harbor lights A CELEBRATION of THE LITERARY
& VISUAL ARTS of HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018 - 2019
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 Diane Bjelland Caren Kelly Carole Kredel Marilou McCarty Lynette Vieira
ART DIRECTORS Stacey Hammond Leslie Yagar
PHOTOGRAPHY Sargeant Creative
DESIGN
ON THE COVER
primate design
“Harbor Day Boat Parade” | Fourth Grade
H A R B O R
L I G H T S
Y A CELEBRATION of
T H E
L I T E R A R Y &
V I S U A L
A R T S
of HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
Y
2 0 1 8
-
2 0 1 9
K I N D E R GA RT E N - M s . H o g a n. . . . . . . . . . . 2
F I F T H G R A D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8
K I N D E R GA RT E N - M s . L a n g e . . . . . . . . . . . 8
S I X T H G R A D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4
F I R S T G R A D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6
S E V E N T H G R A D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 8
S E C O N D G R A D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2
E I G H T H G R A D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4
T H I R D G R A D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6
P I C K A P I N E T R E E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 8
F O U RT H G R A D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2
I N D E X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0
K Ms. Hogan’s KINDERGARTEN
SCARED
By Allyn Forth Scared
Ghosts
Bone shaking skeletons
Mummies’ paper fluttering I shiver
I run away Ghost white I watch it So scary I go in my mom’s room Good night Mom and dad
2
Ghosts Bone shaking skeletons Mummies’ paper fluttering I shiver
MS. HOGAN’S KINDERGARTEN
FIRE TRUCK By Aldon Parkin Oh no! My house is on fire Yes, it is on fire Call The fire department Wee-oo Wee-oo Wee-oo Yay! They are here Roll out the hose Spray the fire Swoosh! Put out the fire
Beckett Johnson
CARDINAL
VALENTINES
LEGOS
By Liam Rehm
By Alice Lee
By Beckett Johnson
Chirp, chirp, chirp
Valentines
Legos come
Fly, fly, fly
Valentines
Legos go
Around and around
Pink hearts
Legos are red
Fly up, fly down
White hearts
and blue
Fly left, fly right
Mail at my door
and white
Your redness
It’s from Grandma
big and small
Is like blood
What’s inside?
rectangles
Scattering
Let’s
and squares
Through the air
Open
fighters and falcons
Left and right you go
It
any time you want
Up and down
There’s chocolate!
fun, fun
Side to side
Legos come
Left and right
Legos go
Fly, cardinal, fly HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
3
MS. HOGAN’S KINDERGARTEN
SUN By Cece Arkin-Horowitz Hello sun, how are you? Hello sun, I am cold. Hello sun, I need you. Hello sun, where are you? I can’t see you. Hello sun, there you are. Now I am warm.
Cece Arkin-Horowitz
MONSTER TRUCK
DIRT BIKE
JUMP ROPE
By Beckham Butcher
By Brixton Smith
By Maria Landy
Monster truck
I am a dirt bike
Hi, jump rope.
Vroom
A hard seat
Do you want
Monster truck
Bumpy wheels
to jump with me?
Go
Twist the handle bar
“Sure,” said
Monster truck
I can do wheelies
the jump rope.
Jump
I can jump
Can you jump 99?
Monster truck
I can go up high
I don’t know.
Go fast
I can whip
Can you try?
Monster truck
I can clutch
Let’s do it.
Good job
I can flip
Woosh, jump.
Wow!
Woosh, woosh, Wow!
4
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
MS. HOGAN’S KINDERGARTEN
SAD By McCall Morgan I am scared I do not cry I will be brave Rattlesnakes scare me Dragons scare me I get scared When I am alone When I am sad It feels like There is an iceberg In my tummy
SHADOW
McCall Morgan
By Rishi Arora The shadow is on the wall.
THE BEACH
STARS
By Will Budge
By Charlotte Irwin
Shhhhh.
I am in the milky way
Soft sand.
I am one
Whoosh goes the wave,
At night
in a curl.
I am a star
Splash!
I shine bright
Blue water.
Shine, shine, shine
The sun feels hot
Like a star
on your skin.
I shine at night
Shhhhh.
They’re creeping down the hall. They’re following down the hall. I need to calm down so I survive the night. The shadow comes. It’s coming down the hall. The shadow’s coming closer. Scared.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Clear water.
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
5
MS. HOGAN’S KINDERGARTEN
ALLIGATOR By Max McCormick I am
DOG
An alligator
By Jake Johnson
Big and strong
Black dog
Long and bumpy
Woof, woof, Jake
Chomp
Brown eyes
I will eat you
Scorpion
Give me bones
Yellow and white
I love you, Jake
Sharp tails
A snake curls up
Feed me, Jake
Lobster pincers
Like a tornado
I am happy
Shoots poison
SNAKE
I’m hunting
By Rogelio Pier
Run!
By Jameson Huey
I like you, Jake
Watch out Sharp teeth
SCORPIONS AND TARANTULAS
To catch
Tarantula
Its prey
Black and furry
Snakes slither
Soft and squeaky legs
Dangerous
Jumps out
Snakes are scary
Interesting animal
And ferocious Snakes SSSSSSSSSSSS
Aldon Parkin
6
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
Jake Johnson
2018-2019
MS. HOGAN’S KINDERGARTEN
FALCONS By Tanner Thomas Caw, caw I am a falcon Flying in the sky Caw, caw It looks different Down there I fly In cold mountains Feathers Red and black Feathers Caw, caw
Savannah Turner
SAD By Perry Block
SILLY
FRIENDS
by Harley Chahine
By Savannah Turner
Silly with my friends.
My friends
Happy, happy
Laugh at me.
Make me
Oh, no!
Silly dance
Feel strong
There is a rock
I stick my tongue out.
When I am
Ouch!
Silly faces
Sad
I trip
I dance crazy.
And happy
On the rock
Arms up and down
Feel strong
My knee hurts
Legs back and forth
Friends make me
Help me up
Silly
Smile
Give me a Band-Aid
And show up for
I need a hug
Me
You make me smile
Feel strong
Happy, happy
Friends are the best
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
7
K M s. L ange ’s KINDERGARTEN
Troy Chan
8
MS. LANGE’S KINDERGARTEN
THE TREE By Natalie Tao A tree is like an umbrella Because it protects you From the sun And the rain Green leaves Brown branches When it is windy The leaves fall off the tree When there’s a storm The whole tree falls down Some trees are really tall Some trees are really short
Natalie Tao
SNOW
THE POOL
HAPPY STAR
By Troy Chan
By Nina Brown
By Hendrik van Akkeren
Snow looks like
Looks like a beach
I am a happy star
Small confetti
In my neighborhood
Shiiiiing! Shiiiiing!
On the North Pole
I feel happy
I shine in the sky
Crinch, Crunch!
Splish! Splash!
Why don’t you look at me?
It feels cold
Smells like chlorine and sunscreen
Shining diamond
Like ice cream
Feels wet and wavy
Crunchy
Splish! Splash!
I see one person looking at me
Like Rocky Road
The kids splishing and splashing
I am a happy star
White
In the water
Shiiiiing! Shiiiiing!
Like Santa’s beard
I feel happy
I shine in the sky again
Soft Like a warm bed Crinch, Crunch! HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
9
MS. LANGE’S KINDERGARTEN
Hadley Davis
FAST SHOES By Gray Vanderhook I’m faster Than a rocket Watch out! Pick me! I want to see the gym Pick me! Zoom! Boom! I crashed Zoom! Boom! I ran to Japan
THE NERF BULLET By Luke Huey A bullet
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
By Pierce Moatazedi
Is like a shooting star
Boom! Boom!
Win a green and soft bullet
Like a falling tree
Shoots out of the nerf gun
Basketball
Bam!
Dribbling fast
It goes like a shooting star
Like a cheetah
Then it lands where you shot it
Loud like
You pick it up
Glass falling
And you put it back in the nerf gun
Boom! Boom!
Bam!
Boom!
Pick me!
10
A BASKETBALL
Feel happy
2018-2019
MS. LANGE’S KINDERGARTEN
MY FAMILY LOVES ME By Hadley Davis My family makes me happy Family Like a cozy blanket Families Smell like Flowers Pineapples Hugs like hot chocolate Yumm!
