Harbor Lights 2023-2024

harbor lights

A CELEBRATION of the LITERARY & VISUAL ARTS of HARBOR DAY SCHOOL

OUR MISSION

Harbor Day School provides an academically challenging, well-balanced education in a nurturing and inclusive family-centered environment. Our faculty inspires curiosity and a desire to learn, and cultivates in students the confidence, strong moral character, and perseverance to thrive. We celebrate diversity and traditions, value collaboration and innovation, and cherish our community and the lifelong relationships developed.

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Angi Evans ‘75

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Noelle Becker

EDITOR

Amy Meyer

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Chatom Arkin

Noelle Becker

Susan Johnson ‘88

Justin Kerr

Kelley Otis

Heather Schmid

ART DIRECTORS

Dayna Sable

Leslie Yagar

Courtney Zarrilli

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sargeant Creative

DESIGN

Born Primate Co.

1. Palomma Schumacher

2. William Salter

3. Mia Flesher

4. Siena Sadri

5. Cade Becker

6. William Fike

7. Camille Ponoroff

8. Brooklyn Tsai

9. Nick Donnelly

Ms. Hogan’s KINDERGARTEN

William Werner Cecelia Pilco

ELIZA

Cecelia Pilco

Eliza, Eliza

Cuddly like a bunny

She is so soft

Eliza, Eliza

Plays with stickers

All over the place

Loves ice cream

With extra cherries

And rainbow sprinkles

Play together

Snuggle in bed

Eliza, Eliza

My sister

CLAIRE

Kaylie Kaberna

Claire, Claire

You are beautiful

Like the stars

Claire, Claire

You are the best sister

I could have

Claire, Claire

You are kind

And confident

You share with me

Claire, Claire

Most of all

I like you

The way you are

SOCCER BALL

William Werner

I am a soccer ball

Round like the earth

You can kick me

I fly in the air

Like a hawk

You can play soccer

With me

You can dribble

And shoot me

Score!

Have fun with me

FOOTBALL

Connor Quinn

I catch the ball

The football is brown

Like a gingerbread house

Laces like a zipper

I run to the end zone

Touchdown

Woo!

Yells the crowd

I catch a pick six

Halftime

Jog to the locker room

Tired

MASON

Chloe Knapp

Mason, Mason

I love you

You play peekaboo

You bounce and bounce

Like a kangaroo

You smile so bright

Like the sun

I love you

Yes, I do

I love you

I love you

Stick out your tongue

You are funny

Mason, Mason

SCORPION

Knowles Lingenfelter

Poison stinger

As sharp as a knife

Six legs

And a tail

Pincers like a crab

Snap, snap

Orange like fire

Lives under a rock

Sandy desert

It’s going to sting me

Aah!

I run

Henry Chapman Jack Donath

CHARLIE

Henry Chapman

My dog

Friendly like me

He wags his tail

Like a bunny

Woof, woof

Black and white

Spotted like a ladybug

He drools on my shoe

Woof, woof

He drinks my mom’s

Coffee

He kisses me

Woof, woof

LONDON

Giselle Best

London, London

Makes me laugh

London, London

WALKER

Scottie Welch

He is so furry

His hair is like

A fluffball

Brown eyes

Like a football

So, so funny

Loves his robot

That sings Plays family

Baby and big sister

Pick him up from school

Gives me a hug

Funny laugh

ELLIOTT

Jack Donath

Elliott, Elliott

I love you

You’re the best You love me and Give me hugs

Elliott, Elliott You play with Your stuffed dog

You eat my fingers And grab my hand Elliott, Elliott You smile And dance

BLUE

Kenda Jafar

Blue is the color of a heart

Blue tastes like sweet Jello

And gumdrops

Makes me feel better

London, London

Makes me feel strong

London, London

Makes me feel happy

Blue looks like the beach

Blue sounds like the sky

Blue smells like whipped cream

On a cupcake

Blue feels like a

Harbor Day slide

FOOTBALL

Harvey Thomson

Brown oval

Shiny like sparkles

White stripes

You make my hands

Feel good

I like throwing you

I like watching you

Spin in the air

You make

Touchdowns

Exciting And fun

PUPPY

McKenzie Turner

Puppy, you are cute

Puppy, how old are you?

Puppy, you are weird

Puppy, you never eat protein

You are brown

Muddy when you play

You chase squirrels

You chase mice

You even chase cats

Woof, woof!

TIGER

Connor Chiao

MAD

John Cho

Mad

I feel like

A lion I want to Rip A paper

Grrrr, mmm, grrr

Mad I am tired

DOG

Ava Kerns

Oh dog, oh dog

You are so cute

Like a soft cat

Fluffy claws

Fluffy pom pom

Soft bunny rabbit

A playful hamster

Bark, bark

Jump over the fence

And say hello

I want to play

Bark

Bye, dog

Bark, bark

I am hunting in the forest

Walking in the deep Dark woods

I have orange and black Stripes

Grrr!

I am so mad

I see a mouse

Hey, you!

Come here

You look like you are yummy

Grrr!

I am still mad

I stomp

Yummy, yum

I charge

Harvey Thomson Kaylie Kaberna

RIVER

JJ Olson

I am by a river

Drip, drop

I am calm

Like the moon

Except I am just Drops of water

The waterfall

Gives you water

Drip, drop

SNOW

Hailey Bellofatto

Snow is soft

Cold like ice cream

No two snowflakes are the same

Frozen rain drops

Snow is fun

Drip, drop

The snow is falling from

The sky

The snow is melting

Drip, drop

The rain can help you

I am by a river River

Calm

DOLPHINS

Oliver Lee

I hear the splish, splish, splish Splash, jump, splash Boom!

Goes the dolphin Woosh, it dives Boom!

It is back

It is jumping

Snap

Catches a fish

Woosh, flicks its tail

Splash, jump, splash

Oliver Lee

JJ Olson

JASMINE

Jade Zarrilli

Jazzy

You are as cute

As a doggy

Jazzy, Jazzy

I love you

You love bears

We play together

Our stuffies are our kids

Jazzy, Jazzy

Pretty brown eyes

Curly hair

Brown like me

You smile

DISNEYLAND

Ayla Dorriz

Excited

Woosh!

The roller coaster Crunch!

Goes the churro Wee!

The kids yell

I’m scared

I’m on a ride

Scary ride

Drip, drop

Ice cream

Yummy, yummy

Jumping up and down

CARS

Brooks Khalili

I go in the car

Click, click I put on my seat belt I am ready

I see the wheels

Spinning like cookies

Gray rims

Like an elephant

Vroom, vroom

Ready for some music

Boom, boom, boom

Excited

MAD Zeus Nwankwo

When I am mad I start to make A tornado

When someone takes A toy from me Grrr!

I am mad

I am a tiger

I want to punch someone I cross my arms

I close my eyes and Take a breath

Jade Zarrilli Zeus Nwankwo

Ms.

Lange’s KINDERGARTEN

Chloe Lopez

CAKE LOVE

Chloe Lopez

It’s my birthday

I see a strawberry cloud

I hear “Happy Birthday”

I smell chocolate

The cake is shiny like a pearl I taste excitement

It’s my birthday

CRUMBLE

Jameson Jara

I am so toasty in the oven

Soft and round

Like a pillow Yummy! Mmmm!

Please don’t bite me Ouch!

Did you find me delicious?

MY BIRTHDAY

Maya Weston

It’s my birthday I am excited

Like a balloon popping Pop!

I am going to be six years old

I am going to have a mermaid party

And mermaid cupcakes Yay! Yay!

All of my friends are going to be there

And we are going to paint a mermaid

My parents light the candles I make a wish Woosh!

My wish came true! Yay! Yay!

HAPPY

Derek Zhang

School is fun

Because we can learn

The playground is fun

Because we can play

The teachers are fun

Because they make me happy

My home is fun

Because I have toys

My baby sister is fun

Because we play together

I like everything forever

But…

My dad and my mom are my favorite

Because they love me!

