CATA Reading at the Mount

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LENOX, Mass. — Community Access to the Arts (CATA) and The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home, present a reading celebrating the work of writers with disabilities on Sept. 27 at 5pm. 
 
The event takes place at the Stable at The Mount, located at 2 Plunkett St. A free reception will follow the reading where attendees can meet and celebrate CATA writers.
 
Reservations are required for this free event. Register online at CATAarts.org/themount2023 or by contacting CATA at (413) 528-5485 or by email at KateHarding@CATAarts.org.
 
"We're thrilled to partner with The Mount once again to share the work of CATA writers," said CATA Executive Director Margaret Keller. "CATA writers express their creative voices each week in our workshops. By sharing their writing in this dynamic program, we get to spotlight their talent—and our community gets to see the world from their perspective."
 
The event will feature guest readers in a program of writing created in the CATA Writers' Workshop—a weekly class where writers with disabilities hone their craft and express their perspectives. CATA faculty artist Janet Reich Elsbach leads the workshop with an inventive curriculum that helps each CATA writer develop their own style in poetry, haiku, autobiography, and short stories.
 
Some CATA writers work with "scribes" to help them put their ideas on paper. CATA artists also work with guest artists throughout the year, including poet Dante Micheaux who guest-taught two workshops with CATA writers last fall (work created during those workshops will be featured in the reading on Sept. 27).
 
The CATA Writers' Workshop is one of 28 weekly inclusive arts workshops for people with disabilities taking place at CATA's Great Barrington studios during the 2023-2024 program year. Each workshop is designed as a series, and enrollment is on a rolling basis throughout the year. A current course catalog is available on CATA's website at CATAarts.org/joincata.
 
CATA's reading at The Mount is made possible by Berkshire Magazine, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and other supporters.

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Morris Elementary's Odyssey of the Mind Team Earns Spot at World Finals

LENOX, Mass. — Superintendent Dr. William Collins and Principal Brenda Kelley shared that Morris Elementary School's Odyssey of the Mind team recently competed in regional competition, securing first place in their division and a spot in the World Finals.

Grade 5 students at Morris Elementary School are using their minds to solve complex, open-ended problems through Odyssey of the Mind.

Odyssey of the Mind is an educational program that challenges students to solve open-ended problems imaginatively and theatrically while working as a team. 

Students who participate in Odyssey of the Mind begin preparing for the workforce early, developing their skills in engineering, innovation and creative problem-solving. 

The team is comprised of Grade 5 students Les Freeman, Johnson Green, Anna Kennedy, Raquel Levin, Zachary Streeter, Levi Stern and Ethan Winger and is coached by Josh Levin, Kim Winger and Seth Lipkin.

They traveled to Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine, on Saturday, April 5, for the regional competition, where they competed against 99 teams.

The Morris team solved the problem "AstronOMical Odyssey," in which teams were tasked to create a humorous performance set in a team-created "historical" civilization that explains constellations and presents original stories. The performance also included a humorous astronomer character with a "stellar" costume, a lighting effect and a shooting star.

The team's performance can be viewed here.

"These students have put in countless hours designing their own solution, building their own props, and bringing their ideas to life," said Coach Josh Levin. "What’s amazing is that the work these kids are doing will set them up to be successful at problem-solving using both engineering and creative skills. This is what it’s all about! They did absolutely everything themselves. That’s the really amazing thing. No parent help, just encouragement."

Their win at the regional competition earned them an invite to attend the World Finals at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, from May 20-24, where they will compete against more than 800 teams from around the world. 

The PTO is seeking donations to help send the small but mighty team of students to the World Finals. To contribute to the PTO's fundraising efforts, contact Ashley Turczak at ashley.turczak@gmail.com.

"Our Odyssey of the Mind team is a perfect example of the creativity and persistence that our student body possesses," said Principal Kelley. "These students worked incredibly hard to come out on top at the regional competition, and we hope to see them move on to display their innovative talents at the World Finals. Congratulations, and good luck!"

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