May 18, 2025
Dear Steph Curry by Jonny C.
Dear Steph Curry,
I’ve learned that everything is possible because of you. It just surprised me that everyone thought that you could not do it, but you still killed it on going until you finally reached your goals. Seeing you in the TV game after game and after game inspires me to keep on going even if people tell me to quit because I’m not good enough.
I look up to you because you showed me that when you never give up, you can reach your goals. I can relate to you because it was not easy to be good at it, here I am. One of the best soccer players in my school. I never knew that if you tried and tried until you reach your goal, you would actually make yourself proud and keep improving.
The way that I see you play makes me wonder, how? How did you keep on going when you were a little kid? Because for me it was not easy to play like I’m the best at it. Before becoming an NBA legend, I wonder how you did it and how you had enough power to keep on growing nonstop your whole life. I wonder what you see in yourself, if you would ever be able to make it to the top of the NBA Hall of Fame. I wonder how you practice to be this great even if nobody believed in you. I’m curious if you ever thought of quitting this sport to be a regular person. Not going to lie, I’ve also thought of quitting soccer because I did not play as well as the other players, but I keep going to show everybody I can accomplish what I wanted.
I will be very happy if you write a book. Because if you do this, it will help me understand you and see your story. What you suffered, faced, and had to go through to be a big NBA legend, I strongly believe that if you do this, people will comprehend what you went through to reach the top and your story will be seen by all your fans. Including me. In my opinion, you should do this because I also was scared to show my story, but when I did, everybody comprehended what I’ve gone through to reach where I am. So, I recommend you to share your story so that everyone can comprehend what you lived through in your life.
50,000 Years by Asra H.
50,000 years ago in the first few centuries, Skyeye’s development looked above the big gray sky between the clouds. A big television above it all! Humans seemed frustrated. They complained about the bland and plain sky! The sky was devastated. The director saw this and had to stop it!
The disappointed sky groaned, “Why not make me red?”
The thinkers and angels were fast! They were looking for every color that exists. The director said, “Why not green?” Clouds didn’t think that way.
The angels roamed around holding files and folders and papers. The thinker held a strange colored painting. It was BLUE. It was the first accurate idea! That same little dweller walked toward the director. He was startled by it. He glared at the painting canvas. It looked…dreamy! The director was impressed. He grinned in satisfaction. He was definitely proud. The crowd cheered. He changed the color.
The sky stared at their hands. They were blue! She turned back at the building, then the people. Both were happy. She grinned at them and the sky suddenly darkened up.
“It’s fair! Just how I like it!”
They laughed, “It’s night!”
The sun left as the moon shines.
“Perfect, but one last touch!”
The stars shimmered.
The Melting World by Jonathan L.
The world is ,
a shared garden.
A place to plant,
new seeds.
Seeds of change,
into the ground.
To make it even
better.
But the world,
It’s like poisonous gas.
Trapped,
In a closed.
small room,
People wear masks,
But they can’t see reality.
Those who take off the masks see
A blue smooth
sphere of ice.
Slowly melting to water,
The water
Is slowly eating up the land,
Urging for more.
until there is,
None left.
It is like the sand eroding,
through our fingers.
Like a fisherman using it as a sinker.
But some can be a thinker,
They make a place,
Where you can linger.
Some are architects, (ar-ca-tects)
Designing a sustainable world.
Some are locksmiths
They carefully,
crafted,
A Golden Key to unlock,
A new era.
Using the key,
To open a big garden.
Where everyone,
Would be part of.
Where the quality would be good above.
So This is our shared garden,
And let’s tend to it.
Plant the seeds of change,
And watch a new
bright world grow.
Arizmendi Pizza by Espy R.
Have you ever thought about trying the most luscious pizza that is always changing flavors? Well, in my opinion, Arizmendi’s pizza is both of those things! Their pizza changes every day! It has all kinds of ingredients you can’t even think of on pizza! If you walk by Arizmendi’s on Valencia St., snag a slice of their pizza after 10 am, because that’s when they serve it.
On the plate, you will see a pizza, but not just any pizza. It’s the most mouthwatering pizza on earth. When you approach the bakery, you’re going to see the pizza of the day on their chalkboard. Sometimes it has tomato and ricotta. But I wouldn’t know what it’s going to be tomorrow, because it’ll be different. Sometimes they make it halfway through, so you can finish baking it at home. Sometimes they cook it all the way. The cheese is slimy but not too slimy. When you bite it, you can hear yourself say, “Yum!” It smells like cheese, and it’s sparkly in the sun!
I also love Arizmendi’s because it’s right next to my school, so when school is over, I can go right to Arizmendi’s to get a snack.
Don’t miss out on the warm pizza from Arizmendi’s after 10:00 AM.
Love Like a Parent’s Love by Kane F.
Parents give me things no one can
They show me love and my culture
My mom gives me love with joy inside
My dad makes me brave like lions
My dad gives off a stern look
Which gives me the courage he has
They make me feel happy and safe
Lessons of Time by Celeste, Neya, and Citlaly
When she speaks I see the fear in her eyes,
I feel her emotions
It reminds me she’s still a little girl,
scared of her world, a world I wish I knew better
But I know it through her stories
Stories of her life showing me a brand new light to see her in
From scared child to a nervous teen
but all i see in front of me is a stern woman
with the inner scars of war
My parents told me “embrace the new,
Get a head start, a foothold in life”
“Grow your brain with things that are true
And when you get your chance, do what is right”
Things are changing fast
And we have to be faster
We all come from the past
And are also the future
I stand now, on the science of the past
I will do great things and my contributions will last
Even though it may not be pleasant
Accept the future,
it’s now the present
Taco Family by Jude G.
