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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-303 EDC-Arts - McDougle Middle School PTA Spring 2012 Grassroots Arts Awards $1,000 C A"7 4 ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION Spring, 2012 GRANT AGREEMENT emu ORANGt COUNTY ART$ COMMISS10M 0 U n THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 19th day of July, 2012, by and between Orange County ("County"), by and through the Orange County Arts Commission ("Arts Commission") and McDougle Middle School PTA("Grant Recipient"). WHEREAS,the Arts Commission is a countywide arts agency that ensures the growth of local arts experiences by providing funding and support for diverse high quality programs and projects. WHEREAS, the Arts Commission administers the Spring and Fall Arts Grants Program to provide economic opportunities to Orange County artists and non-profit organizations coordinating arts projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County. WHEREAS, the Spring Arts Grants Program is supported by Arts Commission with funds from the Grassroots Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources and the National Endowment for the Arts. WHEREAS, the Grant Recipient was selected by the Arts Commission to receive the Spring Arts Grant through the procedures duly adopted by the Arts Commission; and WHEREAS, both parties wish to promote and maintain the integrity and clarity of the Grant Recipient's ideas and statements and delineate the Grant Recipient's obligations to the County; NOW, THEREFORE, the County and the Grant Recipient, for the consideration and under the conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows: 1. Approved Grant Project. Grant funds are provided under this Agreement for the project ("Project") described in the Grant Recipient's Grant Application, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A. 2. Grant Award. Grant funds in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) have been awarded by the Arts Commission to the Grant Recipient for the approved Project. These funds must be matched at least dollar-for-dollar with cash from the Grant Recipient's funds not derived from either Orange County appropriations or the North Carolina Arts Council. 3. Contingency. This grant is contingent on North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Program funding to the Arts Commission. Final decisions on Grassroots Program funds to the North Carolina Arts Council are subject to approval by the North Carolina General Assembly. 4. Responsibilities of the Grant Recipient 1 Revised May 2012 A. Implementation. The Project implementation shall take place between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. The Project shall be implemented in the manner described in Exhibit A. Time is of the essence in the implementation of the ProJ ect. B. Modifications to project. Grant Recipient shall present major changes to the original proposal, including but not limited to changes in design, implementation schedule and increase in Project budget by more than 10%, in writing to the Arts Commission for approval. Arts Commission shall approve or disapprove Grant Recipient's request for modifications within seven (7) days of receipt thereof. Consent to project modifications shall not be unreasonably withheld. Arts Commission's decisions shall be in writing. In the event the Arts Commission fails to approve or disapprove the requested modifications within the time stated herein, the modifications shall be deemed approved. C. Non—assignment. The grant cannot be assigned or transferred to a different project or artist without prior written approval of the Arts Commission. D. Records. Grant Recipient must maintain records and other evidence pertaining to costs incurred and revenues acquired during the Project implementation. Grant Recipient shall maintain financial records pertaining to the Project for three (3) years from the date of this Agreement, in case of audit. E. Use of Funds. Grant Recipient shall not use the grant funds to repay outstanding taxes or other debts of any nature. The grants shall be utilized solely for the purpose of implementing the Project and Project related expenses. F. Final Report. Grant Recipient shall submit to the Arts Commission a Final Report on or before Friday, July 5, 2013 . The Final Report shall be in the format required by the North Carolina Arts Council. Failure to submit the Final Report or late submission of the Final Report, for any reason, shall be grounds for denial and/or cancellation of grant funds for the Project and future grant proposals. 5. Responsibilities of the Arts Commission A. Payment. The Arts Commission shall release the grant funds in the amount of $1,000 to the Grant Recipient. 