Volume I No. 5

Happy Birthday

Say “Happy Birthday” to Alex! It was just Alex's birthday on June 4th, his birthday party on June 3rd. Let's find out all about Alex's 7th Birthday in this Gingerbread Weekly News issue!

Table of Contents
Cover Story
New News
Debate Time
Mail Pail

Debate Time

Should Schools Allow Kids to Skip School on Their Birthdays?
Talking about birthdays, how do you value your birthday? Would you want to be given a choice to go to school or not on your birthday? Let's see the debate on yes or no.

Yes!

Come on people, it's your birthday! Your very own birthday! Schools better allow you not to come to school on your birthday. It happens only once a year, ONCE a year. It was the day you came to life, it's gotta be honored!!!

No!

It's just your birthday. No big deal. And many people share this date with you. You're not the only one that has a birthday on your birthday. On average, three people are born every second. It's not a big event. There are about 700 people in an elementary school, so someone in the school probably shares a birthday with you, just in your school!

Cover Story

Happy Birthday

Say “Happy Birthday” to Alexander Zhou, it was his birthday on June 4th. He is now 7 years old, in first grade. He had his birthday party on Sunday, June 3rd. He invited Andrew (Amanda, Andrew's sister, came too), Eric, and Sean. He had a great party, with tons and tons of ice-cream, with ice-cream cake too, and pizza. Playing games, eating delicious food; that was part of the funnest birthday party ever!

New News

A Mouse in the House!!!

A mouse in the house,
A lot are caught,
But how many more,
Are still by the door?

Diane's house has mice! Three were already caught, but is there more? Who knows? Here are a couple pictures of the mice (sorry, pictures unavailable online)!...But first of all....hmmm...let's have a drawing contest! Gingerbread Weekly News has put quite a few pictures now. Let's see YOURS on an issue.

Draw a picture of a mouse/mice. Due Date: June 12, 2007. Prizes: 1st Place-2 Pencils; 1st , 2nd, 3rd Places- A Certificate.

Good luck!!!

Here is Andy's winning story from two weeks ago:

A Gingy Mystery

One dark, dark night, Nicole was walking toward a random house. She carefully opened the door with magic and went inside. The house was silent. Then, she found a gingerbread girl and threw it into the oven. Ding! It was fully cooked. Then, Nicole left with ONE trace.
The next morning, Diane came downstairs and saw a gingerbread cookie and ate Gingy without realizing it. Then, she looked for Gingy. She was not there. That's weird. Diane thought, I left her on the dinner table... Then she screamed! She had eaten Gingy!
Diane sprang to the phone and called Kai. He was the perfect assassin to kill the person. She sent him and sighed. There were no clues. Wait! There was a note saying Nicole did that. At Nicole's house:....
Kai blew open the door. Carrying his machine gun with him, he killed everyone in sight, all except Nicole. She was in the mall, so Kai waited. Switching to a rifle, he aimed at Nicole. Sorry, but the next part is rated R for Restricted, for strong blood and language. THE END!

Mail Pail

Here's all the mail Gingerbread Weekly News received from last week's issue – A Trip to Yosemite, June 3 Issue:

Debate Time:
“Yes, because when you're having fun, you don't feel the pain.” Vicky and Nicole, 4th Grade

By the way (some news), come check out the Green Grass Monthly (in Chinese and English!), with the editors of Diane and Amanda, editors also of these Gingerbread Weekly News issues!

Volume I No. 4

A Trip to Yosemite

(Written by Amanda Chang)

A trip to Yosemite! Amanda Chang sends her marvelous story to Gingerbread Weekly News. Let's find out what's happening in this issue!

Table of Contents
Cover Story
New News
Debate Time
Mail Pail

Debate Time

Great America Rides!

Diane and Gingy went to Great America on Memorial Day. She had tons of fun! “My brother was so scared after he went on one roller coaster, don't know why. I went on five roller coaster type of things: The Vortex, The White Waterfalls (with Gingy), The Demon (also with Gingy), Survivors, and my favorite (of course with Gingy) – Psycho Mouse! I also went on the Sky Ride,” Diane told Gingerbread Weekly News. “But then...”