THE CHICK By Blake Peterson Peep! Peep! I am a little chick. Where is my Mommy? Peep! Peep! Where is my Daddy? Peep! Peep! Where are my Grandpa and Grandma? Peep! Peep! There you all are. I am happy.
Yumm! My family makes me happy
Peep! Peep!
FISH By Hunter Chahine ANGRY By Presley Pierce
Silver Gold
Angry when my brother wrestles me
Shiny trophy
Angry! Angry! Angry!
That I caught from the ocean
When my brother bothers me
Fish on my plate
Angry! Angry! Angry!
Give me more!
Mad
Yum, yum, yum, YUM!
Like a stomping dinosaur
Yummy fish
Yelling
Give me more!
Stomping my feet I’m mad Angry! Angry! Angry!
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
11
MS. LANGE’S KINDERGARTEN
THE CAKE
THE BASKETBALL
By Mila Agha
By Kamal Batniji
The cake smells like a flower
Tweet!
And I want to eat it
The game is on
But it is in the oven
You bounce the brown ball
Ding!
Thump! Thump!
It’s time to take it out
You shoot the round ball
I am so excited
Shooooot!
Run around the kitchen
He scores
Sit in my seat
The crowd cheers
It looks like a pretty princess
Wooo!
Time to eat it
The team gets three points
Mmmmm!
He slam dunks it Bam!
THE STUFFEE
THE BLANKET
By Ami Louis
By Taylor Lendino
Play with me
Comfy
Play with me
Cozy
I’m so soft
I am warm
I’m so warm
Like a hug
Like a blanket
Get inside me
Please play with me now!
Comfy
Play with me
Cozy
Play with me
Sleep with me
I want to be loved
Comfy
I may be old
Cozy
But that doesn’t mean
Get inside me
That I can’t be loved!
Time to sleep
Play with me
Zzzzzz
Play with me
Good night
12
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
MS. LANGE’S KINDERGARTEN
Tinsley Hill
THE HATCHING EGG THE RAT
By Tinsley Hill
By Leo Thomson
One summer day
A rat scratching
There was a rainbow egg
Across the ground
It was not an ordinary egg
Tik-tak! Tik-tak!
It was a special egg
Looks like a small monster
One day
Ahhh!
Crack!
A rat is my pet
The egg hatched
I do love it
Like a flower blooming
It is fast like a race car
On that warm summer morning
Tik-tak! Tik-tak!
In the egg A rainbow bird Tweet!
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
13
MS. LANGE’S KINDERGARTEN
Malik Yasin
THE SAD CAR
FIRETRUCK
By Malik Yasin
By Alex Cawthon
Why did you make me drive
Firefighters drive it
All the way to Atlanta
EeeeOoooEeeeOooo
Honk! Honk!
Fast like a cheetah
Now I’m covered in mud
The big fire is
Rusty
Out of control!
And I ran out of gas
What is it?
Honk! Honk!
The red firetruck is
Now how are we getting home
Going to put it out
Why do you want to drive me
EeeeOoooEeeeOooo
Honk! Honk!
EeeeOoooEeeeOooo Just a prank call Phew!
14
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
MS. LANGE’S KINDERGARTEN
GLUE
Like Like Like Like
mud … gum … tape … slime …
By Ella Wohl Take off the cap Sticky! Sticky! Like mud Rub it on my paper Sticky! Sticky! Like gum Twist the bottom of the glue stick Sticky! Sticky! Like tape Leaves a mark on my paper Sticky! Sticky! Like slime Sticking something to my picture Sticky! Sticky!
THE MARKER By Cain Pallera Green, blue, black, pink You can draw with this marker Wooshhhh!
THE MAGIC WAND
You can do anything you want
By Antonio Yim
Wooshhhh! A bumpy elephant Red candy Square book A grumpy moon The marker is like Your brain Because what you imagine Will go on the paper Wooshhhh!
A black sharpie Is like a magic wand Because It draws and reads your mind And his friends Red And blue And yellow And green Make a masterpiece Of Harbor Day! Woooooo!
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
15
1
FIRST GRADE
Luca Bedekar
16
FIRST GRADE
IN MY HAND By Abigail Robinson I like to hold in my hand, A shell, A crystal, A pretty bracelet, A pebble, A dollar, A cute baby chick. And one more thing, Very, very, special, I like to hold in my hand… My baby brother, Clayton!
William Michalovsky
THINGS I LOVE
GETTING MY PUPPY
By Lily Zwerling
By Adler Tsai
My family because they love me
When I was small,
The earth because I have a home
I got a dog.
My friends because they play with me
I didn’t know which one to pick!
My teachers because they teach me
Cute,
School so I can learn
Soft,
Animals because they’re cute
Fluffy,
Food so I can live
Different colors,
Water that keeps me hydrated
I just couldn’t pick!
Baseball so I can exercise
I was so excited!
And that’s what makes me happy!
I picked a dog that was white, cute, fluffy, and excited!
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
17
FIRST GRADE
Reese Paolone
Ayla Mohtashami
HAIR
ALL ABOUT PERSIAN NEW YEAR
By Anya Khan
By Lilliana Aali
Swish, swish
You always need flowers for Persian New Year. The flowers are symbols to tell people that spring is coming. They should be red, pink, blue, and purple. There are lots of different foods on Persian New Year. Tadiq is a Persian food. It is like cake, but it is made out of rice. It has dried rice on the outside and cooked rice on the inside. The desserts are usually cake and ice cream. On Persian New Year, the kids get one hundred dollars, but not until after dinner time. On Persian New Year, presents are like Christmas presents.
Falling down my back Time for a haircut Chop, chop Like spaghetti In the air Spaghetti can be fresh Out of the oven Hair can’t
SIBLINGS
Hair can be cute
By Caroline Alston
Spaghetti can’t
Having an older brother and a younger sister is fun. You can play lots of games with them, like foosball and princesses. It is really fun when you babysit your younger sister. It is also fun when you play lots of card games with your older brother. My brother is 11 years old, and my sister is four years old. My brother’s favorite color is blue, and my sister’s favorite color is purple. My brother’s favorite food is peaches in a can, and my sister’s favorite food is pasta.
Oh no...will… My spaghetti grow back?
18
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
FIRST GRADE
IN AN AIRPLANE (LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW) By Luca Bedekar Ten clouds changing, Nine people sleeping, Eight people watching TV, Seven people getting up, Six people who are bored, Five people smiling, Four people eating cookies, Three people drinking water, Two people playing on iPads, One person getting off the plane. But who is it? It is me!
Lily Zwerling
Lucas Jones
Annalyse Dowers
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
19
FIRST GRADE
SNOWFLAKES By Sierra Taketa Pretty snowflakes With a twinkle In the sky So pretty Catch them on your tongue
Luca Nami
So fun, so cold Burrrrrrrrr
Catch them on your tongue So fun, so cold Burrrrrrrrr Snowflakes
Snowflakes Big snowflakes, small snowflakes Medium snowflakes Shiny Ice in your mouth So tasty More Snowflakes More Oh, snowflakes
SKIING By Paige Whitten Be careful! It is fun to ski, but skiing is also dangerous. You might fall. You might also get attacked by a bear or a moose. When you go skiing, you have to stay warm. You need a helmet, goggles, a couple of jackets, a sweater, and mittens. You have to get ski boots in your shoe size. Some runs are hard, and some runs are easy. Black diamonds are really hard. Green circles are really easy. Blue squares are medium. You can stop if you are in trouble, like if you are about to run into stuff. Move both your feet out until they look like a triangle.
