HARBOR LIGHTS A CELEBRATION OF THE LITERARY & VISUAL ARTS of HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2017 - 2018
OUR MISSION Harbor Day School provides an academically challenging, well-balanced education in a nurturing, family-centered environment. Our traditional, yet innovative, curriculum develops eager, confident learners who think creatively and work collaboratively. Developing self-reliance, building strong moral character, and encouraging social responsibility are hallmarks of a Harbor Day education. Head of School Angi Evans ‘75 Director of Communications Noelle Becker Editor Amy Meyer Associate Editors Chatom Arkin Noelle Becker Caren Kelly ‘88 Marilou McCarty Melissa Mullane Ethnea Porter Erin Stephens Moujan Walkow Art Directors Stacey Hammond Leslie Yagar Photography Kate Houlihan Photography Design Smile Design, Inc.
2
On the cover
Charlie Geary | 5th Grade
Miss Hogan’s
Annalyse Dowers
Hey, Moon
Dolphins
Hey, Moon. I don’t like The night. I’d rather Keep it day Forever. I want To jump and swing. So, when you go To sleep In day. Never Come back up Again.
Dolphins Are blue like sky. Dolphins flip Their tails. Shiny Flip and spin Dolphins Are gray like elephants. Sparkly Flip, flop Splash, splish Splash
By Abby Robinson
KINDERGARTEN
Ayla Mohtashami
By Annalyse Dowers
Lilliana Aali 3
Miss Hogan’s
KINDERGARTEN
Abby Robinson
I am a rainbow swirl. i am sour strawberry. Shark
Mad
Bird
I am a shark. Swim! Swim! I am a shark. I will eat you. Swim! I am fast. Swim! Swim! Chomp, chomp. Mmmmm It is good. I want more.
Cool things Coming late. Being sick. Having medicine. Turning off the iPad. My brother cheating In a game. I kick and punch Red. A tornado Or a volcano In me.
Tweet, tweet Goes the bird. Blue feathers As blue as a dolphin I’m going to Catch you Little bird. No, You can’t Catch me. You’re just A little girl.
By Anton Rowe
4
By Arshan Mahmoudoff
By Ayla Mohtashami
Monster Truck
Roses
Confident
By Cade Eckenweiler
By Caroline Gross
By Cece Cudzil
Crish, crash. Smash, crash. Big wheels Black as a bat Smashing The cars. Crish, crash, Smash. Green and black and gray. Eyes on the monster Go flash! Get out of my way. I am coming. I am A monster truck.
Grow, grow. Plant me. Water me. Thank you. I am red. Fly, red bird. Grow, grow. Smell me. I am red Like a volcano. Grow, grow.
I am confident. I can do it. I am confident. I can do it. I will make Some cookies By myself. Mom, don’t help me. Please. Well, I might need you. But I Won’t.
Lollipop
By Danielle Ha Don’t lick me. Please! I am a rainbow swirl. I am sour strawberry. Please! Come on, Don’t lick me. I am going to say, Boom, boom! Again, boom, boom. Don’t lick me. Please!
Sierra Taketa
5
MissHogan’s Hogan’s Miss
KINDERGARTEN
Hungry
Big Horned Sheep
Basketball
I like burgers. I like pizza. Hungry I like sushi. I like turkey. Rumbling in my tummy. Jump up And down. Hungry.
Big horned sheep Cimb on Steep mountains. Big horned sheep Have horns Twisted In a C. Big horned sheep Have wool Gray As a rainy day. Big horned sheep
Basketball I dunk. People cheer. I shoot. People cheer. I’m called the basketball Machine. I dunk. I shoot. Flick, three points I will never stop. Basketball It’s my dream.
By Devan Vanjani
By Emma Evans
Pierce Kleiman
Julia Chapman
Zoo
Crayola
Tweet, tweet Goes the bird. The elephant goes Boom, boom. The lion goes Roar! The otter goes Splish, splash! The monkey goes Ooh, ooh. All the animals Make Music.
Hi, I am a Crayon. Draw with me. Draw, draw. Draw with me A Star Wars thing. I am a Rainbow crayon. Draw anything With me. Please.
By Julia Chapman
6
By JP Kirkowski
By Liam Shepherdson
Be Thoughtful By Lilliana Aali
When you see Someone on the ground, You Help them up. I am thoughtful And helpful. When you see Someone alone, You say, “Do you want to Play with me?” I am kind.
Ninja
Desk
By Marcus Blumetti
By Lily Zwerling
I am the golden Ninja. Golden swords On my back, Golden mask On my face. Quick! The bad guys Are coming to us. Punch, kick! Oh, no! The bad guys escaped. Punch, punch Kick, kick I’m a golden Tornado.
I’m a desk. Please Put things On me. I keep Things for you. So don’t lose Anything. Please do not Rock me. Bang, crash, bang! I fall down.
China
By Luca Bedekar China, China Lots of holidays Lots of colors Red lanterns Bring good luck. Glow gold. Spread across The night. Dragon dance Drum and cymbals Crash, crash Boom! China, China
Annalyse Dowers
I will never stop. Basketball It’s my dream. 7
MissHogan’s Hogan’s Miss
KINDERGARTEN
Saving People
By Pierce Kleiman Coast Guard planes Fast as a tornado. All fire boats Saving people. Run fast. Arms moving and Legs jumping. Rescue crew Standing up for yourself. Your heart, Yourself, Responsibility.
Basketball
Quinn Root
By William Michalovsky Basketball Basketball He shoots. He scores Two points. Bounce, bounce Goes the basketball. He turns around. Swish. He scores. Bounce, bounce Goes the basketball.
8
Ayla Mohtashami
Danielle Ha
Presents
Horse
By Sierra Taketa
By Quinn Root
Presents, presents Open, open See, see What you got. Is it a poem? Is it a boomerang? Is it a squishy? Good stuff, Good stuff. Presents, presents
Chomp carrot chomp. Clop, clip, clop. Chocolate brown Smooth Jump horse jump. Gallop horse gallop To the corral. Drink. It’s time To rest.
Emma Evans
Cade Eckenweiler
9
MissHogan’s Lange’s Miss
KINDERGARTEN
Elizabeth Horne
Clint Graham
HP
Donuts
The Ghost
Hi, I am Harry Potter I hear a snake The snake is big The snake is bumpy I will cast a spell on the snake Woosh! I woke him up SSSSSS! I did not mean to AHHHH!
Donuts Yum, yum, yum! I want more, please Vanilla, please Can I have one? Thank you! Crunch, crunch More, please Chocolate, please Can I have one? No, too many donuts!
Boo, boo! I am a ghost You would not want to see me In a sink Boo, boo! AHHHH! Sorry! You would not want to see me In the Smartboard Boo, boo!
By Beckham Burke
10
By Maya Hogsett
By Clint Graham
Rainbow Cake
Sad Lego
By Paige Whitten
By Luca Nami
Look at me A beautiful cake I am rainbow I am yummy I am your cake! You can smack your face in me I come with sprinkles and dots SMACK!
I’m a sad Lego Yellow and small No one plays with me I’m a sad Lego The boy only played with me once I was part of a castle Now, I am lost Behind the curtain I’m a sad Lego
Snow
By Annabelle Ha Crunch, Crunch I step on snow AHHH! It’s a storm of snowflakes AHHH! Run inside I am in the house I’m drinking marshmallow hot cocoa Sip, Sip YUM! Safe from the storm
The Red Car
By Danny Tiwari I have a… TOY It is fun to play with It is fast A red car Vroom, vroom! Wow! Cool car It has a noisy engine Vroom, vroom! My toy is super fun! WEEEEE!
Pax O Hill
11
MissHogan’s Lange’s Miss
KINDERGARTEN
Lucas Jones
Sophia O’Neil
Annabelle Ha
Cake
School
Spin Me
Woosh! You blow my candles out I am a pink birthday cake Eat me! I have rainbow icing Eat me! I taste like delicious strawberries Eat me! Crunch, crunch Did you like me? Yes! Hooray! You liked me I know you like me because you say “Can I have more, please?”
Good morning! It is time to get going on Math Ring, ring It is time to go to Science I am so excited Ring, ring It is time to go home I am not excited Ring, ring I can’t wait to go to school
Spin me Spin me Down the table Land on Hei Get some gelt You can play with me So… Spin me Spin me I am fun!
By Ella Danaher
12
By Dylan Davis
By Hudson Williams
Minecraft
Ooh Ooh, Ahh Ahh By Ford Steifel
By Lucas Jones
I am playing Minecraft What monster will I find? A creeper? A zombie? A slime? A wither skeleton? A spider? Boom! Boom! Boom! AHHH! They’re chasing me!
