TheLittleLionVol.3Issue.2(1)

February 25, 2016
Volume 3, Issue 2

Long Branch Elementary School

  T​he Little Lion​     

Alice Bell
Advisor to T​he Little Li​on

Former Long Branch student returns to help
newspaper reporters

By Charish Fleming

Mrs. Pickering’s and Ms. Williams’s classes have a special someone working with them on T​he
Little Lion,​named Alice Bell. Miss Bell went to Long Branch for elementary school and now
goes to Washington‐Lee High School. There, she writes for the school newspaper, ​Crossed
Sabres​. She writes about art, current events, and science. She writes both fiction and
nonfiction articles. Miss Bell doesn't do it all by herself. She works with a teacher and other
students to find information and create the newspaper. Miss Bell works on the newspaper in
class, at home, or out of school when she has to interview somebody. She is only allowed to
write one or two articles per issue. Washington‐Lee students do not have to pay for the
newspaper. The students on ​The Little Lion​are so happy to have Miss Bell working with us!

33 North Fillmore Street ∙​​Arlington, VA 22201

February 25, 2016
Volume 3, Issue 2

Long Branch Elementary School

Mrs. Goodman Ms. McClure-Taylor
School Psychologist First Grade Teacher

Meeting Mrs. Goodman Meeting
Ms. McClure-Taylor
By Isis Haynie
By Malaak Sadouk
Mrs. Goodman is Long Branch’s new school
psychologist. She works with students, families, Ms. Taylor was born in New York. She was raised in
and teachers to help children feel their best at South Carolina and lived in Florida. She teaches
school and succeed. She likes to work with both ESOL first grade. She likes Long Branch and said,
older and younger kids at Long Branch. Mrs. “It’s a good place for learning.” Ms. Taylor likes
Goodman enjoys meeting with Isis and other kids teaching her students how to read. Before Ms.
too! She was born in Manassas, Virginia. Mrs. Taylor came to Long Branch Elementary School
Goodman’s favorite color is green. The two she used to teach in Fairfax County. She wanted to
schools that she worked at before Long Branch be a teacher because her first grade teacher was
were Carver and Newsome Park, in Newport so nice. Her favorite color is pink. Ms. Taylor’s
News, Virginia. Mrs. Goodman loves to work at favorite thing to do is take pictures. Her favorite
Long Branch. Her favorite hobby is cooking. She sport is football. Ms. Taylor’s favorite foods are
likes to make pizza, cupcakes, cakes, and meals. macaroni and cheese, pizza, and french fries.
Welcome, Mrs. Goodman! Welcome, Ms. Taylor!

33 North Fillmore Street ​∙​Arlington, VA 22201

February 25, 2016
Volume 3, Issue 2

Long Branch Elementary School

Sassan Fiske
5t​h​Grade Student

Student wins Geography Bee for second year in a row

By Sheyla Ralda and Abdullah Raziq

On January 20, 2016, Long Branch’s Geography Bee took place in the music room. Students from fourth and
fifth grade and parents of the competitors were there for support, and to watch the competition. Eight kids
from fourth and fifth grades answered questions about the world. The winner was Sassan Fiske, a fifth
grader in Mrs. Goidich’s class. He got to move on and take a test. If he passes that test, he will move on to
the next level. It was a really good competition. A lot of people were excited to see who the winner would be.
Congratulations, Sassan!

The Blizzard of 2016

By Jovon Joyner and Evelyn Rosales Izara

Arlington had a blizzard in January. Students had seven days without school. It felt like much longer
because students left school on Wednesday, January 20th, but didn’t return until Tuesday, February 2nd.
Including the weekends and the scheduled teacher work day, students had twelve days off! There was
around two feet of snow. The snow was very deep. Families were snowed in for a couple of days but kids
were glad to play in the snow right away. Children had fun sledding, participating in snowball fights, building
forts and igloos, and making snow people.
There are many ways to check if schools are closed. Some people watch the news on local TV channels and
listen to the radio. School closing information is also found on the Arlington Public Schools website and
smartphone app. Arlington Public Schools has ten snow days built into the calendar this school year.
Students do not have to make up the seven snows days that were already used.

33 North Fillmore Street ∙​​Arlington, VA 22201

February 25, 2016
Volume 3, Issue 2

Long Branch Elementary School

Bunce​​visits​​The Branch

From L to R: Sheyla Ralda (T​LL​reporter), Bunce, Andrea McCarren,
Michael Urtnasan (W​VLB ​reporter)

By Bryanna DeJesus

Did you have fun meeting Bunce the dog? Ms. Russo invited Andrea McCarren, a reporter for ​WUSA-TV
(C​hannel 9), and her dog, Bunce to Long Branch for a school assembly. Bunce will be given to a wounded
soldier after all of his training with Ms. McCarren. Then, he can help a soldier who got hurt while fighting in
the military. Ms. Russo thought it would be nice for Ms. McCarren and Bunce to come to Long Branch
because we have a lot of military families at our school. This was Bunce’s first visit to a school. Ms.
McCarren told Long Branch students about Bunce and answered a lot of their questions. ​The Little Lion
reporter, Sheyla Ralda, and W​VLB reporter, Michael Urtanasan, got to meet with Ms. McCarren and Bunce.
These students were featured on February 20​th in Arlington’s T​he Sun Gazzette!​Check it out on
www.insidenova.com!​

33 North Fillmore Street ​∙​Arlington, VA 22201

February 25, 2016
Volume 3, Issue 2

Long Branch Elementary School

Game On!

