International Day Story

My family and I are all from Armenia. Not many people have actually heard of a place called Armenia. In fact, I’ve only met one person, so far, who has actually named the capital of Armenia: Yerevan. In its time, Armenia was a dominating nation. She was absolutely huge! Now, it’s like a little smudge on the map of the world. But this does not excluded Armenia’s awesome history!

Yerevan is the current capital of Armenia. But in fact, Armenia had a lot of capitals before. Unfortunately, most of them were destroyed by earthquakes, wars, or Turkish raids. Tushpa was the very first capital of Armenia. It was in the 6^th century BC, year of 825, during the Orontid Dynasty.

Erebuni Fortress, also known as The Fortress of Blood, is a fortified city from the ancient kingdom of Urartu. Urartu was located in none the other but Yerevan itself! It was one of the several fortresses built along the northern Urartian border. Now, unfortunately, Erebuni is nothing but remains of a once glorious fortress that protected its people in times of trouble. This does not, however, keep eager tourists away! Erebuni may not look like a fortress anymore, but the remains couldn’t be more exciting! I myself have been there many times before and just can’t get enough of it! It’s like walking through a dark cave! Exciting!

What Zvartnots once looked like

Zvartnots Cathedral is another example of ruins. Zvartnots Cathedral was built of Catholicos Nerses the Builder from 641 to 653. Zvartnots, meaning celestial angels, lies at the edge of Etchmiadzin in Armenia’s Armavir Province. This cathedral was ruined because of Turkish raids. My paternal deceased grandfather made a full-scale model of Zvartnots! Pretty cool stuff!

           

Now, we all know American history and all of those exciting memorials for different people and incidents in history. Well, Armenia has memorials as well. One of the most famous ones is the Battle of Sardarabad. This battle took place near Sardarabad, modern day Armavir. It lasted from May 21-May 29, 1918. This battle, though tragic and bloody, stopped the Ottoman (Turks) from advancing any further into Armenia. It also prevented the complete destruction of Armenia. The battle land is considered sacred, and tourists from all over the world come just to see this place.

        

Erebuni

Armenians had nowhere else to retreat, so they were forced to face their enemy there and then. Catholicos Gevorg (George) V ordered that the church bells rung during those six days while people of all sizes, ages, and genders rallied up to face the Turks. There were peasants, poets, blacksmiths, and clergymen fighting to free their country. Famous poet and author Yeghishe Charents was also part of this battle. My maternal great-great-grandparents have seen Yeghishe Charents.

Zvartnots now

            

 Gevorg and Lusik Gevorgyan (George and Lucy Georgson), were my maternal great-great grandparents. They escaped from the Armenian Genocide which took place from 1915 through 1923. The Armenian Genocide, also known as the Great Crime, Armenian Massacres, or Armenian Holocaust was when the Turks killed millions of Armenians living on the Turkish territory during the First World War. Gevorg and Lusik escaped because they were children. Turks allowed children sixteen and under to leave the country.

  I am proud to be Armenian and I am honored to share Armenia’s history with you!

Written by Rubina Mazurka

13 Years in the Making

Boy, its been a while since I last posted something. Of course the fact that I graduated 4 years ago might have something to do it, but I suppose that graduation isn't the one taking center stage right now. My name is Darien Caine and on Saturday I will be graduating Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory high school. I just want to take a moment to reflect.

Its been a very long journey since my first day at Hillwood in September of 2000. I don't exactly remember how long I cried those first few weeks, but that small period of self-imposed sadness could not possibly compare to the wonders and joys I would experience in the coming years of my education. I do intend to keep this message short, so I would just like to thank the school, especially Mr. and Mrs. Grantz, who have supported me in more than just my education. Hillwood became a second family to me and one that will be with me for many years to come.

Momentarily disregarding my wishes for brevity, there are a few things I want to specifically thank the school for. One of the biggest questions I got when I came into high school, was "Were you prepared?" The obvious answer to that question was yes, but that wasn't just an answer I gave because it seemed correct. Hillwood could not have prepared me more for what I was going to face when I entered high school and for that I am thankful. Additionally I want to take a moment to remember one aspect of Hillwood that you would never find in any other school in San Francisco, in California, or anywhere else in the nation, and that is a quality afterschool care program. Hillwood's afterschool care legacy has been carried on by such memorable people as Mrs. Okamoto, who to this day remains an inspiration to those who were fortunate enough to know her. Even today the afterschool care at Hillwood helps the students thrive and become something beyond the academics, and I'm not just saying that because the current person in charge of it is my mom.

