people staying at the Houston Area Women’s Shelter and Ronald McDonald House. The cards included notes, poems, paintings and drawings. The Nutcracker Ballet by Elizabeth Reed Amazing Projects by Andrew Tan Have you ever been to see The Nutcracker by the Houston Ballet? Did you see the state of Texas made out of colorful jellybeans? Every year the Houston Ballet puts Or the one made out of toy cars? on The Nutcracker (music by They are some of our school’s Tchaikovsky) r unning f rom remarkable projects! The 4th Thanksgiving through the Grade students had to make a Holidays. I have been to see it landform of the state of Texas before and have always found it to be magical. and its four regions out of When the dancers spin and turn, it looks like magic different materials. T h e is helping them. owls and turkeys hanging in the This year I am lucky to be taking part. An kindergarten hall were audition was held in September and I found out in Thanksgiving projects! The students had to make a turkey or owl, October that I was going to be a party child in one and then write something they’re thankful for. of the six casts. It is a huge commitment. I have These are some of the projects that have come out recently. Be two ballet classes each week, plus other rehearsals. on the lookout for new projects all the time! There will be many I love to dance and it has been such fun to learn major projects, such as the 3rd grade Heritage Project, the 2nd the steps and be part of The Nutcracker. Dress grade Habitat Project, or the 4th grade Texas State Fair project. Be rehearsals are during Thanksgiving, when we get to sure to look in the hallways, and if you see anything really cool or go on the stage at the theatre for the first time. I your own work, think it will be scary but also very exciting. show your parents so they know The story of The Nutcracker is about two what we are children, Clara and Fritz. They receive gifts of a learning at school. nutcracker and toy soldiers. They come alive and a West University battle starts between the Nutcracker and Mouse Elementar y has King. Everyone’s favorite part is when Clara and some amazing Fritz go to the party. If you want to find out what projects! happens, come and see The Nutcracker and share in the magic!

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GET TO KNOW MRS. LEVEN A. I’m pretty easy going but I don’t like BY MARIA CHENG it when kids are mean to each other. Q. If you could choose, what magical Q. What pet do you A. “Be kind and work hard.” power would you want the most? want or what pet do Q. Where in Houston would you like to A. I would like to fly because I could get you have? visit and why? to where I want to and I could get a A. Two dogs and one A. The Downtown Aquarium because I good view. cat. One dog, a like fish and dolphins. Q. Where is your favorite vacation spot? Maltese and his name Q. What is your favorite movie and why? A. Galveston. is Beau. I also have A. The Sound of Music. I like it because Q. What is your favorite hobby and why? Golden Retriever I like historical movies. A. Walking my dogs because both of us named Ike and a cat Q. What is your favorite food? are getting exercise. named Ginger. A. I like all kinds of seafood. Q. Who is your hero? Q. What is your favorite saying? Q. What is your pet peeve? A. Laura Ingalls Wilder because she was an author, pioneer, and teacher.

OUR NEW SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER MRS. ROJAS BY ELLIE WEBSTER

What is your favorite color? Blue. Have you like West U so far? Do you have What us your favorite candy? I love West U, because everyone is so nice. any siblings? Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. What is the funniest thing ever? I Yes, two sisters. What is your favorite holiday? like jokes. One of my favorites is; Did you Do you have Thanksgiving. hear about the fire in the circus? It was in any pets? Yes, Who is your hero? My Grandmother. tents. two dogs. What is your favorite movie? What is your favorite flower? What would Auntie Mame. Ranunculus. you like to experience What is your favorite book? If you were an animal, what would you in teaching? A last Babylon. be? Manatee. If you a second place to live, where I would hope that everyone would have a What is your favorite TV show? love of learning. Day Tripper. would it be? The hi country in Austin.