Gingerbread Weekly News: “Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop the story there. This is debate, right people? What's all this news?” Diane: “Let me continue...” (Just a little fun.)

“I got a painful shoulder soreness, that caused me to stop practicing ice-skating for awhile. It might be worth having all that fun, but I don't like soreness in my shoulders and I also lost my hat, not a big deal though.”

Do you think it's worth having a pain (plus losing a baseball cap) while you had so much fun?

By the way, the cons (no) won for last week's debate topic, Online Gingerbread Weekly News, so Gingerbread Weekly News won't be putting issues online. Everyone's vote counts! Remember that!

Cover Story

A Trip to Yosemite

(Written by Amanda Chang)

On Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend, my family, Sara's family, and Kelvin's family drove to Yosemite. We drove with only two cars to save gas. When we got to Glacier Point, we climbed rocks and saw many beetles. When we got back to the hotel at Glacier Point (the ones at Yosemite were all occupied), we had to pick which room we would get out of the three rooms we rented. There was one room with a dining , kitchen, living room, and three bedrooms! It was just like a house! Another room had queen beds (just one room) and another had double beds. Our family got the room with the queen beds, Kelvin's family got the “house” room, and Sara's family got the room with the double beds. Everyone went to the “house” to do everything though. The moms cooked dinner and it was delicious! At night all the kids (me, Sara, my brother Andrew, and Kelvin) got to sleep at Kelvin's. It was sooooooooooo fun! We stayed up late laughing and telling jokes.
We woke up super early and started laughing again. Then our parents came over and we had breakfast. We drove to Yosemite again and went to the Visitor's Center. We got tickets for a valley floor tour on a tram. While we were waiting, we went into shops and saw squirrels. We also ate lunch at a hotel in Yosemite. We hurried to get front seats on the tram. We saw many waterfalls and even a tiny waterfall that comes down on tiny rocks. The tour guide said that the Winter Olympics were actually held at Yosemite. He also told us a story that there was a man named Galen Clark. He was 41 years old and caught a disease, his doctor told him he wouldn't live through his 42nd birthday. He wanted to make the ending of his life happy so he went to Yosemite. He wanted to protect this place so he got President Abraham Lincoln to sign an agreement to protect Yosemite. Clark loved it so much he dug out his own grave and put a marker there. He became a protector of Yosemite. One day he was taking a nap and never woke up again. He died four days, just four days before his 96th birthday. He did so much while waiting to die.
The tour guide said that climbers would have to sleep in something like a hammock hanging above the the ground. When we were going back to the Visitor's Center, there was really bad traffic. But fortunately, a ranger made all the cars go to the side to let the tram (us) go through. When we finally got back, we drove back to the hotel. The moms cooked dinner while we played fun games and laughed really really hard. We finally had to go to sleep, but once again, we started laughing just as hard.
We woke up early again and crept around, laughing. We then drove to a creek almost to Yosemite and had a picnic there. Before we ate, we went in the water but didn't swim. We also dug for pretty rocks we called “treasures”. Then we were on the way back. It was a long four hour drive home. Sara and I were feasting around with chips, crackers, gummies, ice-cream sandwiches, and Altoids. We never got bored. We told jokes and started to laugh again. We ate dinner at Shanghai Gourmet restaurant. That was the end of our so fun trip!

New News

Cute Little Kitten...

“Meow, meow, meow...” There was a little kitten at the backyard of Diane's house. “Poor kitty,” Diane thought. The little kitten looked like it was abandoned by its mother, so Diane built a house out of a cereal box. “I didn't touch it because it was wild. It looked cute; little and black and white blended,” Diane told Gingerbread Weekly News. “But the next day, I saw the mother cat, with the 'used to be abandoned kitten' and three other kittens.”

