Apple Seed - Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative

Apple Seed 

Literary Magazine 

Winter, 2009 - 2010 Vol. VII, No. 1 

Showcasing the literary, artistic, and musical talents of third, fourth and fifth grade students 

in Lawrence, Andover, North Andover and Methuen 

“The Orange Cat” Sydney Gillman, High Plain Elementary School 

Published by the Multicultural Enrichment Partnership of the 

Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative Methuen, Massachusetts www.glec.org/enrichment


Literary Magazine 

Published by the Multicultural Enrichment Partnership of the 

Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative 

480 Broadway, Methuen, Massachusetts 01844 

www.glec.org/enrichment 

2500 copies printed Lawrence, Massachusetts, January, 2010 

Advisory Committee 

Kate Nelson, Arlington School, Lawrence 

Sue Baylies, Atkinson School, North Andover 

Jen Cho, Bancroft Elementary School, Andover 

Viki Bailey, Bruce School, Lawrence 

Kathryn Turmel, Comprehensive Grammar School, Methuen 

Karen Lunny, Franklin School, North Andover 

Jill Ramey, Frost Elementary School, Lawrence 

Cheryl Corrigan, Guilmette Elementary School, Lawrence 

Amy Boardman, Guilmette Middle School, Lawrence 

Linda Breen, High Plain Elementary, Andover 

David Pinzer, Kittredge School, North Andover 

Debbie Gabriel, Leahy School, Lawrence 

Mary Beth Noe, Marsh Grammar School, Methuen 

Mary Drevet, Oliver School, Lawrence 

Kim Barry, Parthum School, Lawrence 

Patricia Barrett, Sanborn Elementary School, Andover 

Brooke Arakelian, Sargent School, North Andover 

Julianne Toomey-Kautz and Elly Seavey, South School, Andover 

Kathleen Siwicki & Greg Lamers, South Lawrence East Elementary School, Lawrence 

Louise Perry & Paula Sasson Norris, South Lawrence East Middle School, Lawrence 

Jennifer Ryan, Tarbox School, Lawrence 

Cathy Zembruski, Tenney Grammar School, Methuen 

Deb Gilmartin, Thomson School, North Andover 

Shaun Bateman, Donald P. Timony Grammar School, Methuen 

Liz Roos, West Elementary School, Andover 

Kathy Dube, Wetherbee School, Lawrence 

Community Advisory Board 

Marina Salenikas, Stevens Memorial Library, North Andover 

Kathleen Moran-Wallace, Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen 

Beth Kerrigan, Memorial Hall Library, Andover 

Julia Alvarez, Middlebury College 

Assistant Editors 

Paul Downing, M.H.S. ’11 Charlie Smith, A.H.S. ’10 Tori Markus, A.H.S. ’10 

Wentai Xiao, A.H.S. ’11 Eliza Zimmerman, N.A.H.S. ’11 Alyssa Thomson, N.A.H.S. ’11 

Anabel Reyes, L.H.S. ’12 Ashley Santacroce, L.H.S. ’12 Joelly Carvajal, L.H.S. ’12 

Courtney Dunn, M.H.S. ’12 Melissa Ragonese, A.H.S. ’11 

Editor 

James L. McConaughy, Director, GLEC Multicultural Enrichment Partnership 

Lorraine Birch, GLEC Multicultural Enrichment Partnership Secretary 

Executive Director of Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative 

John E. Mara 

Special thanks to 

South Lawrence East School for hosting the AppleSeed Launch Night on January 12, 2010 

page 3

page 4 Apple Seed 

AppleSeed is a regional elementary school literary magazine showcasing the creative talents of third, fourth, and 

fifth grade students from the public schools in the communities served by the Greater Lawrence Education Collaborative’s 

Multicultural Enrichment Partnership (MEP): Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, and Methuen. Through its many programs 

[please see next page], MEP strives to nurture the social and cultural bonds between the communities; challenge, 

develop, and showcase students’ skills and talents; provide new opportunities for students to explore, develop and succeed; 

and reinforce the educational goals of the participating schools. 

AppleSeed is a spin off of AppleSauce, our semi-annual middle school literary magazine started in 2000. This is 

the twelfth issue of AppleSeed. Works are submitted twice a year through the advisors of the participating schools. The 

launch night and first reading of these works was at South Lawrence East School on January 12, 2010. Thanks to the help 

of our community advisory board, follow-up readings are often held at the public libraries and other organizations in our 

communities. AppleSeed is made possible by the wealth of local talented young writers and artists, by the collaboration of 

the dedicated teachers who inspire, challenge, and encourage them, and by the support of individuals, foundations, businesses, 

organizations, PTOs, Friends of GLEC’s Literary Magazines, and the school districts. We welcome your support. 

Assistance in all forms from parents of current or former contributors to AppleSeed, AppleSauce, and ApplePi is 

also encouraged. In addition to financial support, our areas of need include computer equipment, graphic editing software, 

and help with distribution, registration at launch nights, videotaping, audiotaping, editing, and publicity. GLEC is a 501c3 

non-profit tax deductible public education organization. 

High school sophomores and juniors who are interested in helping us produce AppleSeed, AppleSauce, and our 

new high school magazine, ApplePi, are encouraged to get in touch with us. Currently, students from four high schools play 

an active role in our editing and publishing process [see “Assistant Editors” on previous page]. 

In order to reach a large readership, AppleSeed, AppleSauce and ApplePi are distributed free throughout the 

Greater Lawrence community: in the schools, libraries, youth centers, seniors centers, and other public places. Each published 

contributor receives several complementary copies, as well. Excerpts from the magazines, complete with recordings 

made at the launch nights of the students reading or talking about their own works, are also available electronically on the 

GLEC website (without the last names). Through the hard copies and electronic copies, we estimate that between 5,000 and 

10,000 people read each issue we publish, which is usually between 2,000 and 3,000 copies. 

For more information 

www.glec.org/enrichment or contact 

James L. McConaughy, GLEC Enrichment Director, at 978 685-3000 x 123, jmcconaughy@glec.org. 

Please contact your school’s AppleSeed advisor (see previous page or website) for information about submitting works 

for the next issue, which will come out in late April of 2010. Advisors will be submitting pieces to us for that issue early in 

late February and early March of 2010. 

Financial Supporters 

This publication was made possible in part by the support of the participating school districts, PTOs, 

Friends of GLEC’s Literary Magazines, and grants from: 

Jebediah Foundation, Clipper Ship Foundation, and the 

North Andover Cultural Council and Lawrence Cultural Council -- local


GLEC 

Multicultural Enrichment Partnership 

Publications and Programs 

So that these magazines can continue to publish and encourage future young authors and 

artists, please support us as generously as you can with a contribution in any amount. 

Make your contribution payable to GLEC, and send it to: 

Friends of GLEC’s Literary Magazines, 

Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative 

480 Broadway 

Methuen, MA 01844 

GLEC is a 501c3 non-profit tax deductible public education organization. Thank you! 

page 5


Table of Contents 

ARLINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Genesis Bulnes Scared in the Pool p. 40 

Ronyel Pena My Elmo p. 43 

Chantelle Rosario When My Brother Was Born p. 19 

Sharixa Rosario Daddy and Me p. 18 

ARLINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Einet Reyes Yes we can -- Si se puede (artwork) p. 32 

