ANTHOLOGY 2 019
Many whose writings and drawings appear here will be surprised to see themselves in print. Still others who have nothing in this anthology will be disappointed. Only a part of what I received could be included and I regret I had to exclude so much. To select short stories, poems, and drawings for an anthology spanning writers who range from ages three to fifteen is not easy. By the selections which appear here, I have tried to reach for both diversity and excellence.
John Shaw Founding Editor Park School Anthology 1966
COVE R A RTWORK Faculty Editors: Liga Aldins & LaToya Downing-Peltier Special Thanks to: Kate LaPine, Lyn Williams, Christian Porter & Carole Carter
Landscape Tempera
Adeline (Addie) Marsh GRADE 3
Purple Crayola
Oil Pastel with Acrylic GLoss
Blue Bird
Tempera & Marker Andrew Hsu GRADE 2
Sunshine
Mixed Media
Spring Spring has sprung The sun tickles my toes There is a skip In my step Spring has sprung Growing flowers building rainbows and wonderful spirits Spring has sprung At Last!
Maya Cukras
1
GRADE 4
Rose Lindsley K I N D E RGA RT E N
Gillian Lamb GRADE 5
Greek Vase Mixed Media
Felix Hentschel GRADE 4
Half Face Pencil
Fatmata Sesay GRADE 8
Abstract Art
Construction Paper Xavier (Xavi) Thompson-Lortie K I N D E RGA RT E N
The 2018-2019 Edition of the Park School Anthology is Dedicated to Liga Aldins For the past 42 years, Liga Aldins has graced the halls of the Park School and her spirit has exuded the bright-eyed spunk, vitality, beauty, and excitement of a freshly minted teacher. Liga has worn many hats at Park and has given generously and selflessly for over four decades. She worked as a PreK teacher, a librarian, and a secondary school counselor before settling into her home for the remainder of her tenure at Park: the Language Department. A talented linguist and musician at heart, Liga has led numerous language trips to Europe and has inspired countless students to fall in love with French, Spanish, and travel. Aside from her numerous teaching and advising responsibilities in the Upper Division, Mrs. Aldins has also found the time to co-edit this publication. For the past six years, Mrs. Aldins and I have led the creation of this wonderful magazine from start to finish. Collaboratively, we have sifted through thousands of wonderful pieces of student art and writing and made harrowing decisions each year of what to place on the coveted pages. Though never easy, when choosing just the right piece of art or writing, as in the classroom when teaching or choosing the perfect lesson, Mrs. Aldins always used her heart, intellect, keen eye and high standards for inspiring the next generation of Park students to become the best version of themselves. I am humbled to dedicate this issue of the Anthology to Mrs. Liga Aldins – a great woman, teacher, colleague, mentor, friend, and Park School leader.  LaToya Downing-Peltier CO-EDITOR
2
Rabbit Bowl
Hazel Fries
Clay & Tempera
GRADE 1
Jack Good GRADE 4
Matthew Yang GRADE 1
Science Contest Question Marker
Saylor Leerink GRADE 4
Math Spiral Pencil
Max Rubinstein
3
GRADE 7
Birds
Tempera William (Will) Eddy GRADE 2
Sunflowers
Tempera & Marker Annalisa Martinek GRADE 2
Nicole Hadar GRADE 4
The Magic of Books Reading a book alone in a nook. The book is taking me to Paris! To Rome! To every place I want to go! I am battling monsters in the pouring rain. The rain makes a pitter patter. I fly away near Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain BAM! I am in the Eleventh world with Sophie, Foster and Dex. But then I hear someone calling my name. I realize that I am still here in a nook alone with a book.
African Mask Clay
Elsa Barton GRADE 6
Cityscape
Construction Paper Anthony Lee GRADE 7
4
I Am I am from tiring lacrosse tournaments and long manhunt games that last all night, From busy weekends and even busier week days. I am from “Tessa clear your plate,” and “Tessa don’t make a mess.” From late nights and early mornings. I am from biking around my neighborhood Whose roads I know like the back of my hand. I am from intense games of Old Maid and Monopoly. From younger sister to older sister. I am from a family who hates a mess, And from a family that calls me messy Tessie. From wrapped up in soft cozy blankets, I am from a strong Italian family with stronger Christmas traditions. From making doughnuts on Christmas Eve and listening to Christmas music in October. I am from the Mayflower and Ellis Island. From pasta and fresh meatballs to creamy homemade ice cream cake and warm gooey cookies. From hard work and perseverance, And from laughing till I can’t breathe. I am from those memories that you never forget, I am from memories the good, and the bad.