The Party

On Saturday, Alex's family went to a three-person birthday party. It was Alex, Emma, and Dylan's birthday party, held at Emma's house. They had lots of fun. There were a bunch of girls. They locked the boys out of their “clubhouse”. The girls made up a secret knock and Alex heard it. He did the secret knock and went inside!!! Next, Alex's sister, Diane, got everyone to play hide and seek. Then, Victoria, Diane's friend, made a treasure hunt.
She made clues like this:
Clue 1: You find this hanging on the wall, and you use Expo markers with it. (white board)
Clue 2 (On the white board): You put your waste in it. It goes round and round when you flush it. (toilet)
Clue 3 (On the toilet lid): Halfway down the stairs, near the window, it is. (a plug thing)
Clue 4 (On the plug thing): Near the mirror in a bathroom upstairs, a treasure is hidden... (no treasure, HAHAHA!)
The kids were having a lot of fun! What a nice and fun “triple-birthday party” it was!!!

Mail Pail

Here's all the mail Gingerbread Weekly News received from last week's issue – Too Much News!!!, May 27 Issue:

Debate Time:
“No! Don't do it! I don't think it is a good idea to do it. When you post it online, people find out and can start spamming Gingerbread Weekly News!” Cynthia, 4th Grade
“No, because then it saves electricity [which to me, is more important than paper, because of pollution].” Nicole, 4th Grade
“Yes, because it saves trees.” Vicky, 4th Grade

Comments to Diane:
“I can't believe you got first place! (Maybe I can since it's not the first time...) You tried your best and that's why you won! Great job!” Cynthia, 4th Grade

Volume I No. 3

Too Much News!!!
There's too much news this week! Let's find out what's happening in this Gingerbread Weekly News.

Table of Contents
New News
Debate Time
Mail Pail

Debate Time

Online Gingerbread Weekly News
Worth It or Not???

Gingerbread Weekly News thought about putting these weekly news issues online. Should Gingerbread Weekly News do that?
(Gingerbread Weekly News already has an ad page online! See it at: http://home.comcast.net/~mariezhou/index.html)

Yes!
Gingerbread Weekly News should do it. Gingerbread Weekly News center wouldn't have to make as many copies, using less paper and money. “Go paperless, save trees,” Diane's dad says. “And more people can see your issues too!” It saves money, and uses today's technology.
No!
Don't do it! Gingerbread Weekly News's employees are already too busy making these issues. “There's no time,” some people say. “And kids already spend too much time on the computer. Save electricity. Save the time you can never get back.”

New News

Ice-Skating Competition

There was an ice-skating competition on Saturday, May 19, 2007. The name of the competition was Spring Jubilee, and it was held at San Jose Sharks' arena. “I fell on a jump,” Diane told Gingerbread Weekly News. “And that was the end of wishing to win. I still tried my best after I fell down though.” Diane's group's results took an awfully long time. “Let's go home now. You can't win since you fell down. We can check the results online anyways,” Diane's parents said. Just then, the results came out...and....Diane won first place!!!
“How do you feel?” Gingerbread Weekly News asked Diane. She answered, “Very lucky. I'm glad I still tried my best after I fell.” Good job, Diane!!! Good luck on your next competition!

What Happened to the Bus???

Driving on the highway, Amanda's class heard a loud “BEEP, BEEP, BEEP...” in the bus. The bus driver quickly pulled the bus to the side of the freeway. He tried to start the engine again...and...it...work....didn't work. “The bus driver talked on the walkie-talkie to the other bus driver who was driving the other students in our school. That bus driver called the mechanics to come, dropped off the students on her bus at the school, and came back to pick us up back to school. Whenever we saw a bus coming, we all screamed, 'Save us!!!' Finally the correct bus came and the teacher took three students at a time to board the other bus,” Amanda told Gingerbread Weekly News.

A Leak in the Pipe

Someone* reported to Gingerbread Weekly News, “My house's hot water pipe is leaking and we don't even have a drip of hot water! We have to use cold water always. We have to take showers at friend's houses, swimming centers, and work places. We are going to repipe and it will be very messy since they have to dig holes to take out the leaking pipe and replace it with a good pipe. I wish we could live in some one's house or hotel when that happens.”

*Family names are to be kept private. This family would NOT want to give out their names.

Another Gingy...

