norfolk academy lower school

2016

The mockingbird

Owen Speers, 2025

What is the Mockingbird?

The Mockingbird is the Lower School’s annual literary magazine for fiction and nonfiction. The pieces in this publication, all of which were completed forclassroom assignments, were selected through a collaborative evaluation process byteachers on each grade level. Every classroom is represented equally, and allteachers participated in the evaluation process. While students in the LowerSchool complete a wide array of writing assignments throughout the year, from book reports to science labs to research papers, The Mockingbird spotlightscreative writing, and it showcases artwork produced by students for art classassignments.

Dedication

The Mockingbird is dedicated to the memory of Robert S. Sergeant, who taught atNorfolk Academy from 1978 to 1999. Through his passionate belief in the power oflanguage, he inspired many young writers to embark on imaginative journeys. Heshowed each student how to find a personal writing voice and let it soar; throughhis own example, he helped students unleash their creative energy.

Mr. Sergeant explored the world through his own writing. He was intrigued by themockingbirds that he noticed throughout the campus, particularly in the Hofheimerand Hopkins Gardens. In one of his written reflections, he astutely observed themockingbird’s expressive nature: “The mockingbird is a bit mean-spirited—aggressive to other birds, but it does have artistic and creative genius. Maybegruffness is just part of a creative genius. The mockingbird celebrates languageand voices…”

With this publication, we recall the compassionate voice of a master teacher, andwe celebrate the emerging voices of our young writers.

Watermelon

Watermelon is the best fruit. When it hits your mouth, it is juicy and sweet. It is green on the outside and red on the inside. It has white and black seeds. You don’t want to eat the green part of a watermelon. I bet you will want more watermelon once you try it. It’s the best fruit in the world!

Sabrina Yee, 2nd Grade

My Favorite Fruit

My favorite fruit is a pear. I love this fruit because it is so sweet.Pears are juicy and soft. They taste like paradise. They come in many colors. My favorite pears are brown. They taste like apples, but they’re sweeter. Pears are so delicious. I could eat them every day!

Mollie Decker, 2nd Grade

Anne Burns Fiveash, 5th Grade

Zachary Stoney, 5th Grade

Banana Man

There once was a banana man Who ate banana from a can.

He relaxed in the sun And ate a ton.

Now he has a banana tan.

Jacob Ezieme, 4th Grade

5A Goes to Science

5th Grade’s really luckyTo have science 3 days a week.Mr. Carroll leads this chaos,And it’s actually quite unique!

As you enter the science room,There are faces on the wall.You see, our teacher’s kind of crazy.He’s our favorite goof-ball!

Libby was elbow deepIn a bucket full of bugs;Luke spilled the mealwormsRight onto the rug . . .

In October, we went on a tripTo count oysters in the bay.Natalie saw a bird And said, “That’s an osprey!”

Ashley Ure, 4th Grade

Sophie Pollio, 4th Grade

Mr. Carroll gave us seaweed--

Palmer wanted to give it a try,

Half the class gagged

And Anna and John started to cry!

Shelby sipped the goat’s milk

And tried the seaweed, too;

She thought they were quite tasty,

And asked for not one, but two!

Butler took the microscope

and threw it like a ball--

Davis made so much noise,

he was thrown out in the hall!

Sophie hurtled over the turtleIn the plastic wading pool;Ned started laughing and Acted like a fool.

In one tank there are blue crabsClimbing up the glass--Anne Burns thought it’d be funnyTo let them loose at last.

Lauren was feeding SandstormAnd dropped a worm in her haste;Sandstorm took advantageAnd gave her finger a taste!

Walter liked the fish pondAnd wanted to take a dip.Andrew went and got a strawAnd took a little sip!

Samuel is in the Ecology ClubAnd was chased by a snake;JJ was collecting specimensAnd was left at the lake!

Madison’s a helper, And she feeds Mr. Blue.Micah left the classroomAnd said, “That’s a mini-zoo!”

Hands-on-science is a lot of fun;We’ll be sad when the year is done!

5A Homeroom, 5th Grade

Bailey took her seatAnd declared, “It’s all wet!”Kaylee got all tangled upIn the seining net.

Charles Hope, 4th Grade

Jaden John, 4th Grade

Favorite Place

When books are openI come to

A land of magicDanger too

A land of fantasiesNever imagined

Where kings and queensLive in great big mansions

Where you see dragons Soaring the sky

Their fiery breathLeaving a smoky trail

Behind

Knights fighting trollsWith multiple heads

While rescuing princessesFrom a witch’s hands

Jousting tournamentsTo find one worthy

To take a fair princess’s Hand in marriage

Royal weddingsTaking place

Millions of guestsBringing gifts

Princes and princessesBeing bornWith gifts

Bestowed upon By tiny little fairies

My mother comes inTo tell me good night

So I sneakily readBy a flashlight’s light

Back to the place That I love so much

Where everything’s perfectAnd ends upJust right

Back to the placeThat feels like home

Back to myFavorite place

Sydney Vest, 5th GradeOlivia Reid, 3rd Grade

Will Burnette, 3rd Grade

Another World

When I open a bookI’m free to believe

in magical people and placesmy mind would never conceive.

I went on an adventurewith Huckleberry Finn.

I saw the struggles of ascarecrow, a lion, and a man made of tin.

I flew away to Neverlandwith a boy who never grew up.

There was once a dog named Shiloh,who was abused as a pup.

I run my fingers along the inkupon the page.

I’m hypnotized by the words.They trap me in a cage.

I feel like I’m in another worldwhen I read.

I let go of all my worries,My imagination has been freed.

Alexia Saman, 5th Grade

Galileo Galilei

ScientistMade telescopesExposed a world secretDiscovered Mars and round worldSpace studier

Dominic Villafranca, 3rd Grade

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil,Courageous, smart, helpfulWishes to make engineers study harderDreams about NeptuneWonders about MarsFears that a black hole swallowed a satelliteLikes scienceBelieves that there’s life in spaceLoves astrophysicsPlans to study spaceHe inspires everyone.

Oliver Scott, 2nd Grade

Critique of Cubism

An insult to tradition,a star without its place.

His paintings sure are crazyand I hate that square-like face.

His figures are unearthly.And the humans look grotesque.I find his paintings everywhere.

He thinks he’s just the best.

I still can’t seem to figure outthe mysteries that lie

beneath the weird and crazy shapesthat make me want to cry.

Like a science test gone wrong,it’s going up in flames!

He’s cuckoo as a cockatooand should be full of shame.

But in the end Picasso wins.His paintings are a hit!

Oh, pioneer of modern art,I hope you never quit!

Abby Fernandez, 6th Grade

Trapped

Into the freezing water I go, dragging the seine net behind me

I try to shake off the feeling from the icy, cold water but it’s almost too hard to bare

A few feet away, I see a tiny fleck of silver under the water

Splish splash, splish splashI’m sure it was just a bait fish’s scales

reflecting the sunlight

Splish splash, splish splashthe fish is drawing nearer

darting around my legs

Splish splash, splish splashI drive the net hard into the water,

picking up speed

Splish splash, splish splashI drag the net onto the beach

to find that the fish is not just a little minnow

Trapped, the oyster toad fishwiggles vigorously in the net

Carefully, I help the determined fish get back into the water,

and watch his mighty escape

Rebecca Schill, 5th Grade

Gretchen Scott, 4th Grade

Reagan Bandy, 4th Grade

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Famous African American speaker, He wishes to unite African Americans with whitesHe dreams of little black and white boys and girls playing together.He wonders if blacks will get their rights. He fears blacks will never get their independence.He likes to see people coming to his speeches.He believes in justice. Julia Dodd, 2nd Grade

Rosa Parks

Rosa sat in the first row of the bus.She did not move.She went to jail.They printed her finger prints.Rosa started a boycott.Everyone joined her.All the buses drove down the street Empty.Yay! Now everyone can sitWherever they want.Rosa you’re the best bus hero ever! Leah Carn, 2nd Grade

Ralph Abernathy

RalphLoyal, friendly, seriousWished for blacks to be treated the sameDreamt of helping othersWondered about the right to voteFeared losing equality completelyLiked freedomBelieved in integrationLoved MLKPlanned to make speechesRalph was a civil rights leader.

