the ES TASIS Times

Welcome to the ES TASIS Times!
Interview With Our New
Headmaster Where were you born?
Pensacola, Florida in the USA.
Where did you grow up?
I moved every couple of years because my dad
was in the US Navy. I lived in Hawaii, Florida,
California, and Virginia.
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Four brothers and one sister. All my brothers
are two years apart and I am the oldest.
Do you have your own family?
Yes. Anne and I have two sons, Benjamin and
Jacob.
How many languages do you speak?
I would say one and a half because I speak a
little bit of Spanish.
What is your favorite place?
My favorite place varies because it is where I
am with folks and I am enjoying myself.
What is your favorite food?
I am a seafood guy, but when I was growing
up my favorite food was fried chicken and
black-eyed peas!
How many years have you been doing the job
of Headmaster?
This is my 19th year.
Were you ever a teacher before being a
Headmaster?
Yes, for 14 years. And hopefully as a
headmaster I still teach!
Where was the first place you ever taught?
In college as a substitute teacher. In the
morning I would teach and in the afternoon
go to classes. My first full time teaching job
was at Norfolk Academy in Virginia.
What made you become Headmaster at
TASIS?
It has a very good reputation worldwide and it
does many interesting and thrilling things.
WANT TO BE
A PART OF THE FUN?
Any ES student can contribute
artwork, photographs, fiction,
poetry, interviews, investigative
reports, or any other original
work!
Email your work to:
[email protected]
What are the pros and cons of TASIS?
For me there are many pros, so I will pick a few.
A big pro is the whole compelling mission of the
School. Another pro is the walk from my house
down to Montagnola. It’s a great commute!
Another pro is the whole community: the
teachers, the parents, and the students. On the
con side there is one thing: when it gets really hot
there is no air conditioning anywhere, not in my
office or in my house!
What are your favorite hobbies?
I like to play games. Sometimes it’s playing
tennis, golf, or shooting baskets. Sometimes my
family gets together and we play cards or chess.
How long do you think you are going to stay at
TASIS?
I think I am looking at a good 10-plus years
because I am 55 and usually people retire at age
65.
What was your favorite game as a child?
As in a board game, I used to like Candyland,
Monopoly, and Life. As in a sport, I liked running
and American football. I played basketball and
was a swimmer and wrestler.
Are you happy to be Headmaster?
Yes, very much so. I also hope you guys are
happy!
STUDENT REPS:
Aurora Peltier
Alberto Ornaghi
LAYOUT DESIGN:
Ms. Stolz
VOLUNTEERS:
Ms. Hercules
Ms. Di Mattia
Ms. Perkins
Ms. Gernetti
Ms. Santoro
Ms. Origoni
Ms. Keen
Ms. Sindona
Ms. Parolari
Ms. Riva
Ms. Fadlon
Ms. Maffezzini
Ms. Pinton
Ms. Holmes
Ms. Zanecchia
ES TASIS Times
The following pages contain images and writing from the creative minds of TASIS’s youngest
scholars. Our Elementary School students and staff have worked hard creating, drawing,
writing, photographing, typing, scanning, and editing to bring this magazine to life.
Sit back and enjoy!
April 2014
Volume 4
Issue 8
2
Grade 2 Winter Olympics
By Sean O’Connor
Inspired by the Sochi Winter
Olympic Games,
Zakhar Andreev interviewed
his friends from the 2nd
Grade.
By Maxim Novoselskiy
Sofia Rashnikova
Zakhar: What is your favorite
winter sport?
Sofia: Skiing.
Zakhar: Why?
Sofia: Because you can go
backwards and it is exciting.
Sean O’Connor
Zakhar: Sean, what winter sport
do you like?
Sean: I like bobsledding.
Zakhar: Why do you like it?
Sean: Because the sled goes really
fast.
Zakhar: Who is your favourite
bobsled rider?
Sean: There is an Italian one, but I
forgot his name.
Milla DeBustis
Zakhar: Milla, what is your favorite
winter sport?
Milla: My favorite sport is skiing.
Zakhar: Why skiing?
Milla: I like it because of the snow.
Laura Bondi
Zakhar: What is your favorite
winter sport, Laura?
Laura: I like ice skating because it
is fun.
Zakhar: OK.
Olga Vlajcic
Zakhar: What is your favorite
winter sport and why?
Olga: My favorite sport is skiing
because you can go fast and have a
hot chocolate afterwards!
Tiara Azimova
Tiara: I like skiing because I do it
well.
Zakhar: Who is your favorite skier?
Tiara: I don’t know his name, he
is a hockey player but he also skis
really well.
Valentina Cavalli
Valentina: My favorite sport is ice
skating.
Zakhar: Do you ice skate?
Valentina: Yes.
Zakhar: Who inspires you?
Valnetina: Karolina Kostner.
Daria Vasilyeva
Zakhar: What is your favorite
winter sport, Daria?
Daria: I like skiing.
Maxim Novoselskiy
Zakhar: Maxim, what winter sport
do you like?
Maxim: I like speed skating
because you can go really fast.
Zakhar: Do you have a favorite
speed skater?
Maxim: No, not really.
Max Lim
Zakhar: What is your favorite
winter sport, Max?
Max: Oh, I like speed skating too
because of speed!
Zakhar: Who is your favorite speed
skater?
Max: I don’t know them all.
