Hello! I’m Celia, one of the new interns for the summer. I’m 22, and I’m from Minnesota. I just graduated from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. Bryn Mawr is a women’s college, a school that strives to create an environment similar to New Moon Girls—a place where women can grow in the classroom and outside of it; uncover inner potential; and learn how to ‘make a meaningful contribution to the world’!

Because of Bryn Mawr, I know how powerful girl-centered experiences can be! I have grown so much at Bryn Mawr in a community of women, which is such an empowering space—intellectually and emotionally. I want to work with New Moon because New Moon helps girls reach for their dreams and realize their potential to enact change in the world, all while discovering their own unique talents—and this all happens through an encouraging community network of girls and those who support them! I feel very lucky to be part of the New Moon community!

This summer, besides looking forward to all of the fun work I’ll be doing with New Moon, I am also looking for a summer job. I am heading to London in the fall for a Masters program in Publishing, which requires funds—hence the job search! J So far, no luck, but hopefully soon. Cross your fingers for me! Going to London is the first step on the road to my secret dream—a cottage on the Downs in England, where I can raise lots of sheep and fuzzy ponies, just for the pleasure of their company:) Well, and also the first step towards my dream of becoming an editor who works with fiction for girls—I guess that’s important to mention too:)

Other than that, I’m hoping my summer is chock full of outdoor adventures—I love to run, bike, walk our poodles Charley and George, ride my horse Morphy down the trail, and camp in the Boundary Waters. I also want to make time to catch up with all my friends in Duluth—I miss them a lot when I’m in Pennsylvania!

While I have old friends here in Minnesota, I also love to make new friends! I am excited to get to know the girls of New Moon! I hear they are fun, smart, interesting, talented, curious, artistic, creative, beautiful inside and out—among many other fabulous qualities:) Click here to leave a sticker for me! I love getting messages and sending them back—I’ve always been a letter writer, and stickers seem to be the New Moon letter of choice!

Hey girls! I’m Jada, a new member of the New Moon Girls editorial team. I will be working as an “over the moon” intern for the summer! I’m 16-years-old, and I live in southern California where I play on my school’s basketball and track team.

Some of my favorite classes are English, History, and Spanish. This year I’m a student mentor/tutor for my school’s tutoring program.

At home I live with my mom, dad, little sister, and dog Haley. When I’m not busy with school or sports, I love watching suspense movies and reading mysteries.

I love music because it’s a way for me to unwind. While I’m not the best singer it’s fun pretending to be a famous music star and belt out my favorite tunes. I am always dancing around the house to a good song! I also played instruments like the violin and the saxophone, but piano has stuck with me since third grade. I haven’t played in a while so I’m a little rusty.
Writing is my real passion. I’m creative and love to using words to express myself. My love for English is what drew me to New Moon Girls.

I’m so excited to get to know you girls this summer! I’ll be posting my blog a couple times a week! It’s going to be called “Our Side of the Moon (OSOM)” where I’ll talk about issues and experiences girls are faced with everyday; including ones I’ve experienced growing up.

I want your ideas, post here them on my Sister to Sister Message Board here! http://www.newmoon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=7326&sid=1437d7f35d9b6f1a107e0a0e67bcb5c5

I’ll end each blog post with J.S.O.M (Jada’s Side of the Moon), and when you girls respond, or sticker me, you can put your own names in! We’ll be like a secret club of girls supporting each other. So what’s on your side of the moon?
                                                                                                               J.S.O.M.

P.S. Don’t forget to add your ideas to the message board!

Talk to you later girls!

http://www.newmoon.com/content/?id=1317&type=4

Oil is very valuable, and many companies drill deep into the earth’s surface to get it. Also called petroleum, oil is formed from plants and animals that died in the seas millions of years ago. Drilling companies can use this substance for things like gasoline and jet fuel.

Did you know that some people don’t support oil drilling? Oil drilling can have a lot of effects on the environment, but one of the most unfortunate effects is oil spills.

On, Tuesday, April 20^th, oil well drilling* on the Gulf of Mexico caused a huge explosion on an offshore drilling platform. From an oil well 5,000 feet into the ground, oil rushed out at a rapid rate. Below is a short timeline to keep you up-to-speed with what has been going on since the oil spill began over a month ago!

Thursday, April 22^nd: After the explosion, the search continued for 11 missing oil crew workers. Rescue workers also extinguished the fire from the explosion.

By Friday April 30^th: The oil reached the Mississippi Delta. Rescue workers stopped the search for the 11 missing workers. People began questioning how the spill would affect the fishing industry and over 34,000 birds.

President Obama discontinued all other offshore drilling until the Gulf of Mexico oil spill investigation is finished.

Wednesday, May 5^th: The oil company BP said it has plugged one of the three oil leaks.

For weeks following this, BP used containment domes and insertion tubes to try to control the leaks. These attempts were not successful. Images of the area revealed that the oil was leaking at a greater rate than BP predicted, perhaps 25,000 barrels of oil a day!