Aarush Desai, 2nd Grade

Pony Express Haiku

Orphans ride horses Delivering mail out west Risking death daily

Miles McKenzie, 2nd Grade

Grains of Resistance

I am Gandhi, Great Soul, leader of the Salt March.

The sound of the dirt beneath our feet,a slow and steady crunching.

The heat of the sun beating down on the world,like a sweltering volcano about to blow.

But I will not give in,I will not fall to temptation,

or languish in defeat.

I walk and walk and walk 24 days

I walk.

My brothers and sisters

do not falter yet,for we are almost there.

We are weary birdsat the end of our migration.

We reach the beaches of Dandias hot as the ocean is cool.

A breeze refreshes our spirits,as we begin the task we set out to do.

I reach down and scoop up a handful of sand,brimming with tiny, precious grains of salt.

I pocket the salt,a simple effort,

and instantly break the law,the Salt Act.

It feels good.

Sarah Jacobs, 6th Grade

The Portal

When I open a book, I’m teleported to a new world.

A castle,A ship,

A planet,A city.

I enter the castle,the ship,

the planet,the city,

and dine on the words it provides me..

Then, at last it gives me my last meal, About the Author and then, the world is destroyed,and demolished,

and ruined,and wiped out.

I return to reality’s boring world.

My brain now snaps,and cracks,and breaks,

and is sliced in half.

Until I discover a new castle,a new ship,

a new planet,a new city,

and a new adventure that will immediately begin.

Henry Patch, 5th Grade

Dark Stone Castle

A book whisks me to another worldFull of new faces and thingsThere is a dark stone castleI follow a path to a garden

Rosemary and herbs overwhelm meOne huge sniff makes me dizzyRabbits prance gracefully on the bushesIvy growing on the terracotta pots

A delicious smell wafts from the castleInside, huge platters of turkey And chicken are shownGold goblets and plates displayed on shelvesServants pouring glasses of wine

A tunnel leading upstairsMoss creeping along the wallsTwo rooms appear immediatelyI enter a roomTen pairs of braceletsHanging on metal hooksA canopy bed next to the windowPerfume surrounds the air

Another room that is quite smallHas silver spears and swordsThis place smells like dustA dirt ground which is hardAll too quickly, the rooms disappearMy head is spinning like a bottle capMy eyes turn into a blur…

A book is on my lap

Shunmei Zheng, 5th Grade

Catherine Grégoire, 6th Grade

Cooper Reed, 6th Grade

My science tree house is full of surprises! My tree house is located in my backyard in a big oak tree. It is a square-shaped tree house that has white wooden boards. To enter, you could climb up a ladder, and to exit, you would go down a slide. It has a flat roof and small windows for natural light. If you go inside, you will see many books! You might see my stash of chemicals, and near those, my microscope. I have a desk, and on it will be a pair of goggles. Near the desk, on the wall, is a hook that holds my lab coat.

Terrific Scientific Tree House

On one of the walls, you would see a medium white board for me to write on. Also, on my desk, there are pencils, pens, and pieces of paper. In the tree house, I would love to read books, write, mix chemicals, and look at different pieces of nature through my microscope.

I would sometimes let my brother, David, come in the tree house and play games with him. I would use my tree house mostly in the summer, but I would like to use it frequently in other seasons, too. My science tree house would be a special place for me to enjoy nature and science!

Natalie Martin, 3rd GradeJasmine LeClair, 6th Grade

Madalyn Mejia, 6th Grade

Super Special Tree House

A tree house I would like to have would include some of my favorite things. I would build it in a big tree with sturdy branches in my backyard. My tree house would have a window with white shutters that you could close and latch. The outside would be painted light blue, and there would also be a white door. I would like to have smooth wood to build with. The inside will have a lot of the color purple! There might be a purple rug and some purple pillows. I would want white shelves and a white desk. On the shelves, I would have my books, awards, and drawing paper.

I would read, write, and eat snacks in my tree house. I will enjoy my tree house in spring, summer, and fall, but mostly in the summer. In winter, I will make sure that the windows are covered well and that if there is a snow storm, it won’t fall off the tree. My sister and my friends would be welcome inside the tree house with me, but I would have a no boys policy. That’s the kind of super, special tree house I’d want!

Rachel Cole, 3rd Grade

Emma Clark, 6th Grade

Brooke Snyder, 6th Grade

October

October weather! Put your jacket on.Leaves on the trees are gone.Pick the apple from the treeAs juicy as can be.A woodpecker gets the worm.

Jack Clayton, 4th Grade

I Know It’s Fall!

When I … Taste soup Smell hot chocolate Hear leaves See leaves falling Feel my leather coat

Cam Simmons, 1st Grade

David Salter, 3rd Grade

Addy Hennessy, 3rd Grade

Jill Stewart, 3rd Grade

If I Were a Turkey on Thanksgiving

If I were a turkey on Thanksgiving, I would tell everyone to eat pizza. I would invite my turkey friends for Thanksgiving dinner. I would fight for my life from people trying to eat me! What would you do if you were a turkey?

River Dorroh, 1st Grade

Reading Adventure

One day my laptop ran out of power,

And I decided to read for an hour.

So I read a book about a crook

And a riddle about a cat and a fiddle.

Then I flipped to a page

to a story about a bird escaping its cage

and was never to come home.

Next to a story of Ancient Rome

and to another about a garden gnome.

In the next book, dinosaurs were the main feature

I then read about prehistoric underwater creatures.

Palmer, why are you reading? You have not done

one chore.

So I washed the dishes

And then read some more.

My mom came into my room

Her news filled me with gloom:

Palmer, it’s past one,

Go to bed, Hon.

And after much protest

I went to rest,

Thinking about what I would read tomorrow.

Palmer Oliver, 5th Grade

Eutrophication(The Ugly E Word)

That ugly E wordis a very terrible thing,

It can affect marine lifein one little ring.

By bringing nutrients into the bayletting phytoplankton grow,making them multiply rapidly

so fast that you’ll never know!

This creates an algae bloom out of phytoplankton that can die,

Then the bacteria can eat them slowlyas if its price were high.

The bacteria uses dissolved oxygenthat all marine life needs,

if they don’t have itit will be hard for them to succeed.

This is why Eutrophication is terribleand so completely absurd,

So we must stop the haunting

of the ugly E word.

Lucas Knapp, 5th Grade

Ode to a Rotten Pumpkin

Oh, rotten pumpkin!Your glory days are

Sadly over.Your glow gone,You rest there,

Your orange hue blockedBy the black, revoltingMold that inhabits you.

Your once strong structureSlowly caves in.

Oh!How I remember

Your lightShining bright onHalloween night.

Here you sitYour sweet flesh

There for the taking ofsmall animals like

Mice and squirrels.Your fire is outyet it still burnsIn my memories

Of you.Your picking,Your carving,

And your night to shineOh, rotten pumpkin!