Di Max Lim
Di Daria Vasilyeva
Di Tiara Azimova
Di Milla De Bustis
Di Elina Estupinan
Di OlgaVlajcic
Dal libro “Storie da ridere” di Silvia Zai e Chiara Carrer
Classe 2a - L’angolo del buonumore
3
4
Grades 4 and 5 Book Reviews
A group of SRA students recommend books from the Hadsall Library
Time for a Tale by Dugald Steer
This book tells the story
of a fox that wanted to catch a
goose. The fox was hungry, he
found a farm, and then he saw a
juicy goose. He caught the goose
and said, “I am pleased to see you,
Goose.” Then he added, “I need to
eat you now”, but the goose said,
“Don’t you want to put me in boiling hot water? And while we wait,
I can tell you a story.” So the goose
continued to tell stories to the fox
to save her life.
I liked this book because
there were different short stories
and it was funny. I like foxes, too.
Mercy Watson Fights Crime
by Kate Di Camillo
This book tells the story of a
pig named Mercy Watson and a cowboy
that comes in her house and robs the
house. When the cowboy comes in, Mercy
Watson is sleeping on the floor, and the
cowboy needs to pass over the pig, but
then the pig moves and the cowboy rides
the pig like a bull.
I liked this book because it is a
mystery and it is funny. It is about the
adventures of a pig.
Riccardo Baroni
Adriana Romanovskaja
Crickwing by Janell Cannon
This book is about the
adventures of Crickwing, a cricket
that first met a monkey, then a
lizard, then an owl. Everybody
wanted to eat Crickwing but
nobody could.
I liked this book because
the adventures of Crickwing are
funny.
Gaetano Carbonelli
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
This book is about a bat that was
separated from her mother and grew up
in a family of birds. As long as she didn’t
try to fly and sit on the branch, she didn’t
get lost. Then she got lost and her family
of bats found her.
I liked this book because it was a
nice, funny book with cute characters and
beautiful drawings.
Doctor De Soto by William Steig
This book is about two dentists
that are a couple of mice, and they cure
animals that are not dangerous. One day
they saw a fox with a bad tooth, but the
mice didn’t want to cure it. At the end
they cure the fox, but it was hard because
when the mice went in the fox’s mouth,
the fox wanted to eat the mice.
I liked this book because it is
funny and it is nice to read.
Maria Adele Zampa
Anna Belan
Source: www.jamesnichollsillustration.blogspot.ch
Sam and Fran Stuck in a Storm
By Victoria Svetlova
Once upon a time there lived
a girl. Her name was Sam. She had
green eyes and curly brown hair.
Sam was seven years old. She was
really glamorous. Sam also had a
friend named Fran. She was a girl
with blond hair and blue eyes. She
was also really lovely, and she was
seven years old, too.
The sea was calm and
the sun was shining so Sam said,
“Let’s go to the sea on a boat this
afternoon.” Fran agreed.
So that afternoon they met
at the beach. Both of them were
really jubilant. They got a boat
and started off. The sky was a
little blue, orange, green, pink, and
Reptiles and Mammals
yellow. There was a little wind and
the sun was setting.
By Catharina Acampora
After 20 minutes Sam and
Fran saw waves rising higher and
I am going to tell you
higher. Sam shouted in a worry, “A
about reptiles and mammals. I’m
storm!”
also going to tell you three things
Fran said, “ I think you’re
that are similarities and three
right!” Sam and Fran began to
differences. I hope you enjoy it.
worry. They didn’t know what to
They are both animals and
do. The wind was really strong, the
they both have lungs. They also
are both vertebrates. These are
the most important similarities.
I am going to tell you
about some differences.
Mammals have fur and reptiles
have scales. Mammals give birth
and reptiles lay eggs. Mammals
give milk and reptiles don’t
give milk. These are the most
important differences.
This is what I know about
reptiles and mammals. I hope
you liked it.
Grade 3 Contributions
waves were really high, and they
were really horrified. There was
no sun anymore. Sam and Fran
shouted, “Help! SOS!”
But they weren’t really far
from the shore and that saved
them. After some time they saw a
fisherman but they could hardly
see him because the waves were
so high. The fisherman shouted
to the girls, “Hold on!” They could
hardly hear him because the waves
went, “Splash,boom!” He put his
fishing pole up and...he caught
their boat! Sam and Fran are
saved! He pulled them to the shore
and they told him, “Thank you!”
It was suppertime so
they went home. They told their
parents everything that happened.
Their parents were really afraid
because they also saw the storm
that was going on. But everything
was marvelous now. Sam and Fran
had learned a lot but the most
important thing that they learned
was that you should never go to
the sea alone. But that’s not all...
Illustration by Victoria Svetlova
5
6
Grade 1 Writing and Art
By Isabella Volpi
By Sebastian Halvorsen
By Egor Maksimov
By Christian Piconi
By Balnurdin Rashid
To Lead, We Must Care!
By Lalleet Trivikram,
(with help from his father)
Last December, my parents
took me and my sister for llama
trekking at Malcantone in Lugano.
We met Mr. Frei, the owner of the
llama farm, who showed us his
animals and told us how llamas
can be trained through care to
follow us as we lead them.
Llamas are originally from
South America. They are very
gentle animals and they can learn
simple tasks quickly. Mr. Frei
gave me two llamas, Cappuccino
and Smokey, and asked me to
take them for a walk. Walking
with llamas was so much fun!
I learned how to lead them by
being in the front, and guided
them as we walked up the hill. As
I was leading, these llamas were
making some funny noises! Mr.
Frei told me that it’s the way they
communicate with each other in a
herd.
If we are friendly, kind, and take
good care of llamas, they totally
believe and follow us. Really, they
make very good walking friends!
When we were up the hill, a boy
scared these llamas…they got
panicked and started moving in all
directions! But Mr. Frei told me
that when llamas panic we should
hold their lead rope tight and pat
their back to make them feel safe. I
did as he said, and they were back
on track following me!
Here, I learned, “To lead, we
must care…!”
