Power of the Pen UPDATE!

I have some awesome news to share! Janna's first story for round one was selected as THE BEST OF ROUND! After everyone leaves the state tournament, the judges that presented at state Power of the Pen read all the first place stories for round one. They found her story, "Hope Will See Me Through" to be THE BEST!!!! I am so happy for  and proud of her! She is an AMAZING writer!! Here is part of the email I received last night:

Congratulations to the following state Best of Round and Director’s Choice winners. These pieces are eligible for publication in the Book of Winners. A certificate and publication instructions will be emailed directly to the winners’ parents if we have their email address, to the coach if we do not.

Best of Round Grade 7

ROUND 1: DG71 Janna Winningham, West Geauga Middle School, Chesterland, “Hope Will See Me Through” Coach: Lisa Zimmer

ROUND 2: KR73 Marina Pearman, Wyoming Middle School, Wyoming, “A New Prison” Coach: Jenn Sauvey

ROUND 3: FL71 Olivia Weinberger, Wadsworth MIddle School, Wadsworth, “Gone Too Soon” Coach: Shannon DeDomenic

ROUND 4: GX71 Vivian Eich, Sts. Joseph and John, Strongsville, “The Most Ruthless Game” Coach: Wendy Ferian

This is such an accomplishment to have her story be considered the best of all the entries in the first round of 250! Janna if you recall also placed 7th overall in the state competition! Such a great way to end the year!

Join us in congratulating Camryn Joyner for placing 3rd in her age category for her poem in the Geauga Parks Poetry Contest!

The Greedy Tree

Trees can be beautiful with flowers and leaves,

They give us aromas oh so sweet and O2 to breathe. 

Some sing cheerfully in the breeze while they offer us shade to read,

But some are sneaky and naughty with greed.

Have you thought much about different types of trees?

Not varieties, but personalities, I have one of these.

It stands in the corner of my driveway with a grin, 

Its branches and twigs pointed upward ready to sin.

You see, my beautiful tree,

enjoys stealing from me.

When you least expect it and are having your fun,

It will take all your toys, leaving you with none.

The first treasure it took was my green frog kite,

It slipped up and away and out of sight.

It was 10 feet long from head to tail,

And pulled in the wind like a boat’s sail.

That kite wound and wound around,

until my kite could not be found.

Then the wind decided, not today,

Twisting my kite in the branches where it would stay.

With one thing stuck in my naughty tree,

Just wait around and there will be three.

I was playing with my hula hoop with flair,

I was passing it back and forth and threw it up into the air.

I waited and waited but it never came down,

I looked up and saw my tree was wearing it as a crown.

I loved that hula hoop with all my heart,

So I got a ball and tried to use it as a dart.

Going once, going twice, sold to the tree,

My efforts went to waste, that hula hoop would not come free.

And now it had my ball as well,

That growing, greedy tree sure did swell.

And none of them have came out to this day,

Through windstorms and snow storms they sure did stay. 

These days if i want to see my old toys,

I just head to their grave and remember all the joys.

P.S. This is based on a true story about a tree in my driveway.

Geauga County Fair 2023

The following students have art work that is being displayed at this year's County Fair:

Lia Alvord   8th Grade A Rainy Day Watercolor

Capri Burch 8th Grade Droplet Watercolor

Camdyn Cutting 8th Grade Puppy Chalk Chalk Pastel

Evelyn Iskra 8th Grade Shapes Scratchart

Dayana Malone 8th Grade Cow Chalk Pastel

Riley Reed 8th Grade Bug Scratchart

Josie Snyder 8th Grade Geometric Scratchart

Audrey Wiemer 8th Grade Bee Chalk Pastel

Darren Prince-Wright 7th Grade Sunrise in Maui Watercolor

Vera Caudill 7th Grade Fuzzy Croc Watercolor

Maren Williams 7th Grade Northern Lights Watercolor

Lena Wright 7th Grade Donkey Boot Pencil

Morgan DeMaske 6th Grade Biggest Bird Marker

Josephina Giordano 6th Grade Animal Print Mixed Media

Samuel Grace 6th Grade Snake Marker

Francesca Lombardo 6th Grade Self Portrait Watercolor

Nora Joyce 6th Grade Landing in the Park Marker

Alexandrea Mikolay 6th Grade Varkentovich Mixed Media

Abigail Seibert 6th Grade Vibrant Mixed Media

Matteo Villella 6th Grade Colosseum Watercolor

Adeline Yellen 6th Grade The Gatekeeper Watercolor

Adeline Yellen 6th Grade Chillin Out Marker

Mila Rodin 6th Grade

Clara Horrigan 6th Grade

Gia Res 6th Grade