Poem by Mitchell Krasney, Grade 8

Between twilight and dawn my two dogs rest in their kennel dreaming of adventures to come.
With the sounds of the morning, they eagerly awake to start their daily routine.
By my side in the bathroom they wag their tails against my legs and lick my toes until they're numb.

After a while, they bark at the back door to announce their need to be part of the exterior scene.
Outside the house, they escape from the porch to explore our expansive grounds.
Without a care, they chase a butterfly with speed too great that they run into a window screen.

Through the newly planted garden they trudge over the petunias and marigolds while my mom frowns.
Beyond the white picket fence they see a deer frolicking in front of an old rock wall.
Despite their stumpy paws, they race with all their might to catch their prey like typical hunting hounds.

Near the woods, they stop beneath a weeping willow finding more interest in a slimy tennis ball.
Above their heads a bright red cardinal swiftly flies by and gracefully lands on a wooden bird feeder.
Up the steep hill in an attempt to slip behind the unaware bird the two mutts crawl.

Past a thorny rose bush and a patch of daylillies, they finally freeze underneath a northern white cedar.
Toward the feeder they dart without delay, but soon the bird simply soars away into the afternoon sky.
Before sunset with their tails tucked under their bodies they return home neither one wanting to be the leader.

Sunday, March 26 was Make Up Your Own Holiday Day. We were so busy celebrating WRITING magazine day (we took the day off!) that we forgot (oops!) to post the fantastic ideas for made-up holidays that we received from you, our dear readers. We feel terrible about our state of discombobulation, but perhaps we can convince you to celebrate today as Make Up Make Up Your Own Holiday Day ... and Forgive Your Tardy Editor day?

Read on. Today, we're featuring some of the most intriguing holiday ideas that we received.

by Taylor Masterson, Grade 7

What you do on this holiday is celebrate your name by bringing in a meal that starts with the letter of your name.  Since, my name is Taylor; I could possibly make tacos, tamales, or even toasted raviolis. When you arrive at your Name Day house you set down your dish and start talking about the origin of your name or why you received it.  So for example I would say, "Hi, my name is Taylor and my dad chose this name for me because it was the name of his favorite golf club, Taylor Made." After that you will all enjoy dinner. While you are doing that you will guess who made it depending on the name of that dish.  The person who guesses the most dishes right, will win a gift certificate to a restaurant that starts with the same letter of their name. Finally, everyone will leave and go back to their house.  While they are there you can think about how special you and your name really are.