1 June 1, 1961 Dear Debbie, I ’ m glad Mrs. Gilbert chose you to be my pen pal. I love to send and get mail. It ’ s really hot here and it ’ s really boring too. I wish school didn ’ t have to end. I have three brothers and they are always bugging me. Gail brought her hamster to school today and I love it. I want a hamster so bad!!! Write back soon, Your friend, Teresa P.S. What ’ s your favorite pet? P.P.S.S. Here ’ s my school picture.____ Send me yours too._______ _______

Teresa Noll______ June 2, 1961_____ Mrs. Gilbert ’ s Class My Summer Plans___________ I plan to go swimming as often_ as possible. I plan to stay away from my_brothers as much as I can. I want to_go to the Oakgrove Carnival._______ My summer might be boring ___ since my mom is having another baby. I wish I had a pet to play with. I love all _____kinds of animals. Fonso doesn ’ t like __ animals. She says it ’ s just one more __ thing to take care of. The End

Teresa Noll 4 cents

1104 Roanoke Dr.Flintridge, Calif. Debbie Thompson

800 West Lake DriveChicago, Illinois

1961Summer Assignment Mrs. Gilbert’s Fourth

Grade Keep a journal throughout the summer. Save pictures,

letters, and postcards so you can build a memory book when you return to

school.Have a great summer!

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June 8, 1961Dear Diary,

It’s so hot outside! I just know it’s going to be a boring and lonely summer. Bob, Scott, and Brian are the only ones around and they don’t want to do anything fun. Fonso is so mad at the heat and all the mice that keep sneaking into our house; she’s too grumpy to play with. I wish I had a dog, or any kind of pet. I saw Gail’s hamster the last day of school during show and tell. I wish I had a hamster too. I’d make it a cage out of the old screen in the back yard.

I’m bored!!!

This is a picture I drew of Gail’s hamster. It was so

cute! I wish, wish, and wish I could have a hamster too!!!

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June 13, 1961 Dear Diary, _ I ’ m putting this picture of Fonso here so I won ’ t loose it. I_ found this one of her when she__ was Nana ’ s maid. She ’ s kind-of a_ maid for us too except she also_ takes care of us. I love her so __ much even though she doesn ’ t___ like animals. These days she ’ s___ always saying, “ Los ratones son__ atroces! ” She hates the mice___ and other little creatures. She__ empties dead ones out of traps_ every day. I think they ’ re just__ trying to get out of the heat.___ She says they spread disease.__

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This is a picture I drew of me digging my mouse trap.

June 15, 1961 Dear Debbie, __________________ Thanks for the letter and____ picture, I ’ ve been working on my____ mouse trap all afternoon. I put half a cheese sandwich in the bottom, so I ’ m pretty sure a mouse will take the___ bait. I ’ ll write more tomorrow and let you know about my cute new friend._ Bye for now-_________ June 16, 1961 Oh my gosh, you ’ ll never guess what happened!!! I caught a mouse; but___ when I reached into the hole to grab him he bit my finger. I flung him off_ into the bushes, but my finger did__

bleed. I ’ m pretty worried______ because Fonso always says_____ “ Los ratones cause disease ” . I ’ m_ just sure I have rabies or lock__ jaw. Bob says when people have_ rabies they have to get 20 shots in the stomach. If a person has_ lock jaw they can ’ t eat or talk. If you don ’ t hear from me for _____ awhile I might be dead. I can ’ t_ tell anyone else because I know_ I ’ ll get in trouble. Fonso might__ spank me with her slipper! _____ Pray for me!!! _ Your friend, _ Teresa _

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June 26, 1961 Dear Diary, ____ Well, ten days have____ passed and my jaw has felt___ very stiff sometimes but I___ think I ’ m o.k. I never told____ Fonso or anyone else – I was__ too scared I ’ d get in trouble.__ So, my goal of getting a pet__ this summer is still on. I ’ m___ going to ask Fonso to take me to the school carnival. They ’ ll have chameleons for sale and gold fish to win. Maybe I ’ ll get two pets!_______________________________________

OAKGROVEELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CARNIVAL

Saturday, July 1st

2:00 – 6:30Games

Magic ShowCotton Candy

Hot DogsFun, Fun, Fun

This is a picture of Fonso and I at the carnival. I won a gold fish, but I put it in the car while we played games, and I guess it got too hot. He was floating when we got back.

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OW!!! I tried to catch an alligator lizard in my back yard. I put him on my shoulder like a chameleon, and it latched onto my neck with its razor sharp teeth. Bob had to kill the lizard to get it to let go. I later read in my lizard book: “Alligator lizards can give a nasty bite when caught, so don’t try to catch them.” I wish I’d read that first.

