DRAGON TALES 2014 SPRING EDITION
FEATURED AUTHORS
Mrs. Desmond’ s Class
Hadley Gearin-Birga, Teddy Stravin, Molley Taberner
Mrs. Giegle’s Class
Lydia Chesley, Zoe Garrett
Mrs. Kelly’s Class
Emmett Griffin, Elizabeth Lemieux, Maya Stahl
Mrs. MacLennan’s Class
Zoey Kane
Mrs. Madigan’s Class
James Anderson, Ryan Anderson, Remy Andrews, Tate Andrews, Matt
Cieselski, Ryan Clancy, Juliette Colucci, Kaley Conlon, Mya Cusson, Elizabeth
Delia, Colleen Fahey, Chloe Gagnier, Maya Gearin-Virga, Ethan Hunt, Nathan
LaPorte, Katie Markella,Liam McGrail, Chatham Morton, Cody Panton, Miles
Sampson, Ben Walsh
Mrs. Morgan’s Class
Payton Cicerone, Jake Nelson, Nadia Sovik
Cover Created by Alden Artist s Brady Madigan and Mikaela Carpenter from Mrs.
Madigan’s class.
This issue of Dragon Tales could never have happened without the typing help of
dedicated parents. Alden teachers, students and the PTA board wish to thank Mia
Antonia, Liz Bayston, Tracy Colucci, Emeline Dhomme, Alex Gionfriddo, Nancy
Hardwick, Kealy O’Brien, Dawn Siegel, Ron Ulich and Kim Wiemeyer. We also wish
to thank to Cara Clelland for coordinating this edition of Dragon Tales.
In a postcard while traveling at sea, CHLOE GAGNIER writes to
Miss Emilie Urquart Gagnier: June 25, 1900
Dear Emilie,
We just had the most exciting day ever! We were all outside and
all jumping off the deck! Matilda and I were like spiders while we
climbed all the ropes on the John Ena! Before we went to bed,
the captain showed us the amazing sky.
Love,
Chloe Gagnier
In a postcard while traveling at sea, MAYA GEARIN-VIRGA
writes to Miss Hadley Gearin-Virga: May 18, 1903
Dear Hadley,
My journey with the Madsen family has been wonderful. This
evening, Matilda said that her father would take us to look at the
stars. And this morning we climbed on the rigging until we were
spotted. I am enjoying this so much! I hope you are having as
much fun!
Love, Maya
In a postcard while traveling at sea, ELIZABETH DELIA writes to
Dr. and Mrs. Delia: May 30, 1897
Dear Mother and Father,
Here on the John Ena we have had rough seas from spring
storms. We tied up all the furniture to a green rail on the wall. We
started to get scared as the ship rumbled and rippled. We all
snuggled up in a corner and tried to be brave. It is okay because
the storm is over.
Love, Elizabeth Delia
P.S. Happy Birthday, Mother.
NAME: MATT CIESELSKI
GRADE: 4
TEACHER: MADIGAN
Imagine that you have been traveling at sea with the Madsen's for five months. Write a
post card to someone back home. In your postcard describe your best or worst
adventure using as many vocabulary words in context as you can. Add an illustration
to the other side of something you imagine you would see on a journey at sea.
January 22nd, 1896
Dear Family,
The Madsen family is treating me very nice. There was a storm last week, and
almost sank! The teacher Mrs. Shipman knows a lot. Anyway the kids love me being
here. And I'll be back in one week! Can't wait to see you soon. Well they want me to
play now, so I have to go. Bye see you soon.
From,
Matt Cieselski/your Son.
STUDENT NAME: RYAN CLANCY
GRADE: 4
TEACHER: MADIGAN
August 23, 1897
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm having a great time here on the John Ena. We are at Arizohaj. And guess what
happened yesterday. The Kah guard went overboard and we never found him. I
think he maybe drowned in the sea! Everyone was sad!
Sincerely,
Ryan Clancy
STUDENT NAME: HADLEY GEARIN - BIRGA AND MOLLY TABERNER
GRADE: 4
TEACHER: DESMOND
DAWN
When dawn comes into view and the first rooster crows. Shining through the
windows the bright morning sun, has awoken everyone in town. The chirping birds
awoke me with a startle as a sign to start the day. I leap out of bed and rush down
the stairs, I threw open the door and felt the cool morning breeze. I walked with a
spring in my step and landed in soaking wet grass. I went back inside only to fall
back down again. When dawn arrives it is the start of a brilliant new day, full of
adventure.
