Harbor Lights 2022-23

harbor lights

A CELEBRATION of the LITERARY & VISUAL ARTS

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

Justin Kerr

Kelley Otis

Heather Schmid

ART DIRECTORS

Dayna Sable

Leslie Yagar

Courtney Zarrilli

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sargeant Creative DESIGN

primate design

ON THE COVER

Kindergarten Self-Portraits

Bennett Watts, Raghav Bansal, Madison Barker, Penelope Nwankwo, Allison Jin, Nathan Li

Ms. Hogan’s KINDERGARTEN

I put my eyes to my knees

I see relaxing colors Red Blue And green It feels so good Calm

BUTTERFLY

Reese Foster

Hello, butterfly. You are as graceful as a bird. You fly in the air. You soar through the sky. You’re like a kite with wings. You are colorful, orange and black. With antennae like drum sticks!

You make me feel happy inside.

CALM

Olivia Chapman Calm

I am myself When I am calm I am in A relaxing position I feel calm

Right now I put my eyes to my knees

I see relaxing colors Red Blue And green It feels so good Calm

OCEAN

Isla Shifflett

Ocean Crash I hear the waves

Crash, crash, crash

Shooooo

Blump

Uh, oh

A shell

So nice

So fun

Crash, crash, crash

Oh

Watch out

Waves are coming

Got to go

Ahhhh

Let’s go

Ocean

SHELL

Wesley Tippett

Swirly like a white tornado. Spin, spin!

Spiky like a pinecone. Ouch! White like a fluffy cloud. Pointy at the top like a shark fin. Shell.

RAINBOW

Eloise Chen

Rainbow, rainbow glittering in the sky.

You are shiny and colorful.

Your colors are spectacular! Sun is out. Rain is coming. Drip, drop.

Rainbow, rainbow.

Isla Shifflett, Wesley Tippett, Eloise Chen

FIRE

Drew Kappler

Tick, tick

Like a clock

I am hot

Like the sun

Crashing in the woods

Click, click

A horse walking

Click, click

Gathering sticks

Oh, no

The fire is rising

Run away

PLAYGROUND

Theo Sung

I hear The noises outside I am Having fun Going down the slide

Weeee!

I hear The children

Ahhh!

I hear All the fun

DOLLY Annie E.

Aroooo! Where is the bacon? Sniff. Sniff. Doggy mischief. I am so soft. You can’t resist! I love you.

Yay!

I shoot a hoop Swish

Yes! I do a flip

OWL

Eloise Money

Hoo!

So fluffy like a pom pom. Picking bugs. Turn your neck to look around for prey. You take off to find food.

Woosh!

Scratch. You soar through the sky.

Hoo!

Hoo!

Theo Sung

Drew Kappler

RAIN FOREST

Jad Jafar

Tweet, tweet

Shhhhhhh

Tip-toe, tip-toe

Plop

Goes the rock

Wooosh

Trees swaying

Beavers chomping

CRACK Goes the tree

Crack, crack, crack

Let’s observe nature

CRACK

SHELL

Zachary Donnelly

Shell

Smooth

Like glass

Pointy

Like a knife

Brown And White

Like a giraffe

Sounds

Like the ocean

A house

For a crab Shell

HAPPY

Caroline Hoffman

Happy

Feels like I just

Want to tell everyone

How I feel

Happy tears

fall down from my eyes

Happy

When my brother

Is nice

My mom

Plans fun activities

So fun

Happy

SILLY

Hayes Manfred

Silly

Tickle me

My heart is beating fast

Laughing

With my brother

Smiling

My teeth shining I can’t breathe

Stop tickling

Sounds like Happiness

Silly

MS. HOGAN’S KINDERGARTEN

Caroline Hoffman

Jad Jafar

Naomi Nelson

Colors like coral Beautiful Like a Delicatepearl Like Foundglassunderground Like gold

FISH

Thomas Shepherdson

HAPPY

Everlie Peets

Happy Excited

MONSTER

Naomi Nelson

Boom, boom

Crack, crack

Booooooom!

FEE FI FO

I’m scared

Butterflies in my tummy

Booooooom

Crick, crackle

The monster is coming

Boom!

Phew

We are safe

Surprised Calm

Funny myself

Petting

My dog Smile

Sticking

My tongue out Playing Happy

Swim Swim Swim

Swim, fish, swim

You can Do it

A shark is coming

Watch out!

Swim

As fast as you can

Clop

Clop

Clop

Thomas Shepherdson

FALCON

Bennett Watts

I am a Falcon

Big brown wings

As thick

As a tree trunk

Claws

As sharp

As a vampire’s teeth

Eyes

Can see for miles

I see my prey

I soar down And grab my dinner

Yummy

GYMNASTICS BAR

Andie Webb

Spin me

Spin me

Weee

I am not heavy

Don’t drop me

Please

If you do I will go

Stumbling

Boom

Boom

Cartwheels

Handstands

Aerials

I feel

Strong.

DIAMONDS

Allison Jin

Diamonds

Shiny like treasure

Colors like coral

Beautiful

Like a pearl

Delicate

Like glass

Found underground

Like gold

Smooth

Like a dolphin

Glowing in the light

Diamonds

TEARS

Raghav Bansal

Tears are like rain. They fall down from your eyelashes. Tears go down and splatter all over the floor. Tears drop.

Tears, like a loud waterfall. Splitter, spatter. Drip. Drop.

LEGO

Gordon Yang

LEGO Build a car

Brick

Brick Put on the tires

Vroom

Vroom

Here it comes

Build a tower

Red And Blue

Oh, no

Crick, crack

It falls

LEGO

DOLPHIN

Madison Barker

Dolphin I am a dolphin

I spin

Around I make

Funny noises

Eeeeeeeee!

I splash

In the water I am

Gray and black I am

Slippery and smooth

Dolphin

Ms. Lange’s KINDERGARTEN

TURTLES

Lily Young

I am a turtle

I hear the waves splash

Crash, crash

I am a turtle

I see the surfer surfing

Crash

One fell off

It is raining

Oh, no

A shark is trying to eat me

I feel nervous

Ahh

Phew

He gave up

I am a turtle

I want the sun to come out

MERMAID

Madelyn Wang

Splash, splash

My scales are shiny

Like a rainbow

Splash, splash

I’m swimming in the water

Splash, splash

I like to find treasure

Splash, splash

I like to see the beautiful fish

Splash, splash

I love the ocean

Madelyn Wang

COLORED PENCIL

Luke Stoecker

I broke

Oh, no

Ahhhh

I am going

To be sharpened again

Oh, no

I am sad

Wait a second

I am going to

Be able to color again

I am happy

RAINBOWS

Penelope Nwankwo

Rainbows are like colorful jewels

Rainbows are beautiful

Like dancing ballerinas in the rain

Rainbows smell like rain dropping from the sky

Drop, drop

Rainbows taste like goodness

Drop, drop

It is raining

Yay!

There is a rainbow!

THE BEAR

Nathan Li

I wait and wait until I see prey

I walk closer and closer until I am close enough I jump

And grab my prey

And bite my prey

And defeat it

Grr

I am full

I am happy

Bennett Watts, Raghav Bansal, Madison Barker, Penelope Nwankwo, Allison Jin, Nathan Li

PENGUINS

Aiden Tai

Penguins are like little toy cars sliding Woosh!

Penguins are like babies walking

Click, clack, click!

Penguins are like submarines swimming

Swish, swish!

Black and white

Splashing in the water

I like penguins!

LIGHTNING

Luke Martin

Boom, boom

I am lightning

Shocking the earth

Boom

I can shock you

Like a yellow zig zag

That lights up in the night

POPCORN

Harper Lingenfelter

Popcorn is like Puffy clouds

I love popcorn

Pop

Crunch, crunch

Yummy, yummy

Yellow like the sun

Pop

Pop

The popcorn is ready

SOCCER

Micah Margolis

Soccer is fun

Kick

I kick the ball

Kick

I have a team

Kick

I am running fast as lightning

It is time for a soccer game

Tweet, tweet

I scored

We win

I am happy like the sun

Micah Margolis

SLEEPOVER TIME

Ella Palazzola

It is sleepover time

Get your pillow

It is soft

Like a sheep

It is sleepover time

Get your blanket

It is warm

Like the sun

It is sleepover time

Get your stuffies

They are loving

Like a friend’s hug

It is sleepover time

Get your pajamas

They are comfy

Like a blanket

It is movie time

Zzzz

It is morning time

WATERMELON

I am a watermelon

I’m so juicy

Drippy, droppy

Please don’t eat my juiciness!

