Essay #13

Hello and Goodbye:

My Years at Pine Point and the Lessons I Have Learned

An Essay by Ashlyn Buffum

8th Grade English

Pine Point School

  May 16, 2012

Giving a speech

My brother stood in front of the whole school and gave his ninth grade speech with the theme of “hello and goodbye”. He talked about when he came to Pine Point and how he felt about leaving. I never knew that time could go so fast and now have me saying goodbye to Pine Point. Though as I look back on my years from when I said “hello” to now when I am saying “goodbye” I can say that I have grown as a person.

It seems like only yesterday when I said “hello” to Pine Point in preschool. I walked through those doors as a Dinosaur. I can still remember preschool, learning how to write and say the alphabet. I also still remember making my first friend, Lucy, who was an extremely kind girl, but one day I saw her crying next to a teacher. Not knowing what was going on, I asked her what was wrong and she replied, “No one will play with me.” This was my first real friendship inside of Pine Point and was one of my best. This helped me learn the reason for friendship and reaching out to other people ,and as a result the friendship grew. We spent almost every second together until third grade when Lucy left. I was sad, but I knew we would always be friends. Now I have many more friends and many more memories to share with my friends and family. The memories, experiences, and things that I have learned in lower school will be treasures for me to carry with me as I move on to high school at St.Georges.

Athena the Greek God of wisdom

After I said “goodbye” to lower school and soon after when I started middle school I learned many things about myself, and by doing so I grew as a person. For example, during 6th grade we did the greek play, and my character was Athena, the greek god of wisdom. Playing this part helped me realize responsibility and the idea of being a part of a team. Wanting to do a good job in the play, I tried to memorize lines for the part Athena. I also wanted to get them just right so I wouldn’t mess up and forget one of my lines and ruin the play for my classmates. After the play,  everyone congratulated me on my performance and commented about how I had known all my lines to the play. This play also helped me overcome my stage fright, a problem I had for many years. As a result, During the 7th grade drama of Nightmare at 20,000 feet I received a part of the  little girl named June. When I played this part it helped me express more of my emotions and also later in my theatre life in my community I received a good part because of my experience in acting. From the plays I have done through Pine Point and Weekapaug I have learned that it is always good to express what you think, there might be a time when you are right. The years for 6th and 7th grade were the the times where I as a person grew in many unexpected ways.

Now I am in 8th grade and the year is almost ended and with the curtain closing on the final chapter all I can think about is my friends and teachers. My friends have stayed with me through my years at Pine Point and they have shared with me their friendship, smiles, and laughter. From this I have learned that this is a wonderful life we live and that you always need friends. Learning this, I can go to St.George’s with plenty of memories of Pine Point, but also the ability to make new friends and make new wonderful memories. My teachers have also taught me many things. For example, My teachers have taught me to do better on my homework and also in sports, an activity that I enjoy very much. Also, both my friends and my teachers have taught me to be a better person and always try to help others when they are in need. They have helped grow from preschool to now 8th grade and I am who I am because they were with me. I will never forget the lessons they have taught me for the past 10 years and most importantly I will never forget their smiles.

Now my final “goodbye” draws near and I will bow out of Pine Point quietly at graduation.  I say goodbye to my school, second home, and second family, but I will always remember the lessons they taught me and I will also remember how they helped me grow as a person and athlete. In addition, I will also never forget the memories they gave me as I go on to my next adventure at St.George’s. At the end of my years at Pine Point all I can say as one final goodbye is “I am proud to have been a panther”.


Self Assessment
1.) I piece of my writing I continue to work on is my concluding paragraphs and making sure that they are not boring and not just repeating what I have already said.
2.) A strong point I think in my writing is my first body paragraph.
3.) one possible weak point I see is my last body paragraph because I feel it might be repeating what I have already said.

Essay #11

A World of Patterns:

Patterns In My Life and In To Kill A Mockingbird

     An Essay By: Ashlyn Buffum

8th Grade English

Pine Point School

 April 3, 2012

Have you ever seen a pattern in your life?