By Hadley Gearin-Virga and Molly Taberner
Lydia G. Chesley
Mrs. Giegle
Death at Sea?
Splishing, Sploshing, covering me
A drowning Death against the sea
But then, in the blackened night,
In the distance there’s a light
A boat chugs near, “Help! Help!”
They save me from suffocating on kelp.
Zoe Garrett
Mrs. Giegle
The Sea!
I’m on the sea! I’m on the sea!
And you should be too if you wish to be
A fine little sailor with lots of pride!
You have to enjoy this boat ride!
And when you’re done, you’ll be proud
Then you’ll shout from the top of the bow!
Emmett Griffin
Grade 5
Ms. Kelly
Yellow
Yellow is the taste of refreshing lemonade on a hot summer day,
a fresh tennis ball that’s never been used,
the fragrance of flowers in the Spring gardens.
Yellow is the beauty of the night stars,
the bright sun that keeps us warm,
a ripe banana that you’re about to eat
the scent of buttery popcorn that just came out of the microwave.
Teddy Stravin
Grade 4
Mrs. Desmond
The King
There once was a king from Chinook.
Everyone said he could cook,
But he baked weird looking pies.
They varied in size.
So now he should use a cookbook.
Name: James Anderson
Grade: 4
Teacher: Madigan
Mr. + Mrs. Anderson
16 Duck Hill Road
Duxbury, MA 02332
August 23, 1902
Dear Mom and Dad
I do miss the times living on the boat. I remember that time when the pig jumped
onto the extremely hot tar and he died. That was sadly sad. I loved that little guy.
Well soon I will take my kids on a boat someday.
Your son,
James Anderson
Name: Remy Andrews
Grade: 4
Teacher: Madigan
Miss Mya Casson
147 Tremont Street
Duxbury, MA 02332
May 15, 1900
Dear Mya Cusson
I will be writing about John ENa and the people that live on it. They have roosters,
hens, duck, a cat, a dog, and a kangaroo. The kangaroo jumped overboard and they
had to save the kangaroo. Around Christmas time they put ribbon and tinsel on the
boat. It was pretty.
From Remy
Name: Ryan Anderson
Grade: 4
Teacher: Madigan
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson
16 Duck Hill Road
Duxbury, MA 02332
March 28, 1896
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Anderson
The worst day of my life was this week. on the John Ena. There was a gigantic
storm. The sky turned black. The waves were enormous. They were so big that it
came onto the ship and injured two people. The kids father had to go out and get
them to safety. It last a while but then we had a huge holiday Party for Christmas. It
was amazing.
Love, Ryan Anderson
Name: Jake Nelson
Grade: 3
Teacher: Morgan
April 1, 2014
Bahamas Atlantis
By Jake Nelson
(Splash) The dolphins are jumping and splashing. The kids flip flop against the sand.
Soft fluffy clouds are moving threw the sky. Palm trees are blowing softly in your
face. Gigantic cruise ships are partying all night. Its beautiful you can see all the
different kind of fish. Seagulls are chirping and flying aimlessly. People are jumping
threw the sparkling water. Burning sweat is running down my skin. Soft sun lotion
is falling down my skin. Smell the delicious smell of food and Gatorade. People are
laughing in the crazy fast current. Rapid tides are banging the sand. That is
amazingly spectacular Bahamas Atlantis.
At the Beach
By Nadia Sovick
At the beach I feel the water on my feet. I look out, and I see sea weed. I step
on damp rocks and find sea glass. I set up my grill cook muscles that I find in the
ground. I also eat clams, oysters, and crabs for an early morning snack. I build a
sandcastle, and it is enormous! It has a giant trench around it. I see bright yellow
sand and seagulls fly overhead clank ! clank! clank! A seagull drops a clam. It pries
it open and eats it. There are little crabs crawling all over my feet and it tickles. A
warm summer breeze blows through my hair. I smell the beach and marsh. In the
fall I see snowy owls and I see dolphins circling in the water and fish jump up and
down. Zing! I cast my rod and a fish bites. I have smoked salmon for lunch. Waves
crash against rocks and music plays as the sun sets. The air is filled with fresh sea
salt. A boat comes into Boston Harbor. It delivers fresh lobster and fresh fish. I
dance until it is time to go home.
