Movie Review – Where the Wild Things Are

By Mariam El Hasan
October 12, 2009

Has there ever been a time when you felt that nobody understood how you felt? Then perhaps you can relate to Max, from the upcoming movie Where the Wild Things Are.

Kids might wonder how a picture book of only about 300 words could be stretched into a feature-length film. Director Spike Jonze took on the challenge, which took him three years to complete. The book’s author and illustrator, Maurice Sendak, was there to help.

In the book, the reader knows that the main character, Max, is a wild, rambunctious boy. In the movie, you soon see that Max is also an angry boy. His parents are divorced, his sister no longer pays any attention to him, and he becomes very uncomfortable and unhappy when his mother begins dating.

In the beginning of the movie, Max gets into an argument with his mother and bites her! As a 9-year-old boy, he certainly ought to know better. He is sent to his room where he decides to run away from his problems.

With the help of an active imagination, Max sets sail for an island where he becomes king of the wild things. You see the movie through Max’s eyes, and feel with him all of the turmoil of reality and the release of escapism just as he experiences it. When Max meets the wild things, we discover with him that they are not simply wild beasts. They have complicated feelings and different personalities.

Overall, Where the Wild Things Are is a terrific movie. Watching it was a unique experience. Like looking through a kaleidoscope, it can be described, but you really have to see it yourself to experience the true beauty.

 

Source: Scholastic News Online

Michael Phelps Motivates Children

By Shelby Fairleigh
Oct. 12, 2009

Set goals and follow your dreams, Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps told students at Wiley Middle School in Leander, Texas, on Tuesday. The students in this particular school must have already known that. Phelps’ appearance was the reward for winning first place in the Scholastic Book Fairs’ National Middle School Contest.

His appearance helped reach another student goal, one established by the award-winning book fair. The school transformed its media center into Mrs. Magorium’s Reading Emporium, to promote the love of books and reading. Phelps came to motivate students to study and work hard, and to promote his own book, No Limits: The Will to Succeed.

 

Phelps Phans

The packed gym went wild when the winner of 14 gold swimming medals stepped through the door. Kids yelled and stomped on the bleachers. They even started doing the wave.

“It was really cool,” said Macy, one of the students at the event. “He described how you should follow your dream and never give up.”

Or as Phelps put it: “You never want to sell yourself short.”

 

Lessons in Motivation

In his motivating speech, Phelps spoke about how he learned the importance of setting goals in his own life. He said he has was inspired to set goals by his two older sisters. He has been setting goals for himself since he was 7 years old.

At the age of 11, his coach Bob Bowman (who is still with him today) told him that if he trained hard he could compete in the next summer Olympic Games. Phelps got to work and broke his first world record when he was 15.

“Once I accomplished that, I wanted to do something better,” he told the Leander middle schoolers.

At his first Olympic competition, Phelps came in fifth and was disappointed. He set another goal. He decided he would win eight gold medals at his second Olympic Games. He was again disappointed, but it didn’t stop him. He just worked harder. Last year, at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China, Phelps again set his sights on eight gold medals. After he earned his sixth gold medal, he went to his coach, discouraged.

“I have nothing left; I am completely drained,” he told Coach Bowman. With the help of his coach and his own determination, he pushed through the exhaustion and didn’t give up.

“I swam the last two races on just adrenalin,” he said.

Phelps went on to claim those two events and win a total of eight record-breaking gold medals—the most in Olympic history.

Next stop for Phelps? Retirement was his first thought. But after talking it over with his coach, he established bigger and better goals for the 2012 Olympics in London, England. He’s keeping those goals a secret for now, he told Wiley Middle School students.

Next summer, Phelps will compete against the European swim team in his first big event since the 2008 games. Phelps said he is working hard on getting back into shape in time for his next event. The swimmer practices 12 times a week: nine times in the pool and three times in a gym.

One-on-One

After the assembly, Phelps answered questions and signed copies of his new book.