Tessa Lewis GRADE 6
Amaryllis
Craypas & Tempera Alexander Kaza K I N D E RGA RT E N
Rainbows Rainbows Could stand for anything But I think each color means something. Red is death Orange is friendship
Collaborative Mural Leaves
Block Print Anastasia Papadimitriou GRADE 7
Acrylic
Section 6C GRADE 6
Yellow is the sun Green is life Blue is water Purple is noise And white is clouds. Life will go on and on Forever Until that day When everything Is gone. Sounds, sights and things are gone, But the Rainbow shines bright in the skylight Forever and ever. That beautiful rainbow. Sawyer Atwood
5
GRADE 2
Escaping From a Ghost
Save the Sea Turtle Mixed Media
Grace Chang GRADE 5
Tree of Life Block Print
Genevieve (Ginny) O’Marah GRADE 8
The days were long and drained of action and adventure. Most of the dreaded hours were spent reminiscing, wanting to return home, and imagining the stories of the people one had robbed of life and potential. The war field was dry and empty; most of the surviving soldiers were simply waiting to go home. Every man in the army would trek through the deep forest in search of some adventure. Most failed and returned to their tents weary and hungry. As I was forced by violence to fight a battle that was not rightfully mine, I tried - really tried - to be the most cooperative and spirited a stranger to this war could be. I did not feel the urge to win or lose; I did not care if I died nobly or lived on with dozens of medals strung across my chest. I, in all respects, wanted to live a real life. All my twenty-three years were dedicated - against my will - to violence, battle, and lies. Those three things didn’t suit me at all. Being among the remaining soldiers, I was neither joyful or depressed; but I was definitely not overcome with emotions. In fact, I had none at all from years of being “disciplined” during training. Unlike the others, who bragged about their medals and achievements, I started and ended every day with a hike to either see the stars or sunrise. I would often try and see what my future held for me. Yet most of the time, the stars and the sun wouldn’t respond. They froze, not blinking, not even looking like they were breathing or living. But there were a few occasions, when and where man was called by God to be tested. Then there would be a sign, a signal. I pushed away from the elephant-ear shaped leaves, coughing into the dusty air. The greenery was covered in a film of dust; the vegetation, while seeming alive, had the soul of a corpse. I stared at the sun rays hitting the dirt floor. It was no help whatsoever. I couldn’t tell which way was which, where north was, where south was, or east, or west. I looked around for any marker of the trail to the tent, but there was none - the trees were all identical in my irritated eyes, and the rocks and stones seemed exactly the same. I perched myself on the stone closest to myself to rest for a while, or at least until the sun showed the way. My stomach growled, even louder than it had the days before. I rummaged through my pack for something to eat, only to find I had left my makeshift food bag back at the tent. I had been too hasty that morning to check I had all the supplies I needed. I sat there, listening to animal calls and whistles, as well as the faraway gunshots. The rest of the crew would do target practice just for fun, as there was nothing else to do. The exhilaration in me had vanished as quickly as it had come. And, in the distance, a cry for help. My hunger could wait. It began to rain as I wove through the bushes, vines, and trees until I found a pair of large blue eyes staring at me. Those eyes had questioning and curiosity melted into them, they were so clear, clear as the sky, yet at the same time clouded over with uncertainty. Nevertheless, nothing could hide the instant relief and questions that had flooded those eyes. It was a paradox. What was going on? The child screamed and cried for help, all while I was standing there, staring. She wriggled out of something’s grasp, looking like she was escaping from a ghost. Or trying to break free … … but from what? Naomi Yu GRADE 7
6
Greek Vase Mixed Media
Na’eem Logan GRADE 4
Paddles Wood
Sumaya Blake & Lyra Dvorin GRADE 3
Courage Sasha Klevens GRADE 6
The Performance I was confident about this performance. It was March 18, 2018. At three o’clock, I was to perform the Saint-Saëns cello concerto #1 with the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra. I rehearsed sporadically throughout the day, and before I knew it, it was time to go on stage! I sauntered out on stage to applause, took my bow, and sat down. The oboist gave me an “A’ so that I could tune my cello to the pitch of the orchestra. There was absolute silence in the auditorium except for the sound of my cello. The conductor elevated his baton and uttered softly to me, “Are you ready?” I nodded, and the orchestra confidently played their thunderous A minor chord. I came in with a loud first note and racing scales like bombs being thrown from the sky. Saint-Saëns wrote this concerto at a time when France was reeling from the trauma of the Franco-Prussian War. Throughout the first movement, I imagined bombs pouring from the skies, interspersed in the slow sections with the sorrow and suffering of people during the war. In the second movement, a glimmer of joy emerged in a break from the fighting while people gathered together to commemorate the lost souls in an elegant ceremony, I could almost hear the audience exhaling a sigh of relief. The war was almost forgotten until the oboe reminded us of it with sprinting footsteps in the third movement. Before I knew it, the joyful coda came, and the war ended with two triumphant chords. A voice suddenly shook me out of my flashback. “Hi, Hayden! It’s nice to meet you. I’m Mr. Katz.” (Note: Mr. Katz is a former headmaster of the Park School) Hayden Idson
