 Futurelink School Scribes’ Corner  
STUDENTS
“My Special Gift”
by Ashley Chiu, Grade 1
IN FIRST GRADE learned how to use
adjectives to describe how they feel. They also
learned how to write friendly letters.
July 26, 2011
Dear Mom,
“My Feelings”
by Valeria Lopez, Grade 1
Today
Thank you so much for giving me a toy car.
At night time, it lights up in the dark. It is so colorful.
I am feeling glad. I am feeling glad
It is my favorite toy. I love the gift! Now I can play
because today was a fun day. I am feeling glad
with my friend.
because I was fast today. I am feeling so glad because
my teacher is nice.
Love,
Ashley
“My Feelings”
by Nathan Liu, Grade 1
Today
“Chuck-E-Cheese’s”
by Ashley Chiu, G1
I am feeling excited. My mom made
me feel excited at Target. I was excited because my
A
mom bought me something. I am still excited. I wish
special place I visited was Chuck-E-
Cheese’s. First, I played with my mom and dad. I
my mom bought me stickers.
played games. Next, I ate cotton candy. The cotton
candy was sweet. It was pink. It was soft. Last, I went
“My Special Gift”
by Laura Lu, Grade 1
home. I went home with my mom and dad. I went
home and my mom said, “I love you.” I felt happy.
July 27, 2011
“A Special Place – Sea World”
by Valeria Lopez, Grade 1
Dear Lynn,
A special place I visited was Sea World. One
Thank you so much for the earrings. It is
Saturday morning, we went to Sea World. First, we
crystal and so beautiful. It is so shiny. I like the gift!
went on a rollercoaster. We went in a tunnel. We
Now I can wear it.
went down fast. We got wet because it was a water
rollercoaster. Next, we went to eat lobster. I ate an
Love,
arm and it was yummy. I drank lemonade with ice in
Laura
it. Last, I went to see Shamu. I saw a dolphin. The
dolphin jumped high and people that knew how to
swim were standing on the dolphin. I felt good at Sea
World because it was fun.
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 Futurelink School Scribes’ Corner  
STUDENTS
“The Best Pet”
by Ashley Duong, Grade 2
IN SECOND AND THIRD GRADE are learning
how to write short stories and essays. Their focus
for the last two weeks has been personal narratives
and expository essays.
Do
you have a cute, little puppy? I have a
puppy! Her name is Daisy. Daisy is cute, playful, and
a sleepy girl.
Daisy sleeps in her cute, pink and purple bed.
She is cute, because she is white and tan. She plays,
“A Special Friend”
by Edwin Wong, Grade 2
Do
eats, drinks, and she is very shy. She sleeps with my
sister and me. Daisy is a super great dog. She does
you have a best friend at school? Hanson
tricks everyday.
is my best friend. Hanson is friendly, he shares, and
Daisy is a great pet. She is funny, cute, and
he works fast.
sleepy.
Hanson is a good friend. Hanson plays
Beyblade with me at recess. He shares his erasers
with me when it is class time. He works fast at math
and English and helps me when I need help.
Hanson likes to share and plays with me
when it is recess. Hanson is a great friend.
“The Best Pet”
by Jared Du, Grade 2
“My Best Pet”
by Joe Zeng, Grade 3
Do you have a best pet? I have one; it’s a fish!
I am going to tell you a little bit about my pet.
My pet fish is named Ha Ha. He is orange
What is black, barks, and licks your face? My
and he likes to swim. He is three years old and he is a
dog Ruby! I am going to tell you about the best dog
boy. My family has had Ha Ha for six months, but he
in the world, my dog Ruby.
is still alive. I feed him, but sometimes I forget. My
Here are some reasons my dog Ruby is the
pet fish is my sister’s. His birthday is on August 27th.
best. One morning I took Ruby to the park. I taught
He is a swimmer. When he swallows something, he
her tricks. I taught her to jump, stand up, and fetch.
spits something out. One time he jumped out of his
Then we had a race. Finally, we went home and ate
fishbowl!
lunch. I like it when Ruby watches me play computer
games. We also watch my favorite movies together.
Ha Ha is a great pet. My whole family likes
These are just a few of the wonderful things my dog
him and I do too.
does with me.
My dog Ruby is one of a kind. To me, she
truly is the best dog in the world.
