The English Festival is a way for students to expand their reading list. The yearbook is a way for students to reminiscence on the year. They offer different things, but they both bring the Mooney family together in their own way.
English Festival
The English Festival was brought about in 1978 by Professor Thomas Gay and Dr. Carol Gay of YSU’s Department of English. In 2021, the festival is still going strong.
English teacher Joy Huber has been participating in the English Festival as an adviser for 15 years.
“The Festival provides an opportunity for young adults to bond over their love for literature, to receive writing advice from published authors, and to share their own literary talents,” Huber said. “It is like an English teacher’s dream come true!”
With seven novels for grades 7-9, and seven for 10-12, there’s plenty of reading material for all. Their official website states that the festival “aims to encourage students to read more, thereby improving all of their communication skills.” Modern day and relatable novels are chosen to appeal to this younger audience so they can see reading as an act of enjoyment rather than something to dread. The more enjoyable something is, the more there is to be learned from it.
The novels include Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, a novel that explores the life of a young, poor Red as she discovers that she has electricity powers. Another book on this year's reading list is The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, a novel about a girl who uses slam poetry as a way to figure out her place in the world.
On April 21, 22 and 23, the 43rd English Festival will take place in the form of a virtual event.
For additional Festival information, click on the following link:
http://ysuenglishfestival.org/
The English Festival was brought about in 1978 by Professor Thomas Gay and Dr. Carol Gay of YSU’s Department of English. In 2021, the festival is still going strong.
English teacher Joy Huber has been participating in the English Festival as an adviser for 15 years.
“The Festival provides an opportunity for young adults to bond over their love for literature, to receive writing advice from published authors, and to share their own literary talents,” Huber said. “It is like an English teacher’s dream come true!”
With seven novels for grades 7-9, and seven for 10-12, there’s plenty of reading material for all. Their official website states that the festival “aims to encourage students to read more, thereby improving all of their communication skills.” Modern day and relatable novels are chosen to appeal to this younger audience so they can see reading as an act of enjoyment rather than something to dread. The more enjoyable something is, the more there is to be learned from it.
The novels include Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, a novel that explores the life of a young, poor Red as she discovers that she has electricity powers. Another book on this year's reading list is The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, a novel about a girl who uses slam poetry as a way to figure out her place in the world.
On April 21, 22 and 23, the 43rd English Festival will take place in the form of a virtual event.
For additional Festival information, click on the following link:
http://ysuenglishfestival.org/
Yearbook
In most high schools, yearbooks have become the standard for commemorating each year as it passes by, and Mooney is no different.
For 22 years, science teacher Jennifer Policy has been a major contributor to the process. Alongside photography teacher Maureen Kandray, and six Mooney students, Policy gets the yearbook published and into the hands of any and all who wish to have something to remember the year. Policy enjoys seeing how the staff starts from scratch and where they go from there.
“What I like most about working on the yearbook is just watching it come together,” Policy said. “Taking nothing, then building a whole book.”
Then on the other hand, Kandray’s favorite part about working on the yearbook, aside from taking photos, is the year-in review.
“I love to get together and reflect on everything that has gone on throughout the year,” Kandray said.
Overall, both the English Festival and Yearbook offer something of value to benefit the community in different ways.
In most high schools, yearbooks have become the standard for commemorating each year as it passes by, and Mooney is no different.
For 22 years, science teacher Jennifer Policy has been a major contributor to the process. Alongside photography teacher Maureen Kandray, and six Mooney students, Policy gets the yearbook published and into the hands of any and all who wish to have something to remember the year. Policy enjoys seeing how the staff starts from scratch and where they go from there.
“What I like most about working on the yearbook is just watching it come together,” Policy said. “Taking nothing, then building a whole book.”
Then on the other hand, Kandray’s favorite part about working on the yearbook, aside from taking photos, is the year-in review.
“I love to get together and reflect on everything that has gone on throughout the year,” Kandray said.
Overall, both the English Festival and Yearbook offer something of value to benefit the community in different ways.