Henri Matisse (by Ethan)

Henri Matisse was one of the brightest and greatest artists in the 1900s. He always sought new ways of painting and fought against darkness throughout his life

He was born on December 31, 1869 in Le Cateau-Cambresis and grew up in Bohain-en-Vermandois. His family owned a shop that sold seeds, grains and household goods to the people. At 21, appendicitis struck him and forced Matisse to lay in bed for one year. Mrs. Matisse, his mother, gave him a set of water colors so he would have something to do. The moment he used them, he didn't feel bored anymore. He found out that painting was something he'd been dying to do!

Soon he was painting tons of pictures. Heaped up in his mind were tons of bright, beautiful colors and simple pretty shapes. Brighter and brighter his paintings got until they were stunning as the view one sees on a fine sunny day.

Henri Matisse is so famous because of his bright, immense beautiful paintings and paper cutouts. When he was old, ill and too weak to pick up his paint brushes, he discovered that he could "paint" with scissors. This type of work of his is done by cutting out brightly-colored paper painted with gouache, then arrange the paper shapes onto a large sheet of gouache-painted paper(sometimes without gouache) and, Tada! You have your very own Matisse paper cutout!

Matisse first started Fauvism with his friend and painter, Andre Derain. Soon, Fauvism was spreading to other artists. People were insulted by the bright, unusual colors. Fauves means "wild beasts" in French, which is what makes it such a suitable name for this painting style.

Later, Matisse's works were greatly admired by people all over the place. If it wasn't for Matisse, modern art wouldn't be like this! A big salute to Matisse.

Matisse also got along with his other fellow artists and often painted like them. Sometimes Henri's art work looks like Picasso's; sometimes like Derain's and sometimes like Georges Braque's, another friend of his.

Just like Matisse, I like to cut stuff, and I think his works look brilliant. If you like paper cutouts, give me thumbs up!

The Sky (a sky poem by Ethan)

When I look up at the sky,

I see mythical creatures that have mythical features.

Such as a goldfish biting the tail of a winged elephant

as he flies with all his might.

Or I might spy(if I look hard)

10 fleas trapped in an hourglass.

Oh, the sky, the sky, the wonderful sky,

so full of beauty and mythical life!

My Piano Teacher (by William)

Ms. Cindy is my piano teacher and I am going to introduce you to her and her studio.  I have been learning piano for two years and I feel inspired by Ms. Cindy.  Her studio is called Piano for Children located in Arcadia.

Ms. Cindy passes her love of music down to me.  She taught me how to play great piano pieces that touched my heart.  One of them was Star Wars Main Theme.  When I play it I feel like I am in outer space with Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa fighting the First Order.

Since I started learning piano, Ms. Cindy has always taught me in a very kind, positive and gentle way.  Her attitude in teaching really woke up my sense of music.  Every time after my piano class, I would practice playing piano and that gladden the ears near and far in my family. 

Ms. Cindy organizes recitals and community concerts for senior citizens.  After a recital there are lots of snacks.  There is also a chance for kids to play together.  That is how I made friends with other kids in the studio (moms too)!  I teamed up with other kids to do duets and trios.  Ms. Cindy once said “I can count on you to do duets and trios” and that made me proud.  

Ms. Cindy’s studio feels like home.  Her studio is very neat and organized and she has her own library full of music books, CDs, and videos that you can borrow for free.

Ms. Cindy is my angel of music and her love of music will always be part of me.

P.S.

• Welcome to visit Piano for Children:  https://www.facebook.com/piano4children/
• If you want to listen to our recent trio: https://www.facebook.com/piano4children/videos/1143733015686864

Piano for Children 2014 Winter Recital

********Letter from Ms. Cindy (I read many times)********

Dear William,

What a wonderful blog post you wrote about me and my studio!  I appreciate all the nice things you mentioned about my teaching and our facility.  I find myself very lucky, I get to do the thing I enjoy the most (playing the piano) and be with the most fun, curious and genuine group of people (children).  You write very well!  I hope you don't mind if I share your writing.  

When I said I can always count on you to play duets or trios, I really meant it!  Besides playing all the notes correctly, you also paid extra attention to details such as dynamics and articulations.  You have solid memorization on your own part and know how to adjust and balance with your partner(s).  You perform with confidence and cheerful manner, I've enjoyed watching you on stage and listening to you perform.  

Continue to practice, build up your repertoire, explore, sing and write.  I look forward to our third year working and growing together!

Ms. Cindy         

Tom Sawyer Camp (by William)

In the past two weeks, I have been going to TSC. To my point of view, it is very very fun.  It is in the Hahamongna Watershed Park close to NASA-JPL.  These are the activities in TSC.

Horseback riding is a calm activity.  All of the horses have names, for example, Lee, Huggy, Sugar, Pepper, Mack, and Max.  Yesterday at the horseback riding, I learned how to go up and down slopes.  When I got to the bottom of the slope, Huggy, the horse in front of me started to pee.  “Potty break!”  Shouted a horse staff.  When Lee, the horse what I was on saw Huggy peeing, she started to pee too.  “Double potty break!”  Shouted the horse staff.  After that I just couldn’t stop laughing.

