VILLA 411
VOLUME VI EDITION I
Page 2: Fall
SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2012
A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
Page 3: Book Reviews
Page 4: Hidden Objects
Page 5: Fashionista
Page 6: Games
Page 7: Poetry/Track
News
Page 8: Comics
Page 9: Teacher of the
Month
Page 10: Locate Me
Page 11: Art Zone
Hi! My name is Felicia Napoli and I am the new
Villa 411 Editor. Edina, Simona, and I will be
working hard to produce interesting, lively issues
that you will enjoy reading. The staff has been
working hard the past couple of months to make
sure that the newspaper is fun and informative.
Our first issue of Villa 411 is finished. I hope you
enjoy it!
Page 12: Tongue Twisters
Page 13: Teacher’s Corner
Page 14: Top Songs
Page 15: Charities
Page 16: Movie Overviews
A WORD FROM THE CO-EDITORS
Page 17: History Column
Page 18: Recipes
Page 19: Villa Happenings
Page 20: Celebrities
Page 21: Surveys
Page 22: Silly Questions/
Did you Know?
Page 23: Our Mission
Page 24: The Staff
Page 25: Greetings
Hey, guys, it’s Edina Cira and Simona
Bruno. Thanks for viewing the first issue of
Villa 411! We’re very happy to be co-editors
of the Villa 411 staff. We are looking forward
to working with our dependable staff. I hope
you enjoy our first issue of Villa 411.
Villa 411
By: Thomas Napoli and Tanya Contractor, Grade 4
Fall is so fun.
It’s time to laugh and run.
Jumping in leaves
Climbing up trees
Brown, green, orange, and red.
Now it is said: Fall is the best!
Villa 411
By: Jasmine Mayor, Grade 6
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
The Mark of Athena is the third book from The Lost Heroes of Olympus series. This book is narrated by
four of the protagonists in the story. In the book, Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, Jason Grace, Leo
Valdez, Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang, and Piper McLean try to unite the Greeks and Romans. During
this time, Annabeth has her own quest to avenge her mother, Athena, goddess of wisdom.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid- The Third Wheel
by: Jeff Kinney
Source: goodreads.com
Love is in the air—but what does that mean for Greg Heffley?
A Valentine’s Day dance at Greg’s middle school has turned his world upside down. As Greg scrambles to find a date, he’s worried he’ll be left out in the cold on the big night. His best friend, Rowley,
doesn’t have any prospects either, but that’s a small consolation.
An unexpected twist gives Greg a partner for the dance and leaves Rowley the odd man out. But a lot
can happen in one night, and in the end, you never know who’s going to be lucky in love.
Villa 411
By: Samantha Centeno, Grade 7 and Alexandra Russo, Grade 5
1. Can you find the baby?
2. Can you find the head?
3. Can you find the frog?
4. Can you find the face?
5. Is it a duck….. or a rabbit?
Villa 411
By: Alexandra Piazza, Grade 7
What’s In For Girls?
FLASHBACK!
Girls wear plaid shirts with a solid
tank top and tights with denim
shorts! For shoes, wear combat boots
and top it off with a necklace or bow!
What was in for girls in the 80’s?
Girls also can wear jeans with a
printed shirt and a varsity jacket of
any color! For shoes, wear Jordan’s
and top it off with bangle bracelets!
And if you want to be comfy, wear
UGGS!
What’s in for Boys?
Boys wear denim jeans with printed
or solid T-Shirts and a hoodie. As for
shoes, wear Jordan’s and top it off
with a flat hat of your favorite team!
Poofy Skirts
Leg Warmers
Neon Colors
Bright color sneakers
What was in for boys in the 80’s?
Black Leather Jacket
White T-Shirt
Black Jeans
Black Dress Shoes
See the Difference?
