Contest gives primary school pupils a place to tell their stories

By sandi carpello
Staff Writer

SANDI CARPELLO Hugo Guerra, (l-r) 6; Allison Haigh, 6; Salvadore Tecalero, 9; Albert Martin, 7; and Akeira Pines, 8, read from Salvadore’s original story, “The Lost Boys.”

RED BANK — When Allison Haigh imagines adulthood, she envisions the beguiling life of an award-winning novelist.

"When I grow up I want to write chapter books — mystery books," said the Red Bank Primary kindergarten student.

Haigh, 6, got a head start this month, when she, along with 42 other members of the primary school’s Gifted and Talented Program, entered the PBS Young Illustrators and Writers Contest.

The national contest, which receives approximately 45,000 submissions each year, requires kindergarten through third-grade students to write and illustrate an original story.

The contest is in its ninth year. This is the second year students from the primary school are participating.

"The ideas for the book was left up to them, said Kim Repko, the school’s gifted and talented program coordinator. "They came up with their own ideas and worked on it at home."

Titled "The Zebra Moves to a New Home," Haigh’s story tells the story of a homeless zebra who achieves his dream of purchasing a new house.

In his story "The Lost Boys," second grader Salvadore Tecalero, 9, narrates the adventure of two friends who get lost on a camping trip.

Other story submissions include "The First Time a Little Boy Went to School," by Hugo Guerra, 6; "Best Friends," by Albert Martin, 7; and "Three Little Princes and the Big Bad King," by Akeira Pines, 8.

While all primary school students are taught the writing process as part of their English curriculum, the gifted and talented program challenges its students a little bit more, Repko said.

In the school’s reading and writing workshop, students learn basic skills such as brainstorming, developing an idea, and writing rough drafts.

Through the contest, the students learn sportsmanship and what it’s like to be part of a competition, Repko said.

While contest winners receive prizes such as computer systems and DVDs, all participants receive a certificate signed by PBS Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton.

The winners will be announced sometime next month.