Student Newsletter |
Newsletter Officers  |
Let Freedom Ring…..Students Need a Voice |
Academy of Flint
|
|
History has taught us that African American people spoke out for their rights. Many even died doing so. Several blacks were also known for their inspiring written words. So, silence was not and is not something we as people do. Many blacks today are still speaking out. Students today should also take the example of our ancestors and speak out. If we as students do not speak up, no one will know what we have on our minds. This causes problems when we are always dictated to. We may not have all of the experience of an adult, but we do have opinions and will research facts to support our positions. School administration should also want students to have a voice on things they want changed. When all people affected are involved in the early stages of planning, the best results occur. Getting in on the front end would be a WIN-WIN for all. What we need is a voice, such as a Young Achiever’s Council (YAC). If we had a Young Achiever’s Council we could help provide the pros and cons from a student’s perspective. In conclusion, we want to leave a legacy of independence. We are looking with ourselves for the right to achieve and be successful. We want to continue the road of “liberty and freedom for all”...Yes, FOR ALL!!! We want our voices to find solutions, not just problems, and remedies not fault. To “buy in” we need a “say in”. Aaron Williams & Tiara Watson Editor & Photographer |
Issue 2 February 2012 Officers Editor in Chief: Aaron Williams Reporters: K-2: Tyler Washington & Jamari Thomas 3-6: Dhajanae Sylvertooth & Larryah Hill 7-8: Alona Jones & Adrian Earnest Photographer: Tiara Watson |
|
“Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the list’ning skies, Let is resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won”
|
 |
Page 2
From the Corner of the Yellow Jackets (Grades K-2)
Let’s Celebrate!!!!!
Tyler Washington & Jamari Thomas-Newell, Reporters
This is the month we celebrate Black History. Yes, we have a great heritage to celebrate, but, we also have history in the making we want to acknowledge. Typically, we only give credit to the same roll call of honorees to celebrate…i.e. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, etc. We don’t want to take away any credit from these great people, however, we would like to focus on the living in this edition.
Activists
Al Sharpton
Louis Farrakhan
Jessie Jackson
Music
B.B. King
Aretha Franklin
Cathy Hughes
Diana Ross
Leadership
President Obama
Nelson Mandela
Government
Clarence Thomas
Henry Louis Gates
Colin Powell
Floyd McCree
Joe Davis Jr.
George Wilson
Education
Jerry D. Pope
Dr. Nathinel Williams
Ms. Elnora Crutcfield
Mrs. Kimberly Coulter
Dr. Nate Burtley
Henry Louis Gates
Invention
Kenneth Dunkley
Phillip Emeagwali
Business
Oprah Winfrey
Bill Cosby
Literature
Maya Angelou
Alice Walker
Christopher Paul Curtis
Sports
Michael Jordan (Basketball)
Muggsy Bogues (Basketball)
Charlie Sifford (Golf)
Tiger Woods (Golf)
Barry Bonds (Baseball)
Mohammed Ali (Boxing)
We believe the aforementioned list is exemplary with people who are doing extraordinary things. Remember, the best book has not been written, the best song has not been sung, the greatest invention is not here yet, and mystery is far beyond the eye can imagine. But, we believe these black Americans along with many others not named are marching on to the triumph of victory for all of us to witness. Let’s join them in making history toward our future a positive one.
Let’s Celebrate and Bring it Home 
Ms. Voncile Boggan
We asked the beloved Ms. V. what it’s like to work with the Yellow Jackets (grades K-2). She said, “I think it’s a challenge, but I like it”. She enjoys it because she loves the kids she works with. The children call her auntie, granny, and momma. They treat each other as family. That’s a good thing in many ways. Why? Because we spend more hours interacting here with staff than at home in a day. She said that it’s challenging to have to deal with many personalities and attitudes. All and all it works out because they love her and she loves them. I think our main reason for choosing Ms. Voncile is that she works well with all of the children. She always gets hugs from the Yellow Jackets, she makes sure they are doing the right thing and are always in the right places. She does it without yelling or upsetting the children. Sometimes that’s all it takes to be cool with the little guys.
We salute Ms. V. for making a difference in the lives of our kindergarten through second grade students. This is black history in the making.
Issue 2
Page 3
Mighty Bees (Grades 3-6)
Read, Lead, and Succeed
Dhajanae Sylvertooth & Larryah Hill, Reporters
Reading is a way to enjoy happiness in a frustrating world. Every one of us has a purpose on this earth. Why not aim for the best? Reading opens up a whole new beginning for us to gain success. It is our ability to study as well as be self taught. The relevance of this gains momentum as we grow older in life. Reading is a means of sharing information and ideas.
It is also FUN!!!!
R-remember
E-every
A-activity
D-decides your fate
Leading is defined as the means to empower others to solve problems, generate ideas, and implement solutions to achieve common goals. It is also the ability to adapt successfully to changes in requirements and context.