My favorite, my favorite, my favorite

MAKE ME HAPPY

Bianca Kellogg

Donuts, swimming, cookies, hugs, Swings, monkey bars, Movies, ice cream, school, HDS, Ms. Lange, Ms. Matthews, Monkeys, friends, teachers, Valentine’s Day, Christmas party, Pizza, flag football, Pools, hotels, books, Dad, Mom, and my sister

Make me happy

Like a shooting star flying. Woosh!

PENCIL

Mikey Constantiner

Hello, I am a pencil

Write with me

Scribble, scribble

Let’s draw a picture

Scribble, scribble

Let’s write a sentence

Scribble, scribble

I’m happy

Like a monkey

Eating a banana

Mikey Constantiner

Bianca Kellogg

Derek Zhang

Jameson Jara

MAD

Ellie Quinn

I feel like a monster Grr!

I feel like a mad, mad tiger Grr!

I feel like a cheetah Grr!

Really mad!

Mad when my brother is punching me Grr!

Mad like a volcano erupting Grr!

YELLOW

Priscilla Beaton

Yellow is the color of lemons

That are really sour and growing in a garden

Yellow tastes like bananas

That someone just picked off a tree

Yellow looks like a really bright sunset

That is coming down in the evening

Yellow sounds like the sun

Shining so bright on the beach

Yellow smells like banana ice cream

Melting in your mouth

Yellow feels like yellow flowers

Growing in a grassy field

STARS

Pauline Arkin-Horowitz

What can I do instead of floating?

Sprinkle, sprinkle

Shiny like a piece of gold

Sprinkle, sprinkle

I want to play with my friends

Sprinkle, sprinkle

Wee!

I am a shooting star

Flying through the air like a rainbow

Sprinkle, sprinkle

Now people can wish on me

Sprinkle, sprinkle

BASKETBALL

Tyler Quinn

When you win in basketball

The crowd goes wild

Shoot the ball!

Swoosh

Three points! Yes!

We won!

Happy like a tiger roaring

The crowd goes wild!

SHOES

Samuel McCormick

Hey, I’m a shoe

Red and black

You can wear me to play basketball

You can find me at a shoe store

Fast, fast, fast

I make you go

Vroom, vroom!

Like a car in a race

Put me on

You can wear me to play basketball

VALENTINE’S DAY

Emerson Hasson

Valentine’s Day

Is like running around on a sunny day

It is fun getting Valentines

But giving is more fun

Pink envelopes

Green envelopes

Blue envelopes

I love Valentine’s Day

Aww, I got some mail

Toys

Pens

Sweets

I love Valentine’s Day It is so fun

Aww, more valentines

Yipee!

I got more

CRAFT

Ava Welch

I have paint all over me

Yuck!

Glitter is all over me

Yuck!

Glue is all over me

Yuck!

I get home

My mom washes me and my clothes

Time for bed

Snuggle in my bed

It was a long day

YELLOW

Ayden Chen

Yellow is the color of the sun

Making the world warm

Yellow tastes like lemonade

So sour and sweet

Slurp!

Yellow looks like the stars shining bright at night

Yellow sounds like

Someone peeling a banana

Yellow smells like a banana, so sweet

Sniff, sniff

Yum!

Yellow feels like the sun

So hot

Makes me warm

Yellow makes me happy!

Ava Welch

GLUE

Aliana Tariq

I’m glue

I’m used to stick things together

Ahh!

She’s going to squirt me

Squirt, squirt

Yay!

He refilled me

Ahh!

He’s going to squirt me

Squirt, squirt

Yay!

She refilled me

I’m used for art

Tape is my best friend

He’s sticky like me

Oh, hi Tape!

ANGRY

Josie Sun

I am angry

Like a dinosaur stomping Crash! Crash!

Angry when my brother pushes me Grrr!

Angry when my mom takes my toys Grrr!

Angry when my dad pushes me in the pool Grrr!

Angry when my brother takes my stuff Grrr!

I am angry

Like a volcano exploding Boom! Boom!

MAD

Elle Martin

Mad

When my mom is taking my toys Grrrr!

Like a dinosaur stomping

Mad

When my dad yells at me Grrrr!

Like a volcano erupting

Mad

When my brother pushes me into the pool Grrrr!

Like a bear growling

I am mad!

HAPPY

Lily Krasinski

I am happy when My brother plays “keepy-uppy” with me Boop! Boop!

I am happy when My sister plays tag with me Tag! You’re it!

I am happy when My mom tickles me Tickle! Tickle!

I am happy when My dad plays horsey with me Neigh! Neigh!

Aliana Tariq

PLAYOFFS

Kayson Paydar

I’m not scared

But I want to win

We’re the best team in the league

We’re in the playoffs

We have two games left to play

If we lose one game, we’re out

But we need To win Tweet!

The whistle blows It’s time

To play

SAD

William Chapman

Sniff, sniff

Waaaaaa!

Sad

Like a baby crying

When my mom

Takes away my Nintendo Switch

Sad

Like a coyote howling

When my dad

Says I can’t play video games

Waaaaaa!

Sniff, sniff

BALL

Sebastian Dapra

A basketball is like a bubble

Bouncing in the air

Bounce, bounce

Like a kangaroo bouncing

When you are dribbling

Bounce, bounce

A ball in the air

Like an airplane flying

And

You are about to dunk the ball

Swish!

Yes, I made it!

EAGLE

Henry Meyer

I am an eagle

Ca-caw, ca-caw

I can fly

Like an airplane

I am the best eagle ever Ca-caw, ca-caw

Henry Meyer

I am a symbol of the United States of America

I am very strong

Like a gorilla

No one can tame me I will fly away Ca-caw, ca-caw

FIRST GRADE

HARBOR DAY SCHOOL

Jad Jafar

You should go to Harbor Day School because it is fun. We have a gym and a big field. There is a playground for kindergarten and also another playground next to the big field. There are also specialty classes. We get to go to music, technology, art, and PE. Students get to go to ceramics in seventh and eighth grade. We have science and wood shop classes. You will get to do math and art projects. Students get three recesses to play on the big field. In first grade, you also get a fourth grade buddy. It’s the best education!

DOGS

Lily Young

Do you like cuddling and snuggling? Dogs are great cuddlers and snugglers. If you have a kid, then your pet dog and your kid will be great friends and their friendship will be indestructible.

Dogs need a special kind of food. If you do not give a dog the right food, the dog will barf. If you find a lost dog, the vet will know the right food to give it.

Dogs need to visit the vet once per year. If a dog does not visit the vet once per year, it will get sick, so please keep your dog healthy.

VALENTINE’S DAY

Hadley Holland

Do you like sweets and treats? Celebrate Valentine’s Day! It is a popular day to share love, share candy, and share sweetness.

More than forty people get cards on Valentine’s Day. It helps you to share love all around the world, even if your family lives far away.

There are three popular colors for Valentine’s Day. They are red, pink, and white. Most people like them, but some do not. It is fine to not like those colors.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day. You will love it!

Reese Foster

Hayes Manfred

Lily Young

Malone Sabaugh

Jad Jafar

SUNSETS

Brynn Mumford

Sunsets all around

Every night we see a different one

All different

Beautiful colors

Red, orange, pink, and sometimes purple

They look like rainbows

In the night

Come every night

Go every day

Silently snoring in my bed

When suddenly a noise wakes me

I hear my mom saying “Wake up!”

It’s March 23rd

I go downstairs

My dad, mom, sister, and brother are there

They yell “Happy birthday!”

By Thomas Larkin

Mckayla Vanderburg

Penelope Nwankwo

Aiden Tai

BUNNIES

Madison Barker

Bunnies hopping gracefully

Tree to tree

Lovely and sweet and cute

Cuddly and fluffy

Filling my heart with love

And sweetness like a flower

Want one as a pet

To give it care and love

But keep it in nature

I love bunnies from the bottom of my heart

A studio full of thread

Colorful patterns hang on the walls

You hear needles punching through the fabric

The soft smell of new fabric fills the air

A messy workspace will soon be tidy

All of a sudden…a masterpiece!

