Pupils in Warren want children in New York to know they're thinking about them.

Pupils in Warren want children in New York to know they're thinking about them.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Several pupils at East Middle School hate to write, they say, but they agreed to do a special project to help children at Public School 97 in Manhattan.
The pupils have spent the last two weeks writing poetry about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Allison Baer, a sixth-grade teacher, is going to copy their work and place it in a book to be sold. All proceeds will be sent to the pupils in kindergarten through sixth grade in PS 97.
"It took a long time," said Ashia Cayson. She and her classmates said the work didn't seem too difficult because they were doing it to help others.
"When I first proposed this to the class several came up to me and said they don't like to write and they don't write well," Baer said. "So I was blown away when I read some of this work. It came from their heart."
Baer said the pupils read news articles from local papers and national magazines about the terrorist attacks and then wrote poems.
"I did mine on Osama bin Laden," said Sa'Taunt Warfield. "The important thing about him is he is a suspect and he is person who you don't want to hang with."
The connection: Baer said they adopted the New York City school because a few years ago she attended classes at Kent State University with Barb Chernetski, who is now a teacher at PS 97.
"The school is very poor and many of the students live in homeless shelters," Baer said. "Barb said the students are so touched that we are paying attention to them."
Kevin Goodman, 11, said he wanted to do something to help the pupils.
"Some kids lost their parents and I wanted to do something even if it meant writing," Kevin said.
Adopted by entire school: Kathi Ciminero, principal at East Middle School, said the entire school has decided to adopt PS 97. East's National Junior Honor Society, which consists of seventh- and eighth-graders, has agreed to oversee the adoption.
"We told them about it last week and in 25 minutes they had a plan," Baer said.
Cortney Allen, president of the NJHS, and Adam Griffiths, vice president, said each month the school will send something to each pupil at PS 97.
"We want them to know that we are thinking about them," Adam said. "This month we will be sending small pumpkins and candy corn."
The school's PTO has agreed to pay the postage, Ciminero said.
Shimea Hooks and Nastajiah Underwood, both sixth-graders, said the school's efforts are one way to show them America is united.
"I am so, so sorry this happened," Shimea said. "I can't do much but let them know I'm thinking about them and praying for them."