Foote Notes 2025-2026
Editors
Leah Wilderman ’27
Izzy Pakutka ’27
Staff
Clio Ditner-Tiven ’29
Jane Ehrlich ’29
Pablo Cruz ’26
Editorial Advisor
Bailey Arango
Middle School Humanities
Design Advisor
Frances Moore
Director of Marketing & Communications
Cover Art
Clara Lu ’27
50 Loomis Place New Haven, CT 06511
DEDICATION
Alison Moncrief Bromage
This year’s Foote Notes is dedicated to Ms. Moncrief Bromage, who is leaving Foote after this school year. She was the former Foote Notes advisor, and is a teacher whose career at Foote has been dedicated to creativity and selfexpression. We thought it was only fitting to honor her with this year’s dedication.
What stands out the most about Ms. Moncrief is the way she connects with her students. She encourages us to find our voice and to support one another. Her class has always been a place we can go and feel safe expressing ourselves. She encourages us to connect with each other through thoughtful and kind conversations, and makes it easy for us to discuss tough topics.
Ms. Moncrief has given so much to Foote over the years, and her impact will be felt for a long time to come. We are grateful for everything she has shared with all of us, and are excited to share this year’s publication with her.
— Izzy & Leah, Foote Notes editors
By Abby Derese, Grade 2
Joyful looks like smiles, jumping, and dancing. Joyful tastes like ice cream and chocolate. Joyful sounds like birds chirping and laughter. Joyful smells like cookies and milk. Joyful feels like warmth.
I Am
By Alessandra Page, Grade 2
I am from New Haven.
I am from cucumber and avocado sushi and experiments.
I am from Easter.
I am from dogs.
I am from movie night and game night.
I am from eating your breakfast.
I am from playing with my sister.
By Altan Nakarado Grade 3
Molly Pitcher
by Arden Boms, Grade 7
Molly
Courageous, eager, and brave Worker for Mrs. Anna Callender Irvine, Wife of barber William Hays and Later wife of John McCauley Who loves equality, justice, and her only son, John L. Hays Who feels rid of human rights, Empowered to change the delusion of colonists, And feels that 20,000 camp followers deserve food and Deserve money for their hard and treacherous work. To be honored equal to a man for her strong efforts, And who needs money to pay off debts that were stolen from her Who fears the shot grazing more than just the bottom of her petticoat. Who gives time and service in trade for acceptance, Cures and remedies to the wounded and diseased Continental Army troopers, And water to the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Monmouth Who lives in the shadows of the men who fought alongside her, equal in battle but nothing more Born on a poor German immigrant farm in New Jersey And later, a proud resident of Carlisle, Pennsylvania Pitcher
My Crazy Hallucinations
By Ben Caplan, Grade 5
(Found in “Fish In A Tree”)
I explode when I hear we are running out of oxygen! Then Daniel says I give you light, you give me guzzles. Of course we all need water from underground lakes. But some people want medieval knights. I need my hundred million dinosaurs to hang out with. Or I might eat brown water. Mr. boy thinks what I say is funny. So I took out my own bulb. Then I swing it around cheering for myself victory. Oliver looks at me like I’m a caveman. Then he eats flint
By Avery Weiss Grade 7
Bengal Tiger Poems
By Ava Chan, Grade 6
Used
We’ve killed them by the thousands, draping their coats over our shoulders, their heads displayed over our fires, as if they were trophies to collect, as if they were ours to take. We used them,
but we still fear them, carefully watching, as their shadows moved through the forest, never treading too close, but they only attack when cornered, never without cause, Yet we take their skin, their bones, their home, because we tend to chase what we want, while they have always found what they needed.
Does it really help?
Are we really saving them? or are we trapping them, in a home they can’t escape, in a cell made of good intentions. We watch them roam through their cages, visit them like they’re toys to collect, knowing their escape is nearly impossible, Because even if they slip from our hands, if they survive the hunters, will they still be able to survive the wild or have we taken that instinct too?
Captive
We’re all trapped, waiting to be freed, where we once saw trees we find cold metal, thinking that maybe, they’ll let us go that maybe, we could go home.
According to Google…
Blake King, Grade 8
Humans might as well not exist. Not in the grand scheme of the universe. 93 BILLION light years in diameter, according to google; at least that’s the limit of what we can see, What even are we?
We live on a planet, in a solar system full of planets, in a galaxy full of solar systems, in a universe… I don’t even know! Does anyone even know?
And out of all of the planets in our solar system, out of all the solar systems in the galaxies, Out of the 93 BILLION light years in diameter that we can see, What are we?