By Annie Erlinger

They look like rainbows In the night

Come every night Go every day

Theo Krasinski

Lila Gross

Thomas Larkin

Gordon Yang

DEAR THOMAS,

I think we should practice basketball before the game. Did you know we could get better? Practice is good for your hand-eye coordination. Basketball is a fun sport to play. We play on a team, anyway. Also, we could score baskets. You can go between your legs. That is why I think we should practice basketball.

From, Aiden Roshdieh

DEAR MOM AND DAD,

I want to go to Oliver’s as a family for dinner. As you know, we all love their food. Also, you will not have to cook. We all love the dessert too. It is so close, so it’s not a far drive! We should all go soon!

Love, Gemma Yi

Practice is good for your hand-eye coordination.

Wesley Tippett

Naomi Nelson Hadley Holland Thomas Shepherdson

Eloise Money

Olivia Chapman

Dean Hackett

Theo Sung

SECOND GRADE

I

love going to Chicago in the fall.

I love Chicago because it’s a magical place. I always get to see all the tall buildings going up to the sky. I see the leaves changing colors in the fall. I see branches and leaves on the ground. I feel leaves that are bumpy and rough. I feel wind and leaves swirling around me. I hear leaves creaking down from the trees to the ground. I smell refreshing air coming up to my nose. I smell breakfast from a restaurant when I’m taking a walk. I hear sizzles from the kitchen. I taste yummy pancakes, juicy fruit, and refreshing orange juice. I love going to Chicago in the fall.

By Natalia Habbas

Winston Wong

The beach is the best place to be.

The beach is a super fun place to play. I see a big blue ocean. I see lots of fish swimming. I hear the tide coming and the seagulls hawking. I touch the beautiful seashells in the hot sand. I taste a juicy popsicle. I feel the warm water when I’m playing with a beach ball. I hear all the kids laughing and playing. I sometimes taste the salty water in the ocean. I smell the wet and slimy seaweed and feel it too. I see all the girls and boys in the water. I taste a yummy cold ice-cream cone. I see boats far in the ocean. I hear water splashing. The beach is the best place to be.

By Elizabeth Stone

Claire Irwin

Love is doing a favor for someone. Doing a favor for someone shows you love them, like when your mom asks you to get her phone. Love is making a sacrifice. If someone really wants something you have, then you should give it up. That’s a way to be loving and unselfish.

By Zachary Rattet

Love is being thankful. It is when your family makes your special dinner and you say, “thank you so much for this.” Love is cheering someone up. It is when someone gets hurt and you make them laugh and they feel better. It is when you make a grandparent laugh and you feel good, too.

By Oliver Olson

Jasper Hu

Sterling Welch

Love is feeling my dog’s fluffy fur on my hands and arms. It is being alone with him. He looks so happy to be with me, and his soft fur makes me feel cozy and warm. I feel so lucky to have a dog like mine.

By Chloe Peykoff

Talia Batniji

James Hanke

Emma Chapman, James Hanke

Dear Reader…

DEAR READER,

Have you ever read Heidi Heckelbeck Gets Glasses? If not, I’d say it is a pretty interesting book. Lucy gets cool-looking glasses and wears them to school. Everyone likes Lucy’s new glasses. Heidi tried to get glasses to be cool, make more friends, and be popular. Later on, it turns out that Heidi did not need glasses, but she got away with it at first. Run to the bookstore this instant and look for Heidi Heckelbeck Gets Glasses.

Your friend, Emma Chapman

Avalon Rucker

Ainoor Tariq

LLove is hearing the magnificent birds chirping lovely songs. They make me feel like I am in a forest. The birds wake me and greet me early in the morning. They welcome me to a new day. Near my house, there is a forest with brown birds, red birds, and sometimes green ones flying across the sky. At sunset, a cool damp breeze makes me shiver. The birds go to sleep and it gets quiet.

By Bianca Pieter

Rohan Murphy

Vivian Eckermann

Jackson Turner

Gemma Ward

Natalia Habbas

Palomma Schumacher

Nick Donnelly

William Fike Cade Becker

Camille Ponoroff

SECOND +

Mia Flesher

William Salter

Siena Sadri

Brooklyn Tsai

THIRD GRADE

THREE PARTS OF MY IDENTITY

Camille Ponoroff

Imagine if everybody looked the same, liked the same things, and did the same things. That would be boring! Good thing we have our identities to make us unique! My confidence, my athleticism, and my love of music are three parts of my identity that I am proud of.

I am proud of my courage because I have more courage than other people, and I do many courageous things that other people do not. I stand up for people even if I do not know them. I also will always have the courage to try new things. I stand up for what I believe in even if others do not.

Being athletic is an important part of my identity because part of being athletic is being fast and you need to be fast in soccer. This is the sport I play and love. Athleticism is also important because I love being active and it brings me joy. Being athletic also teaches me to keep trying and to have good sportsmanship.

Being musical is also a special part of my identity because I love music and music calms me down. Also, playing difficult music develops my patience and I will keep trying no matter how hard something is. It also teaches me to be patient with myself when learning new piano techniques.

These are the parts of my identity that make me unique.

HOT CHOCOLATE

Colette Chiao

Whoosh! Colorful sleds move past me as if they are race cars racing for the finish line. I feel so cold, as if I am at the North Pole. I carefully pick up my bright red cup that is as warm as a burning fireplace. The scent of yummy chocolate fills the cold air. My chocolate looks as dark as midnight. I move the warm cup closer to my freezing lips. It is so close I can already taste the warm melted chocolate.

Finally, the cup touches my cold lips. I start to sip and the warmness of the chocolate fills me up. The warmth burns my tongue. “This is the best drink for a cold day like this!” I think to myself. The cocoa layers my tongue with soft, creamy chocolate. The marshmallows melt in my mouth as I calmly sip with relaxation. I put down my empty cup and smile happily. My body is now full of energy. I yell with joy, “Yum!” I run through the thick blanket of snow to get another one.

Sloane Smith

Lily Shepherdson

Aria Dinan

SNOWBALL FIGHT

Everleigh Parkin

Pat! Pat! My colorful gloves were forming the perfect fluffy white snowball! I could see people flying down the sparkly, snow-covered mountain like magic reindeer on their sleds as I got ready to throw. The coldness of the snowball filled my hands like an iceberg. I heard fire crackling in the distance and looked up. I saw fluffy clouds like cotton candy!

I got in the perfect position to fight and the snowball flew off my hand as fast as a bullet! It looked like a white blur zooming against the crisp air. Yells of excitement filled the air as loud as an amusement park. Thud! My snowball hit someone’s puffy jacket. “Way to go!” I said to myself. I swiftly moved out of the way as he tried to hit me back. Boom! The snowball hit the ground right in front of me. The snowball fight came to an end and my team won!

Ryan Swope

Everly Wang

THE ICY SLOPE

Owen Sung

Gulp. I looked down the icy part of the mountain. There were several skiers in the way. I could taste my sweat as I peered over the edge. Then, I leaned forward and I pushed off the slope. “Don’t fall,” I said to myself. I sped down the mountain as fast as the icy wind. The wind hit my face, cold shrapnel biting my exposed nose and cheeks. Shhh, shhhh my skis went. Crunch, crunch went my poles into the snow to push me forward. Then, my skis hit a piece of ice and I spun like clothes in a washing machine. Boom! I double flipped and fell. I felt as if I had been hit in the stomach with a hammer. “Are you okay?” asked my friend Hudson. “I’m good,” I said. “Well then come on. Let’s get back to the lodge,” said Hudson. Then we sped down the mountain once more.

Blakely Johnson

Sebastian Paydar

MY IDENTITY

Cora Mumford

Have you ever wondered what makes you special and unique? The most important parts of my identity are that I am a good swimmer, I am kind, and I am a bookworm.

Being a good swimmer is very rewarding because when you win, you feel proud. Also, it is fun and you do not need to rely on someone. It made me so happy when my 100 free relay team won the league championship for girls.

Another part of my identity is that I’m a bookworm. This is a big part of my identity because I love reading a good book. Also, you learn something new in every book. Last reason is because books take you to a different world. That is amazing! My favorite books are Wings of Fire, Land of Stories, and The Mysterious Benedict Society.

The last part of my identity is that I am kind. Being kind is important because your family is nicer to you when you are kind. People want to hang out with you and you will have amazing friends when you are kind. That’s my identity!