Micah Baum, 5th Grade

Terror

Zombies running on the stairs,

Puny skeletons climbing the walls,

Sprinting vampires coming round the corner,

Spiders crawling all over me.

I want to run, but I can’t!

Now I’m awake and know these aren’t real

CREEPY!

Zachary Harbison, 4th Grade

Sharp Swords

Alligator’s teeth

are as sharp as swords

as smooth

as a ray of sunshine

stealthily lurking

through the night

nearer and nearer

SPLASH!

The alligators dine

on a delightful dinner

Chomp, Chomp, Chomp

Jack Poynter, 3rd Grade

Chinese New Year

Drumming super loud,

The fireworks are perfect.

Dragon is scary.

Kameron Saman, 2nd Grade

Blue Seas

Voyaging across the ocean

Escaping from enemies

Sailing and shifting direction

Rescuing sinking rafts

Dock the boat.

Nathan Rafal, 3rd Grade

Guernica

Guernica was an anti-war painting made in response to the

bombing of Guernica, a town in northern Spain,

in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.

Picasso picks up the paintbrush,Lengthy and wooden.

Anger and frustration flow over his creativity like rain.

He bathes the paintbrush in blue paint.Blue like the sky on those summer evenings you never forgot.

Ideas smolder.

The paintbrush is a boat on a sea storm of white.It dances on the colossal canvas.

Sunlight smacks his face from the window.

He is done.

He looks back at his masterpiece.Jagged lines and screams fill the painting.The image, like wine on a carpet,Impossible to get out.All is silent now.

Annabelle Flisk, 6th Grade

A White Wonderland

As I woke up on a Wednesday morning, I got dressed and went to the bathroom to brush my hair. I checked the time. Oh no – it was 9:40! My alarm clock must not have been set the night before! I went into my parents’ room to wake them up. As I tip-toed in and touched my father’s back, he awoke and told me to go back to my room and look out my window. I walked quietly to my room, afraid I would wake up my sisters. I pulled the shades up. Wow! It was a winter wonderland! The trees were covered perfectly with white soft snow. It was a glorious sight with no footprints yet in the snow. I ran to Meredith’s room and yelled, “Look out your window!” She slowly got out of bed, and as she looked out her window, her eyes started to glimmer. I knew this was going to be a snow day!

Leah Avery, 4th Grade

A Christmas Tradition

Every year, my paternal grandmother takes my brother and me Christmas shopping for our parents. This year, we went to about three different stores. My parents don’t write a list; they mention a few things they might want. While I was shopping, I snuck a few gifts for my brother in my cart, too. I bought him a StormTrooper ornament, a Star-Wars t-shirt, and a Star-Wars wallet. After we were both finished shopping, Mimi took us to her condo so we could wrap our gifts. On Christmas Eve, Connor and I each chose one gift to give to each of our parents. On Christmas morning, our parents opened the rest of their gifts. They loved them! Guess what? My brother bought me gifts, as well. He was very thoughtful. His gifts were an original Beanie Boo named Brownie, and an Emoji key chain. This is an activity that we have turned into a tradition that I think will last a very long time.

Taylor Purcell, 3rd Grade

Skis

Snow, PolesGliding, Quickly, SkiingPowder, Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate, FireplaceSnowing, Falling, LandingAwesome, FunPow-Pow

Lucy Avery, 4th Grade

Snow

Cold, SoftSledding, Freezing, JumpingSnow cream, Snowflakes, Reindeer, SantaWrapping, Decorating, OpeningPretty, MysteryPresent

Logan Simon, 4th Grade

Gerald Thomas, 5th Grade

Cameron Jordan, 5th Grade

Winter

Snowy, Chilly

Tobogganing, Snuggling, Snowman, Building

Blizzards, Ice Crystals, Waterfront, Sandcastles

Strawberry picking, Snow cone eating, Cruising

Golden, Shimmering

Summer

Areen Syed, 4th Grade

Olivia Levy, 5th Grade

Best Gift

The best gift I ever received was my family. God gave it to me. My gift is special because I love Owen, and Emmett, Mommy, and Daddy.

Anja Speers, 1st Grade

Honest

The truth is like a waterfallcrashing into a riverfor everyoneto hear,the words fallfrom your mouthletting someoneknow what’s on your mind.

Silver Lerner, 3rd Grade

Best Gift

My favorite gift is my brother. God gave him to my mom. This gift is spe-cial to me because I love him. I like to play with my brother, David.

Wyatt Salter, 1st Grade

William Chung, 1st Grade

Emma Paige Yuill, 1st Grade

Mom

Sweet, kind, amazing

Wishes for a good life

Dreams of when I was a baby

Wonders what she’ll do in the future

Fears me growing up

Likes a clean house

Believes in Santa

Loves me

Plans to always help my family

My mom is the best!

Emerson Kay, 2nd Grade

A Favorite Person

My dad is special to me and my

family. I love spending time with him

during the holiday break. When Dad was

home, we played a matching game. My

family celebrated his birthday, too. My

mom made his cake from scratch. My dad

made a dreamboard with us. Our dream

board had four blocks, one for each of the

four children in our family. We wrote our

dreams for the future and illustrated our

ideas. My dream is to learn how to cook.

Dad makes delicious pancakes when he is

home. Dad is a very important person in my

life!

Olivia Crocker, 3rd Grade

Julia Stewart, 1st Grade

Julian Albrecht, 1st Grade

5B Has a Sub Today

It was a cold day in January.Mrs. Beattie was out with the flu.The sub list was depleted,but 5B knew what to do . . .

Henry was appointed to act as the sub. 5B promised to listen to himand not cause a hubbub. . .

Matt lost his binder,And his excuses were galore.Tori forgot to studyand didn’t care, furthermore.

Chris snuck into the closetand copied the homework key.Riley went on a cruiseAnd lost her homework at sea!

David got some Sharpiesand drew all over the board.Olivia Mc. got out her cell phoneand started to record.

Cole started a rebellionand made a great din;while Rebecca climbed the lockersto inspect the snakeskin!

Delaney lost her English;she swore it had been stolen.Rylan’s Iron Thunder bookWas left in northern Poland.

Wynne Elser, 6th Grade

Ben Roberts, 6th Grade

James used the Wite-Outto paint his desk chair.Maddy played beauty parlorand braided two girls’ hair.

John chewed up some paperand made a huge spitball.Olivia P. took the computer cartand rode it down the hall.

Vignesh went into the closetand ate the lollipops.Gabby opened her ChromebookAnd started to online shop!

Harrison got a rocketAnd shot it through the roof.Kate bit an apple,And then she lost a tooth.

Audrey kicked the teacher,and Olivia Mize yelled, “ENOUGH!I can’t stand the mayhem.We gotta stop all this stuff!”

The office called Mrs. Beattie,who was enjoying her afternoon tea.She said, ”Oh, don’t worry -That’s a normal day in 5B!”

5B Homeroom, 5th Grade

Jill Ghormley, 6th Grade

Lily Mersel, 6th Grade

You Won’t Find Me

You won’t find me in my room

You won’t find me at the door.

You won’t find me with a broom

Busily sweeping up the floor.

You won’t find me in the yard

or in the kitchen either.

You won’t find me playing cards

or a hard brain teaser.

You won’t find me on my phone

texting all day long.

I’m not eating an ice cream cone

or playing a game of ping pong.

You won’t find me on a mountain

you won’t find me underground

Nor drinking from a water fountain

or hanging out in the dog pound.

You won’t find me in Nebraska

Delaware or Kentucky.

You won’t find me in Virginia

Illinois or Hawaii.

You won’t find me in the car

traveling from close to far.