L-let
E-each
A-activity
D-determine greatness
Success is nothing more than the favorable or prosperous end of one’s attempts or endeavors. This is the outcome of reading and leading. History has taught us that literature is the key…the foundation…the beginning to success.
S-simply
U-use
C-character and courageous
C- choices
E-each and
E-every
D-day
The famous Alice Walker, known for her novel, The Color Purple, thinks reading is a basic tool in living a good life. Ms. Walker is a novelist and a poet, who wrote the classic novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God”. In 1982, she won the “Pulitzer Prize” and the “American Book Award”, for The Color Purple. The famous Oprah Winfrey, who also played in the movie, The Color Purple, has highlighted literature to a larger audience.
Alice Walker
Margaret Fuller wrote the quote, “Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader”. We interviewed our 5th and 6th grade Book Bowlers, to see what they had to say about this quote. One of the responses was: “if I am a good reader now, it will help me be successful later in life.” These students are using their lunch time to read and interpret new literature. Niquan Williams, a 6th grader in Mrs. Essix’s class, said, “reading books is adding knowledge for me”. We would like to congratulate all of our Book Bowlers for utilizing their free time wisely. This is what we mean when we say, reading makes a difference.
In conclusion, everyone should read to help them succeed in what they want to do in life. We hope this inspires others to read and start a new beginning. These are the Mighty Bees in closing, saying reading today helps to become leaders tomorrow and gain success in life. Let’s continue the march of victory as our ancestors and let freedom ring.
5th & 6th Grade Book Bowlers
Aliyah Giles - Mrs. Mason’s homeroom
Iyanla Kelso - Mrs. Mason’s homeroom
Kaliyah Glover - Mrs. Mason’s homeroom
Tayyanna Jemison - Mrs. Anthony’s homeroom
Niquan Williams - Mrs. Essix’s homeroom
Aajah Hendrix - Mrs. Mason’s homeroom
Destiny Davis – Mrs. Anthony’s homeroom
Academy of Flint 5th & 6th Grade Book Bowlers
Page 4
7th & 8th Grade Hornets
Your Environment Can Dictate Your Future
Alona Jones & Adrian Earnest, Reporters
Friends can have either a positive or negative impact on you. If you hang with negative peers you can begin to act the same way if you are not a strong willed person. We must remember to look for the standards in our friends that we have been taught in school, home, and church. What we do today can have a lasting impression on our lives. Therefore, we must learn to make good decisions about who our friends are and will be as well as actions we decide to make.
We interviewed Jani Toney, a 7th grader in Mr. Martin’s Class. We asked her what the quote, “Be careful the environment you choose, for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them” by Clement Stone meant to her. She replied, “That the people you hang with and put yourself with can influence you. So, be careful because you don’t want to be in a group with a bunch of bad apples, they could spoil the rest too. You should always better yourself, and pick friends that you truly know will accept you, and give you good habits. It also means that your background and surroundings put a name to you. It’s your job to make sure it’s not a bad one.” We also asked Jani if her friends affect her personality. She answered “No, my friends don’t affect my personality. They actually help me become a better person. I make my own decisions, and I want to be an awesome person. I dismiss friends that are bad or have bad habits”.
Choose friends wisely. If you want to have good behavior and be successful then choose friends that have the same objectives. Be your own person and don’t let others impact your potential greatness.
Congratulations!!!
History in the Making
Flint Institute of Arts Scholarship Awarded to Jhorden Miller
Jhorden Miller is the recipient of an art scholarship from the Flint Institute of Arts. Jhorden says she feels extremely proud because many young people don’t have the opportunity to explore their dreams. She is an excellent artist. She has a great deal of artwork, some even hanging in Mr. Finateri’s classroom. Jhorden was inspired to draw by many things, and she believes in the old saying, “practice makes perfect”. Her favorite pieces are: Lady Gaga Collage, Jesus, and a Hand Holding a Heart. Most of her work is realistic and 3 dimensional.
Jhorden wishes to give a special thanks to Ms. Anderson, Parent Referral Specialist, who assisted her in applying and receiving the scholarship. THANKS!!!
Academy of Flint Spelling Bee Winners on the Road to Victory
4th grade
1st-De’Andreia Randall
2nd-De’Andre Randall
3rd-Asia Wilson
5th grade
1st-Aajah Hendrix
2nd-Mariah Shields
3rd-Zaria Fisher
6th grade
1st-Zyshan Anthony Jones
2nd-Tamiya Tate
3rd Miyanna Nelson
7th grade
1st-Tashay Robinson
2nd-Jhorden Miller
3rd-Maurice Hunter
8th grade
1st-Larryah Hill
2nd-Dhajanae Sylvertooth
3rd-ShaeDon Hutson
