At Grayslake Central High School, storytelling takes center stage each spring.
Now in its second decade, Writers Week has become a signature experience for students, bringing real-world voices into the classroom and inviting them to see the power of their own stories.
“It’s about more than writing,” said English teacher and Department Chair Melissa Thurlwell. “It’s about helping students realize that their voice matters, and that there’s a place for it in the world.”
Since its launch in 2013, Writers Week has connected students with authors, journalists, poets, and creators who use storytelling in their careers. Modeled after a long-running program at another high school, the event reflects District 127’s commitment to relevant, engaging, and authentic learning.
With support from the District, presenters are brought in to share how the skills students build in English classes translate beyond the classroom.
“When students see people actually using writing in their careers, it makes learning real,” Thurlwell said. “It shows them this isn’t just for a grade, it’s for their future.”
That connection to real-world application is central to the D127 mission: empowering all learners to launch their futures.
Students will explore storytelling through multiple forms, including music, journalism, and visual media. One of this year’s most unique additions is an American Sign Language (ASL) presentation, brought forward by students in the school’s ASL Club.
“They came to us and said, ‘This was an incredible experience, we want to bring it here,’” said English teacher Ellie Ryan. “We immediately said yes.”
The presentation will highlight how storytelling transcends language, offering students a powerful perspective on communication, identity, and expression.
“It reinforces that everyone’s story deserves to be heard,” Thurlwell said. “And there are many ways to share it.”
For some students, the impact is immediate.
“We’ve seen students who might not always feel connected in class really gravitate toward these experiences,” Ryan said. “They see someone who reflects their interests, or even their background, and something clicks.”
Others deepen passions they’ve already discovered, especially students involved in theater, journalism, or creative writing.
“No matter where students are coming from, there’s something here for them,” she added.
This year also marks a return to more personalized learning opportunities.
In addition to larger presentations, select speakers will participate in small-group workshops with students, offering feedback, collaboration, and deeper conversation.
A visiting journalist and D127 alum will work directly with student reporters
A novelist will collaborate with writing students
The ASL presenter will meet with the ASL Club following the session
“These smaller settings give students a chance to really engage,” Thurlwell said. “It becomes more than just listening, it becomes doing.”
At its core, Writers Week is about possibility.
It’s about helping students see themselves as storytellers, creators, and contributors to a larger world.
“It doesn’t matter how you tell your story,” Ryan said. “What matters is that you do.”
Through experiences like Writers Week, District 127 continues to create opportunities for students to explore their passions, connect learning to life, and build the confidence to share who they are.
Because in D127, every story matters, and every student has one worth telling.