Villa 411
By: Ezinne Nweke and Manfred Kingue-Noah, Grade 5
ACROSS
1. Who were the first settlers that celebrated Thanksgiving?
3. These are the people you eat Thanksgiving dinner with.
5. What is the most common main dish for Thanksgiving dinner?
8. Who did the pilgrims celebrate Thanksgiving with?
9. What big holiday is celebrated in November?
14. You watch this Thanksgiving morning on TV.
DOWN
1. This pie is orange. [HINT: You see a lot of them at Halloween.]
2. What can you find inside of a Thanksgiving turkey?
4. What is another word for "sweet potatoes?"
6. Dad's watch this game on TV after Thanksgiving dinner.
7. This food is red in color.
10. Who is the famous guy who appears at the end of the Thanksgiving parade?
11. What does a turkey say?
12. What animal loves to beg for some of your turkey dinner?
13. What do you mostly do on Thanksgiving day?
Villa 411
A Day of Running
By: Lauren Pitarresi,
Grade 8
I like to run
I think it’s fun
As I run in the heat
My heart skips a beat
My arms start to move
As I get into the groove
My mind starts spinning
As I think about winning
I see the finish line
As the sun shines
I feel so proud
Lauren Pitarresi, Grade 8
and Victoria August, Grade 7
On Saturday, October 20,
2012, about twenty kids from the
Saint John Villa track team
visited Manhattan to participate
in the New York Roadrunnner
Youth Jamboree. There were 800
meter, 400 meter, 200 meter, 55
meter, relay races, shot put, and
long jump competitions for many
track teams. Many of our team
members won medals.
When I hear the crowd
I won the race
With so much grace
The cameras clicked
As my heart ticked
It felt glorious
To be victorious!
One of these runners,
Lauren Pitarresi (Grade 8),
wrote this wonderful poem about
running, when she was in the
sixth grade and it was published
in a collection of poetry later that
year.
Villa 411
By: Sabrina Warraich, Grade 6 and
Isabella Gaggi, Grade 4
Villa 411
By: Kaitlyn Mattera, Grade 7,and
Martin Marraccino, Grade 5
Q: What is your favorite television show?
A: “Chopped” on Food Network
Q: What is your favorite subject to teach?
A: Religion or ELA
Q: What memory will you always remember and
why?
A: The day I first met Ms. Beiro. :)
Q: What elementary school did you attend?
Look Alike:
A: P.S. 203 in Brooklyn
Belinda Carlisle
Q: Do you have any outside interests?
A: Forensic science and fashion design
Q: If you weren’t a teacher what would you be?
A: A ROCK STAR!
Q: Did you have a favorite hobby when you were younger?
A: I loved to draw and create stuff.
Q: What was your most embarrassing moment?
A: I have so many like when I dropped all my books in my college class and someone
called me, Lucille Ball, or when I mumble and talk gibberish in class by mistake and
all the kids laugh.
Q: Who is your favorite singer?
A: Chris Tomlin
Q: If you could hang out with any famous person (dead or alive) who would it be?
A: Matt Dillon :)
Villa 411
By: Dean Malandro & Lauren Pitarresi, Grade-8
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Villa 411
By: Simona Bruno, Grade 7
SpongeBob Squarepants
Villa 411
By: Cayla Cruz, Grade 6 and Emily Lynch, Grade 4
Can you say these Tongue Twisters 5x each?
Which Witch snitched the Snitch Witch?
Or did the Snitch Witch snitch the Witch?
If the Snitch Witch snitched the Witch
then which Witch did the Snitch Witch snitch?
Horribly hoarse hoot owls hoot howls of horror in
Halloween haunted houses.
Patricia Poltergeist picked a peck of plump
pumpkins. How many plump pumpkins did
Patricia Poltergeist pick if she picked a peck?
Helen hardly ever heard the horrible haunted
house's Halloween howl.
Betty baked a better batch of buttered biscuits.
(say ten times fast)
Six sick swans slurped soup slowly.
Pilgrims planted perfect pumpkins peacefully.