By Marco Preatoni
By Mila Vlajcic
By Diego Sindona
By Chloe Hassan
7
8
Quizzes, Recipes, and More...
Renaissance Quiz
By Alberto Ornaghi, Grade 5
1 What is the last name of the most
important Florentine family during the
renaissance?
A Medici
B Ornaghi
C Medicinali
2 Which cathedral was built in Rome under
Pope Sixtus IV?
A St. Peter’s Basilica
B The Duomo
C The Sistine Chapel
3 What were the main industries in
Florence?
A Wool
B Banking
C Both A and B
4 What were the ships used in Venice called?
A Schooners
B Galleons
C Vaporetti
5 About when did the Renaissance start?
A 1350
B 1600
C 1980
6 About when did the Renaissance end?
A 2003
B 1550
C 1750
7 Who is considered the greatest playwright
of Renaissance England?
A Shakespeare
B Cervantes
C El Greco
8 Who is Botticelli?
A An Italian ice cream
B A painter
C Both A and B
9 Who was the most important Venetian
artist?
A Titian
B Da Vinci
C Michelangelo
10 What story did Cervantes write?
A Don Quixote Della Mancha
B Mickey Mouse Comics
C Hamlet
Self-Portrait, Rennaisance-Style
By Allegra Masnata, Grade 5
By Lea Spodnik, Grade 4
Q: Why don’t seagulls fly over bays?
A: Because they’ll become beagles!
By Victoria Haefliger, Grade 5
Do you like baking, oranges and cakes?
Then don’t waste your time and start
baking this cake right now! All you need:
- 4 eggs
- 300 grams of flour
- 200 grams of sugar
- 3 big oranges
- 200 ml of oil
- 1 packet of yeast
Preheat oven to 170°. Beat the eggs
and the sugar. Add the oil, the flour
and the yeast. Grate the oranges and
squeeze them. Mix grated orange peel,
orange juice and the mix you did before.
Line a mold with vegetable parchment
paper, and put them in the oven (with
the mix) for 30-45 minutes.
By Sophie Oglivie, Grade 4
Jokes ;-)
By Aurora Peltier, Grade 4
A rooster laid an egg on the roof. Which way did it roll?
North, south, east or west?
Nowhere. Roosters can’t lay eggs.
Light and Dark - Black and White Comic
By Anfisa Andeeva, Grade 3
Why are tissues called tissues?
You know what you do in them? Tisssuee!
Bill, run away! Why?
C’mon, we’re in the middle of a war. Why?
Because we’re trapped. Why?
Please stop saying why! Why?
Because it’s annoying. Why?
Oh no! They caught you! What’s your last word, kid? Why?
By Alberto Ornaghi, Grade 5
TASIS Word search
T Q WE R T F A L L F E S T I
V A L Y U I
O P A S D
F P G H J K L Z X C V B N M Q A Z WS X E D C R F V
T G A B Y H N U J S M I
K B A L L L O P M N B V C X
Z L K J H G S F D W S A P O I
T Y U I
U Y T R E WQ Q WE R
O P WZ X E C V B N M A S D F G H J K L T Y
G V B WA S I
Q E T Y I
Z T T F G J L S E I
D U T S L E V O N
P T A D Z G J L Z X C B M WR Y I
K L X V B M Z G O E B K H I
T A S I
P S F H
S K M K K J R D
D F D H S H E G Y R F F V B E L V E D E R E G L G S
X F F A L L R F F L B B V M M K B B P W S G S M E J
By Lucas La Gamba, Grade 5
D D T H E L L O J A P C E E U O R A N G F E S L A A
D D F L O P A U R O R A F F G I
R D V G B G N M T Y O M I
O WS A L H S D C A
S S H U J L K E G T S V B
H A H T A M D T H A H P A B E E P J K I
M O P L H Q
D K K M P J O K L H T O Q D C N M B L P I
M L A B R A T U N M S S H I
O A Q A B
T V H F Q K N A N B D I
N T E A C H E R S B A C T C H D C F S T G H A L S A
L K G G U Y I
G I
K N E WI
A G G U Y L O L E D L P A A
L U D Q WE R T Y E U I
O P A S D F G H J K L L
H J L K L R Z X G O F N J P H L B A P S N N V O L P
A D O M I
N E K T H V C H T K F G H H A D S A L P H
V J O K J K H C I
C H E J L M I
N Q H WE R T Y E U I
U V M I
U T W O B P
O P A S S D F G H J K L Z X C
V B C N M N B V C S X Z L K R J H G F D S A P O I
U
Y T S Q A Z X C D E S R F V A B H G M L H J P B C K
Recess
Aurora
Hadsall
Ball
School
Teachers
Math
SRA
Novel Studies
Switzerland
Belvedere
Mrs Fleming
Campo Science
TPA
Fall Festival
9
10
Contributions from our Kindergarteners
Ms. Liz introduces her students’ work
“Serafina Ballerini used her new
handwriting skills to tell what she knows
about pigs on the farm, as she learned
in Core Knowledge. She illustrated her
vocabulary by drawing a mother pig and
several piglets.” “As Kindergarten cracks on with reading,
they show what they know by matching
the picture to words they can read.
Kindergarteners can read well so if you’ve
got a brother or sister there, ask them to
read you a story!”
“Kindergarten learns about the weather
and seasons. Olivia Gerstenberg wrote a
letter to her friend, Bella, about the weather
she can observe from her classroom
window. Using her scientific observational
skills, she drew what she saw to share with
her pen pal. She showed that she can write
a complete sentence with punctuation and
best-guess spelling. Ask Olivia, or any of her
kindergarten friends, about meteorology
patterns!”
