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CSN Writers Week 2022

The CSN Annual Writers Week took place the week before Winter Break.  Writers Week programs are standard in high schools and universities around the world, but here at CSN, we promote writing for our students of all ages.

LS students wrote Valentine’s Day cards for teachers and families.  They also participated in their annual Drop Everything and Write, where they spent time free-writing throughout the week.  Third grade students took part once again in the CSN WordMasters Challenge Parade, where they dressed up as an assigned vocabulary word.  This program encourages growth in vocabulary skills and verbal reasoning.

In addition, LS students were treated to two virtual visits from authors, Terry Lynn Johnson and Roland Smith.  Ms. Johnson told 3rd and 4th graders about how she started writing for magazines and emphasized the importance of editing their work.  She even shared actual edits from her manuscript.  Roland Smith, who has written over forty books, talked about his experiences as a zookeeper and research biologist, which helped him get ideas for his books. Mr. Smith told students that when he writes his rough draft will have 80,000 words, and after many revisions and edits, he will cut it down to 60,000 words. Roland stressed that getting advice from others on how to revise work is invaluable.  He encouraged students to read and write every day and reminded them that they can all be authors and share their stories. 

The LS finished their festivities on Friday with an Open Mic Day.  Each student had the opportunity to share their writing with their classmates. This activity provides students the chance to practice their public speaking skills while also promoting excitement for the written word.  It was the perfect culmination of a week of writing for the LS.

One hundred and forty-three entries were submitted to the MS Writers Week 5X5 Writing Contest.  A 5X5 story is five sentences long and each sentence is exactly five words. Students, teachers, and parents practiced their writing skills.  The top winner in each category is listed below, along with the 5X5 story entries.  Entries were judged by Mrs. Potocki’s Pennsylvania daughter Sophie, who holds a degree in Creative Writing and is brilliant (said her mother).  A beautiful tribute to Writers Week.

STORY WITH THE MOST UNEXPECTED TWIST - Olivia Bersh, 6th Grade
I look behind and gasp. The tsunami was still behind. I trip and it advances. I scream and blackness descends. My VR headset had died.
MOST COMEDIC (FUNNIEST) STORY - Samantha Calleja, 8th Grade
The chicken wasn’t very smart. It ate rocks and stones. It was scrawny and loud. Once, it crossed the road. I really don’t know why.
MOST EMOTIONAL STORY - Grace Shahraki, 6th Grade
The lights unfolded; curtains shifted. I heard the audience chattering. My hands started to tremble. I wanted to scream loudly. The curtains started to open.
STORY WITH THE BEST CLIFFHANGER - Thomas Lovse, 7th Grade
The bearded captain bellowed, “Search!” They searched below decks, nothing. The last crew went missing. One spilled barrel of alcohol. They found a note, SOS.
BEST SPORTS STORY - Joey Pavich, 6th Grade
We are playing the Pirates. The pitcher throws 75 MPH. I get up to bat. “Strike, the umpire says loudly. Next pitch comes and BOOM!
MOST INSPIRING STORY - Sachin Nanavati, 8th Grade
6:00 p.m. end of practice, hopefully. Coach yells, “On the line. Anyone 200 yds under 30 seconds. I will end practice today.” All eyes come to me.
TOP TEACHER ENTRY - Mr. Calvin Colby
Clothes hanging on my Peloton. Five streaming services, nothing on. Just tripped over pizza boxes. Belt requiring two more notches. Time to hit the gym.
TOP PARENT ENTRY - Mrs. Mary Katherine White, parent of George White (8th)
My house is falling apart. No one can fix it. Why all these problems? Where is a magic genie? Oh, there is my husband.

MS students were also treated to a visit to the “Library Book Bistro” for a book-tasting event.  The second floor of the library was transformed into a buffet-style dining bistro where students were “served” an appetizer, main course and dessert of preselected genres to "sample" and broaden their reading "taste buds.”  Students were asked to choose from a buffet of books and write a reflection on their readings to discuss with their peers.  They were also given the opportunity to “take out” materials for their reading pleasure over the Winter Break.  Many of the new books that the library shared were purchased with funds earned at this year’s book fair.

US Writers Week, sponsored by CSN’s Conch Chapter of the National English Honor Society, celebrates the arts and creativity of our student body and the world at large. This year’s weeklong celebration served as a culmination for US students to celebrate and refine their written, visual, and spoken-word talents. In preparation for the week, students studied creative writing, memoirs, Shakespeare, and poetry in their English classes. Sophomores Jack McGrail, and Levi Campbell produced a music video; Literature and Composition IV students created video essays in response to poetry; and the Spectrum Club created posters celebrating the lives of African-American artists, scientists, and political leaders.

Tuesday, February 15, brought an entire day’s worth of local and nationally renowned speakers who hosted writer’s workshops. Award-winning journalist Ben Montgomery shared on “Disney and the Art of Storytelling”; investigative journalist Lesley Clark hosted a workshop on writing compelling lead stories; and college professor (and award-winning poet) David Southward inspired students to write and experiment with language. Two CSN alumni, Mike Binkowski ‘20 and Anna Sophia Diaz ’21, also spent time with CSN classes, discussing “Writing for College” and giving CSN students a glimpse into academic writing at two of America’s finest universities.

Finally, on Friday, US English classes gathered for Open Mic Day, which gives students an opportunity to read their creative work to their peers.  For some, it was practice in public speaking, and for others, it was the first time they had spoken before the student body. In the end, all CSN students participated in and witnessed the power of the arts. The exposure led some to achieve at the highest level and represented to all the diverse artistic talent within our extraordinary student body.  Click here for photos.

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