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News
Class Newsletter
March, Issue 2
Top Benchmark Scores
Samantha Ament
John Lense
Noah Bolte
Hanna Linesch
Kenny Cornell
Daryll McMullen
Clhoe Kincart
Asyah Mitchell
Donovan Nguyen
Austin Perkins
Andy Pitts
Elena Rivera
Tyler Billups
Maud Sonzogni
Benjamin Bowers
Lauren Terry
Jordan Durain
Morganne Williams
Daniel Ferguson
Peyton Wirth
Tyler Grant
Samuel Dotson
Caitlin McNeely
Myah Follero
Steven Stewart
Luke Gormley
Austin Byrd
Paige Harris
Cameron Gable
Lily MacWilliams
Catherine Harkins Estevan Mikhail
Hunter Hopperton Dezstany Peterson
Graden Knapp
Elijah Prather
Alleigh Maguire
Molly Sansoucy
Jyogi Maruishi
Anika Yadav
Colin McClure
Sierra Newton
Donovan Page
Gabi Richardson
Cole Sandlin
Sarah Wermeling
Alex Barlow
Crystal Bufano
Raegan Keller
Third Quarter Wrap-up
Since the last newsletter, students have eagerly jumped
into the poetry unit. In class, we have read and thoroughly
annotated a few poems: “Poetry” by Pablo Neruda, Austin
Kleon’s blackout poems, “Fast Break” by Edward Hirsch,
and “Nikki-Rosa” by Nikki Giovanni. With each poem,
students have been asked to use them as models and create
similar poems.
Many students have proven to be natural-born poets and
are bringing at least one new poem into class every day to
share with their peers. Several students have also chosen to
submit their poetry for this newsletter, which has twentyfive impressive poems.
Students also took their third Benchmark test on Thursday
before the three-day weekend. Scores either met or
exceeded expectations; the students listed are ones who
scored at least a 20 out of 24.
There is no doubt that both teachers are very proud
of the students’ hard work and dedication!
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Student Submissions
March :: Issue 2
What Will We Doing
with Poetry?
The poetry unit will be coming to a close
before the students go on Spring Break.
Students have just a few more poems to
read like “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn
Brooks and “Hanging Fire” by Audre
Lorde. With these poems, students will
many do activities that relate to structure,
diction, and the continued theme of
Coming of Age.
At this point of the unit, students have
written four poems. One of their assigned
poems was a form poem titled “A Poem
About A Poem,” which you will see a few
examples of from first period. Students
also did blackout poems, like you saw in
the last issue. Students have been
working on interest/hobby and Coming of
Age poems. These poems along with a
couple others will be put into student
anthologies with an introduction about
how each student has grown as a student
poet.
The anthology will not be the only project
that students complete. Students will also
do a group poet presentation. Groups will
choose a poet that they will research and
teach the class. Students will also talk
about one of the poet’s poems and analyze
it for the class.
While we do have a couple projects down,
our main goal is to show students how
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poetry is something that they can make
their own. Many students have done just
that.
byline
[Name]
“The Power of Poetry” by
Daniel Ferguson
Poetry is
Strong
Slow
And Steady.
You never truly can be ready.
It comes and goes as it pleases,
Just like a mini Jesus.
It fills that void inside your heart,
You never wanna be apart.
When it becomes a part of you it’s
there to stay.
And I bet you’ll say, “I’ve never,
ever felt this way.”
Student Submissions
March :: Issue 2
A Poem by Semir Ruspic
A Poem About A Poem by Josh Cundiff
Poetry is more than words, it’s meaning.
Poetry is like dreaming.
Poetry is about feeling.
Poetry is as important as breathing.
Poetry means speaking.
Poetry is hearing.
Poetry is words.
Poetry is like a book.
Poetry is about a bunch of words.
Poetry is as important as cheese.
Poetry is as pointless as pants.
Poetry means rhyming.
Poetry is a story.
A Poem of Poetry by Andy Pitts
Big Air by Zoey Brixey
Feel the wind blowing
Poetry is universally love.
Poetry is like emotions flowing into paper like a river.
through your hair,
Poetry is pulsating through the world.
against your face,
Poetry is as important as air we breathe.
and pushing your clothes,
as you jump into the
air like a hawk.
You land on the ground
like you have just been
hit with a rock
Poetry is about love, anger, dreams.
