HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Here are poems from Rachel Oden’s fifth-grade class they wrote about their lives:
I’m From by Thomas Karpuk
I’m from a broken trampoline
Sitting in the grass useless
A garage filled with 12 bikes and 200 shoes.
I’m from, cats and dogs
Playing with each other,
A 62-inch TV on the wall,
A PS4 in my room,
I’m from my mom, dad and my brother
Arguing, where you’re allowed to eat
On the couch on movie night,
I’m from short grass, crooked fence,
Thorn bushes, and one tree.
I’m from barking dogs,
Buzzing bees,
Meowing cats,
And loud traffic,
This is what I live with.
Where I’m From by Aidyn Shingleton
I’m from fuzzy cats purring at your leg,
Where the empty swing set swings,
And my sister telling me to get milk.
I’m from the sound of dogs barking,
Homework on the table,
And the long grass is swaying
I’m from where people are chasing dogs,
My friends and family are over for celebrations,
And fields of hay all around me,
I’m from my grandma and grandpa are over talking to my mom and dad,
The horses are eating the short grass,
The sweet ribs and steak are on the grill,
I’m from the sound of my brother yelling “Get out of my room!”
And music stuffs your ears,
And the smell of pie fills your nose when it’s someone’s birthday
So in all I’m from a loving place.
Where I’m From by Olivia Webb
I’m from dressed up stuffed animals in the hall,
Food piled up on the coffee table,
And a huge field across the road.
I’m from gun shots in the air,
Sisters yelling “Shut Up!”
And my cousins lassoing and tackling me.
I’m from my sister Jade saying “Could you tape me dancing with the cat?”
A giant plastic lizard outside our door,
And apple trees with apples that I have to pick.
I’m from bits of silly string and putty on the ceiling,
Angel food cake on baptism birthdays,
And neighbors gardening.
I’m from where papers litter the dining room table,
Bedrooms covered in posters,
And clothes scattered on the floor.
I’m from coyotes hiding in the brush,
Chicken wire scraping against the shed,
And bikes strewn across the yard.
I’m from clay in tubs,
Deer eating grass,
And sisters singing in the shower.
I’m from my Uncle Chuck’s red convertible,
Mashed potatoes on family gatherings,
And my sister showing creepy turkey slaughter videos.
I’m from a bright red house,
A lonely little road in front of our house,
And clusters of bluejays flying between the trees.
I’m from soccer balls being kicked over a cliff,
Darts being thrown at a dart board,
And a cupboard full of tea.
I’m from a place where people over explain things,
The TV blaring,
And barely any sweets (except for my stash).
That is where I’m from.
Where I’m From by Samantha Gonzalez
I am from where Barbie dolls are everywhere
A toddler running up and down the hallway
A family who plays soccer in the backyard
I am from old people and rock bands mixing together
Where family gatherings are everywhere
No kids running around in the neighborhood
I am from a family, computers everywhere
Where Nube and Nubet gets tossed around
Where you will see lots of boxes outside the house
I am from a family who farms a lot
Where math homework gets a little frustrating
Where Mom is cooking enchiladas yum, yum
I am from a house where friends come over
Where lavender is being packaged into boxes
Where good foods are being tossed around
That’s my family of Mexican locos!
Olympic Peninsula Academy
Destination Imagination Runs Wild — to State
Olympic Peninsula Academy’s Destination Imagination team traveled to Wenatchee on March 27-28 to compete in a state level tournament.
Their strong point, said enrichment coach and advisor Dee Dee Nielson, is teamwork. They do not shy away from the challenge, either, after selecting the most difficult technical challenge. The group had to develop an imaginary world that featured a bird-like creature who could communicate, move independently and produce eggs.
Their team motto is: “Winners never quit! Quitters never win!”
