Denver School of the Arts’ literary magazine Calling Upon Calliope received “Best In State” for the third year in a row by the National Council of Teachers of English.

“It’s a bit awe striking. I don’t personally recall seeing this level of talent, not just the visual but also the writing,” says Azar Kohzadi, creative writing teacher who helps oversee the production.

So what exactly is Calling Upon Calliope? It is a yearly publication produced, designed and edited entirely by the students with fine-tuning and organization provided by teachers.

Each year the staff receives tons of submissions, which begins a competitive selection process. Once submissions are chosen, the staff pairs together the art and writing, and each staff member produces multiple spreads. A guest professional graphic designer provides tips on aesthetic appeal.

Browsing through the magazine, a reader might think, “Middle and high school students produced this? Really?” The magazine does indeed “Collect the Mind,” like the slogan promises. The art and writing complement one another as if they were submitted as one piece.

“It’s really cool to see that collaboration because when you look at certain magazines they might be more so about the writing, but this has an overall focus on bringing the different art and writing together,” says ninth-grader Maddie Solomon who works in public relations for the magazine.

She says there is a lot of hidden talent at DSA; some kids just need a little encouragement and an opportunity like the magazine to share that talent. “Calling Upon Calliope helps represent our school both artistically and through the written word.”

For the first time, Calling Upon Calliope is available at Tattered Cover at 2526 E Colfax Ave. Proceeds go to the production process. For information, call Tattered Cover at 303.322.7727.