Santa Paula Elementary School District Young Writers Contest
May 31, 2013
Santa Paula News
By Brenda deJamaer
The 33rd annual Young Writers’ Contest of the Santa Paula Elementary School District saw close to 700 entries this year. The contest for students in grades 1-8 has 2 categories, short story and poetry, at each grade level. Students were able to enter one of each. The awards were certificates for Honorable mention through 1st place. Cash awards were $30 for each 1st place, $15 for each 2nd place and $8 for each 3rd place.
The awards were presented to the 76 winners at the Young Writers Contest awards assembly on May 22 at Isbell cafeteria. Brenda deJamaer, coordinator of the Contest, praised the writers for their creative writing and encouraged them to continue reading and writing. The students’ writings’ covered many genres including mystery, fantasy, sports, school life, humor, horror and action/adventure.
Ms. deJamaer recognized and thanked the many individuals and groups that made contributions to the Contest. The Young Writers Contest memorial fund received numerous donations from supporters this year including CSEA Chapter 497 and a very generous donation from Mr. Jerry Burns. Appreciation was noted for the efforts of Norah Byrom in compiling all the winning stories and poems into booklets which will be added to each of the school libraries. Also a big thank you went to the Santa Paula Federation of Teachers for providing and serving refreshments to the winners and their families following the award presentations.
Recognition went out to Maria Aguirre, Rodrigo and Shannon Munoz, Mary Schaeffer, Norah Byrom and Cindy Caulfield for their assistance in preparing materials for the judges. AND a big thank you went out to the 16 judges who gave of their time and expertise to the difficult task of judging the entries. The judges were SPESD retires: Maria Aguirre, Angela Borrego-Chavez, Julia Copeland, Phyllis Dorsey, Mary Schaeffer, Linda Spink and Lydia Valencia; from the Blanchard Community Library: Ilene Gavenman and Olivia Escoto; from the community: Lynn Cowell and Dan Robles; from the Santa Paula Times: Suzi Skutley; published authors from the community: Pam Strange and Teri Rhodehamel; and high school students and former YWC winners Zoe Appleby and Iliana dela Trinidad. One judge who has judged in previous years noted that this was the hardest year ever to choose.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2013 YOUNG WRITERS’ CONTEST WINNERS!!:
GRADE 1 POETRY
1st - Robin Fernandez, “Spaghetti”
2nd - Malia Taylor, “The Sea”
3rd - Arturo Juarez, “Singing”
GRADE 1 STORY
1st - Robin Fernandez, “The Little Black Horse and the Volcano”
2nd - Amaia Castillo, “A Trip to the Snow”
3rd - (TIE) - Jasmine Cisneros, “The Magic Pencil”; Valeria Arenas, “A Giraffe”
GRADE 2 POETRY
1st - Raven Padgett, “The Lost Shoe”
2nd - Sophia Lopez, “A Lady Bug, A Lady Bug”
3rd -- Nathan Alaniz, “The Stone Dog”
GRADE 2 STORY
1st - Samantha Ivanez, “Three Wishes from a Fairy”
2nd - Jisselle Torres, “Mrs. Cherry Went Crazy”
3rd - Madison Gray, “I Wish it Could Snow”
Hon. Men. - Liliana Arana, “The Scary Woods”
GRADE 3 POETRY
1st - Mya Hernandez, “Candy”
2nd - Lissett Castillo, “Soybeans”
3rd - Aliana Molina, “Dad”
Hon. Men. - Kayla Michelle Scott, “What It Caused”
GRADE 3 STORY
1st - Jesus Y. Parrilla, “A True Story”
2nd - David Romo, “Stop Bullying
3rd - (TIE) - McKenna Bittorf, “Shark Surfing”; Harley Dupre, “Dogland”
Hon Men. - Valerie Bautista, “The Lost Lepercon”; Kenya Valdez, “Our Miracle from God”
GRADE 4 POETRY
1st - Hayden Galvan, “Sunday Breakfast”
2nd - Dulce Mendoza, “I am Dulce”
3rd - Jelena Diaz, “Guitar”
Hon. Men. - Mairely Gomez, “Piano”; Fatima Saucedo, “What Should I Be”; Juan Chimalpopoca, “Geod Poem”; Bryanna Soto, “Quarts Crystal”; Vikky Fernandez, “What is Peace”; Alex Mejia, “Kickball”
GRADE 4 STORY
1st - Jissel Santa Rosa, “Kidnapped in Space”
2nd - (TIE) - Diana Sanchez Romero, “Mi hermano mayor”; Solymar Garcia, “Shhhhhh!”
3rd - (TIE) - Daysi Gonzalez, “Princess Zuly & the Forest”; Aleeya Flores, “Jenny and the Perfect Cat”; Mia Rincon, “Rollercoaster”
Hon. Men. - Tyler Garces, “The Fruit Adventures”
GRADE 5 POETRY
1st - Christian Garner, “Pay Attention”
2nd - (TIE) - Alaysia Molina, “The Fastest Girl”; Mauricio Magana Garza, “Fall”
3rd - Jackie Granados, “Many Things About Seuss”
Hon. Men. - Ashley Medina, “Class”
GRADE 5 STORY
1st - Sam Murillo, “Shapes”
2nd - Noah Hilles, “The Storm”
3rd - (TIE) - Maria Rivera, “A Perfect Party Dress”; Alexandra Zamudio, “Camp Neverland”
Hon. Men. - Kolby Wilkinson, “The Search for the Lost City of the LOL People”; James Fettis, “My Grandpa & I"; Jimmy Castillo, “Herman Henry’s Chickens”
GRADE 6 POETRY
1st - Garrett Garces, “Archer’s Prayer”
2nd - Trent Beckman, “Spring Time”
GRADE 6 STORY
1st - Sophie Korth, “The Found Dog”
2nd - Garrett Garces, “Archer Boy”
3rd - Nicholas Campbell, “Lost At Vacation”
GRADE 7 POETRY
1st - Lauren Alamillo, “A Nobody
2nd - (TIE) - Jesus Fernandez, “Sadness, Sorrow, Depression”; Marina Melgar, “Cloud of Happines”
3rd - (TIE) - Donivan Menchaca, “Sea Turtles”; Cynthia Cruz, “Me”; Jose Gallegos, “Libraries”
GRADE 7 STORY
1st - Lauren Alamillo, “The Move”
2nd - Georgia Mora, “The Pure One”
3rd - Kimberly Moreno, “Logy the Lizard”
Hon. Men. - Anamaria Robles, “Twenty Dollars”; Leslie Mex, “The Koala Bear Rescue”
GRADE 8 POETRY
1st - Mireille Vargas, “The Rollercoaster of Life”
2nd - Laura Fernandez, “Untitled”
3rd - Alicia Ramirez, “A Peaceful Day Alone”
Hon. Men. - Destiny Porter, “To the End”
GRADE 8 STORY
1st - Laura Fernandez, “The Movie”
2nd - Mireille Vargas, “The Death Watch King”
3rd - Manuel Lemus, “Escape from Krezen Prison”
Hon. Men. - Diana Lira, “The Past of a Killer”
