ANNUAL FOURTH GRADE BOOK CONTEST UNDERWAY

Central Oregon Writers Guild would like to announce the kick-off of the 2013-14 Redmond Picture Book Writing Contest.

We will be having the initial planning meeting Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 10:00 am at the Redmond Library. If you are interested in helping in any aspect of this year’s contest, please attend to help in the planning.

Available volunteer positions include:

School Coordinators

Classroom visitors

Judges

Community outreach

Delivery persons

If you are unable to attend the meeting, but are interested in helping with the contest email kaistrand@yahoo.com.

 2013 4th Grade Book Contest Results Announced

Central Oregon Writers Guild is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Redmond School District’s Fourth Grade Book Writing Contest.

Shelby McCauley, a student in Mrs. Majeski’s class at Central Christian School, was selected first place winner for her story, A High Buzzing Adventure.

Jessica Simpson, a student in Mrs. Zistel’s class at Tom McCall Elementary, is runner-up for her story, Cowgirl Love.

The following students’ stories were chosen to receive Honorable Mention awards:

Ava Dennis, Central Christian School, Mr. Wiggles

Rebekah Ruth O’Neill, Central Christian School, Me, My Family, and the Sierras

Ronne Lynne Skyler Puterbaugh, Sage Elementary, Mystery Drawing

Elizabeth Fleenor, St. Thomas Academy, Trapped

Madalyn Vanvalkenberg, Terrebonne Elementary, Chicken Pot Pie

Caitlyn Owen, Tom McCall Elementary, Neon Woman

Iggy Burk, Tom McCall Elementary, Tintin and Cheesers

Sophia Pierce, Tom McCall Elementary, Dogs are Humans Too

Zane Kurpinsky, Tom McCall Elementary, Monkey to Mars

Gwenyth Arthur, Vern Patrick Elementary, Becoming a Big Sister

The contest is open each year to Redmond area fourth grade level students who attend public and private schools and those who are home schooled. The contest is co-sponsored by the Central Oregon Writers Guild (COWG), the Redmond Rotary Club, the Redmond Public Library, and the High Desert Society of the Arts (HDSA). A total of 165 students entered the 2013 contest, with 26 finalists selected by a panel of judges from the Library, HDSA and COWG. Books are written and illustrated by the authors, and must be their original work.

A reception will take place on Saturday March 9, 1:00 p.m., at the Redmond Library, 827 SW Deschutes, where Shelby McCauley and Jessica Simpson will read and sign copies of their books. Finalists and honorable mention authors will be recognized at the reception, and all contest entries will be displayed. Guild members are encouraged to attend the reception and support the youngsters who participated in the contest. The winner and runner-up will present their stories at a future Guild meeting. 

Congratulations to Kai Strand and her team for such an outstanding job coordinating this year's contest! 

CENTRAL OREGON WRITERS GUILD ANNOUNCES REDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT’S 2013 4th GRADE BOOK CONTEST

                  

Redmond, OR, October 3, 2012—In partnership with the High Desert Society of the Arts, Redmond Rotary Club and Redmond Library, Central Oregon Writers Guild is proud to sponsor the annual Redmond School District’s 4th Grade Book Contest.

The contest is open to Redmond School District 4th grade students, including those who attend Christian schools and home schooled students who are at the 4th grade level. Rules governing the contest have been distributed to district administrators, principals and the 4th grade teachers who will coordinate the students’ participation. Home schoolers should contact Kai Strand for entry details, at kaistrand@yahoo.com or 541-410-3225. Local businesses or organizations that would like to provide financial support for contest expenses should also contact Ms. Strand. Participation in this important event is welcome!

HDSA and Central Oregon Writers Guild members are available to make classroom presentations to offer students guidance as they write and illustrate their contest entries. Books must be the child’s original work. Entry deadline is January 24, 2013. The winner and runner-up will be announced February 20, 2013, and all submissions will be available for viewing during the contest awards ceremony and reception at Redmond Library in March.

The panel of judges includes representatives from the Central Oregon Writers Guild, HDSA and the Redmond Library. For further information about the 4^th Grade Book Contest, contact Coordinator Kai Strand at kaistrand@yahoo.com.

2012 4th Grade Book Contest

Another successful 4^th Grade Book Contest concluded with a reception honoring the winner, Aryana Foster, and the runner-up, Aspen Geisen.

The contest started back in October when the materials were delivered to the Redmond elementary schools and distributed to the 4^th grade teachers.  The art and writing contest is curriculum oriented for easy integration into the classroom.

Writing and illustrating workshops were conducted in the classrooms on request. Eager students practiced replacing weak words with stronger words in sentences and illustrating a scene from a short story. Many thanks to authors Paty Jager and Kai Strand and to illustrator K.C. Snider for their time and expertise.

After the 150 entries were collected, a team of volunteers led by Mary Krakow narrowed the field down to 27 top picture books. The final judges then closed themselves into a room to review the 27 finalists. They designated honorable mentions as well as chose the winner and runner-up. They were looking for a complete, well-told story with compelling illustrations that added even more to the story. Not an easy task from so many strong entries. Thank you to Julie Bowers from the Redmond Library, illustrator K.C. Snider and children’s author Kai Strand for being the final judges this year.

Family, friends, students and teachers gathered at a reception held at the Redmond Library. Linda Barker did a fabulous job organizing the event and the Friends of the Redmond Library provided a terrific spread of punch and goodies. All of the finalists and honorable mentions were honored with a certificate and their books on display.

The runner-up, Aspen Geisen, read his fun adventure, Monkey Madness. Aspen attends Tom McCall Elementary. He dedicated his book to his family and friends and Mrs. Zistel and Mrs. Renz. Monkey Madness has descriptive language, humor and adventure. The illustrations add to the story with strong character definition, consistency and great detail.

