Christmas

It's full of laughter and joy,

You might get your favorite toy.

In the middle of the room is a big green tree,

So take a seat and a cup of tea.

The room is filled with lots of love,

So listen here for I'm the Christmas Dove.

Now I ask you, what is Christmas about?

Christmas is about caring,

Helping others and sharing.

Now the reindeer are here,

Soon Santa will appear.

You will be sound asleep,

When he takes the marvelous things from his present heap.

On Christmas morning,

You wait till you are about to burst,

Then run to the tree thinking,

Which one should I open first?

You look up at the sky,

Then slowly close your eyes.

You thoughtfully look under the tree,

Then shout with glee.

You slowly open a gift with your name,

And there in the box is your favorite game!

Then you run and wake up the others,

Before you look and reach for another.

Christmas is about caring,

Helping others and sharing.

The Horse

Mane so wild,
Eyes so gentle but fierce,
Body so agile and
Legs that never give up.

Your graceful movement,
Your spirit so wild and free.
You can just make that perfect friend for me.

The ways you can be treated
It is amazing,
But no matter what you are a very pleasing being.

Your eyes can show it all,
The caring sweetness in your heart,
The fear and sorrow that can't be shown with a tear,
And the happiness and joy that screams out like a little child.

I wish you could share all of those thoughts and memories,
Because to me you are like a close friend,
So close to talking back,
So close to telling your part of the story.

And that is why you are my best friend, The Horse....

Do You Know What That is Like?

Have you ever dreamed
Endlessly, experiencing it all, right now?
Even though it's in the future, perhaps if you're lucky
you'll get a taste of how

How great it can be
How close you are to
not just dreaming
Do you know what that is like?

To wish upon every star
Betting on superstition
Hoping someone will see who you are,
and like it?

To do everything you can
Just to grasp that helping hand of faith
Just for a minute,
Do you know what that is like?

To change your mind about some things
Just to open the doors
To the world of More?

Do you know what it's like to stand strong
throughout rough times
fighting for so long?

To feel the unbelief of some
weighing you down with:
"It usually takes a while"
And to have to just accept that and smile?

To be so close and know you can do it
Just let them give you a shot
Do you know what that's like

I guess not...

Twilight

Pale white skin,
and razor sharp teeth.
Nothing can hurt you,
not even a pin.

Run at fast speeds,
and jump really far.
Indestructable strength,
and a really expensive car.

Glistening in the sun,
camping all the time.
All you do in life,
is have a lot of fun.

You can read minds,
your sister sees the future.
Your brother changes moods,
and so young are your parents.

In love with a human,
after so many years.
You can't read her mind,
Oh dear! Oh dear!

Never grow old,
stay seventeen forever.
Never get wrinkles,
and never get a cold.

Forever and ever,
will you be in High School.
Oh never oh never,
will you stay in one school.

Thirsty for blood,
especially around humans,
but you made an effort to contain it,
while you were with your beloved.

The burning feeling,
that comes with it all,
cannot be avoided,
for it changes it all.

Ripping one apart,
and burning one in fire,
is the only way,
to kill a vampire.

Vampires are everywhere,
be careful, and beware.
They are all around you,
though you may not know,
don't let the vampire get too close!

This Feeling Inside

This feeling inside
is hard to explain.
For there are so many emotions
that go through one's head.

I cannot explain it,
I do not know why.
I cannot get rid of it
though I try and try.

The minute I felt it,
I felt so queer.
There is no way to heal it
and that is the truth I fear.

All of the notions
that go through one's mine.
Are too hard to figure,
too hard to find.

Can you figure it out?
I do not think so.
What is this feeling
that just won't go?

You may not know it,
but you will figure out,
that everyone has it
as you run about.

How do you think
I will get through it all,
when no one will help me,
no one at all.

What shall I do?
I need to ask someone
but I cannot find out who.

It keeps me awake in the night,
I do not fall asleep.
I turn on the light
for I can't fall asleep so deep.

All through the day,
my thoughts wander away.
I cannot get them back,
I cannot fix this crack.

How can I fix it,
I do not know.
I just can't figure
how to make it go.

In my dreams,
I am rid of this thing
that bothers me
and I am totally free.

Unfortunately enough,
that is not real,
for this horrible thing
is still here.

I wish I was happy
and not in pain,
for this feeling inside
will not fade.

This feeling inside
is hard to explain.
For there are so many emotions
that go through one's head.