7
GRADE 8
My Name Story (Excerpt) My first name, Amya, is very important and special to me. My name connects back to my Indian roots. I like the way my name sounds because I think it sounds pretty. I like my name because it is unique, and it feels like it fits me. It is who I am, and it is a big part of my culture. My name is from my mother’s family that is all Indian. My name comes from India even though it is not a common name. In Hindi, my name means little green mango which can be a little embarrassing, but I also really like mangoes! In Sanskrit, ny name means delightful which I like because it is a positive characteristic. It took my parents a long time to think of a name. In fact, it took them a whole month to decide what my name would be. In the end, they came up with Amya, a name that is similar to both of my grandmothers’ names - Ama and Amy. My parents first spelled my name Amiya but people would call me “A-maya” instead of Amya so my parents changed it. Amya Channing Naimi GRADE 6
Tie Die Design Mixed Media
Abstract Shapes Tempera & Marker
Charlie Percelay PreK
Rachel Nudelman GRADE 5
Miriam Crozier GRADE 1
8
I Know a Lacrosse Game I know a lacrosse game Balls flying at you “Pass I am open” It smells like rubber from the ball. Defenders’ sticks hitting you Run back quickly they have the ball. I know a lacrosse game On defense “ I got ball, I got next pass” Your eyes track down your man “Cover him” Check our ball. I know a lacrosse game Running up the field with your defender trying to catch you The smell of sweat all around Icy water once you are on the bench “Let’s do a substitute, you’re on” I know a lacrosse game Hurt when you get checked Defender eyes staring at you Running by your defender as he misses a check “Shoot” You feel amazing you scored I know a lacrosse game
Frida
Mixed Media Laila Miller
Freddy Dent
GRADE 1
Liam MacLean GRADE 4
9
GRADE 5
Southwest Desert Craypas
Margot Murphy-Hara GRADE 3
Latin Signet Ring Mixed Media
Ella Lipsitch GRADE 7
Tatum Glynn GRADE 4
Cat Bowl
Clay & Tempera Violet Nason GRADE 2
Golden Gate Bridge Crayon
Luca Gorman GRADE 1
10
My Friends My Friends You make me smile Favorite for me Real and awesome If I had no friends, what would I do? Every day it’s a hug Next day it is the same Days go by, we laugh and play Stop being friends with them? Never!
Fish
Tempera & Marker Chase Levarity GRADE 2
Jordan (Jolo) Danforth GRADE 2
Blue Abstract Tempera
Landon Zhong GRADE 1
Tiger
Tempera & Marker Cohen Johnson GRADE 2
Paintbrush
Tempera & Marker Sofia Schultz GRADE 5
11
My Soul My soul is an earthquake The epitome of all disasters. As pressure builds An earth-shattering force of nature unleashes As quickly as the speed of light, As loud as a supersonic boom. Lasting for the longest moment of your life. My life is an eagle, Elegant, aggressive Soaring through the bright, blue sky, Far above the chaos below Always hunting As if it never has enough.
Masquerade Mask Mixed Media
Ben Fleishman GRADE 8
Walk a Mile Letter (Excerpt) Dear Grandpa & Grandma, 13th November, 1921
My soul is a last generation phone A well-designed jack of all trades. An effective, efficient piece of tech and A very useful tool but slightly behind the curve. My soul is a racer Quick to respond, calculating every move Always thinking, craving speed, Balancing desire and need. Pushing to be better than the best, Trying to surpass the rest. Paul Jeon GRADE 6
So many things have happened today, and I still cannot register it. Today, I had to pack my rucksack, and leave you, just like that. It was hard saying farewell to you. The moment you told me that my cousins and I were leaving our beautiful home of Speightstown, Barbados, I knew that you would stay behind. You have taken care of us for so long, and I cannot bear thinking of you as we leave the house. I had to pack right away, bringing only my sole belongings. I stole a pack of sugar cubes, I shall admit. The one on the kitchen counter, that was wrapped in the brown parcel. But I promise, it is for good use. There is already so much sugar here, I am bringing it to remind me of home. My cousins are coming with me, Vera and the others. You have told us that our parents are waiting in America, they have gone before. I remember the day they left. A sad day, it was. Now, we will be there to meet them. The day is a perfect day, it is so nice, but I know that I am now leaving this place that I have lived in for so long. I wish I could be here, with the sea cool and the sun warm. I am also bringing the teddy bear that you gave me that will keep me from sickness, as you said. I also brought a sketchbook and a pen, to write and draw. I love drawing, as you know, Grandma. You shall see my sketches, when I send my drawings to you. “Farewell!” I cry as I leave the house, trudging aimlessly toward Bridgetown, the port where we will leave from. You must be sad (I am too), I know, but you are too old to take care of us now. I am 12, and I can take care of myself throughout the boat ride, grandma. I will be alright. I am the eldest of our cousins, so I am determined to take care of us……………..
