by Jessie Garcia - February 15, 2012


Yesterday (1-14) Jessie Garcia and Angeni Kemp made the heart tower. We don't know how tall it was but we put a lot of hard work just to balance the tiny hearts. It was a really fun thing to do. It took Jessie and Angeni about half the class period to make all the hearts balance. Angeni giving a big hand heart to show how happy she was to have a heart tower. Also Jessie and Angeni came up with the conclusion that we could make a tower with almost any candy. Angeni and Jessie are hoping to have another piece of news on the Reeses tower. Stay tuned for tips on how to make a tower of candy without all the trouble.

by Jessie Garcia - February 9, 2012




On Monday the Valentine library will have their annual book fair. This gives kids a chance to read their favorite books. The book fair will last only till 3:20, then open the next day. Everyone gets so excited when the Book Fair comes. Now teachers this is a warning, kids have been known to beg teachers to go to the book fair during class.

by Daniel Koch - February 10, 2012

Today (2-10) the Valentine Pirates News Team interviewed Mrs. Almanza and her fifth and sixth graders. "They usually do fifteen minutes of math and twenty minutes of reading.” said Mrs. Almanza. Most days they do a lot of good according to what I have heard from a lot of different teachers. "The SuccessMaker usually helps the kids with the reading and math skills.” said Mrs. Almanza. Well lets hope that the fifth and sixth can pass the STAR with the help of this computer program.

by Jessie Garcia - February 9, 2012

The fifth and sixth grade class is working with owl pellets. The objective of this project is to find the bones in the pellets. Then they must glue the right bones on to the paper skeleton, provided by Mr. Northrip. Angeni Kemp found most of the bones, she found the skeleton of a vole. A vole is almost like a mouse. JC Clark had a little trouble putting his bones onto his skeleton. Jessie Garcia had some trouble, but it's getting there. For the fifth and sixth graders this was a very fun project to do. They hope to do another project similar to this one.

by Jessie Garcia - January 26, 2012

Monday: I got sick!

Tuesday: I got the rash! I was running a fever, and my mom gave me medicine that put me to sleep. She gave me this four times. This is the day I can't remember.

Wednesday: I still had the rash so mom took me to the doctor. The doctor told me that I had strep throat. Further tests are being done, and I can't go to school until Friday. (Did I mention the medicine that put me to sleep for a whole day?)

Being sick at home is no fun; I could not play my Xbox or go outside and shoot hoops. Stuck inside in bed for 2 days plus the days I can't remember is just not cool. Peanut's view is wash your hands and don't get sick, and don't let your mom give you medicine that puts you to sleep for the whole day. (Did I mention the day I can't remember?)

by Jessie Garcia - January 26th, 2012

JC has been the only student in our class due to two students being out. Mrs. Garcia witness Mr. Bernards lecturing the lone wolf in the class room and she thought "poor kid he must be bored out of his mind” says Mrs. Garcia. It is not fun being the only kid in the classroom because you need your friends there to entertain you. I wonder what he goes through during breakfast not being able to talk to any one of his friends.

by Jessie Garcia - January 17, 2012

In March the whole school must take a test. But it is not the TAKS test, it is the STARR test. According to some teachers this new test will really get students thinking. Some students do not like the idea of this whole new system of testing. They think it is more work and more pressure.

Students say that this school must take the pressure off so that students will be able to relax.Students also say we need more field trips before the end of the year. At least one more field trip could help these kids relax some people say. The STARR test is going to test your skill of using your brain and taking your time. So get ready kids! Because in March is the month of testing, pay attention in class and get set up!

by Daniel Koch - January 17, 2012

Third through eighth get ready for the annual Soil Conservation poster contest. The Soil Conservation Representatives will be here at 10:30am on Thursday January 19th to talk to the kids about the contest and what is required.

The purpose of the contest is to raise awareness of conservation of soil in Texas and to help kids understand that if there was not soil, there would be nothing. Two representatives will be coming from Alpine to meet with Mr. Northrip and Mrs. Calderon to show them what they need to know about the contest.

