Author Archives: Flannery James

Screenplay by Jonny Eichler ’23

For his creative writing class’s final project, Jonny Eichler wrote a lengthy screenplay full of mystery and suspense. Below is an excerpt of Jonny’s work. Enjoy!

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Monomyth by Lily Sternlieb ’24

Sophomore Lily Sternlieb recently completed the June Term course “One with the Force: Creative Writing with Mythology,” taught by Profe, Ms. James, and Ms. Sarmiento. In addition to learning how to juggle and solve a Rubik’s cube, Lily learned about … Continue reading

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“Rain,” a poem by Zinnia Magill ’24

Rain To like the rain is cliche and to not like the rain is expected. But what if you’re jealous of it? The serene extreme of freefall, lightly landing on anything below. Taking with it the impurities that covered that … Continue reading

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Notebook Doodles

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“Ode to Airpods,” a poem by Zinnia Magill ’24

Ode to Airpods daydreaming devices If I want to go somewhere else, While sitting perfectly still, I know I have you, just a frantic sweep Of my pockets away, I wonder if you hide on purpose, Trying to escape the … Continue reading

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“Confined Chaos,” a painting by Vivian Zhang ’24

Vivian Zhang ’24 used acrylic paint and a palette knife to achieve the unique texture of her painting, “Confined Chaos.” According to Vivian, “This piece is inspired from a personal feeling I wanted to depict, something along the lines of … Continue reading

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“Nature’s Nurture,” a video essay

Noah Chirnomas ’22 and Tyler Lorenz ’22 created this video essay about Into the Wild for Ms. Mahoney’s Film Studies class. Enjoy!

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WAM Internship Application 2022–23

The Writing, Art & Music blog, affectionately known as WAM, is a forum for NA students, staff, faculty, and alumni to share creative work and support one another. WAM offers a noncompetitive, judgment-free place to enjoy each other’s artistic adventures, … Continue reading

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Two Scholastic Gold Key poems by Kieri Keys ’24

Ambidextrous I believe in God, but I don’t believe his people. Why should I? They tell me that I’m wrong, that they know better. How easily corrupted, how conversationally cruel. I left the church with dignity, They stayed looking like … Continue reading

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Painting by Selah Dungey ’22

Selah Dungey ’22 used oils on canvas to create this painting for her IB Art class. Enjoy!

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WAM Montage 2021

For the second year in a row, the showing of the annual WAM montage was delayed by snow storms and the pandemic—but it’s finally here! Navyaa Jain ’23 once again edited this beautiful video highlighting the art, writing, music, and … Continue reading

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Zelah Booker ’25 wins Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking … Continue reading

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“Daydreaming,” Creative Nonfiction by Zinnia Magill ’24

Daydreaming a bus, 2am, and doc martens     I sat in my math class staring at the white board trying my hardest to tune into whatever my teacher was saying. Something about factoring or radicals or whatever. But my mind … Continue reading

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Flash Fiction by Anonymous

Bobbing through the aisle, the book, tilting itself, seemed to think before lunging at its unsuspecting victim. It seemed to be looking at the sixty year old pervert that had been lounging about pretending to play chess while eyeing the … Continue reading

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Painting by Sadie Kim ’22

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“Glitter Cherry Bomb Lipgloss,” a Short Story by Anonymous

It was one of those warm nights with a slight chill in the air: a breeze that raises the hair on your arms and brushes by your skin, licking your very outer shell and eliciting goosebumps. I sat in the … Continue reading

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“Soup,” a poem by Willow Palmer ’23

Eating soup is my favorite pastime. The fun slurping noise as your sip the soup. Down it goes, hot and filling. A hair rises to the surface of the soup. Disgusted, you try to pluck it out with your fingers. … Continue reading

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“Dreams Come True,” a Short Story by Ambika Sharma ’24

Ramira paused by the automatic doors, allowing the invisible sensors to scan her retinas. After a moment there was a soft beep, and the doors slid open, letting her step into the building’s quiet marble lobby.  The secretary looked up … Continue reading

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WAM November Challenges

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Painting by Samantha Witt ’22

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Dance by Molly Lindstrom ’21 & Kayla Cohen ’21

During the summer between graduation and leaving for college, dancers Molly Lindstrom ’21 and Kayla Cohen ’21 choreographed this beautiful performance to the song “Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish. Molly appeared in the video, while Kayla filmed and edited.

