Piano students at P.S. 154

The Meritorious Student Award is an initiative from Dominican President Dr. Leonel Fernandez to recognize Dominican students who have demonstrated remarkable academic achievement in NYC, CT, PA and NJ. We love it when the larger community recognizes our students for their successes–not only because they deserve a little credit for getting focused at such a young age, but also because it reinforces the importance of providing as many different paths to excellence as possible.

For Melyanet, success in piano provides the confidence and energy she needs to succeed in other areas of school, as well. She tells us that her favorite memory of all time was her audition into the program. For the first time, she says, she felt truly talented and special, as everyone clapped at the end of her audition performance. Playing makes her feel “good and fuzzy,” like she can do whatever she wants and that anything is possible–especially when her mom comes to watch her performances.

Kudos, Malyanet!

Incidentally, if you’re interested in interning at CFK, we’re always on the lookout for solid writers with an interest in education, business, event planning and nonprofit advocacy. Contact Mike Quinzio to get involved.

What was your favorite moment during your time here at CFK?

I have to admit that the Story Pirates event with the Yankee cameo appearance was pretty momentous for me. Not only were the Story Pirates entertaining and brilliant at what they do (for people of all ages), but it was really touching to see such big names getting involved with the community. (Now I’ll forever be a Yankees fan. Ha.)

Also extremely noteworthy was the time I got to spend at P.S. 154 in Harlem. I developed dear friendships with some of the second graders there that I will always treasure and remember tenderly: Jada, Ruth, Kemnasia, Joshua, and Melyanet. Even at their young age, these kids have had to face more trials and hardships than I’ve ever known, and their stories and optimism were just inspiring.

Did the experience give you any new perspectives on education?

I didn’t understand that a public good like public education varied so much around the country. I naively thought that every school was exactly like the education I received at home. I took art, music, fitness, and literacy programs for granted–and looking back, it makes me sick. I really do believe in the mission that Change For Kids is seeking; it’s so important because these programs played such a significant part in my own public education. Every child needs them–they are that important and instrumental in educational development. I also think it’s great that our partner schools have opened up and let us join their team.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans include obtaining an MBA in a graduate program here on the East Coast. After that I’d like to work for a company in an industry that sparks my creative flair, before settling with a family. Of course, community service and non-profit activism will always be a continuing project of mine and something I hope to work into the life of my family.

The process takes two or three weeks and begins with the goals for the project being determined between mentor and organisation.  The student then steams ahead with an analysis based on these goals, tapping the mentor for advice and feedback along the way.  At the end of the period, the findings are presented to the organisation and then everyone breaks for ice-cream before grading each other on their participation (a highly exciting back-to-school feeling).

Read more about the partnership here.

The Fordham literacy tutors take a break with their students

My Three Sides

Sometimes

I am mad but you will not like me when I’m mad. I will go crazy.

Sometimes

I am sad you might drown because I might form a tsunami.

Sometimes

I am happy.

I’m Jasmine and these are my three sides.

In conjunction with National Poetry Month, two Fordham students, Ashley Davis and Ashley Dziegielewski, began reading and writing poetry with their group of fifth grade girls. The collection of their work over the last few months is at times mischievous, endearing, inspiring, and heartbreaking. It’s the work of young writers just getting to know themselves, experimenting with different voices, and trying to get a handle on the variety of experiences and challenges they face in life.

I am Dahiana

I am smart and unique

I wonder what is the definition of…

I hear a voice inside of me

I see heaven—it is not imaginary it is just really high above

I want to have everybody love me with the vibration of my voice

I am smart and unique

I pretend to have a successful future

I feel the wind when I am flying

I touch my face on a magazine cover

I worry about the world around me

I cry when I have nobody and feel alone

I am smart and unique

I understand life and privacy such as when to be alone

I say I believe in god and love and friendship

I dream of being famous and really really nice

I try to be my best

I hope for love and common sense

I am smart and unique

I am Dahiana

Ashley Davis was kind enough to explain how the whole thing went down. “First, to sell the idea, we just focused on reading funny poems. We checked out Shel Silverstein from Fordham and had each girl read a selection from the book; it got them laughing and excited about poetry.”

Nasty Dogs

The fifth graders on an outing to Fordham University

I was doing my homework,

Then my dog just disturbed me.

He started to take off my shoe, the one that I had on.

So I thought he might be hungry.

I got out of my room to get my dog some food.

When I got back,

You won’t even believe me…

MY DOG POOPED ON MY HOMEWORK!

What am I going to do?

My teacher is going to kill me!

Then I got an idea.

I am going to show proof that my dog pooped on my homework.

So I went to school with the pooped on work.

I showed it to my teacher.

She almost had a panic attack.

