My favourite actress is Selena Gomez. Her full name is Selena Marie Gomez. She was born on July 22, 1992 in Grand Prairie, Texas, United States. She is only 17 years old. Her father is Ricardo Gomez and her mother is Mandy Teefey.

Selena is a singer and a fabulous actress. She acts in Princess Protection Programme, Wizards of Waverly Place, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Hannah Montana and Spy Kids. Her best movie is Princess Protection Programme. She acts the part of Carter Mason. Her friends are Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Ashley Tisdale and Vanesa Hudgens.

Her songs are, 'Fly to your heart,' 'One and the same,' 'Tell me,' 'Falling down' and 'Cruella de Vil.' She has four dogs. Selena is so pretty and beautiful.

She has won many awards such as, the Kids Choice awards, Emmy awards, Teen Choice awards and so on. Selena is a pop star, hiphop star, actress and a really good singer. She has a wonderful voice. Selena is very kind and a very good girl.

Myself

By Hafiz Thabeeth (Grade 1), Wesley College

My name is Mohamed Hafiz Thabeeth. I am six years old. My school is Wesley College, Colombo. I am in Grade 1A. My class teachers are Ms. Onietha Fernando and Ms.Duruthu.

I am the eldest in our family and my brother is Hashim and my sister is Sarah. My favourite colour is yellow. I like to play football with my brother and father. My favourite cartoon is Ben10. My hobby is drawing. My ambition is to be an Air Force Officer one day.

My school bag

By Buddvi Senadheera (10 years), St. Paul's Girls' School, Milagiriya

My school bag is blue in colour. It has many pockets, which help me to put all my things all in one. It carries my school books, my lunch box and my water bottle too. My school bag helps me to protect my books.

I keep my school bag with me and never leave it alone in school. At home I keep it in a very special place. I love my school bag because it helps me to take my books to school and also for the protection it gives for my books.

A trip I went on

By Januka Perera (8 years), S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia

Among the many trips I have gone, the trip I most liked was to Sydney. I liked it because I saw many things that are unique to Australia.

Early in the morning, we went to the Bandaranaike International Airport to fly by Emirates to Singapore and then we boarded a Qantas flight for our final destination, Sydney. We stayed very close to the Sydney Harbour.

The next day we explored some places around Sydney Harbour such as, Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife Park, Chinese Gardens, Convention Centre, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Olympic Stadium.

We went on a tour called the Blue Mountains tour. The tour had a package to many places. The first stop was the Featherdale Wildlife Park. We cuddled koalas and fed the kangaroos. After lunch the guide showed us how to throw a boomerang.

Then we visited the Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters Mountains and went by scenic
railway, skyway and flyway cable cars and also went on a river cruise. We bought a boomerang as a souvenir.

After ten days in Sydney, we returned back to Sri Lanka. I hope to explore many more things in Sydney in the future.

The importance of wearing a seatbelt

By Devin Jinadasa (10 years), Asian International School

My mother and father are always nagging me to wear a seatbelt when travelling by car. But I don't like wearing it as it restricts my movements. I want to be free to move about in the car.

Sometimes I pretend to wear the seatbelt to please my parents but I actually don't fasten it. I used to
hoodwink my parents easily that way.

One day, after school, I was travelling in my car, as happy as a lark without my seatbelt, when my driver suddenly braked hard to avoid crashing into a van.

I was thrown forward and knocked my head on the windscreen. I got a nasty bump on my head. Then I realised that I could have been killed if I knocked my head any harder.

So, I recommend all children, not only in Sri Lanka but all over the world, to wear seatbelts when travelling in any vehicle. Now I always wear a seatbelt. I am grateful to my parents for giving me good advice and protecting my life.

I hope parents all over the world are teaching their children to wear seatbelts for their safety, which is a good habit. My parents were sad that I got a bump on my head, but glad that I learnt my lesson well.

A poem about rabbits

By Shenalie de Silva (10 years), Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya

I have a pair of rabbits Their names are Berr and Mopsy They live in a rabbit hutch At my backyard garden. They have six little young ones As naughty as can be I love my little rabbits And I'll always love them so.

My pet

By Shenaya Fernando (Grade 2), Ladies College

My pet is a dog. Her name is Pepi. She is a black Lab. She likes to eat bones. I often give her treats. She likes them a lot.

She barks at cats, birds and helicopters. She likes to play with me and cuddle up in bed.

My favourite book

By Ayaz Fiyaz (Grade 2), Minhal International School

My favourite book is named 'Farmer Boy.' The book is written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My book is a full colour collector's edition.

My book is based in a farmyard. In my book, farmer boy is Royal who is thirteen years old. My book tells about a poor family who only have a farm to make their living.