This planet we live on might as well not exist. Not in the grand scheme of the universe. And out of all of the planets in our solar system, Out of all the solar systems in the galaxies, Out of the 93 BILLION light years in diameter that we can see, What is she?
Mother earth, I mean. If she really doesn’t exist, In this impossible, endless, vast, void that we call our universe, How is she the ONLY, In the 93 BILLION light years in diameter that we can see,
The only planet to provide LIFE?
And in the 1 in 400 TRILLION chance of being born on this planet, according to google; We have all been granted life. On this planet that might as well not exist, On this planet that provides the only life within 93 BILLION light years in diameter that we can see, On Mother Earth.
We should treat her with care.
New, Different
By
Charlotte Kotchen, Grade 5 (Found in “A Girl’s Best Friend”)
I assure her
Lots of work
Lots of responsibility
Expensive
I know she’ll be miserable
It’ll be new
Different I tell her, Breathe
For better or worse It’ll be new
Different.
Earth Day
By Clara Lu, Grade 8
It drifted in the air
With light steps, Exhaling, Treading, And gliding.
Ripples of life
Waltzed around each other Arousing the ground.
Omnipresently,
The soil housed
Minuscule breaths of movement that exhaled into
The looming and vibrant
Swaying stalks.
With light dances, Oscillating Inhaling And Exhaling to the cerulean skies.
By Claire Park, Grade 3
Nature
By Clio Ditner-Tiven, Grade 6
The drifting current and the singing birds
The silent rainfall and the swaying ferns
The morning sunbeams and the cool night air
The thriving jungle and the roaring bear
The rippling water and the dancing trees
The bright blue sky and the buzzing bees
The ants that crawl and the deer that leap
The squirrels that scurry and the leopards that creep
The shark that snaps and the lynx that walks
The fish that swim and the geese that honk
The chipmunk that chitters and the bats that ping
The dolphins that eep and the whale that sings
The way that everything comes together
Makes my heart feel so much better
And when I’m sad or mad I come to nature and it makes me glad
Because when a bug crawls in my palm
It makes me feel so calm
Because I know
And now you know
This is where I belong
GARDEN
By Elizabeth Loza, Grade 1
Growing fruits
Apple trees all around
Ripe strawberries
Dads dropping seeds
Eeeeeee! A squirrel being chased
Nuts buried by squirrels
By Clara Lu, Grade 8
Where I’m From
By Izzy Pakutka, Grade 8
I am from snoring in hotel rooms, From poppy seed bread and my grandmother’s mac and cheese. I am from softball games so early that the stars are still out, (cold, tired, but I’d never rather be asleep.) I am from belting out lyrics to songs, in the car with my mom. I am from red roses, From black cats, who rubs up against me and purrs. I am from the loud air conditioning on hot summer nights. From my mom and dad, I am from “I am proud of you.”
From “I love you” every time I hang up a call or get out of the car. I am from waking up early on Christmas morning. Eating low quality stop and shop meringues. I am from late night hitting sessions, From early morning long runs. I am from cold, slushy days when I don’t quite feel like getting up. I am from smelling all the candles, and from pre-school day Dunkin runs. I am from putting in my best effort, even if I don’t understand something.
That makes me who I am.
By Deanna Esmailpour, Grade 3
Dragons, Dragons, Dragons
By Graham Perkins, Grade 1
mean dragons, spooky dragons, deadly, intelligent, fanged dragons frustrated, curious, Egyptian dragons, Those are just a few. venomous dragons, speedy dragons, naughty, sneaky, flaming dragons, slow, fast, powerful dragons, big dragons, too. scary dragons, spiny dragons, Don’t forget clawed dragons. Last of all, best of all, I like ancient dragons.
Rebecca Nurse
By Greta Kelly, Grade 7
Rebecca
Brave, Wise, and optimistic Mother of 8 children
Wife of Francis Nurse
Proud daughter of Joanna Nurse
Who loves to watch her children and grandchildren grow over the years Who loves Her friends who stand by her and stay on her side And feels that women should be free to do as they please
That peace should be everywhere that light touches
The fear of her loved ones being killed by fellow villagers that once respected them she needs god to comfort her when everything is falling apart She needs freedom when being chained up against her will And needs people to believe her when everyone else is wrong
She fears others being accused for things they didn’t do
She fears Never being free to see her family and friends
And seeing her loved ones die in front of her eyes
Who gives an example of bravery to the accused Who gives hope to the village
Who gives up herself to help others Who would like to see the witch trials end Who lives in Salem village Who lives in the 1600
Who lives in complete chaos Nurse
The Delight Song of Nezzie
By Greta Kelly, Grade 7
I am the Plastic turtle sitting on your windowsill I am the riot of color with the setting sun
I am the sweet smelling wind hovering over the flower covered mountains I am the juneberry flower thriving in the spring
I am the Baeng in your hands
I am the white chalk lying in the last place i stood I am the tears of my loved ones
You see, I am a spirit, I am a spirit I stand in good relation to the earth I stand in good relation to the turtle mountains I stand in good relation to my tribe, my family
You see, I am a spirit, I am a spirit
I Am
By Jake Goodwin, Grade 2
I am from my past home
I am from collectibles and Pokemon. I am from Christmas.
