GKCWP Update

Saturday, May 3, 9-3

Park39, 300 E 39th St

9am - 1pm, Pre-Institute Meeting & Mini-conference

12pm - 3pm, GKCWP Site updates & program planning

We'll enjoy morning break-out sessions led by teachers from the recent SI and CLSD grant. And the afternoon will focus on our site updates and program planning.

Lunch will be provided and stipends for full-day participation. We'd love to see everyone in the GKCWP join -- please RSVP.

NWP will host an online Missouri Scoring Conference June 18-20 to focus on assessing student writing with an Analytic Writing Continuum. This event is synchronous from 9:30 am - 5:30 pm each day with multiple breaks and one hour for lunch. You will need a device, reliable internet, and a quiet place to work. Participants will receive a stipend and an NWP Scorer micro-credential. Please complete the application by March 21 to let us know if you are interested in scoring for this event. We may receive more interest than we can accommodate, but expect to hear from NWP by March 30th.

Boonville, Missouri

June 5-7, 2025

Escape daily life and find the time and support to actually write! Maybe it's a professional article you've been itching to start, or a personal memoir you started ages ago, or a series of stories you want to polish. The MWPN Writer's Retreat begins at 5pm on Thursday, June 5, and ends 11am on Saturday, June 7. The GKCWP will provide a two night stay at the Hotel Frederick in Boonville and all meals. Email Katie if you'd like to register.

June 4 - June 5, 2025

Hampton Inn, Columbia Missouri

We will bring round 1 of our Comprehensive Literacy Statewide Development grant to a celebratory close at this event. Teacher of the year, Jen Hauck, will keynote our dinner, Wed., June 4, and then CLSD teachers will lead interactive break-out sessions on Thursday, 9am -3pm. If you'd like to attend the event as a thinking partner, please email Katie.

Teaching New Media

June 23 - Aug. 8, online with weekly Zoom

Co-facilitators: Thomas Ferrel & Amanda Durnal

Focused on both the theory and practice of teaching writing in the age of new media, including the implications of AI.

Summer Invitational Leadership Institute

June 16-27, 9am - 3pm

Co-facilitators: Ted Fabiano, Nicole Higgins & Gillian Ferrel

Consider returning to the Summer Institute as a thinking partner. Email Katie Kline for information and availability.

Seminar in Professional Writing

TBD. The capstone course for the Graduate Certificate in Teaching Writing. The course supports a professional writing submission.

If you're looking for classroom inspiration or professional rejuvenation, consider this 18-hour program which provides credentials that can support teaching dual credit and college composition. Your previous Summer Institute credits can fulfill requirements, and our Teaching New Media and Seminar in Professional Writing courses can help you in your classroom and leadership roles. Get more info here.

We will host an Open House for all Scholastic Writing Award winners and their families, March 22, 1-3pm at the Montminy Gallery in Columbia, MO. If you or a student writer plans to attend, please RSVP here.

Since 1983, the GKCWP has offered creative writing camps in locations throughout the city. Participants will write daily in a creative and supportive environment. The sessions are designed and led by experienced teachers of writing. At the end of each session, writers will share their favorite pieces with friends and families at an Open Mic celebration.

Session 1, Full Week: June 24-27, 9a - 2p

Session 2, Full Week : July 8-11, 9a - 2p

NEW Mini Camps:

• Poetry: July 15-16, 9a - 2p
• Nature Writing: July 17-18, 9a - 2p

Cost:

• Full Camps: $225 by June 2nd; $275 after June 2
• Mini Camps: $115 before June 2nd; $140 after June 2nd.

Location Session 1: Anita B. Gorman

Location Session 2: Missouri Innovation Campus

Mini-Camps: Anita B. Gorman

REGISTRATION available at our website.

This year's program includes the following teachers and their classrooms:

Amy Nadeau, Kristin Stovall, Amanda Kindall, Lone Jack Elementary

Johnna Solomon, Fleetridge Elementary, Raytown

Leslie Kilgore, Southwood Elementary, Raytown

Meredith Morris, Mill Creek Elementary, Shawnee Mission

Sequoia Beauchamp & Heather Stevens, Center Elementary

The students will field trip to the Nelson-Atkins Museum for a culminating art-making project. We could use a few more teachers to help with the events May 7, 8 and 15, 9am - 12pm; email Katie if you're interested.

The following high schools were represented this year:

Blue Springs South

Blue Valley North

Center

Lee's Summit

Lee's Summit West

Northeast

Olathe Northwest

Park Hill South

Paseo

Raymore-Peculiar

Shawnee Mission West

Truman

William Chrisman

Thanks to all of the teachers who nominated and nudged these great storytellers!