Scarlett Shadow: The Alley Dog Thief

This screenplay was written during a field trip today to 826 Valencia where the kids participated in a writing workshop. As they developed their screenplay, it was illustrated by Mani, a talented storyboard artist. You'll find the story ends at a key point - each student then wrote their own version of the ending. We'd like to thank Mani for his great artwork and direction, as well as all the other volunteers at 826.

Scarlett Shadow: The Alley Dog Thief
by Form 4 & 5 Students of Delphi Academy
at 826 Valencia, San Francisco

Scene 1: THE ALLEY

[JAMES THE VAMPIRE LIVES IN ALASKA IN THE WINTER WHEN THE DAYS ARE SHORT TO AVOID SUNLIGHT. DURING THE SUMMER, HE MOVES TO THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

SCARLETT ALSO LIVES IN ALASKA. SHE IS A NINJA.]

[SHOT OF A DOG RUNNING DOWN A DARK ALLEY. PERSON IN DARK CLOTHING IS PROWLING THERE. DOG PRESSES ITS NOSE AGAINST THE FIGURE'S CALF. THE NINJA PULLS BACK HER CLOAK: IT'S SCARLETT.]

SCARLETT:
Hey, Buddy! What are you doing here little fellow? Are you sneaking around hunting vampires like I am? I love being a vampire bounty hunter. (SHE PETS THE DOG THOUGHTFULLY)

JAMES:
(TELEPATHICALLY)

(O.O.V. - meaning, "out of vision" and indicating a voiceover ) Come back, Sparky. I hate it when we fight.

[SHOT OF JAMES CONCENTRATING. FADES TO DOG BEING CUDDLED BY SCARLETT. JAMES'S EYES FLY OPEN.]

(O.O.V.) No, don't leave me for her.

[JAMES FLIES TO SCARLETT AND SPARKY]

JAMES:
Give me back my dog!

SCARLETT:
What do you mean? I just found it in the alley.

[JAMES USES VAMPIRE SPEED TO TRY TO SNATCH THE DOG AWAY, BUT SCARLETT IS ALSO QUICK AND MANAGES TO STEP IN FRONT OF THE DOG. JAMES STANDS UP AND SCARLETT PICKS UP THE DOG.]

JAMES:
It's my dog. He ran away from me.

SCARLETT:
(HAUGHTILY) Well, if he ran away from you then I don't think it likes you. It should just come and live with me. (NUZZLES THE DOG LOVINGLY)

[JAMES TRIES TO TAKE THE DOG FROM HER ARMS BUT SHE KICKS HIM IN THE KNEE AND STARTS TO RUN. SHE EXPECTS JAMES TO FOLLOW AND PUT UP A FIGHT, BUT THE SUN STARTS TO COME OUT AND HE FLEES.]


Scene 2: JAMES'S MANSION

[SCARLETT HAS BROUGHT SPARKY AND FOLLOWED JAMES, CURIOUS ABOUT WHY HE RAN AWAY SO QUICKLY. SHE'S SURPRISED TO FIND HE LIVES IN A MANSION UNDERGROUND THAT HE ACCESSES THROUGH A COFFIN-SHAPED ELEVATOR IN THE GRAVEYARD.

SCARLETT FOLLOWS LATER IN THE SAME ELEVATOR.]

SCARLETT:
Okay Buddy, you've been here before. Show me the way. (SHE SETS DOWN THE DOG AND FOLLOWS IT, BUT THE FLOOR SQUEAKS)

JAMES:
(BOOMING VOICE) Who's there? You've entered my house uninvited and you will learn to regret it.

[JAMES APPEARS BEFORE SCARLETT AND THE DOG, THAT STARTS RUNNING CIRCLES AROUND JAMES AND SCARLETT AND WHINES.]

JAMES:
(BEARING TEETH) It's you! Did you come to return my dog to me?

SCARLETT:
(NOTICING THE FANGS ON JAMES) You - you're a vampire? Oh, no.

...

Report on Glass

Glass is one of the most useful materials in the world.  It is a hard substance made by melting sand and other materials together.  It can be finer than a spider web, but it can also be thick.

There are many different kinds of glass.  Flat glass is used to make windows.  Strong glass that can stand a great amount of heat is used for making pans, engines and tubing.  Safety glass is made with layers of plastic and flat glass.  The outside layer of glass may shatter, but the inside layer of plastic doesn't break.  The plastic holds the broken glass together and keeps it from flying around.  Safety glass is used in windshields.  In an accident the broken glass will not harm anyone.  Banks use safety glass to stop bullets.