Einet Reyes Go Go Go (artwork) p. 52 

ATKINSON SCHOOL, NORTH ANDOVER 

Jimmy Conserva The Deer are Leaping p. 24 

Leah Markham My Special Place p. 25 

Chloe Ostiguy Friends p. 52 

BANCROFT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ANDOVER 

Trisha Ballakur The Most Irresistible Ice Cream Cone (artwork) p. 29 

Priscilla Bibeau A Great Treat from the Fair (artwork) p. 36 

Julia Gordon Fall Flowers (artwork) p. 44 

Scott Ren-Jackson Cyclops (artwork) p. 22 

Scott Ren-Jackson Moon Knight (artwork) p. 21 

Liddy Kasraian Leaves (artwork) p. 44 

Ellie Kravetz That Was Fall p. 45 

Archie Lopez Sad p. 13 

COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, METHUEN 

Zach Beeley CGS – Our School p. 27 

Jaikus Gratereaux My Bedroom p. 28 

Marissa Mailhot Jingle Bell Rock (artwork) p. 11 

Rebecca Moszka To Serve Rat p. 33 

Ryan Puglisi Dragon (artwork) p. 32 

Victoria Small Goal Keeper in Charge (artwork) p. 43 

FRANKLIN SCHOOL, NORTH ANDOVER 

Katherine Bace Take Care of the Trees p. 44 

Joseph Ford Winter Scene (artwork) p. 53 

Joseph Ford Still Life Tempera (artwork) p. 48 

Tess Higgins Falling Down p. 45 

Abigail Prisby Baby Fox (artwork) p. 45 

Abigail Prisby Squid (artwork) p. 40 

Abigail Prisby Run! Run! Run! (artwork) p. 51


Table of Contents (continued) 

ROBERT L. FROST SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Laura Griffiths Snake Problem p. 12 

Jewel Martin Brown is on me p. 52 

Maciel Paredes What If p. 37 

Jewel Rodriguez The Carrot p. 41 

Jzania Vargas Dreams p. 52 

GERARD A. GUILMETTE SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Luis Alexis Self Portrait (artwork) p. 38 

Daniel Casado Self Portrait (artwork) p. 53 

Luzyann Guzmán Self Portrait (artwork) p. 53 

Harold Nateral My Tongue p. 29 

Nathalie Rodriguez Self Portrait (artwork) p. 18 

Emely Sariol Self Portrait (artwork) p. 18 

Xavier Vasquez I Am p. 21 

HIGH PLAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ANDOVER 

Olivia Burns Day Dream p. 31 

Julia Carzo I‛m a Pencil p. 26 

Delaney Fisher Anti-Still Life (artwork) p. 41 

Sydney Gillman Orange Cat (artwork) Cover 

Meredith Hunt River Life p. 25 

Ryan Kelloway Sailing (artwork) p. 37 

Hannah Littlewood Tiger (artwork) p. 47 

Andres Sanchez A Kid Who Likes To Play Football (artwork) p. 19 

page 7 

KITTREDGE SCHOOL, NORTH ANDOVER 

Leah Hurley A Vacationing Dog p. 35 

Izzy Pinzer Stripes (artwork) p. 12 

Anna Zimmer Change is a-comin‛ p. 17 

Anna Zimmer Are We There Yet? (artwork) Back Cover 

FRANCIS M. LEAHY SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Byran Lopez I Love Money! p. 32 

Richie Pena Can You Hear Me? p. 17 

Nasier Santos But I Do! p. 22 

Remmie Sarra My Flips p. 21 

MARSH GRAMMAR SCHOOL, METHUEN 

Aissa Mamdouh Ode to Water p. 30 

Julia McCoy New York City p. 10



HENRY K. OLIVER SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Ricardo Alvarado Fall (artwork) p. 24 

Jeremy Canales Closer to the Past p. 23 

Tarialis DeLeon-Paulino The Girl Who Didn‛t Have A Mother p. 51 

Mariceli Mota Cool Breeze p. 24 

Vanessa Pojoy An Autumn Day p. 44 

EDWARD F. PARTHUM SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Angela Diaz Coming to America p. 36 

SANBORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ANDOVER 

Julie Barbanti Nature p. 39 

Iris Choo Imagine p. 37 

Catherine Cox Eye of the Tiger (artwork) p. 13 

Daniel Gemmell My Sunny Job p. 47 

Chloe Hillson I Don‛t Know What Happened p. 32 

Kaitlin Lahood Out in the Ocean p. 30 

Ben Zhang Was My Head Really in the Clouds? p. 38 

ANNIE L. SARGENT SCHOOL, NORTH ANDOVER 

Leo Conti The Dirtbike (artwork) p. 20 

Evanna Gabriello Yummy Jolly Ranchers p. 29 

Kunal Gala Mountains p. 24 

Samuel He Three Birds (artwork) p. 25 

Maya Koorapaty Starfish Wishes p. 31 

Drew Kushnir A Very Meaty Limerick p. 22 

William C. Lauzon Sailing Across the Sea (artwork) p. 31 

Clara Reich Cat with Sunglasses (photo) p. 33 

Lilly Voke Thoughts Dancing in My Mind p. 20 

Nicolas Wiles Tiger (artwork) p. 16 

SOUTH SCHOOL, ANDOVER 

Phebe Ozirsky Nature p. 47 

Samira Sayan The Ghostly Sale p. 42 

SOUTH LAWRENCE EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Savanna Bonilla Bam! p. 34 

Leonardo Gonzalez Parrot (artwork) p. 38 

Joslin Regalada Seashells (artwork) p. 30 

Emely Siri Finding Standly p. 39 

Sheila Tejada Lexi (artwork) p. 23



SOUTH LAWRENCE EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Eddarilys Barrera-Lugo Cancer p. 51 

Dalina Ly Portrait (artwork) p. 15 

Dalina Ly Moods (artwork) p. 29 

Isaac Mazariegos Dogs Having Fun (artwork) p. 26 

Armando Menoza Let‛s Celebrate (artwork) p. 10 

Amarilis Pimentel Michael (artwork) p. 20 

German Reyes Sticks in a Battle p. 13 

JOHN K. TARBOX SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Eliannee Delacruz My Monster (artwork) p. 42 

Nelwin Duran Endangered Species Report: Mountain Lion p. 35 

Kyle E. Jaime Guitar (artwork) p. 10 

Samuel Lara Honus Wagner (artwork) p. 34 

Alyjhun Lopez Mrs. Pinky-Doo (artwork) p. 43 

Sabrina Rodriguez The Amazing Tarbox School Book Fair p. 15 

TENNEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, METHUEN 

Anthony An The Geometric Pumpkin (artwork) p. 21 

Rachel Gallagher A Beautiful Day at Cape Ann (photo) p. 49 

Talia Harvey For My Grandma p. 49 

Daniela Marroquin Monkey (artwork) p. 22 

Samantha Sourie Peace, Love and Happiness (artwork) p. 28 

THOMSON SCHOOL, NORTH ANDOVER 

Thanh Thao Nguyen Flower Girl (artwork) p. 50 

Karli Smith Week Beatle (artwork) p. 39 

Sam Wright Deep Sea Poison (artwork) p. 14 

Sam Wright Desert Danger (artwork) p. 14 

DONALD P. TIMONY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, METHUEN 

Mariella Mendez My Dad p. 49 

WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ANDOVER 

Thomas Galligani Anchoring the Medley Relay p. 34 

Janelle Kelleher Roxy (artwork) p. 42 

Cora Lundgren Harley (artwork) p. 35 

Sophie Uluatam Thoughts p. 38 

Sophie Uluatam Giraffe (artwork) p. 46 

EMILY G. WETHERBEE SCHOOL, LAWRENCE 

Anthony Martinez A Car (artwork) p. 23 

Nathan Yuth Sneaker (artwork) p. 34 

Dorcas Muwanguzi If Sorrow Were p. 51 

page 9


“Guitar” 

Kyle E. Jaime 

Tarbox School 

New York City 

Skyscrapers 

Flyers and papers 

Litter and more litter 

Lakes and oceans shimmer 

A lot of light 

Sometimes a little 

Too bright. 

Julia McCoy 

Marsh Grammar School 

“Let‛s Celebrate” 

Armando Mendoza 

South Lawrence East Middle School


page 11 

“Jingle Bell Rock” Marissa Mailhot, Comprehensive Grammar School


“Stripes” Izzy Pinzer, Kittredge School 

Snake Problem 

It‛s not that I don‛t care for snakes. 

But what do you do when a 24-foot python says. . . 

