John "J.D." Donohue (front, in white coat) poses with Cunniff Kids News reporters
and two of his children after an interview about the annual Turkey Trot he has run to be held Nov. 22, 2012.
On your mark, get set ...
Seventh annual Turkey Trot aims for 1,000 runners in Watertown on Thanksgiving morning
By DIEGO P., ISAAC C., JACOB D., GABE S., ZACHARY P., EOIN M., NIKO M., and MICHAEL C.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
On Thanksgiving, you can eat, work it off, and eat some more!
The seventh annual Turkey Trot will be held Thursday, Nov. 22, at 8:30 a.m., starting at Donohue’s Bar and Grill on Bigelow Avenue in Watertown. The kids’ race is .2 miles and the adult race is 3 miles to Domino’s Pizza.
There were 700 runners in 2011 and more than $7,800 was raised for the Watertown Boys and Girls Club. This year’s goal is 1,000 runners, said John “J.D.” Donohue, the race organizer.
“I do it because I love the Boys and Girls Club,” said Mr. Donohue, who owns the restaurant and is also a Town Councilor.
Mr. Donohue grew up in Watertown and lives there with his wife and four children.
Before the race, there is a free breakfast at Donohue’s Bar and Grill starting at 7 a.m. There will be scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and home fries.
“Last year, we cooked 25 dozen eggs!” said Mr. Donohue.
The kids run is free and it will cost adults $25 to run ($30 on race day. People can sign up online at https://racewire.com/register.php?id=2559 or at Donohue’s. Everyone who enters gets a free T-shirt.
There will be prizes for the first male and female in different age groups (under 15, 16-19, 20-29, 30-29, 40-49, 50-59, and 60 and over). There will also be prizes for costumes. A lot of runners dress up or wear turkey hats, said Mr. Donohue.
So come out on Thanksgiving morning and support a great cause!
By RYAN L., ANNALEA M., MICHAEL C., EOIN M., and ZACH P.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Wyc Grousbeck, owner of the Boston Celtics, was asked who he thinks is the best player on this year’s team.
He answered, “KG is the heart of the team, but I think Rondo is the best.”
The he said with a laugh, “Paul’s going to be mad at me because I said Rondo is the best.”
He said later Paul Pierce was his favorite player, because he was there when he bought the team in 2002.
Mr. Grousbeck answered a lot of questions about the Celtics when he talked alone with reporters from the Cunniff Kids News on Thursday, Oct. 18, at Watertown Middle School.
He sat down and fielded the questions and shared his 2008 championship ring. His ring was sparkly and heavy. It looked like it had 50 or more diamonds and emeralds in it. He said he doesn’t wear it all the time anymore, but the first year he wore it a lot.
He wore a suit to the interview with a green Celtics tie with leprechauns on it.
He said that in 2008, when the Celtics were in the Finals against the Lakers, he had courtside seats Los Angeles, and sitting next to him was Tobey Maguire (who played Spider-Man). The actor said that he would bet Mr. Grousbeck $100 about who would win. Mr. Grousbeck won the bet and he said he took the money for a souvenir.
Mr. Grousbeck told a funny story about the team’s recent trip to Europe.
“When we were in Italy on the bus to the airport,’’ he said, “I could see KG [Kevin Garnett] talk and swing his arms from his bus.”
He says he thinks KG doesn’t ever sleep, he just gets calm.
Mr. Grousbeck is 51. He said its not hard owning the Celtics because he loves it.
Mr. Grousbeck grew up in Weston. As a 10-year-old kid, he played basketball and baseball, but he wasn’t too good at it. He explained how he became the owner of the Celtics:
He said that he really wanted to own a sports team and it was rumored that the Celtics were for sale. So he went to New York City and went and knocked on the owners’ door and asked if he could buy the Celtics. The owner said yes and that’s how he got them!
Mr. Grousbeck said the Celtics are involved in more than 800 charities. He is the chairman of Mass. Eye and Ear Hospital.
One of the main charities is Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown. Mr. Grousbeck’s son Campbell, who is 20 now, was born blind and has been a Perkins student since he was 3.
He said that 120 people work for the Celtics, and that 25 other men own the team with him.
He said that there are only 15 players, so “anyone has a future with the Celtics.”
The NHL is currently in a lockout, and the NBA was in one last year. He was asked if had any advice to get them skating again? He said that each side can disagree, but you can’t lose respect for the other side.
He also said that all sports should have a salary cap.
He was asked what characteristics do you look for when you are recruiting. He replied that it was head coach Doc Rivers’s job “to find the people, but ultimately I make the final decision.”
“The characteristics we look for are they have to be tough and have to really care,’’ he said.
He said that this year’s team is a Finals team. But he also said if the players don’t focus, they won’t make it to the playoffs.
He said the LeBron James and the Miami Heat are the Celtics’ biggest rivals this year. They play each other to open the season on Oct. 30.
Mr. Grousbeck said he was so mad when Ray Allen didn’t want to come back, and because he took half of the money the Celtics offered and went to their archrivals, the Heat. But Mr. Grousbeck said that it was all right that he went to the Heat, because the Celtics will just beat them this year!
--Oct. 30, 2012--
It's all fun and games
at Fun and Games
By MAEVE W.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
I went to Fun and Games to play laser tag. I was on a team with my dad and my sister Mairead.
We were playing against my two brothers.
My brothers won.
After we played games, I got a puppy, one of my brother’s got a ninja. My sister and I also got handcuffs.
It was fun at Fun and Games.
--May 12, 2012-
Three cheers for cheerleading
By KAIA B.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Last year was my first year of cheerleading.
Cheerleading is very fun. You do lots of jumping, running, and tumbling. You learn many new cheers.
You cheer for your home team, but you also go to competitions. You meet many new people.
It is a lot of hard work. Even though it’s hard work, it’s really fun.
--April 28, 2012--
Hot dogs, hamburgers, and home runs
Watertown Little League opens its season
By JACOB D.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
On Saturday, April 21, I went to baseball. It was Opening Day for all leagues. I am in Double A.