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 Futurelink School Scribes’ Corner  
“My Worst Moment”
by Jasmine Tran, Grade 3
It was just like any other day until
my sister
got mad and started to punch me. I was worried,
scared, and mad. This is what happened on the worst
day of my life.
On this day, my sister and I were fighting.
When my sister and I were at home, she started to
punch me. I was so mad I decided to punch her back.
My mom told us to stop so we did. I started to cry.
My sister was really sorry. Then my sister said she
was sorry. We started to hug each other.
I learned that if a person hits you, you don’t
hit them back, just tell them how you feel! Ever since
that day, whenever I get mad, I use my words and do
not use my hands.
“My Hobby”
by Sabrina Tang, Grade 3
Have
STUDENTS
you ever seen something on T.V. that
IN FOURTH TO SIXTH GRADE are learning
looked fun? I have. I saw a piano competition on T.V.
how to write different types of five-paragraph
I saw someone win first place. After that, I decided I
essays. The last two weeks, they have been working
wanted to play piano. I am going to tell you about my
on persuasive essays.
hobby, playing the piano.
After seeing the competition, I told my mom
Prompt: Your principal is considering a new dress code
I wanted to take piano lessons and she signed me up.
requiring all students to wear uniforms. State whether
My piano teacher gave me a song to practice, because
you think this is a good policy and support your answer.
we were going to have a concert. The song had two
parts. I practiced and practiced until I finally got it
PRO: “Uniform Policy”
by Trisha Tran, Grade 4
right. When the day of the concert finally arrived, I
was so nervous. I went on the stage and played the
School
song correctly. My mom was so proud of me.
uniforms are a fantastic policy.
I loved piano after I heard the song I played.
Students dress the same when they are in uniforms,
My mom was so impressed that she wanted me to
so they won’t have to spend time looking at how their
teach her how to play. Piano is my best hobby. I
classmates are dressed. Students already have so many
think in the future, I would make a great piano
things to think about: school, socializing, and the
teacher.
latest movie they want to watch. Since uniforms look
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 Futurelink School Scribes’ Corner  
the same, students won’t bother each other with
questions like, “Where did you buy that shirt?” or
comments like, “I don’t like your sense of fashion.”
Uniforms help students concentrate on their school
work, give students one less thing to whine about,
and keep students from wasting time in the morning.
Uniforms are good for schools. When
students wear uniforms, they concentrate on their
work. Students don’t have to concentrate on other
peoples’ clothes. Sometimes if there is no uniform,
people stare at your clothes all day. When you don’t
have a uniform, others will ask you where you bought
your clothes.
If students wore uniforms, they wouldn’t
CON: “Uniforms Are Not Fun”
by Fanny Huang, G4
have to whine all day about their clothes. Without
uniforms, students question each other’s fashion
Yawn…uniforms
choices. This can make students feel insecure.
are so boring. Uniforms
Students beg their parents to take them shopping, so
don’t have any decoration on them. Boring old
they can buy new clothes.
uniforms make students have bad feelings. Uniforms
Uniforms have another benefit; students
are horrible in my opinion. Uniforms are the worst
don’t have to find their clothes in their morning.
idea because they cost a lot of money, are not fancy,
Sometimes it takes too long to find your clothes. It
and are boring.
also gets messy when you dig through your drawers
Uniforms cost a lot of money because parents
to find clothes to wear to school. If students had
have to keep buying new ones when their children
uniforms, they would already know what to wear to
grow out of them. When students grow out of their
school.
street clothes, they can still wear their mom’s or dad’s
School uniforms are a really good policy. If
clothes. Cool, right? If uniforms are too small for
was
would
students, parents don’t have any uniforms for their
concentrate on their work rather than worrying about
children to wear. Parents have to work twice as hard
their clothes. When there are uniforms at school,
to pay for their children’s uniforms.
there
a
uniform
policy,
students
there’s no need to waste time finding your clothes in
Uniforms are not fancy, because you can only
the morning. School uniforms are beneficial for
wear certain clothes and colors. Usually uniforms are
students.
just blue or white. Normal clothes can be fancy or
shiny. Having fancy clothes makes people think you
are rich, which can make you feel famous. Wearing
fancy clothes can inspire students to study, so that
they can be smart and rich in the future.
