Hidden away in a quiet corner of the library, there is a place where essays go from messy to meaningful; you can curl up in a bean bag while getting work done, and struggling writers find their voice. The Writer’s Den is more than just a tutoring space: it is a comfortable, creative environment where students can get help with essays, brainstorm ideas, or just find a quiet spot to focus.
Some students stop by for tutoring, while others enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Freshman Kayla Nortelus has stopped by the Writers’ Den, and described it as the perfect place to be productive. “Sometimes, you just need a quiet place to focus on your missing assignments,” she said, “and the Writers’ Den is one hundred percent the place if you’re looking for that.”
Writing can be frustrating, especially when you do not know where to start or how to organize your thoughts. That is where Rev Rothschild, one of the Writers’ Den tutors, comes in. They believe writing is a skill anyone can improve with the proper guidance. “I firmly believe that everybody, in terms of writing, can always be a better writer, me included,” stated Rothschild. They help students find the deeper meaning in their writing, whether it is a personal statement, a college application, or a school paper.
For many students, that support has made a huge difference. Nortelus admitted that before coming to the Writers’ Den, she often gave up on essays. “I didn’t understand what topic I was trying to write about,” she expressed. “Now that this program has opened, I can try on some of my essays and get them done.”
Freshman Anneley Saint-Juste explained how helpful it is to have a space like this at school: “It feels good to know that I have somewhere to go if I don’t understand the unit I’m on in certain classes. Instead of worrying about it when I get home, I have someone to ask rather than my mother all the time.”
Teachers have noticed the impact as well. Anne Mooney, an English teacher, sees how much students benefit from the Writers’ Den. ¨There’s something very comforting for students to have someone around their age giving them feedback and support,” voiced Mooney. She also believes there is room for the Writers´ Den to expand, possibly by involving more departments or even having students become peer tutors. “It would be really helpful and also a cool experience for our students to become peer tutors too,” she said. ¨If you have that on your resume, that’s pretty amazing.”
Writing is not just something that happens in English class. Even in the school’s Maker Space, where students work on engineering projects, strong writing is important. Whether explaining a design, writing a report, or presenting an idea, being able to communicate makes a difference. Rothschild hopes to build a stronger connection between the two spaces. “In future years we hope to have more engagement and collaboration with the makerspace,” they said. “We’re thinking about how we can connect the Maker Space and the Writers’ Den better.”
Getting help at the Writers’ Den is simple. Students can sign up for a tutoring session or just walk in during available hours. The flexibility makes it easy for anyone to stop by and receive the support they need. For more information, students can reach out via email or check out the flyers around the school to learn about tutoring times and availability.