Swingity, swing Ooh ooh, ahh ahh I’m a monkey You see me swinging from a vine Up high on trees Ooh ooh, ahh ahh Crunch goes the banana Ooh ooh, ahh ahh Swingity swing Ooh ooh, ahh ahh Wheeeee! This is what I call fun! Ooh ooh, ahh ahh Wheeeee!
I want to go to sleep Zzzzzz When I open my eyes It looks blurry I’m tired I need to go to bed I love bed Zzzzzz
By Bentley Bakhtiari
Tired Man
Earthquake
By Pax O Hill
Ahhhh! The ground Is shaking Ahhhh! I am scared Ahhhh! Things are falling Ahhhh! Watch out! Duck and cover! Ahhhh! Phew… It’s over
Adler Tsai 13
MissHogan’s Lange’s Miss
KINDERGARTEN
My Best Teachers By Caroline Alston
My teachers teach me new things They are great We count by tens We count by fives They are great We have fun together They are great After school on Monday I do dance with my teachers Ms. Lange and Mrs. Carter They are great My teachers are awesome We have fun together You are the best teachers ever I love learning
Happy
Dog
By Anya Khan
By Reese Paolone
People make me happy Rainbows make me happy Family makes me happy Butterflies make me happy My teachers make me happy HAPPY! I am happy!
Ruff, ruff I am a dog I wish I could talk Ruff, ruff Pet me I am soft Ruff, ruff It’s time to go home Ruff, ruff I want food Yay! Someone pet me
Hudson Williams
Diamond
Mrs. Carter
Flashing and sparkling When the sun hits me Find me And put me in a ring Or a necklace Do you know I’m different shapes? Circle, square, oval Do you know I’m different sizes? Big or small One day I’ll be your diamond Flashing and sparkling
Ring, ring The bell rings! It is time for fun school Mrs. Carter is here She welcomes us We say hi We are counting by tens 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 It is time to leave I say goodbye to Mrs. Carter
By Penelope Zahedi
14
By Sophia O’Neil
Book
By Adler Tsai Can you please read me? You’ve never read me before… Read the whole thing! I promise I have lots of pictures. Do it in one day! My book is Really Really Good! You’ve never even read me once!
Annabelle Ha
Danny Tiwari
The Rainbow
By Elizabeth Horne Lots of colors Like a flower It is pretty Like a diamond It is big Like a table That is prettier than a castle And a crown FLASH! It gets bigger And bigger
Popcorn
By Kaia Talleur
Yum Pop, pop It’s ready Yum Pop, pop Best popcorn ever More, more! Yum Pop, pop Salty Buttery Ouch! I ate a kernel
15
1st GRADE
Ali Yasin
the hill was as smooth as a tabletop and as black as coal. Snow
By Dylan Young Crunchy like popcorn Looks like white, Fluffy Clouds Feels as cold as a popsicle Tastes like nothing But Makes me feel Happy 16
One day I went skiing. It was as cold as an icicle. I was starting to ski with my mom and dad. I skied so fast. I stopped and I made a screech. I went back up the chair lift. I went up, up, up like a bubble. Then I came down, down, down. I never fell once. Kendall Gray
One snowy day I went skiing. First, I went on the chair lift. I got off and went down a black diamond, and I fell once. I got snow in my gloves. I got back up, went over another bump, and flew like a bird. Preston Decker
One cold winter afternoon I went to a sled run. It was as steep as a big slide. It looked scary at first, but when I went down, I realized it was not scary. It was actually fun. Townsend Butcher
Chloe Dufty
Clothes
By Sarah Rosing
One cold winter day I went tubing. I went down the large hill with my family. I was in my tube. The hill was as smooth as a tabletop and as black as coal. I slid all the way down the hill. I was so happy when I got down the hill because it was so much fun.
It was a cold morning. I was getting dressed in my jumper. I just needed someone to zip me up, so I asked my dad and he said, “I’m sorry. I can’t do it. I’m going to work.” So I tried, and I tried and tried, but it just would not go up. So I asked my sister and she said, “I’m so sorry. I’m taking a shower.” So I tried again. I tried and tried, but it did not go up! So I asked my mom and she said, “Sure! I’ll do it.” So my mom zipped me up and I said, “FINALLY!!! Thank you mom.”
Emily Niccol 17
1st GRADE Heart
By Coco Alagband any shape, any size, any color, no color, Valentine’s Day, not Valentine’s Day on paper, not on paper, made of paper, not made of paper stripes or no stripes love, any shape, any size, any color
Noah Pierce
Trash
Nirvaan Tandon
By Blakely Gregory Rotten banana Broken necklace Moldy strawberries Crinkled paper Ripped shirts Dirty diapers Time to take out the trash.
18
Hunter Montijo
Leela
Baseball
Frogs
By Leela Tripathi
By Connor Feltham
By Keagan Peters
dancing twirling leaping cooking reading trying working skiing Also messing up sometimes!
Throwing Pitching Hitting Winning Catching Batting Running HOMERUN!!
Frogs Lay eggs near water Hip hop hip hop Frogs Like to hop Hip hop hip hop Frogs Are awesome Hip hop hip hop Frogs Jump away Hip hop hip hop
Emily Niccol
Nirvaan Tandon 19
1st GRADE
Basketball
Sports
By Vivaan Bansal
By Josie Geiler Allen
Dribbling fast down the court Dunking on the rim Defending so they can’t shoot Shooting and scoring a three pointer Fouling and getting hurt Swishing from the paint And the ball goes in the Basket
Surfing as fast as a rocket Skateboarding on a big ramp Running in the rain Dancing in the gymnasium Snowboarding on the icy snow Hitting a home run in baseball Shooting a hoop in basketball All these things make me feel Happy
Surfing as fast as a rocket
Sarah Magallanes 20
Hillary Wilks
Turner Claassen
Chameleon
By Lilianna Senizergues chameleons walk but don’t talk chameleons run but don’t sing in the sun chameleons love but don’t chat with a dove and even if they can’t talk or sing or chat they can still be… COLORFUL!
Penelope Ayora 21
2nd GRADE Louis Braille
By Hudson Stern Louis Braille invented Braille, which helped blind people to lead a better life. Before Braille, one sentence of writing took up half of a page. He made it possible for blind people to read more books and gave them a chance to learn about the world.
The weekend before Christmas we hang our stockings by the fireplace. Our grandma made them, so they remind me of her. I still remember those scrumptious cookies that she would make. Now we have them every year, but they are not the same because my aunt makes them. But they are still delicious! Makenna Eckenweiler
Misty Copeland By Kiana Sadri
Most ballerinas start dancing when they are about three years old, but Misty didn’t start dancing until she was 13 years old. She won a Spotlight Award after dancing for only two years. Her family didn’t have very much money, but she worked really hard and became famous and successful. She became the first African-American to become Prima Ballerina at the American Ballet Theater. She gives free ballet lessons to people who cannot afford them. Misty Copeland is inspiring for boys and girls who have had a hard life but who want to dance.
Capri Cuneo
Madeleine Lal 22
Ella Nami
Lyla Fischbein
Rachel Carson
By Aleah Berengian Rachel Carson helped protect the environment by writing books and giving speeches to make people aware of pollution and bug poisoning. She published a book titled Silent Spring in 1962, which made her famous. Her book taught people that poisons were killing animals and plants. Rachel Carson cared for plants and animals, and she was important because she helped to make the earth a better place.
Gabrielle Landy
Aleah Berengian 23
2nd GRADE Maya Lin
By Addy Chen Maya Lin designed a memorial so that people can remember the soldiers who had died or had gone missing in the Vietnam War. She was only 21 years old when she won a competition to design the memorial. She was chosen out of 1,421 people! After she was chosen, many people didn’t want her design. They said it looked like a giant bat or a boomerang. Maya was young but she was brave, and she didn’t back down even though people said she should change her design or they should choose another designer. Maya went on to build other sculptures and memorials. She makes other women think that they can do great things, too.