“I love you?” 

Laura Griffiths 

Frost Elementary School

Sticks in a Battle 

As sticks go off to battle, in the war of 

snowmen, 

They know they might not return to their safe 

homes and dens. 

As they paint their faces black and green to 

camouflage during the night, 

They know this is going to be a tough fight. 

When they see a light out of the pitch black, 

They know it is time to attack! 

As you hear Boom! and Bang! and smell the 

smell of burning fire, 

You know there may be no survivor. 

As your side loses many lives, 

You know when you get home, you‛ll hear the 

sound of crying wives. 

As the ship sinks to the bottom of the sea, 

You know it‛s time to go and flee. 

When you‛re saved by a life boat, 

Then you know you can float. 

As you see your family again, you cry tears 

of joy. 

As they ask you what happened, you wish you 

weren‛t a boy. 

As you wish you weren‛t at war, 

You know one thing, you wish you weren‛t 

ashore. 

German Reyes 

South Lawrence East Middle School 


page 13 

“Eye of the Tiger” 

Catherine Cox, Sanborn Elementary School 

Sad 

When you are sad, 

This is what you do… 

First you get a pencil, 

Then you get a notebook. 

Next you open to a sheet, 

Then you start writing 

A wonderful song 

About how you feel 

Because 

You are in the 

Blues! 

Archie Lopez 

Bancroft School


“Deep Sea Poison” Sam Wright, Thomson School 

“Desert Danger” Sam Wright, Thomson School


“Portrait” Dalina Ly, South Lawrence East Middle School 

page 15 

The Amazing 

Tarbox School Book Fair 

The Scholastic Book 

Company brought in fiction, 

chapter books, nonfiction, 

fantasy, adventure books, 

mystery books, and biographies. 

There were reference books, 

easy reader books, and science 

books too. Ms. Sullivan said 

there were eight different 

genres for sale. 

The books were in the 

Tarbox School gym. The book 

fair started on October 15 th and 

it finished on October 20 th . On 

October 15 th parents came from 

3:00 until 4:30 p.m. and bought 

books for their kids. The book 

fair is here so children can buy 

books to read, learn information, 

and be entertained. 

A book fourth grade 

boys will like is “Football 

Hero.” It is about a boy who 

likes football. A book girls 

might like is “Fairy Godsister” 

about a fairy godsister with an 

attitude! 

According to Mrs. Jones, 

we raised over $750 at the book 

fair. So, thank you for coming 

to the book fair and buying your 

favorite book. We‛ll see you in 

the spring when we have our 

next one! 

Sabrina Rodriguez 

Tarbox School


“Tiger” Nicolas Wiles, Sargent School

Change is a-comin‛ 

Inspired by “Priscilla and the Hollyhocks” by Anne Broyles 

One fine day all the slave children were 

lined up on the outskirts of town waving, some 

yelling good-byes and others running after the 

carriages, putting out small hands trying to catch 

those of their parents. Their master had just died 

and in the night you could hear weeping from his 

wife all the way out to the slave stables where the 

children were kept. Old Cook came in and tried to 

get the younger ones to fall asleep. Once this task 

was performed, she told the rest to sit down and 

be quiet so she could explain what happened. 

“The past week master has been sick, ill 

with a disease the white doctors know not. So, he 

died, as we all knew he would. Tomorrow all your 

parents will be sold and the day after the next, it 

will be your turn to stand on the auction block.” 

Several of the slaves gasped and, as if on 

cue, all the babies started to cry. Then, Cook said 

change was a-comin‛. She told us she was running 

away and would take us all with her though there 

was nothing she could do about our parents, for 

they were already rounding them up. Then, Cook 

said reassuringly, “We‛ve got two days ‘til they‛re 

planning to sell you. So, be strong. Tell none of 

our secret and go to bed.” Then, Cook left us to 

ponder our thoughts and snuggle back under our 

covers and listen to the punctured silence, filled 

with weeping and the footsteps of our parents 

being rounded up into wagons, knowing not that the 

longer they took the longer we‛d have to wait to be 

free. 

When dawn lightened the skies and 

colored the mountains the next morning, Cook 

came in and gave us all delicious sugary porridge. 

She told us to hurry up and get outside so we could 

say good-bye to our parents. It wasn‛t a happy 


page 17 

time as we walked through the plantation and into 

town. All we had now was each other, Cook, and the 

hope that still burned like a candle that someday 

we could be free and those words “change is acomin‛.” 

Well, we hoped it‛s a good change. 

When we reached the edge of the town, 

we all burst into tears at the sight of our parents 

-- our guardians, our role models -- all rounded up 

like pigs. Still, even in this horrible moment, we 

had hope like a light leading the way. Some parents 

were still outside the wagons but being pushed 

in by guards. Cook ran over and whispered our 

freedom secret to three people from each wagon 

to share with the others. This seemed to lighten 

our parents‛ feelings and our own, and most could 

suppress a small smile to show our freedom was 

really just miles away, and now all we had to do was 

get some “tickets” on the “underground railroad.” 

Anna Zimmer, Kittredge School 

Can You Hear Me? 

Can you hear me? 

Yelling for attention 

I‛m trapped in a room 

With no light 

I can‛t move 

I yell and yell and yell 

But no one hears me 

My voice disappears in midair 

The question is 

Can you hear me, 

Yelling in this dark room of 

Frightfulness? 

Richie Pena, Leahy School


Daddy and Me 

My dad doesn‛t live with me 

anymore but I remember when 

we did fun things. When I was a 

baby my dad and I baked heartshaped 

cookies for my mom. We 

would eat the cookies and see 

who could take the biggest bites 

and he would always win. We 

would drink milk. 

We played hide-n-seek. 

When it was my turn he would 

find me and say, “Peek-a-boo” 

and start to laugh. When it was 

my turn to count, I would make 

up numbers and my dad would 

say “Boo” when I found him, and 

I would get scared. 

Once I got very sick and we 

left in an ambulance and they 

put a mask on my face to help me 

breathe. They gave me medicine. 

I asked my mom for my teddy 

bear so when they gave me a 

shot I could squeeze it. I asked 

for my dad. I asked my mom if 

she ever got to see my dad and 

she said no. 

When I got a little older my 

mom told me that she and my 

grandmother had a secret about 

my dad but they never told me 

what it was. I just want to know 

where my dad is. I don‛t have to 

worry though, because my mom 

is with me all the time and she 

will be in my heart forever, and 

so will my dad. 

Sharixa Rosario 

Arlington Elementary School 

“Self Portrait” 

Nathalie Rodriguez, Guilmette Elementary School 


Emely Sario, Guilmette Elementary School

When My Brother Was Born 

I was at home watching TV. Then 

suddenly my grandmother said, “Do you want 

to visit your new brother?” I said, “Yes!” My 

grandmother called a taxi and we went to Holy 

Family Hospital. When we got there I was 

so surprised. We walked into room two-zeronine 

and I saw my brother lying down on my 

mother‛s chest. 

I asked if I could hold him. She said, 

“Yes.” When my mother gave me my brother, I 

felt like I was his mother. He was wrapped in a 

blue, white and pink blanket. When I had him 

in my arms I felt his cheeks and they were so 

soft. I couldn‛t keep my hands off his face. 

When I was looking at him he couldn‛t 

open his eyes, not even for a second. I thought 

he was sleeping, but my mom said that when 

babies are born their eyes stayed closed for 

a little while. One minute later, my brother 

finally opened his eyes. We clapped really low 

because my mom said if we clap really loud it 

could hurt my brother‛s ears. 

One hour passed and we finally gave 

him a name. His name was going to be Yandel 

Angel Torres. We called my brother by his new 

name but he wouldn‛t listen to us. We kept on 

calling him by his new name to try to get him 

used to it. 

The doctor came and told my mom to 

feed the baby. After he finished eating he fell 

asleep. He didn‛t snore. He just made a tiny 

whistling sound with his nose. It sounded so 

low nobody could hear except for me because I 

was the closest to his crib. 

