Mayors for a Moment

Mayors for a Moment

 

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“COOPERATION”

February 2010
Zachary Godeck, 5th Grade
Juanamaria Elementary School

Cooperation is very important because if we didn’t have it people wouldn’t work together. Everyone would be doing their own thing every single day of their life.

You need to cooperate to play sports because you would not be working together as a team. When you have a soccer game and somebody won’t pass the ball to you that is an example of not cooperating. You would need to talk to your coach.

When your friend and you have a common goal, but disagree you should try to work it out with someone you trust.

For adults when you’re not working together with your children you should go to dinner and work it out.

It would be nice if everyone would cooperate. There is a quote that sums up cooperation: “United we stand, divided we fall.” That is what I think cooperation is all about.

COURTESY

January 2010
 D’Juan Morgan
5th Grade, Citrus Glen Elementary School

The definition of courtesy is the showing of politeness in one’s attitude and behavior toward others. Being the youngest in my family and with two older sisters, I have been taught courtesy at a very young age. Believe me the two of them have demanded much more than courtesy! For instance there is respect, like keeping my hands off my sister’s cell phone when she isn’t around, or acts of kindness as I remember to show kindness to their boyfriends even when I don’t really care much for them.

I have learned a lot about courtesy from working with seniors in the assisted living communities where my mother and father have worked. Courtesy is free and the reward is priceless. Imagine a world where courtesy is mandatory. There would be happiness, joy, peace, and one and on. Now think of a world where no one shows courtesy. I don’t even want to describe a world like that. Because of courtesy, I am blessed with lots of friends and a family that loves me. I plan on showing courtesy whenever possible and hope you will join me!

RESPONSIBILITY

December 2009
Nick Randazzo, 5th Grade
Will Rogers Elementary School

According to the Children’s Scholastic Dictionary, it defines responsibility as a job or duty. I think responsibility is something or someone that shows some kind of leadership skills. Someone that knows what to do when something goes wrong and they know how to resolve it. You have to know what’s right or wrong and always know to tell the truth. It doesn’t always mean that you’re the smartest but you know how to be a good role model and know that the choices that you make in life are how you can become a better person.

There are many ways I have shown responsibility both in the classroom and the community. When people are fighting or tackling each other on the playground I tried to make an effort to stop the commotion. This problem might get out of hand and someone could get injured badly. Another example of responsibility is doing my homework. Even though I want to watch television first thing when I get home, I have to do what’s right and complete my homework first. Lastly, I have shown responsibility by having a weekly job. I mow my neighbor’s law. I get paid ten dollars every time I mow it. I can’t back out. I have a big responsibility to be there every week and mow her lawn.

All in all, I think being responsible is someone that shows leadership skills in many ways. Being responsible at an early age can help someone go far in life.

SELF-CONTROL

November 2009
Michael Brown
5th Grade Portola Elementary School

Self-control is the control of one’s words and actions. It is important to have self-control because it can help you now and later in your life. For example, someone who has self-control can avoid playing too many video games or watching too much t.v. Also, when someone has self-control they can control their eating habits, their anger, honesty, and what they say to and about others. Bad eating habits can lead to obesity, and other health problems. Uncontrolled anger can get you in a fight. If you are not an honest person, others won’t trust you and later you could even end up in jail. Saying the wrong thing to others can hurt their feelings.

I love to eat food, especially junk food. Fortunately, I have someone to keep me away from eating too much because I have little self-control in this area of my life. Eating too much makes me sick and is unhealthy so I am trying to learn better habits and better self-control. I am working on this a little at a time.

Self-control is having control over your self. The self-control you learn as a child can help you have the control to say no to drugs when you are older. Drugs can ruin your life and the lives of those you love. It is clearly better to have self-control. It will change how you are now and later in your life.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Austin R. Shaw
5th Grade Pierpont Elementary School

Sportsmanship, to me, is a way to have an enjoyable, competitive experience without conflict. This trait assists everyone now, and in their growing lives and should be used not just at school, but everywhere.

Some examples of how I exhibit good sportsmanship are when I try to settle disagreements between teams at school. I have noticed that many people while playing a game focus on revenge for things the other team has done. I try to explain to them that it’s just a game and we are here to have fun. I like when everyone gets along because I, personally, think arguing is a waste of time. When it comes to picking teams I believe it is better to have players on different levels because it gives kids a chance to compete with others and improve their game. And, when everyone gets along, more people want to play so the game is more fun.

