Students Launch Poetry Collection

Reviving a project initiated by teachers decades ago, Spindrift 2011 has just been published. Everyone is invited to the official book launch on Monday, June 27th, 7pm at The Downtown Bookstore.

A team of student editors chose 40 poems to publish from schools across the district. OSCVI student Kelsea Martin created the cover art with additional painting by graduating student Jazmin Lihou.

Norah Phillips, teacher-librarian at OSCVI, co-ordinated the project. “Many students are interested in writing and publishing,” she said, “so we wanted to provide a forum for their unique voices.”

At a workshop for the student writers, poet and OSCVI graduate Meaghan Strimas (who herself was once published in Spindrift) said, “Give your brain a few minutes of peace -- turn off your phone, TV, computer, iPod. We are too busy these days. We are constantly entertained. Tune out for a bit!”

The project is supported by the Bluewater District School Board and the Ministry of Education’s SpeakUp grant. Plans are already underway for Spindrift 2012. “We plan to have more workshops next year with a greater focus on editing,” Phillips said.

For more information about the Spindrift project, click here.