Poetry is as pointless as burying the dead.
Poetry means to move on, make amends.
Poetry is life.
A Poem about a Poem by Donovan Nguyen
Poetry is infinite.
while soaring in the sky
Poetry is like endless imagination.
and you can’t control your landing.
Poetry is about what comes from inside.
The board rattling beneath
your feet,
Poetry is as important as knowledge.
the wheels sounding like
Poetry is as pointless as sliced bread.
you’re searching for
Poetry means to express your feelings.
a station on the radio,
but all you get is static.
As you come to a stop,
You can still feel the shock
In your feet and legs.
You stuck it and
The feeling of adrenaline
Rushes through your body.
Poetry is life.
Poem About a Poem by Micah Schenck
Poetry is love.
Poetry is like the girl you can’t get out of your head.
Poetry is about things you care about.
Poetry is as important as Clhoe.
Poetry is as pointless as cuddling alone.
Poetry is love.
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Student Submissions
False Hope by Dezstany Peterson
These memories I rarely remember
Over the years
moment by moment
those times
flooding my brain
they enter.
This is the first time I’ve stated
All those weekends I sat and waited.
You promise you would come get me,
but for hours I’d wait weeping.
You never called me,
but made me feel bad when I called you.
I was a five year old child.
What was I to do?
My dad took me when you split.
But now I understand why
because you lied while I sit
And hope to see your face.
And had three other children to take my place
I waited hopeful everytime
I waited from age 5 to age 9
I waited from January to December
these are the memories I rarely remember.
A Poem About a Poem by Shannon Foudray
Poetry is an equation love x inspiration = poetry.
Poetry is like the music of the world.
Poetry is about the world.
Poetry is as important as breathing.
Poetry is as pointless as golf.
Poetry means love,
hate,
passion,
emotions.
Poetry is me.
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March :: Issue 2
A Poem About A Poem
By Allison Hyder
Poetry is like determination.
Poetry is like burning fire.
Poetry is about someone’s passion.
Poetry is as important as water.
Poetry is as pointless as 3rd degree
criminals.
Poetry means happiness in your
life.
Poetry is your confidence.
Poem About A Poem
By Tristin Younger
Poetry is expression of feelings and
thoughts.
Poetry is like the thoughts in your
head and the feelings in your heart.
Poetry is about the darkness of your
thoughts and the humor in your
mind.
Poetry is as important as what you
make it because poetry is all around
you.
Poetry is as pointless as a clueless
person makes it.
Poetry doesn’t have a certain
meaning, it means what you want
it to.
A Poem by Racheal Stuck
Poetry is anything.
Poetry is like life.
Poetry is about the fight.
Poetry is as important as family.
Poetry is as pointless as nothing
Poetry means living life.
Poetry is anything.
Student Submissions
A Poem About A Poem by Kristin Opp
Poetry is anything.
Poetry is like a brainfreeze.
Poetry is about love.
Poetry is as important as music.
Poetry is as pointless as making your bed.
Poetry means confusion.
Poetry is anything.
March :: Issue 2
A Poem About a Poem
by Noah Bolte
Poetry is fire.
Poetry is like the smoke off a spinned out fire.
Poetry is about getting higher.
Poetry is as important as a wire.
Poetry is as pointless as a liar.
Poetry means getting passed the dire.
Poetry is fire.
A Poem About A Poem by Marjorie Baco
“The Lonely Thought” by Myah Follero
He comes and he goes.
Not in person, not in dreams.
He only comes in my thoughts
when least expected.
These thoughts I hate to see
for they are just one lonely
memory.
“The Only Thought” by Myah Follero
She stays and never goes.
Always in person, even in dreams.
She’s constantly in my thoughts
even when not wanted.
These thoughts I love to see
for she will always be in every single
important detail
of every important memory.
Poetry is anything.
Poetry is like a rhyme that describes life.
Poetry is about anything you wish it to be.
Poetry is as important as life living.
Poetry is as pointless as getting shoes but
not wearing them.
Poetry means loves yet hate.
Poetry is everything.
A Poem About A Poem
by Elizabeth Andrade
Poetry is anything you desire.
Poetry is like a maze.
Poetry is about you.
Poetry is as important as a flower
blooming.
Poetry is as pointless as nothing.
Poetry means anything.
Poetry is anything you want it to be.