The way they judge the contest is the kids draw the poster and it is sent to the District Soil Conservation Commissioners. Other schools are involved so we are not the only ones to be judged. Next they judge them and pick the winner and at the end of the year award ceremony they will be presented their awards. So everyone get ready to let your creative juices flow.

by Jessie Garcia - January 10, 2012

Yesterday, (1-10-12) when History Fair kids went to Alpine they reported snow. It also snowed here in town. With all the weather that was going on almost everyone got snow. This was a delight to all the people of Valentine. We have been seeing snow more often now. Maybe we can get more snow than before, then we will really be delighted. Even though we go to school - while it is snowing it is still fun to see the snow fall on the ground. In peanut's view the only thing we need to worry about in the snow is getting hit with a snowball!

by Jessie Garcia - December 9, 2011

In Mr. Bernards' class, the 5th and 6th graders are learning about the Declaration Of Independence . The students are supposed to remember the first section of the Declaration. Then they have to write it down or say it out loud. I have heard that some students are having a hard time remembering the Declaration. I interviewed a student so we can get a taste of what it is like for the students.

Is it hard to remember the Declaration?
Yes, because back then they had so many words and today we use slang so it makes it harder to understand.

Do you like it?
Sometimes it can be fun because we do it word each, but it can also be boring because Mr. Bernards makes us wright it down because he say that it helps you remember it better

Does he give you tests on it?
Yes

How do you think it does or does not help with your education?
In a way it does help because we will be able to remember our rights, and what people gave up for us back then to have the country we have now. The bad thing is it takes up to much of our time.

Do you respect the Declaration?
Yes I do

by Jessie Garcia - December 6, 2011

On December the 6, Mr. Bernards' class of the 5th and 6th graders, went outside to enjoy the snow. The students said that their fingers went numb within the first 5 minutes! They went outside and enjoyed making snow angels and even tackling each other down. Angeni kemp and Matthew Cancino were interviewed by me to get the real idea of how it felt to be in the snow.  Above from the left is Jessie, Angeni, and Matthew. Below are Angeni's freezing hands.

Angeni interview

How did it feel?
-Great

Were you freezing?
-Yes actually

How did your fingers feel?
-I think they were going to fall off

How do you feel to be the first class in elementary to go outside?
-Amazing

Do you want it to keep on snowing?
-Yes a lot, just like last year

Matthew interview

How did it feel?
-Awesome

Were you freezing?
-Yes

How did your fingers feel?
-numb and red

How do you feel to be the first class in elementary to go outside?
-awesome

Do you want it to keep on snowing?
-Yes

Matthew's Collection

by Jessie Garcia - November 30, 2011

Matthew has claimed that since his father was five years old he has been collecting NBA cards, they have loads of information on them (Matthew brought them to school and let me see for myself). This book is filled with NBA players. Matthew said he loves to look and research the players. I interviewed Mr. Cancino to get more of his own feel about the cards,

Does this have any memories?

-Yes, it reminds me of my dad.

Do you want to carry on the collection?

-I guess.

Do you plan to have this in a museum one day?

-Yes because I would like it to be famous.

by Jessie Garcia - November 29, 2011

On Friday the elementary students will go to Balmorhea for U.I.L competition. The students will be competing in different events. Some students are very excited about U.I.L, but in Peanut's view, some aren't excited to practice for it, but they're more excited when they get to play games.

A student was interviewed by member of the News Team. The student was 2^nd grader Betty Cancino. "I like to practice for it a lot because it's fun.” says Betty, "I think U.I.L is good because you can learn from it.”

by Mr. Bernards - November 4, 2011

Sometimes you just have to outdo yourself. That is, to be a success. Mrs. Almanza's SuccessMaker class has apparently made a success of Matthew Cancino. It probably started innocently enough. A lego here and a lego there. After awhile, a crowd started to gather. Mrs. Almanza looks up to see the entire 5th and 6th grade class in awe. This could be the tallest Lego edifice in all of Valentine. Maybe even Jeff Davis county! You can see Mattew's look of astonishment as he can't believe himself what he has built. This likely is not the first success for Matthew and certainly won't be his last either. Just remember us little people when you make it big Matthew.