FNN Takes On the Candidates

FNN Takes On the Republican Candidates at the Tavis Smiley All-American Presidential Forum Friendship News Network reporters spoke with Republican presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Duncan Hunter about the issues that mattered the them and analyzed the debate at the Tavis Smiley All-American Presidential Forum. Read more of FNN's Republican series here.

My Day at the Spelling Bee

FNN reporter Nadean Talley interviews Michael Cooper, III at NBC4.FNN reporter Nadean Talley interviews Michael Cooper, III at NBC4.

On Wednesday, March 21, 2007, I went to The 25TH Annual Spelling Bee at NBC 4 which was sponsored by The Washington Informer, Friendship Public Charter School and NBC 4. I got to meet Ron Burke, Director of Advertising and Marketing for The Washington Informer; Pat Lawson Muse, news anchor for NBC4; Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of The Washington Informer; Gloria Reaves, Pat Bonds, Patricia Clouden and Deborah Hensley who are all media specialists and judges in the Bee.

I got to interview four of the contestants: Michael Cooper III, Federico Marchese, Olivia Lasche and Stephanie Guzman. Michael Cooper is from Friendship Public Charter School, Southeast Academy. He was contestant number 9 and he lasted five rounds. In the fifth round, he misspelled the word F-I-L-I-B-U-S-T-E-R. He spelled it P-H-I-L-I-B-U-S-T-E-R. Even though he didn’t make first, second or third place, doesn’t mean he is still not a winner. I think he did a really good job. And he said that he will compete in the Bee again next year. So, Michael, I hope you do really well next year. Hey, maybe you might come in first place next time. Next comes “our” fourth place winner, Fedrico Machese. who won a prize of $100. He is in the sixth grade and attends Mann Elementary School in NW Washington. He attended the bee “bee” fore and did pretty well. When I interviewed him, I noticed that he spoke really well and that he knew what he was talking about. He seemed very confident and is bi-lingual in Spanish and English. After my interview with Fredrico, I interviewed the leading champs (for now) Stephanie and Olivia who came in first and second place, of course. Both of them were so confident and seemed so comfortable as if they had done it before. Oh yeah, they have been in the spelling bee before. That is interesting. Maybe they should be in it again next year. “Our” first-place winner, Stephanie, won 1,000 DOLLARS !!!!!! That’s alot!!!!!! And “Our” second-place winner, Olivia won 500 DOLLARS which is a lot too!!!!!. I wondered what they’re going to do with all that money. So, I asked them and you know what? They didn’t even know. That’s crazy, but okay. If I won all that cash, I wouldn’t know what to do with it myself. It’s too bad I didn’t get to talk to “Our” third place winner. But that’s okay.

WOW! All this talk about The Spelling Bee is making me think about being in it next year….Bye Bye. spellingbeeimage.jpg Congrats to Friendship student Michael Cooper III (pictured here) for a great job.

A Tragedy Close to Home: When a person believes the world is against him and kills

Virginia Tech Memorial On April 16th many lives were lost in a horrible massacre. How did this happen? On April 16th around 7am, a gunman was reported to be on the Campus of Virginia Tech. Everyone was alerted that there had been a shooting, but no one was told two people had been shot and killed. The police and the president of Virginia Tech decided not to close school. But that turned out to be a horrible idea. Two hours later the massacre began. A gunman chained the doors of Norris Hall and went on his shooting spree. In the end 32 people were shot and killed and the gunman shot himself. The gunman was identified as Cho Seung Hui, an English major from South Korea. His professors said he was very depressed and he was a “loner”. One of his professors was concerned about her student’s safety long before this massacre occurred. She said Cho’s writings in her English class were disturbing. Many people are asking how could this happen to such young and hopeful people in a matter of minutes. Could this have been prevented and who is to blame?

