Eager and cunning, dressed in neatly pressed uniforms and fresh haircuts, our tanned, formerly carefree students filed into school on September 1st for what has become an academic tradition at St. John’s: Literary Day. While younger students were eager to meet an author and listen to her storytelling, the Fourth through Eighth grade students gratified their sense of accomplishment, post-slogging through summer reading (one book was titled, Summer Reading is Killing Me) by partaking in high brow book discussion groups with various members of the staff. All students attended Mass, learning first hand how to wait for the expected bridegroom like the 10 bridesmaids of biblical lore. Monsignor, though late to arrive due to a forgotten prayer book and then a forgotten microphone, deftly wove the unusual circumstance into a homily that the children will always remember. The children later ate the snacks generously provided by room parents and settled in to meet the guest authors.

One parent observed, “What a huge success this year's Literary Day was in my house. I can't recall the last time my kids got in the car after school so excited to tell me about the day. They were all very positive - and that is saying something.”

As has become a bit of a tradition, St. John’s hosted several authors who spoke to the children (divided into age groups) about writing, about stories and about life. The youngest set, First through Third grade met award winning, local author, Jean Heilprin Diehl. As they stepped into the library, the graceful calls of loons wafted over bookshelves, transporting the children to New Hampshire on some golden pond. First Ms. Diehl introduced herself, wowing the children with her wide ranging world travel and her varied work experiences, including filleting fish for a summer. Then she shared the inspiration of her story, Loon Chase, a beautiful and nearly autobiographical account of a boy (based on her teenage son) and his dog’s (based on her dog Miles) encounter with a wild loon family on Silver Lake. With animated voice, she captivated her audience of St. John’s literary scholars. Many admiring fans purchased autographed copies of her book that were later delivered to their classrooms by an even younger scholar, Rowan Kreischer.

The lucky Fourth and Fifth graders met local Gazette Newspaper journalist, Meredith Hooker, who incidentally taught many of them to swim during her previous career as a life guard. She spoke to the Fourth and Fifth graders on Literary Day about writing as a journalist. The students had many questions for her ranging from how she gets her
ideas for stories to who was the most famous person she ever met as a journalist. Ms. Hooker told the students that she began writing for her elementary school paper when she was about seven years old and wrote for school newspapers in middle school, high school and college. She encouraged the students to write for the Eagle Times if they want to get started as journalists. She told them she gets her ideas from many sources. Sometimes, her editor gives her assignments, sometimes, her friends give her ideas and many times she decides, on her own, about what to write. She also told the students about deadlines, photographic journalists and how to find information in the newspaper. Her column, “Twenty and Change,” comes out every two weeks in the Gazette.

The most mature students (Sixth, Seventh and Eighth graders) meet Washington Post journalist, Dan Keating who has been in journalism since he was the sports editor for his high school paper. He explained that journalism is much more exciting and interesting than it is made out to be. It has its thrills and those moments when you can feel the adrenaline coursing through your veins.

During his presentation, Keating described his favorite articles that he has written and some of his favorites written by other journalists. For example, he wrote about how he and a bunch of his friends helped stop a cult from expanding. Another one was about a case in which a man claimed he lived different past lives and knew a man from Egypt, as a result. Also, he has written about psychiatrists and how they help people. One article he most enjoys was written by a friend. It was about silly warning labels.

Keating has been writing for the Washington Post for seven years and has changed from being a sports writer to writing for the Style section. Earlier, he was an investigative journalist. You know the kind who goes underneath the yellow crime tape to see all the good stuff. He also experienced the drama in court when the verdict was being decided. He has even accompanied cops as they conduct sting operations and chase drug dealers.

Keating told us that his purpose for writing is so that he can help make the world a better place in his own way. He also loves to make people laugh. “I think he has made the world a better place and he did make me laugh,” according to Maryney Ramirez. Overall, Keating was funny and very outspoken. In Maryney’s opinion, Keating deserved the Pulitzer Prize that he received for his investigative journalism.