A Poem About a Poem by Micah
Poetry is trash.
Poetry is like a trash bag.
Poetry is about nothing.
Poetry is as important as you.
Poetry is as pointless as a tire.
Poetry means nothing.
Poetry is trash.
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Wishing on Paper by Lauren Terry
Piano Poem by Jordan Durain
Softly and slowly
my fingers hover over
the white and black infinity
in front of me
and for a moment
the world stops.
The turning momentum ceasing
as I start with a middle C
and continuing on with my piece.
Scanning and comprehending my
music,
Fastly behind decrypted
as I ride the wave of keys.
My fingers gliding,
my mind thinking,
and my heart pounding,
praying to nail the troublesome chord,
sending chills up and down my spine,
making my eyes blink in surprise,
but also
Wonder.
Sarah Harkrader
Black clouds begin to form
from the lost dreams and broken mind.
Searching far for an escape,
a way out of this twisted, broken path.
Picking up a lead-filled yellow piece of wood,
hands taking control.
Curving, coloring, creating an unknown piece
of something hidden, new.
An escape from the lost mind
took the form of scribbles on a white sheet.
Satisfied by what these hands created
scribbles grew to something more.
The wood working rapidly
as it sprawled across the page.
An image began to grow
into a person.
The person was what the hands
wanted to be.
The hands drew, created
what they wished and desired.
NF
You believe your diagnosis
is a defect to who you are,
but you don’t realize
you are so ahead of it, so far.
You are shining
like a light in darkness.
Please continue to fight.
“You have the happiest energy”
is what people say.
They all want you to stay
someway, somehow.
It doesn’t get better,
but you will
kill your demons and
step into some new shoes,
maybe red or blue.
Depression is a setback,
but you are already ahead.
Sadness is not everlasting
but you…
You are forever loved.
A Little Thing Called Love by Ano Nymous
I had no sword, but the blade for my skin
to be my defense from the war within.
I had no shield to keep me safe,
but the walls I put up to be my escape.
No more smiles, but hey! at least no more tears.
I learned to be empty, to scream when no one
hears.
I believed myself, that the blame was mine.
When I looked around, my life was fine.
But I saw the monsters and I heard the demons.
They had to win, couldn’t just break even.
And I was growing so weak from the fight,
couldn’t stand another sleepless night.
So I caved in,
gave up,
broke down.
Prepared to let go without a sound.
Empty and Numb brought the pills to my lips,
like saying goodbye in one last loving
kiss.
Yet here I am, stronger than ever before.
No more ghosts can live inside here anymore.
And maybe it’s a poison that will be mine forever
but I’ll never let it kill my soul whatsoever
I’ve learned a little thing
called love.
Though I’m still young,
memories from my childhood
are starting to fade.
I remember the night I cried
what could have filled an entire kiddie pool.
When I moved to Kentucky,
away from all my friends I grew up with,
away from Max the neighborhood bully,
away from Isabella whom I idolized,
and away from my first crush, Hayden.
I felt my life would never be the same.
My childhood had been ripped in half.
I remember blaming my dad
And his dumb job for it.
Calm, great, perfect.
That’s how it starts out…
Everything is grand
And everyone is happy…
But then something changes,
and it’s not a big deal to you,
just something small…
But to them it’s the start of world war three,
everything has gone haywire.
They are angry… you are confused…
But then it’s over, it’s gone…
All gone before you can even grasp what has
happened.
It’s all over…
All gone…
And you barely even know why…
But of course not all relationships end this way,
Some end peacefully…
Some never end at all…
But that’s how it works…
Love is a grenade…
When it’s in your hand sometimes you’re safe…
But then one small mistake and it blows up…
Right before your eyes.
And maybe that’s what it takes…
Maybe…
Maybe you need it to blow up to realize…
That you’re not the same person you were
before.
You’re not the same little girl.
Not the little girl who depended on other
people…
Maybe...
That’s what you need to learn who you are,
And that you need to be careful,
Because love is a grenade.
-- Katlin Diersing
I didn’t understand how moving
further away from his boss would help.
But moving was actually fun.
I realized we would see my dad more.
I loved the fact we lived in a state
with so many horses.
And I found new friends, new people
to idolize, new bullies, new crushes.
And somehow moving turned out to
not be so bad.
And it also created a great memory.
-- Maud Sonzogni
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