My identity is what makes me special and unique. There are many parts to my identity, but these are the three that are the most important to me: being a good swimmer, a bookworm, and a kind person are what make me feel amazing!

MY IDENTITY

John Wang

What are the three most important parts of your identity? The three most important parts of my identity are that I am Chinese, I am athletic, and I am smart.

Being Chinese can be fun because I get to celebrate a lot of traditions such as Chinese New Year. Traditions are fun because you get to eat a lot of yummy foods and you can get money. Being Chinese can be really helpful because I can speak a second language and I can connect with a lot of other people in the world. I can speak two languages, so I can learn new things.

I am also proud that I am athletic because I have a healthy body. When I am late for something, I can run quickly. Being athletic can also help me in sports competitions, such as golf.

The third most important part of my identity is that I am smart. Being smart while being a kid can be helpful because I can do my homework quickly, and that means I can do more fun things. Math skills also can be helpful because when I am an adult and need to calculate, I can do it very quickly.

These are the three most important parts of my identity.

Tobey Sonenshine

Haven Brigham

Owen Sung

Esme Tran

THE PERFECT DAY

Aiden Zhou

FOURTH GRADE

The quietness is lethal as I see my cold breath. … I can feel the hot air pushing me back.

On the perfect winter day, I smell the scent of pine needles as I walk down the snow-covered street. I see happy children making a snowman and playing. As I look around, I see a white blanket covering the ground. The quietness is lethal as I see my cold breath. I can feel the ice crunching beneath my feet when I open the door. I can feel the hot air pushing me back. I can hear the children playing and hear the fire cracking. The hot chocolate aroma is in the air as I walk toward my friends. “Hey Nate,” I say. He nods back to me. As I take my winter coat off, I look outside and see children smiling and birds chirping as they swoop in the air. My mom gives me some hot chocolate, and when I taste it, it feels like I am in a different world. It is a perfect day to do simple things. This is a reminder of how beauty and magic can be found in the coldness of seasons.

OPPOSITE PAGE:

1. Kaley Tiwari

2. Nathan Ronaghi

3. Ben Whitten

4. Cassin Tippett

5. Coco Geiler Allen

6. Connor Slavik

Aiden Zhou

Charlie Suplizio

Leila Batniji

Will Gooding

Adam Jin

Bella Peterson

GRANDMA

Adam Jin

My love for my sweet, happy grandma is complicated. She sometimes gets mad at me for doing things, but she also understands me in tough situations and helps me learn lots of life skills and fun facts.

Even though my grandma gets mad easily, her anger level is usually low, and she never yells at me. She will simply tell me what I am doing wrong. One time, my grandma helped me complete math problems. When I got half of the questions wrong, she just pointed out the mistakes and helped me correct them.

My grandma is the best because she understands me. When I was about three years old, my parents left me and my grandma at home while they went on vacation. My grandma understood what I needed, entertained me, and cooked and cared for me.

When days are long my grandma knows what I need. My grandma teaches me many things, whether it is a skill or it is math. My grandma taught me how to tie my shoes. I remember when my grandma explained a math problem to me that I didn’t understand. She did it in a way I could understand.

Even though we have a complicated relationship, my grandma is very close to me and I know she will always love me.

Ava Berengian

Cassin Tippett

HALLOWEEN

Leila Batniji

I could feel the warm, crisp breeze leaving a chill in my body. I knew candy was waiting for me. All the brightly lit decorations filled our neighborhood. We finally arrived at my friend’s house. “Come on, the candy is waiting!” I called to my sister.

As we walked out, I noticed there were so many houses to visit. I wondered how we were going to hit them all. “Trick or treat,” we sang. As they dropped the candy bar in my bag, I noticed it was the biggest candy bar I had ever seen! After we got even more candy, I heard a loud noise coming from a few blocks away. I asked my friend, “What do you think that is?”

She replied, “I don’t know, I haven’t heard that before.” We walked around, investigating and trying to find the source. Finally, we came across a huge house. There were so many decorations! I smelled something delicious and followed the scent. We slowly walked toward the door and rang the doorbell. “Trick or treat!” we said.

When the door opened, we knew something big was going on. It was my friend’s house, and I could see pumpkin pie, candy, and cake. We were invited in and I went straight to the pumpkin pie. It was the best pie I had ever tasted. It was the perfect end to a perfect fall day.

London Best Julian Neal

Max Hoover

MY BROTHER

Caroline Kirkowski

Someone who has been especially good this year is my brother, JP. JP always helps me with my homework, even when he has his own homework to do. JP can be annoying and weird sometimes, but it makes me love him even more. When I need help with basketball, he plays with me to help me get better. That’s why this Christmas, I think JP deserves the best gift.

JP deserves a big gift because he is helpful and nice. He is always helping others, even if they don’t ask for help. I might get a little jealous of his gift, but I know he is the person who deserves something the most.

REFLECTION

Dempsey

Olsen

A mistake that I have made is being mean to my oldest sister. She would be mean to me, and I would always take the bait and be mean to her. I would do things like fight back or say mean things like, “Your makeup is terrible,” or “Your outfit doesn’t match,” or “You are so annoying.” At times, she would also say mean things to me.

I learned that if I am nice to her and say things like “Your make up looks great!” or “Your outfit is so cute!” or “I love driving with you,” she will say nice things back to me. When I used to have a conversation with her, we would always argue. Now, we can have a nice conversation and drive around in her car blasting music and singing along together. Sure, we still argue sometimes, but our relationship is getting stronger and stronger. I’ve learned that being nice is way more fun than being mean.

Noora Dinan

Arya Murphy Paige Hanke

James McDonald

FIFTH GRADE

UPSIDE DOWN

Blair Tennant

I am skipping across the ocean blue-colored mat. My arms are swinging from side to side as I run. My toes are striking the ground softly but also hard at the same time. I reach the end of the mat and start to run. I swing my arms and push hard off of the ground. I feel my toes hit the ground. Next thing I know, I am declining as fast as a cheetah can run. SPLAT! I land on the ground with a thump. I run my fingers along the mat. I can feel the small crevices of the deep blue-colored mat. The purple light on the wall catches my eye. The glistening purple shine of the light gives me hope. I am determined to land this. My brown hair swings over my shoulder as I plop on the ground. I take a brief look at myself in the spotless mirror. I have one question. I worked so hard for this! Why do I keep falling? My eyes start to get watery. A tear gradually runs down my defeated face. Don’t cry, don’t cry, I think. I wipe away the tears from my eyes and push myself back up. I am determined to do this.

I hear the door handle start to rotate. I whip my head over to the direction of the door. Before anything else, I see clean, white shoes that are practically shining in the light. I am surprised to see that my mom! I start to feel a smile sprouting on my face as I watch her step into the room.

“Mom, hi! Can I show you my front aerial? Make sure to videotape it, I want this memory forever,” I say with excitement.

“Sure, just let me get my camera ready!” she says.

I walk to the edge of the mat with my head held high. My body starts to feel uneasy as my mom pulls out her camera. I feel my toes curling at the edge of the mat. My sleek ponytail effortlessly swings off my shoulder as if it were a cloud. I take a deep breath and start running. My feet are pounding against the ground as I run. Time seems to move so slowly, almost as if I am moving in slow motion. I swing my arms up and push off the ground. I kick my back leg so hard that it might snap. My arms pull back as I propel off the ground.

Time stops. I am in mid-air, staring at the mat. My mixed thoughts start to pour into my brain. I am withstanding gravity. What if I fall again? I can do this. I can hear my mom cheering me on in the background. I am so focused on flipping that I forget how hard my feet are pointing.

“You go, girl!” screams my mom. That breaks me out of the trance. My feet are stuck to the floor, so I use my arms to swing up. I have done it! I have landed on my feet!

I take a step forward and glance at my mom. She puts her camera away, and I run over to hug her. I can feel her arms clutch around me. Her hug is so affectionate. It feels like I am hugging a giant teddy bear! I thank my teacher and stroll out of the room with a smile on my face.

