Jenna Region Reflections Winner!!

Jenna (7th grade) wrote a song for Reflections and won on the school level. Then her song went on to win on the council level, and then the Region level!! (She won in the category of music composition for the 6th to 8th grade division.) She has been teaching herself to play the ukulele and loves to compose songs! It is so fun to hear her play and sing! Here is the song (thank you to my sister, Jen, who added it to YouTube!)

 

https://www.utahpta.org/reflections/gallery/32383

Verse One:

When you fall down, and you feel so small,

you feel like you can’t do anything at all

Just rise up, like the morning sun,

don’t let them think that you are done.

You can show them that you’re the one

to change the world.

 

Chorus:

Be yourself so others can see,

be the leader you know you can be.

And then, finally,

you can change the world with a smile

you can go the extra mile

and then there’s hope again.

 

Verse 2:

When you walk down those empty streets

and you wonder why you’re so lonely,

and when you think you can’t do a thing,

just listen to me…

 

Bridge:

It doesn’t matter, just a simple thing

but the love that you bring

will show the light.

It doesn’t matter, just a few small words

To make you heard,

through the loudest noise.

 

Chorus:

Be yourself so others can see,

be the leader you know you can be.

And then, finally,

you can change the world with a smile

you can go the extra mile

and then there’s hope again,

you’ve changed the world! 

Jenna Reflections Winner

Jenna has been teaching herself to play the ukulele and enjoys writing little songs. She really has a knack for coming up with tunes and lyrics! So I really encouraged her to write and submit a song for the Reflections contest. She had to enter something for her Honors' Lit class anyway and so I figured she might as well submit a song also! I had really encouraged our older kids participate in Reflections through the years and they did when they were younger, but then we got so busy that Reflections wasn't really a priority any more. But I really wanted Jenna to take this opportunity. So she wrote a little song that went along with the theme, which was "I Can Change the World By..." and I recorded her on my phone and sent it in. Anyway, she won in the music category for Lava Ridge! Then it went on to the council level and she won there also! Pretty Cool! Here is a recording of her song (thanks to my sister, Jen, who added it to YouTube!)

   

Here are the lyrics: 

 

Verse One:

When you fall down and you feel so small,

You feel like you can’t do anything at all

Just rise up, like the morning sun

Don’t let them think that you are done

You can show them that you’re the one

To Change the World.

 

Chorus:

Be yourself so others can see,

Be the leader you know you can be.

And then finally

 you can change the world with a smile

you can go the extra mile

and then there’s hope again.

 

Verse 2:

When you walk down those empty streets

And you wonder why they’re so lonely

And when you feel like you can’t do a thing

Just listen to me…

 

Bridge:

It doesn’t matter, just a simple thing

But the love that you bring

Will show the light.

It doesn’t matter, just a few small words

To make you heard,

through the loudest noise

 

Chorus:

Be yourself so others can see,

Be the leader you know you can be.

And then finally

 you can change the world with a smile

you can go the extra mile

and then there’s hope again,

you can change the world!

 

 

  

Reflections

Janelle and Jaiden both entered the Reflections contest this year.  The theme was "Believe, Dream, Inspire."  Janelle drew a picture and wrote a story and Jaiden drew and colored a picture and made up Choreography to the song "Journey to the Past" from Anastasia.  She did a fantastic job putting the choreography together.  It was beautiful!  Janelle won third place in her age group for her story and Jaiden won fourth place.  They both got ribbons.  Great job, girls!! 

Reflections

I really like the PTA Reflections Program and always encourage my kids to participate.  I was excited when  Jaiden (second grade) decided to do a project but was disappointed that none of the other kids wanted to.   Then Jase (eighth grade) decided to participate because his Language Arts class required the students to choose either Reflections or another essay contest later on in the year.

I didn't go to the elementary school's Reflections Awards Ceremonies because we had several things going on that night.  Then her teacher called me the next day to say that her project had won in her age group and category and was going on to District.  I would have made it a point to go if I had known she was one of the winners.  Then we got a call later on that day saying that Jase's story had also won and would be going on to District as well.  Surprise, Surprise!  We couldn't go to his Awards Ceremony either because of Caroler rehearsals. 