“What is the best part of swimming?” one student asked.

“One of the coolest things is representing our country,” he said.

He also stopped to answer questions from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps. Kids want to know, this reporter asked, what do you think about when swimming a long distance? Quick answer: he sings whatever song he last heard.

Phelps talked about his swimming favs, too. His favorite stroke when he was younger was the 50-yard butterfly.

When asked for a tip on how to improve this young swimmer’s performance, he said to practice kicking.

“Most world class swimmers are great kickers,” he said. One-fourth of his workout is focused on kicking.

Phelps said he is most comfortable and happy when he is in the water.

“The pool is like my home, it’s part of my life,” he said. “It has given me great opportunities.”

Water and sport also gave Phelps something to aim for in life.

“Dream big and don’t give up,” he said, no matter what your “home” turns out to be.

Source: Scholastic News Online

 

Editor’s Note: Michael Phelps (center) visited Wiley Middle School in Leander, Texas, on October 6, to motivate, promote, and reward. The school won the visit by having the best book fair in the country. (Photo Courtesy Scholastic)

 

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Ghost Puzzle

Source Jig Zone

Tom and Jerry Sliding Puzzle

  Source Fupa

Monoliths Mario World 2

Source Fupa

Olympian Swimmer Helps Cancer Survivors

by TSC/PIO
Oct. 11, 2009

Cancer Center Celebrities 25th Anniversary

Olympic swimmer and testicular cancer survivor Eric Shanteau will share his story of challenge and triumph as part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the After Completion of Therapy Clinic of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

This month, the facility is marking a quarter of a century of service aimed at supporting and following survivors’ progress for decades after treatment. Shanteau, who underwent therapy last year, was diagnosed just one week before he was due to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games but was still able to participate and achieved a personal best time in the 200-meter breaststroke.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., and the National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with it in 2009.

At the same time, treatments have become more successful, and gathering long-term data on survivors has become important to improving their quality of life and yielding scientific insights into new treatments, according to the hospital.

“It is important to remember that survivorship begins at the day of diagnosis. We consider all of our patients survivors,” says Dr. Melissa Hudson, co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program.

She adds the clinic’s main goal is to help people thrive despite their medical history. “We want them to see that, once they get through therapy, they can lead normal, productive lives,” Hudson emphasizes.

Those interested in supporting the hospital’s work may visit its website to offer a donation.

Meanwhile, patients facing a cancer diagnosis, as well as their families and friends, may access valuable informational resources through the American Cancer Society or the National Cancer Institute.

Source: The Survivors Club

 

Editor’s Note: This month is Cancer Breast Month, please support this great cause.

We would like to hear your story and what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Pig and Cow Jigsaw Puzzle

Source: Jig Zone

Movie Review – Fame

  

by Kerry Bennett
October 1, 2009

If fame is as fickle as winning a lottery, then maybe the best ticket to the top is acceptance into the New York City High School of Performing Arts. Yet even the group of talented music and dance students lucky enough to have earned that prestigious honor are only beginning to pay the price associated with their lofty goals. This remake of the highly successful 1980’s film follows a new generation of dreamers.

In-Depth Review

Fame is rated PG: for thematic material including teen drinking, a sexual situation and language.

Fame—that illusive moment in the spotlight—doesn’t come easy. And that is exactly what the teachers and principal (Debbie Allen) at New York’s Performing Arts High School want their students to know. Discipline, practice, attention to the details of their craft and hard work help, but they can’t guarantee success.

Nearly 30 years after the original Fame movie released, there is a whole new generation of students auditioning in the rundown classrooms at the city’s prestigious public institution. They arrive on the big day, nervous and excited to prove they have the right stuff. Of 10,000 applicants, 200 make the cut as freshmen.