Grayson Lee
Izzie McWilliams
GRADE 5
GRADE 1
12
Running Through a Broken Wrist (Excerpt) Splish splash splish splash. I could hear the raindrops pounding against my body while I was pushed to my breaking point. I was at the Junior Olympic track and field tournament in New York City. It was the second day of competition, it was the biggest stadium that I had ever been in. Hundreds and thousands of kids coming from all over the East Coast! The day before, I had run the 100 meters and the long jump. I was practicing for the 200 meters and I felt good. Little did I know something big was coming my way. CRACK!!!!!!! I stifled a scream. I had caught myself with my hand. In other words, my hand broke my fall and broke. I got up and walked up the stairs, tears spilling from my eyes. It looked bad and the pain was blinding me. My hand was bobbing lifelessly beside me. My parents took me to the medical tent. The nurse examined my arm and said that I hyperextended my wrist. She gave me a bag of ice and started taping it onto my wrist. As she was wrapping my arm, I heard something on the loudspeaker. “GIRLS 200 METER! FIRST CALL FOR GIRLS 200 METER!” “That’s my race!”I said wide-eyed. Finally, my race had come! I was so excited I almost did not hear my Mom say, “You can’t run, you’re hurt.” When I finally processed this information I was in tears. I had practiced and trained for over a year and it was ending like this. Suddenly my sadness and disappointment turned into rage and anger. I was infuriated with myself for slipping and falling on my wrist. Every inch of me wanted to go out on the track and run for my teammates. My mom finally asked the nurse, “What do you think?” The nurse said, “She’s got the heart of an athlete! Have her come back after the race and we’ll wrap her arm again.” I got down to my starting line. ON YOUR MARK! GET SET! BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I jumped out of my starting position and sprinted down the track. I cut through the air like a knife and tears poured from my eyes. My wrist hurt like daggers digging into my skin. Before I knew it I had crossed the finish line in 6th place overall. Only the top 5 could go on to the final tournament in North Carolina. I was bummed about not getting to go to North Carolina, but I was glad that I ran the race and proud of myself for persevering and running through a broken wrist. Afterward, we learned that the nurse was wrong, I had a hyperextend break, but she was also right, I do have the heart of an athlete! Zuri Gonzalez GRADE 5
Branches
Chick Named Angel
Brianna Cadet
“Angel is cute. He makes me happy. He is cuddly! I love Angel; he is cute! He August Howland makes me feel soft. He makes me happy. He is cute and fluffy, and he is…..cute!”
Block Print GRADE 7
13
Crayon & Marker K I N D E RGA RT E N
African Safari
Craypas & Construction Paper
12 Sided Dice
Chase Holzman GRADE 6
12 sided dice Spinning Oh so fast Whirling Twirling Until it‌.. Stops At last. Spinning again The numbers turn to a blur Just like the Earth It spins and spins Until The whirlwind Settles down.
Eli Danforth GRADE 2
Inspired by Macbeth Marker
Julia Conn GRADE 7
Dillon Evans GRADE 6
14
Science Question Marker
Sunset
Myles Burgess
It’s like
GRADE 8
A fire Crackling Above the horizon. It’s like a fire Bursting with pride. It has arms Spread wide like it’s Yawning ready to go To bed. The clouds Are like covers Making Sam Flagg GRADE 2
North Carolina North Carolina is The dark blue ocean The hot, hot sand The colorful kites shimmering in the sky The broken seashells The happy beach house saying come in come in
Joe Davies GRADE 2
Science Contest Question Mixed Media
Ceramic Dragons Clay
Alissa Rabin & Dante Avery GRADE 2
15
Mae Myers GRADE 7
The sun go to bed.
