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Seattle Public Schools students to celebrate creative work with Writers in the Schools program
Seattle Public Schools students will celebrate the creative writing they penned this year at the Writers in the Schools (WITS) annual student readings and celebrations on Tuesday, May 22 and Wednesday, May 23 at the downtown Seattle Public Library.
The readings will feature 50 students from the 26 sites in the 2011-12 WITS program, including Seattle Children’s Hospital and two Port Townsend schools, in addition to students from public elementary, middle, and high schools in Kent, Seattle, and Shoreline.
May 22 will feature students in WITS’ elementary and middle school programs, while May 23 will feature high school students. The readers will be introduced by their Writers-in-Residence and then read one original piece of creative writing. A reception will follow.
The Writers in the Schools (WITS) program matches a local creative writer with a public elementary, middle or high school or hospital to design innovative and culturally relevant lesson plans that meet the goals of the participating classes while engaging students.
The program invigorates both students and teachers with fresh ideas and encouragement. Teachers report students' quality of writing improves, and they become more confident in expressing themselves.
Stories about and poems from students who have participated in the WITS program this year are available at the WITS blog: http://salwits.wordpress.com/.
The Seattle Public Schools sites featured at this year’s readings include:
• Ballard High School
• B.F. Day Elementary
• Catharine Blaine K-8
• The Center School
• Chief Sealth High School
• Cleveland High School
• Franklin High School
• Garfield High School
• Ingraham High School
• McClure Middle School
• Nathan Hale High School
• Roosevelt High School
• Sanislo Elementary School
• TOPS (The Option Program at Seward)
• View Ridge Elementary
• Washington Middle School
• West Seattle High School
• Whittier Elementary School
These readings are sponsored by the Starbucks Coffee and the reception sweets will be donated by Cupcake Royale.
Writers in the School
Annual Student Readings and Celebrations
Begins at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 22 and Wednesday May 23
Downtown Seattle Public Library
Microsoft Auditorium, Level 1
1000 Fourth Ave.
Free admission
Photos by Susie Fitzhugh
Top photo is of a Sanislo Elementary students in the Writers in the Schools program.
Bottom photo is of a Roosevelt High School student in the Writers in the Schools program.