On page 7 in the April 30th issue of the Denver Hearld-Dispatch, Joshua Cole wrote a column about Nayeli Martinez's trip to New York. The article is below.
Barnum fifth grader reads winning poem in New York
By Joshua Cole
Barnum Elementary School fifth grader Nayeli Martinez read her poem I Will at the National Poetry Slam, April 20, for America SCORES Denver.
SCORES is a national program that combines after-school soccer with writing workshops to encourage leadership, teamwork and communication, providing services for more than 20 girls and boys in the Denver metro area.
"The SCORES program has had an enormous positive impact in our school, community and lives of our student," wrote Amy Olivas, Martinez's teacher. "It has become part of our school culture. As teachers we have observed a change in classroom behavior, and a drastic improvement in writing skills. Our students are English Language Learners who come from a very low socio-economic status. America SCORES is a phenomenal program for them. It has provided so many opportunities for our kids."
Martinez plays soccer, writes, makes art, performs drama and dances.
"I'm very creative," Martinez wrote. "I really enjoy creative writing, I have my own style and like being a little different. I like writing poetry because I can express me, and there isn't a wrong way or a right way."
Martinez is the middle of three girls in her family. She says that her parents support her and support her expressions.
She is a role model to all and is not afraid to take a risk and works hard at all she does," Olivas wrote. "Nayeli is that special kind of person that when she walks inside a room, it truly does light up. She just has this sparkle about her life."
'I Will'
By Nayeli Marquez
I will be a soccer ball, fast and strong.
I will run or fly to catch the net.
I will be a gorilla,
so clever I use my brain to catch my prey.
I will be a beat that never stops,
I will never give up.
I will be an artist, so creative,
I will use my hands for many things.
I will be President who gives hope for my team,
who makes them reach their dreams.
I will be a trophy that stands for
Intelligence, strength, and creativity.
I will be me.
Oh wait, I already am!
May 18, 2009
May 14, 2009
2009 Jamboree!
At the end of the Spring season our SCORES teams come together for a round robin style soccer tournament. We held our 10th annual Jamboree! on Saturday, May 9th at Dick's Sporting Good Park. We partnered with the Colorado Fusion Club this year which allowed some of our teams to play the Fusion teams for the first time! The morning started off a little chilly but soon warmed up into a beautiful day! Our poet-athletes had fun playing soccer, cheering on their counterpart team, picking out books, and having their faces painted. Thank you to the Colorado Fusion Soccer Club for the partnership, Dick's Sporting Good Park for the fields, and to our volunteers that came and helped us set up, bundle snack, paint faces, and clean up!May 12, 2009
Shout! Day of Action
The SCORES Shout! Day of Action is a community action day when poet-athletes get out into the community to make a difference! SCORES Students have been studying their communities all spring, and on this day they will take direct steps to improve the communities they are a part of.
Our original Shout! Day of Action was canceled due to inclement weather and was rescheduled for Saturday, April 25th. We had over 70 students and volunteers help plant over 250 trees at the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, Colorado.
Below are some stories from students that went and to check out photos from the day by clicking here!
When I went to Loveland on Saturday morning, it was really cold but I went anyways. It was really fun! My friend and I planted 27 trees, we were the fastest planters there! We were at Loveland for a hour and a half. During that time I learned so much about planting trees, what the materials are used for, and how deep and wide the holes are suppose to be. I learned a lot about Loveland. You should go, it is so much fun!
~ Monica, Newlon Elementary
On Saturday, I felt good because I was helping my community by planting more trees. We planted 250 trees! After we were done we went and helped the girls team finish. After we were done we went and ate and saw a snake!
~ Gabriel, Newlon Elementary
When our soccer team went to Loveland on Saturday, we had a fun and cool time! On the bus we were laughing! They gave us Cliff bars to eat and they were very good. After that, we started planting trees. We had to dig holes and put the plants into the hole. Then we had to put the dirt back around the trees and make a dirt wall to put fertilizer on the soil. We did more plants than any other school! After planting trees and working hard we had lunch. All in all, we had loads of fun!
~ Alicia, Newlon Elementary
On Saturday, the Denver SCORES team and I went to Loveland to plant some trees. When we got on the bus, I was getting bored because it was such a long ride. When we arrived, we all got shovels and gloves. They showed us the correct way to carry a tool by finding the balance point. We planted a lot of trees! The best part of planting a tree is putting the tree into the hole we just dug. The most important thing is we helped the community and the world!
~ Carlos, Newlon Elementary
Our original Shout! Day of Action was canceled due to inclement weather and was rescheduled for Saturday, April 25th. We had over 70 students and volunteers help plant over 250 trees at the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, Colorado.
Below are some stories from students that went and to check out photos from the day by clicking here!
When I went to Loveland on Saturday morning, it was really cold but I went anyways. It was really fun! My friend and I planted 27 trees, we were the fastest planters there! We were at Loveland for a hour and a half. During that time I learned so much about planting trees, what the materials are used for, and how deep and wide the holes are suppose to be. I learned a lot about Loveland. You should go, it is so much fun!
