They are now published authors – and they are just in Grade 6. These students from Elizabeth Middle School can say that they’ve had their short stories or poems in a book! In front is Emilie Van Dyk. Sitting, from left to right, are Lexi Pierce, Lyndon Campbell, Mason Kucher, Ava Watchel, Alexus Bellisle, Justice LaClare.
Kevin McBain
of The Clarion
Seven Grade 6 students from Elizabeth Middle School can now say they are published authors.
Emilie Van Dyk, Justice LaClare, Alexus Bellisle, Ava Watchel, Mason Kucher, Lyndon Campbell and Lexi Pearce just received their books last week that their short stories and poems have been published in.
Selected stories and poems, along with other student submissions from across Canada, were published in two books. Short stories were put together in a book called Fly Me To The Sea for students in Grades 5-6, and the poems were published in a book called Chasing Moonlight, a collection of poems for students in Grades 6-8.
Both books were put together by publishing company Polar Expressions, out of British Columbia. The company calls for submissions each year for students from kindergarten to Grade 12, with the winners’ submissions being gathered and bound into a book.
[emember_protected for=”2″ custom_msg=’For more on this story, please see the Jun. 27 print edition of The Clarion.’]
Students were given writing assignments early in the school year by teacher Maureen Dobbin and they were given the option to send in their submissions to the publisher. They were also given the chance to submit their poems and stories to the Legion Poster and Poem contest.
Emilie Van Dyk had two submissions published – her short story called Hunters and her poem The Great War.
She said that it is pretty cool to have them published and says that she wants to be an author.
Justice LaClare had her poem, Lest We Forget – Flander’s Fields, published. It’s a submission for which she also won a first place prize in the Legion contest.
“It feels pretty cool,” she said. “It is a pretty big accomplishment.”
Alexus Bellisle had her poem Escaping the War put in the book.
“I think it is real cool to be published and in a book,” she said.
Ava Watchel’s short story All You can Do Is Hope was published in the book and she said it is a pretty cool thing to have her story published.
Mason Kucher had his short story The Lonely Shark published and he says that it is about not judging a book by it’s cover.
“If someone looks real mean, he may not be and may be different inside,” he said.
He said it’s cool to be published and never thought that he would ever see this happen.
Lindon Campbell wrote a short story, The Veterans of the RAF, and says that he enjoys reading about war and wants to be an army pilot in the future.
Lexi Pierce had her short story Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover published and said that it is about not judging people.
She said that she was surprised that her story was chosen to be in the book.
Dobbin said that she is excited for the kids.
“It’s quite an honour to have a piece published when you are just in Grade 6,” she said. “They did well and can always say that they’ve been published.”
Dobbin has been working with this company for the past eight or nine years and says that she is excited for the kids and says that it is a good stepping stone for them and encourages them to keep writing.
To order a copy of either of the books, you can go on their website, www.polarexpressions.ca and click on the ‘Shop’ button on the right hand side of the page.
[/emember_protected]