Caroline Gross
20
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
FIRST GRADE
Paige Whitten
Bentley Bakhtiari
Quinn Root
Marcus Blumetti
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
21
2
SECOND GRADE
Penelope Ayora
22
SECOND GRADE
Dear Reader, I think you will like Maya in Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier. Maya is super positive. First, Maya always looks in the bright side. Second, every time she has a setback, she comes back with twice the positive attitude. Third, even with a breathing tube and Cystic Fibrosis, which affects not only breathing but also digestion, Maya is positive. Fourth, even in a new house, in a new town, she is positive. I hope you enjoy Maya in Ghosts! Sincerely, Campbell Morgan
Leela Tripathi
Dear Reader, If you like books that are hilarious and make you happy, you may want to check out Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties. An example of this book being humorous is that the scientists’ lab is called “The Supa’ Awesome Science Center Over Here.” Another example is that Li’l Petey used a fly swatter to mix Petey’s tea. It made me happy when Petey left Li’l Petey, but Dog Man found him and took care of him. Another part of this book that made me happy was when Li’l Petey made a book for Flippy and he liked it. So if this book review sounds cool, you might want to read Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties. Sincerely, Knox Yoon
Coco Alagband HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
23
SECOND GRADE
Dear Reader, Have you ever read Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw? Greg Heffley is a character in this book, and he is very funny. In the story, Greg walks into the kitchen with his mom’s bathrobe on. Greg is also funny because he thinks that a three-foot-deep hole will protect him from bullies. In the book, Greg is very lazy too. Greg was lazy by falling asleep in class. He is also lazy because he goes to bed as soon as he gets home from school. If you think Greg sounds like a funny character, you may want to read this book. Sincerely, Emily Niccol
Sarah Rosing
Dear Reader, Have you ever read a “Magic Treehouse” book? In Dinosaurs Before Dark, Jack is a character who is afraid and curious. He was scared to climb down from the treehouse. He was also scared to get too close to the dinosaur eggs. Jack is curious because he writes down notes in his notebook. He also likes finding out clues. Read this book to find out more about Jack. Sincerely, Jacques Bergougnan
Josie Geiler Allen
24
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
SECOND GRADE
Chloe Neal
Hunter Summers
WHO AM I?
I was born in Decatur, Alabama on October 17, 1956.
I was born in Atchison, Kansas on July 24, 1897.
I was born November 22, 1949 in Long Beach, California.
I was the first African American woman to go to space.
I was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
I am an activist and I help women in sports.
I became a doctor.
My plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean.
I played against a men’s tennis champion and won.
Who am I?
Who am I?
AMELIA EARHART By Hillary Wilks
BILLIE JEAN KING By Townsend Butcher
Who am I? MAE JEMISON By Nicholas Ronaghi
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
25
3
THIRD GRADE
Emery Pelinka
Aleah Berengian
26
THIRD GRADE
BAD DAY By Oliver Harrison Why, why, why?! Slept in, now I’m late for school No hot water Cold, cold, cold Get dressed quickly Drive to school Open up my backpack Forgot my binder and lunch Why, why, why?! Too much homework No, no, no! Go to my desk Sit down and relax Maybe it isn’t such a bad day after all Wait...what? It’s already lunch! I fell asleep in my chair
Cooper Piercey
Why, why, why?!
SNOW By Ella Nami and Madeleine Lal snow snow falling tonight I can see you from left to right snow snow falling tonight please don’t give me frostbite
Hill Smith HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
27
THIRD GRADE
HAWAII By Kiana Sadri Hawaiian waves come High waves come To the sunny beach I shall go On my way, I bought a drink Pineapple smoothies go clink! On this hot and sunny day Under the Hawaiian sun I shall lay
Sydney Ilczyszyn
SKIING By Danny Angeloff “Click!” My skis are on, and I’m ready to go. “Umph!” My hand pushes up like a baby tiger when it first stands up. I look down the hill. I see this long, fat string of snow, so I go down it almost as if I’m like a submarine going down deep in the ocean. I see other skiers and other snowboarders going down the hill. “Whoosh!” A big gust of wind almost knocks me down! But I stick the landing! I smell hot chocolate, and it takes my mind off skiing! I wobble around. Then I get my mind back on skiing, and I’m almost down the hill! I start to hear, “hahahaha!” and “bubble, bubble, bubble!” I finally make it down the hill and lie on the ground. I feel the snow, and it feels like I’m on the most fluffy cloud in the world! Then, I get up and I go back home and get a blanket and some nice, warm hot chocolate.
Danny Angeloff
28
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
THIRD GRADE
THE WHALE By Molly Tiwari “I’m bored,” I say, staring at the ceiling. I need to go outside and feel the breeze so I can refresh. We were on a cruise in Alaska. It was the last day, and I wanted to see something cool, like a dolphin or a fish. I went on my balcony to look. I saw a cargo ship and a pelican, but I was determined to find something more interesting. Ten minutes went by (but it felt like an hour), and I was ready to give up. Right when I was going to go back, a HUGE splash came and crashed down on me. I was DRENCHED! I had no idea what happened. Water dripped over my eyes, blinding me. The water was clear as day, but the water on the ground was hard to stand on because it was slippery and filled with kelp. I knelt down and picked up the kelp and threw it into the ocean. My wet clothes stuck to me like glue. My pink shirt now looked purple. “What a mess!” I thought. As I stood there lost in thought and feeling more and more like a popsicle, I started to shiver. Since I was on the bottom floor we were close to the water.
Hudson Steelberg
“I should have gone back inside earlier, but what made that huge splash?” I thought. A big wave or an animal perhaps. Then I turned around and saw it...a tail! But what animal was it? A whale, a dolphin, or maybe even an Orca?! I looked at the color closely. It was grey. I figured out that it was a grey whale. I was disappointed. I wanted to see an Orca, but any whale was good enough. I really needed to go change because now I felt like an iceberg floating in an ice-cold sea. I sprinted inside to get a camera so I could get a picture of this amazing sight. When I came back, the whales were gone. “Ugh,” I said, “why didn’t I go faster?” I decided to wait for the whales to come back. It felt like I was waiting for hours. Then, I heard people screaming, “Look, the whales are over there!” I looked over my balcony, and the people above me were watching the whales too! I looked where they were pointing and, sure enough, there were tons of whales! I got my camera ready. This was going to be tricky. But I knew I could do it! I quickly took a picture of the whale. It was a perfect shot! I dashed inside to show my parents. They were so proud of me. I smiled from ear to ear.
Frankie Stiefel
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
29
THIRD GRADE
CHRISTMAS DAY By Landon Ressler It was Christmas Day, and I was so excited! I sprinted down the stairs like a cheetah. I saw all the presents. I wondered what was inside. I couldn’t wait to open my presents. I got to the first present, and then one by one I opened them. There was one more. I shook it a little. It made a little noise and went back and forth. It was not that heavy. I slowly opened it. It was an iPhone 8. I was so happy that I thought it was a dream.
LIFE IN A SNOW GLOBE By Cooper Kelly “Done!” I yell as I finish sculpting my fort. “Time for snowballs,” I say as I run inside. “Mom, do you know where my snowball maker is?” “Check the closet” she hollers from the kitchen. Now that I have my snowball maker, I can make snowballs. I already have about 15. “Now I can peg her,” I say quietly. I slither around the house. “AAAHH!” I yell as I peg my sister. “Ooh!”
Lily Mahoney
30
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
Ella Olsen
Finn Hoover
2018-2019
THIRD GRADE
Ty Camaras
Hudson Stern
Oliver Harrison, Nicholas Sokolowski, Kamilah Cavner, Madeleine Lal, Blake Fraley
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
31
4
FOURTH GRADE
Kyle Stern, Avalon Davis Adam Pirnazar
32
FOURTH GRADE
NO MORE TEARS By Logan Steelberg Have you ever felt like there were butterflies in your stomach? That was my exact feeling when I was four, and it was my first dance competition. My mom and dad drove me to the competition. I thought to myself, “What if I fall? What if I forget the dance?’’ My mom said, ‘’We’re here.’’ As I got out of the car, my legs felt like jelly, and my eyes were as wide as saucers. My mom said, “Logan, you’re going on stage in a few minutes.’’ Since we were still in the parking lot, we had to run, but I stood and cried. My mom said, “Logan, do not be scared. I will be in the crowd.’’ I felt a lot better, but my makeup was running down my face like a river. We got backstage right before I went on, and my mom quickly fixed my hair and makeup. Suddenly I heard my name called. I swiftly walked onstage. I thought, “Here I go!’’ As I started to dance, I felt exhilarated. I finished the dance perfectly.
Riley Tsai
DON’T DO IT
So now, if something seems scary, I know it’s just my imagination and nerves. I take a deep breath, and I remember it might be as great as this dance competition had been. We ended the day with no more tears.
By Sarah Thorp I woke up and jumped out of bed like it was on fire. I was so excited. It was my birthday! A few hours later my family and I got in the car. When we arrived at Claire’s, I was so nervous! My grandparents were waiting inside. Before I knew it, my parents were filling out the forms. My heart was pounding, and my hands were sweating. Inside my body something was telling me, “Don’t do it Sarah, don’t do it!” But I knew had to. Then my parents called me over. As I sat on the the cold, tall, metal chair. I looked over to the table next to me. There I saw them, the piercer guns. I grabbed my mom’s and grandma’s hands. The employees put the “X’s” on my ears.
