2019 Expressions

Expressions 2019

Hard Decisions Should I put this poem in Expressions? What if it’s bad? What if Mr. Korvne reads it during assembly? Then I would have to stand up and everyone would look at me. That would be so embarassing. Nope. Definitely not putting this poem in Expressions. By Jack Kollar Grade 7 Expressions 2019 Staff (left to right): Zoë Nelson, Arnav Sahni, Ana Berrios, Merit Wagstaff, Lucy Kaczmar, and Mrs. Swift. Welcome to the 2019 issue of the Old Trail School Expressions magazine. This magazine is produced yearly by a team of seventh and eighth grade students who share a thorough interest in writing and art. The pieces are selected carefully, and are collected from students in grades kindergarten through eighth. Students are not obliged to submit something they have created but it is highly encouraged. Being chosen to be part of the magazine is a large accomplishment, and one that should make the students very proud of themselves. The Expressions staff collects hundreds of pieces during the latter few months of the school year, and narrows it down to the collection you see here. Once the pieces are chosen, the staff will type each submission, and lay them out on an online program. The magazine is then sent off to be printed. The Expressions staff is almost entirely student driven, although there is also much appreciated assistance from Expressions advisor Mrs. Swift and 8th grade English teacher Mr. Korvne. The Staff has put hours of their time into creating this magazine, and we hope that you will enjoy reading it as much as we did making it. Cover by Ana Berrios, Grade 8

Alone By Juliana Fatica Grade Y5 I just want to be alone. Though I am by myself in my room, I feel like I am not alone. I know there is no person in Sympathy my room, but there is a monster. The monster in my head. The thoughts of people and things overwhelm me. I can’t I feel sympathy for you take it anymore. I just want to be alone. I am by myself in my You are not alone room, but I am not alone. There is a creature lurking in the You can be my friend darkness. The deep depths of my head. It’s eating me. Bit by We can talk bit. It’s eating me. I just want to be alone. I can’t. The demon We can chat in my brain will not leave me. No matter how much I beg it Let’s be friends to go, it will not let me be alone. The thoughts are swirling. How about we don’t let gender Memories of my friends. Not good memories. Crying and get in our way crying. I just want to be alone. The villain will not leave. Your story is touching Your mom is gone “I have asked you to leave so many times. Why won’t No one to lean on you just GO!?” I ask the beast. I’m here Your poem broke me into pieces It replies, “Everyone has a monster in them, but your It was about how you have monster is mad.” nobody and you’re lonely I’m here always so please get me I ask the monster, “Why are you mad?” any time “I am hungry,” it replies. This is from the heart “I will not feed you anymore. You have gotten greedy. I forgive you for what you have You want more and more but I am here to stop you. You will done. Sympathy not eat me anymore.” I say. By Elle Swoope It laughs in disbelief, but I will be stronger this time. I Grade 4 give it no more food no matter how much it begs. I just want to be alone. I am. By Anonymous Grade 6 By Kendall Ritzman Basketball Grade 5 round, orange, dribbling, shooting, dunking, fun, soft, ball By Mason Broyles Grade 1

Family Windy Day Family is important, that is true. School buses zooming past Family is important as you! fall trees swaying in the wind. Even if you are 100 miles apart, Family is always in your heart. Hawks flying above Family is there, no matter where you go, trees on a windy day. And your family will always know That you’re safe, happy and glad, Bushes rustling To have an AMAZING mom and dad. bees buzzing. Windy, windy, windy By Shaashwatiyaa Thulasi Balamurugan on a fall day. Grade 3 Crickets cricking Friendship By Greg Gebhart toads mumbling. Grade 8 Squirrels zipping by the wind blowing against my cheeks. My friends are fun. We always like to run. Windy, windy, windy My friend plays with me on the playground. on a fall day. When we are tired we always like to lay down. I like my friends because they are nice. Birds whistling We like to make lemonade with ice. red barn paint crackling. I like to play at my friends house-- My friend and I saw a mouse. Fall leaves off the trees wind blowing them. We ran away, Windy, windy, windy And we laughed the whole day. on a fall day. By buddies Mary Jane Trahey Grade 1 and By Lyra Holland Samantha Eckelman and Hadlie Coughenour Grade 4 Grade 6 By Chloe Beard The Gift Kindergarten Pink or maybe white, No matter what color, or what gift. It only matters, Who its from. Maybe you will wear them, On a nice day, Or to make you feel better, With the nightmares of the night. It's the priceless feel, Of wearing what’s given, And not what is wanted, For the thing is, That whenever you wear Those glasses of yours, You see the light, Even on the darkest night. By Ivy Rain (Isabella Wallerstein-King) Grade 5

Love Heron Love is a compassionate feeling you get. The beautiful majestic creatures A feeling that is greater than any feeling. Fly across the sky Love is when your parents kiss you every night, With the sun setting down behind her before you go to bed. The rustling leaves and clouds Love is when your sister insists on helping you, Shift with the orange sky With the breeze slightly blowing and when your brother wants you to be And the sweet smells of spring The Joker when he’s Batman. I feel relaxed and calm Love it really important in someone's life. I get the feeling of the prehistoric times I am so lucky to have so many people my life Looking up at the sky Heron that love me, aunts, uncles, grandparents, By Ellie Rowan great grandparents, dogs, Grade 3 but most importantly my mother, my father, my sister, and my brother. Hugs By Cameran Tepper Hugs and loving gestures are Grade 6 overlooked. But don’t do that to them. Without hugs there wouldn’t be proof Popsicle Kitten that your parents care. Without hugs cold, sweet, there wouldn’t be that comforting feeling licking, dripping, eating, Little kitten so cute when you’re sad. Without loving colorful, icy, in the afternoon gestures kids wouldn’t know the feeling on the windowsill of hearing a parent’s heart pounding treat Sleeping. with love in the middle of a hug. Without loving caresses kids wouldn’t know what By Elin Barnes By Cali Levan it’s like to feel comforted when you’re Grade 1 Grade 2 scared. If they were gone forever no one would know if people care. No friendly By Marie Schrag hand shake, no comforting hand Grade 7 squeezes, no hugs or kisses from your parents. If these were gone, no one would know and feel the true powerful feeling of love. So don’t underrate these things or overlook them. Next time you’re sad ask for a hug. Now go out there and help people know and feel the true meaning of love. By Sophia Korman Grade 4

