Videos from Class of 2008

The text below is part of the Storefront Blue Book distributed at the benefit on May 19th 2008 (click here to learn more about the benefit)

note: some videos are 6 megabytes, so it may take a bit of time to load; if you have tech issues seeing the videos, you may need to boost your Mac or PC with quicktime which you can download for free from www.apple.com/quicktime/

posted by Steve Bergen, computer teacher, email=

DRA | IAB | KDB | HBJ | SAB | CAC | DMD | TEJ | KEK | LDL | JMM | ELR | KCS | BMW | BJW | SEW

DRA

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The Children's Storefront is an independent school in Harlem. I have been at the Storefront for ten years. I consider it an honor to have made it from preschool to the 8th grade. It has been a long road and I'm almost at the end. As I turn off of Storefront Avenue, I'm heading on to High School Road. I feel that I'm ready for all of the challenges that lie ahead of me.

What made my experience at Storefront great was all of my teachers. They have pushed me to fulfill my potential. The faculty members that I connected with most were Mr. Michael Williams and Mr. Ryan Blain. I relate to Mr. Williams because we both grew up in Harlem and he knows the pressures of the neighborhood I live in. I connect with Mr. Blain because we have both experienced tragic losses in our lives and he understands my viewpoints on certain topics such as dealing with parents.

The high school I plan to attend is Xavier High School. What I want to achieve goes beyond the classroom. In addition to being an accomplished student, I also plan on being a well-rounded athlete. I want participate in bowling and basketball. In the future I see myself as a college graduate working to break into the world of NBA analysis.

The message I would like to relay to younger students is to never be satisfied with your past accomplishments. Always strive to achieve higher goals. Another thing I want them to remember is that they are the future of the school. It is important to students give tours, shake hands, and greet incoming guests. The last thing I want to leave with them is that education is the key. With the world becoming more about technology than manpower, education is becoming more essential everyday.

IAB

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I have attended The Children's Storefront for four years. My history at The Storefront has been like a rollercoaster; I guess you can say I've had my ups and downs. Everyone at The Storefront cares about each other; they assist each other when help is needed, and encourage each other when that is needed as well. Although the teachers have a lot of work to do they still find the time to really help the students with their problems. My biggest challenge at The Storefront was coming to school on time. Being at The Storefront has taught me how to manage my time. With a little push from The Storefront I started to come to school earlier.

My favorite class is history. I like history because of the way that Ms. Williams teaches it. In addition to using the textbook, she teaches history by telling stories about the past. I would like to thank all of the teachers for their time and effort. In particular I would like to thank Mrs. Cross for helping me with the whole high school process. Mrs. Cross spent a lot of extra time with me that she didn't have to.

This year at The Storefront I have participated in the running club. We have gone to many track meets; some we have won and some we have lost, but we always keep a positive attitude. I am also a member of the Women's Mentoring group. The Women's Mentoring group is made up of both seventh and eighth grade girls. It is really fun and we go on great trips; such as going to see plays and going to the spa. Every year the 8th grade girls do a big project at the end of the year. This year we are going to be doing a documentary. The documentary is going to be about the changes that have taken place in Harlem. I know that high school is going to be tough, but I feel that The Storefront has prepared me for the real world. In the next five years I see myself graduating from High School and on my way to college. When I become an adult I want to be a pediatrician. I know that I am going to have to do a lot of hard work to accomplish this goal, but The Children's Storefront has taught me that education is the key to success.

To the 5th and 6th graders: I know everyone says that 8th grade is your most important year, but the truth is that 5th and 6th grade matter as well. High schools are looking back at those years also. The reality is that there really isn't any time to fool around. There is a time for work and there is a time for play: use your time wisely and remember everything that The Storefront is teaching you now.

KDB

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I have been at the Storefront for 10 years. I started Storefront in Pre-school, and I'm now in the graduating class. My years at Storefront have been very exciting. I have had a lot of fun with my classmates and have learned a lot from my teachers. If I had to choose which grade that I thought was the most exciting it would be 4th grade. 4th grade was the grade that prepared us for Upper School. Ms. Murumba and Ms. Valere were great teachers. They knew exactly what was going to be expected of us once we got to Upper school, and they made sure that we mastered our lessons. They were very strong disciplinarians who wanted us to succeed.