I’m yummy

Drippy, droppy

Please!

I’m the best watermelon

Nooooo!

Crunch!

HAPPY

Lila Gross

I lost my tooth. Yay!

The tooth fairy is going to come

I am loving it

What if the Tooth Fairy does not come?

I hope she comes

Zzzz

Ding, ding

That’s her Zzzz

Wait, I missed her Zzzz

What?

I got 100 dollars!

WIND

Gemma Yi

The wind is like the waves

Going up and down in the ocean

It’s so windy

Oooowwwooo

Scary like a Monster

Slamming the door

Knock

Bam

It blows my hat away

Oooowwwooo

Birds fly away

Wahhh

It’s raining now

Bianka B.

Bianka B.

A PENCIL

Malone Sabaugh

Crack Ouch

I am broken

A girl put me in the sharpener

Buzz

Ouch

You can write with me

I am the color of the sun

My tip is silver

The color of the moon

Buzz, buzz

Ouch

I am in the sharpener again

Phew

I am out of the sharpener

Now no one will put me in the sharpener

POKÉMON

Theo Krasinski

Pokémon are like bombs

Boom!

Pokémon are like pets

Kapow!

Pokémon are like cannonballs

Pika!

Dragonite, flying in the sky, is angry

Pika!

Battle time is here!

Go and get them!

Pika, Pika!

THE FLY

Thomas Larkin

Buzz, buzz!

I see a fly.

It is black.

Buzz, buzz!

Itch, itch.

The fly bit me!

Itch, itch. Bad fly!

Ahhhh!

Swarm!

HAPPY

Brynn Mumford

Happy to go to The Bahamas

Jump, jump

Like a kangaroo

At the zoo

Yay

It is finally time to go to The Bahamas

Jump, bump

Like a bunny

I am feeling happy

I AM MAD

Dean

Hackett

Grrrr

I am mad

When my brother takes my stuffed animals

Grrrr

I am mad

When my brother tells on me

Grrrr

I am roaring like a bear

Stomping into the backyard

Boom Boom

I am mad

THE SKATEBOARD

Aiden Roshdieh

A skateboard is like a fast rocket

Swoosh!

A skateboard is like a fast torpedo

Swoosh!

A skateboard is like a car on the sidewalk

Swoosh!

A skateboard is like a windy day

Because you are going fast

Swoosh!

I am happy when I skateboard

Swoosh!

BEACH

McKayla Vanderburg

People swimming in the ocean. Splash, splash!

Aww, you got me wet!

Splash, splash!

When you see people surfing at the beach, you will see splashing. Splash, splash!

Aww, lots of splash-splashing. Good beach!

HAPPY

Olympia Zahedi

Happy is like a jumping bunny

When I have a playdate

When I am going to Disneyland

I am excited like a kangaroo

Ahh!

Too much excitement!

Like a firework

Pew, pew Boom!

VALENTINE’S DAY

Hadley Holland

Valentine’s Day

Is like a fluffy cloud

Taking me to a magical place

Woosh!

Valentine’s Day

Is like a rainbow unicorn

In pink, sparkling cotton candy

Twinkle, twinkle!

Valentine’s Day

Is like a big, warm hug

It is time to open my valentines

Yay!

McKayla Vanderburg Hadley Holland

FIRST GRADE

What’s fun about dancing is that you can do it anywhere you want.

Siena Sadri, William Salter, Gillian Block

Connor Townes

Brooklyn Tsai

Palomma Schumacher

Jackson Turner

HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH

Clara Chan

First, get a toothbrush and toothpaste. Tip: rinse the toothbrush with water. Next, open the toothpaste cap and squeeze the toothpaste on your toothbrush. Tip: do not squeeze too hard. Next, rinse your toothbrush in water for three seconds. Turn off the water. Last, put your toothbrush in your mouth and swipe it on your bottom teeth and your top teeth. You are brushing your teeth!

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Talia Batniji

Do you like silly books? Then you’ll love How to Eat Pizza. This book is silly because the pizza talks. In this book, a person is learning to eat pizza. The pizza suggests eating the other slices. You’ll have to read to find out what comes next. I think this book is best for first and second graders. I rate this book “two thumbs up!” Go check this book out today. I hope you like it.

DEAR MOMMY,

I think you should get me a turtle. I will take care of it, and I will feed it. I will clean its tank and pet it every day. I will buy it with my own money. Will you take me to get a pet turtle, please?

Your turtle-loving kid, Tommy Lee

Elizabeth Stone

Tommy Lee

HOW TO GROW A FLOWER

Hunter Piercey

First, have all your stuff out like seeds, water bucket, and gloves. Next, plant your seeds in the dirt with gloves. Then, water the seeds with the water bucket. Then, wait for fourteen days and check on the flower and water every day. Last, when it is a flower, still take care of the flower. You could also pick the flower to give to someone.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Ainoor Tariq

Do you like caterpillars? Do you like food? If so, you might like The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. There is a caterpillar who eats too many sweet things and gets a tummy ache. This is where it gets good! First graders or other graders who like caterpillars might like this book. I would rate this book “nine out of ten cute baby caterpillars.” If you like this review, you should read The Very Hungry Caterpillar. If you want it, you can find it in the library. If you want to read it, go get it!

DEAR MOM,

Dance is the best after school activity. You learn lots of new dances. You can learn jazz, ballet, hip-hop, tap, and many more! There are so many friends you dance with. You can dance anywhere. You can dance outside or in a house. What’s fun about dancing is that you can do it anywhere you want. You should try it, Mom!

Love your dancing star,

Natalia Habbas

Zachary Rattet

Catherine Gray

HOW TO MAKE A PIZZA

Jasper Hu

First, flatten the dough. Don’t push too hard, or it will get skinny. Next, push the inside of the dough. Then put some toppings on the dough and put the dough in the oven. Finally, cut the pizza into a lot of slices. Enjoy your pizza!

Rohan Murphy, Jasper Hu

Gemma Ward

Chloe Peykoff

Tamsin Sharma, Gemma Ward

SECOND GRADE

Love is music. Listening to calm, gentle music relaxes my mind. The violin is the perfect instrument for classical music. Music fills my house with happiness. Love is knowing that I am able to play my violin. Whenever I am feeling stressed, I turn on my radio. If everyone in the world could play music, people could experience the joy I know. Music is love.

Charlotte Stone

Willem van Akkeren

Willem van Akkeren

Landon Dowers

Everly Wang

Clinton Hackett

Colette Chiao

NORTH TUSTIN

Colette Chiao

Chirp. Chirp. I hear a bird make a beautiful song, but I do not know which bird it is. I love North Tustin. It is where I live. I live with the trees. I have lots of space in my yard. I like it there because I have a nice place to make my fairy gardens. Woosh. I feel the soft wind blowing. I smell my grandpa making dinner, and I taste the fresh fruit that my mom just cut. I see my brother riding his bike. “Coco, we can ride our bikes!” he calls. So, I ride my bike too. We will ride until dinner. I am very close to one of my second cousins. I live in North Tustin, and he lives in Tustin. I see him a lot. I am a long way from school, though. I am a faculty kid, so I have to wake up early. My house is very big inside. I share a room with my brother, but I am going to get my own room soon! Looking out my living room window, I have a beautiful view. I can see lots of mountains. North Tustin is my favorite place to be.

DISNEYLAND

Everly Wang

WHERE I’M FROM

Aria Dinan

I am from my secret treasure chest

From Miley and my safe

I am from the house with the trampoline Fun, warm, nice

I am from the tree in my house

From Noora and Mommy

I’m from “Eat your food,” and “Stop it!”

I’m from Eid, my birthday

From Newport Beach, Iran

From tahdig, ghormeh sabzi

I am from going skiing every Saturday

As I step in line to check in, I see all the fun things and people at Disneyland. It is time for some rides and some very yummy food! We go on It’s A Small World. When I get into the boat, I can see the water moving all around. I see the colorful lights and the pretty decorations as the boat moves around. I hear beautiful music in so many languages. When the ride ends, it is time for lunch! I can smell the buttery popcorn, the sweet churros, and corn dogs. The food feels warm and hot. It tastes salty and a little bit sweet. I love Disneyland!