My mom looked at the clock and said 

it was 7:00 p.m. and it was time to go. I talked 

to my grandmother in a sad voice. We put on 

our coats but I did it really slowly because I 

didn‛t want to go. When I was done, I kissed 


page 19 

my brother on the cheek very carefully so I 

wouldn‛t wake him. Then I kissed my mom. I 

was sad but I knew my new brother would be 

home soon. 

Chantelle Rosario 


“A Kid Who Likes to Play Football” 

Andres Sanchez, High Plain Elementary School


“Michael” 

Amarilis Pimental 


Thoughts Dancing in My Mind 

Soft air brushes against my face, 

As I walk at a gentle pace. 

Thoughts dancing across my mind, 

As I turn around and look behind. 

I see my eyes gazing at the past, 

And everything I have done flies by me 

really fast. 

My birthdays, my holidays, my school, 

And some decisions that made me feel 

like a fool. 

I took some good roads and some bad roads, 

Good decisions? Yes, I‛ve got loads! 

Bad decisions? Yes I‛ve got some, 

Well, I‛ll start fresh, there are more decisions 

to come! 

Turning back around, 

Those thoughts still dance ‘round and ‘round. 

Turning away from bad roads, 

I will only walk down good roads. 

Lilly Voke 

Sargent School 

“The Dirtbike” Leo Conti, Sargent School

“Moon Knight” 

Scott Ren-Jackson 

Bancroft Elementary School 

My Flips 

My flips are awesome 

I do them everyday 

I practice at my house 

Every sunny day 

Everyone watches me 

I feel great 

I never ever do them late 

Sometimes a 360 

Or a 180 

Maybe a side flip 

Or even a star! 

When I‛m flipping 

I feel like I‛m in space 

Floating and weightless 

For that moment in place! 

Remmie Sarra, Leahy School 


I Am 

I am a foolish and kind child. 

I wonder if I can touch the sky. 

I hear a voice saying “get away” to me. 

I see video games falling from the sky. 

I want to be wealthy. 

page 21 


I pretend I am in water. 

I feel splinters in my feet. 

I touch the air at night. 

I worry about my health and everyone else‛s. 

I cry when I am seriously injured. 


I understand why I can‛t fly. 

I say I am the best of the best. 

I dream of becoming a perfect baseball player. 

I try my best in school even if it is hard. 

I hope I can get smarter. 


Xavier Vasquez 

Guilmette Elementary School 

“The Geometric Pumpkin” 

Anthony An 

Tenney Grammar School


But I Do! 

I give a lot of people 

Compliments 

But they think 

I don‛t mean it. 

But I do! 

Every time I say 

Someone looks 

Awesome 

People think 


But I do! 

I tell my teacher 

She is 

Kind 

She thinks that 


But I do! 

I tell my mom 

She does a 

Great job 

But she thinks 


But I do! 

What do I have to do? 

Nasier Santos, Leahy School 

A Very Meaty Limerick 

There was a young lady from Wham, 

Who somehow got eaten by a ham, 

Inside the meat, 

She began to weep, 

“What a shame! A vegetarian, I am.” 

Drew Kushnir, Sargent School 

“Monkey” 

Daniela Marroquin 

Tenney Grammar School 

“Cyclops” 

Scott Ren-Jackson 

Bancroft Elementary School


page 23 

“A Car” Anthony Martinez, Wetherbee School 

Closer to the Past 

One day I woke up and I looked at the calendar. 

It said 2008, but I knew it was 2009. An hour later, 

I turned on the television and it said 2007. I looked 

at it for a second. Then I noticed that by every 

hour, years were going back. If it strikes zero, the 

world is going to end -- tsunamis rising, fire balls 

falling from the sky, tornados striking everything, 

volcanoes erupting, earthquakes shaking the whole 

world. 

I left the apartment. I went to the science lab. 

There was someone in a dark room. I asked, “Hey, 

can you come over here? What is your name?” 

He said, “My name is Dr. Pickyournose.” 

I asked, “Can you make me a flying car?” 

He said, “For what?”. 

I said, “To stop time, so it can come back to 

normal.” 

He said, “All right. I‛ll make it quick, in fifty 

minutes.” 

So I went flying into space. Two minutes passed, 

and next thing I knew, a black hole was chasing me 

around all eight planets. I threw a bomb, but it did 

not work. So, I sacrificed myself so that time would 

go back to normal. I woke up and it was all a dream. 

Jeremy Canales, Oliver School 

“Lexi” 

Sheila Tejada 

South Lawrence East Elementary School


“Fall” Ricardo Alvarado, Oliver School 

The Deer are Leaping 

The deer are leaping, 

jumping over cars. 

They safely got away. 

Jimmy Conserva 

Atkinson School 

Mountains 

Towering giants, 

Kings and Queens of the land. 

The mountains rise from the earth, 

making others feel like specks. 

They are so big, 

yet so peaceful. 

They provide a home for so many, 

a shelter, a food source. 

People travel miles for 

just a glimpse of these mountains, 

the Kings and Queens of the land. 

Kunal Gala 

Sargent School 

Cool Breeze 

I heard him walking in the street 

Whistling as he went 

With his hands in his pockets. 

He carried me home. 

I didn‛t see him, 

But I could feel him going through me. 

I closed my eyes tightly 

As he blew in my face. 

I felt relaxed. 

His name was Cool Breeze. 

Mariceli Mota 

Oliver School


“Three Birds” Samuel He, Sargent School 

My Special Place 

My special place is outside. It is 

my swing set. I like this best because I 

can do what I love and that is gymnastics. 

I like my swing set because when I stand 

on my bar I can see the whole world. When 

I‛m swinging on my swing it‛s like no one can 

stop me. I like breathing the fresh air and 

hearing the beautiful birds tweet. I swing 

on my bar. I climb from one swing to the 

next and I feel like I‛m in the jungle. I love 

outside where it‛s quiet and nice. I hope I 

can go outside every day. 

Leah Markham 

Atkinson School 

River Life 

page 25 

How much life is in a river? 

Much more than you think. 

Tadpoles and fish, 

Fish swimming this way and that way, 

Tadpoles transforming into frogs, 

Which happens over and over again. 

The colors, of the beautiful colors in the 

river rapids. 

If you look hard, you can see one last thing… 

Yourself. 

Meredith Hunt 

High Plain Elementary School


I‛m a Pencil 

“Let me out of here!” I yelled from the 

inside of the crowded jail cell. “I can‛t… I just 

can‛t take it anymore!” I told my friend Pennie. 

I‛m a pencil. I‛m supposed to be used, 

aren‛t I? I‛m one of the older pencils. I‛ve 

been in here for two years and I‛ve been used 

“Dogs Having Fun” 

Isaac Mazariegos 


only once. I mean if Julia isn‛t going to use 

me why does she even have me? All I do is 

stay in this small little bucket in Julia‛s room 

day after day. Now let me tell you something. 

That small little bucket sitting right on Julia‛s 

desk with all us pens and pencils is so crowded 

you don‛t have room to breathe. There are 

about twenty to thirty of us and half of us 

don‛t ever get used, including me. 

I want some adventure in my life. I 

can‛t go on like I have for my whole life, with 

someone else controlling everything for me. 

“You know, Pennie, I am going to make sure 

I push my tip through this crowded mess all 

the way to the front so Julia will be sure to 

see me tomorrow… Ah… what a nice dream,” I 

said with a yawn. Nice way to start the day. 

Oh no! I almost forgot. I need to rummage 

myself through this mess while everyone is 

still asleep… 

Minutes later… “I made it!” I said as 

I panted. Now Julia is going to see me, but I 

have to wait until she gets home from school. 

Hours later… Ding dong! “Yes! Julia is home! 

Hopefully she‛ll come right up after snack!” 

While I waited I thought about what I was 

just about to experience. I imagined myself 

in Julia‛s soft hands, her using me for math. 