Glass is made by mixing ingredients.  They melt it at 2,600 to 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit.  When it cools it makes glass.  They make bottles by blowing the glass.  First they stick a pipe in the melted glass.  Then they carefully blow.  And that's how you make glass.

- Bennett, age 9

Delphi Poem

Where you can read books and play games and learn anything you like!

There is only one place for that - something called Delphi!

Where teachers are friends, the fun never ends here at this school - Delphi!

Delphi is fun, you can play in the sun, and play anything you like!

Where Science, Math, Sports and Reading are some of the subjects in this school.

Doing experiments will make you feel so cool!

So come to Delphi, it will be so much fun.

Especially in the summer in the sun!





- Meena, age 8

Zombaa

Once upon a time there was a country named Zombaa. in that country, there was a King named Elect. Everyone in that country respected that King as much as he respected them. The King was not cruel at all to the people.

One day, as usual, the King was with a little group of people hunting in the forest near the lake. Suddenly, the King found a golden ship floating in the middle of the lake. He ordered his men to go and get the boat and bring it back to land. He then said to his group, "I shall not keep this ship, but I shall give it to the people tomorrow."

The same night when the King was sleeping, someone came into the room and killed the guards and the King. When the news spread the next day that the King was dead, the people of Zombaa were very sad! They had a grand funeral in honor of the King. They also had a coronation. The new King was called Zombe.

The people felt that Zombe would be as nice as their old King - King Elect. But it turned out that Zombe was very mean. He changed all the laws of the Kingdom - like allowing stealing. He also increased the taxes that the people paid to the King.

A few months later, a young man named Caspian came into the country. After staying a few days in Zombaa, he noticed that this King was very different from the other Kings he knew about in other Kingdoms. He felt very sorry for the people of Zombaa. He felt that they were not treated well.

He approached the King and talked to him about how the King was treating his people. He told him how he should be treating his people. The King got angry and ordered his guards to arrest the young man! Caspian was sent to jail. The next day the King changed his mind and decided to give Caspian a second chance. He set him free. But the next day, Caspian came back to the King and advised him to help the people of his country. The King was extremely mad and would not let him go. Caspian was back to jail.

Somehow after a week, Caspian escaped from jail and fled the country. He went back to his homeland and brought with him a few people. He then started uniting some people of Zombaa and asked them to fight against their King. The people were very unhappy with their King. So they were persuaded very easily by Caspian. They all started picking up their weapons.

Caspian came up with a plan to fight the guards and the King at his palace. He had plenty of people to support him. He had to keep the whole thing quiet so tht it would come as a surprise to the King. The King's guards were very well trained and they never let the King out of their sight.

One fine morning just before sunrise, Caspian and his people attacked the palace from two sides at the same time. The guards were completely caught by surprise. The battle was won fairly easily by the attackers. They were able to get to the King, who was just waking up from his sleep.

The people were very happy with Caspian and they crowned him the new King of Zombaa. They shouted, "Long live King Caspian!" King Caspian ruled the country of Zombaa well and treated the people very well.

The End



- Nithin, age 9

Ferbia

Ferbia is a beautiful land. It is a floating city that is just near the end of the world. It was named for a goddess Ferbie. Ferbie was a girl who left the borders of what used to be Leireshia and married a mortal man. She was banished entirely from Leireshia and sent to Excilifance, the land of exile, where she would no longer be immortal. After she died, she sent her son to find Leireshia. When they found him they took him in and made him guard of the gates, he said he was Ferin, son of Ferbie. So in honor of Ferbie and her bravery, Leireshia was renamed Ferbia.

Ferbia has many friendships with other countries including: Puptopia, Icecreamtopia and Vamptopia. Once a year, Ferbian traders travel to Puptopia and Icecreamtopia. They get their dog stocks from Puptopia and sweet stock from Icecreamtopia.

After age 28 you stay the same forever. When you are 300 years old you have three choices:

1. You may live as a Vampiress in Vamptopia.
2. Enter the Spirit World and become a spirit.
3. Marry a mortal man and lose your immortality living in Excilifance.

In Ferbia there is a Spirit World. It is an island off of Ferbia where all spirits go.

Once every millenium the ruler of Ferbia will lift the energy field off the Spirit World and let the spirits go soaring out into space where they will become pieces of the elements all around us.

