The Boulevard Volume II, Issue II Winter 2017 Newspaper Staff Reporters: Newberry Medal Winner, Kwame Tauba Ashrafi, Sidrah Ashrafi, Eliz- Alexander, Pulls Off #kwameshowsup abeth Balzac, Max Berger, Spencer Brodwin, Ella Cohen-Kashi, Eve by Leah Khayumov and the phone call, we thought she had Golan, Leah Hazan, Chrissy Hogue, Divya Maharaj won pizza for life.” In fact, this was Alex Kesin, Arib Khan, Avikar Kha- On the morning of De- the running story for some time kh, Leah Khayumov, Divya Maharaj, cember 6th, 2017, Mrs. Mauriello’s until his visit! Sasiru Pathiranage, Bella Rbin, Melissa period one class had the pleasure Michael P, said, “It made me happy Ruvinov, John Sabu, Lilli Seidman, Abby of meeting the world-renowned because we sang songs with him and Sherman, Yoni Sheerit, Ben Sonant, author, poet, and speaker Kwame he gave out his signature.” Emma Tsoglin, David Zimmerman Art Staff: Alexander. The prominent writer Sebastian Cruz said, “I was sur- Samantha Almonte,Stephanie Lopes is the recipient of the John New- prised he would come to our school Layout: Max Berger, Winnie Xu and bery Medal, a and give out au- Leila Xu prestigious award tographs and talk Faculty Advisor: gifted to the most about his book.” Mrs. Stacy Mauriello talented of writers. “I felt overwhelmed High School Advisors: He has written when he walked in. Winnie Xu and Leila Xu several books such My jaw dropped as The Crossover, when I realized it Inside the Issue Booked, The Play- was him. He even book, most recent- looked at me, and ly, Solo. gave me a high five! School News.............1-7 Kwame Alexan- I felt so special!” der’s visit came as exclaimed Anastasia a result of a letter Inglima. World News............8-13 written to him by Shawn Bronfman a seventh grader admitted, “The in Mrs. Mauriello’s interaction with After Hours..........14-15 ELA class, Matthew Pernia. The Kwame Alexander was very interest- letter was sent to Alexander as part ing because I learned incredible facts of an ELA assignment to write to about him. He also taught me that I Entertainment.....16-23 living authors. Alexander liked Per- should not give up, especially when nia’s letter so much that he decided things get rough. This is why I en- to surprise Mrs. Mauriello’s students joyed spending time with Kwame.” Opinions................24-27 with a signature #kwameshowsup One student said, “I can’t believe he visit. The visit was kept under wraps signed his picture on Mrs. Mo’s Hall so that it was a true surprise for all. of Fame of her favorite authors! Now Sports.....................28-29 We asked Mrs. Mauriello’s we can see his signature every single 1st period class how they felt when day as a reminder of his visit.” Kwame Alexander visited: The point of #kwame- Amber Almonte said, “I didn’t see showsup is that he shows up unan- it coming at all! When Mrs. Mo got nounced in... Volume II, Issue I The Boulevard School News 2 #kwameshowsup Continued... different schools across the moment.” no to any opportunity. He sees country to meets teachers, Alexander was born in New himself as a “say yes person.” librarians, and students. He York on August 21. He and his He also admits that, “Saying surprises them, takes pictures family moved to Reston, Virgi- yes can also be difficult to say and signs auto- na, when he because you don’t know where graphs! Teachers was a young that yes is going to take you.” He across the coun- boy. His encourages and inspires others try have been mother was to say yes as well. Saying “yes” writing him all an English changed his life, and he believes year in hopes teacher, it will change others lives as that he will visit while his well. Check out his TedTalk on their school. father was a the power of “Yes.” Mrs. Mauriel- writer him- He didn’t always write lo still cannot self. He was children’s’ books and poems. He believe he actually chose our also the headmaster at Alexan- started out his career writing school. der’s school. love poems. When she got the call, she said Alexander One of his love it was like, “an Oprah moment. grew up loving poem books I felt like an audience member poetry, and is Crush: on her famous episode when after college Love Poems. she shouted, ‘You get a car! And, he realized The reason you get a car!’ except it felt like he wanted to he decided to Alexander’s publicist was saying become a poet venture out ‘You get Kwame! And you get full-time. His and write The Kwame!’ It really was a ‘pinch- father thought Crossover me-is-this-happening-to-me?’ becoming a poet wouldn’t work, when a publisher asked, “Have moment. while his moth- you ever thought about writ- Our English er stayed very ing a book in the same style of Department supportive. your love poems, but one about Chair, Mrs. Later, his father young people?” Since he is a say Hochhauser, admitted he was “yes” person, he said yes, and and princi- critical because decided that it was time for him pal, Dr. Bau- he wanted to see to write a children’s’ novel. er, met with if he was being Since his visit, Mrs. Mau- me so that we serious about riello said that his books have could pull off becoming a been flying off of her shelves. his visit as a poet. In the end, Once one is returned, it’s imme- true surprise. It was also im- Alexander was extremely deter- diately taken out. She even has portant to me that I gather some mined to succeed. a waiting list! It seems like his of Kwame Alexander’s tried and Not only is Alexander an amaz- books are in high demand! true fans, even students of mine ing author and poet, but he Look out for his follow from last year. For some of those also believes in the power of up to Crossover, titled Rebound, students, it was a true celebrity “yes,” and doesn’t like saying due to hit stores this March. Volume II, Issue I The Boulevard School News 3 The 7th and 8th Grade Science Fairs by Elizabeth Balzac and from other school districts across pleted projects testing different Lilli Seidman Long Island. There are more re- brands of consumer products, On December 15th, 2017, quirements and stricter guide- such as paper towels, batteries, the annual 8th grade science fair lines for the Long Island compe- sponges, and potato chips. The sci- was held in the Woodmere Mid- tition. From there, ribbons are ence fair was known as the “Con- dle School gymnasium. It was distributed and the certificates are sumer Olympics.” It was a great a required assignment for all given out at an award ceremony. experience for all students, and eighth grade students to complete The following students were challenged the students mentally. and there were over 200 entries. named winners: Natalie Popile- The following students were The theme for the science vsky, Elizabeth Balzac, Lilli Se- named winners: Ethan Abelev, fair this year allowed the students idman, Zoe Ng, Avikar Khakh, Nathaniel Levy, Elani Rocha, a lot of freedom to partake in any John Sabu, Emma Bellin, Sasiru Skylar Kampton, Leah Bragin, desired topic. After students se- Parthiranage, Benjamin Sherman, Anastasia Inglima, Rachel De- lected a topic, they phrased the Emma Tsoglin, Leah Hazan, Eden Marsico, Lily Cohen, Leeya idea into the sentence prompt : Vaknine, Justin Davis, Kyle Cun- Azemoun, Alex Feldman, Oliv- “How does ____ affect ____?” ningham, Alice Fried, Alex Kes- ia Ginzburg, Liah Zangi, Emily Through the Long Island Sci- in, Eve Golan and David Lamour. Erdos, Noah Kesler, Sasha Sher- ence Congress Inc., the winners The 7th grade science fair man, Gafi Pentinio, Hiral Chavre, are sent to St. Anthony’s High took place January 18th, 2018 in Ilana Mizrahi, Jadon Margu- School on April 17th of 2018, the Woodmere Middle School lies, Anneliese Baum, Jaime Ng, where they compete with peers gymnasium. The students com- Julia Shrem, and Paige Sirlin. Volume II, Issue I The Boulevard School News 4 High School Theatre Department by Sidrah and Tauba Ashrafi They helped the sixth graders visational exercises, including On Thursday, December by giving them tips related to Emotional Fairytale, Rotations, 14, 2017 the High School The- writing, diction, and acting. The Park Bench, Taxi cab, Three ater Department came down to next day in class, students per- Headed Monster, and more. The Woodmere Middle School and formed their plays with props. students in Mrs. Mauriello’s 5th visited every class. They worked The high school students period class were especially fond with the 6th graders to create worked with the other grades, of a specific improvisational ex- and perform short plays and as well. The 7th and 8th graders ercise known as “Late for Work.” worked on improvisation with worked on improvisation in their The way it works is as follows: A the seventh and eighth graders. english classrooms. Improvisa- student who plays the “Late Em- Sixth graders n Mrs. Shep- tion is making things up on the ployee” steps out of the classroom pard’s 3rd period class worked spot, or performing without a as the rest of the students decide with the High Schoolers why they were late and to write and perform a how they got to work. skit based on the Egyp- After that is decided, tian deities.