ReadingSummaryTwo

### Why Giving Your Child Too Much Work is Bad

Have you ever thought of giving your child extracurricular activities to help them get better in one field? Then you saw that they made progress and gave them more activities. Slowly the curricular activities will build up to a point where your child can’t handle it. This is neither good for your child or you. Your child can suffer from stress, lack of sleep, self-motivation issues, and bad grades.  Stress is a very common side effect of having too much stuff on your plate. When you have a long list of stuff to do and a short amount of time to do it, things, talk become overwhelming. This causes stress which should be avoided. Stress can cause a lack of sleep because there is so much stuff to do that you can’t stop thinking about it. This process may turn into a habit of not sleeping well. Resulting in tiredness, fatigue, and not having enough energy for daily work. Self-motivation issues are also a side effect of having a bunch of things to do. Having a lot of things to do also means something you don’t want to do. This makes it harder to force yourself to do this, causing you to be slower. You could possibly end up staring at your work not doing anything. Lack of self-motivation can make you want to do other things instead and cause you to fail at both. Now with self-motivation issues and stress, bad grades are inevitable. With so much going on your child would probably have a hard time focusing in school. The worst thing that could happen is that your child focuses on playing during school because she/he knows they won’t have time later. This means that they won’t be productive. When they get home they won’t have time to do their homework since there are so many other things to accomplish. As you see, giving your child too much work can cause more cons than pros. After reading this, consider, does my child have too much work?

Seeing My Rabbits For the First Time in Two Weeks

Have you ever had someone you haven’t seen in a while? Then one day you see them again and have this feeling of overwhelming happiness? That’s the feeling I felt when seeing my rabbits for the first time in 2 weeks. Where I live, Southlake Texas, we had a whole week of unbearably cold weather. In my house, we had a pipe that broke and water flooded the master bedroom. The floor was wood so it began to lift. My family thought this was a good time to redo the wood floors in the house. As you can imagine, there was a lot of sanding and oiling. I had two rabbits and rabbits’ noises are sensitive to dust and strong smells.  We ended up deciding to bring my rabbits over to my sister’s house. That means I couldn’t see them. When the second week’s weekend rolled around I decided to have a sleepover at my sister’s house. I couldn’t wait. Once I arrived I sprinted up. The house was empty except for me and my rabbits. I was so overjoyed that I wished I could savor that moment. I hugged and petted them before feeding them dinner and changing their litter box. This was my experience. I loved it. I hope that if there is someone that you haven’t seen in a long time, you get to see them.

Poetry

There are different purposes for writing. Some inform you about things or others want to persuade you to buy something. Today we will talk about one type of writing that is used to express emotions or describe something.  Poetry is one of the main ways to express yourself or describe something using writing. Poetry comes in many different forms. It is an intricate type of writing with many ways to write it. Poets and rhyme or not rhyme, contain a certain number of sentences or not, and much more. Is mainly used to describe nature or feelings.  Now you know a little bit about poetry. Why don’t you try it?

Preparing for a test

Preparing for a test can be nerve-wracking. You don’t know if you will do well or if you know the information that will be on the test. Here are 2 tips to help you. First is to make sure you study. I mean know the knowledge inside and out. To help you, you can make flashcards or study sheets. Make sure you study every day and right before the test so the knowledge is planted in your mind. To help with this process you can have a family member or friend quiz you. There are many different websites you can use to like Quizlet. Next is to be well-rested and full. You want to have a goods night’s sleep before the test. Being tired from an important test is the worst thing possible. Your mind needs to be sharp for you to focus and not make silly mistakes. Also, be full. Maybe let your parents make you your favorite breakfast. During a test, the less distraction the better. Your stomach rumbling will be a very big distraction so try to avoid that. Make sure to study and be well rested to get ready for your test. Do you have a way to prepare for a test?

Math Carnival

Teachers find many different ways for their students to have fun while learning. My 5th-grade math teacher, Mrs. Grant, took fun to a whole other level on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. The Math Carnival is what people called it. The room, which normally ocean-themed, was decorated to look like a carnival. In the front of the room were 4 black trash cans, each labeled with a number. They were placed in a diamond shape. The one in front was worth 10 points, the two in the middle were worth 25, and the farthest one was worth 50. A white piece of tape marked where you had to stand. Your team was your table group. You guys had a series of questions to answer for a ticket. Each ticket was a chance to throw the ball into the trashcans. Everyone in the team had to answer correctly. After your turn(s) at throwing score up your points. Every 15 points you got a piece of candy.  This was one of the fun review games ever. I heard in science we might be having another fun game. I wonder what review game that would be?

