9th Annual Student Literary Collection "The Echoes of Our Lives" Now in Print

350 WPS Students Featured in Yearly Publication

May 16, 2012

For the ninth year, student authors throughout the Wahoo Public Schools received a book, The Echoes of Our Lives, with their writing and the writing of their friends and classmates in it.  

Each year WHS English Teacher Larry Fangman collects writing from teachers throughout the district and puts together a book that is published by Morris Publishing in Kearney, Nebraska. Each student published in the book receives a free copy. Books are paid for by the district and through money raised from the school talent show.

“This year 350 WPS students were published in the book and received free copies of the book,” said Fangman. “My goal is to someday have every student in the district published in the book.”

“Students always love receiving the book,” said fourth grade teacher Lori Anderson. “They begged for me time to read them right away, so I am giving them reading time right away.”

“I met a fifth grader in the hall as I was delivering the books,” Fangman said, “ and he asked me if they were the books with the fifth grade writing in it. When I said ‘Yes’ he started jumping up and down in excitement.”

“I think the book is great for the students in the district,” Fangman said. “I see high school students who did not like to read, reading the entire book and hurrying to find their piece of writing when they get the book. Students of all ages love to read what their friends have written. Students also like to read previous years’ books throughout the year. The book definitely contributes to making our students more successful in all the state reading and writing standards, but more importantly, it contributes to developing a love of reading and to developing an appreciation of writers.”

A copy of this year’s book and past years’ books is available at the Wahoo Public Library.