Aer-ie noun, 1. The lofty nest of an eagle or other predatory bird, built on a cliff ledge, mountaintop, or high dead snag. 2. An elevated, often secluded, dwelling, structure, or position. 3. A home for exceptional young writers and artists from around the globe, provideing publishing opportunites, literary prizes, and cross-cultural connections. 4. A place where the distinctions and connections of culture, language, peoples, and environment are nurtured. 5. An innovative new journal edited by High School students for High School students.

Aerie International is a new literary arts magazine, showcasing works of writing, and arts originating from across the world. This new magazine had their first publication in the Spring of 2008, is looking forward to producing another quality issue of their new journal in the upcoming Spring of 2009.

Aerie International was born of a desire to offer outstanding young writers and artists an opportunity to share, edit, and publish their work internationally. What makes this journal unique is that it has been designed and produced by an editorial board comprised solely of high school students. Aerie International hopes the magazine will not only draw on universal themes, but also on the particular images, colors, sounds and rhythms of the places and people from which they originate, whether it is Canada, South Africa, India or the U.S. As Melanie Reay, art teacher from Trinity School in England, said recently in a visit to Big Sky High School, “Perhaps this magazine can foster friendships in times where friendship is difficult to achieve across the pond.” That is their hope. - Lorilee Evans Lynn, Advisor.

What students at Big Sky High School are doing is truely amazing. They are connecting with cultures and people around the world. In a way, they are traveling…they get to peer through the eyes of another student their age. The world is plagued with intolerance, misunderstanding, and misperception; Aerie is truley making a difference in the world, somewhere. Maybe making the world a smaller place is an essential step in promoting world peace. We know it sounds far fetched, but it’s projects like these that connect common peoples, and with connection comes tolernace. That kind of knowledge, and the attitude you achieve from gaining the knowledge is priceless.

Here is what the student editors have to say about their publication.

As student editors, we’ve been trying for days to describe what this magazine means to us. Until now nothing we’ve tried seems to truly embody what we hope to achieve, what we envision as the role of Aerie International. We want to offer a window into other cultures around the world, so that our readers can hear what it is like to grow up as a girl in Afghanistan, a boy in Peru, a teenager in the United States or anywhere in the world. In the end, we feel the only way to truly express the value of the arts is through the arts. Please send us your work so that this international magazine can become a reality.

We encourage any young, aspiring artists, poets, or photographers to submit their work. Not only do you get global exposure, but the editors pick the top entries and grant them award money ($100). To submit your works and review the rules/regulations please visit this webpage.
http://www.mcps.k12.mt.us/highschool/bigsky/aerie/international/submissions.html 

Please check out the official Aerie International Website for further information, including examples of poetry, art, and original photography.
http://www.mcps.k12.mt.us/highschool/bigsky/aerie/international/