If you ask the teachers and staff at Roxboro Elementary School in Cleveland Heights what their favorite yearly event is, almost everyone will say Children’s Ink. On May 30, 2008 the eleventh annual school-wide assembly took place. It is the brainchild of kindergarten teacher Lynne Maragliano and emceed by fifth grade teacher Melissa Garcar. The writing and musical talents of the kindergarten through fifth grade students are featured. Each year students submit writing they have done throughout the year, but only ten to fifteen entries are chosen. Several other students add their musical talents with instrumental solos.

Local authors and celebrities volunteer their time to be readers at this special event. This year the guest readers were Plain Dealer columnist Regina Brett, former Lorain Community College professor and poet Lou Suarez, actress and Nighttown manager Derdriu Ring, children’s book authors Beatrice Katz and Nancy McArthur, former Plain Dealer columnist Afi-Odelia Scruggs, Cuyahoga Community College Metro Campus President Michael Schoop and Roxboro’s own Linda Steffancin, Lynne Maragaliano and John Foreman.

Roxboro students sharing their writing talents at Children’s Ink were Linnea Covault, Michael Landon, Adrianna Murray, Darion Hamilton, Liza Namy, Isabel Culver, Alex DeStefano, Khalia Lane, Shaun Villanueva, Lewis Caldwell, Lily Lenington, Aubrey Nelson, Quinton Ndyajunwoha, Silvia Iammarino, and Kaila Mathis. Displaying musical talents were Khalil Witt, Joey Houser, Ian Bartz, Trenton Bulucea and Alice Janigro.

This year’s event was bittersweet as the children also said goodbye to their beloved principal, Kelli Cogan. Mrs. Cogan’s parents were surprise guest readers at the event. Mrs. Cogan will use her leadership abilities at Wiley Middle School next year. Under the direction of Betsy Neylon, the entire student body sang two songs to Mrs. Cogan and each child gave her a flower at the end of the program amidst smiles and tears.

Children’s Ink is a morning when teachers and parents are inspired by the creativity and gifts of the students, and have the opportunity to see that all of their time, patience, concern and hard work has paid off. Even though weary teachers welcome the end of the school year, Children’s Ink makes them want to come back and do it all over again in the fall.

Diane Ferri is an intervention specialist at Roxboro Elementary School.