Nature Beaver Trees are beautiful. brown, herbivore, Home to many animals. eating, chewing, swimming, So great to nature. teeth, animals, By Max Chottiner rodent Grade 2 By Addie Addington Grade 1 Maybe.. Maybe I should tell him Sunday Blues or maybe not, who knows By Ryan Snyder Day after Saturday, Not as much fun, Maybe it’s a game, oh yes it could be I supposeGrade Y5 Sure, you get the day off, But the weekend’s almost done. Maybe he wants to see how far I'll let him go You want to watch a movie, Try convincing with all your might, Or maybe, just maybe he may already know The answer is no, Because it’s a “school night.” I take a deep breath and look him right in the eye As you sit around, You know it’s a glum day, His face a little shocked and a little surprised But then you become depressed, Because tomorrow is Monday. He falls onto his back and looks up at the sky Lydia Lockwood I guess he didn't know that his shoes were untied Grade 5 By Amaya Manley Grade 8 Motocross Motocross rad to the bone Muddy, fast, and radical Rad dude with Bad tude! Luke Simpson Grade 3 By Tim Toliver Grade 8

Spring The Home for the Abandoned Pencils Spring is arriving. Rain falls, sinking into grass. Hi, I’m Wally the Pencil and I live in the home of Flowers bloom. Birds chirp. the abandoned pencils in Mrs. Hollister’s room. It’s a By Chloe Broholm great place to live, because you get to live with your best friends! Oh, you want to know how I got here? Let me tell Grade 6 you. I started out as Rebecca’s pencil living in a big pencil case. I was used on tests, papers, and I felt very By Grace Lutkus important. Then one day, she dropped me on the ground, Grade 8 and she didn’t even try to find me! I was all alone. Then all of a sudden, a big hand reached out and picked me up. My voice is a voice I got very excited! I thought I was going to my new home. that glides over fresh air Then the giant hand dropped me in a cold, very crowded The wind taking my soul jar full of other pencils. It was the home for the abandoned pencils. There were regular pencils and and teaching it to fly colored pencils just like me. All abandoned like I was… I My heart drifting didn’t know anybody until I saw my friend Pepper, who became lost a long, long time ago. We were so happy to to where it wants to go see each other! I was never sad and alone ever again, and By Brigid Savage that’s where my story ends. Grade 4 Frogs By Nyah Farah green, slimy, Grade 5 hopping, swimming, endangered, Never Will I colorful, spotted, amphibians Never will I be a cat. Never will I be with that. By Elizabeth Sweet Never will I have a dream. Grade 1 Never will I have ice cream. Never will I pet a fly. Never will I learn to tie. Never will I tell this time. Never will I end this rhyme. By Ellie Rowan Annabel Cicerchi Grade 3 Grade 2

Remember Remember to open up your eyes to the world. Remember that when every door closes, more will open. Remember that you don’t have to be perfect, since you already are. Life has a lot of challenges, and extra bumps along the way, But just remember, you’ll get through it. By Emily Levanduski Grade 7 By Lauren Stephens Grade 6 My Heart Baseball is my favorite sport. At the ballpark, My heart is as strong as a mountain, Sliding into home, Brave, and bold, and fearless, Everybody cheers, Batter up, It stands tall as it fights through the twisted maze of my life, Always watching, It will never back down from a challenge, Listen to the crowd roar, And it will never stand down, Looking for win! My heart is a mountain. By Skye Nguyen By Benjamin Schrag Grade 4 Grade 3 By Niklaus Oliver What a Game! Grade 5 Fans were screaming wildly, shoes squeaking, pressure was on. I got up and clasped the ball in my sweaty hands. My heart was beating 100 miles per hour, thinking what I was going to do. Only 5 seconds left as I zoomed down the court, 3 seconds. Should I pass or should I shoot? 2 seconds! I’m going to shoot, 1 second! As the ball leaves my hands, the loud sound of the buzzer beater goes off “BAAAAAAAAAA!!!” The ball was soaring through the air then… By Hayden Voth Grade 7

Ode to Homework By Gordy Dix Oh, homework. Grade 5 A good idea in theory, but sinister in practice. You destroyer of lives, destroyer of love, destroyer of passion. Friends Your choice of weapon is stress that is further sharpened by grades Friends are forever, and scores, even if you are spread apart. You are a threat to society that goes unnoticed by most. No matter what happens You destroy lives with the immense pressure you cast upon society you are never apart. Even if you are on the other side of That looms over us like an impassable mountain. the world, you will still be friends. You are an infection - a disease that goes untreated. Friends are happiness, fun, and An undone homework assignment is seen as worse than death, forgiveness. Does not matter if you are angry at your friend, you will But we can’t keep up. keep being friends. If you don’t have Hours upon hours a night we slave away for you, a friend, try and make some! While at the same time, further digging a deeper grave for a I am sure that you can make great friends. passion for learning. Drowning in textbooks, Planners, essays, projects, Binders, scripts, books, Calculators, computers, All while trying to keep our heads above the water, Struggling to stay afloat from August 30th to June 5th. Homework is viewed as more important than our health and well-being. Parents rarely check to see if you are okay, But often check to see if you have finished your homework. Letters and percentages measure our self-worth, When it should be measured by your actions, your compassion, and your interests. Few realize how this broken system is becoming more fractured, Increasingly dangerous, And more deadly. Oh, homework, You destroyer of lives, destroyer of love, destroyer of passion. By Julie Harbath Grade 8 By Layne Sponseller Grade 3 My Heart is Unfolding By Ella Hassler Grade 7 My heart is like a flower bud that is waiting to unfold. I am trapped inside waiting To explore. I am lost inside waiting to Bloom. To find my way out as I sprout slowly. By Emily Beard Grade 4

In My Heart Each Day By Abigail Lemma Grade 5 I can’t believe it’s finally here, Almost the end of my seventh grade year Loving Loving is important. It’s one I wish would slow down, Loving is care. For it’s been the best year around Loving is your parents loving a chair. Loving your teacher. I love the laughter, the friends, Loving your hair. And did I mention all that I have learned Loving your house. Loving your mouse. Each day I feel I have grown, Loving is everything. And grateful for the care you have shown Loving is life. Loving your friends. OTS has been a blessing, Loving your people who are nice. I am wishing for many more memories Loving people in need of care. Even your enemies need something to bare. Cheers for all the times you are near,, By Penny Vrobel Cheers for all the love and care, Grade 2 I will miss you in one more year…. By Alex Newman Grade 7 By Sophia Shakir My soul is always glowing Grade 8 glowing in the day glowing in night glowing when I fly my kite By William Henry Grade 4

