Festival of the Written Word, 1954 May

Philomel is one of the most acclaimed high school literary journals in the country. First published in 1955, Philomel serves as a sampling and survey of art, photography, and writing of the Upper School. It was preceded by Festival of the Written Word as a publication in 1953 and 1954, and an ongoing opportunity to read compositions aloud for others, judged by outside literary figures. Philomel continues to be published annually each spring.

Since the inception of the annual Crown Awards by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for excellence in writing and production in 1982, Philomel has won Gold Crown awards for the 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2007, and 2008 issues, and Silver Crown awards for the 1991, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2017, and 2019 issues. The 1998 and 1999 issues also won the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Award.

Several students' writings in Philomel won Gold Circle awards, which recognize superior work by individuals or entire staffs of a publication: Joelle Tamraz, essay, 1990 issue; Alexandra Marolachakis, Certificate of Merit in experimental fiction, 1990 issue; Carrie Eaton, Certificate of Merit in experimental fiction, 1990 issue; Cullen Duffy, "Bones," experimental fiction, 1991 issue; Cullen Duffy, "Anything Coming Back to Life," essay, 1991 issue; Rebecca Hanson, "Bags of Easter Candy," essay, 1991 issue.

It should be noted to avoid confusion that the 1954 yearbook was also titled Philomel, but is unrelated to the Philomel literary publication.