The greatest difficulty I had in Storefront was organization. I would often forget my assignments at home, and I had a hard time staying up to date with my schoolwork. Storefront has helped me a lot over the years with my organizational problems, and it has paid off in 8th grade.

In high school I'm looking forward to learning new things, maturing as person, and following my dreams. In order for my dreams to come true I have to consistently set high goals for myself. Some goals I would like to achieve in the next couple of years are continuing to improve in basketball and achieving academic honor roll in high school. In high school I am looking forward to taking algebra, American history, and computer classes. In the next 5 years I hope to be able to play basketball at the college level.

HBJ

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I have been at The Children's Storefront for 7 eventful years. Some of my greatest experiences have happened at this school: Going to see "The Lion King" on Broadway with my classmates, selling my paintings at the Men's Mentoring Art Show, participating in the Talent Show, and beating my classmate in arm-wrestling! I love to draw, and the most difficult thing for me to do at the Storefront was to integrate my creativity with the academic work that I am asked to do at school. In my 8th grade year I have made more of an effort to participate in class.

I have been able to use my artistic skills on projects about algebraic equations, and Nuclear Energy. I've also created two illustrations inspired by the words of Toni Morrison. One day I hope to design video games, publish a comic book, and/or illustrate a cartoon. Art and Computers are my favorite subjects. Before I joined the Upper School I wasn't really interested in after school activities, but in recent years I found myself joining the Running Club, Study Hall, Chess Team, and After-school Art.

I've been at the Storefront since second grade, and I'm a little anxious to go to a new high-school. I hope to get accepted into a high-school that is as open, caring, and close to its students as the Storefront is. I know I will never find a more caring bunch of people anywhere.

I'd like to thank Mr. Leutrium, specifically, for allowing me to be myself. In life we always have a choice (even if it seems like we don't) and what you choose to do with these choices determines what you do with life. When you are seeking a workplace, be sure to strive to get a career instead of a job. A career is something you can put your heart into and build upon, and a job is just something you do to get by. If you do something you love you won't feel like you're really working. I learned these two lessons from Mr. Williams and all of the teachers at The Storefront.

SAB

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My years at The Children's Storefront have been good because I have had a lot of teachers that care about me. They helped me to focus more on my schoolwork and get better grades. I was getting in and out of trouble in the 5th grade and the teachers never gave up on me. They always believed that I could do better. I thank them for supporting me. Ever since I came to this school I have made a lot of friends. They have supported me through out the whole year, and that's what true friends are about.

In the 6th grade I discovered that I liked reading. I read the entire series of Pippi Longstocking books, by Astrid Lindgren. My biggest challenge has been reading the books that I have been assigned in English class. They are hard because many of the books are written on a high school level, and they have difficult vocabulary words. However, I understand that the teachers want us to read them so that we can get ready for high school and college.

I'm looking forward to getting good grades in high school and finishing college. When I'm done with high school and college I want to become a basketball player and go to the WNBA. I hope to succeed because I have loved basketball since I was little. My goal is to become a nurse if I don't become a basketball player. I would like to work in the Labor and Delivery unit of a hospital because I love babies.

When I leave the school I hope that the younger students continue to learn as much as they can at The Storefront. High school is going to be hard, but we will be prepared as long as we remember what we learned at The Storefront.

CAC

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I have been at The Children's Storefront since 1997. That is practically my whole life. Through the years many thing have happened. New teachers have come and old teachers have gone. I have gotten very attached to the teachers over the years and the school. I have been with 7 people in my class since pre-school, and I am now graduating with them.

My greatest experience at The Storefront was when I was in seventh grade and I had the opportunity to join Women's Mentoring. I love being a part of the Women's Mentoring program because it teaches you how to behave properly in public and how to speak in front of a group of people. Gale, Dana, Katelyn, and Ms. Owen contribute so much of their time to help us.

When I attend high school, I hope to be apart of AP calculus because I enjoy math. I like math because I'm good with numbers. I want to go away for college because I think that it will help me to be independent. My goal is to write a biography to give people a chance to read about my struggles and successes. I want people to know that despite what I have been through I have never given up on my dreams and goals.

DMD

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The Storefront is a great start to a better education. I have been in the Storefront my whole life, and I will never forget it. The Storefront is full of teachers who care and who love. My history in the Storefront is great. I don't have one bad memory.

