Monthly Archives: May 2017

Gymnastic Performance at Lower School Gathering by Asher and Zen

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We all laughed and had a lot of fun!

Asher and Zen report: Last week we shared our gymnastics routine at Lower School Gathering. We have been working on them for a few months. Then it came the time to share. Some kids chose to perform and some did not. Because of injuries and absences Randy filled in for a few people. The people who performed came to Lower School Gathering 10 minutes early to stretch and get ready. First we did jumping jacks and then we did burpees. Then we had a free stretch time. One very common stretch was a lunge. When it came time for Lower School Gathering we lined up against the wall. Each group took turns performing and excited when they finished. Everyone worked really hard and when they were finished they felt good about how hard they worked together. There was a huge round of applause after every routine. The kids who did not perform cheered for the performing kids from the sidelines. It was a great experience for our play because it helped us with stage fright. When we had gymnastics we practiced routines that we made up. The routines needed to have a jump, a balance, a roll, and a cartwheel. We had partners when we did this so it was a collaboration with another person.The people who were injured made changes to their routine so they could still perform.  We shared it on a mat against the wall horizontally and the audience crowded around the mat. Several groups combined Karate and Taekwondo into their routines. Half the children in the grade shared and the other half of children didn’t. It took a lot of work to prepare for the routines and a lot of courage to perform them because they had to stand up in front of the whole lower school and share what they were doing the past year. We all laughed and had a lot of fun!          ]]>

Diana Son Visits: A Lesson in Screenwriting

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“You made writing sound easy but when I write in our script it is not as easy as you make it sound!”

May 11, 2017 Dear Ms Son, Thank you for coming in. I really enjoyed your story about being a writer and what advice you gave us. I think you helped our grade out on the play with what you said (or at least some of us) I really wanted you to stay after and look at our scripts and us acting them out I think you could give us some really good feedback. My favorite part of your visit was when you told the story of why you became a writer. I liked how you were known for your brother and all your teacher would say “You’re (Gasp!) Grant – Son’s sister!” But you wrote about your family instead of your toys and stuff and your teachers thought yours was the most thoughtful so you became a writer. I liked the scene you showed us from “Love is a Four Letter Word,” and when you talked about how much you can learn about a person in so little time. Your advice about how much you write over your script and find typos and places to add things for improvement was helpful.  I really thought it was good asking us questions about what was going on in our play and how the people changed. I liked when you told us about adding action in your words and how to do it. You made writing sound easy but when I write in our script it is not as easy as you make it sound! I think all of your advise will make it much easier to now write our script. We can make it sound better than it was before you came in. Again thank you so much for coming in. Love from your son NATE ______________________________________________________________________

“You made me think really deeply about that one minute scene, and I hadn’t really thought about TV that way before.”

May 11th, 2017 Dear Diana Son, Thank you for coming in to talk to our grade. I thoroughly enjoyed your visit. By the way, I have an older friend who watches “13 Reasons Why,” and she loves it! I was taking notes on your visit, and I was in the very back. I really enjoyed the clip that you played for us. You made me think really deeply about that one minute scene, and I hadn’t really thought about TV that way before. I normally watch TV with my parents, and in our everyday lives we will talk about the show. We will think about a character’s feelings or the relationships they have. We are in the seventh season of the show, and at this point they got a new creator/writer. It was fun to see how the show changed between writers. Have you ever watched a show where they changed creators and the show drastically changed? As you know, we are writing a play that will be performed in early June. My group was having a little (a lot) of trouble being a team and joining our ideas together. We are trying to make our lines very informative (but still sound like a conversation) while still making it appropriate for all ages. We have a tricky subject (the Great Migration, a very violent, upsetting period) and you helped me think of ways to portray characters feelings and personalities through dialogue, which is the most important thing at the moment as we are writing the script. You helped me get around the tricky stuff, and focus on what is important at the moment, just by talking to us. Thank you again. I think that your story is really cool, and just by watching that clip I can tell that you are a great writer!!!!!! I have a question for you. How long did it take to write the longest script you’ve ever written? Thanks again!! Margot Story _______________________________________________________________________

“How do you get a baby in the scene? Do you just pick a baby off of the street?”