I think no one could have predicted a tragedy like this. This was a crime committed by a depressed young man who thought the world was against him. I think this is so sad and I pray for all the families and friends of the victims. I think it’s amazing how easy it is to get a gun in Virginia and maybe if it weren’t so easy to get a gun, all the victims of Cho’s rampage would still be alive. It’s sad that the place you think is safe ends up to be the place where you are killed. I don’t think anyone could have prevented this. Many lives were lost…and many dreams were lost. The lives that were taken could have been the lives of some of the future’s most important people in the world. I know it will be hard for all the people affected by this massacre to cope with all the deaths. I want to honor the lives of the 32 brave people who lost their lives. I will always remember them and admire them.

Robotics: Team Sport for the 21st Century

roboticsweb.jpgClick on the picture to see the video of the FPCS RoboKnights in action. Photo by Adonis Miller Since mid-January the FPCS RoboKnights Team have been working day and night building a Robot to compete in the 2007 FIRST Robotic Challenge. On March 16, the robot will compete in the FIRST Robotics Games at the Naval Academy in Annapolis against robots built by high school teams from around the region and if they win it’s on to the championship. All FPCS students, teachers and friends are invited to come out and show your school spirit. For more information contact Ms. Paula Shelton in the Smart Lab.

Click here to find out more about the competition.

RoboKnights Spokesperson Dexter Williams Talks About The Team

dexterweb.jpgWhile participating in the US FIRST Robotics Competition, all teams can agree that we face trials, tribulations, successes, failures, consequences and rewards. But in the end, the finished product seems to make all of these obstacles and sacrifices worth it. This is the credo of Team 1446, The Robo Knights. From the beginning, we encountered issues. First off, in our school, Robotics is not a major part of the curriculum. Most of the students found it hard to believe that they had what it took to make a robot. So, we invited students to our NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers) meeting every Thursday. We spoke to parents and other teachers about what we do during report card conferences. We created pamphlets to pass out and hang up all around the school. We involved the Engineering Academy classes at our school. We found that the most effective way to spread the message about FIRST Robotics was to demonstrate what our previous robots are capable of. We held demonstrations with our two previous robots to catch the attention of students who may have been hesitant to join. And, our Smart Lab (where we work) is always open to curious minds. Anyone is allowed to enter and ask around. We received many memberships to NSBE and the FIRST Robotics team.

Dealing with FIRST, it is nearly impossible to leave without some improvement in your life. After beginning production on the robot, a grade requirement of at least 2.5 is required to stay on the team. This is to ensure that no student’s grades slip in any subject. The Robotics team members helped each other by tutoring anyone who needed assistance on weekends and after school. I am happy to report that not one student has fallen below the 2.5 GPA scale. All of the team members have gone above and beyond the expectations of FIRST and are able to contribute more to class and life on the whole. Teachers noticed great improvement in the team’s work and participation. Four students on the Robotics team are in the Early College Program at our school— a program in cooperation with UDC that allows high school students from grades 9-12 to take college classes taught by real professors for real college credits.

Robotics team members learn to become independent thinkers with the “Ask three before me” rule. This rule states that whenever one of us has a question, that person should ask three people around them for the answer before they seek assistance from mentors or adults. Mrs. Shelton (our facilitator) came up with this rule. It helps us to look to one another for help. In our first year, it was a little trying at times, but we eventually learned to trust the words of our peers and we now are better because of that. This rule is a great benefit because we don’t need to be surrounded by adults every minute. We are more independent when we work and can dedicate personal time amongst the students to finish what we need to get done. Without Mrs. Shelton helping us to learn this rule, we would not be where we are today.

Many sponsors pass through our school daily and one thing that all of them seem transfixed on is the Robotics team. Many of them are in near disbelief that so few students could achieve so much and be so hard working. We are one of the prime highlights of our school—one of the greatest honors we can receive. The fact that we can influence people to change their beliefs as to what kids of our class and race are capable of, tells us that we are achieving. Now, when people walk in our neighborhood and see our school, they don’t just see another bad high school in the “hood”, they see a school where the students work hard to show their achievements.