Day of the Dead Mask Wood & Marker Sadie Young GRADE 7
Abstract Art
Construction Paper Olivia Knez K I N D E RGA RT E N
Hero
Southwest Desert Craypas
Josephina (Josie) Koulomzin GRADE 3
Greek Vase Mixed Media
Nikita (Nikki) Singh GRADE 4
My definition of a hero is someone who helps and benefits others and commits selfless acts without thinking about how it will affect them, it could be in a big or really small way. I also think that a hero is someone who demonstrates courage. In The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, I think that Johnny is a hero. One instance where Johnny is a hero is when he goes into the burning church and rescues the kids without ever thinking about the consequences that will happen to him. “He [Johnny] wasn’t scared either. That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without that defeated suspicious look in his eyes. He looked like he was having the time of his life.” (p. 92) This quote shows that even though he doesn’t know the kids in the church, he still decides to follow Ponyboy into the burning church against Dally’s orders to save the kids. Johnny was also really courageous to defy Dally’s orders because he really looks up to and admires Dally. As a result of running into the church to save the kids, a piece of timber falls on him while he is running away from the burning church. Johnny is critically injured, he is in severe shock and has third-degree burns. If he even survived, he would have been paralyzed for life. Johnny eventually dies, but not before giving one last bit of wisdom to Ponyboy (“Stay gold Ponyboy. Stay gold…” p. 148). To me, this shows that even when he is dying, Johnny is still trying to benefit others by giving wisdom and advice. This really fits my definition of a hero, because, to me, he is helping others and giving advice (in this case to Ponyboy). Johnny is not focused on himself and consoling himself while he dies, but he is more focused on passing on his knowledge and wisdom to someone else. Even after Johnny has died, Ponyboy finds a letter in Gone With the Wind that Johnny wrote to him, giving him and Dally advice. All of the above reasons, prove to me how Johnny is a hero in The Outsiders. Johnny clearly demonstrates courage, he benefits others and also commits many selfless acts throughout the book. Zoe Tsai GRADE 7
16
Scream
Watercolor Amaya Millner-Barrios GRADE 1
Brazilian Flag Mixed Media
Just a Seed
Sarina Ferrara
Chick | Chirp Poem Crayon & Marker Marin Frieze K I N D E RGA RT E N
K I N D E RGA RT E N
just a tiny seed hiding in the dirt just a seed now I come a week gone by a small plant a very calm plant swaying in the breeze a month gone by a beautiful flower arced tall and true just a seed just a seed but something beautiful
17
Talia Klevens GRADE 4
I AM the Greatest I am the greatest skier, My skis go swish. Zooming down the hill Always leaves a chill. But I always win the race, Because no one can keep up with my pace. When I race I race with speed. It’s like I am on a chase. But I always win, So I’ll meet you at the base. My edges curve, Just the right amount. I will win the gold without a doubt. When I ski moguls, I go really fast, If I’m skiing with you Then you’ll be last.
Southwest Desert Craypas
Ellen Robbins GRADE 3
My skill is unbeatable My skill is perfection, You won’t see me, Just my reflection.
Golden Gate Bridge Crayon
Laura Sophie Scarinci GRADE 1
When I race, I wear my race suit With black and red; it matches my boots. When I’m on the course, I took like a blur You feel cold as I pass. Brrrrrrrr! There’s no doubt that I ski very fast When winter comes, it’s a blast! For there’s no one in the world who’s close. So challenge me! Give me a try! I am the greatest skier, So kiss your dreams.... Goodbye!
Annabel Curry GRADE 6
Sharpie
Oil Pastel with Acrylic Gloss Nora Voldins GRADE 5
18
This I Believe: Georgia (Excerpt) The trip flew by pretty quickly. Being around my family members made me feel as though I was being shown a new part of my identity that I never knew about. After all this time only knowing my family in Boston, I wished I had met this side of my family earlier. It was like the change I had been looking for after living in Boston forever. The second to last day of the trip was the day of the family reunion,and honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to it. The way my aunt described it, it sounded as though I was going to sit in a big, dusty field for hours in the Georgia heat trying not to get my new Converses dirty. Ok, so maybe I was being a little dramatic. It really wasn’t that bad except for the heat. The heat really was that bad. It was extremely hot there. Sitting in the car driving back to our hotel, I thought about the good side of things, since I had been only focusing on the negative. I realized that I had a lot of fun with my newfound cousins, and even though I hated the heat, I found myself wishing I could go back in time and experience it again. Then I realized something, and I really wished I had realized it earlier. I didn’t have to be in some fancy island resort or foreign country to have fun. The last thing I did in Georgia was sitting with my family in a dusty field, eating and talking, and yet, I liked it. It was all so simple, nothing like the elaborate vacations I had imagined. Never did I imagine dodging red ant hills in fields bigger than any I’d seen before. Never did I imagine I’d be enjoying fried fish in my aunt’s living room watching Family Feud on her tiny flat screen, and yet, it was one of the best summer experiences for me. I believe that it’s not about where you are or how much money you spent to get there to have fun. It’s about the people who surround you. People who care about you, and you don’t have to be fake around. People who know you for you. Going to Georgia this past summer taught me this important lesson. This I
Amphitheatre Mixed Media
Ione Hernandez GRADE 2
believe in Georgia! Zoe Powell-McCroey
Owls
GRADE 8
Mixed Media Oliver Morgan, Violet Largay-Bown, Riley Christian, Shyla Ballal, Scarlett Rea, Samira Abdur-Rahim GRADES 1-2
19
Holiday Home Clay
Amanda He GRADE 5
Flowers Spring is here and flowers awaken from the ground! Sleeping flowers in harsh winter but now it’s spring and flowers awaken. Many differences between the harsh winter and bright flowers. We live because of flowers, no flowers, no life, we rely on flowers.
