Remembering Hurricane Katrina

Kid Reporter Abigayle Lista looks back at the storm that wrecked her community.

It’s been four years since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, and the pain is still felt by many of us. I was 9 years old when Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29, 2005. It was hard for me to understand what was going on. I knew about hurricanes and the kind of damage they could leave. But I couldn’t believe the devastation and destruction this one left in its wake.

After evacuating our home, my family was anxious to hear news about what was going on. We left our house a couple of days before Katrina made landfall. The weather reports were at first vague on the course of the hurricane, but we knew was it was a category five—the most destructive and strongest hurricane of all.

The day after Katrina made landfall, we witnessed the destruction of places we were very familiar with. Homes and businesses were crushed to the ground. We watched as whole neighborhoods filled with floodwater. We saw people on roofs crying for help and the people who sought refuge in the Superdome in downtown New Orleans begging or food and water.

In the end, I knew it would take a very long time before life could get back to normal. For us, it was several years before my whole family was back together under one roof. Many people are still without homes, or are now living in different cities or states. It helped me personally that I was able to report on the recovery for Scholastic News and the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.

Four years later, I’m happy to say much has improved. All the support from volunteers and donation funds all across the country helped the area start its long recovery. There is still a lot to be done, but progress has been made. The people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region are resilient and strong. We are proud of our culture and heritage and will do whatever it takes to make a full comeback.

—Abigayle Lista

PHOTO: (TOP) A view of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans nine months after Hurricane Katrina's storm surge broke the levies and flooded the neighborhood. (Photo by Suzanne Freeman) (BOTTOM) Habitat for Humanity volunteer Katsumi Nakayama from Tokyo, Japan, with Scholastic News Kid Reporter Abigayle Lista in June 2008 during a volunteer rebuilding project in New Orleans. (Photo Courtesy Abigayle Lista)

My Interview with Senator Kennedy

Kennedy wanted a legacy of hard work for children's rights, he told this Kid Reporter.

Back in 2004, when I was an 11-year-old Scholastic Kid Reporter, I covered the Democratic National Convention, attending numerous state delegation meetings and caucuses. I had many great experiences, but my most memorable one was my encounter with Senator Ted Kennedy.

I attended a delegation breakfast where he and then-Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack spoke. Kennedy spoke passionately about his interest in education. Following his speech, I weaved and tried to politely push my way through the crowd to get close enough to get his attention. I was eager to ask this notable and influential senator a question or two.

A large group of reporters trotted after the Senator as he left the event. I was with Scholastic Editors and two other Kid Reporters, including my little sister, Elizabeth. We were trying to stay ahead of the pack, when a man with a large camera on his shoulder swung around to get a shot of the Senator walking. I was so close to both of them that the camera hit me right on the head!

With a big throbbing egg on my forehead, I managed to pull myself together and keep running. Within moments, Senator Kennedy had stopped and was looking right at me. Wow!

Lots of other reporters had gathered around and were shouting out questions. Bright lights from the TV cameras were practically blinding me. Despite the glare, I looked Senator Kennedy right in the eyes and asked him how he would like to be remembered. He thought about it a moment before answering. Despite the chaos around him, he gave a measured and sincere answer.

“I want to be remembered as someone who helped children, someone who cares for children,” he said. “Children need good schools to go to, a place to live, good food to eat. The most important thing for children is to have a good education.”

I paid close attention to every word he said as cameras clicked and other reporters shoved. From then on I remembered Senator Kennedy as the most important political figure I ever had the opportunity to interview.

When I woke up this morning, I was devastated to hear that Senator Kennedy died last night. He died in his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, at the age of 77.

My first thoughts went back to my experience in 2004 and the question I had asked him. I know for sure that Senator Kennedy will be remembered as an outstanding public servant and so much more. His brother President John Kennedy once described him as “the best politician in the family.”

Senator Kennedy, who was known as the “last lion” of the senate, had a remarkable congressional career of 47 years. Only two other senators in history have served as long as he did.

His time in the senate was filled with many accomplishments. He was known—and often called—the most effective and hardworking legislator in Congress. He will forever be remembered as a great legacy from a family dynasty of legacies. President Obama said it all when he called Kennedy, “the greatest US Senator of our time.”

—Alexandra Conway

PHOTO: Scholastic Kid Reporter Alexandra Conway interviews Senator Edward Kennedy at a delegation breakfast during the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts, July 29, 2004. Photo by Suzanne Freeman

What I Learned from Senator Kennedy

A chance encounter with Senator Ted Kennedy sparks a love for journalism.