The Civil War Beginning

The Civil War started due to differences. One nation was separated into two parts, the north, and the south. One against slavery while the other side condoned it. The Civil War, also known as the “War of the Rebellion”, is one of the most famous battles in American history.  Split by most things, the north and the south had a war. The north was known as the Union while the south the Confederate. The north favored big cities and factories. The south, being mostly farmers, liked slavery. They also liked a plan where the states are more powerful than the country, each state having its independence.  Differences made rivalries. With more states joining the civil war began.

The Confederate

During the Civil War, there were 3 sides. The Confederate is one of them. The Confederate was the south. They favored slavery and believed that the states should have more power than the federal government. The Confederate had a very strong lead in the Civil War, winning all of the early battles. The battle of Gettysburg was the turning point. 75,000 Confederate soldiers against 90,000 Confederate soldiers. It was the first time the Union won. After that, the Union won.  The Confederate held a strong lead but the Union won. Imagine what would have happened if the Confederate kept on winning

Alliteration Poems

There are many different types of poems. One of them is an alliteration poem. Alliteration poems are sometimes known as tongue twisters. An alliteration poem is when the words in the line start mostly with the same letter. A popular one is “A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?” People all over the world use alliteration. You can find alliteration in books, games, and even some videos. You can play a game with your friend who can say an alliteration the fastest 3 times in a row.  Alliteration poems are fascinating and fun. Why don’t you try to make one yourself?

Summer

Summer summoned her with sunshine

By the Beach, Betty made,

Ravishing, ratifying sand ravines

Water washing away,

Seagull, Sally, came up to stay

By the beautiful beach 

Seaside shimmered like a shining sun

A peaceful day to play.

About Me

Amy

Caring, Adventurous, Kind, Creative

Daughter of Grace and Sean

Who loves animals, her rabbits, art, diving

Who fears losing loved ones

Who need her family, friends, and pets

Who gives care for those in need

Who would like to see animal abuse be stopped

Resident of Southlake, Texas

Huang

Rabbit Diet

Rabbits have sensitive stomachs so it’s important for them to have a balanced diet. Unlike humans, rabbits must have a constant supply of food. Their diet is 80% hay, 10% vegetables, 5% pellets(optional), and 5% or less treats.  Hay should be provided 24/7. A rabbit’s stomach is moving non-stop so they need something to chew on. Providing safe chew toys is also good. Chew toys help with boredom and putting something into their stomach. Remember that this is not an alternative to hay.  Vegetables should be safe for rabbits. Normally it’s 1 cup of vegetables to 2 pounds of rabbit. There should be more light green vegetables than dark green.  Pellets are optional. If you aren’t going to feed your rabbit pellets, talk to your vet for a good diet.  Treats should be rabbit safe, consisting of rabbit safe ingredients. Most rabbits like bananas.  A rabbit’s diet should be well-balanced and nutritious. What is your rabbit’s favorite food?

Booker T. Washington

Booker T Washington was born a slave on April 5, 1856, on a Virginia farm. During this time President Abraham Licon abolished slavery. Due to the lack of work, his family was very poor. This resulted in a lack of education in his childhood. Washington began working at nine to support his family. In 1872, Washington enrolled in the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. Deciding to pass down his knowledge he taught at an African-American children's school in Malden, West Virginia. Later teaching in other schools, Washington was well known for his impact on the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. He later gave a famous speech, the Atlanta Compromise, in 1895. Getting honorary degrees from Harvard and Dartmouth University, Washington became a big civil rights leader. Booker T Washington passed on November 14, 1915, though his legacy lives on. Booker T Washington is known for his impact on civil rights and African-American education. He was hired by the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. His work was mainly about how to improve black students' education. He built the school up into a major university. Later he gave a famous speech about civil rights, titled the Atlanta Compromise. Becoming a civil rights leader. Targeting to help black lives in the United States, Washington believed in black rights. 

Cards

Cards is a widely known game that is played across the world. A deck of cards consisting of 52 cards plus 2 jokers. The game I will teach you today is 争上游. In this game, you will not be needing the jokers. First, go through the deck and take out three 2s’ and one A. Now the rules are simple. The way you play is to file the cards. At least 3 piles but two people can play. Then you sort your card from least value to greatest, putting the same cards together. The order is 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, joker, queen, king, A, and 2. Now you pull out cards. Your opponent needs to pull out a card with a greater value and vice versa. There are some other rules on what cards you can pull out at a time but this will get you started.