Dear Diana, Thank you for coming to our classroom to tell us suggestions on the immigration play! I think it helped the fourth grade when you told us tips and modifications. My favorite part of the visit was when Zen asked you this question:  “How do you get a baby in the scene? Do you just pick a baby off of the street?” And then you explained the whole audition process. Thank you for coming!   Sincerely, Yves ______________________________________________________________________

“From that one minute scene I could get a sense of the character’s personalities and feelings.”

Dear Diana, Thank you for coming in to teach us more about writing a play. I think you gave us very good advice and had great answers to our questions. I also think you gave us great solutions to our problems. I think you did a really great job giving advice. The best piece of advice I thought you gave was how to turn a bunch of lines into a scene, my group was having some trouble with that. I am thinking hard about your advice and I think it will definitely make our script better.   My favorite part of what you said was how your teacher said she would hang your work up but never did. Even though it’s sort of sad she never hung it up, the way you said it while telling the story made me laugh. I think that you are a great writer. From that one minute scene I could get a sense of the character’s personalities and feelings. I enjoyed listening to you speak I hope you enjoyed speaking to us! Sincerely, Makeda  ]]>

Central Park Poems

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The Day In The Park By Alden

The clutter of birds chirping, Fills my ears, The shadows run miles and miles, As the cherry blossoms stick out, On the dark trees, The shimmer of water is like a, Dark spot in the light day, The smell of grass and moss, Are filling my nose, It is beautiful here. Central Park.

THE RARE BAILEY BIRD by Alex

Central Park, Has lots of nature, Trees, Grass, Rocks. And lots of Sounds. Sirens, Pee, From the clouds. Kids fidget spinners. There are, People running, On a track. Stomp, Stomp, Stomp, They go. But one Thing they have a lot of is birds. There are Sparrows, Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, But only one, Rare Bailey Bird. Thththththth, Is this rare bird’s call. This rare bird mostly, Flirts, Bites itself, And flirts. It loves Rocks, Grass, And, People. It carries an Umbrella Everywhere it goes. That is all We know, About this rare bird.

Air Meets Land By Asher Cohen

How is it so beautiful? The vibrant green grass with patches of wet mud, That touch the foggy air that almost looks picture perfect, How is it so beautiful? How is it so beautiful? Robins chirp and blue jays sing Jay, Jay, The chirping birds are the sound of mother Nature, How is it so beautiful? How is it so beautiful? I sit on the rock that is as wet as rain and breathe in, As I breathe in I feel calm, nourished and rested, How is it so beautiful? How is it so beautiful? The foggy sky behind the dark brown trees, And the wet rocks show me something I have not seen before, How is it so beautiful?  

On Top Of Central Park

By Avery Rosen

  Sitting on top of Central Park I see twisting trees going left and right. Sitting on top of Central Park I see patchy grass, almost as if it is a part of a giant quilt covering and keeping the world warm, like a jacket. Sitting on top of Central Park I see moss slowly overwhelming trees like a whole in a boat. Ingeniously making the boat sink in the ocean without. On top of Central Park I am sitting on a rock that is hard but comfortable. To me the irregular rocks somehow resemble furniture. Like snow, white blossoms suffocate the trees and humans with their elegant beauty. Sitting on top of Central Park I hear the chitter, chitter, of the hidden birds never seen by the human eye. Up there in their capacious seeds that grow into mighty vast trees. I hear the sad remorseful sound of construction and traffic, consuming the majestic sounds of nature. On top of Central Park the light that I see is the reflecting light off of the sad minuscule puddle that sits on the last rock. It has lost all of its friends to the sun and slowly but surely he too will give in and evaporate. The fluffy clouds surround the world as if there is something that they want to hide on the other side. You can almost see through the dirt it is that shiny. I wonder how these rocks were made? Were they made by man and woman kind? Or were they made by the creator? What does Central Park look like during all of the seasons? I feel calm and ready to run and dance with the squirrels, or fly and tweet with the birds, or run with the joggers running by.  

