GRACE R.

Well, the summer has gone and I am back in school following new and adventurous paths with the teachers I work with. However, I was reminded by Cecilia, my co-facilitator at the Summer Invitational, that the poem I wrote, revised and read at our celebratory reading might serve as a reminder of all that seems so far away. So, I place it here to remind me…

The Writing Institute
By Grace Raffaele
Summer 2008

I am swimming
in a sea of writing,
powered by
waves of memory
and topical currents.

I am swimming
in rhythmic strokes
above the water
or diving with urgency
beneath the galloping lace-trimmed waves.

Swimming
To reach a destination
Or floating aimlessly
Watching the stones that glimmer with
The visual life on loan to them by the water.

I am swimming with dolphins –
Those larger-than-me
Writers in the same sea.
You who urge me on, stay by my side
Circling back and forth as we travel forward.

Our ocean is endless
But we need our rest.
So let the water be shallow,
Let us just stand (put our pens aside)
And look up at the sky.

It’s that time of year when graduations dot the calendar. My earliest memorable graduation was from junior high school. It was held in the RKO Coliseum in Washington Heights and was highlighted by a hug and kiss from my English teacher who I was madly but silently in love with! Three years later, graduating from Music and Art High School took place in Carnegie Hall – we all felt so elegant and grown up! These events must have been wondrous – and quite enough for me, as I chose not to go to my college graduations either for the BA. at Hunter or the M.A. at Teachers’ College.

The next time graduation became a memorable event was when I saw my former eighth graders graduating as seniors. I spoke up for a few of them in the traditional ICE (Institute for Collaborative Education) testimonial segment of the ceremony. Facing the student who was on stage, speaking of their accomplishments and special talents or growth was exciting and emotional. Let’s see, there was Rachel, Max and Nigel…

This June was even more of a milestone for me as my former 6th graders at the same school were now graduating seniors! My little guys were now big guys! And I was asked to be the keynote speaker. There was no doubt that the speech would use Alice in Wonderland as the metaphor for graduating and growing up. We had read the book together as did every sixth grade class that followed them. Writing and rehearsing consumed the 2 weeks before the event. But it was time well spent – I was comfotable enough after practicing so much and was pleased to get the laughs and applause at the right – and even some surprising – times. So, here is my speech translated via WORDLE (http://wordle.net/) with thanks to Lynn Jacobs for helping me figure it out.

And here’s the text of the speech:

Thank you for that warm welcome. To return the favor, I would like to welcome you all –families, friends, graduates – and my dear colleagues, the faculty of ICE – to this wonderful event. Many of you on the stage know me well – as I was your 6th grade Humanities teacher. Others of you know me less well but may have seen me in your classrooms or in the hallways over the past few years until I left last June.. Either way, I am here to wish you well, encourage you to continue to do good work and, in the words of one of my favorite characters, “live long and prosper”. I’d like to do this through a metaphor that uses one of the most important books you read at ICE –would a few of you tell the guests what book that was?
ALICE IN WONDERLAND!!!
Surprised? Shocked? Disappointed that you may have missed that unit? Well, I think we can do a quick recap right now and in the process, I may be able to prove that you all in fact, have actually lived the book through your experiences here at ICE.

Once upon a time – that’s not very original and also not from the book – but it’s appropriate – because once upon a time you all fell through a rabbit hole of sorts – only this journey took you UP 5 looong flights of stairs usually several times in a single day. Just as Alice reached for the marmalade jar and wondered about latitude and longitude, you too grappled with new ideas, asked questions, and applied your accumulating knowledge. Early on, you also had to unlock the mystery of the many doors – wby are rooms 507 and 514 next to each other? Why is 515 in the middle corridor and 516 all the way around the corner? But you figured it out, found the key and got into the garden.

And what strange creatures did you meet in this garden?!
First and foremost a Principal who knows your name and gives out more hugs than detentions. Unheard of. A break dancing math teacher? Wild! Science teachers that gave you real tools and said, “Just try it out.” And a Humanities teacher who will be remembered not for her boring lectures, but for her infectious laughter. What kind of place is this? Where else but in a wonderland would the students be allowed to run the school’s town meeting/? Where else would you find teachers staying late into the night to help students with their papers? What kind of magic is going on that creates so much reading– with no library? And what kind of magic potion would get teachers and students alike to say they work hard AND have fun at the same time. This can’t be a school – it must be Wonderland!