HOT CHOCOLATE By Colton Mossman Steaming, delicious, welcoming Warming my body after skiing Marshmallows bobbing up and down Imagining two more cups Winter Delight
Before I knew it I could hear the piercer guns creak as the the needle sunk into my ears. “Ouch!” I yelled. That happened as quickly as a lightning bolt. My ears instantly turned as red as a tomato. After waiting for ten years, I finally had my ears pierced!! HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
33
FOURTH GRADE
Cameron Alagband
Reed McCardle
SUPER BOWL By Kyle Stern Nerve wracking, joyful Tackling players, throwing touchdowns, catching passes Hoping and praying for a victory Winter’s ultimate championship
SLEDDING By Skylar Taketa Joyful and fun Racing, skidding, and giggling down the icy slope I simmer up with happiness as the freezing air nips my cheeks A long way back up that hill Winter Sport
34
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
Andrew Walbridge
FOURTH GRADE
BANANA BOATING By Reed McCardle Luke and I were about to go on the boat. I was as frightened as a mouse next to a cat. I felt goosebumps forming from head to toe. The counselor yelled, “Come on, Reed!” But my feet were frozen to the ground.
Colette Moshayedi
Shae Talleur
When I finally hopped on the boat, it felt as if my stomach was turning upside down. My heart was pounding out of my chest. Thump, thump, thump. Then, BOOM! The banana boat felt like it was faster than horsepower, like cheetah power. Then, there was a huge turn, and the banana boat flipped upside down! In what felt like slow motion we fell beneath the water. Our heads popped out of the water with a splash, and we excitedly yelled, “Let’s do it again!” We went right to the back of the line to go on again.
Rhyse Wilks
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
35
FOURTH GRADE
OVERCOMING FEAR By Riley Tsai “Wow!” I thought. “This place has the highest halfpipe my eyes have ever seen.” It was almost as if it were floating in the air just like a gigantic balloon. As I started skating over the rails and off the curbs, I saw two girls at the top of the halfpipe. One girl went down smoothly and calmly, while the other sister fell off her board and got hurt. I felt a shiver run down my spine. “Am I going down that today?” I stammered, pointing at the half pipe. “Let’s go!” my instructor said. About ten minutes later I was standing at the top of that big halfpipe. I heard my mom shout, “Riley, it only looks so much higher because you are looking down.” I figured that’s right. I had decided to go. As I took deep breaths like I was at the doctor’s office and ready to get a shot, I watched the other skaters drop in on smaller pipes, the ones I had been on, the ones I had already mastered.
Caden Mossman
Finally I said, “I’m ready.” My instructor started counting down. “Three, two, one, GO!” My heart pounded against my chest as I stomped down on my board and glided down. The air pressure was so strong it almost pulled me off my board. When my board came to the top of the other side, I was imagining myself skating over and over again on that exact halfpipe. My board hit the edge and then down, down, down I glided, down on that mountain of concrete. I felt like I was in slow motion. Afterward, I was so glad that my mom pushed me to go down that halfpipe so I could achieve my goal. That day joy spread across my face like butter on bread. My confidence in myself was stronger my fears of going down, and I knew I could do anything I could ever dream of.
Campbell Kelly
36
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
FOURTH GRADE
Samantha Powell
Mateo Senizergues
MY BEST FRIEND By Luke Cudzil Have you ever had a best friend that is not a person? If you haven’t, you should meet my pet. Buddy is a long, short-legged dog that almost looks like a hot dog. Buddy has black fur with a brown spot around his left eye. He has big floppy ears that dangle. His eyes are like pools of chocolate perfectly rested on his long nose. He weighs almost 20 pounds and is just the right size for a lap dog. His birthday is September 15, which is crazy because mine is September 10. I was the most excited I have ever been on my tenth birthday. This is when I got Buddy. It was about an hour drive to get to the shelter. As soon as we got to the place, the dogs sounded like a monster truck rally. I started to walk around, and as soon as I spotted Buddy, I felt like I was shot by Cupid’s arrow. That’s how I got my best friend, Buddy. Buddy has a great personality. Some days, he can be as lazy as I am on Sundays. On the other hand, he can be super crazy and fun. Sprinting to get the tennis ball and then coming right back like a race car is a favorite game we play together. He has a hamburger chew toy that he has in his mouth all the time. It’s in two pieces now, so we are planning to get him a new one soon. Having a dog is a lot of work. Buddy will only eat one type of dog food. I always try to get him another type, but he smells it and walks away. Buddy’s dog bed is almost four times bigger than he is. His bed is so large, it almost doesn’t fit into his really big playpen. When it gets too dirty, I have to clean it. Buddy loves the mud, so we take him to the groomers to get cleaned every three weeks or so. I wouldn’t trade anything for my best friend, Buddy. He is always there for me. Buddy brings laughter and joy to my family and me.
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
37
5
FIFTH GRADE
Tess Prichard
38
FIFTH GRADE
Ry O Hill, Shay Nussbaum, Dash D’Ambrosia
THE WOLF By Ana Cormac I stand still: looking, watching, staring, at the gleaming reflection of the sun as it sets on the water. Cawwh! The eagles screech as I walk; I sink deeper into the powdery snow with every step I take. I leap into the bare naked trees of the forest. The winter’s chill guides me through the trees like it draws the trees through their life. Silence. Silence is all I hear. No town. No one. Except for me. Hesitant, I keep going into the endless world of trees. I stroll, I prance, I glide, waiting for something new to pop out of the distance. Listening for new sounds, but all I hear is an interesting silence. A calming yet loud silence. Suddenly I hear a thundering crack! My stomach churns like butter. I run out of the forest, panting. “Hello!” I shout. “Anybody? Hello!” I try again. No response. I look around just to make sure. I shiver, and not because it is ten degrees. A billion little thoughts chase each other around my mind. Thud. Whoosh. Something runs past me, circling me like a shark. I walk, jog, run, then sprint. I can hear the patter of steps behind me. I look back and see silky, silver fur. Our eyes meet. I expect a growl, but all I see is a still and silent wolf. I step back. It follows. Even when I stop, the wolf keeps walking toward me. I stay where I am, hoping for it to stop. But the silver wolf keeps going. My scream is like nails on a chalkboard in my mind. My eyes close; I feel something wet on my hand. As I open my eyes I see the silky wolf’s nose nudging my palm. I kneel down, afraid but ready. I pet the wolf like it’s my own. The wolf rests its head on mine. I lay down on the freezing cold snow. It leaves. I rest.
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
39
FIFTH GRADE
MY NAME By Parker Johnson MOUNTAIN SUMMIT
My mom thinks my name means
By Makenzie Vovan
“the kid who loves to read.”
I open my eyes. The sharp, warm wind welcomes me. I stand up and start walking. The rocks underneath my feet make a sound like the crunch of snow. The ocean washes around me. I can see the golden sunlight on the other side of the mountain, teasing me with its warmth. The mountain is steeper than the Grand Canyon. This will be a long journey to the top. Tall trees seem to watch and protect me. Yellow flowers sway, dancing like dancers on a dance floor. Beautiful animals are scattering around me, bringing life to the mountain. Then I see it. A parrot, full of color and movement. I’ve never seen anything like it. It angrily swarms around me. The flapping of its wings mixes the colors of its feathers, like a painter mixing his paint palette. My focus now is to keep walking. I make my way up the mountain, step by step. Finally, I step onto the summit, after what feels like a century. I look out to the entire world. Wow! The pink and purple sky seems to have been painted by Picasso himself. Wind whirls around me. The silence is almost frightening, but I know it’s not. The sun is finally out, welcoming the new day. The hot air is a hot, broiling oven. I take in the scenery; I am like a sponge soaking up water. My heart tells me to stay up here, but my brain says no. The cool shade underneath the tall trees cools me like ice on a burning wound. The flowers are now still, unlike earlier. The animals have gone back to their homes. I feel the cold weather on my skin, prickling me like needles. Then I fill up with warmth again. My boat is here! The sight of it fills my body with joy. I step in and head back to home, sweet, home.