(7/12/2020) If you were given a $50 gift certificate to a bookstore, what would you buy and why?

Going to a bookstore is probably the best thing in the world. Getting to see all the new books and even have an insight into a soon-to-be-released book. The one problem is that you can’t know how much a book costs. Books like Harry potter can cost $8-$15 per book. So, if I was given $50 to a bookstore I would honestly buy what interests me.  Now I can't exactly know what I am going to buy until I get into the store. I may have some books in mind that I would like to read but I might not get them. Just like I might want to read the Hunger Games or Wings Of Fire but come out of the bookstore with a Warrior Cat series. Personally, I like to choose a book based on my interests and schedule. I love art, animals, mysteries, adventures, and math. Most likely I will buy one of those types of books. I also need to account for my agenda. If I am very busy that month I would get a good read. Something on my level to read on my breaks. If my schedule is pretty empty I would get something above my level. Like a calculus book to challenge me.  If there is a book that I really want to read then I would get it. Even if my schedule is pretty busy I would find time to read the books. My list of books is The City Of Ember, Pax the second book, Hunger Games, and Up For Air. If the bookstore had them or for pre-order, I would most likely buy them. All of these books I have an interest in. For example Pax the second book I think I would really like because I have already read the first book. Most likely I would grab these books then look around. If I don't see anything that I want to read even more then I would check out the books above.  Overall if you gave $50 to buy anything from a bookstore I couldn't give you an exact answer. All I know is that the book will be for one of the reasons above.

(7/21/2021)Water Tubing

Through 7/16-7/18/2021 my family, friends, and I went camping. During this trip we did a lot of fun activities but my favorite was water tubing.  Water tubing is when you sit in a floaty and go through moving water. Normally it's done in a river-like area. For our camping trip we went to Beaver Bend. Over there is a gigantic water tubing area. It was a huge river that is perfect for tubing. My friends and I decided to go as most of us have never been tubing before. The first thing we noticed was that the current was extremely fast and there were a lot of stones.  Unlike a lot of tubing areas, this place had loose and sharp rocks everywhere. Most of the streams were mini waterfalls so I decided to challenge myself and go down a big one. This one had big sharp rocks at the very bottom. Without realizing I went down and fell straight on them. It scratched me on the back and I was bleeding. After falling I knew I wanted to concur the big waterfall and not fall off. I ended up going back the next day. Me and my dad talked about tactics to go down the big waterfall. At the end we found out that if you went on the left side you would have a lower chance of falling. After a few tries I did it! I was even able to go farther along the river because I knew I wouldn’t fall on the big waterfall. My friends and I finished the trip by all going to the big waterfall.  This is one of my memories from this trip. I found out I liked tubing and would again.

China vs. U.S Divers Diet

As the sport of diving requires a lot of physical and mental effort it is crucial to keep a healthy body. Divers’ from around the world have found a way to manage a healthy diet while being able to perform their best. Here are the different diets of the Chinese and American Olympic Divers.  American diver Katrina Young’s diet mostly consists of a plant based diet. She also eats chicken and fish for added nutrients. On a cheat day she enjoys frozen yogurt with gummy bears and sprinkles. Another diver David Boudia keeps a 7% body fat plan. He starts the day with a protein milkshake filled with fruit. He likes to have three full meals with snacks throughout the day. His cheat food is brownies which he likes to share with his wife. Chinese diver  There are many types of skills that you could learn in life. The only problem is that to learn a skill, especially well, you need time. Time is not free so you have a limit. Now let's say you had an entire summer to learn a skill. This skill could be anything.1 What would you choose to work on? I would work on my vocab skills. One thing that I struggle with is my vocabulary. For the past few years, my vocabulary has greatly improved and I would like to keep on getting better. Having a wide range of words is crucial to learning.  It helps deep understanding when reading a passage and a word problem.  Even more, there are activities involving vocabulary. Such as the spelling bee. It's a fun way to connect with people across the globe while still improving a very important skill. Plus, it's much more fun to learn a skill when there's a little bit of a competition involved.  If I was given a whole summer to learn a skill I would work on my vocabulary skills. Not only will it help me improve academically but socially. 

If you had a free summer to learn any skill, what would you choose to learn and why?

