SCSC WRITING CONTEST For Students in Grades K–12 2018–19 Theme: Bravery Sponsored by In Partnership with The SCSC Writing Contest provides students with an opportunity to express themselves through fiction, non-fiction and/ or poetry. This contest was established to encourage the love of language and writing for all students and as a way to recognize the talented young writers in south central Minnesota. SCSC is partnering with Minnesota State University, Mankato. Students in grades K–12 attending public, private or homeschools are eligible to enter. Up to three pieces per category and submissions in multiple categories are welcome. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the sponsors. Note to Readers: Some of the works may not be appropriate for a younger reading audience. COPYRIGHT © 2019 This anthology is a joint project of South Central Service Cooperative and Minnesota State University’s education department. Copyright reverts to authors upon publication. CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS: Poetry: Fiction (Imaginary/Fantasy): Non-Fiction (True/Factual): Arrangement of words in an artistic and Stories that describe imaginary events (Choose one or more non-fiction types) purposeful manner that expresses the and people that entertain the reader Personal narrative: A true story that writer’s thoughts and/or feelings about with realistic details, involving characters describes a real event or experiences in a subject of their choice using style and who experience a conflict (ex: historical the author’s life. rhythm (ex: sonnets, haiku, free verse). fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, science Information: Factual writing to convey • Limit three entries per student fiction, mystery). knowledge of a topic and research • Maximum length is two pages, • Limit three entries per student findings. double-spaced per entry • Maximum length is five pages, Essay/Opinion: A feeling or thought double-spaced per entry you have about a subject or topic, supported by research. • Limit three entries per student • Maximum length is five pages, All entries should relate to the 2018–19 theme: Bravery. double-spaced per entry Bravery: courageous behavior or character when facing danger, fear or difficulty. Thank you to all those who worked with the SCSC Writing Contest and this anthology: To the staff at South Central Service Cooperative for promoting the contest, gathering and cataloging submissions, and designing the anthology layout. To the students and staff at Minnesota State University, Mankato education department who served as judges and provided feedback to students on their writing submissions. Also, to the MSU print services for anthology printing. To the teachers, parents, friends and relatives who encourage students to express themselves through writing. Finally, to the students who shared their work for this year’s contest. We are most grateful. For more information, visit www.mnscsc.org/writing-contest Table of Contents POETRY Bravery, Thora Bratlie...........................................................................3 Scars on My Hands, Jasmine S. Grabau . 3 Untitled, Anna Heyda...........................................................................3 Be Strong, Ellie Heyda . 3 A Simple Act of Bravery, Adela Madson . 4 Bravery, Madison Milow ........................................................................4 The Forgotten, the Fighting, the First, Madeline Schoenstedt ............................................5 Gut Feeling, Liana Snow.........................................................................5 Internal Peace, Liana Snow . 5 Pure Weakness, Liana Snow .....................................................................5 Starts as a Whole, Eden Tollefson .................................................................6 FICTION Mariah Mindee, Lavawalker, Jocelyn Balfanz.......................................................7 Octopie Squidee: A Tale of Bravery, Jocelyn Balfanz.................................................8 The Tale of Jessica Peterson, Jocelyn Balfanz......................................................8–9 The Watch, Sophia Barnacle ..................................................................9–12 Brave, Brynley Bellig . .12–14 The Soldier Marches On, Thora Bratlie.........................................................14–15 When You’re Grey, Thora Bratlie..............................................................15–16 Lights, Camera, Freeze!, Jordan Brown........................................................ 16–18 The New School, Jordan Brown . 18–20 D-Day, Zebuion John Davis .................................................................20–22 Washington, Kuol Dual.....................................................................22–26 Seeprisdon, Sage Erickson..................................................................27–28 Aphrodite, Ella Ann Haggerty ...............................................................29–30 Me, Wallie and the Wilderness, Taryn Hecksel .................................................30–31 Leo’s Voyage Journal, Ethan Hutchins.........................................................32–33 Rainbow!, Katrin Loften.....................................................................33–34 The Enchanted Forest, Sophia Mullaly ........................................................34–35 The Ice Cream Contest, Sophia Mullaly . 35 Darcy’s Life, Sienna Murray.................................................................36–37 TECH, Brandon Norbie ........................................................................37 A Gift from an Angel, Audrey Olson..........................................................38–39 Terrifically Talented Tuesday, Sydnie Penhollow ................................................40–43 The MidPoint, Leah Proehl . 43–45 Wonderful World of Zoltaculis, Rebekah Roemhildt . 45–57 Life, Megan Scheel ........................................................................57–58 Don’t Forget Me, Madeline Schoenstedt . 58–60 Snowflake Sees Snowflakes, Evie Schuller .........................................................61 Fly, Elizabeth Schulz ....................................................................... 61–63 A Summer Adventure, Rohan Sharma.........................................................63–65 Little Red, Adelina Sifers Clements................................................................66 My Sister Clara, Cecily Winterfeldt...............................................................67 NONFICTION Bounce Up Fall Down, Nika Hirsch...............................................................67 Finding My Voice, Nika Hirsch . 66 Brain Damage Both Ways, Sasha Jakovich ........................................................68 Bittersweet Sugar, Amelia Lawver ................................................................69 The Day the Earth Shook, Amelia Lawver ......................................................69–70 Bravery, Rohan Sharma .................................................................... 70–71 POETRY Bravery Untitled By Thora Bratlie, Grade 6 By Anna Heyda, Grade 4 Dakota Meadows Middle School, Mankato John F. Kennedy Elementary, Lakeville Beautiful in its own way A new kid showed up Respect who people are around March 10th. Always try to, even if you’re afraid He stood up and said Very great, bravery is The pledge. Everyday somebody will do it He seemed normal just like us. Ready to do this? So I sat by him at lunch. You can do it, I know you can All the other kids were teasing Him and me. I said to the kid, “follow me.” We stood up to leave. And I brought Scars on my Hands Him to my wishing tree. By Jasmine S. Grabau, Grade 11 I said, “Come here and make a wish.” New Prague High School, New Prague “I wish more kids were as nice as you.” A couple weeks later he had to leave. When you look at your hands His words always rang in my head, what do you see? “I wish more kids were as nice as you.” I see Scars from work from play from pain Be Strong from Life By Ellie Heyda, Grade 2 some hands are clean and pristine John F. Kennedy Elementary, Lakeville new and fresh like a child while my hands are Scarred and hard One day I felt Do your hands show your life like I couldn’t do anything like mine? so, someone came up to me and said you can do anything if you try you can be one of the greats you can be the best you can be the King Kong banging on your chest you can be wild you can be free only if you try then you will succeed 2019 SCSC Writing Contest Submitted Works 3 A Simple Act of Bravery Bravery By Adela Madson, Grade 4 By Madison Milow, Grade 5 Homeschool, St. Peter Rosa Parks Elementary, Mankato An act of bravery need not be strife, What is bravery? Brave does not mean, “Save a Life!” Some may think that bravery is the absence of fear, A small act of courage is the only thing But fear cannot be killed. Needed to make your bravery ring. Fear can only be bested by one thing, and that is A small example, one fine day bravery. I was at a friend’s house, playing away. Bravery isn’t the absence of fear; fear will remain Then my baby brother fell down the stairs, forever. I caught him to let him know I care. Bravery is seeing fear and overcoming it. In my arms he trembled, Those who can’t admit they are afraid have never As scared as scared could be. succeeded, Poor thing had had a dreadful fright, And those who have fears and aren’t able to face Anyone could see. them aren’t brave. The truest story I have told