40
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
Dad thinks my name means “the one who will show me magic tricks.” My dog thinks my name means “the human who gives me food.” My friend, Gavin, thinks my name means “the friend who will play video games with me.” My guitar teacher thinks my name means “the student who can play ‘Stairway to Heaven.’” Richard, my AppJam instructor, thinks my name means “the one who loves to code.” Bentley, my first grader, thinks my name means “the one who gives me high-fives at lunch.” Mr. Gapp thinks my name means “the boy who is friends with my son.” I think there are some things they don’t know, like “wants to be an inventor” and “deeply cares about friends” and “worries if people get hurt” and “chocolate makes him happy” but “loves most of all to make his family proud.”
Tall trees seem to watch and protect me. Yellow flowers sway, dancing like dancers on a dance floor.
FIFTH GRADE
Sonali Tripathi Isabella Aftabi
Jack Mahoney
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
41
FIFTH GRADE
Makenzie Vovan, Siena Olsen, Mary Kate Angeloff
HIKING IN THE MOUNTAINS By Matteo Hernandez I stumble into a clearing. A never ending river rages beside me. Different types of fish are clearly visible in the fast moving water. The smell of pine trees is a blanket waving in a brisk wind. The sun is directly overhead, but the air remains cool. Crash! Boom! Smash! A waterfall flows in the distance. The outline of the waterfall is just visible. A cloud occasionally wanders by in the light blue sky. The sheer faces of the mountains monstrously mount over me. I prepare myself to continue my hike to the top of a nearby mountain. It is hard to leave the relaxing clearing, but I know I must push on to reach my destination in time. I trudge along the trail, slowly ascending up the mountain. The daylight is slowly fading. A light gray squirrel zips past me like a racecar. The squirrel is distantly followed by a light brown porcupine waddling along. I am captivated by the porcupine, as I have never seen one before. I am so focused on the porcupine that I don’t notice a dark cave that I have just passed. The porcupine pauses for a second and then scurries away. When I raise my head, I notice why. A large black bear stands towering over me. The only thing going through my brain is run, run fast, run faster. The bear’s shadow slowly shrinks. Before I know it the bear is gone, and I am practically up the mountain. Soon, I reach the top. I spot the clearing where I was standing not too long ago. A few hours later, I descend down the mountain, ready to return home after a long hike. I cautiously pass by the bear cave. The bear must be sleeping because I do not hear anything. I reach the entrance to the trail where I began. I look at the trail once again then return home.
42
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
FIFTH GRADE
WINTER WONDERLAND
THE CLIFFS
By Benjamin Harrison
By Sebastian Kern
Crunch. I feel the soft, cold snow under my thick, warm boots. I reach the top of this gargantuan mountain that watches the little valley below. I breathe in the mountain air and look up into the starry sky. In it, I see clouds racing across my vision like beautiful birds. I also spy millions of tiny, almost nonexistent, snowflakes. Falling, falling, falling, through the starry sky.
The sun sets in the late evening. The cliffs loom over the water. The waves creep up like a lion with its prey. The cliffs only laugh. No one can get up, only down. The water pounces and slithers down the rock with a hiss and then a crash and it hits the ocean surface. The water tries again, only to slide back down the wet, slick, surface of the rock.
Suddenly, I hear the caw of a mighty hawk. It flies past me; its keen eyes searching for prey. I search the valley like a hawk and see many eye pleasing scenes. Tall trees groan under the weight of the snow. Bushes squat on the ground, resting, sleeping. I spot young animals harboring in holes and caves. I notice waterfalls crashing into the river from the tall mountains above. I see foxes and squirrels darting in the moonlight. I take a look at my surroundings and see many wonderful natural sights. I spot tall cliffs touching the stars. I find animal tracks dotting the ground’s snowy blanket. I see rabbits playfully jumping around. I slowly approach them, but they scamper into the safety of their holes and the underbrush. I look down the face of the cliff and prepare myself for the slow descent. I slowly place foot, after foot, after foot down on the side of the cliff. Boom! I look up and see cracks spreading down the face of the cliff, heading straight toward me. I look down below me. I find a small, calm lake under me. I jump away from the rock face. Crack! Splash! I desperately claw to the surface of the lake, my lungs pleading for air. Splash! A huge piece of rock falls into the lake, agitating it. The blast rockets me to the edge. I gasp for air. I look around, desperate for a way out. There it is, a small trail across the lake. The tree is beckoning me, showing me the way to safety. I pull my soaking body to it. I regain my breath and begin the long trudge from this beautiful, dangerous wonderland, back to the safety of my cozy home.
As I climb, I lose my footing and start to fall. I fall fast as I tumble down the cliff. I am suspended in the air, only fall back on to the hard rock. My skin is getting poked and cut as I try to stop myself from going any farther. I am leaving a trail of blood like a river down the cliff. I can hear my own bones cracking, then finally I stop. Everything is still, the only sound I hear is the waves crashing. The only thing I see is the sky. I get up slowly. I feel like hot needles are being dragged across my skin. I know I have to move fast though because if I don’t, I will die. I set up camp and start a fire, hoping a rescue car will see it and help me. Thump, thump, thump, I look around, worried. I can hear a low growl, I turn around to find a set of beady eyes looking right at me. I stop moving, I Iook closer; it is a bear. My heart starts pounding; the bear lunges toward me. I scoot out of the way. The bear regains its balance as I gingerly pick up a burning stick and threaten him with it. He backs up, but not far enough, so I throw it. He runs away. I heave a sigh of relief. I lay back and look at the stars. Only then do I hear another rumbling. I turn around to find a Jeep driving up. I crawl to the Jeep. “About time,” I say as I get in the car. As we drive back toward the city, I remember something. “I didn’t even take the pictures,” I say sadly. The driver replies, “You are in bad shape. You can come back another day.” I sit back, thinking about what had happened. “Actually,” I say, “on second thought, I won’t be coming back.” The driver only smiles.
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
43
6
SIXTH GRADE
Maya Fischbein, Ryan Eusey, Yoyo Li, Ethan White
44
SIXTH GRADE
MOVING IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS By Jack Cudzil I didn’t want to move. I mean, I did, but I didn’t. It was dusk, and the sun had just begun to set over our farmhouse in the rural town of New Canaan, Connecticut. Each high, golden blade of grass was like a different piece of a painting that got repainted every day. I heard my dad’s car coming down our long driveway, covered by a canopy of trees that looked like they could be on fire. I was young, and it was time again. I knew it was happening again. It was almost as if it had become a tradition in our family. We had moved from our small apartment on the Upper East Side of New York City to Connecticut. This house was supposed to be our “forever home,” but I guess forever can mean a short period of time. Inside, we had all of our boxes down from the attic, which could have been a closet it was so small. We had all of our suitcases jammed full of everything we needed to survive in this new place. 45 days. 45 days they said. 45 days until we leave our “forever home.” 45 days. We were all staring out into the endless fields of pink, red, orange, and gold. Then, my dad said it. “Guys, look. We’re moving. To California. It’s different there. There are cacti, and also beaches. It’ll be fun.” This conversation is the bittersweet memory I remember most clearly from this time, aside from my last time seeing him. “Him” is Will. Will is my age, and we were born next to each other. We were practically twins, and we saw each other nearly every day. I knew I would never have the same connection with a person ever again. And this move, this fresh start, was hard. Leaving my best friend, basically my twin, was hard. It was like seeing my brother once every year. Leaving him, leaving my home, my community, just did not seem real. I saw him again, though. I saw him, and we dug a hole in the hills behind our house. The walk to get to the “perfect digging spot” took what seemed like a year. We passed the time by telling stories of our best memories together, and of our favorite places around town, and our favorite things to do together. When we got to the digging spot, we had one goal: dig to California so that we could see each other every day, and pass messages to each other. We both knew we weren’t going to see each other for some time. Afterwards, he walked away to get water, which turned into him going home, which turned into the last time I thought I would see him. But, something glistened in the hole we dug. It was his watch. I ran back to the house to catch up to him, but he was already gone. We were ready. Ready to leave the house and place we all loved, or at least seemed to love. We got our suitcases and walked to the car. I checked the time on Will’s watch. I had worn the watch since I found it the day before. We got to the airport in a few minutes and found out that our flight was delayed. My mom walked us to the car, and then we drove back to town. We arrived back in town, and I knocked on Will’s door. Will and his family came out. After hugs and final goodbyes, Will handed me his shovel and said, “We’ll try next time.” After one more hug to each of his family members, we left. We pulled out of their driveway. Drove out of their driveway, which was also covered by a canopy of golden trees. We tried not to cry as we saw our last glimpses of our friends, which we could now call family. After the drive, we arrived at the airport. We found our gate, got on the flight, and left. We all looked down on the fields, some green, some red, some golden, some even white. They were all different. Difference. It’s what sets us apart and can bring us together in ways we could never even imagine. 7 Years Later So, here I am. Writing a story, staring at that watch, watching time tick away. I feel a sharp poke on my wrist under the watch. I take the watch off, and find a note addressed to me. Maybe Will didn’t lose his watch. Maybe it was meant for me all along. I unfold the note and read. Maybe California won’t be that bad. Maybe.
