Panthers of ISKL #257: Avery, Nara & Vivien – The Grade 2 Poets
We had the pleasure of meeting three ES students: Avery H. (’35), Nara L. (’35), and Vivien K. (’35), who, along with their classmates, participated in the Grade 2 Poe Tea event. Families were invited to view the students’ poems displayed at the event and listen to them recite their works. Everyone enjoyed visiting the classrooms to read the poetry anthologies created by the students while savoring tea and cookies!
Here are Avery, Nara, and Vivien’s stories:
Avery H. (‘35)
Tell us about yourself. Where are you from?
I’m half Chinese and half Malaysian, and I was born in Shanghai, China.
How long have you been at ISKL?
I have been at ISKL for three and a half years.
Please tell us about the poem you read. What did you like most about your poem?
It’s called “The Rock ‘n’ Roll Band” about a band playing instruments and being on stage. What I like about it is that we can show attitude and be proud of ourselves.
How did you feel when you were reading in front of everyone?
I felt proud.
What’s your favorite part of reading poems?
My favorite part of poems is the rhymes; we can read them aloud.
Tell us about your hobbies and interests – what do you do after school?
I like playing the piano, drums, golf, and swimming.
What do you like most about going to ISKL?
We can help each other, learn, and spend time with others.
If you could be any character from a movie/book, who would it be, and why?
Luke Skywalker in Star Wars because I can use a lightsaber.
Tell us about your future job; what do you want to be when you grow up?
A movie director.
How do you practice “The Melawati Way” at home?
I put away the dishes and pack my own school bag.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Reading minds.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
I don’t know what to do if I don’t know myself. Knowing yourself means being honest to yourself and being honest to your feelings.
Take care of others means to help others. Be inclusive, friendly, and environmentally friendly.
Taking care of this place means not to litter. Do not waste anything, and do not pollute. Protect the world and create a better place.
Nara L. (‘35)
Tell us about yourself. Where are you from?
My name is Nara. I’m eight years old, and I’m from Thailand.
How long have you been at ISKL?
Since I was in Prep Senior.
Please tell us about the poem you read. What did you like most about your poem?
The title of my poem is “Don’t,” and it’s by Michael Rosen. The poem is about not doing stuff. I like it because it’s funny. One of the lines is like, “Don’t put gravy on the baby and don’t stick your toes up his nose.”
How did you feel when you were reading in front of everyone?
I felt 50% nervous and 50% excited.
What’s your favorite part of reading poems?
Because they make me feel like I’m in another world, that there’s only myself. And there’s no one else. It’s just me and the poems.
Tell me about your hobbies and interests – what do you do after school?
At home, I like to read and do gymnastics because I got a new gymnastics room a few weeks ago. Most of the time, I do cartwheels. And my record of doing cartwheels is 64 in a row!
What do you like most about going to ISKL?
I like playing with my friends and learning, especially math and science, my favorite subjects.
If you could be any character from a movie/book, who would it be, and why?
Batgirl from a cartoon called Super Hero Girls. She is very creative, enthusiastic, and playful.
Tell us about your future job; what do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a Prep Reception teacher because I want to teach young students, and I enjoy seeing new students learn happily.
How do you practice “The Melawati Way” at home?
Being kind to my sisters and cleaning up after myself.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Invisibility. Then I could surprise my friends and family because I like surprises. I like surprising people.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
It’s like the Melawati Way. It means taking care of yourself, taking care of this place, and taking care of others.
Vivien K. (‘35)
Tell us about yourself. Where are you from?
I am eight and have been at ISKL for almost a year. My dad is from the Netherlands, and my mom is from Russia. I’ve never lived in those places, but in Brunei, Saudi Arabia, and now Malaysia.
Please tell us about the poem you read. What did you like most about your poem?
It’s about a girl reading a book. And then she pretended she was one of the characters. And then, at the end of the poem, she finds out she is actually in the book. I liked that it was imaginary but also realistic.
How did you feel when you were reading in front of everyone?
Before I read, I had to say hello to everyone, say the poem’s name, say the date, and thank everyone for coming. I have been in a few musicals, so standing before the parents wasn’t scary.
Tell us about your hobbies and interests – what do you do after school?
I love painting, crafting, and playing with my friend. She also likes crafting and drawing; we usually go to each other’s houses to draw or do crafts. I also read or talk on my iPad in my group chat with my friends from Saudi Arabia.
What do you like most about going to ISKL?
There are many different cultures, and learning about them is very interesting. Everyone is different, and they have different opinions and ideas about writing. I’m not shy when meeting new people, but I have a few friends who don’t like talking. To be honest, I’m a chatterbox.
If you could be any character from a movie/book, who would it be, and why?
Two characters. There’s one called Nikki Maxwell from Dork Diaries who has a nice life and family like I do with many friends. And she has a few people with whom she doesn’t get along and who are enemies.
And then I have another character that my friend made up. Her name is Naomi. She’s a girl who lives in a beach paradise and works at a nice hotel.
Tell us about your future job; what do you want to be when you grow up?
An artist – I like to draw flowers. I also like to draw space characters. I like making a galaxy of stars with extra goopy glittery paint, which makes the stars shine nicely. I want to be an artist because it seems fun.
How do you practice “The Melawati Way” at home?
One day, my mom went after Track and Field day (yesterday) and put chips on the table because it was a big day. I didn’t want to eat them because I thought I’d finish all the chips before my brother and dad got home, so I just put them away in the cupboard for later when they came home. Also, when my brother needs help, I help him because he has a broken arm.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
That would be to talk with animals or to fly. That would be amazing.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
Knowing yourself means knowing yourself, like me, so you know what you should do correctly and what you like. Creating a better world is like making sure everyone’s included, and a better world means creating a nicer environment for everyone.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff who always have an anecdote to tell, love to share some insights into their passions and interest, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.