Five Port Jefferson Middle School students and one Earl L. Vandermeulen
High School student raised their voices at the annual Port Jefferson
Charles Dickens Festival when they read their original poems during the
Friday evening lantern lighting dedication ceremony. Sixth-graders Izzie
Chen (Wintertime), Alice Snyder (A Snowy Night), Ava Tuccillo (Winter)
and Devon Welsch (Snowflakes) and seventh-grader Vivian Kim (First Snow)
took center stage for the yearly tradition around the village as each
lantern was dedicated with a plaque for the weekend festival.
Eighth-grader Ruby Ray read her poem (The Village Dickens Plan) at the
Festivals’ Saturday morning opening ceremony. Senior Jonathan Kelsch
recited a memorial piece he wrote to his friend Dylan, a former Port
Jefferson student, in front of the lantern that was dedicated to his
life.
“We are so proud of the efforts that not only did these students put
into the creative process, but to be so well-spoken and poised in front
of a large crowd of people,” Monica Consalvo, who organized the
students’ participation in the event.