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Middle School Authors Get to Hold Book Signing in Say Yes to Education Program

Chris Bolt/WAER News

  Students, parents, teachers and administrators gathered at Edward Smith School to celebrate one of the successes of Say Yes to Education.  The Young Authors program held a book signing Thursday for the students that participated this year.  

Credit Chris Bolt/WAER News
Some of the Young Authors get a first look at their work in published form.

  36 young authors got to share their creativity and talents in three books.  "Explode the Moment" was written by 6th graders from Clary Middle School.  "Call of the Coyote: Pieces of Me" was the work of 7th and 8th grade students from Edward Smith.  Porter Elementary students created "Traditions".  Each book contains poems and stories from each student.  Administrators and teachers say it's a powerful memory for each to experience being a published author.

Syracuse University Students worked with the young authors contributing illustrations that go along with the prose.  The project is in its third year with Say Yes and is supported by the National Grid Foundation.

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WAER's Chris Bolt reports the positive recognition for the program and the students' achievement comes just a day after a 'no-confidence' vote for Superintendent Sharon Contreras.

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.