Boring ads...hey, wait! A gingerbread guy? “Shrek the Third. Come watch it.............Gingy...” What? There's a gingerbread guy? Plus, his name is Gingy? In Shrek the Third? Vicky and Nicole told Gingerbread Weekly News, “ I saw this gingerbread guy called Gingy on an ad about Shrek the Third.” Later on in the day, Bryan brought the other “he Gingy” toy from Shrek the Third. The “she Gingy” said, “Hey! I don't want a brother!”

The Writing Contest
Everyone who entered the writing contest did a great job! Gingerbread Weekly News decided that these are the winners:

1^st Place: Andy Wang, Brookvale Elementary
2^nd Place: Nathan Chen, Warm Springs Elementary
3^rd Place: Vicky Sun, Ardenwood Elementary

Congratulations!

Be Careful!!!

Some bad news has been spread! One thing: Diane's classmate reported to the teacher that on the news online, it said that there were sixth grade Ardenwood boys who were giving out bags with poisonous rot candy. Diane's mother also saw an email about that. Second thing: Around the Ardenwood Plaza, Amanda's friend reported that someone had a gun and tried to shoot someone else. It's lucky that the gun had no ammo. Be careful, watch out!

Mail Pail

Here's all the mail Gingerbread Weekly News received from last week's issue – A Picnic, So Boring, May 20 Issue:

Debate Time: Let's Play Ball-
“Yes, because you get to waste one day of school.” Nicole, 4th Grade
“Yes, because it's fun to watch a baseball game.” Vicky, 4th Grade
“Yes!” Alex, 1st Grade
“I think it would be fun to go to the baseball game and miss some school!” Sandy, 4th Grade

Debate Time: Cookies-
“Peanut Butter Cookies, 7 or 8.” Nicole, 4th Grade
“Peanut Butter Cookies, 5.” Vicky, 4th Grade
“Gingerbread Cookies, 10!” Cynthia, 4th Grade
“Snickerdoodles, 10.” Alex, 1st Grade
“My favorite cookies are peanut butter cookies!” Sandy, 4th Grade

Cover Story:
The answer to “What do you think that creature was?” was a snake. Good job to: Vicky, Nicole, Alex, Cynthia, Sandy, and Andrew!

Volume I No. 2

A Picnic, So Boring......
This picnic is so boring! But then, Diane and Gingy tell of an adventurous adventure. What happened? Let's find out in this Gingerbread Weekly News.

Table of Contents
Cover Story
New News
Debate Time
Mail Pail

Debate Time

Let's Play Ball

Good or Bad?

Talk about baseball! Some say it's fun, others say it's boring; even if it means skipping a day of school. What would you think???

Yes!

Most people say it's fun to have a baseball game. Of course it is for baseball fans, but how about just regular people tat aren't fans? Diane of Ardenwood Elementary is just one of them who says, "You get to go to school later [at 9:30 instead of 8:20] and skip a day of learning. It's a nice treat, once in a while." Her friend, Amanda of Forest Park says to her, "Lucky head!" Gingy agrees.

No!

"Nerds" who aren't baseball fans say, "No way! It's just wasting a day of education. We [students] already get like five full-day field trips in a school year. There are so many [students] who are already "dumb" enough ad need a lot of help in education. It's a nice time to find a better future."

What do you think?

Cover Story

A Picnic, So Boring......

It was Saturday, May 12, 2007 and Diane's family was going to go to a picnic in Palo Alto. It was a picnic for the parents who went to Nanjing University. If course, Diane brought her beloved Gingy with her.

When they got there, there was nothing to do, at least the things to do were boring. Diane took several pictures of Gingy. Another kid named Amy came and played with Diane and Gingy. She also had a stuffed animal. It was a cat she named Kelly. Gingy and played together while Diane, her brother Alex, and Amy played together, but it was still boring. They ate a delicious lunch, though, that consisted of barbecued chicken, Chow Mein, a humongous hot dog with ketchup, and apple juice.