First, I got my uniform. I got number 8. My team's name is the Muck Dogs. My hat and uniform have a bulldog in the mud on it.
Next, the coaches gathered all the kids for parade. We started at Saltonstall and walked all the way to Casey Field.
There we ate lunch. I had a hot dog and hamburger. Then I practiced throwing the baseball.
After that, we had a game. It was the Muck Dogs vs. the Raptors. If you kept score, it would be Muck Dogs 10, Raptors 8. I hit three doubles and one single.
In Triple A, I saw some of my old friends.
This year, I think my team will do great!
--April 24, 2012--
Getting a kick out of playing ...
SOCCER AT RECESS
By BEN K. and NICKO M.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
At school, Ben and Nicko play soccer at recess. The other players are Liam, Casey, Matty, Mark, Owen, and Stephen.
We pick teams and there are different captains everyday. A captain’s job is to pick a person to be on their team. Almost everyday Owen gets to be a captain.
Usually Ben and Nicko aren’t on the same team, but sometimes they are.
We play in the field between the kindergarten courtyard and the graveyard. The gates are the goals. If the ball goes over the fence then you have to tell the teachers. Then you can climb under the fence, run to get the ball, and then throw it back over again.
Liam is the best player because he’s the head of the soccer team. Nicko and Ben fight over the ball a lot and they kick it at the same time a lot. Usually Casey gets a lot of goals.
Sometimes we fight over problems. Like if we can’t tell if the ball hits the post or is a goal. Then we keep playing when the fight is over.
--April 16, 2012--
The appearance of Milan Lucic at the Watertown Target brought out
other notable Bruins personalities, such as Blades (right).
Meeting Milan
One Bruins fan scores autograph at Target
By MICHAEL C.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
On Jan. 17, 2012, I met Milan Lucic and got his autograph. I met him at the Target in Watertown.
My hockey coach told my dad, and he said to me, “Do you want to go see Milan at Target?” and I said, “Yes.”
A lot of my friends were there. The line was long! We were the third from the last to get an autograph. People were wearing Bruins stuff. I just wore a Bruins hat.
Milan was not in his uniform. He was bigger than I thought.
When we finally got to the front of the line, my dad took my picture and Milan signed my hat. I don’t wear it anymore.
Milan Lucic of the Bruins signs the hat of a fan during
a recent appearance at the Target in Watertown.
--April 13, 2012--
Members of the Harvard University baseball team have been donating their time at Cunniff Elementary School
in Watertown throughout the school year, participating in many classroom activities,
as well as playing with the students at recess (as seen above and below).
The biggest (littlest) fans
Pep rally on Friday to get Cunniff in mood
for Harvard baseball game April 4
By MONA H., TIMOTHY P., AMINATTA J., and BENJAMIN K.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Let’s go Harvard! Let’s go! On Wednesday, April 4, there will be a big baseball game between Harvard University and Boston College at 3 p.m. On Friday, March 30, there will be a pep rally in the Cunniff School cafeteria.
The rally is going to be at the Cunniff School because some of the Harvard baseball players, including Andrew Ferreira and Brent Suter, having been coming to the school all year to read to the students and to play games with them during recess.
The classes are making posters and banners to cheer on Harvard.
The game will be played at Harvard’s field behind Harvard Stadium. Admission is free. The Cunniff PTO is getting buses to take students, families, and teachers to the game. If you want to take the bus to the game, you need to sign up with the PTO by Friday.
--March 28, 2012--
Seeing the Celtics live
wins over these fans
Get ready for the 2011-12 season with this preview
By BENJAMIN K., TIMOTHY P., and NIKO M.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Last year, we all went to see the Celtics live. It is a lot of fun to go to Celtics games.
When you want to see the Celtics play live, you have to go to TD Garden, their stadium in Boston. It is so cool to see the players do dunks. It’s fun to see them make 3-pointers, too.
When you first walk into a Celtics game, you hear people chanting. One thing they say is, “We like the Celtics! We like the Celtics!”
Over midcourt, you can see the championship flags that the Celtics won. They have won 17 times. It smells like sweat in the stadium.
Rajon Rondo is really good at passing to his teammates. Rondo is No. 9. He used to wear a headband, but now he doesn’t.
Kevin Garnett is really, really tall. He is No. 5. Garnett is really good at dunking. Sometimes when he dunks, his head hits the rim. Then his head starts to bleed. When that happens, he puts a towel on his head to wipe the blood off.
Paul Pierce’s number is 34. He has a headband on his head. He’s really good at dribbling.
Ray Allen is really good at 3-pointers. He has four kids. Three of them are boys and one is a girl, and he has a pretty wife.
Jeff Green is No. 8. He has a freckle on his cheek. He is good at getting rebounds, but he is going to miss the season because he is sick.
The best reasons to go to a Celtics game are that the Celtics are awesome, you want to see them win, and their stadium is amazing. And, at the end of the game, Lucky, the Celtics mascot, does tricks with the audience sometimes.
If you ever get a chance to see the Celtics live, we think you should go!
--Dec. 22, 2011--
Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins (right) poses with a reporter from the Cunniff Kids News
following a recent practice at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, Mass.
Marchand
tough on the ice,
but very nice
By ANNALEA M.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Down in the Ristucca Arena in Wilmington, Mass., practice home of the Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand is staying after practice shooting.
Marchand, in his second year with the Bruins, had an extra-long practice because he missed an open shot for a goal in his last game.
Marchand didn’t seem to mind too much. He loves hockey.
“This was my dream growing up as a kid,” said Brad after practice.
His favorite team growing up in Canada was the Toronto Maple Leafs and his favorite player was Joe Sakic.
He was excited about Winnipeg getting a team again, and there was a fear of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the air. It will be important to keep the goals coming if the Bruins are going to keep the Stanley Cup.
“I think Patrice Bergeron will fill in Mark Recchi’s leadership role,” Marchand said.