There are many types of skills that you could learn in life. If I was given an entire summer I would work on diving. I've done many sports such as swimming or tennis, but I choose diving because it's the most challenging. Not only is it physically demanding but also mentally. That's why I love diving. I love challenges but even more, solving them. I started diving when I was 7. I practiced once a week for 30 minutes. After a year of lessons, I joined the team competing as future champion. After another year, I moved up to the novice level. In the second year of competing as a novice I got a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to China and train there. In the summer break I spent in China I improved the most I had ever. I practiced on a half day, full day schedule for 6 days a week. I stayed in a boarding school during days of training, then on the last day of the week I stayed with my grandparents. From that experience I got 3 new dives and improved my technique. During 2020, my diving came to a sudden halt. As covid struck, diving was canceled. Our team did virtual lessons for a few months before going back in person. I chose not to go back in person due to the fact I didn’t think it was safe. Since then I have fallen back in diving. Through this year, I have been able to catch up and improve a little bit. I really want to inter JO, which is the level above novice. With another summer of diving I know I will be able to accomplish my dream. If I was given a whole summer to learn a skill I would work on diving because I could finally achieve my goal of competing JO. 1. Repeating too much: “not only is it … but also…” are describing the reason, then “that’s why I love diving”; After another year vs in the second year; novice level vs as a novice, got to china vs the summer break I spent in China 2. When speaking about a schedule, it sounds like you don’t have any schedule, at least when you describe it. 3. Irrelevant topic showed up: last day of the week I stayed with my grandparents. 4. Gramma issue: improve [something] to some level… e.g. improved my skill the most. 5. If someone is not a diver, he/she doesn’t know what “I got 3 new dives” means. 6. “Came to a sudden halt” is a moment action, not a period action, so it is not right to use “during”

If you had a free summer to learn any skill, what would you choose to learn and why?

There are many types of skills that you could learn in life. If I was given an entire summer, I would work on diving. To be an olympic diver is my dream. I've done many sports such as swimming or tennis, but I choose diving because it's the most challenging. Not only is it physically demanding, but also mentally. I love challenges but even more, solving them. I started diving when I was 7. I practiced once a week for 30 minutes. After a year of practice, I joined the team at the level of a future champion. After a year of being future champion I moved up to the novice level. In the second year of being a novice I got a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to China and train there. With that experience I improved the most I had ever. I practiced 6 days a week and around 6-8 hours a day. I got 3 new dives and improved my technique. In 2020, my diving came to a sudden halt. As covid struck, diving was canceled. Our team did virtual lessons for a few months before going back in person. I chose not to go back. Through this year, I have been able to catch up and improve a little bit. I really want to enter junior national (JO), which is the level above novice. With another summer of diving I know I will be able to accomplish my target. If I was given a whole summer to learn a skill I would work on diving because I could finally achieve my goal of competing as a JO.

Revised by dad

There are many types of skills that you could learn in life. If I was given an entire summer, I would work on diving. To be an olympic diver is my dream. I've done many sports such as swimming or tennis, but I choose diving because it's the most challenging one - Not only is it physically demanding, but also mentally. I love challenges but/and even more, solving/conquering them. I started diving when I was 7. I practiced once a week for 30 minutes. After a year of practice, I joined the team at the level of a future champion. After a year of being future champion I moved up to the novice level. In the second year of being a novice I got a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to China and get trained there. With that experience I improved my technique the most I had ever - I practiced 6 days a week and around 6-8 hours a day and I got 3 new dives and improved my technique. In 2020, my diving came to a sudden halt. As covid struck, diving was canceled. Our team did virtual lessons for a few months before going back in person. I chose not to go back. Through this year, I have been able to catch up and improve a little bit. I really want to enter junior national(JO), which is the level above novice. With another summer of diving I know I will be able to accomplish my target. In 2020, my diving class came to a sudden halt due to covid. Our team did virtual lessons for dry-land exercise only. The pool was reopened but I chose not to go back since there was no vaccine for under 12. In the middle of this year, I finally went back to normal training and have been able to catch up a little bit. I am taking 3 afternoon training sessions and 4 morning exercises. I really want to enter Junior Olympics (JO) which is the level above novice. If I was given a whole summer to learn a skill I would work on diving because I could finally achieve my goal of competing as a JO. In 2020, my diving class came to a sudden halt due to covid. Our team did virtual lessons for dry-land exercise before the  pool reopened. I chose not to go back since it was during the second wave. In the middle of 2021, I finally went back to normal training and have been able to catch up a little bit. I am taking 3 afternoon training sessions and 4 morning exercises. I really want to enter Junior Olympics (JO) which is the level above novice.

