6D | Erie Times-News | GoErie.com | Monday, March 14, 2016
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
Follow each new chapter as it unravels in our serial story, while enjoying student responses and artwork.
CHRISTOPHER LaFURIA/Erie Times-News
Zachery Egan, from North East
Middle School, and his teacher,
Carolyn Szklenski.
CHRISTOPHER LaFURIA/Erie Times-News
Nishimwe Flora, from McKinley
Elementary School, and her
teacher, Lindsey Lynch.
CHRISTOPHER LaFURIA/Erie Times-News
Charles Timer, from Wattsburg
Middle School, and his teacher,
Alyssa Hunter.
CHRISTOPHER LaFURIA/Erie Times-News
Olivia Corbin, from Westlake
Middle School, and her teacher,
Sarah Weimer.
CHRISTOPHER LaFURIA/Erie Times-News
Elaina Weiss, from Robison
Elementary School, and her
teacher, Trevor Crispin.
Students earn rewards for BayHawks contest
Essay question
What are some ways that you
can be involved in NBA Fit in
school, at home and with your
friends?
Prizes
One grand prize winner receives a Fitbit activity tracker,
a pep rally from the Erie Bay-
Hawks at their school, and four
tickets to the Erie BayHawks
game on March 18, at 7 p.m. Four
finalists, whose essays were chosen by our judges, will also receive four tickets. The students
will be recognized during the
game.
Winners
The grand prize winner for
▲ Ashlee Corder
2016 is Zachery Egan, seventh
grade, NorthEastMiddleSchool.
The finalists are Nishimwe Flora, third grade, McKinley Elementary;CharlesTrimer,seventh
grade, Wattsburg Elementary
School; Olivia Corbin, seventh
grade, Westlake Middle School;
and Elaina Weiss, second grade,
Robison Elementary School.
Read more of the essays at
NIE.GoErie.com
Essay excerpt
“Although many kids think it
is cool to stay up late, it actually
is bad for you. If you stay up all
night you will have trouble rememberinganythingyoulearned
throughouttheday. Itisespecially important to get lots of sleep as
a child because your brain is still
developing.”
— Zachery Egan
▲ Mahogani Knight
Wayne School, fifth grade
▲ Daniel Tate
Wayne School, fifth grade
Wayne School, fifth grade
Chapter 11: Missy Prissy
By J.R. FITCH
Illustration by M. SILVIA-CHAIREZ
NewSpaper
activity
I
f Jimmy had not been chosen as the emcee, Samantha would have been. She
is known for being extremely
witty not only in Miss Kwon’s
class but throughout the school.
“Sam,” as she is known to most,
has a knack of making something ordinary very funny.
Although she had never taken ballet lessons, or any dancing lessons for that matter, she
created a comical skit portrayingaveryyoungballerina.What
she was about to do is a spoof, a
parody, a silly, clumsy interpretation of a graceful and serious
ballet.
Jimmy introduced her this
way: “And now, we have a most
talented ballet dancer who will
introduce herself. Let’s welcome our next performer!”
Sam got enthusiastic applause and laughter as she
slowly and timidly walked on
stage wearing leotards and a
pink pancake tutu. Her hair
was braided into two pigtails,
which stood out on either side
of her head. An oversized bow
matching her ballet costume
was placed left of center on
her head. The same material
was used to tie bows in her pigtails. She walked to center stage
slowly, shyly, and somewhat
pigeon-toed. She looked pretty
silly as she stood in the same
toes-pointed-in way while interlocking her fingers and then
pushing her hands downward.
Her face was deadpan as she
looked at her audience.
What a sight!
Sam had not spoken a single
word and already the audience
was cracking up.
“Swan Lake” has become
one of the most famous
ballets around the world,
despite being written in
1876. Look through the
Erie Times-News for an
article about a popular
person, business or art
display – that shows its
history.
“Hi,” Sam said, with a slight
smile, looking directly at her
audience.
She allowed an awkward
pause.
“I’m Missy.”
Laughter.
Another pause while staring
at the audience.
“Missy Prissy.”
More laughter.
“You think that’s funny?
I could be Purdy Nerdy.
Or. ...” her voice trailed off.
Another pause to create the
effect of being timid.
Sam, shyly squirmed and
twisted from side to side, noticing her tutu’s stiff pancake skirt
swirling. She twisted faster and
smiled as she watched her costume take on life. She became
fascinated with her twirling
tutu and pretended to forget
about the audience.
Laughter.
“Startled” back to reality,
Samlookedattheaudienceand
announced, “I’m a ballerina.
(Another pause.) A very good
ballerina. (Pause.) Probably the
best ballerina in the world for a
girl my age,” she said.
Jimmy walked on stage and
led the audience in applauding
this “most special and talented
ballerina.”
Jesse also made a quick appearance and “fanned” his
arms up and down like fans do
at sporting events when they
want the crowd to get noisy.
Sam curtsied. Awkwardly, almost tripping.
Another round of laughter.
“Now I will perform Swan
Lake for you,” Sam said.
“Prepare to be amazed,” she
added,stillplayingthelittlegirl
part, twisting back and forth in
a prissy but bashful sort of way.
The audience snickered.
Suddenly the music started
and Sam acted as though it
caught her off guard and totally by surprise. Quickly she
stretched her arms out in opposite directions with her head
held high. She leaped forward,
stumbling, mimicking a poorly
done arabesque.
The audience howled.
Sam then mimicked and
exaggerated what is known as
the petit allegro. She jumped,
twirled and stopped, then unsuccessfully tried standing on
her toes wearing ballet slippers
instead of pointe shoes while
circling her arms above her
head to create an oval, known
as the fifth position. She lost her
balance, staggered and landed
flat on her bottom on the stage
floor. With legs pointed straight
out and soles up towards the
audience, she stared at the audience in disbelief.
Nothing is funnier than a comedian falling or bumping into
something.
Sam had her audience laughing so hard they nearly were
falling out of their seats.
Scrambling to stand and
catch up with the music, Sam
made more awkward moves
and finished her routine by
twirling so fast she faked being
dizzy, and tried unsuccessfully
to stand still to receive her ovation.
Touching the back of her
hand to her forehead as though
she was about to faint, she staggered off stage, weaving from
side to side.
Jimmy walked onstagelaughing and called Sam out to enjoy
her ovation.
Sam sprinted out waving her
arms wildly over her head receiving her recognition while
blowing kisses to the audience
before walking offstage.
Couldthingsbegoinganybetter, Jimmy pondered?
From offstage, Jessica gave
Jimmy a thumbs up. They were
on schedule.
Provided by
American Press Institute
Copyright © 2013 J.R. Fitch
✄ Clip and save to create your very own book. ✄
This page brought to you by:
Extra! Extra! Write all about it!
Questions: What was the funniest thing that ever happened
to you? Write a few sentences about what happened, and why
it was so funny.
Artwork: Erie, Pennsylvania is known for its beautiful sunsets during the summer. Think back to the last beautiful
sunset that you saw and illustrate it. Use as many colors
that would make the sunset look stunning.
Responses: Send student responses to us! Material must be
received by Friday, to be published in the newspaper.
Teachers: Get
more online!
Visit the Erie
Times-News in
Education website at NIE.Go
Erie.com to find
lesson
plans,
classroomactivities and student
artwork
and
writing.
Send us your writings:
[email protected]
Please send artwork to:
Erie Times-News in Education
205 W. 12th St., Erie, PA 16534
All artwork should be in color and
on 81⁄2-by-11-inch
plain white paper.
Be sure to include your name,
school, grade and teacher’s name
on the back of your submission!