6. Publicity A. Acknowledgeme Credit must be given to the Orange County Arts Commission using the Arts Commission logo and if State funds are received to the North Carolina Grassroots Program in brochures, news releases, programs, and all other printed and online publications. Copies of such printed materials must accompany the evaluation report. When no printed information is used, verbal credit shall be given. In addition, all print and promotional material must include the following credit line (check all that apply): 2 Revised May 2012 i. County Funds Only. "This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission. " ii. x North Carolina Arts Council Funding. "This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission with funds from the Grassroots Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. " B. The Grant Recipient must enter all events, exhibits and performances open to the public and related to this grant award on the ExploreChapelHillARTS.com website and display ExploreChapelHillARTS.com publicity materials (postcards, brochures, etc.) prominently and consistently at their venue or performance space. In addition, the Grant Recipient must add a link to the ExploreChapelHillARTS.com (ExploreChapelHillARTS.com logo preferred) to their main webpage. The Grant Recipient shall contact the Orange County Arts Commission for replacement ExploreChapelHillARTS.com publicity materials. 7. Indemnity. The Grant Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County, the Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council and their officers and employees from any and all claims or actual injury, damage or loss to a person, or real or personal property that results from or is in any way connected to the use of the grant funds. 8. Independent Contractor. The Grant Recipient is an independent contractor and not an employee, agent or other representative of the County and/or the Arts Commission. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to create the relationship of principal and agent, or employer and employee, between Grant Recipient and Arts Commission or Orange County Government. Grant Recipient understands and agrees that he/she is not authorized to incur any expenses or any liability whatsoever on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission and has no authority, expressed or implied, to obligate or make representations on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission. In addition, Grant Recipient agrees to maintain his or her own worker's compensation insurance for himself/herself and his or her employees for the duration of the art work's installation. 9. Termination A. In the event of any of the circumstances set forth below(hereinafter referred to as "default"),the Arts Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement: (i) Any fraudulent representation in any verification required to obtain payment under this Agreement or other dishonesty on a material matter relating to the performance of services under this Agreement. (ii) Nonperformance, incomplete service or performance, or failure to satisfactorily perform any part of the Project or to comply with any provision of this Agreement, as determined by the Arts Commission in its sole discretion. 3 Revised May 2412 (iii) Failure to adhere to the terms of applicable county, state or federal laws, regulations, or stated public policy. B. In the event of default by the Grant Recipient, the Arts Commission has the discretion to elect to terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part and/or require the Grant Recipient to repay the grant funds within seven (7) from written notice of default or allow the grant recipient the opportunity to cure the default. This clause shall not be interpreted to limit the County's or the Arts Commission's remedies in law or in equity. 10. Miscellaneous. A. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the attachments contain the final and entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. All modifications and amendments to this Agreement shall be in writing. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties, their heirs, successors and assigns. B. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina and the Orange County. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Orange County and the Grant Recipient have signed this Grant Agreement, effective on the last date this Agreement is signed by both parties as indicated by the dates set forth under signatures below. For and on behalf of the Grant Recipient lz�9 7 Az 5-/YZ McDougle Middle School PTA Date For and on behalf of Opange ty Government Frank W. CliftA,,to�u-Tty M a Date ,e CVO Go C For and on behalf of Orange County Arts Commission/approved as to technical content Steve Brantley,Economic Devel ent Director 14)atV Appro ed as to orm and legal sufficiency A Date t�e M. Moore, Staff Attorney 4 Revised May 2012 f This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act &4', A � (L Clarence G. Grier,Administrative and Financial Services Date 5 Revised May 2012 Arts in Education Grant - Spring ca; ORANGE COUNTY ARTS 2012- 13 Application Form COMMISSION Orange County Arts Commission Promoting the artistic and cultural development of Orange County, North Carolina Evaluation Criteria • Artistic merit of program. • Populations served—impact for geographic&traditionally under-served populations. • Feasibility of proposed activity &effectiveness in providing high-impact arts experiences in schools. • Cooperation between schools and artists. • Evidence of feasibility of program, community support, and responsiveness to community needs. • Integration of arts program into grade-level appropriate curriculum. 