Hillcrest -  Important dates

Winter Concert - Friday, December 14 - 7:00

Winter Break - December 26 2011 - January 6, 2012

Back to School - Monday, January 9, 2012

 HO-HO-HO!  

Strings with Mr. Gunther

By: Karina (Gr.6)

Mr. Guenther teaches kids that want to play the bass, cello, viola and violin on Tuesdays and Fridays here at Hillcrest. I went to interview him to learn some interesting things about him.

1. Why did you want to be a strings teacher?

It happened by accident. I replaced my music teacher for 1 year but he never came back to our school.

2. What did you want to be when you were a child?

Psychology. After University I changed my mind and I did nothing but music since 1968.

3. What’s your favourite instrument?

I don’t have a favourite instrument.

4. What age were you when you started to play music?

I was 10 years old and now I was playing for 58 years.

A Winter Mystery

By: Emma C.  (Gr. 5)

One cold winter day a young boy around the age of 6, named Mathew, wiped the frost off of the window in his new house.  He looked through and saw his new neighbor.  That neighbors name was Morgan Vansloper.  To Mathew he looked like a wizard but his parents said “nonsense Mathew”.  Mathew just ignored them and kept on thinking that Morgan really was a wizard.

Every day Mathew would look out the window and every day Morgan would be there almost like he was watching Mathew.

The next day Mathew’s parents, Victoria and Sam, went out and left Mathew with a babysitter.  But Mathew was smart and was able to leave the house with out Ilene the babysitter noticing at all.  He was going to go to Morgan Vansloper’s house but he wasn’t sure why.  The next thing he new he was crawling through Morgan’s cat door.  He had spotted Morgan and just like a zombie Mathew zombie started walking closer and closer.  Suddenly Mathew felt alive again not like a zombie.  Mathew looked straight up and saw Morgan with a net in his hands.

To be continued…

Make Your Own Holiday Gifts

 By: Tatiana (Gr.6)

TEACUP CANDLES! You’ll need craft-store wicks, wax (or old candles) that can be melted down,  teacups, and maybe a fragrance or two. Pretty single teacups (with or without saucers) can often be found at thrift stores for less than a dollar. Melt the wax in a double boiler, add fragrance if desired, then support the wick standing in the teacup while carefully filling the cup with wax. As the wax cools, it will contract and form a well. You can add more melted wax of the same color or add a second shade. These are  fairly easy to make, but beware cups with obvious cracking; the hot wax may cause them to shatter.

Short Forms

By: Samantha and Caitlin (Gr.6)

Short forms are: LOL, ROFL, TTYL, and BRB

Question:  Teachers, do you know these shorts forms?

LOL: All the teachers know what lol means

ROFL: 2 teachers know what rofl means and 4 don’t

TTYL: 3 people know what ttyl means, and 3 people don’t

BRB: 3 people know what brb means and 3 people don’t

LOL is the most popular short form and the least popular short form is ROFL.

The Conductor’s End

By: Kielan (Gr.5)

Screams echoed off the walls as the conductor fell to the floor. The violins, violas, bases, and Cellos stopped abruptly to see their leader writhing in pain. People began running in all directions, some towards the conductor but most towards the exits in fear. Five minutes later George Vertron, the noted conductor, died calling out to his son who was not there.

“One shilling; get your paper here!

Scotland yards next case!

Accident or murder?

Death in London get all the details here!

Would you like a paper Sir?”

The aquiline features of a man came into view of the newspaper vendor.

                 “Yes I would.” said the man.

                The vendor didn’t normally pay attention to random costumers but this man seemed different. He pulled out one-pound. “Keep the change,” he said smoothly as he scooped up the newspaper in one hand and tossed the coin to the vendor with the other. The vendor couldn’t help but follow the man with his eyes as he strolled out of view.

As he turned the corner the man took off his beige trench coat, folded it neatly and slung it over his shoulder. He opened up the newspaper and read the headline, “Death in London, Accident or murder? Scotland Yard is on the hunt!"

“William,” he muttered under his breath. “Boy I hate Him!” The man started off at a smart pace towards the Scotland Yard building across the field.

“I wish to see Chief Detective Inspector William Lancton.”

“Identification.” said the woman at the front desk.

“Artimis Crouch, don’t you recognize me?”

 “Aren’t you supposed to be dead? Does William know you’re alive?”

               “Yes to the first and yes to the second. I’d like to see him.”

“How did you…”

“With difficulty, now let me see him.”

Within seconds he was striding down the hall toward a door that had two plaques on the front. The first said ‘William Lancton, Detective Inspector’. The second, a slightly newer plaque said ‘Chief of Scotland Yard’. The door was slightly ajar. Artimis lightly kicked it open to reveal a man sleeping with his head in his hat.

“Morning Sleeping Beauty.”

The man’s head shot upwards and his hand instinctively groped for his belt where Artimis knew he kept his revolver. “Artimis,” he said, frustrated but at the same time relieved.

“You started a case without me, your best detective?!”

“That is rather self-serving.”

“You are assigning me to the case!”

“But, but, but, but…” he said as he stood up from his chair and tripped on his briefcase.  His remarks of protest were stifled as Artimis Crouch stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

TO BE CONTINUED…