Five minutes after everyone finished lunch, the picnic people went on a hike up the hill near the picnic area. Because Diane took pictures and Amy wrote things on her notepad, Diane's family, Amy, and her mom became a small group behind the rest of the group. The large group ahead soon found a dead end, so Diane's little group got to the head of the group for awhile. Gingy told Gingerbread Weekly News, "It was so nice to be at the front for awhile. I didn't like catching up with them [the group] ahead." The two groups became one again, and went through a different trail up the mountain.
Throughout the hike going up, Diane and Gingy remained near the front of the group, Diane's dad and brother in the middle, and her mom, Amy, and Amy's mom at the tail, way behind. On the way down, everyone stayed as a group, besides Amy, her mom, and Diane's mom, and went on the car road back to the picnic area. Diane's dad took Diane and her brother through a shortcut on the grass. Then....something mysterious... Diane's brother screamed when he saw something black-and-white striped that slithered. Diane and Gingy didn't scream because they didn't know what it was until there was a "ssssssssssss" sound*. "I regret I didn't take a picture of that *, but it was sort of 'cool' seeing it."

After the hike, Diane's family flew kites. Diane's kite didn't go up, but it stayed low above the ground for a pretty long time. Soon it was time to go and Diane had to carry the kite across the huge meadow. The kite started rolling on its six "legs" so Diane "walked" it across the meadow and called it the "rolling pin". She told Gingerbread Weekly News, "It was so much easier and fun 'rolling' the kite, but not for my parents. The kite 'loved' to roll over my parents." Gingy adds, "This boring picnic had become an adventurous adventure!"

*What do you think that creature was?

New News

The Oakland Athletics Against The Kansas City Royals

Let's go Oakland, let's go (clap, clap)! Let's go Oakland, let's go (clap, clap)! Let's go Oakland, let's go (clap, clap)!” That was the cheering at the Oakland Coliseum. Ardenwood Intermediate students got to the Oakland A's game along with several other schools. “It was our [Ardenwood students'] reward for reading 2.5 million pages this school year,” Diane told Gingerbread Weekly News. “It's too bad the A's were losing 4 to 6 at the seventh inning when we were going to leave, but it was fun watching. I hope they can catch up to those Royals.” At the end of the day, Diane listened to the radio and told Gingerbread Weekly News, “We didn't miss much of the game. The Royals just gained one point. Too bad for the Oakland Athletics. Better luck next time.

The STAR Testing

It's finally over! Last week, the dreadful STAR Testing ended at last! Kids are relieved after the stressful pain. “It's time to have a bit of fun here,” Diane's mom says. Diane wonders, “But we [students] may not have done very well.” Her mom replies, “The thing is, you've had a busy year, and most of you have tried your hardest. It's time to rejoice.” Diane's family went to a picnic the Sunday after testing was over.

A “Fake” Bomb

Talk about boys fighting...but...this is serious. Amanda told Gingerbread Weekly News, “There was a call saying that there was a bomb at our [Forest Park Elementary] school. We stood in the grass for a half hour, waiting, in case there really was a bomb about to explode. They [staff and police] searched the whole school, but found nothing. The school was safe. What a mysterious call.”

The Writing Contest
Remember about the writing contest? Please turn in all your gingerbread mysteries by Friday, May 25, 2007. Good luck!

Mail Pail

Here's all the mail Gingerbread Weekly News received from last week's issue – The Mission, May 13 Issue:
“My opinion is that this Gingerbread Weekly Issue mabober was a great idea!” Cynthia, 4th Grade

Debate Time:
“I think Richard because he doesn't really do anything to Gingy, just a few little things.” Vicky and Nicole, 4th Grade
“I think that Richard likes Gingy more than the other three boys do. Don't you think so too?” Alex, 1st Grade

New News (The STAR Testing):
“I think it's OK because the problems are easy, it just takes a lot of thinking and calculating.” Nicole, 4th Grade
“I think it's medium because there are an equal amount of easy and hard questions.” Vicky, 4th Grade
“It sucks like crazy and I never wanna do it again 'cause it's freaking boring and a waste of time......” Nathan, 5th Grade

Volume I No. 1

The Mission

What does Gingy do at Mission San Juan Bautista with Diane? Let's Find out in this Gingerbread Weekly News.

Table of Contents
Cover Story
New News
Debate Time