We dedicate Danger: Monkeys On The Bus to our inspiring teachers and nurturing parents. Through them, we have gained the skills to write these poems, stories, and essays, which express our creative spirit through the magic of words.
The students of 3-238, 3-239, 4-206, and 4-207
In Appreciation
I would like to thank Principal Meghan Kelley for inviting me to return for a sixth year to P.S. 153X. She realizes the importance of solid writing skills, not only for students to succeed in school today but in life. I would also like to thank Assistant Principals DonnaMarie Buhl and Gidget Rivera for their enthusiastic support of the writing program.
In the true spirit of Teachers & Writers Collaborative, I would like to thank the four outstanding teachers I worked with this year: Christine Barbara, Daniella Bellizzi, Kathy Hansen, and Latechia Reddick. Excited to see their students exposed to creative writing, they welcomed me into their classrooms. Their passion for sharing ideas with a professional writer led to the array of talent expressed in Danger: Monkeys On The Bus.
I truly appreciate Daniella Bellizzi for volunteering for the second year to be the writing program’s coordinator and for the time she spent behind the scenes, ironing out details and making sure the program ran smoothly.
As well, I’d like to recognize Jessica Farkas for her enthusiasm for the writing program.
Special thanks go to paraprofessionals Ruth Ann Austin and Asmaa Zefri for their enthusiasm and assistance in Ms. Hansen’s classroom.
Last but not least, I would like to celebrate the students for their excitement and creative spark, which resulted in this outstanding anthology and led to the rewarding experience shared by everyone involved in this project.
Linda Morel
Writer-in-Residence
May 2017
Featured Poem:
The Month of Delight
by Mashrur (3rd grade)January days are not much longer than an hour,
Baking New Year’s cake with eggs and flour.
A fresh New Year has begun.
Everyone is going outside to play and have fun.
Blizzards coat the ground with snow.
The wind goes blow, blow, blow.
Snow is clean and pure white.
No one has a single fright.
The water is chilled.
The trees are frilled.
A great New Year filled with delight.
Everything is jolly and bright.
The snow is chilly and cold.
Around the house, many stories are told.
The windows are covered with sleet.
The snow has footprints of feet.
T&W is grateful to E.H.A. Foundation for making this program possible.