Capri Cuneo
Emery Pelinka
24
Ella Olsen
For Hanukkah, first we light the menorah. The menorah has nine candles. One is called the shamash. Each night, the shamash lights one candle for every night of Hanukkah. For the last night of Hanukkah we go to our grandma and grandpa’s and we celebrate Hanukkah with our whole family. I can’t wait until next year! Addison Stern
Every Christmas Eve at my house, my three older siblings and I open warm pajamas. Opening pajamas makes me feel happy because I know that it’s almost Christmas! The past two years I got elf jammies. I can’t wait to see what I get this year! Declan Callaghan
Emma Harrison
Every year on Christmas, I go to my friend Sophia’s house for a spectacular waffle breakfast. They have a fluffy black cat named Luna. Luna means night in French. Luna loves to cuddle up with my leg when I eat my syrup-covered waffles. One time she cuddled me so much that I almost fell off of my chair! When I finish my waffles I go to play outside. Other friends are usually outside first. We love to play tag and hide-and-seek. I can’t wait to go this year! Emma Harrison
On Christmas morning when I wake up, usually everyone else is already up. I walk to my parents’ room, although I feel like I am floating down the hall. When I get to their door, the rest of my family is happily watching Christmas cartoons. I go in, get cozy under the covers, and we all watch together! Cooper Kelly
Kalani Hogsett 25
3rd GRADE
Charlie Fenner
Colette Moshayedi
If I Lived in a Snowglobe: The Snowball Fight Logan Steelberg
Splat! Splat! A soaring snowball hit me. “What?” I asked. Then I got a handful of snowballs and ran up to my brother. Splat! One hit my brother on the back. “I am going to get you!” Anna said. “No, you’re not!” I replied. I could see my frosted hands as I was running. Splat! A snowball pounded on my back like an avalanche, and I felt the soft powdery snow all around me. I started to laugh. Then my mom shouted from the house, “Hot cocoa is ready!” We all walked back to the house thinking about the fun day we had!
Luke Cudzil 26
A snowball pounded on my back like an avalanche... Sienna Neal
Campbell Kelly
Andrew Walbridge 27
3rd GRADE
Shae Talleur
Kaitlyn Dostert
Waterskiing
Colton Mossman I gave my dad the thumbs up and we were off! It felt like I was flying. I yelled, “Faster, faster!” I put my feet in the water. Then, suddenly, they skipped back up. A big wave was coming. I knew I had to hang on as tightly as I could. I gripped the handles and swished! I had made it over the wave. Then my dad went in a circle, and I almost fell off. Suddenly, we stopped. It was Caden’s turn. I can’t wait until I go again!
Rhyse Wilks, Avalon Davis, Andrew Walbridge
28
Mateo Senizergues
Camp
Kyle Stern I was playing tennis at sleepaway camp when I heard the bugle blow. I ran to my bunk and got my towel, slides, and a change of clothes. I quickly ran to the water ski dock. I love everything about wakeboarding, even the sound of the motor. I wanted to be the first one in line. When I got there, I was second in line. When it was my turn, I got on the board. I got in the water. “I’m ready!” I told Jonty. He started the engine. Shuurrrr! I was off! I got up and water was flying in my face. I went to the left, then to the right. Soon I gained control. We were about halfway around the lake when I thought, “Maybe I should go out of the wake.” I didn’t want to fall down, but it sounded fun. I decided to try it. I went slow at first, then very fast out of the wake! I wobbled from side to side, right, left, right, left, right. I finally got control. It was very calm outside the wake until… I saw bumps. “Oh no!” I thought. Last time there were bumps, I fell. I thought about what the instructor had told me, “Bend your knees.” When the bumps came, I went boing, boing, boing! I accidentally pulled in my arms. I knew I shouldn’t have pulled them in. I slowly pushed them out as they were quivering. The water was much smoother outside the wake, but I wanted to try to get back in. When the wake looked small, I tried to get back in. A bump knocked me over and I fell. I still had one more try. Jonty threw me the rope and started up the engine. I felt my legs tremble, and I fell. “Ahh,” I whispered. I was barely up for a second, but I remembered the try before. I did well.
Dylan Paolone
Christopher Dib
29
3rd GRADE The Slide
Gavin Moatazedi It was a sunny day, and I was waiting in line. With each step, I was more excited. Finally, it was my turn. I stepped onto the raft. I felt the cool water surround my feet. I sat down. Then the lifeguard pushed my raft, and I suddenly flew into the air. Lights flashed all around me and then tunnel looked like a light up fidget spinner. My raft torpedoed left and right down the slide. Water splashed my face. I heard the shouts and screams of other people on the slide. I splashed into the pool at the end. I couldn’t wait to do it again.
Mateo Senizergues
30
Brooklyn Krotts
Sarah Thorp
Riley Tsai, Ophelia Owens, Ella Massoudi
Caden Mossman
Kyle Stern Reed McCardle, Campbell Kelly
If I Lived in A Snowglobe: Skiing With Dad Reed McCardle
I’m skiing with my dad on the top of the mountain. I look at the soft snow and then tiny, light snowflakes rain down on my head like a soft blanket. “It’s snowing!” I say to my dad. “Let’s have some fun!” he says. We put on our long and skinny skis. Our skis zoom like race cars down the mountain. I stick out my tongue and taste the snowflakes falling from the sky like tiny feathers. Finally, I reach the bottom of the mountain. “Want to go again?” my dad asks. I say, “Yes, that was so much fun!” My dad and I go up the chairlift once again, like superheroes flying to save the world.
31
4th GRADE
Footsteps In Between Makenzie Vovan
Oh no. I am not ready, I said to myself. My feet were stuck to the hallway floor like glue. The classroom felt like a million miles away. Why does school have to start now? The scowl on my face stuck. My arms felt like noodles. Butterflies in my stomach fluttered away like a thousand paper airplanes. “Are you ready?� Mom asked. I shook my head, closed my eyes, and hoped, hoped, hoped that this feeling would go away. Thump, thump. Our footsteps echoed off the wall. My mind screamed with terrible thoughts. Walking to class felt like slow motion. My heart pulsed bigger than I had ever imagined. The classroom got closer with every step. But I knew I had to go. One foot after another, I slowly stepped into the classroom, face to face with Mr. Peters.
Ana Cormac, Jack Mahoney, Isabella Aftabi, Allison Cohen
Durham Pelinka 32
Snowflakes Lexie Karnick
White and glistening Wafting, gliding, and drifting in the wind Feeling the cold bite at my nose and cheeks Unique pieces of ice
Dillan Grover
The End
Parker Johnson Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. My mind was as blank as a sheet of paper. I was broiling with excitement. Ten seconds left. My pulse quickened. Tick. Tock. Sitting in my chair felt like a prison, but I was about to be broken out. I barely had any patience left and was on the edge. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Almost there. I felt a slight pang of annoyance in me. Couldn’t this clock go any faster? It was as slow as molasses! An eternity seemed to be passing by. Everyone’s eyes were on the ticking bomb, waiting for it to blow up our chains. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. I could practically see the energy in the air. Time was up. BRRRAAAAANNNNGGGG!!!! A big cheer went up. We were free. Summer was here!
Hannah Miller, Dillan Grover, Stella Welton
33
4th GRADE
The Pier Plunge
Mary Kate Angeloff My heart pounded and I felt the hot wood of the pier burning my feet, but I was too excited to let these small things bother me. I took another step up in the small line for the annual Junior Lifeguard pier jump . “Next up!” Ms. Jacobson yelled. This was it! I took five big steps toward the gate. I felt three light taps on my left shoulder, the signal to go. I plunged off the edge of the pier. Time felt as if it was slowing all around me. I saw the waves crashing gracefully over at The Wedge, a beach that always has big waves. I felt the clear, cool, glassy water slap against my feet . I saw the clear, perfect bubbles swirling all around me. My head popped above water. I heard the loud cheering of my friends, “Woohoo! Yeah, M.K.!” my instructor, Mr. John, shouted. That was the best day of my life. I had faced my fear and succeeded in a personal goal of my Junior Lifeguard summer.
He is the smartest dog in the world. Sometimes he attacks my shoes, and sometimes he is content just sitting on my lap.
34
Makenzie Vovan
Mary Kate Angeloff
No Ordinary Pet James Callaghan
I have a dog. I know you might think, “So what?” or “A lot of people do!” However, there’s nothing normal about my pet. Tebow Jr. is a mini-German shepherd with velvety black fur and legs dipped in milk chocolate. His coal black eyes twinkle like stars on a dark night. Tebow Jr. is three years old and still only stands as tall as my knees. I walked through the lonely halls of the Rescue Center for Dogs. We’d been in there forever, and I was starting to see why there wasn’t anyone else there looking for dogs. Growling pitbulls were on both sides of me, and the glass between us didn’t seem thick enough. We were about to give up when we heard a loud cry. It was coming from the room where people walked the dogs before they took them home. A girl, about seven, was screaming as her family dragged her out to their car. There was a small German shepherd wagging his tail and not understanding why this girl was crying and leaving. As soon as I saw him, it was love at first sight. I saw my sister stare too. I had always wanted a German shepherd, but Mary had always hated the idea of a big dog. I could see this dog was changing her mind. Unfortunately, he did not have the same effect on my parents. “Okay guys, maybe we’ll come back when they have new dogs,” my dad said. “But...but....What about that one?” I replied. My parents finally agreed to let us walk him, and that only made us want him more. It’s like when you want a piece of chocolate and you get a tiny bit, it only makes your mouth water for more, or in my case, want that dog more. Seeing us enjoying him, and a quick internet search proving he sheds a very small amount, convinced my parents that this dog is the perfect pet for our family. Tebow and I do a ton together. He is the smartest dog in the world. Sometimes he attacks my shoes, and sometimes he is content just sitting on my lap. Some people play fetch with their dogs, but I play catch with Tebow. He is a great wide receiver because he never complains about bad passes. Tebow Jr. loves football. While my family watches the Rams play on the weekends, he sits next to me and barks at the players on the screen. I might make owning a pet sound easy, but there are some hard parts to it. Every morning at 7:00, I have to take Tebow outside and get him food. Every three weeks, I need to give him a bath. The hardest part about owning Tebow Jr. is taking him to the vet. When he usually hears the jingle of the silver keys, he sprints out to the car. He has some sixth sense that kicks in when it’s time to go to the vet, though. After a few failed tries, we finally get him in the car and to the vet by wearing him out first. Even though he’s sometimes mischievous, I love Tebow so much. Deciding to get him was the best day of my life. He brings me joy each day. He is definitely no ordinary pet!