BEAR The Three Pigs and the Fly Bear white, brown, One day the grass was as wet as a pool, the sky was catching, running, hibernating, as light as the sun and everything was normal. The bees fuzzy, free, were buzzing and the cows were eating the green grass up Snow Bear in the field. But just one thing was unusual. Three little By CJ Parnell different looking pigs were holding wood, bricks, and mud Grade1 and they were walking up a hill to get to the field. One of the pigs was very fat and his name was Big. The second pig By Kendall Ritzmann was very skinny; in fact, as skinny as a pole and his name Grade 5 was Tiny. The last pig was always eating and his name was Eaty. BROTHER Bravo As the three pigs walked up the hill a little fly came Radiant buzzing by and said “You can’t build a house on the field. Outstanding You have to go somewhere else, or I will destroy your The best house.” He is amazing Energetic Then all you could hear was the hysterical laughter Reading everything of Big, Tiny, and Eaty. Big flicked the fly away and the By Eliza Lanier three pigs started to build the house. By the end of the day Grade 4 the three pigs were done building the house and it looked marvelous. Suddenly a big storm came rolling in and crushed the house. The next day the pig went looking for the fly and when they found the fly drinking cool lemonade, they pulled out the fly swatter out and shouted, “Did you make the storm yesterday that destroyed the house we made?” “Yes,” replied the fly. And on and on they were fighting over the house but meanwhile a wolf was walking up the hill to get onto the field. He was so sweaty and hot that he built a small house out of the pigs’ bricks, wood, and mud and went inside to drink lemonade. When the pigs got back home they thought that the storm never broke the house. When they went inside they eyed a wolf drinking lemonade. They told the wolf that he had used the same building supplies that they had brought, but the wolf said that he had built the house. They agreed that they would live in the house together and they became friends. But now they had to worry about one thing, the fly. As they trudged along the road, the fly came by and questioned with a smirk on his face. “Are you still living in the field?” “Yeah and you can’t make us move out, so if you don’t like us you should move out and find another field to live in!” shouted the pigs and the wolf in the fly’s little face. Then the fly started to turn red and yelled, “Fine! You know what? I will!” Now they lived happily ever after. By Annie Markarian Grade 4

By Griffin Thomas In the pristine valleys of the midwest there is a hill. On Grade 1 that hill there is a soft bird chirping in the distance. If you look closely buried beneath the grass there is a whole Soccer other world. In that world there are grasshoppers, dragon flies, and ants. As you look up you see a majestic I hit the ball impeccable bald eagle sail through the sky. You notice Wham! him eye a minuscule rabbit, the rabbit sees him and is terror-stricken. Finally you sit down as the long, lush The goalie saves it. grass brushes so sleekly against you. You stop. You stop The other team takes the ball what you're doing just to admire it, take it all in. You see a stream, with water that looks like a diamond that was And I block. just mined, so fresh. As you feel the water it feels like silk. The coach yells, “Good defense!” The water is so pure and warm hearted. You hear a slight splash and you snap your head only to see a little baby I have the ball trout. It is so dauntless swimming against the current on With 40 seconds left of the game. its own. As you turn around you see a monumental tree swaying in the light gust of wind. Woosh, it's so beautiful. I shoot, and score. You slowly clear all your thoughts and drift off very We win the game. slowly. By William Trahey By Gordy Dix Grade 3 Grade 5 Our Old Trail Journey By Alexandria Zhang is close to an end, Grade 3 But we’re going to continue One is a number. the upward trend. It is smaller than three. It is really, really small. High school is coming upon us fast, By Sanjay Dhital Grade 2 More learning, friends, and memories to last. Different directions we may go, But we’ll always be a Buffalo. I can't believe it’s the end, whoa! Class of ’19, here we go. By Ella Haas Grade 8

Plants PIG Very green, very beautiful, all the colors of the rainbow dirty, fat, Outside plants grow on their own, snorting, loving, running, inside plants need help to grow pink, smart, They produce their own food, and with the sun’s help, pig they survive on their own. By Maggie Karam By Ruby Yajnik Grade 3 Grade 1 By Haylie Martin The Cat Grade 5 There once was a cat That was called Mat who always wore a hat. One day he got to ring a bell But that did not turn out very well. He rang it very loud of course. He even sang ‘til his voice was hoarse. But Still! He was a cat and his name was Mat and he always wore a hat. By Anika Bhalla Grade 2 The Sounds of Rain By Tim Toliver Grade 8 The swish of the leaves. Then the rumble of thunder. I know a storm is starting. I finally hear The pitter-patter of raindrops. The rain is soothing, And the crash of thunder is exciting. The damp air smells like spring. By Sam Lanier Grade 7

Undecided Water I walk alone It is the early morning In the cold The mist is coming off the lake Contemplating things There are tiny ripples in the water Still undecided The sunrise is orange and bright I go on the water, in my boat Everything in my head Still undecided And see geese and swans It is very quiet Falling down Spinning around It was just me and the wildlife Still undecided I feel very calm and relaxed By Carmen Reed As the boat sways from side to side Grade 7 As the sun rises, the glitter on the lake really shines I feel the feeling of the early morning This is all about the beauties of water. By Ellie Rowan Grade 3 By Brody McMillen Grade 2 Birds Never The Same When I hear the birds chirping It makes me want to go outside The leaves are falling at my feet Its a beautiful fall day And listen to more birds. And when I listen to more birds I love playing in the leaves though they all blow away I want to find them all. I cherish my time with them And when I find them all, I want to hear them all. before the storm begins I want to hear them chirp and sing But then I see the rain clouds so and chirp and sing I must go in and chirp and sing When i come back out the leaves and chirp and sing. And then I let them go will be wet and let them live happily ever after. It will never be the same By Grace Lutkus By Nasr Osman Grade 8 Grade 5

Dogs are so cute All in the Distance Oh how they love to get treats. Greet me with a wagging tail, Woodpeckers pecking, ratatat tat on tree trunks. So soft and cuddly. Hawks hawking, By Layla Farah scree scree over treetops. Grade 3 Crows cawing, Frogs in the distance. green, slimy, hopping, swimming, endangered, Flocks fly south, colorful, spotted, Seeking warmth. amphibians All the flocking birds By Elizabeth Sweet resemble Grade 1 a darkened cloud, Sun Poem in the distance. Why is there sun? The birds roil together then fly away beyond my sight. It is 12:00 PM. All in the distance. Life is weird. Woodpeckers pecking, By Nick Ross ratatat tat on tree trunks. Grade 2 Hawks hawking, scree scree over treetops. Crows cawing, in the distance. When I hear crowing sounds in the distance I think of that day. All in the distance. By Anna Poulas Grade 6 By Mara Poe Grade K