Nature of Central Park

By Bailey Wolfman

Central Park

The rain drops sitting on the clovers

drop, drop, drop

Grass dancing with the wind

Cherry blossoms drooping down on the trees

Clouds scaring the sun away

Birds getting their baths while quietly chirping

Central Park

The Singers of Nature

By Crosby

Birds Chirp, chirp, chirp, All birds do, From the tiniest to the biggest The singers of nature they are. They have a special ability that no other animal has, That is to fly They can soar through the air So swiftly and quietly,   The singers of nature they are. There could be a flock or just one    But they are all scared from one thing, Humans, They are just so peaceful And elegant, so why scare them They are harmless Why do they have to hide? On top of the tree tops The singers of nature they are. So many different types of birds, It’s impossible to name them all, So many different colors on their feathers, We might not know all of them As they fly high above seeing a beautiful sight indeed, The singers of nature they are.      

THE SQUIRREL

By Ezra

  Chit! Chit! Chit! Look at the adorable little squirrel!   Squirrel Brown and grey Soft and sleek Quick and nimble Like a soft blanket in a bed Late at night   Loves acorns And climbing trees The adventurous squirrel The awesome squirrel Squirrel    

Swishing Like The Wind

By Gia Garland

  A cold, long breeze swept through the park A tree Stood there like a statue Its branches swaying dancing to the song of the wind   A tree, Marked its place in the earth Long ago And while its flowers may fall, It shall never go, Until it does   We may not think highly of it There’s one thing we don’t realize It’s falling apart, bit by bit Until it peacefully dies    

Rain and Play

By Jade

Rocky pointed schist Wet from rain and cold. There is light but no sun, shadows and clouds SPLASH! Fourth grade wet, Getting rained on in play, But not the second time.   Lunch with the hippos after more walking Then comes the playing and talking. Yah! Another playground. RECESS!   “Fort Wars” again, Let us in! But not at the farm. Please Let us in! Password Let us in! We’ll let you Let us in! Kick, Kick, Punch, Punch, lightly Let us in! NO! Password!   More walking with backpacks and talking and finally… getting to write. Think and draw, Listen and talk, Write, and after that, more writing.   Finally leaving, A long day plus, Tiring please let us, Go to back to school and rest. On the train, we’re LATE! “Hurry and be efficient!” Call the teachers.   On the subway, Stops… Get off, HURRY, Seeing kids, leaving, parents, Get your homework, and Let’s go!

Proud

by Kieran Vaughan

Low tangled arms, Knotted, Reaching out for sunlight Reaching out for rain. The chirping of birds huddled in its arms, The roughness of its sturdy body Dusted in beautiful petals. The body, rising, Proud.   How is something so pretty inside such a big city? By Laiali The sound of a faint siren melting into the soft chorus of tweets in the layered melodies of birds Shades of colors fading in and out, soft and bold, while the light peeks through different clouds Trees with trunks of armor and blossoms like the door opening into a new world of nature Air crisp with the gentle breeze whipping your hair, and rustling the branches Calmness whirling around you with the wind, Peace growing on you like the flowers growing from a bud, Sadness creeping up and leaving right after like spring with the seasons.    

