My class, my Writing Workshop began today. There was so little time it seemed, and the bell rang so suddenly I didn’t get a chance to get a close-up portrait of the whole class, which I will do next weekend.

There are 12 students in my class, two were unable to make it today, so I’ll get better photos next Wednesday. They all introduced themselves, signed in and talked about why they were there.

I thought the class got off to a great start, but it’s really for the students to judge. I handed out two books one by Ta-Nehisi Coates and the other by the great essayist and writer Joan Didion about what it means for her to live in America.

I’ll give them Saving Simon, one of my books, in a couple of weeks.

I talked about writing, my blog, blogs in general (none of them have a blog, I’m urging all of them to create one for themselves.)

Each student is coming back next week with a story idea, and we hope to write our stories, share them and then publish them in a paperback book form early next year.

The class is smart, interesting, and enthusiastic. I’m lucky to have them. I passed out buttons, pens, notebooks.

I’m going to have a blast, I hope they do as well. I told them their stories are important and we need to share them with the world.

They said they were very interested story structure, which I will be talking about every week. I have a hunch this class may spill over into 2020. Each one of them is interested in writing for different reasons.

Some want to work on their college essays, others want to tell the story of their lives. Their stories are compelling. The class is only about 35 to 40 minutes long – it’s the lunch hour at the school – so I’m going to have to restructure my class plan a bit. We have to get right down to it.

Next week, they will all be bringing some of their writing, we’ll share it and talk about it. I’m excited, I hope they are as well.

Also, I’m raising money – $500 – for the school’s brand new drama department to build a stage set for their first school play in 20 years, a five-scene, 90-minute comedy for Christmas called “Happy Hollandaise.”

They need to get supplies for this from Home Depot, for which the school has no funds. I volunteered to try to raise the $1,000 they need to buy the nails, screws, paint, plywood, molding, doors, glue and rollers from Home Depot. I’m trying to get a discount or support from Home Depot, so far no luck.

I’m contributing $400, I got $150 in contributions so far, I’m hoping for another $500 or $600, I think their cost estimate is a bit low. If you’d like to help, that would be great.  There are always additional costs.

You can contribute via Paypal, [email protected] or by check, Jon Katz, “Happy Hollandaise,” P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Any overage will go to additional costs or future plays.

This is a monumental landmark for the school, which is making a beautiful comeback after years of struggle and decline. Your help in making this play come to life will be much appreciated.

I think this is right up their alley.

Art and culture are experiencing a great rebirth at the school – art supplies, a new piano for the choir. This is a big deal for them.