*****
If you go over to the Ristucci Arena, remember to bring a hat, mittens, and a sweater with a coat over it. For information, go to http://ristucciaarena.com/.
Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, Mass., is the practice home of the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins.
--Nov. 24, 2011--
Proud to be loud!
Time to hear about Celtics games at TD Garden
By GIOVANNI R., JULIAN R., and BENJAMIN K.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
When you are at a Celtics game, it feels like you are a whole new person because it is so loud.
Even if you are in the top seats at TD Garden, it is still is a good view.
One of the best seats is the top, top, top seat, because you get to have people bring things to you, like hot dogs, soda, and popcorn.
The Celtics are doing well, and a lot of fans hope they win the NBA championship this year. And if they do, we will make a lot of noise!
--May 2, 2011--
Delonte West of the Boston Celtics (left) poses with two reporters from the Cunniff Kids News at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown. Another member of the Celtics, Von Wafer (below left), was also at the Read to Achieve event during which Perkins students read in Braille.
Celtics share their stories
West, Wafer read to students
at Perkins School for the Blind
By JACOB D. and CHARLOTTE D.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
On March 7, 2011, Delonte West and Von Wafer on the Boston Celtics were at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown. They were at a reading event called Read to Achieve. The Perkins students were reading in Braille.
Delonte’s favorite book is “The Lion King.” Von’s favorites are books about animals.
They were asked, “Why do you like to play basketball?” They said they want to be creative and they want to have fun.
Delonte said he started playing when he was 8 or 9 years old. Von started when he was 3 years old. They are both very good players.
A Cunniff Kids News reporter (with microphone and reporter's notebook) asks a question during the Read to Achieve event with the Celtics at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown on March 7.
--May 1, 2011--
Three Minutes of Fame
Bruins make way for Cunniff hockey players at TD Garden
By RYAN L.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
We walked to the Zamboni door. When the buzzer rang for the first intermission, we skated out the Zamboni door and onto the Boston Bruins ice!
It was our Three Minutes of Fame!
On Oct. 28, five kids on the Watertown Raiders hockey team from the Cunniff School -- Ryan L., Ryan S., Luke M., Matt T., and Jack L. -- played at the TD Garden during intermission of a Bruins game.
There were about 30 to 40 people there from Watertown. We got seats in the balcony under the family section against the wall.
Five minutes into the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the players and coaches went into the heart of Garden, under all the stands, and got half-dressed.
We went up back to our seats and we watched five more minutes and went down into the heart of the Garden again to get on the rest of our gear in a makeshift locker room with fold-up chairs.
The ice was as smooth as could be. It was so well lit that you could see every skate mark on the ice, and our pictures were on the Jumbotron.
But the hockey wasn’t much different. We played the whole length of the ice and it felt just like the rinks we usually play in.
It didn’t really sound like 15,000 people, it sounded more like 300 people. Everyone was playing hockey, not looking around.
We scrimmaged ourselves, Watertown vs. Watertown. It was a tie, 1-1, but it was the best game I’ve played!
--April 21, 2011--
Marianne Cameron, physical education teacher at Cunniff Elementary and the leader of the Jump Rope Club.
It's not a good idea to
skip Jump Rope Club's show
By BRIANNA W. and LAUREN A.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters The Jump Rope Club put on a show for adults March 19, 2011. The show had a lot of fun jumping songs. There were Cunniff School students from all grades in te show -- even some first-graders and kindergartners. There were 63 kids in the show, and they did 15 routines. The Jump Rope Club also put on a show during school for Cunniff students. Some kids were nervous, but when they performed their routines, they were fine. Ms.Cameron, the physical education teacher who runs jump rope club, told told the kids if you mess up to keep going. Most of the groups messed up a couple of times. One group was Sydney, Katherine, Kaitlin, Caroline, and Jeannie. Another group was third-grade group of Brianna, Lauren, Isabella, Ashley and Katelynn. “I was afraid I was going to mess up and ruin the routine,” Isabella said. Renee came up to jump in and do a cartwheel and a split in the rope. Renee said that she was scared to do a cartwheel in the rope. At the end of the show, Ms. Cameron told the students they would get a jump rope, T-shirt, and a water bottle in one month. The Jump Rope Club met from Jan. 10 to April 11.
--April 20, 2011--
Watertown Wavemakers
dive into action at
regionals in Florida
By RENEE S.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter Swimming in a pool 25 yards long sounds normal, but not if it has 22 lanes that are 5 feet wide each. Yeah, that’s right -- 25 yards by 110 feet. And which team is swimming in that pool? The Watertown Wavemakers, the Watertown Boys and Girls Club swim team. It started as a small team, but has grown over the years -- although it’s not as large as Billerica. The reason why the Wavemakers are swimming in that pool in Florida is a meet called the regionals. The regionals are a competition for all of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Coast. What happens at the competition is that everyone swims in the morning, leaves for a few hours, and then comes back in the afternoon -- but they will only be able to come back in the afternoon if they are in the top 16. Erin, an eighth-grader at Watertown Middle School, said, “This is my second year going to Florida. The only different thing is, this year, I will have to swim the 500 freestyle.’’ Isabella, a fifth-grader at Cunniff Elementary, said, “I’m not going this year, but I’m proud of the people who are.’’
--April 9, 2011--
Youth lacrosse
scores in Watertown
By BRENDAN G. and JOSEPH B.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters Whistles blow and fill the Hosmer gym. This is the sound of the start of lacrosse practice. “Get your pads on!” coach yells. Lacrosse is the favorite sport for a lot of kids in Watertown. The games are every Sunday, usually at 3 p.m. During the games, coach can blow the whistle and stop the game. When coach blows the whistle, he can make a sub or just tell the players something. The Watertown teams play games at the Hosmer field most of the time, but sometimes the location changes. There are age groups, like in soccer and hockey, so one kid won’t get crushed by an older kid. There are at least three boys’ teams in Watertown, Under-9, U11, and U13.
--April 9, 2011--
Colleen Sullivan has been coaching the Watertown Wavemakers for four years. This season, Matt Jordan (below) is serving as her assistant coach.