I’m not at school or at the pool

or at the mirror looking cool.

So where am I?

You do not know?

I guess you really should just go…

Go over to the couch and look

I’m simply reading a really good book.

Kristin Houston, 5th Grade

Libby Pierce, 5th Grade

Owen Johnson, 5th Grade

My Pen, My Paper, My Words

A memorial to Langston Hughes

My pen, my paper, my words.My trio of efficacy,

My bundle of important valuables,The tools by which I shall write.

My pen,A dagger, a healer, an enforcer.

I can write anything; I can ameliorate the world.

My paper,The receiver of my thoughts.

Although its supply may run out,My freedom is like an endless sea.

My words,They come instantly to my mind

Like a stereotype that automatically triggers.Then, the words string together.

An indelible line of literature: Sing,

Sing, Sing,

My pen, my paper, my words,My trio, the sum of my career.The tools by which I will write.That is literature. That is me.

William Bland, 6th Grade

More than Swimming

Community Essay Excerpt

The paintballs whizzed past me, hitting the fake car I was hiding behind with a thud, painting it green, yellow, and red. Most of my teammates, and some coaches, from Old Dominion Aquatic Club have come here to play a game of paintball and take a break from swimming. I grip the trigger and handle tighter and aim the gun at Coach Craig, the shooter. As people splattered with paint pass, walking out of the arena, they are asked if their orange body parts hurt. I nearly gasp at the proximity of the paintballs that ruffle my clothes with a speed that seems like that of a real bullet. I giggle as I watch the coach I was shooting at clutch his orange-stained shoulder. My breathing gets louder as time goes by. The noise from Coach Kirkman, the parents, and of the players already out roars out like a lion. I look all around Bethel Battlefield and sprint from one object to another, hiding behind the fence; a tall, black cylinder; and, finally, a spare piece of wood for cover. The midmorning sun’s heat is burning now, causing me to regret the sweatshirt I am wearing. Everyone reeks of sweat and dirt, and I try to plug my nose. The fierce attacks continue until a referee announces the end of the game. . .

All of the virtues I have learned from being a member of Old Dominion Aquatic Club are everything you need to be successful in life. Time management, grit, and only accepting the best from myself—all traits I learned from participating on ODAC—will be very useful to me in years to come. The amount of time the practices take up prepares you for later in life when homework consumes hours of your day; it helps you to learn how to work in a distracting environment. I have learned to work with loud noises all around me, which will prepare me for college, and anytime uncertainty surrounds your future study are or time. The coaches, especially Coach Craig, teach you discipline and respect. They train you to be silent when others are talking, and to take heed of all instructions. Most importantly of all, Old Dominion Aquatic Club teaches you the importance of surrounding yourself with friends you know, respect, and trust. Old Dominion Aquatic Club teaches you that you can overcome any adversity.

Toria Kauffman, 6th Grade

The Academy of Music

Community Essay Excerpt

There I was on a regular Thursday, heading to Suzuki group practice in an ancient

white church, smelling of carpet and aged wood. I climbed the steep stairs to the third

level and walked down the hallway to the paint-smelling room that we practice in. As I

set my black violin case down and begin to unzip it, it hits me. I forgot my music! Now,

to understand the full seriousness of this, you must see that we were still sight reading

the music; we had not even begun to memorize it. To forget your music meant to stumble

along blindly in the complicated melody for forty-five minutes! The experience, full

of embarrassment and shame, is not an enjoyable one. So I trudge over to the other

students, awaiting my doom, when my friend Sadie sees that I am missing my music. She

approaches me and asks, “Do you want to share my music?” I agree happily, realizing that

now I do not have to be humiliated for blundering through the songs. It all ended up very

well, with the members of my community proving they are glad to step in, if need be, and

help out a friend.

Suzuki, my violin community, teaches violin to children of all ages, from the

youngest toddler, just able to comprehend it all and hold a violin, to the senior in college.

It was created by Shinichi Suzuki when he was inspired to create a program so children

could develop the beautiful skill of violin playing. He believed that if children hear fine

music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they will develop a wonderful mind

and heart. Suzuki’s program runs from books 1-10, starting out with basic twinkle rhythms

and ending in complicated concertos and sonatas. To participate in Suzuki, you must, of

course, pay a fee, have the proper books, own a violin that is the correct size, and exude

a willingness to learn. I started Suzuki when I was very young (I was about to turn four!)

because my mother wanted me to have a skill that would help me my entire life. When I

started, I hated it. I couldn’t wait till I was eighteen, because that was when my mother

said I could quit. But now I’ve gotten much better, and I wouldn’t dream of ever quitting!

Ella Anderson, 6th Grade

A Nod for the Great Gorbachev

With the great age and time I’ve lived,

the great Gorbachev had brought us a gift.

His smile like a shining sun,

and with his astute brain good changes had begun.

He worked with Reagan,

to stop the Cold War,

so the two nations would not fight anymore.

They quarreled, fought, and bickered some more,

until they became friends and put an end to the war.

He acquired his goal with frightening ease,

and calmed the people that he pleased.

He broke the Soviet nations out of jail,

Stalin’s plan became a total fail.

Gorbachev helped the Soviet people reach their goal,

the Soviets gave Gorbachev their heart and soul.

He let the scared, trapped citizens out,

and now he lives in Russia with happiness throughout,

they gave Gorbachev a great big nod

as they make their exit for the life they want.

And I among them give Gorbachev a nod,

for I would not be in my sod.

My parents have come from the USSR,

and in our hearts he is a great star.

It is true that he is industrious,

but he is also very illustrious.

But in the end I must say,

the great Gorbachev has earned his way,

and though Gorbachev may not be honored as a god,

I give the great Gorbachev a

Great

Big

Nod.

Valerie Spektor, 6th Grade

First Job

I rushed down the familiar passthat I always took to get to town center,

but this time was different.

This time I wasn’t skipping rocks across the lakeor taking in the awe-inspiring sights,

No, this time I was in hasteand my heart was pounding like a drum.

Today was either my great triumphor my fantastic downfall.

Only I could choose which it would be.

This interview was my chance to become a real business man,someone who could change the lives of everyone around him.

I have attained the sweet blessing of dedicationthrough years of hard work.

I am an old mule,and after years of pulling two tons on my back

I can now see the farmer,waiting to remove the heavy pack

from my shouldersand set me free.

When I reached the first step to thecounting house I inhaled, exhaled,

and knocked on the door.

“Come in Mr. Rockefeller.”I stepped in the door,I was ready for this,

I was ready to becomeJohn Davison Rockefeller,

bookkeeper for Hewitt and Tuttle Counting House.

Avery Britt, 6th Grade

Conclave

I came to the Vatican with the other cardinals,after the 34 days the old pope reign,

but the stress of the Conclave processdrove us insane.

A group of cardinals wanted a non-Italian pope,

Me, I was Polish!But all I could do was hope.The people thought I was worthy,

after all I was on the cardinal’s top ten.

They liked my beliefs like women shouldn’t be priests, only men.

Most of the cardinals gave me their vote, and on August 25, 1978,

I became pope!Then off to St. Peter’s where we would then celebrate

I felt like a movie starwho had just made it to New York,

but I was tornbecause there in the road, there seemed to be a fork

I couldn’t leave my hometown, WadowiceIt was a priceless ruby to me,

but I had to acceptbecause the pope is what people yearned for me to be

I accepted the job,it was very monumental to me.

I really aspired though,

to make an impact on Catholic society.

Julianne Hood, 6th Grade

Just a Deck of Cards

Harry Houdini was a famous magician who is still well known today. As a kid, his deck of cards inspired him to pursue his career in magic.

