1 . Are you still wondering about which club to choose? The following information about the clubs in our school may help you make a good choice.

2 . Come and learn how to build all sorts of kites, from the simplest diamond-shaped kites to the most complex box kites. Stay as long as you like and build as many kites as you want. Once you have finished a kite, get advice on flying techniques from kite expert Lorena Hallsberg.

The Piedmont Middle School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has organized refreshment (杀点) tent. All profits will benefit future PTO activities. Take a break from kite flying and drink some lemonade! While you are doing so, why not join the PTO? Membership is free; you just donate your time. Show your support for Piedmont Middle School by joining the PTO this Saturday!

When: Saturday，April 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Piedmont Middle School

Why: For fun!

Cost: Free, thanks to a generous gift from Bizarco Kite Company! Come to the kite celebration, enjoy yourself and learn more.

3 . You start by running around the school track three times to warm up. This is followed by exercises or long jump for the girls and football or basketball for the boys. That is an average 45 -minute PE class— but do you really enjoy it?

For students at the Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, sports classes have experienced a welcome change. Senior 2 students now learn the traditional Chinese martial art of sword-fighting (中国剑术), making PE the most popular lesson on the timetable. “The classes used to be boring as we just did the same things again and again,” said Xiao Tong. “But now PE classes are such fun. Sword-fighting is so cool.” His classmate Wei Jie agrees. “As well as being fun, we learn about traditional Chinese culture,” she said. The usual morning exercises performed to music on the school playground have been replaced by kicking and punching practice (搏击操) to a pop music by Zheng Xiuwen. “We didn't pay much attention when we heard the old music,” Xiao explained, “But when Zheng's music is played, we get excited.” Mao Min, the PE teacher who introduced the changes, is pleased that the students now enjoy sports lessons more. “The classes encourage healthy lifestyles and I am always looking for creative ways to keep the students active,” he said. Schools offer activities according to what sports facilities (设备) they have. For example, students at the Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University can choose to learn swimming, taekwondo (跆拳道) or volleyball. “I take my volleyball very seriously so I keep fit by playing it,” said Senior 2 student Zhang Zheng. “Students only try hard in sports that interest them.”

5 . Thanks to “double reduction” policy (“双碱”政策) comes out, many students may have time to enjoy after-school activities. Some students can play sports. They may play soccer, pingpong or do Chinese Kungfu.

Some students go to learn music. They sing, dance or play some instruments (乐器). Other students can draw or practice calligraphy (书法) and more. After school activities are fun and good for students.

But why should students do after school activities? Here are some reasons. First, doing an after-school activity is a short break from studying. After the break, students can better focus on the class or their schoolwork. Next, students can make some friends while doing after-school activities. Finally, students can get some new skills from the activities. For example, they can learn some important life skills like working with others or dealing with themselves.

6 . For primary and middle school students, being able to cook will become a must in the near future. They will also need to learn how to plant vegetables, raise poultry and maintain home machines according to the new requirements.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) recently released (发布) a new curriculum standard for labor education (劳动教育). Starting from the coming autumn term, students in primary and middle schools will take courses on labor skills at least once a week.

According to the new standards, there are three types of labor tasks. The first refers to everyday housework, including cleaning, cooking and using and maintaining home machines. Next is productive labor, including agriculture, making traditional handcrafts, and using new technologies such as 3D printing and laser cutting. The third type is service work, including volunteer work.

The new curriculum also calls for a labor week every school year, which will be a week of after-school activities aimed at labor education.

Because of a lot of studying pressure, schools have placed more focus on the school lessons, and many schools have seen housework as a waste of time. But according to the MOE, labor education must be focused on to help students cultivate social values and develop an interest in labor.

Following the release of the curriculum standard, Internet users are heatedly discussing the changes on social media. Many welcome such labor courses and say it is necessary to teach young students basic life skills. Some are happy to learn such skills during their own school days.

7 . YOUR VOICE

Animals in Danger — Take Action!!

Your voice, the school newspaper that gives you your say, is going to take part in supporting wildlife protection, and you will have the opportunity to be part of that. We hope that you will all join in the activity to save nature and help out as much as possible.

On Monday 22, we are going to visit Big Tree Park to adopt (收养) an animal. You will get the chance to see the animals in their natural environment and then we will all decide which animal to choose. There are lots of other things that you can do, including mountain biking and horse riding for those of you who want a bit of exercise. A word of warning, though, remember that you have to be careful around the animals.

Mr. Abbey, an expert on endangered species (濒危物种), is going to give us a talk on what we can do to make a difference to the environment. It will take place at the café at 2:00 pm — don’t be late! We really need you to support our program.

9 . Students at an elementary school in California, with the help of their art teacher, created a telephone hotline that people can call to get cheerful advice from kids during difficult times. Shortly afterwards, the hotline began getting thousands of calls an hour.

The hotline is available in English and Spanish. It offers the happy voices of children of different ages sharing positive messages. For example, by pressing 1, you can hear a group of kindergartners saying together, “You can do it! Keep trying, and don’t give up!” Pressing 2 brings the sounds of children laughing-a sound certain to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Jessica Martin, who teaches art at West Side School in Healdsburg, California, thought her students just might have the magic words needed to bring calm to people in difficult times. Ms. Martin worked with students at West Side on a project they called “PepToc”. Actually, they called it “Pep Talk” first. But when Ms. Martin’s 6-year-old son drew an ad for the hotline and spelled it “PepToc”, they decided they liked that even better.

Most of the project was completed in a day. Ms. Martin worked with students from kindergarten to the sixth grade. She had the same basic question for all the students-What could you say to help or encourage someone else? Students working on the hotline thought of what they would like to say. When they were ready, Ms. Martin recorded each one. Later, she sorted out the recordings into the different parts of the telephone hotline.

Ms. Martin thought the project would only attract interest from people near the school. But the hotline was soon getting hundreds of calls a day-and then, thousands of calls an hour. It’s become unbelievably popular with stressed adults, patients in hospitals, older people in homes, and others who just want to hear the happy voices of children.

10 . Life has not been easy for veteran (退伍老兵) John Jolly, who once stayed in Kingwood Park Houston. He has been homeless for decades. Thanks to a group of caring high school seniors, he now has a real home to call his own.

Students at Summer Creek and Kingwood Park High schools worked together on a project called “Students Helping Veterans” over the past school year. The students and teachers partnered together to create muster-planned tiny homes in the Houston area for homeless veterans. Generous local community donations helped fund the project.

In cooperation with local architects, engineers, and other community partners, the schools design and build homes expected to be 200 to 300 square feet in size. In the end, they want to build a community where veterans can be surrounded by other veteran neighbors who understand their difficulties and issues.

Senior student Sarah Dalby said that when she started the project, she hardly knew how to use a saw (锯) but now she is a fast learner loves the work. “We have to appreciate the veterans for protecting us and giving us the freedom and rights that we enjoy,” she added when explaining her own purpose to take part in the project.

“This is unbelievable,” remarked Barbara Lang, a friend of the veteran who was there to provide support. A tiny home is invaluable to those who have nothing. John was clearly excited with his new, clean and fully furnished home.

The students don’t view this as a one-time effort. Their admirable plan in to grow the project, and have it spread to other schools and cities that can repeal this model.