Dive into the swim team!
Watertown Wavemakers pool their talents
By RENEE S., ISABELLA V., and EOIN M.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Splash, splash, splash! Dive into a practice full of fun with the Watertown Wavemakers!
Colleen and Matt are swim coaches. They dedicate their time for six days a week at Watertown Boys and Girls Club to help kids become better swimmers.
Colleen has been coaching the team for four years, and, being a teacher, has experience with kids.
Matt, her assistant, has a lot of experience as a coach, too. He has coached in many places, including Florida.
Swimmers on the team come from Watertown and the surrounding towns.
Twenty-five yards of swimming makes you sweat -- even though you are in the water. You can feel it dripping down your face. The pool goes from 10 feet deep to just 3 feet all the way down the other end. Blue shining water turning to white waves.
The lane lines are black, red, and white. Tan surrounds them like sand surrounds a lake.
The swimmers have lots of fun doing their favorite strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.
“I like breaststroke best, because it is fun,” said Eoin, age 7.
Not everyone likes the same strokes, though. For example, Renee, age 11, said, “Freestyle is my favorite because it’s the fastest .”
The swimmers go to meets every Saturday and compete against Boys and Girls Clubs from different towns.
“I like swim meets because we get to meet new people,” said Isabella, age 11.
No matter what the swim does, or where the swim team goes, the swimmers always have fun!
--Feb. 10, 2011--
Pinning down
some answers
Beth Phoenix submits to questions from
Cunniff Kids News reporters on eve
of WWE’s Royal Rumble in Boston Jan. 30
The WWE will hold its 24th annual Royal Rumble this Sunday, Jan. 30, at TD Garden in Boston. Although the event is sold out, fans can watch on pay-perview, starting at 7:45 p.m.
As the wrestlers made their way to Massachusetts, Beth Phoenix -- one of only two women ever to compete in the Royal Rumble -- took time to answer questions from the Cunniff Kids News about herself and her job.
Q: What is your name and how do you spell it?
A: Beth Phoenix
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born in Elmira, N.Y., but I grew up in Buffalo, NY.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Sushi!
Q: Do you have any pets? Did you have any pets when you were my age?
A: I have a Yorkie named Hope and I had a German shepherd named Sonya, who, unfortunately, just passed away. Sonya was so big and Hope is very small, like opposites! When I was a little girl, I had a German shepherd named Rex.
Q: Were you very popular as a kid?
A: I never really paid attention to whether or not I was popular. I was always busy doing other things and I had a great group of friends.
Q: What types of books do you like to read? What are you reading now?
A: I enjoy the Harry Potter books, comic books, and anything with a good story.
Q: How long have you been with WWE? Do you like it? Why did you want to go into wrestling?
A: I have been a WWE Diva since 2006. I love my job because it is my childhood dream come true. I watched WWE with my grandparents when I was a child and WWE legends like the Fabulous Moolah and Sensational Sherri Martel inspired me to want to be a female role model, like they were to me.
Q: Is Mark Henry really the strongest man?
A: Until I see another Superstar bend a frying pan in half with his bare hands, Mark Henry is the world’s strongest man.
(For more information on WWE and the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, go to www.WWE.com.)
--Jan. 28, 2011--
From Yastrzemski
to Yamaguchi
People's favorite sports figures are all over the field
There are a lot of great sports heroes, but not everybody has a favorite. Some people like hockey, baseball, football, etc.
The Cunniff Kids News was surprised to find out that there is no one favorite player or even one favorite sport.
Reporters asked many people, “Do you have a favorite sports figure? If so, why?”
Here are some of their responses:
“Pele, because he was a really good soccer player.” -- David Bonyuet, engineer.
“Tennis player Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain.” -- Damaris Bonyuet, billing coordinator.
“Tom Brady. He is a football player. I like him because he is a strong quarterback. I want to see him in person. I hope you will like Tom Brady, too.” -- Asad S., brother
“Imran Khan. I like him because he won the cricket World Cup for Pakistan.” -- Lalabibi Soomro, mom
“I do not have a favorite sports figure.” -- Chris Paone, carpenter for Raytheon
“Michelle Kwan. Watching her on TV was amazing! I can still remember when she won the silver medal in figure skating in 1998.” -- Laurel Kagan, clinical research coordinator at Dana-Faber
“Kristi Yamaguchi, the Olympic gold medalist for figure skating. I have always been in awe of what people can do on ice skates.” -- Julie Childress, senior regulator coordinator at Dana-Faber
“My favorite sports figure is my son, Michael, because I love to watch him play soccer on Saturday mornings.” -- Kim MacNeill, Michael’s mom
“My favorite sports figure is Shaun White, the snowboarder. I like him because of all the cool jumps he does on his snowboard.” -- Alex M., third-grader
“Carl Yastrzemski. He was a Red Sox outfielder and captain for the team, and he also is a Hall of Famer. I always loved baseball and the Red Sox. His nickname was ‘Yaz.’ ” -- Peter Varsamis, works for Sony
“Pete Sampras. He was a very talented tennis player. He won many titles, US Open, Wimbledon, just to name a few. I love tennis and enjoyed watching him play. He retired [when he was still in his] 30s.” -- Anastasia Varsamis, mom.
“Brian Fontas, because he is my hockey coach. Why? Because he explains and shows how to play hockey very well.” -- Karen Bouvier, housewife
“Dice K. [Daisuke Matsuzaka]. I like his pitching and he plays for the Red Sox.” -- Clarice Bouvier
“David Beckham. “He’s a good [soccer] player.” -- Cecile Fogh, friend from Denmark
“David Beckham. He’s a good player.” -- Line Noergaar, friend from Denmark
“Curt Schilling. He came to the Boston Red Sox with the mission to win the World Series and he won two of them for us. He did it with a lot of hard work and courage.” -- Julie Lentini, space planner
(Cunniff Kids News staff reporters Dyanne B., Sam C., Michael M., Arianna P., Sana S., Caileigh S., and Christina V. were among those who contributed to this report.)