1 Applicant Information Applicant Name McDougle Middle School PTA Mailing Address 900 Old Fayetteville Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Daytime Phone (919) 933-1556 Fax Number (919) 969-2433 Email Address Web Site Project Director Michele Melet Title MMS PTA Cultural Arts Coordinator DUNS Number 2 Project Director Information Project Director Home Address 109 Standing Rock Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Daytime Phone (919) 302-4368 Evening Phone (919) 967-1687 Email Address michelemeletO-vahoo.com 3 Grant Request Summary Arts Program Grant Request $1,000.00 Total Cash Match $1,400.00 Total Organizational Budget 2010-2011 $5,000.00 (PTSA/Cultural Enrichment 2011-2012 $2,400.00 Committee/Arts Program) 2012-2013 $1,400.00 (provisional) Summary Statement for Proposed Uses of Arts in Education Grant Funds from this grant will cover fees for Phillip Shabazz, 8th Grade Poet in Residence. Questions? Call us at(919) 968-2011 • Deliver Application to. 501 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 2012-13 Arts in Education Application — Page Two I. Arts Program Application Narrative A. School Profile McDougle Middle School is in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district, with 679 students, and serving grades 6 to 8. Its population is ethnically and academically diverse, with students from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. The demographic composition for the 2011-12 school year is as follows: Male Female African-American 35 43 Asian 15 19 Hispanic 63 48 Multiracial 34 37 Native American 2 2 White 217 164 Total 366 313 Given the demographic and socio-economic composition of our school, a large percentage of our students would benefit greatly from experiencing a diverse cultural arts program as they may otherwise have few to no opportunities to do so outside the school context. The struggling economy, declining resources allocated to the arts, as well as increasingly limited fundraising opportunities make it necessary for the McDougle Middle PTA to seek outside funding to support the arts in our school. As our budget shows, funds allocated to Cultural Arts have declined dramatically over the last few years. We are seeking funding to support Phillip Shabazz, 8th Grade Poet in Residence. MMS PTA has traditionally funded this residency alone but can no longer do so. B. School's Arts Program McDougle Middle remains strongly committed to supporting the arts, despite budgetary constraints. To enhance and complement the core curriculum, the PTA has sponsored or supported residencies and invited performers in coordination with teaching staff. During the 2011-12 school year, as in years past, the PTA fully funded the annual Poetry Residency for 8th graders with poet Phillip Shabazz. In addition, speakers were invited to present on the Holocaust. It is our hope that this rich tradition continue for future 8th graders with the support of the Orange County Arts Commission, and that we revive our 2012-13 cultural arts offerings with additional performances. MMS PTA is considering the addition of a second artist in residence, Mike Wiley in the Spring, subject to securing funds. C. Proposed Uses of Grant Funds. We are seeking matching funds for the following annual Poetry Residency, which will take place on school premises in Fall 2012-2013. OCAC grant funds will cover part of the artist fees. Mr. Shabazz will conduct two 1-week workshops for 8th graders in October 2012. This residency is coordinated by Ms. Tina Atack and Mr. John Stevens, 8th Grade English Language Arts teachers. Phillip Shabazz is a local poet, author and artist. He conducts creative writing and poetry workshops across the state and has taught at more than 300 schools, conferences and community centers. Currently, he is a poet-in-the-schools of North Carolina. 2012-13 Arts in Education Application — Page Three Integrating Cultural Arts into the Curriculum As North Carolina moves to the Common Core next year, the standards for Language Arts emphasize experiential learning of the range of literary genres, including poetry, and linking this to real world applications. The poetry residency allows the student to put this in practice through the creation of art, the spoken word and interacting with their peers in critique and analysis. In coordination with the teachers, Mr. Shabazz gives students a word bank and a central image. Over the course of the 1-week workshop, they are tasked with working those words around the central image and creating spoken art that sees and experiences the world in new ways. At the end of the workshop, students will have an anthology of original poems that they then share at the school's annual Poet's Cafe or open mic that takes place at a local bookstore in November and is open to the public. II. Budget Sheet — G2012-13 Arts in Education Application Page Four G ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION Financial Information Please provide