Whiz Kid: DGS' Literary Magazine, Calliope

Group Name: Calliope, the literary magazine at South High School. The magazine includes poetry, short stories and art work. 

Advisors: Zach Kuhn, Michelle Lynn and Jenneine Rowley

Editors: Julianna Estall and David Huettner

Students: Abby Armato, Mikaela Damon, Alex Hansen, Erin Keegan, Alex Johnson, Gillian Miller, Paige Miller, Liz Schwartzers and Cameron Walker

Accomplishment: Calliope received an excellent rating from the National Council of Teachers of English for its 2009-2010 publications. According to NCTE, an excellent rating means, "high quality of writing; variety of genres (at least 4) represented; strong editing; some writings from other subject areas; design and graphics attractive, pertinent to writings; students have strong roles in editorial, production and business aspects." 

Key to Awesomeness: 

Calliope has received an "excellent" rating from NCTE for the past four years, something advisor Jenneine Rowley said is "really amazing." 

"It's the only publication in the school that is a club," Rowley said. "The newspaper and yearbook have classes to turn out the publication." 

Rowley said most of the publication's staff have been with Calliope for multiple years. 

"They've grown up in front of our eyes," she said. "They're very creative people. It's eye-opening and refreshing. They're very collaborative, too. No one tries to outshine anyone else. They're very supportive." 

Students involved with Calliope said they got involved with the group because it's open-minded and they can have a freedom of imagination. 

"We're very open-minded people," said Erin Keegan. "It's an open environment. We can feel free to share. It's not offensive. It's calm. We can feel free to express what's in our imagination...There's a certain unspoken bond."