From there the film rushes through four years of high school with a cast so large it is difficult to really get to know any of the kids. Alice (Kherington Payne) is a dancer whose parents have been paving the way for her career from the time she was four or five years old. Her confidence and expectations are evident. Luckily she seems to have the talent to make it happen. Unfortunately things aren’t so rosy for the male dancer (Paul McGill) from Iowa who has to work doubly hard to keep up.

Meanwhile, Denise (Naturi Naughton) is locked away in a classroom practicing her musical pieces to fulfill her father’s dream for her, to become a classical pianist. Neil’s (Paul Iacono) desire to be a filmmaker has him begging his hard-working dad (Howard Gutman) for production money.

Down the hall in theatrical arts, a timid student (Kay Panabaker) stands at the front of the room and performs a faltering rendition of a love song. Then another classmate (Collins Pennie), who is attending the school without his mother’s knowledge, lets his anger spill out in a rap song. Their friend, Marco (Asher Book), who sings in his family’s restaurant, is just happy to show up at school everyday.

Each passing semester sees some students soar while others stumble as they face new experiences. Their abilities are tested when one teacher (Megan Mullally) takes them out of the safety of the high school and pushes them to perform in front of a real audience at a nightclub. Other teenagers learn life lessons after getting drunk, facing unwanted sexual advances, and being repeatedly rejected at cast calls. One performer even contemplates suicide when his dreams for a future career disappear.

The audience I screened this production with (consisting of dancers, their parents and the staff of an elite athletic school) seemed to buy right into the story. I’m sure most of those aspiring young athletes see themselves shining on the stage one day. With a bit of luck and hard work some of them might even succeed. In the meantime, I hope the warning about pushing your children to satisfy parental dreams wasn’t lost on the adults.

Studio: 2009 MGM. Visit the official movie site.

Content Details: Beyond the Movie Ratings…

Students experience anxiety and nervousness as they prepare to audition for entry into this prestigious school. Parents are often portrayed as demanding, unsupportive or uninformed. After a girl gets drunk and throws up, a teacher reprimands her actions. Teens are seen performing in nightclubs and bars but presumably do not drink alcoholic beverages there or at a social gathering. A female student rebuffs the actions of a young adult male who makes sexual advances toward her. Several students exchange kisses. Performers are seen in skimpy dance costumes and execute moves that include crotch-grabbing and pelvic gyrations. A student seriously contemplates suicide after facing a disappointment. A student has his money stolen by a con artist. The script includes mild and moderate profanities, vulgarities, slurs and slang terms.

Discussion Ideas: Talk About the Movie…

Video alternatives

Kay Panabaker also stars as a young rider who dreams of competing in an upcoming horse jumping event against some very driven athletes in Moondance Alexander. The father of another talented youngster pushes his son to succeed in Searching For Bobby Fischer.

Other dancers looking for fame strut their stuff in the movies Step Up and Honey. The documentary Mad Hot Ballroom explores the virtue of dance classes as part of the curriculum for fifth graders in the New York City School District.

Source: Parent Previews

Editor’s Note: Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for nearly 10 years. She serves as Vice President of the Alberta Association for Media Awareness. She and her husband Garry have four sons.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

America: We Need Clean Water

By Jewel
Oct. 1, 2009

In 1997, I founded Project Clean Water. It is a non-profit charity foundation that is working to improve the quality of life for millions of people by helping to provide clean water on a global scale. We target villages around the world with clean water problems, and we work with the communities to find sustainable solutions to provide them with safe drinking water. To date we have helped over 30 communities overcome their individual drinking water problems in 13 different countries, on 5 different continents.

I am very excited to announce that Project Clean Water recently formed a partnership with the Voss Foundation and Virgin Unite to support water projects in sub-Saharan Africa. We are calling this partnership “Give a Drop” and our first project together is to help provide water to the village of Pel in Dogon, Mali. The Dogon civilization is one of the most ancient in Africa. The survival of this unique culture and way of life is currently being threatened by global changes in the environment. I am so pleased to be able to help.

For more information of this project, click here to visit the Voss Foundation’s web site.