a projected budget for your proposed project utilizing the format below. Project Expenses Cash = Grant Amount + Applicant Expenses Requested Cash Match A Personnel Administrative staff Artistic staff Technical/Production staff B Outside Fees and Services Artistic contracts $2400.00 $1000.00 $1400.00 Other contracts: C Space Rental D Travel E Marketing F Remaining Project Expenses G Total Cash Expenses $2400.00 $1000.00 $1400.00 Project Income Cash Income A Admissions B Contracted Services Revenue C Other Revenue(specify) D Private Support Corporate support Foundation support Other private support E Government Support Federal State/regional(not including this request) Local(not including this request) F Applicant Cash $1400.00 G Grant Amount Requested $1000.00 in this application H Total Cash Income $2400.00 (must equal Total Cash Expenses, Item G above) 2012-13 Arts in Education Application — Page Five ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMU ISSION Signatures I PA Sig to of Project rector Date Michele Melet Project Director Signature of Authorizing Official Date 'TTA 971, Meredith BolonK 2011-2012 PTA President INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE FUNDED GO; 2012-13 Arts in Education Application — Appendices ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION A. Resumes of key artists and administrators involved in the grant funded program Phillip Shabazz is an acclaimed local poet, author and artist extraordinaire. As a poet, author and teaching artist, he has built an outstanding, extensive and , respected career. The media, critics and audiences have acclaimed his work, which explores issues of community and culture in America,. His writing expresses diverse points of view, from poems about family and friends challenged by the complexities of life to narratives that celebrate human possibilities. Educators have called him "one of the most inspiring individuals in the arts." In an effort to get students excited about creative writing, Phillip Shabazz encourages them to be empowered by their own words and expression. The North Carolina Arts Council nominated him for the prestigious William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations, praising his contributions to arts education — as a blend of imagination, experience and upbeat sensitivity. As a writer and teacher, Phillip Shabazz has created a series of ongoing creative writing workshops over the past 15 years that he calls Living Words. Phillip Shabazz conducts creative writing workshops across his home state of North Carolina and has taught at more than 300 schools, conferences and community centers. Currently, he is a poet-in-the-schools of North Carolina and is affiliated with the N.C. Arts Council. Tina Atack, 8th Grade English Language Arts, received a Teaching Fellows scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree in Middle Grades Education. In 2005, she achieved National Board Certification in Early Adolescence/English Language Arts, and completed a Master's degree in Literacy Education, K-12, in 2010. Michele Melet, PTA Cultural Arts, has two children in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She stepped into the role of MMS PTA Cultural Arts Chair mid-year and is planning to continue for the 2012-13 school year. She is also the Cultural Arts Chair for McDougle Elementary School this year. She is dedicated to bringing unique, memorable and diverse cultural entertainment to the school that will inspire and educate the students. Michele was in charge of business development for a performance group in New York City, and coordinated performance improvement programs for corporations. Meredith Bolon, PTA President, has four children in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. An avid runner, she brings the same level of energy and enthusiasm to volunteering in the community and leading the PTA. She has covered the gamut of PTA positions in multiple schools, from Treasurer and Room Parent Coordinator to Webmaster& communications guru. She is the Treasurer of the Cardinal Track Club/Le Tour de Carrboro Charity Road Race Series, and has led the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Pacers Youth Running Club since 2007 as Head Coach and Board Chair. She is presently an Independent Consultant, having worked in consulting for PricewaterhouseCoopers from 1993 to 2007. Prior to that she was with IBM. She has a BS and MBA from the University of Virginia. B. BUDGETS FOR 2010-11 & 2011-12 (2012-13 not yet available) 2011/2012 PROPOSED MMS PTA BUDGET RECEIPTS EXPENSES Contributions Budget TOTAL RESERVE FUND $11,000 Giving Campaign-Special Project $6,500 Thrift Shop Allocation $10,000 PTA Expenses Together in Education $- CPA Tax Prep $600 Harris Teeter $500 Liability Insurance $300 Box Tops $250 State/National Membership $800 Weaver Street Market $50 Operating Supplies $500 TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS $19,300 Hospitality $500 Bank Charges $_ Fundraising TOTAL PTA EXPENSES $2,700 Book Fairs(B&N,Scholastic) $1,000 Spirit Wear $200 Instructional&Staff Support Citipass Fundraiser $3,000 Classroom Support $7,000 TOTAL FUNDRAISING $4,200 Media Center $- Technology $- Membership Professional Improvement $- TOTAL INSTRUCTIONAL&STAFF Membership gross(200 member goal) $1,600 SUPPORT $7,000 TOTAL MEMBERSHIP-GROSS $11600 Student Welfare TOTAL INTEREST INCOME(MONEY MARKET) $- African-American Parent Group-Summer $500 Apples $500 TOTAL SALES TAX REFUND $400 Cultural Arts $2,400 Family Specialist $950 2010-2011 Year Roll Over Positive Behavior Support $1,000 Money Market ending balance July 31,2011 $3,311 Student News/Yearbook $514 Checking ending balance as of July 31,2011 $3,001 AVID $500 TOTAL PREVIOUS YEAR CARRYOVER $6,312 8th Grade Dance/Promotion $940 Battle of the Books 500 �a M3 I.