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“My Fairy Tale Logic,” a Poem by Marina Chernin ’23

The tasks in fairy tales? Not quite so bad. ‘Cause there’s a happy ending every time. Rapunzel may have lost her mom and dad, but Flynn is cute and he knows how to climb! And sure, Aurora slept a thousand … Continue reading

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Sculpture by Selah Dungey ’22

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WAM Intern Application 2021–2022

UPDATE: Deadline extended to 11:59 PM on Sunday, May 9, 2021. The Writing, Art & Music blog, affectionately known as WAM, is a forum for NA students, staff, faculty, and alumni to share creative work and support one another. WAM … Continue reading

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Prose Poem by Molly Lindstrom ’21

Misunderstood  I was never in it for the claustrophobia, the sequined and fluffy costumes, the miscellaneous water bottles and bobby pins, the too red lipstick, the painful false eyelashes, the even more painful false smiles, the acrobatics, the jazz walks, … Continue reading

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Earthenware Art by Lauren Freed ’22

Lauren Freed recently won a Scholastic Silver Key Award for her earthenware pieces, titled “Environments.” Lauren’s work has been featured on WAM before, but now her art is accompanied by pages from her sketchbook which outline her inspiration, process, and … Continue reading

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Painting by Samantha Witt ’22

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Film Review by Chris Mulligan ’21

Chris wrote this review of “Uncut Gems” for Ms. Mahoney’s Film Studies class. Not Your Typical Adam Sandler Movie Adam Sandler is a world-wide favorite comedy actor for many. He has come to perfect the “kid in a man’s body” … Continue reading

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Painting by Selah Dungey ’22

Enjoy this painting by IB Art student Selah Dungey!

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“Bite,” Painting by Selah Dungey ’22

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“The Plague,” Short Story by Juliet Bu ’23

This short story from the perspective of Earth was written by Juliet Bu ’23 for her English class. The Plague In a galaxy not so far away… There is no need for me to look in the mirror. I already … Continue reading

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Theater Week: 10-minute play by Lucy Alaeto ’22

This post was written by guest blogger Yihun Stith ’22. Interested in guest blogging for WAM? Email wam@newarka.edu. For the past few weeks the Intermediate Acting class, composed mainly of sophomores, have been writing their own 10 minute length plays. … Continue reading

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Theater Week: Reflections on “Godspell” by Meredith Janay ’22

This post was written by guest blogger Meredith Janay ’22. Interested in guest blogging for WAM? Email wam@newarka.edu. From right when we got back to school after winter break to the weekend of February 28, I was in rehearsals for … Continue reading

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Poetry Week: Ms. James recites “Keeping Quiet” by Pablo Neruda

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Poetry Week: “Playground” by Tiana Evans ’24

Playground This was never fair,From the beginning nor towards the end.It will never be.I recognize that as I look around me;they recognize it too.But what is it worth for them to care.  As I walk around, My sneakers squeaking along the … Continue reading

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Poetry Week: Profe recites T.S. Eliot’s “The Wasteland”

“April is the cruelest month…” But it also is as good a time as any to read and recite poetry. I have loved T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” for over two decades. I’ve listened to wonderful recreations of the poem … Continue reading

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Nature Week: Painting by Samantha Witt ’22

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Nature Week: NA Ducks

Ms. Fischer captured this image of Newark Academy’s resident mallards, who nest in the courtyard every year.

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Nature Week: Painting by Selah Dungey ’22

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Experimentation Week: Virtual Big Band

Newark Academy’s jazz band, Chameleon, performs “This Can’t Be Love” from their homes during lockdown. Vocals are by Yasmeena Sharif ’23.

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Experimentation Week: Painted Shoes by Samantha Witt ’22

Stuck at home with paint but no canvas, Samantha Witt found yet another creative way to complete her art homework, giving a fresh new look to an old pair of sneakers.

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Experimentation Week: Video by Jelani Dean ’23

Jelani Dean experimented with creative video editing to express a feeling we’ve all become familiar with in quarantine—the sense that we’ve been stuck in a loop, doing the same three things over and over again. Enjoy!

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Experimentation Week: Food Dye Painting by Selah Dungey ’22

Stuck at home with only white paint, Selah Dungey didn’t let her lack of supplies stop her from completing her art homework—she used pink, purple and blue food coloring to create this pastel wolf, titled “Self-Image”.