Roge Pier Colin Costanzo

Natalie Tao

Cece Arkin-Horowitz

Ami Louis Antonio Yim

Blake Peterson

Tanner Thomas Rishi Arora

FIRST TIME FISHING

Mikko Ji

As the breezy wind brushed my hair, I looked out to see nothing but the navy blue under the dark blue sky. The boat slowly stopped with a thud. Finally, after thirty minutes of waiting, the captain said we could get our fishing rods. Slowly, I stepped to the center of the boat, trying not to slip. The water under me looked like spots on a cow. My dad helped me get the rod as I strolled to the edge of the boat. I threw my rod into the ocean with a splash. The water blasted through the air as others whipped their rods into the vignette blue sea as well. Almost instantly, people started catching fish. As I wondered why my rod was not moving, I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to put the bait on. I asked my mom, and she said, “It’s on the front of the boat in a basket. You should see it when you get there.”

I thanked her and moved to the front of the boat. After hooking up the bait, I threw my rod into the ocean. Fish started to swarm around the boat like tiny bugs on a hot summer day. I was sure I was going to catch a big one! After ten minutes, my fishing rod finally started moving! I was ecstatic! I quickly started pulling up the fishing rod, just like the captain had taught us.

I caught my first fish, I thought to myself. I dreamed about how big the fish would be, but to my disappointment, the fish was so tiny. It was barely the size of the palm of my hand. I had seen people use fish this size as bait! I had promised myself I was going to catch a big one, one the size of a truck!

Twenty minutes passed, then thirty, then an hour. My disappointment grew with each passing minute. People started getting tired. My sister was sleeping like a baby in the hull of the boat and my dad was cuddled up like a cat on the top deck. A few minutes later, my mother and my friend gave up and joined my sister in the hull for a break. All the other adults started to lose patience as well. Everyone was getting tired, including me. As I stood on the edge of the boat, I wondered if I was ever going to catch any more fish.

But just as I was about to pull my rod out of the water, it started to move. I quickly started to pull it up but quickly realized it was too heavy for me. So I called for my sister to help me pull. As I stomped my foot against the window near the hull, my sister woke up with a jolt and rapidly started to help me pull. Soon enough, I was staring down at a fish. Not just any fish, but one I had never seen before. It was huge!

I yelled with excitement as my sister and I slowly carried the fish in. We high-fived and within a second, the boat’s engine suddenly started with a boom. The boat started moving. We had caught the fish just in time! The wind brushed face as ocean water splattered the boat. My dad put his arm across my shoulder and patted me. I felt great knowing that my first time out at sea was not a failure.

Mikko Ji

Hendrik van Akkeren

Nina Brown Aldon Parkin

McCall Morgan

Cole Kappler

THE BIG WAVE

Nina Brown

The sun was shining on us as we rode electric bikes to the beach. We set our towels and chairs up near the shore. “I’m going down to feel the water!” I called as I ran down to the shore on the burning hot sand. I think I am going to go into the water and dive through a really big wave, I thought to myself. I looked out at the water and listened to the loud crashes as the big waves slammed the sand. The water crept up my toes and made its way to my ankles. The cold water felt nice on a hot day like today. As much as I love the beach, my heart still races a little when I am in front of the big waves.

I turned around and faced my mom and aunt and yelled, “The water feels nice!” A big wave crashed into the sand. I yelled up again, but the water was too loud. I walked up to our spot where my mom and aunt were relaxing on their towels and eating snacks that they brought. My stomach growled as I sat down and ate my sandwich. “The water felt nice! We should probably go into the water now before it gets too warm and uncomfortable to swim in because the sun is shining so brightly!” I said impatiently

“I won’t get too warm,” my mom said calmly as she took the last bite of her sandwich.

I got up from my towel and stared at the ocean. I saw the tide was coming in and the waves getting bigger. My mom and aunt got up from their towels. We started walking down to the shore. I felt the ocean mist spray my arms and legs. “Let’s go in here!” I said.

“No, let’s find a place to go where the waves aren’t crashing on the sand,” my mom said. We all started walking along the shore trying to find a good spot to go into the water.

“All of these big waves are not ideal for swimming,” my aunt said.

“It will be fine,” I said nervously. “I think the whole beach has a shore break. We will just have to go in here,” I declared. We ran into the ocean and swam down under the water. When we were just about ready to get out, a big shadow emerged over us. I saw a really big wave taking shape. “Oh, no…” I said slowly.

I tried to get out of the water, but there was no time. We had to dive through the waves. My mom grabbed me, and we dove under. I could hardly hold my breath. The water felt like it was a jet spraying at my face. I felt my feet touch the sand, and I pushed myself up to get air. I took a breath in, but all of the sudden I got pulled back underwater. I crawled on the sand on my hands and knees up to the shore. Relieved that it was over and I was safe I could feel my heart still racing from when I faced those giant, huge ocean waves.

ADAM’S GULCH

Colin Costanzo

It was a sunny day with a few clouds in the sky. It was scorching hot. We were in the car driving to Adam’s Gulch in Sun Valley, which is a mountain biking and hiking trail. Imagine Dragons were playing on the radio, and the bikes were rattling in the trunk since we did not have a bike rack. Finally, after about fifteen minutes, we arrived at the gravel road next to the trail. There were a lot of bikers and people walking dogs. When I finished putting my sunblock on, I got out of the car and got my bike. My dad and brother got on their bikes, and we started pedaling to the map at the start of the trail.

Once we got to the big map, my dad said, “We’ll take the harder route in the hills.”

“Isn’t that too hard?” my brother questioned.

“No, it’ll be fine.” So we took the trail that we always took, but then we turned right instead of continuing on the main trail. We were nearing the green grass hills with yellow flowers. The trail narrowed until it was a single-track trail. By then, we were going up the hills. I was pedaling hard and standing up on my bike because it was steep. We were going around and up the hills on that tiny dirt trail. When someone came, we had to put our bikes up on the side of the hill. The drop was steep, and I thought, Don’t fall off!

Next, we got to something like a roundabout, but it was on a hill. It was all dirt and rock, and there were no plants underneath it. There was a steep drop to the ground, where there was a tree and big rocks. “Go slowly on this part,” advised my dad. I pedaled around it slowly and carefully. My hands were gripping the handlebars tightly. Little pebbles were dropping to the ground below.

Gulp. I was about halfway to the end when I started going wobbly. My tire was right next to the edge, and it slowly rolled over. It was too late to fall on the hillside instead of the drop. About halfway down, I fell off the bike and started tumbling down with the bike beside me. When I got to the bottom, I was still going full speed when suddenly my helmet hit something hard. My head hurt a little, but not that much. What hurt was my arms and my legs. They had cuts and bruises, and I was bleeding.

“Are you okay?!” My dad shouted from up above, but I didn’t answer. I had to use all my strength to get up. I turned around to see what hit my head. It was a giant rock that was as big as a baby elephant. That could have been a lot worse if I didn’t have a helmet, I thought. That could have been really bad. My bike was not down to the ground; it was on the bottom of the slope.

“You have to get your bike because I can’t go down there!” My dad yelled. I started walking to my bike, and my legs really hurt. When I got to the bottom of the slope, I started trying to climb it to get my bike. That did not work because I kept on slipping and falling. So I climbed as high as I could go, then jumped to pull the bike down. It took a few tries, but eventually, I got it down.

CRASH! It hit the ground hard. “I’ll try to find a path that goes down there!” my dad exclaimed. So I picked up my bike and started walking. My dad and Evan rode their bikes to the path that went down and came to me. “I’ll hold your bike,” my dad said. We started walking back to our car until the gravel parking lot was in view.

“That was lucky that it was your helmet that hit the rock!” Evan pointed out.

“I know,” I replied. Once we got to the car, my dad put our bikes in the trunk, and we started driving home.

Antonio Yim

Lily Jin

Rafa Huang

SIXTH GRADE

Sierra Taketa

Caroline Gross

Cindy Li

ONE LAST TIME

Angel Zhou

I started to pull my navy shorts on, but then hesitated for a few seconds. It was rather dim and dark, silent and noiseless. Too early. Still, I snatched my pearl-colored watch and deliberately folded my soft bedding into a neat pile. Noticing the time shown on the flashing screen, I took my violet pillow and buried my face underneath. It was snug and cozy. The curtains turned translucent, not opaque, as sunlight streamed through. I pressed down on the iron handles of the door. Shouldering my way through, I felt the coarse frame of it, a significant contrast to the smooth handles.

