On March 19, 2024, Escalante Schools PTA will host their 3rd annual LitJam Event at Escalante High School. The student writing conference serves 5th-8th grade students and will host over 130 students from across the district.
Each student will submit a writing sample to be read and reviewed by local volunteer judges. Exceptional writing pieces will be featured in the April edition of The Byway.
This year, the event will feature Keynote speaker Janet Summer Johnson. Students will also attend five classes over the day, taught by local writers and professionals, including Janet.
The conception of LitJam is largely the result of Robbin Peterson, local author and Escalante Elementary Librarian. Having participated in a similar event at her previous residence, she collaborated with the school’s PTA for the last three years to plan and carry out the celebration of literacy.
“There is an age around 4th and 5th grade where a lot of kids lose interest in reading for fun,” Robbin explained. By this age, students have mastered the skill enough, and it becomes boring in their eyes. Teachers and adults may prioritize non-fiction as it is more educational, or turn to a movie or television which is easier to consume.
“There’s something magical that happens to kids who read fiction,” Peterson explained. “They see the world through the eyes of another human being—their thoughts, fears, how they react to stress and other people around them. Through this vicarious existence, the reader learns empathy, how to socially interact and care about others. They feel like they are understood and can feel healed, unburdened, and seen.”
Peterson told The Byway that LitJam has sought to help kids in the community write for fun. “When we started LitJam it was our goal to bring magic back to books and also writing. Writing is a great way to foster creativity and create healthy skills and habits that can help kids academically and emotionally.”
LitJam is made possible by the generous support of many community members who volunteer to teach, judge, facilitate, and prepare along with PTA fundraising efforts. This year the school was awarded a grant from the Utah State Library Division to help cover costs. The LitJam committee includes Jenny Evans (PTA President), Robbin Peterson, Karen Munson, Heather McKnight, and Naketa Martel.
The community is invited to take part in the public portion of the conference. From 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 19, there will be an author meet-and-greet, book fair, and bake sale. Janet Johnson along with local authors Robbin Peterson, Karen Munson, and Grace Welker will be available to sign books and answer questions.
Find more information on this year’s LitJam on Escalante High School’s website.
– The Byway
Read more about authors visiting local schools in Tyler Whitesides Comes to Panguitch Elementary School.