Sondráya Inspires 1st-Graders at WSS with Captivating Poetry

On December 10, Sondráya Bradley, known by her pen name Sondráya, captivated students at West Sedona School as part of Sedona’s Artist in the Classroom program. Performing her song about the nature of love, Sondráya emphasized the importance of sharing positivity and truthfulness with the children. “Whatever we focus on, we grow in our garden of life,” she explained, sharing insights on how love can attract uplifting stories.

This marked Sondráya’s inaugural year in the Artist in the Classroom initiative, culminating in her session with Maritza Serrano’s class. Serrano viewed the program as an avenue to enhance her students’ vocabulary and creative writing skills, noting her enthusiasm for encouraging their expression.

A published poet and a familiar figure at Sedona Poetry Slam, Sondráya recently represented the city at the state finals. Her decision to participate in the program stemmed from an invitation by Nancy Lattanzi, the city’s Arts and Culture Specialist. Lattanzi was inspired by Sondráya’s poem “Rain,” which captures the crucial relationship between nature and humanity.

Describing Sondráya’s performance as impactful, Lattanzi highlighted her emotional engagement with the audience, which motivated her to integrate Sondráya’s talent into the classroom setting. However, further details regarding Lattanzi’s remarks couldn’t be verified due to city media policies.

During the event, Sondráya commenced with an icebreaker song followed by a breathing exercise. She recited her autobiographical poem “How My Inner Guide And I Got To Meet On The Outside,” recounting a significant encounter with a brown bear during her work in Saint Petersburg in 2004. This experience, she explained, had a deep-rooted significance influenced by her childhood.

In addition to sharing her personal narrative, Sondráya introduced the students to “How to Write a Poem,” a children’s book by Kwame Alexander. She encouraged the kids to explore their creativity, inviting them to write about what they found magical. “It could be something as simple as ‘My magical bear went to a fair and bought some cotton candy,’” she suggested.

The response from the students was enthusiastic. Aurora Henry crafted a limerick about her magical cat, while Holden Baird drew inspiration from his Elf on the Shelf, Elfonzo. Iris Daniels shared her creation of a character named Ariel, enthusiastic about her elf’s heart-themed traits. AJ Abrams excitedly described his lizard drawing, complete with a tree backdrop, and Sahara Mangarrez presented a drawing of her family with her elf resembling herself.