Ceramic Snake Clay
Sketch Pencil
Ben Narasimhan GRADE 5
Days and days with rain and sunshine and the flowers come to life.�
Harrison Leerink K I N D E RGA RT E N
Seth Kim GRADE 4
Half Face Pencil
Abraham Franco GRADE 8
20
Fantasy Creature Mixed Media
Ruby Richmond GRADE 4
International Doll Mixed Media Julian Zug GRADE 2
Fall Leaves
Construction Paper & Marker Theo Masdea PreK
Twinkling in My Ice Skates Lace them up Bright and white Twinkle twinkle Shining bright Laces rock climbing up the knobs of the ice skates
Tessellation Pencil & Marker Felix Hirsch GRADE 5
My feet feel tight--like they are getting a squeeze Then cold near the toes Standing up At first, it feels normal But if I run It feels like I have bricks attached to my feet. But once I step on the ice My blade digs in I push off And I feel like I am flying Soaring for the stars Spiraling Twinkling In my ice skates
Mia Nguyen
21
GRADE 2
Icarus
Construction Paper Berkley Pluhar GRADE 1
Flying Blackcat Mixed Media` Myles Syken GRADE 4
Alexander Nahed
Greek Vase
GRADE 1
Marker
James Fair GRADE 4
22
Landscape Tempera
Eliza (Lizzie) Woods GRADE 3
Block Print
African Mask
Block Printing Ink
Clay
David Wibiralske
Thatcher Bernstein
GRADE 7
GRADE 6
Showing Up I had goosebumps as we walked into the cold studio. It had mirrors on all sides, and the male teacher stood at the front. It was a new class at a summer program, and we spent the first 20 minutes of the class doing a horrible ab workout. My peers were all wincing with pain when, on our 10th set of ballet crunches, he seemed to be incapable of reaching zero. The exercises were so incredibly painful that my stomach felt like it was on fire. Once the torture was over, he had us all stand and dance to an upbeat salsa. He demonstrated a motion that appeared as him flailing his arms and then doing a turn that slid him to the ground. I thought what he did looked ridiculous, and I didn’t want to do it at all. So I went through the motions, but I didn’t finish any of them for fear of looking ridiculous. The class continued, and I remained in an awkward, nervous state. The next week rolled around and we had his class again. We entered the brisk room and he yelled, “Move! Move! We don’t have all day! We are going to start from the corner, I hope you stretched!” A collective groan was released as we lined up one by one. My palms felt damp; I had only ever done ballet, and this was a totally new experience. I leaned against the mirror, feeling its cold surface against my arms. The line in front of me shrunk and before I could excuse myself to go to the bathroom, it was my turn. Every move I made was sharp, and I could feel the blood rushing to my face. “Loosen up!” he yelled. I excused myself to the restroom. My heart was racing, and I couldn’t think straight. After that I knew I had to make a change. I promised myself that I would give my all for the rest of the summer. Grace Beecher GRADE 8
23
African Mask Clay
Georgia Isaac GRADE 6
Self-Portrait Mixed Media
Sydney Champagne GRADE 2
Love & Friendship “My piece shows love and friendship. The stars Crayon & Marker
and rainbow show that I think this picture should Beata (Beya) Goodman be in Park School because it shows love and friendship; and Park School is about love and friendship.” K I N D E RGA RT E N
In My Heart Mixed Media
Hilary Parkinson K I N D E RGA RT E N
24
I Am I am the spark, the flame, and the kindling of fire. I am the tall waves and strong currents of water. I am the strong, steady breeze and the soft whispers of the wind. I am the tall mountains and lush forest’s earth. And I am the bright, golden rays and shining light of the sun.