Dear Mother Nature: Our mistakes are scarred all over you Except they aren’t mistakes I write to you We chose to harm you A poem of love We showed you we are careless For I hear you haven’t felt so loved In many different ways, such as You’ve felt betrayed Cutting down your forests, and polluting all your seas And most importantly afraid Also, killing your creations to make them go extinct And your reactions are hurting you We stopped taking care of your love, which is greater As much as you wish they reverted into than our own mothers’ The love you felt So mother nature please answer me- A thousand years ago today. Why do you still love me? You fight for us and you fight for me As you begin to fear us and become mad You send me light and cure me with your vitamin d You choose to harm us You give me bees and you give me trees By sending us a powerful ray of hate From which lend me honey and a sweet, sweet breeze Instead of your amazing rays of love You send me birds and fish and rocks You send us earthquakes, tornadoes, and even You give me rainbows, coral reefs, and ducks hurricanes The light you send me To show us you are mad Makes me glow But how come we still can’t understand? And the puddles of water you pour Make me feel joyful, happy, and loved We take for granted you, all of you What is left of you is broken incomplete and lost You give, give, and give But we don’t want another loss But mother nature let me ask you this: Or the end of time will come We’ve hurt your animals, land, and seas, To end me and you And we’ve cut down and used all your beautiful trees. Except it’s only fair to me We take for granted your love, your ponds, rivers, and seas. But it isn’t fair to you. So Mother Nature a question for you: How come you still love me? So Mother Nature, one last time- Why do you still love me? We began to act like we didn’t care Like we didn’t know you were starting to feel scared By Ana Berrios About your very own life Grade 8 Which is starting to feel lifeless and unfair By Samantha Eckelman By Brennan Christian Grade 4 Grade 7 My voice My voice is like a pen, It draws out its feeling like I say my feelings. It draws out its feelings in colors blue, red, yellow, green and others. It clicks when it has a new feeling. By Ryan Kosco Grade 4

Love One Night That Was Never The Same I think that love is not just doing It was a dark and windy night. I was at camp at our something and liking it, night hike. Then the winds picked up so I brought out a flashlight. Once we got closer to camp I started It's doing something you love hearing some some crying sounds like from a dog. We with someone you love. made a turn and then I put my flashlight down to the It can really deepen your ground. Once I did I saw something that would change my life forever. I looked at the ground and I saw it. A friendship with the person. corgi. I picked her up and showed my friends and they Love means to be accepting and not were shocked. rejecting something or someone. We brought her back to our rooms. We played Love can also mean doing good with her during all the time that we had until we had to go to sleep. We had so much fun. things because it's right. Once I got back home I had to tell my parents in By Henry Pierce someway. How could I tell them would they be like you Grade 6 can’t have her. Or would they say I could have her. I was not ready. Once I got home I had to tell my Life of a car parents. So I did, I went on and on about why we should keep her. Once I was done they said yes. I was Zooming through the city so happy! Once I heard yes I went and gave my mom a Stopping at every sign hug. My mom and I went through some names and we Seeming like a minor found one. The corgi found name is Bella. Running down a slide Running down the road Bella loved my house even she loved my dog Standing side by side Ben. Bella was still a puppy so we had to train her. She Sliding side to side had the best time with us. She got to have doggy ice cream. She played with Ben, the other dog. I always By Elias Sharifi wanted a corgi a lot. Bella loved to go for walks with Grade 5 Ben. She also loved to go through my room and the good thing that she was not all like my other dog. She My Heart is like a Fish would go through my room but didn’t eat anything. She was afraid of thunderstorms. My other dog would My heart is like a fish in the sea, protect her though. Bella was a sweet and loving dog. There are so many more, Some others could be goldfish or sharks, She grew old with Ben. They would chew bones But mine is my own, together. Bella watched the years go by with Ben by her Mine is my own fish swimming in the sea, side. She went through some hard times like when Ben Like I’m soaring through the sky, ate another sock. She would take me to the bus almost Some people want to be like others, everyday in the backseat with Ben. She loved spending But now I will be my own fish, time with us. Ever since that day that I was in the Swimming in my own sea, woods it will never be the same. They lived happily My fish is me, ever after. And I am one of a kind. By Samantha Austin Grade 5 By Samantha Eckelman By Kirkland Miller Grade 4 Grade 2

Rain My Heart Burns I smelled the bitter scent of a storm heading in. My heart burns when I am mad Suddenly, BOOM! I heard a huge clap of thunder. I felt There is a flame that stays ‘till I calm the wind picking up and whipping against my face. Then, drip, drip, drip. I feltthe first drops of rain. The rain My heart will beat and blaze until began coming down faster and harder now, falling I’m happy. quickly to the concrete and splashing. The raindrops were pelting my face like needles. The rain stopped and By Lela Yajnik worms wiggled out of the ground. Next, I saw the most Grade 4 majestic rainbow I had ever seen. By By Mason Solis Amelia Grade 7 Burkhardt Grade 1 By Ruby Olivier Hibernation Grade 8 Bears are sleeping Snoring dreaming humming, Taking a light doze. Chipmunks are collecting Scavenging gathering, Nuts to keep them stuffed. Bats are hanging Swaying swinging In their dark abode. All are waiting Dozing resting For the time of spring. By Connor Pittinger Grade 6 Tablet fun, small, gaming, playing, teaching, handy, orange, games By Declan Howard Grade 1

The Search for for Hammy Burger Town Kendall ran outside as the mail truck came by. “One letter for Kendall Kaspareck!” Kendall took the letter and opened it. It read: Dear Kendall, You have been cordially invited to Hammy Burger Town for a dinner party. Invite a friend. Hope you can make it! - The people of Hammy Burger Town. Kendall was so excited! She invited Lydia and told her mom she’d be back tonight. They set off for Hammy Burger Town. When they got there, it didn’t look ANYTHING like Hammy Burger Town in the picture. All the buildings were white, black, and brown. They saw no animals at all and soccer goals and balls were everywhere. Lydia screamed, “ LIVING BROCCOLI!” Kendall shouted, “LIVING BRUSSEL SPROUTS!” “AHHHH!” they screamed together. “Lydia… This is no Hammy Burger Town… THIS IS VEGGIE TOWN!” said Kendall. “AHHHHHH!” they shouted again. Buckets of baby toys surrounded them. Vegetables were doing math on park benches. It was disgusting. The king of Veggie Town appeared who was a short, but powerful carrot. “Welcome to Veggie Town, Kendall and Lydia.” “Why did you bring us here!?” questioned Kendall. “Look around, this is paradise. Don’t you see, you should join us!” said the king. “NEVER!” screamed Kendall and Lydia. They tried to run but the city was guarded completely except for the top so they made up a plan. “I guess you’re right, we’ll never get out of here,” said Lydia. “Hahahaha, now go play soccer and do math!” laughed the king. “NOOOOOO,” screamed the girls. When the king was gone they executed their plan. “Ok, now cut off the soccer net,” whispered Kendall so Lydia did as she was told. “Alright, now tie it to the soccer ball. Now, PUNT IT!” The ball went soaring up above the wall that surrounded the city. The net hung down to so they could use it as a rope. Kendall and Lydia climbed up silently and escaped. “Alright, THERE’S Hammy Burger Town!” They ran to it frantically so they could get away from Veggie Town as quickly as they could. “Hello! Do you need shelter?” It was the king of Hammy Burger Town. He was a jolly old fellow who looked like Santa Claus. He was a double back burger with cheese. They both said at the same time, “Yes.” Inside Hammy Burger Town, all the buildings were purple and blue and everyone was having play time and every hamburger was dancing. A huge aquarium was in the center of the town. It was filled with sharks. They have a big park dedicated just for gymnastics and in free time, they play hide-and-go seek. Kendall and Lydia loved it there. They were dancing, looking at sharks, doing gymnastics and of course, having a great time. It was a once in a lifetime experience, with no asparagus or lettuce to ruin it with their veggie ways of life. By Kendall Kaspareck, Grade K By Niya Fried By Lydia Lockwood, Grades 5 Grade 8

