Letters to the Editor 11-26-15

Each year, students at local schools write about what makes them thankful. This year we are pleased to print a selection of letters from Mrs. Flores’ third grade students at Alexander Valley School.
I am thankful for my birthday which is the celebration of my birth. I get to celebrate it with my family. I get to have tacos, which are my favorite. The kinds of fillings that we put in our tacos are lettuce, cheese, meat, beans, and ketchup. For my birthday I get my favorite toys, such as Jurassic World toys. After I unwrap my toys and eat dinner my family turns off the lights. When we turn off the lights we sing happy birthday. Then, we cut the cake and then we eat it. Last, we play board games at my grandmother’s house. Finally, my family members leave and I go home to bed. I am so thankful to have celebrated my birthday with my family.
Jeremiah Tinsely
I am thankful for the moon to light the night. The big light lets me see when I’m in the darkness. The moon warms my heart. I use my imagination to pretend the craters are a big book. The light shines in my window, and it’s bright as a fire flame. The moon is one of the most important sources of light, in my opinion. Take a look at the moon tonight, and surely you will see something amazing.
Madeleine Pamela Munselle
I am thankful for my dog Sophie. We got her from the shelter. She is a puggle (pug/beagle). She is an alive vacuum because she eats everything. Once my friend Brandon dropped an eraser and she picked it up to eat it, but fortunately we got it away from her. I like to pretend with Sophie that she speaks dog English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Kiwi and cat. She’s my best friend because she is always there when I am having a rough day and cheers me up. She sleeps with me and my brother every night and she snores like a zombie moaning. I love my dog.
Arlo Herrod
I am thankful for my dad for many reasons. One of the things I love is when he comes out and plays basketball with me. We like to play a traditional game or HORSE. When we go duck hunting, we have a great time. My cousins are with us, we get up early and spend all day duck hunting. After working, when my dad takes a nap, I like to join him. I do that because I always have good dreams. Lastly, I love when we watch Garfield, and Tom and Jerry on T.V. and Nascar on Youtube. I am thankful that he always tucks me in to bed every night. He is the hardest worker and best dad in the world.
Jace Morgan
I am thankful for my mom for many reasons, like her delicious macaroni and cheese. She is really nice to me and tells me she loves me when I am sad. She lets me go to my grandma’s to ride my bike. My mom makes me feel safe when she is near. When I am sad she gives me a hug, and that helps me feel better. Her hugs are like a warm, purring cat. My favorite thing is to be with my mom.
Austin L
I am thankful for God because he made me unique. I am brave and love to dance and enjoy music. Katy Perry is my favorite singer. God also made food so we all can enjoy it and he also watches over us every day to make sure we are safe. When we make a mistake he gives us confidence to keep trying to do our best. I pray to God at dinner to thank him for our wonderful food, and at night we pray for all the children to be safe. Knowing God is there gives me courage and I love him very much.
Madison Bowen
I am thankful for my two dogs, Boomer and Rosie. I am thankful for them because I get to snuggle with them. If I am scared and I see them, they make me happy and not scared any more. I am also grateful for Boomer and Rosie because they enjoy playing fetch with me. Their favorite toy to fetch is a tennis ball. They make me laugh when they jump up high as a giraffe and bounce like kangaroos. That is why I am thankful for Boomer and Rosie.
Ruby Leffew
I’m thankful for my mom. My mom feeds me good food to eat like mac and cheese for dinner. My mom always makes sure my brother and I have a roof over our head. I am grateful when we, my brother and my cousin, William, and I get to go to Chuck E Cheese with her. Our last time there we won so many tickets and had the best time of our lives. My mom is the best, I love her so much because of all she does.
Lily Chase
I am thankful for my mom because my mom makes me dinner and helps me with my homework. She helps me with my math, grammar and language arts. My mom and I do my homework at night, sometimes even when I am tired. That is why I am thankful for my mom.
Cristian Zavala
I am thankful for my grandma because she helps me on my homework and she takes me to school. I am grateful for her because she is going to take me to Scandia for my birthday. I love my grandma very much.
Danny Mendiola
I am thankful for my cat because she is my companion in many ways. When we are together, we play with her foil ball. She scrambles around trying to get it like the wind rustling in the trees. She has always loved when I scratch her head. Once she licked my forehead and my nose. It tickles like the hair in my face when she does that. Sometimes she licks me when I am sweaty. It is really funny. Her name is Maxima and it means “the greatest.” I love her so much. My cat is my best friend because she follows me around the house. I think cats are the best pets ever.