In TSC we do a lot of hiking.  My favorite hike so far was hiking in the Angeles National Forest to a waterfall.  During the hike, we were warned about poison oak (a plant) and what it looks like.  I also saw deer.  When we reached the water, the kids including me tried to catch tadpoles using caps and hands.  After a while of observing, we released the tadpoles back to the wild.  When I got home I told my grandpa my hike and he said, “Oh Santa’s reindeer must be taking a vacation.” 

I really like TSC because it brings me water, mud, and the really taste of nature. 

Coming to the camp

Leaving the camp

B&B Letter after Sleepover at Auntie’s House (by William)

Dear Auntie and Uncle,

Thank you for inviting me to your house for a sleepover.  It was so fun!  

I got to feed Coco without him biting my hands.  I was very handy with squeezing orange juice and orangeade for you guys.  I also got to walk Coco through the sounds of the night.  The most fun part of the sleepover was making a swing for Auntie under the guidance of Uncle. 

I wish you will invite me for another sleepover.

Love,

William

The Adventures of the Purrington (Rich Cats) Family on Cat Island (By Ethan)

In the center of San Whisker Ocean lays an island called The Cat Island. Its capital is St. Catty Town. There is a nice big lake  - Claw Men Lake which is the natural water feeder on the Cat Island. Next to it is the Glamour Bay, Fluffy Desert, Lappy Rock Garden and Pan Paw Hills. The hills are surrounded by the Clash Buttes and Mesas. On the northeast corner is Hell Mice Woods and Cheese Mouse Dips then comes the Meow Canyons. McPurr River calmly flows through St. Catty Town and wraps Gumbie hill and Mount Cindy. On the far south, Tabby Feast, the main plain spreads.

Chapter 1: Nice, Purrrr-fect Life

The Purringtons lived on the very edge of St. Catty Town in a nice little house. They had plenty of catty coins and bills to take care their 10 youngens. Mrs. Purrington had named them all Purry. To find out which kitten was which, Mr. and Mrs. Purrington called them Purry 1, Purry 2, Purry 3 and so on. (Purry is short for Purrington) Mr. Purry was a postman and Mrs. Purry was a teacher.

Chapter 2: "Nearly Goners"

One chilly Tuesday night, as the Purrys were eating supper, Mr. Purry came home with grief.
"We have a robber at the post office." he hissed. "A package of cutlery that was supposed to be sent to an old fluffy feline who lived in Hell Mice Woods was stolen at midnight." he continued.
"We'll tell the police tomorrow." said Mrs. Purry.
"I'm done, Mama." said Purry 3.
"Good" said Mrs. Purry. "Take your bath and brush your teeth and off you trot to bed!"
"Good night Mama and Papa." said the Purries.
"Sweet dreams. my dears."

Chapter 3: The Second Theft

The next afternoon as the Purries went into the house after school they saw Mrs. Purry slumped over an armchair, sobbing. "What's wrong, Mama?" asked Purry 4.
"One of my students was robbed." said Mrs. Purry. "The thief climbed in, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and off he pelted cross the McPurry River." muttered Mrs. Purry.
"Did the police know?" asked Purry 5.
"Yes, we called them right away." Mrs. Purry answered.

Chapter 4: The Big Search

When the police heard the news, they were horrified. "Stolen student and cutlery?!" "We'll show those thieves!"
After one whole day and night of searching on Tabby Feast they went en route to Gumbie Hill, then walked several miles before they found the two robber's hut on Pan Paw Hill 1. The police pawcuffed them up, threw them into the police car, and recovered the stolen treasures.
Now life has returned to normal for the Purringtons and everyone is purrr-fectly happy.

Flying Solo book report (by Ethan)

Have you ever had or met a teacherless class? What did it feel like? Did you still learn anything?

"Flying Solo" is a book in which a class is suddenly left teacherless for a whole Friday. The class is in sixth grade, and they are going to prove that they can run the class by themselves. One of the classmates, Tommy Feathers died in October. Rachel White, another classmate, has been communicating only by writing notes since his death.

The author is Ralph Fletcher. He writes in a style that I love. He replaces simple words with more interesting phrases to describe people doing actions. For instance, when Ralph wants to say "he/she walked quickly out of somewhere" he says "he/she wheeled out of somewhere".

The part of the book that I thought was the most exciting(and a little bit funny too) was the rock (closure) ritual which starts at 1:40pm. The way it goes is a departing student chooses a rock and all the others take turns holding that rock and share a memory about that departing student.

One of the personal connections in this book was when Tommy died. In 2015 my great grandmother died. We celebrated her 95th birthday the year before. It was a piece of sorrowful memory.

"Flying Solo" is one of the best and funniest books that I've ever read! I may keep this book until the very last day of my life.