in the
a.
on
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th
in
where good kids can be famous too!
Charlotte Moenich
3rd Grader at Benchmark
Q. How long have you been riding horses?
A. I’ve been riding regularly for two years. I met my first horse with my friend, Addie,
she let me ride her horse, Rusty. I got riding lessons at Desert Palms for a Christmas
present; I loved it so much I keep going back!
Q. Tell us about the award that you have just won?
A. Every time I compete throughout the year, I earn points for each ribbon I win.
At the end of the year, the Arizona American Saddlebred Association totals up the
points. Riders must compete in at least three shows a year
to qualify. This year I am the Reserve Champion for
my age group. I scored the second highest points
throughout the year. I won a plaque that will be
presented to me at the awards banquet on
February 1st.
Q. Tell us your involvement in The
Nutcracker with Ballet Arizona.
A. I auditioned and was selected to
be in one of three casts for the role
of Party Girls which is Act I. My dance
scene “Moms and Dad” were Carolina/
Raychel and Brian, though I danced and
was picked up and spun by James. I was
also asked to be a BonBon, which is in
Act II with Mother Ginger character. I had so
much fun!
Photo by Erik Hyler
m
co
ZONA
Q. How long have you been practicing ballet?
A. I started learning ballet positions, clean technique and posture, basic
gymnastics and general movement from my mom from a very early age. When I
was five I took my first ballet class.
O
Q. What is the hardest thing that you have had to learn with ballet?
A. Doing more than one pirouette correctly. There are so many things to think
about - your arms, standing leg, where the other leg should be, your back, and
spotting.
Q. What made riding a horse your
extra-curricular?
A. I’ve tried other things like ballet, but I just
keep asking about horses. My mom decided
that I might as well make it my “thing” since it’s
all I ever talk about!
Q. What is your favorite type of dance?
A. Fast jazz, contemporary dance, and ballet.
inthezona
Shaeleigh O’Brien
3rd Grader at Freedom Academy
Tesseract Wins
Program of the Year
The Phoenix Herpetological Society (PHS) is a non-profit organization that takes
in abandoned or endangered reptiles. The PHS works closely with Tesseract on a
few different programs. One of these programs is when the Society visits the fourth
graders for an eight week learning experience. Each week, an instructor from the
PHS brings a variety of reptiles. Their hands-on approach allows the fourth graders
to handle and make observations of each reptile. Through the weekly studies and
additional research, all students become experts on a reptile of their choice. During
the 8th week of the program, the students share their
research at the reptile fair as their final activity.
O
The PHS also works with the middle school students with
a program called the
“Crocodilian Study”.
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10 \ February 2014
In this project,
students
who wish to
participate are
required to
complete an
application form,
which is then reviewed by select teachers in order to
determine which students should get to participate. The students selected
are able to learn about all different types of crocodilians.
O
Both of these programs are beneficial to the lower and middle
scholars’ education.
finish these stories @
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