I am from a fox.
I am from drives and talks a lot. I am from getting Pokemon. I am from my mom’s whipped cream.
Protected
By Juniper Sadowitz, Grade 2
Protected looks like a warm cozy house. Protected tastes like a sweet fresh pancake. Protected sounds like my favorite music.
Protected smells like spring. Protected feels like a nice warm hug.
Amur Leopard
By Jane Ehrlich, Grade 6
Stalking through the snow
A glimpse of pale fur through the trees the deer says oh no The creature leaps out on to the deer Dark rosettes mixing with the deer its clear
It leaps 19 feet up on to a tree
She makes sure no one can see She starts having her snack
Then she walks over to an abandoned shack
She takes shelter in it from the cold harsh wind
For cold winter nights she has the shack pinned
She walks to a cave with noises spilling out She drops her catch in front of the cave watching her cubs milling about Her cubs come running for their dinner
She thinks her catch is a winner. She watches her young Lapping up their food with their tongue They are a beautiful site They blend into the snow so well it looks like they might fly away like a kite
By Jackson Sorrells, Grade 3
An Ode To (Demo(Auto))cracy
By Pablo Cruz, Grade 9
In the beginning there was peace(s)
Three (olive) branches
Then they came together (for good?)
Of many (n)one (do) We need to Install (demo(auto))cracy
We move away from what we st((ood)and) for?
In joining there is (div(tent))sion
But from that (divi(tent))sion comes (goo(ba))d
Will our (demo(auto))cratic experiment f(ail)all)?
Will it be enough?
To sit back
Watch our (demo(auto))cracy f(ail)all) Or d((o)on’t)) we fight back?
How w(ill)ont)) We recover?
When w(ill)ont))
We recover?
Why w(ill)ont)) We recover?
Who w(ill)ont)) help
U(nited)S(tates) recover?
Where I’m From
By Leah Wilderman, Grade 8
I am from the dirty old school bus
From climbing on the seats until we were yelled at I am from tall city buildings
And sirens blaring as I slowly fall asleep
I am from takeout nights
Sitting at the dining table eating El Porton
From using the big couch cushions to build forts
And hearing, “go to bed,” after me and my brother
Would stay up and talk for too long
I am from the thick New York fog
Wafting into our apartment on a cool summer evening
I am from my mom and her love for swimming
From my dad and his curly thick hair
I am from the city that never sleeps
Where every way you look, people are talking Everyone around, also from their own special places
I am from all of these moments, All of these pages, chapters, books, That makes me, me.
I Am a Redwood Tree
By Leela Rodriguez-Dhir, Grade 4
I am a Redwood Tree
I am a beautiful giant My bark is shiny, smooth, and red I sit here in the forest, listening to the bird’s chorus
I am tall and strong
I am a Redwood Tree
I feel the squirrels climbing on my limbs I feel the sun shining down on me I feel the rain coming down
I wonder what it is like to be close to the ground I am old, yet I still stand here I am a Redwood Tree
Rivers, Rivers, Rivers
By Maddie Schenker, Grade 1
Long rivers, shallow rivers, Rocky, fast, loud rivers, Dirty, silent, slow rivers, Those are just a few.
Shaped rivers, rippling rivers, Blue, muddy, mossy rivers, Cold, warm, deep rivers, Clean rivers, too.
Moldy rivers, lazy rivers, Don’t forget wavy rivers. Last of all, Best of all, I like cool rivers.
By Jessica Park, Grade 8
By Megan Bradford, Grade 8
when he sits by the pooL gaze nEver leaVing mine
he makes me question and wonder what is he thinKing what are the quiet ones always thInking when he waLks by me and our eyes Lock for who knows How long what is hE Feeling
what are the quiet ones always Feeling
His silEnce leaves me wondering
And when he talks his deep voice leaves me wanting moRe
More of that fleeting smile
More of that quiet laugh
To know more about the mystery boy.
FOREST
By Noor Ahmad-Dhillon, Grade 1
Foraging for mushrooms
On-task bears looking for prey
Respect the trees
Eager animals to hunt their prey
Sleeping owl at dawn
Trees grow
My Poem
By Quincy Jones, Grade 6
(with apologies to Joseph Fasano)
My name is Quincy
Today I feel like a nourished plant blooming in the Amazon rainforest Sometimes I am an orchid
Sometimes I am a coffee plant
But always I am growing
I ask the World several times, “Am I the only one?”
