Young Voices, Big Ideas: Inside CCA’s Creative Writing Festival
When we launched the Creative Writing Festival at CCA in 2023, our hope was simple: to create a place where students who love words could stretch their creativity and have their work celebrated. What we have discovered each year since is that our students have far more to say—and far more imagination—than we could have anticipated. As a Christian school, we believe language is a gift. God chose to reveal Himself to us through His written Word, and because of that, we want our students to learn to use words carefully, thoughtfully, and beautifully. Writing helps students learn to observe the world around them, reflect on truth, and communicate ideas in ways that honor God and encourage others.
One of my favorite parts of the festival is opening the submissions each year. The entries have grown steadily, and with them comes a glimpse into the tender hearts and creative minds of our students. Through poems and short stories, they share humor, wonder, kindness, and thoughtful reflections on the world God has made.
Each year, students write around a specific theme while following the criteria for their category and genre. This year’s theme invited students to reflect on how love and kindness appear in everyday life. Their writing explored the small, meaningful ways we care for one another and the ways God’s love can be seen in the world around us.
Every piece is carefully read and evaluated according to genre-specific criteria and awarded a rating of Superior, Excellent, or Good. Students receive a ribbon based on their score. This year, we also introduced Judge’s Choice Awards for both Elementary and Middle School. These students were recognized during chapel, and their pieces were shared aloud with the community—a special moment for everyone who had the opportunity to listen.
What continues to stand out each year is not just the quality of the writing, but the heart behind it. Our students are learning that words matter. They can tell stories, encourage others, and reflect truth and beauty.
We are grateful for the creativity God has placed in these students and for the opportunity to celebrate their voices together as a school community. Below are a few of the pieces from this year’s festival—we hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did.
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Covenant Christian Academy is a classical Christian school in the Dallas–Fort Worth area dedicated to providing an education that inspires a love of learning. If you enjoyed the blog above, you might also like to consider the following topics.