Wielding Power of the Pen

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Clinton County Middle School Power of the Pen writers have once again been meeting with their teams to practice their writing skills, competing in mini Power of the Pen meets, and preparing for district, regional and state competitions.

Blanchester Middle School’s team includes seventh-graders Ricky Blakely, Alyssa Griffith, Daniel Larkin, and Alex Sutherland, and eighth-graders Lilly Brown, Alexis Davis, Abbi Lindsey, Caroline Rhude, and Jade West. The team is coached by Stephanie Cummings.

“As a coach,” said Cummings, “I enjoy hearing students talk about what they’ve written after a competition. There is a lot of excitement as they reveal how they were able to write a creative story based on the prompt they were given.”

Clinton-Massie Middle School’s team includes sixth-graders Annie Elliot, Lauren Potts, Christy Tidwell, and Jacob Campbell, seventh-graders Amelia Binau, Ben Ryan, Wesley Vert, Savannah Henderson, Luke Campbell, Ally Wellman, DJ Young, Lucas Burrows, and Erika Keller, and eighth-graders Barek Bennett, Maddie Brausch, Rey Cole, Abby George, and Abby Schneider. The team is coached by Jill Binau and Amy Kreider.

“Students are learning to write without fear,” said Kreider, “and to always be proud of their accomplishments in writing whether they place or not.

East Clinton Middle School’s team includes seventh-graders Holly Bernard, Maggie Matthews, Aaron Hughes, Owen Beatty, and Van Frye and eighth-grade writers include Astasia Fair, Ariona Fair, Noah Pattan, Jessica Allbright, Ethan Reedy, and Xavier. The team is coached by Terri Stauffer and Howard Arthur.

Arthur has been coaching Power of the Pen for 24 years and says his writers become a close-knit group each year.

“Many former students stop by at our weekly meetings,” said Arthur. “Power of the Pen provides students who may not be involved in other school activities the opportunity to show their particular skill in writing.”

It is for this reason, says Arthur, that he continues to coach. He wants students to have the opportunity to showcase their area of expertise.

Wilmington Middle School’s team includes writers Sophia Agee, Emily Bates, Lance Beekman , Rory Bell, Ruby Bruce, Elizabeth Garen, Rae Hoskins, Asia Monroe, Josie Nichols, Brianna Smith, Julia Tolliver, Mady Steinmetz, Paiton Walker, Emily Walls, and Chloe Williams. The team is coached by Tammy Sexton.

“Student have been meeting once a week after school since December to write and share their work like good authors do,” said Sexton. “These writers are all committed to the pursuit of excellence in written expression.”

Blanchester and Clinton-Massie writers competed recently at the Lebanon Junior High School Mini-Meet where they finished strong in the competition. Blanchester’s Alyssa Griffith finished 7th and Alexis Davis 8th. Clinton-Massie’s Amelia Binau and Abby George finished 2nd, Ben Ryan 3rd, Lauren Potts 6th, and Abigail Schneider and Ally Wellman 8th.

During the Clinton-Massie Mini Meet, Blanchester’s Caroline Rhude finished 4th, Alexis Davis and Alyssa Griffith 7th. Massie’s Abby George 1st, Christy Tidwell 2nd, DJ Young 6th, and Amelia Binau 8th. Maddie Brausch and Abby George also earned “Best of Rounds Awards.”

During the district tournament held at Indian Hill Middle School, Blanchester’s Alexis Sutherland finished 7th and Lilly Brown and Alexis Davis finished 8th. Clinton-Massie’s Wesley Vert finished 8th, also winning a “Best of Rounds Award,” and Savannah Henderson finished 15th. East Clinton’s Van Frye finished 6th and Noah Pattan 5th.

Writers advancing from the district tournament to regional competition include: Alexis Sutherland, Lilly Brown and Alexis Davis from Blanchester; Barek Bennett, Amelia Binau, Maddie Braush, Abby George, Savanah Henderson, Ben Ryan, Wesley Vert, Abby Schneider and Amy Wellman from Clinton-Massie; Jessica Albright, Ariona Fair, Van Frye, Noah Pattan, and Ethan Reedy from East Clinton; and Sophia Agee, Josie Nichols and Chloe Williams from Wilmington.

Information for this article was provided by Diana Miller, who coordinates communications for several area schools.

Members of the East Clinton team gather with their coaches for an official team photo.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/03/web1_EC-POP-2015-16.jpgMembers of the East Clinton team gather with their coaches for an official team photo. Courtesy photo

Wilmington writers assemble for a photo before picking up the pens for an afternoon of writing.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/03/web1_WMS-POP-2015-16.jpgWilmington writers assemble for a photo before picking up the pens for an afternoon of writing. Courtesy photo

Members of the Clinton-Massie team at the district tournament held at Indian Hill Middle School.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/03/web1_CM-POP-at-Districts-2015-16.jpgMembers of the Clinton-Massie team at the district tournament held at Indian Hill Middle School. Courtesy photo

Members of the Blanchester writing team at the district tournament held at Indian Hill Middle School.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/03/web1_Blan-POP-7th-2015-16.jpgMembers of the Blanchester writing team at the district tournament held at Indian Hill Middle School. Courtesy photo

Blanchester’s eighth-grade writing team poses with their poster at the Lebanon Junior High School Mini-Meet.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/03/web1_Blan-POP-8th-2015-16.jpgBlanchester’s eighth-grade writing team poses with their poster at the Lebanon Junior High School Mini-Meet. Courtesy photo
All 4 CC districts compete, prepare to advance

By Diana Miller

For The News Journal

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