Pet Log

Shiva, by A. F.

Dear Granny

12th November, 2008
This is the first day that I write to you. My English teacher asked me to write a diary to an imaginary friend and I thought of you because you are the person who I trust and miss the most!
Dear Granny, after you left, Kika, Inês and Beta have been my true friends, my second family… I feel very good with them!
My brother, your grandson, Afonso is a little bit boring but I love him!
Painting is my favourite hobby because I am having painting lessons now!
Tomorrow, I'll tell you more things…
Bye, I love you Granny!


13th November, 2008
Hi Granny! Are you fine? Better than me, you should be…
Today I am a bit tired because this is the day when I have more lessons.
I’m very worried with grandfather because I think that he misses you too. He was never lonely and now he spends the whole time alone… Take care of him please!
I wrote in my schoolbag a sentence “someone’s watching over me” because I think that it applies to us… You are watching over me, aren't you? I’m sure that you are. You don’t know how much I miss you.

I like my new school. However, I miss some things of the other school, for example my friends. However, I’m so disappointed with them! Kika tells me to try to understand but I can’t…
I am listening a romantic song (Fall For You – Secondhand Serenade); it’s so beautiful… like you!
Sweet Granny, I'm going to watch TV… I'll write to you tomorrow, I promise! Bye Bye…

Juliana, 802

Travelling around

Johnstone Strait is a deep and narrow passage located between the east coast of Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) and the British Columbia mainland. It is a major navigation channel on the west coast of North America and it is the preferred channel for vessels.
Sea Kayaking is fabulous in the protected waters. There are several staging areas.
Johnstone Strait is the home to the largest community of killer whales in the world, with a population of approximately 200 whales.
During the summer months they are often seen by kayakers and boats packed with tourists. There is no better place to view these amazing marine mammals.
In addition to the Orcas, Johnstone Strait offers up a wide variety of other marine life, including mink, grey whales, pacific white sided dolphins, bald eagles and a great variety of seabirds will also be found in the area.
There are no cities or towns along the length of the strait.

Daniela, Humberto e Vítor, 902

American History X - Film Review

Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton),a fireman, who tries to put out a fire in a black neighbourhood, was eventually shot by an outlaw. Encouraged by his hatred for blacks and minorities, Derek becomes leader of a violent neo-Nazi group, therefore reference to the young white losers in his neighbourhood.
He is arrested after having brutally killed two blacks who tried to steal his truck in front of his own home, in the presence of Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong), his younger brother. In prison, where he spends three years, Derek gets in a Nazi group. Then he realizes that he disagrees with the use of nationalist ideology. He diverges from the group, but his fellow Nazis rape him as revenge. After that, he starts to reconsider his concept of race and becomes friends with a black, with whom he works in the prison laundry.
When gets out, free from prejudices and full of new ideas he realizes his younger brother is going down the same path, and Derek tries to prevent him from committing this terrible mistake. To Derek’s misfortune his brother was shot dead by the black man Derek defied at the beginning of the movie.

Inês Sousa, 10.17

My Dream

I always listen people saying
That everybody has a soul-mate
But, honestly, I start thinking that mine
Doesn’t exist, or if it does
I don’t know where it is

For the first time in my life
I knew what to love someone is

I can’t take my eyes off you
You are what I ever dreamed of
A real dream came true!
When I hear my favourite song
I know that we belong together
You know it’s true
I just want to be with you

Once, I really thought that I had just found him
But soon, I realize that I was wrong.
Today, I’m waiting to find him again
It seems that my hopes were all vain!

For the first time in my life
I knew what to love someone is

I can’t take my eyes off you
You are what I ever dreamed of
A real dream came true!
When I hear my favourite song
I know that we belong together
You know it’s true
I just want to be with you

Anonymous in love

Obesity

Obesity has become a problem in many countries throughout the world. Some obese people carry an emotional complex until adulthood. Obesity is a problem that can be fought if the person has will power. Problems related to obesity affect not only adults but also children and adolescents. They also suffer the same risks as an obese adult.

Problems such as high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, depression and low self -esteem are problems that overweight people are prone to have.

If you realize that you have a tendency to obesity then consult a nutritionist. We should not be afraid of the nutritionist, because he will not say to stop eating, he will only say to eat small portions, to do sports, to walk and drink lots of water.