My book is very interesting. I like my book very much.

Trip to Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

By Chamodi Samarasinghe (12 years) , Swarna Jayanthi M.V., Kegalle

In the last school vacation my family and I went to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens to see the flowers, trees and get some information about them. First my father got tickets for us. Then we came to the Botanical Gardens.

I saw different flowers. They were very beautiful. Some flowers were like butterflies. Next I took photographs of them. I saw a lot of foreigners who came there to visit. I saw tall trees such as palmyrah, coconut etc. Next my father explained the differences and history of some trees. I noticed some information about them.

After that we came to the hotel, had lunch and came back home. This trip was very interesting because I learnt a lot of things about the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Next day I wrote some information about the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and their nature to my pen friend.

Save trees

By Maneka Wijesundara (12 years), Ecole International, Digana

Do you like to live in a fresh green country? Yes, of course we do, everyone would say. But that's not enough. We should save our precious trees for a fresh green country.

Today cutting trees and de-forestation has become a habit among people, and they have used it to earn their living without caring about the future. We have noticed a lot of natural disasters like floods and earthslips. These types of disasters happen because of the decrease of trees and they cause a great loss.

Also cutting trees will reduce our oxygen, water, food, fresh air and other environmental resources that will lead us to a dark future. People cut trees to make houses, house-hold equipment, for land and for many other human needs. But this process would destroy our environment and our future.

So, to protect our precious environment and to live in a fresh and green country we should save trees!
And we should not value trees for money. Let's dedicate our life and energy to save trees.

World Children's Day

By Rubaya Inthaaj (Grade 4), Sujatha Primary, Matara

October 1 was World Children's Day. On that day we went to school early. We dressed in different
costumes. We planned to go to our Maha Vidyalaya in a procession. Each class had a different item. My class 4B had a dance and a group song.

Others were dressed as bunnies, peacocks, deer, kalagedi dancers and so on. The whole school went in procession. We went along the road to Sujatha Maha Vidyalaya. A police car went first. Then our
principal and a teacher went in a van. They were announcing.

The perahera was very colourful. Parents watched us standing on either side of the road. We were very proud. Suddenly there was a shower and we all got wet. We reached Sujatha M.V.

First we went to the main hall. The senior akkas welcomed us. We got on to the stage and we danced and sang. Then we went to the playground. We lined up and came back to our school. We had nice things to eat and drink. We enjoyed ourselves.

Our school sports-meet

By Nihra Nafri (Grade 6) Sumana B.V., Ratnapura

The sports-meet plays a major role in the school calendar, especially in the first term. This event gives loads of fun and enthusiasm to all the students in the school.

Our school sports-meet was held on October 21 at Seevali Grounds. It was one of the glamorous events in the school. Our school houses are 'Sumeda', 'Khema', 'Maya', and 'Vishaka'. All the houses get ready with great enthusiasm keeping a dream in their minds to win on the final day.

Sports play a very vital part in our lives. Therefore each and everyone joins together very happily to take part in sports activities.

At our sports-meet the eastern band welcomed the chief guest. Then we had a drill display, relay, band etc. The drill display was very colourful and beautiful.

When we engage in sports we learn good discipline, especially to tolerate victory or defeat. Togetherness is very important in a sports-meet. Our school sports-meet was very nice. We enjoyed a lot on this day. I will never forget this day.

My school

By Savindu Herat (8 years), Royal International School, Kurunegala

My school is Royal International School. It is in the Kurunegala district. Our present principal is
Mrs. B. Tennakoon.

There are about 300 teachers and 3000 students in my school. There is a big playground, computer room, dancing room, music room and auditorium in my school. There is a big library in my school. It is full of valuable books.

I have Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim friends in my school. We celebrate lots of festivals like Christmas, Vesak and Sinhala and Tamil New Year in my school. I love and respect my school everyday.

A wonderful world

By Anuradha Gamage (13 years), Kekirawa Central College

Isn't it fun
If I can run
All over the world
In one second.

It's marvellous
If the snake has horns
Buffalo has wings
And man has a tail.

It's my dream to talk with the Sun,
Moon and Mars,
And Venus too.

I like very much,
If all these happened,
Live freely,
In a wonderful world.

I am a rose

By Subodhi Weerasekara (Grade 3), Mahasen Central College, Bakamoona

My name is Rose. I am called Sevwandiya. People love me because of my sweetness and my beauty. I have so many friends. They are Jasmine, Dahlia and so on.

My friends also make nature fragrant. Butterflies come to suck nectar from me. People offer me to the Lord Buddha and gods. People make drinks from me. People use me for weddings and funerals.
I ask you not to make me perish.