By Tako Lee and Alex Zecharias

Super Bowl 50 was at Levi’s Stadium, where the 49ers play, in San Francisco,
California. The teams were the Panthers and the Broncos. The Panthers are
from Charlotte, North Carolina and the Broncos play for Denver, Colorado. On
February 7, 2016, the two teams played each other in the championship game
of the season. All four quarters were really good but the game ended with the
Broncos being victorious, 24-10. Von Miller was voted MVP (Most Valuable
Player) of the game. He plays for the Broncos. There were a lot of funny new
commercials. What team do you hope will win the next Super Bowl?

The Book Worm

​A recommendation for students in Grades 4 and 5
By Charish Fleming

T​he Worst Best School Year Ever,​by Barbara Robinson is about how the Herdman kids
create chaos. They are up to no good in school and everybody in school is scared of them.
They sneak into the teacher's lounge, put their cat in a washing machine, and kidnap
someone’s little brother. There is a Herdman in every grade and none of the teachers want
them in their class! Fourth and fifth graders should read this book to hear more about how
the Herdmans turn the worst school year ever into the best school year ever!

A recommendation for students in Grades 2 and 3
By Edward Diaz Romero

Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Stomps the Snow​, by Jacqueline Jules is an interesting and
fantastic book for students in second and third grade. This book is about a kid named Freddie.
He likes to play in the snow. He has Zapato power, which means his shoes give him power to run
fast and solve crimes. ​Read Freddie Ramos Stomps the Snow​to help Freddie solve crimes!

33 North Fillmore Street ​∙​Arlington, VA 22201

February 25, 2016
Volume 3, Issue 2

Long Branch Elementary School

  

A recommendation for students in K and Grade 1
Gustavo Gonzales

Kindergarteners and first graders should read ​The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, by
Julia Sarcone-Roach. The book is about a bear who loves to eat. After he
climbs into a truck to eat some berries, he falls asleep and wakes up in a new
forest that was nothing like where he lived. He liked this new forest, especially
all of the new smells. The bear walks around a park and sees a sandwich. Read
the book to find out if he gets the sandwich. Kindergarteners and first graders
should read this book because it is funny!

Valentine’s Day

By Julissa Aguirre

Valentine’s Day is when people celebrate love. It is celebrated every year on February 14th. People make
cards and write love notes to send to friends and family. Flowers and candy are also popular gifts. At
schools, students exchange valentine cards with their classmates.

Martin Luther King Day

By Chloe McCann

What is Martin Luther King Day? Martin Luther King Day is a day when people
celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a man who fought for civil rights. He made
a very famous speech called “I have a dream.” He talked about how he didn’t want
his children to be treated badly just because of the color of their skin. We celebrate
this day around his birthday, on the third Monday of January.

33 North Fillmore Street ∙​​Arlington, VA 22201

February 25, 2016
Volume 3, Issue 2

Long Branch Elementary School

Words of Wisdom

By Tauqeer Hussain

TLL​:​What advice do you have for students in the cafeteria?
Ms. Russo:​I would like everyone to be kind to each other and to talk nicely while eating their lunches.

TLL​:​What advice do you have for students on the playground?
Ms. Russo​: S​tudents should spend recess time playing games, having fun with friends, and running
around.​

TLL:​​What things should students recycle?
Mr. D’Addario:​Please recycle rinsed bottles, milk cartons, and juice boxes. You can also recycle rinsed
yogurt cups, fruit cups, clear glass bottles, and aluminum cans. Don’t forget to recycle all paper!

The Little Lion​Reporters 2015‐2016

Staff

Marquez Barlow | Bryanna DeJesus
Charish Fleming | Jovon Joyner
Tako Lee | Chloe McCann
Abdullah Raziq |Alex Zecharias
Edward Diaz Romero | Isis Haynie
Julissa Hernandez Aguirre
Tauqeer Hussein | Malaak Sadouk

Gustavo Gonzales | Kai Rasmussen
Evelyn Rosales Izara | Sheyla Ralda

with help from
Ms. Williams | Mrs. Pickering
Mrs. Sterne | Mrs. Woolley

33 North Fillmore Street ​∙​Arlington, VA 22201