I got interrupted by the noisy footsteps I 

heard in the distance. Clip clop clip clop they 

went. I knew it was Julia. I prayed she would 

pick me, and before I knew it, there she was 

standing at the door. Julia sat down and… 

well… I…got picked! I was overjoyed! But 

it wasn‛t quite what I had expected. Julia 

had writing homework, not math, and boy 

does she write! She wrote so much her hand 

started to sweat. It was gross with a capital 

G. Finally, she‛s done with her writing, I 

thought. I‛m glad I‛m not going to be in her 

sweaty hand anymore. Wait, why is she taking


page 27 

“Our School” Zach Beeley, Comprehensive Grammar School 

me downstairs? Don‛t, and I mean don‛t tell me 

she is going to sharpen me! Getting sharpened 

is horrible! I don‛t and I won‛t say anything 

else. 

Eeeeeee...hhhhhhh…ddddddum…. OK! 

I‛ll tell you, stop bugging me! Anyway, well… 

when… those blades come down on your face, 

pealing away skin and flesh second by second, 

with no time or power to stop them, you just 

sit there shocked and sweating, and hope it 

will be over soon. Of course that time does 

eventually come and you‛re relieved and waiting 

to adjust and let the pain soar away. Well 

after that mess was over we headed up to 

Julia‛s room. Julia put me back next to Pennie 

and stiffly I said, “The places I went, the 

things I saw were exciting and horrible at the 

same time, but here at my home is just plain 

perfect,” and I slowly faded into a deep sleep. 

Julia Carzo 

High Plain Elementary School


My Bedroom 

Your room is more than just a room; 

it‛s a world of imagination. You‛re the boss of 

your room. You can pretend that you‛re on a 

cloud. Oh, how I love my room. 

I use my imagination and pretend that 

I am an astronaut going to the moon. I can 

also pretend that I‛m a professional baseball 

player and hit thousands of home runs. I also 

act as if I‛m in a dangerous jungle. 

My favorite thing to do is to go 

under my bed and pretend that it is a fort. I 

pretend to take cover from the enemy, and 

since we have more soldiers than they do, we 

have a high advantage of winning! I tell my 

team to move out by demonstrating what to 

do with my hands. After my team wins, we 

celebrate and go to the base for a party! 

I‛m the boss of my room and I can do 

whatever I want whenever I want, because 

it is my room. I‛m in charge of all my toys 

and all my games, so that means that nobody 

can touch them unless I say so. When I‛m in 

my room, since I‛m the boss, I feel like I am 

unstoppable and nobody can tell me what to 

do…unless the person who tells me what to do 

is one of my parents. 

I love being in that dangerous jungle 

fighting off lions and poisonous insects. I 

also love pretending that my team won the 

battle and we are celebrating our victory. I 

especially love how I can be in charge and do 

whatever I want. My favorite thing of all is 

relaxing on my bed and pretending it‛s a soft 

cloud. Oh, how I love my room! 

Jaikus Gratereaux 

Comprehensive Grammar School 

“Peace, Love and Happiness” 

Samantha Sourie 

Tenney Grammar School

My Tongue 


Yum…yum…yum…my tongue is an automatic 

tasting machine but you know I‛m still not fat, of course! 

Oh, I love my tongue because I looooove to eat! I‛d die 

without scrumptious food. 

Everyone knows that without our tongues we‛d 

just make funny noises and mumble all of the time. You 

know what‛s the worst thing? When you can‛t tell your 

family that you love them! 

Without my tongue I wouldn‛t have fun. I 

couldn‛t tell jokes or talk to my folks. I stick out my 

tongue after I run, it happens because of the heat from 

the sun, and I hope you enjoyed that little rhyme about 

my tongue! 

Did you know that some people think that when 

my brother sticks his tongue out at me, it‛s funny? 

Without my tongue, I also wouldn‛t sing with Miss I. in 

music class. Everyone knows that if we didn‛t have our 

tongues, the world would be boring! 

Harold Nateral 


“The Most Incredible Ice Cream Cone” 

Trisha Ballakur 

Bancroft Elementary School 

“Moods” 

Dalina Ly 

South Lawrence East M. S. 

Yummy Jolly Ranchers 

page 29 

A Jolly Rancher is one of the best candies 

known to man. If you haven‛t tried one, life hasn‛t 

started for you yet. 

Jolly Ranchers are life‛s goodness. They 

come in all different colors and when you pop one 

in your mouth, your tongue feels happy. Jolly 

Ranchers are a sour fruity delight. The best way to 

eat a Jolly Rancher is to suck on it, because if you 

don‛t, the tooth fairy is coming to your house. Jolly 

Ranchers look like just any old looking hard candy, 

but when you pop one in your mouth, the looks just 

change and the flavors burst like fireworks. 

I hope I have persuaded you to try the 

delight of Jolly Ranchers. 

Evanna Gabriello 

Sargent School


Out in the Ocean 

Here I am 

A lonely boat 

Taking a dip in the water 

The water is so clear 

It‛s like swimming in glass 

The water is calm 

And there is not a cloud in the sky 

I have been through worse 

But I kept my bow high 

Even though the wind blew by 

I kick by slowly 

Through the warm water 

Wishing it was a hot tub 

I better be heading out to sea but 

I never want to leave my clear as glass hot tub water 

Here I am 

A lonely boat 

Swimming out to sea. 

Kaitlin Lahood 

Sanborn Elementary School 

“Shells” Joslin Regalado, South Lawrence East Elementary School 

As cold as 

snow in 

December. 

As clear as 

a window 

washed by 

rain. 

Ode to Water 

As big as 

canyons 

mushed together 

by wind. 

The water 

moves up and 

down like 

wountains and 

valleys. 

Moving as 

delicate as 

fish in a pond. 

But there are 

some times 

when it gets 

washed away. 

Aissa Mamdouh 

Marsh Grammar School


“Sailing Across the Sea” William C. Lauzon, Sargent School 

Starfish Wishes 

I started to wish when 

I got home from school, 

that I was a starfish 

living in the tide pool. 

The shrimp and the crabs 

would scuttle around, 

and the clams would be 

buried deep in the ground. 

And I would be floating 

enjoying it all. 

The humans will think that 

I‛m hopeless and small. 

I return to my own world. 

There‛s nothing to say. 

But I hope I will go 

to the tide pool some day! 

Maya Koorapaty, Sargent School 

Day Dream 

My twinkling toes are squishing 

In the sand 

I am in a beach chair 

Smelling Coppertone suntan lotion 

Calming me 

Buying an ice cream from the stand 

It is as giant as a stop sign 

Hot fudge dripping down my cheek 

Cawing comes from up above 

As I dive into the warm water 

Floating, relaxing in the clear ocean 

Breeze blowing strong in my face 

Blowing sand my way 

Stinging me like a bee 

Wrapped in my soft cotton towel 

Warmth surrounds me 

Laying on the beach 

What a day dream… 

I wake up in math class. 

page 31 

Olivia Burns, High Plain Elementary School


I Don‛t Know What Happened 

I don‛t know what happened 

On this very day 

I was looking out my window 

When I saw pigs flying away! 

I tried to get a closer look 

And fell out my window! 

Miraculous I wasn‛t hurt 

Not even a scrape. 

Just as I got up 

A fissure made me fall 

To a dragon‛s lair 

I fought till it ran away 

And that is why my room 

Isn‛t clean today. 

Chloe Hillson 


“Yes we can -- Si se puede” 

Einet Reyes, Arlington Middle School 

“Dragon” Ryan Puglisi, C.G.S. 

I Love Money! 

I Love the colors 

Green, silver and gold 

I love the sounds 

Caching! Caching! 

It comes in $ 5s, $10s, and $ 20s 

Cents and Dollars 

I Love Money! 

It buys me all the things I need. 

Chinese Food 

Shadow Games 

Science Books 

And maybe someday my own 

Restaurant! 

Cents and Dollars 

I Love Money! 

