Have you ever discovered something – a program, an initiative, excellence - so good that you just have to share it? This happened to me recently. You may be aware of this good thing I’m about to describe, but I’m guessing many are not. Quite frankly, I’m a bit embarrassed that I didn’t know much, as it's likely the information has been there. I just didn’t pick up on it. To add to my embarrassment, I discovered that the program is in its 30th year. Once informed, it took little time for me to believe that The Southern Lakes Anthology Project deserves to be in the spotlight.
Last week, Sue and I were privileged to serve as judges at the Southern Lakes Anthology Competition. This is a program sponsored by the Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network. Each year, SLALN invites students in participating school districts to enter this Competition. In October, Rising Red Hawks in 3rd through 8th grade, along with students from 30 -35 other southern Wisconsin school districts are introduced to the theme for the year. For instance, last year's theme was, Not Always Black & White. This year's theme is Beneath The Surface. Students are encouraged to enter original work connected to the theme in these genres: prose, poetry, art, cartoon, or illustrated writing. Local judging in December leads to those selected being entered in the SLALN final judging in January. Work selected at this final judging is published in the Anthology and student winners are honored in May at a special program and reception at UW-Whitewater.
This compilation, this book, this anthology is incredible! It is a bound book nearly a half inch thick of 8.5 by 11 pages which are choc-a-bloc full of truly amazing student work. Perusing any of these collections is an emotional experience as your senses are overwhelmed by example after example of absolute excellence held in your own hands. We are talking kids 8-15 years old here. And then you realize that these are our kids, our futures, our legacies, and you can't help but smile and say, “AH!”
I found my judging duties challenging but fun and energizing. My team, judging 8th grade poetry, included two middle school teachers, one from the Kettle Moraine District and one from the Waterloo District. Additionally we had a facilitator, from the Beloit Turner District, who introduced each piece and recorded our scoring. As I looked around two very large banquet rooms filled with judging teams, plus those in charge, I began to comprehend the scale of this undertaking. It is huge and it is absolutely wonderful.
The Anthology Project inspires creativity, introspection, self-expression, risk, and the pursuit of excellence in academic channels. Think of the pride and sense of accomplishment to have your own work selected and then published for any and all to view and read. (I encourage you to look at the SLALN website (www.slaln.org) where you will find many programs in which Milton students have the opportunity to participate.)
I believe that a wide variety of school activities are key components of a good learning environment. Programs and activities run the gamut of academics, sports, the trades, music, the arts, and the list goes on. These opportunities encourage the pursuit of excellence and the creation of well-rounded individuals. We celebrate and publish sports information a lot. I am not against this but I also feel compelled to help our community know of these other competitions and demonstrations of student excellence. Throughout the Anthology's 30-year history, Milton has had its share of students selected as winners and, thus, published in the Anthology. Let's become aware and celebrate this. Ask your kids, ask your kids' teachers, ask your administrators. Go to your libraries and ask if they have copies of these Anthologies. I know that the Milton Public Library has some. I also believe that our individual school libraries may have some. They are a treasure. If you are searching for specific individuals, these books are well indexed by student name and school district. I urge you to seek them out.
Of course, no program like this even gets off the ground without caring, competent, professional teachers, building administrators and staff members all teaching skills, encouraging and advocating for our kids, and pouring themselves into their work. Milton is blessed to have outstanding educators at every level. I can't name them all here, but our Reading Specialist and Prism Coordinator, Amy Mertes, clearly deserves a “Shout Out”. She is a positive outlier and serves most ably as our connector to SLALN. She, along with her fellow Milton educators, believes deeply in kids and it shows.
Why? Because here in Milton, Kids Matter.
OPPORTUNITY – ACHIEVEMENT - COMMUNITY
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