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BROMWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (214)
2500 East
Fourth Avenue,
80206-4214
(Columbine Street at East Fourth Avenue)

Telephone:
(303) 388-5969
Fax: (720) 424-9355
E-mail: Bromwell@dpsk12.org

Mr. Jonathan Wolfer, Principal

Through the Year with the Bromwell Blabber

SEPTEMBER

KINDERGARTNERS' FEAR DISAPPEARS
by Rachel and Andy, 4th grade, Class of 1996
Did Kindergartenrs like the first day of school? Fourth graders teamed up with Kindergratners and found out! We went into the Kindergarten rooms and they answered our questions. We thought some might be scared. Most didn't have a friend yet.

Q: Were you scared the first day of school?
Sam: "It's just too long. My younger sister just started school and sheonly has to go for an hour! But reading dinosaur books is fun."

Q: What's the best and worst part of school?
Brendan: "I get tired and I don't want to go. But I still get to read."
Nikolas: "I have tummyaches and headaches. But the best thing is I get to play and play and play, and house-keep."

OCTOBER

HALLOWEEN LONG AGO
by Lauren, 5th grade, Class of 1999
What did people do long ago for Halloween? Where did people celebrate this holiday? Why did people do it? How did people come up with it? How LONG ago did people come up with Halloween? When did people do it, every Halloween night?

So many questions, so many interesting answers! There's a lot about Halloween that us kids don't know. Well, if you read this article, you'll know more about Halloween instead of getting candy and getting to dress up.

So, what do you want to know? Well, I'm going to research Halloween long ago. I'm going to tell you about my research. The first thing I'm going to research is: how long ago did people come up with this celebration? Well, I researched this question, and a book called The World Book Encyclopedia answered my question. It said Halloween celebrations didn't become popular until the 1800's. It also said that trick-or-treating became less popular in the 1900's in large cities.

My next question is: why did people do this celebration? In The World Book Encyclopedia it didn't say anything about my question. So this is my answer to my question: people probably did it for fun, and they believed in the celebration.

My third question about Halloween is: how did people come up with this great celebration? The book I'm researching said that ancient people celebrated Halloween of the dead.

My last question is: what did people do long ago for Halloween? My guess is that people dressed up and danced by stone walls that were very ancient. Or they went to secret places and celebrated this holiday. Well, that's all the information for my article. If you want to know more about Halloween long ago, then you can research Halloween with these facts, too!

THE BEST HALLOWEEN EVER
by "Terrifying" Tyler, 5th grade, Class of 2000
It was in 4th grade that I had the best Halloween yet. I was a Spice Girl (Baby Spice, to be exact) and I was going trick-or-treating with my friend Connery. He was Scary Spice. Our costumes looked great. He had an afro-type wig with gold spots in it, and was also wearing high heels with a white coat on. I was wearing a blond wig, a blue bra, a white coat, white pants and some pink high heels.

The day after we had gotten our final touches, we went to school. When the time came for our school party, we got all dressed up and paraded around the school and all of Cherry Creek. Them, after we got home we all got ready for trick-or-treating.
That night I met Connery in the Denver Country Club area. Then we started trick-or-treating. I first tricked around Alex Uhlberg's neighborhood for a few hours, then we finished up and went home. Over all, it was the best.

THE WORST HALLOWEEN EVER
by "Bloody" Bowen, 5th grade, Class of 2000
The worst Halloween I ever had was when I was six years old, and my mom had made my costume. The students of Bromwell were marching in their costumes, but my brother Marlowe and I could not see because our eyeholes were too little. So we walked into walls.

That night it was Halloween and my brother and I tripped over a stick. I cut myself and my candy bag broke; Marlowe got a bloody nose and spilled his candy. So we did not get much candy that night.

While we were walking home I dropped my toy down into the sewer and lost it for good. Then Marlowe got so scared he started crying because Ian ran ahead of us and hid behind a bush and popped out at Marlowe. That Halloween began bad, and ended worse. Luckily, the next year was better.

NOVEMBER

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE 3RD GRADE SPACE SHOW
by Allison, 3rd grade, Class of 2002
I was in the 3rd grade play "Blast Off" and I would like to share some "behind the scenes" information.

For example, Ms. Fox sent home about nine notes saying "DON'T FORGET TO WEAR BLACK!" Luckily, everyone remembered.

Right before the program started people were taking zillions of pictures. My friends were saying "It's not like we're a famous basketball team!" I said, "I know! I don't even know which camera to look at!"

I want to tell everyone at school this tip, because it worked for my class. When it's your turn to talk, pretend that you are talking to the person in the way back. And I have another tip: be sure your head and your body are facing the right way when you are on stage! All in all, I liked the program. We also had great treats afterwards.

