To honor and celebrate the works and achievements of U-High students in writing, the English department hosted LabBeat in the lower school theater on May 31, where students could read anything from short stories to personal narratives to poems.

English department chair Mark Krewatch said LabBeat came together at the last minute, and there was a time where the English department thought it didn’t seem possible with all of the other projects that occur toward the end of the year.

“We all just sort of looked at each other and thought, ‘We haven’t done this since 2019 and we’re actually allowed to do it this year. Let’s do it however we can do it,’” Mr. Krewatch said.

Over a dozen students came up to the stage and read their pieces, and throughout the event awards were given to outstanding student writers.

Junior Sarina Zhao, who was selected for the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards in Writing 2022 and received the excellence in critical writing award, voiced her excitement that Lab Beat was back after the pandemic had delayed it.

Sarina said, “I think it’s really nice to have a designated time to listen to peers read their work and really celebrate that level of writing.”