There are many reasons for other teams to look up to and emulate the RoboKnights. We are a team in every sense of the word. When one team member falls short, the team falls short. We all understand this and we work extremely hard to make sure everyone is given the assistance they need to do their job. Imagine a machine with all the gears and parts working together to move fluidly and perform at maximum capacity. Now, if one of those gears breaks off or is taken out, then the machine cannot move at maximum capacity. That’s how we operate. We are the gears for our team. We work together in unity to get our robot to operate.

Our team is family. We are as close as close can be. We’re not perfect. What family is? But deep down I know we all care for and want nothing but the best for one another. We have our matriarch and patriarch, (Mrs. Shelton and Mr. Shelton) who like all matriarchs and patriarchs are wise, humble and love each of us with the passion that one would have for their own children and a toughness that lets us know that they knowand expect the excellence we’re capable of. We have the dad and mom like any family (Mr. Davis and Ms. Shauger) who look after and assist each of us in our endeavors with FIRST and in our lives. Then there are the brothers and sisters of FIRST. We play together, work together, disagree on some things, but are close just the same. You see, FIRST to us is more than a competition or just a way to improve our engineering skills. It’s a life experience that gives each of us new morals and/or credos to carry with us as we move on in our lives.

The impact of FIRST extends far beyond the competition. In order for a team to truly be successful, they need to establish a bond that stays with them throughout the years. Many of my best networks have been established through NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers) and the Robotics team. Many of my best friends are involved closely with the robot and I believe that shows through our cooperation. Many of the FIRST alumni who have graduated come back just to assist and support the present team. We’ve received compliments from many of the executives who pass through our school, just for our hard work and dedication to our goals. While winning would be nice, that’s not why we come. We come to establish future partnerships, experience new cultures and just to enjoy ourselves.

Team 1446, AKA the Robo Knights, doesn’t have the largest team. We may not have the nicest shirts or the coolest designed robots. We may not look like the most dedicated team around, but never judge a book by its cover. Many months of blood, sweat and tears have gone into this robot. The sacrifice that my team and I have given to the FIRST experience cannot be stressed enough. We love what we do and we know that our dedication this year will show all who witness that the Robo Knights have gone through the trials and tribulations, the ups and downs, to face the consequences and rewards with open minds and wide smiles. We are a team, a family, a machine that moves fluidly to show all what FIRST is truly about.

The Importance of Black History

Javae D. Valentine My name is Javae Valentine and I am an African American. Ever since the first grade I have always wanted to be a lawyer. I have no doubt that I will be a lawyer, but I would not have that opportunity if it were not for the African Americans that came before me. Becoming a lawyer will be a hard road to travel, but it is possible because of those wonderful people in Black History. If they had not done what they did, this is what my life would have been like...

April 5th 2004. I am 10 years old. My world is not the place you would want to live in. White people still don’t give us strong African Americans the respect we deserve. I have dreams of being a successful lawyer but it’s never going to happen if no one stands up to the whites. I can’t do anything to save people from being beaten, terrorized and most of all…degraded. It hurts to know that people would treat people of a different race like animals. The Constitution says we are supposed to be free, but this is not free. This is wrong. We are people too. But we are treated badly because of the color of our skin. God made us dark but that’s not a reason to be treated badly. Right now no one can help us. I wish…someone needs to stand-up for us, but it won’t happen.

When I grow up I will have a nice job as a maid.

This is what my life would have been like if all the brave people had not fought for what they believed in. I believe Black History is important because it shows that anyone can overcome adversities. People like Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and others made this world a better place to live in. Even though everyone in Black History was not famous, there are people who helped make other people’s dreams possible. But if those people had not existed, this is what my life would have been like...