July 15, 1961

Dear Teresa,

It sounds like you’re

having a bad summer. I wish

you could visit I l l inois. We

just got a new kitten. Kittens

are perfect pets. You should

ask your mom if you can

have one. They’re usually

July 18, 1961___ Dear Debbie, ___ A kitten would be great but I ’ d have to talk Fonso into it first. I ’ ll start working on_ her today. ________ We ’ re going up to____ Lake Arrowhead today for a week. It will be fun because I love_ swimming. There are also lots of cute squirrels and___ chipmunks there to feed.____ I ’ ll send you a post card. Your friend, ____

Hi Debbie,I’ve been at the doctor’sagain. This time I was Debbie Thompsonfeeding a squirrel 800 West Lake Dr.and it ran up my arm. Chicago, IllinoisThey have sharp claws!I don’t think they makevery good pets! Teresa

R.I.P

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Page 30 FLINTRIDGE SHOPPER August 1, 1961

4-FOOTERS, FEED, FOWL, & FARM

Adorable kittens- 4 males, 4 females, six weeks old, free to a good home.715-525-6743

Dear Mom,I’m writing you a note

because I know you’re busy and I really want you to see these want ads from the paper.

Here are two choices of kittens, or a cat, we can get either one for free.

Please, please, please think about it. If we get a cat I won’t ask for anything else. And I’ll stop trying to catch wild animals. I know I can talk Fonso into it too.

Love, Teresa

Two year old, male tabby cat. We’re moving and can’t take him along. Free. Bed, litter box, and carrier included.715-543-7689 ask for Joe.

My kitten Rascal died on Aug. 7th

when Scott put him in the dryer and turned it on. (Scott’s 4 & wanted to give the kitty a ride.)

Sadie died August 16th

when the garage door slammed on her.

Sammy died on August 25th. A heavy chair fell on him and crushed him.

R.I.P.

R.I.P.

R.I.P.

8 Sept. 6, 1961____ Dear Debbie, ____ School ’ s about to start again,_ and I ’ ve sure had a crummy summer._ Of course, you know about all the___ things that have happened while I ’ ve_ been trying to find the right pet. It ’ s been very sad and hard, especially__ the kitten part. My brother, Scott, didn ’ t mean to kill Rascal, but I really hate him for it. BROTHERS! They are the worst! ____ Anyway, I know your summer__ was better than mine. I hope you___ have a good school year too._______ Your Friend, ____ Teresa________

San Mateo Central Junior High School

Mrs. Wright’s 8th Grade

Assignments for the week of 9/31/67 - 10/4/67

English - Create a piece of poetry to hang on Mrs. Wright’s Poet

Tree. Use any of the forms we’ve studied this month.

Math- pages 45-46 1-50

Reading- Text pages 89-123

P.S. Now I sneeze all the time when I ’ m around cats. It ’ s strange- I can ’ t be around them anymore. Fonso says I have an allergy. _______

MovingLeaving friends,favorite places,

a wonderful, familiarhome.

Feeling lonely, sad,

awkward.Is it a fresh

startor the sad,

confusing place itseems to be?

FlintridgeWhat did I like about Flintridge?Friendly people,Our spacious home,A huge backyard,What did I like about Flintridge?My close friends,My great school,Golden grasses blowing in the warm breeze.What did I hate about Flintridge?Leaving!

Foster Care

Sitting on the front lawn wrapped in my own pain and insecurity, I suddenly heard a faint

chirping behind me. The arborvitae growing up the side of our house was thick and provided a

perfect hiding place for nesting birds. I pulled the lower branches back and found the source of

the incessant twittering. It came from a tiny, naked chick. I gently picked it up and held it closely

attempting to calm its anxious cries. Searching around I saw its nest at the top of the bush. It

occurred to me to replace this petite creature, remembering the luck I’d had raising wild animals

in the past; but, I seemed to recall learning that after a chick has been touched by human hands

the parent bird will never accept it into the nest again. So, I brought it inside. I’m not sure of the

accuracy in that memory. Honestly, I wanted to keep the baby bird as a pet and companion.

As I prepared a shoebox in which to keep my new found friend. I pictured him sitting on

my shoulder as I’d seen parrots do in movies. Carefully layering tissue paper and some leaves

from the arborvitae (to make it seem more like home) I began caring for a baby bird. Just as I

imagined the mother bird might do, I found insects, mashed them up a bit, and using a pair of

tweezers pushed them into his open beak. After a few days it seemed as though he was

demanding food nonstop. I named him Foster for the new town in which we were living (Foster

City), and because I pictured myself his foster-mother. Foster became my constant companion. I

even took him to school with me. He actually helped me make friends in my novel, unfamiliar

surroundings.