Kiran Joshi GRADE 4
Sylvia (Sissy) Benenson GRADE 1
Columbian Structure Mixed Media
Jade DeDominici GRADE 2
Ice Cream Truck Crayon
Eujay Seo PreK
Outsiders I only wish the flames had destroyed the mistakes But they only made them worse I can still hear the switchblade I see the pain in the flames The old reality now just a distant dream The gold was burnt to ashes laying at my feet We who had been a team Now one lost to the flames One laying dead in the street That leaves me The one faced with the greatest pain The one who was incomplete The one who had to say goodbye to the gold, to the friends, and to the love The love that came with beholding our secret Staying gold is hard when your source of light is burnt out Hannah Haddadi GRADE 7
25
Player Under the sun The player sits down Watches the game Stands Walks up onto the field Careful not to mess up the dirt Looks up alert as a ball soars toward him He jumps to make the catch Under the sun Thump James Skeffington GRADE 4
Panda Fan Mixed Media
Fantasy Creature
Emma Dunn
Mixed Media
GRADE 2
Theo Lawrence GRADE 2
Baby Maya I Feel Sad There is no one that can Help I feel like there’s raindrops in my eyes I am as blue as can be my heart drops I have no more love.
The joy The tears Of happiness, When she came To be. Emily Fair GRADE 2
Scarlett Rea GRADE 2
Grandpa Clara Young GRADE 4
Masquerade Mask Mixed Media
Omar Ibrahim GRADE 8
26
Reptile on Brick Block Print
Dahlia Roberts GRADE 7
African Mask Clay
Ezra Lee GRADE 6
Vine
Craypas & Tempera Ethan Shi K I N D E RGA RT E N
27
Ella Harlev GRADE 4
The Almost-Failed Journey (Excerpt) In Grade VII, I was a below average student in English. I got a C+ on the grammar test and a B- average as my term grade. I looked at my classmates with their constant A’s, and I felt I could do nothing but hope to get better. I always said that I worked hard, but, in reality, I was pretty lazy, and I wasn’t naturally gifted. However, it turned out that not being talented was a gift in disguise. To everything there’s an opposite, and with hard work it’s natural talent. I can’t deny that natural talent exists. While in class listening to the discussion closely, I saw other classmates (who get A’s consistently) watching Fortnite, not listening to the teacher. Yet, they still did better than me. I always wondered how my classmates did it. Maybe there was something that allowed them to accomplish these feats that I didn’t know of. I wanted to be like them. After my horrible result on the grammar test and various writing assignments, I devoted myself to getting better. Everyday, I went to my English teacher for help, and she guided my writing and helped me understand and fix what I was doing wrong. Yet, I did not see results, and my writing grades still came out as inadequate, low B’s. I simply did not get it. I tried so hard to get better but I simply could not grasp the results that I wanted. Grade VII English ended with a giant bomb hitting me. Instead of making a “BOOM” sound, it made a “WORTHLESS” sound. I considered telling my parents, but I couldn’t tell them everything. I couldn’t tell anyone. Over the summer, I studied like I had a pack of diamonds on my back, going over SSAT vocabulary and math. I got a tutor to help with my writing. When I came back to school. I could see the sweat, tears and blood of my hard work finally start to shimmer. On my first writing assignment, I got a B+! My writing average went up to an A-. The fruition of my hard work had come; I had finally seen the physical embodiment of my hard work changing from a puny microscopic bug to a dragon that knew nothing but persistence. Then the bane of my grit arrived - the grammar test. After weeks of practice, I took the test. I struggled desperately, but I knew most of the material. A few days later, I walked into class, every step like a raging hurricane. I paused; my heart stopped; and I literally said, “No way!” I got a 96%. I had never been so happy to see a test grade in my entire life. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “It’s not the destination; it’s the journey.” The journey was treacherous, but in the end it had its perks. I always believed that hard work was a fantasy that was supposed to be inspiring, but a journey helped me realize otherwise.
Shahin Aliabadi GRADE 8
Colored Squares
Masquerade Mask
Acrylic & Marker
Mixed Media
Keira Zhuo
Madison McCaslin
GRADE 7
GRADE 8
28
Science Question Marker
Seth Wolpowitz GRADE 7
Poetry Anthology Cover Mixed Media Vera Cortell GRADE 8
Fall Tree Block Print
Isaiah Solomon GRADE 8
Children’s Book Illustration in Latin Watercolor
Octavia Reohr GRADE 8
The Fire Within Tips of red fire flying through the sky. Trailing its immortality behind it. I wonder why the bird keeps to himself Playing with the world on a string. Animal faces look up with wonder. Well, it weaves its story through the starry Sky Filling the gaps of immortality. The stories Are of Pain, sorrow and love. That is the wonder of me.
Ruby Talbot-Frangos GRADE 2
29
A Home Leapt out of the car Got my cello Ain’t never going home Ain’t never going home Walk down the steps I know where to go Ain’t never going home Ain’t never going home Took out my cello Got out my bow Ain’t never going home Ain’t never going home Looking at my friends Moved my bow Ain’t never going home Ain’t never going home Get to perform Now time to go home Now time to go home.