Dilan Pier, Everleigh Parkin, Valentina Beaton

EL RANCHITO

Eddie Arkin-Horowitz

I love El Ranchito. I can smell the tastiness of the chingolingas when we drive in the car on the way back to my house. I want to get home quickly because it is so good. Before I even take a bite, I can taste it in my belly. I touch the soft tortilla and bite into it. I almost faint because it is so good! I eat it so fast because it is so delicious. I love the taste of the bean and cheese burrito as it is swirling from my mouth to my stomach. I hear those crunchy chips, and only a little bit of salt can make them even better. El Ranchito is the best restaurant in the whole world.

Love is a nice cup of hot cocoa fresh from Dad’s coffee machine. He gets it ready in the morning while I wake up, make my bed, take a shower, and do my Kumon. I have a warm feeling when I drink the delicious hot stream that goes down my throat and into my tummy. It makes my body feel nice inside and loved.

Ryan Swope

Love is my family. They protect me and hug me when I’m sad. They take me to amazing places and pay tuition so I can go to this great school! My dad takes me camping with my friends, and my mom goes to piano practice with me. They both take me to art class. My dogs and brother play with me when I am lonely. I love them all so much. Love is knowing that I get to spend time with my family. Whenever I am feeling frustrated, my family cheers me on, and I feel better. If everyone could have a family like mine, people could experience the happiness I know. My family is love.

Esme Tran

Esme Tran

WHERE I’M FROM Clinton Hackett

I am from my grandma’s starfish

From my pens and my dog

I am from the big white house with the garages

Warm, big, crazy

I am from tomatoes in the garden

From Walter and Cordelia Knott

I’m from “I love you” and “Amazing job,”

I’m from Day of the Dead and Christmas

From Mexico, Colombia

Flan, beans

I am from my great-grandpa who made Knott’s Berry Farm

DEAR READER,

Do you like adventurous books? If you do, you should read The Princess In Black Takes a Vacation. It is about how Princess Magnolia gets tired of fighting monsters, so she takes a vacation with her horse named Blacky. She relaxes on the beach, but a sea monster comes bursting out of the ocean. She wants to relax, but everybody is screaming, so she runs to get changed, charges out of the dressing room, and fights the monster. If you do not want to read it, you will miss out on the fun! Go get The Princess In Black Takes a Vacation.

Sincerely,

Emery Werner

Mia Flesher

Arvin Mahmoudoff

Owen Sung

Sloane Smith

Charles Sun

Lily Shepherdson

THIRD GRADE

A thousand butterflies were forming in my stomach.

Will Gooding, Noora Dinan, Caroline Kirkowski

THE GOAL

Cammie Suplizio

As I was driving to the sideline, I had the ball at my feet and was facing a challenging situation with three opposing players. Coco, Willa, and Eva were closing in on me. I did the special move I was working on to get out of trouble. Suddenly, I looked up and saw Vivian driving up the field. I quickly gave her a through ball, but before I passed, I remembered the corner kick flag was the finish line. I shot down the field. A thousand butterflies were forming in my stomach. “Cross!” I yelled in a trembling voice. She smacked a cross to me. I took my time as I set up the ball for my shot. I smacked the ball and thought for sure it would be a save, but… it went right through her legs and into the goal! My teammates quickly surrounded me with cheers and high-fives.

THE BIG FALL London Best Ring!

“Come on Sage, we’re going to be late for morning recess!” I shouted to my best friend to hurry up.

“Okay, okay,” Sage said reluctantly.

The clouds were gray and heavy, the air was cold, and there was still a silvery mist left behind by the morning dew. As we ran out to recess, I noticed a girl who got hurt by running. Was this a sign?

“Sage, I knew we would be late for recess and now we are!” I shouted grumpily.

“What, are you psychic or something?” Sage replied hotly.

We only had three minutes left until recess was over, so we ran and ran and ran, but then something happened. My leg muscles got sore,

and my feet felt like Jello. I got so tired. I wanted to break through and make it to the bench, but right before I could, my eyes closed.

I awoke to loud voices that belonged to teachers and dark thoughts were swirling in my head. The hard pavement was cold and uncomfortable. This can’t be good, I thought.

My knee was gushing blood. When I sat up, I saw pure chaos. All these people were staring at me. “Let me guess, another trip to the nurse’s office,” I said.

“Yes, yes it is,” replied Sage.

Once I stood up I felt wobbly, but I still trudged on with Sage to the nurse’s office. “I’m almost there,” I muttered. Right when I stepped through Nurse Perez’s doorway, I was greeted warmly. I smiled. Everything was going to be okay.

London Best

INCREDICOASTER

Nathan

Ronaghi

My hands gripped the bar tightly, and I heard a clicking sound. I clenched even harder. My heart was beating a million times a minute, and it felt like it was going to burst.

My body started tugging forward as the cart climbed to the peak of the roller coaster. It was like climbing up a mountain. As we reached the top of the peak, I could see all of Disneyland. The people looked like ants. It was time for the big drop.

Then I went as fast as light. I yelled while my hands still clenched the bars. I felt like I was flying. I stuck to the roller coaster seat like a fly. It was loopty-loop time, and it felt like my gut was going to come out of my mouth. I screamed like a gorilla.

Finally, the ride was over. I wanted to kiss the ground. I would never do that again, not even for a thousand dollars!

I AM

Kaley Tiwari

I am a person who loves to act and is always on the move

I wonder how long I will live

I hear my voice twirling in the air

I see the crowd cheering for me as I walk on stage

I want to be a famous actor when I grow up

I am a person who loves to act and is always on the move

I pretend I’m a famous actor performing on stage

I feel my microphone in my trembling hands

I touch a magical microphone to let everyone hear me

I worry about my family

I cry when I think about my grandpa who passed away

I am a person who loves to act and is always on the move

I understand that time will come but the past won’t

I say I will be a famous actor when I grow up

I try my very best in acting class

I hope to be on the big screen in the movies

I am a person who loves to act and is always on the move

KINDNESS

Ripley

Ledger

Kindness is like air, you need it to live Give it to others, it’s nice Saying hello is even a way Pay for others that can’t, they’ll say yay! If you do these things they’ll pass it on It will go on and on and on Kindness can be contagious, so just try it! Just a bit might change the world!

THE WATER RIDE

Ben McCormick

Excitement flew through my body as we got on the ride. Water was moving rapidly down the slide. We were off!

Bam!

We were in the air.

Splash!

My mom got soaked. It was pitch black. Green lights turned on in the dark.

Boom!

We hit a sharp turn. Then… We flew so high in the air. Boom! Bang!

We hit a pitch black room. We stopped for a millisecond. The tube kept going as fast as Usain Bolt.

Splash!

The ride was over. I yelled, “That was insane!”

Ben McCormick

Julian Neal

Charlotte Peykoff

Arya Prasad Murphy

Jacob Stoecker

Eddie Chapman

Calvin Thomson

Aiden Zhou

Dempsey Olsen

Anna Harrison

4

FOURTH GRADE

Blair Tennant, Antonio Yim, Blake Peterson, Kara Chen

As the beautiful blue waves carry me in like wings, I smile.

MONSTER MILE

Maria

Landy

What better way is there to spend a day than down at the beach? I hear the roar of hundreds of people racing down the deep blue waves. As the whistle blows, I start my mile run down the sandy beach of division two. The sound of the waves crashing next to me and the cold, wet white wash coming to my ankles excites me. As I build and build, my warm body starts to sweat. It feels like rain pouring down, urging me on.

When I get to the flag near where we turn to go to the ocean, I realize I am the first. I dive in. I feel the salty and frigid ocean beating down on me. It feels like a drink for my skin. Then I go, buoy after buoy. I am swimming a mile in the ocean.

The green, scaly fish are swimming next to me. When I get to the pier, I feel a rush of accomplishment. There are only 200 yards left to swim. I turn to come in, and I feel it: the relief. I say to myself, “I just ran a mile and swam back! I just won!” As the beautiful blue waves carry me in like wings, I smile. Not just a smile, but a feeling I will never forget. The day of the monster mile is the best day ever.

WATER PARK

Cain

Pallera

I woke up, and I was ready. I knew what today was. It was water park day! Once my friends and I were all there, we felt like the hot sun was fire on our bodies, but we did not care. When I jumped into the water, it felt like sizzling flames. We ran ahead and made sure to slide down all the best slides first.

The slides seemed a thousand feet tall. I loved going in my tube and going down, down, down, screaming for my life. When I got to the bottom of the slide, I thought to myself, that was so fun. I went back up to do it again, and it just got better and better.

I looked off the edge and saw waves that crashed down harder and harder. I was having the best summer day. We begged to go down the biggest slide one last time. What better way to spend a day than at the water park with friends? Running around and having fun is the best adventure there is.

