Today, we had our poetry slam, where student groups competed each other until the winning poet reigned supreme. Here are the top 6 poems from each class period. The winning poems have an asterisk. Congratulations, poets! The purpose of this exercise was to show you how even poems written 150 years ago, or 90 years ago can still be relevant today. Today, we still hear America singing, as Walt Whitman exclaimed, and today, the darker brother of Langston Hughes' "I, too" still resounds within so many identities and stories of minorities and the disenfranchised. I hope that from this exercise, you recognize the power of poetic expression and the beauty of words. 

Period 1-2 
Gerardo Ramirez 
I, Too, sing America 
Soy el hermano más oscuro
They advise me, ”Go back to Mexico”
When tragedy occurs,
But I chuckle,
And I study hard,
And I grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I will be saving lives,
As a doctor 
When tragedy occurs.
People will know better,
Than to tell me,
“Go back to Mexico!”
Besides, 
They’ll see how bright I can shine
And be regretful一
I, too, am America.

*Melissa Ortega
I am the Spanish speaker
My president places the English in higher position 
Living constant struggle 
We work, push through
For our families 
We are strong 
One day
The Spanish will be in office
Came here for a better life 
Worked twice as hard
Earned respect 
We are not “Rapists, drug dealers, and terrorists” 
Never
Besides 
What is this country without diversity
We are more
I too, am American.

Alyssa Chavez 
We, too dream America
They send us to work in the fields
We harvest corn and squash
We pick strawberries
From sun up to sun down, we work hard to put food on our table
We work hard, make low wages, yet don't belong in this country
We move to have a better life, better jobs, freedom, etc.
That is why we are here in America 
Someday we hope to make as much money as any other white person
We, too dream America 

Jesse Guzman
I too, sing America.
I am a man with many colors.
They don't see me,
Yet they could.
Embarrassed 
Because of 
my appearance,
No one wants to see
me in the table.
One day people will
See me at the table.
Shall anyone dare to 
Ask me to ‘eat somewhere like
The kitchen’.
Eating well and growing strong.
 They’ll see how strong and beautiful
I am
Yet I'm not treated equal
 I sing too, America. 

Erick Garcia
I Too Am You
I am the colorful sibling
They keep me captive inside of this closet
When everyone lives,
But I rethink
And I grow smarter
And become suspicious
Tomorrow
I'll be out the closet
When everybody lives
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me
“Stay in the Closet” 
Ever.
Despite,
They’ll see the free in me
And feel regret
I too am You

​Jennifer Almanza 
I walk the same path as the rest
I am judged for who I like
They avoid them for their change in gender
For when guys are liked by girls
I like girls
One day I won't be overlooked 
I won't be ignored
We will walk along side the straight
They won't care for gender Nor say my sexuality is an insult
We hide behind our colorful flag
Our symbol of individuality
but that will be no more
Although your path is straight your being the most walked
Ours should also feel footsteps

Period 3-4 
Jacob Hernandez 
I hear America singing, the assorted voices of the chorus.
Those of India, each one taking part in a mystic Hindustani song.
The Mexicans, dancing to the slow hearty Mariachi music.
The Germans, tuning to an optimistic Volkslieder
While the music of France may be varied...their sense of fashion is one of a kind.
Then there's that feeling of the Irish Trad that words can't describe.
Of course, you could go back to the American Jazz, Blues, and the sort
But where's the fun in that?
We pass down the songs we've learned from our forefathers,
Sharing the joys that they bring us as we receive from others,
Singing a symphony in our America.

Sharon Molina 
We speak for America 
I am, a human being
An off color sitting in a bus 
soon the superior comes for their seat 
but I smile 
And talk sincere
And welcome them 
In the future,
I'll be sitting calmly 
the superior won't dare 
make me worship 
this uneven life
Though,
It will take time
I of an off color 
am also a human being 
We, are one with America 

Stacy Gomez 
I, too, sing America.
I am the Mexican-American daughter.
They speak to me in both languages 
When we leave,
She stays behind,
And it makes me heartbroken,
But I know
Tomorrow, 
It will all change
When we departure 
Nobody will say
To her 
“Vamos a hacer lo posible”
After,
They’ll learn
To see that she’s not the stereotypical person they think she is 
And be humiliated-
She, too, is America.

*Dilan Torres
I too sing America,
I am the eldest Mexican brother,
I was born in Mexico,
When people come by to pass or visit,
I have to hide in the shadows,
But I don’t mind,
I’m healthy,
And I’m growing strongly,
But the day after today,
I won’t be living in the shadows,
No one will tell me to hide, 
All alone then.
They will soon see who I am,
I’m an immigrant but I still shine brightly,
And when they see how I shine,
They will be ashamed,
Because,
Even though I’m an Immigrant, 
I too sing,
And am America.

Christian Victor-Vega 
I am the class apart from the whites.
I am addressed to a diverse place as for who I am,
When there is a connection in procedure,
However, I form chuckles,
rAnd gather up all my perceptions,
And affirm my purpose.
In the future,
I will remain in the place I was discharged,
When the connection proceeds.
There will be no more concern 
For the words expressed,
“Eat in the kitchen,” indicating my discharge,
When the time approaches.
To add about,
My resemblance will be noticed as of now, 
And remorse will be for whom had not noticed— 
That, I as well, am American.