DECEMBER

THE HOUSE TOUR's FRIDAY FRENZY!
by Madeleine, 5th grade, Class of 2000
Every year, our school hosts a Holiday House Tour in December and part of the school becomes "The Bromwell Boutique" while the tour is going on. You might not have noticed, but this year's Boutique set-up happened on one of the most hectic Fridays we've ever had. Painting in the halls, gym in the library, lunch in the classrooms, recess in the classrooms, weird people all over the place asking the teachers where the restrooms were, you know, basically your normal day in our school -- not!

First off, it was a really snowy day (henceforth, lunch and recess in the classrooms). That was enough right there to make all the kids excited.

When it came time for gym, half the class went down to the gym before they saw it was filled with weird people standing in weird booths. Then they came running back to the normal part of the school. But it wasn't normal. In the hallways there were pieces of tape saying "wet paint" all over. This meant we had traffic jams every time we tried to go somewhere and it was total chaos -- not that the rest of the school wasn't, of course!

Gym was in the library, which was also full of "wet paint" signs. Who knows where library classes were held? At lunchtime we ate in the classrooms, and the custodians had a big job that night! We had recess in the classroom, too.

The best part of the day (to me) was going to the Kid's Table. That's a table put on by the PTA that is especially for kids. The most popular items were the big pencils and the little plastic poppers -- mainly because poppers were fun to pop and annoying to adults, and the pencils were extraordinarily huge and came in great patterns.

All in all, it was exactly as I've portrayed it in my title, a Friday full of frenzy!

HOLIDAYS AT BROMWELL
by Eric and Jake, 4th grade, Class of 1998
Kids at Bromwell celebrate different holidays. Some kids celebrate Kwanzaa, some celebrate Hanukkah, and some kids (like us!) celebrate Christmas. How does the school decide which holidays to celebrate with students?

We talked to our Fourth Grade teacher, Ms Loftus. She said that she tries to teach one week about Hanukkah, one week about Kwanzaa, and one week about Christmas. We also asked her what she learned about most when she was a kid. She said Christmas, because she went to a catholic school. She said that was also the reason why she would like to learn more about Kwanzaa and Hanukkah!

It seems that most Bromwell teachers are following the same pattern this year. We think it's fair to celebrate all three holidays equally. If we just learned about one holiday, some of the kids might feel ignored or left out.

Everybody probably wants to learn about their own holiday more, but since we get to learn about all three holidays, we get to celebrate three times as much.

JANUARY

SECOND GRADERS SEE THE STOCK SHOW
On January 21st, 2000, each of the Second Grade went to the Stock Show. Some of the groups went to a mini-petting zoo. It had a lot of animals; some of the animals were pigs, chickens, and sheep who were all very cute. -- Tim

I really liked the Stock Show. I saw many different kinds of animals. My favorites were the baby ducks. Try to get there next year! -- Abby

My favorite part was when we got to see the rabbits. But we saw other animals such as guinea pigs, horse, mules, and all kinds of birds. It was great!-- Emma

When the Second Grade went to the Stock Show, we had to partner up with a grown-up, then get a paper and pencil and look for stuff. Once we got everything we would go to the bus and discuss what we saw. -- Franklin

When the Second Grade went to the Stock Show, we saw a lot. You have to be careful. You especially have to be careful around the carriage horses. They are very big. Their hooves are very, very big. They could smoosh you in a second! -- Ericka

At the Stock Show we saw bunnies, guinea pigs, and all different kinds of birds. We also saw horses getting groomed. This is my story on going to the Stock Show. -- Maddie

There are horses and cows. There is food. There's everything at the National Western Stock Show! -- Mariah

WE WANT SOME SNOW DAYS!
by Peter, Class of 2001
I would like to know why we NEVER have snow days. I think (and probably everyone else does, too) that DPS should make a rule saying that schools close if there is over 5 inches of snow or if the temperature is below 5 degrees.

When we have inside days we should be able to more than just watch a movie. We could play games in the gym or do something else back in our classrooms.

I think that all DPS students should be entitled to at least one snow day in their life. Teachers like them, too. I am in Fifth grade and I've NEVER had a snow day. SNOW!!!!!

FEBRUARY

VALENTINE'S DAY WITH THE FIRST GRADE
Maggie: "On Valentine's Day we played games. We ate candy and cupcakes. We got to mail cards. Miller gave me a teddy bear. That was nice of him. It was a happy Valentine's Day."

Liam: "We mailed valentines then we played on a mat. It was fun."

Elise: "I said to myself: "Today is Valentine's day. I love today." Then we went to eat."

Kate: "After recess the Valentine's Day party began and my mommy came and we passed out valentine cards and then we had some food and then the bell rang and we went home."