Byran Lopez 

Leahy School

To Serve Rat 

Years and years ago, there lived a 

farmer named John Ackerman who lived on 

a small farm in a small town. One afternoon, 

Farmer Ackerman adopted a cat that he 

named Jewels. Jewels was the wittiest cat 

known. His fur was white with red-orange 

stripes and he had big green eyes. 

Living under the barn of the farm 

was a rat named 

Scurry. He wasn‛t 

the sharpest knife 

in the drawer but he 

was crafty when he 

wanted to be. He 

overheard Farmer 

Ackerman telling 

Jewels that if he 

didn‛t catch that rat 

before Christmas he 

wouldn‛t get fed for 

one week. Feeling 

threatened, Jewels 

set out to catch 

Scurry. 

In the still 

of the night, Jewels 

cornered Scurry, 

who had no way to 

escape. Suddenly, 

Jewels smiled and 

said, “You are my servant. You will serve me 

anything I want, or the consequences will be 

most painful.” 

For months and months, Scurry 

served Jewels. Every day Scurry tried 

to eat from Jewels‛ food bowl but Jewels 

would catch him and say, “T‛would be a pity 

to die now.” 


page 33 

One day while Scurry was trying to 

eat out of Jewels‛ food bowl, he saw Jewels 

lying on the couch reading a book called “To 

Serve Rat.” Scurry smiled. It was time he 

got some appreciation from Jewels. 

The next morning, Jewels told 

Scurry that he would serve him from now 

on. Months passed and Jewels served 

Scurry by performing whatever tasks 

Scurry desired. 

One cold 

winter morning, 

Scurry demanded 

that Jewels 

make him a big 

breakfast. Stale 

bread, rotten eggs 

and river water 

were Scurry‛s 

orders. While 

Scurry ate his 

mouth-watering 

breakfast, he 

didn‛t notice 

what Jewels was 

doing behind him. 

Jewels‛ eyes were 

turning red. His 

back was arched, 

his long tail puffed 

up and he began 

to drool. Poor dumb Scurry didn‛t notice 

anything; he was focused on eating his 

savory breakfast. Scurry realized too late 

that “To Serve Rat” wasn‛t really a guide on 

how to serve rat but rather a guide on how 

to prepare rat. 

“Cat with Sunglasses” Clara Reich, Sargent School 

Rebecca Moszka 

Comprehensive Grammar School


“Honus Wagner” 

Eliannee Delacruz, Tarbox School 

Bam! 

Bam! 

I hit it as fast as a fireball 

2 people came in 

Run, run 

all the way in to home plate 

like Speedy Gonzalez 

my dad yelled 

Go, go! 

I hit the ball so fast 

flew past over shortstop 

…missed 

into the outfield 

the umpire said 

Line it up 

the Astros win the game 

Savanna Bonilla 

South Lawrence East Elementary School 

Anchoring the Medley Relay 

On the blocks 

kick pull breath 

Waiting for the touch 


Unlock the spring 


Tight entry 


Three strong dolphin kicks 


Five strong strokes 


Reaching forward 


Flip and turn 


Pulling ahead 


Gotta keep the lead 


Swim a little harder 


Give it all you‛ve got 


Reach! 

Win! 

Thomas Galligani 

West Elementary School 

“Sneaker” 

Nathan Yuth, Wetherbee School

A Vacationing Dog 

A vacationing dog is fun and exciting 

And he always gets invited to… 

Parties, cookouts, even school 

A vacationing dog is so cool 

A vacationing dog just might… 

Drink out of a coconut 

Swim in the sea 

And it just might pick up a flea 

A vacationing dog is awesome and cool 

This vacationing dog… 

Has its own pool! 

Leah Hurley 

Kittredge School 

“Harley” 

Cora Lundgren, West Elementary School 


Endangered Species Report: 

Mountain Lion 

page 35 

A mountain lion looks like a big cat. 

It is eight feet long, and it could weigh up 

to two-hundred pounds. This cat is a great 

jumper. This is the largest unspotted animal. 

Its fur is beige in color and its belly is white. 

Young mountain lions have spots and powerful 

limbs. It can leap as high as fifteen feet and 

as far as forty feet. Its lifespan is twelve 

years in the wild and twenty-five years in 

captivity. 

A mountain lion has a large habitat. 

Did you know that mountain lions could be 

found in Canada, U.S.A., Mexico, Central 

America and South America? Did you know 

that mountain lions are called different 

names? They are known as cougars, panthers, 

catamounts and pumas. Another interesting 

fact is that a baby mountain lion is called a 

cub. 

A mountain lion preys on mice, 

squirrels, porcupines, rabbits, beavers and 

deer. Mountain lions are solitary animals, and 

they hunt alone at night, at dusk or dawn. 

They kill their prey by biting them on the back 

of their necks. 

The main reason why mountain lions 

are endangered is because humans are killing 

them for their fur. They have been hunted 

because they have killed livestock. They are 

also losing their habitat because people are 

taking their space away and building houses 

and highways. 

You can help mountain lions by adopting 

a mountain lion at the Wildlife Adoption 

center. The Endangered Species Act requires 

the U.S. Federal government to protect 

species that are threatened and endangered. 

Nelwin Duran 

Tarbox School


Coming to America 

Have you ever been somewhere very 

different from what you‛re used to? Well I 

have, and that was when I came to the United 

States for my very first time. I was very 

excited to come but at the same time I was 

very nervous. I 

wanted to know so 

many things about 

the United States 

and I just couldn‛t 

wait to figure them 

out. 

The plane 

ride was very long 

and boring. I just 

wanted to get it 

over with. When we 

got on the airplane, 

I said “Mami, I‛m 

scared.” 

“Why?” 

asked my mom. 

“Because 

of all the stories 

about the airplanes 

that crashed and 

nobody survived.” I 

responded. 

“Everything 

is going to be okay.” replied my mom. When my 

mom said that, it made me feel way better, so 

I fell asleep. As I woke up, we were arriving 

in America. At the end my mom was right, 

everything did turn out okay. 

At the airport my grandpa was waiting 

for me, my mom and my brother. When we saw 

him we all gave him a really big hug and then I 

ran outside to the car because it was cold. I 

didn‛t know it was so cold in the United States. 

On the ride to his house, I realized that 

“A Great Treat from the Fair” 

Priscilla Bibeau, Bancroft Elementary School 

everything was different from the Dominican 

Republic. It felt so unusual; everything looked 

so organized and cleaner. The Dominican 

Republic was very messy compared to the 

United States. 

A couple of 

days later it started 

to snow! I had 

never seen snow in 

my whole life, the 

snow was as white 

as a marshmallow. I 

stared at the snow 

from the window 

in my room for a 

couple of minutes 

until I went outside 

to play. When I 

went outside, my 

big cousin came and 

taught me how to 

make a snowman. 

I made one but it 

was small. Then my 

cousin and I had a 

snowball fight and 

he won! That day 

turned out to be a 

lot of fun. 

Coming to America was one of the 

best things that ever happened to me. I am 

so happy and grateful that my mom decided to 

come here. This experience made me feel so 

many different ways that I can‛t even explain. 

Even though sometimes I wonder how my life 

would have been if I didn‛t come here. I think 

it all happened for the best. 

Angela Diaz 

Parthum School


page 37 

“Sailing” Ryan Kelloway, High Plain Elementary School 

Imagine 

I saw a circle next to my house, 

On this pouring, soaking cold day. 

It might be the hat of a magic mouse, 

Or the ring of the girl by the bay. 

It could be a hair tie of the evil witch, 

Who went after Hansel and Gretel. 

She might have dropped it in this ditch, 

Next to this old bicycle pedal. 

What else could a rubber band be? 

Iris Choo 


What If 

What if 

You read a book about a dinosaur 

and one stumbled out? 

And another 

Until the whole place was filled? 

What if 

You went to tell your mother 

and everything disappeared? 

What if 

It was all a dream ? 

