Character

Counts Week In our school, we had an

entire week called “Character

Counts Week”. During this time

we reviewed what it means to

have good character. Having good

character is important because, if

you have good character it means

you’re being caring, responsible,

respectful, honest and you’re be-

ing a good citizen. If you have bad

character it means you’re being

rude, not nice, mean, not fun, and

definitely not being cool!

We helped represent the

traits by wearing red, blue, yel-

low, green and purple. Each color

has a character trait to go along

with it. Vernfield would also like

On October 22nd, a fa-

mous poet and author,

Amy Ludwig Vanderwa-

ter came to Vernfield

Elementary School. She

gave us advice on writ-

ing poems, and stories.

In 4th grade, she taught

students to combine a

song that is special to

them, with a

special memory.

Ms Vanderwater

also said that her

favorite part of writing a

new poem or story, is

seeing a fresh, blank

page waiting for her to

write. One book, that

she kindly let the school

buy, is Forest Has a

Song. It is a beautiful

book of poetry, and life’s

sights. It’s a great book!

We are so lucky to have

authors visit our school

such as, Dan Gutman,

and Amy Ludwig

Vanderwater! So, are

you inspired, because I

am…

Let’s get WRITING!

The Hawk Vernfield Elementary’s First

Newspaper!

V e r n f i e l d E l e m e n t a r y

S c h o o l Volume 1, Issue 1

November 30, 2015

Amy Ludwig Vanderwater by Ava Mills

to congratulate the winners of the

color contest, Mrs. Diaz’s and

Mrs. Caranfa’s classrooms. We

hope you enjoy your pizza party.

We can show good char-

acter by doing kind things. For

example, you can show good char-

acter by taking someone to the

nurse. It can be as small as that.

Also, it can be big like singing to

people in the hospital. I hope we

all learned what character is and

can show it in some way.

Article written by: Hailey

Riexinger

During the last week of

October, Vernfield Ele-

mentary hosted a pumpkin

display. It was an amazing

and impressive display.

There were minions, Min-

nie Mouses, zombies, and

some decorated with fun

stickers. The students who

took part in this project

showed talent and creativi-

ty in their designs. It was

clear to see that this was a

fun project for everyone

involved! Hopefully you

had a chance to check it

out!! By Maddie Runk

Pumpkins at

Vernfield!

The most exciting event

that ever happened to

me during the start of

the school year is the

“Back to School Bash.”

This event has pizza,

snow cones, a DJ, activi-

ties on the playground,

and sports you can do in

the field. Some of the

things you can do in the

field are football, soccer

and jackpot. When you

enter the bash, you get a

free snow cone if you are

a Vernfield student. My

favorite part about this

event is playing sports

in the field and the DJ

activities. My brothers

like playing football in

the field. I also do too.

The back to school bash

is a fun event. I’m sure

I will miss it next year

when I am in sixth

grade!

By Jamie Riley

Cookies

Holly

Ringing bells

Invite family and friends

Santa

Treats

Making presents

Antlers

Songs

By Kendra Yerger

The Back to School Bash!

The Hawk Page 2

Secrets from Mr. Gross

Ever wonder what our Phys Ed teacher Mr.

Gross does besides teach class, what he learns

and how he grew up? Well if you want to know

this is a great article for you to read!

Why do you want to teach gym?

“I enjoy sharing the experience that I had as a

child by being active. I want to encourage chil-

dren to be active and healthy.”

Where do you learn all of the games we

play?

“Over the years, I have seen a variety of activities

that I modify or create to fit the needs of

Vernfield.”

What do you like the most about teaching

gym?

“Every day is a new day and you never know who

or what will surprise me!”

Where did you grow up?

“I was born and raised in Allentown.”

What’s your favorite sport?

“I enjoy watching hockey, especially the Pitts-

burgh Penguins, and my son who plays too.”

What do you do in your free time?

“I enjoy spending time with my family, working

on small projects at home and exercising.”

Did you grow up playing some of the games

you taught us?

“Yes!”