Cole Kappler

Perry Block

LOVE

Troy Chan

For me, Valentine’s Day is a day where everybody is kind to each other. I say this because sometimes my family does not always get along, so this day is when everyone is loving. The same applies to my sister and me. I am not always nice to my sister and my sister is not always nice to me. I think it is great to have a day where people reflect on themselves and try to be better for one another and for themselves. If this is true, Valentine’s Day should be every day.

I show and express love to my family by hugging them. I show love to friends by caring about them and sharing with them. For example, during a basketball game, when my teammate made a shot, I high-fived him and said “Good shot, Rob!” I know how it feels when someone is nice to me, so I try my best to be nice to others every day. Sometimes I get cross with my family, but since I love them, I always make a point to apologize and move on.

I think love is a common theme in books, movies, and songs because everyone needs love. Love is like the sprinkles on sundae, mustard on a hot dog, or the crust on a pizza. No one thinks it is important, but you need that part to make your life bright. People may think love is mushy, gooey, or gross, but really love is what makes people human beings. Without feelings of love, humans will not find who they love and create more people. I think books, movies, and songs include love as a common theme to show the importance of love.

Beckham Butcher

Claire Chen Pierce Moatazedi

Kamal Batniji

Ami Louis

Savannah Turner Brixton Smith

Rishi Arora

SUNNY BARCELONA

Colin Costanzo

Towering churches and castles loom over the city as the stinky smell of sewer fills up your nose. Taxis are beeping loudly, and the delicious scent of warm croissants is in the air. Sticky humidity beats down, and sweat pours down your neck as you walk around the bustling city. When you gaze up, the sun is humongous and bright. Abstract graffiti litters the walls. Day slowly turns to night, and the quiet streets become empty except for the trash truck rolling down the streets. In the distance, party music is playing. A steady breeze cools the night. Outdoor markets are closed as the clock quietly ticks to midnight. Barcelona has all the best foods and very cool places to visit. My favorites are the Sagrada Familia Church and the Park Guell. Barcelona is my favorite place.

OREGON ROPE COURSE

Natalie Tao

As I finished the hike to the climbing area, I was waiting for someone to buckle me in. Finally, as I finished getting the heavy harness on, I could go up on the fun rope course. When I was up on the platform waiting to start, I could hear the wind blowing. I was super excited to finally go through the first course.

There was a piece of tape on the wire to tell you how difficult each course was. Green was the easiest, yellow was intermediate, and black was the toughest. I buckled myself in and went on the first course. My mom went behind me. My brother and dad went the other way.

The first courses were both green. I finished the first course easily and waited for my mom on the second platform. As I waited, I could smell the fresh scent of nature. We both were ready for a harder course.

I wanted to spend the whole day climbing and climbing. Being up in the trees was the best way to spend the summer.

Colin Costanzo

Natalie Tao

Roge Pier

Valentine’s Day means a day of love and happiness for how lucky you are to be alive and to be living a great life. Valentine’s Day is also about spreading love to those who do not have a lot of love, happiness, or joy. Love is important because it is the thing that can make you happy in life and in hard times.

I think you can show and express love by thinking about others before yourself. Kind acts of service once in a while can also make a big difference in how someone thinks about you. However, if they are family, you might show a little more affection (especially to girls). But love can also be a special quality time, which certain people might appreciate. Just a little bit of your time can go a long way. This is how I would show and express love.

I think love is a common theme in books and movies because it is important, and it is a way to spread love. For example, if you read a romance book, you might show and express love the way characters did in the book. Love is important, and that’s why it is everywhere.

Hendrik van Akkeren

McCall Morgan

Hadley Davis

FIFTH GRADE

BONE APPETIT

Sierra Taketa

It was eight o’clock, and all the students and teachers of Harbor Day School had gone home. One little dog and one big puppy had just woken up. Their names were Honey and Haley. Haley was a cheerful four-year-old King Charles Spaniel who belonged to the class of Mrs. Hahn. Honey was a two-year-old Golden Retriever who belonged to the class of Mrs. Kelly. Haley and Honey would wake up every night after the teachers had left and go on crazy adventures, and then sleep all day.

“Honey! Wake up!” yipped Haley playfully. “Mmm, fine…” Honey grunted quietly. This was not like Honey at all. Honey was always energized and, if anything, Honey would wake Haley up early.

“What’s wrong?” Haley woofed back. “I-I don’t know. I just feel sad.” Honey was young and stubborn. Honey had never admitted

her sadness to Haley, and she was rarely sad. This worried Haley.

“Is there anything we can do to make you happier?” asked Haley as she scratched the back of her ears. Haley did that a lot.

“Well, a couple of nights ago, I saw a book with a bone and a dog on the cover in the library. Maybe if I had a bone I could be happy,” answered Honey. Haley remembered Honey looking at the book with longing eyes. She had heard it was called Bone Appetit What Haley did not know was that Honey was just looking at the bone.

“Okay! Then a bone we shall find! C’mon Honey, let’s go!” barked Haley. So the optimistic King Charles Spaniel and the discouraged Golden Retriever set out on their journey. Honey and Haley explored the kindergarten playground first, finding no bone. After searching the blacktop, Middle School classrooms, Lower School classrooms, and teachers’ lounge with no luck, Honey was more discouraged than ever. >>

Julia Chapman

“I’m never going to find a bone,” said Honey sadly.

“We will find a bone. You can count on me!” insisted Haley. She needed to think quickly, for her friend was miserable. Haley’s brain thought of all the places she had explored before. Then it hit her. “Honey! I know just the place! It’s a bit risky, but it’s our most promising chance!” yipped Haley as she bolted to the quad. Honey followed behind her. The quad was filled with fake, flawless grass. It was not a scary place for the children of Harbor Day, for this was where they spent their recess time. For the puppies, on the other hand, this was a place they never dared to go. Once they had seen a lightning bolt hit the quad. Another time, Haley bumped into a metal railing and got shocked. Haley had never felt anything like it. Haley had to stay inside that whole night to heal. Soon, the two dogs made it to the quad.

“T-the quad?” whimpered Honey as soon as she realized what was happening.

“The quad,” answered Haley. “Doesn’t it just look perfect? I’ve never seen perfect grass like that! There’s no way we won’t find a bone!”

“B-but! It’s scary and dangerous! Remember what happened last time?” replied Honey.

“It’s fine!” lied Haley. The truth was, Haley was just as scared as Honey. She could feel herself getting shocked all over again. Haley shook her head. Now is not the time to think about this, Haley reminded herself as she stepped onto the grass. Haley shut her eyes and waited for the shock. Nothing happened. “Are you okay?” asked Honey with frightful eyes.

“Better than ever!” replied Haley. “C’mon! It’s safe, I promise,” barked Haley. Honey jumped down the staircase, careful not to touch the metal railing. Honey was awed by how perfect the grass was.

“We need to get digging!” Haley called as she scratched the grass. Honey nodded her head as she, too, scratched the grass.

A whole fifteen minutes had passed. Fifteen minutes might not seem a lot to you, reader, but for dogs, that is a long time.

“Why isn’t this working?” asked Haley

as she watched Honey biting at the grass. Honey’s face turned pale. She had just figured out that the quad was filled with fake grass, not real grass.

“Is everything all right?” asked Haley, as she saw Honey’s face pale.

“It’s not real grass,” answered Honey.

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry, Honey,” said Haley quietly. Haley wanted to cheer Honey up.

“It’s okay. I still had lots of fun hanging out with you,” woofed Honey with a small smile.

“That’s all that matters,” continued Honey.

Haley smiled. She cheered Honey up in the end. She was able to nurture their friendship even more.

“I had fun with you, too. We should play in the quad more!” barked Haley.

“Yeah, but I’m tired right now. Let’s go to bed. It’s five a.m.!” Honey woofed back. The two little dogs went back to their classrooms and dozed off to a heavy sleep.

In the morning, Mrs. Hahn and Mrs. Kelly placed a single bone by each of their beds. Bone appetit.

Caroline Gross

THE CHARACTER OF SUSANNA BOLLING

Abigail Robinson

You may have heard of many Revolutionary War heroes, including George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, but you probably have not heard about Susanna Bolling, the girl who snuck out to save America and win the Revolutionary War. Susanna was a young girl in the Revolutionary War. She lived on Bollingbrook Plantation in City Point, Virginia. Susanna was very patriotic and passionate about America, and she would do almost anything for her newborn country. Susanna’s Midnight Ride by Libby Carty McNamee shows that Susanna Bolling was sneaky, persistent, and tough.