Nicholas Tamura
35
4th GRADE Loon Mountain Ropes Course Sonali Tripathi
“Are we there yet?� I asked. I really wanted to climb the ropes course. The sky was as dark as a sapphire as we drove up the mountain. The sky was crying. We started the ropes course. I was bursting with excitement. Whispering wind was blowing through my hair. I was in the lead, my dad and sister following behind me. I walked across balance beams and ziplined through the trees! I was a squirrel racing through the forest. When I looked behind me again, my family was following me. Finally, I saw the ending zipline. I clipped on and soared through the air like an eagle. I landed on the ground and unclipped.
Sebastian Kern, Benjamin Harrison
Snowflakes Summer Kost
White and beautiful Fluttering, gliding, falling in the night I feel joyful as the snowflakes dance in the wind Wonderful glistening dots
36
Reese Katkin
Haunted Halloween
Violet Yoshida
Black cats lurking on the streets. Spiders crawling up your back. Bats flying over the moon. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Spirits rising. Ghosts are flying over my neighbor’s head. Tombstones are creaking. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Cauldrons are slimy. Potions are bubbling, “Pop pop pop.” Witches cackling, “Ha ha ha ha!” Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!
Penny Mauser
Goblins and ghouls with warts on their creepy faces. Witches’ hats pointy, ouch! Dracula’s double bristled toothbrush Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Benjamin Harrison Sonali Tripathi 37
5th GRADE Deforestation Andrew Niccol
Deforestation: a large problem throughout the world. While deforestation may be
benefiting humans, it is driving thousands of species toward extinction; 137 animals become extinct every day (National Geographic). There have always been two sides to this debate. Just imagine-- one week a forest may be healthy and strong, filled with plants and wildlife. Yet, within months, the forest is gone. In its place is a bustling new town. Not bad, right? That’s one way of looking at it. But what will become of the plants and animals? Their habitats are gone, and they have nowhere to go and nothing to eat. They will eventually die. While deforestation helps us humans, it has the opposite effect on animals. Which side would you take: animals or humans (or possibly neither)?
I feel it is important to abolish deforestation because it is driving animals toward
extinction, because it is ruining habitats, and because ending deforestation would improve our world.
To begin with, deforestation is driving thousands of species toward extinction, and
there is not much we can do after their habitats are gone. We must find a way to help them. According to Rainforest Alliance, our world is facing the greatest extinction rate since the dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago. This is a very scary statement and it is troubling, given how advanced we are as a civilization. Also, 80% of Earth’s land animals live in forests, and at the current rate of animals going extinct per day (approximately 137), the earth would lose about 50,000 animals each year! I think this is a crazy number and hard to imagine. Think about one species, and the thousands of animals within that species, dying off in a single year. It just sounds ridiculous, but it happens! One reason why this happens is because deforestation messes up the food chain. For example, once a forest is cleared away, it leaves the herbivores with no home, and no plants to eat. All the plant eaters in the forest eventually die off. Then, the carnivores have no prey, and this will soon kill off all them, too (National Geographic).
Secondly, deforestation constantly destroys habitats. This is the main reason that animals
become endangered or, even worse--extinct. Every year, 45 million acres of land are destroyed. That is equivalent to the size of England and Wales. At the current rate of deforestation, all forests could vanish within 100 years, according to The Guardian. This means the forests could disappear within this century, which means we need to act fast. Also, according to rain-tree. com, forests used to cover 14% of the earth’s surface. Thanks to deforestation, this number has dropped dramatically, all the way down to 6%. Who knows? More forests may be cleared at any second. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “An estimated 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest, which is roughly the size of the country of Panama, are lost each year.” Some people may say that without any deforestation we would lose some items from our daily lives, for example, a pencil. On the other hand, technology 38
is rising to levels we never thought possible, and losing some objects may not affect anything at all. Unfortunately, eliminating forest clearing would take away some jobs. Eventually, though, new ones would take their place.
Lastly, if deforestation were to cease, our world would improve. Forests have very
rich and fertile soil, thanks to the trees blocking out sunlight. According to National Geographic, once the forests are gone, there is nothing to protect the soil and its valuable minerals from drying out in the sun. Not only that, trees support the water cycle by sending water vapor into the atmosphere. If deforestation continues, our atmosphere will weaken. Without trees to play any of their important roles, a lush, healthy forest will turn into a dry desert.
In conclusion, we must abolish deforestation because it is putting animals in danger
of extinction. Deforestation clears habitats. If it were to be outlawed, it would benefit our world today. We all know that global warming affects the earth. If we humans discontinued deforestation in the next couple of years, we could help preserve Earth, its climate, and its animals. We could save hundreds of endangered species from becoming extinct. If we do something about this problem, all of these possibilities could become a reality, and we can all help. For example, adults can vote for candidates who don’t support the deforestation. Kids can help by planting trees and picking up trash in their neighborhoods. If we all pitch in, our world, the animals, and the climate will improve drastically.
References http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm#.Wrkw99Pyvq0 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation_by_region http://www.theworldcounts.com/counters/degradation_and_destruction_of_ecosystems/ facts_on_deforestation http://www.oocities.org/plasmicfurball48/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/ http://my.rainforest-alliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issues_ forest&s_src=mission_issues&s_subsrc=issues_forest_lp__ cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhuPukceK2gIVAS5pCh0uRQ1oEAAYASAAEgIMm_D_BwE https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation https://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/jan/23/ destroying-rainforests-quickly gone-100-years-deforestation
Grace Burke
39
5th GRADE The Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Night Grace Fogel “Mommy, mommy, I am going to be Mary Poppins for Halloween!” I had just finished watching Mary Poppins for millionth time, and I still wasn’t sick of it. I was waiting right next to my mom as she began looking online for Mary Poppins costumes. I rejected every costume until I finally found the perfect one. It didn’t come with a carpetbag or an umbrella, but we could buy those separately. Finally! It felt like years before the night of Halloween came. The sky was almost pitch black, so I knew it was time to put on my costume. I carefully slipped on my black jacket and my red scarf. Then it was time for makeup. My mom took her time as she applied it. I bet it must have been hard to do because I was squirming so much. To me, putting my hair in a perfect bun, putting on a thick coat of lipstick, and putting on layers and layers of blush felt like it was taking days. I felt like the real Mary Poppins with my coat, scarf, and flowered hat… even though the parrot from my umbrella fell off and had to be taped on. With my carpetbag and my trick-or-treat bag in one hand and my umbrella in the other, I was ready to go. I skipped out the door like there were jumping beans in my shoes. I raced out to meet up with some of my friends from the neighborhood. Once I finally calmed down, I realized how dark it was. That made me even more excited because it gave me the feeling of Halloween that I hadn’t felt for a year. We set out with our parents, who were walking like snails behind us. I went up to the first house and rang the doorbell. “Trick-or-treat!” I said excitedly. The family gave me a handful of candy and closed the door. About the fifth house we went to, I saw that this family was into decorating. There was a little pot with a sign that said, “Please only take one.” I reached my hand into the caldron and the skeleton hand popped out and said, “BOO! Ha! Ha! Gotcha!” When one of my neighbors reached in, it said, “How about a trick?” When my other neighbor reached in, the skeleton hand popped out and said the same thing that it had said to me. Every time, it made us all jump, and each time, we all started laughing. We were almost back to our street, but we were not tired at all. When most people finish trick-or-treating, they go home and go to sleep. But anyone who lived on my street knew that even though trick-or-treating was over, there were still many more events to come. We still had the little area at the top of our street with the projector screen, a couch, and a fireplace to visit. When we reached our street, we ran to the couch to get comfortable and get good spots for the movie. Once all of our neighbors had come back, we settled in to watch Hotel Transylvania 2 because we had watched the first one last year. This was definitely a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Halloween, and it was one that I will never forget.