By Molly Goodman

Terrific Thanksgiving

Trivia!

1. Thanksgiving was declared a national

holiday in 1863

2. President Roosevelt changed Thanksgiv-

ing from the last Thursday in November to

the fourth Thursday (the date was changed

in 1941)

3. FDR did that to help boost the economy

4. Even though President Madison declared

that Thanksgiving should be held twice in

1815,none of the celebrations were held

in Autumn.

5. Native Americans used cranberries to

treat arrow wounds and dye clothing.

6. Sarah Josepha Hale was the person who

established Thanksgiving ( with the help

of President Lincoln

7. Pilgrims didn't use forks, they used

spoons, knives, and their hands

8. The first Macy's Thanksgiving day pa-

rade was celebrated in the 1920's

9. In the U.S,about 48 million turkeys

are sold for Thanksgiving celebrations

By: Clare Bagley H001

SHYBA

By: Adam

Turano SHYBA stands for Souderton-

Harleysville Youth Basketball Associ-

ation. Boys and girls can play from

ages 7-18. You do not have to have

experience to play. The first game

starts in November and ends in

March.

I like it because it is fun to play bas-

ketball. The coaches are fair and they

substitute kids so everyone gets to

play. They tell you the rules and they

teach you the game.

I think SHYBA will be fun for athletic

kids. I think other kids will enjoy it

too because they get to be part of the

team, make new friends, and learn a

new sport.

In my opinion I think SHYBA will be

great for kids who love to play basket-

ball or want to learn about it. It is fun.

Why don’t you come and watch one of

our games and see for yourself? You

could find our schedule and more infor-

mation at www.shyba.org.

Back in Time

By Katie Kuhlen

Have you ever thought that your

parents did similar things in

school as you do now? Well I did!

Let’s go back in time with Brooke

and Mike-two kids in the 1980s.

Back in time with Brooke- When

Brooke was in fifth grade she

moved to a different school and

her school was like middle

school. She was scared, but then

else. As it is said in the

Vernfield vision, take care

of other people, yourself and

your school. Just a friendly

reminder pick up your trash

and keep Vernfield

CLEAN!

By Cheyenne Tressler

Pick up your trash

In the cafeteria, if you drop

your trash what do you do?

Pick it up! If your friend

drops trash or forgets trash

on the table, you can remind

him/her to pick it up or you

can pick it up yourself. If

you leave your trash on the

table, the lunch ladies have

to pick it up for you. The

lunch ladies should be

treated with the same re-

spect as you do everyone

6-2.The AAA team is sponsored by the

Chick-fil-a of Lansdale, and won the

game with a score of 7-2.

What A Coincidence

A Harleysville

Fall Ball Edition

By Jessica Deery, H002

What a season for the Har-

leysville Dodgers. In the 2015 fall base-

ball season the AAA Dodgers and the

Senior Dodgers both won the champi-

onships for their league.

The team is sponsored by

Dunkin’ Donuts of Harleysville, and

won their championship with a score of

SPORTS!

EDITORIAL-Pick Up Your Trash!

___________________________________________________

Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 1

Senior and AAA Dodgers win

championship!!

she made new friends when she

moved to different classrooms. When

Brooke was in fifth grade there were

bullies. There was chorus, which she

was a part of. She used tickets to buy

lunch instead of lunch money and she

had to pay to get a ticket. Brooke also

used a computer but just at a very

limited time.

Back in time with Mike-Mike’s ele-

mentary school was from kindergar-

ten to sixth grade. He walked or rode

his bike to school. He was a safety in

school and he also helped kids across

the street. He did not have chorus

when he was in fifth grade, but had

music, art and health. Mike used cash

to buy lunch, but only on special

times. Otherwise, he packed.

Now you know that school now is dif-

ferent and similar then the 1980s.

We have all heard

of Santa Claus, but have

you ever heard of

Samichlaus? The legend of

Samichlaus is part of a

Swiss traditional holiday

that is still practiced today

that many people like.

Samichlaus is a nice man

who delivers toys in chil-

dren’s shoes on December

6th.