The ruler of Ferbia is Pheobe. She is 130 years old. The queen of Ferbia is alive for three spirit releases and then when the queen of Ferbia dies she lives in the queens' spirit world. The queens are chosen by birthmark. The one with the flashing red birthmark is the next queen.

There is one river that runs through Ferbia. It is the Fer river and it runs all through Ferbia. Unlike other rivers, this river has daisy kisses in it which makes it magic. With the Northwest river you can speak with the already released spirits. On the Northeast river you can ask for any food you want and in the southwest part it is a teleport station. You jump in the water and you may travel as you like at the speed of light. The southeast is powerless, but beautiful.

Ferbia is separated into many pieces; there is a women's and a children's village. The women's village is where women stay until they turn 300. The women's village is a pleasant place, it has hanging gardens, waterfalls and many other things, a vineyard that is always blooming and beautiful fall and spring days that have the lightest, sweetest breezes.

There is a village for all Ferbian children. A child Ferbian will live there until she is 28 when she goes to the women's village. It is divided into three parts. The 6-10 year olds have a small village with meadows of lollipops and bouncy houses. In the village for 11-16 year olds there is much creativity and open minds. It is very artistic and beautiful. The third part is for 17-27 year olds. It is an educational environment with self-schooling and they help generously with charitable deeds done throughout Ferbia.

Ferbia has always been a peaceful place filled with the determination to make our world a better place.




- Julia, age 11

My Country

Hello! I am Narrator Jones, CEO of Snowpasia Snow Company. I have the highest office in the world. I am going to tell you about the land of Snowpasia.

First, let me tell you about the ruler of Snowpasia. Voted in 1234, he is the longest ruling President dude in charge Snowpasia has ever had. The people of Snowpasia love him because he is a personable man, generous and a forgiving leader. He is so old that he dozes off in the middle of all the conversations he has.

Snowpasia is home to many people for two reasons. Snow here does not melt because it has H2C2O in it. That is a very high-tech chemical that keeps things frozen. The other reason is that kids here play basketball. Kids here know the elixir of life, so they can stay a kid forever.

Laws here are very bizarre. One law is that no cars are allowed, so there is no air pollution. Another law is all houses must have solar panels. People here know how to control the weather, so another law is the sun must shine every day.

Some of the land features here are:

1. The biggest mountain in the world (where my office is) is Mt. Big Rig.
2. This country has an advanced waterway system. Every single river ships about 2,000,000,000,000 pounds of ice cream a second!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. The longest mountain range in the world is the Chocolate Mountain Range. They are made of pure, dark chocolate!

I have no more to say about Snowpasia. Good bye!




- Nikhil, age 10

Vamp Land

The name of my country came from the fact that it's where Dracula came from, and that he was a vampire.

In Vamp Land practically everything is black and red. Everywhere you go there is rock, punk, alternative, metal or hardcore music playing. It is always night there because vampires don't like the sun and it is always cloudy.

The vampires get blood imported from other country's blood banks and from the Blood River.

There are four cities which are named: VampireVille, A Little Less Candles..., Panic! City, and Dead on Arrival. There are two cemeteries named Take This to Your Grave and Cemetery Drive. There is a lake called Madina Lake (which is named after a band) and a river called Blood River. There is also a casket factory. There is a mountain called Mt. Terror and a forest called The Dark Forest. There are two islands: My Chemical Island and Newport Living. Last but not least, there's The Haunted Castle where the rulers Count Frank Iero and Countess Helena Iero live.

Some laws in Vamp Land are: No Animal Cruelty, No food products that come from animals, No leather or fur, and NO Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B or Country music allowed.

Vamp Land is a very nice place to live if you are a vampire...




- Jessica, age 11

The Missing Star Necklace

"Oh no!" said Aaron!

"What happened?" asked Akshay and Sumukh.

"Miss Emily's Star necklace was stolen!!"

"Uh-oh," said Akshay.

"Let's go solve this crime, team!" said Sumukh.

"Yea, let's go," said Akshay and Aaron. So they set off to solve the crime. First they went to Miss Emily's house.

Miss Emily said, "I am so glad you came!"

"Wow, nice house," said Aaron.

"Thank you," said Miss Emily.

"Now, onto the crime. Who do you suspect?" said Sumukh.

Miss Emily said, "I suspect Nikhil, Nithin and Bennett. They are the ones who are after my Star necklace."

"OK, we are going to get your Star necklace back," said Akshay.