Just 52 pieces of paper,

Old, Wrinkled, Tattered.

But never lost.(Harry couldn’t bear to lose me.)

I consist of numbers.Numbers and spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds.Only ten cents at the local convenience store.But it’s not what I am that’s pressing.

It’s what I represent.

I am the oak fireplace on a snowy day. I am the corner brick on that house on the hill.I am the rusted key to the door of his dreams.

I still remember his rotund fingers, smearing my ink.

But, I don’t represent the moon and all its craters,The Amazonian jungles and all their life,And I’m certainly not the ocean at the end of the stream.

I represent a little boy’s hopes and dreams.A little boy who became something with Just a deck of cards.

Reed Ramirez, 6th Grade

Just a Deck of Cards

Harry Houdini was a famous magician who is still well known today. As a kid, his deck of cards inspired him to pursue his career in magic.

Just 52 pieces of paper,

Old, Wrinkled, Tattered.

But never lost.(Harry couldn’t bear to lose me.)

I consist of numbers.Numbers and spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds.Only ten cents at the local convenience store.But it’s not what I am that’s pressing.

It’s what I represent.

I am the oak fireplace on a snowy day. I am the corner brick on that house on the hill.I am the rusted key to the door of his dreams.

I still remember his rotund fingers, smearing my ink.

But, I don’t represent the moon and all its craters,The Amazonian jungles and all their life,And I’m certainly not the ocean at the end of the stream.

I represent a little boy’s hopes and dreams.A little boy who became something with Just a deck of cards.

Reed Ramirez, 6th Grade

My Husband Has No Heart

Ansel Adams was a 20th century American photographer. Because his work often kept him away from home, his wife, Virginia Best, almost divorced him.

And now, this.

I want to be done with the cooking,The cleaning, the shopping.I’m done caring for our children alone,And running dad’s emporium on my own.

And this whole time, you were at work, work, work.

With a heart caked with steel,Your love has no direction.Like a hungry tiger,All you crave is your hunt. Like a killer bee,All you want is toil.

So, Ansel dear,Dare I call you honey?My answer is,Quit worrying about money.

Melia DiGeronimo, 6th Grade

The Life of a Sand Grain

My life…on the ground, all day, everyday.

I watch the sun and the sky and the ocean

as they surround me and beam down brightly.

I hear the waves pound

so calming and peaceful,

yet do we know what lurks behind the wave?

What if I am taken to the deepest depths

of the ocean?

The smells of

ocean salts beset me.

Maybe something will happen to me,

or maybe I’ll just stay here,

on the beach…

So much life here,

I wish I could stay,

but slowly

the wind blows me away.

Hopefully I’ll come back…

Someday…

Tara Tavakoli, 5th Grade

Perfection Takes Time

I stare out of the moonlitwindow.

The sky’s bright eyes look downupon me.

The puzzle pieces of my inventiondon’t connect.

My frustration gets the best of me.I yell at Woz,

like a parent reprimanding a child.

The clock ticks.Tick, tick, tick

I stumble,bemused,

as the clock hands move in circles.The hands of the clock move my body

slowly,like a puppeteer waving a puppet.

Whoosh, whoosh, whooshWoz sees me twirling to the clock hands.

My eyes become heavy,as if a weight is forcing my eyelids to shut.

The world darkens.

I wake up to a jolt. Woz shakes me

awake.The last piece was

finally in.

Time after time after timeof failures and mistakes.

I cry,elated.

The iPod was created.

Emerson Land, 6th Grade

Dear Malala

Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner, is a 21st century women’s rights activist from Pakistan.

In my world, I have seen skies brighter

than a finch’s wing

but none as bright as your eyes.

I have seen pearls as pure as moonlight

but none as pure as your skin.

I have seen armies as proud as 1,000 lions

but none as proud as me to call you my daughter.

You, my wonderful child,are my first breath at daybreak

and my last at day fall.You are my sun and stars,

my bread and water.

You are my jeweled pendantand the burning coals

that keep me consciousYou, my brilliant daughter,will go incredible places.

You will daydream to your heart’s content.You will create miraculous objects, and

you will learn all of what life has to offer you.

You will break rulesand you will help others.

You willfall down

and grieve.

You will be fearless

and pick yourself up.

You will cry

and you will laugh.

You will be who you want to be.

You, my sweet little Malala,will change this

world.

Eliza Blythe, 6th Grade

I am not here. I am there.

words

cover the page,

reading so smoothly,

like water flowing through a brook,

as the rough black print

goes through the mind,

it transforms into a

silky dream, an amazing adventure,

a

miracle.

I can open

a book,

and then,

I am not here.

I am there, in a ship going through a storm,

I am there, exploring the jungle,

there, saving the day,

escaping here,

the world that

haunts me.

So when I

open a book,

I

am

free.

Harrison Brown, 5th Grade

The Fallen Leader

I walk toward the throng of mourners

Past columns and columns all draped with black.

They wait silent as hawks searching for mice on the field below.

Crack!

Crack!

The gunfire sounds.

It seems as if nature is dolorous, too.

The birds sing woefully in their nests.

The clouds are as dark as death,

The trees towering like skyscrapers above.

All come to pay their respects, seated row after row.

Old men, young women, naïve children—they all come.

People everywhere will remember him as

Funny and Humorous,

Caring and Thoughtful,

Intelligent and Brilliant.

But above all, as a leader.

The great Dwight D. Eisenhower

fallen.

Gone, yet not gone.

Canby Traywick, 6th Grade

The Hassle on Thanksgiving

It was Thanksgiving ‘morn, and I had been awake since dawn

preparing the gigantic Thanksgiving meal with my whole family. I

was sneakily pretending to be helping make dough for the apple

pie, but slyly feeding our cat, Gracie, a juicy, blood-red cranberry.

Aunt Theresa was rolling the dough for the pie, forehead wet

with perspiration. Mama was taking the suspiciously raw turkey

out of the oven, making sure not to burn her hands. Little Rachel

and Zach, in highchairs, were wailing in the corner so loudly,

that our dog, Lucy, started to bark and howl. Nicholas was lazily

leaning in the doorway with a dirty, little smirk on his face, proud

that he had made brown footprints on the now dirty tiled floor.

Jacqueline was taking the gleaming china off the bleach-colored

racks while scowling at Nicholas. Practical Aunty Kathy was

coming in the doorway with a huge basketful of flowers for, who

knows what! Bowen was setting the polished brown table with a

lace tablecloth and napkins, china plates, “R” engraved silverware,

and a simple centerpiece my grandmother had put together. Then

Dad came in the room taking off his baseball cap and long winter

coat, shivering from the cold. He had been really needing to

rake the leaves when he escaped outside. Sometimes my family

is so hard to handle, but when we are working together, we are

inseparable! Happy Thanksgiving!

Kate Rose, 4th Grade

Chocolate

Quiet, brownEating it is heavenly,Smooth like a blanket--If only it was unlimited!

Adaline Scott, 2nd Grade

Brown

Brown is one of my favorite colors Brown is like a warm hug Brown tastes like a cupcake Brown smells like brown sugar Brown sounds like muddy water running Brown feels like wet sand Brown looks like a deer in the forest Brown is very beautiful

Jackson Harris, 2nd Grade

I Know It’s Fall!

When I . . .

Taste hot chocolate

Smell food

Hear the birds flying

See the leaves

Feel the air

Nathaniel Temple, 1st Grade

Sofia Griffey, 2nd Grade

Chloe Levy, 2nd Grade

Gunnar Zimmerman, 2nd Grade

Pet Show-and-Tell Day in 5D

Mrs. Walker made an announcement,

tomorrow would be the big day.

