SMETHPORT (EC) – Three students enrolled in the enrichment
programðat Smethport Area Elementary School took top honors in
Pennsylvaniaðin the “Why I Love the Nature in My Schoolyard” essay
contest sponsored by the Stillwater Publishing of Lionville,
publishers of “Take A Walk” books.
Dario Caminite, a fifth grader, won the grand prize for
Pennsylvania.ðThomas Mack, also a fifth grader, tied for first
place in Pennsylvania with Connor Russell of Jefferson Elementary
School in Pittsburgh.ðAnother tie occurred in the fourth grade
competition where Joshua Tanner ofðSmethportðsharedðfirst place
with Adam Tankus of the Community Day School, also in
Pittsburgh.
Students were required to write anð50-word essay on the topic
“The judges only knew the students’ grade levels and not the names
of the entrants,” said Jovanna Porter,ðenrichment teacher, “and the
winners were determined on the basis of a numerical score.”
In preparing for the contest, the students and Porter walked
through the school’s Discovery Trail, or nature trail, and observed
the many forms of nature. Once back in the classroom, they wrote a
topic sentence and added detail sentences and a concluding
sentence.ðOn another trip, this one to the Sinnemahoning State Park
in Cameron County, the students also participated in a writing
project conducted by Jackie Flynn.
“The competition was very competitive and the judging was
difficult,” said Jane Kirkland,ð Stillwater’s president and author
of the company’s award-winning “Take a Walk” science books. “I’m
excited to know that the teachers are extending their classrooms to
the schoolyard.”
One grand prize award for each state includes Kirkland’s
presentation of her acclaimed program, “I Saw a Bald Eagle Soaring
Over My Grocery Store,” chronicling her true-life adventures with
nature in unexpected places such as her grocery store, back yard
and shopping mall. Kirkland will be at the Smethport Area
Elementary School on April 26 for an assembly and other
programs.
In addition, the winning school in each state will receive a
package that includes a bird feeding station, posters, bird
puppets, calendars, literature on feeding birds and other
educational publications for the school compliments of Wild Bird
Centers of America corporate headquarters in Maryland.
One first prize award in each of the grades three through six,
as well as the grand prize winner, will receive a “Take a Walk”
books for the winning student and a set for the school library.
A complete list of winners as well as their winning essays can
be viewed at the “Take a Walk” Web site.
Porter noted that Donna Puller, elementary librarian, informed
her of the contest.
