CONNECT participants provided the illustrations
“If I was a flower I would be a lily. I would have different colors each summer. My flower would have 11 petals that are short triangle shapes and would be small.”
When they are older and creating a resume, Highland Falls Intermediate School students Marcus Blackwell, Lucas Boesh, Azanyah Ellie, Valerie Engelese, Eamon Fallon, Charlotte Favre, Justin Gomez, Livia Huber, Kemaya Jarrett, Skyla Marotta, Lili McGonigal, Bryant Medina, Chase Orosz, Abby Padula, Abigail Rivas and Robinson Salazar will be able to add ‘published author’ to their list of accomplishments.
That’s because, as a part of their CONNECT classes at the Highland Falls Intermediate School, these students were enrolled in a class called ‘Storybook Art’ with art teacher Suzanne Tagliaferro. The students, with the help of a company called Student Treasures Publishing, worked together on an illustrated storybook called What If.
The book features one page stories with accompanying pictures by the students above — all under the theme of ‘What If?’.
“If I was to design my own pair of sneakers they would be high tops. They would have black ribbon laces on a white sneaker with lyft soles. They would have a blue logo that looks like air. The sneaker would be filled with clouds and stars. The name of my company would be Abi AIR.”
That’s from Abigail Rivas’ page. She’s a Highland Falls fifth grader who was also selected to design the cover of the book. She loved the class — “I love anything with Ms. Suzanne” and she is a first-time published author.
Marcus Blackwell, fourth grade of Highland Falls, said he picked dragons for his topic in the book — “I think they are interesting,” he said. He says it took him one class period to write the essay and then two more days to perfect the accompanying art. Marcus thinks he will someday write another book.
Lili McGonical, whose story about a flower — a lily – is at the start of this story, said she loves bright colored flowers, which is why she chose them to write about. She’s a Highland Falls third grader.
“If I was a cat I would have beautiful golden eyes and icy blue fur. I would live in a forest with mushrooms and mythical creatures. My name would be Viceper.”
Valerie Englese wrote her story about being a cat, in honor of her two cats, Fia and Mittens. The Highland Falls fifth grader is happy with the way it turned out, and she “will keep (her copy of the book) forever and pass it down for generations”.
And then there’s Abby Padula, a third grader from Highland Falls who loves drawing pictures. She said it was harder to write the story because she had to think of a good idea — she chose writing on the topic of ‘If I was a Teacher’ — and said she thought the book “turned out great”.
CONNECT Director Christine MacDonald thought it turned out great, too, and hosted a reception for the young authors/illustrators and their families on May 24. All of the students got copies of the book, and by working with Student Treasures Publishing, CONNECT received a gift card to purchase more art supplies with.
CONNECT is the West Point Association of Graduates free after-school enrichment program for all HFIS students.