40
Charlie Geary
Emma Todd
Eva Hauge
Fiona Rowe
41
5th GRADE
The Me That I See Hailey Peykoff
Of Fantasyland and sunny days of loud music and dancing in the rain. Of messy painting and laughter and snowy skies of speedy roller coasters and salty fries! I’m made of swimming through the gigantic ocean. Determined and brave. Of swiftly skiing down the snowy white mountain and shopping days and nights in the Big Apple. Of traveling through the clouds to find sandy beaches and rocky coastlines. Of genius with reading and struggles with drawing. Of gold and rock and wonder.
Jackson Bryden, Addison Riddlesperger
Kylie Lykos
Keaton Kessler
42
Logan Fenner Mark James Rosing
What I’m Devised Of Justin Pollack
Of dreams and accomplishments, of The Netherlands and America and national pride. With dreams of being Secretary of State And hopes of fixing our world. I’m made of the raging hot weather of the Mojave near Las Vegas The rainy gloom in Seattle And the calm soothing weather in Rotterdam. Of baseball and skiing and games and golf. I’m made of questions and answers, Of mysteries and solutions Of the silence of thought and the loudness of speech Of books and reading, of lessons in history and a love for academics I’m made of Dutch and Hebrew and English Of weakness in sports And strength in academics Of thoughts and words and perseverance.
43
5th GRADE
Ryan Eusey, Claire Casey, Jackson Bryden, Emma Todd
This Is Me
By Maddie Lewis Of starry nights and ocean waves, of autumn chills and mountains. Of Hawaiian beaches and snowboards. Big cities, warm beds, and of dance shoes with songs. Of fearless adventures and screaming kids on roller coasters. Of silly jokes and lots of laughter. Of broken glass and good friendships. Of continuous golf swings and watching the gliding puck. Seeing bright lights and dreams. Of snacks and touchdowns. Tennis shoes and tiring sprints. Of baking cookies and working with challenging math problems. Of great struggles with soccer and genius with numbers. I’m filled with wonder and laughter, this is me.
44
Maya Fischbein
NIcole Thorp
Of starry nights and ocean waves, of autumn chills and mountains.
Owen Majit
45
6th GRADE Sage Specter I look up and I see nothing A blank universe, spinning high in the sky I feel as if I could fly “Up, up, up, away!” I say, as I blast of in a rocket ship of made of pure magic When I’m out of this world I see so much more I see bright balls of light I see magical stardust You’re my hopes and dreams coming true right before my very eyes But then I see you Oh, Earth Beautiful Earth What a wonderful sight If I never return please know, please know I’ll miss you oh so much But now I can talk to you from a different perspective Now I’m not just a tiny ant of your face Now, now I’m a bright ball of light Just like the stars that first inspired my heart Now I’m sure there’s a child down there Down on Earth now, looking up at me with a pot on his head and a body covered with bubble wrap thinking, “What a wonderful place my planet Earth is.” So then he runs to mother and says, “Mommy, Mommy! Guess what? Guess what! When I grow up I’m going to be an astronaut!”
Dylan Mirhashemi
46
Peyton Vovan, Gianna Bryant, Dilan Vanjani
Beach
By Logan Stern The sun shines high up in the sky The sand so warm on which I lie The sweet sweet smell of the ocean breeze And the sound of the waves so close to me The sparkling blue water that’s oh so warm The sky above could never storm I float with the waves on this summer day As all my bad memories float away
Alex Gomez
Apple Juice
Everett Welton You quench my thirst You always come first Yummy’s what you are You taste so bizarre Slrrrpp Slrrrpp
Chase Decker
You’ve served me well With your fantastic smell But you’re getting passed on Because orange is the bomb Slrrrpp Slrrrpp
Ellena Reposa, Aidan Powell, Aubrey Callaghan
47
6th GRADE The Detective
By Riley Harrison The artifact was stolen, Right around midnight, The clever detective was called in, So he could set things right. He dusted the area for fingerprints, But it seemed that there were none, Until his trusty assistant yelled, “Hey, I think I found one!� The detective took it to his lab, And searched his database, The fingerprint, he found, belonged, To an antique store owner named Ace. The cops all drove to his shop, Where he was about to trade, They stopped him before he could sell it, And locked him up for a decade.
Tate Natland
The artifact was stolen, Right around midnight, The clever detective was called in, So he could set things right.
Ellena Reposa
48
Winning Sabot II’s Chase Decker I made it through the qualifiers, and the morning is finally here for me to compete in the Sabot II National Regatta. I am seeking the title of Best Sabot Sailor in the division for those 11 years old and younger in California. It is the last race of the regatta, and after five races, I am losing by only one point. The horn blows, signaling the beginning of the three minute start sequence. I start my watch with shaky hands. I move back and forth along the start line watching the minutes tick by. Finally, I hear the one minute horn, and I sail towards the pin; this is the favored side of the start line. I hold my position on the line, and as the final horn blows. I shoot off towards the windward mark. With a solid start, I am set up to make a tack and head over to the left side of the course. Looking at the water, I see more pressure and I am hoping to be lifted. My decision places me in third around the windward mark. I can’t help but focus on the fact that I need to get first in this race to win the regatta. Sitting on my rail, I heel my boat hard, sailing downwind at maximum speed. I am putting everything on the line to win. As I round the leeward mark, I call for room. I am now rounding the mark in second place. My heart is pounding so hard, it feels like it is coming out of my chest. I need to get first place! I feel my hands start to shake. Should I tack or stay with the leading boat? I decide to tack away from the other boat. It is a huge risk, because I am splitting the course with the leading boat. I tack, then the other boat tacks. I know if I don’t cross the leading boat, I will lose the regatta. I am willing my boat to move faster as I look for wind to give me that final push to win. As I get closer, inch by inch, I can hear my competitor scream loudly, like a tiger’s roar, “STARBOARD!” I look at him. He looks at me. We both watch as the corner of my boat barely crosses his bow. Approaching the finish line, I am fidgeting like crazy. I am so nervous. I see the finish line a few feet in front of me, and as I cross I release a sigh of relief. Jumping to my feet, I scream a chant of joy. I have won the regatta and I am so proud of myself. As a result of my quick decisions and aggressive moves, I have learned an important lesson: Never give up, even when you are experiencing difficulties, even if you think you are losing. Never give up.
Talia Tse
Jazmine Aftabi
49
6th GRADE The Game Winning Catch Carter Danz My team, the Saddleback Cowboys, just put two runs on the board against our rival, the Colorado Lightning. The score is 4-5. We are winning. It is the bottom of the sixth inning, with two outs. The bases are loaded. One more out, and we are the champions. One hit from their team, and we lose. The leadoff batter is up. He hits foul ball after foul ball. I am getting anxious! Bam! The batter crushes a ball flying toward left-center. I start to pick up my feet and sprint to the ball’s path. I am frantic as I jump head-first. The wind is knocked out of me as I come down hard. It feels as if someone has punched me right in the gut. I look into my glove and see the ball inside. I hear cheering coming from the dugout and the crowd. Both teams meet up at home plate, and we shake hands. From the front of the pitcher’s mound, the manager of the tournament asks, “Can I please have both teams line up on the foul lines?” I stand with my team on the first baseline, and the Lightning lines up on the third baseline. As he announces each finalist’s name, the manager hands a ring to each player as a consolation prize. The manager finally announces, “And now we have the champions!” He begins to announce each player on my team. Finally, I hear loudly and clearly, “Carter Danz!” I run up to him, and I shake his hand. He hands me my ring. I feel as if I have won an Olympic Gold Medal! The announcements have now ended, and my coach walks over to me. He hands me a plaque that says “Championship M.V.P.” I yell, “Thanks coach!” The day is over, and I put my baseball bag into the trunk of my dad’s car. I step into the car and sit down. He gets in the car, and now it is just my dad and me. Finally, he tosses a ball into my lap and says, “That’s the game winner that you caught in center field.” I stare at the ball as my dad drives us home.