I would like to reminisce very briefly about some of the wonders that some of you created in that first year.And although there are many of you on this stage who both in class and outside of class have touched me with your individual charms, please forgive me for only being able to include a few highlights:

First, two people not only excelled at finding quotes from Alice in Wonderland to demonstrate their understanding, but they made clear fashion statements at the same time. Here are Katie Klein’s and Catie Fisher’s projects. As you can see, they set the standard for literary shirts and pants/

Second, when making their hero books about unseen heroes, I was touched by the warmth, generosity and world view of Hannah Galgiani. Her book about Janie Monroe was dedicated to all the innocent children of Afganistan and the title page read “Caring for a Better Tomorrow.”

The alphabet project brought out the best in many of you – as shown here in this pop-up book of Japanese characters meticulously and creatively created by Rebecca Bush.

And who can forget Aaron Katz’s performance on stage of Jabberwocky- complete with sword and gestures.

And finally, recognition for best and most ever-changing hair -indisputably goes to Josh who have maintained a high standard of hair-as-art ever since those colorful days.

That was only a small sampling of one year and doesn’t do justice to all that every one of you has achieved throughout your years here at ICE. I know you will leave here today thanking the teachers and family members who helped you through it all – even though you may have struggled or grumbled at the time. And although WE may have struggled and grumbled as well, we are all deeply proud to have been a part of your journey.

But graduation is not only a time to celebrate the past, it is also a time to look ahead to the future. And towards that end, I would like to return to the metaphors by recalling scenes from the book that may repeat themselves in the real world of your future.

To begin with, you might remember that we talked about the Caucus Race and how Lewis Carroll was making a political statement even though it looked like just a bunch of animals running around in a circle. You will all eventually join the voters of this country and will have the privilege and the responsibility of participating in elections. Several of you have already shown your political activism and savvy. You may actually have noticed a similarity between some of our politicians and that group of animals – don’t let that discourage you! Please take part in the issues and the elections. Do what you do best – ask questions, follow your beliefs, and strive for a world that is as diverse and democratic as possible.

You may also be at many a Mad Tea Party. You will “sit at the table” so to speak with people of many backgrounds, abilities and beliefs. Listening to these will be just as important as speaking your mind. Moving from seat to seat will help you experience a wide range of perspectives, drink from various teacups and hopefully, awaken the occasional sleepy dormouse.

The Caterpillar may not actually appear in the real world, but he will surely whisper in your own mind his famous words, “Who are you/?” It will be good to hear this question and wonder about it from time to time. But don’t be too hard on yourselves. You may think you know who you are one moment and then find you are someone else the next. Your answers will change as you change and that is a good thing.. Just as Alice’s size changed many times, yours will too. In some places you may fill the room with your presence. In others, you may feel tiny and unnoticed. Remember how calm Alice was through it all? Take another bite of a candy, or cake and move on. Who you are will hopefull be a long life’s work-in-progress.

Then there was that Queen of Hearts and the Croquet Game. However will I manage to interpret that! Is it about the games people play? Or about following or breaking the rules? I think I will leave that one to you. You have survived and thrived. You are ready to handle the world and its changing scenes and challenging characters. It is time for us to turn more of it over to you and to trust you. Along with our trust in your going forward, we would like to trust that you know you can always come back. As with your families – the door will always be open to you.

In honor of your achievements, in a little while, John will declare you graduates of ICE not with the words “Off with your heads!” but rather “Off with your hats.”

In closing, I would like to thank you one and all – regardless of when you first entered this Wonderland – for being a part of the C in ICE – you contributed, you collaborated and you were a part of the ongoing community. We learned together, laughed together and have changed and grown together – whether it was academic knowledge, artistic expression, height – or hair! Your work, your attitudes, and your enthusiasm have given us hope. And just as Chad Joseph acted as an emissary to the 6th grade classes that followed his by coming to my room to give a thumbs-up or word of advice to every incoming crop of newcomers – I ask all of you to be emissaries of ICE. Go out there and show people what performance assessment education can do. Show them that you know how to write, research, create and think not just in the box to meet world standards, but you can also use those skills to think outside the box. You make connections, Take risks, explore possibilities. Take what you have shown us here out there and build your own special future.

One final metaphor – while, in the book, Alice awoke from her dream – yours have only just begun. Let them happen, go after them, revisit and revise them. We are all so proud of you today. With love – and hugs – we congratulate you all – the amazing class of 2008. Please stand to be applauded!