Reporting is a family affair for the Manchester, New Hampshire, Conways. My older sister began the tradition almost five years ago when she covered the Democratic National Convention in Boston. I became an official Kid Reporter a few years later, but that was long after I got the journalism bug!

Back in 2004, I was 9 years old. I had been watching my 11-year-old sister Alexandra having so much fun working as a reporter. I wanted in on the action!

After begging to tag along, Editor Suzanne Freeman said, OK, that I could help with the coverage. It was the last day of the convention and I was so excited! I even got to wear a red kid reporter shirt and a Scholastic Kids Press Corps credential.I felt so special and couldn’t wait to begin.

Our first assignment that morning was to attend a delegation breakfast where Senator Ted Kennedy was a key speaker. Following his speech on education, our group pushed our way through the crowds to interview him. Although I was unable to get in a question, my sister was able to and I still remember the moment vividly.

Today as I hear about the death of one of the greatest senators of all times, I remember the moment when Senator Kennedy shook my very own hand. It was the first time I had ever been to an event as a reporter for Scholastic, and Senator Kennedy was the first famous person I had ever met.

That was the start of reporting for me. The event was the first time I had ever been surrounded by so many reporters and cameras and that first event was what really sparked my interest in reporting.

Had it not been for that day, when I met Senator Kennedy and was a real reporter for the first time, I might not have discovered my passion for reporting and writing. That passion led to biggest story so far: a one-on-one interview with then-Senator Barack Obama on the campaign trail. Thanks, Senator Kennedy! I'll never forget you and the passion you have inspired in me and so many others.

—Elizabeth Conway

PHOTO: You have to look closely, but that small face under my sister's chin (which is on the far right of the picture) is me getting a close-up look of my first celebrity. That's when my passion for journalism was first sparked! (Photo by Suzanne Freeman)

Little League Teams Living the Dream

Close, exciting, unpredictable games rule the Little League World Series.

As the Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS) continues, many top teams are disappointed and many are living their dreams. Only one team will be crowned the Little League World Champions on August 30, but first they have to get through the championship rounds.

The four international teams going on to the championships are: Caribbean, Japan, Mexico, and Asia-Pacific. These teams have all played exceptional games to make it to this level.

The Caribbean team from the Pabao Little League (PLL) played an outstanding game against Japan on August 23. The game was a constant tug of war to keep the lead for both teams.

The Chiba City Little League (CCLL) from Japan took the lead four times and the PLL rallied each time to tie. After the two teams combined to hit three home runs, commit nine errors, throw seven wild pitches, and steal five bases; it all came down to the bottom of the sixth, the final inning. That's when PLL’s Jayson Libert bunted and was thrown out at first base.

While that was taking place, teammate Richendly Bicentini took off from third base to steal home for the winning run. The final score of this outstanding game was 12-11, Caribbean.

The four United States teams going on to the championships are: Southeast, West, Southwest, and Mid-Atlantic. Just like the international teams, it took great determination for these four US teams to make it through to the next round.

That determination was certainly evident in the game played between the Southeast Champion, Warner Robins American Little League (WRALL) from Georgia, and the Midwest Champion, Urbandale Little League (ULL) from Iowa, on August 21. These two teams headed into the sixth and final inning of game three of the LLBWS with a score of 5-3.

All the Georgia team wanted was one or two insurance runs, but what they got instead was six runs against the ULL. After a ground out to lead the final inning, the WRALL hit two singles, two doubles, and a pair of home runs to gather six runs.

“That’s what we talked about in the dugout,” the manger of the Warner Robins team said. “I said give me one, maybe two runs, but that’s a little more than I asked for.” The final score was 11-3, Midwest.

Continue to watch the LLBWS to see more exciting and unpredictable games like these. You can follow the action online or on ESPN and ESPN2. And remember to tune in to ABC at 3:00 p.m. ET on August 30 to see the World Series Championship game. Also remember to check in with this blog soon to see more updated information!

—Daniel Wetter

Maddow Walks the Talk

Scholastic Kids Press Corps goes behind the scenes of "The Rachel Maddow Show."

Recently I visited the set of “The Rachel Maddow Show” and interviewed its host, Rachel Maddow. For those of you who are not familiar with the show, it is an hour-long whirl-wind of political and social commentary on MSNBC, a cable news channel.