Erika Wein 50
Jake Shubin
Riley Harrison
Michael Lynch
A Nicaraguan Reality Aubrey Callaghan I hear her crying, gasping for breath, her little brown face stained with tears. What do I do? I set Alondra gently down on her bedraggled grandmother’s lap, and I sprint out the door in a desperate search for my mom. Alondra is a precious, four-year-old, Nicaraguan girl. She lives with her grandma in a house made of sticks and trash bags in one of the poorest areas of Nicaragua. Water is delivered to them once a week in two little barrels for the whole family. They leave the water outside without a lid. Many bugs find home there and cause a lot of water-borne illnesses. It hurts my heart to see her so sick. At this point, I am in tears, my hands shake. The minutes feel like hours as I hastily scan the grounds for my mom. Finally, I catch sight of curly brown hair. “Mom, come quick, Alondra can’t breathe!” I tell her frantically. Armed with an inhaler and cough medicine, she follows me back to where I left them. Alondra is sitting limply on her grandma’s lap, still struggling for breath. A phrase my mom used to tell me comes to mind. Feed a cold, and drown a fever. No wonder she is so sick, she hasn’t eaten for days! She only gets to eat three times a week when the community kids come to the orphanage. My heart breaks. I watch anxiously as my mom gives her the inhaler. Her breaths are short and strained. A few minutes later, I hear her ask me, “Quieres jugar [Do you want to play]?” I instantly relax. She is going to be okay.
51
7th GRADE Afraid of Falling Brooke Johnson
The sun through the trees blinds me as I wake up to the sound of my siblings chirping
excitedly. My mama brings me and my siblings a fresh worm to rip apart for breakfast. Worms are my favorite meal, but today, I do not seem to want any. Today, my stomach churns. Today, my head pounds. Today, I will to learn to fly.
My brothers and sisters are beyond excited, but my feathers shake and a million
questions and thoughts raid my head. What if I fall? What if I will not be able to fly? What if my siblings make fun of me? I suddenly remember the time mama gave us a small worm to have for dessert. I was nudged and pushed out of the circle and my four siblings told me that I didn’t belong and that nobody loved me. Tears well up in my eyes. A lump forms in my throat that will not go down, even when I swallow.
Then I hear a familiar chirp. My mom. She stands on her perch, protecting and caring for
her young. She will teach me. She would never let me fall. Right? I ponder about my mother, and take a few deep breaths. A bitterness rises in me, and forces me to start the day over. I decide to look out of the nest, and have an open mind.
The slight breeze rustles the leaves in the tall trees. The sun rises in the big blue sky
that will soon be like a home to me. Together as one, birds of all shapes, sizes, and colors soar around the air. Their colors blend together like a rainbow after a storm. Some of my nervousness goes away and I force a smile.
I rejoin my family. My enemies/relations follow my mama onto a branch. I catch up to
them but get stuck in the back of the line, because my brother pushes me out of the way. I know no matter how hard I try, I will never have a chance in the front. My breath quickens, and I feel like crying again but I don’t. No way am I making a fool of myself today.
I try to force myself not to look down, but, of course, I do anyway. We are at least one
hundred feet in the air. I suddenly feel dizzy. I wobble with every step I take. The butterflies fly frantically around my stomach. The throbbing in my head tells me to go back to the nest where it seems safe. A cloud of blackness forms in my brain. My eyes push down. I fall.
The next thing I know I am on the back of my mama, flying through the air. Her presence,
and the fact that I am closer to the ground, makes me feel better. I guess my siblings were wrong. Someone does love me. It is not until a moment later that I realize I am very close to flying. I am already in the air, and I cannot be scared anymore because I know if I fall again, my mom will catch me. I decide I want to try.
Not looking down this time, I test out my wings. While I peel each one off the sides of my
body, adrenaline pumps through me. I take one deep breath, and jump off my mother’s back. It
52
takes me a minute to figure out my wings, so I just start flapping like I have seen my mama do. I plunge down towards the ground. Closing my eyes, I start flapping harder. Aiming my body towards the sky, I fly up. I open my eyes and the biggest smile in the world spreads across my face. I have done it. I can fly.
I feel like a saint. I can feel my brothers and sisters wishing they knew how I felt for
once. I fly beside my mama, and she smiles too. She gives me a satisfied nod, and tells me that she could not have any more pride.
I realize that nothing would be the same now. I now have independence and courage. I
know now that I will not be pushed out of the circle. Now, I will not be bullied by my siblings. Now, I can have a chance at the front of the line.
Tara Mohtashami
Stella Beador 53
7th GRADE
Blake Stern
My Life Allison Todd Adrenaline always flowing through me No limits or boundaries in my way The life I live is to be truly free Although it’s usually hard to stay Inside of the boundaries people set When I try to be something I am not I feel like an animal in a net I am often times not what people thought My weaknesses will never drag me down As long as I always forever know What makes me me will create my own crown The weight of the world will not always show Though thoughts and desires may make me fall I will stay true to myself through it all
Nicole Donahoo
Alex Wu
54
Lucy Tipton
The Pride of the Hunter Elle O Hill I crouched in the tall grass, waiting. Waves of heat and hunger made my target a blur of black and white. Come on, it seemed to tell me, you know you want me. Concentrate, I scolded myself. I made my eyes focus on the young zebra in front of me. It had its head down, grazing on the little grass it could find, blissfully unaware. I glanced to my right where my sisters awaited my signal, then back to where I knew our cubs huddled. I thought about how even after a rainstorm, the sun still shines through the clouds. But there was no rain in the savanna. Only blistering heat. They were counting on me. I must not fail. I stalked forward, careful not to make a sound. The grass whispered around me, begging the ground for water it could not give. The sky glowed a stark blue and the sun beat down on my back. I kept my eyes up, never wavering from my target. Hunting feels like a dance. One mistake, one variable out of place, and it would all fall apart. I could not afford to misstep, to let the zebra get away, to let our pride go hungry. Again. My muscles tensed underneath my sleek coat. I allowed myself a predatory smile, made half of hunger and half of pure malice. I loved the chase, the blood pumping in my veins, heart racing; it made me feel alive in this half-dead place. I prepared to pounce. Do it for them. For your family. For your pride. You will not fail, I chanted in my head. I sprung, claws extended, reaching for the horizon. I had time to see the fear in the zebra’s eyes, like a cloud blocking out the sun, before I landed, my claws raking across its hide. The coppery scent of blood filled my nostrils. My paws hit the ground, spraying up dust. I pivoted and ran after my prey. My sisters joined me running, running. Until we became one unit, one mind. Our coats did not shine like they used to and our ribs showed through our too thin bodies, but we still had the fire of survival burning bright within us. The zebra’s hooves thundered beneath it in time with its heart. I closed the distance between us in three long strides. Time seemed to stand still. I saw the sun gleaming off the zebra’s matted black and white fur. The dust swirled around us. Its eyes, glazed wild with fear, were filled with some expression I could not read. Not acceptance-- the savanna had made us fighters-- but understanding. I grabbed its neck in my jaws. Time slammed back in place. It went down, head hitting the dirt. I stood over it and bowed my head in silent thanks. I wanted to say sorry, but the life had already drained out of the foal. Looking at its mangled body, I almost wished I had not killed it. Almost. But this was the savanna. And we take care of ourselves and our own. I let out an earth-shattering roar as my sisters trotted up beside me. They joined me until our voices became one. I had not mistepped. Our cubs would not go hungry. I had not failed. And as our cubs ran out of the tall yellow grass, mewing and digging into the meal I had helped to bring them, my chest swelled and I held my head a little higher. I guess there is a reason they call it a pride.
55
7th GRADE The Battle at the Fast Food Restaurant Elliott Connolly
I told the other Death Eaters that I would not eat at this restaurant. I wanted to tell
them that this was a bad idea, but they did not listen. They remind me of small children pretending to listen, but not actually understanding. For them, everything just comes in one ear and goes out the other.
What would the Dark Lord say if he knew I was eating here? Bellatrix Lestrange,
his most faithful servant, eating here! I will not eat any food. When the Dark Lord summons us, I will tell the tale of how I, Bellatrix, told the others not to eat at this horrible establishment. But they ignored me. They continued to gobble up their burgers.
The Dark Lord might even allow me to kill a few of them!
Maybe, I’ll kill our waiter. The Dark Lord certainly will not mind if I dispose of a few
muggles. If only we had eaten at a more popular restaurant. So many muggles to kill…
When the other Death Eaters are done being french fry-eating traitors, I tell them
that we should return to Malfoy Manor. The Dark Lord would certainly call us within the hour.
Their dark cloaks glowing hideously in the fluorescent light, they shout excitedly,
“Come on, Bellatrix! The Dark Lord won’t call us for days! How about some dessert?”
“DESSERT!” I scream, “Do you know what the Dark Lord would say if he knew about
this?!”
I find the closest black cloak and grasp it firmly. The Death Eater screams, but I do
not let go for several minutes. When I do, he crumples to the floor.
CRACK! I turn around, shocked by the sudden noise. I wonder what caused it.
Maybe somebody has apparated.
The Dark Lord has finally arrived. Is he here to tell me what an amazing job I’ve
done? But of course! He’s going to confirm that these traitors would soon face a slow, painful death. The snake will suck their disloyal blood right out of their bodies, while the Dark Lord and I laugh. They had eaten burgers, after all.
