Writing items: The works of 16 poets Gowanda were printed in national collections.

In photos from left to right, in front: Aurora Bartlett, Rosalee LaBeau and Gabby Whipple. Center: Malarie Carroll, Spain: wisa: Stevens, Josalyn Degenfelder, Madison Luder and Jada Geiger. Behind: Tyler Kirkpatrick, Cole Herman, Ben Krajewski, Drew Shull and Donovan Lewis. It doesn't appear in the photos: Logan Forthman, Star Stafford and Kailyn Farner.

GOWANDA - The annual collection of student poems from the United States Poetry Library throughout the United States includes the work of hundreds of talented young writers who have been drawn from thousands of presentations each year. For aspiring writers, it is an honor for their work to be printed.

"Future Poetry Collection: 2018" shows significant contributions from Cattaraugus Regency students. More than a dozen English students at Gowanda Middle School were very surprised to learn that their presentations were chosen to be included in prestigious annual publications. This is the largest sample for this district in almost the last 10 years where seventh graders have submitted their work under the guidance of English language art teacher Cathleen Perry.

"At the end of their seventh-grade poetry unit, the standard is to teach them how to publish online and this contest is an example," Perry said. "The last day the unit is allowed to make personalized poems or publish them and send them through contests."

During the poetry unit, whose last academic year coincides with the National Poetry Month in April 2018, students make models of poets and work on drawings. Perry tried to combine art and music with learning, because it allowed her to teach onomatopoeia, parables and metaphors through sight and sound.

"Poetry gives them a little expression, personalization and more freedom," Perry said. "They developed when they were allowed to do that, and I am really proud of their achievements."

"Our goal in secondary schools and educators in general is to continue to create educational experiences and activities that truly translate into the life skills of our students for their future," said director Todd Miklas. "What Ms. Perry did was exactly like that: her students practiced their writing skills in the hope of actually doing something with their work, contributing to published texts. With the aim that their words impact or relate to other people's lives and what they have experienced or experienced. I am very proud of your efforts, your work, and that we maintain the true purpose of being a teacher ".

Perry has taught at Gowanda for a dozen years and usually tries to schedule her poetry unit for April since the National Poetry Month and is therefore also in line with the spring presentation deadline of the American Poetry Library

"This is a good way to end the unit," he said.

Published poets, now in the eighth grade, are: Aurora Bartlett, Malarie Carroll, Josalyn Degenfelder, Kailyn Farner, Logan Forthman, Jada Geiger, Cole Herman, Tyler Kirkpatrick, Benjamin Krajewski, Rosalee LeBeau, Donovan Lewis, Madison Luder, Drew Shull, Bintang Stafford, Gao: Wisa: Stevens, and Gabby Whipple.