If I had not had the privilege of attending Hillwood I do not think I would achieved nearly as much as I have. My name is Darien Caine and I am a boy, or rather a young man, who has been 13-years in the making, and I have Hillwood to thank for all the great things I hope lie ahead.

Having Fun At The Cabin

Hillwood also has a cabin in Muir Woods. In the beginning of the year, we have a picnic at the cabin in Muir Woods. Mr.Grantz cooks barbequed hot dogs for the kids. We have two piñatas and we collect candy. Later in May, we have a cabin sleepover one day for the girls and the other day for the boys. We leave school at 11:30 and arrive at the cabin soon afterward. We do lots of fun thing like catch salamanders and make scary movies.

 In the morning Mrs.Grantz makes hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls then we have breakfast and our parents pick us up at 10:00. Sometimes when we play volleyball, Max the dog comes running and grabs the volleyball, and pops it. Nature in Muir Woods is very beautiful Like the Red Wood Sorrel. Red Wood Sorrels are a type of clover. They only grow around Red Woods; that is how you know that they are safe to eat. They tasted like a green apple, and when you went to the core it was very sour.       

Hands on Science is Guaranteed at Hillwood School

Hands-on science is guaranteed at Hillwood School, I mean when was the last time you dissected a sheep brain? The 5th through 8th science teacher is Erica Warp. She currently works at Celsius and Beyond, a facility whose "goal is to teach children the core basic knowledge of science that is relevant to their lives. In the process, kids learn to think objectively, distinguish between proven facts and theory, question common beliefs and` leverage the relationships between imagination and science. Moreover, our programs help children discover the beauty of science which inspires and motivates them to further their learning of science." Erica mainly teaches us about nero science which is the science of the brain, she is also combining the nero science with art which is why we always make art project every week that are related to science. We hope to have her next year.

Yearbook Wrap Up — We're Down to the Wire

• Anya: Keep editing — all text (stories and headlines) should be finalized today. Work with Rubina on headline length.

• Rubina: Continue laying out the book. We need to have all 54 pages laid out roughly in the book. Work with Angela to incorporate the class photos. 

• Angela, Asiana: Work on incorporating the text onto the class photo pages. We need to proof all names for a second time. 

• Kennedy: We need a flier to sell the books. Please include the following: 
• It's time to buy the annual Hillwood Academic Yearbook, written and produced by the upper graders!
• It's a 54-page hardcover book with full-colored photos, including class photos.
• Cost: $30
• Make checks out to Graham Clarke.
• Payment is due FRIDAY.
• However, the book an be bought throughout the year online at Blurb:com: http://www.blurb.com/books/1379830-hillwood-academic-day-school
• Include an order form:
• Student name:
• Number of books:

• Natasha, Mia, Asiana: Find good photos from this website: https://picasaweb.google.com/110299353618920382550

• Claire, Oliver: Work on a story of your choice for the yearbook. Oliver, finish your yearbook stories if need be.

K-1's Day

To start their exciting day, the K-1 do math in the morning.  After math, they go to recess.  During their recess they like to play tag, sharks and minnows, capture the flag, star wars, jump rope, and waterfall. Some times the K-1 go to the park with the older kids or they go with just their class.

Mrs. Carvajal, their teacher, gives them assignments. Sometimes they have partners and they are assigned to do a project with their partner. They also work in groups to work on assignments and projects.

Their favorite assignments are math, reading, spelling, spelling tests, writing, and science. In science they are learning about spiders, as well as other bugs and insects.

The classroom is used for many after school activities. For example, guitar and piano classes are taught after school in her class. 

There are ten kids in Mrs. Carvajal's class. There are two kindergarteners and eight 1st graders.     

The K-1 love their teacher Mrs. Carvajal. They think that she is funny and smart. 

   

  

Big Events of the Year

These years have been important ones.  Many different events have happened. Not all of the events have been happy though.  Some of these tragic events were the Newtown School shooting and the Boston Marathon bombing.  Though these sad events did make the years sadder, they did not make these years the saddest.