I hope that I am correct about the Dark Lord’s sudden arrival. It’s about time
that the other Death Eaters learned that they are inferior to me. They ate fries! Bellatrix Lestrange does not eat french fries! The Dark Lord would never approve!
The Dark Lord’s whispers echo throughout the mostly empty restaurant.
“Bring a cheeseburger back to Malfoy Manor for me immediately. If you do not do
so, you will face certain death. Oh, also, get me some extra pickles.”
56
And he disapparates with a loud pop.
I stand in the same spot, glued to the floor. Shocked. Why had the Dark Lord not
told me, Bellatrix Lestrange?! He likes burgers! Maybe, he even likes fries. I want to tell somebody how angry I feel, but I pretend to be calm.
A random Death Eater whose name I do not know casually strolls up to me.
Nobody casually strolls up to me! He should be dragging his feet in fear. He looks quite confident. Nobody is confident in my presence! He smiles, which to me shows that he might not actually serve the Dark Lord. He shows all of his teeth, which I think might be his bad attempt to show off for me. He laughs at me.
He says, “It appears that the Dark Lord likes burgers himself, doesn’t it!”
He continues to laugh at me as I pull my wand out of my pocket.
“AVADA KEDAVRA!” I scream.
His body falls to the ground with a loud thud.
Ava Walkow
Noelani Lee
57
7th GRADE
Lily Britt
Adrenaline always flowing through me No limits or boundaries in my way
Emily Cloherty
58
Darian Mahdi
Ava Walkow
8th GRADE The Choice She Never Had Hannah Dastgheib Hela, 1939 now I wish I could return to the time when we ate storms for breakfast and drank salty rain when in the cold, black smoke of morning, Papa’s empty eyes-once so full of laughter they would roar and splash like the ocean I see them now, drained of ink. he sits in the corner staring out the hospital window as my paper shadow of a sister lies plastered to the bed as the last blast of our horn of hope sails away as we wonder what our lives could have been once, Papa was surrounded by comrades clamoring for his opinion-but now, he cannot sort out his own if I could go back I would shake him out of the silent thunder of his mind it hurts to see a grown man drowning oh, if only we had boarded that ship and sailed to the Old City where our story began I could’ve, I should’ve, I would’ve it is the drumbeat of regret the first choice that became our last the last spark of forgotten choices we never had Me, 2018 Bullets of rain pelt the windowsill It is 2 a.m., and I still have homework to do But as Hela’s voice fades into static The horror of her story washes away the fog of my exhaustion And I see my life with wide new eyes My family is alive, breathing in the rooms around me There is a roof sheltering my head And my worst problem is figuring out how to stay awake to finish this poem This poem that has transformed me into a messenger of memory That more importantly, has awakened me to the gift of my choices The choices Hela never had
59
8th GRADE All Trees Have Leaves Luke Rosing
What’s the difference between you and me? Us and them? Ours and theirs? Isn’t
that what war is about: prejudices and people who think they have the high ground when they are one step away from the edge of the cliff? Bloodthirsty humans are like toddlers keeping everything for themselves, saying, “Mine! Mine!” while taking items to build up their Maginot Lines and leaving their victims naked and bare. Invisible lines protecting them from nothing but themselves.
Edgar Aftergood was stolen. His father held his 11-year-old hand as they strode
side by side on the streets of Warsaw, armbands with six-pointed stars clinking together like chains binding them to the word “Jew.” They walked like martyrs into the lion’s den, and as the lion saw them, the father and son did not fear for they knew humanity protected them. Then they were mugged. Edgar Aftergood recalled, “The offizier said [to my father] ‘you are supposed to take your hat off’…and then he hit my father in the face and hit me with the back of his hand. And my father, educated in German culture as well as that offizier, had been shocked because he now had first hand experience as to what might possibly happen.” The ominous “what will” buried his father’s hopes six feet under, and as he tried to claw up to ground level he watched his mirror image digging his own grave. He saw the offizier who had once protected his freedom become a perfidious twofaced killer. The offizier wanted to bury Edgar and his father alive in caskets, sealed with slurs, locking them into this reality that would have stripped them from ever being normal humans again.
“Us and them.” Humans continually draft each other by their race and religion,
fighting with the same arsenal of slurs on forefronts that were made before they could understand the world was broken. Those stuck in “no man’s land” are quickly bombarded with the pressure of picking a team as the cults attach strings to their feelings, puppeteering their emotions with only one finger because the other nine hold the strings of others. These aimless, apathetic souls meander on the overused path because society dragged them into it, and then made walls out of pressure and false comfort on each side so that no one can escape. False prophets act as herding dogs, barking at their sheep to move toward the slaughterhouse with words like, “Don’t you want to be like everyone else?” and “Everybody’s doing it.” 60
Maybe we are too afraid to step out and say something, to gamble everything we
have, even when some have nothing to lose. To just take one more step into water, to see if we could walk even deeper without drowning, to take chances when there are no more left. Do not stay in the infinite bubble of comfort parents provide with the security of a broken record on repeat, sweetly singing “It will be okay.” The sooner you realize the bubble was your Achilles heel all along, the sooner you take that foible and twist it into a forte. You realize you don’t want to be that tree that didn’t make a sound when it fell because everyone else was too busy trying to squeeze themselves into a endless cycle of liquid hatred. And as other trees die and their leaves fall, you stay evergreen, putting yourself out there, rooted to what’s right so even the strongest lumberjacks cannot knock you down. Over time you grow seeds of hope that release, spreading your infectious enthusiasm to stand up for what is right. When it comes time for your fall, people will hear it. Edgar, I heard your tree fall. I want it heard around the world.
Tommy Richardson
61
8th GRADE The Sound of Silence
Awake in the Land of the Dead
Maggie Dietrick
Kylee Wang
The sound of silence
The girl rests in my arms
Is calm but scary
Eyes closed
People listening without hearing
Cold
The thief that takes sound away
Ghosts dance an eerie dance
Leaves those deaf in dismay
Celebrating
But, the empty feeling of exclusion
Joyous
Makes me think that sound is just an illusion
She shifts
They hope to hear again someday
And we gasp As she opens her pale eyes She rises from my arms Bows And the celebration continues
Rylen Schmid
62
Los Angeles Fires Isabel Gomez
My dog, Spot, yelps because the flames encircle us. The fires in our area have
devastated buildings, houses, animals, and lives. The fire engulfs anything in its path. Now it comes for me. My bright red Stanford sweatshirt covers my mouth, but it still isn’t enough to prevent the pungent smoke from entering my system. Is this what smoking feels like? My parents, sister, and brother all beat me out by sprinting through door. I wasn’t so lucky. It’s just Spot and me against the flames. I survey the area. I have backed into a seemingly windowless room. Wait, I see it. A window that may save me from this catastrophe. I sprint to this beacon of hope and inhale more smoke. I grab a piece of plywood that has fallen from the ceiling of the house and smash the window. Millions of transparent crystals hit the floor. Sorry for the mess, Mom! I see a blue crash mat set up below with my family huddled around it, waiting anxiously for Spot and me to exit our house. I grab Spot, stroke him for a second to calm him, and drop him. He lands on the mat, and my family instantly embraces him. My turn. I hoist myself out the window and bend my knees to absorb the shock. I am surprised I didn’t break my legs. I begin to cough violently, with smoke erupting out of my mouth, tarnishing my sweatshirt. I gasp for air, like a fish in need of water. The EMT’s lift me onto a stretcher and load me into an ambulance. I slowly descend into darkness.
Max Lane
63
8th GRADE Complicit Liam Razmjoo Complicit. That is the word the principal used to define my relation to the crime. Let’s rewind. About a week ago, I stopped at the restroom after math class. On my way, I ran into Billy. Billy Bogtrotter, six foot six, is the type of kid who would crush a brick against his head several times to prove his strength. He has repeated 8th grade four years in a row. There wasn’t anywhere to run. I braced myself and walked straight toward him with my head down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him smiling at me. “Hi, Bud.” His voice sounded like it had been drenched in syrup. It was sweet. Too sweet. “Will you watch the door to the bathroom for me? Don’t let anyone in!” I stood there, shocked. Why was Billy talking to me? “Sure.” I replied. He ran into the bathroom really quickly. I was nervous. This kid reeks of mischief. I was sure I should not be doing this. Nevertheless, I stayed. I felt good. I was cool. Billy trusted me. POPPOPOP!!!!! I felt a surge of heat traveling towards me. My lungs filled with smoke. ACKHH! ACKHH! Bleerpppp! The high-pitched fire alarm and the yelling of the panicking students filled my ears. Before I could move, the principal, Mrs. Weichnchveiler, grabbed me by my collar and steered me into her office. “I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it!” I defended myself. “I saw you in the hallway with Billy. Even if you did not do it, you were COMPLICIT!”