--Jan. 19, 2011--
Don't fumble
this chance
WB Pop Warner offers chance for kids to play football
By BRENDAN G., JOSEPH B., and JAKE M.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
If you were not a part of the Watertown Belmont Pop Warner Bulldogs, you should sign up next season!
Pop Warner football is fun, and you do not have to be afraid of being hit hard because the older kids are on separate teams.
The signups are at Victory Field in Watertown.
Before the season starts, each player gets equipment. The first practice of the season, the players don’t wear pads, so there is no hitting. After the first couple of practices, players start to wear pads.
Pop Warner football got its name from one of the best football coaches ever, Glenn “Pop” Warner.
The practices at the beginning of the season are on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The first couple of practices are at Watertown Middle School.
Later in the season, the practices are at Casey Park on the border of Watertown and Newton.
The games are fun for the kids, and if you are on the D team or higher, the games count in standings. If a team from D or up, like the E team, has the best win-loss record of that league, it gets to go to Florida and play in the playoffs.
--Jan. 14, 2011--
A hit with Francona
Red Sox manager a big fan of
second-grade reading program
By JAMES M., SEAN L., and SAM C.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
All of the second-graders at the Cunniff School recently got a note from Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona talking about the kids’ “Home run reading challenge.”
The challenge was that whenever they read for four hours, they earned a home run. The first to get a home run received a certificate that awarded them with one free medium pizza at Pizza Hut.
At the end, the hours were added up in Mrs. Sauder’s and Mrs. Rono’s class to see which class ended up with the higher total of hours. Mrs. Sauder’s class had the higher total.
“When you read, you can become part of a jungle adventure or vacation on a tropical island for the day,” the note read. “You can learn what it’s like to be a princess or one of your favorite baseball players. You can see what animals are thinking or visit the moon, Reading can take you to so many far-off places and you don”t even have to leave your chair!”
Francona clearly believes that reading is a great thing to do.
Francona told the students to keep up the good work, that he is rooting for all their success, and that the team is proud to have them be part of Red Sox Nation.
--Jan. 8, 2011--
It suits her just fine
No fish in Boys and Girls Club pool,
just lots of friends from swim class
By SOPHIA G.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
I go to swim class at the Watertown Boys and Girls Club. At swim class, I have a teacher named Mike. My favorite thing to do at swim class is dive.
I like swimming in the pool instead of the beach because the water at the beach tastes salty. I swallowed it. It didn’t taste good. I don’t like the ocean because it has lots of fish and I think that fish are slimy, and if they touch my feet and legs it’s gross. Thankfully, there are no fish in the pool, just my friends at swim class.
There’s boys and girls at swimming and they’re very noisy, and they sometimes swim on top of me. Swimming class is what I like to do after school on Wednesdays and Fridays, and I like it a lot.
The first thing we do at swim class is bobs. Bobs are when you jump up and down in the water.
After bobs, we practice our kicking by holding onto the wall and doing freestyle kick (flutter kick).
After kicking, we practice our swimming. The first stroke we practice is freestyle or front crawl. I like freestyle, but my favorite stroke is breaststroke because it feels better and I don’t get cramps. Also, you look like you’re swimming like a turtle.
After practicing swimming, we use kickboards and practice our kicking again, but with kickboards we move up and down the pool. My favorite kick is breastroke kick because it’s relaxing.
Sometimes we make our swimming better and faster by practicing our streamline. That’s where you put your arms above your head.
At the end of swim class, we finally do diving. The pool we dive into goes down 10 feet. We dive off blocks, which are raised platforms that you can jump off of. I like to dive off the block because I feel like I am flying, and you are faster when you dive.
After swimming class, we get out of the pool and go into the locker room to change.
I love swim class.
--Nov. 18, 2010--
Constructive play time
LEGO KidsFest in Boston this weekend
LEGO KidsFest is in Boston this weekend at the Hynes Convention Center. There are two sessions each day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Cunniff Kids News had a lot of questions about the show. Marissa Adams, the marketing and events manager, had lots of answers.
Q: What can I do at LEGO KidsFest?
A: The LEGO KidsFest will be packed with activities, information and fun for the entire family! There will be LEGO brick build and play tables, along with race car ramps, a Roaming Railroad ride, a video game gallery, and a number of contests and competitions where you will have the opportunity to win prizes. We will also have a stage where activities will take place throughout the weekend like LEGO competitions, performances and special onstage presentations from LEGO Master Builders. If you’re a big LEGO fan you'll be excited to learn that special LEGO products will have their own displays at the show, such as LEGO Mindstorms and FIRST LEGO League.
In addition to these activities, there will be exclusive LEGO Club meetings on-site and LEGO Club members will participate in fun, themed building activities, meet a Master Builder, and have access to a special area with interactive displays built by LEGO Master Builders (these are the guys whose job it is to build with LEGO bricks all day! They build the life-sized LEGO models and know all the latest tips and tricks for building). Those who are not LEGO Club members aren’t left out; there is an opportunity to become a LEGO Club member (free of charge) right at the show.
A very cool contest that you can participate in at the show is the Cool Creations contest, where LEGO fans can build their own models, bring them and show them off in the LEGO Builders – Cool Creations contest. You can register your model on our website at legokidsfest.com.
Q: Is there anything I can play with?
A: You can build and play wherever you go at the show! Along with our build tables, which will be located in the construction zones, and the LEGO video game booth, we'll have remote control cars, slot cars, bouncy houses, a huge map of the United States that you can add to, and a mural made out of LEGO bricks that you can build on.
Q: Will there be stuff I can buy?
A: Of course! There will be a LEGO retail store right at the show where you can find a great selection of LEGO products, including new, exclusive and hard-to-find LEGO sets. Plus, you can purchase bricks and elements in bulk at the LEGO Store Pick a Brick wall. We'll also have a booth that will sell books, toys and LEGO Tour t-shirts.
Q: Will there be anybody famous there?