“Amalia Zampa read A Cloak for the
Dreamer by Aileen Friedman and then put
her geometry skills to work. She created a
beautiful pattern using only polygons that
connect with their straight sides.”
Bowling
By Juliette
The Fin-land trip
By Miwa Gerstenberg
Bella was at the dinner table. Her mum was telling a story. “Tomorrow
we will go to Finland.”
“Oh”, said Bella and yawned. She was so tired she didn’t even know
how she got to bed.
It was a long drive to Finland. The first thing Bella noticed was that
the people walked strangely. When they got closer, Bella saw why: they all
had Fins!
Her mother smiled at her. “Yes, Bella, we are in Fin-land!”
Bella was astonished that her parents, her brother and she had fins,
too!
Her brother Michael shouted, “Hey, the city is flooded!”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Bella, laughing. But the water was already up
to the window of the car and now Bella was screaming as well. Dad let down
the windows and they swam out.
First it felt strange, but then Michael and Bella could swim as fast as
a fish.
Bella met a girl named Talita. Talita asked, “When did you get to Finland? Do you know that you can’t get out again? I have been in Fin-land for
years,” said Talita sadly.
But Bella said, “Why don’t we just play?!”
“Yeah,” said Talita. “I have a brother. His name is Sebastian. Your
brother could play with my brother.”
“Good idea!” So the boys played together as well and they all
became friends.
Bella’s family slept at Talita’s home. It was nice and cozy. They had a
nice night. In the morning Talita said to Bella, “You know that we could go to
my friends house at number 75 to play.”
“OK,” said Bella. When they got to number 75, Talita’s friend Olivia
came out and they played ball in the water. They had a wonderful time but
after a few hours Bella and Talita had to go home for dinner. They picked up
Michael and Sebastian.
The next morning after breakfast the girls
had a swimming race. They tried a few times, but
Talita always won. It was because she had more
practice.
Talita comforted Bella and showed her
something new to play: they swam and played with
dolphins! They could even hang on to the fins of
the dolphins and race with them!
The two boys played racing boats and
caught fish. The girls played “catch the seamonster” with the boys.
Meanwhile it was the day before Christmas
and Bella was scared that they could never get
back to their home in time for the start of school.
The next morning the girls got ready for Christmas. They prepared
a Christmas party at Talita’s home, decorated the tree with starfish and
seashells, and invited Olivia as well. At the Christmas party they ate fishcake,
seaweed-salad, grilled crab, and a plate full of seashell-lollies. They all got a
lot of good and fun presents. They had a wonderful time.
But Bella was still scared that they would never get out of Fin-land.
She really wanted to go home to her house. They all wanted to go home.
Bella’s family decided to try to go home the next day. Bella was happy and
sad. Talita was only sad that Bella had to go home. But they promised to
become pen-pals. And they celebrated. The girls were allowed to stay up late
and play and watch telly.
The next day Bella and her family had to go. They started to swim
to Switzerland. Then Bella heard her mum’s voice: “Bella, wake up! We are
going to Finland today!”
Grade 2 Contributions
11
12
Grade 4 Writing and Art
Parents
By Aurora Peltier
People who teach,
Always cuddle you,
Rate your chores,
Equally important,
Nice and warm,
Teach you lots of things,
Support you through rough times.
King
By Mario Ornaghi
Everybody must listen to him,
Everybody must bow to him,
‘Til he dies his kingdom must be ruled by his
family,
He is cruel and foolish,
He is mean and selfish,
But most of all his greed,
He gave his wife for a bar of gold,
You wouldn’t want him as your king!
By Sophie Ogilvie
Il Proverbio Delle Dieci “P”
By Isabella Bunford
Prima pensa,
Poi parla,
Perché parole poco pensate
portano pena.
Source: www.aforismi.meglio.it
If I Had a Dog - Comic by Leonardo Panella
Ireland
By Jane Wilson
Beautiful fields,
Covered with daisies,
Cows mooing,
Lambs playing.
Walk down the road,
With your wellies on,
Hop the gate,
Run along.
Say hello to your grandad
in his tractor,
Help give the horses hay,
Then walk home with
a spring in your step,
Saying it’s a beautiful day.
Ricordo d’infanzia
di Maria Adele Zampa
Fra me e mia sorella maggiore ci sono due anni
di differenza. Quando lei andava a TASIS in prima
elementare, io restavo sempre da sola a casa con
la mamma o andavo all’asilo del mio paese. Per
me la scuola era diventata un mito. Pensavo che
se fossi andata a scuola sarei diventata grande.
Infatti a casa mi annoiavo tantissimo e non sapevo
come passare il tempo.
Il mio vero sogno era anche di andare sul pulmino, perché sul pulmino non ci sono i genitori e avrei
potuto fare quello che volevo. Quando suonava il
campanello al mattino e mia sorella usciva di casa
di corsa con la sua cartella e saliva sul pulmino
rosso, io restavo davanti al cancello molto triste e
tornavo a casa disperata. Un giorno mi sono perfino vestita con l’uniforme della scuola di mia sorella.
Le maniche della maglietta mi stavano larghissime,
la gonna blu mi cadeva e dovevo tenerla su con
le mani e tutti mi chiedevano se dovevo andare in
bagno. L’autista si è messo a ridere e non mi ha
fatto salire sul pulmino e io sono tornata ancora più
triste di come ero già. L’anno dopo, ho finalmente
iniziato il Pre-K a TASIS: ero felicissima! Il primo
giorno di scuola sono salita sul pulmino rosso
Light and Dark - Black and White Comic
By Victoria Svetlova, Grade 3 insieme a mia sorella. Mi sentivo bellissima nella
mia uniforme blu. Non sono rimasta affatto delusa
perché andare sul pulmino mi sembrava tutte le
Il drago pasticcione!
volte un’ avventura.
di Caterina Millo
Ecco questo è stato un episodio significativo
perché è stato un momento di vera felicità.
