I had the privilege and honor of announcing the winners of the winter writing contest on Friday. They are too shy and do not want their entries reprinted here — or their names mentioned. I mentioned the possibility of podcasting them reading their entries — or even interviewing their family members and posting those as videos.
No dice. (I’ll keep working on ’em.)
We had one winner from the K-2 classes, one from 3-5 and one from 6-8. Each received a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card and a teddy bear.
I will respect the students’ wishes and will send out a big “yay” and CONGRATS! to our first place winner from the primary grades. He is one awesome second-grader, who wrote about his family’s trip to Crater Lake (complete with a story and illustrations). He is one of Ms. Starr’s students. From the 3rd-5th grade group, the first-place winner is one of our amazing and gifted fifth-graders, from Mrs. Brazzle’s class. She wrote about her love of Oregon and wrote a good essay about facts, figures and anecdotes you may not have known about our fair state.
For the upper grade students, the first-place winner is one of our sixth-graders, who is in Ms. Altig’s class. He wrote a personal family history about how his mom traveled from Southeast Asia and what it has been like for her and their family, living in Oregon.
Good job to all 41 students who entered the contest. We have a number of runners-up, and they have received (or will receive) brand-new books for their prizes.
Thank you to Mr. Steve Buel, a North Portland neighbor who donated a large selection of brand-new books for our runners-up.
And thank you to everyone for taking the time and being so thoughtful in your entries. Your hard work showed. We have some gifted writers at our school — I’m looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future.
Keep reading.
Keep writing.
And have a superfine week.
Best,
Ms. Nancy
3 responses so far ↓
1 Tammie Odenbrett // Feb 16, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Ms. Nancy,
We met at the Oregon State Reading conference. I finally got a chance to come check out your blog! Bet you thought I had forgotten. Anyway, what a neat way to keep in touch with students and parents and keep them engaged. I especially like your Beverly Cleary entry. Her books were big favorites of mine growing up but I haven’t had the chance to read her memoirs. I will have to check it out.
Tammie Odenbrett
Zaner-Bloser
2 Amy Hamblin // Feb 26, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Congratulations to the writing contest winners. I hope you reconsider and post your entries online. I would love to read them. Ms. Nancy, David says he will miss you this week. He hopes that your grandmother is feeling better.
3 Ms. Nancy // Mar 15, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Will you please tell David thank you from both of us, Mrs. Hamblin? Hope you all are doing well.