I didn't think to take a picture of Jaiden's project before we turned it in so I will have to do that after we get it back.  It was really cute. The theme was "Diversity Means..."  Jaiden drew a world with different colored stick figures standing around the world holding hands.  For her artist statement she wrote something like, "Everyone is different all around the world.  It would not be fun if we were all the same.  I am glad we are all different!"  Jase wrote a short story about two enemy pirate tribes who end up overcoming their differences and uniting forces because of the bravery and friendship of their two leaders.

Apparently the elementary school didn't do trophies or even medals this year -- just ribbons.  Bummer.  It didn't seem to dampen Jaiden's excitement over winning though, so that is good.  Jase, on the other hand, got a certificate AND $30.00 in cash!  So he was one happy kid!

Reflections

Jared, Janelle, and Jaiden all entered the Reflections contest in their elementary school.  This year's theme  theme is "Together We Can."  Jared (fifth grade) put for his title, "Together We Can Make The World a Better Place."  He did a 3D construction out of clay of a clean lake and a dirty lake. Janelle (second grade) had for her title, "Together We Can Read."  She wrote and illustrated a really cute story about a panda bear on his first day of school and how he was so nervous but then ended up loving it. She also entered a drawing under Visual Arts of a teacher with several pupils (all cute animals)!

Jaiden (first grade) drew and colored a picture of Thing One and Thing Two from "The Cat in the Hat."  I am proud of all of them for entering.  Tonight was the Award's night where we got to see everyone's projects.  All of the participants got a bag of candy and prizes.  Both of Janelle's entries won in the top three and so she proudly walked away with two big medals.  Her entries will continue on in the district level.  Way to go kids! 

Jaiden wrote: "I like reading The Cat and the Hat" because Thing One and Thing Two are wild and crazy! 

Janika: Reflections Council Winner!

Janika was one of the council winners for her Reflections song! After winning her local contest, she went on to the next level, which was out of all of the schools in our district (I think). They ended up with three winners overall for her age group in musical composition and she was one of them. Now she goes on to the next level and one of the three will be chosen to go Region (or State?). I am not sure how it works. Way to go Janika!

You can hear the song below!!

 

Happy Birthday Jase!

Jase just turned 11 today! He is a fifth grader at Arrowhead Elementary -- here he is with his Reflections Entry in Photography. We didn't do too much today for his birthday, but we have a fun evening planned for him this weekend. Here is just a little bit about Jase. The poor kid probably always feels like he is being picked on. Janika is always giving him a hard time about certain habits such as: popping out his chin, wearing shoes without socks, popping gum all over his face, and forgetting to brush his teeth or take a shower. But they are still great friends. Jase collects Capri-Sun wrappers everyday at recess for the bags that she makes and picks her up from the bus stop (on his roller-blades) whenever he gets out before she does. Janika is always excited to tell him funny things that happened at school.

I give Jase a hard time too when he talks in a LOUD voice right next to me, or when he rides around in circles in the kitchen on his Heelys instead of cleaning the kitchen or when he wipes all of the food onto the floor when washing the table. Jase really is a great kid though. He always gets himself up on time and ready for school without any prodding. Janika says that if he doesn’t get up she just tells him that the toilet is overflowing. He bolts right up. When the younger kids wake up early he is good about getting them breakfast and turning on a show for them. He often tends the kids for me in the morning while I go for a walk. Jase is responsible and remembers when he has an obligation – like going to scouts, or taking out the garbage.

Jase is really bright in all of his subjects and is part of the Excel Learning Program at school which is an accelerated program for some of the advanced kids. He almost always gets his homework done without me having to remind him and he gets excellent grades in school. (Even if he does complain about too much homework).

Jase has an incredible memory (I remember him beating me at memory when he was only three years old). He is good at chess and other games of strategy and last year he was the top Fourth Grader in the Geography Challenge and went on to compete at District. He was a great Cub Scout and earned pretty much everything you can earn -- including the Arrow of Light. Now that he is eleven, he will be going on to Boy Scouts. I am sure he will go on to get his Eagle Scout and he will be a great missionary someday. He is a good leader and is confident and perfectly at ease with himself. His usual school attire is a t-shirt and either basketball shorts (most of the year) or levies when it is cold (although he doesn’t get cold very often).

Jase plays the piano and sings with the school choir. He is well-rounded and likes to try new things. He is good at sports – especially roller-blading. We are grateful for Jase. He is an awesome kid and we love him very much. Happy Birthday Jase!!