Ciao sono Draghetto, ho due anni. Ho una mamma
che si chiama Pasticcina. Sono un drago molto pasticcione
perché faccio sempre danni; una volta mi sono colorato
i capelli come la bandiera degli Stati Uniti, un’altra volta,
By Luize Bensone
quando eravamo andati a fare la spesa, ho rovesciato tutto lo
scaffale delle merendine. Io volevo le merendine ma la mamma
non le voleva prendere.
La mia mamma Pasticcina ama molto cucinare e
così ogni giorno prepara torte, biscotti, gelati, ecc. Qualche
volta l’aiuto anch’io ma combino sempre molti guai. Rovescio
la farina, faccio cadere le uova, esagero con lo zucchero...
Insomma un vero disastro, un vero pasticcione!
Quando, invece, la mamma mi chiede di occuparmi
del giardino, faccio annegare i fiori usando troppa acqua,
rovescio i vasi e spavento gli uccellini. Io cerco di impegnarmi
di più, andando più lento e restando più tranquillo, ma proprio
non ce la faccio a non combinare pasticci.
Spero, diventando grande, di assomigliare un po’
alla mia mamma che, anche se si chiama Pasticcina è molto
brava nelle cose che fa.
13
14
Pre-K Contributions
Elephants
Honesty, by Giulia Sindona
The Farm Bulletin Board
Elephants
Dusty is Lost!
By Austin Rowe
It was a dark and stormy night. Max and
I were at my house. My mum
told me to feed Dusty, my dog. I was
going to pour the dog food when
there was a flash of lightning and the
lights went out. I raced to the
drawer and grabbed a flashlight. I
quickly turned it on and saw an open
window. We looked all over for Dusty
but we could not find him
anywhere. Max said, “He must have
gone outside.”
I did not want to go outside because I
was scared of the lightning but
I had to find Dusty! When we got
outside Max and I saw paw prints in
the mud next to the window. We
followed the tracks that led to a
deserted old dock.
By Giovanni Ugoltti
We saw an old, broken boat and we
saw the tracks on the deck. We
boarded the boat and started to look for
Dusty. I called for him and
we heard a loud bark!
Poem adapted from
Catch a Little Rhyme
by Eve Merriam
Max said, “I think it is coming from
below deck!” We raced downstairs
where we saw Dusty stuck in a fishing
net. We tried to pull the net
apart but it was too strong. I saw a
sharp knife on a chair and I
grabbed it and cut the net. I hugged him
and he licked me.
By Andreas Riis
and Elisa Markevitch
Once upon a time
I caught a little rhyme
It turned on my clock
And it went tick-tock
When we got home we were exhausted
but glad. We fed Dusty, made hot
chocolate and collapsed into bed.
By Letizia Piel
It ran into the park
When it was very dark
It found a wig
And started to dig
It jumped on a frog
Sitting on a log
It went into a boat
And waved to a goat
When I caught the rhyme
It turned into a dime…
Illustration by Austin Rowe
Grade 3 Writing and Comics
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The Night
By Alessandra Treherne, Grade 5
While James was doing his homework, Isabel
interrupted and told him that she heard a strange noise
coming from the living room. James did not care so
much, because he was writing an essay about his life
and a report, which were both due next Monday.
He said, “Look, if you are scared, go to Mom
and Dad. I am sorry I cannot help you, but I am in
trouble if these papers are not on my teacher’s desk
by next Monday. Today is Thursday, so please do not
distract me!”
“Ok, fine but when you have finished, could you
please play Twister with me?” asked Isabel.
“Ok, but now go away and go hug Mom or Dad
or even Rocky,” responded James.
Isabel left and went to her mom and dad.
When she finally got bored, she went back to her room
and started reading a book that she loved. She was
interrupted by the noise again, but it sounded much
closer, so she got scared and hid under her bed.
Just at that moment, James finished and went
to Isabel’s room and found her under her bed, scared
as anyone could be! He helped her up and then he
started to hear something too. He was brave, so he
went toward the noise and it led him outside. Isabel
followed. They saw a pile of snow that was moving.
James kicked the pile and saw two faces, which were
familiar. “ Bloom!” “ Blossom!” whispered James and
Isabel.
“ Yes, yes, wait, are you James and Isabel?”
asked Bloom.
“Yes, why are you here and not with Sprinter?”
asked Isabel.
“Well, he told us to give you this message, but
we thought we would just give it to you face-to-face!”
“Could you explain why you were hiding in the
snow?” asked James.
“Yes, we are scared of other humans!”
explained Blossom.
“My mom will not hurt you nor my father nor
Rocky!” laughed Isabel.
“Who’s Rocky?” asked Blossom.
“He is my dog, silly,” responded James.
Bloom told James to come closer and he told
him, “It is time for a new adventure!”
James responded, “But it can’t be, my book has
not started glowing yet!”
Just as he said that, a sudden light came
from the bedroom window. It was the book, and it
was glowing to show them that it was time for a new
adventure!
James ran inside and got his book and opened it
to the middle page and they were transported to Sprinter’s
house. It was small, but big enough for four people to live in.
It was just as Isabel and James had remembered it the first
time. In the center of the room, there was a cauldron with
blue water with sparkles. It was called blue magic!
Sprinter was not in any of the rooms. Bloom knew
how to remind Sprinter to come. He simply said a rhyme:
Sprin oh sprin
Get here
Don’t forget your magic pin
Come near
Come with the sun
And don’t forget to bring
The hat of fun
And then come sing.