Do not use drugs to lose weight, because you will be harming your health and will not lose weight.

If you really want to lose weight then I'll advise to see a nutritionist.

Marli, 901

About Jamie Oliver's School Dinners - 902

Hi! My name is Alexandrina.My school doesn't have a typical menu. The food is varied and the students like it.My favourite dish is steak with mushrooms and rice. It's a little unhealthy, but... Jamie's campaign is important for schools which have unhealthy menus. We should take good care of our health. It's our most precious gift. Now choose from below the unhealthy things you shouldn't eat...

Hello! My name is AnOcAs*, and I am 14 years old.
I don’t eat at school every day, just on Tuesdays, but I like the food a lot.
My favourite dish is fish sticks with spring rice, it’s healthy because it doesn’t have too many calories.
I think that Jamie’s campaign is important because he proves that healthy food can be as tasty as unhealthy food.

Pet Log

Barbinhas... by Bruna, 801

Get Fit!

Sedentary life is, nowadays more than ever, the lifestyle taken by our sluggish world. People just watch television and don’t do physical activity beyond the activity of their thumb. Click! Click! That’s why they get fat.
Overweight and obese children are more and more frequent to find. Most of these kids only “do exercise” by eating sweets. Probably, they only sprint for sodas, push-up for ice-creams, curl for pop-corns and crunch chips. Besides, many times parents don’t do anything to stop their kids becoming “Junk food monsters”.
These kids should stop to think and try to have willpower and be engaged in losing weight, by doing exercise everyday, eating slowly, not eating sweets, etc. That way, I’m pretty sure they would feel so much happier and healthier, and wouldn’t have many health risks such as heart problems or others when they become adults.

Ana Patrícia, 1001

Adolescence

Being an adolescent is very difficult, although the adults do not say that. It is difficult because we have to worry about the grades at school. We have to be cool, because if we aren’t, the others make fun of us. We have to control our allowance, because if it finishes, parents won’t give us more. We have to impress our parents doing everything very well and being better than the others. We have to get time to do an extra school sport and to go out with our friends…
In reality, I think it is difficult to be an adolescent because of the tests at school and the grades at the end of the term; and because we have to get time to do our things… But I think we don’t need to be worried with what the others will think about us and we don’t need to impress them because each person is unique and should stay that way instead of changing because the others don’t like them or because they are different. I know that it is difficult for adolescents to think that way.
I have good examples at home who help me think that way. In my case, if my allowance finishes, I may ask my parents for more, but only if I justify why I need more or why the allowance has finished, of course.
Yes, I think being an adolescent is difficult, not only due to the reasons that I referred above, but also because it is the stage when our body starts changing and our hormones are “jumping”. This is a difficult stage because we are happy in a moment and, in the next, we are sad or angry…
So, no one should say that being an adolescent is easy, because it isn’t.

Francisca, 1001

Teen World

My name is Juliana and yes, I’m a teenager!
I live in the Teen World, a world where freedom of expression exists and where we learn the meaning of friendship. The Teen World is the world of love too.
We, the Teen World teenagers, like to have a good time with our friends. However we are students and for that reason, we spend a long time at school.
We love fast food, adventure, adrenalin and sport, among others…
I love to be a teen because I grow up day after day!

Juliana, 802

DRIBAG

Dribag?!? You’re probably asking yourself what Dribag is. Don’t worry, I'll tell you. Dribag is simply a great group of friends! How? Well, D for Diogo, R for Rita, an I for Inês, a B for Bárbara, an A for André and a G for Guida! Very original don’t you think? Well, we formed this group on 9th March 2007 during a school break. Then, we invented some funny names and sometimes we have lunch together and spend the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing. We are always telling jokes, the humour is essential and it is present in each little piece of time that we spend together. And that time is really important! We can relax and forget all the problems just by being ourselves. Well, maybe not all the problems… We still have to look up to the wrist watch and check the time, because when we are together, time does go by very quickly...

André Pedrosa, 801

Eating Well While Eating Out

By now we all know the importance of eating well. But how are you supposed to do so when your schedule is so demanding that you're hardly ever at home? Read this article to find out how people make healthy food choices while eating out.