But sportsmanship is not just for on the field. When you show good sportsmanship other people see that as a good example and treat you fairly in and outside the classroom. Being a good sport lets you be more easy going and not get upset by little things that are not as important. Also this trait regards the respect others give you if they believe you are a good sport. To me, being a good sport is important because it allows me to make more friends, have more fun, and know that I will be seen as a positive person.

COURTESY

Angel Cruz,
5th Grade E.P. Foster Elementary School

Courtesy is being kind, like having respect for all people. Listening goes well with courtesy. Doing your best is an example of what courtesy is about.

When you are courteous that is when you have respect for different people, which means not calling them names. You should respect family, friends and everybody around you. Some people think they don’t have to respect each other since they are different, but having different skin color, blond hair, or speaking Spanish are not important differences. Respect is a good way of having courtesy for all people.

When you are courteous, you should always listen to what the teacher has to say and wait your turn to speak. The teacher might be saying something important and you may not be listening. Be courteous and don’t do something else when you should be listening. Also, you should wait your turn to speak, not only because it’s the polite thing to do, but because the other person might be saying something very important. Listening is having courtesy for everyone around you. For me, being courteous is always trying your best. Doing your best means putting all the effort you have in things you do, including tests. Trying your best is important to teachers since they know you are paying attention and being polite. You are courteous and respectful to your parents when you can show them a good report card that shows you are paying attention in school.

Those are three examples of what courtesy means to me. No matter if you are big or small, you are the same as everybody, and everybody deserves respect and courtesy.

RESPONSIBILITY

Fidelity Ballmer
5th Grade Saticoy Elementary School

The world is a giant puzzle, each piece being a person. In each puzzle piece, there are hundreds, even thousands of smaller pieces, each one being a trait of that certain person. Now as the world is growing and people are passing lines that have never been passed, (such as flying to the moon) some of these pieces are falling away into space. One of these is responsibility. To me, responsibility is doing the right thing.

Without responsibility, our world would stop spinning. Responsibility is what saves hundreds of lives each year, when people donate their time and money to starving children. Without these people, too many children would die, each and everyday.

Without responsibility, every single polar bear will die out, because of the green house gases, melting the ice away. Without responsibility, we will lose thousands of army men in the war.

Without responsibility all these things would just get worse, as we are on that path. But not everybody is irresponsible. With responsibility, firefighters will save people from the flames as they swallow a house, whole. With responsibility, people will donate their money to help people recover from natural disaster.

With responsibility, people will be responsible for their actions, and tell the truth. With responsibility, we will throw a dollar or two into a poor man’s hat.

We must find these pieces inside of ourselves, and put the world back together, piece-by-piece. And as the world grows and prospers, we will show that we have found all of our pieces, by being a better person, and by being responsible.

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SELF-CONTROL

Lina Ajao
5th Grade Loma Vista Elementary School

Self-control is extremely important because it is required for so many things in life. If you don't have self-control, people can get hurt.

For example, school requires self-control. If you don't use self-control at school, you may get sent to the principal's office. Driving a car requires self-control. Those without self-control might get in a car accident. Also, when you are around other people, you should use self-control. If you don't use self-control around others, someone could get hurt.

You should always use self-control. It's the smartest, safest way.

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SPORTSMANSHIP

Kassandra Contreras
5th Grade Sheridan Way Elementary School

Sportsmanship is trying your best, not caring if you win or lose, having fun and not cheating. One example of sportsmanship is to be the best you can be.

Sportsmanship is trying your best. Why? It shows you did all you could. One example is when I was playing with my friends. I was trying to make a basket but I missed! My friends came up to me and said that was awesome. That moment they showed me sportsmanship because they were proud of me and they knew I was trying my best.

Also, good sportsmanship is not caring if you win or lose, it's just about having fun. For example, one day my team and I were going to play basketball with our PE teacher, Mr. Harris. Before we started to practice I gathered my team around and told them to just have fun and try our best. When the game was over we had won but we didn't care because we were just playing for fun.

Not cheating is an important part of sportsmanship. We were playing "Swatball" in PE. During the whole class, no one cheated and that shows sportsmanship because everyone was playing honestly.

As you can see sportsmanship is important to me and I know it's important to some people out their too.