Magically, Sprinter appeared with a hat and a pin
in his hand. Sprinter greeted them and apologized, “Sorry
I’m late, I—well, I—I well whatever!” And he chuckled for a
second, and then told James and Isabel that his assistant
was late too!
It was already almost 11:30 and Isabel was getting
tired. Sprinter looked at the time, then snapped his fingers
and a bed appeared, then another, then another, then another
until there were six beds. After they had had dinner, they all
went to bed.
The next morning, Sprinter told the two children,
“Now, our mission is to find the Diamond Of Destiny. It was
stolen from the prairies of Kamahi. It has to be returned
before tomorrow at midnight!”
“Whereabouts does the Diamond Of Destiny lie?”
asked James.
“In the King’s room. He has it in a cabinet
somewhere, hidden.”
“So how do we get it, without being seen?” asked
Isabel.
“Take this packet of powder. If you open it, it makes
him leave the room. So while he is away, you have time to
look for the Diamond Of Destiny,” explained Sprinter.
James, Isabel, Blossom, and Bloom took a basket
and put fruit, the packet of powder, and 12 bottles of water in
it and then set off.
James and Isabel did not know how to get there. It
was 15 miles away!
Blossom did knot know either! The only person who
knew where the sled was, was Bloom! He opened two old
and heavy doors and dragged out a speed sled.
Jack opened his eyes and was fascinated! To start
the sled, you needed the dogs to pull it, which they let out of
their pen in the yard and gave them lots of cuddles.
Bloom untied a knot and the sled began to move,
then he untied another and another and the sled began going
almost 180 miles per hour! They got very lost and saw a light
far in the distance. It was the gates to Kamahi. They entered
and Isabel’s eye got distracted. She saw a white lump on the
ground with a large entrance. It was the King’s home! They
went in slowly and found two guards pointing a spear in front
of them. Bloom said, “We are here to meet the King and be
his servants.”
The guards looked at Bloom and asked, “And you
are? Is the King expecting you? Give me your names, and I
will see if the King is available.”
Bloom stepped forward and responded, “I am Bloom,
he is James, the one at the end is Isabel, and this one here
is Blossom. The King is not expecting us, because it is an
emergency!”
The guard looked again and asked, “Who do you
work for?”
“Sprinter” answered Blossom.
The guard asked, “How old are all of you?”
“Ok, enough questions.” And from his pocket,
Bloom took out his wand and said, “Blizzard Bizzard Kamhai
Sprinter!... oops, I meant Linter”.
In a few seconds, they were out of sight, they were in
the hall of the King’s house and Sprinter was there, because
he had been called by accident. They helped Sprinter go
away, and then heard a noise coming from a door on the left.
Bloom went first through a big door and saw four people, two
girls and two boys. They were servants. So, they continued
down the hall where he found a very thin and small door, he
could only just fit through. The others got through the door
too, but with a struggle.
They saw gold, silver, emeralds and diamonds...
but they were not there for the gold, so they continued. It led
them to another room. It was the King’s room! They saw that
he was not there, so they looked around.
Suddenly, they heard the creak of the door opening!
They quickly found a hiding spot. Isabel hid in the wardrobe
and was very squished. Bloom hid under the bed with the
packet of powder. Blossom hid behind the door. James hid
behind the sofa. It was the King! The first thing he did was go
in his wardrobe to get his cape. Luckily, Isabel was not seen.
James was allergic to dust, so he sneezed! The King turned
around when he heard someone! He was about to move the
sofa, but Blossom stuck out of under the bed and made a
noise to distract the King, so that James poured the powder
in the water.
The King started to drink the water and immediately
disappeared! They started looking around the room, and
found nothing. So, they looked in the room with the gold
and riches. They looked at the diamonds, but suddenly one
started glowing and then another and then another! It was a
game to find the right one!
After an hour of searching, Bloom was distracted
by an idea. He announced, “I have an idea! We use the
new spell to read the King’s mind to find where he put the
Diamond Of Destiny.” They agreed and Bloom spoke these
words, “Kiro site with might, let the mind be bright.” A flash of
light struck, and he actually became the King! “Oh dear, who
are you? Guards!” Luckily, they did not hear him.
He walked towards a tapestry with a picture of a
mighty horse. He moved it and there was a cabinet with more
than two locks. He opened it and there was the Diamond Of
Destiny.
Isabel took Bloom’s wand and spoke: “Kiro site with
diverse, let the mind reverse!” Suddenly, Bloom, still holding
the Diamond Of Destiny, turned back into himself! He thanked
Isabel and she gave his wand back. They left in a hurry.
When they were near the house, the Diamond Of
Destiny slipped out of Bloom’s hands, but James caught it
and put it in his side pocket. They got to Sprinter’s house and
he was standing in front of the cauldron saying, “You have
done well, and now you will be my assistants!”
THE END
Illustration: Islamic Architecture
by Tommaso Lo Monaco, Grade 4
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My Holiday
By Tilly Fadlon, Grade 4
In my three-week holiday to the Bahamas I had
one day when I went on a power boat. We went
to an island. I got out of the boat onto the island
where I saw around 50 iguanas. We had just
arrived when the man gave us some grapes and
told us to put them on sticks so we could give
them to the iguanas. I held out my stick and I saw
an iguana come and bite the grape off my stick.
