National Slam Poets Interviewed by Local Television Channel

America SCORES Boston National Slam representatives Sarah L and Stephen M spoke to Boston Neighborhood Network News Director Chris Lovett on Tuesday, May 9th  at their Boston University studio.

Getting Ready

Both students spoke about their exciting trip to New York City to perform at the America SCORES National Poetry Slam at the historic Apollo Theater.  Sarah described the poem she performed about her dreams and aspirations.  Stephen shared how his poem was inspired by seeing bullying around him.

Click here to see the interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7sghnMy2ipc

Very excited

Before the interview..

On Air

Patrick J Kennedy School Celebrates Family Traditions

The PJK SCORES team has been talking about their ancestors, their traditions and their culture.

PJK Girls Team celebrating soccer on the field and culture in the classroom!

Students wrote poems about family members.

Then discussed traditions.  What is a tradition?  How do traditions work?  What makes them special?

Boys Team brainstorming ideas

Students wrote down special family recipes.

Students will also do a series of interviews.  Mr. Walker is a teacher in the school who has traveled extensively.  He has spent time in Brazil.  Students have prepared questions for him.

Dylon after finishing his questions for Mr. Walker, a guest speaker

Alejandro wrote down some questions to ask Mr Walker

Mattahunt Team Learns about the Importance of Recycling

The Mattahunt America SCORES Team is working hard to make their school more environmentally responsible.  

When Mattahunt students learned that their school no longer recycles, they decided to take action.  

Students researched recycling online to get ideas about what advertisements would be best for their school.  They then created their own messages about why it is important to recycle and how people can limit the amount of waste they produce.

Researching

The team will post recycling advertisements all over the school and work to raise support for a new school wide recycling program.

Final draft

Stop Think Recycle

Proud Artist

The Mattahunt team was lucky enough to get Ms. Donere Johnson, the North East Regional Director for Student Conservation Association, to speak to them about the importance of recycling.  Ms Johnson works with students to implement conservation programs in their communities.

Students getting to know their guest speaker

Ms. Johnson speaking to the Mattahunt Team  about conservation

Students wrote down questions to ask Ms. Johnson and followed up with thank you cards after the visit.

Students wrote thank you letters to Ms. Johnson for her visit and environmental talk

Thank you note and poem

Roger Clap Innovation School Team Plans a Mural

America SCORES Boston's newest team, the Roger Clap Innovation School, plans to paint a mural for their spring service project.  They have discussed how bullying can effect their school and their community.  They are also considering how being kind to each other connects with being kind to their environment.

RCIS students sharing their idea's with class

Jesse Cardoso, an art teacher at the Curley Middle School, came to speak to RCIS about planning and painting a mural. He spends his summers painting murals with Boston youth all around the city.

Students prepared questions for their guest expert.

After discussing mural painting with Mr. Cardoso, the students brainstormed ideas for their own mural.

Check back soon to see their mural!


Poem Corner:

The Sky

The sky is gray in the rain

The sky is blue when it’s through.

The sky is colorful when we’re done and smiling with everyone.

The sky is beautiful when it’s sunny and peaceful.

           

Jania Desrosiers

Team Huddle

Mather SCORES: Growing the Future!

PLANT SOMETHING and Flip Flop Friday


The Mather team had the good fortune to get a visit from Governor Deval Patrick.  Governor Patrick came to do some planting.  The Governor has a team that will work with Mather students to create a whole agricultural plan for the school’s outdoor space.
  
http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/pressreleases/2012/2012501-governor-launches-plant-something-initiative.html

Mather Boys Team

Mather students have been building on an environmental service project over the last few years.  Last year the team planted a flower garden in front of the church next to their school.

Mather Girls Team Warming Up

This year the team planned on continuing their nature focus and planning a nature walk, community assessment and clean up in their community. The project has expanded with the help of Gov. Patrick.  This development led the Mather team to focus on the environmental project as a long term plan, while adding a shorter term project to be completed this season.  

Students will collect money and flip flops for those in need at The Long Island Homeless Shelter for Men.  “Flip Flop Friday” will be a fundraiser where teachers and students can pay $1 or bring in a new pair of male flip flops to be able to wear an outfit that is not their uniform for the day.  The garden project is still on the table, but won't be complete by the end of the SCORES season on June 2nd. 

Great work Mather Team!

POEM CORNER:

This poem was written by a student on the girls team about one of her coaches, Ms. Hussey.  Students wrote about Very Important People (VIPs) in their lives.

My VIP is Ms. Hussey

Ms. Hussey, Ms. Hussey what a fun, entertaining person!

Ms. Hussey, Ms. Hussey what a sunshine to make your day.

Ms. Hussey, Ms. Hussey what a helpful, hard working teacher.

What a respectful teacher.

A person who helped my world.

My problems and she is always there for you

That’s why she’s always going to be my VIP.

-Anissa B.

John Marshall Team to Host an "Everything Drive"

Students from the Marshall America SCORES Team will be collecting donated goods in their school.  

Marshall students discussing project ideas

They will collect many kinds of items such as canned goods, clothing, toys, and books.

SCORES students celebrate "Hat Day" as part of School Spirit Week

Kids Quotes:


We asked students to reflect on what community means to them.  


Here are a few of our favorite responses.

"To have peace and quiet" - Myssiah P.

"Community means to me, where people are safe, everyone knows everyone and there is no violence." -Gwen B.

"A community is meant for people to come together and be peaceful."  -Jabria B.

"I think community means for me a lot of people working together in peace." -Eirik H.

Good Luck Marshall Team!

McKay Students to Donate to Crossroads Family Shelter

Students at the Donald McKay Elementary School have researched homelessness in their community.

They plan on holding a "penny drive" at the Maverick T station to collect money from their community for the Crossroads Family Shelter.  They also plan to hold a "Dress Down Day" where students can donate money to the shelter and in return choose their outfit for one special day.  A food drive is also planned.

McKay Students with Guest Speaker from Crossroads Family Shelter

I see...I think...I wish...I promise: McKay Poetry Reflection

Stephanie reflects on her feelings after visiting Crossroads Shelter