**For help submitting your writing, email Mrs. Sindt at sindt.kathleen@westside66.net
Illustrated Poem Contest - Submission deadline October 26th, 2025
Each year as part of NCW (National Chemistry Week), ACS (American Chemical Society) sponsors an illustrated poem contest for K-12 students in the US. Please click the link above for the rules, deadlines, and submission information, and check out the winning poems from last year's NCW.
Bess Streeter Aldrich Short Story Contest - Submission deadline April 15, 2026
To honor NE author Bess Streeter Aldrich and recognize outstanding writing, the Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation announces its 2026 Short Story Contest.
Prizes: Middle School (grades 6 - 8 ):
1st Prize $50
2nd Prize $25
3rd Prize $15
Click the link for more information
Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest - Spring of 2026
Contests are also posted here:
All WMS 7th & 8th graders will have an opportunity to take a Spelling Bee qualifying test in their Language Arts class. The top scorers on the qualifying test will be invited to participate in the WMS Spelling Bee and then the top 4 spellers will be invited to compete in the WCS District Spelling Bee. Dates to be determined later - check back for updates!
2025-26 Middle School Book List
A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall – Jasmine Warga
Kareem Between - Shafa Saltagi Safadi
The Wrong Way Home – Kate O’Shaughnessy
The Night War – Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The Bletchley Riddle – Ruta Septys and Steve Shenkin
Not Quite a Ghost – Anne Ursu
The First State of Being – Erin Estrada Kelly
Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie – Jordan Sonnenblick
The Crossover – Kwame Alexander
Operation Do Over – Gordon Korman
Contact the WMS librarian, Mrs. Saetveit, if you are interested in participating in BOTB!
Visit: https://www.nytimes.com/puzzles/spelling-bee
each day for a new set of letters to see how many words you can create!
Take a screenshot of your points and send it to Mrs. Sindt at sindt.kathleen@westside66.net
Badge created by Brock L.
Visit: https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections each day to see if you can make all the Connections.
Click here for a recording sheet and share with Mrs. Sindt at sindt.kathleen@westside66.net