Thank You, Friend, by L'Etoile du Nord and Scandia 1st and 2nd Graders

I am currently involved in a residency working with 1st and 2nd graders at L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion school in St. Paul and Scandia Elementary. They have enthusiastic minds and show it in their writing. This project is one sponsored by the East Metro Integration District (EMID). EMID creates classroom partnerships between schools in St. Paul and east suburban and exurban districts “to address the educational issues resulting from dramatic demographic changes and inequities among school age children.” This office has been doing important work during its history, work that is currently the target of legislative cuts.  Hopefully, this valuable tool will continue into the future.


What I share below is a poem generated by the work of these kids, facilitated by poet Julia Klatt Singer.

We all have an imagination

I imagine I have a sweet older sister

I imagine she is like a bird in my ear

She is my best friend

My friend is nice, she is happy



We all need friends

We all need air, sun to run and to love

The air is clear, we cannot see it

It blows, blows the trees, it blows



We all have the sun

It makes light for people

It looks like the pizza of light



In the sun and the air

I run with my friends

My legs are great, they are good

I love my legs because they are cool

We run like it is fun

As the air chases what it wants to be

In the shadow of the meadow



Thank you, sun

Thank you, air

Thank you, friend