Much like her on-screen persona, Maddow proved to be as energetic off screen as she is on. When I first met her she was not afraid to take off her makeup and change into a T-shirt and jeans for the interview. With a shock of tousled hair to finish the look, Maddow was ready to sit down and talk.

I have to admit that this was one of my all-time favorite interviews. Smiles and laughter, along with serious conversation, gave me an inside look into the world of Rachel Maddow.

With little, or no hesitation, she answered all my questions thoughtfully and honestly. Perhaps the most impressive part of the whole interview was the sheer sense of confidence she exudes. She claims that comes from hard work and research: always know more than the person you are interviewing!

Her relatively small office is crammed with books on a wide array of subjects. There is also a clothing rack where at least six blazers in varying shades of gray hang. The mono-tone blazer is her signature wardrobe piece.

Never without her radio equipment, Maddow has a large microphone shoved into the side of her large wooden desk. Her view from that desk is of the famous Radio City Music Hall sign. The lights shine right into her office.

Throughout the interview, Maddow was in constant motion, always changing from one position to the next, in many ways reflecting her outgoing personality.

f you want to know more, you can check out my story in Scholastic’s Tips from the Pros. Then, like me, you will learn the secret to success from one of TV’s top personalities.

—Lya Ferreyra

PHOTO: Rachel Maddow on the set of MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show." Photo Courtesy "The Rachel Maddow Show"

The Swine Flu Right Past Me (And How It Can Avoid You, Too)

I had been at camp for a week when it hit me: the flu! I was at sailing camp and had been participating in all of the camp activities, feeling just fine. Then my forehead started to feel hot and I developed a headache. I went to the infirmary as a precaution.

When I got there, it was packed! Other campers were there to take their regular medications, and one girl had fainted. Even one of my favorite counselors was there sick. The nurse had to take care of all these people before she could help me.

When it was almost my turn, a girl who had just thrown up came in. Because she was very sick, she got priority and the nurse began to examine her. The sick camper took a seat next to me.

The nurse took her temperature, which was extremely high so she made her go lie down. Finally, the nurse was ready to examine at me. She took my temperature. It was 99.5. She didn’t want it to get higher so she made me lie down just like she had done with the previous girl. After about an hour, she checked my temperature again. It was back to normal, so she released me.

The next morning, I felt worse. My head was hot and I felt dizzy. I was at the dock getting ready to go sailing, when I realized I needed another visit with the nurse.

This time my temperature was 101.2! Since it was above 100 I had to leave camp. While I waited for my parents to come get me, I was told the sick girl who sat next to me in the infirmary the day before had a confirmed case of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

H1N1 symptoms are the same as symptoms for the regular flu, so I began to wonder if I had the sickness, too. Several of my friends at other camps in Texas had already been sent home with the swine flu this summer.

As soon as my parents arrived, we headed straight to my doctor’s office to get me swabbed. (Swabbed is when the doctor takes a culture sample from your mouth and grows it. The growth is put under a microscope. That is how doctors can tell what kind of germ you have.)

Luckily, I did not have the H1N1 virus. I went home and just rested. My fever rose in the night and then it fell back to normal. This meant I was allowed to go back to camp.

Getting sick helped me to learn how to take better care of myself at camp. Now, when I cough or sneeze, I am sure I cover it with a tissue, my sleeve, or my hands. Then I immediately wash my hands. With school about to begin, it’s important that everyone learn how to help prevent infection.

All kids can follow several simple steps offered by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to stay healthy:

1. Wash your hands often. Use soap and water and sing the entire song “Happy Birthday” twice. If you don’t have access to soap and water, try alcohol based gel hand sanitizers.
2. Don’t touch your eyes, nose, mouth or face. This is how germs are spread.
3. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough into your upper sleeve. Then go wash your hands.
4. If you are sick—and especially if you are running a fever—stay home. You should be fever free with a temperature less than 100 degrees F for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
5. Don’t share water bottles, make-up, chap stick, or food with your friends or family.
6. Get a good night’s rest. This helps to recharge your immune system to fight off viruses.

The CDC and AAP also recommend that all children receive a seasonal influenza vaccine each year, which can help to prevent the flu. Vaccines for the H1N1 virus are in production and not available yet. When the vaccines become available, you will need to get that one, too. It means two shots this year, but it will be worth it!

—Brittney Sheena

PHOTO: Hand washing often (but especially after sneezing, coughing) is essential in helping prevent the fllu. Wash through two rounds of "Happy Birthday" or "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." (Photo: istockphoto.com)

Little League World Series Begins Today!

