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Newly Launched Center Helps Yorktown High School Students Write On

YORKTOWN, N.Y. -- Students at Yorktown High School now have a place where their writing can immediate feedback.

Kathleen Granitto and Molly Keane at the writing center in Yorktown.

Kathleen Granitto and Molly Keane at the writing center in Yorktown.

Photo Credit: Sam Barron
Kaitlyn Comerford, Sara Mongno at the writing center with English teacher Leo Sposato.

Kaitlyn Comerford, Sara Mongno at the writing center with English teacher Leo Sposato.

Photo Credit: Sam Barron
Having writing reviewed by a peer is one of the hallmarks of the writing center.

Having writing reviewed by a peer is one of the hallmarks of the writing center.

Photo Credit: Sam Barron

Yorktown High School's writing center opened on Monday, Sept. 22, providing students the chance to meet with an English teacher or have one of their peers look at their writing.

"We trained our students how to give feedback," Assistant Principal Debbie Brand said. "It gives you that extra set of eyes. Sometimes students need that different perspective."

Brand said students can also come to the writing enter and use it for creative writing, whether it be writing poetry or working on a novel.

The center is designed for students on their free periods and is open from periods three through periods 7 and the activity period after school.

Brand helped open a writing center at a previous school she worked at and found it to be a success.

"When I interviewed her, I shared my experiences with the principal and he was intrigued," Brand said. "He got behind it and we pushed it. The writing center helps foster this writing process. It's a process that requires revisions. It doesn't happen in one shot."

Students will greatly benefit from the center, Brand said, because they will be able to really look at their own writing.

"Having a peer review your writing could make you want to help others," Brand said.

Brand praised the work of students who wanted to be peer tutors as well as the Foundation of Excellence, which supplied them with the grand money to set up the center.

"We have received awesome support from the board and the central office," Brand said.

Leo Sposato, a teacher in the writing center, said the first day was going well.

"I have great hopes for this center," Sposato said. "It's something more high schools are introducing. These students can take what they learn from here forever."

Molly Keane, who said she enjoys writing short stories, said she loves the idea of the writing center.

"It helps me if I have people look at my writing," Keane, who also writes for the school newspaper said. "It's going to really beneficial for me."

 

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