NCTE Promising Young Writers Program
Once again Jefferson Middle School participated in the NCTE Promising Young Writers Program. The program represents NCTE=s commitment to effective writing and signifies the importance of early and continuing work in the development of writing. This program is designed not only to stimulate and recognize the writing talents of some students, but also to emphasize the importance of writing skills. Eighth-grade students from fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Schools Abroad, and Canada participate in this program.
Congratulations to all of the nominees who completed a writing sample on the assigned theme during the week of November 16! To participate in this writing opportunity, students were nominated by their past and present language arts teachers. In addition, students could have nominated themselves, or parents could have nominated their eighth grader. Although, sixty-five eighth graders were nominated to participate, only the following thirty-seven students actually completed the writing and turned in a copy for evaluation. We are proud of them for their motivation and effort.
2009-2010 Thomas Jefferson Middle School Promising Young Writers
Barkowitz, Hana
Barros, Stephanie
Bernson, Melissa
Bushman, Caroline
Cupo, Lani
de la Fuente, Isa
Dietrick, Tristan
Dugan, Maggie
Emes, Adam
Evans, Jenny
Feldman, Elizabeth
Forgione, Madi
Franklin, Mackenzie
Gibson, Lauren
Hauser, Abby
Hazlett, Peter
Hertz-Jansen, Megan
Hodes, Bethany
Horrigan, Matt
King, Fallon
Kline, Allison
Manich, Paulee
Marfisi, Nicole
McCaffery, Margie
McConnell, Bailey
McNichol, Meaghan
Riemer, Megan
Sartorio, Bruno
Schlesinger, Daphne
Schoepflin, Eden
Scott, Maddy
Sramac, Stephen
Staltari, Julia
Su, Anna
Tolley, Annalise
Trombetta, Annie
Wang, Yiming
The anonymous writing sample was judged according to NCTE=s Promising Young Writers Program=s standards by a group of Jefferson Middle School English and literature teachers. Parents, teachers, and students should be commended; we have very talented young writers! Of the thirty-seven participants, the following nine students deserve an honorable mention for their performance:
Stephanie Barros, Caroline Bushman, Lani Cupo, Mackenzie Franklin, Bethany Hodes, Meaghan McNichol, Daphne Schlesinger, Eden Schoepflin, and Yiming Wang.
Of the thirty-seven student pieces, two nominees were chosen to represent our school in the national competition. Their papers, along with a sample of their best writing, will be sent for evaluation. With a challenging prompt, they composed insightful, honest pieces full of style and voice. Our nominees are Isa de la Fuente and Maddy Scott. Congratulations!
Our Piece of Mind, Jefferson’s Literary Magazine
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 The selection staff meets weekly on Tuesdays to read, discuss, and determine which pieces to accept for publication.
ü Student typists and artists work to design the literary magazine which will be published in May. Students interested in helping should see Mrs. Kelly.
Volunteer Program
Although we will soon find ourselves in the middle of the winter, I-don’t-want-to-leave-the-house weather season, volunteers will still be needed for several dates following the holiday break in January. In November and early December, we were VERY short on volunteers. Some teachers are seriously considering whether or not to continue using this valuable program because of the unreliability of adequate numbers of volunteers in order to fairly offer an adult conference to every child.
Please sign up to help. Our teachers and students appreciate your input and your gift of time. Please consider the difference you make to our young writers by coming in to conference.
We know you expect us to do all we can to keep your children safe. In an effort to do so, the Mt. Lebanon School District requires all volunteers who work directly with our students to obtain security clearance. If you still have questions regarding the procedures for proper clearance, please contact Mrs. Kelly or the JMS Writing Lab Volunteer coordinators Mrs. Cahssey Augenstein at jmiddleschool@yahoo.com. As of the beginning of the second semester, January 20, 2010, we’d like volunteers entering our school to have the proper clearances. The patience and commitment of our volunteers is greatly appreciated as we work together to protect our students.
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/her enrichment entries and will take care of submitting the student’s writing. All young writers are encouraged to take a risk and to explore writing enrichment. Awards range from monetary prizes, to savings bonds, to trips, and to being published. Several are listed below. More detailed information regarding these opportunities can be found in the Writing Lab.
Ø READ Magazine’s Personal Essay Contest—Write into the Future Essay Contest—500 words or less, imagine waking up in the year 2109—deadline, December 31.
Ø READ Magazine’s Ann Arlys Bowler Poetry Contest—deadline, December 31.
Ø The Writing Conference’s Annual Contest—Use the theme of courage to create a poem, narrative, or essay which defines and describes “an example of courage that would qualify a person as a modern day hero”—deadline, January 8.
Ø Creative Communication’s Essay Contest—250-word maximum—deadline, February 17.
Ø Breaking Barriers Essay Contest—write about a barrier you have faced and how you used one of Jackie Robinson’s values to face it—deadline, March 1.
Ø National Middle School Association’s Month of the Young Adolescent Poster Contest—Capture the theme, “Expressions in the Middle,” and show how today’s youth are making a positive difference, must include brief artist’s statement—deadline, March 12.
Ø Scholastic’s Kids Are Authors Contest—students work in groups of three or more to create a non-fiction or fiction book complete with original illustrations 21-29 pages—deadline, March 15
Ø Creative Communication’s Poetry Contest—21 line maximum—deadline, April 13.
Ø The VSA arts Playwright Discovery Program—examine how disability affects your life and the lives of others, comedies, dramas, or musicals accepted, one-act plays fewer than 40 pages—deadline, April 15.
Ø The 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
Ø The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, young writers 13 years and older who are interested in expressing their views on pop culture and more in the feature “My Generation” 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.
Ø Stone Soup—publishes writing and art by young people through age 13, more information available in Writing Lab and at www.stonesoup.com.