WEST U’S EQUESTRIAN CHAMPION BY BETH ATHAIDE

Twin sisters Bethany and Brittany Lisman participated Q. How long have you been in a horse show a few weeks ago. Bethany won prizes for preparing for this Reserve Champion, as well as two first place and one competition? second place awards in her events. I interrupted her busy A. Competitive riding takes lifestyle to ask her a few questions about her performance. year-round training. Q. What is the name of the Q. When and where did the competition take place? horse you rode? A. The Great Southwest Equestrian Center on November A. His show name was 9th and 10th. Benjamin. Q. What did you compete in? Q. What makes this A. A class called short stirrup, one round of equitation, competition memorable? and three jump courses. A. Well, it was my first time showing at an A-rated Q. What is equitation? competition. A. That’s when you get the horse to walk, trot, and canter. Q. When I asked you for an interview, you told me that Q. How long have you been riding? you think this was one of the best competitions in which you and Brittany participated. Why is that? A. 5 years. A. It was our best competition because it was a big step Q. Is there any particular reason you like riding so much? up for us and we just got out there and did our best. A. It’s a unique sport that challenges you in a way that other sports can’t. I also like having an animal as a teammate. Congratulations to Bethany for her spectacular performance in the equestrian competition!

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REVIEW: HOUSE OF HADES BOOK REVIEW OF GHETTO COWBOY BY NATALIE HAMPTON BY KIRK WALLER This week I read House of impossible Ghetto Cowboy is a Cole names Hades. Rick Riordan’s newest to complete 2013-2014 Bluebonnet book his horse book. If you haven’t read the the quest. by G. Neri and is illustrated Boo, and first three books in the series To make by Jesse Joshua Watson. Cole, Cole takes get them from the library and matters an African American boy, has care of Boo read them first! The basic worse, behavior problems, and his e ver y day. plot of this book is Gaea is Romans mom sends him to Boo lives in on the edge of rising. Seven attack Philadelphia to live with his the stables, half-bloods are sent on a Camp Half-Blood. Percy and dad… who owns many, many where many other horses live quest to stop her. Being Annabeth are missing. Will horses. People say there aren’t like Lightning, his dad attacked by many monsters they make it to the House of any African American Harper’s horse. Cole and his and losing people along the Hades? Read the book to find cowboys around, but father finally find something way, it seems almost out! according to this story, that’s in common when the city not true. Everyone working at threatens to take away the the horse stables is African horse stables. No one backs A LOOK AT WWE 2K14 American. Cole and his dad down. All of the cowboys get BY LUKE EVERSOLE don’t get along at the together to try to find a beginning of the story, but solution to keep the stables. Are you a fan of ? when Cole gets his own Well, NBA 2K14 came out on I recommend this story and horse, he thinks his dad October 8th, so you're in luck. give it 4 of 5 stars. It’s a good can play at one time and you might not be so bad. He All the pros are in this one, story about never quitting, can customize your jersey and starts feeling a connection from Magic Johnson to and it would be a good choice logo. This awesome game is with all the horses, and he LeBron James. It features if you are trying to read available on Microsoft starts to feel wanted again. soundtrack from hit artists Bluebonnet books this year. Windows, PlayStations 3 & 4, such as and Ryan , Xbox 1, lOS, and Lewis, Jay-Z, , A REVIEW OF WONDER BY GRACE LADBURY Android. The rating for NBA , , , and 2K14 is rated E for everyone. many more. Up to 5 people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DO YOU KNOW WHICH COUNTRY THIS IS? BY AZKAR MADISON

1. It is the world’s largest archipelago with 17,805 8. It is one of the Coral islands. 6000 of which are inhabited. Triangle Countries. It 2. It is the world’s most populous country, after China, has the world’s greatest India and the U.S. diversity of coral reef fish-more than 1650 3. It is the world’s largest Islamic country. different species! 4. It is highly diverse. It has 742 different languages 9. It has the world’s 2nd and dialects. highest level of bio- 5. It is part of the ring of fire. diversity after Brazil. Mount Sinabung Eruptions Displace More Than 15,000 on Sunday Nov. 24. 6. It has the largest number of active volcanoes in the world. Did you guess the country? .....

