Staples High School's Student Literary Magazines Earn Prestigious Designation

WESTPORT, CT — Staples High School’s student literary magazines, Soundings and QED, have received a Superior ranking in the 2025 Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) contest, sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English.

The Superior designation is one of the highest honors awarded through the national REALM program, which evaluates student-produced literary magazines from the United States, Canada, and American schools abroad. Publications are judged by a national panel on criteria that include the quality of writing, range of genres, visual art and graphic design, and overall editorial presentation.

According to the school, students manage all aspects of production for both magazines, from soliciting and selecting submissions to layout and final publication. The magazines operate under the guidance of faculty advisor Kim Herzog. Student editors for the 2024–25 year included Editor-in-Chief Allison Cancro ’25 and Associate Editors Eva Slossberg ’26 and Jack Robinson ’26.

— Cover of the latest edition of Soundings & QED. Credit: Westport Public Schools

"From its founding in 1947 to this 2025 Superior ranking, Soundings has always been about student voice," said Herzog. "I am so proud of our editors—Allison, Eva, and Jack—for maintaining that high standard of excellence. They handle everything from the initial submissions to the technical production, and this accolade from the NCTE is a well-deserved testament to their hard work and creativity."

Founded in 1947, Soundings is the oldest student club at Staples High School and has been published continuously for more than 75 years. The school’s second literary magazine, QED, was established later as a companion publication. Both magazines feature student poetry, prose, and visual art.

The REALM program was created by the National Council of Teachers of English to recognize outstanding student literary publications and to encourage collaboration between students and educators. Staples High School officials said the literary magazines remain open to student participation throughout the school year, and all students are eligible to join the staff or submit work.

More information about Soundings and QED is available through the publications’ official website.