Have you ever seen a pattern in your life? I have seen many patterns in not just my life, but also in books. For example, in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird there are many patterns. The world is made up of patterns; you only have to look.

There are two major patterns in To Kill A Mockingbird; one of the patterns is loneliness. In the book one of the characters named Boo is very lonely. He is lonely because he never really gets to see anybody during the day or night and he also stays in his house all day long. There are also rumors about him that are not true, but still people believe them. Another person who is lonely in the book is Mr. Dolphins Raymond. He is lonely because he never shows his true self and he must always hide who really is forever. He believes no one will understand him, and as a result no one truly knows him. The other major pattern in To Kill A Mockingbird is Courage. Atticus showed great courage in fighting in what he believed in during the case of Tom Robinson. He knew the repercussions of what he was doing, but he still went for it any way. Boo was also another that showed courage when he saved Jem and Scout from Mr.Ewell. There are still so many more patterns in To Kill A Mockingbird, but these were some that really stood out in the book.

There are also many patterns in my life and in my day to day life. For example, I go to Florida each year for thanksgiving. My family goes there to celebrate my birthday and also spend time with family for the holiday. Excited I run towards the cottages that are so familiar to me now that each time is like coming home. Another Pattern in my life is my birthday which  is always on November 24. Running the kids surrounded a huge cake that had giant amounts of sugar in it and that was all topped off with a cherry as bright as the sun. Also, another pattern in my life is my sports seasons. In the fall there’s field hockey, in the winter there’s basketball. Also in the spring I have lacrosse and also in the summer. The sports are always in their respective seasons. There are many patterns in the world from small to big they are everywhere.

there are patterns everywhere

There are patterns everywhere. They can be as simple as a birthday or inspiring as courage. Everything has a pattern! I have looked into my life and found patterns and I have also found patterns in a book called To Kill A Mockingbird. I wonder what new patterns will appear in my life in the times to come?

Self assessment
1.) I felt one of my strong points in my essay was organization. I feel I have organized both first and second body paragraphs very well.

2.) One weak point I see in my writing is that I feel like I have some run on sentences in some parts of the essay.

3.) I continue to work on my organization in all my paragraphs.

Essay #12

   The Power of Love:
        Two Quotes From the Song “Where’s the Love” Relating to My Life and the World

An Essay by: Ashlyn Buffum

    8th Grade English

    Pine Point School

       April 23, 2012

So many things happen in our lives and in the world which make us question many things about how we live. I have learned in books, in my life, and in the world that I grew up in that there is not always love in the world. The song “Where’s the Love” has two lines that I feel really made me question, “Where’s the love”.

"Where's the love"

My quote from the song Where’s the love is “But if you only love your own race, Then you only leave space to discriminate”. This quote is very much like the world around us because of racism,  which was a time when blacks and whites were separated and during this time the nation questioned, “Where is the love.” Crying, the young boy watches as his family is separated and he knows that they will never see each other again. Even now during my life you can still read many books and articles about what happens because of racism. For example, the novel To Kill A Mockingbird it talks about racism happening around Alabama and in the lives of young children. Scout, a young girl who believes in her country of America, sees many examples of racism in her own town. Scout learned that there wasn’t always love in the places that she grew up in.This quote is very powerful and reminds of a time that was very different.

The final quote that I chose was “People killin’, people dyin’ children hurt and you hear them cryin’ can you practice what you preach and would you turn the other cheek”. The first part of this quote is a big problem in the world and in lots of peoples lives. For example, many people say they will do something, but they will not do themselves. The little boy, the future to the country, cries because many people have lied to him and let him down in many ways. The other part of the quote, “Would you turn the other cheek.” is about not fighting back and turning the other cheek. This quote actually came from the famous book. Listening, I sit in the car with my mom as she tells me to forgive and forget as we ride home from school. There are many problems in the world and also in my life revolving around not forgiving someone and lying.

not involving love

How many things you know don’t involve love? I have learned about things in our history and I have also seen many things that have made me question where the love is in my world. There are also been times when hate is the only thing that we and hate will lead to violence. As a result, people question where the love is. What do you see in the world?