-IrAlial 5s r r Miscellaneous 808 TOTAL STUDENT WELFARE $8,612 TOTAL LANDSCAPING $500 �' $29,822 2010/2011 PROPOSED MMS PTA BUDGET RECEIPTS EXPENSES Contributions Budget Unallocated Reserve Fund $2,281 Contributions $8,250 Fundraising $8,200 PTA Expenses Thrift Shop Allocation $10,500 CPA Tax Prep $605 TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS $26,950 liability Insurance $295 State/National Membership $400 Membership Operating Supplies $650 Membership gross(200 member goal) $1,035 Hospitality $650 TOTAL MEMBERSHIP-GROSS $1,035 Bank Charges $20 TOTAL PTA EXPENSES $2,520 TOTAL INTEREST INCOME(MONEY MARKET) $10 Instructional&Staff Support TOTAL SALES TAX REFUND $100 Classroom Support $9,075 Media Center $2,125 TOTAL PREVIOUS YEAR CARRYOVER $8,971 Technology $4,000 Thrift Shop Incentives $1,000 1131111 NNIIAN—a Me Professional Improvement $1,000 TOTAL INSTRUCTIONAL&STAFF SUPPORT $17,200 Student Welfare Athletics $200 Music $200 Cultural Arts $5,000 Family Specialist $950 Positive Behavior Support $750 Student News/Yearbook $1,445 Literary Magazine $250 8th Grade Dance/Promotion $950 Community Building $695 Academic Competitions $1,500 Curriculum Support $2,025 TOTAL STUDENT WELFARE $13,965 TOTAL LANDSCAPING $1,000 TtTFd�U, C. Artist contact list Phillip Shabazz pshabazz @gmail.com www.ncsummerarts.org/phillip-shabazz/ D. Staff roster of 8th Grade English Language Arts teachers Tina Atack John Stevens 8th Grade English Language Arts 8th Grade English Language Arts McDougle Middle School McDougle Middle School tatack@chccs.k12.nc.us jstevens @chccs.k12.nc.us (919) 933-1556 ext. 78272 (919) 933-1556 ext. 78183 E. Board contact list, including names, address, phone numbers, and email (if applicable) of organization's board of directors. MMS PTA OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2012 President Meredith Bolon meredith@bolons.com 619-4565 Vice President Nancy Fine mfinel@bellsouth.net 933-4190 Treasurer Celia Nares cnares@nc.rr.com 370-9333 Secretary Sharon Clarke sharon.clarke@live.com 265-8522 Auditor Rhonda Alcox rhonda.nc@gmaii.com 721-0138 Nominations Committee Sonia Frischemeier s frischemeier@yahoo.com 942-3784 Principal Debra Scott dhscoft@chccs.kl2.nc.us 933-1556 Assistant Principal Gradesa Lockhart glockhart@chccs.kl2.nc.us 933-1556 Cultural Enrichment Michele Melet michelemelet@yahoo.com 302-4368 Fundraising Liz Buchman lizragz@gmaii.com 280-4277 Health &Wellness Jane Kerwin-Frederick janekerwin@y2hoo.com 968-4198 Drug and Alcohol Jane Kerwin-Frederick janekerwin @yahoo.com 968-4198 Awareness the r ­ommons Shabazz brings his love of poetry to McDougle students Posted on October 19th, 2010 By Gloria Lloyd Carrboro Commons Staff Writer Ask students at McDougle Middle School in Carrboro what they think of their guest poetry teacher Phillip Shabazz, and you will invariably receive the same enthusiastic answer: "I love Mr. Shabazz!" Shabazz is a working poet who lives in Carrboro and has published three books of verse. Shabazz typically teaches poetry during residencies at 30 to 50 schools throughout North Carolina and the United States each year, spanning third grade to college, with a focus on middle school students. For more than a decade, Shabazz has taught poetry, a week at a time,to McDougle students. Beginning in fifth grade at the adjoining McDougle Elementary School, students spend a week studying poetry with Shabazz each year through the eighth grade. r. a w .3 �fi'tecew The week of Oct. 11, Shabazz taught over 100 eighth-graders in Kimberly Battle's Language Arts classes how to find their inner poet and express themselves through verse. Some of the students look forward to the week of poetry all year. 'To have someone here who is a working poet—it says that men are poets, African-Americans are poets,you can be a poet, you are a poet. It engages every student," McDougle Principal Debra Scott explained. "They see he is here and real and authentic, writing poetry you can understand." A decade ago, teacher Kimberly Battle was in the eighth grade at McDougle, learning poetry from Shabazz. Now, she is in her first year teaching and has lined her classroom with poetry by Emily Dickinson and Langston Hughes. "It's part of the artisan experience," said Shabazz. "Teach the art to the young, so they can find their voices,write, do some good, and as tradition goes, pass it on." Each day during Shabazz's residency, the students began by reading aloud any poems they wanted to share from their