3 Things To Do To Help You Dive

Diving is a very challenging sport. Here are 3 things that will help you improve in diving. 1. Weight and Board Setting Affect Your Dive Heaver you are the more power you have to push the board down The higher the board setting the more push you can get out of it The less setting the more unwabbley Lighter the more control 2. How to jump higher Push with legs to a 135 degree angle Use arms to push more weight down Look in front 3. How does your abs help when diving Hold in shape Help with going over and short. Hold twist

Why Should Dad and Mom Come Ice Skating with Me

1. Company

   Lying on a bench watching your phone is no fun. Why would you waste time scrolling through the internet while you could have fun and ice skate with me? Even more studies show that doing an activity with someone else is more fun, Fun Is More Fun When Others Are Involved (nih.gov). Instead of lying on a bench and being lazy you could come with me and ice skate. You would have more fun and have some family time.

2. Experience

   Instead of browning the web, something you could do everyday, you get to come and do a new activity with me. You get to learn a new skill and get a once in a lifetime experience to ice skate under the Charles Bridge. We're on vacation which means it's time to do something new. Ice skating is something we haven’t done together and we could learn how to skate and go very fast.

3. Photos

   Last is photos. It’s a much better view of the Charles Bridge sculptures’ backs from the ice skate rink. You could also get a photo of the whole bridge and lake. You would be closer to the boats and dock to take pictures. Also, it's more fun to take videos of ice skating when you're moving to. Here is a link to a video, Figure Skating - Ice Dancing - Free Dance | PyeongChang 2018 Replays - YouTube. In the video the camera man is also moving along with the skaters. It makes a more dynamic and interesting video.

Charles Bridge

The city of Prague is located in the middle of Erope. Because of this, people would have to go through Prague to do trade between eastern and western Europe. The Vltava river separated Prague which made it hard to cross. To help the people, Judith Bridge was built. In 1341, a massive flood damaged the bridge beyond repair. Due to this accident, another bridge had to be built to replace Judith Bridge. King Charles IV started the building in 1357 which was later finished in 1402. The bridge's name was originally named Stone Bridge but in 1870 its name was officially changed to Charles Bridge to honor who had started the build. The Charles Bridge is the oldest preserved bridge in Prague and is 1,693 feet long and around 33 feet wide. 30 statues line the sides of the bridge for tourists to see. During the Thirty Years war in 1648, a huge fight broke out on the bridge. Swedes had occupied the bank of Vltava and were pushing closer to the Old Town. During the fight, the Charles Bridge suffered great damage to the side facing Old Town Bridge Tower. All of the statues that adorned the bridge were removed for reconstruction. Later on the bridge faced great threats from floods, though no heavy damage was done. The bridge finished repairs and was reopened to the public on November 19, 1892. Though no more cars drive on Charles Bridge, it is still the most important connection between Old Town and the Castles of Prague and will remain one of Prague's historical landmarks.

Prague Castle (Prazsky Hrad)

Prague Castle is the official seat of the Czech Republic president. Before that kings and queens lived in the multiple palaces and buildings found there. When you go into the castle, you will be stunned by all of the intricate art pieces, including glass art that contains more than 10,000 pieces. Prague Castle is located in Prague near the Charles Bridge. The building of Prague Castle began in 870 when the Church of Virgin Mary was built. The church was built for religion and to honor Mary Joseph. More buildings were added to the area creating Prague Castle.Though the Church of Virgin Mary was destroyed in the 1300’s, St. Vitus Cathedral has taken its place as the center of the castle. If you're looking for a place that’s historical and the heart of Europe, go to Prague Castle. Beautiful and magnificent is too common, it can be used to describe a mountain, a lake, a beach, or anything. This sentence reflects that you don’t fully know the definition of beautiful and magnificent, nor do you know exactly what the nature of the Prague Castle is, even after you “read” online something about it. List of Things to Check When Rereading Format Sentence Format Correct Use of Word Understandable Placement

Strahov Monastery

For vacation in Prague, my parents and I went to Strahov Monastery. Strahov Monastery is also known as the most beautiful library in the world. From research the library was built to become a training center for Premonstratensians in 1140. Over the years, the Strahov Monastery had to be rebuilt many times, each time with architectural and artistic advances to enhance its beauty. The two hallways there are called the Theological Hall and the Philosophical Hall. Altogether there are 200,000 books. The Philosophical hall interior is maple wood and the ceiling is 14m high. Just outside the hall I saw a row of ancient artifacts. There, the most impressive books with gold on them to hand-made globes from leather were on display. The Theological Hall has 4 massive globes and a book stand. The room's layout is like the Philosophical hall but the main difference is the ceiling. While the ceiling of the Philosophical Hall is depicting “Intellectual Progress of Mankind” from the bible, the Theological hall has cells with different paintings in them. When I walked in I felt a sense of wonder at how spectacular it was. The attention to detail of the rooms were incredible. Even tiny angles wave to you from the corners of the walls.