By Lilly McIlvaine My Heart Is An Echo Grade 8 My heart echoes like a long dark hallway, Skitsie sitting and waiting for a voice to fill it. Passed from times, My heart echoes, Each with a loving joy. like its in a deep canyon, With one eye, and one smile. sitting and waiting Keeping us safe at night. for a sound to fill it. We give it so much trust. My heart echoes, like a voice in a valley For this stuffed dog. just singing, yelling, For this stuffed toy. talking. At night, it sleeps with us, My heart is an echo. Beside us in a bed. By Daphne Vrobel Giving us comfort, Grade 4 At night in every way. And when we get scared, By Lauren Stephens We hug him real tight. Grade 6 He makes us feel safe. This stuffed dog. This stuffed toy. With one eye, and one smile. Keeping us safe, Like a guardian angel. At Night when We’re in Bed. By JP Pace Grade 5

You’ve Won Your Best Your best moments You spend your time on Earth, Were when we became friends. Doing what you do. My best moments, Were when we became friends. Hurting who you hurt, We go outside for hours, And having them hurt you. And play, ’This is what I want,’ And talk, To yourself, you say. And do kid stuff Then why does it hurt so much, Because, we are best friends. When they stay away? Lindley Sanders You struggle, and you struggle, Grade 3 Getting through your life. Everything is perfect, By Amira Cassady And yet you’re filled with strife. Grade 4 Here’s your special place in The Purple Hippo heaven, A hippo is eating pumpkin pie I hope you’re having fun. I wish that you’d be happy here, With a cat in the sky It looks like you’ve won. The cat smiled and flapped its wings By Sophia Shakir There were fish splashing along Grade 8 They were in the lake flipping They are splashing to the song All a Part of Nature They were so happy they began singing Rustling trees, chirping birds And then an elephant came out of the ground Falling leaves, buzzing bees. With a very big gong All a part of nature. They all then remembered and said Wait he was making that fantastic song Wind is shouting Wolves are howling By Amira Cassady With pine trees swaying Grade 4 Frogs are laying in the sun All other animals having fun. Little did they know They had to go They couldn’t stay The snow is on it’s way By Luke Spatz Grade 6

It was 3:00 am. Something touched me on the By Ava Palfi shoulder. I still had my eyes closed and I was thinking I Grade 7 overslept my alarm and it was just my mom telling me to get up and get ready for school. When I open my Never Will I eyes it was completely dark. I went over and turned the Never will I be a cat. lights on and one of my sister's dog stuffed animal was Never will I be with that. in the middle of my room. I took the stuffed animal Never will I have a dream. and threw it into the hallway. I turned the lights off Never will I have ice cream. and I went back to sleep. Half an hour later I hear Never will I pet a fly. something chanting in the corner of my room. When I Never will I learn to tie. moved to go see what it was the chanting stopped and I Never will I tell this time. saw the stuffed animal. I jumped and threw the stuffed Never will I end this rhyme. animal into my sister's room and went back to my room and closed and locked the door. Before I made it By Annabel Cicerchi back to my bed there was a scratching noise coming Grade 2 from the hallway. I ran to the door and opened it and there was the stuffed animal. I ran downstairs and into Remember my mom’s vet clinic. I threw it into a cage with metal bars on it about two inches apart each and thought that Remember to open up your eyes to the world. it would be good enough. When I walked back into my Remember that when every door closes, house I closed and locked every door on the way in. I more will open. went back to my room and laid on my bed and couldn’t fall asleep so I went downstairs and grabbed my phone. Remember that you don’t have to be perfect, I went back to my room, closed the door, and went on since you already are. Instagram. A few hours later my phone died and it was about 5 o’clock in the morning. I went to put my phone Life has a lot of challenges, back downstairs but when I opened the door the head and extra bumps along the way, of the stuffed animal was sitting on the floor. I ran into But just remember, you’ll get through it. the vet clinic and I saw the rest of the animal and my cat was sitting next to the cage trying to get the animal By Emily Levanduski between the bars. I opened the cage and the cat Grade 7 brought it back to my room. It was the cat the whole time. By Greg Gebhart Grade 8 By Leo Murphy Grade 1

Hickory Dickory Dock Undecided Hickory Dickory Dock, I walk alone The duck fell off the dock. In the cold He hit his head on a rock. Contemplating things Hickory Dickory Dock! Still undecided By Lila Rich Everything in my head Grade 1 Still undecided Clock By Marzan Karim Falling down Grade 8 Spinning around Still undecided My soul is like an alarm clock. By Carmen Reed I’m most of the time calm and happy. Grade 7 But when someone makes me MAD! I enrage yelling like an alarm clock The Quill and Paper trying to wake someone up. The quill and paper are so much more Or if have a harsh injury I ball and cry than just an empty husk of what they used to be. until someone calms me down like when you touch the button to turn off the alarm clock. By James Weigand Like the tree the paper came from Grade 4 your writing grows to a magnificent tree. Blossoming and blooming, but when the seeds drop new ideas start to grow. Soon there will be an orchard Like the bird the quill came from, your writing will fly higher than your expectations. Higher than the wind spreading its wings and soaring faster than ever. Until it's reached its destination, at the end of a paragraph. Your writing will fly and grow and blossom. Rather than an empty husk one must see the good in life. Rather than an empty husk. An empty husk. An empty husk. By Jack Simpson By Edison Smith Grade 5 Grade 5

