We are thrilled to embark on another "Magical" year with our school magazine Creative Quills and invite all students and parents to join our literary endeavors! The magazine has been in production for over 7 years with each edition gifting the DWS audience with stellar stories, soulful songs, chilling comics, personifying poems and host of other writings. All authored by the creative voices of the DWS students. We are thankful to all contributors willing to share their writing pieces which melded together make the magazine possible. The first submission deadline is November 6. Be sure to keep a lookout for the shiny Magical Mailbox returning to the school's hallway soon!
Encourage your child to WRITE: about funny family incidents, sports, pets, vacations, a story to go with a picture they drew…a song they made up to a familiar tune, a dream, invention or memory…an interview with an interesting person in their life…anything!
(Click here for a submission form)
The Magical Mailbox and Creative Quills are provided through the PTO with help from all parent volunteers. Several times a year Creative Quills is published with all student work, and each writer gets his own copy. This is always exciting for the students to read, and be inspired by each other's work, and to have their efforts validated in a shiny new magazine! It is a fun and exciting way to encourage personal expression and the creative writing process. Here’s how:
Younger students may need help writing their ideas down, and can dictate to an adult. Students of all ages will need to involve an adult to review and sign their submission form which includes an at-home editing checklist, (for spelling,
grammar, and legibility). Ask questions and encourage revisions - see what vivid details your child can think of to extend their original piece! Please note, editing is important as all entries will be recreated as they were submitted.
Children can obtain submission forms at school or print one from this website. When they are ready, they can drop it in the Magical Mailbox which is located in the front hallway of school, just outside the cafeteria.
Deadline dates will be posted in the Friday newsletter that comes home as well as at the Magical Mailbox table where the latest issue of the magazine is always featured.
Reading and writing improve as we practice. And, the more widely exposed to literature a child is, the richer his writing becomes. Active writers actually read differently because they are noticing how the author is practicing his craft! We hope your family will be part of the writing excitement!
The magazine is actively looking for parent volunteers for the coming year. Publication assignments include typing submissions, scanning artwork, transporting master copy to and from Marshfield High School Quip Center (where it is copied and bound), and distributing magazines to students during lunch time and assemblies. If interested or for more information, please contact Kimberly Rose, Managing Editor, at
thebeachroses@yahoo.com or 781 834 9632. Thanks in advance for any support you can provide!
Mission Statement
The Magical Mailbox is a literacy enrichment project for the Daniel Webster School students. The goal of this parent-managed magazine is to encourage the creative writing process on a personal authentic level at home, from the prewriting, writing, revising and editing phases to the experience of being published. The act of publishing validates these original voices and provides a different forum for exploration, imaginative expression, and regular writing. Each writer receives his own personal copy of Creative Quills magazine which is published about 5 times a school year. Our hope is that the students will be encouraged and inspired to strive for excellence in writing while building community as we grow and learn together.
Creative Quills magazine publishes submissions that are original and free from violence, racism, inappropriate language and questionable content.
Editing is at the discretion of the author’s parent/caregiver and the Magical Mailbox editors.
