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Career Tech Writer's Studio news for students, families and friends

June 2024

Introduction

Welcome to the first-ever Northwest Education Services (North Ed) Writers Studio newsletter! Writers Studio is a writing program at North Ed Career Tech that teaches a number of genres over a two-year course. We have built a supportive and constructive community over this past year, and we’re excited to share with you what we’ve been working on. We hope to reach out to all who are interested in what we’ve been up to. In this first issue, we're taking a look back at our experiences during the 2022-23 school year: the wonderful guests who took the time to visit us, our adventures into the unknown in search of information, and the skills and learning experiences we have cultivated.



-The Writers Studio Communications Team

Learn About Writers Studio

Our Work

A Permanent Mark

Graphic Arts met with tattoo artists Didi and Shaine Wallace, from Warchief Tattoo. Students practiced tattooing on fake skin, learned the importance of safe practice when handling needles, and attentively listened as DiDi and Shaine explained industry ins and outs.

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What's Cooking?

Culinary Arts students participated in a judged competition called the Cultural Food Fair. This event is an opportunity for students to connect with their own cultures or one that interests them. They work out of their comfort zone to make certain dishes for this event.

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Q&A with Quindlen

Anna Quindlen, author of "Write for Your Life" and "Black and Blue", came in to speak with Writers Studio and students from other schools. Quindlen discussed her writing process, shared life experiences and gave advice.

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Ross Gay Visits

Ross Gay, poet and author of "Inciting Joy", came to the Interlochen Center for the Arts to present his book of essays. Students had the opportunity to visit through the National Writers Series event.

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Walls Talks Career

Jeannette Walls, esteemed author known for "The Glass Castle" and "Hang the Moon", visited Writers Studio on behalf of the National Writers Series. The classroom was filled with students who resonated with Walls's high spirits and ability to overcome the challenges life may present. 

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Team Wesley

Wesley, a miniature therapy horse from Reining Liberty Ranch, visited Northwest Education Services as the face for an anti-bullying campaign. North Ed student Britta Olshove, with Wesley's help, turned that face into a logo to help spread the word.

Visit our Website

Find More Online

View these articles and past work from Writers Studio students on our webpage!

Check the Archives

Notable Guest Speakers in the 2022-2023 School Year

One of the great opportunities in this program is the chance to learn from experienced authors, journalists, poets and more. We would like to thank the many guest speakers for taking the time to come to our classroom and answer student questions. 


  • Anna Quindlen, who came to promote her book: "Write for Your Life"
  • Keith Gave, who came to promote his book: "Vlad the Impaler: More Epic Tales from Detroit’s ‘97 Stanley Cup Conquest".  All proceeds from this book go toward Vladimir Konstantinov’s medical fund. 
  • Norm Wheeler
  • Anne Marie Oomen
  • Jeannette Walls, who came to promote her book: "Hang the Moon"
  • Karin Killian
  • Stephanie Mills
  • Will Perkins
  • Nicco Pandolfi
  • Emily Modrall


We also would like to thank the National Writers Series for bringing some guests to our classroom.

About the Curriculum

Writers Studio is a two-year program that covers a multitude of genres, including poetry, creative nonfiction, playwriting, journalism, professional letters, rhetoric, audio and fiction. The classroom is a friendly environment where students can talk about their work and learn from each other. 


Students practice and build confidence in public speaking with interviews and coffeehouses, during which students read their work aloud to the class. We have unique exams that require students to reflect on their experience, and many opportunities to help each other brainstorm.

Learn About Writers Studio

Awards

Poetry Out Loud 2023

Poetry Out Loud is a competition for which students memorize and recite poems in front of an audience. The champion from Writers Studio is selected by a panel of judges, and that champion is sent to the state Poetry Out Loud competition held in Lansing. The other students in the program get to travel to Lansing with the champion to experience the state capital and interview people at the competition. In 2023, the Writers Studio Poetry Out Loud champion was:


Jordan Speers


Thank you to Poetry Out Loud for making this opportunity possible, and thank you to North Ed for allowing us to go on a class field trip to Lansing.


Young Playwrights Festival 2023

The Young Playwrights Festival, hosted by the City Opera House, is an opportunity for young writers to have their plays performed on stage in front of an audience. Every year, six finalists are selected, and those finalists get to work with a professional play mentor to refine their works. In 2023, three members of the Writers Studio program were selected as finalists:


Minnie Bardenhagen - “Friends”

Sydney Boettcher - “Man V Machine”

Madeline Rowney - “A Meeting in Pink”


Thank you to the City Opera House, Minda Nyquist, and all the actors and mentors who make this a possibility for young writers.

Second-Year Square

What did you learn from this program that you will take with you in the future?


"Writers Studio taught me a lot of useful communication skills that I use even now in my daily life. I can easily make conversation with strangers, which heightens the quality of my conversations." - Reegan Craker, Suttons Bay


"Writers Studio turned my passion for writing into a proficiency with writing. It fostered my skills in communication, public speaking and leadership. These skills are integral to becoming a successful adult, and I am forever grateful to Writers Studio for everything it has taught me." - Madeline Rowney, TC Central


"Aside from everything I’ve learned academically, from formats to the language itself, I’d say the most important thing I learned here was how to foster a community of extremely different but like-minded individuals working together to fulfill goals both personal and communal." - Vincent Redman, TC Central

Published Works

2023 Literary Journal

The 2022-2023 Writers Studio program students have their works published in the 2023 edition of National Writers Series Literary Journal. The link to purchase is included below.

Purchase on Amazon


Writers Studio Values

Empathy

Curiosity

Precision

Contact the North Ed Writers Studio with any questions!

Teresa Scollon

Instructor, North Ed Writers Studio

231.922.6579

tscollon@NorthwestEd.org