Pet show-and-tell time in 5D

We all shouted, hip-hip hooray!

Saoirse brought her famous race horse,

who ran quickly into the bookcase.

An Arctic penguin came in with Lucas,

who slapped everyone right in the face.

Owen brought his parakeets,

around the teacher’s head they flew.

While Jack showed his panther,

upon Mrs. Walker’s breakfast it did chew.

A honey badger accompanied David,

and repeatedly snarled at the class.

Matthew’s spotted cheetah

jumped right through the glass!

Brianna’s tiger made a loud roar,

which echoed through the halls.

Connor’s six-foot snake

slithered right up the walls.

Mitchell brought his guinea pigs,

who were dressed like Hansel and Gretel.

Antonia displayed her pink giraffe

with its prize-winning gold medal.

James Benedetto, 5th Grade

Brennan Stacy, 5th Grade

Julia, Catherine and Zachary

brought their opera singing baboons,

which serenaded the class

with their high-pitched, off-key tunes.

Taran’s crazy llama

dumped out the waste cans with a crash.

While Emmett’s hungry pet goat

feasted upon the trash.

The room was all abuzz and aflutter,

animals scurrying in a state of peril!

When suddenly Mrs. Walker shouted,

“Help! Someone please get Mr. Carroll!”

5D Homeroom, 5th Grade

Kristin brought a snapping turtle,

who chewed the carpet right off the floor.

Chloe’s 500 pound lion

got his rear stuck in the door!

Childers carried in a mallard duck,

which had an annoying quack.

Alexia’s energetic kangaroo

kicked the computer screen and made it crack.

Jen brought in a chicken,

which pecked at everyone’s feet.

Angelina rode in on her cow,

while handing classmates an ice cream treat.

Jen Yuan, 5th Grade

Jane Stewart, 5th Grade

My First Thanksgiving

From the Point of View of a Cat

That troublesome cranberry! My

human, Lucy, was dangling a juicy

red cranberry for me, Cotton, to

eat. Before I get revenge on that

exasperating cranberry though, let me

show you around this crowded kitchen.

Lucy’s Aunt Jane was scurrying back

from the flower garden where she had

just gathered the centerpiece, full of

daisies and roses. Yum! Her thick,

brown hair was bundled up on the back

of her head to be out of her way.

Buddy, Lucy’s dog and my best friend,

was sprawled on the floor, his mouth

watering for the scrumptious turkey.

It’s just not fair that those humans get

all the delicious food, and we pets only

get practically non-edible food.

Anyway, Aunt Elizabeth was plump and

fair, rolling the dough out for the apple

pie. On the table where she was working,

there was a bag of flour and an extra

rolling pin. Lucy’s favorite aunt, Susan,

was gently getting the fancy plates out

of the china cupboard, ready to set

the big table in the dining room. Aunt

Genevieve was adjusting her hat, escaping

work that the rest of the humans had

to do. Edward, Lucy’s cousin and enemy,

was resting against the doorway with a

sneaky smile on his ruthless face and a

mischievous look in his eyes.

Emily Salib, 2nd Grade

Maia Kim, 2nd Grade

The twins, Lillian and Benjamin, were

wailing. I would bet all of my nine kitty

lives that Edward teased them and

made them cry like that.

Now that you know what the kitchen

looks like, back to the cranberry. One,

two, three, JUMP!!! I jumped so high

that I knocked that cranberry right

out of Lucy’s hand! Now it was rolling

along the floor, and I darted after it.

Running around the table is hard work

though, and I accidentally ran into one

of Aunt Elizabeth’s chubby legs. I

scared her so much she screamed and

flung the rolling pin behind her, hitting the china cupboard where Aunt Susan was getting the silverware out, inches away from her face. Susan screamed, and

louder than Aunt Elizabeth, at that! Aunt

Susan stepped back, running into Aunt

Jane, who dropped the centerpiece and

flowers. When Mama turned around to see

what all the commotion was about, she

dropped the turkey, which Buddy started

to gobble up. Edward was rolling on the

floor, laughing. What about me, you ask?

Well, I jumped up on a chair to eat that

troublesome cranberry!

Ashley Ure, 4th GradeCooper Stuart, 2nd Grade

Caroline Willis, 2nd Grade

What Is Love?

Love makes me think about my family and friends and people that died in war. Love makes me care about people. Love makes me feel happy and sometimes sad. Love makes me think about my country. I love NA. I love everything.

Carter McGhee, 1st Grade

Traveling

Traveling, longShopping, eating, snacking

Airports, lounges, departures, arrivalsTiring, moving, busy

Hard, difficultMoving

Alex Lawson, 2nd Grade

Roller Coaster

The exciting roller coaster Towers over everything,Gigantic drops and loops

Create a thrilling sensation.Your stomach jumps wildly in an adrenaline rush

The sensational thrill of speed!

Cooper Tyszko, 4th Grade

Brody Stuart, 2nd Grade

Kassidy Sanders, 2nd Grade

Vivi Deans, 2nd Grade

The Nicest Thing a Friend Has Ever Done for Me

The nicest thing a friend has ever done for me was done by my

friend, Carrie. When I was new at Norfolk Academy in second

grade, Carrie was the first girl who warmed up to me and made

me feel welcomed. She really instilled the bulldog spirit in me!

Throughout the three years we have known each other, she has

stuck by me. Together we have had memorable experiences, such

as going to Busch Gardens and packing food for the hungry. I will

never forget those moments. Carrie has encouraged me when I

wanted to give up and quit, especially running the mile in PE! To me, a

friend is someone who is there for you to comfort you and won’t let

go. A true friend will help you, but never bully you. I am happy to

have a friend like Carrie, because she shows what a true friend can

be.

Rachael Buchanan, 4th Grade

Life

Life has many things to come.

Life has offered us surprises, miracles, and friends.

Even though life can be rough and hard,

We all can accomplish these things together.

So be enthusiastic about the things that come in your life.

Always be your best no matter what.

Andrew Kim, 4th Grade

Grassland Telescope

The giraffe’s neckmakes it lookas tall as the Empire State Building.It surveysthe splendid savannahobserving and keeping a close eyeon it’s luxurious land oflazy lions,happy hippos,bustling birds,and zooming zebras.

Katie Sigrist, 3rd Grade

The Little Duck That Ate a Seagull

There was once a little duck, That wanted to eat an eagle. He went onto a big truck And accidentally ate a seagull. Later on when he got home, He went into the house looking crazy. The mother said, “You look like a gnome. You’ll never look like my lil’ baby.” The duck went out, worried and sad. He said, “I shouldn’t have had the greed. I should’ve not done what is bad. I wish I had never done the deed.”

Jayden Moore, 4th Grade

If I Were a Penguin

If I were a penguin, my size would be petite. I would start my day with 7- Eleven Slurpees and Cocoa Puffs. For lunch I have macaroni and cheese. At dinner time I dine on pasta. I wear a black sparkly gown with a pink bow on my waist. In my hair I wear a black bow to match my gown. I am married to a man named Philip. Philip and I have three babies. Their names are Icy, Fluff, and Slide. My family and I are emperor penguins. My family and I live in a sparkling blue igloo. My job is to take care of my babies, and my husband is a doctor. To get exercise we stretch.