Assessment Essay

Everyone Deserves a Chance:

My Experiences at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center in Seven Essential Questions

An Essay By: Ashlyn Buffum

8th Grade

Pine Point School

February 27, 2012

Have you ever helped anyone that you didn’t know? For my assessment site I was at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, and I helped many people. I worked, saw, and learned about people that seemed to be in a whole different world, but in reality they were standing right next to me. All of my experiences at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center have changed me.

the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center pantry

I chose this particular service site for many reasons. First, the Pawcatuck Neighborhood center is close to my house in Westerly and also close to Pine Point School. The Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center was right in the middle of both. As a result, I was able to help a little closer to home. Also, my class was starting the assessment close to Christmas break and that is when the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center is most active. So I would be able to sort more donations for both clothes and food, but also work with toys. I would be able to work at one of the busiest times of the year for the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. Lastly, Pine Point has worked with the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center before in the lower school. For example, in second grade my class helped in the garden at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. Also, in third Grade we adopted a family and raised money by having a bake sale. I am glad I chose this site because this was the best thing that I ever did.

Although working at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center did not come without its hardships. For example, it was hard to see the clients of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center struggling. They looked hungry and dirty. My heart went out to them and I could only imagine the hardships they were going through. It was also hard to turn down request for food or clothes they wanted when there was not enough. Another thing that was hard at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center was working at the clothes closet. I was unfamiliar with the sizes of clothes for men and sometimes labels were worn down and you were unable to see the label clearly. I had to guess at the clothes sizes and hope someone would be able to find what they needed. The last thing that was hard for me was talking to the people. Sometimes there was nobody my age at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center and I am shy. I had a hard time talking with other volunteers and also clients of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. All these hardships I overcame and as a result they made me grow as I person and learn a little bit more about myself.

packing Christmas presents

Every time I left the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center I felt accomplished in what I did. I packed food for Christmas, and also sorted the food. In addition, I checked thousands of cans for dates from donations. I later placed the can goods on either the “Free Table” or in the pantry for later use by the clients. Next, I stored food in the pantry, which will be given out to the clients of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, and also stacked boxes for the Backpack program. I also helped children have a happy Christmas by sorting toys so they go to the right people in the right towns. I also folded clothes and help clients of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center find what they were looking for. I also sorted the donated clothes and hung those up in the right places. The final thing I did was help organize an art closet used by other programs of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. There were many things to be thrown away, but it felt nice to help people my age. Every time I helped a stranger at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center I felt good knowing I was helping them in their time of need.

When I started researching I learned many things. For example, I learned about donations and how the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center relies on them so much more than I thought. In addition, I learned that they have some foods that are more popular than others and as a result they need people to donate the foods they need. I also learned about the sections of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. Fortunately, during my time there I was able to work at most of the sections of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, but I truly learned about them when I started to research. For example, I learned about the senior center and how they transport the elderly to places they need to go or want to go. All this information I received from both the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center website and also a few of their news fliers. In addition, I also learned what the clients of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center were going through. In my research I looked up the definition of poverty and this is what helped me understand something that I have never experienced. I found this definition on dictionary.com. I have seen many things at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, but my research helped me understand the hardships of the world.

The themes of To Kill a Mockingbird can relate to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center in many ways. For example, the theme courage is the courage to help someone you don’t know.. The volunteers at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center have the courage to help people when they don’t have to. This is just like when Atticus helped Tom when he barely knew him, but he still tried his best to help him through the hardship he was going through. Another, theme is adults helping children and this can relate to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center because of how many sections of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center are devoted to helping children. For example, the backpack program and also the toy drive help kids get food on the weekends and also receive toys on Christmas. This is almost like how Cal helps Scout and Jem with many things. For example, she plays with them, cooks for them, yells at them when they need it, and also care for them like a mother. Finally, the theme of loyalty and friendliness can relate to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center because of the volunteers. The volunteers and workers are loyal to their work and also are friendly to every client that walks through the doors. This is almost like how the character Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird is very loyal to Dill. Also, how another character named Miss Maudie is very friendly to the children and everyone in her neighborhood. There are so many themes that can relate to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center but these I feel are some of the best.