Stepping into the kitchen, I spotted a single figure with a curved back, a dark silhouette in the gradually rising sun. Grandma wiped the wooden chairs with a soaked sapphire cloth, pieces of threads swaying. Opening the refrigerator, I seized two packs of popsicles and offered one to Grandma. After taking a seat on the floor, I tore the wrapping and gingerly licked the icy goodness.

“Hey Grandma!” I waved my hands back and forth to grab her attention.

“Angel, it’s too early! Go back to sleep, please. It’s bad for your health,” Grandma replied anxiously.

“Don’t you remember? Today’s such a big day! I simply cannot sleep with these events stuck in my mind!” I clutched the popsicle stick even harder.

“Well, I guess you can stay awake, but you’d better be energetic later!” she laughed, winking.

Finally, the clock struck 8:00. Relatives and friends arrived. I grabbed Grandma by the arm and closed the door, shutting out the noise.

I struggled to control my tears, choking and coughing. Grandma smiled a sad smile even though I knew that she too would be crying soon.

“Why can’t you come with us, Grandma? It’s so much nicer and better out there! Please, maybe just pack your luggage and come with us,” I pleaded.

“I’m so sorry, Angel. Please don’t cry! It makes me feel bad too. But you should feel happy and optimistic like a kid should.” She hugged me as my eyes clouded with tears.

“Thank you, Grandma. I understand. I’ll be leaving soon…but with the packages that we brought over, please don’t be too tired or too worried about them. Dad will deal with them later. Rest well.” I buried my wet face into my hands, wiping it gently.

“Take a tissue and reply to me on iMessage!” She brought forth my luggage, backpacks, and water bottles.

The sapphire cloth still lay there, brightened by the sun’s rays. It mocked my sorrow.

My dad, my mum, and I waved goodbye to everybody, slowly opened the door, and stepped into the hallway. Letting go of Grandma’s hands, I felt the door shut behind me. I sighed as her soft voice gently echoed in the elevator shaft.

I could still see her crystal-clear eyes, even in the parking lot. They would stay with me in America, my new home.

HAVE HOPE AND PERSEVERE

Emma Evans

Symbolism and imagery are literary devices that authors use in their works to develop meaningful themes. In A Long Walk to Water, Linda Sue Park uses symbols and imagery to further the theme of perseverance. Symbolism is a literary device where objects represent thoughts and ideas. Park uses symbolism, such as Salva’s mother’s bright orange headscarf, to represent the hope of his family to develop the theme of perseverance. Imagery, including the use of figurative language, is used in literary works to create an image in the mind of readers. Park uses imagery, such as when Nya goes on her difficult journey to water, to convey the message of hope and determination. Park uses symbolism and imagery in the story to develop the theme of determination and perseverance.

The symbol of Salva’s mother’s bright orange headscarf is used in the story to develop the theme of perseverance. In the beginning, before he is separated from his family, Salva thinks back to his joyful times near home where “from far off he would see her bright orange headscarf, and he would raise his arm in greeting. By the time he reached the house, she would have gone inside to get his bowl of milk ready for him” (5). He is so happy to see the headscarf because he knows he will be home and comforted by his mother’s love. Later, when Salva is in the refugee camp, he sees his mother’s bright orange headscarf and “a half-sob broke free from Salva’s lips. He mustn’t lose track of her!” Salva lost both his best friend and uncle during his difficult journey and seeing his mother’s headscarf gives him the hope that she is still alive. Although the woman in the headscarf turned out to not be his mother, that vision reminded him of his family, and it helped him persevere. The orange headscarf stands for the hope that his family is still alive and for their wish for him to survive this difficult time. The symbol of Salva’s mother’s bright orange headscarf shows Salva that he should keep going for the hope of reuniting with his family.

Similarly, the imagery of Nya walking for a long time to water is used in the story to show how her grit to overcome harsh conditions helps her persevere. Nya walks to water every day to provide for her family. She goes through cracked ground barefooted and avoids thorns in her path. There was “only heat, the sun already baking the air, even though it was long before noon. It would take her half the morning if she didn’t stop on the way. Heat. Time. and Thorns. A big thorn that had broken off right in the middle of her heel. Nya pushed at the skin around the thorn. Then she picked up another thorn and used it to poke and prod at the first one. She pressed her lips together in the pain” (1). Nya walks in the barren plains in the heat and perseveres even though it is difficult for her. This imagery conveys the harshness of Nya’s walk and her determination to get water despite the challenges in the way. Pressing her lips together against the pain, Nya pushes through difficulty. The imagery helps convey the grit Nya needs in order to overcome obstacles and get what her family needs to survive. The imagery of Nya’s long walk to water shows her perseverance to get her family enough water to survive.

Symbolism and imagery are literary devices that Park uses in her book A Long Walk to Water to develop the theme of perseverance. Salva perseveres by holding on to the hope of seeing his mother’s headscarf. Nya perseveres through treacherous conditions to do what is necessary for survival. The theme of perseverance connects to everyone’s life because, even if things get rough, everyone should persevere to do what they dream of accomplishing.

Victoria Sun

WHEN I SAW HER CRY

Lilliana Aali

I looked up from my book as Baba, my grandfather, narrated in Farsi how the woman on the TV screen harvested jackfruit, even though we could all see the television and knew what was happening. His voice boomed around the room (because he is hard of hearing) as he described how he used to harvest vegetables on the farm when he lived in Iran as a child. Alam Joon, my grandmother, nodded along, more interested in the woman and the lush green forest she was in rather than Baba’s stories she had heard thousands of times. I took her lead and drifted off into my thoughts. Listening to my father typing away on his laptop, I remembered how I had volleyball the next day. I tried to erase it from my mind. Volleyball was not fun for me when I was just starting; I would have rather stayed at home and read books. Instead, I distracted myself with the antique store that is my grandmother’s home. Lamps decorated each room (even though quite a few needed the light bulbs changed), along with detailed paintings and china vases and plates.

“Where is this?” Pointing to the television, Alam Joon asked the question in Farsi for the hundredth time. She forgets the small things, such as the question she asked a few minutes ago. Yet, she always remembers when someone is expected to come over to her house. She loves seeing family and friends. My father always tells me that when she was younger, Alam Joon was a firecracker. It kills me to see her like this. The flame she once was has practically been stomped out.

“Vietnam,” I told her. Dad and I put on programs on nature and fashion, because she loves flowers and used to be a seamstress. She only leaves the house when she has to see the doctor. Alam Joon nodded and looked back at the screen. I grabbed my book and walked to the living room.

The living room is usually where guests are entertained. But now, it’s my father’s workspace. He was typing away on his computer when he looked up at me through his glasses.

“I’ll be there in a moment for us to make lunch. Let me just finish these last notes,” he told me, knowing what I was about to say. He looked back down at his laptop.

“Alright, Dad.” I put away my book and walked back to the lounge room where my grandparents were talking loudly to each other across the room. Once I sat down at the table, I looked up at Alam Joon to see her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking slightly. Muffled sobs came from behind her cupped hands. My father walked into the room just in time and worriedly asked Alam Joon what was wrong.

“I can’t go there,” she whispered in Farsi. “I can’t go anywhere.”

The car ride home was quiet as Dad hummed to the song on the radio. I looked out of the window as I thought about what Alam Joon had said. It was true. She never gets to go anywhere. I was annoyed that I had to go to volleyball and get out of the house, yet that is the thing my grandmother most wanted. I sighed and sat up. I told myself that night that I would make the best of my life.

Quinn Root

Baron Dear

Cooper Liljestrom

Teddy Liljestrom

Lucas Jones

Cindy Li

Caroline Alston

Abby Robinson

Brigitte Wallin

Angel Zhou

Pierce Kleiman

SEVENTH GRADE

Kiernan Kappler

100 WORD CHALLENGE: LETTING GO

Kiernan Kappler

“Why?!” I shrieked after Dad told my brother Cole and me that we needed to put our dog, Guinness, down.

