Writers Week is an annual event at Grayslake Central High School that is highly anticipated after every spring break. Writers Week 2025 featured two alumni presenters, Frontega, an alternative indie rock band comprised entirely of GCHS alumni, and Kaylee Staral, TMJ4 News journalist. Melissa Thurlwell, English department chair and one of the organizers of Writers Week, said that alumni presenters are always the most anticipated. “[Their presentations] are probably the more meaningful ones. Students can see that they went through Grayslake Central [like they are now], and they see how they have an impact in our world.” This years event also featured motivational speakers, other musicians, published authors, and poets from the Chicago Poetry Center.

Writers Week is an “annual celebration of the written word,” hosted by GCHS’ very own English department. Thurlwell said Writers Week spans “over the course of four days, and every student will have English twice in the four days,” giving every student the opportunity to see at least two presentations “over the course of the week.” She gave Rampage some insight as to what it is like organizing the event. “It’s never too early [to start reaching out to people],” she said. Thurlwell believes that the event is very important because of what it exposes Grayslake Central students and staff too. “We have staff and faculty each year read pieces of their own writing before we have our professionals come on stage,” Thurwell said. She emphasized that having Grayslake Central staff perform their own, published creative works could be beneficial for students and their learning. “I think that that’s even cooler, when kids can see that their teachers are publishing stories,” she said.