The best part of my Storefront years was my seventh grade math teacher. He taught us the best way ever. He let us play around a little and yet we still learned a lot and became great math students. I don't think that anyone else can teach like him. Although I struggle a little now, I will never forget what he taught us.

I look forward to friendly people who are cool with you no matter what. In high school, I hope that the teachers are nice and funny, but at the same time helps you out with what ever it is. The school has to be joyful and not dull. I don't want to walk in and see the student looking sad and unhappy. I hope that in the next 5-15 years I will become a hard working man and someone who gets work done first and plays later.

I wish that all the other students that come after me have the best time of there life and also learn as much as they can. I see something in all the younger students at the Storefront. I see potential in all of them. I see that they can all become something great. I hope that our closing statement means something to them, like it meant something to me.

Closing Statement

Always remember how special you are and how powerful you can become, through hard work, dedication and perseverance. Always remember that because you are important, you are strong, we are a community and we are the Storefront.

TEJ

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On my first day at The Children's Storefront I walked out of my dad's car holding my mom's hand. I was happy to be starting pre-school. Over the next few years I would read books by Dr. Seuss, such as Green Eggs and Ham. I would also help take care of crickets in the 3rd grade, and play Alice in our 4th grade production of Alice and Wonderland. When I stepped up to the 5th grade, I was happy to be elected to Student Government as the first female representative for the class of 2008. Now that it's my last year I am scared to leave, but hopeful for the future.

While at Children's Storefront I have indulged my love of reading and discovered a surprising love of math. In the 6th grade Ms.Cardwell introduced me to the wonderful works of J.D Salinger, Maya Angelou and Piri Thomas. In the 7th grade I read my first play by William Shakespeare with Ms.Williams. In math my biggest challenge was to stop pushing aside new concepts. Ms. Owen was the first teacher who to continuously pushed me to ask questions until I fully understood what was being taught.

Within the next 10 years I would like to have graduated high school and college at the top of both classes. Within the next 15 years I would like to have my master's degree in anatomy and be practicing medicine at a major hospital.

Frederick Douglas said, "Power concedes nothing without demand." To me this quote symbolizes The Children Storefront. The power is the education, and the demand is the need for young children of color to have education. The Children's Storefront has been in this community for over 40 years. It has gotten children into some of the best high schools in the country. I would like to tell all the younger classes take advantage of the Storefront. Do as much extra work and read as many books as you can, because it will help you in the long run.

KEK

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When I first came to the Children's Storefront I was in the second grade. I made friends with two girls on the first day of school. I was scared, but the people in my class made me feel better about being in a new school and meeting new people. Over the years, being at the Children's Storefront made me feel better about myself.

My best memory at the Storefront was my first year of Women Mentoring in the 7th grade. I had fun when we participated in the Women Mentoring Art Show. I sold two of my paintings and photographs. The most difficult thing I experienced was learning to deal with my learning difference. With hard work I was able to raise my test scores every year.

In the fall I look forward to attending Purnell High School. I hope to graduate from high school and go to college. I also hope to get a wonderful job as a stock broker or doctor. I hope the younger students will have the experience of getting into their first choice of high school like I did. The only way you will get there is if you do all your work and get good grades. One day all of your effort will pay off.

LDL

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I've been at the Storefront since I was three years old. I think this school is about helping each other out and being together as a family. The Storefront community has been there for me and helped me so much. I really appreciate that. My biggest challenge here was not bringing my frustrations with my family into the classroom. When I was down the teachers made me laugh. I have learned a lot since I've been here. Sometimes I even taught things to the teachers!

One of my greatest experiences was being in 2nd grade with Ms. Bergson. We had a whole lot of fun together. I struggled with my behavior when I was younger, but I changed that. I am a very bright child who completes her work. The thing that I liked best in Upper School was reading a book called Dicey's Song, by Cynthia Voight, in Language Enrichment class.

When I'm in high school I plan to pay attention in class, work as hard as I can, and make sure I'm in school everyday. Also when I'm done high school I plan on going to college out of this country. I plan to become a math teacher so that I can teach a subject that I love in new, creative ways. When I leave Storefront I would like the children who are still here to work as hard as they can and make sure they get all of their homework done. The Storefront is a special place to be.