Maciel Paredes 

Frost Elementary School


Thoughts 

A child sits and sits, 

He is thinking. 

The child is deep in thought, 

Though they are not visible. 

Thoughts float around his head, 

Thoughts that are sincere and true. 

His thoughts are creating a path, 

For the life ahead of him. 

Sophie Uluatam 

West Elementary School 

“Parrot” 

Leandro Gonzalez 



Luis Alexis 


Was My Head Really in the Clouds? 

My teacher told me 

That my head was in the clouds 

And that I need to pay attention 

But if my head was in the clouds 

I‛d be a thousand feet tall 

But if I was a thousand feet tall 

Then my feet would be big enough 

To squish people like ants 

And if people were like ants 

Then they‛d have six legs 

That just doesn‛t make sense 

That is why life doesn‛t make sense. 

Ben Zhang 

Sanborn Elementary School

Finding Standly 

On Saturday I couldn‛t believe 

what I found in my backyard. I was 

digging a hole and I saw a tiny ant walking 

towards it. I gently pushed him on my 

finger and showed my mom. “Grab a 

container and put him in it,” she said. I 

also put holes on the top of the lid. I 

added lots of leaves and dirt. I also 

added branches. I thought of a name for 

him. I named him Standly. 

I had a fun time with Standly. 

We read together, watched worms crawl 

together, and all that stuff people can do 

with an ant. When my brother came from 

work I was on the floor with Standly and 

suddenly he came near. “Watch Out!” I 

screamed.” 

“What happened?” he asked. 

“You almost stepped on Standly, 

that‛s what!” I hollered. I put Standly in 

the container and stomped my way to my 

room. “What a stupid boy,” I mumbled. 

My mom went to my room to talk 

to me about Standly. I asked her, “Ma, 

can I keep Standly for two more weeks?” 

”I‛ll think about it,” she said. 

What do you know?! I started 

jumping up and down, and a smile came on 

my face just when she said I could keep 

him. It was a miracle. 

Emely Siri 



“Weak Beetle” 

Karli Smith 

Thomson School 

Nature 

page 39 

When I see nature, 

It talks to me like a buzzing bee. 

It brings me joy, 

Lying around and singing among the trees, 

While the branches wave to me, 

Saying hello. 

I skip along the brook as cheerful as can be, 

Then I take a little swim. 

I lay in a patch of clovers, 

They tickle me like the tickle monster. 

I wish I could stay forever, 

In this land of wonder. 

Julie Barbanti 

Sanborn Elementary School


Scared in the Pool 

Once, my dad took me to a cookout 

at his friend‛s house. My dad‛s friend called 

him and invited him because my dad is a 

very, very good carpenter and he wanted to 

thank him for his hard work. We went in 

the car. My dad took me to a far, far place. 

I got worried. I asked my dad, “Are we 

lost?” He said, “No, we are not lost, I know 

where we are going.” Then I started to 

sleep. The trip was very long. I think I slept 

for an hour. 

Finally, I woke up and we were 

there. There were lots of games to play. 

We played bean bag toss, soccer and 

horseshoes. After that, I went down a hill 

to see a river. It was the most beautiful 

thing I ever saw. A blue dragonfly landed on 

my finger. My dad said, “If you don‛t move 

it won‛t fly away.” I thought the dragonfly 

thought my finger was a branch. I put my 

finger up and he flew away. 

After that we both looked at the 

pool. We went to the car to change clothes. 

I ran to the pool and my dad walked. My 

dad went in first because I was scared. 

When my foot touched the water it was 

very cold. I don‛t like the cold but I had to 

go in anyways. When I was in for like four 

minutes it got warm. I took baby steps to 

the other side of the pool. It felt like I was 

standing on a giant piece of soap because 

the bottom of the pool was so slippery. 

I took a step and ‘Whoosh!” I drowned 

halfway. I tried to put up my hand but I 

couldn‛t because I was too low. When my 

dad saw me he reached out for me. He said, 

“Never do that again.” I felt like I was going 

to cry. I sat down because I was tired and 

had a headache. 

It was a good day eating, swimming, 

playing and looking at the river. It was a 

wonderful day except for the part when I 

drowned. I just hated that part. 

Genesis Bulnes 


“Squid” Abigail Prisby, Franklin School

The Carrot 

Once upon a time, two rabbits were in 

a garden filled with onions but there was only 

one carrot popping out of the ground. But 

there were two bunnies. The first bunny said, 

“Since I‛m the oldest I get the carrot and you 

get the onions.” 

The small bunny said with a squeaky 

voice, “I should get the carrot because I‛m 

faster than you.” 

The older bunny laughed, “Ha, ha, ha, you 

think you‛re faster than me.” 

“Yeah,” said the small bunny. 

“Prove it,” the big bunny said. So they 

raced all around the garden three times and 

the small bunny got back first. 


page 41 

“Ha,” said the small bunny, “I win, I win!” 

“That‛s not fair,” said the big bunny, “you 

already ate the carrot.” 

“No, I didn‛t,” said the small bunny. 

“Then where‛s the carrot?” asked the big 

bunny. 

“Hi guys,” said the beaver. “That was one 

tasty carrot!” 

Jewel Rodriguez 

Frost Elementary School 

“Anti-Still Life” Delaney Fisher, High Plain Elementary School


“My Monster” 

Eliannee Delacruz 

Tarbox School 

“Roxy” Janelle Kelleher, West Elementary School 

The Ghostly Sale 

Wilma Witch has 

decided to retire and move to 

Hawaii. She has been a witch for 

10,000,000 years. She wants to 

sell all of her witch belongings. 

Wilma is having a yard 

sale and invites all the new 

witches to come to 55 Bloody 

Road. It starts at 12:00 a.m. and 

lasts until 12:00 p.m. This yard 

sale will take place on October 

31 st . She is expecting many 

witches to arrive. 

She will be selling a 

creepy, scary ghost. It can scare 

a whole town! This ghost could 

be yours for only $5.99. She is 

also selling a moldy, icky pumpkin. 

It can change into whatever it 

pleases. It is a steal for only 

$12.55. Next, she is selling a 

steamy, plum brew. It can make 

you turn invisible for only $5.23. 

There is also a creepy, scary 

haunted house. It scares people 

so much that they almost have 

a heart attack! It can be yours 

for $12.34. There are also black, 

spooky teeth. They freak people 

out so much that their eyeballs 

pop out of their heads! These 

teeth are going for $10.99. 

So come on down to 

Wilma Witch‛s Yard Sale. You‛ll 

have a ghostly time! 

Samira Sayan 

South School

My Elmo 

I have a favorite toy but, it 

is very big. It is my toy Elmo. It is 

almost three feet tall. It has big 

round eyes. I wrestle with him and 

do wrestling moves like submissions 

on it. I sleep with it on the edge of 

my bed. Too bad I can‛t wrestle with 

it anymore because my mom threw 

Elmo away. She did not like one bit 

of me jumping on my bed with Elmo. 

Those were great times. 

Now that my mom threw Elmo 

away I replaced it with my sister 

Hazell‛s bear. I do all the things I 

did to Elmo on the bear, but it is not 

the same. My mom said she was going 

to throw it away, too, but I forbid 

her from doing that. So she said I 

could keep it. I was jumping for joy! 

Since my mom threw Elmo away 

I just stay in my bedroom watching 

T.V. I don‛t wrestle. Sometimes, I 

even lie on my bed remembering the 

times with Elmo. Or I just eat while 

talking about losing Elmo. Sometimes 

I don‛t even talk, but I do in my head. 

I miss Elmo. 

Ronyel Pena 



“Mrs. Pinky-Doo” 

Alyjun Lopez 

Tarbox School 

“Goal Keeper in Charge” 

Victoria Small 

Comprehensive Grammar School 

page 43


Take Care of the Trees 

There are trees big and small, 

Some are bigger than them all. 

Let‛s take care of our trees, 

Let them live, let them grow. 