The last grape I gave to a baby iguana that was
around five inches long. After that we went to
another island. The man told us there were sharks
near this island. We walked on to the beach and
after two minutes the man told us to kneel in the
shallow water, shoulder to shoulder. He gave us
each a piece of fish and told us to put it through
our fingers. We put our hands in the water and a
stingray came and took the fish from us. My sister’s
boyfriend got bitten by the stingray! Then the man
The birds came and ate all the bread. After the
birds left they had left all their tiny footprints on the
sand. The man caught some shells and told us that
they were called conches. He told us how to get
the animal out of the shell. I asked him, “Can I have
the shell afterwards?” After he had got the animal
out he gave me the shell. When he had found other
conches he gave the shells to the other children.
He made a fresh conch salad on the beach. My
mom said it didn’t taste very good, but I didn’t try it.
Then we went home to our hotel, the Reef. I really
liked seeing those sharks and the stingrays.
told us to stand out of the water and got a fish tied
to a rope and put it in the water. The shark bit the
fish and the man pulled half of the shark’s body out
of the water. The shark stomach was white and his
back was gray. Then we all went to have lunch. I
had a hot dog and a piece of my dad’s fish. Then
we went out and my mom and dad and brother
went snorkeling with the sharks while I stayed on
the island. I built a kind of weird bird place and dug
a hole in the middle. Then I put bread in the hole.
Islamic Pattern, based on the eight-pointed star
By Oscar Schiller, Grade 4
Use Water Bottles
to Help Save the Planet!
By Matteo Negri, Grade 1
By Ms. Keen’s Class
By Niccolo Vanossi, Grade 1
By Leonardo Ciccone, Kindergarten
We have noticed many people do not
always use a water bottle for drinking. It is
important to always use a water bottle instead of a
paper or plastic cup. Water bottles are important
for nature because paper and plastic cups are a
waste. They are a waste because they can only
be used once or twice and then they are thrown
away. If we always use paper or plastic cups, then
in a hundred years or so the whole world will be
polluted. We will also cut down too many trees.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and we need trees.
Factories will also pollute the earth if they have
to make a lot of plastic and paper cups. If we keep
using paper and plastic cups, the world will be
filled with trash. Trash will ruin animal habitats and
the species will decline. If all of TASIS stops using
paper cups, then we can help to tell our friends at
other schools to also use water bottles. This will
help the environment.
If you do not have a water bottle at home,
it is easy to buy a TASIS water bottle. They are big,
easy to wash and comfortable to drink from. They
are dark blue with the TASIS logo. You can order
a water bottle by contacting your homeroom
teacher. They cost CHF 30 each.
Let’s all please help the environment by using
water bottles instead of paper or plastic cups!
By Nina Nori, Kindergarten
EAL Students learn about family
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Sochi Winter Olympic Games Crossword
By Michaela Holmes, Grade 3
ACROSS
DOWN
2. Sliding down an ice-covered track on a low
sled on your stomach
1. Sliding down snow-covered mountains on skis with
a fixed heel binding
5. A game using stones where the aim is to slide
them to the center of a target
3. Cross-country skiing and ski jumping, together
4. Skiing on a flat or uphill slope
7. Trying to complete an ice-covered track or run
in the fastest time
6. Players have a stick and try and score a goal on ice
9. Descending a snow-covered hill on a board
8. Moving on ice with special shoes
10. Lying on your back on a sled
9. Going very fast on ice with special shoes
11. Skiing that includes moguls, aerials, and ballet
12. Skiing and shooting
13. Aim is to jump further than the other
competitors
1
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4
5
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9
10
11
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Akita Inu
By Allegra Masnata,
Grade 5
Do you know a lot about dogs? Well, I don’t think you
know about the Akita Inu. It is a very loyal and calm dog,
but if a bad person enters in your house...it will be very
protective! It has an interesting history because it comes
from Japan and is a really courageous dog. The females
were even nannies for children if the parents weren’t
there. The Akita Inu takes it name from the place it was born
(Akita Prefecture in north Japan). The ancestors of the
Akita were called on, depending on the work being done.
It is the dog of the bravest hunters who dared to face the
bear, Yezo. The hunters wanted more powerful dogs so
they made crossings with the mastiff. This breed suffered
serious consequences and it almost went into extinction.
But a group of fans took care of this breed. It is a breed
that brings good luck.
That thing can sing! By Sofia Volpi, Kindergarten
Interview with Mr. Nijenhuis
By Victoria Haefliger, Grade 5
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is Chinese food.
What is your favorite drink?
My favorite drink is hot chocolate.
What is your favorite cake?
My favorite cake is dark chocolate with extra dark,
The Akita Inu is known for the loyalty that it has for its
melted chocolate on top.
owners. It is very courageous, and it won’t back down
What do you like doing in your free time?
from a challenge. The Akita doesn’t usually bark, unless
there is a good reason. It is silent with strangers and it will I like taking pictures, editing pictures, traveling...
welcome a house guest as long as its owners are at home.
Which class do you like teaching the most?
The Akita is a very dominating breed and is aggressive
All of them.
with other dogs, especially the ones of the same sex. It
Do you prefer going to the mountains or the
doesn’t like the dogs with squashed faces (such as the
beach?
boxer or bulldog). The Akita can be a nice dog if you
I prefer going to the mountains.
educate it well and if it is with a nice family.
Do you like to travel?
I think that the Akita is a really good dog to have at home, I am addicted to it.
but when you are out for a walk and it sees another
What is your favorite kind of dog?
dog, someone really muscular and strong should hold
I really like the Great Dane.
it! Remember, if you don’t disturb the Akita, it will not
Do you like giving homework?
disturb you. But if you do… you will see!