Plenty of happy events happened too, like the Presidential Election, a successful space shuttle landing, and a river otter returned to San Francisco after 50 years of being away.  President Obama was sworn back into office after running against Mitt Romney.  The Space Shuttle, Endeavour, flew over San Francisco on its trip to Los Angeles;  this was the last time Endeavour touched the sky.  Sutro Sam, a river otter, moved into Sutro Baths around December 2012. River otters haven't been spotted in San Francisco in over 50 years! Many more events happen

Though not the happiest events in America,  they have still been important ones.  Let's just hope the following years are better.

K-4th Events

     The kindergarten through fourth grade field trips include visiting the pumpkin patch and Field Day. The pumpkin patch is always a fun day for the Lower Graders; they even get to choose their own pumpkin, as long as they an carry it, to bring home. The maze and the playground were fun for them, though they did not get a chance to go into the bounce house, for it was put out just as they were leaving. They didn't have a field trip on Halloween, but they did get to dress up, walk around the block, and even collect a few pieces of candy from Mr. Ray Dolby's house.
     The 2nd-8th graders got to see a history play, We The People, on April 30th. They walked to the theater and watched as three actors sang and acted out the history of America. That same week, the entire school walked from the school to Crissy field and back. On May 20th, they went to the zoo.
    Hopefully, the students got a chance to see the baby tiger born on February 10th. Maybe some of Giants fans got to see the black-and-orange baby monkey. There is also a baby koala named Joey.

2-4th graders

  The 2-4th graders are always ready to play. Their teacher is  Kathy Tom (before teaching 2-4th grades, she taught K-1 at Hillwood).  Ms. Tom has been teaching at Hillwood for a long time, 11 years.  This year, there are 19 students in Ms. Tom's class.  In the morning they start with math. After K-1 goes outside,  2-4  have half an hour of recess.  After their recess, they read.  Sometimes, while one grade is reading, the other grades do another subject.  When it is 11:30, they have lunch, just like 5-8th graders.  After lunch, they go outside for their second recess of the day.  When they come inside, Ms. Tom reads them a book.  Each year they get through about two or three books.
  Ms.Tom is a very dedicated working teacher considering she teaches the most students in the school and has been working here for so long. "I've been with Ms.Tom for 4 years." says Asiana D. "She has been a very inspiring person to me. I hope she continues to work at Hillwood."

The Hillwood Herald, for School and World News Year-round!

Every Friday, the upper graders write and produce The Hillwood Herald, a blog that highlights stories about important news that is currently happening. As part of our news reporting, we also make different videos about the subjects we are covering. Throughout the year, we cover such big stories as our trip to Washington D.C. Not only will the trip be a blog post, but it will also be a digital iBook for the iPad. Mrs. Laura Moorhead, the mom of Astrid and Oliver, comes every Friday by choice and helps us. Mrs. Moorhead and her husband, Graham Clarke, are well educated in the field of technology. It is very kind how Mrs. Moorhead comes by choice to help us.

"I think the blog has really taught me how to deal with deadlines," says Anya J., an 8th grader at Hillwood. I really hope Mrs. Moorhead will continue to come for the next years. The Hillwood upper graders have lots of fun working with her!

Parents from Hillwood and people throughout the world read our posts. In fact, since the blog launched four years ago, we have had a total of 57,453 pageviews. In April 2013, we had 1,903 pageviews, and our most popular story of all time is Claire P.'s "A Skunk's Life." It's really amazing how people from all around the world read our posts. We have had visitors from India, Russia, and throughout Europe. We all hope they will continue on to read our posts!

After School

After school begins at 3:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00p.m. It is supervised by Ms. Caine. The upper graders are allowed to go outside for 15 minutes beginning at 3:00. Games they play include Sharks and Minnows, Knockout, and Poison. After the Upper Grader's break, they go inside and do work until 4:00, but many play chess, as long as their work has been completed. Sometimes they even play chess for a delicious fruit roll up! At 4:00, everyone is allowed to go outside and play together, upper graders and lower graders. It is not a recess without the games though! Favorite games include Tag, Capture the Flag, Basket Ball, Star Wars, Jump Rope, and Hula Hoop. At 5:00, Ms Caine passes out some well earned snacks including delicious delicacies including anything from  fruit, chips or goldfish to cookies, or something from lunch that day. For the parents that don't finish work until late into the day, the after school program is a breeze because the kids can play with friends, do their work, or get individualized attention so everyone is a happy camper at the end of the day!

