Author, educator and English Language Specialist, Melissa Campesi joined the Kent School community on Friday, October 6 as part of the School’s Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers Program. Campesi will lead an interactive writing workshop for students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Her workshop will include story sharing based on her book Imagine Song. Imagine Song is “a heartfelt and inspiring story about a young girl named Melody who has been awakened by the gift of songwriting. She is formally being taught how to play piano, but never knew her instinctive and natural ability to write her own music until it ACCIDENTALLY happened one day!”

According to her website, “Melissa grew up in a bilingual household filled with music, writing, cooking, playing, and laughter. She is a children’s author and certified as an ESL educator in New Jersey. Her hope is to inspire our youth to explore their natural creative channels to enhance their everyday life. Her favorite things to do are write poetry and music, host gatherings, and be in nature.” Ms. Campesi’s visit to Kent School is made possible by the Kudner Leyon Memorial Endowment.

Kent School’s Head of School Nancy Mugele said, “We are deeply grateful to the Kudner and Leyon families and their friends for establishing this endowment to share the literary arts with our students. I am delighted to host Melissa Campesi, whom I got to know this summer while working on my own children’s book. I know the afternoon will be a perfect opportunity for our students and employees to celebrate their shared enthusiasm for ‘exploring their natural creative channels to enhance our everyday lives.’”

Each year, Kent School hosts an acclaimed visiting author as part of the school’s endowed Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers Program. Campesi joins a long list of acclaimed visiting writers including Naomi Nye, Margie Pallatini, Nick Bruell, Priscilla Cummings, Wendy Mass, Jack Gantos and Mary Downing Hahn. Kent School’s program began in 2000 as a memorial to two alumni, Ariana Kudner ‘91 and Amanda Leyon ‘91 who lost their lives in a car accident. Program founder, Chris McClary ‘91, a classmate of Ariana and Amanda said, “The endowed Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers program is a fitting tribute to both girls who shared a love of books, writing and literature. I know that they would be pleased that we are offering such a high quality program to our students.” The program is funded through the generosity of individuals and through a grant from the Arthur Kudner Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation.

Kent School is an inclusive school community designed for effective learning, immersed in the natural environment. We are research-driven and committed to nurturing our students’ potential for active citizenship in a connected world through academic, artistic, athletic, and moral excellence. For more information about Kent School or the endowed Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers Program visit www.kentschool.org or call 410-778-4100 ext. 110. Kent School, located in historic Chestertown, MD is an independent day school serving girls and boys from Preschool through Grade 8.