ACE Spectrum
ACE Spectrum
Ace Spectrum is about you — the ACE Learning Centers.
It’s a quick sharing of ideas, inspiration, opinions and best practices among our continuing education organizations.
Please join the conversation.
ACE Poetry Contest Winners from Alpha: José Hernández Explore Spring in Quarantine
By Riley, ACE Poetry Contest Mascot
I’m running around in circles ➿➿➿ ‘cause we have a haiku poem in the winning group of ACE Poetry Contest poems from Alpha: José Hernández. Haiku is one of my favorites, but the other poems are great too. Arf, arf, after reading these poems, you get insight into how tough this quarantine is for everyone, but in a thoughtful way. Plus, now I want to go fishing. Hey, John and Lucy – put that on your list please.
Arf, arf, let’s spring into the winning poems.
First Place
By Stephen Alcocer, 7th Grade
Sun behind windows
A longing sigh for the breeze
Spring in Quarantine
Second Place
Turning Point
By Victoria Neri, 8th Grade
From all days of fun, what has this become
For we’re stuck inside with some of our pride, thinking
Thinking how has this become, and when it’s to end
Thinking how it’s taking lives of many who tried
Those who have tried may have died from this cursed thing
Taking the young from their fun
Breaking the old from what they’ve done
The things they’ve always loved and always done through life
The loved ones whom are far you can only see from 6ft apart
It doesn’t dare care about whom we are
It only takes
It’s take the jobs which has caused some to sob
The worry has spread to who is sick and may be dead
No goodbye, but only people who cry
Those who die, die alone
Some follow, while others don’t
Many things have risen, but that’s life
Third Place
Take Me Fishing
By Genesis Perez, 6th Grade
Take me fishing, morning or evening I’d rather be fishing, the rest can all wait.
I went down to the river and caught a little fish which made me really happy because
I wanted the fish.
My sister doesn’t like going fishing. Morning or evening she rather be sleeping. I went to
her room and saw her sleeping which made me very happy because she didn’t annoy
me while I was preparing for fishing.
Once again take me fishing
Please take me,
fishing!!
More winning poems will be shared next week so stay tuned. Everyone: have a safe and fun weekend. Remember – six feet apart, even if you’re fishing. (I hate that too because I love my pets from Lucy.) But hopefully you can treat yourself to a poem.
Heroes Beat the Corona Beast in ACE Poetry Contest Winner’s Poem from Oakland International High School
By Riley, ACE Poetry Contest Mascot
There are all kinds of beasts out there (I know, ‘cause I’m a dog) and this poem identifies our current Big Beast – the coronavirus. While we students may be sick of distance learning and interfacing with friends and teachers just on a screen, there are others who are really sick out there. Unfortunately, some never fully recover and have major health issues or end up . . . oh, I can’t even say it.
But here’s a poem about the heroes and how they shine through to beat the beast with a vaccine and this pandemic becomes history. It’s the winner of the ACE Poetry Contest from Oakland International High School (OIHS.)
The Beast
By Noor Allataifih, 9th Grade, Oakland International High School
Dear children, come here
I urge you not to fear
As I tell you the story of a beast
Who looked day and night for a feast
He came when I was only a teen
Forced us all into quarantine
We were informed to stay home
Not even to school can we go
Yet some would still roam
Then become the beast’s foe
Slowly some noticed symptoms
Soon after, they became victims
Our lives were in danger
Because of this stranger
Not all hope was lost
However, some lives were the cost
The whole world would pray
For this unwelcome visitor to go away
But it seemed that he was there to stay
During these times,
The true heroes shone through
As the beast commit crimes
In the shape of a flu
Slowly but surely
The beast grew weak
As our heroes protected the world securely
An antidote they would seek
After a while, the beast’s signs were cleared
We looked carefully, but there weren’t any
Suddenly, he had disappeared
After taking so many
People searched far and near
But there was nothing else to fear
The beast, corona, was gone
And everyone moved on
As I said, my dear youngsters
There is not need to panic
For there is no longer such monsters
This was a long-gone pandemic
Congratulations Noor. A great poem full of much needed hope.
Here’s a bark-out to our friend Lauren – arf, arf. I want you to get better because I need pets and hugs from you. Plus, OIHS needs you.
More poems to come so you can treat yourself to a poem.
Spooky Times Call for a Spooky Poem from Alpha: Cindy Avitia High School ACE Poetry Contest Winner
By Joycat, one of the Poetry Cats helping Contest Mascot Riley with the ACE Poetry Contest
Hi. Joycat here. Reading this great and spooky poem.
Meooow. That lousy virus has made it hard to manage school life and teaching, so only one student from Alpha: Cindy Avitia High School submitted a poem to the ACE Poetry Contest, but it’s a great one. “Curiosity killed the cat,” is an old American saying. “But satisfaction (like reading this great poem) brought them back.”
Check out the winning poem.
Trail
By Gisela Villavicencio, Alpha: Cindy Avitia High School
A pitch, black, foggy night at Hallow Lake.
swoosh, swoosh
I feel a gust of air blown right through my hair
And I see
a trail that leads to stairs, but I wouldn’t dare to go in there.
But I wonder what’s in there?
The voices in my head would say
“Go home, don’t go in there!!”
“GO, go on go in there!!”
My thoughts and I were arguing I couldn’t decide, but the
velocity of curiosity drove me inside.
Screams, agony, and pain
…
My trembling numb body could never go back to reality.
Great poem, Gisela. A spooky treat, and kind of needed.
Stay tuned for more ACE Poetry Contest winners. And, as Riley would say, “Treat yourself to a poem.” We cats would say, “Just take it.”