4
 Futurelink School Scribes’ Corner  
Boring clothes make families think that they
students won’t come home crying and parents won’t
are poor because they are so plain. Boring clothes can
have to worry about their kids’ feelings getting hurt.
make students feel sad because they are not colorful.
With uniforms, students can focus in class
Sadness interferes with students’ concentration and
instead of playing with their clothes or accessories.
keeps them from doing their work.
For example, if a student is wearing jewelry or a belt
Uniforms are the worst idea because they are
with a chain, instead of discussing a story with the
expensive, are not fancy, and are boring. If you can’t
class, the student would be playing with their
fit into your uniform, your parents have to buy more.
clothing. With uniforms and a dress code, this
Being fancy is better than wearing a uniform, so say
wouldn’t be a problem. Also, instead of wasting time
no to uniforms!
in the morning pick out clothes, students can study
for tests or get extra sleep. During class time,
students don’t need to worry about whether their
clothes are cool because everyone wears the same
thing.
Uniforms may look expensive, but they are
not. There is always a sale before school starts where
students can buy new clothes for the school year at a
low price. Parents will only need to buy a few sets of
uniforms, unlike real clothes. They will no longer
complain about how much their child spends on
clothes. Everyone can afford uniforms.
Don’t uniforms sound like a great idea? They
PRO: “Say YES to Uniforms”
by Crystal Tran, Grade 5
fight bullying and keep students focused. Also,
uniforms aren’t very expensive.
Let’s have uniforms!
“Stop! Stop making fun of me!” Does this
sound familiar? Maybe it’s because your school
CON: “Say NO to Uniforms”
by Michelle Chen, Grade 6
doesn’t have a uniform policy. Uniforms help prevent
bullying and allow students to focus on academics.
Another positive aspect of uniforms is that they’re
Is your school
not expensive. I think schools should have uniforms.
considering getting uniforms?
Getting uniforms is a bad idea. Most students dislike
If schools adopt a uniform policy, there
uniforms; they limit creative ability; and they are
would be less discrimination. Students wouldn’t be
expensive and hard to clean.
put into groups because they wear “cool” or “geeky”
Think about the word uniform. Notice the
clothes. Some people make fun of others because they
root “uni-,” or “one.” It’s true! Uniforms are just one
can’t afford to wear the new trends; however, with
form, one boring outfit. If you have uniforms,
uniforms, this situation is solved. Additionally,
choosing clothes for school is already out of the
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 Futurelink School Scribes’ Corner  
question. Without uniforms, students would be able
However,
to express themselves.
transportation is bad because it is crowded and you
Most students dislike uniforms, and they
some
people
argue
that
public
must get to your stop on time. Overall, though, the
have good reason to. First, they are very formal and
benefits
outweigh
the
costs.
Using
public
most students hate dressing up. Secondly, uniforms
transportation is a great idea, because it is good for
can be very uncomfortable. They can be itchy, tight,
the environment and is quieter than cars.
or simply have too much of a formal feel. Most likely,
If more people took public transportation,
uniforms’ colors are not the colors students like to
there would be less air pollution. Using public
wear. For example, a uniform might have colors that
transportation is better for the environment because
are awkward for boys.
air pollution would be minimized. People could stop
Last but certainly not least, uniforms are
wearing face masks and breathe freely.
expensive and hard to clean. Most sets of uniforms
Using public transportation would reduce the
cost more than $100! They are costly to buy and
noise from millions of cars on the road. It does this
clean. Most uniforms have delicate buttons, zippers,
because passengers would ride on one, long train or
and embroidery. Normal washing machines can ruin
bus. Imagine cars beeping loudly; the loud noises can
these. It is also hard to find a cleaning cycle. If you
cause a car crash! With public transportation, you can
only have two shirts and both are dirty, it can be a
rest peacefully at the end of the day knowing that
pain to figure out how to get them clean for school
there are no more loud noises.
In conclusion, uniforms are a bad idea. They
Although public transportation is good for
limit creative ability, are disliked, and are costly to
the environment, people still argue about its benefits
buy and clean. If you want a good, fun school year,
because of the strain it puts on passengers. It takes a
tell your school to say “NO!” to uniforms.
long time for everyone to board a bus, because many
people need to get on. You have to be on time at a
bus stop or train station or else you will be late to
Prompt: Many cities suffer from serious air and noise
wherever you are going. However, these short-
pollution—as well as endless traffic jams—because
there are too many cars. Some people feel that cities
comings are easy to forgive. Public transportation
with extensive public transportation systems should
carries a lot of people. I would rather wait in a line for
ban passenger cars and force people to walk, bike, or
a bus than destroy the environment.