Swimming seems to weave a thread in my memory. When my sister and I were young, we would spend alternate summers in Santa Monica, California visiting my mother’s side of the family – grandparents, aunt and uncle and our cousin, Auggie. Early on, we took swimming lessons at some indoor pool – I think it was a high school pool of some sort. We learned to swim early both in that pool and in the ocean. Visions of Santa Monica beach and the pier flutter in my mind mixed with hot dogs on a stick, watching Auggie, the lifeguard, race way out off the ocean shore and lunch back at Grandma’s of cold noodles with dried seaweed and dipping sauce.

We also took trips to the New Jersey shore. Swimming in the ocean became more acrobatic since I think we did more diving under and leaping over the waves than actual swimming. Back at the bungalow or small summer apartment we would shower in an outdoor shower stall – lots of fun then but it would probably make me squeemish now!

Then there were the days at the ad agency in Worldwide Plaza and the health club swimming pool. Twelve laps twice a week. It was so refreshing, relaxing and freeing to swim non stop for 30 minutes

Fast forward – no regular swimming opportunities for many years. Although we tried to look for vacation hotels with swimming pools, that wasn’t always possible in the cities in Italy we were visiting.

Some intermittent opportunities:

The ponds and hikes in upstate New York when my brother in law noticed that I was more confident when we trekked through water than on land.

The all-inclusive hotel in Cancun when we went from pool to ocean, ocean to pool – and I got to go snorkeling off the boat even though the coral reefs were not that impressive.

And Mohunk Mountain House with it’s indoor pool with music piped into the pool! OMG! I could swim forever if they’d ony play some classical or jazz.

As the years add up, I realize I must find a regular form of exercise. And a new health center in the neighborhood affords a possibility. I will do this… and return to the water… so many metaphors that I will not pursue at the moment. But this memory has sparked a hope and plan for the future.

Food memories in the form of a list poem

I remember Grandma’s house always smellig of food – sauce cooking and wine spilling, herstring beans always more yellow than green and II remember Grandma’s house always smelled like food: tomato sauce and wine, her didn’t know why and the casata cake with canoli cream layers.

I remember New Year’s Day with Mommy’s sushi platter, the brown pouches filled with rice, making the maki rolls, the lobster splayed in the center of the platter.

I remember New Year’s Eve with sausage and peppers at Auntie Mary’s and Aunt Dottie’s chopped chicken liver when we started to stay home.

I remember coming home from school for lunch: rice, raw egg and oy sauce or tomato soup and egg salad and always an apple to eat on the walk back.

I remember steak on a platter, a roast on the Black Angus rotisserie, chicken cassiatore and cold noodles with dipping sauce.

Fridays were leftover night or a special treat of pasta fajole in that deep dish corning ware.

I also remember going out to eat fried chicken at the diner, La Fonda del Sol, Miyakos and Mama Leone’s.

I remember my first shrimp salad when Mommy was away – I thought “kitchen ready” meant I didn’t have to cook the shrimp. She used to bake a pineapple upside cake, a lemon pound cake and cookies with pretty stuff on top. And the round rye bread filled with little tuna sandwiches for the parties.

I remember the food, the fun, and the family!

Following the inspiration of Bonnie Kaplan, I am going to start entering a memory a week on Monday. As I do not have the facilities to scan any of th huge pile of family photos I have, I will make this a photo challenge as well – I will photograph something that sparks a memory and post it with an explanation. Please join me when you can and enter your comments.

Here is this week’s entry:

This was taken during Christmas time – it was the lights around the apartment shot while moving the camera. However, that is not the memory in this case! Removing myself from what I know about how and when it was taken, it reminds me of several art projects we did way back in elementary and middle school. Remember those etching thigs – where you colord a page with lots of crayon colors, then colored over it all with black caryon – and then etched in the black so your drawing had the color revealed from beneath! Also, something about string art which I can’t remember how we did it, but it resulted in a geometric design of colored strings possibly wound around metal pins in a board? Funny how memory can be clear and fuzzy at the same time! This leads me to recall how much I enjoyed art in school and, fortunately, how much of it we were allowed to do. Thank you Mrs. Sonnenfeld and Mrs. Irvine!

I am not sure what will happen here. How much of this blog will be my journaling? experimenting? listening to others? I like what Bonnie Kaplan has done with Memoir Mondays. Should I make that a separate page? I’d like to work on images with text IN them. Another page? How does one organize a place like this? or is it like the closet that can be shuffled around as one’s intersts or needs change? Well, “let the games begin!” though “we’ve only just begun!”