Catch all 32 games on ESPN, ESPN 2 and the championship games on ABC!

Were you ever in Little League Baseball? Did you ever dream of becoming the Little League Baseball World Series Champion? This dream will soon be a reality for one team, but first that team has to face the best of the best from around the world.

The Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS) begins today (Friday, August 21) in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. You can tune in to see all the action! If you’re like me, you will be watching every game. In fact, there will be 32 games that will determine the winner and all of them will be broadcast live on TV. You can see them on ESPN and ESPN2.

The LLBWS tournament is decided by games played by teams around the world. Then, the winning teams travel to Williamsport to represent their nation or region. Teams are split into four pools, or groups.

The A and B pools each have four teams from the United States, representing each region of the nation: Mid-Atlantic, Northwest, Southeast, Midwest, New England, West, Southwest, and Great Lakes.

The C and D pools each have four teams from different regions around the world. These regions are: Caribbean, Japan, Middle East-Africa, Latin America, Europe, Mexico, Canada, and Asia-Pacific. All of the regions will compete against each other for the title of being Little League World Champions.

The first 24 games will be played from Friday to Tuesday. All of the teams will play twice during this period. The US teams will play each other, and the international teams will play each other. Once a team has lost twice, they will be disqualified.

The teams that place first and second in their pool will advance to the semifinals. In the semifinals, four games are played to determine the top four teams. The US teams will again play each other in pools A and B, and the international teams will play each other in pools C and D.

The winners from those games go on to the international and US championships on Saturday, August 29. A consolation game will be played on Sunday, August 30 between the US runner up and the international runner up.

The winners from the two championship games be compete in the Little League Baseball World Series that evening. You can watch the international and US championships on ABC starting at 12:00 p.m. ET on August 29. The consolation game will be aired on ESPN at 12:00 p.m. ET on August 30. The game that decides the World Champion will be broadcast on ABC at 3:30 PM ET. You can also watch the games live online at ESPN360.com. To find the complete schedule of games, go to littleleague.org. Have fun watching and check back here for periodic updates as the action continues.

—Daniel Wetter

Globetrotting in Europe

This summer trip could be homework for history class, only much more fun!

I visited Europe this summer, starting with Barcelona, Spain. The reason I went to Barcelona was to visit my mother’s’ family. It was the first time we met! They were a little shy and so was I. My family was very nice and gave me a tour of the whole city.

Barcelona is one of the oldest cities in all of Europe. I saw several old buildings in the Gothic Quarter. Something did confuse me during my visit. When my cousins spoke to me they would speak in Spanish, which I understand. But when they spoke to each other, they spoke in a language I never heard before. It’s called Catalan and it’s only spoken in a few parts of Europe.

I got a chance to ride on the Metro, which is similar to the subway in New York City. I saw a lot of great sites in Barcelona, but my favorite part of that trip was meeting my cousins from across the Atlantic.

Next on my itinerary was Paris, France. I was in Paris for only one day, but oh what a day!

The first place I saw was the Notre Dame Cathedral. Have you ever heard of Quasimodo? Well Victor Hugo was inspired to write his famous novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, because of that cathedral. When I saw the gargoyles on the roof I thought of the Disney movie about the hunchback. For a spilt second I thought they would start talking just like they do in the movie.

The next stop was the famous Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre, perhaps the most well-known museum in the world. Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa more than 500 years ago!

I climbed the wonderful Eiffel Tower at night while it was all lit up. The line was long, but it was worth the wait. Looking down at Paris from the heights was a grand sight. If you ever go to Paris, remember that the nights are chilly, so bring a coat. I learned that the hard way.

My last destination in Europe was London, England. I rode The Underground (also called The Tube), which is yet another version of New York City’s subway.

London is similar to New York in many ways. For example, in New York we have Times Square. London, has a similar area called Piccadilly Circus. Both have theater districts where all the plays and musicals are staged.

While I was in London, I saw Big Ben, the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament (similar to our capital building where Congress works). It is the world’s most famous and recognizable clock. That was my favorite thing to see because in the Disney movie Peter Pan, Peter flies past Big Ben.

After Ben, I rode the London Eye. The Eye is a spectacular site. It’s the biggest ferris wheel in Europe. I also visited Buckingham Palace, home to Queen Elizabeth, to see the changing of the guards. I didn’t get to see much because there were too many tourists trying to get a glimpse of the Queen's guards.

We finished are sight seeing with two bridges: the Tower Bridge and London Bridge. Both bridges cross the River Thames, but are very different. The London Bridge is more modern, while the Tower Bridge looks more like old England with a tower on each end.