Noah: "My Valentine's party was in the afternoon. We had candy hearts and cupcakes with a heart shaped ring. Then when the bell rang I went home and my sister spilled the cupcakes on the floor then my mother threw them away."

MULTICULTURAL NIGHT
by Ann Stookesberry
Multicultural Night was a blast. It started with a slideshow. Had you noticed two photographers coming through the school, taking pictures of all of us? It all came together in this slideshow, and the pictures were phenomenal. Some kids wrote poetry that was included along with a music track.

Then, a drummer named Dan Egger-Belandria came and taught us about different drums and other rhythm instruments from many different countries. Mr. G, Mr. R, Ms. keys and Ms. Loftus went on stage and danced like chickens. It was sooo funny!

Then the drummer called kids up to rap while he drummed. He just happened to choose Lauren Napheys, Kelly Shannon, Katie Jablonksi, and me, Ann Stookesberry. Kelly went first. She did a song about candy. She rapped, "Candy, candy, it is so cool. Candy makes you want to drool!" Then I was next. I sang about Mr. G: and why he is so cool. I rapped stuff like "He likes to hang on a rope, and tells us to wash our hands with soap![per thou] Then Lauren sang "Mr. R, he likes books, he doesn't care about his looks!" Then Katie did something about Ms.Loftus but by then we were all cracking up so I can't remember everything. In the end, everyone was dancing and having a good time.

To finish things up, the choir sang a song and they sounded great. Then we all sang "Getting to Know You" together and that was the end. Multicultural Night was really fun.

People are all different. Some people are from different countries. Some people celebrate different holidays. Some people are Jewish and some people are Christian. That[base ']s what diversity is. It[base ']s how we[base ']re all different because we[base ']re all different people. Even people who look alike on the outside are different inside. Multicutural night is to celebrate all these things. It[base ']s to celebrate different cultures. And different people. --Laura Levinson

What kind of world would it be... with no diversity? ...same religion ...same holidays ...same culture ...same color Just plain boring. Human rights have sent our country soaring. We have worked hard to become so diverse. We have some problems,yet we aren[base ']t the worst. -- Grant Simon

What if All people were the same All one color All one race All one religion, one god? And walking down Wall SAtreet would be one color. Or up the stairs of the great Egyptian pyramids it would be one long line of one boring color. In the army of saluting hands, it would just be one hand of bore. It[base ']s a better world with diversity, so... Let[base ']s keep it that way! -- Erik Brockbank

Think about our world today and how it[base ']s changed in many ways.

I want to share a word tonight Diversity is what I have in sight.

Diversity is Canda, China, Jamaica, Iran Coming together to form a plan.

Which country is yours? Which country is mine? Does it really matter if diversity is in the mind? -- Sean Nelson

Diversity Be different. Diversity. Make our world interesting. Diversity. Open our minds to new ideas. Diversity. Everybody should respect it. Diversity. It[base ']s very important. Diversity. Be different. All people are unique in their own way. -- Amalia Ritter

I think we all should be involved in diversity in some way or another, because I think it would help us not to judge people for the colro of their skin or their lifestyle, but for who they really are... inside. -- Lauren Babcock

MARCH

GROUNDHOG'S DAY
by Erik, 3rd grade, Class of 2002
Do any of you know, sort of, well, I guess, the story of Groundhog's Day? For you people who don't, this is the story my dad told me and probably my grandpa told my dad.

Groundhog's Day started out mostly in Punxutawny, Pennysylvania and later spread out to further places like Colorado, California, Florida, etc. On February second, they bring out a big huge groundhog named Punxutawny Phil. The Punxutawnians believe that if Punxutawny Phil comes out of his cage (or whatever they keep him in) and sees his shadow, he gets scared and runs back into his cage (or whatever they keep him in) and that means there is still six more weeks of winter. But... if he stays out and plays for a while then there is usually a big commotion from the crowd because that means that Spring is coming soon.

This year Punxutawny Phil saw his shadow, so for the people who believe in this story, you are out of luck. Unless you want winter to stay for six more weeks (although this winter so far has not been the least bit acting like a Colorado winter down here). So I think I have told you all you need to know, at least that's all I know about it. A lot of people ask this question. I think I believe in what it means when Phil either goes back into his hole or stays out. DO YOU?

