Writing Contests

**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.

• Poetry & Music Project '25/'26 - Poem Submission Deadline: November 30, 2025

  • This year, we welcome your poems on memories — big and small — that made an impact on you, forever changed you, that are worth reliving, that are so delicious you want to gift them to others. Your mind is magic! We can’t wait to read about the unique way it sorts information and makes powerful, meaningful memories.

  • Open to all K-12 Students in Nebraska 

  • Students may only submit one (1) poem

  • All work must be original

  • Poems should be in Google Doc or Word file format

  • Poems should be in Times New Roman, Helvetica, or Arial font

  • Poems may be in any structure, but may not be more than 150 words long

  • Poems should not be more than 1 page in length

  • Poems submissions should not include images

  • Poems can be submitted via the online submission form

• 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:

 https://ey.westside66.org/category/other-events-contests/

Battle of the Books

2025-26 Middle School Book List

1. A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall – Jasmine Warga

2. Kareem Between - Shafa Saltagi Safadi

3. The Wrong Way Home – Kate O’Shaughnessy

4. The Night War – Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

5. The Bletchley Riddle – Ruta Septys and Steve Shenkin

6. Not Quite a Ghost – Anne Ursu

7. The First State of Being – Erin Estrada Kelly

8. Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie – Jordan Sonnenblick

9. The Crossover – Kwame Alexander

10. Operation Do Over – Gordon Korman

Contact the WMS librarian, Mrs. Saetveit, if you are interested in participating in BOTB!