I became interested in clean water when I was 18 and lived in my car. I had sick kidneys and had to drink 2 gallons of purified water a day. I could not afford to buy much bottled water, and it dawned on me that if it was this hard to get clean drinking water in the United States, then it was probably a huge global issue. Boy, was I right.

Solutions and technologies exist to provide clean, affordable drinking water anywhere in the world. These solutions will save lives, reduce financial burdens, foster peace, and relieve millions of people from worrying about their next drink of water.

You can help us continue this important work. The Give A Drop campaign operates through website and text donations.  Visit www.giveadrop.com or, to make a $5.00 donation, just pick up your cell phone, text the message “DROP” to phone number 85944.  Even a small donation can make a big impact!

Thank you for your interest in Project Clean Water and our cause.
xx j

Watch my Project Clean Water Public Service Announcement here.

You can make donations to:

Project Clean Water
c/o Boulevard Management
21731 Ventura Blvd. #300
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Online Donations: www.giveadrop.com

Source: Jewel

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Major League Baseball: Gift From the Heart

By Zach Jones
Sept 22, 2009

 

Each year from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Americans of Spanish and Latin heritage. On Friday, Pittsburgh baseball fans paid special tribute to the city’s most popular Hispanic hero, Roberto Clemente.

A native of Puerto Rico, the baseball legend played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1954 until his death in 1972. Off the field, Clemente was known for his commitment to helping others. The Roberto Clemente Day of Giving, hosted by the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 18, celebrated Roberto’s gifts to the world.

 

A Celebration of Giving Back

When Roberto died in a plane crash in 1972, he was on his way to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. His commitment to charity and volunteer work continues to inspire others today. That’s why his team started the “Day of Giving” in his honor.

The Pirates used the day to introduce people in their community to local charities. Clothing and food were collected for people in need, and raffle tickets were sold to support the team’s own charity fund.

Team players who had served the community received awards. In Clemente’s memory, the Pirates and players on Pittsburgh’s Minor League teams now complete at least 10 hours of volunteer work as part of the Pirates Community Commitment Program. With more than 250 baseball players volunteering their skills this year, that’s a winning hit for community service!

Home Run for Hispanic Heritage

As a child, Roberto was a gifted player and a big fan of baseball. His years of practice paid off. He was recruited for Puerto Rico’s amateur league while still in high school.

In 1954, he was drafted into the Major League and joined the Pittsburgh Pirates. He moved to Pennsylvania and stayed with the same team for almost 20 years.

Early in his career, Clemente was among many Hispanic athletes who had to cope with racism. At games, fans sometimes yelled racist insults at him—and so did some of his teammates. But he brushed it off. “I don’t believe in color,” Clemente once told reporters.

In time, Clemente became one of the sport’s most celebrated stars. He was the first Hispanic American to earn a World Series ring as a starting player in 1960, to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1966, and the World Series MVP award, in 1971. Outside the game, Clemente spent his time helping at Pittsburgh’s charities. After growing up with a large family and not a lot of money, he felt lucky to be able to give back when he could.

After his death in 1972, Clemente was honored as the first Hispanic American to be voted into Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Although his career and life were cut short, Clemente helped change American attitudes about Hispanics in professional sports—on and off the field.

 

A Family Tradition

Before he died, Clemente planned to build a sports center for kids near his boyhood home in Puerto Rico. He wanted to create a place where kids could learn how to play sports and how to become good citizens.

Years later, his wife, Vera, made his dream come true. Now more than 100,000 kids visit the Roberto Clemente Sports City each year.

The couple’s eldest son, Roberto Clemente Jr., runs the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The organization’s mission is to help make athletic and education programs available to many people.

Reporters often asked Roberto Sr. about his successes, and he once responded, “Why does everyone talk about the past? All that counts is tomorrow’s game.” He always focused on the next win. Today, his family and teammates are still winning by giving back in his honor.

Source: Scholastic News Online

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

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