Wednesday, May 26^th: BP began a “top kill” procedure, which pumped fluids into the well to prevent the leaking of oil, until the well could be sealed with cement.

This past week, President Obama declared that the government is responsible for shutting down the oil leak, and that it has been their highest priority. He also promised that he will watch the drilling industry more closely, to try to prevent future oil leaks.

Today, the oil continues to leak from the Gulf of Mexico because the “top kill” plan did not work. So what does this mean for the environment affected by the oil spill?

Over 400 species live in these nearby islands and marshlands, including the endangered Kemp’s Ridley turtle. Birds are also at risk, including gulls, pelicans and blue herons. Within this area, 19 dolphins have been found dead.

Biologists say it is possible the Gulf Stream currents could carry oil intro the Atlantic Ocean. If this were to happen, many mammals would be affected.

How could we find ways to avoid this catastrophe happening again? What have you learned about the oil spills? We really want to know what you’ve been thinking about all this news!

Love,

Luna

Oil well drilling – the process in which a drilling rig (machine) is forced deep into the ground and earth’s crust, in order to pull up the oil. The oil company BP says that they were only drilling for oil, not pulling it up, at the time of the explosion.

The NASA Satellite captured the above image of the oil spilling from the Gulf of Mexico.

Recently, the Texas Board of Education voted to change the social studies curriculum taught in public schools. The history, sociology and economics textbooks will be redesigned in such a way that the Board believes will “promote patriotism.”

What are some examples of the changes that will be made? In the Age of Enlightenment* section of history textbooks, there will be less of a focus on Thomas Jefferson’s belief in “separation of church and state*.” The books will also highlight religious figures such as John Calvin of the Protestant Reformation*.

The names used to describe things are another adjustment to be made in the textbooks. The slave trade will be named the “Atlantic triangular trade.” While this new term accurately describes the slave trade route, some people are concerned it will be easier to ignore the harmful effects of slavery if the word “slave” is taken out of the term. The government will be described as a “constitutional republic” instead of “democratic.” One last example is that the very common term capitalism* will now be referred to as the “free-enterprise system.” Some people believe “free” brings more positive associations to mind than the word capitalism.

What material didn’t make it into the books? The Board decided not to include hip hop as a cultural movement. Also, the mention of many Latino leaders’ role in history was not fully approved.

These changes will not go into effect right away. However, when the textbooks are redesigned they will remain this way for the next 10 years in Texas. This will affect about 4.8 million public school students from the elementary to high school level. This change may also affect textbooks published in other states in the future.

What changes do you agree or disagree with? Do you think this decision will have any affect on the textbooks you use? Share a little bit about your current social studies curriculum below!

Love,

Luna

Age of Enlightenment – a period of time in the 1700s in which many philosophers questioned traditional ways of thinking and acting, and came up with new ideas based on reasoning.

Separation of church and state –This is an amendment in the U.S. Constitution that says the government cannot establish an official religion for the U.S., and the citizens can freely practice any religion of their choice.

Protestant Reformation – A movement in Europe to change the Catholic Church, which resulted in new forms of Christianity.

Capitalism – a system in which buyers and sellers set the prices in the economy with little intervention from the government. Businesses are privately owned. (One is free to start their own business—this is where the “free-enterprise” term comes from.)

Hi girls!

My name is Angelica, and I’m so happy to join the New Moon Girls community as an intern this summer! Every time I visit newmoon.com, I feel such great energy from all the ideas you share with each other.  New Moon Girls is a fun haven of inspiration!

During the school year I attend Cornell University in upstate New York, where there are beautiful mini waterfalls and hills everywhere. Getting to class is sometimes like going on a cozy nature walk! One of my favorite activities at school is editing Forword Women’s Literary Magazine. We publish a lot of cool writing and artwork that reminds me of the creativity I see at New Moon Girls.

I’m majoring in “Human Development” and plan to graduate in December 2010.  My major allows me to study how people grow into the unique people that they are!  I’ve found out a ton of interesting things; playing helps us to learn, and positive emotions are great for our health. I can’t wait to learn more from all of you!  I have one older brother and lots of cousins I’m close with, but I never had a sister and I feel like I’ll inherit some with you girls this summer!

This summer I’m looking forward to playing tennis outside. During the winter I tried out squash, it’s a lot different!  I used to play tennis all the time, and want to get my skills back so I can play matches against my dad.

I am also challenging myself to meditate more. It’s hard to find time to just “be still”, but it’s worth trying! If you’ve ever tried it, do you have any tips to quiet your mind?  What are you looking forward to do this summer? Sticker me and let me know!  You can get to my room and see the video I made by clicking here.  Talk to you soon!

All my peace and love,

Angelica

P.S.  In the picture above, that’s my brother and I having fun on the Potomac River in Virginia.  I am standing up on the “groomsmen” side of his wedding in July. I will have the sweetest sister-in-law!  I can’t wait to post some pictures of the wedding to my room for all you girls to see!