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
45
SIXTH GRADE
FINDING A SNAKE By Annika Ting A scream tears through the house, breaking the silence. I pause for a second, and I hear the scream echo as I look around. Loretta, my sister, runs up to me. She trips over herself as she shouts at the top of her lungs, “There’s a SNAKE! There’s a snake!’’ I spring up onto the couch and pull her up with me, clutching her hand. “What!? Where?” I ask, my voice sounding shrill. My eyes shift frantically. I am paralyzed at the thought of my least favorite animal. I dread what may come out of my sisters mouth.
Hailey Peykoff, EvaLouise Alexander
“In the backyard,” Loretta whispers, as if the snake could hear her, “right there, in the bushes.” Her eyes are wide, full of fear. I run to the glass door, my feet skidding on the marble floor. I push the door open and tell Loretta to stay still. My heart thumps with every step I take. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the bushes shake. The leaves move aside, and I see it: a coiling, detailed, and speckled creature. A snake. I meet the cunning eyes of the snake. Run! It’s looking at me! Move, Annika! Why aren’t you running!? But my feet are rooted to the earth. Panic grips me. I will my body to cooperate, slowly backing away. As soon as I step back inside, the sudden sound of the front door opening breaks me out of my trance. My parents! I breathe out a sigh of relief.
One look at my traumatized face said it all.
“What happened?” they ask. The words come out in a jumble, but my parents understand. They sort things out and call the police. We all keep an eye out for the snake. It ends up being a pretty exciting day. I never thought I would ever encounter a real snake. I never thought I would overcome my fear of snakes, either. I guess I was wrong.
Megan Bartz, Carter Klein
46
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
SIXTH GRADE
BEES By Nicole Thorp My head is a beehive and my thoughts are bees, millions of bees. The worst bees are the bees that are made of fear, and there are thousands of those bees. I am standing under the Balboa Pier, and I am getting extremely nervous. My heart starts to pound. Today is Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards’ Monster Mile. The Junior Guards must run one mile, then swim one mile in the ocean. The piercing sound of the horn indicating the start of the race is unforgettable. Hundreds of Junior Guards begin the run in the squishy sand while carrying fins. As I am running, I can hear and see the waves crashing and parents cheering. As I get closer to entering the water, my heart starts to pound even faster. BOOM BOOM. There are now new bees swarming around my head. The amount is increasing every second. The waves are four to five feet high. There is a bee that is wondering if any waves will smash me. As I approach the buoy to enter the water, I slip my feet into my fins. The water feels refreshing after the run. Then, all of a sudden, a set comes in and the lifeguards shout at us to move away. The white wash almost knocks me off of my feet because I am still wearing my fins. The rest of the waves come in and after the set passes, I get in the water and swim as fast as I can. I am now past the impact zone. I have to turn left and start swimming back the way we came. I get more and more tired with every stroke. I am now under the pier, but in the water this time. It feels very eerie because the shadow from the pier makes the water cold. I feel that the fishing lines that are stuck on the pier could fall and slash me. Or a current could push me into a leg of the pier that is covered in razor sharp barnacles. All of these thoughts sting like bees. I am at the second to last buoy, but I am stopped by a lifeguard. I am informed there is a set coming ashore. It is probably about six feet tall, but to me it seems like it is a monstrous ten! When I am free to go, I use the last of my energy to swim to shore. I can see the bottom! Keep swimming. I am at the impact zone. Keep swimming. I am now where all of the lifeguards are waiting to help the Junior Guards to the finish line. I have to make a choice. If I take my fins off I will get smashed by a wave, if I leave my fins on I will not get smashed. I choose to continue wearing my fins. A lifeguard grabs my hand just in time and pulls me onto shore. He helps me waddle out of the way of the wave. The lifeguard says, “Great job!” as he gives me a high five. I think my mouth looks like a piano, my smile is so big. I am now back on land! My legs are shaking and burning, but also there are so many new bees. Now, they are only happy, gleeful, and positive bees. The best bee is the one that reminds me that I conquered my fear.
Jack Donahoo
Danika Look
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
47
7
SEVENTH GRADE
Ragan Angeloff
48
Ava Cohen (Opposite)
SEVENTH GRADE
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
49
SEVENTH GRADE
MAGIC By Sage Specter Magic, it’s around us. We see it every day. The way dew on grass sparkles when it catches a ray of the sun. The way a dandelion starts as a seed And then turns into a yellow flower And into a thing you can make a wish on, But it’s still called a weed. The way the sun peeks out from the clouds on a gray day And creates hope for all who are under it. That’s magic that we take for granted. When people whisper behind other people’s backs
The way the sun peeks out from the clouds on a gray day And creates hope for all who are under it. That’s magic that we take for granted.
When someone throws a piece of trash and doesn’t pick it up When people start hurting other people I just don’t see the magic in that. But maybe if we spread positivity instead of negativity Or if we leave a place better than we found it Or pick someone up instead of shoving them down Maybe we can create magic of our own Maybe I can create magic of my own And maybe you can create magic of your own, too.
Chandler Green
50
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
SEVENTH GRADE
THE PERFECT SET By Walker Viacek For many years now, I have specialized as a professional water photographer. I like my job, but I’ve never found the perfect offshore swell outside of the Hawaiian coast that I desire to record. It was the one video or picture I wanted to take my whole life as a water photographer. Last year, my storm tracker found a hurricane coming in off the west coast of Indonesia. The alert predicted a 40 foot break off the coast, and that could have been exactly what I was looking for. So my journey started to Indonesia to find the perfect wave. My friend and I went on the trip together. He was a professional boogie boarder. He wanted to catch the giant wave and be recorded. Even though our goal was to get clips, it was also a great time to enjoy a new place and see how another country works. When we arrived, we decided to go into the city and find some of the local culture and food while we waited for the storm to come. When we found a good restaurant, the only thing they were selling was pig’s head. We decided to eat it, and it actually tasted quite good. Next, we decided to go to the rice fields and see how they launched off of a ramp into the fields of mud. My friend decided to go off of the ramp on a motorcycle, and he almost broke both of his arms. Luckily, he ended up with only a few cuts and I got a great video. I had no clue how to speak Indonesian, which was a huge problem. I struggled with eating all of the new foods that I had never tasted before and with trying to communicate without knowing the language. Nonetheless, I had a great experience that day. The swell had not completely come in yet the next day, but there were plenty of waves to surf. We enjoyed doing whatever we wanted. That night we went to a ceremony for the native people of the area. It was extremely exciting, and we enjoyed watching people throw fire and dance in magnificent masks. Finally, the swell came. We were up at 6:30, with all of our gear inside of my truck. There were surfboards, boogie boards, fishing stuff, and most importantly, the camera gear. As we arrived at the beach, we realized the waves were extremely big, at least 40 feet, and it couldn’t be better for the video. The beach was packed with people on boats with their cameras. There were jet skis crowding the water. Lifeguards covered the beach. This was one of the most dangerous swells of all time. This was the most perfect set to make a great video. As we got out into the water, I could feel the pulse of energy as people sat out in the water. There were three other cameramen taking photos. Then the final wave came, and one of the locals on the boat yelled, “OUTSIDE!” All I could hear was an extremely frantic pace of people paddling to get over the 45-foot set. There was one guy trying to catch the wave. The only boogie boarder. It was my friend. He bounced off the top of the wave. He splatted right into the middle of the wave, straight into the barrel. As I was filming, I tried to keep my hands steady. We got the one and only clip. A week after we had returned from this Indonesian experience, we couldn’t wait to see the clip. Since I had not brought my computer with me on the trip, we had to wait until we got home to watch the footage. As we watched it, we were in shock from how good it was, and we thought there would never be a better clip. Eventually, this was the most viewed surfing video in the world for a month and a half. We had finally achieved our goal!