I want to be a lawyer! I do not want to have to clean up behind people who could easily clean up their own house. I cannot live like this. I do not want my kids to be maids because no one thinks we are smart enough to have a job that does not involve cleaning somebody’s house. I do not want be treated as if I am nothing.

April 8th 2005. It is my 11th birthday. Yesterday the police hosed down some teens who were protesting. I want to be able to speak my mind and not be punished for it. My mom says I will soon have a better life, but what does she know. She has been telling me that for years now. She works on a plantation like some kind of animal. Policemen killed my dad last week but I’m not sad. He was protesting. He was being brave. Police are not supposed to kill people for no reason. I wish he could be here on my birthday. I told my friend what happened. She was upset too because she is like my sister but she was also excited about me turning 11. I am not that excited. It’s not like I’m doing something special. My family has no money and my dad is gone. My brother was arrested last weekend for looking at a white girl. He never came back. Now my mom is more interested in his safety than in my birthday. I’m not saying I do not care, but I want my mom to care about me too.

November 12th 2007. I’m 13 years old. My brother came back home last year. He told us what happened. It was really bad I am just happy he is back...

That is what my life would have been like if all of the people who believed we were being mistreated did not fight for us. But thanks to them, here is what my life is really like. I want to be a lawyer and I will be one. I am smart, devoted and I will not be told I cannot do something. I have been getting A’s and B’s so I can get a scholarship to NYU. I will be successful. It is great to know if I put my mind to doing something, I can do it. There is a world of opportunity out there. I am a plane that can fly everywhere and do anything. My mom is a court reporter and she is successful…all because she worked hard. In the past, many people talked about how African American people were not smart but we proved them wrong. African Americans are smart and determined and so am I.

I know you can tell the difference between what life would be like if people did not stand-up and be counted and life after we were really free. Black History means a lot. I think Black History is important and everyone needs to know about it because it has had a great impact on African American society.

Ever since I was in the first grade, I have always wanted to be a lawyer. I have no doubt that I will be a lawyer and because of the strong African Americans in my past, I have a chance to achieve my goal.

“Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail

A Trip to the Lincoln Memorial

Paulette Lewis Last year, my fifth grade class went on a unique filed trip to The Lincoln Memorial. We were there to recite the speech, “I Have A Dream.” We practiced for weeks and maybe months just for those five minutes. When we got there, it wasn’t what we expected. As we were walking towards the memorial, we looked down at our feet and saw a reflecting pool. We thought that it would be fresh, neat and maybe full of water. We looked down and saw that the reflecting pool (where the people had stood in 1969 watching the brave and courageous Dr. King make that bold and full-of-good-information speech) was full of trash, birds and food. The birds were eating the trash that people had thrown into the pool. We were not going to let that bring us down even though we were sad and disappointed when we saw the reflecting pool. We were going to do exactly what we came to do. We took a deep breath and recited the speech just like Martin Luther King Jr. himself. While we were reciting the famous poem, my teacher stood on the side recording the whole thing so she could show it to our parents at the parent-teacher conference. After we recited the poem, we received a standing ovation from the people that came to see the Lincoln Memorial. When I saw the trash in the pool I felt mad and started thinking about how Dr.King would feel. I thought he would start feeling mad and disappointed. But, that’s just me! It was so fun and so educational that I would like to do it all over again!

8 Ways To Get Your Valentine

Giselle Britt and Randyn Fullard 1. Think about what you are going to say before you ask that person to be your valentine.

2. Make sure that your clothes and hair look great.

3. Make sure you don’t say anything stupid.

4. Talk about something interesting so you won’t bore that person.

5. You could bring chocolates and flowers.

6. Write a poem for your valentine, put it in their locker and write from your secret admirer. (2 weeks before Valentine’s Day)

7. Make sure you check the spelling on the poem. Also make sure you don’t have any cheesy lines in the poem.

8. Finally, make sure you keep your paper nice and neat so that your valentine won’t think you are messy.