Introducing our new CAA: Andrew Bloom!

Hi! My name is Andrew Bloom and I'm excited to be serving America SCORES Seattle this year as an Americorps volunteer through Coach Across America. I recently received my degree in Exercise Science and Health from the University of Idaho, where I also competed in D1 Track and Field. I'm excited to be working with the youth in this community and helping them develop their soccer and life skills.

How did you get into education or start working with youth?
I began working with youth back in college where I became very involved with my teams youth camp that we ran every year. From there I moved on to coaching track and soccer during the summer time.

What is your favorite sport to play?
My favorite sport to play growing up was probably soccer. But the sport I have been apart of the longest is track and field. I was always that kid on the playground who was looking for a race. 

Who is your favorite athlete?
I would have to say Russell Wilson, because he is an exceptional leader on and off the field. He sets a great example for others by never giving up. And... because Go Hawks!!

What is your favorite poem?
I think my favorite poem would have to be "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. I'm not the biggest poetry buff, but this poem has always seemed to stick with me. Im excited to learn more about poetry this year and see the great work the kids in this program come up with. 

I'm thrilled to be apart of this great program and can't wait to see these kids progress through out the season. I have already had the pleasure of working with the Jr. SCORES the past two weeks at Maple and Dunlap Elementary Schools, and look forward to getting to know them better over the next six weeks.

Let's Celebrate Our Finalists!

Last week we shared some exciting news! America SCORES Seattle is off to New York City and representing our state are two wonderful #PoetAthletes! Congratulations Khadija and Mohamed!

However, picking these two, from even a handful of finalists from various schools, was not easy...and we wanted to show you why! Check back to see our special highlight of Kadijah's and Mohamed's poetry and preparation for the National Poetry Slam in NYC!

This week, we would like to take the time to congratulate and showcase all of our amazing state finalists who worked so hard to get where they are!

Enjoy these thoughtful words!

“Craziness”

One day love

One day happiness

One day sadness

One day craziness

Maybe I’m not right for this world

What is the meaning of life?

What am I supposed to do?

I can’t change anything

I see this girl in my dreams

She puts on a smile

I can see from a mile

Maybe I’m crazy in the brain

Or maybe I was just sleeping on the train

- Rose L.

  (Bailey Gatzert Elementary, 5th Grade)

"Untitled"

People say I’m nothing

But I try to find who I am

I try, try

But today I know who I really am

I am that boy who has confidence

It doesn't hurt that people say I’m nothing

Because today I know who I really am

                                                                          

- Sadik O.

(Bailey Gatzert, 3rd Grade)

“Life”

Life

Never fair

But of course

Never easy

There are nice people

And mean people

But everyday of your life

No matter how hard it is

Stop

And think of those people that helped you in your difficult times

The person that made you the most happiest human being in the world 

And the woman who gave you life

And always remember to have faith and live every second of your life

No matter what

- Adriana H. 

 (Bailey Gatzert, 5th Grade)

“Hope”

I see my people getting hurt, but I can’t do nothing

What’s there to live for

If I can’t do what I love?

I’m just a little girl with big dreams

People say I’m too young to help others

But today

No matter how young I am

I’ll stand up for what I believe in

Because I’m that girl

Who has courage 

- Hibo O.

(Bailey Gatzert, 5th Grade)

“Umbrella”

You shield me from the rain

Bouncing off the wetness

You are armor in disguise

- Sabrina H.

  (Bailey Gatzert, 3rd Grade)

“Me”

I’m looking at my reflection in the sea

It seems to be looking back at me

I can only see me

Lonely as I can be

Being the only one that believes in me

Seeing the future that’s ahead of me

Dreaming the dreams that only I can see

Black hair, dark brown eyes, smart kid

Yeah, that’s me

But my future

It’s still a mystery 

- Andrew L.

(Bailey Gatzert, 5th Grade)

“Friendship”

A friend is like a flower

A rose to be exact

Or maybe like a brand new gate

That never comes unlatched

A friend is like an owl

Both beautiful and wise

A friend is like a ghost

Whose spirit never dies

A friend is like a heart

That goes strong until the end

Where would we be in this world?

If we didn't have a friend

Friendship is like a treasure

Full of riches and gold

Friendship is a memory

That can never grow old

I awoke with a happy heart

And thanks-giving for my friend

- Kaycee C. 

 (Maple Elementary, Fifth Grade)

“I Remember”

I remember Darkness

I remember the banging of my chest

And the pumping of my blood

I remember my arms tightening

And the drops of sweat rolling down my face

I remember silence

I could taste fear coming for me

 I remember seeing black

And the monsters in my head come rolling in

I remember being afraid of feeling fear

- Trey P.

(Maple Elementary, Fifth Grade)

"Somali Girl"

I am a Somali girl

And this is how I see the world

I see people that are different from each other

They don’t speak the same language

Some live in pain

And some live in anguish

Because they can’t feed their kids or can’t pay their rent

By the time they get their pay check

Their moneys already spent

Some get bullied

Some get murdered

Some get led around like sheep to a herder

People rob other people

Young kids killing or shooting other kids

People are acting like animals

And killing other people

Before their interested in using their words

PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE

Have some respect

What do I have to do?