homework, which Shabazz calls their"home fun,"the night before. After hearing each other's work, the class would read examples of poetry and then compose their own poetry at the end of class. "You can't not write poetry while you're in his class. You can't help it," Scott said. Student Sofia Doerfer said the secret of Shabazz's connection with middle-schoolers is that he "doesn't treat us like we're students." Shabazz explained, "Kids are very dynamic. So, it's all about energy, being lively, and if possible, interesting in the moment." Doerfer said she began writing poetry because of Shabazz before she even met him.After Shabazz appeared in her older sister's class, Doerfer saw her sister writing poems and began writing poems herself. Doerfer said she likes to write poetry because "it makes you feel free." "I work to meet students where they are, share ideas, try to be relevant, at the same time, keep the workshops open so they can learn new things,"said Shabazz. "And, of course, keep it fun." Scott said McDougle students' interest in poetry has been intensified by Shabazz's visits and that Shabazz gives the message that"It's OK to write and read poetry and be on the football team." "I'm definitely more interested and enjoy[poetry] more,"eighth-grader Emily Kaplan said. Students are so interested in poetry that the school features creative writing classes and publishes a literary magazine that features poems written by students. Shabazz gives credit to the teachers. "The learning environment at McDougle is exceptional,with many experienced and very good teachers," he said. The McDougle teachers hold an annual "Mic Night" in December at Barnes& Noble so that parents can witness the students perform their poetry. Scott compared the atmosphere at Mic Night to "a football game,with parents cheering and clapping." Eighth-grader Bryanna Chazotte, described by Shabazz as "one of my favorite poets,"said Shabazz's teaching style was "very modern, and he understands kids. His teaching makes it so much fun." Chazotte was never interested in writing poetry before Shabazz spent a week teaching her fifth-grade class at McDougle Elementary School. Now, she says she often writes outside of class and has written dozens of poems. over the door of her room: "Tell me,what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"Once the students entered the room, they were not just students anymore. Shabazz referred to them as 'young poets." On Friday, Oct. 16, after five days of learning how to read,write and appreciate poetry from Shabazz,the young McDougle poets had 12 minutes to channel their energy and enthusiasm into one all-encompassing rhyme or free verse poem that _. gnu h MRV �p would serve as their final quiz and a capstone for the week. Shabazz reminded the students, "This ' 1` should be the most important poem you've written all week." To the background strains of Nirvana, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall,"the students intently studied the word bank and poem titles »i ! Shabazz gave them and combined them into their work of art for the poetic exercise at hand. Student Emilio Zuniga relished the chance "to be as creative as possible." As a timer on the overhanging television set counted down the minutes and seconds, the kids munched on circulating cookies, brownies and doughnuts while they counted lines,tapped pencils and double-checked similes and metaphors. When the 12 minutes was up, a stream of young poets volunteered to read their work to the class. Despite the room being packed with sugar-fueled middle-schoolers, the atmosphere was much more casual than that usually found in a poetry slam. Many of the students read aloud thoughtful rhymes on life as a teenager,with titles such as "Without You"and "Bumps in the Road." Kaplan's poem, "Things That Make Me Smile," is her favorite of all the poems she has written. Lady Johana Cuervo,who read a"duet" poem with another student in front of the class, said that as eighth-graders the students can tackle more serious topics than they did in elementary school. "You talk a lot more about all the drama," Cuervo said. "A lot of kids should have this experience of being able to write, getting to know each other in their classrooms on a personal level," Battle said. "Over the course of the week, so many students come out and show their true colors." What Scott calls Shabazz's"authentic engagement"can be seen in the variety of poems and styles that emerged from the students'work in the classroom. "To us, it's so important that every child feels that what they say has meaning,"Scott said. "[Shabazz] made people who weren't interested in poetry actually be interested,"Zuniga said. In front of the class,two boys read a humorous duet poem they wrote about playing video games.Another student chose to rap his poem. A few students got up in front of the classroom to dance. Even when the lesson came to an end and the party to celebrate the week began, two girls passed up the festivities and sat quietly at a table, taking turns writing lines of poetry in a notebook. At one point, they paused long enough to turn around and call out, "We love Mr. Shabazz!"