Students in

Fayette County High's creative writing course focus on self-exploration

and development through writing as well as design and publish the school's

literary magazine, Pieces. The students stay busy throughout the year

not only working on the magazine but also fundraising to obtain money

to publish it.

Unlike school

newspapers in the county, the magazine receives no funding from the school

system. It costs approximately $5,000 to publish Pieces annually and the

students raise the money themselves through sponsorships, advertisements

and fundraisers. Lawson says their enthusiasm to take on yet another project

says a lot about the character of her students.

"This

is a huge task and I believe that their willingness to work with the fifth-graders

in addition to their own writing and fundraising tasks is admirable,"

she added.

The collaborative

project between the two schools is in its final stages. Lawson says she

hopes to have some selections written by the fifth-graders to include

in the 2003 edition of the magazine.