I am like a taco
My family is all the ingredients for me
My dad is the tortilla
He holds the family together
And protects the family
Just like a father
My mom is carne asada
She is one of the most important ingredients
Carne asada takes time
It takes hard work to make
And takes warmth
Just like a mother
Cilantro is like my aunt
Cilantro could be peppery
But at times it is savory
The times it is savory is when we would get invited
And spend time with her
To spend time with my aunt it is very fun but very fast
It is very hot
In Christmas time it is very colorful in Mexico
Like a cilantro and an aunt
My cousin is salsa verde
He is the most fun flavor of them all
My cousin is really fun
He is the one that takes me on trips
My cousin would take me Go-Karting
Every taco has salt
And in every family there is a grandpa
Salt is always their in food
And a grandpa is always there
Getting along with people
Salt is the thing that has started flavors just like a grandfather
The onions would be my grandmother
They would start out
Spicy and grumpy
But then it makes things taste better
My sister is the limon
Most of the time it makes things taste really good
But sometimes it is really sour
Limon gives everything flavor and makes me fill with joy
My Dream Trip to Ghana by Kayden D.
I imagine Africa being really calm and peaceful, but loud and filled with languages I’ve never heard before. My name is Kayden Lamont Duckett. I am a kind and thoughtful African American young man. One thing that makes me proud of being African American is that my history is always accessible, meaning I could go to a random Black elder and they’ll know about our culture. For example when I talk to my Nana she says to me “ you know grandson, your generation got it good. Things was really different back in my day.” One thing that is important to me is family, because without them there wouldn’t be me. My family sticks together like a puzzle, and they teach me morals and how to carry myself as a young Black man in the world. One reason I want to go to Ghana is to learn more about my African roots, like the food, customs and languages.
This trip will help me to grow humble and really ground me seeing people’s environments that’s different from mine and maybe some similarities. This trip to Ghana will help me truly understand where I come from. On our Ghana trip, I plan to learn about kids like me, and see how many resources they have compared to me. I want to say thank you to anyone that has made this trip possible for me and my classmates.
Now I want to tell you about the class that will be coming with me to Ghana.
The MLK Mastering Cultural Identity class enlightens me with knowledge about me, like where me and my ancestors actually come from.This class has helped me become more mature, especially learning things like the 1619 project. In the MCI class, we do rituals which has a positive impact on me, teaching me that I can be great. Picture about 10 black young men screaming positive words filling a room with tension and joy. In this class we do chants that reassure everyone that they are kings, which really builds community. This makes me feel good. Mr. Espys MCI class teaches us about what really happened in history and not just what a different teacher would tell us.
Letter of Gratitude by Naima G.
Dear Ms. Whittney,
Thank you for teaching me division. When you gave me advice, it made me feel smart. On the first day of school, I was excited to meet my new teacher. When I did, you were very kind and reminded me of my parents because you’re very structured. I knew I’d like you as a teacher.
I really enjoyed it when we watched the SFJAZZ performance together.
All of these memories make me feel safe and comforted. Thank you for being one of my favorite teachers. Every time I come into the classroom, I feel safe. I can’t wait to see what you teach us next.
In October, my cat turned eighteen. I’m nervous she might die, but I’m hoping she’ll turn twenty. Sometimes she makes me laugh because of the stern look on her face. Who is someone who makes you laugh? Who makes you feel comfortable?
💞 Love, Naima
Winter Warmth by Karen S.-Q.
I’m sipping hot cocoa from a mug,
others are sipping warm, sweet tea.
Some go around spreading cozy hugs,
and others decide to get comfy near the Christmas tree.
I look out the window on a frosty night,
Downstairs I hear the tearing noise of kids opening gifts.
Outside I hear loud screaming from kids having fun
snowball fights,
and so I cuddle up in bed, letting mom tell me
Christmas myths.
I wake up, eager to go outside,
and so I change, ready to hang out with my best
friend.
I see her appear near the door, so I put my cup
aside.
We hang out and decide to meet again. I can’t wait
for the weekend!
I feel joyful, comfortable and calm,
as I cuddle up with my blankets, curled up with
mom.
Childhood by Shamira D.
She laughs like a loving small child.
Grabbing your wrist, she shows you her creative side.
She is trying to hide her happiness like a bear in a cave.
She can’t keep her hands to herself.
Through her giggles she brings out playfulness.
She says ok, throw her so high she lives up there,
a little girl up there in the world
She knows how to love.
People will only love you when you’re 10 feet under
I don’t have a lot of friends. And this makes me feel empty like a box with nothing in it.
But when you’re on your feet, that’s when people don’t care about you. Once something happens to you, that’s when they act like they care.
When I go to sleep I try to forget about the pain but it comes back when I wake up. In this society and generation I feel disappointed because people choose not to help out, like with the homeless.
People need to look at reality and not see this as a fantasy. So, what are you going to do about it?
Treasures of the Earth by Jasper J.
Please keep our nature clean
our mighty trees green
Those timbering giants who have Seen it all
They have seen buildings rise and crumble
Their roots grasp the same earth that holds
The golden sands, their infinite wealth close to gold
It’s the pebbles of sand holding on to debris
For others to find
While some might look for treasure in the sand
Some look for shapes in these towering white peaks
These giant clouds roll past hills of green
These hills are full of grass that blows under the earth’s breath
But no matter where on Earth searching high or low, you will still find Earth’s treasures