Susanna Bolling was very sneaky. She eavesdropped at a pub to hear what was going on with the war (35). Even though she could have been caught, Susanna took the risk and blended in with the noisy crowd to not be noticed. Another example of this is that Susanna left in the middle of the night to warn General Lafayette of his planned kidnapping (169). This was sneaky because she did not let the British Redcoats see her, and silently slipped out of the tunnel. Finally, Susanna was swift and clever enough to take Raven, a neighbor’s young Black Stallion, and bring her back in time to hide her from the Redcoats (171). She snuck into the barn, and then Susanna quickly and quietly rode Raven twenty miles to Half Way House and back without anyone seeing her. Eavesdropping, sneaking out, and taking Raven unseen for twenty miles and back are just a few of the many examples showing that Susanna Bolling is brave.

Another trait Susanna possessed was persistence. For example, she stood up for Jefferson (100). Even when the men were telling her to back off like she was just a little girl who should not think of politics at all, Susanna kept arguing back until people stood on her side. Another example of Susanna’s determination and perseverance was when she convinced her mother to let her save Lafayette and America (155). Even though Mother was very skeptical, Susanna would not take no for an answer and kept fighting until she gave in. Lastly, when the guards she had to pass to reach Lafayette thought she was a silly little girl and told her to go away, Susanna stayed put (178). She kept yelling at them to open the door (or lose the war) enough to wake up Lafayette and finally convince the guards to let her in. Susanna Bolling’s persistence was essential to win the war.

Lastly, Susanna was very tough. For example, she got hit by a huge tree branch while riding in the night (173). However, Susanna only took a short stop and carried on. Also, on page 177, Susanna sprained her ankle. Even though she could barely move, she kept going. Another example is when Susanna had to leave Stith behind (189). She had not seen her brother in five years, and could not bear to lose him again, but she did it for freedom and her country, America. Tough is a very accurate description of Susanna Bolling.

Three words to describe Susanna Bolling are sneaky, persistent, and tough. Because of these traits, Susanna saved America, and became “The Girl Who Won The Revolutionary War.” Her sneakiness let her get to the Half Way House to warn Lafayette. Her persistence got her past guards and other obstacles in her life. And Susanna Bolling’s toughness took her all the way, even with grim conditions. Her story proves that even when others make you feel small, there is always a way to push through to greatness for your country, family, and home.

Abigail Robinson

Annalyse Dowers

Luca Bedekar

Beckham Burke

Maya Hogsett

Liam Shepherdson

Quinn Root

Emma Evans

Hudson Williams

Pierce Kleiman

Maggie Li

Lucas Jones

UNCLE TOM

JP Kirkowski

The sky was open, the lush grass still wet. The air smelled like fresh, fertile soil. I was playing wiffle ball with my uncle in my grandparent’s Massachusetts backyard. It had just rained. Boy, I thought, it sure does rain a lot in Massachusetts. I pitched to my Uncle Andrew, and he hit the ball deep to the right. I ran to get it. As I was picking the ball up, I glanced at the table by the back door.

There he was, sitting by the table near the back door. He had wrinkled skin, grayish-white hair, and the great big grin on his face that I knew so well. Tom, my great-uncle, was a sight for sore eyes. My heart burst open with excitement as I dashed over to hug him. But then I remembered that he was older now and had some health problems, so I slowed down. We hugged for what seemed like forever. I felt so happy and lucky to have a great-uncle like Uncle Tom. Little did I know, I had a limited amount of time left with him. He asked me, “How’ve you been, champ?” His calm, witty voice soothed me like a refreshing gulp of cold water.

“Amazing!” I replied, so impatient to tell him everything I had done since the last time I had seen him. We talked a bit longer. Eventually, my grandma said it was time for Uncle Tom to go back to his house. We said our goodbyes, and he left. After he left, I had a sickening feeling in my stomach, like someone had punched me as hard as they could with a boxing glove.

A few months later, back in California, my mom came up to me with a gloomy look on her face. I knew something was wrong. “I have some tragic news,” she said. “Uncle Tom has passed.” Without me even realizing it, my eyes welled up with tears. All the games he would play with us and all the jokes he would tell would never be played or told again. If only I had known that he was going to die so soon. Maybe I could have at least tried to spend more time with him.

We were on our way back to Massachusetts again a week after we heard the news, but not for a fun vacation. We were coming back for Uncle Tom’s funeral. Everyone was there: uncles, aunts, grandpas, and grandmas. There were even people I had never seen before. Everyone gave speeches about their memories with Great Uncle Tom. No matter how fun the memories were, no one giving a speech could make it to the end without shedding a tear (or twenty). It felt like time in the church had stopped, and everyone could feel the uneasiness in the air. Anyone who saw us sulking out of the church at the end of the funeral would think a gallon of water had drenched us, we were so tear-stained. There was even a man who needed help walking out of the church because he was so miserable that he could not do it on his own. We got in our car and drove in the opposite direction of our grandparents’ house. “Dad,” I whimpered between sniffles, “where are we going now?”

“We’re going to a restaurant with everyone else,” my dad replied, clearly trying to fight back his tears. On the way there, I thought about many things about Uncle Tom. Should I have said more things to him? Played more games? Hugged him one more time? My mom seemed to notice my regretful thoughts and put a hand on my shoulder. She smiled at me and I smiled back. I now knew everything was going to be okay.

Now, more than a year later, I frequently think of Uncle Tom, especially when I visit my grandparents’ house. Every time I walk down the hall, I see a framed picture of him smiling his great smile. I smile back at him every time. I realize now that I had enjoyed and made the most of the time that he was here with me. I know everything is going to be okay. Uncle Tom may be gone, but he will live in our hearts forever.

Reese Paolone

Joseph Zhou

Cece Cudzil

Adler Tsai

Victoria Sun

Marcus Blumetti

Ford Stiefel

Ayla Mohtashami

SIXTH GRADE

Leah Jindal

Luca Zahoul Sans

Lila Peykoff

Eric Lu

A flutter from the butterflies that want to escape reminds me that we will start playing soon.

THEME PARK BUTTERFLIES

Collins Nelligan

CLICK!

“Hello everyone, we’re You’re On Mute! We are performing today at the OC Fair! Wooo!” we exclaim into the camera.

The band seems ready to perform our songs. But am I?

“Great work, guys,” the videographer says, pressing his finger on the off button.

It is time to start setting up our instruments. I head straight to the large, black stage. The August sun beats down on us, but luckily a large tarp lies above the stage, providing shade. People gather and settle down, waiting for us to begin. As I go to adjust a drum, I see my father walking over from helping another band member. “Hi!” I say as I jump in for a hug.

“Hey, bro!” he replies, wrapping his arms around me like a present. “Are you ready?”

I glance up at him. “I don’t know! So many people are here to see us play!”

“You’ll do great, I know it. You’ve worked so hard to be in the place you are in! Come on, I’ll help you get your drums set up.” I unleash him from my tight embrace, and we continue to alter my drum set.

Now that everyone has set up, I high-five Mr. Ashley, one of the sound professionals. Mr. Ashley walks around to the other side of the stage, leaning side-toside with each step, and picks up a shiny, brand-new microphone.

“Welcome, everyone,” he says to the audience of about thirty people, “to the OC Fair! We have a band of eleven-year-olds performing today. Give a warm welcome to You’re… On… MUUUUTE!” Mr. Ashley bellows like a host of a game show.

Cheers and applause burst from the parents and children. I smile while silently saying my own little “Woo hoo!” I examine the stage to see my bandmates

grinning as well. I wave and smile at my family and they mouth “Hi” back and give me a thumbs up. A flutter from the butterflies that want to escape reminds me that we will start playing soon. Numerous bombs of “what ifs” explode in my mind. What if I mess up? Nevertheless, I can’t give up. A tremendous amount of effort had gone into this set list, and if I quit right now, all the fun I had creating this music magic would disappear. I hear clapping and snap back to reality. I tap my sticks to start our first song, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” My heart beats loud and fast, and I wonder if it will change the rhythm of the song. BOOM! I immediately start the song and forget about my nervousness.

Time flies by, and the song ends in a blink of an eye. Relieved, I sigh and wipe my forehead with my sweaty palms. We had eight songs on our set list, leaving seven more to go; however, now, I am not worried. The first one went well. I believe the rest will too!

Our last song will begin shortly, and the crowd has grown! I think that around sixty people are now listening to us play. I hope more people come and watch us.

