WVIZ/PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest

Congratulations to Ehren C for winning first place in WVIZ’s
PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest in the first grade division! His
story, Tacky Turkey’s  Big Adventure, has been sent to the
national level of competition. It can be viewed at
www.ideastream.org/education/writers.
PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest is a national contest designed
to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills by
encouraging students in kindergarten to third grade to create
orginal illustrated stories for submission.

Another Bruening Foundation Grant

After receiving the library grant in
2011, Birchwood recently received a second $10,000 grant
from the Bruening Foundation for the start-up of our Preschool
Program. This is much to the credit of development consultant
Michelle Ehlert who has taken the full time position at
Birchwood as our new Director of Advancement. Michelle
brings a broad range of experience to this position having
worked in a development capacity for organizations such as
University Hospitals, The Pittsburgh Symphony, The World
Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, and the Metropolitan Museum
of Art. See her full bio on our website. Michelle is a wonderful
addition to our team as we move forward with strategic plans
into the future.

NCTE Promising Young Writers Program

Katelyn  V, eighth grader, has been selected as a winner in the
2012 program sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of
English. Open to eighth graders, schools nationwide nominated
276 students. Out of the 85 outstanding writers selected, only
three including Katelyn were from Ohio. Each school is only
allowed a few nominees.  Each student submitted two pieces
of writing, which were evaluated by two judges on the basis of
content, purpose, audience, tone, word choice, organization,
development, and style.

She is “presented with a certificate in recognition of her writing
talents and of the importance of writing,” according to Kent
Williamson, the Executive Director of the program. The results
of the 2012 program are posted on the NCTE website http://
www.ncte.org/awards/student/pyw/2012.

State Science Fair

Vinayak K earned a Superior rating at the State Science Fair on
May 5 receiving a perfect score from both judges. He also won
the Future Physician Scientist Award for an outstanding project
related to the fields of medicine and health science.

National History Day State

Birchwood students had an impressive showing at the state
level of the National History Day competition on Saturday,
April 28. Held at Ohio State University in Columbus, the event
brought together the top place finishers from nine district-level
competitions across Ohio. Twenty-two Birchwood students
qualified to compete at the state event. Against very strong
competition, nine of the students received top honors as national
finalists and will be advancing to the national competition in June
at the University of Maryland.

In the historical paper category, Prathna K was a finalist with her
paper on Nellie Bly, an investigative reporter from the late 1800s
and early 1900s. Also in that category, Maya F qualified as a
national alternate for her paper on Jane Edna Hunter, a Cleveland
reformer from the early 1900s. In the individual website category,
Kavya R qualified as a finalist for her website on revolutions in
Renaissance surgery and anatomy. Dhweeja D was awarded
an honorable mention for her website on the smallpox vaccine.
Birchwood students swept the group website category, with two
groups qualifying as national finalists and one group designated
as the national alternate. Nate C and Clive C were finalists with
their website on the integrated circuit. Sachi G and Joan C were
also finalists with their website on the Hough Riots in Cleveland
in 1966. Ammar L and Michael T were national alternates for
their website on the conservation movement in the early 1900s.
In the group documentary category, Pheby L and Grace X were
national finalists for their documentary on the Montgomery Bus
Boycott. Peter A was awarded an honorable mention for his
individual documentary on President Truman’s firing of General
MacArthur. In group performances, Katelyn V and Alexander I
were national alternates for their performance about investigative
journalists from the early 1900s. Kareem T and Cameron S
received an honorable mention for their performance about
the space race. In the individual exhibit category, Anna H was
a national finalist with her board about Rachel Carson’s book,
Silent Spring.

In addition, Birchwood students received several special awards.
Maya F received two awards, with the first one from the Ohio
Historical Records Advisory Board for the best use of Ohio’s
Historical records in a History Day project. Her second award
was from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
for “the most outstanding project focusing on an individual who
has contributed significantly to the advancement of freedoms and
the assurance of the civil and human rights of others.” Grace X
and Pheby L received an award from Ohio State University’s
Department of History for their outstanding historical research.
As an additional note, Birchwood alumni Zaeem L placed as the
national alternate in the senior individual website category. He
also received a prize from the National Underground Railroad
Freedom Center. His website focused on the Freedom Rides
in the early 1960s.

Congratulations to all these students for their hard work and
accomplishments! Projects will be on display at Birchwood’s
Parent Night on May 16.

Cricket Art Contest

In January, several first through fourth grade students entered
the Surviving In Nature Art Contest. Congratulations to Sami S
whose underwater scene earned him 2nd place in the Age 10
and Under division. Ehren C earned third place in the same
division for his drawing “Thorny Devil Surviving the Australian
Outback.” Birchwood also had three students earn Honorable
Mentions - Mitch B for “Eagle Flying Over the Ocean,” Paul A
for “Cat Catches Mouse,” and Isabella D for “Tulips and Birds.”
Congratulations to all the winners! Their work was featured in
the April issue of Cricket magazine.

Earth Day Photo Contest

Congratulations to Van W for his winning photograph for the
Earth Day Photo Contest sponsored by the Cuyahoga County
Solid Waste District. The winning photo was announced at a
reception last month. Look for the poster of his adorable photo
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Ruff!” hanging in the hallways.