Noddy

Noddy, Noddy with a big round nose
Driving his car morning, noon and night
Helping everyone you see on the road
Zoom! Zap! Zow! You go around Toy town
What a great toy you are!

The morning

By Nilushi Dhanapala (Grade 5), Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy

As the sun rises over the mountains
The darkness vanishes away
Nice bird songs spread around
Pretty flowers bloom today

The mighty river flows so slowly
Golden fish jump in and out
A gentle breeze blows all around
Making trees swing to a beat

Bees are buzzing so happily
Birds are flying searching for food
Busy ants are gathering food
What a pretty morning it is

My first visit to Jaffna

By N. Sayanthan (12 years), Puttalam Hindu Central College

Though my parents are from Jaffna, I was born in Puttalam, where my father who is a doctor is attached to the Puttalam Hospital. Since my birth, I have never been to Jaffna. My grandfather used to tell me a lot of interesting stories about Jaffna.

So I kept pestering my parents to take me to Jaffna, once. During the Nallur Festival, my parents
decided to make a trip to Jaffna by car. On our way to Jaffna by the A9 road, we saw the pathetic condition of the areas that were destroyed during the war. But, when we reached our destination at Chunnakam, all our worries faded away. The place was full of life and men and women busy working in their agricultural lands, happily.

The most thrilling day of our visit was the Nallur Temple ‘Ther’ Fesival ceremony. We enjoyed the day along with hundreds and thousands of devotees who came from all parts of the island and from abroad. Every minute of our stay was memorable. With everlasting memories we returned home the following day.

My school

By M. Nisma (Grade 5), Zainab Muslim Girls’ Primary School, Puttalam

The name of my school is P/Zainab Muslim Girls’ Primary School, Puttalam. My school principal is Mrs. Hudha. There is a big playground in my school. There are 41 teachers’ in my school. There are a lot of buildings.

My school is situated in the Puttalam district. There are classes from Grade 1 to Grade 5. Lots of students are studying at my school. It is a beautiful school. I love my school very much.

My little sister

By Sumudu Rathnasiri (Grade 8), St. Joseph’s B.M.V., Kegalle

I have a little sister, who is barely one year old. When she was first brought home, she was very, very small and she could not do anything on her own. Mother had to feed her immediately, whenever she cried for milk. She wetted her nappies a thousand and one times per day and during rainy days mother had a very tough time washing and drying all my little sister’s nappies.

Now my little sister is a little grown-up and she can stand on her own feet if somebody helps her. I am getting more and more interested in my sister now, as she is growing in to a beautiful baby. She has got rosy cheeks that are very soft to touch. She is now cutting her first teeth and she tries to bite my fingers if she gets a chance. When I tickle her belly, she giggles loudly. If I put my head into her cot, she catches hold of my hair and pulls it until I cry in pain.

However, I never feel angry towards my little sister because I know she is a part of me. Also, I know that we have to be together forever.

Christmas

By Ovandi Abeywardena (Grade 4), Lyceum Int. School, Ratnapura

Christmas falls on the 25th of December every year. It is mostly celebrated by Christians. It is
celebrated because it is the day when Jesus Christ was born.

Sometimes Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims celebrate Christmas too. People make Christmas trees and decorate them. They hang bulbs around the house and on the Christmas tree too. People sing Christmas carols.

Some people dress up as Santa Claus and give toffees to children. Some shops are decorated with bulbs and Christmas trees. We give Christmas cards and wish everyone Merry Christmas. I like Christmas.

Mom’s recipe for waffles

By Ian Perera (Grade 7), St. Anthony’s College, Kandy

My mom makes tasty waffles for me to take to school. She always makes extra waffles to share with my friends. One day a friend asked me how she makes them.

This is the way she makes waffles;

You need,
2 cups flour
2 eggs
2 cups milk
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
First you must sieve the flour.

Then beat the eggs. Now mix all the other ingredients together. Heat the waffle iron and pour some of the batter on to it. In two or three minutes the waffle is ready. Spread with jam and enjoy.

Spiderman

By Rishen Samaranayake (7 years), Stafford Int School

Spiderman is my hero. I like Spiderman because he has special powers. He can put webs from his hands. He can swing with the webs. He can jump from buildings. He has a red kit with white lines.

He saves children when they are in trouble. I like to watch Spiderman cartoons and movies. But he is not for real.

Letter to Santa

By Chenul De Silva (Grade 1), Royal Institute, Maharagama

Dear Santa, How are you? I hope you will visit our home this Christmas. I want a battery operated, green
colour T-Rex this time. I want a globe too. We don’t have a chimney in our home, so please keep my gifts on the sofa. My mother will make you a sweet, cool orange juice. Thank you.

My Malla

By Dasha Seneviratne (5 years), Good Shepherd Montessori, Kotahena

My Malla is Gehanke. He is three. We go to school. He likes my scooter bike. Malla is my friend.

What Christmas means to me

By Christeen Dias, Our Lady of Victories Convent, Moratuwa

Christmas time is my favourite holiday, not only because it celebrates the birth of Christ, who is considered the Son of God and Saviour of all people, but Christmas brings forth a day to feast on all we can eat. Also it is a time when families and friends get together and share good memories.

Spending Christmas with my family is very important to me. We usually gather at our home. We love to see our cousins, aunties and uncles and everyone. We spend the day playing games and sharing our new gifts and toys that Santa Claus brought for each of us.

We get so eager to decorate. We make the wonderful Christmas tree and we decorate it with wonderful presents for all our friends and relations.

I feel so fortunate to have my family throughout the year, but especially at Christmas time, when showing them how much I love them and exactly what they mean to me. That is so very important to me.

Christmas for me is about being with family, loving each other and showing each other just exactly how we all feel.

An exciting visit to the Holy Land

By Randithi Jayawardena (Grade 5), Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitya

I went to the Holy Land with my family on the 11th of April. At the airport, we boarded the plane QR301 at 9.45 a.m. In the plane, we played computer games. The airhostesses served us with delicious food and gave us presents. The plane journey was very interesting. We landed in Doha and stayed at Amman Chame Place.

We had dinner in Jordan Hotel. On the second day we visited Tiber. We took boat rides across the Sea of Galilee. We went to see St. Peter’s house and St. Joseph’s church.

On the third day, we had special baptisms in the Jordan River for all the pilgrims. After that we drove up to Mount Tabor. We also visited Mount Carmel. In the afternoon we saw the statue of Virgin Mary lying in peaceful slumber.

Thereafter we visited (the dungeon) where Jesus was kept before the trial. On the sixth day we did the Way of the Cross. In the evening we enjoyed floating on the Dead Sea. We returned home on April 18. It was indeed the most exciting journey that I had.

My favourite place in Sri Lanka

By Akindu Karunaratne (Grade 3), S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia

My favourite place in Sri Lanka is Kandy. It is known as the Hill Capital in Sri Lanka. Kandy is a beautiful place. The climate is very cool and windy. The Botanical Gardens add colour to the city.

The Temple of the Tooth is in Kandy. The Mahaweli River flows through Kandy. Kandy Lake is in the town. There are lovely hotels in and around Kandy. Kadugannawa hill climb is wonderful. I love Kandy very much.