Saratoga senior creates online literary magazine

By REV. ANTHONY LIGATO- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

This year wasn't the first time Saratoga Central Catholic High School had attempted to have a student-run publication; it's just the first time there's been a strong student eager to take the lead as editor.

As she graduates June 12, senior Mary Brimmer will be able to take pride in having brought a creative outlet to Spa Catholic: "SCCKaleidoscope," an online literary and art magazine.

Mary set out to combine her two passions, art and poetry, into one publication. She got her first camera at age 10.

"I thought of the idea of a literary/art magazine because the school didn't have a way for the [art] students to express themselves," she said.

Although Spa Catholic enrolls grades six through 12, the magazine only accepted submissions from the high school students for its first year. "I wanted to open it up to the whole school," said Mary, "but I figured I should start small."

The "Kaleidoscope" title signifies more than the childhood toy that Mary once owned.

"I thought all of the colors represented emotions," she told The Evangelist. The changing colors and shapes in a kaleidoscope, she believes, reflect the diversity of Spa Catholic students.

Mary said that more of her classmates took to athletics than the arts. That's not uncommon: According to a survey by Public Agenda, a non-profit organization that promotes diversity, more than half of American high school students are interested in participating in a school-sponsored athletic program, while only 36 percent are interested in an extracurricular activity involving the arts.

But Mary thought a magazine could succeed at Spa Catholic. She created SCCKaleidoscope with the assistance of art teacher Joseph McGee and assistant principal and IT administrator Dennis Ostrowski. The trio worked out a year-long plan for the magazine, and Mary was able to develop it as an independent study during her senior year.

Spa Catholic offers such independent studies routinely; students in higher grades can also enroll in online classes at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.

"There has always been an interest in the arts," Mr. Ostrowski noted. The new magazine generated enough interest that, now, "students have more of a desire to come by and participate."

The magazine, which has a cover photo by Mary herself, features a variety of photography, studio art, non-fiction and poetry by 19 students.

Mary is confident that creating "Kaleidoscope" is one of the "little steps I've been taking [that] are helping me do what I want to do. It has helped me open up more and dive more into my passion."

In the fall, Mary will begin attending nearby Skidmore College with the goal of becoming a photojournalist. But she'll continue assisting with SCCKaleidoscope, passing it down to a new generation of Spa Catholic art enthusiasts.[[In-content Ad]]