JMM

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One of my earliest memories is the brightness of the sun as I look up and see Ms. Maggie welcome us to school. Seeing her everyday still gives me a feeling of joy. The Children's Storefront is family environment. Teachers and staff members not only educate us academically but socially as well. I look at teachers as mentors; they support the athletic teams by coming to games and cheering us on. They stay after school to provide us with the help that we need. My years at the Children's Storefront have been a pleasure. I'm glad to say that I will leave the Storefront with a good sense of academic and social achievement.

My classmates have had a big impact on my time at the Storefront. They have been very supportive of me. Most of my classmates have been with me since Kindergarten; it will be disappointing to leave each other, but I look forward to seeing each of us branch out and grow. This year the Boys Basketball team won the league championship. I would like to thank my teammates for having a huge impact on our team. Mr. Blain has given us a good sense of the fundamentals of the game and taught us valuable leadership skills.Making my Storefront experience a success has been a lot of hard work. The most important person I want to thank is my mom. Pre-K through 8th grade is a long road and my mom has been by my side the whole trip. She has helped me with projects, homework, and high school applications. I would also like to thank, Ms.Cross, Ms.Cardwell, and Ms.Owen for the assistance given to me when applying to boarding schools.

Adjusting to boarding life at the New Hampton School will be a challenge but, by using the skills that I have learned at The Children's Storefront, I am confident that I will make smart decisions and work to my fullest potential. I look forward to competing in both the classroom and on the Basketball court.

ELR

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I became a member of The Children's Storefront in the fourth grade. That was when I met two very special people: Ms. Murumba and Ms. Valere. They were smart and amazing women. They taught me things that I never thought I would be able to learn like the events leading up to the Civil War, long division, and fractions. I thought that I was not going to be able to learn those things because in my other school I really wasn't expected do any schoolwork except when it was time for the standardized tests.

I have enjoyed my years at the Storefront because it is like a family. It's almost like a second home. Storefront is a place where you can talk about anything. As I have gotten older I have become more open and willing to communicate with people. I have learned many new things and started to engage in class discussions. I would have to say that Storefront is the best school that I have ever attended. I think that the teachers and staff have done a great job of dealing with the students who find it difficult to overcome obstacles

The best thing that happened this year was the Girls Basketball Team. I was so excited to hear that we would have a team because I thought that it was going to be a great opportunity to learn how to play basketball and to prove that girls can play just as well as boys. As the season went on I became a better and better player. I started to enjoy it more and take it very seriously.

In the next five to ten years I would like to become a model or an artist. Before that I intend to go to college so that I can get my degree in nursing. If things don't work out with modeling and art I can always get a really good job as an OBGYN nurse. The Storefront has taught me the value of helping other people.

KCS

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I have been at the Storefront since Pre-K. Mrs. Elsbeth and Mrs. Ida were my teachers back then, and they have helped me grow into the young man I am today. I have always looked forward to doing math in school; especially problem solving because the problems are not monotonous and they test your ability to think them through. My favorite math topic is Algebra because the problems are rarely the same and there are various ways to think about and solve the problems.

Some of my greatest experiences have happened at the Storefront. Two of them were learning math problem solving in 3rd grade and getting high academic honor roll in 5th grade. Some of the more difficult things I had to do were to write long essays in my English and Language Enrichment classes. My biggest challenge at the Storefront was to stop procrastinating.

I would like to thank Mrs. Owen for helping me to get into Bronx Science with her test prep class. I would also like to thank Mrs. Cross and her husband for helping me with my high school applications. I am looking forward to going to a new high school because it will be a new experience for me. In high school, I am also looking forward to new challenges, including participating in extra-curricular activities. After high school, I plan on going to a very prestigious college.

What I have to say to the younger graduates is to treat others the way that you want to be treated. You never know who will be successful, and if you are kind to people they may return the favor when you may need it the most. Finally, you all should go to college. Going to college opens so many doors for you. If your dream job is not available, you will have the skills required for other jobs you may have never thought about.

BMW

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I have attended The Children's Storefront for two years; I started in the 7th grade. When I first came to the school I was kind of quiet and shy. The students were really nice to me. They talked to me and helped me get more comfortable with the teachers and other students. It wasn't very hard to get used to everything, but I couldn't have done it without the help of the students, teachers, and Mr. Williams. Coming to the Storefront was one of the best decisions my mother and I have ever made. The things that I have achieved here I couldn't possibly imagine achieving at any other school. I joined Gospel Choir and the girl's basketball team both years that I've been here. Everything that I have achieved here gives me confidence for when I go to high school. I didn't have that confidence in other schools.

