Our Piece of Mind, Jefferson’s Literary Magazine
Students interested in having a copy of this year’s literary magazine were given the opportunity to sign up for a copy during homeroom the week of May 11. The literary magazine is free to anyone who would like a copy. This year, 225 pieces of writing were submitted for consideration for publication in Our Piece of Mind, Jefferson's literary magazine. Of those, just 60% were accepted. Jefferson’s literary magazine will be published in June and is free to any person who would like a copy. This year's magazine features 137 original poems, stories, and essays written and designed by our own 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
All students are encouraged to be a part of Our Piece of Mind.
ü Students can submit their original writing to be considered for publication, illustrate accepted pieces, type/edit accepted selections, or be a part of the selection staff. Poems, essays, stories, articles, etc. are welcome. Submission forms for writing are available in the Writing Lab or from the English and literature teachers.
ü Pieces submitted now through the end of the year will be held over for consideration for next year’s magazine.
Enrichment
A bulletin board advertising all current writing enrichment opportunities can be found in the Writing Lab, Room 102. Mrs. Kelly will conference with any student concerning his enrichment entry. In addition, she will take care of submitting the student’s writing. All young writers are encouraged to take a risk and to explore writing enrichment.
ü Western Pennsylvania Writing Project’s Young Writer’s Institute Summer 2009, applications due by June 1st.
ü Student Poetry Contest—sponsored by The Strip! magazine and organized by the International Poetry Forum, poetry submissions should have a “Pittsburgh or Strip District theme,” winner will be published and receive $100—deadline June 1st.
ü Almanac, students in grades 7 and 8 interested in writing for the paper's Youth Life page (news, features, and commentaries of interest to teenagers)—contact Patricia Van Horn, 724.941.7725 or pvhorn@thealmanac.net
ü The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, young writers thirteen years and older who are interested in expressing their views on pop culture and more in the My Generation’s “Hot Topic” column can send a 300-word sample review (CD, movie, book, or concert) or an essay of the same length on an issue of concern to mygen@post-gazette.com
Writing Celebration
ü Mark your calendars! Our annual Writing Celebration will be Thursday, June 4, from 1:30-3 p.m. in the library. This exciting afternoon will recognize the literary magazine staff, our two Promising Young Writer nominees, the Poet-in-Person program participants, the Poetry Happening participants, and the Writing Lab assistants. As we spend the afternoon celebrating writing, selections from this year’s literary magazine, Our Piece of Mind, will be read, the first copies of the magazine will be distributed, and refreshments will be served.
Congratulations!
ü Congratulations to 8th-grader Rebecca Twinney! Rebecca won the grand prize for her age group in the national writing contest, Letters from the White House. The contest was sponsored by Reading Rockets, AdLit.org and the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. Over 1500 entries were received, and Rebecca's journal entry from the perspective of Jacqueline Kennedy received the top honor among those who entered in grades 7 through 9. Rebecca's piece will be published on their website, as well as in our very own literary magazine in June. In addition to having her writing published on the website, Rebecca will receive a $100 gift card from Better World Books, stationary, a journal, a copy of the book Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out along with other autographed books by its authors.
ü Two JMS students have been recognized as among the Top Ten poets in their age categories in the Creative Communication fall poetry contest. Only ten poems in each grade division were chosen. Congratulations to sixth-grader Jessica Morris and seventh-grader Shoshana Seigel! In addition to the honor, each girl will receive a $50 savings bond and a complimentary copy of the book which will include their poems.
ü Congratulations to sixth-graders Christian Murphy and Jessica Morris and eighth-grader Jessie Cohen! Christian’s poem, “I Am Green,” Paige’s poem “Predator and Prey,” and Jessica’s poem, “Mood Swing” will all be published in the Creative Communications Spring 2009 anthology.
ü We’re so proud of our JMS writers and the success they have. If your student receives notification of a writing success such as being published or winning a contest, please let us know so that we too can celebrate their accomplishment. (Email Mrs. Kelly, the writing clinician @ mkelly@mtlsd.net.)
Writing Lab Volunteers
Thank you to our many volunteers who have spent time with our writers throughout this year. Your support has helped our sixth, seventh, and eighth graders all grow as writers. Thank you for understanding the value of the one-on-one attention a student receives during a conference. We hope to see all of you again next year!
Special thanks to Mrs. Ruby Kang and Mrs. April Zaslau for their hard work as our volunteer coordinators! We could not maintain this valuable program without their efforts.