Walker Vaicek HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
51
SEVENTH GRADE
MY BROTHER HAS A PIECE OF MY HEART By Peyton Vovan When someone you love departs for a long time, it leaves a hole in your heart that you never knew could be so deep. My brother Ethan left for college at the start of my seventh grade year. He went up to the University of Washington, leaving my mom, my dad, my sister, my dog, and me in the dust. How unfathomable to think that one of my family members had to leave! The usual sounds that emitted from his room no longer rang through the house. The chatter of his Skype calls, silence; the clicking of his Rubik’s Cube, silence; all the voices from Family Guy, silence. I took seeing him every morning for granted because nothing ever had changed before; I woke up for school while he slept through his alarm, and I left for school with my mom yelling at him to brush his teeth. He would eventually come home late at night, right before I went to bed. This routine happened every day, and I accepted it and expected it...until his last summer with us. That summer, I tried to make him come to every soccer game, dinner event, or just come home and hang out with us. I wanted him around twenty four hours per day, seven days per week, until he had to leave. I only realized that I missed talking to him and laughing with him after he left. He left me with a longing for him: two weeks ago he replied to one of my Instagram posts with a simple “Looks fun.” I felt so alive with happiness. It was like I could move a mountain with that simple sentence in mind, and this made me feel closer to him. Talking to my mom brought me to realize that my relationship with my brother had now grown stronger. She said, “It’s amazing how such a simple sentence from a sibling can make the other feel.” I never realized how much I missed my brother until he left with a piece of my heart.
Dillon Lane
52
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
SEVENTH GRADE
Ellena Reposa Alex Nguyen
Kristy Riddle
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
53
8
EIGHTH GRADE
PATIENCE By Hutton Ledger
Kendall D’Ambrosia
54
Waves shape to twice their size as soon as we try to paddle out. Joe, Bobby, and Fred all paddle out along with me, cracking jokes along the way. We make it out to the lineup and sit for the bigger waves to come. After a few minutes, a set comes in, around six feet tall, and I spin around and paddle. I take off and make the drop. I start pumping down the face of the wave, trying to find a section, but the wave dies out and becomes flat. When I get off my wave, I turn around to see Bobby riding a giant, perfect wave. Realizing he took off on the third wave, I am filled with rage. If I had only waited, I could have had one of the best waves of the day. I paddle back out and talk to Bobby. “How did you get that wave, Bobby?” “I just waited and was patient. Then, that monster came!” Next set, I think to myself, be patient and take off the last wave of the set. Not long after, Bobby and I are back in the lineup along with Fred. Another set comes, just as big as the last one. I wait as Fred takes the first wave, but I get too excited and take off on the second wave. Once again, I ride down the face, surfing and carving every chance I get. Then, I turn around to see Bobby riding another giant. I paddle back out, trying not seem like I am filled with rage. I sit and I do not talk to either Fred or Bobby. Eventually, a set comes. I let Bobby and Fred take the first and second waves. Finally, the final set comes. I spin around anxiously, scared of the big wave that will decide my future of surfing or falling. Paddle by paddle, the wave pushes me up. I stand, and a huge face starts to close. I tuck into the mush, hoping it turns into a barrel. Dragging my arm in the ocean, everything starts to slow down. The lip slowly goes over my head and a perfect view comes into my vision: a barrel, and my friends watching me on the other side. Suddenly, everything turns to normal, and I fly off the wave. Cheering, my friends congratulate me on my sick wave. I paddle back out, realizing that patience is the only to get a wave.
EIGHTH GRADE
PERMANENT SCARS By Brooke Johnson Hungry, Hungary 12 years old At night She lies awake Only falling asleep to the sound of living nightmares and deadly daydreams Her stomach mimics the roaring growls of the possessed soldiers that patrol the crowded streets They were the ones who seized her from her home in Budapest They were the ones who separated her from her dearest friends They were the ones who captured her mama and papa She begs, Why did the Lord choose me? Heard, Herd 13 years old She is a lamb Preparing for slaughter Her voice holds words hostage, as if they are in a camp of their own She chokes on thoughts while her faint whispers float away in the icy wind Inhale, exhale Too timeworn to lift a fist, for all bones have turned to dust Her only friends are the spirits dancing in her imagination Pray, Prey 14 years old Lice fester In her tangled braids They suck blood from her scalp along with memories from the past Human canvases covered in permanent scars Their footsteps become slower, eyes become hollow While she becomes smarter, quicker, braver Her faith commands courage and trust Escaping from the arms of death becomes her purpose; She would do anything to endure Kind, Kind 97 years old Care. That is my simple request. Radiate joy and spread love, especially to those who only know pain. Being kind to all kinds of people is the only way the earth will be refurbished. Still, she wonders why God preserved her, Georgia. And, she realizes, miracles are possible. And that there isn’t much of a difference between you and me.
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
55
EIGHTH GRADE
FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK By Jaden Kessler Midnight black asphalt separates the shops from the narrow, white homes. The sun peeks over the clouds, as if trying to hide from the round white moon. The full moon still hangs in the sky, not ready to abandon its post. The blue morning sky drapes over the town like a blanket. Trees stand firmly, guarding each individual shop like dogs guarding their masters. They climb to the sky, each one taller than the last. Trash and gum dot the sidewalk. However, the musty pavement does not seem to phase those who walk upon it. A stray dog prances down the street, an old piece of bread in its mouth. It wags its tail gleefully, as if it has found a hidden treasure. Two ice cream shops stand one block apart, competing for customers. “OPEN” signs stare out of shop windows, curious to discover what the day will bring. The lights flicker on in Manny’s Hardware Store, and so do the lights in the local butchery. The morning is in motion.
The morning is in motion.
A soft breeze rushes through the streets, causing the street roamers to button their jackets. The cool fingers of the night still hold onto the town, not quite ready to let go of the cold. The smell of fresh pancakes blows in the air. Breakfast has arrived. A group of squirrels smell it too. They scurry toward IHOP, their stomachs rumbling with anticipation. They climb up lamp posts and stop lights, anxious to find something to nibble on. Cars drive through the streets, the sounds of their engines echoing off the tall buildings. The music of the morning lingers in the air: birds chirping, wind blowing, people waking up after a long, restful sleep. The harsh sounds of a clanking dish pan parades into the locals’ ears, along with the wailing siren in the distance. The morning is in motion. An old lady stands at the corner of the Forest Hills Library. Her white hair is blinding under the light of the sun, and her thin nose and bucked teeth give her a mousey visage. Her bony stick of a finger wags as she yells at a nearby child for stepping on her toe. The child looks both amused and frightened. He quickly decides to run into the library. A young couple sits across from each other in Carvel. The lady has short, blonde hair with blue tips. Everyone else in the shop seems to be blonde. However, her boyfriend’s close-cropped black hair sticks out like a sore thumb, his head is a crow in a swan’s lake. They feed each other ice cream, giggling at something the girl said. A heavy, greasy looking man sits on the corner by McDonald’s. The man whispers something, catching the attention of the old lady. They begin to talk. His voice sounds like he swallowed a whole cracker, deep and raspy. Her voice is high and coarse. He holds up a sign that says “Anything will help.” The old lady smiles and gives the man one dollar. He flashes a toothless grin, grateful for the woman’s generosity. The old lady waves to him and walks into an alley, her white hair still visible. Slowly, the darkness begins to fade until both the white of the moon and the white of her hair finally drift out of sight. The morning is in motion.
56
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
EIGHTH GRADE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE By Elliott Connolly
We walk across the cold, grey floor, form a circle and sit down.
Our teacher says, “Count yourselves off, every other person.”
We begin to count loudly in monotone voices. She’s a one. She’s a two. He’s a one. She’s a two. And so on. We make it halfway around the large circle before we get to me. I’m a two.
“Twos,” our teacher yells, after our numbers were assigned, “inside the circle.”
We gracefully get up from our seated positions and walk quietly into the the middle of the circle.
We stare at each other uncomfortably for a while, then we are told to start dancing. I begin to move my arms and legs. I notice everyone else doing the same. Some people are trying to get creative with their spastic movements. Others are just copying what their friends are doing. I glance quickly at the mirror. The room is in complete chaos. I look like an octopus, or a wet spaghetti noodle. Nobody else looks much better.
Our teacher yells, “Ones, if you don’t like what you see, tell them to change it.”