A: All of your favorite characters will be there - made out of LEGO bricks! - including Harry Potter and friends, Batman, Star Wars characters, Sponge Bob, and more!
Q: While our event is not free, for less than $20 a person you can have access to all of the activities, events and excitement going on inside for 5 whole hours.
Q: The LEGO KidsFest is open Saturday 9/25 and Sunday 9/26. Our schedule is as follows:
Saturday 9/25/10 -- Session 1 – 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; Session 2 – 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday 9/26/10 -- Session 1 – 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; Session 2 – 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Q: What is the coolest thing there?
A: There are many cool things to see and do at LEGO KidsFest. We have listed some of our favorites below:
Creation Nation is a featured building attraction and is available for local schools, families and for anyone that would like to contribute. The designated area contains a large LEGO outline of the United States and by the end of the show, it will transform into a work of art.
Also, you and your school can join and compete in the educational program, “LEGO Landmark.” The competing schools will build and showcase their LEGO models of famous Boson locations and landmarks. Prizes will be awarded for every competition. To register a model, or learn more about LEGO Landmark and Creation Nation, visit www.LEGOKidsFest.com.
A very cool feature is our LEGO land giveaway where you and your family can enter to win an exciting trip to LEGOLAND® California Resort. LEGOLAND California has more than 60 rides, shows and attractions.
Don't miss our life sized models in the model gallery which will have life-sized (3’-15ft) LEGO models of pop culture icons like Indiana Jones, Batman, SpongeBob, Harry Potter and more, all built by Master Model Builders.
Our Mystery Mural Build is a new and very cool feature to the LEGO KidsFest. This is a huge mural on a wall at the show where you will have the opportunity to build a small tile based on an existing design. You will then be able to add your tile to the wall and by the end of the show the completed wall will reveal a huge LEGO image!
A very unique opportunity that's pretty cool is to have your Birthday Party at the LEGO KidsFest! You can have your own private birthday party at the show and get a birthday cake made out of LEGO bricks. Anyone can sign up for a birthday party on our website.
Q: Do you do this every year?
A: We plan to! Boston is the first stop on our national tour. Next we are heading to Chicago, New York, Hartford, CT, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, to name a few! We plan to be back in Boston next September.
(For information about LEGO KidsFest, go to http://legokidsfest.com/boston/events.html.)
--Sept. 25, 2010--
The Cunniff Kids News followed the lacrosse action from the pressbox, near the top of TD Garden.
Blazers turn up
the heat
Boston's indoor lacrosse team catches fire in home finale
By RYAN L.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
In their final home game of the 2010 season, the Boston Blazers treated their largest home crowd of the year to an exciting win over a tough Minnesota Swarm squad. The Blazers won, 13-8, in front of 10,032 people at TD Garden April 10.
The inside of the TD Garden glowed a deep red as the announcer belted out the names of the Blazer players.
Soon the game was in full gear as the teams went racing for the ball. One player scooped up the ball and passed it to his teammate. Since the rules of indoor lacrosse say you can only hold the ball for 30 seconds, passing is fast and physical.
Forty-two seconds into the game, the Blazers’ Daryl Veltman scored the first goal. Within two minutes, the Swarm’s Ryan Benesch fired back with a goal, but, less than three minutes later, the Blazers’ Mat Giles put the home team back on top.
Within a minute, the Blazers’ Dan Dawson added to the lead during a power play.
Scoring went back and forth until the fourth quarter. The Blazers maintained a slight lead at 9-8 early in the quarter. Then the Blazers’ Nick Cotter scored an amazing three goals within eight minutes, one being shorthanded, setting the Blazers up for victory.
It was a great finish with the Blazers’ Ryan Hotaling scored the final goal with an under-the-leg shot, zipping it past the Swarm’s goalie.
The Blazers and the Swarm were not the only ones who got into the action. The Garden was loud from the more than 10,000 fans cheering. A lucky group of fans got to go onto the field just before the game, forming a tunnel for the Blazer players to run through. Everyone was giving high-fives.
During the quarter breaks, students from local schools got to perform dances on the field. Also, lacrosse players from local teams participated in skills competition. One of the players jumped on a teammate’s back, did a trick in the air, and took a shot on goal.
The announcer was really fun. When the Swarm players got a penalty, the crowd would chant, “Take your seat!” When the Blazers’ goaltender made a great save, the announcer would yell “O!” and the crowd would reply, “Cosmo!” When there were 10 seconds left in the game, the announcer sang, “If you are happy and you know it clap your hands.”
Coach Tom Ryan, captain Dan Dawson, and Cotter were at the postgame press conference.
“This win gave us a lot of momentum going into the final stretch of the season,’’ said Cotter. “We played much better as a team than last Saturday.”
If you want to join in the fun, the Blazers’ season is from January to April. Come watch the Blazers at the TD Garden defeat one of their 11 opponents from the National Lacrosse League.
The 36th annual Town Fair Tires World of Wheels is at the Bayside Expo Center in Boston this weekend.
Reporters from the Cunniff Kids News went Saturday, March 13, and took these pictures. Stories on some of the people the reporters met will be published in the next few days.
The World of Wheels is open Sunday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 children (6-12), and free for children under 5.
(For information about the Town Fair Tires World of Wheels, go to http://www.autorama.com/casi/show/spectator/boston.php)
--March 13, 2010--
Fun for all
at family fitness
By ASHLEY S.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Family Fitness is on Monday, Thursday, and Friday in the Cunniff School gym. It goes on from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. John Arno and Andrew Scopa are in charge.
When you goto Fanmily Fitness, you willdo warmups and play games. One of the games that is played is kickball, but there are a lot more games.
You will get hot sometime.
You will have lots of fun.
--March 6, 2010--
Squirt A gets a check -- plus!
By BRIAN A. and TIMMY CO.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
The Watertown Squirt A team is a very good hockey team that scores many goals and plays lots of games.
Practices are two times a week (Mondays and Tuesdays), and every weekend the team has a game.