Kunsthistorisches Museum

• Featured paintings by Gustav Klimt, Ernst Klimt, Franz Matsch, Hans Makart, and Mihaily Munkacy.
• Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary opened the facility around 1891
• They have a coin collection that is a part of the five largest and most important coin collections. 
• Instrument sections include a LIRA DA BRACCIO made in 1511 and a REBECCHINO made in the 15th century.
• Picture gallery. Pictures by Pieter Bruegel, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Raphael, Caravaggoi, Velazquez, and Italian Baroque painters.
• Has a collection of Greek and Roman antiques that range from more than three millennium BC to early medieval.
• 16 euros per adult and 12 euros per child

Schonbrunn Palace

• In 1569, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II purchased the land.
• 1441 rooms and 40 to visit if you do a tour.
• Has a baroque garden.
• Includes the Schonbrunn Zoo that has an aquarium and polar bears. 
• Even includes a children’s museum.
• €16 for adults, €14.50 for students under 25 and disabled guests, and €11.50 for children between 6 and 18.

Vienna Central Cemetery

The last place we visited during our family vacation in Austria is the Vienna Central Cemetery, located in the south-east part of the city. The cemetery was opened in 1874 and is around 2 square kilometers in size. The cemetery is used to bury important people but is most known for the musicians that are buried there. When I first walked in, I saw what looked like two very long buildings on either side of the cemetery. The buildings act like patios to shade famous emperors’ graves. The various tombstones are decorated with gold accents which catch your attention as you walk by. In the middle of the cemetery is a circular crosswalk. In the center of the circle lies the memorial for Mozart. Around that monument are the graves of Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert, and Strauss. Their graves are adorned with flowers and candles. I was shocked to see the world’s best musicians all in one area. The thing that impressed me the most is Mozart’s memorial. The shrine is made from bronze and has Mozart’s face on the front. At the top of the monument sits a sorrowful looking goddess, with unfinished sheet music in her hand. It reminds me of how young Mozart died as he didn’t even have time to finish the song. If you like classical music and history, this is a must see place. - Beethoven is buried there - Is the habitat for deer, field hamsters, squirrels, badgers, martens, kestrels, and more. - Most well known cemetery out of Vienna’s 50 ish. - People like Prince Eugen and Emperor Friedrich III. - There's an old jewish cemetery, a part of the cemetery. -  12 euros per adult and 5 euros per child

Christmas Market

On my trip to Vienna, my family and I visited a Christmas Market. Here was my experience. Walking into the area was mind blowing. Thousands of lights decorated the streets and market. The smell of sweets and sugar filled the air. People were lining up to get in. In the front was a big welcome sign, illuminating the people below. In order to protect the visitors, a guard had to check your ID and COVID shots/tests. After getting into the market, I saw rows upon rows of little shops. Each shop was small, made out of wood lined up next to each other. On top of everyone was holly and lights, bedazzling viewers. The shops sold things from hats to stuffed animals. I really wanted an owl snow globe. It was a snowy owl that looked like Hedwig from Harry Potter. The only difference was this one had ears. With a slight shake the globe filled with snow, hiding the owl until it fell back to the ground. Along with the gift shops, there were also a ton of food vendors that were selling delicious treats. I tried crispy dough for the first time. It was dough that was rolled into a pizza-like shape then fried. It was even better with sausage and ketchup. My dad got steaming hot wine which made everything smell like alcohol. It came in a heart shaped mug with a bunch of important buildings of Vienna on it. I would definitely go to the Christmas Market again if I get the chance.

