It’s been a great week of writing!  Yesterday, we received word that Vanessa Morales won the Kishwaukee Trail Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) American History Writing Contest.

The American History Essay Contest was established to encourage young people to think creatively about our nation’s great history and learn about history in a new light.

The contest is open to students in public, private, and parochial schools, and registered home-study programs. This year, students in grades five through eight were encouraged to write a journal entry about the National Parks.  Vanessa used her experience from a family vacation as a basis for her winning piece.

Vanessa will attend an award ceremony at McHenry County College to be recognized and receive an award.

Good job Vanessa!  I am so proud of your achievement!  You’ve had quite a week!!

The Midwest Scholastic Art & Writing Awards posted the Honorable Mention, Silver, and Gold Award winners from this year’s writing contest. I am proud to announce our winners: Samantha Blake, Tessa Hunter, Sophie Kershaw, Brooke Tomkins, Lucy Metz, Joey Scaravalle, Abi Getty, Vanessa Morales and Maggie Noftz.  Very few 7th-graders are recognized out of the thousands of middle and high school students that send in work, so they should feel very proud of themselves.  We had quite a celebration today in class as I announced them!

Scholastic writes, “Remember that only the very best artists and writers earn awards through Scholastic.  It is very competitive and you should be proud of this recognition of your work.  As a reminder:

Good Job Samantha, Tessa, Sophie, Brooke, Lucy, Joey, Abi, Vanessa, and Maggie.  Please go to www.belinblank.org/scholastic to look up student names and eventually see their work online.

Recently, Akwasi Q. entered the MLK Writing Contest.  His thoughtful essay responded to the challenging issue of racism withing schools for the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest, sponsored by Faithbridge.

As the interfaith organization in McHenry and Lake counties, FaithBridge’s purpose is to promote mutual understanding and respectful relationships among diverse communities by advancing unity in diversity for the common good.

After much consideration, Akwasi’s essay took 2nd place in the contest.  He will be recognized and has been asked to read his essay at the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast at D’Andrea’s Restaurant in Crystal Lake.  

Congratulations Akwasi!! I am so proud of you!!

What better way to end the year by becoming a published poet?? I can’t think of one!  A poem written by Bella Carlino has been chosen by the Pittsburgh Poetry House to be published and passed out around Pittsburgh. Check out this link for more information about this unique contest.  Congrats Bella!! I am beyond excited for you!!

One hundred and seventy-seven individuals ranging in age from students in grade three through adults, entered 256 poems in the contest. A first place prize of $100, second place prize of $50 and a third place prize of $25 was awarded in each of four categories, which included elementary school, middle school, high school and adult.

Five of the six elementary and middle school winners were from District 47. Congratulations to all!

1st Place: Grace Gerhardt, “Imagination”  (Homeschool)

2nd Place: Madison Ross, “Just Because I’m a Girl” (Indian Prairie, Mrs. Harvel, 5th grade)

3rd Place:  Stephanie Gonzalez, “Unseen” (North Elementary, Mrs. Harrold, 5th grade)

1st Place:  Chrissy Dalton, “The Vast Outer Space” (Bernotas, Mrs. Strebel, 7th grade)

2nd Place:  Summer Goodwin, “When We Were Real” (Bernotas, Mrs. Strebel, 7th grade)

3rd Place: Sydney Ankenbrand, “Years”  (Bernotas, Mrs. Strebel, 7th grade)

To read the winning students’ poems, visit the Crystal Lake Public Library’s website at http://www.clpl.org/.

Congratulations to Quinn Welder. His piece on the electoral college was published in the Northwest Herald’s Style section this weekend.

Congratulations to Will Stewart.  Lily Sternberg, Bella Carlino, Tommy Landt and Max Kanellopoulos for their pieces being published online in the Northwest Herald.

Here is a link to all the pieces.  I am so proud of you all!!  You are officially published authors!  Wooohoooo!

Quinn Welder – Electoral College

Max Kanellopoulos – Diversity in Moving Ratings

Bella Carlino – Inequality in The Oscars

William Stewart – Kids Need Recess

Lily Sternberg – The Death Penalty

Tommy Landt – The Current Condition of our Country

Congratulations to Sydney Ankenbrand and Henry Ryerson! They are both finalists in the Totem Writing Contest! Both of the writing pieces will now move onto the finals!  Good Job guys!  I am so very proud of you.  Wooohooo!

Check out the link to see their names posted on Totem’s Facebook page.

Congratulations to Serena Huberty for winning the Kishwaukee Region – Daughters of the American Revolution Stamp Act Writing Contest.  Not only did she win the local chapter’s contest, but her essay advanced to the District II level (the entire northern part of Illinois all the way over to Iowa), and won that award too!

Her essay will now go on to compete against 7 other 7th Grade District Winners from Illinois.  If she wins this, her essay will move onto the National Level!  Good luck Serena and congratulations!!

Serena will be celebrated at the DAR awards ceremony February 21st at MCC.  Good job Serena!  I am so very proud and excited for you!!!

I am so pleased to see their talent represented.  Scholastic writes, “Remember that only the very best artists and writers earn awards through Scholastic.  It is very competitive and you should be proud of this recognition of your work.  As a reminder:

Good Job Faith and Ella.  Please go to www.belinblank.org/scholastic to look up student names and eventually see their work online.

Over the last few weeks, we have received great news.  First, Jake Hartman found out that his piece.  “My First Deer Hunt” won the 2015 Outdoor News – Illinois Youth Writing Contest. He won $100, his piece was published in Outdoor News and his piece continues on to a national writing contest.

Host Eve L. Ewing leads this lively event of poetry readings, food and family."

7th GRADE WINNERS:

Open Mic was a huge success! I was so proud of all the kids who shared their poetry today.  I challenged each of them to take inspiration from one of the poems from Bronx Masquerade and write their own poem that shared a part of them that we might not know about.  I was so proud of their bravery and creativity as they took to the spotlight.  Check the poems out with this link.  If you don’t love poetry, you might after hearing their work!

Early this week, Jorge Cuevas was notified that he was the first place winner in the MLK Writing Contest.  Emma Bolanowski was chosen as the runner-up.  Both kids have been asked to attend the MLK Jr. Interfaith Breakfast and read their essay.

I am so proud of your accomplishment and your dedication to making the world a better place through social change!