Let‛s take care of the trees, 

Trees big, and trees small. 

Let‛s take of the trees, 

Let‛s take care of them all. 

Let‛s plant a tree in the ground, 

Let it live and don‛t cut it down. 

Let‛s take care of the trees 

They give us lots of things, 

Like oxygen, apples, and a home 

Where the happy bird sings. 

Let‛s take care of the trees 

Let‛s take care of them all. 

Let‛s take care of the trees, 

We need them one and all. 

Katherine Bace, Franklin School 

“Fall Flowers” 

Julia Gordon, Bancroft Elementary School 

“Leaves” 

Liddy Kasraian, Bancroft Elementary School 

An Autumn Day 

It was a beautiful gloomy looking day. 

I saw the breeze going on people‛s faces. I 

heard the people walking and stepping on 

the cracking leaves. I saw the trees‛ leaves 

turning the colors of apricot and rouge. I 

sat by the window smelling the hot chocolate 

and mashed potatoes with turkey. It smelled 

delicious. I could almost taste the salted 

pumpkin seeds and the apple cider. It felt so 

windy and cool that every time I opened the 

door, I got goosebumps everywhere. I love 

autumn! 

Vanessa Pojoy, Oliver School

Falling Down 

The motor‛s sound buzzed in my ear. 

I heard a whack and then a crash as it came 

falling down. 

Falling… falling… falling… 

And I thought, “There it goes.” 

There goes an orchestra of leaves swaying in 

the wind. 

There goes shade that kept us cool on hot 

summer days. 

There goes the branch on which we lay 

reading our books. 

There goes beauty with its flowers and blooms. 

There goes a home for animals. 

There goes a trunk that we leaned against 

whispering secrets. 

There goes a place where nature took 

its course. 

There goes a tree… 

Tess Higgins, Franklin School 


That Was Fall 

page 45 

Have you ever seen the beautiful fall leaves? 

I‛m sure you have. 

Remember that crisp afternoon when we made 

a leaf pile and we jumped right in it? 

That was fall! 

Have you ever been trick or treating? 


Remember when we ate all that delectable 

candy and wore our funky costumes? 

We rang everybody‛s doorbell for a candy 

extravaganza. 

Our dentist would scream! 


Have you ever smelled warm turkey? 


Remember when we inhaled the scent from 

the kitchen? 

Pumpkin pie was also baking and we couldn‛t 

take it any longer. 

When you took everything out of the oven, 

the fantastic smell of Thanksgiving 

was everywhere! 


Ellie Kravetz, Bancroft Elementary School 

“Baby Fox” Abigail Prisby, Franklin School


“Giraffe” Sophie Uluatam, West Elementary School

My Sunny Job 


Every morning, I, the sun, 

Wake up early to do my daily job. 

I slowly come out of my bed, 

And pull off my sheets of the ocean on the horizon. 

I light up the sky, 

And turn it blue, 

So kids can laugh and play, 

And parents can go to their boring jobs. 

After a long hard day of work, 

I have to go to bed. 

I will turn the sky wonderful colors, 

As I begin to fall asleep. 

I pull up my covers of the ocean, 

And sink under the horizon. 

Then I let the moon take over my job for the night, 

As I go to sleep so I am rested for a brand new day of 

work tomorrow. 

Daniel Gemmell 


Nature 

“Tiger” Hannah Littlewood, High Plain Elementary School 

page 47 

The soothing sun surrounds me, 

As I lay in the cool grass. 

What lies before me is a sea, 

It seems as if it‛s green glass. 

Birds are up in the sky, 

They begin to sing. 

I feel as I can fly, 

I think I‛m sprouting a wing. 

Leaves swirl in the air, 

In the tree there is a whistle. 

A butterfly landed on my hair, 

It is so gentle. 

Phebe Ozirsky 

South School


“Still Life Tempera” Joseph Ford, Franklin School


“A Beautiful Day at Cape Ann” Rachel Gallagher, Tenney Grammar School 

My Dad 

What do you see when you close your 

eyes…a video game, a park, a book? Well, I 

see me hugging my father. I didn‛t always 

see this image; I started on June 14, 2009 

when he left. He is doing this to help our 

country and to fight for our rights. I know 

he‛s safe, because he calls every day. I know 

my dad loves me and I love him. My mom and 

dad do everything they can for me. They 

give me everything I deserve. Even though 

my dad is thousands of miles away, he seems 

very close. My dad is in Iraq! 

Mariella Mendez, Timony Grammar School 

For My Grandma 

One of the people I love most, 

Is someone I never met. 

It makes me sad that I can‛t see her, 

I wish she had not died. 

I have her name, 

My mom gave it to me. 

People say I‛m just like her, 

I wish she were here for me to see. 

page 49 

Talia Harvey, Tenney Grammar School


“Flower Girl” Thanh Thao Nguyen, Thomson School

The Girl Who Didn‛t Have A Mother 

Once upon a time, there was a little 

girl who didn‛t have a mom. She searched and 

searched but she couldn‛t find her. She was so 

hungry and she was beautiful. Her name was 

Marissa. Marissa loved the idea of having a 

mother. She thought it would be fun having a 

mother, because she saw all the other kids with 

a mother. Then she started to cry, “I want a 

mother.” 

So a woman said, “Do you want to be my 

daughter?” She said, “Yes.” Then the woman 

bought her new clothes, made dinner, and went 

out to get ice cream. Marissa said, “I love having 

you as a mother. How about you? Do you have a 

mother?” 

The woman said, “No, I think she passed 

away.” 

Marissa said, “I feel so bad for you. I 

think my mom passed away too. At least I have 

you.” 

Tarialis DeLeon-Paulino 

Oliver School 

If Sorrow Were 

If sorrow were a color, 

It would be dark blue, 

As dark as night. 

If sorrow were a taste, 

It would be ice cream that just fell off a cone. 

If sorrow were a feeling, 

It would be a wet dripping faucet. 

If sorrow were a smell, 

It would smell as natural as nature. 

If sorrow were a sound, 

It would sound as depressing as a friend crying. 

Dorcas Muwanguzi 

Wetherbee School 


Cancer 

What is cancer…? 

Is it a life threatening thing? 

Does it mean that you are going to lose 

a loved one? 

Or is a loved one going to lose you? 

When you find out you have it, 

Your eyes turn to water 

Your whole body is numb, 

Your hands sweat, 

Your heart races… 

So you tell me… 

What is cancer? 

Eddarilys Barrera-Lugo 


“Run! Run! Run!” 

Abigail Prisby, Franklin School 

page 51


Brown is on me 

Brown is on me. My skin is brown. 

Brown is on me. My eyes are brown. 

Brown is on me. My shirt is brown. 

There is brown all around. 

Fall leaves and a dog are brown. 

Just like a horse or a wall can be brown. 

Brown is popular, especially on me. 

Brown, Brown, Brown, 

Brown is all around. 

Jewel Martin 


“Go Go Go” 

Einet Reyes, Arlington Middle School 

Dreams 

Skies are blue, 

My heart is red. 

I feel like I‛m twenty-three , 

But I‛m only nine and 

I don‛t waste time so, 

Dream, dream, dream 

You‛ll find faith but 

Don‛t lose hope 

Just 

Dream, dream, dream 

You‛ll find your way 

In a secret place 

Just 

Dream, dream, dream. 

Jzania Vargas 


Friends 

Friends stick together 

Friends play fairly 

Friends decide on things together 

Friends are kind to each other 

Friends share 

Friends enjoy things together 

Friends are willing to compromise 

Friends try not to argue 

Friends share interests 

Friends are important to us 

Chloe Ostiguy 

Atkinson School


page 53 

“Winter Scene” Joseph Ford, Franklin School 


Daniel Casado, Guilmette Elementary School 


Luzyann Guzman, Guilmette Elementary School


Autographs and Comments


“Are We There Yet?” Anna Zimmer, Kittredge School

Apple Seed - Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative

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