Lily Mason-Breit, 1st Grade

Ambush

Sneakily and silentlyA vampire bat stalksIts prey Patiently waitingFor the right momentTick-tock Tick -tockIt hoversAbove the drowsy horseThat it can now callIts prey

Ray Wang, 3rd Grade

The Sox-Stealing Fox Once there was a fox Who loved to steal sox He’d leave a trail to the Holy Grail Then you remember he stole your Crocs. He sneaks into your room And breaks all your blocks He pulls on your nose And tickles your toes And gives you chicken pox. He mocks your dad And lives in a box You hear a scream and Remember it was only your sister’s dream.

Seamus Buchanan Roberson, 4th Grade

Lunchtime

A ray Hides inThe sandAs quiet asThe early morningAirWaitingTo pounceOn its preyAlong came aSchool ofNaïve fishGliding Slowly Through The lonelyWaterMunch! Munch! Munch!Yum!Lunchtime

Isaac Ure, 3rd Grade

Little Black Dress

The little black dress was a famous creation of the 20th century

French fashion designer Coco Chanel.

Day 1

Why how bland I am?

No flush, no accents, no nothing.

Am I nothing or is nothing me?

Day 2

Ouch!

Don’t poke me there!

I scream, and I sob.

No one listens.

Day 3

Be careful!

She pierces and stitches,

Snips and beads.

Day 4

What has happened?

Lace detached from silk.

Are you starting over?

Day 5

I am no longer nothing. I am

Something.

Day 6

On a stuffed manikin I stay.

But what is this? I’m being bought?

I am owned once again.

Day 7

The closet doors open.

Going on a date I see.

Why don’t you pick the most divine dress?

ME

Day 8

Black plastic bags appear

And in I go to be

Dumped on the street.

The roads are bumpy like rancid milk,

And the bag I’m in is full.

Bump

Stretch

Bump

POP

Ruptured into one million pieces,

Here I lay, and here I stay.

Samantha Fischer, 6th Grade

Little Black Dress

The little black dress was a famous creation of the 20th century

French fashion designer Coco Chanel.

Day 1

Why how bland I am?

No flush, no accents, no nothing.

Am I nothing or is nothing me?

Day 2

Ouch!

Don’t poke me there!

I scream, and I sob.

No one listens.

Day 3

Be careful!

She pierces and stitches,

Snips and beads.

Day 4

What has happened?

Lace detached from silk.

Are you starting over?

Day 5

I am no longer nothing. I am

Something.

54

A Journey

Your life is likea blooming flowergrowinggetting stronger,opening gracefully,if you startto wiltbelieve in yourself,stay happy,and you willbecomea beautiful rose.

Isabella Koestler, 3rd Grade

Ben Parker, 3rd Grade

The Power of a Written Word

The power of a written wordis stronger than one thousand men.

You are a master, king, emperor of your art.A line so masterfully written.

A bird’s call on a Sunday morning is still not as eloquent as one page.

Your work is as far from perfect as the moon.But no one will ever be perfect,

And no one will ever create the perfect Book, Page, Or word.

You are not a writer but anInventor, a doer, and a teacher to the next generations.

Axel Patzer, 6th Grade

Eliana Jin, 2nd Grade

Violet

Violet is flowers.

Violet is beautiful.

Violet is a type of purple.

Violet is refreshing.

Violet tastes like grapes.

Violet smells like blueberry pie.

Violet sounds like waves.

Violet feels like grape juice.

Violet looks like the sunset.

Violet makes me happy.

Violet is my favorite color.

Zoe Deitemeyer, 2nd Grade

Spring

Sunny days

People play outside more

Rain falls

In spring you smell flowers

No snow is on the ground

Grass is green

Sloane Becker, 1st Grade

Brock Becker, 3rd Grade

Jacob Gonzales, 3rd Grade

Spring Break

During the break I went to Costa Rica and went to the beach and the pool. I had lots of fun! When I was there, I almost got attacked by a monkey, fell off a horse, and almost stepped on an iguana. I got home at 12:30. I forgot about school.

Allie Tyszko, 1st Grade

Gray

Gray is a mountain far away Gray is an elephant in the circus Gray is a fish swimming fast Gray is a train track in the desert Gray smells like smoke in the air Gray sounds like an airplane going fast in the sky Gray feels like a smooth rock on a mountain Gray looks like a whale in the ocean Gray makes me feel sad

Gunnar Zimmerman, 2nd Grade

Kate Lasley, 3rd Grade

Alexis Huelsberg, 3rd Grade

The Deep Calm Sea

Crabs Waddling On The ShoreTide Splashing On The Beach

Waves Rushing Onto The RocksMinnows Swimming In The Shallows

Stingrays Flowing Through The OceanSharks Gliding Through The Water

Clownfish Flowing Through The ReefsCoral Living On The Rocks

Whales Eating All The ShrimpSquids Inking In The Deep SeaThe Creatures Of The Ocean

Costello Ciuffo, 3rd Grade

If I Were a Penguin

If I were a penguin, I would be teal and sparkly turquoise. I would have me-dium sized feet. I like to eat icy donuts. I had four babies. Their names would be Shimmer, Moonbeam, June, and Snowflake. My husband’s name would be Owen. I would live in the western Arctic. I am an emperor penguin. My exercise would be swimming. I would have no job.

Allison Wight, 1st Grade

A Peaceful Day

For miles and milesa sea turtlegracefully glides through the glisteningbright blue oceanlike a butterflyin a relaxing flight

Lane Kilduff, 3rd Grade

Zoë Jones, 4th Grade

Lily Stockwell, 4th Grade

Kate Jarvis, 4th Grade

The Blues, The Greens Memoir of a Jacques Cousteau camera

swimming, swimming,swimming

farther and f a r t h e r I go,like a whale, D

I V

I N

G deeper

10, 11, 12 fathoms downa fish, blue as the cloudless sky

silently passes byalong with its other hued cohorts

I devour their every move

closer, closer, closerwe creep up to the dilapidated shipwreck —covered in brilliant blues and greens—

which once flowed through the illustrious waters of france

we plunge towards the school of fishonly to disrupt their peaceful grazing

I remember that day jacques transformed the footage I captured

the people—they’ll love it—the blues

the greens

Lilly Savin, 6th Grade

I Have Become: A Poem About Wernher von Braun

I was a child born to an aristocratic family,A mischief-maker in my early teens,A boy hopelessly struggling in school, And a dreamer, like a star lost in the night sky.

I became set on my dream—rockets. I became a diligent studentwaiting anticipatorily learn the subjects required to become a rocketeer,a genius directing the production of the V-2 rocket--Hitler’s prized World War II weapon,a golden ticket to space for America, the country I surrendered to after World War II,and a pioneer who would stop at nothing to get to the moon.

I am the lead rocket engineer in my new home of America,inventor of the behemothic Saturn V rocket,the innovative mind behindthe Mercury, Apollo, Gemini, Skylab, and other famous missions,a man who, like few, fulfilled his dream, a household name known and worshipped by many,and the Prophet of the Space Age.

I will now retire from my lifelong job,give my work to the young minds of America to carry out,soon lose my life to cancer,but pass away to the next frontier knowing that I made my mark on this world.

Nicholas Rose, 6th Grade

I lie thereAs still as death, Taking in the details of everySmokestack,Wing,And toy captain.

Strewn among them are numerous engines, The broken keys.My hopes to giving my toys breathLay within those metal bodies.Yet every single one failed.I couldn’t bring them to lifeAnd nowMy engine isFailing with them.

Looking upon all of the toysI am brutally reminded thatThey are nothing but toys, Toys owned by a soon-to-be dead boy.

I cry and fall asleep,Desperate to findHope,

Help,

And an escape.

Gavin Goss, 6th Grade

A Life Cut Short

Famed British physicist Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 21. He was given two years to live.