If I Eat Well at Home, What's Wrong With Splurging When I Eat Out?
A slice of pizza once in a while won't do you any harm. What's important is a person's average food intake over a few days, not just in a single meal. So if you eat a less-than-healthy meal once in a while, try to balance it with healthier foods the rest of that day and week.
But if pizza (or any fast food) is all you eat, that can lead to problems. The most obvious health threat of eating too much fast food is weight gain — or even obesity. Overweight and obese teens are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health problems.
But weight gain isn't the only problem. Too much fast food can drag a person's body down in other ways. Because the food we eat affects all aspects of how the body functions, eating the right (or wrong) foods can influence any number of things, including:
-mental functioning
-emotional well-being
-energy
-strength
-weight
-future health

Eating on the Go
It's actually easier than you think to make good choices at a fast-food restaurant, the mall, or even the school cafeteria. Most cafeterias and fast-food places offer healthy choices that are also tasty, like grilled chicken or salads. Be mindful of portion sizes and high fat add-ons, like dressings, sauces or cheese.
Here are some pointers to remember that can help you make wise choices when eating out:
Go for balance. Choose meals that contain a balance of lean proteins (like fish, chicken, or beans if you're a vegetarian), fruits and vegetables (fries and potato chips don't qualify as veggies!), and whole-grain breads. That's why a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with lettuce and tomato is a better choice than a cheeseburger on a white bun.
Watch portion sizes. The portion sizes of American foods have increased over the past few decades so that we are now eating way more than we need. The average size of a hamburger in the 1950s was just 1.5 ounces, compared with today's hamburgers, which weigh in at 8 ounces or more.
Drink water or low-fat milk. Regular sodas, juices, and energy drinks usually contain "empty" calories that you don't need — not to mention other stuff, like caffeine.

At a Restaurant
Most restaurant portions are way larger than the average serving of food at home. Ask for half portions, share an entrée with a friend, or take half of your dish home.
Here are some other restaurant survival tips:
Ask for sauces and salad dressings on the side and use them sparingly.
Use salsa and mustard instead of mayonnaise or oil.
Ask for olive or canola oil instead of butter, margarine, or shortening.
Use nonfat or lowfat milk instead of whole milk or cream.
Order baked, broiled, or grilled (not fried) lean meats including turkey, chicken, seafood, or sirloin steak.
Salads and vegetables make healthier side dishes than french fries. Use a small amount of sour cream instead of butter if you order a baked potato.
Choose fresh fruit instead of sugary, high-fat desserts.

At the Mall or Fast-Food Place
It's tempting to pig out while shopping, but with a little planning, it's easy to eat healthy foods at the mall. Here are some choices:
a single slice of veggie pizza
grilled, not fried, sandwiches (for example, a grilled chicken breast sandwich)
deli sandwiches on whole-grain bread
a small hamburger
a side salad
frozen yogurt
Choose the smaller sizes, especially when it comes to drinks and snacks if you have a craving for something unhealthy, try sharing the food you crave with a friend.

In the School Cafeteria
The suggestions for eating in a restaurant and at the mall apply to cafeteria food as well. Add vegetables and fruit whenever possible, and opt for leaner, lighter items. Choose sandwiches on whole-grain bread or a plain hamburger over fried foods or pizza. Go easy on the high-fat, low-nutrition items, such as mayonnaise and heavy salad dressings.
You might want to consider packing your own lunch occasionally. Here are some lunch items that pack a healthy punch:
sandwiches with lean meats or fish, like turkey, chicken, tuna (made with low-fat mayo), lean ham, or lean roast beef. For variety, try other sources of protein, like peanut butter, hummus, or meatless chili.
low-fat or nonfat milk, yogurt, or cheese
any fruit that's in season
raw baby carrots, green and red pepper strips, tomatoes, or vegetable juice
whole-grain breads, pita, bagels, or crackers

It can be easy to eat well, even on the run. If you develop the skills to make healthy choices now, your body will thank you later. And the good news is you don't have to eat perfectly all the time. It's OK to splurge every once in a while, as long as your food choices are generally good.

New Year's Resolutions

A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned. More socio-centric examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more economically or environmentally responsible. People may act similarly during the Christian fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility.

So, let's make your own New Year's Resolutions and send them to us!

The following links may help you doing it!

Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions
http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm

Popular New Year’s Resolutions
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml

Welcome back!! We're here again!

Have a wonderful New Year, full of joys and happiness.

We wish all your dreams to come true,

and don't forget to include your grades in those dreams!! ;)