Even though I had a wonderful experience at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center I would have done three things differently. First, I would have liked to have worked with the backpack program more. The backpack program is a program that helps children receive food on the weekends. I feel that helping with the backpack program would have given me the opportunity to work with people closer to my age and really round out my time at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. I would also have liked to help more in the Senior Center and learn a little bit more about the center. I was unable to help the elderly as much and I feel it would have been a good experience to help someone a little different.  Lastly, I would have like to work a little bit more in food and in donations. I feel if I had worked a little bit more in food I would have been able to help more of the clients find what they need. Also, I would have liked to help with donations because I feel this was their busiest times of the year. Even though I regret not doing some things at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center I feel that I helped in many other ways.

Over the course of this experience at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center I have changed and grown as a person. For example, I helped people I didn’t know and I helped them in a time of crisis for them. I helped them find clothes, food, and helped them get toys for their children. I sorted donations and checked for expired dates on cans. Also, I saw what they were going through and I saw what hardships come with poverty. This opened my eyes to what was going on around me in my neighborhood, my country, and the world. I also learned from my research and the experiences I had at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. For example, I learned that the people experiencing poverty are not the only ones that are affected by poverty, everyone is. Also, if people were poor they wouldn’t be able to go to school, by food, or toys everything I take for granted. This project showed me how lucky I am to be me. My assessment has helped me grow as a person and show me the world outside my home.

My assessment project was a wonderful experience to have in my 8th grade year. I met knew people and saw new things. I also did new experiences like packing food, checking dates on cans, and sorting clothes. I learned about people who needed my help. I also learned that everyone deserves a chance at happiness because everyone is equal. I started going their because of my assessment, but now I go back to help the people in need in my neighborhood.

Essay #8

Mildness of the World:

An Essay About What Mildness Means and How it is in My Life and In To Kill A Mockingbird

Essay by: Ashlyn Buffum

8th Grade

   Pine Point School

January 28, 2012

Are you kind? Can you be calm in any situation? many people can’t but some can. For example, people in my life and also the characters in the book To Kill A Mockingbird. If everyone was calm there would be a lot less fighting. Mildness many different people have it in To Kill A Mockingbird and my life.

Atticus staying calm during the trial

TS: n the book To Kill A Mocking Bird there are many characters who are mild and also opposite of mild. SD: For example, Atticus the father of Scout and Jem is very tranquil, he calmly speaks and tries to never yell at Scout or Jem, and he is also very calm in the face of danger. CM: For example, “Nobody got out. We saw Atticus look up from his Newspaper. He closed it, folded it deliberately, dropped it in his lap, and pushed his hat to the back of his head. He seemed to expecting them.” CM: Reading Atticus showed no fear when men came closer and closer to where he was sitting under the light bulb in front of the Maycomb jail. SD: Also, two other characters in the book show something reverse from calmness, but they continue to grow. CM: Scout in the beginning of the book was always prepared for a fight. CM: For example, “Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt Jem came by and told me to stop. “You’re bigger’n he is,” he said”. SD: Jem as well until he started grow older and become more responsible the same as Scout.C:  There are many dissimilar traits to the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird and the Finch family is one of the families that stay calm the best they can in any situation.