He has a partner

named Schmutzli who is a

bad man. Legend has it that

if you are not good he will put

you in a bag and take you

away.

Samichlaus and

Schmutzli travel together.

The toys are carried on a don-

key instead of using reindeer

and a sleigh.

By Abraham Bleazard

Holiday Poems and Stories

The Hawk Page 4

Dare to Be Different

On a scale from 1 to 10

I am perfect like I am.

I don’t care what

anyone else thinks

I have my own personality,

Style, and way of thinking

Anyone who wants to change

Who I am is wrong

It’s okay to be different,

You were created perfectly

Never let anyone

Tell you to be someone you

are not

By Anna Stratton

Christmas Thrills

By Kayla Godshall

It was a chilly winter morning. five year old Katie yawned and looked out the window.

she quickly sprang onto her sister’s bed… “Wake up lazy head!” She waited for her sister,

Miranda to wake up. No reaction. Katie had to think of something to wake her seven year old

sister who obviously didn’t know it was … CHRISTMAS!

“Wake up it's Christmas! Snow is on the ground, and mom is making candy cane pan-

cakes!” By then Miranda jumped into her cozy Christmas outfit. Katie zipped into her outfit

and they both looked out the window. A gentle blanket of snow had fallen over the grass.

They loved to play in the snow and open presents in the wintertime. They ran downstairs and

ate their breakfast. They started to open their presents which were under the tree. Katie said,

“This stuffed wolf is the best!” Miranda said,

“This Beanie Boo collection is the best,” said Katie. Soon they had to leave for their grand-

parent’s house for more presents. They had the best Christmas ever! WORD SEARCH SUBMITTED BY Gabriella Linberger

Page 5 Volume 1, Issue 1

The Hawk Page 6

Book Review I think that Love That Dog Is a five-star book! Here’s why:

Jack is a boy who lives in the city and had a dog. When he

was playing outside during rush hour, a ball went into

the street and the dog went to get it. Then a car turned

the corner fast and the dog was still in the street and the

car hit the dog. By the time Jack got his dad to help, it

was too late and the dog died. Jack says he can’t write

poems, but he keeps trying and at the end of the book he

writes a great poem about his dog. Jack talks a lot about

how girls are great at writing poems and boys are bad at

writing poems. This is not true because at the end Jack

is good at writing poems. His poems are very creative.

The one I liked best was about his dog where he describes

all of the pieces of his dog that make it look like a dog.

For this reason, I rate it a 5-star book.

*By Seth Grossman

The Three Turkeys

On a day so cold, and the wind freezing fac-

es, three obese turkeys wandered through the woods.

Their skinny feet crunched above the dry leaves.

“Come on guys! Let’s go near the stream. It’ll be fun!”

said one turkey.

So off the three went. When they got close to

the stream, there was howling. “Uh-oh!”whispered the

second. “Swoosh-swoosh cru-nch-cru-nch,” went twigs

and branches.

It was dark, and the only light provided was the

shining moon. The three obese turkeys toppled as they

turned in their path. But what they were afraid of was

not too frightening at all! On windy days there's usually

leaves and twigs floating and roaming the place.

The turkeys accidentally went the wrong way

and were never seen again.

Not ever!

By

Emily Rychlak

Hanukkah begins at sundown on December

6th this year. Enjoy this beautiful

Hanukkah poem submitted by Senior Editor

Mrs. Edgar. Copyright by Nicholas Gordon.

Candles Are A Gift of Light

Candles are a gift of light,

A tiny sun, a bit of star

No other dancer in the night

Dances with such sheer delight

Little souls serene and bright,

Each a glimpse of what we are

Shining innocent and pure.

You Know Its Fall When….

By Katheryn Hoover

By Will Stover

Page 7 Volume 1, Issue 1

The Turkey I’ve decided to cook for Thanksgiving dinner.

I hope when guests taste it they’ll think it a winner.

But it just doesn’t look right, my freshly cooked turkey. I’ll ask my friend Paul, if I can bring beef jerky.

By Morgan McCormack