Meanwhile... Nithin, Bennett and Nikhil were in a team! When Aaron, Akshay and Sumukh found that out they were shocked!

"How are we going to catch them?" said Aaron.

"I know. Let's set a trap," said Sumukh.

So they did and they caught the robbers. The robbers gave back the Star necklace.

The End



- Sumukh, age 9

Tor and His Magyk Hammer

I got up after my fall and dusted off my cyan clothes cursing at a mud spot on my trousers. Slowly and carefully, I continued walking up a narrow, winding staircase, dreading the sharp twists and turns.  I had never liked this staircase as climbing it meant Test Day.  Test Days were the most horrible days of my life.  As I am the supporting male of my family, I not only have to take the children's test, but the Head of Family test as well.  This is what I have come to do.  I score well on both tests usually so we live in Cyan district, a very comfortable place.  We are supplied with clothes for the members of our family in the district color and the old clothes are given to people moving up into our old district.

"State your name, district, room number and reason to be here!" the guard cried, staring fiercely at me.

"My name is Tor Torsson, I live in the Cyan district.  I live in Block G, Floor 7, Hall 223 in room 16.  I support four other children, Odin Torsson, Freya Torsdottir, Frey Torsson and Balder Torsson.  I am here to take the Head of Family Test."

"Alright, Mister Torsson, go to Seat 223-16-7.  Hurry up now!" he said winking.  Moments later, he whisked me into the shadows of the room and handed me a small hammer saying, "Keep this safe and good luck, little one!"

Two hours later, I walked out of the stinky, dark building waiting to hear the test score and what division we'd be moved up to.  I heard a bell ring the hour and a couple seconds later, the voice of the Head Examiner was heard in the large courtyard.

"My friends, the time has come to announce your test scores and your new district," he said, enunciating each word perfectly.

"Almer Abraham, 85%, Red; Adair Algernon, 88%, Scarlet; Jamin Barthomelew, 83%, Orange; George Cavahar, 75%, Green; Derrick Dorham, 90%, Magenta; Drako E Edinsson, 80%, Red..." and so one he rambled, reading off a paper, until he reached the "T"s.

"Tor Torsson, our youngest exam taker, I don't believe it!  Tor Torsson, 100%, White!"

I yelled, full to the brim of irrepressible joy.  I ran up to get my moving certificate and ran home to tell Frey, Freya and Odin.  Balder wouldn't care about this kind of thing.

At home later, I relaxed on my bed, trying to figure out why I had scored full marks.  I had never ever done that before...

Odin came in.  "Brother, can you make dinner?  Frey and Freya are fighting again because they're hungry."

"Guess what, Odin, this is our last night here!  We're moving to White first thing in the morning tomorrow!"  I was unable to keep my exam score a secret from my brother any longer.  Frey and Freya, the twins, came bounding into the room for a hug.

Odin went and got out our packing crates and put all his stuff into the one marked "Odin".  Balder appeared from nowhere and picked up his crate.  He then vanished once more probably going to his room.  Frey and Freya took their respective crates, fully comprehending what to do now.  I took mine and neatly packed my underclothes and toys into it.  Even the twins knew that we wouldn't be able to take the clothes we were wearing. Even the people in the Grey wore white undershirts, underwear and socks, so that when they moved up, they'd take some clothes with them.  I took the "Kitchen" and "Bathroom" crates and filled them appropriately and Odin filled the "Food" and "Tools" boxes.  After an hour of bustling around cleaning and packing, I proudly announced that we were ready.

First thing in the morning, a doorman brought us 6 sets of pure white clothes each and led us out to a spotless white coach.  We moved all our packing boxes into the trunk and as we were about to leave, Frey and Freya cried in unison, "WE FORGOT OUR BEARS!" and ran inside to get the misshapen, furry animals I had made them from three pairs of brown socks and some cotton bunting.

They tightly hugged the bears as we rode to the White District.  We strode happily into our room, which had the same address as we always had.  Now I felt truly happy...

- Shruti, age 12

Welcome!

Welcome to the student writing blog of Delphi Academy of the San Francisco Bay.  This blog features writing by students aged 8-13, from the 4th to 8th grades.

As students work on their writing projects throughout the year, they have the opportunity to submit their favorite work to their teacher for publishing on this blog.  

Here you'll find expository, descriptive and creative writing, poetry, prose, short stories and more.  

We hope you'll check in occasionally to read the latest works from our inspired students!

Enjoy!