Using
use public transportation. Do you think this is a good
public
transportation is a good
idea? Why or why not?
idea because it will lessen
air pollution and is a lot
PRO: “Take Public Transportation”
by Andrew Xiao, Grade 4
Do
quieter than all those cars!
You should use public
you know why public transportation is
transportation right now!
good? Public transportation creates less pollution and
is quieter than the millions of cars on the road.
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 Futurelink School Scribes’ Corner  
STUDENTS
She teaches a life-altering lesson through bravery and
IN SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE are also
a will to correct Roger’s mistake.
learning how to write five-paragraph essays. For
The story “Thank You, M’am” shows the
the last two weeks, they have been working on
different ways in which teachers can lead a child from
responses to literature (focus: character analysis).
wrong to right. Mrs. Jones gets her lesson across
through kindness, generosity, and boldness. In real
Prompt:
Respond to the short story you read in your
life, kids make mistakes for any number of reasons. It
morning English class, “Thank You M’am” by Langston
takes a teacher like Mrs. Jones to inspire them to do
Hughes. Write a character analysis of either Roger or
right.
Mrs. Jones.
“Mrs. Jones”
by Michelle Wan, Grade 8
“Thief!” by Justin Hong, Grade 8
Robber!
There
After the unpleasant surprise of a
are many different teachers that use
robbery, a normal person would run away, afraid of
different methods to teach. In the story “Thank You
gunfire or a knife from the thief. Everyone, that is,
M’am” by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones teaches
but Mrs. Jones. In Langston Hughes’s short story,
Roger a life lesson in her own way. Amazingly, Mrs.
“Thank You, M’am” Mrs. Jones’s turns a failed
Jones offers Roger food and money after he tries to
robbery attempt into a well-taught lesson. Mrs. Jones
snatch her purse. During their meeting, she shows
is a caring, generous, and brave woman.
care towards Roger. Mrs. Jones actions and words
show that she is a very caring, generous, and strong-
Mrs. Jones is kind to the thief, a young boy
willed person.
named Roger. After the robbery attempt, she takes
Roger to her house and cares for him. She realizes
Mrs. Jones shows care and concern towards
Roger has no one to care for him at home. She gives
Roger. She questions Roger about whether or not he
him water to wash his face.
has anybody at home to wash his face. She takes him
home and cleans up his face just like a caring parent
Mrs. Jones is also generous. Instead of taking
would.
Roger to jail, she offers him the shelter of her own
home. She gives Roger food and ends up giving him
Mrs. Jones thoughtfully and generously gives
ten dollars for his blue suede shoes—the shoes he
Roger what he needs and wants even though she isn’t
wanted but couldn’t afford, the shoes that lead him to
very wealthy. Although the house is large, Mrs. Jones
steal. She also leaves Roger with an important lesson
she lives with other roomers. Even in her situation,
in life: never steal from anybody.
she offers Roger food and money to buy the blue
suede shoes he wants. She is very generous to Roger
Mrs. Jones stands out among others because
considering she doesn’t have much money.
she is fearless and determined. She doesn’t run away
after the robbery attempt; she goes up to Roger,
Mrs. Jones has a unique way of teaching.
confronts him about his crime, and disciplines him.
Because she is strong-willed, she decides to use her
own method of discipline. She kicks him in his “blue-
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 Futurelink School Scribes’ Corner  
jeaned sitter” to show him that what he is doing is
wrong. She doesn’t take Roger to jail; instead, she
takes him home. In the end, she gives him ten dollars
for his suede shoes and tells him, “shoes come by
devilishness like that will burn your feet.” Roger can
think of little more to say than, “Thank you, m’am.”
He learns his lesson and Mrs. Jones’s way of teaching
works.
Through their encounter, Mrs. Jones teaches
Roger a lesson. She helps him understand what’s
right and wrong by caring for him and trusting him.
Mrs. Jones’s actions and words show that she is a very
caring, generous, and strong-willed person. Her
unique way of teaching will make Roger remember
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones for the rest of
his life.
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