Alondra Luis 
I too will come to America
Covered all around in darkness
They say to me, In starvation
In destruction
I just hope
And seek for nourishment 
To find strength
Tomorrow, a new day
I will be in America
New people to meet
No one will come up to me
Or Talk to me at all 
With great disappointment, I see disgusted faces 
Ones that stare at me all day
After all
They will be ashamed
To see the beauty beneath the covers
 To find an American

Period 7-8
Danali Olivares 
We speak madness 
With a method behind it
Working harder than the others
And getting paid a couple dollars
We swear and cry more tears than the other
And still get called
¨Criminals¨ 
¨Rapists¨
¨People that have lots of problems¨
We are none of that
We are just parents that 
Sacrifice ourselves 
For our future kids generation 
Letting them live in a place 
Where they can be anything
Or anyone
In America
Where they don't want us

Andrei Espiritu 
I, too, sing America.
I am the moneyless brother.
They ignore me in my time of needs,
But I smile,
And help others.
Tomorrow, 
I won’t be there,
Nobody’ll dare neglect me
Besides,
I’ll be gone,
And they’ll be ashamed-
I, too, sing America.

Nathan Gutierrez 
I, too, am  America
I, too, am the mistreated brother
They send me to fix the crops
when work is needed to be done.
But I live,
I rebel,
and I do what I say.
Soon,
They will see how important I am. 
I'll be the one sending them to fix the crops.
They will see I am equal and deserve their loyalty more than they deserve mine.
Just then
They'll see how important I am.
I, too, am America.

*Tina Vu
I, too am America, 
I am the heavier sister,
Their words pinch my figure,
The thread continues,
The expectation expands
Upon me,
Slimmer waist,
Slimmer body, 
Slimmer hopes of happiness
And conformity,
The Sun rises again,
This time
No one will
comment about my weight,
Telling me to
“Hit the gym”
Because they forget,
The beauty that within,
I, too, am America

Daniel Gonzalez
I, Too belong in America.
They call me offensive names.
They want to remove us from America
Because of the new president,
But I have friends,
That help me eat,
And give me a place to stay.
Someday,
I'll be free in America.
Nobody will dare
Call me,
Offensive names
​Then.
Besides,
They'll see how wrong they were
and feel bad-
I, too belong in America.

Faith Ardona 
I, too, proclaim America.
I am the wandering, penniless younger sibling.
They send me away to settle on my own
When my older siblings succeed more than I,
But I smile,
And travel far,
And find my place.
Tomorrow,
I'll be on top of the world
When my siblings fail.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"You're hopeless and a failure, so go support yourself,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how content I am
And regret discarding me.
I, too, am America.

Hello students! For our last unit, we will be exploring the definition and ideals behind the word "AMERICAN." In today's political climate where the definition of what an American is is contested, debated, and convoluted by loud voices, it is more important than ever before for YOU to determine what YOU believe is the definition of an AMERICAN. We will explore this multiple texts including (but not limited to) the following works: 

• Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing"
• Langston Hughes; "I, Too"
• John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (Chapter Nineteen)
• An article in The Atlantic, titled "What does 'American' actually mean?" by Karina Martinez-Carter (2013)
• An article from The New York Times titled "American Dream? or Mirage?" by Michael K. Kraus, Shai Davidai, and A. David Nussbaum (2015). 
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech 
• Podcasts from WBEZ's This American Life 

Today, we discussed the meaning of an AMERICAN, what it means to be AMERICAN, and what the AMERICAN LIFE is all about. All of your thoughts and ideas that you contributed are included below. We will continue to tackle these issues, engage in discussions, and revisit many of these claims, ideas, and assumptions. Remember, there are no wrong answers (except for a few haha), and the most important lesson to learn is that context and multiple perspectives MATTER. 

Responses from period 1-2 (above). 

Responses from period 3-4 (above).

Responses from period 7-8 (above). 

Students diligently worked on their GATE Symposium projects for seven weeks! Last week, they presented at our annual research symposium. We will be updating this post with images and a video of the amazing event! Over three hundred 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students presented their research, using GATE curriculum, universal themes, and generalizations as lenses in which to view and think critically about their topics. From question to question, they explored their driving question and culminated with the ending "unanswered" question that fit in with this year's theme of "Where do I fit in?" From exploration to introspection, students engaged in 21st century skills and had the privilege of working with community members, experts, and professors, and present their findings to their family, friends, and members of our community. Go, Mustangs!  GO, SCHOOL-WIDE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING! 

Descartes Post  - DUE Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 before midnight.
ELA BLOG POST #5
Take a screen shot of the image above (from your Descartes assessment) and write down your answer -- You can copy it from your assessment (Descartes Test) and revise if necessary. You can also check your Descartes TBQs on Canvas to see if Ms. Park gave you any recommendations/corrections/comments, to refine your answers. What is existentialism according to Descartes? How does it relate to perceiving versus perception, thinking versus thought, or judging versus judgment? This should go on your ELA BLOG PAGE. 

DIGITAL WRITING PORTFOLIO - DUE Thursday, February 2nd, 2017 before midnight. ELA BLOG POST #6
Please post your 2nd and 3rd EBA essays as a PDF on your websites (under the ELA BLOG section/page). You will receive your EBA #3 back on Thursday. You can post them by downloading the google docs as PDFs. Please label them as follows:
       EBA #2 - Junk Food Argumentative Essay 
       EBA #3 - Google Argumentative Essay
(You already posted EBA #1 before the winter holiday). 

Personal Learning Goal (PLG) Update on your ABOUT ME PAGE - Due Monday, February 6th, 2017 before midnight. ABOUT ME POST #2
Please write about where you are in your goals (the ones that you made in October). Write about your MAP TEST SCORE. Did you grow or not grow? Did you meet your project RIT score, or did you improve in some areas but not others? You should only discuss the ENGLISH (Reading 6+) portion of your MAP Score on this post.