7. Its largest island, Java is the world’ most populous Indonesia. is It island. WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH AN OKAPI? BY: KACEY CHAPMAN

Okapis are an endangered species. They live 20 to 30 Jackie Chapman years. They live in a tropical forest called the Ituri (1st grade) said: “I forest. They feed on leaves, twigs, carrots, lettuce, and would feed it, give onions. They weigh 450 to 650 pounds. They walk with it water, clean it, the front and back leg on the same side at the same time. train it to like They were not discovered until 1901. people, I asked people around West U Elementary what they train it to survive in would do with an okapi and here is what they said: the wild, ride on it, Lorraine Bombarde, 3rd grade said: “I would make a and take it to the habitat where people could come. It would be a place vet.” where people could pay me $10 to ride, $5 to feed, and $1 Ashok Gillette 1st grade said: “I would run away.” to pet.” Mrs. Gray said: “ I would set it free.” As for me, I would let it do whatever it wants. I would Amelia Marvin 3rd grade said: “ I would make a zoo with also make a forest in my backyard for it to roam. only its species. It would also be a park.”

THE SHUTDOWN OF YOUTUBE BY OWEN BUTLER following statement about the problem: “We know there are issues with spam and There has problem has also begun. A spamming abuse in the new comment system, and we been a big issue has overrun YouTube. The are working hard to fix them. We have p r o b l e m character known as Bob is slowly already made a number of changes in the lately with killing YouTube. It continues to pop last 24 hours to reduce spammy comments Yo u Tu b e . up everywhere and fills up the and bad links, and we have more fixes Google+ has comment section. It is so bad that coming soon.” changed the some major YouTubers have shut I hope the Bob problem is fixed soon comment system, and many people down their comment sections. It has so we can all get used to the new hate the change because they were slowed down over the last week but system.

happy with the old system. Another will not stop. Google+ has issued the

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DESPICABLE ME 2 DVD PREMIERE BY KRISTOPHER AGARWAL

With minions and more, the whole (played by Kristen Wig) to track bunch can now be enjoyed in the down the missing serum. Along comfort of your home. the way, Gru makes a discovery Ironically, Despicable Me 2 begins that was completely unexpected. with Gru being recruited by the Watch the movie to find out what Anti-Villian League and its happens next. director, Silas Ramsbottom (yes, Despicable Me 2 is now out on the minions got a good laugh out DVD. Buy your copies now and of that). Gru is on a mission to watch this action-packed film to find the missing PX-41 serum. find out what happens in the This dangerous liquid can turn exciting ending. My family and I anything, no matter how innocent, enjoyed this movie in theaters and Grab your wallets because Gru into an unstoppable monster. Gru Despicable Me 2 will definitely be (played by Steve Carell) and the must work with agent Lucy Wilde on my Christmas wish list. whole team are back on DVD!

NINE REBUS PUZZLES BY BETH ATHAIDE A rebus (“ree-byss”) is a representation of words, phrases, or syllables through pictures of objects or symbols that sound like the intended word, phrase, or syllable. Or it can be a riddle of such objects and symbols. See if you can solve these nine that I created. Answers on page 4

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Holiday Trees by Nitin Manian Word Puzzle by Diane Sun O1#'0*/'J"#2'$6%(%'9*&2(K'QHP@Z7CR;'O[@BB [@L\]@\H;'^@IP;'^]B7O;'BOPCC[;'BO7HLOH;' BI]4HLI;'IH@OPHR;'IHBI L E X G G T P B W P R X I G Y A Q C W Z B E V E X D C H C G N Z H N F N H S E H M E X L V G E J B E M H E T N A U H Q C U H M G V I S T G P T V B H H A C C C N S C L L X H C I E U What is a tree’s least favorite month? Sep-timber! G O K U A T K S O Z B A R O B What kind of tree can you fit in your hand? A palm tree! E I Z L P D V R O J T S A M R G V C F P W S F H O G B I G B How can you tell if a tree is a dogwood? By its bark. C G U B V T D D C M U S I C K What did the tree say to autumn? Leaf me alone. W Z S G U V W E S W Y V T C V What did one leaf say to another? I am falling for you. S N V D T T F D R T H F B D W Why did the leaf go to the doctor? It was feeling green. V R E H C A E T P O J Z J V F How do trees get on the internet? They log in. V N A R R S M C G S S Z X B X T T X I P L T H L X J L A K Q

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