-Tasalim

“I bought all the girls small journals to keep with them at all times so that they could write on their own. The only assignments were to write, write, write – anything and everything that came to mind. When we all met, we had them read aloud the poems they wrote over the week, and they would check spelling and grammar. The last day we had them type up the poems they wanted in their books. I am not going to lie, they wrote some pretty amazing poems that I did not expect out of 5th graders,” she adds. “One girl wrote about chicken! Another about parties! And, of course…boys!”

Reading

Boyfriends

I want a guy who

Calls you beautiful instead of hot,

Who

Calls you back when you hang up on him,

Who

Will stay awake just to watch you sleep

The boy who

Kisses your forehead

Who

Wants to show you off to the world

Who

Thinks you’re pretty without makeup on

The one who

Is constantly reminding you of how much he cares about you

And

How lucky he is to have you.

-Tracy

Mike Quinzio happened to stop by the school while they were meeting one afternoon and saw first-hand how excited the girls were about the project. “One of the girls said, ‘Hey, what if we put our poetry up on your website and then you could ask the fifth grade girls at your other schools to post their poetry too,’” he explains. “It was her idea, and I thought it was so perfect because they want to do it, so they’re going to be invested in it. And it’s awesome because it’s not a resource-intensive program,” he adds. “Maybe we’ll buy them some journals and give them some drawing supplies, but for the most part they are just writing and getting really interested in literacy.”

Reading around the table

The Fashion Show
Oh women with your hair all loose

Fell you Yell

You stink you fart

With your dress so tight

You barely breathe

Paparazzi following you

Home cause…..

You were a fat lady

With a tight dress

And eating noodles

With an elephant right beside you.

-Arleth

How could we refuse such a solid, sensible suggestion from one of our own partner students? So here it is – the first edition of the Fifth Grade Poetry Project, which we hope to launch full-force next fall. Drop a quick comment on the girls’ work or click here to donate a journal to the project next fall.

Party

I want to party.

Party out. Party wild.

Have some fun.

I don’t want to party in.

I don’t want to party left or right.

Let’s party now. While we still can.

I want to party.

I will not grow old and have no life.

I want to be a wild girl.

So what are you waiting for?

Go party.

-Kiara

5th Grade Graduates at P.S. 73

frequent “That’s my baby!” and other satisfied calls left little room for these youngsters to doubt their accomplishments. It was a morning of applause and smiles that many kids said they will never forget.

Most speakers in the program emphasized the importance of gratitude and participation in the community, while others highlighted the students’ rising generation of leadership and the “goodness” they will bring to this challenged world. Also inspiring were the words of valedictorian Ledion Lecaj, who moved with his family from Albania two years ago without knowing a word of the English language. Knowing that he preferred the freedom that the United States offered, he overcame the communication barrier that threatened his dreams of becoming an architectural engineer in this country.

Lecaj was only one success story of many in the sea of blue and gold caps and gowns. Though their time at P.S. 73 has now officially come to an end, the students wanted the world to know that it wasn’t the last it will be hearing of them, by singing, “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now”. These new sixth graders are on the move!

The graduating gentlemen at P.S. 243

P.S. 243′s graduation on Friday was held in a much more temperate auditorium. The audience of parents, teachers, and special guests were treated to several performances by the graduating 5th graders and a great keynote address. In an emotional speech, Principal Karen Hambright thanked her departing students for inspiring the entire school and for setting a high academic bar in BedStuy (P.S. 243′s testing scores skyrocketed this year!).
The highlight of the morning was the 5th graders’ rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Seasons of Love” on stage. There was hardly a dry eye in the auditorium and it was a great way to end a fantastic school year.
Congratulations to the graduates at all 4 CFK schools and we look forward to seeing each one of you do amazing things!

The challenge for educators of all stripes—whether they’re in the classroom everyday, or working in museum outreach, or simply providing programming support—is to make enrichment opportunities relevant for today’s students. And the particular challenge last Thursday was to make more than 150 years of history come alive for a group of 9- and 10-year-olds. The timing for the program couldn’t have been more perfect. The museum is currently hosting a major exhibition of photographs from the Civil Rights era, and it was with the iconic images of Birmingham and Selma and Dr. King marching in 1965, that our students offered their own tributes to the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement.

Students show off their work in the exhibition hall

The day’s agenda included an exhibition of student portraits of Rosa Parks and Dr. King, watercolors inspired by Kim and Reggie Harris’s “Sounds of the Underground Railroad,” and recitations of the work of Langston Hughes and Eloise Greenfield. Those of you who grew up on Reading Rainbow might remember her now classic poem “Harriet Tubman”:

Harriet Tubman didn’t take no stuff
Wasn’t scared of nothing neither
Didn’t come in the world to be no slave
And wasn’t going to stay one either.

