RHS Writing Teacher, Vernon Poet Laureate To Be Honored At Library

VERNON, CT — The Rockville Public Library will be marking National Poetry Month at 6 p.m. Thursday by honoring the town's poet laureate and a Rockville High School creative writing teacher who, for 20 years, has inspired Vernon students to write.

They and other guests will read their poetry.

Caitlin Chatterton is a senior at Rockville High School who excels in the classroom, on the athletic fields and as a creative writing student. She was named Vernon’s poet laureate in November.
Caitlin’s creative writing teacher, Victoria Nordlund, will be honored for her work as a poet and as a teacher who has "created a community of artists in Vernon." She will read from her two books of poetry.

They will be joined by a third poet, John L. Stanizzi of Coventry, who is a teacher, the author of 10 poetry collections and a former New England Poet of the Year.

The event will also have an open mic so that others can share their poetry.

"This program is a way to highlight poetry and to bring attention to the wonderful work that Victoria and the other teachers in the creative writing program at Rockville High School are doing,” said Jennifer Johnston-Marius, the director of the Rockville Public Library. "Victoria and her colleagues have built a community of artists here in Vernon. It's one of the many things that makes Vernon such a special and creative community."

The Vernon Town Council unanimously appointed Caitlin as Vernon’s Poet Laureate in November.
Johnston-Marius consulted with the Vernon Public Schools and recommended Caitlin to Mayor Dan Champagne and the Town Council. She cited Caitlin’s participation in the Creative Writing Program, her participation in local and state poetry events and that fact she has been published.

In addition to writing, Caitlin is a Humanities Scholar at Rockville High School and a three-sport athlete who plays soccer, basketball and lacrosse.

"Caitlin is a remarkable representative for all of the good things that happen in our schools and in our community," Johnston-Marius said.

Nordlund has taught at Rockville High School for 33 years and has been teaching creative writing for 20 years. Nordlund brings guest speakers in to talk to students about the craft of writing. Novelists, playwrights, screenwriters, poets, journalists and other writers describe how they started, the writing process, their frustrations and help students understand the creative process.

Her students write poetry, short stories, fiction and non-fiction.

They have dominated competitions and have earned Rockville High School statewide and national acclaim.

Nordlund was New England Poet of the Year in 2016.

"The creative writing courses build a community where people feel safe to express their feelings and to be who they are," Nordlund said. "It lets people develop their own voice."

Refreshments will be served and Nordlund's and Stanizzi's books will be available for sale and autographing.

For more information, visit www.rockvillepubliclibrary.org.