An interview with friends, Zamya and Areli
Welcome back to the POP QUIZ! This is a regular, yet totally unexpected, feature where we ask students, parents, staff, our friends, and partners to answer a few questions about what they are learning, reading, and thinking about. Today we feature two students who will be attending fifth grade this coming school year.
Zamya (left) and Areli at CIS Think Summer
While both go to different Kalamazoo Public Schools—Zamya attends King-Westwood Elementary School and Areli attends Arcadia Elementary School—they have become friends through CIS Think Summer!, which is designed to reduce summer learning loss and increase academic and enrichment opportunities.
[Note: CIS Think Summer! as well as CIS After School is available thanks to the support of federal dollars that are awarded through the Michigan Department of Education, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The considerable advocacy here and across the country for after school programs was effective for the 2018 year and funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers was included in the budget bill passed by Congress, despite the recommendation to eliminate all funding for that purpose.]
Alright, Zamya and Areli: pencil out, eyes on your own paper. Good luck.
Pop Quiz
What is something interesting you’ve learned this summer?
Zamya: That you can have fun even though you’re doing math in school and it’s the summer.
Areli: That I really like science!
Favorite word?
Zamya: Fun. I’m really having fun this summer.
Areli: Tía. It means “aunt” in Spanish. I love my aunts.
What are you currently reading? 
Zamya and Areli: Out of My Mind!
Areli: We’re supposed to finish it by the end of summer and bring back to school.
Zamya: It’s a really good book.
What is one of your favorite things about being a student in KPS?
Zamya: Kids Hope [through Westwood Christian Reformed Church] is at my school. At the end of the year we had a celebration and this year we got a Rice Krispies watermelon treat.
Areli: I like that we get to do art. I love art!
What are your favorite subjects?
Zamya: Art. I want to be an artist and a gymnast when I grow up. I’m going to go to a multi-practice college that teaches you everything you need to know. My brother goes there. And then I’ll go to WMU and focus all on art.
Areli: I like art and want to be an artist when I grow up. I especially like to trace things. I traced a cat with wings on it and people say it looks good. I’m going to go to college where my cousin goes but I don’t know exactly where that is.
Okay, here’s a question I don’t think we’ve ever popped on anyone. What is the purpose of life?
Zamya: I feel like the purpose of life is worth living.
Areli: I was thinking about that too. I agree.
Zamya: You need to be living it. On the other hand, it’s hard to be living it…sometimes, you know, life might not always be fair. I first learned that from my mom. She’s told me that.
Areli: Life isn’t fair at all.
Zamya: Yes, you’re right.
Areli: Sometimes, it’s not even fair for dogs. I don’t like dog pounds. There shouldn’t be dog pounds.
Behind every successful student is a caring adult. Who is one of your caring adults?
Zamya: I have three moms.
Areli: My mom and dad and all my aunts and uncles. And my older cousins. They all care about me and take care of me and protect me.
Thank you, Zamya and Areli, for hanging out with us at Ask Me About My 12,000 Kids.
Tags: CIS Think Summer, friendship, Kids Hope, Michigan Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Out of My Mind, preventing summer slide, Westwood Christian Reformed Church