Earl The Squirrel

By Lorenzo Brigode

  I have a new friend In The Sun anD Cloud His name is earl the squirrel earl the squirrel likes TO Climb trees earl the squirrel likes climbing rocks I have a new friend In The Sun anD Cloud His name is earl the squirrel earl the squirrel eats acorns earl the squirrel is very adventures I have a new friend In The Sun anD Cloud His name is earl the squirrel earl the squirrel is fast and likes to run earl the squirrel likes to chase birds I have a new friend In The Sun anD Cloud His name is earl the squirrel Earl The Squirrel Is   Adorable!!                                                     

Moss Grows On A Stump

By Makeda

  Moss Grows On A Stump Blossom petals slowly fall Rain stops. Ground is damp Dandelion sways in wind   Don’t you see   Don’t you see The cherry blossom tree with petals slowly falling Don’t you see The robin with its red breast Don’t you see The delicate dandelion Don’t you see The moss growing on the stump Don’t you see You started walking slower to look at stuff SO MOVE THOSE FEET SLOWPOKE!  

Mazes

By Margot Story

The park is like a maze With it’s turns And crossing roads The forest The benches The many rivers and puddles that dampen our boots But keep our souls alive The long journey Enjoyable, but tedious all the same Beauteous, calming I feel so Zen The many playgrounds Filled with a world that fits right into our imaginations The way the light hits the trees The way the birds chirp like they are singing to world Freedom is their song Swirling rocks, like a cloudy sky Their texture is rough, but also smooth in some way It is stunning, flawless And has it’s own way of being This world is free This world is fun This world is calm and quiet and tranquil And I love it.    

The Twisted Willow

By Miles

  A twisted willow stands mangled, In front of me there are trees just blossoming for spring but the bare willow still stands out The red robins catch my attention, For a second, They sang like the thoughts flowing through my head They seemed to keep getting louder Again the thoughts throbbed throughout me, I was ripped from the beauteous breasted birds, As if to be alive, As if it was walking toward me there it was The twisted willow.      

A Walk in the Park

By Nate

  Walking around looking at tree’s recovering from the rain Strange shaped rocks with moss and puddles that look like tiny mirrors Seeing the tree’s casting a shadow over the grass Clouds putting out the sun making all the plants look sad and gloomy Hearing trucks hitting puddles breaking their reflection into hundreds of drops Birds singing and playing in the sky The green landscape makes me feel calm and happy in the sad weather. The silence making most people full of energy A walk in the park is beautiful a walk in the park is special a walk in the park is full of wonder       

Cherry Blossoms

By Romy Croquet

  The breeze is cold and wet, The cherry blossoms Are white and pink , The trees are green Pink and white and green The dew covers the grass, As puppies play and their owners unleash them, The kids are running around too, But they are calm and quiet The birds chirp And the cherry blossoms swing With the wind…  

I See, I Feel, I Hear

By Sam

  I see brown trees and blooming tulips. I see trees made of thick bumpy bark. It is cloudy and dark but it is still day time. I hear birds chirping and noisy sirens. How did these large rocks get here? I feel hyper like a cheetah when it is happy. Ha ha ha! I feel happy as I play and run around. I feel happy as I see birds of all kinds.       Pink Cherry Blossoms Left to Right By Suko   Pink and soft. Pretty and calm. Mellow and sweet. Japanese and peaceful. Pink Cherry Blossoms are Kawaii.   WET ROCK By Suko   Rock Smooth Cold Wet Mossy Soft Cosy Slippery Rock   Bird Of The Tree By Suko   Blue Black White soft calm Chippy Pretty Blue Jay!   A SQUIRREL. by Yves A squirrel Fast and swift Move like the wind, “ Tweet Tweet!”  says the bird Eats acorns in the shade that the trees provide Climbs up a tree Jumps gracefully to the next tree The cool and fresh wind refreshes the squirrel Like ice in the air “ Tweet tweet!” Tell me, Where do squirrels come from?  

Manhattan

By Zen

  Take the B train and you’ll see some trees. 96th street is the place, When the pine comes to smell, Walk, bike, or ride To the place where trees be And where birds chirp Where rocks lay to sleep. The grip on your bike. ]]>