The team sometimes wins, sometimes loses, and sometimes ties.
There are 12 people on the team.
The equipment you have to wear to play hockey is shin pads, long socks, pants (with pads in them), shoulder pads, elbow pads, jersey, gloves, neck guard, helmets and skates.
Hockey is a physical sport because you can get checked, block shots and get the puck in the head.
There are two nets on each side of the rink. There’s also a giant scoreboard to tell you the score, period, and time that’s left in the period.
The team’s games are usually away. it is very rare to have a game at home, and also the team’s games are very early, sometimes at 6 a.m.!
--March 4, 2010—
Afterburners
Marcotte leads gym program when school is done
By BRIAN A. and DANIEL D.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Greg Marcotte -- or as the students of the Cunniff School know him, the gym teacher -- runs the program Afterschool Sports.
The program started up in 2008. It goes on Mondays with second- and third-grade group, and Tuesdays with the fourth- and fifth-grade group. Mr. Marcotte said he is going to continue the program for a couple of years, with four-five sessions each year.
At Afterschool Sports, the students play games like floor hockey, crazy volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee and many more exciting and fun games. They also do rock climbing, adventure activities, and go outside when the weather is nice.
The game played most often is crazy volleyball.
He said the funniest thing that ever happened was when he got hit in the head with a giant ball when he wasn't looking.
Come and join Afterschool Sports today!
--March 1, 2010--
Up and at 'em!
Start the school week off right with Fit Club
By MAIREAD W.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Every Monday, Mr. Marcotte’s Fit Club meets before school. The program is based on fitness and health.
Students in the club work on getting their heart rates up. They sweat, breathe hard, and elevate their heart rates. They jump and jump rope. They call rock climbing, “Rock climbing for fitness.”
The hardest thing the Fit Club has done so far was the mini triathlon.
(For information, contact Greg Marcotte at gmarcotte@watertown.k12.ma.us)
--Jan. 23, 2010--
Get in the swing!
New jump rope club looking for students
By RYAN O.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
If you enjoy jump-roping, or jumping up and down while swinging a rope, there is a club for you! It's Mr. Marcotte's before-school jump rope club.
The club is for grades 3 through 5, and he is allowing no more than 30 kids to join.
The club meets Wednesdays before school, from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., until the end of the year when the club will put on a show for the entire school.
Kids will get to choose teams, with a max of four children on a team. Also, the kids will gett to pick some of the music.
If you join, you can make up your own jump rope routines and learn all sorts of outstanding tricks.
If you work hard, and be there on time, you are going to have lots of fun. (For information, contact Greg Marcotte at gmarcotte@watertown.k12.ma.us)
--Jan. 21, 2010--
The net result: success
Watertown's youth lacrosse program grows in popularity
By TIMMY C., OWEN G., and JACK L.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
There is a new and exciting sport in Watertown: lacrosse!
There are three boys' teams (Under 11, 13, and 15) and two girls' teams, and kids can start playing when they are in third grade.
The girls' and boys' teams have different rules. The girls can have no contact at all and they only wear eye protection and a mouthguard. The boys wear shoulder pads, a helmet, mouthguard, gloves, and elbow pads. They are allowed to body check and hack. In Under 11, players can shove, but can not check.
The Under-11 team practices five days a week and has games on Sundays. The Under-11 coaches are John Beagan and Jamie Gurick. At practice, the team goes through drills. The players do bear crawls, duck walks, throw passes, and shoot on net. The players also run, and run some more.
The practices have really helped. The Under-11 team has won seven games and only lost three.
The Under-11 team travels to different towns. This weekend, it will play three games at Fort Devens.
The players are glad that this new lacrosse program has come to town.
--June 9, 2009--
Get your kicks (and punches)
Sensei Craig’s karate class provides break to boredom
By PATRICK W. and MAIREAD W.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Every Wednesday in the Cunniff School gym after school, Sensei Craig comes to teach karate. Sometimes the sensei (which means teacher) brings a student from his dojo (which means school) or other senseis.
In karate class, students work on karate combinations and self defense. Boys and girls, from kindergarten to fifth grade, do it.
Some sessions there are a lot of kids, and some sessions there are a few.
Students start by doing simple punches and then can go to breaking boards or doing combinations.
Students have to wear white uniforms they get from their sensei. The uniform is called a gei. Students can wear a T-shirt that the sensei gives out.
Sometimes the students play games. One of the games is called Clip Sparring. Two students put on clips, like on a clothes line, and try to protect theirs while trying to knock off the other person’s.
At the end of the session, the students take a test. In each test, students use everything they’ve learned in that session. If a student passes the test, the student gets another belt. Students show ranks by belt. Each belt is a different color. Students start with white and work their way up.
After a student gets a brown stripe, the next is a solid yellow. On solid colors are tapes on the end of the belt and a student needs to get three tapes to get another solid color.
Ryan Murphy of the Lowell Devils speaks with Cunniff Kids News reporters after a recent game at Tsongas Arena.
Having fun? Check!
Lowell Devils hockey scores with crowd of all ages
By CHARLOTTE V., ISABELLA V., ELIZABETH A., AND SHAY D.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
A blimp flies around and drops prizes. There is a doghouse -- for Devil Dawg -- that kids can climb in. Mascots have dance contests. Afterward, you can skate around the ice rink.
This is what you will find at a Lowell Devils hockey game.
On Feb. 8, some students and families from the Cunniff School in Watertown went to an AHL hockey game at Tsongas Arena in Lowell. The Devils beat the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-3.
It was an exciting game from the first drop of the puck. There was a lot of scoring and a few fights.
There was a fight early in the game after the Devils went up, 2-0. Ryan Murphy of the Devils explained why.
"The guys usually fight because they are standing up for their teammates,'' said Murphy. "Sometimes two guys don’t like each other."
Murphy, who wasn't playing in this game, said he has been in fights.
"But penalties are bad, so we try not to take them," he said.
Murphy watched from the stands, although he wasn't quite sure why his coach didn't play him.