        TS: Not only are there calm and patient people in To Kill A Mockingbird but also in my life. SD: For example, My parents are always kind and always try to be calm. CM: They always calm when I am not and help me get through a crisis. CM: Loving my parents’ stroll with me through the steps that I take when I was first started to walk to the time when I started my 8th grade year and they will continue to be by my side for the rest of my life. SD: My friends also are very calm in some situations but like Scout and Jem we are still growing. SD:  I also try to be patient and calm during my life. CM: Sitting I look calmly up at the Stars remembering past memories and the people who cared for me with gentleness and the love  they showed me over the years of my life. SD: If every family were like my family there would be no more war in the world and everyone would be calm and gentle to each other. CM: Also, if everyone kind to each other no one would be hurt on purpose. CM: Peace is something to be achieved by the simplest of tasks. CM: For example, just saying something kind to soothe someone’s mind and bring a little piece of peace into his or her lives. C: Peace can be achieved by being mild and calm and anyone can do it.
From peace to people mildness affects lots of people. Even in To Kill A Mockingbird had people who were mild and also my life has people who try to be calm in a crisis. Everyone can be calm and gentle with others to make the world a better place. Everyone can make a difference in the world.

Essay #9

The Power of Words and Actions:

An Essay About Equality and What It Means and How it’s In My Life and To Kill A Mockingbird

An Essay by: Ashlyn Buffum

8th Grade

Pine Point School

February 13, 2012

helping others

Helping others is something most of us do. We help each other overcome hurdles in our lives. “But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal-there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court.” The quote which shows that we all can stand up for one another.

Atticus helping Tom

This quote is not just showing Atticus fighting for Tom Robinson but also fighting for all African Americans fairness in court. Atticus, defending Tom, talked to the jury about fairness and an equal court. The story takes place when blacks and whites did not walk hand in hand. The courts were unequal African Americans were always found guilty. This quote also shows that the times are changing and that people want to live in peace with each other. This book tells the truth in real history there was a time when blacks and whites were separated. Also the books changes so does real life now we live in peace. We can always count on the fairness of our courts form a traffic court to the Supreme court. We are now judged by our character and not by how we look. In my life we live in peace. We have fairness, but we still must strive for everlasting peace in the way Atticus told in his speech

Helping others can result in peace. In the Time To Kill a Mockingbird there was know peace and no justice in the court system. Now we can live happily, but still striving for the peace that still slips through our grasp. This a quote that I feel inspires hope in all hearts that there is a better world to come.

Self assessment

1.) An issue I am currently working on is making my sentences are long by combining them. Also, taking my time and not rushing my essay.

2) One of the strongest things I feel in this essay is my Introduction. I feel it hooks people into wanting to read the essay.

3) One possible weak point I see is my body paragraph I feel I might have not organized it as well as I could have.

Essay #7

trapped in a cage

scout runs into the light

The Cage of Life:

The Comparison Between Chapter 15 in To Kill A Mockingbird, a Bird in a Cage, and Your Life

An Essay by: Ashlyn Buffum

January 10, 2012

8th Grade English

Pine Point School

        Ever you ever been trapped in the cage of life and no way out? In the book To Kill A Mockingbird when I read chapter 15 I thought that a cage was slowly closing in on Scout and her family. Also, not only can a cage trap some one in a book but also in real life. For example, In my life I have had many instances. There are so many parts in my life and in the life of Scout that trap us in a cage.
       There are so many kinds of cages and so many kinds of people in both fiction and reality. “Jem shrieked and tried to catch me, but I had a lead on him and Dill. I pushed my way through dark smelly bodies and burst into the circle of light.” In this incident Scout runs to Atticus straight into an angry mob. Scout had just run into a cage. These people had trapped her in a situation she didn’t want to be in, but let her go in the end. While in reality sometimes you don’t get away so easily. For example, in my life and in all of our lives we are penalized for what we do wrong. You must always be vigilant and make sure you are doing the best you can. For example, In my life with assessment and applications coming up I’m stuck in my cage of what I have to do before the year is up and what I must do well. This kind of cage is called the cage of life with its bars making sure that the bird can’t fly up into the sky. Flying and wheeling on the wind the little bird rose up into the sky. There are so many kinds of cages and so many different lives with so many different problems In both fiction and reality.
        Everyone has there own cage because everyone is different. Even if they are in a book or in real life there will always be some sort of cage in there life to trap them. This cage will restrict them from flying and flying high in sky. We are all different and still have cages that restrict us but we still sing with all our hearts with the hope that someday we will be free.