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Experimentation Week: Funfetti Cake by Kayla Cohen ’21

This week, WAM is inviting members of the Newark Academy community to submit their adventures in new forms of art that they’ve explored during this period of social distancing. Kayla Cohen ’21 submitted images of her first foray into cake … Continue reading

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Pet Week: Ms. Fischer’s Chickens

Fun Fact: I walk the girls out from the backyard to a special coop in the front yard every afternoon so they can get exercise, eat the grass and find worms. However, I mostly lead these chickens on parade so the … Continue reading

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Pet Week: Art by Kylie Bill ’21

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Pet Week: Art by Selah Dungey ’22

It’s Pet Week! Enjoy these captivating portraits by Selah Dungey ’22 of her gecko and dog. You can participate too! Submit art (visual or otherwise) depicting or inspired by your pet(s). Think beyond photography—try writing an ode to your goldfish … Continue reading

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WAM’s April Challenges!

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Excerpt from “The Essence of Being Mr. Porcher,” a novel by Lily Sternlieb ’24

There are few in the world who, once seen, can never be forgotten; fewer whose words repeat in your mind, ringing with the same severity as when first uttered. But there is only one, one who makes others seem circumstantial, … Continue reading

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Call for applications: WAM needs new interns!

The Writing, Art & Music blog, affectionately known as WAM, is a forum for NA students, staff, faculty, and alumni to share creative work and support one another. WAM offers a noncompetitive, judgment-free place to enjoy each other’s artistic adventures, … Continue reading

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“Apothecary,” poetry by alumna Remenna Xu ’14

Apothecary We both had stupid dreamsbut I mean, I wasn’t the onewho was about to fly to Seattle on a rainy Wednesday afternoonjust because I wanted to avoid finals. You never took your medicine. I mixed drugs for you at … Continue reading

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“It’s So Easy,” Fiction by Maya Martos ’25

Content warning: this story discusses suicide. I have just started eighth grade in the Bronx, NY. We are four months into school, but nothing has changed. I still see them pointing, see them laughing, hear their whispers, poorly hidden behind … Continue reading

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NA Hallway Survival Guide & Bestiary by Mr. Alford

The bell rings. You’ve got 5 minutes. A straight line is not the shortest distance between two doors. Forget on time. How do you arrive alive? The Paper Dolls Perhaps you have learned to create these in grade school, in … Continue reading

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Bitter Fruit Review

Newark Academy students Annika Imanpudi ’21 and Samantha Parelli ’21 recently co-founded Bitter Fruit Review, an independent literary and arts magazine by and for teens. The new Editors-in-Chief, along with Senior Arts Editor Silvy Zhou ’21, have combined their experience … Continue reading

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“Bonaparte’s Retreat,” music by Steve Miller

Steve Miller, musician and longtime member of the Maintenance Department, performs “Bonaparte’s Retreat” on his fiddle against the backdrop of the school auditorium under repair. See below for a description of the tune’s historical context, provided by Mr. Miller. Find … Continue reading

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Artwork by Ms. Dixler

Artwork-in-progress by retired Arts Department faculty member and graphic designer Deborah Dixler. You can follow Ms. Dixler’s new artwork on Instagram.

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“Evening at New York” poetry by Young Se Choi ’18

“Evening at New York” by Young Se Choi ’18 was published by the Live Poets Society of New Jersey for their “Inside of Me” theme, summer 2016. You can read more of Young Se’s published work on WAM: Selected Works. … Continue reading

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Dance Concert Spring 2019

Welcome to the Spring Dance Concert. I am extremely grateful for my health and the ability to teach these amazing dancers. After missing most of the fall, it truly “feels like home” to be back at the place I love. … Continue reading

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“You Used to Make Me Breakfast,” poetry by Jamie Paradis ’20

This poem by Jamie Paradis ’20 titled “You Used to Make Me Breakfast” was selected by judges of Susquehanna University’s 37th Annual High School Writing Contest for publication in the Fall 2019 Vol. 37 edition of the Apprentice Writer, a … Continue reading

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Drawing by Ashley Sun ’18

This drawing was created by IB Artist and Scholastic National Gold Medalist Ashley Sun ’18. You can find more of Ashley’s work on WAM: Selected Works.

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