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Hillcrest students recognized for poetry

Two students from Hillcrest School in Estevan have had their poems selected for the upcoming Young Saskatchewan Writers book. Angie Boutin, a Grade 8 student, and Miguel Barroga, who is in Grade 7, are both in the class taught by Kristy Johnson.
Hillcrest poets
Angie Boutin, left, and Miguel Barroga from Hillcrest School have had their poetry chosen for the Young Saskatchewan Writers book.

Two students from Hillcrest School in Estevan have had their poems selected for the upcoming Young Saskatchewan Writers book.

Angie Boutin, a Grade 8 student, and Miguel Barroga, who is in Grade 7, are both in the class taught by Kristy Johnson.

Angie said the inspiration for the poem, This is Saskatchewan, comes from everybody being part of the land in this province. The poem talks about the colours of the sky, the voice of the farmland and the history of the province.

“Saskatchewan has many cultures and everything, and I kind of described that in the poem, that we’re all interlaced in one way, and we’re all equal,” said Angie, who has lived in the province for a long time.

A tribute poem for the province was the easiest approach to take for Angie. Being a published author is exciting for Angie, whose mother has had a poem of her own published.

Miguel’s poem, Evil Night, is about the cold, harsh nights that frequently occur in Saskatchewan during the winter months, and how kids can often be injured while playing outside.

But the poem also ends on an optimistic note, thanks to the pending arrival of summer.

Miguel hopes that people can see the humour in the poem. He’s excited to have the poem published, and it came as a surprise.

Johnson said the class has been working on descriptive writing during the school year.

“I selected a few of my students to be entered into the Young Saskatchewan Writers,” said Johnson. “It’s kind of a competition, but it’s really a showcase for young writing to show the writing talent around the southeast part of the province.”

In the southeast region, a co-ordinator will evaluate and select the writing.

Johnson was particularly impressed with the vivid details and descriptions used by Angie and Miguel.

“That made the poetry come alive,” she said.

Young Saskatchewan Writers will have different genres of writing from students in Kindergarten to Grade 12. Many of them are from the southeast corner of the province.