“He’s got a rare, incurable disease,” Dad responded. “Do you want to see him one last time?”

I didn’t answer. I feared saying goodbye. Heartbroken and subtly shaking like a bobblehead, I nodded interminably.

Once we arrived, a frigid, gray room awaited us. I stroked Guinness’ short black fur for the last time. His cloudy, gray eyes met mine and his soft, pink tongue gently caressed my face, wiping away my salty tears.

Then, I let him go.

STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Justin Lu

I squirmed in the seat. I wasn’t the only one, though. Everyone, including me, sat on the same uncomfortable chair, some in worse condition than others. We sat in the same sweaty boat. Forty-five minutes ago, the school gathered in the massive gym for assembly and, most importantly, Student of the Month. By now, we all breathed the same musty air. My best friend, Sterling, and the parents didn’t mind, however. Numerous parents came, all of them sitting in the front row, the dads all ready with cameras in their hands. I, like most other students, watched the clock as it approached two o’clock. The giant clock ticked quietly on the wall, its hands spinning around the center. Students, like Sterling, blocked out the sound of the ticking with their talking. The middle school director tried to drown out their voices by talking more loudly. Finally, the speech concluded.

Now began the next phase of the assembly. The P.E. director walked on stage with a clipboard and a small stack of cardstock certificates. He rattled off names the school knew as the top athletes, and students mainly in middle school stood from their seats and strutted forward. Boys and girls years older than me stepped on stage, each of them receiving a cardstock sheet. Several cameras flashed and popped, each catching a picture of a proud student from a different angle. From my seat, I pictured myself their age, towering above the elementary schoolers. Time inched by slowly as the audience congratulated the volleyball team for dominating the championship. The larger hand on the clock finally touched the six, and the smaller hand arrived at the middle of the one and two. Finally, the students went back to their seats, the P.E. director back behind the stage curtains.

Time for the last phase of our assembly. The principal marched confidently onto the stage, and the gym was abruptly silenced. She held a script, a certificate, and a microphone. On stage, she began the traditional speech on the Student of the Month award. This student would get the last one of the year. At the moment, I was only concerned with what I’d do on the playground after the assembly. I thought, Should I play soccer? Or play basketball? She talked about the achievements made by the student, the good deeds he or she committed at school and outside of our school community. Finally, she spoke the famous words before the wild applause began. “I am extremely proud to announce this month’s Student of the Month. As we all know, this student will be the last Student of the Month of this school year. Now, would Justin Lu from kindergarten please come on stage?”

Sterling directed his attention to me as the rest of the gym searched the room for a student walking to the stage. His untamed clapping woke me up, and I sputtered, “What? Me?!” I hurriedly walked up the stage and accepted the sheet of paper from my smiling principal. I looked over to Sterling from the stage, who clapped uncontrollably, then at the front row. Unexpectedly, my parents sat in the middle, my mom waving and clapping, my dad taking countless photos like the other men around him. I held the certificate delicately, careful not to drop it and ruin this moment. I diverted my eyes to the school newspaper’s photographer who held a big, black camera against her face, taking photos as well. Finally, I stood tall, held up the certificate against my chest, and smiled at the cameras.

Brian Chen

Brooklyn Tennant

James van Horck

Turner Singletary

Keagan Peters

Callie Arkin-Horowitz

THE FEELING OF SPEED

Preston Decker

With every breath we take, time seems to fly. The world around us moves at a lightning pace. We learn to feel the wind rush quickly by. I tried to take the road less traveled by And push our limits in an epic race. On roads that stretch beyond the horizon, Our engines roar with every passing mile. We push ourselves to reach the speed of light And leave behind our worries for a while.

With every curve and turn, we feel alive, Our hearts blazing with passion and desire. The thrill of speed that makes us truly thrive, Reaching speeds that climb higher and higher. Speed is the name that will fill our hearts with glee, A rush of speed that sets our spirits free.

Aaron Hsu

Stella Vanderhook

Preston Decker

LETTING IT GO

Sienna Hernandez

“Do you see anything yet?” Mom asked for about the millionth time as we stared out at the pitch-black ocean, palm trees swaying in the wind. “Let’s check over there!”

We searched for bioluminescent waves for a while. Mom saw some posts on Instagram from our neighbors who got to see vivid neon waves and dolphins. I doubted we would see anything since it was extremely rare, but I wanted to try. Although I didn’t think we’d find a single thing, it was pretty disappointing that we did not see bioluminescence. The frigid air chilled us as we solemnly walked back to the parking lot.

Hernandez

My two brothers, Mom, and I hopped back in the car and drove some more to Little Corona as “Let It Go” started playing on the radio.

“I can’t believe we traveled so far for nothing,” Oliver whined. I knew it was annoying to my mom when we whined, but I couldn’t help but agree. We sat there, silently pouting in the cold car. A sour mood lingered in the air when the chorus came.

Honestly, it was hard to stay upset when “Let It Go” was playing. A smile crept up the corners of my mouth as I began to sing along. Obviously, Matteo was too cool for silly princess songs, so he acted annoyed. But I knew he didn’t mind it too much.

Chaos erupted as Mom started singing in the car.

Oliver whined about our horrible singing, Mom and I belted our hearts out, and Matteo scrolled on Instagram.

Just a minute ago, we were feeling down, but now we were all singing and dancing to the song in the dark car. I looked around and saw everyone grinning as “Let It Go” quieted down.

This is better than bioluminescence.

“You guys are stupid,” Matteo teased. He’s a horrible actor.

The rest of the ride home, some other fun songs came on like “Make it Shine” from a show Oliver and I used to watch, Victorious, and “Leave It All to Me” from iCarly. It’s weird that they played the best songs at 9 P.M. when no one was around.

Already, we were pulling into the driveway back home. It had been an hour since we first left the house. I guess time really does fly by when you’re having fun.

At home, Oliver tried to fool Dad into thinking we saw bioluminescence. “Hey, Dad, you totally should have come with us! We definitely saw cool waves and, like, dolphins and stuff.” It was so clear he was lying, but I broke the news to Dad anyway and he acted upset. He seemed confused about our happy singing despite the ordinary drive. How were we so happy when we didn’t see anything cool?

But that wasn’t true.

Sienna

Nicholas Ronaghi

Josie Geiler Allen

Shea Natland

Sarah Rosing

Chloe Dufty

Noah Pierce

Campbell Morgan

Dylan Young

PASSENGER SEAT

Leela Tripathi

It was just yesterday,

When we sat together in the passenger seat

It was just yesterday,

When we walked the same halls, my little shoes squeaking on the tile floor

Following in her footsteps

Or was it?

Were those times we shared, Marveling at how old we were to be in the next years

And shrugging off thoughts of the future

Could all those times be over?

By now, we’ve reached those ages

Where we barely find the time to speak

So I just watch her from my lonely passenger seat

Watch her do things we only could have dreamed

We’d one day be old enough to do

Ryan Henry

EIGHTH GRADE

THE SEEDLING

Aleah Berengian

Seed: The sun glistens through the spotless windows. Molten gold beams cascade down upon a small terracotta pot. The dark, rich soil forms a wall around a single seed nestled inside. In time, from that seed, a wisp of green grows. The stem, no larger than a needle on a push pin, arches upward for its first glimpse of the sun. Tiny bits of moist earth cling to it when it extends upward at a snail’s pace. Its fragile body is guarded with an iridescent layer of skin, similar to how clouds might guard the wide blue expanse above. As the wisp grows stronger and the sunlight intensifies, the daily rainfall from the watering can become more and more necessary to help the plant grow. Through every sweltering sun and every blissfully cool moon, the plant inches toward the sky. On an especially bright Thursday, the plant’s leaves finally uncurl and spread, glowing in the pure yellow light. Razor-sharp edges zigzag around the perimeter of each leaf, creating uniform triangular points. Curling veiny lines, as unique as rivers, wind across the expanse of each valley and peak of the textured creases in the leaf, exploring every shadowed trench and every sun-kissed summit.

