Three JEMS students win IB-centered writing contest

Do you know any good urban legends involving Jordan-Elbridge? Well, some of the students at Jordan-Ebridge Middle School do, even if they made them up.

The school’s English language arts (ELA) department hosted an International Baccalaureate (IB)-centered writing contest in October centered on creating an urban legend. The goal was to write a convincing urban legend that is set at JE and reflects its society/culture. The students were charged with telling the tale with detail, making it believable and cautioning the middle school community about the lesson to be learned.

The winners were:

• Grade 6. Abigayle Bates - A story about a haunted JE mural
• Grade 7. William Haumann - A story about a cursed book in the JEMS library
• Grade 8. Madison Bourque - A story of the Erie Canal girl whose eyes could make you forget all memories

“An aim of the Middle Years IB Progamme is to encourage students to take local, national, and global perspectives when thinking about the world,” said grade 8 ELA teacher, Alexis Farnsworth.

“Students learn skills that foster rich cultural identities and imaginations.”

Farnsworth said the contest introduced students to the concept of story-telling as an integral part of culture and identity. They read about indigenous urban legends and cultural folklore, and then wrote their own stories that reflect the culture, values, and beliefs of their hometown

“In fact, the contest required them to think critically about Jordan-Elbridge as a place where strange and magical things could happen,” Farnsworth added.

Teachers say the students have been very excited to participate in the contest.

“This contest has sparked their creativity and they have dived right into it,” teacher Christine Klamm said.

“It’s been so much fun to hear them talking about their stories with each other, and it has been wonderful to watch them so actively engaged in writing.”