Student Name: Mya Cusson
Grade: 4
Teacher’s Name: Madigan
To:
Miss Carline Cusson
347 Tremont Street
Duxbury, MA 02332
June 13, 1899
Dear Caroline,
As I write to you, the great John Ena is crossing the China Sea. This reminds me of
the time we sailed through a massive storm, and nearly sank! The ship rolled over,
and didn’t roll back for four whole minutes! See you next year.
Love,
Mya
Student Name: Kaley Conlon
Grade: 4
Teacher’s Name: Madigan
To:
The Conolon Family
145 Pine Lake Road
Duxbury, MA 02332
June 16, 1898
Dear Family,
My trip with the Madsens on their boat the “John Ena” has been great. So many good
things have happened in the past five months. Even the sea has had smooth waves
and bright sun, no storms or clouds in sight. The best part was we had so much food
and it was the best trip I’ve been on so far.
Love,
Kaley Conlon
Grade: 4
Teacher’s Name: Madigan
To:
Mr. and Mrs. Dino Colucci
951 Congress St.
Duxbury, MA 02332
April 14, 1896
Dear family,
I have had an outstanding time going around the world! One of my favorite times
was when we went to Honolulu, Hawaii! We went to the beach and we went surfing
on the crashing waves! I had an amazing time with the Madsen family!
Love,
Juliette Colucci
Red
By: Elizabeth Lemieux
Red is the taste of fresh strawberries,
Apples picked from a tree,
A fire truck racing down the road,
The fragrance of beautiful roses.
Red is the laces stitched into a baseball,
Mars through a telescope,
A cardinal that sings in the morning,
The scent of tomato sauce in pasta.
Red
By: Maya Stahl
Red is the taste of a bowl of cherries,
fresh strawberries in the summer,
a stop sign on the street,
the fragrance of roses in a meadow.
Red is love on Valentines Day,
a stripe on the American Flag,
a cardinal that sings in the morning,
the scent of freshly picked raspberries.
POSTCARD ADDRESSED TO:
Master Andrew Hunt
629 West Street
Duxbury, MA 02332
July 23, 1829
Dear Andrew,
I was on the beautiful John Ena, and we had a wonderful time. Then a huge wave hit
the front of the boat and then it started to sink. Then it shot up and it started to sail
again. We feel so lucky to have survived!
From Your Brother,
Ethan Hunt
POSTCARD ADDRESSED TO:
Cousin Jack
84 Marsh Drive
Marshfield, MA 02050
July 28, 1906
Dear Jack,
The John Ena has been in a nasty storm. As the ship and the ocean tussled and
fought, we almost sank! We are all OK now.
From,
Cousin Nathan LaPorte
In My Backyard
By Payton Cicerone
As I jump on my trampoline I see the blue and green sky as I flip and rotate
through the sky. As I flip I also smell the fresh clean flowers that look like red, pink,
and white roses. As I rotate through the sky I also see pretty rainbows in the
amazing blue and green sky. While my brother and his friends through water
balloons at me and my friends. They come crashing down on us and we get so wet.
When me and my friends lay down on the deck we feel the hot sun glazing down on
us. As we lay there on the deck we hear cute birds chirping and singing beautiful
songs.
As we crunch down on the fresh fruit and potato chips it makes us nice and
calm. As we lay down on the deck we can feel the nice and amazing cool wind in our
faces. As I turn my head to the left I see squirrels and bunnies running around and
up and down trees. As I turn my head to the right I see birds running and flying to
get their nest in the trees.
As my dogs run around in the sprinkler and come to me and my friends they
get me so wet with all the water from the sprinkler. They always want someone to
play with or a ball to play with.
That is what my backyard looks like in Duxbury, Massachusetts.
POSTCARD ADDRESSED TO:
Mr. Chad Frost
491 Temple Street
Duxbury, MA 02332
March 1, 1898
Dear Chad,
It’s been really bad and hard on the ship. Our piggy got stuck in tar and died! And I
am getting seasick! Also we had to get past an awful storm. It’s been really hard
living on a big boat at sea. I really hope this thunderstorm stops!