She gestures towards the center of the circle, where many are still kicking their legs and waving their arms uncontrollably. The people on the outside start yelling out things they want us to do. Friends call out to friends to do solos. They tell us when to sit down and when to stand up. They tell us to dance to the beat of each other, not the beat of the music. We form lines. We form circles. We run to the corners of the room, narrowly a voiding stepping on the people on the outside of the circle. A group of my friends yell at us to lift people into the air. I glance over at them and give them that Are you serious? look. They laugh. I make sure that the people we are supposed to lift make it up safely. After the short lift sequence, the people on the outside tell us to form a clump.
“Get closer together!” they yell.
As we squeeze in, the girls on one side of the clump collapse like a line of dominoes.
“Closer!” the outsiders urge, and we clump up so tightly that we can hear each other’s hearts beating.
Finally, the outside people tell us to stop dancing. As I exit the circle to head back to my spot, I feel oddly confused by the whole thing. What was the point of that? I wonder. We switch spots with the ones. At first we sit there in silence, but then people start screaming at the dancers to do different things. I like a lot of the stuff I am seeing, but every once in a while, I see something that makes me cringe. I try to call out things they can do, but most of the time, someone else beats me to it. Clearly others are cringing, too. It may seem kind of weird, but being on the outside of the circle is a lot harder than being on the inside. I have to watch dancing I don’t like and figure out a quick and easy way to fix it. I have to watch dancing I love, but I have to savor it in that moment because someone else could call out something else for the dancers to do.
“Stop dancing!” someone yells. The ones walk back to their spots in the circle, panting and gasping for air.
Someone asks the exact thing I had been thinking the whole time:“What was the point of that?”
Our teacher responds, “Well, obviously, since so many of you called things out, you saw things you didn’t like and wanted to change.”
We nod, though we are still confused.
“Whenever you watch a dance, you have to have an opinion. You either like something or hate it. You cannot be indifferent toward anything.”
“Why?” someone asks.
“When you are dancing,” our teacher answers, “you can’t just think about yourselves. You have to think about the group as a whole. You have to think about what you look like to the audience, and what kind of message you are trying to convey. You have to think about what you like or dislike about the dance. This will make you a better dancer, and a better audience member, and a better person. Having an opinion is the first step to changing the world, or you know, just changing your dancing.”
After a few moments of thoughtful silence, she says, “Great job today. Be more opinionated!” HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
57
STUDENTS CREATED
HOLIDAY ART BASED on the LIBRARIAN’S
BOOK SELECTION
58
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
Pick a Pine Tree B Y PATRICIA TOHT
WINTER ART
59
ARTIST INDEX
GRADE
LAST NAME
1 Aali
FIRST NAME
PAGE
Lilliana 18
GRADE
LAST NAME
FIRST NAME
PAGE
1
Dowers
Annalyse 19
5 Aftabi Isabella 41
6 Eusey Ryan 44
K Agha
6
Mila
12
Fischbein Maya
44
4
Alagband Cameron 34
K Forth Allyn 2
2
Alagband Coco
3 Fraley Blake 31
6
Alexander EvaLouise 46
23
2
Geiler Allen
Josie
7
Green
Chandler 50
3 Angeloff Danny 28
1 Gross
Caroline 20
5
5
Harrison Benjamin 43
7 Angeloff Ragan 48
3
Harrison
K
5
Hernandez Matteo
1 Alston Angeloff
Caroline 18 Mary Kate
Arkin-Horowitz Cecilia
42 4
Oliver
K Arora Rishi 5
K Hill
2
3 Hoover Finn
Ayora
Penelope 22
24
27, 31 42
Tinsley 13 30
1 Bakhtiari Bentley 21
K Huey
Jameson 6
6 Bartz Megan 46
K Huey
Luke 10
K Batniji Kamal 12
3 Ilczyszyn Sydney 28
1
Bedekar
16, 19
K
3
Berengian Aleah
26
K Johnson Beckett 3
2
Bergougnan Jacques
24
8 Johnson Brooke 55
Luca
Irwin
Charlotte 5
K Block Perry 7
K Johnson Jake
1 Blumetti Marcus 21
5 Johnson Parker 40
K Brown Nina 9
1 Jones Lucas 19
K Budge
4
William 5
Kelly
6
Campbell 36
K Butcher Beckham 4
3 Kelly
Cooper 30
2
5
Sebastian 43
Butcher
Townsend 25
Kern
31
8 Kessler Jaden 56
3 Cavner Kamilah 31
1 Khan Anya 18
K
6 Klein Carter 46
3 Camaras Ty
Cawthon Alexander 14
K Chahine Harley 7
3
K Chahine Hunter 11
K Landy Maria 4
K
8, 9
7 Lane
7 Cohen Ava
49
8 Ledger Hutton 54
8 Connolly Elliott
57
K Lee
5 Cormac Ana
39
K Lendino Taylor 12
6 Cudzil Jack
45
6 Li
Yoyo 44
4 Cudzil Luke 37
6 Look
Danika 47
5
D’Ambrosia Dash
39
K Louis Ami
12
8
D’Ambrosia Kendall
Chan
Troy
Lal
Madeleine
27, 31
Dillon 52 Alice 3
54
5 Mahoney Jack
41
4 Davis Avalon 32
3 Mahoney Lily
30
K
4
34, 35
Davis
Hadley
6 Donahoo Jack
60
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
10, 11 47 2018-2019
McCardle
Reed
ARTIST INDEX
GRADE
LAST NAME
K
FIRST NAME
PAGE
GRADE
McCormick Maxwell
6
K Smith Brixton 4
1
Michalovsky William
17
3 Smith Hill
K
Moatazedi Pierce
10
3
1
Mohtashami Ayla
18
7 Specter Sage
2
Morgan
Campbell 23
LAST NAME
FIRST NAME
PAGE
27
Sokolowski Nicholas 31 50
3 Steelberg Hudson 29
K Morgan McCall 5
4 Steelberg Logan
4
Moshayedi Colette
35
3 Stern
Hudson 31
4
Mossman Caden
36
4
Kyle
4
Mossman Colton 33
Stern
33 32, 34
3 Stiefel Frankie 29
27
2 Summers Hunter 25
1 Nami Luca 20
1 Taketa Sierra 20
2 Neal
4 Taketa Skylar 34
3 Nami Ella
Chloe 25
7 Nguyen Alex
53
4 Talleur Shae 35
2 Niccol Emily 24
K Tao
5
Nussbaum Shay
39
K Thomas Tanner 7
5
O Hill
39
K Thomson Leo
30
6 Thorp Nicole 47
5 Olsen Siena 42
4 Thorp Sarah 33
K Pallera Cain
6 Ting
Ry
3 Olsen Ella
15
Natalie 9 13
Annika 46
1 Paolone Reese 18
3 Tiwari Molly 29
K
2 Tripathi Leela
Parkin
Aldon
3, 6
23
3 Pelinka Emery 26
5 Tripathi Sonali 41
K Peterson Blake
1 Tsai
Adler 17
6 Peykoff Hailey 46
4
Tsai
Riley
K Pier
K
Turner
Savannah 7
11
Rogelio 6
33, 36
K Pierce Presley 11
7 Vaicek Walker 51
3 Piercey Cooper 27
K
van Akkeren
4 Pirnazar Adam 32
K
Vanderhook Gray
10
4
5
Vovan
40, 42
Powell
Samantha 37
5 Prichard Tess
38
Hendrik Makenzie
9
7 Vovan Peyton 52
K Rehm Liam 3
4
7 Reposa Ellena 53
6 White Ethan 44
3 Ressler Landon 30
1
7 Riddle Kristy 53
2 Wilks Hillary 25
1
4 Wilks Rhyse 35
Robinson Abigail 17
Walbridge Andrew 34 Whitten
Paige
20, 21
2 Ronaghi Nicholas 25
K Wohl Ella
1 Root
K Yasin Malik 14
Quinn 21
15
2 Rosing Sarah 24
K Yim
3 Sadri Kiana 28
2 Yoon Knox 23
4
1
Senizergues Mateo
37
Zwerling
Antonio 15 Lily
17, 19
HARBOR LIGHTS LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS JOURNAL
61
62
3443 PACIFIC VIEW DRIVE, CORONA DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA 92625
HARBOR DAY SCHOOL
2018-2019
949.640.1410