By Kennedy and Angela

New Trends, Music, and Movies in 2012 and 2013

The Croods, Oz: The Great and Powerful,  The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey and Escape from Planet Earth are all new movies that came out in 2012 and 2013.  Movies are not the only new things in 2012 and 2013. There were new songs and trends too.

Some of the most popular songs were Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen, Gangnam Style by PSY, and Payphone by Maroon 5.  Gangnam Style started a whole new dance trend and song trend.  As soon as the song plays, people start doing the dance, which requires one to gallop in place or side to side while waving one's arms in certain ways.  The song has been played so many times, but no one knows the lyrics except for the chorus.  Also, the chorus is the only part in English; the rest is in Korean.

Gangnam Style isn't the only popular song/dance craze that became popular this school year.  There was also the Harlem Shake and Gentleman.  There have been games that became very popular in 2012 and 2013 like a game originally released in 2009.  Minecraft is a sandbox game, where you can do anything and go wherever you want.  In Minecraft, you can build a house or go into a cave and slay monsters.  A kid can spend hours playing Minecraft.

This year has been a great year for trends, movies, and songs.  Though not all of the popular songs, trends, or movies have been great, these years have still been the home for Internet memes, strange songs, dance crazes, and amazing music.

Our trip to Washington D.C!

In the month of March, the upper graders took a trip to Washington D.C! On March 10th, 5:00am, all of us rushed to the airport because we were supposed to be there by 5:30 am.  It was really fun greeting all the Hillwood students walking through the door. Oliver and his parents were nice enough to drive Anya to the San Francisco International Airport. After everyone arrived, we got our boarding passes and we headed to the gate. We went to gate 86. Because Mrs.Grantz owed all of us Tully's for our Current Science, she bought us something of our choice except coffee at Peet's. Someone was nice enough to trade their seats with me so I, Asiana, could sit with a friend. When we got onto the plane, it felt like it was night time. After we landed, I felt like we had to go to bed, but, surprisingly, after we landed it was the afternoon. A few hours later we went to have dinner. For dinner we had tacos. After dinner we had an orientation where we discussed what we would be doing throughout the trip. The second  day we went went to the World War II memorial.
Every time we would arrive in our destination we would meet in our groups and discuss what time we were supposed to meet back up in our groups. First when we met up in our workshops we would talk a little about the history of the destination we were in. We had something called student notebooks. The student notebooks were basically study guides that we took history notes in. Many of the people from the program didn't like the student notebooks because it was basically school work.
We all went to so many places I don't know where to start. The most exciting sight I saw with my own eyes was the White House. I was a little sad about not being able to actually go inside, but it was still  fun actually standing in front of the building.
Claire P. said she thought the Air and Space museum was the best and she also also enjoyed the Arlington National Cemetery.
 In my personal opinion I really enjoyed the meals breakfast, lunch and, dinner. For breakfast we would go into this ballroom and have a buffet. For lunch we usually got these vouchers that let us go to certain restaurants and get different foods. We would have a certain time we were supposed to meet up in our workshops. After we ate lunch, we had spare time we could go walk around the mall we ate in.  The same thing happened at dinner time. Sometimes at dinner we would go to a bigger mall. After dinner we would go back into our hotel and discuss in our workshops what we did that day. Everyday was very tiring but I would say it was worth it!

From Space to a Museum in Los Angels

This year, the space shuttle Endeavour, flew over the buildings of San Francisco. The space shuttle was interesting to see. We all went to the park to see the space shuttle fly around for the last time, though it wasn't really flying.

The space shuttle "piggybacked" on a 747. How did the 747 not crash?  The airplane the space shuttle was on was completely empty.  There were no seats because the airplane would have crashed if there were.  The seats not being there took a lot of weight off of the airplane. We went to the park and we first played some relay races and other fun games. Then we saw the space shuttle.  The space shuttle flew around twice in all.

When it first flew around it was really low, around the height of Sutro Tower.  When the students saw it, they ran down the hill to get a better view.  It was such a cool thing to see because not are able to be in the presence of something that went somewhere miles away from home. After it flew around a second time, it flew to L.A. to stop at a museum, where it currently resides.