Get to Know National Slam Poet William W!

William W. is one of the two students who will be representing Seattle in the National Poetry SLAM on April 16th in New York City. William has been working hard practicing his poem and is looking forward to the monumental evening. Here is your chance to learn a little bit more about William before the big event:

Name: William W.

Age: 11

School: Bailey Gatzert Elementary, 5th grade

Favorite Subject: Math

Favorite Sport & Team: Football, Seattle Seahawks

What inspires your poetry: The ability to express myself

What do you want to be when you grow up: A soccer player

What do you hope to experience in NYC? To meet new people, meet the NY Giants Football Team, see how big the Apollo Theater is, and to travel all over the city

What are you afraid of experiencing when you go to NYC? Stage fright at the Apollo theater

What is the one thing you are most excited to do in NYC? Tour the city!
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Stay tuned to the blog for more National SLAM updates and to get to know the other poet representing Seattle- Tya N.!

**William & Tya will be performing their original poetry at the Barnes & Noble in Downtown Seattle on April 1 at 2pm.**

National Poetry Slam Poets Selected!

Maple Elementary Fifth Grader Tya Nguyen and Bailey Gatzert Elementary Fifth Grader William Watson will represent Seattle in the 6th Annual America SCORES National Poetry Slam! at the legendary Apollo Theater on April 16th 2012.

Tya and William were chosen out of twelve impressive finalists. Tya’s poem “When I Close My Eyes”is a beautiful piece dedicated to her father who passed away, while William’s poem “My Pencil” powerfully describes how his pencil will be the key to his future success. For the next three months they will be perfecting these poems with help from their SCORES coaches, and practicing their performances over and over in front of parents, friends, and teachers.

The America SCORES National Poetry Slam! brings 30 elementary school poets from around the country together for a weekend in the Big Apple where they participate in teambuilding activities, poetry workshops, squeeze in some sightseeing, as well as rehearsals for the main event. On April 16th, SCORES poets will perform their original poetry from the stage of Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater in front of a large audience. After this monumental evening, SCORES students leave New York understanding the true power of their voice.

*Stay up to date with Tya and William’s trip to New York City and read their poetry on America SCORES Seattle’s blog!

Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of Valentine's Day here is a beautiful poem titled "What is Love?" by the Bailey Gatzert Girls team! What is Love?

by: Bailey Gatzert Girls Team

Love smells like a warm strawberry pie
Love tastes like sweet milk chocolate
Love feels like my mother’s good night kiss
Love is like a seed
You can’t force it to grow

I wonder, What is Love?
I ask, What is Love?

Love looks like the warm sun shining on me
Love tastes like zingy tomatoes
Love sounds like flower petals falling
Love looks like teammates working together

I wonder, What is Love?
I ask, What is Love?

Love feels like a soft furry blanket
Love looks like red hearts
Love seems like a brand new day
Love smells like red roses
Love tastes like fresh cherries falling from my tree

I wonder, What is Love?
I ask, What is Love?

Friday Poem of the Week!

Happy Friday! Todays Friday Poem of the Week is titled "Gatzert Gardeners" by Jasmine N. of Bailey Gatzert Elementary! Great poem Jasmine!

Gatzert Gardeners

by: Jasmine N.

Bailey Gatzert Elementary

We are gardeners
We dig, weed and plant
We get sweaty, thirsty and hungry
Planting seeds was like digging into the earth, way deep down
The soil was like mooshy ice-cream
In the ground I saw bugs, weeds and dead plants
I think the lavender will be like light purple and smell really fresh
Planting a garden felt like making our community a better place for people to enjoy
It will be greener!

Friday Poem of the Week!

Today's Friday Poem of the Week is a haiku titled "Ice Cream" by Vina of Bailey Gatzert Elementary! Nice job Vina!

Ice Cream Haiku
by: Vina of Bailey Gatzert Elementary

Ice Cream in a shop
Ice Cream dripping down my chin
Strawberry Yummy!!

Fall Program Begins!

Fall program has officially started at all of our SCORES schools! This season SCORES will be serving 160 students at Bailey Gatzert, Dunlap, Highland Park, Maple, & Roxhill Elementary schools. The poet-athletes are excited to share their new team cheers on the soccer field and to be in the classroom working on their poetry!

Stay updated on all of the fall season's happenings on our blog!

Friday Poem of the Week!

Today's Friday Poem of the Week is titled "What is Love?" by the Bailey Gatzert Elementary Girls Team! Way to go Gatzert!

What is Love?
by: Bailey Gatzert Elementary Girls

Love smells like a warm strawberry pie
Love tastes like sweet milk chocolate
Love feels like my mother’s good night kiss
Love is like a seed
You can’t force it to grow

I wonder, What is Love?
I ask, What is Love?

Love looks like the warm sun shining on me
Love tastes like zingy tomatoes
Love sounds like flower petals falling
Love looks like teammates working together

I wonder, What is Love?
I ask, What is Love?

Love feels like a soft furry blanket
Love looks like red hearts
Love seems like a brand new day
Love smells like red roses
Love tastes like fresh cherries falling from my tree

I wonder, What is Love?
I ask, What is Love?

Friday Poem of the Week!

Today's Friday Poem of the Week is titled "Gardening" by Linda P. of Bailey Gatzert Elementary. Happy 4th of July weekend!

Gardening
By Linda P. of Bailey Gatzert Elementary

We are gardeners,
Planting and pulling
And cutting and pruning
We see our plants growing in the sunlight
And Mother Nature hugging us in her arms.
We touch beautiful flowers and soil so soft.
We smell the fragrance of lavender and fresh air.
We hear the wind whistling in our ears
And all the grunting and groaning and moaning of effort
As we plant our garden.
We taste our hard work
And all the things that we planted together.