Morgan Puckett
I am thankful for my pet beagle, MooCow, because she is nice and courageous. MooCow showed her courage once at my Grandma’s house when we had high schoolers jump over the fence into the yard and she barked to warn us. MooCow is the best snuggler because she wraps her paws around my shoulders. She is also my very own vacuum cleaner. Sometimes I spill some soup on the ground and she slurps it up. MooCow is my best friend and I hope she is alive for another generation.
Aris Vincent
I am thankful for a lot of things, but I am most thankful for my family. On weekends I snuggle up with my mom and dad. My mom and dad always know when my birthday is, and they have a big birthday party for me. My family lets me go to exciting events together, like Thanksgiving when my family eats a turkey and gravy with mash potatoes. On every holiday every family member on my mom’s side goes to my great grandma’s mansion to celebrate. Every year for new years we get to dress up as a pirate or a Disney character. If you dress up as a pirate you could make a pirate ship for the pirate contest. I really have a great family!
Tehya Mitchell
I’m thankful for everything but I need to talk about my cousins because no one knows a lot about them and they are very special to me. One is five, I think, and one is four. The one who four is named Addison. The one who is five is Ashlin. They are so creative I might even think they are art teachers. They both like the ride at Disneyland that I love (which is “It’s a Small World After All,” (please don’t ask why I love it}. I love to play with them. We love to play in my fort and my grama’s pool because we do cannonball games and we hide from Henry. Addison loves my dog, Dexter. We all love my dog. I hope I can play, hug and walk my dog with them soon.
Abigail Wetzel
I am thankful for my school. We used to live in Los Angeles until I was six and just passing kindergarten. The only reason we live here now is because my dad found this school and he really wanted me to go to here. And that is how we found the house we have lived in for the past three years. Not only has this school found my house but has also taught me to read, write, paint, work a computer like the one I’m writing with right now, and the all important math. I have also met a handful of caring friends and teachers like Mrs. Flores and my friends Brandon Hausman, Jace Morgan, Austin Lopez, Jordan Valencia and many, many more. If it weren’t for this school I wouldn’t be writing this and would be playing with my L.A. friends like Stone Griffith. Him and a few others are still great friends but the young boys’ and girls’ reports you have just read are my current friends.
Lucky Smart
I’m thankful for many things, especially animals. In my family we have five dogs, four cats and three sheep. They are great cuddlers and keep me warm at night. I like playing with my sheep by pulling their horns. I play with my cats with cat toys and my dogs by dancing with them. When I play with them it takes me to a magical place. I love animals.
Lilith
I’m thankful for my family because they are always there for me. When I return from school my sister makes me laugh and plays with me. The reason I love my family is that they let me buy the foods that I want and need. When I’m sick they do everything to get me feeling better for school. That’s why I’m thankful for my family.
Carlos M. Gutierrez
I am thankful for my dad because he has been watching over my sister and I since my biological dad moved away. I look forward to Saturdays when we work together. We get up early in the morning and listen to reggae music on the way to the Smith’s house. I am grateful for him because he taught me how to fish, ride my bike and work hard. My dad is fabulous and that’s why I am thankful for him.
Seth Vincent
I’m thankful for rain and water because it helps animals and it is really special. It is special because I would not be alive without water to drink and take a shower in; neither would my dogs or plants. Without plants I would not get the experience of making homemade foods and eating crunchy vegetables. Water is good for washing our bodies to make us shine as bright as the sun and smell as good as flowers. When it rains I like the sound of the hard rain pouring like angels crying. I feel refreshed when I drink our Earth’s water, especially after a hard soccer game. I am so grateful for rain and hope it comes soon.
Brandon Hausman
I am thankful for friends and family. I love my BFFs because they make me laugh, tell me stories and funny jokes. I also love my family because they teach me funny card games like Old Maid. My family and friends both enjoy each other and have a great time together learning and laughing. When I had my appendix out, my friends wrote me get well notes that made me feel much better. My friends and family are the best.
Sophia Saini
I am thankful for having music in the classroom because it helps me stay on track when we are taking a test. The music I like to listen to is classical music. I don’t get distracted by people or other noises when I am listening to music. I can have lots of fun playing soccer or other games inside or outside while listening and dancing to the beat of the music. There are different kinds of music like classical, pop, and rap. I can dance and do all the other moves that you can do with music. Music also can keep you calm and relax you if you are tired or did not get lots of sleep. Music can also keep me energized and ready to play games and go to school.
Jordan Valencia