The greatest thing about Storefront is the support. This support is very rare because a lot of public schools don't provide you with the amount of support that you get at Storefront; you usually have to support yourself. Being a teenager isn't that easy, and that is something the Storefront understands about their students. My biggest challenge here is maintaining my grades and juggling work in different classes. High school is not going to give us support like the Storefront, so we need to get used to the challenge. If we get into the habit of scheduling our time and getting all of our homework done then it will help us, not only in high school but college. Storefront also has after-school programs so that we have time to get homework done and get help from the teachers. That was a major help for me during my years at the Storefront.

In high school I am looking forward to making new friends and becoming more independent. I hope for a lot of activities, sports and clubs. I'm planning on going to Fashion Industries High school. I like the concept of that school and the teachers seemed very nice when I visited.

In Fashion Industries I applied for the business and merchandising major because it seems like something I could be good at, and I can imagine owning my own fashion line. I want people to know me as a successful woman who strived for the best and overcame obstacles. For the students whom will be coming to the eighth grade next year, I hope you get through everything with your head up. It will not always be easy, but with the right mindset and good intentions you will be all right. Just get all of your work done, because if you don't, it will catch up to you. Always think positively and make yourself comfortable in as many situations as possible. Don't let anyone get to you; just be yourself and follow your heart and mind. Follow the rules and try to have good relationships with the teachers, students, and staff. If you are consistent with your work and demonstrate good behavior, the eighth grade should be fine.-

BJW

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My history at the Storefront is shorter than most because I came here in the middle of seventh grade. My first memory is seeing students playing basketball in front of building 70 in the morning before the bell rang. Blayze Davis, who is now my best friend, was the person who toured me around the school. This year I'm doing a lot better than I did last year. I'm looking forward to High School and the challenges it will bring.

I am proud of what I have accomplished this year: writing high school essays, doing multiple class projects, and passing all of my Wordly Wise tests. The Core Values that this school has instilled in me will take me far in life, especially the idea of perseverance. The biggest challenge I have faced at this school was preparing for the 2007 Black History Month performance. I was acting out a passage from the Autobiography of Frederick Douglass. There were some days when I could not remember all of my lines, but with multiple rehearsals and help from my classmates the performance was almost perfect. In two or three years I plan to be standing in front of hundreds of people accepting my Academy Award.

When I get to high school I am looking forward to meeting new people and taking more history classes. I would like to attend Morehouse College because that is where Samuel L. Jackson went and he is a well-respected actor. When I achieve my dream of becoming an actor, I will give a generous donation to The Storefront to thank the school for preparing me for this world outside of Harlem.

When all is said and done the Storefront is a really wonderful place to be. The students and the staff here at Storefront will always have a place in my heart no matter where the future takes me.

SEW

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When I first attended The Children's Storefront I came with high expectations and hope for new opportunities. I came expecting a fresh start. All eyes were on the "new girl." After just a few weeks into the school year I had many friends and loved the comfortable community. Everyone was nice and the teachers actually and cared about the students. I've had 3 years of good and bad at The Children's Storefront, but with the help of the teachers I have overcome it. Now I am moving on to a new stage in my life.

My greatest experience was my first year of Women's Mentoring in the 7th grade. We learned a lot of things such as how to produce a resume. This year we are making a documentary about the changes in Harlem over the years. I liked when we filmed 125th street and conducted interviews. I enjoyed talking to people and listening to their various answers and opinions. I am very excited about the outcome of our documentary, and I know it will be great.

During the 6th and 7th grade I maintained high grades and was on Honor Roll at least once every semester. English and Language Enrichment were my favorite classes because I have a lot of interest in literature. Two of my favorite books are: The Color Purple, by Alice Walker and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou. In the 6th grade I began to struggle with math in certain areas. My teachers felt that I would really improve with some tutoring. Ms. Henry became my tutor throughout 6th and 7th grade. The teachers and Mr. Williams were really proud that I made so much improvement. I was also proud of how I grew as a young woman and took responsibility for my learning. I wish the classes after me luck.