Kent School to Host Author, Elizabeth Spires

On Friday, October 22, Kent School will host Elizabeth Spires, as a Kudner Leyon Visiting Writer for workshops with students in Kindergarten through Grade Eight. Ms. Spires is the author of several children's books and several volumes of poetry which have received a variety of awards and recognitions. Currently, Elizabeth Spires is a professor of English and holds the Chair for Distinguished Achievement at Goucher College in Baltimore. The author of seven collections of poetry and six children’s books, she has also taught in the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University and has been a faculty member at Washington College, as well as many summer writers’ conferences.
On Friday, October 22, Kent School will host Elizabeth Spires, as a Kudner Leyon Visiting Writer for workshops with students in Kindergarten through Grade Eight. Ms. Spires is the author of several children's books and several volumes of poetry which have received a variety of awards and recognitions. Currently, Elizabeth Spires is a professor of English and holds the Chair for Distinguished Achievement at Goucher College in Baltimore. The author of seven collections of poetry and six children’s books, she has also taught in the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University and has been a faculty member at Washington College, as well as many summer writers’ conferences.
 
Elizabeth Spires’ recent book, Kate’s Light: Kate Walker at Robbins Reef Lighthouse is the true story of one of the Eastern Seaboard's first female lighthouse keepers. Kate’s Light will be the topic of discussions with Lower School (Grades K - 4) students at Kent School. Published by Margaret Ferguson Books, in Kate’s Light, “Elizabeth Spires describes the joys and hardships of a life at sea, detailing pivotal moments in Walker's life to show her indomitable spirit, and celebrates the determination that drove Kate to keep her home and her livelihood.  Paired with Emily Arnold McCully's atmospheric, vivid watercolor-and-ink illustrations of lonely lighthouses, sun-dappled afternoons, and wrathful storms, this gripping picture book brings turn of the century New York to life.”
 
All Kent School Middle School students (Grades 5 - 8) are preparing for Ms. Spire’s visit by reading I am Arachne which was published in 2009. I am Arachne is the retelling of fifteen classic Greek and Roman myths. According to MacMillan Publishers, “In this singular collection, the heroes and heroines of fifteen Greek and Roman tales give their own dramatic accounts of events. From the magnificent spinner Arachne, who learns that a mortal should never challenge a god, to the god Pan, who prefers Earth to Mount Olympus, to the beautiful, self-indulgent Pandora and the gold-stricken Midas—the reader becomes a confidant to the tellers of these sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, always engaging tales of wonder, woe, romantic love, and jealousy. Mordicai Gerstein's energetic, whimsical illustrations combine with Elizabeth Spires's playful renditions for a totally fresh take on familiar and not-so-familiar myths.”
 
Nancy Mugele, Head of School said, “The ability to host writers at Kent School always inspires me, and it is my dream that our students will also be inspired to tell stories with words or pictures after meeting with a writer or illustrator. It is an honor to plant the seeds for a future generation of storytellers. I am thrilled to welcome Elizabeth back to Chestertown, a place she called home while she taught at Washington College.”
 
Ms. Spire’s visit is made possible by the Kudner Leyon Memorial Endowment. The Kudner Leyon Memorial Fund of the Kent School Endowment was established in 2000 and supports the Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers Program. The Program allows Kent School to host acclaimed authors and/or illustrators for a day of workshops and presentations that engage our students and reflect the emphasis we place on writing, reading, and the literary arts at every grade level. The program is a celebration of books, the creative process, and story creation. The Fund was named for Ariana Kudner and Amanda Leyon of the Class of 1991. Both girls tragically lost their lives in a car accident while they were in high school. This Memorial Fund was established to honor both girls' love of books.
 
Kent School, located on the bank of the Chester River in historic Chestertown, MD, is an independent day school serving children from Preschool through Grade Eight. Kent School's mission is to guide students in realizing their potential for academic, artistic, athletic, and moral excellence. The School’s family-oriented, supportive, student-centered environment fosters the growth of honorable, responsible citizens for our country and our diverse world. Kent School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
 
For more information visit www.kentschool.org,  call 410-778- 4100 ext. 110 or email admissions@kentschool.org
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