The Woods By Maya Pop Grade 2 The woods, a calm place. Where you can just hike alone. Sometimes a bit eerie, because it is so quiet. The My Soul tall green trees around you sway in the wind, their leaves dropping every once in a while. Birds chirp and you feel My soul is a shooting star calm. A creek flows in the distance, with jagged rocks in Shooting in the open night it, but it has the cleanest coldest water you could ever Looking for somewhere to land imagine. Flowers of all colors grow in strange places, and little animals walk right in front of your feet. It smells By Joseph Liptak like dirt and plants here, a good smell. There are fallen Grade 4 trees that you have to step over every once in a while. Covered with moss and fungus, so disgusting that you would never touch it. If you lift up these logs there would be bugs, lots of bugs. There are branches from trees everywhere, and every once in a while you hear a crack, and you know that yet another branch has fallen. The sky is blue above you, but you can hardly see it because the trees block your few. It is a sunny day, warm but not too warm. There are vines that hang down, great for swinging, if they could hold your weight. You feel relaxed. You can sit against a tree and just breathe, and let all your worries leave you. By Nyah Farah Grade 5 By Mary Jane Trahey Grade 1 By Lydia Kefalas Grade 8

Thanksgiving Old Trail School, oh Old Trail School Live in peace and Thanksgiving Don’t go away. Family round the table Pumpkin pie baking in the oven Terrific Old Trail School Everyone giving thanks “Ring, ring!” goes the bell. Mountains of mashed potatoes All the students come in. Grandma gives me a hug I love Old Trail School Live in peace. Thanksgiving Should I leave? No! By Liam Sponseller Can I stay? Yes! Grade 2 Hurray! Old Trail School is the best On the top of Old Trail School is pure Love. Tyler C. Ping Grade 3 By Nicholas McKinley Grade 7 Winter Again Spring Light brown bark, I wonder how, if any, With he moss and lichen blanket. There has ever been a time When right before our own eyes A dogwood standing tall, The features life offers are seen In the cold, wet ground. I gaze from afar the beauty Burgundy leaves twirl down, Of the world’s gifts given graciously In the drift of chilly air. The trees, the flowers, the life, Are the gifts we must appreciate Leaving bare twigs to face The dreaded winter frost. Blue Jays flapping their wings, Chirping in the tree. Squirrels gathering nuts, It’s almost time for hibernation. In spring, the trees are blossoming The escape of the warm summer sun, The flowers reappear and Makes you get a feeling Life is waiting; Yearning for us all to explore That winter is on it’s way, Bringing, soon, The cold season of the snow. By Caroline Gordon By Katie Sweeney Grade 7 Grade 6

The Perfect Wolf Once, in the hills of China, there were two wolves. One By Livia Farian was a perfect wolf. He had a broad chest and a long snout Grade 3 and many white, sharp teeth. The other one had shaggy hair, not taken care of and smelly. There was a man, the man was looking for a hunting dog. The man came to the two wolves and looked at them, face to face. The perfect one was looking heroic, and bold. While the other one was shy and scared of the man. The man, though the wolves did not know it, the man was wise. He knew that the wolves both wanted the job, but one was scared to take it. The man made a wise choice. He chose the scared one. The perfect wolf told the man “ What are you doing?! That wolf is definitely not well enough for the job! You should choose me! Me I say!” The man shook his head, “You know what this wolf has, but you don’t? Unselfishness.” The perfect wolf was confused. Was he really that selfish? The man left with the scared wolf and left the other wolf. He named the wolf Athena. After the goddess of war and wisdom. The man made a wise choice, and you should too. By Lydia C. Lockwood Rain Grade 5 Rain, rain, it splishes and splashes The 7 Dogs drips and drops, it chills, it pinches It bites at night. It cools you off It can wisp It can roar or snore Once upon a time, there were 7 dogs. The dogs owned a By Chip Gaddis forest. Each dog had a tree. They could do anything to it! The Grade 7 first one made a normal tree house. The second one made the same thing, but it was metal. The third one made the School same thing, but three times the size! It was big. The fourth one made the same thing, but it had an underground We try to skip it, bunker. The fifth one had the same thing, but in the bunker But you learn so much at school. there was a movie theater in it. The sixth one made the same thing but had a kitchen. The seventh one made the same Let’s appreciate thing, but in the kitchen there were 7 robot arms that made anything you say. Then there was a wolf. The wolf was a big, By Kiran Murthy old, and mean wolf. I think we all know what the rest of the Grade 4 story is. By Simon Biehn Grade 2

School Cindersmella Smart kids Cool kids Once upon a time there was a girl named Cindersmella. Have fun at recess She had two stepsisters and a stepmother. Her stepsisters and Often I have to be stepmother thought she was the smelliest person in town. Outrageous They always made fun of her horrific stench, and made her do Looking for answers chores that made the smell worse. By Livia Farian Grade 3 One day Cindersmella discovered that her stepmother and stepsisters were going to a grand ball and she wasn’t invited. By Jacki Incorvaia Cindersmella was really miserable . Her sister said, Grade 5 “Your way to smelly to come, you will stink up the whole room.” “There will be a really handsome prince there, too bad Snowflakes high you can’t come!” said her stepmother. And snowflakes low. Snowflakes come Cindersmella went to her bedroom, which nobody And snowflakes go. except her dared to enter because of the horrid smell. It By Henry Gates smelled like moldy cheese mixed with rotten eggs and skunk Grade 1 dead fish. About an hour later someone entered the room and it wasn’t her stepmother or stepsisters. Thanksgiving “Who are you?” asked Cindersmella. Thanksgiving “I’m the Smelly Godmother,” said the woman. “Didn’t you say Family round the table you weren’t invited to a party cause you smell so horrible. Pumpkin pie baking in the oven Everyone giving thanks “Yes,” replied Cindersmella. Mountains of mashed potatoes “Well I got a magical potion that will make you smell just Grandma gives me a hug splendid!” said the Smelly Godmother. She pulled out a bottle called Febreeze and sprayed it on Cindersmella. Thanksgiving “And take these,” said the Smelly Godmother as she By Liam Sponseller gave Cindersmella a pair of glass slippers. Grade 2 “Now this potion will wear off when the clock strikes midnight,” warned the Smelly Godmother. Cindersmella went along to the grand ball at the castle. She heard from someone that the prince's name was Prince Smelly-Feet. Finally the prince had come out. He walked past all the woman saying stuff like, “Eww you smell like stinky roses!!!” or “Eww you smell like you haven’t taken a shower in a week!!!” When he walked past Cindersmella he took a big sniff. “Ewwww you smell worse than anything I have ever smelled!!!” Just then the clock struck midnight. The rest of the women smelled her some feinted and some screamed, “Ewwwwwww!!!!!!!!” Cindersmella ran away. The prince took one last sniff and called, “Wait you smell like the best roses!!!” When Cindersmella was running she left one of her slippers behind. Her stepmother and stepsisters tried it on but it fit nobody except Cindersmella. Five years later Cindersmella had married Prince Smelly-Feet and they lived happily ever after! By Charlie Landers Grade 4

