Whiz Kids of the Week: Greenwood School Contest Winners

Names: Tallula Sorst, 9-year-old third grader, Serafina Stechman, 9-year-old third grader, Nell Castor, 9-year-old third grader, Scarlet Hartzog, 11-year-old fifth grader and Natalie Burrous, 13-year-old eighth grader

School:

Accomplishment: The California Coastal Commission honored these five students individually as part of its annual Poetry and Art Contest. The entries were required to have a California coastal or California marine theme and the contest was open to residents throughout California in kindergarten through 12th grade.

“By encouraging youth to reflect on the beauty and spirit of California's beaches and ocean, we hope to inspire a greater sense of stewardship for these natural places. A population that cares about the coast is more likely to work to conserve and protect it,” the commission said in a statement.

Sorst won first place in the 2nd and 3rd grade category for her poem, entitled “Water.”

Stechman, Hartzog and Burrous garnered honorable mention for their poems, “Sand,” “Sunset by the Ocean” and “The Ice Plant,” respectively, while Castor also received honorable mention for her art piece “Sandpipers in the Sun” (see image at right).

Each poem can be viewed below.

Key to Awesomeness: As students of Greenwood’s award-winning poetry program, each child worked under the guidance of Devika Brandt, the school’s poetry and English language skills teacher, to create the poems and artwork for the contest, according to Linda Crivello, the school’s marketing coordinator. Throughout the school year, students develop a joy and enthusiasm for language through their participation in the designated poetry and creative writing program.

“Water” by Tallula Sorst

Water is still
and cold.
The cool liquid
nibbles my toes.
Small white pearls
at the end of a wave.
A wave crashes
into my face.
A smile leaps on me.

“Sand” by Serafina Stechman

The wet sand
squishes at your feet.
The dry sand scares
the ocean
and makes it
run away as fast
as the rushing waves
can go.

“Sunset by the Ocean” by Scarlet Hartzog

The sun
starts to dissolve
with a trail
of what he did.
Like when he swooped
over a forest
or when he made
a kid so hot
she jumped into a pool.
And he lets go
of the rainbow
he got caught in
and disappears
behind the ocean.

“The Ice Plant” by Natalie Burrous

She crawls along the shore,
Searching for prey to encroach upon;
They have no escape,
And she knows this.
Her glacial persona
Portrays the "ice"
In her name.
Sometime soon,
Her tormenting endeavors will
Come back to bite her
But for now,
She crawls along the shore.
Someone is next.