Galway students publish book of short stories

Business teacher Mark Swain launched the project that included many different facets of education to give his students a task that would also give them a look into the "real world."

"It's a cross-curricular project in which high school art students designed the cover, English students in grades six through 12 gathered and wrote the stories, and e-commerce students are promoting the book," he said.

Named "The Life Between Two Cities," the book is intended to capture the true essence of life in Galway through short stories and poems.

"I want those who read the book to be able to see the streets and get the feeling of what it is like to live in Galway," Swain said.

The creation of the book allowed the school to create The Village Press, the students' publishing company. Within The Village Press, students carry out their specific tasks in a manner which a professional publishing company would. Some are writers, some are designers and others are marketing the book for when it is finished and goes on sale in May for $15. Community members and employees from Penguin Books and the Times Union assisted the students with copy editing.

The project was suggested by The Genium Corporation, the company that owns the Web site that e-commerce students maintain. The company is using Galway Central School District as the pilot for this project with hopes to make it a state-wide initiative.

"I always try to prepare my students for future careers. Giving them tasks to do and deadlines to meet helps them learn to manage their time to get everything done on a schedule," Swain said. "Like a real-life job, they work hard, make mistakes and learn firsthand."

The book will include 12 entries which were chosen by a panel of community members, school board members, administration, and retired English teachers, artwork and cover art designed by 11th grader Cassandra Dummermuth. The title was created by senior Marc Williams. The other students whose works were chosen include:  Brooke White, Grade12, "Nights On The Lake;" Katelyn Caruso-Sharpe, Grade 12, "Lucinda;" Kayla Gomula, Grade 12, "A Haunting At Home;" Larissa O'Neil, Grade11, "Forever Young;" Katie Lasak, Grade 11, TBA; Victoria Lane, Grade 11, TBA; Jessica Felthousen, Grade10, "The Magic Within;" Kendra McDonald, Grade 9, "Misunderstanding at Morningkill;" Roseline Colby, Grade 8; "My Immigration Story;" Maddy Moore, Grade 8, TBA; Henry Temoshok, Grade 7; "Galway Library" (Poem); and Jay Oakes, Grade 7; "Providence" (Poem).

"Our school is just big enough to do the project successfully and small enough to work together as a group to get everything done right," Swain said. "We also couldn't have done this without a supportive community, which we are lucky enough to have here in Galway."
Once the book is published, book signings will be held in Ballston Spa at Coffee Planet from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9 and Thursday, May 14 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Galway Market in Galway. 

For more information or to pre-order a book, go to the Web site
at http://www.scoresup.com/
Galway.