Morning Mourning Volcano A flash of russet fur. My heart is like a volcano, A pattering of paws. It can be dormant and cold, A twitch of a black nose. and sleeping and warm, A fox. But it also can explode when I’m angry, Observing. Watching. It can be lost away into the ocean, And it can build a new island or bridge Waiting. to connect things, A squirrel. My heart is like a volcano. Gathering. Preparing for winter. By Naina Bhalla Oblivious to the danger. Grade 4 Silently, slowly, By Corrine Seink Recess Stealthily stalking. Grade 4 on the playground The fox strikes. Having fun In the afternoon The squirrel. Standing, shaking. On the slide Paralyzed with fear. Waiting to go down Dreading its impending doom. By Holden Tatlow A paw lashes out. Grade 2 Claws rake. Jaws snap. Trash Talk It’s over. Trash Talk, they are words of slang. People talking trash with their gangs. A few ravenous gulps, Egos being exchanged twenty times a day. All evidence Football has the most trash talk people say. Erased. Or maybe basketball does, who knows. This question keeps people saying, DOH!!! By Sandra Wernet Examples of Trash Talk are Jalen Ramsey in football Grade 6 Or a different example, Patrick Beverley in basketball. When players trash talk they get beat. They even get knocked off their two feet. So football, basketball, who knows? The point is that this is the way that trash talk goes. By Will Lockwood Grade 8

FRIENDS Friends. Friends are nice. We went to a restaurant and ate fried rice. Friends are always there for you. You can have a couple, or a few. My friends and I have lots of fun. We love to play in the warm sun. We will be friends forever, and ever, Even through lots of stormy weather. By Ruby Yajnik By Caroline Gordon Grade 1 Grade 6 By Elle Swoope and Sophia Korman Grade 4 Love Love is when, By Chloe Beard your heart goes patter patter, Grade Kindergarten when you see someone who you like. Love is when, you cry about someone you lost. Love is when, you lie in bed not asleep, thinking about that person. That's what love is to me. By Andrew Schnieder Grade 6 The 7 Dogs Once upon a time, there were 7 dogs. The dogs owned a forest. Each dog had a tree. They could do anything to it! The first one made a normal tree house. The second one made the same thing, but it was metal. The third one made the same thing, but three times the size! It was big. The fourth one made the same thing, but it had an underground bunker. The fifth one had the same thing, but in the bunker there was a movie theater in it. The sixth one made the same thing but had a kitchen. The seventh one made the same thing, but in the kitchen there were 7 robot arms that made anything you say. Then there was a wolf. The wolf was a big, old, and mean wolf. I think we all know what the rest of the story is. By Simon Biehn Grade 2

Getting to know you Was so much fun, But now the year Is almost done. By Chloe Solis Grade 1 Audrey Cicerchi and Daphne Vrobel Grade 4 By Ella Betzhold Grade 8 Swimmingrella Once upon a time there lived a girl named Stroke. Stroke lived with her two cruel stepsisters, Ashla and Nebula. She also lived with a wretched stepmother named Canus. Stroke was considered their maid. They all lived in Poolbrooke, Classouri in a small house on a lake overviewing the famous Hall of Swimmers Pool. Since Stroke lived in the attic of the house she had the best view of the pool. Now that Stroke was 14 she could finally swim there for competitions. Stroke loved swimming because her parents did but they died when she was five in a car crash. All that Stroke had from them was her mom’s swimsuit that surprisingly fit her and her dad’s goggles and swim cap. Stroke cherished these items and called them her lucky swimwear. Stroke knew she could never go to The Hall of Swimmers Pool even though it was her dream because sadly, her sisters wouldn’t let her. Stroke loved to swim in the backyard lake and so did her sisters, but every time Stroke went to swim her sisters would stop her. Stroke knew she was a good swimmer and even though her sisters knew it, they never showed it. Stroke could swim all the strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle and even the IM. Stroke’s sisters did not know how to swim, but on the other hand Ashla and Nebula thought they were fantastic. Their dives looked like flops and when they tried to swim butterfly they almost drowned. Even though Stroke wasn’t allowed to swim in the lake she did so at night. Stroke loved the lake at night. She could hear the gentle swaying of the grass and see the glowing moon’s reflection on the lake. Nothing in the world would make Stroke more happy than swimming. One night when Stroke was sitting up in the attic she overheard her sisters jabbering about a swimming competition held at The Hall of Swimmers Pool this coming Friday. It was going to be televised and her sisters were going to compete for a chance to win the title of best swimmer in Poolbrooke and one million dollars. Stroke thought that this was her chance so on Tuesday she asked her sisters, “ Can I swim at The Hall of Swimmers competition?’’ Strokes sisters laughed. “ Of course you can’t come,” they replied together. Stroke was very frustrated. She wasn’t going to give up a big opportunity to show everyone her talent so everyday for the rest of that week Stroke would swim at night for three hours. When Friday came Stroke asked her sisters one more time, “ Can I please go with you guys to swim? I even have my swimsuit in the attic.” Stroke’s sisters replied in a huge growling shout, “ No.” Then Canus asked Stroke, “Did you say your swimsuit is in the attic?” “Yes,” Stroke replied so Canus ran up into the attic, grabbed Strokes swimsuit, and ripped it apart. Stroke fell to the floor and started to cry. Her sisters laughed. Then Stroke’s sisters jumped in their mom’s car and drove to the pool. When they left, Stroke ran to the lake and sobbed. “Don’t worry. I can help,” said a majestic voice as a dolphin appeared from the lake. “Who are you? What are you here for?’’ Stroke said trying to put this all in her head. “I’m your Swimming Godmother. I came here from the ocean and transported myself here. I’m here to help you. I have come to make you jolly again. Now I’m going to get you to that competition!” Swimming godmother turned Stroke’s blue ragged dress into a beautiful bright blue swimsuit and in Stroke’s hand appeared a lucky swimwear. Next, Swimming Godmother snapped her fingers and Stroke was at the pool, but there was no sign of the dolphin. Stroke didn’t have time to look for her so she bolted to the pool and signed up. Stroke was so excited she didn’t even think about her sisters or stepmother. When the competition was over Stroke won! Soon Stroke used the one million to buy a house and live on her own. Stroke was so joyful. From that day on Stroke called swimming her prince Charming. By Leah Petras Grade 4

