Kidsday: A snowboarder's peaks

Joseph Mensch is a snowboarder. He grew up in our neighborhood and even went to our elementary school when he was a kid. He came back to our school earlier this year to talk to us about his career and his great memories of our school. He graduated from William Floyd High School in 2010 and then took off to Colorado to follow his dream of being a world-class snowboarder.

Joseph told us he has traveled all around the world snowboarding. He is training to be in the next Winter Olympics. He told us the importance of going for your goals, and that is why he continues to compete. We really liked the message he had for us. Joseph even autographed a snowboard, which he donated to our school. We were all able to get an autograph with him, too.

We found out that he is a lot like us and likes the same type of music, such as Ke$ha and Lil Wayne. He said that when he is not working out, he loves to have a nice big steak or an Italian meal, but he also wants to always get a good night's sleep. Joseph comes from an athletic family. His dad, Mark, who also graduated from our school district, is the athletic director for the district.

You can find some great videos of Joseph in action if you search his name on YouTube.

Game review: Beat the Parents

My review is of the game Beat the Parents (Spin Master). In this game, it is the kids vs. the grown-ups. There's a kids side and a parents side. The first team to get to the other side of the board wins.

The object of the game is to try to answer questions about each other's generation. It is silly fun! Besides answering questions, there are wild cards that make the game even more challenging. If you answer the question correctly, you get to go up a space; if you get it wrong, you stay in the same spot.

Overall, the game is very enjoyable family fun. It's for ages 6 and older.

RATING: 5 out of 5

--Kidsday Reporter John Jameson

Game review: Medieval Moves Deadmund's Quest

I really love the video game Medieval Moves Deadmund's Quest (Sony for the PS3). You have three weapons: arrows, a sword and stars. You get to fight bosses and bad guys that look like skeletons. The game is rated E for everyone. It is loads of fun, so I suggest you try it for yourself. You won't regret it.

RATING: 4 out of 5

--Kidsday Reporter Eva La Manna

CLASS OF THE WEEK: Donna Haakonson's fourth-grade class, WILLIAM FLOYD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Shirley