Middle School Poetry Contest Winners

Recently, RPA had a contest at the middle school during the month of April (National Poetry Month) and students were asked to write a poem about the culture at RPA. Here are the three top finishers' poems. Congratulations to the winners!

1st place

"RPA’s Ways"

By: Henry Lowe (7th grade)

At this school RPA

Sometimes Students go astray

But do not worry about that long overdue essay

For we will repay it to you

RPA always finds a way to complete what it’s started

After we have Departed

And our work has become uncharted

We will have completed our work

But with our minds combined

We will go in a straight str

eamline

And then our grades will shine

Just find our passion

Just do your part and we will do ours

With those constant hours

We have super powers

With your experience

We need you

We make a great crew

We will always make it through

Together we cannot fail

A little faith is all that's needed

And with that we proceeded

And then we all succeeded

That is the only requirement

We will become a true blaze

All we sometimes need is an inspiring phrase

Under a teacher's gaze

This is the magic of RPA’s ways

2nd place

"A Day in the Life of RPA"

By: Jessilynne Beeman, Caitlin Erickson,

and Kaylen McAdams (6th grade)

I walk into school every day with my notebook in my hand,

Ready for my lessons today,

I pack up my stuff and I’m ready to stand,

With my friends next to me I head to P.E,

When class is dismissed we go to lunch,

I decided to help pick up trash and all my friends helped me,

The best time of the day is elective time, yay!

Now it’s the end of the day, we all help to put chairs away,  

With my head held high, I am proud to say that I completed the day,

When we go home, we talk about our day and remember that...

“RPA is a great school we know we are RAD kids,

3rd Place

"RPA"

By Esmeralda Cervantes (6th grade)

R.A.D. stands for

Respectful

Awesome

Dependable

Is that all you think that RPA stands for?

No RPA stands for unique and proficient learning, free to be who you really are, Free to stand out, Free to

Show yourself to the world.

Some are writers, some are scientists, some are Doctors, some are artists,

Some are actors, some are singers, some are teachers, some are students, and finally WE ARE ONE AND WE ARE ALL UNIQUE.

Charcoal Figures

We, as human beings, notice the specifics. We converse with others by analyzing their facial features- their eyes, their noses, their mouths- and asking questions. The unknown specificities clarify and the general aspects, what we colloquially call their “aura,” are disregarded. The beauty of the generalities surrounding the human figure dissipate into specificities.

    As I stepped into the Figure Drawing class, I acknowledged the beauty I might witness. I knew that everything had the possibility of beauty. However, I was viewing the world specifically, I saw the eyes and nose, and appreciated these features but ignored the general silhouette.

    The first day of class, we were taught the technique of massing: the creation of a charcoal shadowed silhouette.   

    Holding the charcoal in an awkward side position, we were taught to slide it across the page, creating silhouettes, but not details. I repetitively dropped the charcoal and berated myself for the lack of detail and incorrect proportions. I was completely undermining the meaning of “massing.”

    As I progressed through the traditional steps of figure drawing, I found that I could not create the detail I wanted with the cumbersome charcoal stick; regardless, I practiced repetitively, not wanting to fail or give up, and eventually a figure appeared.

    The piece in front of me was far different from the technically oriented pieces that I had predicted. This creation was beautiful, yet, opposite of my assumption. Examining further, I realized the importance of massing. Out of the massed depiction, a undetailed figure of shadow and light had emerged. Its face was a blur of depth: the nose and eyes, that I knew were no longer needed, faded into the general figure.

    I had always assumed, while looking down at papers and reflections, that the details were most important. I judged and perfected these features: the eyes, the nose, while completely ignoring the figure holistically. Methodically, the model would fade into lines my pencil could not trace and shapes my hands could not replicate. Then, the beauty of the figure and their subsequent existence disappeared.

    Figure drawing was merely one medium to temporarily appreciate the human figure; however, in that moment of concentration, I was forced to disregard the specificities and concentrate on the beauty of the general figure. I know any participant can cultivate this fleeting experience to alter their general appreciation of the human figure. Large noses and small eyes can fade, replaced by the beautiful mass of the human figure.

Teacher Origins

Dean Johnson investigates the origins of RPA teachers Ethan Steelier and Amy Herauf. Listen and learn some of their inspirations and challenges that they experienced to be who they are today. 

In-class Novels

RPA, like many schools, uses classical novels to teach  literature. With so many books to choose from teachers pick books that they think will be interesting for the whole class, and that students can appreciate.

The SAT and PSAT at RPA

3.5 million Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors take the SAT or PSAT.  These tests are used to identify the academic strengths, and weaknesses of millions of students every year. While the PSAT prepares students for the SAT, the SAT can be used to apply for colleges. This podcast introduces the many ways the Redmond Proficiency Academy prepares students for these tests, and generously offers to pay for two of these test a year per student.