Not at all.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akita_(dog)
What is your favorite country?
http://www.akitainu.it/1/storia_razza_292759.html
To live in, Spain. To visit, China.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/a/akitainu.html
http://japanesedogs.bulldoginformation.com/japanese-akita-inu.html
What is your favorite book?
http://kyokujitsuakitainu.com/?page_id=127
I have three favorite books: Ender’s Game, Name
http://www.emperorsakitas.com/Akita-History.php
http://www.akitainu.ie/history.html
of the Rose, and Guns, Germs and Steel.
http://a-z-animals.com/animals/akita-dog/
http://www.caninercrib.com/dog/breeds/akita-dog/
What is your favorite song?
http://akita-ken.ro/the-akita/
My favorite song is Radio Head.
http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/akita
Do you like plush toys?
Not really.
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Art and Poetry Corner
Elephant - art based on Henri Matisse’s Snail
Dimitry Mikhaylov, Pre-K
SNOW IS FUN
Snake - art based on Henri Matisse’s Snail
By Lavinia Cerra, Pre-K
by Milla De Bustis, Grade 2
Snow is fun to play in
Snow is fun to fall in
Snow is fun to ski in
Sparkly, white, soft snow
Snowmen, snowballs, snowflakes
Fun, fun, fun.
My Talented Animal
By Grigory Snegirev, Grade 3
By Michaela Holmes, Grade 3
TASIS
By Alberto Ornaghi, Grade 5
Totally awesome
Always fun
Super awesome field trips
In Switzerland
So fun to be in
I have a talented animal
It protects me from a cannibal
It’s nor dog nor frog
It isn’t a hedgehog
It isn’t an ugly rat
It isn’t a lazy cat
It isn’t for sure a dragon
Who once hardly burned a wagon
It isn’t a snake I say
I know it doesn’t eat hay
It is actually a lion
And its name is Jay O’Brian
By Carola Mandarano
By Mia Galmor
Snails
Art based on Henri Matisse’s Snail
By Madeleine Sharratt, Pre-K
FAR AWAY FRIENDS
By Chiara De Bustis, Grade 5
Even when you are far away
Best friends we will always stay
We will still meet up and play together I hope we will be best friends forever.
Friendship - Amicizia
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Chemistry Quiz
By Mario Ornaghi, Grade 4
1. What is H2O?
A. Juice
B. Water
C. Hydrogen
D. Helium
2. What is an element?
A. A material which has been mixed
with something else
B. A material which hasn’t been mixed
C. A metal that shines
D. Something which is not on the
Periodic table
3. What is the Periodic Table?
A. A table that shows trees
B. A table which was invented by a
C. mathematician in Russia which
shows the multiplication tables
D. A table which shows all of the
elements
E. Nothing
Source: www.alcachimica.com
4. Who invented the Periodic Table?
A. Nobody
B. Obama
C. Mendeleev
D. Queen Elizabeth
5. What represents copper in the Periodic
Table?
A. Cu
B. Nothing
C. Co
D. Cop
6. What stands for gold in the Periodic
Table?
A. Au
B. Go
C. Gold
D. God
7. What stands for zinc in the Periodic
Table?
A. Zi
B. Zn
C. Zin
D. Zc
Science Lab with Mr. Carsana
La grammatica é una canzone dolce
Nella classe di italiano di Ms.Veronica gli allievi stanno leggendo il libro “La
grammatica é una canzone dolce”. Si tratta della storia di due bambini che
fanno naufragio durante un viaggio in barca, perdono la voce e si ritrovano
su un’ isola. Sull’isola incontrano due persone gentili che li aiutano a
ritrovare la voce.
Intervista a Giovanna
La Grammatica è una Canzone Dolce
Di Allegra Masnata, Carolina Zanon
e Victoria Heafliger, Classe 5a
Di Alberto Ornaghi, Lucas La Gamba
e Flavia Tramontano, Classe 5a
1) Quando sei atterrata sull’isola come ti
sentivi?
Smarrita e preoccupata
2) Quando eri nel naufragio volevi
abbracciare i tuoi genitori?
Si,perche mi mancavano
3) Quando hai incontrato il signor Enrico,
cosa pensavi di lui?
Che era un po’ strano
4) Ti ricordavi qualche parola?
Si,una parola: DOLCEZZA
5) Cosa pensavi quando hai incontrato la
nominatrice?
Mi sembrava noiosa perche mi toccava le
guance, invece era molto simpatica
6) Avevi voglia di scoprire nuove parole?
Si,cosi potevo riuscire a parlare La Grammatica è una Canzone Dolce,
Così dolce che ti molce,
A Giovanna manca la mamma,
Di Michele Cipolini e Antonio Mantegazza,
Quando accende la fiamma,
Classe 5a
A Tommaso manca il papà,
Quando si siede sul sofà.
Il nipote sublime si sente morire,
G=giovane
Quanto sente Giovanna soffrire.
I= intelligente
O=ottimista
V=vittoriosa
A=astuta
N=naufraga
N=necessita
A=aiuto
TASIS Talent Show
Let’s hear it for our Kindergarten
showstoppers! Brave students
Elle Fuhr and Gentry Spoon
practiced for weeks to open the
Talent Show held in an effort
to raise support for victims of
the typhoon in the Philippines.
These two songbirds practiced
every free chance they had, from
bus rides to P.E. to belting out
on the swings at recess. Their
hard work paid off when they
rocked the house and had the
whole audience cheering for their
performance!
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Thank you to all students and teachers who contribute daily to make TASIS such a special place!
Springtime at Hadsall
Reading is fun at TASIS!
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Happiness during International Week
Quiz Time Answer Key
Sochi Crossword: left
i n g
Renaissance Quiz
1:A, 2:C, 3:C, 4:B, 5:A, 6:B, 7:A, 8:B, 9: A, 10:A
Chemistry Quiz
1:B, 2:B, 3:C, 4:C, 5:A, 6:A, 7:B