WPBS-DT, Watertown Public Broadcasting, is pleased to recognize 13 outstanding young authors for their award-winning stories in the annual PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest. The winners were chosen from over 110 local entrants. The stories were judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustration.
The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a national competition designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on, active learning. The effort encourages children in grades K-3 in our area and communities across the country to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original stories and illustrations. The contest is produced and managed by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto, with corporate funding from StudentPublishing.com.
The annual Contest encourages children grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade to use their imaginations and apply their writing and artistic talents by creating original storybooks. The stories these children created not only impressed our judges, they showed the potential these children possess as future writers. Contest entries are first judged at the local level, with local winners advancing to the national competition.
Kindergarten
First Place: “The Giants That Lived Next Door” by August Simcox, Norwood
Second Place: “Elizabeth’s Surprise” by Hannah Wines, Watertown
Third Place: “Getting Pears for Mommy” by Clare Cragg, Norwood
Honorable Mention: “A Flying Cat & A Flying Dog Have A Race” by
Riley Jade Neal, Theresa
First Grade
First Place: “Spongesaurus” by Awab El Ghissassi, Massena
Second Place: “The Girl That Shrunk” by Breya Tamblin, Watertown
Third Place: “The Cow with No Spots” by Ethan Berry, Watertown
Second Grade
First Place: “My First Shooting Star” by Ritaj El Ghissassi, Massena
Second Place: “My Amish Friend” by Jessica Yesensky, Pulaski
Third Place: “The Magic Crocodile” by Amah Assomou, Watertown
Third Grade
First Place: “Freedom” by Samantha House, Hammond
Second Place: “The Real Story of Jack and the Beanstalk” by
Colin Cragg, Norwood
Third Place: “A Lost Sword” by Caitlynn Cunningham, Hammond
“This contest encourages children not only to use their imagination, but to take the skills they learn in their classrooms and create an entire story”, said Teri-Gene Conlin, Outreach Manager at WPBS-DT. “Watching the winners read their stories was a wonderful experience. They are so proud of their accomplishment, as they should be!” said Mrs. Conlin.
We would like to thank our local judges for this year’s contest, all who donated their time to read and score our stories. They are, in alphabetical order:
Cecilia Brock, Director-Literacy of Northern New York
Emily Owen, Youth Services Consultant-North Country Library System
Priscilla Patenaude, Director-Jefferson Lewis Teacher Center
Mary Sawyer, Newspaper In Education Director-Watertown Daily Times
We would also like to thank the LeRay Wal-Mart, Evans Mills, for generously donating a cake for our winners and their families to enjoy after the Award Ceremony which was held at the WPBS station on May 24, 2012.
Every child who entered the contest received a Certificate of Achievement. The winning authors in addition received a tote bag filled with PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest items and books from WPBS-DT. Winners of the National Contest will be chosen in June 2012 with announcements being in July 2012. The local winning stories can be viewed online at www.wpbstv.org. All of us here at WPBS would like to congratulate our 2012 PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest winners!
WPBS-DT is a non-profit public television station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario. WPBS-DT’s mission is to educate, entertain and inform in order to enhance the lives of those it serves.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2012
CONTACT: Teri-Gene Conlin, Outreach Manager
315-782-3142 X315
