Winnacunnet Cooperative High School’s Spark! Magazine Recognized for Excellence

HAMPTON — Winnacunnet Cooperative High School’s long-standing literary magazine “Spark!” has been recognized for overall excellence by the National Council of Teachers of English.

“Spark!” was cited during the 2024 NCTE Recognizing Excellence in Art and Magazines (REALM) program. REALM encourages schools to celebrate the art and craft of writing and celebrates literary magazines that reflect that mission.

“Spark!” is student-led and supported by Winnacunnet faculty advisors. It is funded annually through the Winnacunnet Cooperative School District budget. The magazine is published annually, with content also available on the “Spark!” website.

The magazine provides a platform for students to share their artistic talents, whether in photography, art, poetry, or short stories.

Winnacunnet students have been producing the magazine since 1986, first as “A Gathering of Voices,” then as “Totem” from 2008 to 2020, before reimagining the magazine in 2021.

Staff members who produced the award-winning entry were Editor-in-Chief Camden David, Vice-Editor-in-Chief Alison Cross, Managing Editor Alexander Bailly, Public Relations Director Dylan Maynard, Social Media Director Kierra Martin-Biggs, and Technology Director Aódhàn Otterson, as well as Myron Warcewicz, Dell Paul, Elizabeth Eaton, and Julie Ventura.

Magazine staff meet every Thursday to plan out the annual edition. Students are supported by faculty advisors Yekaterina McKenney and Katherine Ash.

“Spark! is really important to the school because it allows students to express and share their creative side with their peers and the surrounding communities,” said Cross, who is serving as Co-Editor-in-Chief with Martin-Briggs this year. “Even if someone is a bit less confident in their writing or art, we allow students to request that their piece be published anonymously so that they can still use the magazine as a creative outlet without any pressure.”

“Spark! Literary Magazine has an immense value outside of the school due to its presence in all of the sending town libraries. I developed an outreach project last trimester in order to allow people from a larger community to enjoy the amazing artwork and writing our Winnacunnet students have produced,” Martin-Briggs said.

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