“Don’t stop!” I hit the drums as hard as my arms can take it and finish our set. More screams and claps come from all the people. My face hurts from smiling, and I look around to find anyone I had not recognized while playing. Seeing people I do not know makes me glow even more than finding the people I already knew. They must have thought we were interesting or good enough to make it worth their while. I light up and feel proud–not just for me, but for all my friends and bandmates who have worked tirelessly to succeed. I am looking forward to another show to continue this inspiring experience. We are called You’re on Mute, but I think we finally found our voice!

Aaron Hsu

Sienna Hernandez

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER

Leela

Tripathi

Does everyone coming to this camp want to run far away? I certainly do when we pull up to the basketball arena. My dad, grandpa, and I had just flown to Kentucky the night before. About to do a basketball camp with the University of Kentucky basketball team, I anxiously think, How will I keep up with all of them? What if I am the worst player there? What if I mess up? These thoughts swirl in my head like a furious hurricane, fighting to break my skull in two.

“Are you ready?” asks my dad, thrilled to experience his childhood once again.

“I guess,” I reply, not really telling the truth. I have to admit, excitement builds inside me as we walk toward the doors. We walk into the Memorial Coliseum, a basketball arena at Kentucky University. When we get to the terrifyingly open doors leading to the court, I want to run away. But I do not.

“You fired up?” asks my dad, his go-to saying before a basketball game or practice. No, I think.

“Yep.” I reply out-loud.

We walk through the doors and down the stairs leading to the court. Suddenly, I realize something. And that something makes the little excitement I had disappear. I scan every dad and daughter on the court, and none of them have brown or black skin. Not a single Asian or African American person in sight. They are like sharks surrounding me, a minnow. Suddenly, now very aware of the pigment of my skin, I realize I never have had a problem with my skin before. In fact, at that moment, I do not have a problem with my skin. But I like to blend in, and I know that I will stand out. Alone and surrounded. The only Indian. The only person with dark skin. The only trio in the mass of duos. The only one who has played basketball for less than a year. The only one who does not fit in with the crowd. The only puzzle piece that does not fit. We walk down the stairs toward the court, and my dad starts talking to another dad. I should talk to his daughter. “Hi,” I say, shy and quiet.

The girl, about my age, replies, “Hi,” in a slightly southern accent.

After that, I don’t really know what to say, so I ask, a bit more boldly, “Are you excited about this camp?”

“Yeah,” the girl says with a bit of uncertainty in her voice. “I’m a little nervous.”

I can definitely relate to her. “Me too,” I say. Although I am sweating a little and anxiousness covers my face, knowing that she feels the same calms me down a little. I look up and notice how everyone is talking to the people next to them and shooting baskets on the court. I realize that although my family differs from everyone else here, we all have something in common. We all came here to play a game we love: basketball. My dad now talks to a small group of dads, and I think, He fits in, but not in the way I thought before. For a puzzle to form, all the pieces have different shapes. Because of our unique shapes, we can click together to make a beautiful picture. Unlike the other girls, I came from California as an Indian girl with brown skin and black hair. That makes me my own unique puzzle piece. And that piece helps create a beautiful picture.

Brooklyn Tennant

Hudson Butcher

DUCKS!

Aurora Sun

“Ducks!” my brother yells as we hop out of the car and glance at the pond. I unbuckle my seatbelt, and it buzzes angrily. After three long hours in the car, we welcome our arrival.

The pond glistens under the sunlight, and a few green trees stand tall and proud adjacent to the pond. White, fluffy clouds cover the diamond-blue sky, and hundreds of ducks fill the pond. Little rocks and gold sand cover the ground and a few green plants also rest on the sand, with their young leaves waving in the wind. They all let out a marvelous aroma that fills the air and wind.

I run on the soft sand and dash to the ducks. They waddle away as soon as I stick out my hand to touch them. They leap into the pond like a row of ballerinas and quack as if jeering at me and saying, “Ha, ha! You can’t touch me now!” My heart also leaps like a ballerina as I run down to the pond, splashing my ankles with fresh water. To my surprise, some ducks even chase me! I leave footprints on the wet sand, and they vanish immediately after the water washes over them, just like a falling star would flash its life out, burning with all its might and then disappearing in the darkness.

I sit and draw pictures on the sand with my fingertips. The ducks’ masterpieces, however, look a lot better than mine. They waddle and leave a trail of abstract marks behind.

“Aurora! Come on! It’s time for our picnic!” Mom yells.

I run over to Mom, who is sitting on a slope. Several ducks crowd around us to see if we are willing to share our food. Sadly, a sign next to the pond said, “DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS!” Underneath, it explains how feeding the ducks will lead to the ducks’ health hazards and behavioral problems.

“Sorry! No food for you guys!” I say. The ducks understand and waddle away. I suddenly really want to feed them, but I press down the urge and tell myself, “Care for the ducks.” Then, I notice other visitors feeding the ducks the food they have brought from home. They feed the ducks with chips, popcorn, ice cream, and soda. I clench my fists as I stare at them. The ducks might get sick with all the junk food. The visitors know that. Then, I think that I might want to feed the ducks. So does that mean…? I shake my head and tell myself, No. You only thought about it. You didn’t do it. It’s okay. But my brain still keeps thinking about it.

After eating, we pile into the car. The ducks chase me until I get into the car. They wave their feathers as if saying goodbye.

“I hope we didn’t forget anything,” Mom says.

“We’ve got everything!” Dad replies.

“Can we come here again next week?” I ask.

My family chats as Dad drives carefully on the winding freeway with all sorts of turns. Mom turns on the car radio and quiet, soothing music spills out of the speakers like a raindrop that drips off the corners of a leaf. A question fills my head. How can I do something for the ducks? That’s when it hits me. I cannot control others, but I can control myself. I will make a difference by doing the best I can. I stand for animals.

Dylan Young

Justin Lu

SEVENTH GRADE

Milan Rofougaran, Molly Tiwari, Emery Pelinka

After the dark night, there’s always a brighter day

THE STORMY MIND

Aleah Berengian

The mind is a small ship in rough, cold seas, It is always moving through a storm, And though it might change directions in the breeze, Its heart is always brilliantly warm.

The storm could be calm or in full rage, After the dark night, there’s always a brighter day, It might feel like an animal trapped in a cage, But never in the presence of the sun’s golden ray.

If the sails are torn, and the ship is sinking, Even after the darkest of storms, the battle can be won, And to give up would not be proper thinking, Because it’s worth every scratch to see the light of the sun.

Through the long, bitter nights and the soggy spring days, I would never stop fighting if only to see the sun’s rays.

Sloane Williams

William Shu

Chase Martin

WHO’S BEHIND THE MOMENT

Gabrielle Landy

I shivered and thought about my strategy. I knew I was going against people taller and stronger than me but my only goal was to get my Junior Olympic time. I took a deep breath in and exhaled. The whistles blew and I stepped up to the blocks not knowing if I would come out with my first Junior Olympic time or crying. I heard a whistle signifying the cue to go and dove into the glassy pool that would give me my future or break it. I swam my first two laps on my time. Ok, I thought, you can swim faster than ever before, trust your training and hard work. My coach’s last words to me replayed in my head, Don’t overthink it, work your turns, do at least three underwater kicks, and don’t breathe every stroke. As her last words of advice played in my head, I realized I was desperate for air. No, I thought, you can not breathe any more than you already have.

I distracted myself with my favorite swimming quote, “Swimming is the only sport where your coaches yell at you for breathing.” Most people do not know how much work makes a great swimmer. The three-hour practices. The dry land workouts. The yoga. The swim diet. When I thought of this I remembered what and who I swim for. All of my hard work had to pay off. I put my head down and kicked even harder than before, though my legs felt as if they could fall off. Desperate for air, I got further into it and I realized my lap counters had messed up their counting.

I looked back and realized that was a mistake and would slow me down. I frowned, I knew they only had to lap count, not do the hard work, and they messed up. I decided to keep swimming and speed up with the little energy I had left. If they messed up, I would figure it out later. I needed to focus. I knew I had lost time and tried to move my arms more and focus on keeping my head down and flip turning smoothly and quickly. I saw that someone had corrected my lap counting and let out a huge sigh of relief. Tiny bubbles came out of my mouth like little, swimming fish. I gave it all I had left and pushed into the energy I didn’t know I had. I only had four laps left. I put my head down and gritted my teeth. I pushed my feet off the wall and moved as fast as a rocket coming out of a launcher. I kicked my feet like a graceful mermaid. I only had two laps left. I kicked and moved my arms like a windmill. One more lap. I lunged for the wall and grabbed it.