The highlight of the day for everyone here in the office, though, was almost certainly hearing one class share their own dreams for the future—responses to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech that were charming, inspiring, and heartbreaking. Check out the luminous photos from our talented intern Liz Grover, who also offers her own reflections on the Bronx Museum partnership below.

During my first week at Change for Kids I sat in on a meeting with Principal Mirvil of P.S. 73, and he spoke about what CFK has brought to the school. He repeated the word exposure, because essentially this is what Change for Kids has brought to his students in the South Bronx. It is important for the “youngsters,” as Mr. Mirvil calls them, to know that there is much more to life than what they are exposed to at home.

Students on stage reading their own reflections

“Now the school is the community,” says Mr. Mirvil, and Change for Kids has made that possible. The school partners with the Bronx Museum only a few blocks away—a great resource for the kids within their own neighborhood. The museum is currently holding an exhibition on Civil Rights, and on Thursday, June 16th, each class went on stage to recite poetry, perform a skit or read their own personal poems and reflections.

When I spoke with Juliana, a student from P.S. 73, I asked her why she thought it was important for her to learn about Civil Rights. She thought about her answer and told me, “If they didn’t march, we (she pointed to me and then back at herself) couldn’t be together. Because of them, it’s ok.”
Her insightful remarks got me thinking about the importance of learning social history. History is contingent; everything that happens today is caused by something that happened before. Without the Civil Rights leaders of the past, people would not be where they are today. Often history is taught like a disjointed jumble of events, but Juliana understood that ideas and social movements are related to the life we lead today.

With the Bronx Museum partnership, students are able to participate in hands-on learning and are exposed to the exhibitions and larger historical lessons that the museum brings to the neighborhood.

Students interpreting "Harriet Tubman," written by Eloise Greenfield

Learning about the Civil Rights movement proves to them that individuals can make a difference, that the world does not change if people are not actively changing it, and that individuals have agency and do not need to follow the status quo. To stand up against something that is wrong is admirable and worth studying.

The students not only learn valuable lessons at the Bronx Museum, but enjoy themselves as well. When a teacher asked which students had yet to perform, the girl sitting next to me raised her hand and said, “I just want to go on stage again!”

Ms. Ai's piano students at P.S. 154

Congratulations to Ms. Ai’s piano students, who played famous tunes, such as “Fur Elise” and Beethoven’s “9th Symphony” in front a packed auditorium. In order for all the students at P.S. 154 to hear the piano recital, the young pianists performed two concerts back-to-back. Proud parents took pictures of their children all dressed up and performing in front of a large crowd.

Post-performance grins

Before the start of the concert at P.S. 154 the kids were eager to help set up the keyboards and start playing. As they waited for the auditorium to fill up, Joshua, a second grader, who has been in the program for two years now, was asked why he thought learning to play the piano was so important for kids. He replied, “You get smarter with the help of music. You get smarter and better at school and move on to higher grades.”

Mr. Majid and his violin students at P.S. 73

Likewise, congratulations to the violinists at P.S. 73 on their successful end of year performance! Before the concert at P.S. 73, as the kids patiently waited to get their violins tuned, Darius, a third grader, had the same sentiments as Joshua. He agreed learning to play the violin was good for kids because, as he put it, “Music is good for our education!

Mr. Majid’s violin students played a range of pieces, as well, from “twinkle twinkle,” to Mozart. They also played two back-to-back concerts in front of the entire student body, rows of excited parents, and teachers. This was not only a proud day for the performers, but for the community at large.

Darius and James

A trio of young musicians

Joe Maloof is mobbed by a crowd of adoring basketball players

Big news from our partner school in Queens. About 200 students, teachers and chaperones from P.S. 160 came out on a hot June day to meet their newest and very coolest neighbor—Joe Maloof, owner of the Sacramento Kings and Palm Casino in Las Vegas. Students spent the day exploring Maloof’s brand new skate park in Flushing Meadows, watching a number of demonstrations from top-skateboarder Billy Rohan, and learning a little about fitness and healthy lifestyles.

After loading the kids with loot from Vans and Vitamin Water, Mr. Maloof was also kind enough to sign dozens of signatures and to take a few minutes to visit personally with the school’s basketball team. If the thank-you notes we received are any indication, we think he’s made 200 new friends for life.

The ladies of P.S 160 pause for a quick photo op pre-lunc

Beyond the brush with celebrity, though, the skate park field trip was a tremendous opportunity for our students to get excited about a new community resource right in their own backyards. And it’s a jump start on what we hope will be a new commitment to fitness and nutrition programs at our partner schools over the coming year.