Stories by Staff Aroostook Republican

By Sydney Thompson
Grade 8
On March 5, 2015 I had the opportunity to attend the 19th annual Girls’ Day at the State House, put on by the Maine Women’s Policy Center. This experience instilled in all of the girls the passion and belief that all women must have the same rights, opportunities, and power to direct their lives as men, and that they should live with dignity, privacy, justice, and equity.
Our day started off with a mock trial in the Burton M. Cross Building, where we testified either for or against the bill dealing with the idea of a virtual charter school for all of Maine. That was followed by a mock news conference where we were given tips to have a successful and to-the-point interview. Later in the day we did a surprisingly challenging scavenger hunt throughout the State House. We went into the House Chamber next, where we had a heated floor debate on the virtual charter school idea, all the while sitting in the same seats our representatives sit in to make laws that impact our daily lives. To finish the day we got our picture taken in the Hall of Flags next to Governor Paul LePage’s office, where we were also read very inspiring letters that were directed to us from both Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, and Senator Susan Collins.

By Keith Bray
Grade 6, Woodland
America’s veterans do not complain when fighting for us; they just do it. Veterans represent our country in war.
Veterans can be your neighbors and your friends, but do not be fooled, these people more than that. Veterans should get more respect than they do now.
Veterans also respect other fallen and their families. Some volunteer their time to about the wars and about the people they fought beside them that might not have made it their families to tell their stories. Veterans also volunteer their time to hospitals to help fight diseases; like, right now how veterans are helping fight ebola. Veterans are good examples American kids. We should stand up for veterans just as they stood up for us in war.

Silver Bullet
By Joseph Stubbs
Grade 3, Connor

Once upon a time there was a guy named Silver Bullet and he was fighting a guy that was invisible. He lived near the volcano and Silver Bullet got his silver on and all you heard was POW! BAM! CRASH! and BOOM!

By Bella Sleeper, Abbi Gauvin, Evan Hale, & Logan Duplessie
Grade 2, Hilltop
Every Friday whoever is mayor goes to the office to announce “Good morning staff. Could you please put your recycling bins in the hall? Thank you. The Green Team.” We take the recycling bins that are full of paper and dump them in cans. The paper is recycled to make new paper.

By Lexie Disy, Tamara Moreau, Brody Anderson
& Kate Bechtel
Grade 2, Hilltop
When we went on a fieldtrip we went to the Tri-Community Landfill. Mr. Draper got on the bus and he talked about the landfill and his job. We saw burning wood. Then we saw tires in a pile outside. Tires make mulch for playgrounds. We saw dirty water. The water came from the garbage that is smashed up. Trucks get it and take it away. We drove on a big hill of garbage and saw tractors too. Birds were flying all over the place. It was stinky. We saw glass from glass bottles on the ground.

By Ava Finelli, Ian Russell, Braxton McCrossin
& Matthew Gahagan
Grade 2, Hilltop
In the cafeteria we make sure other kids do not throw away silverware. We make sure kids put their silverware in the white bins. If they don’t, we pick it up and put it in the white bin. Mr. Sheldon helps us too. We take the silverware and put it in the bigger bin and the cooks wash it for the next group of kids.

By Madelyn Cote, Caleb Kuklak,
Josh Pitre & Destyni Tardy
Grade 2, Hilltop Elementary
We go to the igloos to recycle magazines. We fill our tote bags with magazines from the workroom and Mr. Sheldon takes us to the igloo. When we get there he helps us put the magazines in the igloos. And did you know there is other stuff you can recycle like milk jugs and colored plastic and cardboard and cans! We go to the igloos to make the world a happy place and keep people healthy.

CARIBOU, Maine — Newspapers can be found on people’s coffee tables, on store racks and, just as importantly, in the classrooms of most school systems.
In today’s ever-changing technological world, the Aroostook Republican staff feels that it is important for the younger generation to know more about the newspaper industry and the history that comes with holding a product in your hands, turning the pages, and cutting out photos and articles to hang on their parents’ refrigerators.