One of the most remarkable things about my relationship with Foster is he lived. After a

few weeks he’d grown feathers and was able to hop around his, now larger, box. Knowing it was

time, I wondered how I’d teach him to fly. Taking him into the back yard I gently placed him on

a low branch, intending to be right there when he inevitably fell to the ground. Surprisingly,

though, he didn’t fall, he fluttered up over the fence, out of our yard, and out of sight. I felt

forlorn and elated at the same time. Finally, I had succeeded. I‘d found a pet, nurtured it, and

released it while finding some new friends at the same time. Days later a small, brown bird, like

Foster, lit on the backyard fence next to me. It flew away as soon as I tried to move toward it;

but, to this day I think that must have been Foster.

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1971, in San Francisco, was a wild, tie-dyed time. I was graduating from high

school, and ready to engage in some independence and self-discovery. It seemed to

me that most of the really cool people I knew had dogs, and I had wanted a dog for

many years. Rarely a week passed that I didn’t beg my parents for one; but, they were

steadfast in their response: “We have enough going on with the five of you. We certainly

don’t need a pet to care for as well.” Now though, I was ready to move away and make

my own decisions.

After graduation my first phone call was to a number I found in the classifieds

advertising puppies. The owner seemed unsure about the exact paternity, but the

mother was a border collie. It really didn’t matter to me; Bubba was the cutest little

bundle of fur I’d ever seen. She ran to me immediately and never left my side for

seventeen years. At that time the word “Bubba” was synonymous with friend. She was

my very best friend providing me with companionship and entertainment.

10Please join us

June 10, 1971 at 2:00 P.M.

On the campus of Skyline College

South San Francisco, California

As we celebrate the 1971

Graduating Class of

Capuchino High School

11Mrs. Tekulve’s Third Grade - 10/3/07

Reader ’ s Workshop Choose one of the animal/pet books from the basket. Enjoy it silently then share it with your classroom neighbor. Think about your own pet or one you’ve known. Discuss your stories and feelings about animals and pets.

Writer ’ s Workshop Reflect on yesterday’s read aloud from Shelter Dogs and the facts we gathered regarding stray dogs and cats in the Flathead Valley. Consider some of the stories you’ve been reading, and think about the ways these authors told their stories. Generate ideas for a story about your favorite animal or pet. Begin your story, if you’re ready.

Artist ’ s Workshop Try some of the animal drawings taught during this lesson. Remember, these drawings will become postcards, and color is important.

December 1, 2007Dear Families,

As you know, we have been working on The Favorite Pet Postcard Project for the past several weeks. Your child has created a drawing of their favorite animal or pet. These drawings have been made into postcards which will be sold in sets to raise money for the Humane Society. These sets make wonderful gifts and will be sold at the Christmas concert.

Each student has also written a story describing an experience they have had with this animal. These stories have been compiled into an anthology, and each child will receive a copy. Please take a moment to listen to your child read from this collection.

The assembly, during which the proceeds from this sale will be donated to the Humane Society, will be held on January 25th at 1:00, and you are all invited. Several students will read their stories aloud to the group. It will be a great opportunity to celebrate the generosity and creativity these third graders have shown.

Sincerely,Teresa Tekulve

FUNNY DOG

BY CHRISTOPHER

My dog’s name is Chase. He’s very funny because when I throw

the ball he always chases it. Once me and my dog, and my dad went

hiking and hunting for deer and elk. We saw an elk but Chase chased it.

He likes chasing stuff!

Once when me and Chase, and my dad went fishing I got two fish,

but Chase ate one.

Chase loves to play tug-a-war, but he’s hard to beat.

I was hunting in my back yard and I saw a bird. I shot at it, but

Chase chased it away

(C.J. is a Title 1 student, a very reluctant reader, and writer; but, he sure loves

Chase, and he seemed to enjoy writing about him too.)

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OreoBy Melody

One day my daycare had some kittens for free and one of them was Oreo. She

was black and white. Her brothers were only orange tabbies. She was the only

black and white one. I really wanted her, she was so beautiful!

One week later my mom said, “Yes!” I was so happy! It was awesome,

absolutely marvelous! So that day I took her home and I fed her.

She was such a good cat. Every day she grew fatter and bigger. One day she

got smarter so I built a circus. She did the whole thing. It was absolutely

incredible! It was so interesting! I can not believe she didn’t fail. It was fabulous!

Now every day she is awesome, fat, and soft. I still have her. One day when

I came home…Here let me pick it up…

One marvelous day we went to a cat show and Oreo did a hind leg dance. I

had a piece of paper with the alphabet on it and Oreo had to pick the letter with

her paw. She had practiced a really, really lot of times with me. So Oreo picked

O.R.E.O. I was so amazed! We won first place. When we came home we ate

dinner and talked and talked and talked until it was bed time.

When it was morning time there was a large bowl of cereal on the table. We

played all day, and after dinner we all sat down and I said loudly and very, very

clearly, “We are a family!”

(Melody is a gifted student and a future author. She also has a very active

imagination.)

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