64
Games JP Ueberroth
Todd woke up to the sound of his obnoxious alarm buzzing, signaling work’s start in
an hour and a half. He hit the snooze button, and then climbed out of bed reluctantly. He hated his job as a CEO. Yes, he made abundant amounts of money, but with that money came much stress and responsibility. Todd had to fire someone nearly every month, which he hated doing. He glanced at the snow falling outside his window, and he made a mental note to wear a jacket today. In only one more month, Todd would be able to retire. He could then spend more time on his art, which was all he wanted in life.
“A man has got to do what he has got to do,” Todd thought, so he continued with his
morning routine. He first took a shower, then got dressed, and then ate breakfast. Finally, he grabbed his car keys and walked out the door. He started his car, and began his usual drive to work. Everything was going normally, until Todd suddenly hit a patch of ice. His car slid out. Another car T-boned him. He had forgotten to strap his seat belt on, and he he was sent flying out the window. Todd landed head-first on a curb. Ambulances appeared on the scene rapidly, and he was rushed to the hospital. He quickly died in the hospital bed; there was nothing the doctors could do.
Jimmy stood up and took off his VR headset.
“How did I do?” he asked.
“Really good, actually! You beat your high score!” Justin replied.
“Man, Earth is a really fun game. I made millions and aged up to 59. It’s similar to our planet, Tatar, but the humans think they are real and do not know everything is fake! It makes the game pretty enjoyable,” said Jimmy.
Justin said, “Let me try,” as he slid on the VR headset.
65
Index Grade
K
66
Last Name
Aali
First Name
Lilliana
Page/s
3, 7
Grade
Last Name
First Name
K Danaher Ella
Page/s
Grade
Last Name
First Name
Page/s
12
K
Ha
Danielle
5, 8
Carter 50
4
Harrison
Benjamin
36, 37
4 Aftabi
Isabella 32
6 Danz
6 Aftabi
Jazmine 49
8 Dastgheib Hannah 59
2 Harrison Emma 25
1 Alagband Coco 18
3 Davis
Avalon 28
6
K Alston
Caroline 14
K Davis
Dylan 12
5 Hauge
4
Mary Kate
6
Chase
2 Hogsett Kalani 25
Angeloff
34
Decker
47, 49
Harrison
Riley
48, 51
Eva
41
1 Ayora
Penelope 21
1 Decker
Preston 17
K Hogsett Maya 10
6 Bryant
Gianna 46
3
Christopher 29
K
Dib
Horne
Elizabeth
10, 15
K Bakhtiari Bentley 13
8 Dietrick Maggie 62
7 Johnson Brooke 52
1 Bansal Vivaan 20
7 Donahoo Nicole 54
4 Johnson Parker 33
7 Beador Stella 53
3 Dostert Kaitlyn 28
K
K Bedekar Luca 7
K
4 Karnick Lexie 33
2 Berengian Aleah 23
1 Dufty
Chloe 17
4 Katkin
Reese 36
K Blumetti Marcus 7
K
Cade
3
Campbell
7 Britt
Lily
58
2 Eckenweiler Makenna 22
2 Kelly
Cooper 25
5
Jackson
42, 44
5 Eusey
Ryan 44
4 Kern
Sebastian 36
Emma
5 Kessler Keaton 42
Bryden
Dowers Eckenweiler
3, 7 5, 9
12, 13
27, 31
Beckham 10
K
5 Burke
Grace 39
1 Feltham Connor 19
K Khan
1 Butcher
Townsend 17
3 Fenner Charlie 26
K Kirkowski JP
6
6
Aubrey
5 Fenner Logan 43
K
6, 8
2 Callaghan Declan 25
2 Fischbein Lyla
4 Kost
Summer 36
4 Callaghan James 35
5 Fischbein Maya 45
3 Krotts
Brooklyn 30
5 Casey
5 Fogel
Grace 40
2 Lal
Madeleine 22
K Chapman Julia 6
5
Geary
Charlie
cover, 41
2 Landy
Gabrielle 23
2 Chen
1
Geiler Allen
Josie
20
8 Lane
Max
47, 51
Claire 44 Addy 24
6, 9
Kelly
Lucas
K Burke
Callaghan
Evans
Annalyse
Jones
23
Kleiman
Anya 14 Pierce
63
1 Claassen Turner 21
6 Gomez Alex 47
7 Lee
Noelani 57
7 Cloherty Emily 58
8 Gomez Isabel 63
5 Lewis
Maddie 44
4 Cohen
K Graham Clint 10
5 Lykos
Kylie 42
7 Connolly Elliott 56
1 Gray
6 Lynch
Michael 51
4 Cormac Ana
1 Gregory Blakely 18
1 Magallanes Sarah 20
Allison 32 32
Kendall 16
K Cudzil
Cece 5
K Gross
Caroline 5
7 Mahdi
3 Cudzil
Luke 26
4 Grover
Dillan 33
K Mahmoudoff Arshan
4
2
Capri
K
Annabelle 11, 12, 15
4 Mahoney Jack
32
Cuneo
22, 24
Ha
Darian 58
Grade
Last Name
5 Majit
First Name
Page/s
Owen 45
Grade
Last Name
Page/s
Last Name
First Name
Page/s
Lucy 54
8 Razmjoo Liam 64
K
Danny
4 Mauser Penny 37
6
7 Todd
Allison 54
3 McCardle Reed 31
8 Richardson Tommy 61
5
Emma
K Michalovsky William 8
5
Riddlesperger Addison
42
1 Tripathi Leela 19
4 Miller
K
Robinson
Abby
3, 4
4
Tripathi
Sonali
36, 37
K
Root
Quinn
8, 9
K
Tsai
Adler
13, 15
31
Hannah 33
6 Mirhashemi Dylan
46
Reposa
Aiden 47
Grade
7 Tipton
3 Massoudi Ella
6 Powell
First Name
Ellena
47, 48
Tiwari Todd
11, 15 41, 44
3 Moatazedi Gavin 30
8 Rosing Luke 60
3 Tsai
Riley 31
K
3, 4, 8
5
6 Tse
Talia 49
53
1 Rosing Sarah 17
8 Ueberroth JP
1 Montijo Hunter 18
K Rowe
Anton 4
K Vanjani Devan 6
3 Moshayedi Colette 26
5 Rowe
Fiona 41
6 Vanjani Dilan 46
3 Mossman Caden 31
2 Sadri
Kiana 22
4
3 Mossman Colton 28
8 Schmid Rylen 62
6 Vovan
Peyton 46
2 Nami
Ella
1 Senizergues Lilianna 21
3
Walbridge
Andrew
27, 28
K Nami
Luca 11
3
28, 30
7
Walkow
Ava
57, 58
6
8 Wang
Kylee 62 Erika 50
Mohtashami
Ayla
7 Mohtashami Tara
6 Natland Tate
23 48
Rosing
Senizergues
Mark James 43
Mateo
K Shepherdson Liam
Vovan
Makenzie
65
32, 34
3 Neal
Sienna 27
6 Shubin Jake 50
6 Wein
5 Niccol
Andrew 38
6 Specter Sage 46
6 Welton Everett 47
1
Niccol
Emily
17, 19
3 Steelberg Logan 26
4 Welton Stella 33
7
O Hill
Elle
55
2 Stern
Addison 25
K Whitten Paige 11
K
O Hill
Pax
11, 13
7 Stern
Blake 54
1 Wilks
Hillary 20
K
O’Neil
Sophia
12, 14
2 Stern
Hudson 22
3 Wilks
Rhyse 28
2
Olsen
Ella
23, 24
3
Kyle
K
Hudson
3 Owens
Ophelia 31
Stern
29, 31
Williams
12, 14
6 Stern
Logan 47
7 Wu
Alex 54
3 Paolone Dylan 29
K Stiefel
Ford 13
1 Yasin
Ali
K Paolone Reese 14
K
Sierra
5, 9
4 Yoshida Violet 37
4 Pelinka Durham 32
K Talleur
Kaia
15
1 Young
Dylan 16
2 Pelinka Emery 24
3 Talleur Shae 28
K Zahedi
Penelope 14
1 Peters
4 Tamura
Nicholas 35
K Zwerling Lily
5 Peykoff Hailey 42
1
Nirvaan
1 Pierce
Noah 18
5 Thorp
Nicole 45
5 Pollack Justin 43
3 Thorp
Sarah 30
Keagan 19
Taketa
Tandon
16
7
18, 19
67
3443 Pacific View Drive | Corona del Mar, CA 92625 | 949.640.1410