Packing Great Memories and Hopes: Kids Anticipate Our Move!
Last year, when we realized that we would be moving our school to a new facility, our librarian, Ms. Polly Smith, organized a poetry collaboration with a group of 2nd graders. She asked them to list all the things they'd like to bring with them from our current building to our new building.
Then, with Ms. Smith's help, the group arranged their list into a poem. The project was not only fun, but helped students process the news of our upcoming move in a positive way.
Here is their poem and all the special things we will never forget to bring with us when we move — even if some things on the list are only brought in our memories of our wonderful years at 200 South Oak Park Avenue:
We are moving! What should we bring with us?
Basically, Roz the Robot
and all the third graders
and my 8th grade Buddy and all my stuff
and all of you guys
and everything that’s cozy
and all those stuffy Pigeons
and our trampoline
and all the wood in the courtyard
and the bean bag chairs
and the recyclables area
and the rug–and the green rug and all the rugs!
and everything that’s fancy
and the medical equipment
and the white tiger, so I can sleep on it
and the alarms: smoke alarm, fire alarm, tornado alarm
ALL the sinks
and the running track
and the bathrooms, so we can go to the bathroom
and the calculators, and combine them into one giant
calculator and we have to jump on the buttons!
and the basketball hoop
AIR!
and clay
and the fancy guitar in the music room
and the attendance sheets, so we know who’s there
and the job sheets
and the dry erase board
and all the snacks in the Office
and the dodgeballs
and the music room popcorn
and a microwave
and Ms. Naomi from the art room
and the security cameras
and…
I need to bring MYSELF!
–a poem by Group B of the Phoenixes (2022-23)