And the answer is another seed growing in the rainforest
Doctors
By Quill Rankin Mira, Grade 6
When you walk in
You might have
A pit laying in the bottom of your stomach
Nervous
Scared
But knowing
You will be on your way
After the hour
Or two Or three
Or less
Or more
They start asking questions
You start answering
Giving them details
Starting to relax
They get the supplies
The pit returns
You start getting butterflies
In your stomach
You try to relax your arm
You feel a pinch
And they say it’s done
You wait there
While you look at the IV
You thank the nurse
You thank the environment
Your heart feeling warm inside
Feeling thankful
And Grateful
For the help your body gets
From the doctors
THE FAUCET
(Taken from Fish In A Tree)
By Ryder Verrillo, Grade 5
Dinosaurs walked through my kitchen faucet
And they swam to my cavemen and polar bears Oliver bounces on the dinosaur and walks though the battle The medieval knights swam through my faucet and cheered for Oliver
And the giver of light battles his gross lamp with my dad My dad tries to sell my cool feet to the gross lamp A medieval knight puts his hand on my feet and I explode
GARDEN
By Sadie Feinmesser,
Grade 1
Growing very fast
Apples grow in the orchard
Rats crawl in
Dandelions grow
Eating fruits and vegetables
Nets go on plants
MY POEM
By Scout Lee, Grade 6
(with apologies to Joseph
Fasano)
My name is Scout. Today I feel like a sleepy turtle floating in the current. Sometimes I am a jellyfish. Sometimes I am a shark. But always I am a sea animal floating in the current I ask the world, why do days float along? And the answer is Today I feel like a sleepy turtle floating tn the current.
My World is Depressing
By Jingxiao Ye, Grade 1
By Simón Rodríguez, Grade 8
My world is depressing
On rainy days but on Sunny days
I’m happy and so is my world.
In my world there are big iron walls surrounding me
Every step I take
They come closer
I’m forced to step back
Back a grade
Back some friends
Back some trust
But I build it back up And move forward
My world is flat
Your weird if you say its round
Sometimes I feel like I’m the opposite of who I really am
I’m surrounded by opposites
Why can’t I be one
Too late
I already am Or am I?
Out of respect,
In my world
You are all bots who help me get where I need to be
What if you guys aren’t real
And if you are
What if I’m not real
Yes that’s correct
I am a robot made by the government
You are the only real human on this earth
Any second now the secret services should break down this door and tackle me because I shared their only secret
Yes that’s right,
You,
my world is actually your world
Mi casa es su casa
So
I want everybody to think about the people around them
We are just stepping stones to help each other get to where we want or need to be
Like I said
Your world is my world
Maybe his world is my world
Maybe her world is my world
You are all part of my world
And because of you all I am who I am today
And I’m happy
So thanks
And guess what?
That was all a lie
Or was it?
I Meant to Do My Work
Today
By Sukhi Bindra, Grade 6 (with apologies to Richard Le Gallienne)
I meant to do my work today— when i suddenly heard a loud note followed by Scout singing along to the song golden from Kpop Demon Hunters. I sit up shocked and I see Scout climbing on the table still singing
She started singing and dancing on the table and somehow she happened to have a fake plastic microphone. Mr. Arango frantically tried to calm her down but he couldn’t help dancing and singing along too. Eventually the whole class was singing and dancing along
So what could I do but laugh and go?
Gambling Night
Theo/Dobrec Higley, Grade 5
(Found in “Henry Sugar”)
Paper
Thin red lines
Card game
Five of spades
Fierce concentration
Visualizing the game
Sweating
One minute
Two minutes
Three minutes
Winning
Gloating
Exultation
By
Summer Daly, Kindergarten
About Foote Notes*
Foote Notes is the school’s longest-running club. It was first published in the winter of 1931. During her tenure, Foote’s co-founder and former Head Mistress Martha Babcock Foote wrote that the mission of the school was to have each student “appreciate the best in literature, art and music so that he might become a worthwhile and responsible citizen.” As such, poetry was an intentional part of the curriculum — in fact, poetry-memorizing contests were daily assignments for students!
*In 2023, the editors and advisor of Foote Notes embarked on an exhaustive research project to determine whether the publication’s official title style was FooteNotes or Foote Notes. Digging through the archives, they learned that both styles were used throughout the publication’s long life. In true democratic style, the club took a vote to determine which style they would use for their pending publication, ultimately opting for the style you see here.