My tree has grown small and weary leaves. It’s bushes have grown more colorful, and full. I’ve decided to name my tree Change because over a span of 3 months, it’s changed to be a big, strong tree. I’ve decided to name the group of ants on my tree the Smalls, since they are so tiny, especially compared to the tree itself. 

My name is Jocelyn A.D. Gilmore. 

My first name Jocelyn means jovial, meaning happy. 

My middle names mean ‘God is my judge’, and ‘Holy’

After seeing my tree again, we started another book called Wishtree, and we were asked to define what an optimist and a pessimist is. 

The dictionary describes an optimist as ‘a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the success of something’. 

Some synonyms are cheerful, buoyant, merry, trusting.

Some antonyms are negative, bleak.

The dictionary definition of a pessimist is ‘tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen’. 

Some synonyms are negative, downbeat, bleak.

Some antonyms are positive, optimistic.

I believe I can be a mix of the two. An optissimist, if you will. When things are completely senseless or unnecessary, and have never happened before, I can be on the negative side. 

For example, my sister once asked me if I could make a cardboard plane out of sheets and cardboard. And if it could hold her, me, and our 60 pound dog. Now, if I had magic, of course, I would’ve been all for it. But I didn’t. I don’t. So I declined her, and I think all those dirty rubber bands she’s been leaving on my side of the sink has been payback. 

But the optimist part of me can think of crazy things. 

For example, I once thought of the idea to make a strong enough Coke and Mentos explosion to carry a friend’s four year old sister. If we put enough Coke and Mentos in some huge jug of something, it could carry her. But, come on, really?

As an optissimist, it can definitely be hard to decline an amazing idea, especially if the idea is my own. 

This week, we got back our tree books. We got back the work we did, the time unincluded, and it was a weird feeling. The process, unfortunately, was uncomfortable, especially for me. I recall silk screening, painting that random paper blue, and stealing my brayer from the partner across from me (hehe). I remember cutting out the top of the tree and trying to be aesthetically pleasing, but it failed horribly. I remember trying to write nice things about my family members and trying not to sprinkle in a tiny bit of attitude. And the Elmer’s Glue. The creamy, white, stickly, annoying, peely-offy piece of garbage that always seemed to leak out of the recycled yogurt containers. Thanks to Peg Gignoux(https://gignouxart.com/), and her awesome teaching, I was able to create what my sister would call a masterpiece. 

Below are the essays we had to write, the ‘Branches, Reaching Towards the Sky’, and my ‘Salute to my Roots’. Thanks for reading.

SALUTE TO MY ROOTS!

Jocelyn Gilmore

• My Mom has been with me through thick and thin, through pandemics and more. She is always hard-working, keeping up with my siblings and me, taking care of us, and keeping us safe. That’s all anyone could ever ask for in a parent. She’s taught me to do my part, be myself, and put effort into any and everything. I will forever be grateful and I will forever be in her debt. I love her, I pray I have given her the life she deserves. 
• My Dad has always looked out for me and watched me grow. He has stood by me, and given me advice that I will never forget. He has changed my view of things, showed me truth and honesty. He has forgiven me, taught me, changed me for the better. He is dutiful and kind. I love him, and hope he remembers that forever. 
• My aunt is kind and will always be there for me, and I’ll be there for her. I can always talk to her when I need to, and I am thankful for that. She’s accepted me for who I am, and been there for me at various different times just because. She is so special to me and I’ll always care and love for her. 
• My grandmother is what I know as half of the start of my roots. She’s sweet and thoughtful, and welcoming and happy. I will always remember her telling me to go for things and stay focused even when it’s hard. She’s inspirational, helpful and understanding. She’ll be with me always. 
• My Nannah has always believed in me. She’s taught me to believe in myself, and never give up. She’s a role model, someone I’ll always look up to and remember. She’s confident, and supporting. She’s loving and appreciative. And I love her too.

Branches, Reaching Toward the Sky

My Wish Tree

Jocelyn Gilmore

Essay ‘Branches, Reaching Toward the Sky’ my Wish Tree

My Life List:

1. To leave the continent at least 5 times

I’ve always wanted to travel the world, and I believe it’s good to learn and experience new cultures. America has raised me to be myself and taught me to be safe, but there’s more to life than what’s just around me.

1. To donate over $600 dollars to Children’s Hospitals

Doctors could use the money to help end Cancer

Children deserve the help and money

1. To publish 2 books

I have so many ideas,

If I do publish at least two, then I can publish more.