STORIES FROM SCIENCE FAIR 2000
by Ms. Keys' and Ms. Miller's 2nd graders
At the Science Fair I thought all the projects were cool. Mine was about aliens. I had a survey to see if people believed in aliens or not. -- Kelli

I saw a great project about sugar crystals. The experiment was about how crystals grow in vibrations. The answer was that more crystals grew in the jar that was shaken. The food coloring in the other jars affected the crystals more than the shaking did. -- Tori

I saw a project with a wasp hive. I thought, "How did they get that hive? Did they climb a tree?" -- Connor

At the Science Fair I saw a lot of interesting projects. But I liked one with a stick tied on a string. I liked the sound it made. -- Grace

This year there were some interesting projects. There was one project where you had to dip a q-tip into different flavors and put it on your tongue. You would only be able to taste the flavor if you put it on the right taste bud. Some other projects had to do with food, and the food went in no time! Bromwell is a great place for a science fair because everyone explains their projects politely. If you've never made a science project, give it a try! -- Laura

I think it was a wonderful experience for kids of all ages. There were lots of fun projects like the one with popcorn or Laiah's project, where you plugged your nose and tried to taste the flavor of a sucker. -- Zoe

I liked Michael's project. It was so interesting. I did it at home after school. It was neat. -- Joseph

APRIL

KEYSTONE CAPERS
by Christian, 4th grade, Class of 2001
Bromwell's Fourth grade recently went on a trip to Keystone to the science school there. On Thursday we went on a six-hour hiking trip. There were five groups, my group was called the Wetsocks. First, we started to go up the steep trail and occasionally we stopped for water and a snack break. Then we ate lunch at a river. We kept walking until we reached a lake where we hunted for leeches, bugs, trash, gold, and slugs. Two vans parked on either side of the mountain. The groups passed each other and all crossed the mountain from where they parked. Also, the boys raided the girls dorms. It was at 7 a.m. so it qualified as a wake-up call!

MORE ON KEYSTONE
by Lauren & Sarah, 4th grade, Class of 2001
Since Christian bragged about the boys at our 4th grade Keystone trip, we're here to brag about the girls. Sure, the boys raided our dorm, but as you know the girls are mature and so we followed all the rules. The boys got in trouble. The girls did not. The boys were so busy breaking the rules we doubt they learned anything, but we girls (of course) learned a lot.

Did any girls fall into puddles or ponds? Of course not. Did any boys? Duh, it almost goes without saying! Also, the girls did a better job being hoppers and keeping their rooms clean.

Keystone was really fun. We caught frogs and saw beavers and beaver dams, and we hiked a lot. It was great, but we bet it would have been a lot more fun if we girls went by ourselves!

MAY

THE 5TH GRADE CLASS TRIP
by Chris, Class of 2000
To all grades: the Great Sand Dunes Park is so fun. It's also warm, so wear a lot of sunblock if you go there. When you go over the river there, stop and look for black sand and dig there and you might become rich! Black sand is magnetite, and magnetite attracts gold.

Get Jim to be your driver, his is the fastest of all buses. Chant "Jim, Jim, Jim!" and he will go very fast.

When you go to the Visitor Center it is boring, but you do get to touch a snake. The Visitor's Gift Shop has nothing in it but tapes.

THE SOCK HOP by Alina & Arianna, Class of 2001
The theme of last year's Sock Hop was "The Future" ...and the clothes were really outrageous! Silver wigs, painted faces, bouncy antennas, and all-around solar system-looking clothes! The winner of the costume contest had a blue face, spiked hair, silver gloves, and a silver dress. The runner-up had an interstellar bike helmet on. Weird clothes, or what?

The new Sock Hop theme? No one knows... yet. Since we've already done "The Future" maybe we should do "Techno." Or possibly we could do a band-related theme, everyone dressing like Savage Garden or Mettalica, or maybe something less obvious like "Rock 'n' Roll" in general. Sound fun? Thought so! Or we could do "Get Rainbow," in which you wear the colors of the rainbow, and whoever has the most colorful outfit wins.

Last year's Sock Hop was outrageous for another reason. When the slow songs came, last year's 5th graders got real close -- and we mean close! The boys put their hands on the girls hips and the girls put their hands on the boys shoulders.

Arianna thinks it's okay to dance with boys if they're cute, and she says, "It only happens once a year, and besides, you might never see them again." Alina thinks slow dancing is okay because it's like getting your first hint of being in love -- not to mention of middle school. Arianna thinks that she would most definitely say yes if a boy asked her to dance, and Alina thinks that she would say yes, but only if her "boyfriend" Xavian asked her.

We surveyed the kids in our class by asking them "Would you slow dance?" 8 kids said "Yes," 3 kids said "No," and 7 kids said "It depends." Hmmm... we'll see!

JUNE

I also asked, "Did you like this Field Day better than last year's Field Day?" Some people said "Not really." This Field Day was kind of hurtful because this girl was running backwards on the relay and fell and broke her arm. She was screaming and crying, but she told me it was stinging a little! The ambulance did not come, her mom came to pick her up. They went to the doctor, but they left that one and had to go to another one because they didn't have an x-ray. Field Day didn't stop, and nobody was too scared.

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