My School Rocks! 2013-12 | Page 8

photo by Lu nahZon Ph otography Here in Charlotte, as the new editor of My School Rocks!, I have the pleasure of sitting around tables every week working with a talented team of publishers and staff. We, too, tell stories, travel to meet with others and share new things – mostly exciting opportunities for our readers. For example, in the last two months, MSR magazine contest winners marched in the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade (see page 9), rode the Zamboni machine at the Checkers opening night game and were named Princess and Prince of the Renaissance Fair. We also welcomed into the MSR family Rockin’ Reporters Hannah, Jake, Maya, Schuyler and TaLena. Depending on their interests, these reporters were able to interview Q-City Charlotte BBQ Festival competitors, Bobcats player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or WCCB-TV anchor and reporter Morgan Fogarty. Editor’s’Note Growing up in New Jersey, my family stretched along the Garden State and throughout the boroughs of New York. Family members took turns hosting the holidays on a scheduled rotation – yearly or nightly, depending on the holiday. Long car trips were a given. Once arriving, the kids ran off to play together and share new toys. Adults lingered at extended tables, telling stories. Someone always fell asleep on the couch, often with her mouth hanging open. We’d love for you to join us, too. Fourth and fifth graders: Are you interested in interviewing celebrities, athletes or city leaders? Apply to be a Rockin’ Reporter today at the following website: www.myschoolrocks.com/rr Wherever you spend the holidays this month, and with whomever you sit around a table, we hope you learn new things about each other as you share stories, laughter and love. Cheers! As with most families, when we got together after not seeing each other in a while, occasionally a relative said something inappropriate. Kids and adults alike got cranky. Maybe the conversation lingered a bit too long on politics, and emotions erupted. Jodi This year at the holidays, how can we keep peace in our homes and around our family tables? Lucky for us, Tricia Drevets shares tips on page 20. Editorial Staff: Editor-in-Chief: Jodi Werner Greenwald Illustrator: Zoe Ranucci Design Director: Reema Patel Staff Photographer: LunahZon Photography lunahzon.com Design Assistant: Alexis Brethauer On The Cover: Morgan Fogarty Cover Photo By: LunahZon Photography 8 – My School Rocks! | October 2013 December 2013 Contributing Writers: Ashley C. Melanie Baron Thomas Carrig Tricia Drevets Virginia Franco Jodi Werner Greenwald Holly Raychelle Hughes Kimberly P Johnson . Courtney McLaughlin Bea Quirk Rockin’ Reporters: Hannah - Carmel Christian School Jake - Collinswood Learning Academy Maya - Charlotte United Christian Academy Schuyler - Croft Community School TaLena - EE Waddell Language Academy