A local high-school student literary magazine is in the works

A new high-school literary magazine called “Reflection” is in the works, and it will be discussed at a meeting of the Nevada Joint Union High School District on Wednesday afternoon, Sierra Foothills Report has learned.

The magazine can build a “bridge between schools” in the district; offer district spirit “in terms of art and literature”; and the community can “unite in terms of being proud of it,” according to a planned presentation.

The annual magazine’s content could include the student’s poetry, fictional and non-fictional personal narratives, short stories, short screenplays and essays. According to the plan, about 3,000 copies will be distributed with a “softback, heavy-matte paper cover and ‘perfect’ binding” (think of a magazine bound like National Geographic). There will be no advertising.

Bear River journalism and yearbook teacher Christina Levinson and students will make the presentation to the NJUHSD board. (Christina’s husband, Noah, is principal at Ghidotti High. A Ghidotti English teacher, Janet Mason, will assist with the submissions).

We’re thrilled to learn about this planned magazine and the districtwide effort to make it successful. It’s an ideal way to showcase our students’ talents but also support our arts and culture scene.

Our area has some big-league literary talents, such as Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder and award-winning author Jordan Fisher Smith, among others. More details of our area’s cultural legacy are here.

In addition, Nevada County is now home to two statewide Cultural Districts — in Grass Valley-Nevada City and Truckee.

As it turns out, Christina approached our Sierra FoodWineArt magazine about having us work with a student intern, and we’re going forward with that. We also sponsor a student journalism scholarship for college-bound students.

The statewide Cultural District designation for Grass Valley-Nevada City and Truckee has been a catalyst for new programs such as the high-school literary magazine.

Author: jeffpelline

Jeff Pelline is a veteran editor and award-winning journalist - in print and online. He is publisher of Sierra FoodWineArt magazine and its website SierraCulture.com. Jeff covered business and technology for The San Francisco Chronicle for 12 years, and he was a founding editor and Editor of CNET News for eight years, among other positions. Jeff has a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a master's from Northwestern University. His hobbies include sailing, swimming, and trout fishing in the Sierra. View all posts by jeffpelline