The winner, Aryana Foster, read her winning entry, The Mystery of the Missing Clown. Aryana attends Central Christian School and asked if she can grow up to be both an author and a professional softball player. In The Mystery of the Missing Clown, three friends who are attending the Dingle Berry Circus step in to solve the mystery of Bongo the Clown’s disappearance. They doggedly search the circus until they find him and return him to enjoy his act. The colorful illustrations are eye catching and add to the storyline. They have great details, like the little mustache on the elephant trainer and the feathered hat on the lion tamer.

Both children did a fantastic job reading. They also signed copies of their books for those in attendance. Their appearances aren’t over yet. They will be reading their stories at an upcoming COWG meeting as well as at a Redmond Rotary luncheon. If you are unable to attend any of the readings, their books will be available to check out through the Deschutes Public Library System.

Thank you to the teachers and staff at the schools that we received entries from: Central Christian, Tom McCall, Sage, and Vern Patrick.

The Central Oregon Writer’s Guild would like to thank all the people involved in the 4^th Grade Book Contest. Our co-sponsors; The Redmond Public Library, High Desert Society of the Arts, Redmond Rotary Club. Supporters; The Friends of the Redmond Library, C & L Printers. Volunteers; Elsie Rochna, Anita Lanning, those who visited classrooms, our two judging teams, everybody who helped sort and deliver to the schools. We hope we didn’t leave anyone out. Everyone’s participation is crucial to a successful contest for these students!

If you would like to be involved in next year’s 4^th Grade Book Contest, contact Kai Strand at kaistrand@yahoo.com or 541-550-8836 or Elsie Rochna at elsiemariewrites@gmail.com or 541-923-0896.

SATURDAY MARCH 5 RECEPTION HONORS FOURTH GRADE BOOK CONTEST PARTICIPANTS

Caleb Rosen and Megan Alldredge, winner and runner-up in the 2011 Fourth Grade Book Contest, read their winning entries during the Saturday March 5 reception at the Redmond Library. Library staff organized the event, featuring colorful decorations and tables with all the contest entries on display for visitors to enjoy. Following the program, refreshments were served and authors Caleb and Megan signed their books.

Library Branch Manager Linda Olson opened the program. She welcomed all in attendance and talked about the history of the book contest, which began in 2004 under the auspices of the library. Linda said the Library was honored to be a part of this annual event, which gives students the opportunity to write and illustrate their stories.

Central Oregon Writers Guild member and contest coordinator Mary Krakow thanked each of the sponsors and stressed the importance of their involvement. Co-sponsors along with the Guild are the Redmond Library, High Desert Society of the Arts and the Redmond Rotary Club. It is these organizations working together that have made the 4th Grade Book Contest the success it has been since it began. Mary reported there were 117 books in this year, and the creativity and imagination of the students who wrote their stories made the judges’ final decisions difficult indeed. She commended all the youngsters who entered the contest and encouraged them to keep on writing!

Guild President Elsie Rochna presented certificates of appreciation to all the teachers whose guidance, encouragement and enthusiasm that have inspired their students’ participation in the book contest. Elsie also recognized the entrants who received honorable mention for their books.

Megan Alldredge, contest runner-up, read her story “Popeye the Pumpkin”, about a pumpkin and a pony who become fast friends. They find a little boy who saves Popeye from being carved at Halloween. The boy takes Popeye and the pony home where they live happily ever after! Megan is in Ms. Zistel’s class at Tom McCall Elementary. This is her first book, but she definitely plans to write and illustrate more in years to come. When she grows up, she wants to go to the University of Oregon and become a vet.

Caleb Rosen read his winning entry “Mystery Island”, about Jack and Jan, whose adventures begin when a tidal wave carries them out into the ocean. At last they find a dragon named Mag who helps them find their mom and dad. Mag takes them to a safe place called “Mystery Island” where another dragon named Morsoe has built the family a wonderful new home that even has a hot tub! Caleb is in Ms. Zistel’s class at Tom McCall. He loves to draw and cook. When he grows up he wants to go to Oregon State University and become a chef!

Caleb and Megan’s posters will join past contest winners on display in the Library’s Children’s Section. Both will read their books at the Rotary Club luncheon on April 14, and each will share their books at a future Central Oregon Writers Guild meeting. We look forward to hearing their creative and charming stories again!

4th Grade Book Writing Contest Organizational Meeting

Central Oregon Writers Guild invites all those interested in the Annual 4th Grade Book Writing Contest to attend the planning and organizational meeting February 10 starting at 6 P.M. at the Redmond Public Library. The Guild needs volunteers for promotion, funding (to cover printing and prizes), to assist students at schools, and judging. You may also help fund the contest with your contribution to the Friends of the Redmond Library-4th Grade Book Writing Contest.

Kathy Duffy, Reference Librarian at the Redmond Public Library, originated and organized the Annual 4th Grade Book Writing Contest for all 4th graders in the Redmond area from 2005-2008. Ms Duffy retired and moved away this past year so there is no contest scheduled for the current school year.

However, the Library has asked Central Oregon Writers Guild to take the lead in conducting this popular contest for the 2010-2011 school year The Guild has been an active partner in the past with the Redmond Library, the Friends of the Redmond Library, the Redmond Rotary, and the High Desert Society of the Arts and will direct the communications and organization of the contest. The Redmond Public Library will continue to host a reception for the contest winners and catalog the winner and runner-up books.

For additional information, please contact ElsieMarie Rochna at centraloregonwritersguild@gmail.com or you may call 541-923-0896