I looked up at my time. I succeeded. I smiled so hard that my mouth almost fell off. My entire swimming career had led up to this moment. I swam my first JO time! I thought about the millions of practices and the sacrifices that made the moment worth it. I grabbed the wall and lifted myself onto the deck. When I exited the pool my friends, mom, and coaches hugged me. I knew my times did not define a moment, those who help me get there define my moment: my friends who when I feel frightened make me happy, my sister who makes me laugh when nobody else can, but most importantly my parents who stand at my side until the end.

Addison Stern

Luke Bellman

Hudson Stern

Sophia Eckermann

Adeleine Chen

A FURRY FRIEND

William Shu

The antiquated train hooted and hollered ferociously, almost as if something ominous were about to happen. My innards felt nice and toasty, yet my outward, plastic components sensed the chilly atmosphere. As my owner, John, with his crinkly old eyes and furrowing eyebrows, rested me down on the table, I started to recount the adventures that I continuously commit to memory. With humble beginnings in a Dorito factory, sitting in a train, I reminisced on the good old days. We took a comfy and plush seat near the window, yet the only problem with it was that we were riding economy class. I’ve been on enough airplanes to know of the harrowing horrors that can emerge out of nowhere around here, such as coffee mug hurlers and raucous children. Sigh, thank goodness it seems anything but of the sort. Crinkling announcing my arrival, the settings I suddenly found myself in were a bit too obsolete for my taste. The wooden chairs were rickety, boards had been devoured by termites, and numerous pieces of trash were strewn around like the devastation after a hurricane.

Woof! Eager to make his entrance as well, I peeked through the slim gap between the chairs in front of me to catch a glimpse of this newcomer. There’s yellow, oh my, yes, an abundance of yellow. Might it be some bars of gold, a future fellow inanimate friend? Long and large, too colossal to associate with anymore. A musty aroma and stenches of fresh meat? Eh, an extremely ostracized societal individual who reeks? Or perhaps-

My philosophical inquiries were abruptly interrupted by a big, moist nose sticking itself through the exact same gap. The metaphorical heart I had pumped ferociously and sweat trickled down. Trying to remain calm, I instead found myself spontaneously panicking as if I had no control whatsoever over it.

The size difference between us was one factor, of course, but there was also a psychological side to it. The excessive panting of the canine, coupled with the cynophobia I had (if it even was possible for what humans regard as an inanimate object) made this the worst possible scenario for me. My owner didn’t notice, though, and I determined that it was either due to his lack of concern for me, which wasn’t likely because chip bags are widely regarded as a man’s best friend, or because he sympathized with the terrifying dog in front of my poor, plastic flesh. Almost as if reading my thoughts of weakness, the beastly monster snapped his teeth. I instinctively jumped back, but could not move. In slow motion, it approached, with smelly breath coming directly from the mouth that digested victims like me first, followed up with horrific grrs, making my spine shiver as if I was in the Arctic. The ferocious tongue elongated itself, bending like a gymnast. Saliva beads dribbled down onto my abode, and the Golden Retriever persistently swiped toward my maroon Dorito exterior.

Then, the unfathomable occurred: John socialized with the enemy. His hand, which used to be exclusive to me, patted the top of the dog’s, a clear sign of the bribery the dog was enacting upon my owner. Extremely despicable! Although I did my best to try and remain placid, my heart was bursting at the seams in a sea of sadness. Now swiveling the rotund facial features it putridly possessed, it turned its attention back to me. Clearly recognizing his brawn with lack of intellect were no match for my wits, the canine threatened my very existence by barring its pearly white teeth. I didn’t need to speak dog to comprehend that the strategy for coercing me into submission. I normally would have fought back for my life, since it was on the line, but in this case, I tensed up my body and cowered in a defensive position, panic-stricken about what was about to happen.

He stretched out his mouth to a height of a thousand miles to devour me and grabbed a hold of me. I screamed out in terror to no avail. At that moment, my life flashed before my eyes. Maybe I truly am not worthy of being a Dorito. Oh, maybe, just, maybe, I wish I could contract to the size of an atom. And yet, in all my thoughts of death, I never once thought of survival, which is exactly what happened. The dog dropped me, and I fell and opened up my eyes to the same crinkly, old, and amicable eyes of John, except now on a Golden Retriever. It struck me: even though my interpretation of him was as a beast, he didn’t mean much harm at all. My worst nightmare just instantaneously turned into the opposite of what I pictured him to be! As relief swept all over me like a wave, I chuckled as the happiest being on Earth.

The outsized petrification I had upon seeing the canine shrunk as I learned to confront it one-on-one. It may have been bigger, yes. It also was a whole heck of a lot scarier, but I had never truly experienced my newfound courage within. My confidence shot through the roof as I smiled, never forgetting my near-death encounter. As John and I descended from the exit of the pits of the dungeon train, my feet successfully fought off the urge to run away and stayed put, finally appreciating the unexpected lessons of facing my fears and not always being stuck in a negative paradigm about others. I never would have thought in a million years that they would come from the dog that threatened to reduce me to dust! Yes, the train hoot sound and seemingly calm atmosphere of our economy class seat was both ironic and ominous, but it was also a positive sign of the growth I had experienced throughout this exhilarating journey.

A LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF

Milan Rofougaran

Dear Milan,

You hadn’t kicked a ball for over a year. Your coach’s suggestions you refused to hear. You signed up for tryouts without any fear. You thought nothing could disrupt your perfect sphere. Chirping birds and butterflies filled the sky. You were a rocket ship ready to fly. The grass was green as if dipped in dye. You set your goals extremely high. Later in your room, you cried alone. You had lost your rhythm and your tone. How much you had lost you had not known. The holes in your skills were not fully sewn. My advice to you is to give yourself grace. Patience and practice will lead to a far better place. Don’t let your ego leave a trace, Or else your mind will be filled with disgrace.

Sincerely, Milan

Aleah Berengian

Ella Nami

Emma Harrison

Oliver Harrison

SEVENTH GRADE

Ella Olsen

Michael West

Erynn Pak

Hudson Stern

VOCABULARY BLASTER

Joey Zhou

I look up, wincing slightly as the sunlight bounces off the building directly into my eyes. The surface of it, made of stainless steel, reflects the sun’s rays like mirrors. I observe the handiwork put into this great structure, each piece of material fitting together perfectly in unison. Standing far away, some parts of the building curve in, while others go out, but overall, it towers over everyone and everything in sight. A column of stairs would lead up to the main lobby, and the audience would enter through doors to their seats. Today, however, the spotlight will be on my orchestra…and me.

Through a side door, I check out the past photos of those who had performed here in Los Angeles. The backstage always reflects the pitch dark, but quite a bit of light shines. Some of my friends start filing in as well, along with the rest of the orchestra. The few lively and fun days are also very tiring. For the past few days, all of us have practiced hard in Pasadena. I live far away from there, so the clock reads 10:30 PM by the time orchestra practice ends, and we get home. After everyone unpacks, the conductors go over the order of the concert today.

A couple of hours later, everyone begins getting ready for the real concert. Many of us watch the two televisions that survey the stage and audience. A lot of parents start to get comfortable in their seats, while others just enter through double doors. The concert hall darkens and Honor Orchestra One musicians file onto the stage for their first song. That group consists of high school kids, so I am not there just yet. Honor Orchestra Two, which happens to include me, lines up at the door to make a quick change on stage for the next song, “Radetzky March.”

The familiar shape of the cello rests against my shoulder once again as I sit down next to my stand partner. The conductor introduces the piece as we get comfortable in our seats. She smiles with a confident aura surrounding her. The entire orchestra raises their bows in harmony as she lifts both her hands. The ready signal, and–begin! Even though the beginning of the song sounds deceptively serene at first, the instruments start out with simple quarter notes. The audience looks quite surprised as we break into an upbeat performance. I almost laugh. Throughout the entire performance, my mind continuously runs over the notes, my left hand flying down the strings in synchronization with my bow hand. Occasionally, I almost slip as I change from arco, playing with the bow, to pizzicato, plucking the string.

The thundering sound of clapping echoes throughout the entire room as we bow for the biggest audience I have ever had. All the songs flash by in a rush. Time flies by just like a breezy wind on a summer day.

I stand under the moonlight next to the stainless glass-made building, waiting for my mom. The curves of the building are waves, the smooth curves visible under everything. Nothing can beat the smooth, polished stage of the concert hall with the smell of fresh plywood waving through the air. One by one, my friends go on their way back home, all separating in different directions. The pieces of music, the high notes of the violin, the accompaniment of the cello, the low beat of the bass, the flowing notes of the two piano players, and the humming strings of the harp are music: melodic, life, and poetry.