Villa 411
Question: What was your favorite subject when you were in school and why?
Mrs. D. Azzaretto – Kindergarten – My favorite subject was Reading when I was in school because I loved learning about new things and my first grade teacher gave me a wonderful foundation that I grew to love Reading.
Mrs. Armento – First Grade – I enjoyed Math. I was always good with numbers and was able to
figure out things very quickly.
Mrs. Silva – Second Grade – My favorite subject was Reading because Reading can take you
many different places and I found Reading very relaxing. I always have a special book at my
fingertips!
Mrs. Bruns – Third Grade – My favorite subject when I was young was Reading. I enjoyed all
the different books we read, discussed, and that love of Reading still exists for me today.
Ms. Henderson – Fourth Grade – My favorite was ELA because I really liked creative writing.
Ms. O’Brien – Fifth Grade – My favorite subject was Language Arts because it came easy to me
and I enjoyed it.
Ms. Connelly – Sixth Grade - In elementary school, it was science because my science teacher had a
lot of animals and plants in her room. In high school, it was psychology because I enjoyed studying human behavior.
Mrs. Azzaretto – Seventh Grade – Math was my favorite subject because it is very orderly and you
get a sense of satisfaction when you solve a problem.
Ms. Beiro – Spanish and Math – My favorite subject in school was Social Studies because I loved
learning about history and the debates we would have in class were fun.
Villa 411
By: Samantha Centeno, Grade 7 and Alexandra Russo, Grade 5
1 “Gangnam Style” - PSY
2 “I Knew You Were Trouble” -Taylor Swift
3 “Die Young” -Ke$ha
4 “Catch My Breath” -Kelly Clarkson
5 “One More Night” -Maroon 5
6 “Some Nights” -Fun
7 “Diamonds” -Rihanna
8 “Skyfall” -Adele
9 “State of Grace” -Taylor Swift
10 “We are Never Getting Back Together” -Taylor Swift
Apple.com
Villa 411
Anthony Santostefano, Grade 6 and Lisa Wong, Grade 4
The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy named
Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its
humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon,
reaching more than 250,000 children around the world.
There are four steps to granting a wish. Each step builds on the next to help
create the amazing experiences that delight “wish kids” and their families. A
wish experience is frequently a source of inspiration for children undergoing difficult medical treatments. A network of nearly 25,000 volunteers enable the
Make-A-Wish Foundation to serve children with life-threatening medical conditions. Volunteers serve as wish granters, fundraisers, special events assistants
and in numerous other capacities that help them overcome their obstacles. Although it has become one of the world’s most well-known charities, the Make-AWish Foundation has maintained the grassroots fulfillment of its mission.
Source: wish.org
Villa 411
By Nicholas Masters, Grade 6 and Chioma Nweke, Grade 4
Batman the Dark Knight Rises
Summary:
Batman was originally undercover and later reveals himself and must save
Gotham City from the masked terrorist, Bane.
Rating
Batman the Dark Night Rises received a 4 out of 5 star rating.
Hotel Transylvania
Summary:
Dracula, the father of 118 year old Mavis invites all their monster friends
to her birthday party when a human unexpectedly arrives at their hotel and
causes havoc for the overprotective dad.
Rating
Hotel Transylvania received a 4 out of 5 star rating.
Source: rottentomatoes.com
Villa 411
HISTORY Column
By: Victoria August, Grade 7
Past and Present:
In the past, our predecessors, ancestors, as well as others have made history. Even today, we are still making history by advancing our culture and doing great things. History is infinite.
Since it happens to be in November, I will give you some information regarding the month of November in the present day-andage, and what happened in past Novembers.
Then
On November 4th, 1922, the entrance to ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered by archaeologist Howard
Carter.
On November 19th, 1493, Columbus discovered Puerto Rico. (indirectly)
On November 21, 1965, the world’s longest suspension bridge (at the time), the Verrazano- Narrows bridge, which connects
Staten Island to Brooklyn, was opened.