Bud: Soon after that, buds begin to sprout. Neatly folded flowers tucked inside the warmth of the sepal closed around them adorn the spaces between leaves. With every new day, each bud expands, and one day a flower blooms. A trove of bright crimson petals arch outward, their delicate bodies shivering under the slightest breeze. The inner petals curl and fold, protecting the precious, sticky pollen in the center. An unknown variety of creases, nearly invisible at a healthy distance but prominent up close, are embedded in the petals - petals that, if significantly increased in size, could easily be mixed up with a soft red blouse, in much need of ironing.

Born: At its peak, the plant basks in all of its glory. Everything about it practically shines with a radiance that only something as healthy as this plant can achieve. Everything–each unfurled leaf, resilient stem, and vibrant flower – all had reached the pinnacle of its beauty. Then, ever so slowly, crispy brown patches form at the edges of a few petals. Their smooth, firm texture becomes limp, thinner, and slightly wrinkled. The entire flower dries from the inside out. One maroon petal detaches, idly floating down to the parched dirt. The others follow until only the bare stamen remains, which has given up the joyful yellow color of its youth in favor of a dark brittle appearance and an even more fragile structure. The energy and vibrancy that the plant brought to its area of the room fades away. Then, from the wilting leaves, a wisp of pale green emerges and starts to grow once again, bringing the promise of light to the room once more.

BELONGING

This summer, I went to a hiking sleepaway camp in Taiwan. Despite the language barrier, I felt that I was able to connect with others fairly easily through group activities. Climbing slippery rocks that protruded from rivers required constant hand holding for safety. When I came face to face with a particularly large spider while submerged up to my chest in murky river water, an 8-year-old-girl calmly reassured me, picked up the spider and threw it to the side, and pulled me out of the water with surprising strength. When we reached our destination, I thanked her and felt closer to everyone I’d interacted with in order to get here. There was something about complaining about unbearable heat and innumerable near death experiences strung together consecutively that really made us feel connected, and I, after having rescued many of my peers from slipping on boulders, felt like I belonged.

While it’s difficult to find yourself wading through river water in the middle of a Taiwanese jungle with your book club, we can still cultivate belonging in communities like those. Activities that encourage trust and require teamwork can make people feel more connected. Putting people in groups to converse about things they all have in common can also cultivate a sense of belonging, as they will have common ground to understand each other. Additionally, doing each other favors also makes people feel closer. I always feel closer to someone after lending them my highlighters or pens when they forget them or when I offer a book recommendation.

Naturally, school is harder to cultivate a belonging environment because people generally associate school with hard work and stressful situations and therefore feel less inclined to be kinder to each other and to feel like they belong. They also are middle schoolers, so they’re naturally more insecure and tend to pick on one another as a result. However, I think Harbor Day is already doing a few great things to cultivate belonging. Firstly, the outdoor education trips are a fantastic way to build trust and cultivate belonging. During group projects, people can slack off and rely on others to pick up the work for them. However, outdoor activities like hiking and rock climbing require people to help each other out, even if they need to help people they dislike. (Middle schoolers always need incentive to help each other.) Another great thing Harbor Day does to cultivate belonging is holding Morning Meetings. Not only do they often include activities centered around building a stronger community, but the act of assembling them also requires trust and teamwork. The only thing Harbor Day needs to do to cultivate belonging is to continue these activities.

In order to make others feel like they belong, people should participate in activities that build their trust in each other. Harbor Day’s Morning Meetings and outdoor education trips help build trust. Trust is necessary for a community to have a sense of belonging. Even something as simple as lending a pencil can help people feel closer. We need to help each other out of rivers, because no one can climb those boulders on their own.

Addison Stern

Emma Harrison

Liliana Badii

Lyla Fischbein

Kiana Sadri

Sloane Williams

FLESH

Cooper Piercey

Flesh.

Morphs to capture each bone on every individual

From the moment one enters the world

Growing, stretching, holding memories

Scars embrace the innocence of fresh skin

As I enter Auschwitz, eyes connect to the distinct black in a sky of azure

A repulsive scent lingers in my nose

“That is the smell of burning”

Burning rubber?

“Flesh”

Flesh.

Flesh.

The word entraps my mind for as long as the stench remains in the air

The color fades to an obscure gray as though it was forgotten

Lost Gone

Each detail on the Flesh.

Scars, birthmarks, freckles

Released in the breeze

But not lost

Not gone

Flesh.

Now lingering in the atmosphere

In each cloud that absorbs the hue of sky

Each raindrop that falls upon the ground

And the fog that blankets the world

Carried along in the lungs of those who survived

As lessons learned through generations

Flesh.

Cooper Piercey

Emery Pelinka

RUNNING IT BACK

Hong Ning William Shu

Gametime. The dewy turf grips onto my cleats as I stand, arms dangling and swaying with the wind. The moment the quarterback claps his hands, I explode out of stance, with an unparalleled determination to sprint downhill. As my left leg plants into the ground after three elongated strides, my body contorts to the right. The ball zips forward in an artistic, masterful way, mimicking a Fraser spiral illusion. My hands extend out of my frame, outstretched over my defender. With a sharp pop of my black gloves stopping the football’s motion, I fall toward the ground, with the football tightly clutched. Subsequently, the referee’s whistle slices sharply through the chilly fall air, signaling the end of the first half.

Gametime. The sideline buzzes with the sounds of mothers giving pep talks, younger siblings snacking, and indifferent relatives who reluctantly came, groaning. As Coach calls a halftime huddle, all eyes transfix upon the weathered synthetic leather of the score flipper: 21 - 14. I firmly grip the green Gatorade bottle, squeezing it periodically, aimed at my wide-open mouth, to relieve my thirst. As he finishes dictating the defensive formations, I pluck my metallic receiving gloves, reflecting the bright lights of the field, with my frost-stricken hands. I can envision myself catching a dazzling array of one-handed reaches that defy gravity and short, horizontal passes that I accelerate out of into the green, unexplored pastures of the 30-yard line and beyond. I can envision victory. But right now, it all begins with the next two quarters, and the first step to winning is, well, stepping onto the turf, as the pebbles crunch under my feet.

Gametime. My hands run through my sweat-soaked hair, like a blitz assaulting the walled protections of the quarterback. The raucous cheering of the opposition, the supposedly comforting “it’s okay” of family members, and the definitive three jeers of the plastic neon whistle ending the game all serve as ringing, hallowing reminders of my team’s loss. The footstep imprints left on the park’s soggy mud succinctly captures the memories I have of the game: stained and perpetual. Just as my lethargic, laggard body aches and yearns for the soft, cottony warmth of my newly washed bed, the booming voice of my teammate, Isaac, reaches my ears. “Run it back?” And though I feel nothing but defeat, physical and mental, I smile. Similar to the curve of a grin, the path I take curves as I hurry back to the field again. Game on.

TEAR

Luke Bellman

Juden.

The name given vulgar meaning by those infinitely more wicked than their victims

A people reduced to but a number

A number to erase.

Relentlessly tearing apart everything that indicated Jewish

Separating families,

The Nazis tore away Jews from our world

They would be gone and forgotten

Hope

Torn away feverishly

Ripped apart

Would they succeed in this unholy genocide?

Instead of accepting defeat, they relished in the little kindness shown to them

Not only just from other prisoners but also from Germans who did not stand with the Nazis

Shelter given to them was not taken for granted; it became a glimmer of hope

A light of humanity shown at the end of the bleak tunnel of the Nazi’s malevolence

They stood together, connected by the tears they shed, against the Nazis tears

In Roald Hoffmann’s story I saw this tenacity

His light was his neighbors taking personal risk to protect him

Even when we have nothing to gain and everything to lose

To help those close to us is what makes us human

To stand against the Nazi’s great hate, an even greater love

Love that allowed them to survive in unity

Out of the Nazi’s hate was born a new, more exceptional love

“There is no forgiving without remembering”

To patch up the tears the Nazis bore into their hearts

We must first acknowledge their wounds before they may heal

We must hear the sorrowful yet hopeful cry of the survivors’ tales

Before we allow their tears to be forgotten

By Annie Erlinger, First Grade