EIGHTH GRADE

Jonathan Zhou

It was about how much I loved my people And how I knew that I would persevere

“YES, I’M SURE”

Dylan Brigulio

The SS officer beckoned us up to the front of our Synagogue

He stared at us for a moment

“Are you sure that you’re one hundred percent Jewish?”

Jewish

To them it meant the problem that needed to be solved

The cargo that needed to be transported

The prisoners that needed to be kept in check

The inferior race that needed to be destroyed

I’m not sure why they asked my sister and me that question

Perhaps we didn’t look like the Jews the Nazis had propagandized

Perhaps they found family records that pointed otherwise

It didn’t matter

“Yes, I’m sure”

At the time I didn’t know what was in store for me, or my family

Though I did know that the Nazi’s had hurt my people

Had driven some of my people, people like my brother, to hurt themselves

But what I did know, is that I would never be a part of their regime

I knew where I belonged

Jewish

To me it meant the family that I loved

The religion that I loved

The God that I loved

The community that I loved

So when I answered the SS officer

It was not about how much I hated the Nazis

And their tyranny

And their inhumane ways

It was about how much I loved my people

And how I knew that I would persevere through whatever the nazis threw at me

With my people by my side

Dylan Brigulio

Lily Liu

A GEOMETRIC GALENTINE’S DAY

Lily Liu

Searching for perfect symmetry, we are a reflection of each other. I am convex , you concave, together our volumes form a whole. So even though our hearts were like parallel lines, Cupid’s arrow was a transversal that pierced both of us But if our hearts were like lines that are skew— Well, I simply can’t imagine life without you.

Since our lives have intersected, I have never been happier, Without you, I just didn’t feel right, But like complementary angles, we complement each other.

You are the answer to all my equations, With you, I need no further explanations. You are the whipped cream to my 3.14159, Sweet and simply divine. Our love does not need to be proved like a theorem, It’s a postulate, accepted without any proof. Like a line, it extends forever for you.

And Cupid showed me his coordinate graph of love, So I know our love is true ‘Cause I saw the coordinates (me, you).

(Plus, you look good from any angle, But you’re not a-cute angle, ‘Cause you’re hotter than 90 degrees.)

You are my perpendicular bisector when I feel like life isn’t right or equal. It’s simple, our love story needs no sequel. Being my Valentine will make me whole. I love you from the base to the vertex of my soul!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

You are the answer to all my equations, With you, I need no further explanations.

METAL MONSTER Skylar Taketa

Rollercoaster. Regret floods my body as the safety bar clicks into its locked position. The coaster creaks and the wheels slowly come to life. The sweet, addictive smell of sugar and treats floats about and seeps into my nose. Rays from the relentless sun burn my skin, streaking sweat down my face and body. My seat jostles as the steel mountain approaches, taunting me with its incline. Finally, I tip backward as the coaster train lurches upward. My stomach churns, threatening to bring up the contents of my breakfast as the train jerkily ascends the hill. The wind smacks my face and whips my hair, blowing it forcefully into my mouth and eyes. At the summit, the coaster car stills, and I quickly clench my eyes shut, stars blossoming behind my eyelids.

Rollercoaster. Gravity seizes control. My stomach drops as the world tips forward. My eyes fly open and water from the blast of air bombarding my face. Riders throw their arms up freely as their laughs and screams fill the air. The coaster’s speed increases, my breathing chokes, and I am mashed further into the hard seat. My throat burns, but I cannot stop screaming. Hair flies everywhere. My head bangs like a pinball against the sides of the padded safety bar. Adrenaline courses through my veins and my flushed face stretches into a smile. Swerving to the right, I am slammed to the side, and a haunting loop appears in my vision.

Rollercoaster. My world flips upside down and the riders’ screams become the piercing shrieks of banshees. The blood in my veins is on fire as the car dips forward and spirals downward. As the ground speeds toward me, I brace for impact. The force pulls back my head and restricts my movement. We twist and turn, spinning through the air as we dip and twirl with the rhythm of the tracks. The coaster dances atop the tracks. I shift my gaze upward toward the pillowy clouds, entranced by their ethereal beauty. Suddenly, I am yanked downward. We spin, whirling around on the tracks. The rollercoaster ceaselessly roars through a labyrinth of metal. Finally, we screech to a stop, my whole body launching forward. I exhale a shaky breath and the car slowly creeps toward the exit.

Julia Dong

Julia Dong

买生日礼物 SHOPPING FOR A BIRTHDAY GIFT SKIT

刘芊芊 Lily Liu and 洛根 Logan Steelberg

刘芊芊，你会去朱莉娅的生日会吗？

Liu Qianqian, will you go to Julia’s birthday party? 我会去，但是我不知道她生日会的地点在哪儿？

I will go, but I don’t know where her birthday will be. 她的生日会在电影院的旁边。

Her birthday will be next to the movie theater. 好。洛根，你想送朱丽娅什么礼物？

Okay. Logan, what would you like to give Julia?

一顶古驰帽子怎么样？

How about a Gucci hat?

我觉得古驰帽子太贵了。

I think Gucci hats are too expensive. 真的吗？一顶帽子多少钱？

Really? How much is a hat?

一顶古驰帽子一百二十块钱。

One hundred and twenty yuan for a Gucci hat. 我的天啊！一个书包呢？

Oh my god! What about a backpack?

我觉得送书包没意思。

I don’t think it’s interesting to send a backpack.

一张礼品券，好不好？

A gift card, okay?

我觉得礼品券太无聊了！

I think gift cards are too boring!

算了！你说呢？

Forget it! What do you say?

一件衣服、一盒巧克力 或者一支笔都不错。

A piece of clothing, a box of chocolates, or a pen are all good.

好，我想想，我们去商场买礼物吧！

Okay, let me think about it. Let’s go to the mall to buy gifts!

太好了！

Great!

假期邀请 VACATION INVITATION SKIT

江天赐 Mateo Senizergues and 瑞德 Reed McCardle

你好！ Hello!

你好！ Hello!

我叫江天赐。

My name is Jiang Tianci.

我叫瑞德。

My name is Reed.

你去过巴黎吗？

Have you ever gone to Paris?

我没去过巴黎。

I have not.

下个星期二，你有空吗？

Are you free next Tuesday?

有。 Yes.

我们星期二坐飞机去巴黎，好不好？

Okay, would you like to go to Paris with me on Tuesday?

好啊。我非常喜欢巴黎！

Of course! I love Paris.！

你喜欢在巴黎做什么？

What would you like to do in Paris?

我喜欢在巴黎吃很多法国的面包和牛油。

I’d like to eat lots of French bread and butter in Paris.

好，你的手机号码是多少？

Great, what is your cell phone number?

我的手机号码是 (949) 640-1410 。

My cell phone number is (949) 640-1410.

好棒，再见!

Awesome, goodbye!

拜拜！

Bye!

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

Mr. Kevin Burke Founder of Dog Republic 20281 Riverside Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Dear Mr. Burke:

I am Samantha Powell, 13 years old, and would like to apply to be a dog walker at your company. I have extensive knowledge of dogs, can take care of them well, and would love to spend time walking dogs around Newport Beach. Please consider me for this job at Dog Republic, as I have all the qualifications to become a dog walker.

To begin, I have owned dogs for nine years and have sufficient experience. I currently own one Black Labrador and have had another in the past. I cared for, fed, and walked both every day. I take my dog for hour-long walks through parks and new exciting places. I occasionally walk my neighbor’s dog around the neighborhood. I allow them to socialize without receiving any injuries from other dogs when they are playing. I have enough proficiency to qualify for this job at Dog Republic. I can apply my abundant experience in walking and caring for dogs to your company.

Moreover, I know how to handle out-of-control and social dogs. My dog can be very outgoing, and other dogs may have an automatic instinct to socialize with each other. I have learned to handle these situations by bringing treats along or picking a densely populated route. Also, I know the basic rules for walking dogs, such as holding the leash tightly in case of intense tugging, or rewarding the dogs with treats every once in a while. I enjoy spending time with my dog, so it would be an honor to take care of many more dogs. Overall, my great expertise in handling dogs would aid your program significantly.

If you hired me, I would assist your company and flawlessly fit into the dog walking position. I have many years of experience with dogs and would adequately care for them. Please reach me at 23powells@harborday.org. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Samantha Powell

Luke Watson

Kyle Stern

Jackson Casey