Recent graduates Jesica Blandon and Vaughn Kelly are participating in the 2010 Knicks Poetry Slam competition. These are video clips of Jesica’s and Vaughn’s performances during the semifinals held at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Stay tuned for more info since Jesica has qualified for the finals, and Vaughn is currently a “Digital Poet.” In order to vote for Vaughn’s video (or any other poets you prefer…) please log onto www.knickspoetryslam.com and cast your vote! Help these poets to claim one of two remaining spots for the finals!

Kia Vaughn, MS145 alumnus and New York Liberty basketball star recently visited her middle school alma mater to give the Liberty fans a glimpse into her world.

Alumni Jesica Blandon and Denisse Cotto were recently interviewed, photographed and featured in an article published in Edutopia Magazine about Global WRITeS, the arts organization (formerly known as Bronx WRITeS) that partners with our schools and provides a teaching artist/poet to work with our award winning poetry slam teams. Jesica’s poem, “Bleeding Da Vinci” was reprinted in the magazine, and a video of her poem, “I Was Told Mama Had All the Answers” was featured in the magazine, in both their print publication and their online version. Mr. Hannibal was also interviewed. Click the link to view the article and Check out our Graduates!

Students at MS 145 middle school courted success Thursday when we won a mock trial competition – our second win in three years. Seventh-graders from Middle School 145 outlawyered hundreds of other students to win the Thurgood Marshall Junior Mock Trial competition held at the Bronx County court building. Tina Fraser, 14, an MS 145 student who moved to the Bronx from Jamaica two years ago, said she was excited to make her case at the mock murder trial. “My coaches, teacher and principal inspired me,” said Fraser, who also won top prize for best advocate. “We worked hard and did our best.” Continue this article here…