Love,
Katie Markella
POSTCARD ADDRESSED TO:
Mr. Scott Doyle
149 Abrams Hill
Duxbury, MA 02332
May 15, 1900
Dear Dad,
Yesterday was the worst day ever. A Komodo dragon snuck on the boat when we
left Hawaii. He ate the chicken. Then we captured him and hucked him off the boat.
Love,
Scott Doyle
24 Standish Road
Duxbury, MA 02332
Dear Michael,
As I was on the John Ena and I was to get off this dreadful boat. Already two men
got injured on the John Ena, and I’m getting extremely sea sick! Also the John Ena is
about to sink! I want to get off this horrible boat, this instant.
From,
Ben Walsh
4th grade, Mrs. Madigan
August 9th, 1898
Master Ryan Clancy
100 Pine Street
Duxbury, MA 02332
Dear Ryan Clancy,
It’s been a long time since we’ve talked together. I just have too many adventures
like when the kangaroo jumped over board and he almost floated away. It was one
wild time. I hope you can reply back to me.
From,
Tate Andrews
4th grade, Mrs. Madigan
May 3, 1896
Mr. Donald McGrail
51 Chandler Mill Drive
Duxbury, MA 02332
Dear Donald,
I have a very big problem right now! Me and the whole entire ship crew are being
attacked by a giant krakan! One of the men is gone. Luckily the krakan is going
away but another man got picked up and went under with it. Luckily I’m still alive!
From,
Liam McGrail
4th grade, Mrs. Madigan
Girl Scout Troop 75220 Helps
By Zoey Kane, 3rd Grade Mrs. MacLennan
Help Troop 75220 with giving clean water to people who don’t have it. It is very
important to stay healthy. And one way of doing that is having clean water. Some
people in Africa have to walk about 2 miles to get water. We need to help them. It is
important to us that we stay safe, and the same goes for them. It makes the world a
better place when that happens. Only 3% of water on Earth is fresh water, and only
1% of that is clean enough to drink. People in Africa have to get water out of dirty
lakes and rivers. Troop 75220 is helping others be able to have clean water to drink.
At the Beach
By Mason Allaire
When I step into the hot brown and it tickles my feet. I see kids playing
games, splashing in the water having fun. When I sit in my flue fluffy chair I relax.
When I open my mouth I taste my sun-tan-lotion. The water is splashing and
making a plut plut sound, while I slap the water. It’s freezing, the water frosted my
feet. But that didn’t stop me, I went in and swam around doing back strokes. A
humongous wave made me go back to shore. I laid on the wet sand and waited for
another wave to push me around. I went back to my blue chair sat down and had
lunch. I had a ham and cheese sandwich. When I took a bite it tasted like a cheesy
delight. I had a Sprite (soda) with my sandwich. When I took a sip of my soda the
fizz tickled my tongue. When I was done with lunch I went home and watched TV.
Miles Sampson
Grade4
Madigan
June 5, 1986
Dear Daddy,
You should hear about my insane
adventure with the Madsens. We sailed to
Hawaii. First, what we did was race monkeys
to the jackpot of mangos. We won. Then we
swam in the ocean. There was many sea
creatures. We are wondering for what we
should do next. See ya!
Love,
Miles
Dr. Bradford Sampson
19 South Meadow Lane
Duxbury, MA 02332
Colleen Fahey
Grade 4
Madigan
August 14, 1899
Dear Caroline,
It is beautiful on the John Ena. Ever since I
boarded the John Ena I have been have a
wonderful time being a caretaker. But one
time the kangaroo went overboard we saved
him but piggy fell into a pot of tar the crew
was using. I can’t wait to see you.
Sincerely
your sister Colleen
Fahey
Miss Caroline Fahey
63 Chistina CT
Duxbuty, MA 02332
Cody Panton
Grade 4
Madigan
September 18,1896
Dear Mom and Dad,
There were lots of rough seas and storms
and giant waves.
We also went to many places we’ve
never been to. We had help from a sailor on
fishing
From,
Cody Panton
Mr. and Mrs. James Panton
60 Buckboard Road
Duxbury, MA 02332
Chatham Morton
Grade 4
Madigan
December 12, 1897
Dear Mom and Dad
Life here on the ship is amazing. I’m
having so much fun with everyone on the
John Ena. The scariest thing happened one
day! We got caught in a big storm and we
almost sank. Luckily, we didn’t sink!
Love,
Chatham
Mr. and Mrs. John Morton
230 Bianca Road
Duxbury, MA 02332