VENTURA : Students to Display Writing Projects

Most of the students at Junipero Serra Elementary School have yet to celebrate their first decade of life, but many already have written books.

These young authors, along with thousands of their preschool through high school classmates in the Ventura Unified School District, will exhibit their works today at the Fifth Annual Young Writers’ Fair.

In addition to student writings, the event will feature dramatic activities such as puppetry and readers’ theater, door prizes and presentations by local authors. It is open to parents and the general public.

The purpose of the exhibit is to nurture the students’ communicative skills through the written language, said Jean Eaton, a first-grade teacher at Serra school.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s something as creative as literature or poetry or as mundane as a job application, Eaton said. “The idea is to teach self-expression through writing.”

Based on a pre-exhibit showing, the students have learned their lesson well.

Ten-year-old Jamie McCulley’s entry was the 54-page “Slavery and the Freedom Fight.” Her comprehensive work included insights on slave trade and life, emancipation, civil rights and Sojourner Truth.

“I learned how hard it was for those people and hope it (her book) will inspire people to give others an equal chance,” said Jamie, who is in the fifth-grade.

In Jessica Ridge’s book, “A Scary Visit,” the second-grader recounted a frightening experience during a visit with her Aunt Cindy in Arizona.

Jessica, 8, said she was separated from her mom and friend on the way to breakfast at a restaurant. “I thought they were going to walk so I went on ahead, but they ended up driving,” Jessica said, smiling shyly. “I was afraid someone might kidnap me.”

Unlike the various science fairs held across the county, the Young Writers’ Fair is not a contest, but simply an exhibit.

Mary Ann Fraser, a local author of children’s books will kick off the event at 9:30 a.m. with a speech to the students. Fraser and other guest authors David Birchman and Peggy Rathman will also autograph the students’ books. Serra Elementary is at 8880 Halifax St.

“The main idea was to give the kids a short-term goal while helping them to build their communicative skills in the long-term,” said Eaton, who originated the idea for the citywide fair. “It’s a big self-esteem builder,” Eaton said.