Sauk Prairie students go to Young Authors Conference

On May 30, the Central Wisconsin TAG Coordinators Consortium hosted the Young Authors Conference on the campus of UW Platteville-Baraboo Sauk County.  Over 200 third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade writers, from 15 school districts, including Sauk Prairie students from Grand Avenue, Tower Rock, and Merrimac Community Schools attended the conference.  Attendees were selected on the local level, based on entries they submitted in one of four categories – poetry, personal narrative, persuasive writing, and creative writing. Each student received a copy of an anthology, which contains all of the winning entries.        The day began with a keynote presentation from Shaun Harris, author of “The Hemingway Thief” and several other books. This was followed by small group breakout sessions, led by volunteers from the participating school districts. During the small group sessions, students worked on advancing their writing skills.  Facilitators from Sauk Prairie, who helped lead small group sessions, were Julie Breunig, Gifted and Talented Department Resource Specialist, and Kathy Bruno, Gifted and Talented Department Support Teacher.  Julie and Kathy led a fifth and sixth grade poetry group composed of students from all of the participating school districts.   After the conclusion of the workshop activities, the students returned to Marion Park in Prairie du Sac, where they enjoyed a pizza lunch before returning to their home schools. Pictured are the students who attended the workshop: Front: Briann Brickl, Willa Eckstein, Savannah Stakhovskyy, Olivia Hawkins, Alyssa McGuigan, Brooks Reithmiller. Middle: Ellie Nelson, Jaelyn Sorg, Teagan Quinn, Waylon Taylor, Max Mereau, Dexter Kehrli. Back: Emerson Raschick, Eliot Ray, Sylvan Hansen, Reid Hart, Lilly Weittenhiller, Lilah Sherman.