1. To graduate

I can’t go out and see the world without a full education, and

Staying near my family will get aggravating.

1. To go to all 50 states

When you start, why finish?

I’d like to visit more diverse states in America.

1. To go to DisneyLand and DisneyWorld

It sounds fun and

It’d be a good getaway.

1. To never be too stressed

It will take me away from doing things I love and

It will also take me away from people I care about.

1. To be open to people

If I’m too closed off, I won’t get ideas and

I won’t invest in people.

1. To own a house

It will keep me safe and

I will have a hub to live in.

1. To question everything possible

It’s better to question things than to let them slide and forever be confused.

I can learn more to give me knowledge and help me with problems.

The world is such a full and beautiful place, and I wish these five things for it…

I wish we overcome discrimination and hatred for others. We all deserve to be ourselves and free. I wish we all had a safe place to stay, to grow, to love. I wish for justice, especially for those who need it. I wish for answers, for no more secrets or untold stories. I wish for alliance, maybe even friendship for us all. I wish we could finally hold hands and understand that even though we’ve had our differences, we’re all special, we’re all unique and outstanding. These are my wishes for our world. 

Last week in Language Arts, my class got the weird opportunity to figure out which fingerprint we had. It was pretty cool, I’ll admit. I learned about the (at least ten) different kinds of fingerprints, and that I didn’t have much difference in my fingers. I, of course, can’t describe my fingerprints to you because, well, I could end up a fugitive, and I don’t need a mole knowing about me. Here are eight facts I learned about fingerprints later after the project:

1. Koalas have fingerprints as well! No one knows exactly why, especially since the koalas’ shared their last common ancestor with humans over 100 million years ago

2. Identical twins have different fingerprints. This is weird, but true. A baby’s fingerprint forms in its pattern based on the environment of the womb. So if one baby is on one side and the other baby is on the other side, different fingerprints will form.

3. Fingerprints actually are helpful in your daily life. They help you get a grip on things with the ridges.

4. Some people are born without fingerprints! This just sometimes happens! No one can explain this phenomenon.

5. British Police once requested all males in one town send in their fingerprints to find a murderer. After scanning more than 40,000 fingerprints, they found him and he was persecuted.

6. People can figure out what drugs you’ve been taking based on your fingerprints. Technology has definitely evolved into this amazing fact, and remember, try not to take drugs anyways.

These facts are weird, but again, true. I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Hello, all. In this post, I’ll be explaining my choices in the Stock Market Game.

Why: We’re playing this game because Turtle Wexler, character in the Westing Game, the book we’re reading, is obsessed and totally interested in stocks.

What is in the chart: Six stocks of our choice

My Stock Company Name: JIBI (Jocelyn Is the Best Industries)

My Stock choices and why:

Disney: DisneyWorld and Land is now opening, cash flow.

Netflix: It’s just a great app. And everyone else agrees, cash flow.

Amazon: People want stuff, cash flow.

Microsoft: We use Teams and Outlook everyday. Cash flow.

Target: My mom’s an addict. Cash flow.

Apple: Don’t tell me you don’t think about wanting those new headphones they just came out with.. cash flow.

Hi. In class last week, we were supposed to read, Lady or the Tiger by Frank Stockton. You’ll notice the author didn’t exactly add an ending, so we added our own. The link is below, along with my ending and a picture of my cover. Enjoy

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http://pshs.psd202.org/documents/kmahoney/1504223790.pdf

The man slowly reached for the door, and when he opened it, the princess was there, a beautiful smile across her happy face. The king gasped. He turned to the princess’s seat. The first princess in his sitting box ripped off her face and it was the lady that was supposed to be in the door! It was a delicate fabric sewn mask.The barbaric king yelled angrily and said, “Apiam the tiger!!!” A man across the arena pulled a rope, and the tiger’s door opened. The ferocious orange and black tiger took off after the couple. “Father!” the princess screamed. “Stop!” But the tiger chased them across the arena, until they were trapped and breathing like a bird after it hit a stone wall. The king grinned as the tiger closed in on them. The tiger licked its black and red musnisk lips. “No, father, no!” the princess grabbed the man’s hand, and all of a sudden, a rope fell from the sky. The king stood up as the man and princess climbed up the mysterious long rope. “How?!” the juskayn king shouted. The princess and man approached the ropes’ home and it was a helicopter. “What?” The princess was very juskayn. The driver put the machine on autopilot and stepped out of his seat. “Ello, mates. I’m Kerran Richards, and I’m from 5000 years in the future.” The princess fainted