After all that, the best part of this trip was returning to the hotel for a nice, long nap.

—Ash Proenza

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Ash Proenza in front of his favorite sightseeing spot in Europe: the Big Ben clock tower in London. Photo Courtesy Ash Proenza

Adventures in Costa Rica

Monkeys and Sloths and Snakes, OH MY!

I'm standing on the beach watching a troop of white faced capuchin monkeys scamper across the sand, snatching fruit and bags of chips from people's beach towels before scrambling up trees with their treasures. One even went so far as to jump on my dad's back on its way to a new tree.

I can also see a boa constrictor coiled up in a tree behind us. And in the jungle, which is right on the beach, I can see as many sloths crawling around in the trees as there are monkeys dancing on the beach (which is maybe a little over a dozen). Yes, I am in Costa Rica, a small country in Central America with beaches on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

While on my trip I learned a lot about the country and its animals. I learned that sloths climb down from their trees only once a week. They come down to go to the bathroom and then slowly climb back up the tree. There they begin the same cycle of chomping down leaves with painfully slow-moving jaws and sleeping for hours at a time with no particular schedule. After a week of this, they go back down to do their business.

I saw the most wildlife in the Manuel Antonio National Park, but animal sightings were not the only adventure I had!

A Thrilling Ride and a Close Encounter

Zip lining is another way to see the rain forests of Costa Rica. Zip lining is when you stand on a platform high above the ground, and a guide attaches you to a cable by a carabiner. Then he gives you a little push, and whoosh, you go sailing through the forest canopy at top speed, until you reach the next platform.

I was in a group of about 40 people and we zipped between 12 platforms. Every fourth platform was a rest platform. That meant that all 40 of us were on the platform at the same time!

On one rest platform, we got a poisonous surprise: a tiny, but deadly fer-de-lance was sleeping on the platform. Also known as a pit viper, if a fer-de-lance bit you, you would normally have no more than 20 minutes to live. I'm happy we made it out of that situation alive! I still have much more to say but that will have to wait for another time. Hope you enjoyed my blog AND your summer!

—Maya Kandell

PHOTOS: (TOP) White faced capuchin monkeys play in the trees near a beach in Costa Rica. (BOTTOM): Maya zips from one platform to another in a rain forest in Costa Rica. (Photos courtesy Maya Kandell)

Behind the Scenes of Percy Jackson

If it takes 10 hours to shoot a 2-minute scene, then how long for a whole movie!

The first of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series, The Lightning Thief, will soon be on the big screen. How do I know? I recently visited the movie set in Vancouver, Canada, where author Rick Riordan’s most famous creation is being filmed. The fifth and final book in the series, The Last Olympian, was released this May. The movie is set to be release in February 2010.

It was my first time on a movie set, and it was amazing! The scene being filmed the day I visited was when Grover and Percy walk out of the infirmary in Camp Half-blood. It’s the scene when Grover tells Percy that he, too, is a demigod. The setting of Camp Half-Blood is in Golden Ears Park, so there was an abundance of trees, moss, shrubs, and mosquitoes! 

The unit publicist, who was pretty much our tour guide that day, took my mom and me around the area so I could get a view of all the camera angles. I also got to hang out in the director’s tent where Director Chris Columbus worked setting up and reviewing the different shots on a computer screen. (Columbus also directed the first two Harry Potter movies.)

The entire 10-hour workday was spent on that one scene, which will end up being only about two-minutes long in the movie.  They had to get five different angles of the scene, and since the actors would forget lines or the lighting wasn’t always perfect, it took the whole day just to get it right.

The first half of the day, the director focused on getting the front and right side views of the scene. After a nice lunch in the dining tent, actors took about a half-hour break in their mobiles before getting back to work.  The last half of the day, cameras were focused on the left angle and the back. Cameras were set up behind the actors to film them while they walked.  This took only about half an hour, because you wouldn’t see the actors’ lips moving. It didn’t matter if they flubbed their lines for this!

You may think that one scene is easier or harder to shoot than the other, but not according to Columbus.

“I think on this film, every scene is a major challenge to create the reality of the Olympian world,” he said.

It was a great day and I learned a lot about how much work it takes to make a movie.

—Grace Choi

PHOTO: Grace and and Brandon T. Jackson, who plays Grover, on the set of The Lightning Thief in Vancouver, Canada, summer 2009. Photo Courtesy Grace Choi.