Get on my knees?

Don’t make me do that

Help Somalia

And see what you get out of that

You can help Somalia even though you’re not Somalian

Once you get to meet them

They’re pretty funny

The way they talk is amazing

Every time I meet someone who just came from Somalia

I ask them to teach me own language perfectly

 Somalia is beautiful country

I hope you go to Somalia and see what we people are like

Because I know we Somali people are fun, loving, sweet and supportive

- Nafisa W.

  (Dunlap Elementary, 5th Grade)

“Friends of All Sorts”

It doesn’t cost a penny

But it’s worth more than gold

Like water in the desert sand

And it’s in the palm of your hand

Some are like a hallucination

That come to pollute

Others are like a fresh breath of air

That will be there anytime, anywhere

But some get you so mad

You pull out your hair

But you know what?

I don’t even care.

I don’t even care.

‘Cause that’s my friend

I don’t have to be locked in a tiny box

I don’t have to raise my hand to talk

I can say what I what I want to say

And do what I want to do

That’s what friends come down to

- Kya L. 

(Dunlap Elementary, 4th Grade)

“Dream”

I’m a girl who knows she’s all about that bass

Can she be shy?

Yes

But she can still knows how work it

Dreams bigger than New York

And soon to be a woman

Um, sweet, sour, but I’m not going to lie

A little bit crazy

This might be a dream

But, girl, I’m living it

- Sucdi H. 

  (Dunlap Elementary, 5th Grade)

“Me”

I’m the strongest kid of them all

People say I don’t cry at all

Well, I might cry, if I get lost in the mall

Too much things in my head

That’s why I get brain-farts

But wait! I’m smart

And I always get A-pluses in art

I’ve got the skills

To help pay my electric bills

I’ve got the knowledge

That will take me to college

If you don’t believe me

Ask my future me

-Gimarco L.

(Dunlap Elementary, 5th Grade)

"Imperfect"

Imperfect is labeled on me

Making so many mistakes

Being so clumsy with plates

My hair goes crazy

My nails are so long…I can be wolverine

I can’t sing, nor can I dance

But I still do it anyways

I’m not shy or confident

I’m shy-fident AND awkward

I read like a turtle

But slow and steady always wins the race

I can’t cook

My jokes are so corny, you’ll kill me

I’m such a goofball that I laugh at the stupidest things

I get tongue twisted on my own words

I say pretty weird stuff all the time

And that comes from this head

Where all of my imagination and my creativity come from

It runs buck-wild in my head

YIPPEE-KAY-YEAH! 

- Cindy N.

  (Dunlap Elementary, 5th Grade)

“Scared”

Yes, I said it.

I’m scared.

It’s hard to stay

But I did it today

I regret it every minute

‘til this may

Pray this feeling will go away

But it didn’t

Scared

Yes, I said it a million times now

I’m scared

I’m not scared to say

But I still did it today

And I’m proud to say

I’m not scared

Now I can go on my way

A big light won’t give me a scare

So don’t jump in my way and say, “hey”

Because --- I’m not scared

- Ariyana S. 

(Roxhill Elementary, 5th Grade)

"When I Was Two"

When I was two

It was two years from when I was born

I ate a lot of corn

I was chubby and cute

When I sang it would sound like a flute

When I was two

I was quite an unmute

I was diagnosed with dolichoectasia

When I was two

I was in a coma for five months

For my parents it was tough

When I was two

My tonsils were infected

The doctors did something to protect it

When I was two

I had a feeding tube

The doctors sent me to the emergency room

When I was two

I’m lucky I’m not in a grave

I was little, but still brave

That’s why ‘til this very day

People say,

“Why do you sound like that?”

- Agnessa U.

  (Roxhill Elementary, 5th Grade)

Thank you all for sharing your powerful words!
Keep writing!

Oh the Places You'll Go…America SCORES Seattle in NYC!

We hope all enjoyed their Winter break and time spent with family in friends! 

Now it’s 2015 and things are already rolling right along for Poet-Athletes.

My name is Carina and I am the newest member of the America SCORES Seattle team and could not be more thrilled! With a background in anthropology, I have enjoyed working with the youth in Seattle Public Schools for almost a decade, and now, look forward to taking that work one step further with America SCORES! I love reading, good food, friends, and time spent outdoors! I could not be more excited for everything that is going on here at SCORES and look forward to all we will accomplish in the new year!  

Over the last two weeks, Coach Sarah and I have had the privilege of hearing some amazing poetry! Every year, each America SCORES around the country has the opportunity to send two students, one boy and one girl, to the Big Apple! Once here, these students compete in a national level poetry slam and we know, that’s a lot of pressure! After spending hours preparing, our students had the opportunity to audition on video for our judges. What we all learned? There are a lot of awesome Poet-Athletes in Seattle and even for our judges, this was an incredibly challenging decision to make.  

We are so proud of our students who competed on the state level over the last couple of weeks and know that they worked incredibly hard to get as far as they did! We here at America SCORES know that it takes tremendous courage to share such creative, special and unique stories with us and our judges through your poetry!

Check in next week to see all of our America SCORES Seattle national candidates and find out who will be competing in New York this year!!!