Adanna Obi
Josephine Collins-Knapp GRADE 2
GRADE 2
Hot Glue Gun
Oil Pastel with Acrylic Gloss
Abstract Pattern Block Print
Jonas Wilderman
Amos Lawrence
GRADE 5
GRADE 7
Masquerade Mask Mixed Media
Aaron Cohen GRADE 8
Greek Vases Mixed Media Ailie Bell GRADE 4
30
Abstract Pattern Block Print Justin Loo GRADE 7
Ceramic Dragon Clay
Nico Gonzalez GRADE 2
Self-Portrait Crayon
Caleb Ehrenfried PreK
Snowman Mixed Media
Allora Beeson PreK
Rainbows & Butterflies Love Crayon
Sofia Nanji PreK
31
House Clay
Cate Glass GRADE 5
Day of the Dead Mask Wood & Marker Sophie Laurence GRADE 7
Earth
Pick a Poem Project
Crayon
Henry Miller PreK
My past experience with poetry was very different than it is now. We didn’t really start poetry until third or fourth grade. For me, it was choosing a theme like an animal, for example, and I tried to find rhymes, to support it. Now I have a whole new understanding of poetry. I have learned lots of techniques and tools to put into poetry this year. We’ve learned that it is not just formats and rhymes but learning to identify onomatopoeia, similes, and metaphors, etc. These experiences shaped why I picked “How I Learned To Sweep” because it was a poem with a message. “How I learned to Sweep” is about the main character’s mother never teaching him/her to sweep. Her mother handed her child a broom, expecting them to know what to do, then she walked out of the room. There is more than one big message in this poem. The greater message noticed earlier in this poem is the talk of war. It may be hidden, but if you read closely, you will notice it. The second hidden message is near the end. The main character’s mother feels surprised and proud. The mother runs her hand through the speaker’s hair and says, “It’s beautiful.” This hidden message is the mother and the main character having time together in happiness. I felt a small personal connection to this poem when I chose it. The connection I have with this poem is that a mother is proud of how well her child cleaned. When my room is clean my mom doesn’t feel proud, like in the poem, but she does feel relieved. One reason this poem spoke to me was the title “How I Learned To Sweep.” It’s very interesting, and that drew me to it. I never thought I would be interested in a poem about sweeping. Ashton Cruz GRADE 7
32
International Doll Mixed Media
Juniper Richmond GRADE 2
Masquerade Mask Mixed Media Grace Lloyd
Illustration for Macbeth Mixed Media
Juniper Pinchera GRADE 7
Chalet Clay
Ilana Schwartz GRADE 5
Museum of Me Mixed Media
Akil Meadows
33
K I N D E RGA RT E N
GRADE 8
Symbolism in the novel The Outsiders (Selected Page) Markers
Amaryllis
Greek Vase
Jenny Jin
Craypas & Tempera
Construction Paper & Marker
GRADE 7
Kate Hamilton
Luca Chokshi
GRADE 4
K I N D E RGA RT E N
Leaving the Dark Audience for the Stage Light I believe in being confident and taking risks. I like to take measured risks. I have a few friends who often take poorly thought-out, unmeasured risks. They will try almost anything and seem to like the excitement of having no idea what is going to happen to them next. Although I think new experiences are exciting, too, I always think about potential consequences first. There has to be a pretty good chance for something good to come out of it, and the risks have to be…… reasonable. Several months ago, I decided to sign up for the Park School winter musical. During the first week, I was terrified. I had no previous experience with drama, but my friends had raved about being in the Park plays. I felt that on the plus side were the slim chance to see if I had any hidden theater talent as well as the better chance of making great lifelong memories. On the minus side were committing several months of my precious free time to a new experience that I may not end up liking very much and the slight risk of making a fool of myself in front of the whole school. I decided both were very reasonable, measured risks to take. As it turned out, I had one of the best experiences of my junior high school years. Over the next several months, my classmates and I put together a really amazing show. After school, I got to know a new group of classmates much better and enjoyed spending time with my friends in an environment that was very different from the classroom. Even though, I won’t be running off to Broadway anytime soon, I can now say I’ve been in a musical. Had it not been for taking a measured risk, I would never have made the connections, friendships, or memories that I did. The winter musical has been one of the best experiences in all of my years at Park, and, although it was a risk, I decided to take it, and I am a better person because of it. Audrey Kim GRADE 8
B ACK COVE R A RTWORK Landscape
Watercolor
Sarah-Alysse Williams GRADE 3
34
The Park School 171 Goddard Avenue Brookline, Massachusetts 02445