Sissi Princess

Elisabeth(Sissi) Amalie Eugenie was born in Bavaria on December 24, 1837. Sissi was born into Habsburg, a royal family, though she grew up in the country. One of the most important things for her was her freedom. She would skip her classes to ride her horse or play a game. Her cousin, Franz Joseph, was to inherit the role of emperor of Austria and to marry Sissi’s older sister, Helene. The family decided to meet up at a park for Franz to propose. Before going, Sissi's family went to her aunt’s funeral. Their changing clothes didn’t arrive on time so the family went to the park all dressed in black. Unlike Helene, Sissi had lighter skin which made her stand out. Prince Franz immediately fell in love with Sissi. Sissi was not ready to become empress. She was only 15 when she had to leave her home and move to Vienna. Soon after moving, Sissi gave birth to 2 girls which to her dismay, Princess Sophie, Frank’s mother, took them away. Sissi was ill a lot. She frequently had coughing and anxiety. Somehow Sissi was able to keep fit. She was extremely tall, 5ft 8in, and was beyond beautiful. She did daily exercises and kept to a strict diet. She had 3ft long, brunette hair. Sissi spent a lot of time one her hair. Around 3 hours daily to style it and a whole day to wash it. During the hours she spent washing her hair she would learn different languages. She spoke fluent English, French, and was learning Greek and Hungarian. Sissi never liked the palace as she thought of it like a prison. The palace took away her freedom of doing whatever she liked. Sissi would frequently leave to go to other places. Her favorite place was Hungary. After giving birth to her son,Rudolf, Sissi created the Astor-Hungarian compromise, to help Hungary. In 1889, Sissi’s life shattered. Her son had comited suicide with his lover. Sissi started to withdraw from everyone by traveling more. She decided to go to Switzerland in 1898. There Elisabeth was murdered. Luigi Lucheni had stabbed her with a knife.

Casa Batllo Art Museum

The Casa Batllo is located in the city of Barcelona. The main attraction of this building is how it stands out among its neighboring buildings. The colors that spatter the wall highlights the building against the other beige walls. The designer of the building is Antoni Gaudi, a famous architect who has also designed other famous buildings like La Sagrada Familia. When I walked into the Casa Batllo art museum, I was blown away by the scene in front of me. A statue of a girl sitting by a desk, was lit up by multiple projectors. Images of ocean views were projected on the walls. The girl was sleeping, a pen in her hand. Below her was a pile of papers with a story written on them. The scene gave you a feeling that you were in that story. The museum was initially the home to Senior Batllo and his family. The family had bought the apartment complex and wanted to rent out the top rooms. The old style of the building made it undesirable to customers. To fix this, Batllo hired Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi designed the building to express nature. You can see how the wood on the walls and the windows looks like the flows of water. The buildings outside were mainly made from recycled materials like old jars or plates people threw out. It allowed the viewer to have their own creative take on what the shapes meant. Stained glass pieces can be found in the house. Most of them are shaped to mimic seashells. A circle with a spiral in the middle. If you look around you will find a lot of digital aspects. These were added on after the building was made a museum. If you buy a ticket you will get a detailed description of each room. A person in the front will hand you a pair of headphones for you to listen in. The tour audio is triggered when you walk into the rooms. Once you reach the top you get an astonishing view of the city. There’s a small bar located up there so you can sit, drink, and enjoy the view. If you love art and the outdoors this is the perfect place to visit.

Ciutadella Park

Ciutadella Park is located on the northeastern edge of Barcelona. For decades following its creation in the mid-19th century, this park was the city's only natural space. It is 70-acres, and includes the city zoo, the Palau del Parlament de Catalunya, a small lake, museums, and a large fountain designed by Josep Fontsere and Antoni Gaudi. I went to the park at noon. The sun was shining down, illuminating the park. The golden statues on top of the fountain seemed to glow. The main statue is of a man in a carriage being pulled by 4 horses. As the statues aren’t completely made from gold, just covered in it, you can see areas of black and brown, exposing the material underneath. Ciutadella Park is an amazing place to take pictures. There is a beautiful lake you can canoe in and a bunch of fountains. Animals and plants fill the park making it a tourist attraction. Me and my sister had a lot of fun taking photos of the multiple types of birds. We even made an instagram post of us pulling down sunglasses to block the sun. Finally, my favorite part was seeing an acrobat perform in the park. In frengineeringont of the fountain was a canopy. There, an aerialist hung from a bar and performed. She contorted her body in multiple different shapes wowing the audience. I loved seeing her routine. Her movements flowed with the music playing from a small radio. This made this experience more special and memorable.