~ Monica, Newlon Elementary
On Saturday, I felt good because I was helping my community by planting more trees. We planted 250 trees! After we were done we went and helped the girls team finish. After we were done we went and ate and saw a snake!
~ Gabriel, Newlon Elementary
When our soccer team went to Loveland on Saturday, we had a fun and cool time! On the bus we were laughing! They gave us Cliff bars to eat and they were very good. After that, we started planting trees. We had to dig holes and put the plants into the hole. Then we had to put the dirt back around the trees and make a dirt wall to put fertilizer on the soil. We did more plants than any other school! After planting trees and working hard we had lunch. All in all, we had loads of fun!
~ Alicia, Newlon Elementary
On Saturday, the Denver SCORES team and I went to Loveland to plant some trees. When we got on the bus, I was getting bored because it was such a long ride. When we arrived, we all got shovels and gloves. They showed us the correct way to carry a tool by finding the balance point. We planted a lot of trees! The best part of planting a tree is putting the tree into the hole we just dug. The most important thing is we helped the community and the world!
~ Carlos, Newlon Elementary
Check out photos from the Spring!
We have uploaded all of our photos to a Picasa web album. To view the album website, please click on the photo below!
May 7, 2009
Second Colorado Rapids Clinic!
Our four other schools (Cowell, Knapp, Munroe, and Newlon) participated in the Play Like a Pro clinic hosted by the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, May 6th. These four teams were lead through various drills by some of the Rapids startering players! Once again the students were really excited about riding on a charter bus provided by the Rapids organization and had a fun afternoon of soccer and autographs.
Thank you to the Rapids organization and players for inviting us to this clinic and giving our students a wonderful experience!
Check out some photos from the clinic!
Left: Students from Newlon warming up with Rapids midfielder, Mehdi Ballouchy
Right: Knapp students working on passing with Rapids defender, Ugo Ihemelu
Left: Students from Cowell Elementary scrimmage each other under the encouragement of Rapids goalkeeper, Matt Pickens
Right: Rapids defender, Scott Palguta shows Knapp students the correct way to trap and pass the ball.
Left: Munroe student playing a dribbling game with Rapids midfielder, Colin Clark
Right: Rapids Forward, Omar Cummings, autographing students' shirts.
Left: Knapp boy receiving autograph from Rapids goalkeeper, Matt Pickens
Right: Students receiving autographs from various Rapids players
Thank you to the Rapids organization and players for inviting us to this clinic and giving our students a wonderful experience!
Check out some photos from the clinic!
Left: Students from Newlon warming up with Rapids midfielder, Mehdi Ballouchy
Right: Knapp students working on passing with Rapids defender, Ugo Ihemelu
Left: Students from Cowell Elementary scrimmage each other under the encouragement of Rapids goalkeeper, Matt Pickens
Right: Rapids defender, Scott Palguta shows Knapp students the correct way to trap and pass the ball.
Left: Munroe student playing a dribbling game with Rapids midfielder, Colin Clark
Right: Rapids Forward, Omar Cummings, autographing students' shirts.
Left: Knapp boy receiving autograph from Rapids goalkeeper, Matt Pickens
Right: Students receiving autographs from various Rapids players
May 5, 2009
Soccer Clinic with the Colorado Rapids!
On Thursday, April 30th, four of our schools (Eagleton, Cheltenham, Valdez, and Barnum) were invited out to Dick's Sporting Good Park to participate in the Play Like a Pro clinic lead by the Colorado Rapids players. The fields were broken up into four stations that each school rotated through. The Rapids players worked with the children on dribbling, heading the ball, goal kicks, and much more. The SCORES students had so much fun and were really excited about meeting professional soccer players and riding on the charter buses provided by the Rapids organization. Their hard work during the two hour practice was rewarded at the end with an autograph signing session and ice cream!
The rest of our schools will enjoy participating in the clinic on Wednesday, May 6th!
Check out some photos from the event!
Left: Barnum Elementary playing head or catch the ball
Right: Eagleton Elementary boy on a break away during a scrimmage
Left: Valdez Elementary practicing kicks on goal
Right: Cheltenham Elementary working on coordination and trying to avoid been hit by the ball
Colorado Rapids players, Nico Colaluca (Left) and Ciaran O'Brien (Right) autograph students shirts
May 4, 2009
Come Join us for the Jamboree!
Our 10th Annual Jamboree! will take place this Saturday, May 9th at Dick's Sporting Goods Park from 9am to noon. We have partnered with the Colorado Fusion Club and our teams will have the opportunity to play some of the Fusion teams for the first time! The tournament will still be a fun, non-competitive event that will bring even more students together from around the city.
Both the boys and girls teams will be playing under the U11/U12 groups.
Click here for the Socerfest website and schedule!
Both the boys and girls teams will be playing under the U11/U12 groups.
Click here for the Socerfest website and schedule!
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