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 Lenny Williams, who is about to begin middle school at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts. We sat down with him at the end of last school year, just as he was preparing to graduate from Arcadia Elementary School.
POP QUIZ
What is something interesting you’ve recently learned?
I’ve learned something about history. I’ve learned about slavery and about a man named Jacob who would go claiming lands for his people and then he was mistreating people who were slaves. He’d hit them. He wasn’t a nice guy. I learned that from Ms. [Donna] Judd. She teaches me social studies and science.
What are you currently reading?
The Magic Treehouse series. Right now I’m reading Sunset of the Sabertooth where they find the saber tooth tiger. I really like the Magic Treehouse books.
What’s your favorite word right now?
Go! As in, I go to the car.
What college or colleges are you considering going to and taking advantage of the Kalamazoo Promise?
I want to be a Spartan. And I’ll be a football player for Michigan State.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A football player.
Do you have a backup plan?
My back up plan is to play basketball.
Do you have a backup to your backup plan?
I also could study math, history, and science. I like those things too. Ms. [Ci’Erah] Bell taught me math last year. She taught me stuff I didn’t know, like adding fractions and subtracting fractions.
Even though you don’t have to make those decisions now, it sounds like you have talents and interests in a number of areas so you’ll have some good choices when the time comes.
Yea, I think so too.
Behind every successful student is a caring adult. Who has been your caring adult?
My whole family. My dad, my mom, and my sisters who are in high school. They help me with my algebra and problems that I do not know. I’d also say my Principal, Mr. [Greg] Socha. He is very nice. He checks on us every day to make sure we’re safe and sometimes he’s even helps us with our work when he’s in the classroom.
Anything else we should know about you?
I like school.
Thank you, Lenny!
Lenny will be featured in our upcoming newsletter, CIS Connections, where he reflects on his elementary years and the school and community supports that helped him succeed. You won’t want to miss it!
Tags: Arcadia Elementary School, CIS, Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo, Donna Judd, Greg Socha, Kalamazoo Promise, Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts, The Magic Treehouse