Fishy Fishy The Lost Man come to me. Fishy Fishy One sunny day in Canada, a boy named why not me? Alexander realized he was becoming a young Fishy Fishy adult, and his mother was growing into an old swimming in my pond. woman. This is the reason Alexander was still Fishy Fishy trying to find his dad, who had been a captain on loves it there! the biggest ship yet. It was two times the size of the Titanic. It was called Fantas. Alexander was By Regan Petersen 10 years old when he started to look for his dad. Grade 2 Since then, six years have passed while he was looking for his dad. He still has not found him. By Keegan LeVan After they heard the news that his dad was Grade 5 missing, he has started losing his enthusiasm. He has started sleeping later than usual. His Thoughts Through the Rain friends were trying to help him be happy again. The sweet scent of pine He has been a wonderful student in the Fell all around me. past, but not now. He is an angry hothead, who always sits in the school office and talks to the The dreamy smell brought memories, principal about something bad that he has done But suddenly a different smell wrong. He always hoped to find his dad, but he Brought me back to reality. hasn’t. One day, he was finally happy. His The sharp bitter smell friends were wondering why he was happy in a Came flowing over me. day like this one. His friends asked him why he was so happy, and he told them that his dad sent I realize that I no longer live at home, a message to him. He and his friends were But rather in a strange world of excited about the news. pitters and patters, Dark and light, His friends and he were excited for the Families and strangers, whole day. Then, at night, he was about to fall Opposites and alikes, asleep with his teddy bear, when his mom came And into his room. She told him that there was a Thoughts donation to give toys to tots. He then thought he could give his teddy bear to the poor children, By Anika Yang since his teddy bear was getting too old, at least Grade 7 in his mind. He then went to sleep. The next day Alexander went to school and found the donation box and put his teddy there. He acted normal. His friends were surprised by his emotions again. They told him why he was ok and Alexander told them that it was because of yesterday. After school he was going to buy a new teddy bear. Alexander gave the cashier money while the cashier was talking to someone. He told the person that there was a man on a ship that was looking for his son named Alexander. That surprised Alexander and made him the happiest he had ever been. By Assad Khamis Grade 5

Cold Refreshing By Edison Smith A relief from the sweltering summer's day Grade 5 Preventing warmth from entering your body As if plunging into an icy river A numbing pain Arms plastered to your chest Muted agony With shaky breaths, you arrive at your destination Heat Comforting Relief from a frozen winter's night Guarding your body against cold As if entering a sauna Breaking into a sweat Taking off any extra layers of clothes Waves of misery Lightheaded, you fall at the threshold of Cold By Noah Holland Emojis! Grade 8 Emojis you come in different ways! Spring is Here! You can tell me what is happy and what is sad! You tell me if you are annoyed or glad! Spring, spring is coming soon, So emojis, I don’t know what I’d do without you! Grass is green and flowers bloom, So tell me how you are feeling! Are you sad or are you glad? Birds returning from the south, And do you love me so? Bees are buzzing all about, By Penny Vrobel Leaves are budding everywhere, Grade 2 Spring, spring is finally here! By Ellie Moore Grade 6 My Heart My heart commands everything and is fragile enough to break at the slightest touch. by Eli Karam Grade 4 By Robinson Lehman Grade Kindergarten

The School Bus Old Trail School, oh Old Trail School Live in peace and By Nola Marshall Don’t go away. Grade 6 Terrific Old Trail School “Ring, ring!” goes the bell. My Voice All the students come in. My voice is like an echo from my brain I love Old Trail School that can make people happy or sad Live in peace. what I will do is make people happy Should I leave? No! By James Johnston Can I stay? Yes! Grade 4 Hurray! Snow Old Trail School is the best Snow is good, snow is bad, On the top of Old Trail School is pure snow can sometimes make you mad. Love. Snow is hard, snow is soft, Tyler C. Ping snow can sometimes fly for a yard. Grade 3 Snow is big, snow is small, and sometimes snow is very tall. By Sarah Ha And there you have: Grade 8 all the different kinds of snow there are! Caz Bord Grade 3

Climb My soul is escalating higher and higher Until It reaches the top. By Ben Harrington Grade 4 Eat, eat, eat. A bowl of food yum, yum, yum To the tummy it goes. By Dominic Colaco Grade 3 Spell Once upon a time, there was a king. The king was nice to By Isabella Haslinger Johnson everyone. He had a giant palace, and the palace was beautiful. Grade 6 But by that palace there was a small cottage. In the cottage lived a witch. The witch was cruel and mean; she was so mean that she could be the meanest person in the world. And one sunny morning, the witch had a plan. Her plan was to cast a spell over the whole village; the spell was to make everyone her servants. The next day she was going to cast the spell, but soon, someone found out that she was going to cast that spell. The person that found out was the king. How he found out: he was dreaming that the witch would cast a spell. Now he knew every time the witch would cast the spell and what kind of spell. When the day of the spell was here, the king was still not finished planning on how he would stop the spell. So, one night, he prayed to God and God couldn’t make his wish come true but he could help him so he sent one of his fairies to the king. The fairy went to the king and told him that he would have to go to the forest of oz which had strange things. The king said to himself, I would do anything to protect this village. Then, the fairy said that he would have to find the witch that lived in the cottage in the forest and then the fairy disappeared. Yhe king went into the forest and found the fairy. The king told the fairy what had happened so the fairy and the king went to the witches cottage. And when he reached the witch, he turned her into a frog and they lived happily ever after. By Rebecca Lin By Maya Kinney Grade 2 Grade 5

High in the Sky By Zoë Nelson Grade 8 Far up in the distance a black path lies The Necklace past a dogwood tree, There once was a necklace and an old jagged fence. A necklace indeed It was given to you, Birds with high chirps are ringing in the air, To remind you of what You need, the cool wind flies right through the sky. You care for it so, you love it so much, The chirp of a chickadee, dark bead eyes glinting, But yet maybe, You only wear it twice, in the shelter of You know that you are loved, a cluster of leaves. And the necklace is what it means , It ruffles it’s gray and white but maybe it is all the love that you need, feathers It has a silver chain, and rises in the air. with a heart in the middle, but still maybe you are scared that it might get lost a little, Left in thought, Only silence is heard. you hang it up, The wind stops and relaxes, all alone hoping that it will not go, Leaving cool clean air It has silver wings, high in the sky. that will make your heart fly, but the thing that I love most is what is inside. By Hannah Kerr Grade 6 By Mia Ondak Grade 5 By Heidi Martin Grade 5

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