Source: www.aboutfamouspeople.com
Now
On November 6, 2012, our country had its Presidential Election, on the customary date of the first Tuesday of the month. Our
school held a “mock” election and on that day Barack Obama was the local and national winner.
Villa 411
Mario Centeno and Domenica Fontana, Grade 6
3 large tomatoes - peeled, seeded and chopped
1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
Directions
1.
Dredge chicken lightly in flour. Heat oil over medium-high heat. Fry chicken pieces briefly, turning to brown evenly.
2.
Add onion and celery; cook 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in wine and chopped tomatoes. Season with oregano, salt and ground
pepper to taste. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer gently for 30 minutes, turning pieces once. Pour in balsamic vinegar
and mushrooms, and cook another 5 to 10 minutes.
allrecipes.com
Villa 411
What’s Happening at SJVA
This year at Villa we are having many events and clubs such as:
Track
Newspaper
Band
Drama
Basketball
Wax Museum
Copy Cat Museum
Dances
Breakfast with Santa
The Student Council of 2012-2013 is now in office.
This years’ members of the Student Council are:
President- Bailey DelPriore (Grade 8)
Vice President- Alexa Rinaudo (Grade 8)
Secretary- Felicia Napoli (Grade 7)
Treasurer- Tyler Almquist (Grade 7)
Grade 5 Representatives- Alexandra LaBarca and Matthew Pitarresi
Grade 6 Representatives- Michael Baldassano and Francesca Compagano
Grade 7 Representative- Victoria August
Grade 8 Representative- Juliana Patrizio
Villa 411
By: Stephanie Tirado, Grade 4 and Danielle Kaminski, Grade 6
Derek Sanderson Jeter
Derek S. Jeter was born June 26, 1974 in
Pequannock Township, New Jersey.
He is currently playing for the NY Yankees.
He fractured his left ankle in the 12th inning of game 1of the AL Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers. He was on crutches and was out for the
rest of the season.
Demi Lovato
Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato (born August 20, 1992) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actress, and anti-bullying spokesperson. Her
earliest roles included Angela on Barney & Friends, before she became better
known for her starring roles in the Camp movies, as Sonny Munroe in the Disney sitcom Sonny with a Chance, and as the star of the 2009 movie Princess
Protection Program. As of fall 2012, Lovato is a judge on the second season of the American version of The X Factor.
Villa 411
By: Dean Malandro and Lauren Pitarresi, Grade
Favorite Candy
Villa 411
BY:SABRINA WARRAICH, Grade 6 & ISABELLA GAGGI, Grade 4
Did you know that most lipsticks are made from fish scales?
Did you know 'Topolino' is the name for Mickey Mouse in Italy?
Did you know 11% of people are left handed?
Did you know the average person falls asleep in 7 minutes?
Did you know lemons contain more sugar than strawberries?
Did you know 8% of people have an extra rib?
Did you know Ralph Lauren's original name was Ralph Lifshitz?
By: Ezinne Nweke and Manfred Kingue-Noah, Grade 5
If a Smurf is choking, what color does he turn?
What if the hokey pokey is really what it is all about?
Why do they call it after dark when it’s really after light?
Who did let the dogs out?
Why are they called apartments when they are actually put together?
How do you plan a surprise birthday party for a psychic?
Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?
Villa 411
SAINT JOHN VILLA
ACADEMY
VALUES FORMED… TALENTS
FOSTERED… DREAMS FULLFILLED!
Our Mission
St. John Villa Academy was founded by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist to
serve the young men and women of Staten Island and Brooklyn. Our mission is
to provide education steeped in the Catholic tradition of tolerance and service to
others. We strive to provide a challenging environment for students of varied talents and academic levels, thus preparing them to become self-sufficient, confident and compassionate members of the community.
Villa 411