Arts-In-Education Exploratory Enrichment

Valentine Long Island History and Writing Workshop

Presented by Selene Castrovilla

Learn about Long Island history and create a fun writing project! America's first Valentine was given right here on Long Island, at Oyster Bay's Raynham Hall! John Simcoe was the head of the Queen's Rangers, the most notoriously mean regiment of British soldiers. He took over the Townsend home as his headquarters -- and then he tried to capture teenage Sally Townsend's heart! Award-winning author Selene Castrovilla starts off this workshop with a lively discussion of this valentine, and the circumstances behind it. There's even more to the story. It's possible that Sally was a spy just like her brother Robert, who was the most important member of Washington's Culper Spy Ring. Next, she'll lead a workshop in which every student will compose his own special poetry valentine: for parent, teacher, sibling, friend -- or even for himself.