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is the most famous church in Barcelona, because the project started March 19, 1882, under the construction of Francisco de Paula del Villar, and is still being built to this day. In 1883, Antoni Gaudí took over as chief architect, using his architect skills and style. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project. The thing that popped out to me was the sculptures on the outside of the building. The side of the building depicts a scene from when Jesus was born. The other side of the building is a scene during Jesus’ hanging. All of the sculptures put together become a story. You can see all of the emotions the characters are feeling with their faces and body positions. The stain glass that covers the inside of the building can’t really be noticed from the outside. The glass is beautifully arranged from blue to orange to green. The light coming through the glass perfectly illuminates the building.  I love the hidden details of the church. The back of the building has a sculpture of a board. The board is a 4 by 4 with numbers in each cell. All of the numbers in each row, column, and diagonal sum up to 33, the age Jesus died. There are a few towers that resemble fruit. Made like a mosaic, the towers resemble grapes, apples, and oranges. Inside, a lamp of a winged man represents Matthew, a winged lion represents Mark, a winged ox represents Luke, and an eagle represents John. All important people to Jesus. Lastly, as of December 8, 2021, the tower of Virgin Mary was lit up by a 12 point-star.  The star is the peak of the church and is what makes it the second tallest tower of the church. If I were to go to the Sagrada Familia again, I would go at night to see the star light up.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, and has a population of around 1 million. The city started in the 12th-century when fishermen living along the banks of the River Amstel built a bridge across a river connecting to IJ. Wooden logs under the bridge served as a dam protecting the village from the rising IJ waters, which often flooded the early settlement. Amsterdam's main attractions include its historic canals, the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, the Amsterdam Museum, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, and coffee shops. The city is also well known for its nightlife and festival activity. These characteristics are mainly responsible for attracting millions of Amsterdam's visitors annually. Cycling is the main way of  transportation, and there are numerous bike paths. When I went to Amsterdam, it was during a lockdown. I wasn’t able to visit some of Amsterdam’s landmarks, but my parents and I went on a bike ride and saw amazing views. The city has a lot of small rivers all connected with bridges that are decorated with small sculptures. The old rustic looking buildings make the area even more photogenic. I loved visiting the open market and seeing the different stands. Some sold food while others sold jewelry. I even got to taste the best gelato ever.  I came to Amsterdam to visit my sister, who is working there. If I were to come visit again, I would come after lockdown as I was hoping to see the Anne Frank House. Lastly, if you do visit Amsterdam, I would recommend going to the various churches. The church paintings are astonishing and will for sure wow you.

Dear (name), It was such a pleasure to learn more about Hockaday and it’s community. I’m very excited about the opportunity to join Hockaday and contribute what I can. Talking to you has made me want to go to Hockaday even more. I hope I see you next year and thank you for spending the time to interview me. Best regards, Amy Huang

Dear (name), Thank you for taking the time to interview me today. It was such a pleasure to learn more about the Hockaday community from a Computer Science teacher, as both my parents are software engineers. Ever since I participated in the Roblox and 3D Game Development summer camp in 2019, Hockaday has been my dream school. Although I've picked up some basic Python knowledge for my online business of selling pet portraits, there is so much more to learn. I’m very excited about the opportunity to join Hockaday and contribute what I can. Thank you again, and I hope you have a great weekend. Best regards, Amy Huang

It was such a pleasure to be able to talk with a Computer Science teacher as both of my parents are software engineers and I look up to them. I love computers, especially coding. I like to learn python in my freetime and I’ve been making a website for my pet portrait business. Ever since I participated in the Roblox and 3D Game Development summer camp in 2019, Hockaday has been my dream school. Thank you for taking the time to interview me today, and I hope you have a great weekend. Best regards,

Athena and Arachne

Arachne was a girl who lived in Greece. She was a very good weaver and spinner. She wove all sorts of beautiful pictures into her cloth, and people came from all around to see her weave. Because of this, Arachne began to boast and take too much pride. Soon she began telling people she was better at spinning than the goddess Athena was. Athena was the goddess of wisdom and craft. Athena was furious that Arachne would say that.  Shape-shifting into an old lady, Athena approached Arachne. Athena asked Arachne if Athena had given her the gift of weaving. Not knowing the old lady was truly Athena, Arachne started to boast about how much better she was then Athena. All of a sudden the old lady turned back to Athena. Athena challenged Arachne to a spinning contest. The two of them set up their looms in the same room and they wove for hours. Then they compared what they had done.  Arachne wove a cloth making fun of the gods and goddesses, showing them getting drunk and making a mess of things. She wove from the best material in the village.  Athena had woven a beautiful cloth showing the gods and goddesses doing good deeds for people. Athena had woven straight from the clouds. It was obvious that Athena had won. When Athena saw Arachne’s cloth, she got even angrier than she had been before. It was one thing to boast about being better than the gods, but making fun of the gods had crossed Athena’s line. Arachne cried and begged Athena not to kill her. Athena listened to her plea and decided to turn Arachne into a little tiny spider. Being the goddess of wisdom, Athena knew turning Arachne into a spider would teach her never to insult the gods and let her still spin.**