"You’ll will have to ask the coach why I didn’t play. I don’t know. It’s a long season," he said. "Sometimes the coach will have a guy sit in the stands and watch."
As Murphy, wearing a suit and tie, watched the game, he also signed some autographs.
"Yes, even tonight some kids came over and asked for an autograph," he said. "Usually if anybody asks, I’ll give it to them."
Between periods, there were still things for the fans to do. For example, there was a game called Chuck-a-puck and if a fan threw the puck onto the center of a target, the fan would win $200. There were also snacks, like fried dough, cotton candy, and ice cream.
Players eat, too, but their snacks are more healthy. According to Murphy, the players drink Gatorade and water and eat healthy candy bars “to keep our energy up.”
With all this healthy food, players have a lot of energy to play a physical game -- and sometimes they hurt each other.
Murphy, who turned 30 March 21, said he has broken "a leg, ankle, fingers, nose, and I've lost a few teeth."
After the game, anyone who wanted could skate on the Tsongas Arena ice. Murphy said he started skating when he was 3, but he agreed when he was asked if it was hard to skate without falling.
"But that's why we wear all of this padding, including a helmet, to keep us safe," he said.
After a while, it was time for everyone to get off the ice and go home. Being at the game was lots of fun.
(To learn more about Ryan Murphy, go to his page on the Lowell site:
Greg Marcotte runs the Cunniff’s afterschool sports program in the gym.
Fourth- and fifth-grade students go every Tuesday. Second- and third-graders do a similar program on Mondays.
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, up to 21 kids were playing bowling with a lot of balls and pins. The balls were colorful -- red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, purple, and white -- and different sizes.
The kids were having fun. The program lasts 10 weeks and is going to be open again next year.
According to Mr. Marcotte, among the sports played will be soccer, basketball, floor hockey, and, “All kinds of crazy things.’’
-- Feb. 23, 2009 --
Four members of the Boston Blazers -- (back row, left to right) Dan Dawson, Scorch, Gary
Bining, and Mitch Belisle -- came to the Cunniff School in Watertown Jan. 27 to speak with
students and reporters from the Cunniff Kids News.
Fired up over the Blazers
Boston's newest team hopes to lead people to lacrosse
He is 6 feet 8 inches tall with a head too big for a helmet and red hair that looks like its on fire. His name is Scorch and he is the mascot of the Boston Blazers, Boston’s newest team.
The Blazers play in the National Lacrosse League. There are 12 teams in the NLL and each team plays 16 games (and some play three playoff games).
The players come in all sizes. Dan Dawson, the Blazers’ captain, is 6 feet 5 inches tall. Mitch Belisle is very strong and 5-10. Gary Bining, who is very fast, is 5-7 and the shortest player in the league.
They came, with Scorch, to the Cunniff School in Watertown, to talk about their team.
The Blazers play their home games on weekends in the Boston Garden, the same home as the Bruins and Celtics. A lot of players have other jobs during the week. Dawson is studying to be a firefighter and Bining is taking his medical exams and wants to be a doctor. Other Blazers are teachers, police officers, and investment bankers.
“We play because we love it,” said Dawson.
The Blazers practice during the week.
“Games are fun, but practices are important,” said Belisle.
“Most guys who play professionally have to love going to practice,” Bining said.
Many players live together. “We’re kind of like a big family,” said Bining.
Lacrosse is a lot like hockey, except with a ball instead of a puck and a stick with a net on the end of it to catch the ball. Canada has two national sports, hockey and lacrosse. Kids growing up in Canada, like Dawson and Bining did, play hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the summer. Bining started playing in fourth grade and Dawson in sixth. Belisle, who grew up in Rochester, N.Y., also started playing in sixth grade.
Dawson said his favorite part of the game is scoring goals. Bining likes something even better.
“I like winning games,” he said. “I’m in such a great mood after we win, no matter how I play.”
Lacrosse was invented by the Native Americans.
In indoor lacrosse, there are five players and one goalie on the field at a time, except when there’s a penalty. If a player gets a penalty -- players can’t hit another below the waist, or in the neck or head, or swing their stick like a baseball bat, or fight -- they have to sit in the penalty box for 2, 4, or 5 minutes.
Fake grass is put down in the hockey rink, but the boards and glass are left up. There are nets set up at Boston Garden behind the net to keep the balls in play and keep the fans safe.
The lacrosse ball is white and made of really hard rubber and can go 100 miles an hour or more. The players can check each other and use their sticks to try to knock the ball loose from players on the other team. The hitting is Belisle’s favorite part of the game.
The players only have gear on their upper body: helmets, gloves, and shoulder and elbow pads. The goalie -- the Blazers’ goalie is Anthony Cosmo -- wears much more gear and looks like a sumo wrestler.
Cosmo is Belisle’s favorite player. Dawson and Belisle have the same favorite, Hall-of-Famer Gary Gait.
The Blazers also promote the L.E.A.D. program. L.E.A.D. stands for Leadership, Education, Attitude, and Dedication. The players want these things in their teammates. They said if kids learn in school, have a good attitude, and stay dedicated they will become good leaders and be successful.
Dawson, the captain, is the Blazers’ leader. He said he has made it to the NLL championship game three times, but has won it “zero times.”
“But hopefully we’ll win it this year,’’ he said.
Scorch, whose head is shaped like a big lacrosse ball, won’t play in the championship game. He spends the game running around the stands, high-fiving the fans.
“We can’t find a helmet big enough or else he’d play,” said Dawson.
(Story reported and written by Cunniff Kids News staff reporters Akram B., Caroline D., Meagan K., Jie Sen L., Tia P., Beth P., Sydney P., Christine S., Renee S., Isabella V., Elizabeth A., Shay D., Julia F., Mairead W., Ryan L., Rose M., Sam C., Jia Yi L., Sean L., and TJ P.)
(For more information on the Boston Blazers, the NLL, the players, and how to get tickets to watch the Blazers play, go to http://www.blazerslacrosse.com/.)
ds become better swimmers.