I lie upon my bedDistressed,Gloomy,Lonely.

Never in my existence Would I have thought that my lifeWould come to such an abrupt end.

I had found my Calling,Passion, Dream.

I study the stars,Ponder our existence,Unfold the universe.But I will never fulfill that destiny.

I stand up to find another task But I fall back downBeaten,Forlorn,Lost. I avert my gaze to the Remnants of my childhood:The toy models I spent hours trying to animateSit thereIgnored,Forgotten, Lifeless.

Video Games

Very tempting

Playing crazily wildly

Uncontrollably over and over

I know I’ll get in trouble

Can’t I have another hour?

Juan Baez, 4th Grade

Field Hockey

I get a ball.

I get a stick.

I dribble the ball with the stick.

I try to get it in the goal.

I have fun playing field hockey!

Catherine Adams, 1st Grade

Lacrosse

I hold a long and colorful stick.

I wear a mask.

I wear a mouth piece.

We pick up lots of balls and throw them.

Playing lacrosse is fun!

Millie Borum, 1st Grade

Jackie Robinson Haiku

Dodgers forty-two

Death notes, hurtful threats, fierce

Black, courageous, grit

Jared Biggs, 2nd Grade

Surfing

I get in the water.

I get on my board.

Then I paddle out.

I look for a wave.

I stand on the board.

The wave pushes me out.

I love to surf!

Helen McCabe, 1st Grade

The Georgetown Walk OnGrandparent Essay Excerpt

“Nothing’s better than having a catch!” exclaims my grandfather David

Beatty. “That’s where it all begins.” My grandfather began playing baseball at

age six with his two older brothers, Budge and Christopher, in the front yard of

their Shoreham, New York, home in 1950. From playing ball with the neighborhood

kids in the Police Athletic League, to walking onto the freshman baseball team at

Georgetown University in 1962, my grandfather, David Beatty, was an incredible

ball player.

On a warm spring morning in 1962 in Washington D. C., while the cherry

trees were blossoming, my grandfather, standing at 5’ 11’’ and proudly wearing his

crew cut, waltzed into Kehoe Field, now known as Shirley Povich Field, to try out

for the Georgetown University freshman baseball team. He was not a scholarship

player, so he had to “walk on,” meaning he had to tryout because he had no status

with the team. Since freshmen weren’t allowed on the varsity baseball team, they

had their own team.

During the tryout, my grandfather and many other eager ballplayers had

to demonstrate their basic baseball skills, such as throwing, hitting, and catching,

as well as their speed and agility. Beatty, proving his skill, made the cut and

trekked back to the main gymnasium to claim his temporary locker as his own.

The young men that made the team received their gray and blue, good-looking,

yet comfortable, boiling hot uniforms. My grandfather described the uniforms

as “wool flannel. They were not synthetic, they were hot!” On a scorching hot

spring day late in the month of May, you did not want to be wearing wool flannel

uniforms. The practices for the team of eighteen-year-olds were tedious drills

of ground balls and plain flat out throwing—the fundamentals. The season was

long, hard, and tiring for these young men, but like my grandfather always said,

“Baseball was never hard. Baseball was fun. Baseball was a simple game. You hit it,

I catch it. You throw it, I catch it.”

Foster Kimple, 6th Grade

Napoléon

Little Corporal

Powerful, courageous

Loathed the English

Defeated by Duke Wellington

Bonaparte

Owen Speers, 3rd Grade

If I Found a Pot of Gold

Ryan, Mom, Dad, and Nicholas were

at the zoo. Their favorite animal

was the ostrich. A leprechaun ran to

them and said, “Follow me.” Dad did

not hear him. The leprechaun wanted

to show them his pot of gold. So the

leprechaun took them to his ice cave

to show the pot of gold. The pot of

gold was behind a wall of ice. Dad

set up a fire so that the ice could

melt. Then they found the pot of

gold. The leprechaun said that they

could take it home. They used the

gold to help people who don’t have

cars. They also used the pot of gold

to help people who don’t have enough

food. They really liked the gold.

Ryan Ylagan, 1st Grade

Freedom Fighters

Cesar ChavezHard-working, persistent,Farming, working, moving,California, champion, bus, Alabama,Sitting, leading, boycotting,Trustworthy, determined,Rosa Parks Maria Delyannis, 2nd Grade

Horse

Pretty, Wonderful

Comforting, Riding, Cantering

Barn, Tack, Pet, Loyalty

Playing, Barking, Jumping

Friendly, Helpful

Dog

Emilie Beasley, 4th Grade

Best Gift Ever

The best gifts I ever received were my loveys, my dog,

my first Lego set, and my brother. My loveys like to sneak

around at night. My dog sleeps in my bed sometimes. I

got my first Lego set from Jack. It was Death Watch. My

brother’s name is Jack, and I love him!

Will Poynter, 1st Grade

Mackenzie Peterson, 5th Grade

Ned Berkley, 5th Grade

Best Gift Ever

The best gift I ever received was my baby sister. Her name is Hazel, and she is two years old. Hazel likes to watch Daniel the Tiger, and her favorite color is blue. She likes to play soccer. I love Hazel so much!

Gabriel Divaris, 1st Grade

5C’s Study Hall Shenanigans

It was study hall time in 5C;Mr. Knape asked us all to be quiet.He got called out of the room for a minutesaying, “I trust you all won’t start a riot!”

Jane began serving snack;she started throwing oranges at the boys.Tara stole Ryan’s saxophoneand began making a lot of noise.

Gerald danced a jolly jig,which took us by surprise.While Shunmei was rapidly jugglingall of her school supplies.

Cameron was shredding her homework,while John was acting nutty.She began to smirkbecause he was eating his silly putty.

Olivia found a crayonand started scribbling on the wall.Mackenzie was doing cartwheelsand took a great big fall.

While Ella was in the cornereating her orange marmalade,Brennan was at the sinkmaking everyone lemonade.

Sofia Tjia, 6th Grade

Michael Durand, 6th Grade

Bennett was playing lacrosseand smashed the computer screen.Ryan was on his phoneplacing an order with L.L. Bean.

James B. was shooting rubber bands;they were landing all over the floor.Leo started throwing his football, repeatedly shouting, “Score!”

The shenanigans had reached their peak;the whole class was having a spitball war!When suddenly they heard a knock,Mr. Manning was at the door…

5C Homeroom, 5th Grade

Caleb asked James,“Do you want to give table tennis a try?”Caleb proceeded to slam the balland it hit James right in the eye.

Calla bounced a basketball.Homework was falling all over the floor.Logan was throwing paper airplanes,aiming them straight into the closet door.

Davis blasted music on his speaker, while Sydney tried to calm everyone down.Sam started jumping and jokingimitating her favorite clown.

Camelia Roberson, 6th Grade

Joey Clarkson, 6th Grade

The Chesapeake Bay

I crash I whirl I spinmoving to a rhythm

I make my mark upon the sandwetting what I can on

landI’m a mass of foam and blue

and greenthe teals the pinks the yellows

different all aroundI tear at sand and move the shells

the fish get quite annoyedI toss them round and round

I’m a big pot of lifewaiting to be stirred

Shelby Stuart, 5th Grade

A Yellow Strike

A second is like lightninghurtlingacross the skypunching the ground startling youwith itsCRACKand BOOM!

Addy Hennessy, 3rd Grade

Tate Zimmerman, 4th Grade

John Grunwald, 4th Grade

norfolk academy1585 Wesleyan Drive

Norfolk, Virginia 23502www.norfolkacademy.org

Printed on Recycled Paper using Soy-Based Inks.