LEONARD GRAY

PHOTO: Paige Bradley, right, reviews her journal with instructor Tiffany Markey. (Staff Photo by Leonard Gray) DESTREHAN – It was a new way of thinking for many of the students, but it was exciting and different at the same time. Young writers, from grades 4 to 10, are presently learning techniques to spark their imagination and creativity at a special summer camp in St. Charles Parish. A total of 77 students are participating in the 2001 camp, conducted at Hahnville and Destrehan high schools, working with teachers who also had to qualify for the mini-course. The camp is coordinated by Joan Robbins, a St. Charles Parish educator, and Rickie Bruce, a published poet and Loyola University instructor. “The biggest requirement is that students want to write,” said Ken Ferizo, one of the instructors. Four classes are in progress at Hahnville High and three at Destrehan High. There, the students engage their senses and learn to interpret, explain and expand their horizons to explore the different ways writing talent may be used. Tiffany Markey, whose “day job” is as a second-grade teacher at Mimosa Park Elementary School, is teaching fourth-graders about writing. “It’s very free-spirited,” she said. Each teacher developed her own “lesson plan” to match their own personalities and styles. Recently, Markey did an exercise where students discussed their own names, its background and how they felt about it. Also, the students found magazine photos they felt reflected their own personalities. On the following day, the students wrote essays on their favorite memories and learned ways to develop their poetry through the use of prepositions to begin each line. The next session saw Markey’s students listen to a favorite piece of music, ranging from N Sync to LeAnn Rimes, write down the lyrics and provide the class with their own interpretation and understanding. A field trip to the House of Blues in New Orleans was coordinated to expose the students to the Crescent City’s unique musical culture. “This is going to be very difficult to leave,” Markey said of her experience as an instructor for budding writers. She has taught second grade for seven years. Several of the students in Markey’s class revealed a depth of perception many adults do not realize they have. Paige Bradley, 10, of Norco, discussed LeAnn Rimes’ “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” and the song’s romantic theme. Amanda Carter, 11, of Montz, provided the group with her take on N Sync’s “This I Promise You,” commenting, “He’s saying he’ll be there to give her strength and hope.” Ashley Sylvester, 10, of St. Rose, told the class that Hoku’s song, “How Do I Feel?” explains how a girl feels after a romance ends. The students in the free-form classes critique each other and boost one another toward “helping to develop each piece as perfect as possible,” Markey explained. The field trip day also included a presentation on dramatic interpretation of poetry, using works written by Rickie Bruce. Students qualified for the camp by submitting an application, along with a writing sample, and with a teacher recommendation. Teachers likewise had to apply to participate in the program, by going through an interview process and demonstrating their academic fervor as well as their personal love of writing. The young writers’ summer camp is held every other summer with the next one planned for 2003.